[calendar] day’s amusement, kicking off at 9 AM and running to 3 PM. Frenchtown High School. Dreaming of one-upping Ansel Adams? Take the leap and check out the Career Training Information Day and Open House at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, 216 N. Higgins Ave. Starts at 9:30 AM, no need to call ahead or register. Free. Check out rmsp.com. Huckleberry-loving critters might be afoot when Missoula author Laura Budds signs her kids’ book, Have You Ever Seen a Bear with a Purple Smile? Fact and Fiction, 220 N. Higgins. 10 AM. Stay true to your root vegetables with the Heirloom Winter Farmers Market, which offers produce, honey, crafts and more, in the Floriculture Building on the Western Montana Fairgrounds. 10 AM-2 PM on Saturdays. Flathead Lake’s a little chilly, but the atmosphere ought to be plenty warm and friendly at the Sandpiper Gallery Members Holiday Show and Sale, with a reception during the holiday art walk on Fri., Dec. 6 from 3-7 PM and Sat., Dec. 7 from 10 AM-4 PM. 306 Main St in Polson. Sentinel High School hosts a Holiday Craft Fair to benefit the Positive Student Reward Program. All sorts of positively lovely handicrafts and nibbles will be available. Sentinel Auxiliary Gym, entrance off Bancroft. 10 AM-4 PM. Pinkies out, ‘tis time for Christmas Tea at the Old Flynn Ranch. 2298 Tipperary Way. 10 AM-5 PM. Call 360-4870 for reservations. If Spontaneous Music By Children doesn’t sound like a punishment to you, then check out University Village Community Center’s 14th season of monthly sessions for parents and kids to dance and see professional performances. Instruments and snack provided. 10:30 AM, with dancing at 11 and guest musician around 11:20. $3.50 per child, $2 for additional kiddos. Free for parents. Call Jen at 370-0300 to reserve a spot. Loretta Vizzutti presents Standing Light, the first of three Creativity For Life gift-making workshops, for anyone facing illness and loss. Living Art of Montana, 725 W. Alder St., Ste. 17. Free. Call 549-5329 or visit livingartofmontana.org to learn more. It’ll be paw-some when author Randy Rupert signs copies of his new children’s book, A Dog-gone Tale, at Costco, 3220 N. Reserve St. 11 AM. Calapatra sure ain’t ready for 2014, but some folks are raring to go, so Fact and Fiction hosts a First Night Missoula Book Fair with author signings throughout the day.
All right, who invited Tony the Tiger? Minneapolis’ Gypsy Lumberjacks plays the Top Hat Thu., Dec. 12 at 10 PM. Free.
Laura Budds, Mary O’Brien, Bill Whitfield, Bud Cheff, Jr, Ryan Newhouse, Dariusz Janczewski and Richard Manning will be hanging out. 220 N. Higgins. 11 AM. Seasoned reporter Gwen Florio reads from her hard-bitten mystery, Montana, at Shakespeare and Co., 103 S. Third St. W. 11 AM. Learn about maintaining healthy relationships at Co-Dependents Anonymous, which meets at 11:30 AM on Saturdays at the Fourth D Alano Club, 1500 W. Broadway. Contact Koryn for more information at 493-4431. Teenage poet Matthew Kittel reads and signs his book Meticulous Mind at the North Valley Public Library, 208 Main St. in Stevi. Noon. Helping Hands of Alberton hosts its 18th annual fundraiser to benefit local kiddos. River Edge Resort in Alberton. Fish and chips lunch at noon, live auction at 1 PM. Call 722-3338 to learn more. Jump ahead of your holiday card duties when the ZACC hosts Christmas Card Making as part of the Festival of Lights. Use supplies from the community art room. Noon-3 PM. Free. The guild that sews together, stays together, so join Selvedge Studio, 509 S. Higgins Ave., at Craft Vigilantes, its monthly Modern Quilt Guild for beginners and pros alike. 12–5 PM. $20 (first few sign-ups are free).
missoulanews.com • December 5–December 12, 2013 [35]