360 January 3, 2019 by Skagit Publishing

THE STORY BEHIND THE “SURGE” EXHIBIT AT MONA

PAGE 7

Skagit Eagle Festival begins monthlong run PAGE 3

Skagit Valley Herald Thursday January 3, 2019

ON STAGE PAGE 8 Comedian Lewis Black to perform at Mount Baker Theatre MOVIES PAGE 14

“Ben is Back” an intimate, tense drama about a troubled family

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK “AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN”: There is a very fine line between a creatively quirky movie and an agonizingly annoying one. “An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn,” the latest offering from British director Jim Hosking (“The Greasy Strangler”), falls extremely on the side of being painful to watch. What Hosking tries to pass off as avant-garde humor is really just a failure to be funny. Hosking has taken an erratic approach to putting together a tale of passion built around disgruntled coffee shop worker Lulu Danger (played with all-consuming angst by Aubrey Plaza). She leaves her husband to go on a road trip with a stranger, Colin (Jemaine Clement), when she sees that a man from her past, Beverly Luff Linn (Craig Robinson), is performing at a hotel for “one magical night only.” That three men show interest in Lulu is enough to send the movie into an annoying spiral. The effort to be creatively quirky is there, but it’s a fool’s errand. In the end, “An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn” is the kind of production that would be best as a long-running midnight feature in “Twin Peaks.” It’s got a plodding nature driven by mundane characters that will appeal to a very niche audience. “THE OATH”: Chris (Ike Barinholtz) and his wife, Kai (Tiffany Haddish), are preparing

for the family members’ arrivals for their annual Thanksgiving celebration. There’s more than the smell of cranberries lingering in the air as the event comes just days before a controversial White House policy goes into effect. All Americans are asked to sign a loyalty statement no later than the Friday after Thanksgiving. “The Oath” is an example of how it’s not how strong a movie starts, but the strength it shows in the final act that makes the most impact to establish a production’s quality level. Had “The Oath” stopped at the midway point, the offering would have been a smart and intriguing look at an issue that resonates strongly against the current political climate. Sadly, it keeps going, and the second half is a lackluster conclusion where director/writer Barinholtz opted out of the intelligent elements from the beginning half and turns the production into a bloody and senseless exercise in

violence. “NOVA: VOLATILE EARTH: VOLCANO ON FIRE AND VOLCANO ON THE BRINK”: Two-part series that looks at two of the world’s most active and mysterious volcanoes in Africa: Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. “CMA AWARDS LIVE: GREATEST MOMENTS 19682015”: The three-disc set includes performances by Alabama, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill and Loretta Lynn. “CASTLE ROCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON”: Series where the small rural town in Maine that has been the setting for man Stephen King works has come to life. “NOVA: ADDICTION”: Three addicts go on emotional and personal treks dealing with their opioid addictions. “THE GREAT BATTLE”: Director Kim Kwang-Sik’s film depicts the Goguryeo dynasty. “FAMILY GUY: 20

GREATEST HITS”: The musical collection of 20 song-and-dancefilled episodes is being mark the 20th anniversary of the animated series. “PEGASUS: PONY WITH A BROKEN WING”: Just as a developer plans to take over a ranch, a young girl and a neighbor boy find a mysterious pony with an injured wing. “ODDSOCKEATERS”: Young Oddsockeater learns about life in the world of creatures that eat socks. “BENT”: The tale of a fight for survival is based on the play by Martin Sherman. “SECRETS OF BRITAIN’S GREAT CATHEDRALS”: This eight-episode program explores cathedrals and abbeys found throughout England and Wales. “MID90S”: A 13-year-old spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends in ’90s L.A. “WHEN HARRY MET SALLY”: Billy Crystal-Meg Ryan romantic comedy is being

rereleased to mark the 30th anniversary. “TIME FREAK”: Comedy about the lengths one man will go to get the girl of his dreams. Asa Butterfield stars. “NATURE: SUPER CATS”: Three-part program features 31 different cat species, including the Iberian lynx, the margay from Central and South America and Africa’s tiny black-footed cat. “FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES”: Frankie Drake (Lauren Lee Smith) is Toronto’s only female private detective in the 1920s. “KUSAMA: INFINITY”: Yayoi Kusama overcomes impossible odds to bring her radical artistic vision to the world stage. BEING RELEASED ON DIGITAL HD JAN. 8 “FIRST MAN”: Ryan Gosling stars in this look at Neil Armstrong and his history-making step. Will be available on Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 22. “THE HATE U GIVE”: High school student must deal with the pressure of witnessing her childhood best friend’s fatal shooting at the hands of a police officer. Set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray Jan. 22. “JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN”: Rowan Atkinson returns as the accidental secret agent. Look for it on DVD on Jan. 22. – Rick Bentley , Tribune News Service

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Inside Out & About........................... 4-5 Get Involved........................... 6-7 On Stage...................................... 8 Tuning Up................................... 9 Travel.........................................11 Hot Tickets...............................12 At the Lincoln..........................13 Movies................................. 14-15 SUBMISSIONS

Email: features@skagitpublishing.com Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition Phone 360-416-2135 Address Skagit Publishing 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Online events calendar To list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

Contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com

TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

Thursday, January 3, 2019 - E3

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ON WINGS OF EAGLES

2019 Skagit Eagle Festival begins this week By SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD STAFF

The annual Skagit Eagle Festival begins this weekend; the event draws visitors to Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount for a wide variety of eagle-related activities. There are events happening every full weekend in January. Here’s what’s happening this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 5 and 6. SATURDAY, JAN. 5

5K Salmon Run and Nature Walk at 9:30 a.m. at Double O Ranch, 46276 Concrete Sauk Valley Road. n

ALL WEEKEND

Wildfire Hayrides & Campfire all say at Double O Ranch. n Skagit River Eagle Viewing and Photography Tours, 7349 Ranger Station Road, Marblemount. Reservations required: skagiteagles.com. n Deep forest experience, Rockport State Park, 51095 State Route 20, Rockport. Free guided tours every hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. n

Charles Biles / Skagit Valley Herald

A bald eagle stands watch above the Skagit River on Nov. 29 during a salmon survey on the river.

Charles Biles / Skagit Valley Herald

A bald eagle flies through falling snow over the Skagit A bald eagle stands watch above the Skagit River on Nov. 29 near Birdsview. River near Rockport in December 2016.

Charles Biles / Skagit Valley Herald

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT AND ABOUT

ART

HONEY I SHRUNK THE ART: Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park presents its 28th Annual Small Works Show until Jan. 13 at 2345 Blanche Way, Camano Island. JENNIFER BOWMAN: The work of Jennifer Bowman will be on display through Jan. 22 at the Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. MOUNTAINEERING EXHIBIT: Western Washington University’s Libraries Heritage Resources will host a new exhibition exploring the relationship between humans’ love of high altitudes and issues of gender, race and class until March 22 in the Special Collections floor of the Wilson Library, 516 High St., Bellingham. Free.

