Activities include a color run/walk, pronoun button-making and “Let’s taco ‘bout it,” which will feature tacos, an informational discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and a viewing of the documentary Texas Strong. Interested people may RSVP for the events, request accessibility accommodations, and get the Zoom links by emailing EQUAL@cgcc.edu.

Over 30 businesses will be open late Friday, June 3 as a grassroots movement is fueling some really fun times in downtown The Dalles. Businesses will feature their favorite things about summer. From sidewalk chalk art, live music, special treats, grand openings and more it will be an amazing night to kick off the summer. Hours 5 to 8 p.m.

Richard Murrow is just one of the dozens of shows to see during the weekend as warm weather has venues popping like bubble wrap. Venues include Bargeway Pub, Maupin, Ruins, Granada, MoCo, Route 30, Double Mountain, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, St. Peter’s Landmark, Zim’s, TD Library, Thunder Island, HR Library, The Pines, Jackson Park, 64 Taphouse, TD Eagles, White Salmon, Red Carpet Karaoke and Tabby’s Hole.

”This is going to be a fun, free and family-friendly event for all,” said Mural Fest Committee member Rachel Carter. “We will have appetizers from Bargeway Pub, music by Brian Greeley, live art being created by Denae Manion and a historical scavenger hunt for visitors to engage in The Dalles history.”

Summer Solstice Celebration at Goldendale Observatory State Park will be on Tuesday, June 21, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. This unique fundraiser combines art and astronomy and will feature solar viewing through the Observatory telescope, a presentation on the history of the Observatory, food, beverages, raffles, and a display of prize-winning solar-themed artworks from the Chamber’s recent art contest.

Poet Lydia Valentine is the 2021-2023 City of Tacoma Poet Laureate and author of Brief Black Candles. Poet Christina Vega is the publisher at Blue Cactus Press and author of a poetry collection, Still Clutching Maps. Christina believes we have the power to reshape our communities with principles of Emergent Strategy, transformative justice, and collective laboring of love.

The Cemetery Tales video was one of two videos to win the silver award in the category “non-broadcast biography.” Director/ producer Joe Garoutte said, “The gold award in that category went to a series about Randy Travis, funded by Warner Music Nashville. It’s pretty tough to outdo that kind of money!”

Find out what is happening at the libraries in Wasco County with this newsletter, which is packed full of events and activities.

Serious Theater is presenting New York opera singer Anna Viemeister and baritone Jeremy Griffin in a special concert on Sunday, June 5th at 3:00 P.M. at the Zion Lutheran Church in The Dalles (10th and Union streets). The program features Songs of Travel by Ralph V. Williams, Hermit Songs by Samuel Barber and arias from Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi.

Eli Howard and the Greater Good will play a free outside concert at The Dalles Art Center this Friday, May 27, with festivities starting at 5 p.m. and music at 6 p.m. They are taking over the block - streets closed on Fourth outside TDAC - for the second time in two months.

On Saturday, June 11th, the Portland Chamber Orchestra (PCO) will bring their world premiere of “Celilo Falls: We Were There” to The Granada Theatre located in downtown The Dalles, OR.

I have watched darn near every Marvel movie that has come out in the last 11 years, and I have to be honest, I’m quite sick of them. However, I’m happy to report that Doctor Strangle and the Multiverse of Madness was (mostly) a happy departure from the norms of the Marvel Comic Universe and that I genuinely enjoyed watching it.

Eli Howard and the Greater Good will play a free outside concert at The Dalles Art Center this Friday, May 27, with festivities starting at 5 p.m. and music at 6 p.m. They are taking over the block - streets closed on Fourth outside TDAC - for the second time in two months.

Zora Richardson and Alex Rector, two senior vocalists from The Dalles High School will be giving a recital Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 pm at the First Christian Church, The Dalles. Both students have been under the instruction of private voice instructor Shawn Lutz/Lutz Music Studio for the past three years. They will be presenting from Classical to Musical Theater.

“I think my advice is, ‘don’t be afraid to just try.’ It’s the same advice I’d give my kids. There’s no harm in pursuing these things because you never know what’s going to click and really resonate with you. Whether it’s a male-dominated field or not, I feel like that’s been my mantra about a lot of things; you might absolutely hate something, but you might just really love it.”

Ticket holders for Rent at the Bingen Theater get a second chance after shows are added later this month. In addition, shows and entertainment for the region are still thumping. Venues include TD Civic, River City Saloon, The Pines, Bargeway Pub, Maupin Daze, Discovery Center, The Dalles Art Center, HR Library, Thunder Island, TD Library, Packer Orchards, HR Elks, Sunshine Mill, TD Eagles, Working Hands Beer, Tabby’s, Double Mountain, TD Granada, Clark and Lewie’s, MoCo, Columbia Gorge Interp. Center, Zim’s, The Ruins,

Coffis Brothers are playing tonight and bands and entertainment will be bumpin’ in days and weeks to come at Rivertap, Bargeway Pub, Bingen Theatre, Yoga Samadhi, River City Saloon, Thunder Island, TD Library, HR Library, Working Hands Beer, The Pines, Taphouse, TD Arts Center, Discovery Center, Maupin Daze, Red Carpet, Grateful Vineyard, Double Mountain, TD Civic, MCCCA.

Read the poetry of Stud Walker in this week’s local poetry spotlight.