Nevada City’s Victorian elegance provides the perfect backdrop for this sip-and-stroll event that includes 16 different venues featuring local food purveyors and regional wineries. Each venue, whether it’s an historic location, inn, art gallery, restaurant, winery, shop, or secret hideaway will include wine tasting and food sampling.

Consider Reiki’s Kitchen Event Center’s creamy honeydew melon soup with Sauvignon Blanc from Fawnridge Winery from north Placer County, on a hidden patio in the heart of downtown. Or teriyaki meatballs from California Organics with a splash of Avangardia Winery’s Ampio, at the historic Golden Era Saloon.

You might prefer sushi from Nourish with Albarino from Tehama County’s The Abbey of New Clairvaux Vineyards, in the Victorian parlor above Treats. Maybe you would enjoy charcuterie from The Ham Stand with a full-bodied red from Butte County.

Never forget the raspberry truffles from the Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe with a well-aged vintage Cab from Renaissance Vineyards in Yuba County.

In all, 16 local restaurants, caterers and food purveyors will join 16 wineries representing five north Sierra Counties including Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Butte, and Tehama Counties. From Albarino to Zinfandel, Uncorked offers a unique gateway to the wines from the north country.

Uncorked ticket prices are $35 in advance, $45 day of, and $30 for Wine Club members of participating wineries. Each ticket includes a wing glass with unlimited wine tasting and five food tickets. Extra food tickets are available for purchase. Nevada City Uncorked is sponsored by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.

Click www.nevadacitychamber.com to purchase tickets and find more Uncorked information including lists of participating wineries, food purveyors. Venues and Friday night activities.

Follow us on facebook@nevadacityuncorked.

Get your baskets and bags ready because U-picks at the Food Love Farm (16200 Lake Vera Purdon Rd., Nevada City) are happening every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30PM and run through the end of October. It’s a lovely family outing for people of all ages- there’s no minimum amount to purchase and it’s free to walk around, pet the chickens, make a wish in the magic teepee, nibble on new foods and enjoy being out in the garden together. There’s even a big beautiful picnic table if you want to bring dinner and eat alfresco! We accept Calfresh, so folks can use EBT benefits to buy fresh, local food. Check out Sierra Harvest’s facebook page to see what’s in season each week.

On Sunday, August 26thth, Sierra Cinemas/Nevada Theatre Film Series presents “Deconstructing the Birth of the Beatles” at 7pm at the Nevada Theatre.

Coming off the great success of “Deconstructing the Beatles Season 1,” the Nevada Theatre Film Series is pleased to bring you “Deconstructing the Beatles Season 2: The Birth of the Beatles”. After years of touring the country performing his dynamic lectures live in cinemas, composer/producer Scott Freiman’s second series of lectures is now available to movie theater audiences.

The Beatles’ story has become something of a fairy tale. Four teenagers from Liverpool form a rock and roll band and conquer the world. They transition from loveable mop tops to psychedelic hippies to disgruntled bandmates in less than eight years. They influence dress, speech, film, design, and much more; and they leave behind the unforgettable music that has touched every generation since the 1960s.

It is a fairy tale, full of twists and turns, and crazy coincidences. From their teenage years in the late fifties until the time they record their first single in 1962, this film explores the amazing events and fascinating characters that helped John, Paul, George, and Ringo on the long and winding road to becoming The Beatles.

The film is being shown at 7pm (with doors opening at 6:30) and admission is $8. For more information, to view the trailer, or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.sierratheaters.com

KNOW & GO:

What: “Deconstructing the Beatles: The Birth of the Beatles” at the Nevada Theatre Film Series

When: Sunday, August 26thth, at 7pm

Where:  The Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad St, Nevada City, CA 95959

Admission:  $8; doors open at 6:30pm

Information:  (530) 477-1100, or mainoffice@sierratheaters.com

Website: www.sierratheaters.com

LeGacy Presents will hold auditions for their annual holiday show, “SCROOGE” at the Nevada Theatre from 6-9 pm Tuesdays August 21st and 28th. Various roles available. Dance and vocal experience not necessary, but a plus. Headshots and resumes not required but welcome.

Rodger Hoopman’s delightful script and presentation of the character of Ebeneezer Scrooge, along with Ron Knable and Warren Harrison’s original beautiful music makes SCROOGE a vital and heartwarming part of the Nevada County holiday experience. Some pay guaranteed. Scrooge will open November 23rd and play through December 24th. Sue LeGate Halford directs. For questions or additional possible audition times call (530) 268 5419.

