360 December 26 2013 full

The hot spots to ring in the New Year PAGE 3

Skagit Valley Herald Thursday December 26, 2013

Reviews

On Stage

At the Movies

Video Games: The top 10 of the year Music: Beyonce, ‘Music of Nashville’

Lane Fernando plays the Longhorn Saloon & Grill on Saturday in Edison

Ben Stiller’s sweet spin on “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E2 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

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

Travel / Pages 12-13 Visiting the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Inside

SUBMISSIONS Email features@skagitpublishing.com, vrichardson@skagitpublishing. com (recreation items) Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition Phone 360-416-2135 Hand-deliver 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274

Get Involved........................................ 6 At the Lincoln...................................... 7 New on DVD....................................... 7 The Year’s Best in Video Games......... 8 On Stage, Tuning Up....................10-11 Travel............................................12-13 Hot Tickets........................................ 14 Movie Review: “... Walter Mitty”.......16 Movie Listings, Mini-Reviews.......... 17 Out & About.................................18-19

Mailing address P.O. Box 578 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 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? w For arts and entertainment, contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com w For recreation, contact staff writer Vince Richardson at 360-416-2181 or vrichardson@ skagitpublishing.com TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E3

CELEBRATIONS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year’s Eve is Tuesday, Dec. 31. There are numerous entertainment options that night to provide the soundtrack for a festive entrance to the new year. Celebrate responsibly!

RIVERTALK

BELLINGHAM

Maple Hall in La Conner

Ring in the new year with Scary Monster & The Super Creeps at 9 p.m. at The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $10.

360-778-1067 or shakedownbellingham.com.

Dance to The Fenderbenders from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360422-6411.

SEDRO-WOOLLEY

BOW

Area square dancers will dance in the New Year beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Skagit Valley Grange, 21273 Cook Road, SedroWoolley. Jointly hosted

by The Skagit Squares and Mt. Baker Singles of Mount Vernon, the Fidalgo Fogcutters of SedroWoolley and the Rainbow Squares of Lynden, the celebration will feature callers Dave Harry and Bob and Linda Berka. For information, contact Will Shively at 360-755-0656 or email wshive08@comcast.net.

Enjoy dinner, dancing and music by The Afrodisiacs, The Spazmatics and Mr. Pink from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Pacific Showroom, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. $90, includes buffet dinner, party favors, a keepsake gift, no-host bar. 877-275-2448.

CONWAY

Enjoy a gala dance and party with the Mark DuFresne Band, Wayne Hayton and Fat Slim Lips, at the Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $25 cover. Dinner buffet available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: $25. 360-445-3000.

STANWOOD

LA CONNER

Enjoy music, food and more at 8 p.m. at Maple Hall, 104 Commercial, La Conner. Live music by Rivertalk, costume contest, raffles, food, beer, wine and more. $15 advance, $20 at the door, $30 couples. 360540-9478 or Facebook.com/ rivertalk.

MOUNT VERNON

Craig Parrish / Skagit Valley Herald

MARK DUFRESNE BAND Conway Muse

THE AFRODISIACS

Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Bow

Enjoy music by Angie & the Car Wrecks, More America, Trainwreck and Hard Money Saints at 7:30 p.m. at the former Cyndy’s Broiler, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. The music ranges from psychobilly, country, punk rock with washboard rhythm and metal guitars to drudging outlaw country. Admission: $10. Alcoholic beverages and a $10 buffet will be available for purchase. 425737-5144 or email cookiespirk@wavecable.com.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E4 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

MOVIES

B

en Stiller’s commonality with the hero of his new film hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” starring and directed by Stiller, is adapted from James Thurber’s classic short story that first appeared in The New Yorker in 1939. Since then, Walter Mitty (a mild-mannered man who enlivens a mundane day with a series of fantasies) has been synonymous with daydreaming and flights of imagination.

Stiller, too, hopes for something a little different for his life: He wants to direct more movies and make films outside of the comedies he’s best known for.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” a kind of remake of the 1947 Danny Kaye version, is a big-budget, big-scale shift for the 48-year-old Stiller. It’s his fifth time directing a movie (from “Reality Bites” to “Tropic Thunder”), but his first time helming a film that, while funny, isn’t quite a comedy.

Having just wrapped shooting on another film with “Greenberg” director Noah Baumbach in Brooklyn, Stiller recently met with a reporter in New York to discuss his new trajectory.

AP: With “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” opening on a crowded Christmas for moviegoing, do you feel particular pressure?

Stiller: (Laughs.) Honestly, I think I feel the same thing that I feel every time a movie comes out — which is: It’s a lot of pressure and, at same time, it’s really, totally out of my hands.

AP: Are you comfortable at this point directing and acting at the same time?

Stiller: I don’t think you ever get totally comfortable with it.

You get into a rhythm with it. But I always feel like every time you start up, it’s always figuring it out.

There’s always that frustration that’s going on where you’re like: I just wish I could be behind the camera also.

Ben Stiller in shown in a scene from “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

Q&A

Ben Stiller dreams of a shift with ‘Mitty’

By JAKE COYLE / AP Film Writer

20th Century Fox via AP

directing, and that’s always been something that I’ve known in my head that that’s where I see myself ending up, anyway.

AP: Even when you haven’t directed, you’ve surrounded yourself with ensembles and been a strong voice in shaping the films.

Stiller: What I learned early on when I started being the main character in movies, I realized that there’s a responsibility with that in terms of what the audience is going to see. An audience doesn’t delineate who produced that, or who directed that. They’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go see Ben in a movie.’ There’s a responsibility that I felt I had, to varying levels of success (laughs) in that process — unless I was going into a world of a director, someone like Noah, where I felt, ‘This guy had such a specific sensibility.’ … I feel like I learned from those experiences.

I have a different approach going into movies now.

AP: How so?

Stiller: Sometimes I went against the grain more. Now, I wouldn’t. At a certain point, you can push and push, and you don’t get the result that you want and it doesn’t help the person that’s trying to make the movie. That, for me, has been the learning experience over the years.

Stiller: There was this moment where they dropped me in the water and the boat went away to get a POV shot coming back at me, and I was just totally alone in the water. It was that thing: Wow, this has gone beyond making a movie now. This is just me, the ocean.

AP: Were you aiming to be AP: That must be especially a director as early as “The Ben difficult when you’re, as Mitty, floating in the middle of the North Stiller Show”? Many credit the 1992-93 sketch series as hugely Atlantic Ocean.

influential to comedy since.

Stiller: It was always what excited me the most. We’d have a sketch that was a parody of a Scorsese movie or something like that, or something that all of sudden became its own little movie. I remember one sketch we did that was a restaurant where they were serving human beings. It was like a ‘Soylent Green’ sort of thing. We had been canceled and we knew we were canceled, and we were shooting our last episode. It was

this 11-page sketch that was a little sort of horror movie. I remember having one of the best experiences on the show doing that one. It was like making a little movie.

AP: Do you ever wish you limited yourself more to directing?

Stiller: It’s not something I think about in terms of: ‘Oh, if I had just not been an actor, people would think of me as a director, or take me more seriously, or something like that. I’ve always enjoyed

AP: You’ve long aimed to make a movie of George Saunders’ “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline.”

What are you interested in doing now?

Stiller: Just different kinds of movies that I’m not necessarily in.

I think that opens up (laughs) the casting possibilities. I look forward to doing that, just something I feel passionate and connected to. I would love to do something that’s not necessarily comedic. But I also don’t want to go and do something that’s ultra-dark and serious just to do that.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E5

MOVIES

Diversity efforts slow to change the face of Oscar voters entire constituency, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis.

Even with the 432 new LOS ANGELES — The voting members, the overall next Academy Awards academy is still 93 percent promise to be one of the white, a decrease of less most inclusive ever for than 1 percent from what people of color. the Times found in a 2012 As many as a dozen membership study, and 76 black filmmakers, actors percent male, also a less and actresses are expected than 1 percent decrease to be in the running for from what the Times found Oscars in major categotwo years ago. ries such as director, actor John Ridley, an Africanand supporting actress American screenwriter when nominations are who wrote the “12 Years announced on Jan. 16. a Slave” screenplay, took Yet despite recent efforts note of the irony: From all by the Academy of Motion outward appearances, this Picture Arts and Sciences is a banner year for diverto expand and diversify its sity in Hollywood. ranks, the overall group His film, directed by of 6,028 Academy Award the black filmmaker Steve voters remains much more McQueen, received seven white than the diverse Golden Globe nominations, group of filmmakers likely and other black-themed to be short-listed for the films including “Lee Danbest work in 2013’s movies. iels’ The Butler” and direcThe academy has invited tor Ryan Coogler’s “Fruit452 people to join its ranks vale Station” are getting over the last two years, an awards-season buzz. “Gravunusually high number ity,” by Mexican-born even though 20 of them director Alfonso Cuaron, were nonvoting slots. By is also considered a strong accepting more members, bet for Oscar recognition. the academy hoped to “It’s been a terrific time bring more women and for people of color,” Ridley minorities into the organi- said. But “black people zation. especially have a long way Although the two new to go” in gaining better classes are noticeably more representation behind the diverse than in past years, scenes, he added. He said they failed to change the the academy data prove face of the academy in a “it will take a long time to material way because new change.” members make up such The academy does not a small percentage of the release demographic inforBy JOHN HORN and DOUG SMITH Los Angeles Times

Fox Searchlight Films via AP

Chiwetel Ejiofor is shown in a scene from “12 Years A Slave.” mation on its members. To conduct its analysis, the Times, using public records and private databases, was able to confirm the race, gender and age of all but 45 of the 432 new voting members.

Both classes from 2012 and 2013 were about 69 percent male. The 2012 class was about 87 percent white and now has a median age of 50, while the 2013 class was about 82 percent white and has a median age of 49, the Times analysis found.

“It certainly reads better than it has. So we are moving in the right direction,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the academy’s first African-American president, who was selected in July.

Improving diversity, she added, is a “constant goal.”

The average age of academy members also continued to inch up — from 62 to 63 — despite

the organization’s efforts to bring in younger people.

That’s a difficult trend to reverse because there are far more existing members than new members, and those existing members are all another year older.

Partly in response to the Times’ 2012 study, the academy in April of this year relaxed its membership quotas, which for the preceding decade had limited the number of new members to roughly the same number of members who had retired, resigned or died.

Earlier this year, the academy invited 276 people to become members, including singer-actress Jennifer Lopez, newly appointed Warner Bros.

Chief Executive Kevin Tsujihara and tough-guy actor Danny Trejo. The two classes of invitees before that were much smaller — 2012 had 176 invitees and

2011 had 178.

Even if the academy continues to add classes as diverse as its 2012 and 2013 in the years ahead, changes in its overall membership will be slow.

Even assuming a historically high annual attrition rate — those who die or retire from the academy — of 200 of the organization’s oldest members, with those leaving the academy replaced by inductees whose demographics mirror those of the last two classes, the academy still would be 89 percent white and 72 percent male by 2023. Its median age would drop to 61.

Isaacs reiterated what her predecessors have said: That the academy will not lower its standards simply to make the membership more diverse. People can become academy members in one of three ways: land an Oscar nomination; get

a recommendation from two members; or get an endorsement from a membership committee or the academy staff.

At the same time, Isaacs said she has no plans to reinstate the quota system that had limited the number of potential new inductees to match the number of people who had died or left the academy.

“We want all of our members to be more proactive in terms of looking at the people they work with, and suggesting that different people apply for membership who haven’t before,” Isaacs said.

“Fruitvale Station” director Coogler said having people of color being recognized for their work can only help encourage the next generation of minority filmmakers. “It’s so important seeing someone like you,” he said, “doing what it is you want to do.”

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E6 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

GET INVOLVED ART CLASSES

tor. Register by Feb. 27: 360-755-9649.

