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The First Thursday series of art events in KenaiSoldotna continues today. Events planned include Bob Curtis-Johnson previewing "Bob's Shorts: In Public" at noon at Kenai Peninsula College. At 5 p.m. he will show 14 new short films made in Alaska, along with historic Alaska footage at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai. Refreshments will be served. At 7 p.m. Art Works in Soldotna will host the return of Kava Kava Kiva: Mellow Tea and Wild Drumming; River City Books will feature the art of pottery with Libby Berezin; Claudette's will have an antique dish display; Christ Lutheran Church will host a bluegrass jam; and Mykel's will have an open mike in the lounge, and artist John Winters will be on display.

Skyview High School will present "Once Upon a Mattress," the "Princess and the Pea" musical, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Soldotna High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Events and Exhibits

Atz Kilcher and Clay Stephens will perform along with area musicians in a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the Soldotna Middle School gym. The concert will raise money for the Soldotna Middle School soccer team. Tickets can be purchased through soccer players, at the SMS office or the door. The cost is $3 for students and seniors, $5 for adults and $12 for a family.

"Quilts of Alaska: A Textile Album of the Last Frontier" is on display at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center through Friday. The show features historic quilts from Alaska's past. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free during the winter.

River City Books presents stories for kids at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. At 7 p.m., Lois Holleman and Holly Wiley will perform music.

The Cook Inlet Lions Club presents the Kenai Peninsula Cribbage Tournament at 3 p.m. every Saturday through March 23 at the Nikiski Senior Citizens Center. The entry fee is $10 per Saturday; there is a 60 percent payback to participants. All profits will be returned to peninsula communities through the Lions Eyesight Program.

There will be a brunch on outdoor survival featuring spring outdoor fun fashions for moms and kids from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Solid Rock Conference Center, Mile 90.5 Sterling Highway. Kathy Little, the survivor of a hurricane and former Alaska fisher, tells how she learned to weather life's storms. There is a $7 fee. Reservations are needed by Saturday. Call Linda at 262-4996 or Carolyn at 262-4214.

The Kenai Peninsula college Sunday Showcase presents "Cultural Contrasts," an afternoon of classical piano, spanning the globe from Russia to Argentina, performed by Maria Allison, at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Brockel Building at the college.

"Roadside Alaska," a landscape photography show by Hal Gage, will on display at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center Wednesday through April 12. An artist's reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. April 4 at the center.

Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna presents Amanda Brail as its artist of the month.

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 Collectables, Malfunction Junction Gifts and Northcountry Fair in Soldotna, Alaskan Gift and Gallery and Fireweed Herb Garden 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. There are many scenic hiking trails, including the Kenai River trail, which begin near the center. 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

Sackett's Roadhouse Grill in Sterling presents music by Lois and Holly, the Roadhouse Girls, at 7 p.m. Friday.

Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna presents music by Nancy Anderson at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Moose Pass Cabin Fever Reliever community party will have music by Ten Cent Zen from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

The Tustumena Lodge in Kasilof presents music by Ten Cent Zen at 3 p.m. Sunday for a barbecue party.

The Katmai in Kenai presents karaoke with Sherri at 9 p.m. Fridays, The Danglin' Wrangler performs country music at 9 p.m. Saturdays, and ladies' night karaoke is Tuesdays.

George's Casino in Kenai has a DJ playing Top 40 music every Tuesday through Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday there is live music.

The Riverside House in Soldotna presents "After 10," a dance party, Friday and Saturday nights. DJ Ian will play favorite Top 40 dance music until 5 a.m.

Upcoming Events

The fifth annual Central Peninsula Writers Night, a showcase of work created by central peninsula authors, will be held March 15 at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai. For more information, call 283-1991.

Putting on the Ritz, a beauty pageant for men dressed as women, will be held March 15 at the American Legion Club in Kenai. A prime rib dinner will be held at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 776-7652 or 283-3309.

Films

See our movies page for weekly show times and listings.

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

"Quilts of Alaska: A Textile Album of the Last Frontier" will be on display at the Pratt Museum through Friday. The show features historic quilts from Alaska's past. The exhibit is part of the the show currently on display at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai.

Alice's Champagne Palace presents music by the Danny Godinez Band March 15. For more information, call 235-7650.

The Pratt Museum will present a seven-series program of community conversations on the third Friday of each month. These conversations are an attempt to foster understanding and tolerance through diversity of opinion. They will offer a comfortable setting in which to discuss a variety of topics. Participants are asked to bring a finger food dish to share during the discussion. For more information, call Michelle Bayes at 235-8635, ext. 25.

The Pratt Museum presents Whiz Kids, an after-school family activity program, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the lower level of the museum. Kids ages 5 to 95 are invited to participate in hands-on arts and crafts activities that explore the history, art, science and cross-cultural connections in the museum's exhibits and collections.

Anchorage Events

The Anchorage Concert Association presents Trio Voronezh, classical, folk and contemporary musicians, at 7:30 p.m. March 15 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at Carrs Tix locations, the box office at the Alaska Center for the performing Arts, at www.anchorageconcerts.org or by calling (800) 478-7328. Ticket prices range from $15 to $29. Information on discounts for students and groups of 10 or more is available by calling 272-1471.

The Anchorage opera season will end with Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love)." Performances will be March 16, 20, 22 and 24 at the Discovery Theatre at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets range from $20 to $75 and are available at Carrs Tix locations, www.anchorageconcerts.org or by calling (800) 478-7328. For more information, call (907) 279-2557.

The Anchorage Concert Association presents an Oscar Night Gala at 5:30 p.m. March 24 at the Hotel Captain Cook. For more information, contact Marsha Miesch at 272-1471 or mmiesh@anchorageconcerts.org.

The Anchorage Concert Association presents Natalie MacMaster, fiddler, April 5 at the Atwood Concert Hall. MacMaster recently was named the 2002 Entertainer of the Year by the East Coast Music Association. For more information, call Denise Brown at 272-1471.

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.