The 22nd annual KVMR Celtic Festival and Marketplace mixes Celtic music and magic September 28 through 30 in Grass Valley, California at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, a bucolic setting on 100 acres among giant ponderosa pines. There are eight stages and performance areas. Our main stage hosts many of the best Celtic musicians on the world stage.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is transformed into a Celtic Village and headline concert venue. Mainstage musical headliners for this year include festival favorites The Elders, Seamus Egan Project featuring Moira Smiley, Heron Valley from the Scottish Highlands, Irish stars The Black Brothers, Galen Fraser Trio, House of Hamill, Mathew Byrne and Irish quintet Connla.

Shopping and dining opportunities abound with over 50 vendors and a complete Irish Pub. Hundreds of regional performers, singers, bagpipers, actors, jugglers and storytellers roam the fairgrounds.

Friday night includes pageantry and jousting with the Royal Tournament and Gathering of the Clans, Free Friday Youth Arts Program, and the Friday night Ceilidh – a Celtic party with music, dancing and revelry under the stars.

Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in with jam sessions and workshops scheduled throughout the weekend. History buffs can explore several encampments of “Guilds” who re-create points and places in time. Exciting and educational, the Celtic Animals exhibit houses falcons, hawks, owls, Irish wolfhounds and ponies.

Revelers make music into the night in the campgrounds complete with tall trees and a lake. Camping and RV hookups are available on-site.

Amateur and professional athletes test their strength and skill in Scottish Games. Children are kept engaged with arts and crafts, story telling, and romping on the straw bales.

We hope you and your family will join us for this year’s KVMR Celtic Festival.

FREE YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM – Friday, September 28 from 4:00 to 7:00PM

The Celtic Festival’s Friday Youth Arts Program has grown to be a wonderful afternoon of music, magic, dance and arts instruction for aspiring artists. Participants, ages 10-18, learn from world-class artists and festival headliners. Youth participants in the program can take 1-3 consecutive workshops of their choice.

The FREE program includes workshops and a discounted youth day pass for attendees.

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ROYAL TOURNAMENT & GATHERING OF THE CLANS

The three-day KVMR Celtic Festival kicks off with the Royal Tournament & Gathering of the Clans. Chivalry and honor reign on Friday, September 28 with a medieval tournament featuring full contact jousting, dancing horses, sword fights and hand to hand combat presented by the Imperial Knights. Honors to the winners will be presented by the King, Queen and their royal attendants.

The festivities take place in the Nevada County Fairgrounds arena and will include pageantry and a parade with medieval clans and guilds in attendance vying for favors.

The Imperial Knights travel internationally and feature the expert horsemanship of Thomas and Andrea Montgomery. Exhibitions include hand to hand combat and the thrill and excitement of full contact jousting. The company uses authentic medieval weapons and armor along with colorful heraldry and costumes.

Heavy armor jousting was prominent in the 15th and 16th century. The purpose of the competition is for each competitor to try to dislodge the opponent from his/her horse. Armed with 13-foot-long lances, they gallop down the lists toward each other and score points by unseating their opponent or striking the shield.

The Imperial Knights will present jousting exhibitions on Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm in the Fairgrounds Arena.

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FRIDAY NIGHT CEILIDH – Friday, September 28 from 7:30PM
This year the KVMR Celtic Festival will get a running start on Friday night with our Friday Night Ceilidh – an evening of Celtic music and dance featuring the Galen Fraser Trio.

There’ll be line, circle, and couple dancing for all ages and abilities. No need to come with a partner – it’s a great way to socialize and meet friends.

The Friday Night Ceilidh will be held at the Ponderosa Hall at the Nevada County Fairgrounds with indoor space for dancing, an outdoor deck with food and a full service pub, and beautiful garden space for relaxing and enjoying the evening.

KVMR Celtic Festival – Musical Headliners:

The Elders

“The key to the band’s success is in its flawless blending of the Celtic storytelling tradition with contemporary instrumentation and, perhaps more importantly, their ability to write original songs that sound as timeless and authentic as the ancient jigs and reels that have inspired them.” – Paste Magazine

Back again to headline the KVMR Celtic Festival are fan favorites, The Elders, making Grass Valley one of their final stops on their 2018 farewell tour.

