Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
For week of Dec. 13-19; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
BRAINERD
Blue Ox Bar
Unhinged, Fri-Sat
Eagles Club
Kenny Jake, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Fri
Eclectic Cafe
Seth Doud, Fri
The Brass Kings, Sat
Liquor Pigz
DJ, 8 p.m. Sun-Tue
Villella's Bada Bing
The Brass Kings will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Eclectic Cafe in downtown Brainerd.
Highway 371 North
DJ, Fri-Sat
Yesterday's Gone
Open jam night, 7 p.m. Sat
BACKUS
American Legion
Frankie Lamb, 2-6 p.m. Sun
BAY LAKE
Hawk on Bay
DJ, 8 p.m. Thu
CROSBY
The Bridge Tavern
Austad Family (classic country), 4-8 p.m. Sun
LAKE SHORE
Zorbaz
DJ, Fri-Sat
MOTLEY
Ten Hi
Co Jones, Fri-Sat
Performing arts
BRAINERD
"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol"
and "Santaland Diaries"
Cultural Arts Series, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dryden Theatre, Central Lakes College, $10, 855-8199, (800) 933-0346 ext. 8199.
Handel's "Messiah"
Christmas portion, performed by Great River Strings and Great River Chorus 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Franklin Arts Center Theatre, $8 (adults), $6 (seniors and students), $20 (family maximum), tickets available at Crossing Arts Alliance, 833-0416.
Santa Cruz River Band
Spanish-American folk trio, Lakes Area Concert Association, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Educational Services Building, admission by season membership, 829-3379.
AITKIN
Bill Isles
Singer-songwriter, 7 p.m. Friday, Beanery Cafe Wine Bar, $10 suggested donation, www.billisles.com. Hosted by Northern Lights Wine Club.
BAXTER
Tuba Christmas
1:30 p.m. Saturday, Westgate Mall, free. Musicians rehearse at 10 a.m. at Central Lakes College music room in Brainerd. For more information, call Steve Anderson at 855-8215 or (218) 765-3756.
CROSBY
Crosby-Ironton choirs
Christmas Concerts, 1 p.m. (last names A-L) and 3:30 p.m. (last names M-Z) Sunday, Mayberry Auditorium, C-I High School, $2 (adults), $1 (students).
DEERWOOD
Seventh annual Cuyuna Range
Community Band Holiday Concert
2 p.m. Saturday, City of Deerwood Auditorium, free, food-shelf donations accepted.
LITTLE FALLS
A Holiday Concert: Wind
Ensemble & Concert Choir
Presented by Little Falls Community High School Music Department, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Martin Auditorium, high school, $3 (adults), $1 (students).
ONAMIA
Grand Casino Mille Lacs
Events & Convention Center
Clay Walker, country, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18-19, $25 and $35, (651) 989-5151, www.ticketmaster.com.
Oak Ridge Boys, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1-2, $23 and $29, (651) 989-5151, www.ticketmaster.com.
PEQUOT LAKES
George Maurer Group
Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts, jazz and blues, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Pequot Lakes High School auditorium, ticket prices TBA, (218) 568-9200.
"How the Other Half Loves"
Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts, Pequot Lakes Community Theatre comedy, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15-16 and 22-23 and 2 p.m. Feb. 17 and 24, Pequot Lakes High School auditorium, ticket prices TBA, (218) 568-9200.
Visual arts
BRAINERD
City Hall
Fifth and Laurel streets
Encore Art Club members, paintings, ongoing.
Crossing Arts Alliance Gallery
Franklin Arts Center
Various artists, ongoing.
Q Gallery 222
Franklin Arts Center
"Salute to the Arts," various artists, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 20.
Brainerd Public Library
Paintings by Encore Art Club, through Jan. 31.
Crow Wing County Historical
Society Museum
"Doses of History," medicine exhibit, ongoing.
"Lifeline: County Hospitals in Retrospect," ongoing.
Central Lakes College Gallery
Art by Robert Mattson, through Thursday.
BREEZY POINT
City Hall
Work by Crosslake Art Club, through December.
CROSSLAKE
Community Center and Library
Work by Crosslake Art Club, through December.
City Hall
Work by Crosslake Art Club, through December.
LITTLE FALLS
Great River Arts Center
"Themes and Variations," paintings by Bela Petheo, through Dec. 29, www.greatart.org.
