Home    Happenings   February 2004 Happenings

  January 2004 Calendar -- March 2004 Calendar

February 2004 Calendar

Updated 2/27/2004

Fri. 2/06. Michigan Tech Winter Carnival continues. Visit the Winter Carnival Web site for the Schedule of Events.

Fri. 2/06. 7:30 p.m.

Michigan Tech's Department of Fine Arts will stage Shakespeare's popular comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in the Rozsa Center, on a stage resembling the original Globe Theatre, with Christopher Plummer, Fine Arts assistant professor, directing. Dozens of Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff have been preparing this production since last October.
Photo: Much Ado About Nothing cast members, from left, are Jeremiah McConnell (Benedick) of Calumet; Elithe Zoglman (Beatrice) of Lena, Wis.; Sayward Touton (Hero) of Crossville, Tenn; and Paul Himes (Claudio) of Gulliver, Mich. All have extensive experience in previous theatre productions. (Photo courtesy MTU Fine Arts Dept.)

Fri. 2/06. 8 p.m. International Folk Dancing. Community Arts Center (back door). Hancock. 337-5650.

Fri. 2/06. 9 p.m. Breakers Blues Band. Michigan House. Calumet.

Fri. 2/06. 9 p.m. hope through clarity's (e.p. release show), with win win situation and fought this all the way. exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Sat. 2/07. Michigan Tech Winter Carnival continues. Visit the Winter Carnival Web site for the Schedule of Events.
Photo: Students put finishing touches on a snow statue during all-night construction Feb. 4-5. (Photo courtesy MTU Photo Services)

Sat. 2/07. Ski for Heart. Swedetown Trails. Calumet. This annual fundraiser raises money for a variety of community concerns, including the projected Omega House. For information contact: Terry Smythe (tsmythe@chartermi.net or 482-6994).

Sat. 2/07. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local county Democratic caucuses. Houghton County caucus: Super 8 Motel conference room, Houghton; Keweenaw County caucus: Town Hall, 2nd Street, Mohawk; Baraga County: L'Anse VFW Hall; Ontonagon County: Centennial Hall, Ewen. Voting for a presidential candidate will take place at all sites from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 7. For more information call Janet Metsa at 482-5665 or Amy Wisti at 482-9691. Note: Amy Wisti explained that caucuses (run by a political party) and primaries (run by the state) are run differently from state to state. For more information visit the Michigan Democratic Party Web site.

Sat. 2/07. 2 p.m. Breakers Blues Band. Campus Café, Wadsworth Hall. MTU campus.

Sat. 2/07. 7:30 p.m. Michigan Tech's Department of Fine Arts will stage Shakespeare's popular comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in the Rozsa Center, on a stage resembling the original Globe Theatre, with Christopher Plummer, Fine Arts assistant professor, directing. (See above, Feb. 6)

Sat. 2/07. 8 p.m. bernie larsen solo sort of w/ guest. exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Sat. 2/07. 10 p.m. ? MANX (formerly Rhythm Kitchen). Original folk rock. Library Bar, Houghton.

Sun. 2/08. 3 p.m. Michigan Tech's Department of Fine Arts will stage Shakespeare's popular comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in the Rozsa Center, on a stage resembling the original Globe Theatre, with Christopher Plummer, Fine Arts assistant professor, directing. (See above, Feb. 6)

Wed. 2/11. 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Free art classes for senior citizens at Still Waters Assisted Living Community in Calumet, sponsored by the Community Arts Center. Please call 482-2333 for more information or registration.**

Wed. 2/11. 7 p.m. Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners meets. Courthouse, Eagle River.

Thurs. 2/12. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Keweenaw Krayons Art to Go. Beginning knitting with Audrey Chamberlain.*

Thurs. 2/12. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Opening reception for "Human Dimensions," an exhibit by Escanaba Artist and recent Romanian immigrant Ingrid Cline. Cline's exhibit will include large-scale realistic portraits. Cline will attend the opening reception and will present a gallery talk. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. See Exhibits, below.

Fri. 2/13. 8 p.m. International Folk Dancing. Community Arts Center (back door). Hancock. 337-5650.

Fri. 2/13 and Sat. 2/14. 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. MTU Jazz Program is hosting two nights of BEACH PARTY fun in McArdle Theater (Walker Building, MTU campus). TUFF STUFF (8-piece horn band) and the BLUES BREAKERS (rockin' blues at its finest), and Dance Mix. Beach-wear (of your choice) encouraged (it will be warm!), BYO beach blanket. Fabulous Prizes and great contests: Best "Pirates of the Keweenaw" Costume Contest, Limbo Contest, Ugliest Hawaiian Shirt Contest, "Play-Air-Guitar-With-The Band" drawing, door prizes AND MORE!