COVE (2683) or northcovecoffee.com.

Natural Resources. parks. wa.gov.

play for Whidbey Playhouse, including any specific proMOSAIC YARD ART: duction requirements. The The four-week class will playhouse is located at 730 OPEN MIC MOUNT VERINTERPRETIVE CENTER: meet from 10 a.m. to noon AUDITIONS Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor.

NON: 9 p.m. to midnight, The Skagit River Bald “1776: A NEW MUSIWednesdays, beginning Jan. For information, call 360Wednesdays, First Street Eagle Interpretive Center CAL”: Auditions will be 8, at the Anacortes Senior 679-2237 or email office@ Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 is open from 10 a.m. to 4 Center, 1701 22nd St., Ana- held from 1 to 5 p.m. Satur- S. First St., Mount Vernon. p.m. Saturdays and Sunwhidbeyplayhouse.com. day and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, cortes. $50. All supplies Ages 21 and older.

No days, through Jan. 26, at the Jan. 11-12, at the Whidbey and tools will be provided CALL FOR THEATER Howard Miller Steelhead Playhouse Star Studio, 730 cover. 360-336-3012 or riv to make a bird bath for VOLUNTEERS: Whidbey erbelledinnertheatre.com.

Park, 52809 Rockport SE Midway Blvd, Oak Haryour garden. Sign up at Park Road, Rockport. The Playhouse is seeking a team bor. Parts are available for the reception desk or call of behind-the-scenes folks center will present speakRECREATION 23 men ages 15 to 70, and JoAnne at 360 399-1180. for its April 2014 producers, birding information two women, one age 30 to WINTERQUEST CAMPS tion of the Tony-award and guided walks along 50 and the other 18 to 35.

FOR KIDS: Burlington “FIRE & ICE” (ANIME winning musical “1776” the Skagit River through Come prepared to sing 16 Parks and Recreation is STYLE): 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesthat celebrates the birth of the park.

360-853-7626 or offering a series of day days, Feb. 4-26. Create four bars of music; an accomour nation. Assistance is skagiteagle.org. panist will be provided. camps for kids at 900 E. artworks in the popular needed for set building and Wear comfortable clothFairhaven Ave., Burlington. anime style, with subject decorating, lighting, prop WINTER WALK: Join the matter from fantasy to sci- ing as a light dance will be Preregistration required: acquisitions and costuming.

Friends of Camano Island required.

Bring a resume fi, dinosaurs to dragons.

360-755-9649 or burlingFor information, contact the Parks for a guided winter and recent photo.

The play Learn about complementonwa.gov/recreation. Next theater at 360- 679-2237 or walk at 9:50 a.m.

Saturday, tary and contrasting colors will run April 4-27. 360up: email director Gaye Litka at Jan. 4, at Camano Island 679-2237 or whidbey and the power of texture in Movin’ and Shakin’ whidbey995@comcast.net.

State Park.

Meet at the art. $45. Register by Jan. 28: playhouse.com.

2-Day Camp: Ages 6 to 12, picnic shelter near the boat 360-755-9649.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday DANCE FOR ACTORS: ramp. The 2.6-mile walk PLAY SELECTION COM- and Tuesday, Dec. 30-31.

Eight-week workshop from includes two elevation MITTEE: Whidbey PlayINTRO TO ACRYLIC & Burn up some energy gains of about 50 feet, with 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays beginhouse, 730 SE Midway WATERCOLOR PAINTS: at the gymnastics place ning Jan. 4 at Whidbey the rest of the walk fairly 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Blvd., Oak Harbor, is look- and Absolute Airplay. In Playhouse, 730 SE Midlevel.

Wear weather-approing for people who want Feb. 5-25, at Burlington between will be games and way Blvd., Oak Harbor. priate clothing including to help choose plays for its Parks and Recreation Cenmaking milkshakes. $70.

Improve your movement sturdy shoes or boots. ter, 900 E. Fairhaven Ave., 2014-15 season. CommitWet and Wild 2-Day technique for auditions and Walk will take place rain tee members will read and Burlington. Ages 7-13. StuCamp: Ages 10 to 14, 10 shows. The workshop will or shine; canceled if there evaluate scripts and help dents will paint and create a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and conclude with an informal is snow or extremely high something new each week determine the production Friday, Jan. 2-3. Scale the show on Saturday, March. winds. No dogs. Discover lineup.

For information as they explore a range of walls for two hours at Ver1. $75. Preregistration Pass required for vehicle or to sign up, call 360-679techniques with different tical World in Everett and access to the park. Friend- required: 360-679-2237 or 2237 or email office@whid materials. Subjects include down some Fro Yo. Also, sofcamanoislandparks.org. whidbeyplayhouse.com. beyplayhouse.com.

“Paint your dreams,” tour the SPARK Museum “Crazy creatures,” “My of Electrical Invention, YOUTH THEATRE: THEATER ON STAGE favorite places” and “Out learn about Tesla coils McIntyre Hall is offering of this world.” $50, plus CALL FOR DIRECTORS: ANACORTES OPEN MIC: (lightning machines) and a series of performing arts $20 supply fee payable to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Brown go swimming for two hours Whidbey Playhouse is workshops for ages 6 to instructor. Register by Jan. Lantern Ale House, 412 at the Arne Hanna Aquatic looking for directors for 12 at 2501 E. College Way, 29. 360-755-9649.

Center. $105. its 2014-15 season. The Commercial Ave., AnaMount Vernon. All classes playhouse is looking for cortes. 360-293-2544. will be held at 1 p.m. SunPASTEL PAINTING: FREE PARK ADMISfive professionally pubdays. Tickets are free but 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, SION: In recognition of lished full-length comedies, required and available by OPEN MIC: Jam Night, March 5-26, 2014, Burling- 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thurs- Martin Luther King Day, dramatic comedies, dracalling 360-416-7727, ext. 2, ton Parks and Recreation the Washington State Parks mas, mysteries, revues or days, Conway Pub & Eator by visiting mcintyrehall.

Center, 900 E. Fairhaven and Recreation Commismusicals. Directors may be ery, 18611 Main St., Conorg.

Ave., Burlington. Ages sion will offer free admisrequired to provide a copy way. 360-445-4733.

Jan. 19: I Like to Move 7-13. Students will use oil sion to all state parks Sun- of the script plus a CD of it!: Learn about dance and pastels to create vibrant day and Monday, Jan. 19-20. the music for any musicals.

BURLINGTON OPEN movement from the Northpaintings on heavy board The Discover Pass will not They may also be required west Ballet Theatre artists.

MIC: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturas they explore themes be required to enter state to make a brief presentation Feb. 9: Let’s Play: days, North Cove Coffee, including “Under the sea,” 1130 S. Burlington Blvd., parks, but will be required about the play, including Explore a variety of theater “My backyard,” “Over the Burlington. Hosted by to access lands managed a short written synopsis, a games and improvisational mountains” and “Forest by the Washington Depart- drawing or model of the set exercises with Philip PrudDaniel Burnson. Rock, animals.” $50, plus $20 sup- blues, funk, folk, ukelele, ment of Fish and Wildlife plan and a description of homme from the Anacortes ply fee payable to instrucpoetry and more. 360-707- and the Department of the director’s vision for the Community Theater.

Feb. 23: Global Rhythm: Discover music and basic music concepts with drummer Mary Ellen Hodges using drums, shakers and other instruments.

FREE ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Anacortes Community Theatre offers free acting classes for adults from 10 a.m. to noon the third Saturday each month at 918 M Ave., Anacortes.

Classes include scripted scenes and a variety of acting games, with a different topic each month. Each class is independent, so you don’t have to commit to every session. 360-840-0089 or acttheatre.com.

WORKSHOPS S-W PHOTO WORKSHOPS: Nationally known scenic photographer Andy Porter will offer photography workshops at the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce, 714-B Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. Bring your camera and instruction book to class.

Point and Shoot Camera: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, or Thursday, Jan. 30.

Digital SLR Camera: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, or Wednesday, Jan. 29. $25 per class, payable by cash or check. RSVP: 360809-0661 or email andyport erphotography@gmail.com.

LOVE WRITING RETREAT: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, Anacortes Center for Happiness, 619 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Explore writing about love with Matthew Brouwer in all its forms — romantic, erotic, brotherly and divine. For writers of all genres and levels of experience. $30-$75 sliding scale. To register, call 425-891-7264 or email matthewbrouwerpoet@gmail. com.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E7

NOTEWORTHY DVDS AND BLU-RAYS IN 2013 “Amour” (Sony, $30.99 DVD, $35.99 Blu-ray). There was much deserved acclaim for this story of a couple dealing with the effects of aging and illness.

Winner of the Oscar for best foreignlanguage film.

“The Bletchley Circle: Cracking a Killer’s Code” (PBS, $24.99 DVD, $29.99 Blu-ray). This mystery drama set in ’50s England is not only about a crime. It’s about the place of women in post-World War II society, particularly women who had played important roles during the war and were put back in old places afterward. I ranked it among the best new shows of 2013.

A second season is due in 2014.

“Graham Parker & the Rumour: This Is Live” (Shout!Factory, $21.98 Blu-ray / DVD combo). The singer and band behind “Passion Is No Ordinary Word,” “Local Girls” and “Discovering Japan” reunite for this set of performances, part of which appeared in director Judd Apatow’s “This Is 40.”

“Hava Nagila: The Movie” (Cinedigm, $29.95 DVD). Funny and thoughtful chronicle of the song we all know — and the history behind it.

“John Ford: The Columbia Films Collection” (Sony, $49.99). Ford, one of the great American directors, is showcased with five films, including the American DVD debuts of “The Whole Town’s Talking,” “Two Rode Together” and “Gideon’s Day,” and the return to DVD of “The Long Gray Line” and “The Last Hurrah.” Available through the shop on tcm.com.

“Let’s Get Lost” (Cinedigm, $24.95 DVD). Bruce Weber’s documentary about singer-trumpeter Chet Baker was an intriguing look at a life filled with both talent and error. Baker talked to Weber, but the filmmaker went beyond that to interview loved ones and others from Baker’s life for a black-and-white film that was also a colorful chronicle. Also available with three other films in “Bruce Weber: The Film Collection” ($59.95).

“Much Ado About Nothing (Lionsgate,” $19.98 DVD, $24.98 Blu-ray).

Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) gathered some actor friends for a few days and made this black-and-white, modern-dress version of Shakespeare’s play. Pay special attention to the excellent work by Amy Acker.

“Mud” (Lionsgate, $19.98 DVD, $24.99 Blu-ray). Matthew McConaughey’s recent hot acting streak

Upcoming movie releases

AT THE LINCOLN THEATRE 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon 360-336-8955 n www.lincolntheatre.org

Following is a partial schedule of coming movies on DVD. Release dates are subject to change:

portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.

Rated R. $10 general; $9 seniors, students and active military; $8 members; $7 children 12 and under. Bargain matinee prices (all shows before 6 p.m.): $8 general, $6 members, $5 children 12 and under.

DEC 31 Don Jon — Fox JAN. 7 Closed Circuit — Universal Inequality For All — Starz / Anchor Bay Runner Runner — Fox Thanks for Sharing — Lionsgate JAN. 14 A.C.O.D. — Paramount Blue Caprice — IFC Carrie — MGM Enough Said — Fox Fruitvale Station — Anchor Bay Lee Daniels’ The Butler — Anchor Bay Riddick — Universal Short Term 12 — New Video Group The Spectacular Now — Lionsgate 20 Feet From Stardom — Starz / Anchor Bay You’re Next — Lionsgate n McClatchy-Tribune News Service

included this film in which he plays a mysterious man on a mission in Mississippi.