FIRST FRIDAY

ARTISTS CHOICE 2019: Fourth Corner Frames has chosen the finest photographs in the Northwest to be featured at the gallery, 311 W Holly St., Bellingham. A reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. JENNIFER BOWMAN: The work of acrylic artist Jennifer Bowman is on display at the Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, until Jan. 22. TERRY MACDONALD: Acrylic and mixed media artist Terry MacDonald is featured at the Good Stuff Arts Gallery through January. There will be a demonstration from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, coinciding with the artwork at the gallery, 604 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

MUSIC

ART WALK

JAZZ BY BONNIE NORTHGRAVES: The Bellingham Traditional Jazz Society presents Bonnie Northgraves and Friends playing swinging vintage jazz from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Bellingham VFW, 625 N. State St.

Jan. 4 6-9pm Burton Jewelers The Good Stuff Arts Red Salon Aveda

1837547

Pelican Bay Bookstore & Coffee Shop Scott Milo Gallery The Majestic Inn and Spa

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK: Walk through downtown Anacortes and view the work of local artists during the Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4.

www.anacortesart.com

ADAM BILLINGS: The Bellingham Festival of Music presents a young composer from the Pacific Northwest at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at First Congregation Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham. $15, free for students. THOMAS HARRIS: Thomas Harris of Bellingham will be accompanied by Conner Helms, Greg

Feingold and Christian Casolary as part of the Second Sunday Jazz program at Anacortes Public Library. The concert starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

Good Time Girls showcase Bellingham’s hidden history By Skagit Valley Herald staff

GATHERING: Kulshan Chorus will present the winter concert “Gathering” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. $7-$22.

LECTURES & TALKS

A YEAR IN SPAIN: Elizabeth McKeen spent a year in Spain and will present her story at 7 p.m. today, Jan. 3, at Anacortes Library, 1220 Tenth St., Anacortes. THE SKAGIT QUEEN: Jesse Kennedy will discuss the historic Skagit Queen mine and its impact on the early development of the area at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Burlington Public Library, 820 E Washington Ave., Burlington.

ARTIST & SCIENTIST PANEL: A moderated panel featuring scientist and artist teams who contributed to the Surge exhibition at the Museum of Northwest Art will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the museum, 121 First St., La Conner. Free. LIBRARY TALKS: The Anacortes Public Library will host a series of talks at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through January. n How to Use Your Digital Camera, Jan. 9. n Treasures of the Northern Salish Sea, Jan. 16. n Made in Puget Sound, Jan. 23. n Best of Europe, Jan. 30. GERMANS FROM PRUSSIA: Skagit Valley

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Guides Jane Burleigh and Hayley Boothe during Good Time Girls summer tours.

Genealogy Society presents a talk by genealogy expert Dave Obee at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Burlington Public Library, 820 E Washington Ave., Burlington. FORAGE FISH IN SALISH SEA: The Friends of Skagit Beaches presents a talk on forage fish species in the area at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the Northwest Education Services Building, 1601 R St., Anacortes. YACHT DESIGNS: Bob Perry will lead “Yacht Designs My Way” as part of the Anacortes Public Library Maritime Speaker Series at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19.

MORE FUN

”THE NEXT SHOW”: The first Thursday of every month from 7-9 p.m., the live show where you hear the music and thoughts of artists from Anacortes and

The ladies behind the “Sin & Gin” tours that highlight the hidden history of downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven are giving a free presentation at noon Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham. The presentation is a collaboration between the Good Time Girls and the Whatcom Museum Advocates. This presentation will highlight many of the less-known histories of many communities and characters that shaped Bellingham back in the day. The presentation will shed light on sex workers, teetotalers, immigrants, rum-runners, traveling preachers and more.

beyond. Jan. 3 guests: The Crabs. Tune in at AnacortesMusicChannel.com. ARTIST & SCIENTIST PANEL: A moderated panel featuring scientist and artist teams who contributed to the Surge exhibition at the Museum of Northwest Art will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the museum, 121 First St., La Conner. Free. STEAK FRY: The Parish Council at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will serve a steak dinner with salad bar, beverages and dessert from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at 719 Ferry St., Sedro-Woolley. $11. A hamburger and fries option is available for $8. 360-854-0629. VISIONS AND VOICES: The forgotten films from cinema’s female directors will be played in this silent film series presented by

CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N Commercial St., Bellingham. TREATY DAY FILM FEST: This film festival showcases the resilience of indigenous peoples in honor of the Point Elliot Treaty of 1865 and features short films and a panel discussion. The festival is from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at the Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St., Bellingham. SPELL OF THE WEST: Attend the opening of the ”Spell of the West” at the Museum of Northwest Art from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in La Conner. “Spell of the West” explores how the West was romanticized in art and features performance art.

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT AND ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Conference is a space for the community to come together and renew commitments to the ideals of King from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Syre Student Center at Whatcom Community College, 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham. VINTAGE RADIO EVENT: Listen to vintage radio music and shows from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Caregie Gallery, 1305 Eighth St., Anacortes. There are two sessions: matinee from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP: 360-293-1915. ADULT LEGO CHAL-

Now,

JANUARY

LENGE: Join a Lego building challenge at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Burlington Public Library, 820 E Washington Ave., Burlington. MARYSVILLE WEDDING SHOW: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., Marysville. YOUTH OF THE YEAR: The Boys and Girls Club of Skagit County present a Youth of the Year Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Eaglemont, 4800 Eaglemont Drive, Mount Vernon. Free to attend, must RSVP: ifaley@skagitclubs. org or 360-419-3723 x7.

FEBRUARY LECTURES & TALKS

NATURAL HISTORY OF ORCAS: The Friends of Skagit Beaches presents a talk on Southern Resident orca history and current conditions at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Northwest Education Services Building, 1601 R St., Anacortes. FARM TO TABLE: All food businesses, artisans and growers are invited to the NW Washington Farm-to-Table Meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Bellingham Technical College, 3028 Lindbergh Ave., Bellingham. $4555. sustainableconnections.org/events.

MORE FUN

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE CONFERENCE: Five award-winning children’s and young

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11am - 10pm

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adult book authors and illustrators will be speaking from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m Saturday, Feb. 23, at Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center, 516 High St., Bellingham. $175. wwuclc.com. VISIONS AND VOICES: The forgotten films from cinema’s female directors will be played in this silent film series presented by CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden.

Bonnie Northgraves and Friends bring the swing

DAWNLAND: See a screening of the documentary “Dawnland” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S First St., La Conner.

