All in Art

Column: Musings of a Nativity Set Collector

Five years ago as I packed my belongings to move from a large house into a small apartment, I counted over one hundred nativity sets. Good grief. My movers were undocumented refugees from El Salvador and belonged to a local Christian church. When I asked how many families were in their congregation the men shrugged their shoulders but their wives knew. I quickly was able to unload thirty sets. They were delighted, and I was happy too.

Brewer's Grade, Viemeister, Aaron Meyer: rushing the stage this weekend

We’re coming into a manic weekend as the days count down to Christmas. And the presents are already dropping as art, music and entertainment are piling up like packages at the post office. This weekend brings us Brewer’s Grade, Anna Veimeister and Aaron Myer to name just a few. Check our latest here and stuff your stocking with some good times.

Pick of the week: Moe Dixon pickin' with the Barrs in HR on Friday, Dec. 2.

Moe Dixon and Tess and Patrik Barr will play a free show at Riverside Community Church in Hood River on Friday, Dec. 2nd at noon. Dixon will also play The Pines in HR starting at 6 p.m. Miles From Nowhere, a four-piece band from Central Oregon will bring a set filled with Classic Rock, Blues, Country and Alternative to Zim’s in TD on Saturday, Dec. 3, starting at 7 p.m.

Gorge jammed and jammin': C Notes start it off in TD Nov. 9

Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association presents The Four C Notes on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium in The Dalles. Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m. Lectures, art, music, comedy and entertainment are in good supply during the next few weeks. Check it all out here.

All Dolled Up: Local family’s spooky decor is a seasonal landmark 

So you’re basically a family of weird artists? I ask about 20 minutes into our conversation, and the pleasing look that alights on their faces means they know it’s a compliment. To be clear: my understanding of weirdness is a deeply affectionate and creative one; this might be one of the coolest and most artistic families I’ve encountered in a long time.

In terms of performances, The Rock gives perhaps his least interesting of his career. The decision to make Black Adam essentially charmless does not play in The Rock’s favor. My reading of that data is that Black Adam is a bad movie, but lots of people like it anyway or, at the very least, are willing to pay to see something that isn’t very good. Which, in my experience of it, checks out.

Walk of the Town: City-wide walking tour allows residents and visitors alike to celebrate art, history, and what makes The Dalles unique

Life is in the details. And this week’s column by Sarah Cook calls out many of those in our own backyard. It’s easy to get tunnel vision and want to just get from A to B. But Cook shows us, if you take your foot off the gas for a moment, and grab a local guide app, there is some pretty cool stuff we walk past in TD without even noticing.

Montbleau, Jarabe Mexicano kick of huge week of entertainment in Gorge

Jarabe, which translates to “concoction,” highlights the eclectic mix of genres Jarebe Mexicano perform ranging from Mexican Folk, Rock & Roll, and Norteño/Tex-Mex to Latin Rock, Trío Romántico, and popular Cumbia. They hit the stage on Thursday, Oct. 6 at The Dalles Civic. They’re not just musicians but educators and ambassadors of culture and a ton of fun.