What's Happening

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The movie "Casablanca" will be viewed and discussed at the Cinema Forum for a free community film lecture and discussion group at Soldotna High School library on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 262-4561.

The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra will present its Young Peoples' Concert on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Mariner Theatre in Homer. Tickets are available at the door.

Events and Exhibits

The Kenai Peninsula College Art Gallery presents the paintings and prints of Marsha Spafard. The exhibition will run through March 10. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center is featuring a colorful collection of original quilt art, "Originals on the Kenai." The exhibit will run through March 11.

The Cook Inlet Lions seventh annual Kenai Peninsula Cribbage Tournament continues at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Nikiski Senior Center. The tournament is held each Sunday through April 16. The cost is $10 per session.

Kaladi Brothers features pencil drawings by Emily Steele through March.

The Soldotna Animal Hospital is featuring quilts by Linda Vroman through March.

The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center displays ethnographic material from the Athabaskan, Yupik Eskimo and Aleut cultures. Complimentary Alaska videos are available for viewing. Admission is free. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sunday. For more information, call 283-1991.

The Old Town Village Restaurant features historic pictures of the early days in Kenai.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The center is located on Ski Hill Road near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Funny River Road in Soldotna. Movies are shown every hour Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 262-7021.

Birch Tree Gallery has artwork, including pottery by Libby Berezin, Peggy Thompson and Emily Berezin; jewelry by Tami Marsters and Tuesday Logan Twohy; slippers by Stephanie Neering; vests by Lila Krohn; stained glass by Lisa Carlon, Joyce Getchell and Rob Jolly; scarves and mittens by Kathleen Logan; baskets by Pat Morrison and Kim Hyde; and burl furniture by Bob Kuiper.

Entertainment

George's Casino in Kenai has karaoke on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. with cash prizes. Thursdays, guests are urged to bring their own CDs for country night. There will be cash prizes. Fridays and Saturdays there's music by a DJ starting at 9 p.m.

Veronica's Coffeehouse has open mike jam sessions on Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Maverick Club presents karaoke at 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

The Clam Shell Lodge presents Full Tilt at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Upcoming Events

The third annual Central Peninsula Writers' Night is March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center.

Nikiski High School presents the musical "Crazy for You" on March 9, 10 and 11 in the auditorium. The performance includes Phil Morin's dance troupe. Admission is $7 at the door.

The Kenai River Folk Dancers will hold a community contra dance March 18.

Country star Trace Adkins will perform at the Kenai Central High School Auditorium April 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Carrs TIX.

Down the Road

Pier One Youth Theatre, Homer Community schools and the Mariner Theatre present "James and the Giant Peach," Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the door; the cost for adults is $6, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. Tickets for the gala performance are $2 more and include peach refreshments.

The Pratt Museum presents "Public Art" in the main gallery. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

The Bunnell Street Gallery will display the paintings and stone lithographs of Jim Evenson through March 30. An opening reception will be held Friday at 5 p.m. with a slide show and discussion by the artist.

The Homer Public Library is accepting submissions for the 2000 Top Drawer Collection. The deadline is March 31.

"We Bead It," the annual public exhibit of contemporary beadwork, opens with a reception Friday at 5 p.m. The show will continue through April 4 at the William Henry Gallery. In collaboration, Gig's Beads 'n' Things will host a house and beadwork slide show program March 14 at 7 p.m.

Anchorage Events

David Hagen will direct 35 Alaska Chamber Singers on March 11 at 8 p.m. and March 12 at 4 p.m. at the Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at Carrs Tix or (800) GR8-SEAT or (907) 263-ARTS. Tickets range from $14 to $20.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center features teaching artists at the center every Saturday and Sunday through April. Call (907) 330-8056 for more information.

The Anchorage Concert Association presents The Acting Company of New York City. The Acting Company will be in Anchorage for two school performances. "Merry Wives of Windsor" will be presented March 22 at 10 a.m. and noon. "Macbeth" will be performed March 23 at 10 a.m. Public performances of "Macbeth" will be March 23 at 7:30 p.m. and March 24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Challenge Alaska's Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction will be held April 1 in the Alyeska Prince Hotel Columbia Ballroom at 7 p.m. Date packages include fly-in fishing trips, dinners for two and a heli-ski trip. A silent auction also will be part of the evening. Tickets are $25, sold at Challenge Alaska, Dooley's, The Moose's Tooth, Haute Stuff or at the door. For more information, call (907) 344-7399.

The Imaginarium is a science discovery center located at 737 W. Fifth Ave. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 276-3179.

Films

Call Orca at 262-7003 for weekly listings and show times.

Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for weekly listings and show times.

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, P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611. You also may fax the information to 283-3299 or send it via e-mail to clarion@alaska.net. For questions, call 283-7551.

To have your event listed, information must be received by Monday at 5 p.m.