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MountBakerTheatre.com • ((360)) 734-6080

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

Fresh, hot jazz is coming to Bellingham this Saturday, Jan. 5. Bonnie Northgraves and Friends will play from 2 to 5 p.m. at the VFW, 625 N. State St., Bellingham. The event is presented by the Bellingham Traditional Jazz Society and admission is $10 for members, $12 for general and $6 for students with ID. There will be snacks and beverages and a large dance floor.

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

GET INVOLVED

ART

CALL TO ARTISTS: The city of Anacortes is looking for entries for the third annual eightmonth outdoor sculpture exhibition. Sculptures must withstand outdoor conditions. Information: anacorteswa.gov.

ART CLASSES

DSLR NEXT STEPS: Dive deeper into advanced photographic techniques with your DSLR at this workshop at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Center, 900 E Fairhaven Ave. Each class costs $40. Must have taken beginner DSLR class or be very comfortable shooting in manual mode. A GUILDED GALLERY: Art classes on a variety of topics are available at A Guilded Gal-

FAMILY CONCERT SKAGIT SYMPHONY JANUARY 27

2019 EVENTS TONY FURTADO GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS SOCKS IN THE FRYING PAN SEAMUS EGAN PROJECT I DRAW SLOW SIERRA HULL MAMMA MIA! SKAGIT SYMPHONY SKAGIT VALLEY CHORALE THE RING OF NIBELUNG AND MUCH MORE!

360.416.7727

mcintyrehall.org

lery, 8700 271st St. NW, Stanwood. aguildedgallery.com. Prices include all classes in a series. n Watercolor Class: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 17-Feb. 14. $150. n Basic Drawing: 9 a.m. to noon Fridays, Jan 18Feb. 8. $150. n Head Drawing: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Jan 18Feb. 8. $175. n Mosaics in Vintage China and Stained Glass: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 2 and 9. $95. n Pastel Basics: 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, Jan. 16-Feb. 6. $150. TRI DEE ARTS WORKSHOPS: Art classes on a variety of topics are available at Tri Dee Arts, 215 S First St., Mount Vernon. trideearts.com. PACIFIC NORTHWEST QUILT AND FIBER ARTS MUSEUM: Varied exhibits and classes are available to the public at 703 S. Second St., La Conner. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 students and military, free for members and children ages 11 and under. 360466-4288 or laconnerquilts.org. n Fiber Fridays: bring any type of fiber art project, quilting, knitting, embellishing, etc., to work on while visiting with other fiber artists from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday. Free and open to all. GAIL HARKER CENTER: Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts offers a variety of art classes and workshops for artists of every level at 12636 Chilberg Road, Mount Vernon. Online courses are also available. For in-

formation and a complete schedule: 360-466-0110 or gailcreativestudies.com. PACIFIC NW SCHOOL: Choose from painting, photography, fiber and 3D art workshops taught by professional artists at the Pacific NorthWest Art School, 15 NW Birch St., Coupeville. For information and a complete schedule: 360678-3396 or pacificnorthwestartschool.com. DAKOTA: Dakota Art Center offers a variety of art classes and workshops at 17873 Highway 536, Mount Vernon. 360-4166556, ext. 5, or dakotaartcenter.com. STANWOOD CAMANO ARTS GUILD: A Guilded Gallery, 8700 271st St. NW, Stanwood, offers a variety of art classes and workshops. For information or to register: 360-629-2787 or stanwoodcamanoarts. com.

AUDITIONS

”AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS:” ALTA will hold auditions for “Around the World in Eighty Days” from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, and 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at Alger Community Church. Cast requirements: seven men, various ages; one woman, 25-35 years old. Performances are from March 29-April 14. altatheatre. com or ALTAinfo2001@ gmail.com. ”SHE LOVES ME”: Auditions for the Whidbey Playhouse’s production of the comedy “She Loves Me” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, at the Star Studio, 730 SE Midway

Boulevard, Oak Harbor. To schedule a 10-minute audtion, contact Gaye: whidbey995@comcast.net. Whidbeyplayhouse.org.

Smith & Vallee features art by Ruthie V. and Ken Barnes

CALL FOR DIRECTORS AND PLAYS: Whidbey Island Playhouse is seeking seasoned directors for the 20192020 Playhouse Season. Visit whidbeyislandplayhouse.com for more details or email kevinwm. meyer@gmail.com with questions. CANTABILE CHAMBER CHOIR: Audition for a choir of adult vocalists performing around Skagit Valley and beyond. Rehearsals are 6:30-9 p.m. Mondays at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 S 18th St., Mount Vernon. Auditions by appointment: dustinwilletts@ gmail.com and close September 15. Singers pay $75 in dues per semester.

BOOKS

SILENT BOOK CLUB: Share a book you have read and silently read another at 4 p.m. on the first Monday of each Month at Pelican Bay Books, 520 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. GREAT BOOKS READING GROUP MEETING: The Great Books Reading Group examines passages from important writings in history from 6-8 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. 360-941-1437 and shunji. asari@gmail.com. POETRY OPEN MIC: The Anacortes Poetry Group meets the second Saturday of the month for poetry open mics at 7 p.m. in the Anacortes Public

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“Figure with a chair in Black and Gray” by Ruthie V. Oil & Graphite on Panel, 30” x 40”

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

The work by Ken Barnes and Ruthie V. is featured at Smith & Vallee Gallery in January. The exhibit runs until Jan. 27 at 5742 Gilkey Ave., Edison. Ruthie V. has paintings and etchings and Ken Barnes has stone sculptures. Ruthie has been a contributor to the gallery from the early days and this is Barnes first time showing his work at Smith & Vallee. Library meeting room, 1220 10th St., Anacortes. Poets, songwriters, acoustic musicians, storytellers, a capella singers all welcome.

DANCE

BEGINNING LINE DANCING: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Burlington Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington. $6 drop-in, $25

for five classes. Adults and teens 13 and older. Register: burlingtonwa. gov/recreation or 360755-9649. BEGINNING SQUARE DANCING: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 8, Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon. $4 per session. Ages 10 and over welcome. 360-424-4608.

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GET INVOLVED FOLK DANCING: Skagit-Anacortes Folk Dancers meet Tuesdays at Bay View Civic Hall, 12615 C St., Bay View. Learn to folk dance to a variety of international music. 7-9:30 p.m. First session free, $5 thereafter. No partners needed. Gary or Ginny, 360-766-6866. SCOTTISH DANCING: Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Fairhaven Library auditorium (upstairs), 1117 12th St., Bellingham. Wear comfortable clothes and soft-soled shoes without heels. $8 per class. For information, call Mary Anderson at 360-933-1779 or visit bellinghamscd.org. SCOTTISH HIGHLAND AND IRISH STEP DANCE: The Clan Heather Dancers offer year-round Scottish Highland and Irish step dance classes in Bellingham, Everett and Mount Vernon. More info: clanheather.com. THURSDAY DANCING: Dance to the The Skippers or Good Vibrations from 1-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon. Everyone welcome. Information: 360-424-5696. SWING DANCE CLASSES: Classes are 7-8 p.m. every Monday in March at the Anacortes Center for Happiness, 619 Commercial Ave. No experience or partner needed. $40 per person for the series or $12 per person at the door. anacortescenterforhappiness.org and 360-464-2229.

