Best Bet
• The annual Evening of Classics fundraiser for the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra will be held at Soldotna Christ Lutheran Church on Friday at 7 p.m. Local musicians will be performing classical solo and chamber music and the Redoubt Chamber Orchestra will perform, conducted by Tammy Vollom-Matturro. The baton will be auctioned for the chance to conduct the orchestra. Tickets are available at the door, general admission $15, and young people 18 and under are admitted free.
Events and Exhibitions
• Soldotna photographer Ron Levy has two photography exhibits on display in October. “Journeys &Transitions” is in the Kenai Peninsula College gallery in the main campus lobby. It features images that document or represent movement, travel and the transitions between physical and emotional spaces. There will be an opening reception at KPC on today at 4:30 p.m. The second exhibit will be at the main Kaladi Brothers building on Kobuk Street in Soldotna and is entitled Interactions.” It features “relationships and interactions between people, animals, cultures and the worlds in which they live.” Both exhibitions include images taken from Ron’s 30-plus years photographing in and out of Alaska for editorial, commercial and personal projects.
• “Clay on Display” will be featured during the month of October at the Kenai Fine Arts Center. This exhibit will display pottery made by members of the Kenai Potters Guild. The opening reception will be held today from 5 – 7 p.m. at 816 Cook Drive. Donate $10 to the Kenai Potters Guild for a chance to win a unique, hand-made cup. Come see what the potters have created in response to a 10# Challenge.
• Longtime Kenai Peninsula resident Rosalind Foster will celebrate the completion of her calendar/journal, “Moments and Memories,” at a book signing from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Kenai Senior Center. The book, written over a period of 60 years, includes original poems, true stories and entries by other writers. Each page of the calendar provides the reader to record his or her own story. Books will be available for $19.95 and may be ordered by emailing moments.memories@gmail.com. Cll the Kenai Senior Center at 283-4156 for more information.
• Kenai Peninsula College Showcase:
— “The Elephant and the Lion: A Journey Across Southern Africa,” Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m., in the McLane Commons. This summer Dr. Paul Landen, KPC Psychology Professor, visited seven countries in Southern Africa — encountering amazing wildlife; visiting Victoria Falls, dubbed one of the “Seven Wonders of the Natural World”; and witnessing many vestiges of colonialism and apartheid. Landen will share his adventures with us.
— “Coming Home: A Veteran’s Journey From Combat to Classroom,” Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. in the McLane Commons. Lifelong Kenai resident, KPC Student, and Iraq War Veteran Michael Skinner discusses the complexities and difficulties of returning from service and how higher education aided in his transition. A great presentation not only for veterans and those with veterans in their lives, but for anyone in the community.
Halloween and Harvest Happenings
• The Kenai Parks &Recreation Department in collaboration with the Kenai Community Library, Kenai Senior Center, Kenai Chamber of Commerce, Cooperative Extension, Boys and Girls Club, 4-H, and Diamond M Ranch, will be holding their 2nd Annual Fall Pumpkin Festival Oct. 14 from 1-3 p.m. at the Wildflower Garden located on Lawton Drive, Kenai. Activities include free pumpkins to the first 450 children, photo ops, story time with puppets, face painting, crazy hair, petting zoo, hay rides, hot cider, cookies, music and more. For more information, please contact the Kenai Parks &Recreation Department at 283-8261.
• Halloween Party/Costume Contest, Oct. 21 at the Sterling Community Rec Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dress up for a night of Halloween fun. There will be dinner and dancing, no host bar, and dress up for the costume contest. Scariest and Most Original will receive trophies for first and second place in each category, plus a pie auction and spit the pot.
• 5K Costume Run — The annual NCRC fun run will be held on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Recreation Center. Registration will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. and the cost of entry will be canned or nonperishable food items for our Community Food Drive. Prizes will be given for the best costume. This is a family friendly event for all ages.
• Pumpkin Plunge — The Nikiski Pool will be hosting this free annual event for children ages 4-10 years old from 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 28. Come join us for fun, prizes and pumpkins!
• Trick Or Treat Alley &Strut Your Mutt — It’s that time of year to come show off your best costume for you and your pooch! The Trick or Treat Alley will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. and the Strut your Mutt event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Prizes will be held for best costumed pooch. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and all dogs must be on a leash at all times.
• ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.
Entertainment
• Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has Open Mic from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and live music with James and Elena Pate on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Reservations encouraged. Call Veronica’s at 283-2725.
• A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.
• The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Daniel Tuttle Mondays from 6-8 p.m.; Pat Wendt on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m.; Garrett Mayer on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and Robb Justice on Fridays from 8-10 p.m.
• An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.
• AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on Kalifornsky Beach across from Jumpin’ Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to “Running with Scissors,” and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Cowboy Don.
• Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
• The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.
• The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.
Films
• Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 or visit http://www.orcatheater.com for listings and times.
• Visit Kenai Cinema at www.catheatres.com for listings and times.
Fairs, Markets and Bazaars
• Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church will host its annual craft bazaar from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 at 225 South Spruce Street in Kenai, across from the Kenai Little League fields. To reserve a table, contact Lori at 284-3315 or Karen at 350-0843.
• Fall craft &vendor fair at the Sterling Community Rec Center, Oct. 28, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Accepting registration now for booth space: $45 plus tax, includes a table and chair.
• Soldotna Senior Center’s Fall Bazaar Craft Sale and Art Show fundraiser will be held Nov. 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Four categories of Artwork will be on display: Paintings in all types, Fibers, Three Dimensional, and Photography. Also, the finest in crafts on the peninsula will be for sale for those special gifts or your own home. A homemade bake sale and café refreshments will also be available for purchase. For more information call 262-2322. This Bazaar is open to the public.
Down the Road
• The Pratt Museum in Homer is from noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.
Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion. com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
