Snowy Trails, Parties & Blade Runner

This is the week to settle back and enjoy family and winter in Cook County. 2020 is just around the corner, but meanwhile, the hills and trails are in great shape for everyone to enjoy.

Visitcookcounty.com has a special page where it is posting the latest info on the condition of all the winter trails in Cook County, including snowmobile and winter biking trails. Check it out here.

Just in: Due to predictions of a major winter storm hitting the North Shore on Sunday, Dec. 29, the Grand Opening event for the Warming House at the Cook County Community Center has been rescheduled for Sunday, Jan. 5. After 20 years of plans, hopes and dreams,  the warming house has finally been built and is now operational. To celebrate this event, the official Grand Opening will be  from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan.5. Free ice skating all day from 11 a.m. t0 7 p.m. Cookies and other refreshments will be served. All welcome!

Another news item this week: the great selection of New Year’s Eve parties to ring in the new decade. Here’s the list:

Gunflint Lodge, dinner and live music,  5:30-11 p.m.

New Year’s Eve with the North Shore Swing Band, Wunderbar, 6-8 p.m

Log Cabin Concert with Michael Monroe, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m

New Year’s with Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Boogie Wonderland New Year’s Eve Dance, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino,  8 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Party with 4 Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 9:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 10 p.m.

Exhibits:

There are some interesting exhibits to see this week as well.

This is the last weekend to see the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio.

The show, featuring more than 40 local and regional artists, including prints, cards and books by Betsy Bowen, closes Dec. 29.

This is also the last weekend to see Molly Ovenden’s “Art in Process: The Exhibition” at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Mike Loeffler’s final show as he concludes his time in North House Folk School’s Artisan Development Program, continues at North House through Jan. 13.

During this 2-year period, Loeffler continued to develop his skills as an artisan, with a focus on timber framing and woodcarving, including beautiful bird bowls, wooden furniture, and more. Stop by the Yellow House at North House to get directions to Loeffler’s exhibit.

At the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, an exhibit of bandolier bags continues.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is exhibiting “The North Now,” an exhibit that showcases work by artists from Northern Ontario.

The exhibit continues through Feb. 16.

Upcoming:

 Next Friday, Jan 3, there are two art openings: one at the Johnson Heritage Post and one in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

Marybeth Garmoe will open an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

And Jane Johnson, an abstract painter from the Twin Cities, will open an exhibit at Tettegouche State Park on Friday, Jan. 3, with a reception from 7-8:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

And last, but not least, the Grand Marais Public Library announces the return of Friday Night Reels, a film series that takes place at the library each Friday night at 6 p.m. through March 6.

This year’s first film is Blade Runner. starring Harrison Ford. The film to be screened is The Director’s Cut, which removes the voice-over narration and forced happy ending. No registration is required for this event, but seating is limited. Come early. Free.

Here’s the trailer:

 Music:

Here’s the music schedule for the week, including New Year’s parties.

Thursday, Dec. 26:

• Jim Miller with Max Bichel, Lutsen Resort lobby, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27:

• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Terry V and Friends, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Jim Miller with Max Bichel, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28:

• Joe Paulik Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Micheal Monroe Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m. Reservations at michealmonroemusic.com
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik and Pat Flack, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31:

• Brothers in Arms, Cascade Restaurant & Pub. 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7-10 p.m.
• Log Cabin Concert with Michael Monroe, rural grand marais, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Fireworks at Papa Charlie’s, 8-8:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve with Cook County’s Most Wanted, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Boogie Wonderland New Year’s Eve Dance, Grand Portage Loge & Casino, 8 p.m..
• New Year’s Eve Party with 4 Shore, Grandma Ray’s, 9:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Photographs

It’s been pretty quiet on the photographic front this week. Here’s a selection from what we found:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

And the not-so-wild:

Here’s an interesting study of light, shadows, ice and color:

A few winter landscapes:

 

 

A few cold, winter sunsets:

 

And some great water shots:

 

And finally, a welcome for the New Year:

Have a great week, everyone!BTW: If you’d like to consider making a year-end contribution to NorthShore ArtScene, click on the icon below. And Thank You!