MUSIC

SCOTTISH MUSIC SESSIONS: Musicians from around the valley meet at 3 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at Littlefield Celtic Center, 1124 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon. The jam session generally focuses on Scottish music.

SHELTER BAY CHORUS: Practices are held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Shelter Bay Clubhouse, 1000 Shoshone Drive, La Conner. New members welcome. The group is looking for an accompanist starting in mid-September. 360223-3230.

MUSIC LESSONS: Three professional instructors at the Peterson Conservatory of Music & Arts, 314 S Section St., Mount Vernon, are offering a variety of classes for music students from youth aged 6-10 ($10) to ages 11 to adult ($40-50). pcmusical.org.

SING IN HARMONY: Join the women of Harmony Northwest Chorus from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Monday at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave. Seeking women who like to sing a cappella music. All skill levels welcome. 360-201-5861 or harmonynorthwest.org.

UKULELE FUN & SONG CIRCLE: 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays, Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St. Free. Beginners welcome and loaner ukuleles available. Song sheets provided. 206-790-4862 or yogaheartspace0@gmail.com.

ANACORTES OPEN MIC: 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360293-2544.

BARBERSHOP HARMONY: Join the An-O-Chords, a fourpart barbershop harmony group that meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 18th St., Mount Vernon. No experience necessary, no auditions required. Learn by rote, you don’t have to read music. All ages welcome. anochords.org. 360-679-7473. TIME FOR FIDDLERS: The Washington Old Time Fiddlers play at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of each month at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland. St. Free; donations accepted. 360-630-1156.

OPEN MIC: Jam Night, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays, Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

RECREATION

HABITAT STEWARDS: Training covers everything from native plant identification to creating a personal wildlife sanctuary. Training offered at Isand County Multipurpose Center, 141 N East Camano Drive, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays: Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17, May 15 and June 19. It will include five field trips from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Jan. 19, Feb. 23, March 23, April 20 and May 18. Training is free, registration is required: camanowildlifehabitat. org or 360-387-2236.

Art and science come together at MONA Panel ‌

Painting by Jazz Morgan.

By Skagit Valley Herald staff Learn about the relationship between the art and science teams that brought the Museum of Northwest Art’s exhibit “Surge” to life. The panel is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the museum, 121 First St., La Conner. The teams who contributed to the

show will have a moderated discussion on the exhibit, including the voices of Dr. Dave Peterson, Roger Fuller, Anna McKee, Margot Myers, Lin McJunkin and Mary Coss. The exhibit was a collaboration between the Skagit Climate Science Consortium and the museum to draw attention to climate change and its impact on the region.

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ON STAGE in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area January 3 – 13 Thursday.3 COMEDY THE GBU: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $12. 360-733-8855 or theupfront.com. WRITING BACK ROOM LIT LAB: 6:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse. com.

Friday.4 COMEDY SPACE TREK: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $12. 360-733-8855 or theupfront.com. THEATER ”HOW SWEET THE SOUND”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-3053524 or sylviacenterforthearts. org.

Saturday.5 COMEDY SPACE TREK: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $12. 360-733-8855 or theupfront.com.

THEATER ”HOW SWEET THE SOUND”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

Thursday.10 SPEAKERS SIP TO THE SPOKEN WORD: 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Friday.11 COMEDY LEWIS BLACK: 8 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com. THEATER ”HOW SWEET THE SOUND”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

FRIDAY.11 LEWIS BLACK

8 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Saturday.12 MUSIC MANOUCHE N.W. FEATURING HOT CLUB OF TROY: 7 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

GATHERING: 7:30 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. $7-22. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Sunday.13 MUSIC PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT: 3 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. $2243. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

‘Visions and Voices’ from women filmmakers By SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD STAFF

“Visions and Voices: Forgotten Films by Cinema’s Women Directors,” presents a variety of short films starting Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham. The series — presented by Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival — is one of two film festivals in the United States that exclusively feature women-directed films, according to a news release. “Visions and Voices” will sample a variety of short films from “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers,” a collection of historical films recently

curated by Kino Lorber distribution company and the Library of Congress. The four-part series will include a variety of features and short films ranging from slapstick comedies to melodramas and thrillers. The first two films — scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday — include the feature-length “Salomé” by Alla Nazimova from 1923, and the 1912 film “Algie, the Miner” by Alice Guy Blaché. On Sunday, Feb. 10, movies scheduled to be shown include “The Red Kimono,” “The Curse of Quon Gwon” and “Mixed Pets.” More movies will be screened Friday, March 8, at the Firehouse Cafe.

Thursday, January 3, 2019 - E9

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

TUNING UP Playing at area venues January 4 – 10 Friday.4

Wednesday.9

GOOD VIBRATIONS: 6:30 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks Lodge, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. Members and signed-in guests only. 360-8488882.

JARED HALL QUINTET: 7 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St., Bellingham. $5-15. wjmac.org.

BAILEY MARTINET: 7:30 p.m., Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage, 513 First St., La Conner. 360-399-1805 or aneliaskitchenandstage. com.

SATURDAY.5 JODY TAYLOR BAND

9 p.m., Loco Billy’s, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. 425-737-5144, 360-629-6500 or locobillys.com.

LOUIS LEDFORD WITH KRISTIN ALLEN ZITO: 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Sunday.6

NAPPY ROOTS, DEADLY D, RAYMONE: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. $15. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net.

NOISYWATERS: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net.

SONS OF RAINIER, EVER-LOVIN’ JUG BAND: 8 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham.

SEAN BENDICKSON: 7:30 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

Saturday.5

BONNIE NORTHGRAVES AND FRIENDS: 2-5 p.m., Bellingham VFW, 625 N. State St., Bellingham. PROZAC MOUNTAIN BOYS: 7:30 p.m., Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage, 513 First St., La Conner. 360-399-1805 or aneliaskitchenandstage.com.

Submitted photo

SATURDAY.5

BONNIE NORTHGRAVES AND FRIENDS 2-5 p.m., Bellingham VFW, 625 N. State St., Bellingham.

TOWN HALL BRAWL TRIO: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $10. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com. SHINY THINGS, SAWYER JAMES, SQUANCH: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net.

THE ROOSTER TAILS & MONTGOMERY BROWN AND HIS ORCHESTRA OF DUST: 9 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham.

JODY TAYLOR BAND: 9 p.m., Loco Billy’s, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. 425-737-5144, 360629-6500 or locobillys. com. STACY JONES BAND: 8:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-7666266 or theoldedison. com.