“Not Fade Away” (Paramount, $19.98 DVD, $29.99 Blu-ray). Sopranos mastermind David Chase made his feature-film directing debut with this piece about friends forming a rock band in the ’60s. John Magaro is especially good as a character based on Chase. Somewhat fragmented storytelling is balanced by a fine soundtrack and compelling characters. James Gandolfini co-stars.

“Orphan Black: Season One” (BBC $29.98 DVD, $34.98 Blu-ray). Tatiana Maslany dazzled critics as she played multiple characters — all clones of one — in this thriller. In Hitfix’s poll of TV critics (including me), it ranked fifth among new shows. A second season is coming in April.

“Stories We Tell” (Lionsgate, $19.98 DVD). Director Sarah Polley took a closer look at her complicated family, especially her mother, who died when Polley was 11. The examination led to some major surprises, including one that ends the movie — and suggests that there’s still more to the story Polley tells. It’s on the motion picture academy’s short list of potential Oscar nominees for documentary. n Rich Heldenfels, Akron Beacon Journal

At the Met: ‘Falstaff’ 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29

‘12 Years a Slave’

7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 27-28 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30

Based on the true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, the New York state citizen who was kidnapped and made to work on a plantation in New Orleans in the 1800s. Steve McQueen (“Hunger”) directs from a script he cowrote with John Ridley. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner,

Music director James Levine conducts Verdi’s opera for the first time at the Met since 2005. Robert Carsen’s production — the first new Met Falstaff since 1964 — is set in the English countryside in the mid-20th century. Ambrogio Maestri (last season’s Dulcamara in the opening-night production of L’Elisir d’Amore) sings the title role of the brilliant and blustery Sir John Falstaff, opposite an ensemble that includes Angela Meade, Stephanie Blythe, Lisette Oropesa, and Franco Vassallo. $23 adults; $19 seniors; $16 students with $2 off for Lincoln members.

New Works By:

MARK BISTRANIN

La Conner Seaside Gallery

Open five days a week • Thursday - Monday 11-5 Laconnerseasidegallery.com • 101 N. 1st street, La Conner

E8 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

REVIEWS

The AP critics’ best of the year in video games The Associated Press

LOU KESTEN

1. “BioShock Infinite” (Irrational Games, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC): The latest adventure from provocateur Ken Levine asks tough questions about the bloody path of American history.

And it doesn’t provide easy answers — indeed, the more you learn about its setting, the flying city of Columbia, the loopier it gets. No other game this year bent my brain as much.

2. “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” (Ubisoft Montreal, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC): Stealth and swordplay have always been at the core of this series, but “Black Flag” adds a stirring new element: engrossing sea battles, as you and the crew of your pirate ship romp across the Caribbean of the 1730s.

3. “Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” (Studio Ghibli and Level-5, for the PlayStation 3): The Japanese studios behind movies like “Spirited Away” and games like “Dragon Quest” collaborated on this sprawling epic about a kid transported to an alternate universe. It provides all the pleasures of a deep role-playing game with the charm and humor of great anime.

4. “Tomb Raider” (Crystal Dynamics, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC): Video-game icon Lara Croft gets an origin story, as the shipwrecked heroine fights for survival on an island full of goons. As teenage Lara evolves from helpless to deadly, you can’t help but think this kid’s got

(Naughty Dog, for the PlayStation 3): Who knew the end of the world could look so good? This sweeping survival epic’s visually stunning rendition of postapocalyptic America and its completely unique take on zombies is enhanced even further by intricate performances from Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson as unlikely travel companions.

4. “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” (Ubisoft Montreal, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC): After last year’s sleepy Colonial ‘BIOSHOCK INFINITE’ America-set installment, 2K Games/Irrational Games via AP “Assassin’s Creed” refreshingly plunged into pirate a bright future. the creepy story all the online world so compelling politics with this entry, 5. “The Last of Us” more effective. that even anti-social gamers proving the aging historical stealth series still has new (Naughty Dog, for the Play8. “The Legend of can enjoy it. tricks up its sleeves, besides Station 3): This journey Zelda: A Link Between just a pair of hidden blades. across a post-apocalyptic Worlds” (Nintendo, for the DERRIK J. LANG 5. “Tomb Raider” (Crys1. “BioShock Infinite” United States presents one Nintendo 3DS): Nintendo tal Dynamics, for the Play(Irrational Games, for nerve-racking confrontaopens up the magical land Station 3, Xbox 360, PC): tion after another — but it of Hyrule — and its darker the PlayStation 3, Xbox Lara Croft, shipwrecked 360, PC): A breathtakwill be best remembered twin, Lorule — with a and stripped of everything, for the smartly written, looser storyline that invites ing journey to a kingdom transcends her status as in the clouds, “Infinite” is subtly acted relationship more exploration. It’s the between its protagonists, most challenging “Zelda” in equally as wondrous as it is merely a busty video-game a bitter survivor and the years, and the most reward- thought-provoking. A first- vixen in this intense origin story. Her harrowing person shooter that philively young girl he’s sworn ing. losophizes about such top- expedition across the lethal to protect.

9. “Peggle 2” (PopCap Yamatai island is grueling, ics as racism, nationalism, 6. “Gone Home” (The Games, for Xbox One): religion and fate shouldn’t desperate and exactly what Fullbright Company, for The killer app for Microthe character — and gamPC): Remember that feelsoft’s new Xbox One turns work, but this imaginative ers — needed. piece of fiction does on ing of returning to your out to be … a juiced-up 6. “The Legend of childhood home only to pachinko game. But fans of every level.

2. “Grand Theft Auto V” Zelda: A Link Between realize you don’t really the original will get exactly Worlds” (Nintendo, for the (Rockstar Games, for the know anyone who lives what they were hoping PlayStation 3, Xbox 360): Nintendo 3DS): A few darthere? That’s the mood for: a game so addictive ing innovations on the longLos Santos, the cheeky captured by this sweet, sad that, even after bouncing running “Legend of Zelda” yet hopeful mystery, told through 120 new levels, you rendition of Los Angeles, formula resulted in one of depicted in “GTA V” is a entirely through the things want more. the most captivating advena family has left behind.

10. “Final Fantasy XIV: crowning achievement in tures starring everyone’s 7. “Device 6” (Simogo, A Realm Reborn” (Square virtual world construction favorite elfy hero, Link. His — an explosive, fully realfor iOS): This witty mystery Enix, for PlayStation 3, ized, sin-filled, self-loathing ability to pop on and off reminded me of the classic PC): This massively mulwalls added a new depth playground for the game’s text adventures of the 1980s tiplayer online game was to the puzzles, and made a trio of despicable anti— except now, you have to so poorly received in 2010 heroes to do their bidding. serious case for playing in rotate your iPad to follow that its publisher pulled along. The elegant design, the plug and rebuilt it from The heists are really, really 3D. 7. “Gone Home” (The fun, too. with just a smattering of the ground up. The result Fullbright Company, for 3. “The Last of Us” pictures and music, makes is nearly a miracle: a lush

PC): There just aren’t enough games as emotionally gripping — or as beautifully ordinary — as this voyeuristic coming-ofage story that casts players as a college student who’s returned to her family’s empty house after traveling abroad. “Gone Home” is more than just a mystery set in the 1990s. It’s interactive poetry.

8. “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” (Nintendo, for the Nintendo 3DS): Realistic. Thoughtful. Edgy.

Stressful. Those words do not at all describe “New Leaf,” an unabashedly silly town simulator that turned out to be a relaxing, fantastical treat — and a digital reminder of how simple acts like catching up with neighbors and plucking apples from trees can be oh-so-rewarding.

9. “Papers, Please” (3909 LLC, for PC): It sounds like the worst idea for a game ever: play as a paper-pushing immigration inspector tasked with approving or denying folks entry into an oppressive country. Yet indie designer Lucas Pope crafted a provocative, pixelated tour de force with his “dystopian document thriller” where morality and gameplay collide.

10. “Disney Infinity” (Avalanche Software, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS): Taking a cue from “Skylanders” and “Minecraft,” Mickey Mouse and his cartoon militia daringly marched onto the toysmeets-games battlefield and triumphed by inspiring the imaginations of young and old with a deft combination of physical and virtual playthings.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E9

REVIEWS MUSIC CDS Compiled from news services

Beyonce “Beyonce”

Beyonce gets plenty of credit — OK, way more than plenty — as a singer, a dancer, a businesswoman, a mom. But she’s also a master of the humblebrag, that strategic assertion of modesty that actually demonstrates one’s fabulousness.

She unloads a great one near the end of her just-released self-titled album, which appeared last week on iTunes free of any advance warning.

First we hear Ed McMahon on “Star Search” introducing an early version of Beyonce’s group, Destiny’s Child. Then the talent-show host reveals that the outfit has been defeated by — wait, let me listen again — a band called Skeleton Crew.

“Star Search” branded her a loser, the clip is telling us, but Beyonce somehow mustered the resolve to carry on.

“Beyonce” (which the singer calls a “visual album”) is itself a kind of humblebrag, reminding us that only she can afford to drop product into a crowded marketplace without mounting the type of elaborate promotional campaign we’ve seen lately from the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake.

“Probably won’t make no money off this,” she admits in “Haunted,” setting us up for one more delicious turnabout: “Oh well.”

What’s exciting about the record, beyond its means of delivery, is how the music similarly blends the intimate and the extravagant. Made up of 14 new songs accompanied by 17 new music videos, “Beyonce” is

W inners LO U N G E

by far the most sexually minded album from a singer who’s often projected a virtuousness at odds with peers such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

In “Jealous” she memorably describes an evening at home — “I’m in my penthouse half-naked / I cook this meal for you naked” — and in “Drunk in Love” trades terrifically raunchy come-ons with Jay Z; it’s like an NC-17 sequel to their 2003 smash “Crazy in Love.”

Yet rather than dramatize these moments with in-your-face production a la Miley Cyrus, Beyonce underplays many of them, often murmuring her most explicit lyrics in a breathy purr that forces you to lean in and listen — another sly application of her power.

She does the opposite in a handful of bigger-sounding production numbers, making razzle-dazzle pop out of small-scale sentiments that might’ve seemed on paper like fodder for hushed ballads. “XO,” for instance, begs a lover for a kiss amid firework synths and a marching-drum beat, while the anthemic “Pretty Hurts” makes a considered case against our obsession with physical perfection.

This doesn’t mean the album forgoes the full-tilt spectacle we’ve come to expect from Beyonce. “Flawless” spikes a clattering beat and instructions to “Bow down, bitches” with a monologue by the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

And “Blow” and “Rocket” are sumptuous retro-soul tunes that feel like the singer just wanted to flex her impressive stylistic chops; the latter approximates D’Angelo’s behind-the-beat R&B so closely that you’ll scan the liner notes to make sure he didn’t write it. (In fact, it was Beyonce working alongside Timberlake and L.A.’s Miguel.)

As for the liner notes, they too serve as part of the singer’s humblebrag here, with an absurdly expansive roster of talent — including Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Drake, The-Dream and Frank Ocean, among many others. The list of names indicates her willingness to recruit help while at the same time emphasizing her position at the center of the pop universe.

No one, it seems, says no to Beyonce — not even her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, who contributes some highpitched “mommies” to the album’s spacedout closer, “Blue.”

And why would anyone deny her? Songs like the woozy “Mine” and the spooky, almost perversely stripped-down “Partition” reflect her determination, rare among superstars, to keep pushing creatively.

In spite of the misgivings she airs in “Haunted,” she’ll make money off this — loads of it, no doubt. But, perhaps more important, she’ll also keep hold of our attention long enough to surprise us again. n Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times

‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ Various artists

Should he want it, a career in folk singing awaits Oscar Isaac, the actor who brings soulful depth to the sad-sack jerk title character of “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the Coen brothers’ riff on the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s.

