Dec. 19:
* Benefit concert and silent auction to help defray the medical expenses of Bay Area musician Michelle McFee, Friday, Dec. 19, at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Blvd. in Santa Rosa. Doors open at 7:00[sic]. Information: www.kinkaidfoundation.org.
Dec. 21-27:
* An outdoor holiday ice rink is set up each week through Jan. 4, 2009, in San Francisco”s Union Square. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 8 (50 cents more on Fridays and Saturdays). Information: (415) 781-2688.
Jan. 10, 2009:
* Contra dance takes place at 7:30 p.m. on the second Saturday each month at the Ukiah Community United Methodist Church, 207 N. Pine St. Cost is $4 for dancing children ages 4 to 11, $6 for ages 12 to 17 and $8 for 18 years and older. Bring non-alcoholic beverage or dessert to share. Information: 467-0311.
* Rick Ellis sings Sinatra, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Nellie W. Codding Theater, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. Information: www.spreckelsonline.com.
* “What”s Opera, Doc?,” noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Crocker Art Museum”s Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th St. in Sacramento. Performers from the Sacramento Opera explain how Warner Bros. introduced classical music to a whole generation through masterpieces like “What”s Opera, Doc?,” “The Rabbit of Seville” and “Long-Haired Hare.” Free admission. Information: www.crockerartmuseum.org.
Jan. 17:
* Bay Area Inaugural Celebration Festival” honoring President-Elect Barak Obama, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Information: Maya Harris with the Bay Area Hstorical Project, (510) 878-2480; or visit www.oaklandinaguralball.myevent.com/.
* Idol NV 2009 — Round 1, 8 p.m. at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Idol NV returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for five competitive rounds, beginning Saturday, Jan. 17, and culminating in the grand finale on Saturday, Feb. 28. Information: www.nvoh.org.
* Jack London Foundation presents its 20th annual Books & Collectibles Auction, 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St. near downtown Sonoma. Preview of auction items from noon to 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Proceeds are used to underwrite Scholarship Writing Contests for high-school students and to provide supplementary teaching materials at no cost to teachers and educators throughout the United States and overseas. Information: 996-2888, jlondon@vom.com or www.jacklondonfdn.org.
Jan. 22-Feb. 8:
* Pacific Alliance Stage Company presents the North Bay premiere of “Doubt — A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 8, in the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. Information: 588-3400 or www.spreckelsonline.com.
Jan. 24:
* The Ukiah Community Concert Association presents a tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at the Ukiah High School auditorium. For more information or to subscribe to the 2008-2009 season, please call 262-1116, 463-2738 or 459-3466.
* The Redwood branch of the California Writers Club is hosting the first of three writing workshops that address “The Craft of Writing,” 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 24, at the Petaluma Novak Center, 211 Novak Drive in, Petaluma, 778-4399). This workshop is underwritten by a grant from Poets & Writers, Inc. Information: www.redwoodwriters.org.
Jan. 24-26:
* Santa Rosa Symphony concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, and 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26. Information: 54-MUSIC (546-8742) or www.santarosasymphony.com.
Jan. 24-31:
* National Cowboy Poetry Gathering celebrates 25 years, Jan. 24 to 31 in Elko, Nev. Silver Anniversary gathering reunites hundreds of poets, musicians and gearmakers who have participated in the gathering over the last quarter century. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O”Connor delivers the 2009 keynote speech. Information: (888) 880-5885 or www.westernfolklife.org.
Jan. 29:
* Lake County Poet Laureate Mary McMillan will be featured reader at Writers Read, 7 p.m. Jan. 29, at Colored Horse Studio in Ukiah. Information: www.coloredhorse.com/WritingPoetry/PoetryEvents.
Jan. 31:
* Idol NV 2009 — Round 2, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Idol NV returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for five competitive rounds culminating in the grand finale on Saturday, Feb. 28. Information: www.nvoh.org.