THE POUR BOYS — TREETOPS & JON PARRY: 5:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-7666266 or theoldedison. com.

Tuesday.8

ANDREW DUHON: 7 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham.

NORMAN BAKER: 9 p.m., Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-293-2544 or brownlantern.com. LARRY BAEDER BAND: 8 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham. JIM BASNIGHT: 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

Thursday.10

STEVE MEYER: 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

DANNY’S DEAD & FRIENDS, CHANDLER TREY JOHNSON, ARBOUR: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. $3-5. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net. HOWLIN’ RAIN W/ GARCIA PEOPLES AND SUPERMISSIVE: 9 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham. CORY VINCENT: 7 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-766-6266 or theoldedison.com.

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January 3, 2019

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Thursday, January 3, 2019 - E11

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

TRAVEL

In the Salt Lake tabernacle Brigham Young built, 360 voices blend with frontier history By CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS Los Angeles Times

SALT LAKE CITY — There’s nothing particularly Mormon, or American, about “Ubi Caritas.” It’s a Gregorian chant at least 11 centuries old, was rearranged by French composer Maurice Durufle in 1960 and has been sung by church choral groups around the world. But I can tell you that when it is performed by a certain famous choir in a certain quirky old building in downtown Salt Lake City, that melody works a particular magic. The voices rise and fall, singing a cappella in Latin. The sound ripples to the back of the hall, guided by the curving plaster ceiling. The final “amen” grows to 10, 15, 20 syllables, each one a slow-motion acrobat in flight. That’s how it went on a recent Sunday morning at the Salt Lake Tabernacle at Temple Square, a singular American music venue commissioned by Brigham Young and completed in 1867. The 360 singers who call this building home are known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir — or rather, they were until Oct. 5, when leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renamed them the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. In the world beyond these walls, the group has been needled for its squeaky-clean image and song list, and for performing at President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times

Tabernacle Choir at rehearsal in Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.

But the singers are a beloved avatar for the church, offering musical balm for all, backed by their own Twitter feed (since 2009) and YouTube channel (since 2012). As for the building that houses them, one unimpressed 19th century visitor called it “a pumpkin half-buried in the sand.” To me, as light danced on its aluminum roof, the tabernacle looked like a surfacing submarine. That shiny roof (a 1947 addition) is a great disguise for a frontier relic and a striking element among the landmark church buildings that make up Temple Square. The site’s singular history is more than enough reason to eavesdrop on choir practice (most Thursday nights) or to see a broadcast performance (every Sunday morning) or to drop by to hear a pin drop (which happens hourly to show off the hall’s acoustics). THE CHOIR TUNES UP A Thursday night rehearsal in the tabernacle, free to the public at 7:30, is a good place to start. Once you’re inside,

look at the choir loft, where choir members will be meandering to their assigned seats, men on one side, women on the other, and making notes on their sheet music. Music director Mack Wilberg probably will be up front with a microphone, delivering corrections and commendations with a dry wit: “Ladies, you sound great. Men, you’ve got to listen more to the ladies.” To win a place in this group, singers must belong to the church, be at least 25, no older than 55, and live within 100 miles of Temple Square. Besides an audition, they must pass an interview and music theory test. For the 1 in 5 applicants who makes the grade, there are hundreds of songs to learn and a year-round schedule of rehearsals, broadcasts, performances, and sometimes recording sessions and tours. To make way for new blood, once choir members have sung for 20 years or have reached the year of their 60th birthday, they’re out. Teamwork is central.

Unlike much of show business, singing in the choir is about disappearing into a crowd, a priority that harmonizes with many LDS church teachings. Oh, and there is no paycheck; all choir members are volunteers. Administration and logistics are handled by a general manager and a paid staff of about a dozen. Meanwhile, outside Temple Square, evermore-secular Salt Lake City (population about 200,000) offers ever more entertainment options. The weekend of my visit, the Utah Symphony was in Abravanel Although the church bans the consumption of alcohol and coffee, brew pubs, coffee houses and even a few distilleries dot the city. Nobody pictured this in 1847, when the choir formed under church president Young. The church itself had been founded less than 20 years before by Joseph Smith in upstate New York. Mormon pioneers had just begun settling in Utah, and the Salt Lake Valley was nearly empty. Before long, Young was planning a temple (a tall, stone landmark that took 40 years to complete) and the tabernacle, which would be made of Utah pine, about 75 feet tall, 150 feet wide and 250 feet long, capped by a gently curving roof. THE TABERNACLE RISES Young worked with local architects and a bridge designer to craft one big room with uninterrupted sightlines and lively acoustics so

a preacher’s voice could carry. That meant thinking outside the architectural box. Young eventually chose an oval design, the roof held aloft and shaped by wooden lattice truss arches — a bridgebuilder’s trick — held together by iron nails, bolts and wooden pegs above 44 stone piers. As you walk the aisles, look closely and you’ll see that the builders painted pine columns to look like marble and disguised pine benches to look like oak. (In the last 20 years, the church has replaced most of the pine benches with oak.) You’ll also notice the organ, an 11,623-pipe affair that towers behind the choir loft like the bow of a great ship. It isn’t the original but a descendant of one built in the 1860s, using hardware from Boston and pipes carved from more Utah pines. “Sit in the front row and you hear the music hit you right away,” Stephanie Wood, an alto who is an 18-year choir member, told me. “You sit in the back row and it feels like it wraps around the building before you hear it.” In the choir loft, she said, there are spots “where you can’t hear really at all. You sit there and you think, ‘I’m singing by myself.’ ” The building “oozes history,” said Matt Harmer, a 54-year-old attorney and father of seven who started singing baritone with the choir this year. Harmer worried that singing would cut into his skiing, rock-climbing

and hiking, but the first time he stood in the tabernacle to sing “Come, Come Ye Saints,” a hymn from the church’s early days, he realized he had chosen well. “It was very emotional,” he said, “just to have a chance to sing this song that has meant so much to so many people in this faith, in this building that people sacrificed so hard to build.” Most visitors don’t get invited to climb into the rafters, but if you could (or if you peek at my video at lat.ms/sitessoundsslc), you would see 21st century seismic upgrades alongside rawhide skins, which the pioneers tied around split planks to strengthen them. You would also see thousands of organ pipes, mostly clustered above the stage. Some, known as pioneer pipes, date to the building’s first days and stand as tall as 30 feet, producing tones that seem more seismic than sonic. And if an organist should start to play loudly while a newcomer is climbing around those pipes — well, let’s just say that for a few moments during my exploration with master keyboard technician Robert Poll, death by bass note seemed a real possibility. For a less rattling introduction to the building’s acoustics, visitors may attend the tabernacle’s free daily organ recital (noon Mondays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays). The pin-drop demonstrations also take place, typically every hour on the hour, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