Sat. 2/14 and Sun. 2/15. Copper Country Ski Tigers host the 2004 Michigan High School Cross Country Ski Championships at the Michigan Tech trails. Courses open 9 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Any high school, middle school or younger racer is eligible to participate. Skiers will compete within their age groups and do not need to be affiliated with a team. Racers will ski classic style on Saturday and freestyle on Sunday. The race is open to skiers from any state, but competitors from states other than Michigan will be scored separately. Michigan skiers will compete for state championship awards. Visit the Keweenaw Trails Web site for information, schedule, maps and registration or contact Doug Oppliger (906-482-9669 or oppliger@mtu.edu) for details.
Photo: Ski Tigers, from left, Soyma Gupta, Lena Sutter and Anna Shoos practice at Maasto Hiihto trails in Hancock, Feb. 7, 2004. (Photo © 2004 by Patty Lins)

Sat. 2/14. 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Keweenaw Krayons Art to Go. Celebrate Valentine's Day by making a special Valentine's Day box, facilitated by Gilaine Spoto.*

Sat. 2/14. 3 p.m. - ? Music for Media," an event to benefit the Portage Lake District Library, will feature several bands of local musicians at the South Range Community Hall. Bring your own beverages and a dish to pass and make a night of it, or stop in just to enjoy the music. The lineup of bands includes something for everyone: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., The Keweenaw Brass; 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Finn Street; 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.,  Eric Koskinen and Bernie Larsen (playing both individually and together); 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., Algoma; 8 p.m. - 9 p.m., Mountain Echo; 9 p.m. -? The Lumber Janes. Sponsored by Friends of the Portage Lake District Library.***

Sat. 2/14. 8 p.m. The Vagina Monologues. MM Building, Room U115, MTU campus. $5. All proceeds go to benefit the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home and the Baraga Women's Shelter.

Sat. 2/14. 8 p.m. - midnight. Wheels Trio. If you want some easy listening music for Valentine's Day night, try Northern Lights lounge atop the Best Western Hotel in Houghton.

Sat. 2/14. Frostbitten Grass, newly revamped euro-acoustic quartet with strange hints of bluegrass sound, will play at emma joe's kaffe hutte. Marquette.

Sat. 2/14. 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. MANX (formerly Rhythm Kitchen). Original folk rock. Mariner North, Copper Harbor, for the Brockway Mt. Challenge (and Valentines Day).

Sat. 2/14. 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. MTU Jazz Program's BEACH PARTY. See above, Fri., Feb. 13.

Sat. 2/14. 10 p.m. Algoma at Nutini's, Hancock.

Sun. 2/15. 8 a.m. Copper Country Ski Tigers host the 2004 Michigan High School Cross Country Ski Championships at the Michigan Tech trails. See above, Sat. 2/14.

Tues. 2/17. 8 p.m. - close. "Open Mic with Bob and Dave at Shute's 1890s Saloon in Historic downtown Calumet. Door Prizes, no cover charge.

Wed. 2/18. 7:30 p.m. Hancock City Council meeting. City Hall. (6:30 p.m. work session also open to the public).

Thurs. 2/19. 6 p.m. The Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen's Club will host a baked chicken and spaghetti dinner meeting at the Calumet VFW Post, U.S. 41 North and Larch Street. The $7 per plate proceeds go to the deer-feeding program. Hunters, fishers, outdoor and conservation enthusiasts, whitetail lovers and the public are invited. With the recent lifting of the supplemental deer-feeding ban by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC), the Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen's Club will resume deer feeding at the Club's traditional deer yards in the Keweenaw. The Club is now appealing to Copper Country residents and businesses to help fund and support the deer-feeding effort. more

Thurs. 2/19. 6:30 p.m. The Keweenaw Co-op invites all members and interested persons to attend its annual meeting in the Houghton High School Cafeteria. On the agenda will be a discussion of a possible re-location of the Keweenaw Co-op Natural Foods store to the second floor of the historic Scott Hotel building in downtown Hancock. The store is now located on Ethel Street in West Hancock. The meeting is open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Thurs. 2/19. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. open mic at the exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $2. (Every Thursday)

Fri. 2/20. 8 p.m. singer/songwriter seth bernard w/gregory stovetop. exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Fri. 2/20. 8 p.m. International Folk Dancing. Community Arts Center (back door). Hancock. 337-5650.

Sat. 2/21. 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Open Mic with BOB & DAVE. Motherlode Coffee House, Houghton.