As in the movie, Isaac more than holds his own with professional singing types like Justin Timberlake, who plays a blandly likable folkie, and Broadway actor Stark Sands. Isaac brings conviction to trad tunes performed solo or accompanied by Marcus

I-5 Exit 236 • theskagit.com • 877-275-2448 SVH

Must be 21 or older with valid photo ID.

n Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer

‘The Music of ‘Nashville,’ Season 2, Vol. 1 Various artists

Midway through its second season, “Nashville,” the ABC melodrama about country stars and hopefuls, continues to get the music right. That’s no surprise, since Buddy Miller, a great Americana artist himself, is in charge of it, after sharing duties in the first season with T Bone Burnett. And once again, he has top writers and players at his disposal to support the singing actors, who are no slouches themselves.

That means even the more radio-friendly material, like the swaggering country rock of “What If I Was Willing,” sung by Chris Carmack, and Hayden Panettiere’s “Trouble Is,” sound better than a lot of the stuff coming out of Music Row. Jonathan Jackson’s ballad “How You Learn to Live Alone,” is on the fey side, but everything else has plenty of rootsy character, from the sisterly harmonies of Lennon and Maisy on “A Life That’s Good” to the bluesy bite of Connie Britton and Will Chase’s “Ball and Chain” and Charles Esten’s “Playin’ Tricks.”

Those and more help make this the strongest “Nashville” collection yet. n Nick Cristiano, Philadelphia Inquirer

Watch the games on the BIg screen!

Football sunday 12/29

EntErtainmEnt FrIday 12/27

Seahawks vs. Rams

DJ Clint Westwood

GamE timE SpEcialS

saturday 12/28

1:25 pm Owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

Mumford or the Punch Brothers.

When he’s not on the mike, the soundtrack is a mishmash, with the too-cute novelty tune “Please Mr. Kennedy” not worthy of repeat listenings, and the odd cut by Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk, on whom Davis is partially based, adding to the jumble.

Food and drink specials available in the lounge and at the bar top from Kick-off ‘til end of the Game!

Classic & Contemporary Dance 9 pm – 1 am

Big Dog Revue

Seven-Piece R&B Show/Horn Band 9 pm – 1 am

E10 Thursday, December 26, 2013

TUNING UP Playing at area venues December 27-January 2

ADVENTURES IN BARRYWOOD

By BARRY KOLTNOW The Orange County Register

There are no apologies in Hollywood.

There are no excuses in Hollywood.

And there certainly are no refunds in Hollywood.

They charge you the same ticket price for a bad movie as they do for a good movie.

If the movie is a real stinker, there are no apologies from the filmmakers, and there are no offers of refunds or discounts from the studios.

And the theater owners are their partners in crime.

That overpriced tub of popcorn and that giant box of Goobers will cost you the same, whether it’s an Oscar winner or a studio dump job in late August.

Yes, life is not fair, but Hollywood takes the concept to another level.

There is little we can do, except release our annual list of the worst movies of the year.

And when I say “worst,” I understand that this is a judgment call. I may hate something that you love, and vice versa.

Perhaps “worst” is the wrong word. Maybe the word should be “disappointing.”

I don’t know about you but I hope that every movie I am going to see will be “The Godfather.”

I don’t mean that literally, but at least aspire to the quality of “The Godfather.”

Of course, if it’s a comedy, I hope it’s nothing like “The Godfather.”

But there are very few “Godfathers” being put out

by Hollywood these days, and most films are not only a waste of our money, but a waste of our precious time.

For stealing two hours of our lives, certain movies deserve to be on this list.

What recourse do we

Thursday, December 26, 2013 E11

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

there was agonizing.

6. “The Hangover Part III” — Hey, we got drunk in Vegas. Then we got Paramount Pictures via AP drunk in Bangkok. Since we’re only doing this one for the money, let’s just go get drunk. The only good news is that this ends the franchise.

7. “Identity Thief” — I occasionally enjoy it when actors or actresses leave their comfort zone to try to play a character that is unlike anything they’ve ever played.

Melissa McCarthy is hot right now, due to her CBS show “Mike & Molly,” and to her scene-stealing performance in “Bridesmaids.” Her character in this alleged comedy was so despicable and unlikable that by the time of her redemption (second-rate movies always include a redemption scene for an annoying character), it was too late. The cause was lost.

8. “After Earth” — You’ve heard of “Bring your child to work” day?

Well, Will Smith interpreted that as “Bring your son to star in a $130 million movie” day. By the way, how long has it been since we liked an M. Night Shyamalan movie?

9. “We’re the Millers” ‘The Lone Ranger’ Disney Enterprises, Inc. — Some people thought and Jerry Bruckheimer Inc. that watching Jennifer ‘August: Osage County’ Aniston play a stripper The Weinstein Company via AP 4. “The Internship” — was worth every penny Everybody loved “Wedof the ticket price. Those have but to publicly mock ding Crashers,” and some but there apparently was ances as Burgundy were people need more friends. these people? clever studio executives a very good reason why hysterical, and when the We were hoping for some So, it is with a small they didn’t come up with a movie’s promotion is better assumed that all you had to better writing, and perhaps measure of pleasure and sequel for 10 years. than the movie, you’ve got do was put Owen Wilson a lead character (played by disdain that I present the and Vince Vaughn together Jason Sudeikis) who might There obviously was no a problem. It’s like when 10 most disappointing mov- reason for making a sequel, the trailer is better than the in a movie again, and the be easier to root for than a ies of 2013: money would flow. Well, except money. However, movie. Stay classy, Ron. small-time drug dealer who 1. “Anchorman 2: The we would like to salute the 2. “Grown Ups 2” — No the money didn’t flow. aspires to be a big-time Legend Continues” — best movie marketing cam- one steals your money like Apparently, you need a drug smuggler.

Frankly, I don’t care how good script, too. paign in history. No one Adam Sandler.

10. “August: Osage much money this sequel 5. “The Lone Ranger” — County” — We get it; can accuse Paramount and 3. “R.I.P.D.” — What makes. I don’t care if There is a thrilling moment Meryl Streep’s character Ron Burgundy (Will’s alter were they thinking? This some critics actually like near the end of the movie ego) of failing to promote idea should have been is not very nice. Director it. I have always admired when the William Tell this film. sent to the Rest In Peace John Wells likes endings so Will Ferrell and his writOverture kicks the movie And that was part of the Department before it was much that he included five ing partner Adam McKay, problem. Will’s appearinto another gear. Getting in this overly long film. made into a movie.

‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’

Celebrating mediocrity: These flicks did not measure up in 2013

FRIDAY.27

SATURDAY.28

Holiday Jam: Wayne Hayton, Johnny Bulldog, Holmes Shea Band, Kerry and the Keepers, PWG; 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $5 and suggested donation to benefit Neighbors in Need Food Bank. 360-445-3000.

LANE FERNANDO 9 p.m. to midnight, Longhorn Saloon & Grill, 5754 Cains Court, Edison. No cover.

Sovereign: 9 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway.

360-445-4733.

SATURDAY.28 FORD GIESBRECHT 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1037.

Joe Argo: 9 p.m. to midnight, Varsity Inn, 112 N. Cherry St., Burlington.

No cover. 360-755-0165.

Solo Piano Night: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison.

360-766-6266.

Jim Cull: 7 to 10 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. 360-848-8882.

Rich Rorex: 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner.

360-399-1037.

The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon.

360-422-6411.

SATURDAY.28 The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Jack Mattingly and Barefeet: 6:30 p.m., Birdsview Brewing Company, 38302 State Route 20, Concrete.

360-826-3406.

Br’er Rabbit: 8 p.m., Big Rock Café, 14779 Highway 9, Mount Vernon.

No cover. 360424-7872.

Kim Snyder: 8 p.m., 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $5 cover. 360336-3012.

SUNDAY.29 Bow Diddlers: 5:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360766-6266.

Big Dog Revue: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover.

877-275-2448.

El Colonel and Doubleshot: 7:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

360-755-3956.

Ford Giesbrecht: 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360399-1037.

The Listers: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-7666266.

Lane Fernando: 9 p.m. to midnight, Longhorn Saloon & Grill, 5754 Cains Court, Edison.

No cover. 360766-6330.

TUESDAY.31 Gary B’s Church of Blues: 6 to 10 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway.

360-445-4733.

Ben and Mia Starner: 6 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. No cover. 360-4453000.

Rock and blues jam with CC Adams: 5 to 9 p.m., The Station House, 315 Morris St., La Conner.

360-466-4488.

The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Eagle Teeth, Minor Plains, Otto, Animal Inside: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $5.

360-778-1067.

THURSDAY.2 New Year’s Eve Party: The Afrodisiacs, The Spazmatics and Mr. Pink; 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Pacific Showroom, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. $90. 877-2752448.

New Year’s Eve Gala Dance and Party: Mark Dufresne Band, Wayne Hayon & Slim Fat Lips; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $25 cover. Dinner buffet 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: $25 (reservations required: 360-445-3000.

New Year’s Eve Benefit Bash: Angie and the Car Wrecks, More America, Trainwreck and Hard Money Saints; 7:30 p.m., former Cyndy’s Broiler, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. $10. Alcoholic beverages and $10 buffet.

Scary Monster & The Super Creeps (David Bowie tribute band): 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $10.

360-778-1067.

The Silver City Band: 2 to 5 p.m., Jansen Art Center Firehall Cafe, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-3543600.

Steve Rudy: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-3543600.

E10 Thursday, December 26, 2013

TUNING UP Playing at area venues December 27-January 2

ADVENTURES IN BARRYWOOD

By BARRY KOLTNOW The Orange County Register

There are no apologies in Hollywood.

There are no excuses in Hollywood.

And there certainly are no refunds in Hollywood.

They charge you the same ticket price for a bad movie as they do for a good movie.

If the movie is a real stinker, there are no apologies from the filmmakers, and there are no offers of refunds or discounts from the studios.

And the theater owners are their partners in crime.

That overpriced tub of popcorn and that giant box of Goobers will cost you the same, whether it’s an Oscar winner or a studio dump job in late August.

Yes, life is not fair, but Hollywood takes the concept to another level.

There is little we can do, except release our annual list of the worst movies of the year.

And when I say “worst,” I understand that this is a judgment call. I may hate something that you love, and vice versa.

Perhaps “worst” is the wrong word. Maybe the word should be “disappointing.”

I don’t know about you but I hope that every movie I am going to see will be “The Godfather.”

I don’t mean that literally, but at least aspire to the quality of “The Godfather.”

Of course, if it’s a comedy, I hope it’s nothing like “The Godfather.”

But there are very few “Godfathers” being put out

by Hollywood these days, and most films are not only a waste of our money, but a waste of our precious time.

For stealing two hours of our lives, certain movies deserve to be on this list.

What recourse do we

Thursday, December 26, 2013 E11

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

there was agonizing.

6. “The Hangover Part III” — Hey, we got drunk in Vegas. Then we got Paramount Pictures via AP drunk in Bangkok. Since we’re only doing this one for the money, let’s just go get drunk. The only good news is that this ends the franchise.

7. “Identity Thief” — I occasionally enjoy it when actors or actresses leave their comfort zone to try to play a character that is unlike anything they’ve ever played.

Melissa McCarthy is hot right now, due to her CBS show “Mike & Molly,” and to her scene-stealing performance in “Bridesmaids.” Her character in this alleged comedy was so despicable and unlikable that by the time of her redemption (second-rate movies always include a redemption scene for an annoying character), it was too late. The cause was lost.

8. “After Earth” — You’ve heard of “Bring your child to work” day?

Well, Will Smith interpreted that as “Bring your son to star in a $130 million movie” day. By the way, how long has it been since we liked an M. Night Shyamalan movie?