E12 - Thursday, January 3, 2019

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

HOT TICKETS NEARLY DAN: Jan. 4-6, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. ”THE SOUND OF MUSIC”: Jan. 4-6, 2019, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle. 206-625-1900 or 5thavenue. org. KAT EDMONSON: Jan. 8-9, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. PETER WHITE: Jan. 1013, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL, JOHN SEBASTIAN: Jan. 14, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. MARTIN TAYLOR, LAURENCE JUBER: Jan. 15-16, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. 38 SPECIAL: Jan. 25, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip. 360-7166000 or ticketmaster.com. CHRIS BOTTI: Jan. 1720, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. JEFF KASHIWA & COSTAL ACCESS: Jan. 2223, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. WAR: Jan. 24-27, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley. com. PETER BERNSTEIN, LARRY GOLDINGS & BILL STEWART: Jan. 29-30, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley. com. TRAVIS SCOTT: Jan. 29, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. DIERKS BENTLEY: Feb. 1, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. ”ROCK OF AGES”: Feb. 1-24, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle. 206-625-1900 or 5thavenue.org.

KISS Feb. 2, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000, livenation.com or kissonline.com.

KISS: Feb. 2, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000, livenation.com or kissonline.com. JAMES HUNTER SIX: Feb. 5-6, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. REVEREND HORTON HEAT, BIG SANDY, VOODOO GLOW SKULLS: Feb. 6-8, Tractor Tavern, Seattle. 206-789-3599 or tractortavern.com. MANHATTAN TRANSFER: Feb. 7-10, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-4419729 or jazzalley.com. MICHELLE OBAMA: Feb. 8, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND: Feb. 9, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Feb. 10-11, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. RONAN FARROW: Feb. 11, McCaw Hall, Seattle.

844-827-8188 or uniquelives.com. DELFONICS FEATURING GREG HILL: Feb. 12-13, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. THE BAD PLUS: Feb. 19-20, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. ARTURO SANDOVAL: Feb. 21-24, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. SINNE EEEG: Feb. 25, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. TERENCE BLANCHARD, E-COLLECTIVE: Feb. 2627, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. JOEY ALEXANDER: Feb. 28-March 3, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. JOE LOVANO TRIO TAPESTRY: March 12-13, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

NICK MASON: March 13, Paramount Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. CATHERINE RUSSELL: March 14-17, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-4419729 or jazzalley.com. SARAH BRIGHTMAN: March 16, Paramount Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. AZIZ ANSARI: March 19, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. ANTONIO SANCHEZ AND MIGRATION: March 19-20, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. VICTOR WOOTEN: March 21-24, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. STEVE WOZNIAK: March 25, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844-827-8188 or uniquelives.com. SHEMEKIA COPELAND: March 26-27, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-4419729 or jazzalley.com.

TOWER OF POWER: April 11-14, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. HYPOCRISY, FLESHGOOD APOCALYPSE: April 13, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-262-0482 or elcorazonseattle.com. ELIZABETH GILBERT: April 14, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844-827-8188 or uniquelives.com. KENNY G: April 18-21, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON: May 3, WaMu Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. GEN. WESLEY CLARK: May 6, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844-827-8188 or uniquelives.com. THOMAS RHETT, DUSTIN LYNCH: May 18, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. BOB NEWHART: May 20, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844827-8188 or uniquelives.

com. BRANDI CARLILE, EMMYLOU HARRIS, NEKO CASE: June 1, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com. NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: June 1, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com. TRAIN, GOO GOO DOLLS: June 7, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800745-3000 or livenation.com. DEAD & COMPANY: June 7-8, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. WILLIAM SHATNER: June 10, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844-827-8188 or uniquelives.com. BRIAN CULBERTSON: June 20-23, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com. JUDAS PRIEST: June 21, Accesso Showare Center, Kent. 866-973-9613 or livenation.com. JEFF LYNNE’S ELO: June 28, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. ERIC CHURCH: June 28-29, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT: July 12, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com. OZZY OSBOURNE: July 13, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. JON BELLION: July 16, WaMu Theater, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation.com. BACKSTREET BOYS: July 29, Angel of The Winds Arena, Everett. 866.332.8499 or angelofthewindsarena. com. IRON MAIDEN: Sept. 5, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com. ELTON JOHN: Sept. 1718, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

Thursday, January 3, 2019 - E13

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Aretha Franklin to be honored with show

AT THE LINCOLN

By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer

NEW YORK — The Queen of Soul will get a royal tribute from Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Kelly Clarkson and more this month. The Recording Academy and music mogul Clive Davis will put on the special concert — “Aretha! A

Andy Kropa

In this Nov. 7, 2017, file photo, Aretha Franklin attends the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Gala in New York.

GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul” — on Jan. 13 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event will broadcast later in 2019 on CBS. Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Celine Dion, John Legend, SZA and Janelle Monae will also perform some of Franklin’s biggest hits at the concert. Film-

maker and actor Tyler Perry will host the event. Other performers include Common, BeBe Winans, Brandi Carlile, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R. and Alessia Cara. Franklin died of pancreatic cancer in August in her Detroit apartment. She was 76.

DINING GUIDE LOCAL FOOD LOCAL BEER There’s always something going on at•The Rockfish Grill • MADE HERE

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JAN. 4-5 5:30 P.M. SUNDAY, JAN. 6 7:30 P.M. MONDAY, JAN. 7 “The Old Man and the Gun” is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker, from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt, who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman, who loves him in spite of his chosen profession. Directed by David Lowery; the cast includes Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Danny Blover, Tika Sumpter, Tom Waits and Sissy Spacek. Rated PG-13. $10.50 general; $9.50 seniors, students and active military; $8 ages 12 and under. Sunday bargain prices: $9 general; $7.50 ages 12 and under.

NT Live: ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ NOON SUNDAY, JAN. 6 Broadcast live from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power. Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war. $18 adults, $16 seniors, $14 students and children. — The Lincoln Theatre is located at 712 S. First St., downtown Mount Vernon. lincolntheatre.org or 360-336-8955.

320 Commercial Ave • Anacortes, WA • 360.588.1720 320 Menu Commercial • Anacortes, WA • 360.588.1720 Complete & EventAve Calender at: www.Anacor

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“The Old Man and the Gun” will play Friday through Monday at the Lincoln.

Monday - Dinner and a◊ Thursday - All You Can Eat Seafood,Wood-Fired ed Pizza, W Movie: Get a ticket to the Fish and Chips Signature Burgers, Anacortes Cinema for only Friday - Prime Rib and We 6 bucks New Beer Releases Sandwiches and Entrees Fam Love ilies Tuesday - Kids Eat Free Sunday - New Brunch ! ◊ Craft Brewed ewed Made with a paid adult Menu, Build yourBeers own Mary Bar Wednesday - Live Music on Bloody the Premises and13 20% off your bottle of PLUS Pint Night: Your pint of Time Winner Visit our wine beer or glass of house wine Best of OPEN DAILY 11:00am Companion Restaurant included withat your meal

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E14 - Thursday, January 3, 2019

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

MINI REVIEWS

Compiled from news services.

