Jeff Carrell celebrates his Birthday today, April 9, after an epic show with friends at Zim’s Brau Haus on Friday night. It was so great to see a four-piece putting screws through the rock again. Carrell, Victor Johnson Jeff Minnick and Kenny Olsen put together a 2-hour jam on Friday with some dark play on Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. Happy 57th Jeff!

This week’s local poetry spotlight features a poem by Rebecca Sonniksen, which was inspired by her daughter Sofia.

“It has helped me to process things when I’ve submitted my own stuff,” Colleen Ballinger said about her occasional contributions to the Poetree, which change in response to seasons and current events and depending on the amount of work she receives from others, including strangers.

Columnist Jim Drake takes you through music, culture and entertainment options at Zims, Route 30, The Pines, TD Civic, 64 Taphouse, Granada, HR Library, Bargeway Pub, Thunder Island, Everybody’s Brewing, MoCo, Double Mountain, Grateful Vineyard, Easter Bunny, River City Saloon, Wine Tasting, TD Eagles, Cider Fest.

Many stopped by the “Love Where You Live” First Friday event to meet local artists, bakers, musicians, jewelry makers, artisan foods and photographers who “popped up” inside downtown shops, restaurants, and bars for the evening to sell their goods and chat with customers.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is as emotionally captivating as it is breathtaking to behold. The singing, dancing, acting, and direction all come together in a nearly perfect union to bring an old story into the present.

This April 1st, downtown will be alive after five for their very first FIRST FRIDAY! Thirty small businesses in downtown The Dalles have teamed up with their favorite makers and artisans for a night of local art, shopping, wine, food, connection and more. Over 60 small businesses open extended hours this Friday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Things are popping this weekend as live music and First Friday events in both The Dalles and Hood River offer up some fun entertainment and dance opportunities. So, no singing the blues; put on your dancing shoes.

Coming shows and events at The Ruins, Granada, Last Stop Saloon, Zim’s, Route 30, TD Civic Auditorium, Riverside Community Church, Mosier Company, Working Hands Beer, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, TD Wasco County Library, TD Eagles, The Pines, TD First Friday.

Serious Theater is holding auditions for their first production of the 2022 season, “The Stinky Cheese Man”. Though the characters may be familiar, each of your favorite storybook fables is cunningly derailed in this adaptation of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's children's book of fractured fairy tales.

Coming shows and events at The Ruins, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, Bargeway Pub, Granada, River City Saloon, Zim’s, Columbia Center for the Arts, Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association, The Dalles Wasco County Library, The Dalles Eagles, Working Hands, The Pines, Downtown The Dalles, Bingen Theatre, Gorge Blues and Brews, Route 30, Cider Fest, Stone Hedge Gardens.

The Batman brings us back to Gotham—albeit a more squalid, rainy and corrupt version—where Batman (Robert Pattinson) is only in his second year as the caped crusader and finds himself squaring off against The Riddler (Paul Dano), The Penguin (Colin Farrell) and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).

When it comes to live music, Jim Drake can get you plugged in. Our local columnist for entertainment Gorge-wide has a good sampling of coming shows and events, including Al Hare, Gary Pryor, St. Patrick’s Celebration, Tim Mayer CD, Rich Wilkins, Jazz series, Zumba for Y.E.S. House, NW Cherry Festival, Marty Stuart, Modern English, Billy Bob Thornton, Got Your Six, Wayo Hogan, Cici Artemisia, The Riff Ratts, Garrett Brenan, jamgrass, Matt Coughlin and Jugtime Ragband.

When it comes to live music, Jim Drake can get you plugged in. Our local columnist for entertainment Gorge-wide has a good sampling of coming shows and events, including Ukraine Food, Warrant, Winger, Outer Orbit, Bridgid’s Crossing, Chasing Ebenezer, Reddy Black Trio, Kenny O3, Albert Nicholas, Gary Pryor, Animal Planet, Pigs on The Wing, Take 3, Big Rap Show, Gorge Music Fest.

Eight members of en Taiko, a youth Japanese taiko drum ensemble from Portland, will be here to entertain and educate us on Saturday, March 19th. This program will take place at 11:00 in the John and Jean Thomas Children’s Wing.

When it comes to live music, Jim Drake can get you plugged in. Our local columnist for entertainment Gorge-wide has a good sampling of coming shows and events, including Heather Marlow, Funkship, Mardi Gras, Take 3 Trio, Amber and the Pale Ales, Swindler, Kenny O3, Reddy Black Trio, Norman Baker, Jenny Jahlee, World’s Finest and Music Fest of The Gorge.

A free concert by Native American Music Award-winning flute musician James Edmund Greeley from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26th at 7 p.m. in the wonderful Old St. Peter’s Landmark.

And while the film doesn’t always make great choices around its characters, it is always making interesting choices with the camera. If there is any real romance in the film, it's between Anderson and the making of movies: his love of cinema is palpable.

TDHS Students Alex Rector and Iris Cruz recently vaulted onto the world stage at Carnegie Hall after years of singing in The Dalles. Their teacher Shawn Lutz said getting them on that stage in New York was the ultimate goal. Rector said the experience brought tears to her eyes as the girls saw how hard work led them to a great place.

When it comes to live music, Jim Drake can get you plugged in. Our local columnist for entertainment Gorge-wide has a good sampling of coming shows and events, including Owl Valentines, West Goats, Noteworthy, Bigfoot, Free Hillbillies, International dining, masquerade Crow’s Shadow, Don Bailey, Scot & Rebecca, Sunny Pache, Helping Hands, Ferment Brewing, The Granada, Serrano Margarita, Maupin Daze.