Entertainment Guide

For week of Dec. 5-11; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.

Brainerd

Blue Ox Bar

Dirty Word (rock) Thur

Ditch Rats (rock) Fri-Sat

11th Hour (rock) Mon-Tue

Annex (rock) Wed

Eagles Club

Deuces Wild (variety) Fri

Iron Rail Saloon

Bottom Feeders (variety) Thur

Silent Partner (rock) Fri-Sat

Free Ride (variety) Wed

Breezy Point

Commander Bar

Ded Walleye, Fri-Sat

Prime Time Charlie's

Tamarack (rock) Fri-Sat

Crosslake

The Exchange

Zoo Keepers (Sat)

Garrison

The Blue Goose

To Be Announced Fri-Sat

Lake Shore

Bar Harbor

Donny Vosen (variety) Fri-Sun

Little Falls

West Side Bar

Sure Shot (variety) Thur-Fri

Starlight Express (variety) Sat

11th Hour (rock) Wed

Merrifield

The Cabin

The SKATYRS Band (rock) Sat

Performing arts

CLC production

"People Like Us," a political play about diversity by Central Lakes College Theatre Department and CLC Occupational Skills Program students, 3 p.m. today and Saturday, 7 p.m. Friday, Bob Dryden Theatre, Brainerd campus, free admission.

Grassroots Concerts

John Gorka in Grassroots Concerts series season finale, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nisswa Community Center, $15 at the gate, which opens at 6:30 p.m.

Music recitals

St. Francis Music Center student-faculty recitals, 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis Center, Little Falls, free, (320) 632-0637 for more information.

Tuba Christmas

Central Lakes College Music Department's 11th annual Tuba Christmas for trombone, baritone and tuba players, Saturday, 10 a.m. rehearsal in CLC music room, 1:30 p.m. performance in front of Kmart at Westgate Mall, call 855-8215.

Heartland at Christmas

Heartland Symphony Orchestra's annual "Christmas Sing Along" and holiday concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Middle School, Brainerd, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Charles Martin Auditorium, Little Falls High School, 800-826-1997.

Concert Association's Schedule

Wadena Area Concert Series offers Bill Schustik, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Auditorium, no charge to Lakes Area Concert Association season ticket holders, based on seating availability; Dance Through Time troupe due in Brainerd, Feb. 12, call 829-3379 or 828-7105 for more information.

Senior singers

Lakes Area Senior Singers' Christmas concert, "Jesus The Light," 3 p.m. Sunday, First Presbyterian Church of Brainerd, freewill offering for charity.

Christmas with Company B

Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts presents "Christmas with Company B" singing trio, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

Community Christmas

Central Minnesota Boys' Choir in "Community Christmas Concert," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Sacred Heart Church of Staples, $10 for adults, $5 for students in advance, $12 and $6 at the gate, (218) 894-5416 or 800-213-6877.

Handel's 'Messiah'

Cuyuna Country Chorus and Great River Strings Ensemble present Handel's "Messiah," 7 p.m. Dec. 14, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Crosby, freewill offering.

Dale Warland in Brainerd

Dale Warland Singers in "Echoes of Christmas" concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 15, Trinity Lutheran Church of Brainerd, $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and children, tickets available at American National Bank branches and at the gate.

School concerts

Four Aitkin Middle School choirs present annual Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m. Monday, high school auditorium.

Aitkin High School choirs present "Christmas 2002," featuring the Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Freshman Choir, Madrigal Singers and two bell choirs, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, high school auditorium.

Crosby-Ironton Seventh-Grade Choir, Varsity Choir, Girls' Triple Trio, Boys' Quartet, Chamber Singers and Concert Choir annual Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mayberry Auditorium.

Little Falls Community High School Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir holiday concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Charles D. Martin Auditorium, $5 for adults, $3 for students.

Visual arts

AITKIN

Jaques Art Center

"Christmas Market" exhibit, through December, downtown.

BRAINERD

The Crossing Fine Arts Center

Brainerd Area Art Club annual show, plus additional local and regional artists' work, through Dec. 15; children's Fimo Bead workshop with Jennifer Cramer, 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 14, 833-0416.

Brainerd City Hall

Watercolor exhibit by Linda Axvig, through December.

LITTLE FALLS

Family Medical Center Gallery

"Landscapes" exhibit by Laurie Field Mahling, through December, 811 S.E. Second St.

ST. CLOUD

Watercolor workshop with Janice Courtney Fitch, 6-9 Monday, St. Cloud State University, (320) 255-3081 for registration information.

Out of town

MINNEAPOLIS

Guthrie Theater

725 Vineland

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 29, $16-$46, 877-447-8243.

The Children's Theatre Co.

2400 Third Ave. S.

"The Wizard of Oz," through Jan. 11, $19-31 for adults, $14-$25 for children, (612) 874-0400.

The Minneapolis

Institute of Arts

2400 Third Ave. S.

"Up the Nile: Egypt in 19th Century Photographs," through April 13.

Historic Orpheum Theatre

Downtown

Mel Brooks' musical "The Producers," through Saturday, 800-859-SHOW for ticket information.

ST. PAUL

Xcel Energy Center

Downtown

Snoop Dogg with special guest Ashanti in concert, 7 p.m. today, (651) 989-5151.

ST. CLOUD

Paramount Theater

Downtown

The Diamonds in concert, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $19.50 for adults, $17 for seniors, (320) 259-LINE.

HINCKLEY

Grand

Casino

Wayne Newton in concert, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, sold out, (651) 989-5151.

Special events

Patriotic book signing

Photographer Michael Peterson to promote "Northland Spirit," his volume of post-9/11 photos of the area's flag displays, at book signing, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Book World, Westgate Mall, Brainerd-Baxter.

New James Gang editions

Author John Koblas promoting his latest works on the James Gang, including "When the Heavens Fell: The Youngers in Stillwater Prison" and "The Great Cole Younger and Frank James in the Historical Wild West Show," at book signing, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 14, Book World, Westgate Mall, Brainerd-Baxter.

Home tour

Heartland Symphony Orchestra annual Tour of Homes, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, $20 including brunch, call Paulette Buck for more information at 828-8062.

Freeze Fashion II

Central Lakes College student senate hosting Freeze Fashion II fine arts event that includes a fashion show, essay contest and gallery art exhibit, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dryden Theatre, Brainerd campus of CLC, $7.

Pierz author

Pierz historian-author Maurice Faust promotes his latest book release, "Aitkinsville to Zerf," a history of area settlement from mid-1800s to 1920s, at book signing, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 15, Book World, Westgate Mall, Brainerd-Baxter.

Bluegrass jams

Bluegrass jams on first, third and fifth Thursdays of each month at Coco Moon in downtown Brainerd, starting at 6:30 p.m., and every Saturday at Lakes Music in Pequot Lakes, starting at 3 p.m., call Charlotte Curtis at (218) 692-4035 for more information.

String ensemble

St. Francis Music Center string ensemble meets 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the center in Little Falls, all skill levels, (320) 632-0637.