9. “We’re the Millers” ‘The Lone Ranger’ Disney Enterprises, Inc. — Some people thought and Jerry Bruckheimer Inc. that watching Jennifer ‘August: Osage County’ Aniston play a stripper The Weinstein Company via AP 4. “The Internship” — was worth every penny Everybody loved “Wedof the ticket price. Those have but to publicly mock ding Crashers,” and some but there apparently was ances as Burgundy were people need more friends. these people? clever studio executives a very good reason why hysterical, and when the We were hoping for some So, it is with a small they didn’t come up with a movie’s promotion is better assumed that all you had to better writing, and perhaps measure of pleasure and sequel for 10 years. than the movie, you’ve got do was put Owen Wilson a lead character (played by disdain that I present the and Vince Vaughn together Jason Sudeikis) who might There obviously was no a problem. It’s like when 10 most disappointing mov- reason for making a sequel, the trailer is better than the in a movie again, and the be easier to root for than a ies of 2013: money would flow. Well, except money. However, movie. Stay classy, Ron. small-time drug dealer who 1. “Anchorman 2: The we would like to salute the 2. “Grown Ups 2” — No the money didn’t flow. aspires to be a big-time Legend Continues” — best movie marketing cam- one steals your money like Apparently, you need a drug smuggler.

Frankly, I don’t care how good script, too. paign in history. No one Adam Sandler.

10. “August: Osage much money this sequel 5. “The Lone Ranger” — County” — We get it; can accuse Paramount and 3. “R.I.P.D.” — What makes. I don’t care if There is a thrilling moment Meryl Streep’s character Ron Burgundy (Will’s alter were they thinking? This some critics actually like near the end of the movie ego) of failing to promote idea should have been is not very nice. Director it. I have always admired when the William Tell this film. sent to the Rest In Peace John Wells likes endings so Will Ferrell and his writOverture kicks the movie And that was part of the Department before it was much that he included five ing partner Adam McKay, problem. Will’s appearinto another gear. Getting in this overly long film. made into a movie.

‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’

Celebrating mediocrity: These flicks did not measure up in 2013

FRIDAY.27

SATURDAY.28

Holiday Jam: Wayne Hayton, Johnny Bulldog, Holmes Shea Band, Kerry and the Keepers, PWG; 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $5 and suggested donation to benefit Neighbors in Need Food Bank. 360-445-3000.

LANE FERNANDO 9 p.m. to midnight, Longhorn Saloon & Grill, 5754 Cains Court, Edison. No cover.

Sovereign: 9 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway.

360-445-4733.

SATURDAY.28 FORD GIESBRECHT 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1037.

Joe Argo: 9 p.m. to midnight, Varsity Inn, 112 N. Cherry St., Burlington.

No cover. 360-755-0165.

Solo Piano Night: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison.

360-766-6266.

Jim Cull: 7 to 10 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. 360-848-8882.

Rich Rorex: 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner.

360-399-1037.

The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon.

360-422-6411.

SATURDAY.28 The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Jack Mattingly and Barefeet: 6:30 p.m., Birdsview Brewing Company, 38302 State Route 20, Concrete.

360-826-3406.

Br’er Rabbit: 8 p.m., Big Rock Café, 14779 Highway 9, Mount Vernon.

No cover. 360424-7872.

Kim Snyder: 8 p.m., 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $5 cover. 360336-3012.

SUNDAY.29 Bow Diddlers: 5:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360766-6266.

Big Dog Revue: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover.

877-275-2448.

El Colonel and Doubleshot: 7:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

360-755-3956.

Ford Giesbrecht: 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360399-1037.

The Listers: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-7666266.

Lane Fernando: 9 p.m. to midnight, Longhorn Saloon & Grill, 5754 Cains Court, Edison.

No cover. 360766-6330.

TUESDAY.31 Gary B’s Church of Blues: 6 to 10 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway.

360-445-4733.

Ben and Mia Starner: 6 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. No cover. 360-4453000.

Rock and blues jam with CC Adams: 5 to 9 p.m., The Station House, 315 Morris St., La Conner.

360-466-4488.

The Fenderbenders: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Eagle Teeth, Minor Plains, Otto, Animal Inside: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $5.

360-778-1067.

THURSDAY.2 New Year’s Eve Party: The Afrodisiacs, The Spazmatics and Mr. Pink; 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Pacific Showroom, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. $90. 877-2752448.

New Year’s Eve Gala Dance and Party: Mark Dufresne Band, Wayne Hayon & Slim Fat Lips; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $25 cover. Dinner buffet 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: $25 (reservations required: 360-445-3000.

New Year’s Eve Benefit Bash: Angie and the Car Wrecks, More America, Trainwreck and Hard Money Saints; 7:30 p.m., former Cyndy’s Broiler, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. $10. Alcoholic beverages and $10 buffet.

Scary Monster & The Super Creeps (David Bowie tribute band): 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $10.

360-778-1067.

The Silver City Band: 2 to 5 p.m., Jansen Art Center Firehall Cafe, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-3543600.

Steve Rudy: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-3543600.

E12 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

TRAVEL

By DON BABWIN Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. — About an hour’s drive from those quaint Door County bed-and-breakfasts you promised you’d go to and those antique shops you promised not to complain about is something that makes it all bearable: Lambeau Field, the football stadium where the Green Bay Packers play. n On the Web: packers. com/lambeau-field/stadiumtours.html

Towering above the smallest community to host a professional sports team in the nation, the home of the Packers is one of the most storied stadiums in all of sports and a place that’s every bit as cherished by football fans as places like Fenway Park are by baseball fans.

The Packers may only play here about a dozen times a season, but fans can visit practically everyday of the year, for a tour that costs just $11. It offers a peek behind the curtain where so much of professional football’s history has been written. In the last 10 years, more than a million people have taken the tour — all of them coming away with insider knowledge guaranteed to fascinate football fans and bore everyone else to death.

The tour starts in the atrium, where a guide points outside to statues of the team’s founder and first coach, Curly Lambeau, along with the team’s most famous coach, Vince Lombardi, and gives a brief history.

Did you know the team’s original colors were not green and gold but blue AP file photos and gold, which, it turns out, are the colors of Notre LEFT: A statue of Curly Lambeau, the first coach of the Green Bay Packers, sits outside Lambeau Stadium.

Dame, the school Lambeau RIGHT: Stadium board consultant Greg Kuehl tries out the new chairs in the players lounge during a tour that attended? Or that the Pack- was part of the new player facilities expansion.

Pro football’s most famous field THE LAMBEAU LEGEND BECKONS TO ALL FOOTBALL FANS

ers name comes from the packing company Lambeau worked for and talked into paying for the team’s first uniforms?

It’s also a chance to joke that what the statue of Lambeau is pointing to is the stadium’s massive gift shop. The store houses what must be the largest collection in existence of foam hats shaped like orange cheese in honor of the fans’ nickname — cheeseheads.

The store also sells anything and everything one could possibly imagine with a Packers logo, as well as stuff you couldn’t imagine, like the toaster that turns out toast branded with a Packers ‘G’ logo on it.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E13

TRAVEL The atrium is where you start to get a sense of how important the Packers are to the fans. Sixty weddings are held here a year — including one in which the bride almost hit those taking the tour with her tossed bouquet — along with school proms.

As the tour moves to a luxury box, visitors are told not for the first or last time that the “frozen tundra” that ESPN’s Chris Berman keeps referring to when he talks about Lambeau — meaning the field itself — actually froze just one lousy time.

Unfortunately for the Packers, it froze in what is still Lambeau’s most famous game and perhaps the most famous game in the history of the league: the 1967 NFL Championship game between the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, forever known as the Ice Bowl.

Turns out there was a heating system under the field but it broke before the game. That system has been replaced with a new one — here comes one of those facts that will fascinate true believers and bore the rest — that includes 43 miles of hoses coursing with antifreeze and hot water running underneath the field.

Not only that, but mixed in with the grass are 20 million small synthetic fibers that, for those scoring at home, go 8 inches under the surface of the field and a half-inch above it.

And get this: While the

Local travel

Fans walk in the atrium of Lambeau Field before a Packers preseason game in 2011 in Green Bay, Wis. AP file

rest of Wisconsin is buried under a blanket of snow, the heating and lighting systems are so effective at keeping the place warm that the grounds crew is mowing the lawn into December and even January.

From the skyboxes the tour moves into the bowels of the stadium. The guide points to the locker room

but tells you that the NFL prohibits fans from going inside active locker rooms.

Disappointing, but it also adds to the mystery of the place.

The tour takes visitors through a tunnel to the stadium. To give visitors a sense of what it’s like for the team, the sounds of cheering fans pours out of some speakers.

educational travel programs next summer in Italy and Africa. Global TRAVEL TALK: Learn about Discovery trips are not for univerupcoming cruise options at 6 sity credit or restricted to Western p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at AAA students. People of all ages are Travel, 1600 E. College Way, Suite invited to travel alongside Western A, Mount Vernon. The free prefaculty and gain an understanding sentation will include limited-time of other cultures, including their cruise benefits and special offers. art, ecology, food, history, lanRSVP: 360-848-2090. guage and more. Trips include: Mount Kilimanjaro Climb and WWU FACULTY-LED TRAVEL Serengeti Safari Extension: July PROGRAMS: Western Washing5-19. ton University will offer three Serengeti Safari and Kiliman-

It sounds hokey, but it adds to the thrill of seeing Lambeau as the players do when they walk onto the field.

Like the locker room, the field itself is off-limits. And for those on the tour considering doing the “Lambeau Leap” into the stands as the players do after a touchdown? “Don’t even think about it,” the guide says.

jaro Culture Tour: July 14-26.

Tuscany, Italy: Aug. 31-Sept. 14.

360- 650-6409, global discovery@wwu.edu or wwu.edu/ GlobalDiscovery.

Football history is literally all around you here, starting with the names of the 22 Packers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chicago Bears have more, the guide says, but quickly points to the list of 13 years that the Packers have been league champions — a list that is longer than that of any other team, Bears included.

or email pgardner@oakharbor.org.

SENIOR CENTER TRIPS: Skagit County Senior Centers offer short escorted trips departing from and returning to local senior centers. For information, call the Anacortes Senior Center at 360293-7473 or sign up at your local senior center.

EXTENDED TRIPS: The Oak Harbor Senior Center is organizing several small-group trips for 2014: Trains of Colorado in July and Islands of New England in September. Trips will depart from PASSPORT APPLICATIONS: Oak Harbor/Mount Vernon. ConThe Anacortes Public Library tact Pat Gardner at 360-279-4582 accepts passport applications

The tour puts you just a few feet from the end zone that quarterback Bart Starr dove into to win the famed “Ice Bowl.”

If that doesn’t make you want to pay a few more bucks to visit the Packers’ Hall of Fame at Lambeau or pick up that Packers toaster, nothing will.

from noon to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturdays at 1220 10th St., Anacortes. Passport forms and information on fees and how to apply are available at travel.state. gov, or pick up an application and passport guide at the library.

The Oak Harbor Senior Center accepts passport applications, by appointment, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor.

360-279-4580.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E14 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

HOT TICKETS ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Dec. 28, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

BINGO PLAYERS: Dec. 28, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

SUPER DIAMOND: THE NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE: Dec. 31, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

IN THIS MOMENT: Jan. 3, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

REVEREND HORTON HEAT: Jan. 9, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

REEL BIG FISH: Jan. 11, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO: Jan. 14, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

INTERNATIONAL CAT VIDEO FILM FESTIVAL: Jan. 15, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Jan. 17, KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DISNEY JUNIOR LIVE ON TOUR! PIRATE & PRINCESS ADVENTURE: Jan. 19, Comcast Arena at Everett.

866-332-8499 or comcastarena everett.com.