‘Ben Is Back’ a powerful drama about drug abuse By JEFF STRICKLER Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Don’t mistake the lobby poster for “Ben Is Back” — an image of a wayward teenager hugging his mother — to mean this will be an upbeat tale. And don’t assume the status of the actors in that photo — superstar Julia Roberts and next big thing Lucas Hedges — indicates a big-budget epic. On the contrary, this is an intimate, incredibly tense drama about a troubled family battling raw emotional pains, a barebones and bare-knuckled look at the destructive powers of addiction. The title character (Hedges, who’s everywhere these days, including “Boy Erased” and “Mid90s”) is a drug addict who has taken a leave from his treatment program to come home for Christmas. His arrival is a surprise — and not a universally well-received one. His mother, Holly (Roberts), struggles to put a happy spin on the visit. She forces a smile and embraces Ben in a long hug — then, the instant he’s distracted by the rest of the family, rushes around the house scooping the drugs out of the medicine cabinet and hiding her jewelry. Once everything is secure, she reassumes her pained smile and tries to assure everyone — including herself — that, with Ben

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Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges star in “Ben is Back.”

back, the family is going to have a warm holiday celebration, just like they used to. The two youngest members of the family are grade-schoolers too small to understand why Ben has been gone but thrilled that he’s back. But Ben’s teenage sister, Ivy (Kathryn Newton), makes no secret of her anger over the misery he inflicted upon the family (the details of which are gradually revealed). And his stepfather, Neal (Courtney B. Vance), while wanting to support Holly’s vision of a Hallmark-card holiday, clearly doesn’t trust Ben or his motives for the unannounced visit. Ben understands the mixed reaction. In fact, he’s wrestling with the same issues, at one point admitting that coming home for Christmas might have been a wonderful idea or the biggest mistake he’s ever made. And he’s made some really big mistakes.

The movie was written and directed by Peter Hedges (Lucas’ father), an Oscar nominee for best adapted screenplay for 2002’s “About a Boy.” The story takes place in a small town. Everywhere Ben looks, he sees something that triggers a bad memory. When Holly drives him to the mall to shop, she notices him staring at one of the houses they pass and asks him why. “I robbed it,” he says softly. The discomfort in that scene is nothing compared with the anxiety when Ben enters church for Christmas Eve services and encounters the mother of a friend who died from an overdose while they were getting high. Ben OD’d that night, too, but survived. Roberts and Hedges dominate the screen time. Hyperventilating her way through a series of crises — Roberts is really good at making the veins in her forehead stick out — the actress could have dialed

down the scenery-chewing a notch. She might have taken a lesson from Hedges, an Oscar nominee for “Manchester by the Sea,” who shines in an understated performance as Ben wars with his inner demons. The elder Hodges deserves kudos for casting an interracial couple — and then never making that any sort of a factor. The closest we come to Ben showing any ill will toward his stepfather is when he calls Neal a nerd. Holly doesn’t deny it, reminding him, “It’s because he’s a nerd that we can afford to send you to treatment.” Peter Hedges also demonstrates a nonegotistical touch. Many directors who do something clever can’t resist drawing attention to it. He slips meaningful little asides into out-of-theway places. Shortly after Neal and Holly argue over Ben’s arrival, there’s a scene focusing on Ben’s interaction with his young siblings where, without fanfare in one corner of the background, the couple exchange a quick makeup hug. If only all their problems were that easy to solve. When it’s all said and done, this is not a family we’d want to spend time with during the holidays — except in a movie theater. – Rating: R for profanity and subject matter. HHH½

“Vice” — This darkly funny, absurdist biopic of former Vice President Dick Cheney places him in a spotlight that continually changes colors and tones but is almost never flattering. In the title role, Christian Bale nails the impression, but there are times when it feels like he’s playing to the audience instead of genuinely interacting with other people in the room. Comedy biography, R, 132 minutes. HHH “On the Basis of Sex” — This is a well-intentioned and occasionally inspirational but mostly flat “origins story” about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s nascent career and her lifelong love affair with her husband, Marty. The British actress Felicity Jones never seems particularly well-suited for the role of the future Supreme Court justice. Biography, PG-13, 120 minutes. HH “If Beale Street Could Talk” — Based on a novel by James Baldwin and adapted by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”), this gripping movie — a timeless romance, a social commentary and more — features some of the most artfully crafted dialogue and some of the finest performances of any movie this year. Newcomer KiKi Layne makes a spectacular screen debut as a teen in love with a man (Stephan James) falsely accused of rape. Drama, R, 119 minutes. HHHH “Bird Box” — In this gripping apocalyptic thriller, Sandra Bullock delivers one of her best performances as a blunt and blindfolded woman seeking sanctuary from a mysterious force that turns deadly once it’s seen. Sci-fi thriller, R, 124 minutes. HHH½ “Welcome to Marwen” — Leave it to Steve Carell to deliver a subtle, layered, empathetic and memorable portrayal of both a brain-damaged artist and his alter ego, a soldier action figure waging World War II among other dolls in his backyard. Although Mark’s world springs from darkness, there’s something profoundly uplifting and inspirational about the movie, and the man who inspired it. Biography, PG-13, 116 minutes. HHH½ “Aquaman” — The saving grace of this reasonably entertaining and sometimes truly ridiculous origin story is that everyone seems to get the sheer, waterlogged lunacy of the concept, so why not have fun with it? As the fish-man, Jason Momoa has the physicality and the willingness to make himself look silly, and the natural charisma of a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Superhero action, PG-13, 143 minutes. HHH “The Mule” — Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a 90-ish horticulturalist who takes a delivery job and later learns what he’s hauling is drugs. This isn’t close to being on a par with Eastwood’s past triumphs, but it’s an entertaining enough offbeat crime story featuring an amazing cast. Crime comedy/drama, R, 116 minutes. HHH “Mary Poppins Returns” — While it would be all but impossible to match one of the most beloved and acclaimed musicals of all time, “Mary Poppins Returns” is a sequel worthy of the name. Emily Blunt is sensational, along with a stellar supporting cast including Lin-Manuel Miranda, in this wall-to-wall smile of a movie: big of heart and large in scale, brimming with show-stopping musical numbers. Musical, PG, 130 minutes. HHH½

