Year promises most excellent entertainment options

| January 5, 2017 12:00 AM

SANDPOINT — It looks like 2017 is going to be a most excellent year for A&E opportunities, if the first official week is any indication.

Today at noon, one of the world’s renowned experts on Ice Age floods, Tony Lewis, is giving a free presentation at the Sandpoint Library. Both Friday and Saturday, an important film titled, ‘SEED’ will screen at the Panida Little Theater, covering the topic of how the bio-tech industry are squeezing out the natural legacy of free access to a variety of seeds for food.

If you like Celtic music and great fiddling, make your way to Pend d’Oreille Winery Friday night for Arvid Lundin & Deep Roots. Saturday is packed with options, including the Friends of the Library monthly book sale and free cross-country ski lessons at Schweitzer.

We’ll also look ahead to next week and the wealth of entertainment choices therein. All the info you need is waiting below:

Thursday, Jan. 5

Ice Age Mega-Floods presentation at the Sandpoint Library

Venue: East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5

Ice Age Mega-Floods were a phenomenon unique to the Pacific Northwest. Take this excellent opportunity to learn more as expert presenter Tony Lewis, from the Ice Age Floods Institute, takes you deep into this fascinating topic. The focus will be on the physical processes and resultant landscapes of the ice age flood features in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

Admission: Free and open to the public. Feel free to bring your lunch!

Information: 208-263-6930

Benny Baker at MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Venue: MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5

Thursday Night Solo Singer/Songwriter Series , Benny Baker: A man and his guitar rocking out like you’ve wanted to since you first heard the electric guitar.

Admission: Free to those 21 and over.

Friday, Jan. 6

‘SEED: The Untold Story’ film at Panida Little Theater

Venue: Panida Little Theater, 304 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6

This documentary movie follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94 percent of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. ‘SEED’ features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel. (Also showing Jan. 7)

Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 students, $4 children, available online at: www.panida.org

Arvid Lundin & Deep Roots at Pend d’Oreille Winery

Venue: Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6

Deep Roots is an energetic band, playing an eclectic mix of traditional Celtic, Old-Timey and Scandinavian music, bringing to the stage the best aspects of traditional music from the Celtic Isles, Scandivavia and America. For many years, Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots have been delighting audiences in the Inland Northwest. Arvid Lundin is known as one of the best fiddle players in the Northwest.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Devon Wade at MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Venue: MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7-10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6

That’s right, Devon is back in the Beer Hall for the First Friday of December. Devon is an independent country music artist out of Sandpoint Idaho with a strong love for what country music has always been , songs about real life.

Admission: Free to those 21 and over.

Saturday, Jan. 7

‘SEED: The Untold Story’ film at Panida Little Theater

Venue: Panida Little Theater, 304 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 students, $4 children, available online at: www.panida.org

Friends of the Library Used Book Sale at The Library

Venue: East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Brrrr. Baby, it’s cold outside! The Friends of the Library invite you to warm your cold, cold hands during their monthly book sale. They are featuring CDs at the low price of 4 for $1.00. Also featured are non-fiction, ever-popular mysteries, youth and children’s books, self-help and exercise books to help you stick to your New Year resolutions and a special collection of historical fiction about naval warfare (think Horatio Hornblower.)

Information: 208-263-6930

First Free Saturday & Holiday Events at The Museum

Venue: Bonner County History Museum, 611 S. Ella Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Join your friends at The Museum for a day of soaking up our rich local and regional history. Some great changes have been made at the museum, including fascinating exhibits. This is a perfect way to spend a cold, winter day.

Admission: Free and open to the public thanks to the generosity of sponsors Jack & Jim and Margie Corcoran.

Information: 208-263-2344

Learn to Cross-Country Ski free at Schweitzer

Venue: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, at the Roundabout Trail.

Time: 9 a.m.; 11:15 a.m.; 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Schweitzer Mountain Resort and the Sandpoint Nordic Club are hosting their Learn to Cross-Country Ski Free Day. Get all the basic techniques down on a specially groomed trail just for beginners. Free rentals and free beginner classic or skate ski lessons.

Registration and gear reservations: 208-255-3070 or e-mail: lessons@schweitzer.com

Arbor Public Market on the Cedar Street Bridge

Venue: Cedar Street Bridge, corner of First & Cedar, in Sandpoint.

Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Scotia Road at MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Venue: MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 312 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7-10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7

Scotia Road , Newport’s Scotia Road is coming to Sandpoint for a fun show at the Beer Hall Saturday, July 2nd from 7-10 p.m. This four-piece family band is made up of guitar, mandolin and upright bass mingle with the calming vocals & harmonies of the mother-daughter duo. You might just fall in love with Scotia Road.

Admission: Free to those 21 and over.

Monday, Jan. 9

Truck Mills Blues Jam at Eichardt’s

Venue: Eichardt’s Pub & Grille, located at 212 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

‘The Conversation’ , with Marlene Petersen at Ivano’s Ristorante

Venue: Ivano’s Ristorante, 102 First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11

Artists in general have the aptitude to empathize with others, understand the subtleties of human interaction, and have the ability to imagine a more joyful world. Therefore, The Conversation is inviting all visual, performing and literary artists to come together to share how we, as artists, can construct a more positive impact on our ‘Idaho community.’

Please come with ideas for discussion for the purpose to discover and create powerful metaphors that could be exhibited, sung, danced, or spoken at a spring or summer event that would be open to the public. Marlene will be available to start and facilitate our discussion, springboarding off the topic, ‘Speaking Words of Wisdom.’ Let us all make a difference for the common good of all in 2017.

The Conversation is a monthly gathering that is graciously sponsored by the non-profit Creations for Sandpoint on the Cedar St. Bridge.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Information: 208-263-1592

Friday, Jan. 13

‘Captain Fantastic’ film and Q&A with Viggo Mortensen at the Panida

Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13 (additional showing on Jan. 14)

Captain Fantastic, starring Viggo Mortensen, tells the story of a father devoted to raising his six kids off-grid through rigorous physical and intellectual education in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. A family tragedy forces them to leave their paradise and enter the world, challenging the father’s idea of what it means to be a parent.

Beautifully filmed largely in the forests of western Washington, viewers will be reminded of the local forests of North Idaho.

Each evening will include a screening of the film followed by a question and answer session with the actor. The event will benefit Panhandle Community Radio (KRFY) and Team Autism 24/7. Panhandle Community Radio brings commercial-free high quality, national news and information programming such as ‘Democracy Now!’ to North Idaho, as well as cutting-edge general interest, perspective, independent and multi-cultural music shows.

Proceeds from these events also will help support Team Autism 24/7 , a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and resources to families living with autism in north Idaho. Team Autism 24/7 hosts an annual cyclocross bicycle race event at the University of Idaho Sandpoint campus as its primary fund raising event.

Admission: $15, available in advance at Eichardt’s Pub and Grill, Evans Brothers Coffee and Syringa Cyclery in Sandpoint, by calling KRFY at 208-265-2992, and online at www.panida.org

Information: 208-265-2992

Saturday, Jan. 14

Native American Film Series Double Feature at The Library

Venue: East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Time: 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14

Celebrate native cultures with exclusive screenings of feature-length and short films not yet released into the library’s public circulation. This month’s double feature includes ‘Spirit In Glass’ and ‘Horse Tribe.’ Back-stories and interactive discussions are led by Jane Fritz, director of The Idaho Mythweaver, following each presentation.

The Native American Film Series is a partnership of The Idaho Mythweaver and East Bonner Co. Library Dist. and funded by Idaho Community Foundation, Idaho Humanities Council, TransEco Services and endorsed by the Bonner Co. Human Rights Task Force.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org.

‘Captain Fantastic’ film and Q&A with Viggo Mortensen at the Panida

Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14

Admission: $15, available in advance at Eichardt’s Pub and Grill, Evans Brothers Coffee and Syringa Cyclery in Sandpoint, by calling KRFY at 208-265-2992, and online at www.panida.org

Information: 208-265-2992

Thursday, Jan. 19

Banff Mountain Film Festival at the Panida

Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint

Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m., Jan. 19 (Additional film festival showings on Jan. 20 & 21)

This film festival travels the world , including a stop right here in Sandpoint! Enjoy more than 25 short films over the course of three nights and see why this event has such a cool reputation.

Admission: Pricing depends on how many nights you attend. Tickets and information available in advance at Eichardt’s Pub & Grille, Burger Express, The Alpine Shop and Outdoor Experience, or online at: www.panida.org