Since forming in 1998, The Elders have set the music scene on its ear, thanks to a skillful blend of American roots rock and amped-up Celtic folk; a cross-pollination of elements that is high-octane and progressive, yet rooted in tradition. Rightfully regarded as one of the top American Celtic-rock bands, the band employs a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, banjo, accordion, mandolin, piano and fiddle, creating music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music. Powerful four-part harmonies, blazing instrumentals and songwriting that is unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism – it all adds up to the hottest show in Celtic music today.

www.eldersmusic.com

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Seamus Egan Project

“…it really does feel like he’s working a magic spell on the audience, in a way I’ve never experienced from another musician.” – Jackie Dana

It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. As a multi-instrumentalist, he’s put his mark on the sound of the Irish flute, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, and low whistle, among others. As a composer, he was behind the soundtrack for the award-winning film The Brothers McMullen, co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s breakout hit, “Weep Not for the Memories,” and has scored numerous documentaries and indie films since.

www.seamuseganproject.com

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Connla

“A New Musical Powerhouse is among us. It is from Northern Ireland, and it is Connla. Wow!” – Irish Music Magazine

Hailing from the cities of Armagh and Derry and labeled as the Hottest New Group out of Northern Ireland, (Chicago Irish American News) Connla have been quickly making an impact on the folk/traditional scene. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes, have helped them create a sound which is very identifiable as Connla.

Since the release of their EP in April 2015, and album River Waiting in July 2016 they have received fantastic reviews at home and internationally with a growing audience in the UK, Ireland, Europe and the USA.

Songlines magazine made Connla their “must see act” for the tour of the UK and stated “A band this young shouldn’t be this good”.

Heron Valley

“They draw on their Scottish and Irish traditional music roots, with little nods in the direction of other styles, such as country and bluegrass to give a sound that is at once distinctly Scottish and traditional, yet modern and eclectic.” – Living Tradition

Heron Valley are an energetic, young traditional band from Scotland who have serious enthusiasm for the music they play. Their roots lie in Scottish and Irish traditional music, while taking influence from various Folk, Country and Bluegrass styles.

Heron Valley has made an impact on the folk scene in Scotland. 2016 saw them on their tour of 11 Festival stages over the UK, while 2017 seen them on a tour of over 20 festivals around the UK and Europe. Heron Valley released their debut album, Roam, in May 2017.

www.heronvalleyband.co.uk

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Black Brothers

Shay & Michael Black are singing siblings from Ireland’s foremost family of song, The Black Family, which also includes their sisters Mary & Frances, & brother, Martin. Hailed in the Irish Echo as “one of the most impressive groups of Irish singers to be found anywhere; exquisite, exhilarating and nothing short of thrilling” they raise their sibling rivalry to revelry, The Blacks adroitly accompany themselves on banjo, cittern & guitar.

The musical lineup also features fiddle virtuoso, Bobbi Nikles and keyboardist, Eamonn Flynn. Expect to hear Irish traditional ballads, Dublin street songs, music hall ditties, contemporary folk compositions, rollicking reels & joyful jigs, all interspersed with comic stories, jokes & humorous childhood anecdotes that invariably have audiences smiling broadly & joining in on the choruses.

Shay and Michael are close harmony singers, with a special fondness for songs that includes their audience in chorus, and many of the songs are narratives with stories.

www.black-brothers.com

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Na Rósaí

“This is a killer debut from a young band on the scene with a lot of new ideas and talent to spare. Be sure to catch this one!” – Devon Leger, Hearth Music

Na Rósaí performs traditional Irish, Appalachian, Scottish, and Breton tunes and songs featuring fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes, bouzouki, and whistles. Their focus has been exploring the links between the musical traditions of the Celtic regions and North America by arranging tunes from the two regions with a traditional sensibility. Na Rósaí is Irish Gaelic for “The Roses” in honor of Portland, the City of Roses.

In 2010 Erik Killops returned to Portland, Oregon after studying Irish Fiddle at the University of Limerick in Ireland. Shortly after his homecoming he met recent New Hampshire transplant and bouzouki player Richie Rosencrans and California native and piper Preston Howard at sessions around town. After realizing common musical interests they began a weekly performance at a local pub. In the autumn of 2012 flute player Conor Ó Bryan moved to Portland from Chico, California and immediately joined the ranks of the group.

www.narosai.com

WHO: Community Radio KVMR 89.5 FM

WHAT: 22nd Annual KVMR Celtic Festival

WHEN: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 28 through 30
10:00 am to 10:00PM on Saturday
10:00 am to 8:00PM on Sunday
Seniors are admitted at 9:00 am on Sunday only for complimentary coffee, scones and preferred seating.
Friday, September 29, 4:00 to 7:00PM – FREE Youth Arts Program
7:30 to 9:30 – Royal Tournament & Gathering of the Clans
8:00 to 11:00 – Ceilidh Dance with Live Music by the Galen Fraser Trio

WHERE: Nevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95949

TICKETS: $21 – $55, Camping and RV hookups are available
Tickets at: http://kvmrcelticfestival.org/tickets/
or by calling 530-265-9073
Information at celtfest@kvmr.org or 530-265-9073

WEBPAGE: www.kvmrcelticfestival.org

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center present Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour taking place on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the North Columbia Schoolhouse on the San Juan Ridge. Tickets are on sale now at the Briarpatch, Food Coop, Mother Truckers, and online at www.northcolumbiaschoolhouse.org, costing $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 pm and the outdoor screening begins at 8:30 pm.