Sat. 2/21. 7:30 p.m. Chi, a forty-member company of acrobats from Shanghai, China, comes to the Rozsa Center on their first North American tour. "Chi" means "energy" or "breath" in the Taoist philosophy, and these amazing athletes use their "chi" to focus on getting their minds and bodies to work together in perfect harmony. Chinese acrobatics combine both physicality and spirituality. Years of rigorous training are required to achieve the excellence required by this demanding art form. The show is presented by Michigan Tech's Student Entertainment Board, and tickets are on sale at the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) or online at www.tickets.mtu.edu.

Sat. 2/21. 9 p.m. MANX (formerly Rhythm Kitchen). Original folk rock. BLACK CAT CAFE in Ashland, Wis.

Sat. 2/21. 9 p.m. wmtu presents athletic mic club (hip hop w/ 6 mc's from ann arbor) also dj's john bergeron and john "peehead" hughson. exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Sat. 2/21. 9:30 p.m. "Cheap Therapy" will be appearing at the Upper Deck (Ramada in Hancock). The best music from the 50s-60s-70s and a few originals sprinkled in, too! Come on out and dance!

Tues. 2/24. 11:30 a.m. A program on the Selection of the U.S. President by Direct Popular Vote will be held by the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country in the Portage Room of the Ramada Inn (Hancock). The local League is participating in the nationwide process to review and update the current position held by the League of Women Voters of the United States. Members of the public who are interested in the League are invited to attend. Further information on the organization can be found at the website www.lwvccmi.org.

Tues. 2/24. 7 p.m. Anishinaabe activist and political refugee James Eyabay Pitawanakwat will speak on "Defending Rights to Sacred Land" in the Great Lakes Rooms of Northern Michigan University's University Center in Marquette. One of the first American Indians to be granted political asylum in the United States, Pitawanakwat was involved in an armed stand-off with the Canadian Army in 1995 over the use of a sacred site in the unceded territory of British Columbia. Admission for NMU students is free and for non-students it is $1. This presentation is also sponsored by the NMU Graduate Student Union and North Country Greens.

Fri. 2/27. 8 p.m. International Folk Dancing. Community Arts Center (back door). Hancock. 337-5650.

Fri. 2/27. 9 p.m. reggae/ska/funk. ignorant mob w/cry on cue (stripped&acoustic) exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Fri. 2/27. 9:30 p.m. No Room to Pogo from Duluth will be playing at the Michigan House, Calumet.

Sat. 2/28. 7:30 p.m. - Midnight. Frostbitten Grass, No Room to Pogo from Duluth and The Muldoons will play at the UPFRONT AND COMPANY Ballroom in Marquette.

Sat. 2/28. 9 p.m. speed rock from fcd(w/fried chinese donalds from misery5)& flashing red airplane at the exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Sun. 2/29. 12 Noon to 9 p.m. South Range Eagles LEAP YEAR DAY CELEBRATION! Dancing to music by Bill White, 12 noon - 1 p.m.;  Ron Kallio, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.; The Polka Kings, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.;  the Jim Pekol Band from Rhinelander, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. There will be a 50/50 drawing and a roast beef dinner served from 12 noon to 4 p.m. for $6.00 per meal. Takeout will be available. Admission is only $6.00-all day or $4.00-after 4 p.m. South Range Eagles No. 1122 is at 8 Baltic Ave., South Range. Call 
906-482-7670 for information. Kiko of Brazil says the public is invited and he will teach dance moves to impress your grandmother!

March Preview:

Mon. 3/1. 9 p.m. alternative rock (local boys gone national) squint w/guest at the exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5.

Tues. 3/2. 6:30 p.m. Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee meeting. Allouez Township Community Center, 2 Bumbletown Road, Allouez. Read the Minutes of the Feb. 3, 2004, meeting.

Sat. 3/6. Junior Bear Chase cross-country ski race. Swedetown Trails. Calumet. See Keweenaw Trails for details.
Photo: Alan Toczydlowski, foreground, of Calumet takes first place in the 9-11 age group at the Feb. 14 races at the MTU Trails. Like other Ski Tigers, Alan is training for the Junior Bear Chase to be held at Swedetown Trails Sat., Mar. 6. (Photo © 2004 by Patty Lins)

Sun. 3/7. Great Bear Chase cross-country ski race. Swedetown Trails. Calumet.**** (See announcements below.) Read about the history of the Great Bear Chase.