JAKE BUGG: Jan. 20, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

ROBERT DELONG: Jan. 23, The Barboza, Seattle. 206-709-9442 or thebarboza.com.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS: Jan. 23, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showbox online.com.

EXCISION: Jan. 24, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

LORD HURON: Jan. 24, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

COLIN HAY (of Men At Work): Jan. 24-25, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Bow. 877-275-2448 or the skagit.com.

HOPSIN’S KNOCK MADNESS TOUR: Jan. 25, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT: Jan. 30-March 2, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle. 206-625-1900 or 5thavenue. org.

MYON & SHANE 54: Jan. 31, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT: with Brian Gore, Pino Forastiere, Mike Dawes and Quique Sinesi: Feb. 1, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon. 360336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE: Feb. 1, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

MARY LAMBERT: Feb. 1, Show-

PENTATONIX: Feb. 20, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

THE ENGLISH BEAT: Feb. 21, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

DOC SEVERINSEN, THE SAN MIGUEL FIVE: Feb. 21-22, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Bow. 877-2752448 or theskagit.com.

THE WILD FEATHERS: Feb. 26, The Crocodile, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

WALK OFF THE EARTH: Feb. 26, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

JIM JEFFERIES: Feb. 27, Moore Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND: Feb. 28, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

GLASVEGAS: Feb. 28, Columbia City Theater, Seattle. 800-838-3006 or columbiacitytheater.com.

SKINNY PUPPY: March 1, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

G-EAZY: March 7, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

THE ATARIS: March 12, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

GALACTIC: March 13, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

HERMAN’S HERMITS, starring Peter Noone: March 14-15, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Bow. 877-275THE PRESIDENTS OF THE 2448 or theskagit.com.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BRING ME THE HORIZON: March Feb. 15, Showbox at the Market, Seattle.

24, Showbox at the Market, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

800-745-3000 or showboxonline. com.

LORDE: March 24, WaMu Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or ticketmasboxat the Market, Seattle. 800-745Vernon. 360-336-8955 or lincolnthe ter.com.

3000 or showboxonline.com. atre.org.

THE SING-OFF LIVE TOUR: March 2 CHAINZ: Feb. 13, Showbox KARMIN: Feb. 14, Neumos, Seat25, Showbox at the Market, Seattle.

SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or tle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline. showboxonline.com. com. com.

ANA POPOVIC: Feb. 6, Lincoln TheTHE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED ROBIN THICKE: March 26, WaMu atre, Mount Vernon. 360-336-8955 or STATES OF AMERICA: Feb. 15, Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or lincolntheatre.org.

Showbox at the Market, Seattle. ticketmaster.com.

WHITE LIES: Feb. 7, Showbox at 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.

GUNGOR: March 26, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 com. the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

MILEY CYRUS: Feb. 16, Tacoma or showboxonline.com.

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET: Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONFeb.8,Showbox at the Market, Seatlivenation.com.

STERS: March 28, Showbox at the tle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: Feb. Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or com.

16, Comcast Arena at Everett. 866showboxonline.com.

BIFFY CLYRO: Feb. 9, Showbox at 332-8499 or comcastarenaeverett.

KINGS OF LEON: March 28, the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 com.

KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or or showboxonline.com.

BAND OF HORSES: Feb. 16, Moore livenation.com.

IMAGINE DRAGONS: Feb. 11, Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or THE DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR: KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. featuring CARCASS: March 29, livenation.com.

AMOS LEE: Feb. 17, Paramount Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800KYARY PAMYU PAMYU: Feb. 13, Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or 745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800- livenation.com.

SHARON JONES & THE DAP 745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

PAUL SIMON, STING: Feb. 19, KINGS: April 2-3, Showbox at the ERIC TINGSTAD & NANCY RUMKeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or BEL: Feb. 14, Lincoln Theatre, Mount livenation.com. showboxonline.com.

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE: April 4, Showbox at the Market, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or showboxonline. com.

YOUNG THE GIANT: April 4-5, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

BASTILLE: April 8, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

IL DIVO: April 9, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. 866-833-4747 or livenation. com.

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND: April 10, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

THE WAILIN’ JENNYS: April 12, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon. 360336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

DIANA KRALL: April 16, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA: April 20, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

ELLIE GOULDING: April 23, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-7844849 or livenation.com.

THE 1975: April 24, Showbox at the Market, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

FRANZ FERDINAND: April 24, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-7453000 or showboxonline.com.

THE WANTED: April 26, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

SUDDEN VALLEY JAZZ SERIES: April 26/Nov. 15, Sudden Valley Dance Barn, Bellingham. 360-6711709 or suddenvalleylibrary.org.

STEPHEN “RAGGA” MARLEY: May 6, Showbox at the Market, Seattle.

206-224-5481 or aeglive.com.

LINDSEY STIRLING: May 21, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL: May 23-25 and July 4-6, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. sasquatchfestival. com.

LADY GAGA’S artRAVE — The ARTPOP Ball: May 28, KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

ONEREPUBLIC: June 12, Comcast Arena at Everett. 866-332-8499 or comcastarenaeverett.com.

PARADISO FESTIVAL: June 27-28, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

CHER: June 28, KeyArena, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: July 2, Paramount Theatre, Seattle.

877-784-4849 or tickets.com.

JOURNEY, STEVE MILLER BAND: July 19, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

ARCADE FIRE: Aug. 8, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E15

Rarely seen Van Gogh moves to National Gallery

By BRETT ZONGKER Associated Press

BOOK YOUR NEW YEARS EVE PARTY NOW LIVE MUSIC 12/31 WITH THE TIGER DOGS

Book Your Parties NOW LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS THURSDAY NIGHT ALL YOU CAN EAT PRAWNS

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Early Dinners 4 Courses $20

Voted Best of AnAcortes 13 YeArs running

Every Day 3-6pm Reservations: 466-4014

Burger and a Brew Pizza and a Pint $9.99 every thursday

Not Valid with Coupons or other Specials Full menu details at: laconnerseafood.com

RoCkfish GRill Local Food, Local Beer, Made Here 320 Commercial Ave 360.588.1720

Innovative Food • Craft Cocktails 24 Draft Handles • Live Music

Sat 12/28 7:30pm Colonel and Doubleshoot 314 Commercial • 360-755-3956

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WASHINGTON — A Vincent Van Gogh painting that has been hidden away at a Virginia estate for decades will have a new home at the National Gallery of Art. The rarely seen 1890 painting, “Green Wheat Fields, Auvers,” depicts a landscape in bright greens and blues from northern France when Van Gogh was living just north of Paris in Auvers-sur-Oise.

The painting was given to the museum by philanthropist and art collector Paul Mellon, and it has been kept in his family’s home in Upperville, Va., since 1955.

It went on display Friday alongside five other Van Gogh paintings. The museum now holds nine altogether.

The painting has only been exhibited once before in the United States, in a show devoted to the Mellon collection in 1966 at the National Gallery of Art. The painting spent its early years with Van Gogh’s brother Theo and then was traded in Germany. It was shown in a major exhibition in Cologne, Germany, in 1912 and then in Berlin.

But it has mostly been out of view since the 1930s, said French paintings curator Mary Morton.

The painting was created while Van Gogh was struggling. He had cut off his earlobe on Christmas Eve in 1888 and committed himself to an asylum in southern France a few months later before he returned to northern France and turned to painting spectacular landscapes.

“It’s really one of the great landscapes of that moment. It is in very good condition,” Morton said.

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E16 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

MOVIES

Stiller’s ‘Walter Mitty’ is quiet, sweet and ever so slight

By ROGER MOORE McClatchy-Tribune News Service

James Thurber’s whimsical short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” was about a bored, unassuming married man who escapes his humdrum life through wildly adventurous fantasies in which he becomes a war hero, a test pilot and the like. He avoids the boredom of errands and life’s routine that way.

In Ben Stiller’s new film based on that 1939 story, the daydreaming Mitty becomes a shy 40something who isn’t so much avoiding reality as using fantasy as an excuse for not seizing the day, for not asking out the woman (Kristen Wiig) at the office, for never traveling and experiencing the world. He’s not so much avoiding his dull reality as failing to, as the Latins said, “carpe diem.”

It’s a charming, whimsical and ever-so-slight film, a bit of an overreach but pleasant enough, even when it falls short.

Walter Mitty is a methodical man, carefully budgeting his life, looking after his elderly mother (Shirley MacLaine), too dull to have anything to post on his eHarmony dating profile, too shy to reach out to that pretty new hire Cheryl (Wiig) at work.

He has managed the photographic negatives at

‘THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY’

HHH Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristin Wiig, Sean Penn, Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott Running time: 1:54 MPAA rating: PG for some crude comments, language and action violence

Life magazine for 16 years, living vicariously through the hero photographer (Sean Penn) who still shoots photos on celluloid in an Instagram world. But Life has just been taken over by a company that plans to close it after one last issue.

And the meticulous Walter, hounded by the corporate boor (Adam Scott) now in charge, has misplaced an image the famous photographer insisted was “the quintessence of Life.”

Every day, Walter walks through Life’s halls and loses himself in shots of mountain climbers in the Himalayas. He imagines the witty comebacks that would insult the new boss to his core or win the fair Cheryl. He “zones out” in these fantasies. Everybody notices.

And he sees that Life motto, emblazoned on the wall, which begins with “To see Life; see the world.”

Which he never has.

20th Century Fox via AP

Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig star in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

One of the clever conceits of Steve Conrad’s adaptation of the Thurber story is to incorporate elements from “It’s a Wonderful Life” in it. Walter has been too caught up in responsibility and his own timidity to live the life of his dreams.

But that missing photo and photographer give him purpose. His stumbling conversations with Cheryl convince him that he has a mission — to track down the elusive photographer and find “frame 25,” “the quintessence of Life.”

And we’re off — to Greenland, Iceland and beyond, chasing ghosts, a

photograph and a dream, emptying the bank account even as his life and career are upended in the Great Media Disruption that is journalism today.

A cute touch — Walter doling out updates on the days he seizes to his eHarmony support tech (Patton Oswalt). Clever bits include the notion that all the new bosses wear beards, with Ted (Scott) acting out his sarcastic fury at Walter’s daydreaming by labeling him “Major Tom,” from David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity.”

One dream Walter wants to make come true is “a little ‘Pina Colada Song’

kind of thing” with Cheryl, making her see him anew, as someone who is more than he seems. The movie gives us hints (which Cheryl never sees) that this is actually true.

The film’s ambition and reach seem greater than they actually are, much like the locations (Iceland stands in for most of the exotic places Walter travels) and the product placement plot points. Its quiet tone — built around Stiller’s buttoned-down, meek, Steve Carell-like performance — can make you think it’s deeper than it is.

But the visuals of “The

Secret Life of Walter Mitty” cast a spell. The “world is changing, time to change with it” story — with its many forms of obsolescence, from photo magazines to Kodak film to photographers and “negative managers” — will resonate with anyone who has poured years into a job that this disruptive, digital age has killed.

And the message — Life isn’t a magazine, a job or a savings account, but an experience — is as timeless as the boring and bored Walter Mittyesque dreamer that James Thurber created 75 years ago, when Life was still a magazine.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E17

MOVIES MINI-REVIEWS Compiled from news services.

Ratings are one to four stars.

“American Hustle” — Christian Bale gives a transcendent performance as a con man who falls hard for hard-time gal Amy Adams. Director David O. Russell and his “Silver Linings Playbook” stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence went right back to work together on this wild tale about con artists helping the FBI on a sting. Comedy, R, 138 minutes. HHHH “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” — It’s a marvel the way Will Ferrell flings himself into playing the loathsome idiot for the ages Ron Burgundy, hired in this sequel to anchor on a cable news network in the early 1980s.

The gang all returns:- Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Christina Applegate.

