Area sparkles with plenty of holiday entertainment
SANDPOINT — Holiday cheer is upon us, as our town sparkles and shines with arts and entertainment galore!
Top of the list has to be a favorite holiday tradition — the Eugene Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker on Sunday at the Panida. Friday night brings the Icycle Brewing Beer Dinner at DiLuna’s and the Backcountry Film Festival on the Panida’s big screen. On Saturday, there’s a live comedy show at the 219 Lounge, a book launch, reading and signing of ‘Nasty Women Poets’ — featuring Sandpoint writer Desiré Aguirre — at Evan’s Brothers Coffee Roasters, and the Jack Frost Fest concert with four bands at the Panida.
Giddy up, jingle horse, pick up your feet — there’s a lot to cover this week:
Friday, Dec. 1
Icycle Brewing Beer Dinner
Venue: DiLuna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 6 p.m.
Four Courses - Four Beers and a lot of fun! Di Luna’s has teamed up with Icicle Brewing for a fun night of dinner and drinks. Four of Icicle Brewing’s Beers will be poured and you will be the judge of which course you prefer with each beer. Beer should be fun and enjoyed with good food and good friends. You bring the friends, DiLuna’s will supply the rest!
Admission: $35, plus tax and gratuity, available at DiLuna’s Café. Admission price includes a discount on all beer ordered/purchased on night of event.
Information: 208-263-0846
Backcountry Film Festival
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.
SOLE presents the 13th annual Backcountry Film Festival, celebrating the human-powered experience! This annual community festival helps bring over 450 North Idaho youths to the snow to explore and learn in their winter wildlands. Make sure and get a raffle ticket, they help put a youth on the snow for a day.
Admission: $10 in advance, $12 at the door, or $20 donation ticket available at Evan’s Brothers Coffee Roasters, The Alpine Shop, Sole Experiences and at the door.
Information: soleexperiences.org
Devon Wade
Venue: MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
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 for those 21 and over.
Steve Neff Duo
Venue: Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Steve is back with guest Jesse Ahmann and his cello.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Pray for Snow Party & Incredible Flying Dookie Bros.
Venue: 219 Lounge, 219 First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 5 p.m. snow party; live music starts at 9 p.m.
It’s ski season and time to party! The fun starts with snacks and ski videos, 10 Barrel Brewing Pray for Snow beer specials, great prizes including a pair of handmade Lib Tech 188 skis and a snow board. Prize drawing will be at 10 p.m. and you must be present to win. Bring your dancing shoes for The Incredible Flying Dookie Brothers.
Admission: Free for those 21 and over.
Saturday, Dec. 2
Jack Frost Fest concert
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 5 p.m.
Sandpoint’s Jack Frost Fest is a community gathering to enjoy good music and get excited for the coming winter season! Four great bands — BareGrass, Sasha Bell Band, Moonshine Mountain, and Shakewell — will be playing into the night.
In addition, Schweitzer Ski Patrol’s Avy Dog program, Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, and Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education will be there to inform us about the programs they offer our community. Join us in the historic Panida Theater for an evening of great music and learn about organizations that help make our winter activities safer and more enjoyable.
Admission: $20 in advance, available at Eichardt’s, Eve’s Leaves, Evan’s Brothers Coffee and 7B Grooves, or $25 at the door.
Information: http://mattoxfarm.com/jack-frost-fest
‘Nasty Women Poets’ for Change
Venue: Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, 524 Church St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 4 p.m.
Join Lost Horse Press for a book launch, reading, and book signing to celebrate the release of ‘Nasty Women Poets: An Unapologetic Anthology of Subversive Verse,’ edited by Grace Bauer and Julie Kane, and released recently by Lost Horse Press.
The reading features Sandpoint Nasty Women Poet Desiré Aguirre, whose poem ‘Dancing Horses’ was accepted for publication in the anthology; as well as local literary friends and supporters, Rhoda Sanford; Pat Wentworth; Jackie Henrion; Suzen Fisken; and publisher, Christine Holbert. A selection of poems will be read; books will be available for purchase—they make great Christmas gifts—and a discussion will follow the reading.
This timely collection of poems speaks not just to the current political climate and the man who is responsible for its title, but to the stereotypes and expectations women have faced dating back to Eve, and to the long history of women resisting those limitations.
The nasty women poets included here talk back to the men who created those limitations, honor foremothers who offered models of resistance and survival, rewrite myths, celebrate their own sexuality and bodies, and the girlhoods they survived. They sing, swear, swagger, and celebrate, and stake claim to life and art on their own terms.
