Thursday, December 8, Mendocino
Friday, December 9, Fort Bragg
Saturday, December 10, Little River
Sunday, December 11, Elk

In what has become a North Coast tradition, the Mendocino Art Center’s galleries and workshop studios are transformed into a two-day holiday marketplace, providing residents and visitors a pleasant alternative to hectic, stressful mall shopping while supporting local and regional artists. This year’s fair showcases a wide array of unique, high quality artwork and gift items, including stained, fused and engraved glass; enameled, gold and mixed metal jewelry; original paintings and photographs; functional and decorative ceramics; sculptural work, wearable fiber art, and local art books.

Live music will be performed both days. On Friday, Bejazzled plays swing, standards and Latin dance music. On Saturday, with more of a focus on Latin music, Bejazzled transforms into Samba Jamba, playing an eclectic mix of arrangements including well-known Latin jazz and Brazilian classics, fronted by Cherie Sheraque’s dynamic vocals in English, Portuguese and Spanish. More information at www.sambajamba.com.

Gourmet Street Food designed by local chefs, wood-fired pizza, apple-press fresh juice, mulled wine, Jennie Zacha’s traditional blackberry sundaes, baked goods, homemade soup for sale in handmade bowls and more.

Fair exhibitors have been selected in a competitive juried process with participants representing the Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Sonoma County, inland Mendocino County, and the Mendocino Coast, as well as Oregon and New York.

The Fair is held indoors and is free and open to the public. The Mendocino Art Center is located at 45200 Little Lake Street at Kasten Street in Mendocino. For more information, please call 707-937-5818, ext. 10 (toll-free 1-800-653-3328) or visit www.MendocinoArtCenter.org.

Producer/Director Paul Friesen and Music Director Billy Schieve from Rock ‘N Roll Revue 3 will reunite to try to outdo themselves for this special event that will help celebrate Gloriana’s 35th anniversary.

Much of the cast from three years ago will be returning and joining a very strong group of “Rock ‘N Roll Newbies”. This show is pure fun, and not to be missed. Dancing encouraged!

WHEN: Entertainment Begins at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30pm on Sundays. Floor Show begins 30 minutes later.
TICKETS: $20 Adults, $12 Youth (17 & under)
LOCATION: Eagles Hall Night Club, corner of Corry and Alder, in Fort Bragg.

Aside from DFF: This is going to be a great show! I sing with a bunch of the performers in other settings, and this is a really strong cast. Paul pours everything into these shows, and Billy sets the tone musically.

Doors open at 7PM, show at 7:30. Advance tickets $12 at Harvest Marker in the Boatyard Center, Racines in Fort Bragg, Out Of This World in Mendocino, and Dig Music in Ukiah. $15 at the door. To read more, visit the KOZT Web site.

Aside from DFF: I heard a rumor that Sheryl Crow may be the “special guest”. Several of the musicians in the show have played with her. Who knows? This is an amazing events with a lot of excellent musicians. Tom Yates and Vicky Watts from the KOZT put this show together year after year, doing amazing things for the community.

Enjoy the wonderful mushroom hors d’oeuvres of Karina’s Catering and a glass of the splendid wines from Lula Winery while enjoying Larry Wagner’s unveiling of his new book of photo art, “Look at Us, We’re Beautiful – Glamour is Not Just for Hollywood” and a retrospective of his photography.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund. Each year, the Chamber gives two scholarships of $1000 to students from the Fort Bragg and Mendocino School Districts. The net proceeds from your entrance fee plus a part of every purchase of Larry’s art during this party will go to the fund. Please reserve your ticket for $15 per person by calling 961-6300 or stop by the Chamber office.

Larry’s show will be open at The Odd Fellows Hall from November 3-7
• 10 -5 on Thursday
• 10 -6 on Friday,
• 10 -8 on Saturday
• 10 -5 on Sunday
• 10 -3 on Monday

If you would like to see more of Larry’s photography, visit his Web site to see a wide variety of images. His work is excellent!

Have lots of fun at our Annual Costume Dance on Saturday, the 29th. Come in costume or not. “The Safe Sax Swing Septet” are four saxes, three rhythm, all swinging’, giving the band a light, but hard swinging sound, perfect for listening and dancing. Prizes for best costumes at the Hill House of Mendocino. Music starts at the special time of 8:30PM, doors open at 7:30PM.

All Ages Welcome! Food and drinks are available as soon as the doors open. Sliding scale $10 – $15 as you can afford. For more info call Pattie at 937-1732.

One-of-a-kind pianist Mike Strickland is a gifted composer, arranger, and recording artist who brings, pop, jazz, blues, boogie and gorgeous original music to the stage with distinctive style and flair.

As a composer, Mike has always been inspired and driven by melody. He also loves to experiment with motion and texture, using the piano as his own orchestra. Born and raised in Jackson, MS, he definitely has that Mississippi blues and finger-busting boogie-woogie side as well. Mike has toured extensively all over the United States as a solo artist and with his trio, The Mike Strickland Trio. He is known for his exceptional musicianship and arrangements, his virtuosic technique, and his unmatched ability to connect with the audience on a personal level. His unique and colorful programming of his concerts is always a hit with audiences.

“Helen,” was first performed at The Public Theater in New York City in 2002. This is a delightfully humorous and beautifully written piece of work dealing with the devastating effects of war and also the ideas generated by the perfection of beauty in womankind. Helen is at the center of it all.

Helen Schoeni Theater, Little Lake Street, Mendocino. $5 suggested donation. Information and Box Office:  707-937-4477