What's Happening

Best Bets

· First Thursday events today include a reception for Pat Lytle at the Kenai Fine Arts Center from 5 to 7 p.m.; an art reception at the Jim Evenson Gallery at Kenai Landing from 5 to 7 p.m.; a blue grass jam at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna at 6:30 p.m.; and open mic night at Veronica's Coffeehouse in Kenai from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

· Hot Tuna will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ninilchik Fairgrounds. The concert also will feature Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady with Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin. Tickets are onsale now at The Bookstore, Solstice Music and www.Inticketing.com/. Tickets are on sale at Sugar Magnolia's in Soldotna and Veronica's Coffeehouse in Kenai.

Events and Exhibits

· The Kenai Saturday Market is held Saturday afternoons in the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center parking lot. The Soldotna Wednesday Market is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every week until Sept. 26 at Soldotna Creek Park along the Sterling Highway, with a variety of food and crafts vendors. For more information, contact Annette Villa at 252-7264.

· Artists Without Borders has its June show on display at the 4D Professional Building in Soldotna.

· Art Works in Soldotna has work by Kathy Matta on display this month.

· Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna has Retired Hands — Loretta Flanders, Dick Hahn — as its artist of the month for July. Meet the artists today from 5 to 7 p.m.

· Mykel's in Soldotna has Connie Goltz as its artist of the month.

· The Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai has a dual show on display through June with clay sculpture, pottery and paintings by Laura Faeo and traditionally worked birch bark vessels by Regina McAbee.

· The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center at 11471 Kenai Spur Highway has "The Journals of Captain Cook" and the summer show, "Sticks and Stones, Alaska Structure." The center also displays animal mounts, historic items and Alaska Native artifacts. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 283-1991.

· The Kasilof Historical Society's cabin museum is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment. It has historical displays and area artists and crafters are invited to display their work on weekends. The cabin is at Mile .5 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. For more information or to set an appointment, call Dave at 262-5125.

· The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center on Ski Hill Road outside Soldotna shows films on wildlife, the refuge and the history of the area daily at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m.

Entertainment

· AmVets Post No. 4 in the Red Diamond Center on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 8 p.m. Saturday and blind darts at 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

· The Crossing in Soldotna has music by Mike Morgan at 6:30 p.m. Friday and dancing with the Bob Ramponi Trio from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

· The Duck Inn has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

· The 406 Bar at the Kenai Spur Lodge in Kenai has karaoke with Steve Holloway and Debbie at 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

· Hooligan's in Soldotna has music by the Free Beer Band on Monday nights, 150 Grit on Tuesday nights, karaoke Wednesday nights, Alter Ego on Thursday nights, and Tuff-E-Nuff on Friday and Saturday nights.

· The Hunger Hut in Nikiski has karaoke with Steve Holloway at 9 p.m. Saturdays.

· Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna has music from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

· Kenai Joe's will have live music by Ten Cent Zen on Friday and Saturday night.

· The Maverick Saloon in Soldotna has karaoke at 9 p.m. Mondays and live music by the Free Beer Band on Sunday nights.

· Moosequito's in Sterling has a Texas hold 'em poker tournament every Wednesday at 8 p.m and Sunday at 5 p.m., open mic night with Pete Jackson today, karaoke with Jason on Friday night and a pajama party on Saturday night.

· Mykel's Restaurant has music by Dave Unruh from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

· The Rainbow Bar in Kenai has live music by the Mabrey Brothers from 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a poker challenge at 6:30 p.m. Mondays.

· The Riverside House in Soldotna has "After 10" with Top 40 dance music Friday and Saturday nights.

· Veronica's in Old Town Kenai has a folk music jam on the deck at 6 p.m. Tuesdays; open mic night at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; live music by Sue Biggs and Jack Will at 6:30 p.m. Friday; and folk, blues, Hawaiian and classic acoustic music by Mike Morgan and Friends at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Films

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

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

Down the Road

· Fireweed Gallery's July show features Jim Curran with new work in mixed media, metal and beads, as well as MaryBee Kaufman's "Rediscovering Landscapes: Kachemak Bay," a show of watercolor and handmade books. Opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. The gallery is at 475 E. Pioneer Ave.

· Pier One Theatre presents "The Dinosaur Musical," by Willie and Robert Reale, directed by Raniece Sutton with musical direction by Cherish Bee

McCallum. Today at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m., July 12 at 7:30 p.m. and July 13 and 14 at 8:15 p.m. For more information and reservations, call (907) 235-7333 or visit www.pieronetheatre.org.

· The Pratt Museum in Homer has a live BearCam, with a kickoff Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Starting Monday it's Bug Week at the Pratt. Each weekday meet at the museum at 1 p.m. for an hour of exciting and active bug collecti. Each Wednesday evening from 6 to 8, visit with horticulturist and museum gardener Katy Rice as she works in the botanical garden. Fish feedings are at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays and historic harbor walking tours are at 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for $5 starting at the Pratt Museum wheelhouse booth on the Homer Spit. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. To find out about other activities, call (907) 235-8635.

Upcoming Events

· BeauSoleil wil l perform at the Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik on Aug. 17. Tickets are on sale at The Buzz Cafe in Ninilchik, Homer Bookstore and online at inticketing.com. For more information, call (907) 567-3670 or kpsfair@acsalaska.net.

Anchorage Events

· The Anchorage Museum of History and Art has on display "Points of View VII: Con-Census" through Sept. 2; "Inuniunniq aqvunniagun — A Way of Life through Whaling" through Sept. 16; "Gift of the Whale," photographs by Bill Hess through Sept. 16; "Arctic Spirit," Inuit art from the Albrecht Collection at the Heard Museum through Sept. 16; "Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 2," contemporary Native North American art from the West, Northwest and Pacific through Sept. 16; and "Out of the Ordinary," the children's gallery exhibit, through May 2008. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.