BEST BETS

ONGOING: ART

Give 'em a 'Hand'

You don't see many things made by hand nowadays. Several exceptions are currently on display at "By Hand," featuring weaving by Michele Auger and clay by Bill Gossman, at the Ripple River Gallery near Aitkin. A reception will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

THURSDAY: WRITING

The write stuff

The easy part was writing; the hard part might be performing the material in front of a crowd. The winners of the Central Lakes Collegewriting contest will give it a shot at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dryden Theatre at CLC in Brainerd. Admission is free.

THURSDAY, TUESDAY: MUSIC

Spring intothese concerts

Students at two area high schools will show off what they learned this year. The Crosby-Ironton High School Choirs will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school's Mayberry Auditorium; admission is $3-$5. The Brainerd High School Orchestras, featuring soloists Rebecca Yeh (top left) and Karsten Jensen, will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Educational Services Building, in Brainerd; admission is by donation to the Brainerd Area Habitat for Humanity.

SATURDAY: MUSIC

Nothing but the Fest

Don't feel bad if you missed last year's festival - it was held at the organizer's house. In its second year, LarFest opens to the masses from noon-midnight Saturday at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. Performers will include regional and area favorites like Sunshine Behavior, The Phoenix Philosophy, The District, Therjoy, Sunken Ship Irony, Stoked Beyond Boredom, Shallos, Andy Fischer and Birthday Pony. Admission is $5, with funds going to the Brainerd Food Shelf.