The anthology includes work from Kim Addonizio, Jan Beatty, Kelly Cherry, Annie Finch, Alice Friman, Allison Joseph, Marilyn Kallet, Melissa Kwasny, Shirley Geok-lin Lim,
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Information: 208-255-4410
Live Comedy Show
Venue: 219 Lounge, 219 First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
The 219 presents another great night of live comedy featuring Jamal Harrington and headliner Lonnie Bruhn with Morgan Preston as host. On tour for one-night only in Sandpoint. Preston, Harrington and Bruhn will have you in stitches with hilarious stand-up and stories that you don’t want to miss.
Preston, back by popular demand, has become one of the most outspoken in-your-face, I dare you not to laugh comedians working today. Harrington, a Caribbean born stand up comedian/producer/writer from NYC, brings his own unique style of comedy to the Northwest after years of honing his talents in the Big Apple.
Headliner Lonnie Bruhn, a contestant on NBC’s 2015 Last Comic Standing, will dazzle you with his real life comedy and have you rolling with laughter.
Admission: $10 in advance. $12 at the door, available at the 219 Lounge, Trinity at City Beach and Jalapeno’s in Sandpoint, for those 21 and over.
Holiday Ball Social Dance
Venue: Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 7-10 p.m.
Come celebrate the fun tradition of social dancing in Sandpoint with this semi-formal holiday ball. This fun event starts with a one-hour Tango lesson taught by a local professional instructor from 7- 8 pm, followed by general dancing, refreshments, door prizes, mixers, and a drawing for one month of free dance lessons. Singles, couples and all levels of dancers are welcome.
Please bring an appetizer to share and food donation for the Bonner Community Food Bank.
Admission: $9 adults, $6 members and $5 teens. USA Dance events are alcohol and tobacco free.
Information: 208-699-0421 or visit: usadancesandpoint.org
ArtWorks Gallery Holiday Open House
Venue: ArtWorks Gallery, 214 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Come meet the artists, enjoy some refreshments and save 10 percent on all purchases during the event.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Information: 208-263-2642
Brian Jacobs & Chris Lynch
Venue: MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Brian Jacobs and Chris Lynch are teaming up for an exciting night of Live Music in Sandpoint! They are a fun duo with a great sound that will have you on the dance floor.
Admission: Free for those 21 and over.
Sunday, Dec. 3
Eugene Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 7 p.m.
It’s a time-honored community tradition and a kick-off to the Holiday Season when local ballet students join Eugene Ballet Company’s professional dancers onstage in Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. This visual spectacle is celebrating its 30th year on the Panida stage, so get your tickets early- they sell out fast!
Admission: $30 adults; $25 supporters, $12 children 18 and under, available at Eichardt’s Pub, Eve’s Leaves, Winter Ridge, at the POAC Office or online at artinsandpoint.org, as well as at the door (if still available).
Family Animated Holiday Film
Venue: Panida Little Theater, 304 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Come visit and stay snuggly warm in the Panida’s Little Theater with the whole family and enjoy a family friendly film.
Tickets available at the door and online at panida.org
Monday, Dec. 4
Truck Mills Blues Jam
Venue: Eichardt’s Pub & Grille, located at 212 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, Dec. 5
‘Elf’
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 6:20 p.m.
After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Come dressed up as your favorite character or just winter warm! It’s fun for everyone in the entire family, even if you don’t sing. Sled your way into the Panida and help rein in the season.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
Night-Out Karaoke
Venue: 219 Lounge, 219 First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 9 p.m.
Sing to your heart’s content, or just enjoy the show as locals gather to show their stuff.
Admission: Free for those 21 and over.
West African Traditions Drum Class
Venue: Embody Studio, 823 Main St., in Sandpoint.
Time: 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays
This group explores the rich tradition of West African drumming styles under the expert leadership of Ali Thomas.
Admission: Suggested donation of $5-$15
Information: Call 208-597-1892 to reserve a djembe for class, or visit online at dununbabe.com
Wednesday, Dec. 6
‘Last Stand’
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 6 p.m.
The conservation film “Last Stand” from Inland Northwest Conservation Films brings you a breathtaking look at caribou life.
Tickets available online at panida.org
Thursday, Dec. 7
‘Victoria & Abdul’
Venue: Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance. Starring Academy Award Winner Judi Dench as Queen Victoria.
Tickets available online at panida.org