Thursday, January 3, 2019 - E15

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES “Mary Queen of Scots” — Impressively staged and sometimes cleverly written, this 16th-century story of men interfering with the ambitions of Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) and Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) often comes across as stultified and stagnant. Historical drama, R, 125 minutes. HH “Vox Lux” — In arguably the worst performance of her storied career, Natalie Portman plays a pop star who suffered trauma as a teen and now behaves like a spoiled brat virtually every second she’s not onstage. Pretentious deadpan absurdity abounds in this screeching, empty, exploitative cinematic cacophony. Drama, R, 112 minutes. H½ “Asher” — At an age when he’d be long overdue to take his pension, if they had pensions for guys like him, Ron Perlman’s former Mossad operative turned Brooklyn hit man performs his job with cold-blooded efficiency and discovers there’s still a spark of warmth in his heart in this sparkling black diamond of film noir. Crime drama, R, 117 minutes. HHH½ “Dumplin’” — Jennifer Aniston does nuanced work as a former pageant winner shocked to see her plus-size daughter (a winning performance by Danielle Macdonald) pursuing the same crown. The sugar-sweet comedy works thanks to the feel-good story, the likable cast and an absolute treasure of a Dolly Parton soundtrack. Comedy drama, PG-13, 110 minutes. HHH “Roma” — Writer-director Alfonso Cuaron gives us a deeply personal 1970s period piece inspired by his own childhood in Mexico, and yet there’s a universality to the characters and their stories. You know that

feeling when you’re watching a particular scene in a movie and everything just clicks? “Roma” is an entire film of such scenes. Drama, R, 135 minutes. HHHH “The Favourite” — During the 18th-century reign of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), her longtime friend (Rachel Weisz) and a new servant (Emma Stone) vie for the monarch’s affections. The three stars bring out the best in each other in a bawdy, darkly funny, sharp-edged, foul-mouthed comedy of very BAD manners. Comedy biography, R, 121 minutes. HHH½ “Robin Hood” — A miscast Taron Egerton plays the key outlaw in a re-imagining of the legend. From the often anachronistic dialogue to the over-the-top pyrotechnics to the overwrought performances, it’s a serious contender for Worst Movie of the Year. Adventure, PG13, 116 minutes. H “Creed II” — Just as Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is enjoying his champion status, who should come along but a challenger: the son of Ivan Drago, who killed Creed’s father in the ring. Though we’ve seen this movie before (and more than once), there’s a strong beating heart to this franchise. Sports drama, PG-13, 128 minutes. HHH “Ralph Breaks the Internet” — The hapless video game “villain” (John C. Reilly) from “Wreck-It Ralph” and his sharp-witted friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) venture out of the arcade into the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part. There were times when the sweet-natured animated adventure was brimming with so much stimuli, I had to remind myself to laugh. Animated adventure, PG, 112 minutes. HHH

REVIEW

Lopez still has magic touch, but second plot strays in ‘Second Act’ By RAFER GUZMÁN Newsday

Jennifer Lopez plays Maya Vargas, a selfmade career woman hampered by her lack of a college education in “Second Act.” Despite her natural business acumen, innovative ideas and people skills, she finds herself passed over for a promotion at Value Shop, the big-box store where she’s been working for 15 years. And so with unsolicited help from her hacker godson, Maya reinvents herself as a Harvard grad with a Wharton degree, a Peace Corps stint and all the trimmings. Deception aside, Maya is a heroine for our moment: a working-class Latina on a playing field where advantage can be purchased. Thanks

to Lopez, still a radiant Hollywood star with a Bronx-born authenticity, Maya feels like a real person — a neighbor, a co-worker, ourselves. Why shouldn’t she be allowed to join the educated class, the ones who, in her words, “name their kids after fruit and climb Kilimanjaro?” If only “Second Act” had fulfilled its up-theestablishment potential, it might have been a close cousin to “Working Girl” or “9 to 5,” one of those satisfying comedies in which the powerful get their comeuppance, the peons take over and meritocracy wins the day. Instead, “Second Act” goes for a second plot, centered on the baby that Maya gave up for adoption decades ago. As a result, it wobbles unevenly between

comedy and weeper. Directed by Peter Segal (“Tommy Boy”) from a script by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Justin Zackham, “Second Act” has all the right puzzle pieces. Treat Williams is Anderson Clarke, who hires Maya as a consultant for his health-and-beauty company; Vanessa Hudgens is Zoe, his highly competitive (and adopted) daughter; and Freddie Stroma plays Ron, a British snob who can smell an arriviste a mile away. Two sweet-natured misfits (Charlyne Yi and Alan Aisenberg) join Maya in a race against Zoe and Ron to find a profitable yet organic skin-care product. All well and good, if the film had stayed the course. Instead, when

Maya and Zoe discover they are mother and daughter, the story goes off balance. Zoe suddenly warms to Maya, who in turn must now nurture, vanquish and come clean to her daughter. Meanwhile, Maya’s boyfriend, Trey (an appealing Milo Ventimiglia), ought to be a connection to her authentic past; instead, he breaks up with her and walks out of the movie. Leah Remini gets more screen time, as Joan, Maya’s steadfast friend. Though occasionally amusing and mostly watchable, “Second Act” feels disappointing. Lopez — and Maya — deserves better. – 1:43. Rated PG-13 (language and innuendo). HH

At area theaters CONCRETE THEATRE Jan. 4-6 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG): Friday: 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 5 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 5 p.m. 360-941-0403

STANWOOD CINEMAS Jan. 4-10 Aquaman (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: 12:50, 3:40, 6:30, 9:25; Sunday-Thursday: 12:50, 3:40, 6:30 Bumblebee (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: 1:20, 4:05, 6:40, 9:40; Sunday-Thursday: ANACORTES CINEMAS 1:20, 4:05, 6:40 Jan. 4-10 Mary Poppins Returns (PG): FridayAquaman (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: Saturday: 1:10, 4:00, 6:50, 9:20; Sunday12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:50; Sunday-Thursday: Thursday: 1:10, 4:00, 6:50 12:45, 3:45, 6:45 The Mule (R): Friday-Saturday: 1:00, 3:50, Mary Poppins Returns (PG): Friday6:45, 9:35; Sunday-Thursday: 1:00, 3:50, Saturday: 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30; Sunday6:45 Thursday: 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse The Mule (R): Friday-Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:05, 3:55, 6:35, 7:00, 9:40; Sunday-Thursday: 1:00, 4:00, 9:15; Sunday-Thursday: 1:05, 3:55, 6:35 7:00 360-629-0514 360-293-7000 *Times subject to change

OAK HARBOR CINEMAS Jan. 4-10 Aquaman (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:50; Sunday-Thursday: 12:45, 3:45, 6:45 Bumblebee (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40; Sunday-Thursday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Mary Poppins Returns (PG): Friday-Saturday: (12:30), (3:30), 6:30, 9:30; SundayThursday: 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 360-279-2226 BLUE FOX DRIVE-IN Oak Harbor 360-675-5667 CASCADE MALL THEATERS Burlington For showings: amctheatres.com/showtimes/all/2017-06-23/amc-loews-cascademall-14/all

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