Sat. 3/6. 7:30 p.m. and Sun. 3/7. 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Metamorphosis, a new ballet produced by John Manno and choreographed by Donna Armistead and Jill Sajdyk, will be performed in the McArdle Theater, Walker Humanities Building on the MTU campus. The show is based upon Ovid, and features live musicians, locally composed songs and student dancers. For more information, visit their Web site.

Exhibits:

"Human Dimensions," an exhibit by Escanaba Artist and recent Romanian immigrant Ingrid Cline, opens with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Finnish-American Heritage Center Gallery, 601 Quincy St., Hancock. "Human Dimensions" will include five large drawings that explore the theme of the "Journey." Cline based this series of drawings on a Romanian children's game named "Pynthian." The drawings can be appreciated individually, but they take on a stronger significance when viewed as a whole. The exhibit will also feature a number of drawings of the human form inspired from religious subjects. They represent Cline's interpretations of various murals, photographed on a recent trip to her native homelands in Romania. Cline will attend the opening reception and will present a gallery talk. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Please call 487-7500 for more information.

Omphale Gallery in Calumet is hosting "Children's Art" work in a variety of mediums by Calumet and Keweenaw youth, through Feb. 26 with an open reception on Friday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will also feature musical performances by Copper Country Suzuki students and local musicians Melissa Davis, Justin Plichta, and Randy Wakeham. A light evening buffet and refreshments will be served. Open hours: M-W-F:10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sat.: Noon - 4 p.m. For more about Omphale check out the Omphale Web site.

“Snow” is the new exhibit in the Kerredge Gallery, Community Arts Center, Hancock, through February 28. Visitors can see “Snow” in watercolor, pen and ink, woodcut print, acrylic, photography, an installation and pastel. Artists who contributed work include: Fredi Taddeucci, Jeff Johnston, Joyce Koskenmaki, Ron Gratz, Jack Oyler, Jennifer Slack, Cynthia Coté, Kayo Miwa, Jan Manniko, Clyde Mikkola and Martha Hermanson. The public is invited to a lunchtime reception on Friday, Feb. 20, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Community Arts Center staff will be serving nice home made soup. Stop in, warm up and chill out. This exhibit is supported by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 906-482-2333.

The Republic Youth Gallery of the Community Arts Center will have Calumet Middle School and High School students' artwork exhibited through the month of February. Clay sculptures, paintings, ink drawings and other excellent student art can be viewed Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday,  10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information, call 482-2333.

Editor's Note: Gallery curators: Please send your exhibit announcements to andersm@pasty.com.

Announcements for February 2004:

Yoga Classes of all levels are offered  from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Tues. and Thurs. at the exurban, 416 Shelden Ave., Houghton. $5. Open mic is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday at the exurban. $2.

*Keweenaw Krayons will continue their Art to Go program in February on the second and fourth Thursdays and Saturdays of the month. Pre-registration is required. Call 337-4706. For more information visit the Keweenaw Krayons Web site.

**The Community Arts Center, Hancock, is offering free art classes for senior citizens at Still Waters Assisted Living Community in Calumet through February. This program, Art for Elders, will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.- 11 a.m. Art for Elders is open to those in the public age 60 and older. Artist Constance Johnson will teach painting and mixed media. Supplies are included. This program is made possible by a grant from the Keweenaw Community Foundation. Space is limited. Please call the Community Arts Center at 482-2333 for more information or registration. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street, Hancock.

***The Friends of the Portage Lake District Library are looking for bands/musical groups/musicians who would like to perform at "Music for Media 2004," Saturday, February 14, 7p.m.-?, at the South Range Community Hall. This will be a pay-at-the-door benefit event, with all proceeds going directly to purchasing CDs and DVDs to enhance the Library's media collection. While unable to offer any money to bands who play, the Friends of the Portage Lake District Library will do their best to garner as much publicity for you as possible. They are looking for groups to fill one hour slots, with about 45 minutes playing time and 15-minute breaks between groups. The deadline approaches. Please consider participating and supporting your local library. For more information, contact Maria Bergstrom at bergstrom34@chartermi.net. Thanks for your support!!

****Both the Junior Bear Chase and the Great Bear Chase (March 6 and 7) need volunteers. Anyone who can help, either before, after or during the events would be well appreciated. Ray Sharp is the man for the Junior BC: rsharp@hline.org or 482-0902. Rick Oikarinen is running the Great BC: 337-4520. Some jobs left to fill are shoveling at the start of the race, handing out replacements to pole-breakers and running aid stations. Before the events, there is a lot of brushing to do, so racers won't get slapped in the face! There will be loppers available at the Swedetown Chalet, and you can take them for a ski.

Editor's Note: If you have a community calendar announcement for February or March 2004, please email the editor at andersm@pasty.com.