Funnier than the original, “Anchorman 2” is also, in its own loony way, a sobering look at the television business then -- and now. (Comedy, PG-13, 119 minutes). HHH1⁄2 “Captain Phillips” — Director Paul Greengrass (“The Bourne Supremacy”) delivers another intense, emotionally exhausting thriller with amazing verite camerawork and gutwrenching realism. Smack in the middle is Tom Hanks in a career-crowning performance as a worldly sea captain taken hostage by Somali pirates.

Even as Greengrass’ signature kinetic style renders us nearly seasick and emotionally spent from the action, it’s the work of Hanks that makes this film unforgettable. Thriller, PG-13, 134 minutes. HHHH “Dallas Buyers Club” — Matthew McConaughey plays Ron Woodroof, a grimy, shady, homophobic, substanceabusing horndog in 1985 Texas who learns he’s HIVpositive and procures unapproved means of treatment.

McConaughey’s masterful job of portraying one of the more deeply flawed anti-heroes in recent screen history reminds us why he became a movie star in the first place. We start out loathing this guy and learn to love him. Jared Leto disappears into the role of a transgender drug addict and Jennifer Garner is Ron’s empathetic doctor. Drama, R, 117 minutes. HHH1⁄2

have to remind yourself to breathe. Thriller, PG-13, 91 minutes. HHH1⁄2 “Her” — In writer-director ANACORTES CINEMAS Spike Jonze’s lovely and Dec. 27-Jan. 2 wondrous ultra-modern Saving Mr. Banks (PG-13): 12:40, 3:30, 6:35, 9:10 romance, a fragile fellow Walking With Dinosaurs (PG): 12:50, 3:20, 6:55, 9:00 in the not-so-distant future The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13): 12:30, (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in 3:40, 6:45, 9:45 love with the voice of an 360-293-6620 operating system (Scarlett Johansson). One of the more CONCRETE THEATRE original, hilarious and even Dec. 27-Jan. 2 heartbreaking stories of the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13): Friday: year. It works both as a love 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 4 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 4 and story and as a commentary 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday: 4 p.m.; Wednesday: 6 p.m. on the ways technology 360-941-0403 isolates us from human contact. Comedy-romance, R, CASCADE MALL THEATRES 119 minutes. HHH1⁄2 Burlington “Homefront” — A widowed For listings: 888-AMC-4FUN (888-262-4386). ex-DEA agent (Jason Statham) and his adorable daughter get BLUE FOX DRIVE-IN a hostile reception upon movOak Harbor ing to a small Louisiana town.

360-675-5667 Director Gary Fleder knows his way around this kind of OAK HARBOR CINEMAS material, and the screenplay Dec. 27-Jan. 2

by Sylvester Stallone has Walking With Dinosaurs (PG): 12:55, 3:45, 6:30, 9:10 some salt in it, but ultimately, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG-13): 12:45, “Homefront” flies off the rails.

3:30, 6:40, 9:20 James Franco’s not right as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13): 12:35, the villain, and the movie trav3:00, 6:20, 9:00 els awfully familiar turf. Action, 360-279-2226 R, 100 minutes. HH “Hours” — In one of his last STANWOOD CINEMAS roles, Paul Walker does some Dec. 27-Jan. 2 pretty solid work as a new dad 47 Ronin (PG-13): 1:20, 3:40, 6:30, 9:00 desperately trying to save his Grudge Match (PG-13): 1:40, 4:00, 6:50, 9:10 newborn daughter in a New Walking With Dinosaurs (PG): 1:30, 4:10, 6:40, 9:10 Orleans hospital abandoned Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (PG-13): 1:10, during Hurricane Katrina. One 3:50, 6:20, 8:50 only wishes Walker had stron The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13): 1:00, ger, better-developed mate3:30, 6:10, 8:40 rial to work with instead of a 360-629-0514 promising drama that eventually unravels. Drama, PG-13, “Delivery Man” — In his against scary aliens are beau- 96 minutes. HH “Inside Llewyn Davis” — comfort zone, Vince Vaughn tifully shot and expertly choWith this dry comedy about plays a fast-talking, underreographed. Sci-fi adventure, the American folk music achieving, irresponsible lout PG-13, 114 minutes. HHH scene of the early 1960s, who learns he’s the biological “Frozen” — When a queen father of some 533 children. with icy powers (voice of Idina Ethan and Joel Coen have crafted another unique period Weird concept. Weird movie.

Menzel) accidentally freezes piece. Oscar Isaac gives a Writer/director Ken Scott her kingdom, she runs away memorable performance as gives us an uneven mishmash and her intrepid sister (Kristhat alternates between easy ten Bell) goes to find her. Sure the title character, a thoroughly unlikable, selfish, socially gags, shameless sentimental- to delight kids and captivate ity and some just plain bizarre adults, Disney’s musical “Fro- poisonous miscreant. The choices. The story gets more zen” is the instant favorite for music is terrific. With Justin ludicrous with each passing the animated feature Oscar.

Timberlake, Carey Mulligan development. Comedy, PG-13, Animated musical, PG, 102 and John Goodman. Comedy, 105 minutes. HH minutes. HHH1⁄2 R, 105 minutes. HHH1⁄2 “Ender’s Game” — A first “Gravity” — An accident “Mandela: Long Walk to rate cast of wily veterans sets two astronauts, a veteran Freedom” — Idris Elba cap(Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley) (George Clooney) and a rookie tures the fire and passion of and fresh-faced youngsters (Sandra Bullock), adrift in Nelson Mandela as a young (Asa Butterfield of “Hugo”) space. Both a stunning visual activist, his resilience as deliver a rousing, challengtreat and an unforgettable thrill a political prisoner and his ing adventure that should ride, director Alfonso Cuaron’s wisdom as a forgiving elder satisfy most young fans of amazing space adventure statesman in Justin Chadthe beloved sci-fi novel while evokes “Alien” and “2001: A wick’s telling of Mandela’s keeping the adults engrossed Space Odyssey.” During some epic life. This may be the as well. The simulated battles harrowing sequences, you’ll most complete and compel-

AT AREA THEATERS

ling interpretation of Mandela the man and Mandela the symbol ever captured on film. Biography, PG-13, 141 minutes. HHH⁄2 “Nebraska” — What a joy it is to watch Bruce Dern playing such a miserable SOB in the best role of his long career.

Woody Grant is a crabby, boozy, sometimes delusional old guy on a road trip with his son (Will Forte) to collect a sweepstakes prize. Alexander Payne’s latest film is a modern American classic about the dynamic between a father from the generation that didn’t speak about its feelings and a grown son who’s still trying to get his father to explain himself. Stark, beautiful and memorable. Drama, R, 115 minutes. HHHH “Out of the Furnace” — One of the best movies I’ve seen this year is a stark, bleak, intense drama set in a dying corner of the Rust Belt. As a solid guy recently released from prison and looking out for his tinderbox brother, Christian Bale strikes many different notes and hits each with the same precision. Drama, R, 116 minutes. HHHH “Saving Mr. Banks” — Emma Thompson is a perfect choice to play prissy P.L. Travers, who wrote the Mary Poppins books and resists the efforts of Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) to give the magical nanny the Hollywood musical treatment. A lovingly rendered, sweet film, set in a stylized and gorgeous rendition of 1961 Los Angeles.

Comedy-biography, PG-12, 125 minutes. HHH “The Book Thief” — A wondrous, richly textured, sometimes heartbreakingly effective movie about good Germans in World War II, including a remarkable little girl and the couple who took her in while sheltering a teenage Jewish boy in their basement. Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson deserve Oscar consideration for their lovely, layered performances. One of the year’s best movies. Drama, PG-13, 131 minutes. HHHH “Thor: The Dark World” — Fires on all cylinders at times, with fine work from returning stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, a handful of hilarious sight gags and some cool action sequences.

But it’s also more than a little bit silly and quite ponderous

and overly reliant on special effects that are more confusing than exhilarating. Let’s face it, Thor’s kind of a bore and not nearly as intriguing as his deeply conflicted adopted bro, Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

Fantasy action, PG-13, 112 minutes. HH1⁄2 “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” — There’s far less fussing about in this movie than in its precursor “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and although “Smaug” moves at a faster pace, it still feels overlong. At least this leg of the quest features giant spiders and a hot elf.

Can’t miss with that. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage return to star, and Peter Jackson’s 3-D visuals are as breathtaking as ever. Fantasy adventure, PG-13, 161 minutes. HHH “The Wolf of Wall Street” — Martin Scorsese directs the story of an amoral Wall Street hustler (the ever-charismatic Leonardo DiCaprio) -— a user, a taker, a rat and a scoundrel. Though the little bleep sometimes wears out his welcome, we stick around to see if he gets his comeuppance and to marvel at Scorsese’s continuing mastery. Jonah Hill overdoes it as DeCaprio’s right-hand man, and Matthew McConaughey is mesmerizing as his first mentor. Crime-comedy, R, 180 minutes. HHH1⁄2 “12 Years a Slave” — is a film about great bravery, featuring some of the bravest performances you’ll ever have the privilege to witness. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as a free man in New York state in the 1840s, who is kidnapped and shipped to the South, where he is beaten, given a new name and forced into slavery.

Unflinchingly directed by Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave” is what we talk about when we talk about greatness in film. With Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti. Drama, R, 134 minutes. HHHH “Twice Born” — At times almost unbearably melodramatic, this war film is nevertheless worth the effort, thanks in large part to a magnificent performance from Penelope Cruz and some fine work from the international supporting cast. Drama, R, 127 minutes. HHH

E18 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT & ABOUT ART

OUTDOOR SCULPTURE Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through EXHIBIT: The La Conner LOCAL WATERCOLORS: Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Monday. 360-202-2956 or Local artist Daryl Deitz laconnerseasidegallery.com. is on display through March displays his paintings 1, 2014, at public locations through Dec. 31 at the HOLIDAY ART: “Home around La Conner. The Skagit Valley Food Co-Op, for the Holidays” continannual juried exhibition fea202 S. 1st St., Mount Vertures work by some of the ues through Jan. 1 at the non.

Rob Schouten Gallery, 765 Northwest’s most accomplished artists. For informaWonn Road, Greenbank.

IN THE ART BAR: The show features original tion, including a map of the Original artworks by artwork by 26 artists includ- sculptures and works availLinda White are on display able for sale: 360-466-3125 ing glass, jewelry, paintthrough Dec. 31 in the Linor townoflaconner.org. ings, sculpture, encaustics, coln Theatre Art Bar, 712 ceramics, fiber arts, woodS. First St., Mount Vernon.

QUILTS, FIBER ARTS: work, cards, prints, books White has worked in variTwo shows are on display and more. ous media over the years at the La Conner Quilt & Gallery hours are 11 a.m.

– drawing, colored pencil, Textile Museum, 703 S. Secto 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 watercolor, pottery, Sumi-e ond St., La Conner: a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and, most recently, collage.

“Abstracted”: Through (closed Tuesdays except by 360-336-8955 or lincoln appointment). 360-222-3070 Dec. 29. The exhibition theatre.org. or rob schoutengallery.com. by the Fiber Art Network from Western Canada JENNIFER BOWMAN explores the concept of WOMEN’S WORK ACRYLICS: A show of realistic and abstract art.

STORE: As part of the new acrylic paintings by Storefronts Mount Vernon Pairs of artists illustrate Anacortes artist Jennifer their subject – one in a repprogram, the Women’s Bowman will continue resentative fiber art piece Work Store is open at through Jan. 28, at Scott and one in an abstract/nonThe President Hotel, 604 Milo Gallery, 420 Commer- “Baskets, Bowls, Boxes and Baubles” continues through December at the representative piece.

