Jim Brandenburg posted this image on his blog which seemed perfect for us this week --- we finally have snow! Yay! Happy New Year!!
The New Year cometh — are you ready?
Certainly musicians and chefs are anticipating the big weekend, which starts with New Year’s parties on Thursday night and continues through Sunday. There might still be time to make reservations for New Year’s Eve at your favorite restaurant, but call right away.
The New Year festivities began at the Grand Marais Library on Wednesday, at 7:o0 p.m. when Spencer Muhich, a local student who attends the Perpich Arts High School, performed a fun selection of folk tunes to showcase his musical talent.
Also on Wednesday night, Timmy Haus played at the GunFlint Tavern.
There’s lots of activity on New Year’s Eve. First up is the New Year’s Party at the Cook County Care Center where Liz Sivertson, John Gruber and Pete Kavanaugh will play at 7 p.m. tonight. Everybody at the Care Center gets dressed up for this special event and the public is invited to join in the fun. The party is over at 8 p.m.
Sven and Ole’s is hosting a New Year’s Eve Trivia Game on Thursday night, too, with special prizes for the occasion.
Bicycle Army's new T-shirt.
The local band, Bicycle Army, will play the New Year’s Party at the GunFlint Tavern. Getting the nod to play at this big annual festivity is an honor, said Todd Miller, lead guitarist of the band. They’ll be prepared. They’ve already ordered a bunch of great looking T-shirts for the event. (See illustration at left.) The music starts at 8:30 p.m., and if you like dancing, this is the band for you.
The Ely band, Crazy Neighbors, play at the Tavern on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. The Pincushion Warblers play on Sunday, Jan. 3, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Michael Monroe will hold a special New Year’s Eve Log Cabin Concert at his residence starting at 7 p.m. and then another concert on Jan. 1 with singer/songwriter Michael Johnson. For more information and tickets, call 387-2919 or e-mail mm@michaelmonroe.info.
Papa Charlie’s will feature karaoke with, Buzz, on New Year’s Eve starting at 9:30 p.m. Bill and Kate Isles and Jason Swenson play the Apres Ski crowd that day. On New Year’s Day, Pete Kavanaugh plays for the Apres Ski group (3:30-6:30 p.m.) and Bicycle Army plays at 9 p.m.
On Jan. 2, Timmy Haus plays at Papa Charlie’s from 3:30-6 p.m. followed by Joe Paulik, 6:30-9 p.m. Sick of Sarah, a band from Minneapolis, plays at 9:30 p.m.
Bluefin will have a New Year’s Party with a DJ and then a special classical music Sunday evening concert from 7-9 p.m. with Betty Braunstein, Josh Aerie and Samuel Black. The concert is free.
Stephan Hoglund's Hoar Frost Morning.
In other art news, Stephan Hoglund will be posting special photos on the WTIP Website. The one at left is of the Gunflint Pines on the Gunflint Trail. Click here to see what he says about one of our favorite spots.
And, since we seem to be focused on the beauty of early winter on the North Shore, check out this video created by David Grinstead on early-season ice pancakes in Grand Portage. It’s a quiet little video that captures those special moments on the shore of Lake Superior.
Photo by Jim Brandenburg
Also, Jim Brandenburg’s photo of an Arctic tundra wolf leaping to an ice flow is one of the photographs featured in a new book, “100 Photographs That Changed Canada” by Mark Reid. The publisher, Harper Collins, has produced a video describing the significance of the photo choices. To see it, click here.
Grand Marais photographer Mark Tessier has been out photographing ice and water, trees and snow in the last few weeks.
Here are a few examples:
Photo by Mark Tessier
Photo by Mark Tessier.
Tessier’s work is featured at Sivertson Gallery.
Many shops and galleries in Grand Marais will be open on New Year’s Eve Day, closed on Jan. 1 and then re-open on Jan. 2, except for Birchbark Books & Gifts, which closes on New Year’s Day through April 15.
The Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio Gallery continues through the end of January. The Quilt Show and Sale at the Johnson Heritage Post closes Jan. 3. The gallery should be open tomorrow and over the weekend.
Last Chance Gallery, which is open on Saturdays by appointment and “by chance” has new scarves by Korey Thompson and raven paintings by Jan Wise of Washburn, Wis. Bronze sculptor Tom Christiansen is working on making bronze sinks and a bronze urn.
Another Acoustic Jam Night will be held Monday, Jan. 4, at the Chicago Bay Marketplace in Hovland. Musicians, vocalists and the interested public are invited. The music starts at 6 p.m.
Kah Nee Tah Gallery in Lutsen has new Swarovski suncatchers and mobiles made by Larae Fjellman and woodwork by Courtney and Aryn Kern.
Sandhill cranes look like ballet dancers as they speed up for take-off at Bosque Del Apache in Arizona. Photo by Roger Nordstrom.
Grand Portage photographer, Travis Novitsky, and fellow photographer Roger Nordstrom of Elk River met in Arizona recently to shoot photographs together and explore Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge. At left is a photo Nordstrom took of two sandhill cranes taking off from a snowy, ice-covered pond. He actually took a wonderful sequence of the birds taking off. Check it out by clicking here.
Novitsky was at the same spot and took some photos and a video, too. See his photos at his Web site here.
Actually, Novitsky has been on an incredible journey through the West this month and has been taking some great photos, many of which are already uploaded on this site. He’s also been experimenting with videos. Yearn to hear the sound of the Pacific Ocean? Take a listen here.
And here’s what we can look forward to from the North Shore Music Association next season. The first concert will be a blockbuster: Peter Ostroushko will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 30. Tickets are $18 adults, $12 students and are available at tix.com or 287-1284. Here’s a clip of him playing on The Prairie Home Companion.
In February, the NSMA will host the Local Musician’s Spotlight at the ACA. Bands which have committed to play so far include Rod N Real, Pete Kavanaugh, Bicycle Army, Pincushion Warblers, the Cascade Mountain Syrup Lickers (Bump Blomberg, Bill Hansen, Eric Frost, Jessa Wallendahl and Nathan Baker.) Stay tuned for more on this one.
In March, the Music Association is collaborating with North House Folk School to bring in Paddy O’Brien, who plays the Irish 2-button accordion and his group, Chulrua. There will be workshops and a dance at North House and then a March 20 concert at the ACA.
In April, the NSMA will hold its 25th anniversary party at Naniboujou with Mike DeBevec and the Blue Sky Jazz Band, The tables will be cleared out of the Great Hall for dancing. It should be a fun event.
Martha Scanlan, former singer/songwriter for the Real Time Travellers will be the featured musician in May and in June, The Pines, a country -folk duo from St. Paul with perform. The group just released a new CD with a concert at the Cedar Cultural Center in the Twin Cities.
Here is an interesting job opportunity in the arts: the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (based in Duluth and serving a seven-county region in the Arrowhead), is looking for an assistant director. For more information about the position, call 218-722-0952 or e-mail info@aracouncil.org. Additional information about ARAC and its programs can be found on its web site at www.aracouncil.org.
And, to end with a winter tale, here’s a video from Spokane, Wash., which you might enjoy. Click here to see it.
