Back by popular demand, the Whirligigs Preschool Program will have a new winter session! Enroll your child in the exciting Whirligigs Preschool Program at Great Lakes Aquarium. Sponsored in part by the MinnAqua DNR Program, this is a 1.5 hour drop-off program for children ages 3-5.
On Thursday, Dec. 9, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with ballads, opera, and choral music along with Hibbing’s watercolor master on WDSE-TV’s The Playlist.
The ballads of Arna Rennan and Brian Dack explore a rich musical landscape; the cast of Amahl and the Night Visitors previews this holiday classic; award-wining watercolorist Terry Maciej shares his techniques; and members of the Arrowhead Chorale prep for a spectacular holiday concert.
This Saturday, Dec. 11, the Washington Studios Artists’ Co-op (315 N. Lake Ave.) will be having its 14th Annual All Co-op Members’ Show and winter event. From 11 am to 5 pm, come by for:
–An all co-op gallery exhibit with works by Ryan Tischer and other Washington artists
Nettleton 5th-grade Deep Portage Fundraiser
Soup and Silent Auction
Sunday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7 p.m.
UCC Peace Church
1111 E. 11th Avenue
The Nettleton 5th grade is heading to Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center and you can help. Soup and a Silent Auction will be held at Peace Church on Sunday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7. Enjoy delicious soups and breads, listen to local musicians, marvel at the Nettleton World Beat Drummers, and bid on silent auction items. You time and donations make our trip possible! Questions contact shelly.pierson @ duluth.k12.mn.us.
The Duluth/Twin Ports Hmong New Year is free and open to the public. It features celebrations with programs showcasing Hmong traditions. On Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First United Methodist Church (“The Coppertop Church”), 230 E. Skyline Parkway, Duluth, doors open at 9 a.m., a program starts at 11 a.m., and will be followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Do you know where your oil comes from?
MPIRG UMD, the American Indian Learning Resource Center, and the American Indian Science & Engineering Society welcome you to a film showing and presentation about Minnesota’s use of oil from the Alberta Tar Sands. Please join us for a viewing of the groundbreaking documentary Downstream, along with welcoming Marty Cobenais of the Indigenous Environmental Network who will speak about the catastrophic environmental and human rights consequences of tar sands oil extraction. This event is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 7pm, UMD Kirby Student Center Rafters
Questions and RSVP: mpirg @ d.umn.edu
Children’s author Phyllis Root and illustrator and Grand Marais native Betsy Bowen will be signing copies of their new children’s book Big Belching Bog at Northern Lights Books & Gifts on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 1-2 pm.
News release:
Lyric Opera of the North cordially invites you to a new production of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti.
December 17 & 18 at 7:30 p.m., and December 19 at 2 pm
Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 4 W. Second St., Duluth.
In the interest of full disclosure, I admit that I suffer from almost pathological nostalgia, a condition that only becomes more acute during the holiday season. Out come boxes of familiar, musty Christmas ornaments that probably should be replaced and mountains of Scandinavian desserts from a tradition now many generations removed from my own. And the annual viewing (okay, multiple viewings) of favorite holiday films: Holiday Inn, It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, and, of course, White Christmas.
Given the inviolability of established holiday traditions, it was with a bit of trepidation that I attended a preview show of White Christmas at the Duluth Playhouse. Happily, the production did not disappoint, sailing along with plenty of glitz and good cheer. The set, framed like a vintage Christmas card, the familiar Irving Berlin tunes, vibrant mid-century costumes all invoked an amber-tinted yesteryear.
Thursday, Dec. 2, Cities Never Sleep releases its new full-length album at Grandma’s Sports Garden! Other bands are featured and house DJs the Crunchy Bunch. Come rock and roll!
Book fair to benefit Friends of the Library, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4 at Barnes & Noble.
9:30-11 a.m. Music by Terence Smith and friends,
1-4 p.m. Crafts for kids – stamp and scrap cards, snowflakes, gift tags from recycled cards & wrap, write letters to troops.
4 p.m. Story Hour with Mary Linda Sather
Use the vouchers available at the store and your purchase will benefit the Friends of and the Duluth Public Library. If you can’t come to the store, go online anytime from Dec. 4-9 to bn.com/bookfairs. At the end of your order, enter the book fair number: 10288355
Food. Drink. Prizes. Entertainment. Great photography. Free. Can it get any better than this? Come to the Grand Opening of the DPI on this Saturday, Dec. 4, from 4-8pm. Local photographers including featured artists Larry and Linday Dunlap will exhibit work in the gallery. 405 E Superior St. Suite 140. Prizes offered by SimplyColorLab.com, First Photo, and more! For more info, call Brian at 393.2468 or go to duluthphotographyinstitute.com.
Monster, by Chris Monroe, featured in the 2010 Arrowhead Regional Biennial
Thursday, Dec. 2, 6pm, Duluth Art Institute
@ Beaner’s Central
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8pm, $7
Lance Benson and Caitlin Robertson also performing
