Just over thirteen months since the global pandemic brought an end to live performances, the Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association is poised to present its first new theatrical performance, Tom Jones’ and Harvey Schmidt’s beloved romantic comedy The Fantasticks.

“St. Pat’s at St. Pete’s” is going virtual this year. It is the 23rd-annual St. Patrick’s Day concert benefiting St. Peter’s Landmark after last year's COVID-19 cancellation. The videotaped program will be posted to YouTube on March 17.

Spring is on its way and considering the oddness of the past year, everyone seems ready for some light and color in their lives. So, this month I’ve chosen some art that celebrates life and renewal that I hope you will enjoy. As always, send me your thoughts, poems, and ideas. I love hearing from you. Warm regards, Kerry Cobb

The Sunshine Mill Winery and Drive-Up was chosen for the seventh edition of the Oregon Short Film Festival that will take place from February 25 through February 28, 2021. Learn more about it here.

The acoustics at the Bingen Theater enticed a couple of Pigs on the Wing to start mixing it up with bands at the site. Jason Baker and Dave Lindenbaum are operating Sasquatch? Recordings at the Theater where they can get ‘Led Zepplin’ sound. And what about that name? Sasquatch? It’s real. Don’t kid yourself.

Join Mt. Adams Institute for a virtual Sense of Place event, Magical, Menacing, and Magnificent Wildlife: How to Ensure Their Future in the Gorge, January 13, 2021, at 7 p.m. on Zoom featuring biologist Bill Weiler. Click here to read more and register for the lecture.

Jim Drake takes us on another adventure in media for just $3.59. Be careful, you might learn something, punk. This week takes a look at Eastwood’s Firefox, balancing world power and the problem with VHS tape.

Regular work ain’t so regular, but local drummer Jeff Minnick puts a foot to his bass drum and will brandish his guitar to fill a room. Jeff recently took the opportunity to talk to CCC News about his unique “one-man-plus-one” collaborations, his encounters with famous blues and rock personalities on the road, and the musical philosophies that were implanted in him so long ago, right here in The Dalles.

Thanks, COVID... No, really! No sarcasm here. If you ask people how COVID-19 has negatively impacted their lives, they could undoubtedly list off a slew of examples. So what about when people were asked about how COVID-19 has positively impacted their 2020 year?

This wonderfully hilarious production from the comfort of your own home

“The Radio Play Disaster” will be available to watch online at Broadway On Demand on November 13th-14th, and November 20th-21st ONLY and tickets are AVAILABLE NOW. To order yours follow the link. Money from the play will go to funding future high school drama productions.

Columnist Jim Drake takes a look at local entertainment- online and off. Two drink minimum required before entering. Mark Daly, Hapa Hillbillies, Granada Theatre, Freebridge Brewing, Bargeway Pub, Mandolin Camp, Lesley Saunders

Jim Drake takes a swing at Gorge Indie Rock Band Sundiver’s new album, Orion, with this review. The album was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and was released on Halloween. The review almost never happened thanks to some well-placed stars and galaxies.

Columbia Community Connection News presents a new weekly roundup of honest local news. Featuring The Dalles' own Yahaira Alvarez, CCC's newest video journalist.

The Dalles Artist Chris Pothier began installation of the All Together The Dalles Mural at 811 E. Second Street this morning. The mural is a painting of a photomontage of iconic buildings in The Dalles area that are stacked into a mountain within the landscape of The Dalles. Everything seems out of place giving our historic places and landscape an entirely different look and, perhaps, appreciation.

Al Hare is gigging through the virus, but he has had to flex his style. He now focuses on solo and duo performances to accommodate changes at music venues. He has also christened The Dalles “Little Music City” based on the high ratio of music venues per capita in his hometown.

The last HISTORY missives were way back in February, when we had five well-attended Regional History Forum programs at the Original Courthouse. The last MUSIC announcement was for the Cascade Singers’ “St. Pat’s at St. Pete’s” event that never happened— you'll recall that March 17, 2020 was the very day everything closed down because of COVID-19. We’re still in the precautionary stages re: the virus. But some things are happening. So get out your calendar and check some links and prepare to find out what’s happening.

“Friends, Family, Columbia Gorge Community & Extended Relations! Let's watch a movie together~ Gather up your quaran-team and pass around the popcorn!” reads the posting of a facebook event being hosted here in the Gorge.

On October 12th, 2020 a free online screening of GATHER, a powerful documentary about the reclamation of Native Food Sovereignty is being hosted by Kenji Stasiewicz and Sullivan Mackintoch in honor of Indigenous People’s Day.

Dreaming of epic pow turns? Well, it's that time of year to pull your skis and boards out of the closet. The resorts on Mount Hood have been working to create a fun and safe season ahead for guests and staff alike. Be prepared for what’s to come this year before driving up to your favorite ski resort.

The Sunshine Mill Winery will be hosting film festivals and 3 nights of Halloween themed movies for the month of October. They have converted their gavel lot into a drive-in movie theater equipped with a gigantic viewing screen. The drive up movies at the mill can host around 40 cars, tickets run about $30 a car for each day or each night session of the film festivals and $20 a car for the Halloween movie nights. Add on Snack packages are available for the Halloween movies, costing $10 which includes a soda, popcorn, candy, and a hotdog.