What's Happening
Best Bets
"Thanks for the Memories," a new musical by Joe Rizzo, will be performed by Nikiski drama students at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday in the Nikiski Middle-Senior High School theater and at 7 p.m. Jan 29, 30 and 31 at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School. Tickets are $7 in advance and are available at Charlotte's in Kenai and River City Books in Soldotna. Tickets also will be available at the door for $10.
There will be a ballroom dance party Friday at the North Star Dance Studio in the Superstructures building in Soldotna. A beginners' lesson will be given at 8:30 p.m. and open dancing goes from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $7 and includes the lesson and refreshments. For more information, call 262-6133.
Events and Exhibits
Filmmaker Paul Gray will screen his documentary "Ggugguyni, Kenaitze Native Youth Olympic Team," at 3 p.m. Sunday in room 132 at Kenai Peninsula College. The film explores the personal achievements of the participants in the Native Youth Olympics and how their cultural background relates to the games. After the film, Gray, producer of the television series "Exploring Alaska," will talk about the making of the documentary and about video production in general. This event is free and open to the public.
The Gary L. Freeburg Art Gallery at Kenai Peninsula College has the statewide touring photography show "Rarefied Light" through Feb. 6. The gallery's hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center has exhibitions by landscape painter Alan Perry and a Young America Patriotic Arts show sponsored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Soldotna with works from students at Soldotna, Skyview and Kenai Central high schools through January. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna has David Edwards-Smith as its featured artist of the month and hosts a chess club every Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Artwork by Kenai Peninsula artists can be viewed and purchased at the following area businesses: Art Works, Birch Tree Gallery, Claudette's Folk Art and Collectibles, Donna's Country and Victorian Gifts, Frames and Things, Malfunction Junction Gifts, Northcountry Fair and Tammy's Flowers and Gifts in Soldotna; Alaskan Gift and Gallery, Fireweed Herb Garden and Gifts, Kenai Fine Arts Center and Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai; and Peninsula Furs Inc. in Sterling.
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is on Ski Hill Road near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Funny River Road in Soldotna. For more information, call 262-7021.
Entertainment
Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna presents music by Melissa Kay Smith from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Rainbow Bar in Kenai presents music by The Mabrey Brothers at 10:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The Riverside House in Soldotna presents "After 10," a dance party, Friday and Saturday nights. DJ Ian plays favorite Top 40 dance music until 5 a.m.
The AMVETS Post No. 4 in the Red Diamond Center on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 8 p.m. Saturdays.
The Maverick Saloon in Soldotna has karaoke Mondays and Fridays.
Upcoming Events
The second annual Peninsula Reading Carnival will be from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 31 at Soldotna Middle School. The carnival features main stage performances by local celebrities, groups and children. Activities for the day include guest readers and storytellers, booths, games, a Dinosaur Fun Jump, Bingo for Books, Scholastic Book Fair, and refreshments. Admission is free.
The Performing Arts Society presents a Sitka Summer Musical Festival Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. Advance tickets may be purchased at Alaskan Gift and Gallery and Already Read Books in Kenai, and River City Books and North Country Fair in Soldotna. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for people 18 and under.
World Music for the Kenai and KDLL 91.9 FM present blues and gospel music by lap-steel guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center, 11471 Kenai Spur Highway. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available only at the door. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for students and KDLL members, free for kids under 12 and $50 for families.
Films
Call Orca at 262-7003 for weekly listings and show times.
Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for weekly listings and show times.
Down the Road
The Pratt Museum in Homer presents WHIZ Kids activity programs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the museum's lower level.
Anchorage Events
The Anchorage Symphony will have a Valentine's Day concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Atwood Concert Hall featuring Elizabeth Hainen, principal harpist for the Philadelphia Orchestra. The symphony will perform pieces by Mozart, Puccini, Rimsky-Korsakov and others. Tickets are available at CarrsTix locations, the Alaska center for the Performing Arts ticket office, by calling (800) 478-7328 and online at www. tickets.com. Prior to the concert, there will be a Words on Music lecture at 7 p.m. in the Atwood Concert Hall and a Lunch and Learn program from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Z.J. Loussac Library Public Conference Room.
The Anchorage Museum of History and Art has "Ready, Set, Go!" an exhibit of toys and games in art, through May. Also on display through Sunday is "A T. Rex Named Sue," a cast of the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur specimen ever discovered, and "Meet the Dinosaurs of Alaska." Museum winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
If you have an event to include in our Thursday InSide section, send the information, in writing, to "What's Happening," c/o the Peninsula Clarion, Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611, fax the information to 283-3299 or send it via e-mail to clarion@alaska.net.
The deadline for information is Monday at 5 p.m. For more information, call 283-7551.