Arts Calendar

For the week of Dec. 23, 2009:

Events:

Ongoing

• Art Works in Soldotna has work by Carol Walkeiwicz on display through December.
• Kaladi Brothers on Kobuk has comic book sketches, paintings and drawings on display through December.
• Kaladi Brothers on the Sterling Highway has photography by Nicole Geils on display through December.
• The Kenai Fine Arts Center has a VFW kids artwork exhibition on display through December.
• The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center has the Alaska Statehood Quilt project on display until Dec. 30.
• The Central Peninsula Writers Group is seeking entrants for the 13^th annual Writers Presentation in March. Adult and high school-aged writers from the central peninsula are eligible to enter. Entries, with an entry form, are due by Feb. 13.

Christmas decorations

• Winners of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce holiday decoration contest winners are: Kenai — Malcom McBride, 11115 5th Ave. (off Birch); Lousia Mercado, 202 Lawton Drive; Kenai Airport, 305 N. Willow Street; Peninsula Ear, Nose and Throat, 220 Spur View Drive; Fireweed Herb Garden, 202 N. Forest Drive, Nana’s Place Childcare, 1511 Fathom Drive; Body Mind and Spirit, 601 Frontage Road. Soldotna — Speakman Family, 138 Farnsworth; the Sleaters, 109 S. Parkwood; Pat Murray, 247 W. Coral; Jay and Karen Smith, 48939 Jones Stub Road; Jeff and Tami Carrico, 253 W. Rockwell Ave.; Nichols family, 144 Henrich Circle; Jo and Joann, 304 W. Vine; Jay, Paula and Emily Rohloff, 205 Riverwatch Drive.

Thursday

• Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai will hold a traditional Christmas Mass featuring live instrumental music, choir, children solos, homily, communion and community, at 8:30 p.m.
• Sterling Lutheran Church and Abundant Life are hosting a Christmas Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. There will be a time of food and fellowship following.

Saturday

• A ski clinic with Brenton Knight will be held at 10 a.m. for classic skiing and 11 a.m. for skate skiing at Tsalteshi Trails behind Skyview High School. Meet at the angle hill by the ski rink. There is no fee, but donations will be accepted to help with Knight’s competitive skiing costs. Contact Kjell Risung at krisung@frontiertherapy.com or 260-5893 or 394-3051 by Thursday to sign up.

Tuesday

• A 3-D art workshop will be offered to middle -school students Dec. 29 at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, a continuation of a class Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will be engaged in planning and executing an installation exhibit to be displayed through January.  Registration is $20. For more information, call 283-7040.

Upcoming events

• The Performing Arts Society presents jazz and classical music by Paul Sharpe, an internationally known bassist, and solo pianist Maria Allison at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. Tickets are available at the door and at River City Books, Northcountry Fair and Sweeney’s in Soldotna and Already Read in Kenai. General admission is $15 or $10 for students.
• Peninsula Artists in Motion will hold its annual Winter Ball fundraiser at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center. It’s a black tie-optional event with live music by Bob Ramponi’s Alaska Swing Co. Tickets, which are $50 per person, are available at the Funky Monkey and Encore Dance Studio in Kenai and River City Books in Soldotna.
• A Celebration of Remembrance, with music, fellowship and resources, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna for people to process the grief of a loss of a loved one. Attendants are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one to share.  It is open to the public.

Nightlife:

Live music

• The Funky Monkey in Kenai has an acoustic song circle and open mic from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, hosted by Mike Morgan. All singers and players are welcome.
• Hooligan’s Saloon in Soldotna has acoustic music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and open mic night Mondays.
• The Kenai Senior Citizens Center hosts a bluegrass jam at 6:30 p.m. the third and fourth Thursdays of the month. The event is held at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna the first Thursday of every month.
• Mugz coffee shop in Soldotna has live music Saturday nights.
• The Rainbow Bar in Kenai has live music at 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
• Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has an open mic nights at 6:30 p.m. Fridays and live music at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Karaoke

• 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road.
• 9 p.m. Friday at the .406 in Kenai.
• 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hooligan’s in Soldotna.
• 9:30 p.m. Mondays at the Maverick in Soldotna.

Events

• Moosequitoís in Sterling has a Fireball pool tournament today, a Santa contest Thursday, Sleigh Bell Saturday with a gift for anyone wearing bells, and Wii tennis on Dec. 30.