S. First St., Mount VerAnne Martin McCool Gallery, 711 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

In addition to cial Ave., Anacortes. Enjoy “Inspired to Design: new paintings by Martin McCool, the show features a variety of artwork by non. The Store features a reception for the artists Art Quilts by Elizabeth George Way, Art Learmonth, Martha Tottenham, Carole Cunningham, Debbie Oaxacan handwoven wool during the First Friday GalAldrich, Tracy Powell, Bob Metke, Vicki Hampel, Patsy Chamberlain, Barbara Barton”: Through Dec. 29. rugs, Guatemalan scarves, lery Walk from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hathaway, Jane Hyde, Cathy Schoenberg and others. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.

Barton paints or dyes all of Peruvian jewelry, masks Friday, Jan. 3. Bowman’s and tribal art from Africa, the fabric she uses in her whimsical canvases feature to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday or by appointment. 360-293-3577 or mccoolart.com. jewelry and clothing made nontraditional quilts, which colorful landscapes, florals

by Nepali trafficking survi- she describes as “contemand seascapes. Bowman vors, silk sari scarves, Mexi- porary,” “art quilts” or will also exhibit her newest “fiber collages.” Her work prints and drawings, many art invitational show, conmaterials in nontraditional can silver jewelry, handaddition, silk scarves. The is focused on a few parinspired by the light and tinues through Dec. 30 at ways, using relief printing, made piñatas, fair trade gallery will also showcase the Smith & Vallee Galcasting and assemblage. food and coffee and more. ticular themes: buildings photo encaustics by Kathy terrain of Skagit Valley.

360-299-1400 or majestic lery, 5742 Gilkey Ave., Gallery hours are noon Store hours are 11 a.m. to 9 and cityscapes, industrial Hastings, photographs by innandspa.com.

Edison.

The show features to 5 p.m.

Friday through p.m. Thursday through Sat- landscapes, black and white Randy Dana and Lewis art objects in a variety of Sunday. 360-708-4787 or urday, continuing through curves and landscapes.

Jones, oils and pastels by Museum hours are 11 HOLIDAY ART SHOW: media from more than 20 gallerycygnus.com. the holiday season. 360Amanda Houston, jewelry a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday Check out “The Peaceful local and regional artists.

424-5854.

by Enid Oates and Kate through Sunday. $7, $5 stuNEW ARTISTS, ANNIGrinzell and custom tables Season of Thanks, Love & Purchases can be removed dents and military, free for Joy,” continuing through from the gallery immediVERSARY SHOW: Artists SMALL ARTWORKS: and chairs by Gary Leake.

Dec. 31, at Raven Rocks ately and will be replaced Alfred Currier and Anne Gallery hours are 10:30 The 23rd annual “Honey, I members and ages 11 and Gallery, 765 Wonn Road, by new works during the Schreivogl have joined La a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday Shrunk The Art” show con- younger. 360-466-4288 or laconnerquilts.com.

Greenbank. The show fea- run of the show. Gallery Conner Seaside Gallery through Saturday or by tinues through Jan. 19 at Three new exhibits will hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in partnership and repreappointment. 360-293-6938 tures a varied selection of the Matzke Fine Art Galopen Saturday, Jan. 11, and handmade arts and crafts Tuesday through Sunday. sentation, and will exhibit or scottmilo.com. lery and Sculpture Park, created by gallery artists.

360-766-6230 or smithand their work along with the 2345 Blanche Way, Camano continue through March 23: “Creating Texture”: Selfthree other artist-partners: Island. The show features SKAGIT-INSPIRED ART: For information, including vallee.com. taught stitcher, quilter and gallery hours and direcphotographer Mark Conley Skagit Valley artists Janie small-format paintings, tions, call 360-222-0102 or PRINTS & SCULPTURE: and painters Mark BistraAckerman and Gene Jarglass art and sculptures by artist Sue Spargo is influvisit ravenrocksgallery.com. Jean Behnke’s one-woman nin and Dave Nichols. La ess are showing recent 40 artists. Gallery hours are enced by the beautiful, colorful work of primitive craft show runs through Dec. Conner Seaside Gallery, work through Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ART INVITATIONAL: 22 at Gallery Cygnus, 109 101 N. First St., La Conner, and Sunday or by appoint- artists around the world. the Majestic Inn, 419 ComSpargo’s folk art style is rich “objectification 6,” the Commercial St., La Conis featuring its anniversary ment. 360-387-2759 or mercial Ave., Anacortes. with embroidery. sixth annual 3-dimensional ner. Behnke combines art show through Jan. 31.

Included are paintings, matzkefineart.com.

‘BASKETS, BOWLS ...’

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - E19

OUT & ABOUT “Out of the Blue”: The one-of-a-kind artworks created by members of Whidbey Island’s Surface Design Association blend many techniques — collage, weaving, felting, beading, basketry, hand-dyed fabric and contemporary quilting.

Each artist was challenged to literally or figuratively create artwork with “Out of the Blue” as its theme.

“Timeless Treasures: Crazy Quilts”: Each January, the museum features a selection of crazy quilts, a craze that became popular in America around the 1880s. While some Crazies might include fans or other recognizable patterns, the style often features random-sized patches sewn onto a foundation fabric with embroidery stitches around the patch edges.

Patches also often include paintings, ink work or embroidery.

multidisciplinary exhibit pairs science and art with the Northwest’s geological findings and the collection’s palette. The works offer an abstract interpretation of our otherwise familiar environment.

The show includes works

by Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Francis Celentano, Doris Chase, William Current, John C. Ebner, Ray Hill, John-Franklin Koenig, Alden Mason, Peter Millet, Allen Moe, Keith Monaghan, Carl Morris, Spencer Moseley, Geoffrey Pagen, Camille Patha, Richard M. Proctor, Kait Rhoads, Paul Soldner, Mark Tobey and Gerard Tsutakawa.

Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday. $8 adults, $5 seniors, $3 students, free for members and ages 11 and younger.

360-466-4446 or museumofMoNA ART EXHIBITS: nwart.org.

The Museum of Northwest Two new exhibits will Art is hosting two exhibits open with a reception from through Jan. 5 at 121 S. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. First St., La Conner: 11, and continue through n “Ric Gendron: Rattle- March 12: bone” features paintings “North American”: Film and related works of Spoinstallation by Robinson kane artist Ric Gendron, a Devor and Charles Muddual-enrolled member of ede. Working outside the the Arrow Lakes Band of traditional narrative structhe Confederated Tribes ture, the film installation of the Colville and the follows a mentally exhaustConfederated Tribes of ed airline pilot wandering the Umatilla. Gendron is a through a massive public little-known but important park. Visitors will experilate-career Native artist, ence the pilot’s journey and the exhibition feaon multiple screens. The tures more than 30 years project was filmed entirely of his expressionistic and in Seattle’s Olmsteadlyrical paintings and prints. designed park system.

Curated by Ben Mitchell, Devor and Mudede will “Rattlebone” originated at introduce their film instalMissoula Art Museum in lation before the opening November 2012, and will reception at 1 p.m. Saturnext travel to the Museum day, Jan. 11. of Contemporary Indian “Shoreline from the Permanent Collection”: The Arts at the Institute of exhibit will offer a kaleidoAmerican Indian Arts in scope experience of color, Santa Fe, N.M. media and composition, n “Geology”: from the Permanent Collection: This including artwork by Guy

Anderson, Bill Brennen, Kenneth Callahan, Richard Gilkey, Paul Havas, Charles Miller, Allen Moe, Mary Randlett, Jack Stangle, Mark Tobey and Hiroshi Yamano. Curated by Lisa Young.

GALLERY WALK: Several galleries and other venues will showcase a variety of art during the First Friday Gallery Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, along Commercial Avenue and other locations in downtown Anacortes. Featured artworks include paintings and prints, sculptures, fiber arts, jewelry, glass art, mixed media, pastels, photos and more. 360-293-6938.

“CASTING: LABOR OF LOVE”: The multimedia exhibition by Seiko Atsuta Purdue will open with a reception during the First Friday Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, and continue through Feb. 2 at Anchor Art Space, 216 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Purdue’s installation explores themes of childhood and motherhood by casting the forms of plastic toys and clothes with paper in a blending of Japanese and American cultures.

Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 360-755-3140 or anchor artspace.org.

“IN FIERI: IN BECOMING”: The exhibit featuring student work from Trinity Western University’s School of the Arts, Media and Culture will open with a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, and continue through Jan. 31 at the Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden. Comprised of work by 12 women, this exhibit was born from a moment of transition between who they have been in the past and who they are now becoming. The

center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 360-354-3600 or jansenartcenter.org.

Indians” continues through April 2014 in the Anacortes Museum’s Carnegie Gallery, 1305 Eighth St., Anacortes. The main exhibit, created by the Washington State Heritage Center, follows Washington’s original MUSIC inhabitants through a war NATIVE FLUTIST: Native over land, a clash over culflute player Peter Ali will perform at 1 p.m. Saturday, ture and a revival of Native Dec. 28, at the Skagit River tradition today. Anacortes Museum staff worked Bald Eagle Interpretive with representatives of the Center at Howard Miller Samish and Swinomish Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockport Park Road, Rock- tribes to develop exhibit panels and artifact displays port. Donations will be interpreting the experiencaccepted at the door. 360853-7626 or skagiteagle.org. es of Fidalgo and Guemes islands’ first people.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.

BLUEGRASS JAM: The to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Skagit Bluegrass & CounSaturday and 1 to 4 p.m. try Music Association’s Sunday. Free admission.

Monthly Jam will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Sun- 360-293-1915 or museum. cityofanacortes.org. day, Jan. 5, at Evergreen Elementary School, 1007 EAGLE INTERPRETIVE McGarigle Road, SedroCENTER: The Skagit River Woolley. Come and play Bald Eagle Interpretive along, dance or just enjoy Center will be open from listening. Free. 360-85610 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays 1058. and Sundays, through Jan. 26, at Howard Miller SteelPLAYS head Park, 52809 Rockport THEATER TICKETS: Park Road, Rockport. The Anacortes Community center will present speakTheatre is offering a limers, birding information ited number of season and guided walks along tickets ($90) for its 50th the Skagit River through anniversary season. Enjoy the park. 360-853-7626 or performances of six proskagiteagle.org. ductions for the price of five, including “Gramercy HATCHERY TOURS: Ghost,” “Les Misérables,” Skagit Fisheries Enhance“You Can’t Take It With ment Group is offering You,” “Lend Me A Tenor,” tours of the Marblemount “Anything Goes” and Fish Hatchery facility by “Bob’s Your Elf.” 360-293- trained volunteer tour 6829 or acttheatre.com. guides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturdays and MORE FUN Sundays, through Jan. 26, at 8319 Fish Hatchery Road, MUSEUM EXHIBIT: Marblemount. Learn about “We’re’ Still Here: The the operations of the hatchSurvival of Washington

ery and SFEG, salmon and their life cycle, the habitat needs of salmon and other local wildlife, and the bald eagle. Visitors may see part, if not all, of the salmon life cycle at the hatchery, along with other wildlife. Selfguided tours are available daily and start in the visitors center. Free. 360-3360172, ext. 304.

MUSEUM CLOSED FOR REMODEL: The Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. Fourth St., La Conner, will be closed for remodeling Jan. 1-17. The museum will reopen with the annual Gathering of Native Artists and dedication of new South Wing exhibits at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. 360-466-3365 or skagitcounty.net/museum.

NEW MOON CELEBRATION: The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Anacortes Center for Happiness, 619 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Join Rev. Elke Macartney to drum and set your intentions for the month ahead. Bring your own hand drums and rattles or borrow hers. $5-$10 suggested donation. 360464-2229 or anacortes centerforhappiness.org.

KIRTAN: The monthly celebration with chanting and dancing will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, at the Anacortes Center for Happiness, 619 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

No experience necessary.

All ages welcome. By donation. RSVP: 360-464-2229 or anacortescenterfor happiness.org.

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