Morrison County Government
Center Gallery
Drawings by Christopher Zlatic, ongoing, (320) 632-0960, www.greatart.org.
NISSWA
World Art Gallery
25282 Hazelwood Drive
Oil paintings by Janet Boner, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 21, (218) 820-9354.
Special events
BRAINERD
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Thursdays, Paradise Shores Resort, free, 764-2328.
Texas Hold'em
7 p.m. Thursdays, Villella's Bada Bing, no buy-in or entry fee, 828-2900.
Sushi Sake Samurai Saturday
5-7 p.m. Saturdays, Eclectic Cafe. Featuring sushi and sake for $1 each and samurai films.
GLBT Diversity Night
Masquerade Ball
Hosted by Lakes Area Diversity Council, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Eagles Club Bar, $4, diversitynight@hotmail.com.
Texas Hold'em
5 p.m. Sundays, The Green Lantern, free, no buy-in or entry fee, 764-2323.
Central Lakes College
Community Band
Rehearsals, 7 p.m. Mondays, music room, 855-8215, sanderson@clcmn.edu.
Northcountrymen
Barbershop Chorus
Practices, 7 p.m. Mondays, First Congregational Church. New members and audiences welcome. If interested, call Dick Jensen at 829-9663 or Yibby Knudsen at 829-1214.
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Wednesdays, Lakeside Resort, free, 828-1708.
Texas Hold'em
7 p.m. Wednesdays, registration at 6 p.m., Buffalo Creek, (218) 330-1317.
Franklin Arts Center Open House
10 a.m.-4 p.m. second Saturday of every month, 1001 Kingwood St. Featuring children's activity from 10 a.m.-noon.
Brainerd Writers' Alliance meeting
10 a.m.-1 p.m., third Saturday of every month, Central Lakes College cafeteria, $10 annual membership dues, 825-0461, www.brainerdwriters.org.
AITKIN
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Tuesdays, The Landing, free, weekly prizes, (218) 927-9998.
Cuyuna Range Community Band
Practice, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Aitkin High School band room, (218) 546-7402.
BAXTER
Book signing
Win Borden, author of "Ruminations: Memories & Tales of a Furrowed Mind," 1-3 p.m. Friday, Book World, Westgate Mall.
"Chefs' Challenge"
6:30 p.m. second Tuesday every other month, Chef & Company, free. Cooking competition similar to "Iron Chef."
BREEZY POINT
Texas Hold'em
6:30 p.m. Mondays, Prime Time Food and Spirits, no buy-in or entry fee, (218) 562-4455.
CROSSLAKE
Crosslake Art Club meeting
1 p.m. first Monday of every month, Crosslake Community Center.
DEERWOOD
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Tuesdays, The Deer Stand, no buy-in or entry fee.
HARDING
Texas Hold'em
5 p.m. Sundays, Dubb's Pub, free, (320) 277-9500.
HILLMAN
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Mondays, The Looney Bend, free, (320) 277-9452.
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Wednesdays, Hillman Bar & Grill, free, (320) 277-9515.
IRONTON
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Thursdays, Gary's Sports Bar & Grill, no buy-in or entry fee.
LITTLE FALLS
Prairie Point Quilters meeting
7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month, First Lutheran Church, (320) 632-4254 or 825-9345.
MERRIFIELD
Bingo
5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill, 851-4934.
MOTLEY
Texas Hold'em
7 p.m. Wednesdays, Ten Hi, free, weekly prizes, (218) 352-6310.
NISSWA
Bingo
3:30 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, American Legion, $1 per sheet, 963-9946.
New Year's Eve Party
5-8 p.m. Dec. 31, American Legion, featuring food and drink specials.
PILLAGER
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Tuesdays, KC's Saloon, free, weekly prizes, (218) 746-3328.
PINE CENTER
Texas Hold'em
6 p.m. Tuesdays, JR's Junction, free, weekly prizes, (218) 764-2796.
STAPLES
Book discussion
Anna Dee Olson, author of "Growing Up Amish," 6 p.m. Thursday, Stomping Grounds Coffee Shop, pre-register at (218) 894-1401.
Classes/workshops
BRAINERD
Beginner wood carving class
9 a.m.-noon third Saturday of the month and 6-9 p.m. third Wednesday of the month, Franklin Arts Center Woodworking Shop.