* The Redwood branch of the California Writers Club is hosting the second of three writing workshops that address “The Craft of Writing,” 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Petaluma Novak Center, 211 Novak Drive in, Petaluma, 778-4399). This workshop is underwritten by a grant from Poets & Writers, Inc. Information: www.redwoodwriters.org.
Feb. 7:
* Idol NV 2009 — Round 3, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Idol NV returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for five competitive rounds, culminating in the grand finale on Saturday, Feb. 28. Information: www.nvoh.org.
* The Redwood branch of the California Writers Club is hosting the third of three writing workshops that address “The Craft of Writing,” 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 7, at the Petaluma Novak Center, 211 Novak Drive in, Petaluma, 778-4399). This workshop is underwritten by a grant from Poets & Writers, Inc. Information: www.redwoodwriters.org.
Feb. 13-15:
* Twenty-third annual San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show, Friday, Feb. 13, through Sunday, Feb. 15, at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Each year this event brings together sculptures, accessories and antiques from South East Asia, the Oceanic Islands, Middle East, Central and South America, Africa, the Cook and Solomon islands, Polynesia and Indonesia. General admission is $15 per person. Open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No admittance after 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Information: (310) 455-2886 or www.caskeylees.com.
Feb. 14:
* Idol NV 2009 — Round 4, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Idol NV returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for five competitive rounds, culminating in the grand finale on Saturday, Feb. 28. Information: www.nvoh.org.
Feb. 18:
* Nancy Tingley, adjunct curator of Asian art, leads a walk-through at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St. in Sacramento. Tingley examines Buddha images and iconography over the past 2,000 years and throughout the vast regions of Asia. To register: (916) 808-1182 or education@crockerartmuseum.org. Free with admission.
Feb. 20:
* Idol NV 2009 — Round 5, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Idol NV returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for five competitive rounds, culminating in the grand finale on Saturday, Feb. 28. Information: www.nvoh.org.
Feb. 21-23:
* Santa Rosa Symphony concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, and 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23. Information: 54-MUSIC (546-8742) or www.santarosasymphony.com.
Feb. 28:
* Idol NV 2009 Finals, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St. in Napa. Information: www.nvoh.org.
March 19-April 12:
* Pacific Alliance Stage Company presents the world premiere of “The Book of Matthew” by Gene Abravaya, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through April 12, in the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. Information: 588-3400 or www.spreckelsonline.com.
March 26:
* The Ukiah Community Concert Association presents the group Maya (flute, harp and percussion), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Ukiah High School auditorium. For more information or to subscribe to the 2008-2009 season, please call 262-1116, 463-2738 or 459-3466.
April 2009 (Date TBA):
* The Ukiah Community Concert Association presents pianist Mark McCrary. For more information or to subscribe to the 2008-2009 season, please call 262-1116, 463-2738 or 459-3466.
April 6:
* The Ukiah Community Concert Association presents Misty River, a female quartet whose members sing, play the guitar, bass fiddle, accordion and clawhammer-style banjo, 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6. Concert is free to new members who subscribed for the 2008-2009 season. For more information or to subscribe to the 2008-2009 season, please call 262-1116, 463-2738 or 459-3466.
April 18-20:
* Santa Rosa Symphony concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19, and 8 p.m. Monday, April 20. Information: 54-MUSIC (546-8742) or www.santarosasymphony.com.
April 30-May 17:
* Pacific Alliance Stage Company presents “Greater Tuna” by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard and Joe Sears, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through May 17, in the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. Information: 588-3400 or www.spreckelsonline.com.
May 16-18:
* Santa Rosa Symphony concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, and 8 p.m. Monday, May 18. Information: 54-MUSIC (546-8742) or www.santarosasymphony.com.
Out-of-county entertainment listings are compiled from announcements that are sent to the Observer*American or Record-Bee newsrooms. Please submit your events to RBinFocus@gmail.com (no attachments, please). All telephone numbers are within the (707) area code unless otherwise noted.