For the first time in Nevada County, attendees can enjoy Wild & Scenic films under the stars, as this event takes place outdoors. The program features ten films including several local titles such as Seeding our Future and The Salmon Will Run. In addition, several community associations, such as Nevada County Cannabis Alliance and Dirt Bag Paddlers Active, will be present to provide information and resources on local community issues. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own comfy chairs and arrive early to enjoy the beer and wine garden and snacks for purchase.

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour program reaches more than 60,000 people in the United States, Canada, and Europe each year. This event brings Wild & Scenic back to Nevada County to engage the San Juan Ridge community with high-quality entertainment and to invite them to participate in the work that SYRCL does locally.

Know and Go:

August 23, 2018, doors open at 7:30 pm; films start at 8:30pm
North Columbia Schoolhouse, 17894 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA.
Advance Tickets: $18 Advance, Members of SYRCL, Members of NCSCC, and Seniors At the Door: $20

Tickets available at online at www.northcolumbiaschoolhouse.org and at Briar Patch Food Co-op and Mother Truckers.

ABOUT 2019 WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL

Considered one of the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festivals, this festival combines stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation. Festival-goers can expect to see Award winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American and indigenous cultures. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be hosted in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California from January 17 – January 21, 2019. For more information, visit WildandScenicFilmFestival.org

ABOUT SYRCL and Stop Centennial Dam Campaign

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL – pronounced circle) was founded in 1983 by grassroots activists determined to protect the South Yuba River from dams. Ultimately, SYRCL won permanent protections for 39 miles of the South Yuba River under California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Today, SYRCL is the central hub of community activism to protect, restore, and celebrate the Yuba River watershed. A controversial plan to build a 275-foot dam that would flood the last six miles of publicly-accessible, free- flowing river on the Bear River is SYRCL’s current campaign focus. Centennial Dam would destroy fish and wildlife habitat, beloved swimming holes, and Native American sites. Its construction would decimate 2,200 acres of forested river canyon – including riparian and wetland areas. In the 21st century, dams are a last resort because they harm the environment and have skyrocketing costs. Today, smart water managers are using sustainable and innovative solutions to meet future water needs. We don’t need a new dam generating more polluting sprawl and traffic. Let’s work together to increase our water supply by restoring our forests and meadows, and use the water we do have more wisely. Learn more at stopcentennial.org.

ABOUT North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center

The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center gives the rural San Juan Ridge community a local place to meet, to share its creativity, and to participate in a wide variety of enriching activities. Located 20 miles north of Nevada City, the Schoolhouse was built by the mining community in 1875 and has a long tradition of serving the community as a school and public meeting hall. Northcolumbiaschoolhouse.org

The Center for the Arts presents its second art exhibition during the Center OnTheGo! Series, Curious Creatures, featuring local artists Hollie Dilley, Kathryn Wronsky, Cody Joseph Painter, and Domenica Mottarella. Each one of these artists utilizes creatures in their work in various ways, whether it is the inspiration, the subject, or the material, there is no end to their exploration and their curiosity. In this show the viewers will find everything from vibrant acrylic paintings to intricate ceramic sculptures.

About the Artists:

Originally a native to New York, Hollie Dilley has made her home with her family here in Nevada County where she sculpts full-time. Her work weaves a story based in curiosity and form creating narratives within and between each piece. They ways in which Hollie mixes ceramics with metal and other materials not only brings animals to life but produces forms and compositions that truly captivates the mind.

Cody Joseph Painter is multi-disciplined with a huge emphasis on sculptural mediums. His work is largely inspired by the natural world and sacred geometry. Although a native to Nevada County, he recently moved back home after years of traveling and living in San Francisco, Japan, New York, Mexico, and New Orleans.

Local favorite, Kathryn Wronski, continues to capture the spunk of animals through the vibrant colors and playful compositions of her paintings. Kathryn’s specialty is custom pet portraits although recently she has moved into more structural and landscape scenery.

These days Domenica Mottarella mainly does large garden art with her partner, collectively called “Faducci,” and we have the pleasure of displaying some of Domenica’s small high-fired ceramic animals. The work is intimate and spunky.

The Center for the Arts Box Office and Gallery are temporarily located at “The Plaza” while undergoing renovations.