AITKIN
Jaques Art Center workshops
Sunday Painters, led by Carolyn Parson,12:30 p.m. Sundays, (218) 927-2363.
Weavers' Club, 1 p.m. first Saturday of the month, (218) 927-2363.
Calligraphy study group
5-7 p.m. first Monday of the month, 9-11 a.m. fourth Wednesday of the month, Jaques Art Center, (218) 927-2363, www.aitkinbeanery.com, www.northernlightswine.com.
DEERWOOD
Forest Road Art Studio class
Drawing, 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, $4, for all ages, (218) 534-4936.
LITTLE FALLS
Great River Arts Center classes
Ceramics Open Studio, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays, $5 (GRAA members), $8 (non-members).
Drawing Discovery Book Club, 3:30-4:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month, free, (320) 616-5421, www.greatart.org, kampas@fallsnet.com.
Good Living Cookbook Club
7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Bookin' It, (320) 616-5580, www.bookinitontheweb.com.
Out of town
MINNEAPOLIS
Minnesota Children's Museum
"Top Secret: Mission Toy," traditional toys and games from the Dominican Republic, through Jan. 27, www.mcm.org.
"Georgia O'Keeffe: Circling
Around Abstraction"
Through Jan. 6, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, admission TBA, (612) 870-3046, www.artsmia.org.
"The Genius of Shibata Zeshin"
Through Jan. 6, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, (612) 870-3046, www.artsmia.org.
"A Nordic Christmas"
Exhibit, through Jan. 13, American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., $5-$6, (612) 871-4807.
"A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol"
Musical comedy, various times through Dec. 31, State Theatre, $15-$22, (612) 673-0404, www.ticketmaster.com.
"Sweet William"
Performed by Michael Pennington, various times through Dec. 22, Guthrie Theater, $25-$45, (877) 44-STAGE, www.guthrietheater.org.
"Don't Hug Me"
8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 11-Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Feb. 14, Hennepin Stages, 824 Hennepin Ave., $22 (Sundays and Feb. 14), $25 (Fridays and Saturdays), (612) 373-5665, www.ticketmaster.com, www.donthugme.com.
EXCELSIOR
Neil Simon's "Proposals"
Comedy presented by Old Log Theater, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 1 p.m. selected Wednesdays and Thursdays, through Feb. 16, Excelsior Playhouse, $18.50-$30, (952) 474-5951, www.oldlog.com.
Charles Perrault's
"Little Red Riding Hood"
Children's show presented by Old Log Theater, 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 30, Excelsior Playhouse, $14, (952) 474-5951, www.oldlog.com.
HINCKLEY
Grand Casino Hinckley
Events & Convention Center
The Cornell Gunter Coasters, The Marvelettes and The Platters, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28, $10-$20, (651) 989-5151, www.grandcasinomn.com.
NEW YORK MILLS
Regional Cultural Center
Landscape paintings by Mary Lingen, through Jan. 5.
Semi-abstract landscape paintings by Mary Lingen, through Jan. 5.
ST. CLOUD
Paramount Theatre
Robert Robinson (gospel), "Spirit of the Season," 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, $19-$23, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
Last Minute Holiday Art Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
Bobby Vee, "Home for the Holidays," 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $22-$25, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
Handel's "Messiah," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22, $14-$17, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
"Scrooge," Laraway Classic Film Series, 2 p.m. Dec. 23, $5, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
"Sister's Christmas Catechism" (comedy), 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27-28, $20-$23, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
Tonic Sol-fa, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and 4 p.m. Dec. 30-31, $12-$24, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
Hal Ketchum (country), 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11, $21-$23, (320) 259-5463, www.paramountarts.org.
ST. JOSEPH
Minnesota Dance Theatre's
Nutcracker Fantasy
2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Petters Auditorium, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, $35 (adults), $32 (seniors/youths), (320) 363-5777, www.csbsju.edu/finearts.
WALKER
Northern Lights Casino
Laughs at the Lights, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, free.
Brett Michaels of Poison, 7 p.m. Dec. 30, $23-$33, www.northernlightscasino.com.
If you would like your event listed in the entertainment guide, e-mail John at john.hansen@brainerddispatch.com, call 855-5863, fax 829-0211 or mail to John Hansen, Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401. Please include time, date, place, admission price and contact information. Deadline is Monday for Thursday publication.