WHO: The Center for the Arts presents

WHAT: Curious Creatures Art Exhibition

WHERE: The Plaza Gallery, Center OnTheGo!
998 Plaza Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945

WHEN: August 8th through August 31st.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday,12-5pm
TICKETS: Free!

WEBPAGE: thecenterforthearts.org/event/curious-creatures/
www.facebook.com/events/167526420688976/

ARTIST WEBSITES:
http://holliedilley.com
http://kwronski.com
http://www.codyjosephpainter.com
http://faducci.com

Friday, August 24: Earles of Newtown & Royal Jelly Jive

Doors 7:30 pm, Show 8:30 pm – $20/Adv, $25/Door

Local favorites Earles of Newtown feature elements of New Orleans horns, rockabilly guitar, and stride piano which come together to create a high-energy vibe.  “San Francisco Soul” is the best way to describe Royal Jelly Jive’s unique and intoxicating sound.  Standing / Dancing show with limited seating.

 Sunday, August 26: Tim O’Connor’s Readers Theater

Doors 3:30pm, Show 4:00pm – $10
Readers Theater has been called Story Time for Grown Ups, or Theatre of the Mind, and gained popularity during World War II when large stage plays were too expensive to produce.  Using minimal props, the actor and your imagination illustrate the story.  Directed by Gaylie Bell-Stewart, the show will offer the best short stories of Bret Harte, and feature performances by Shawnna Frazer, Bruce Kelly, Paul Micsan, and John Gardiner.

Thursday, August 30: Greg Brown

Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm – $32/Adv, $35/Door, $45/Limited Reserve

Greg Brown is a Grammy nominated, critically acclaimed songwriter and musician who has recorded more than a dozen albums.

Thursday, September 13: Chali 2na & The House of Vibe

Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm – $25/Adv, $30/Door

Most known for co-founding music groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli, Chali 2na released his debut solo album “Fish Outta Water” in 2009.  Since then, he has been touring the world with his 3 piece band known as the House of Vibe.  Breathing new life into his musical past, he recently announced “Against The Current”, a music and art project that combines a series of genre bending EPs with a coffee table book featuring orginal artwork and photography from Chali 2na himself.  Chali’s growing reputation as a Hip Hop Legend paints a bright future as he continues to build momentum with his artwork, voice over work, and an increasing variety of performance collaborations.

Wednesday, October 10: Led Kaapana & Mike Kaawa

Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm – $30/Adv, $35/Door, $40/Limited Reserve

Hawaiian musical legend and National Heritage Fellow Ledward Kaapana is unrivaled in his exceptional picking style on slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, and his baritone to falsetto vocal range.  He is a delightful performer with rascal charm.  Led will be joined by Mike Kaawa, Hawaii’s finest 12-string guitar player.

Tickets are available online at www.minersfoundry.org, by phone (530) 265-5040, or in person at the Miners Foundry Box Office, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op. Ticketing fees waived for ticket purchases made by phone or in person through the Miners Foundry Box Office.

A day that celebrates our gold-rush history, the annual Miners Picnic is more than a picnic, it’s a tradition – and tons of fun for everyone.  It’s one of the few times a year that visitors are invited to pack a lunch and picnic on the scenic, shady grounds.  Food, drinks and treats will be for sale – including Cornish pasties and Lazy Dog Ice Cream.  There will also be a special beer garden.

Besides the Living History, the period clothing, and the fascinating facts about our colorful past, visitors will enjoy entertainment throughout the park, as well as special activities, including ones for children.  A nail-biting mine-rescue reenactment takes place in the mine yard at high noon, complete with old-time rescue vehicles racing to save the miners.

World-renowned Izzi Tooinsky is scheduled to perform his juggling-and-history show on the Clubhouse stage at 1:15, followed by local band Midnight Acoustic (featuring vocalist Jill Collard) who will make their debut appearance at the park.  Magician Peter Franchino will amaze visitors near the Clubhouse.  Nancy Cunningham will lead a sing-along for children near the Visitor Center, and musical docents Celtic Joy will perform in the garden.  Dixieland jazz band, the Stamp Mill Stompers, award-winning barber shop quartet the Forte Minors, Fire in the Kitchen and one-man-band Gary Hinze are scheduled to perform near or in the mine yard.  Outside Empire Cottage, visitors can enjoy the mellow sounds of Blended Metal Saxophones, followed by the Yubaleles, a “gals-with-ukuleles” band, who will make their debut at a park event.  Always a favorite are the heart-stealing mini-donkeys (and their mini-horse friend), all kitted out to go prospecting.  A lively, old-fashioned cakewalk and a tempting silent auction are also part of the fun.  Hosted by Empire Mine Park Association (EMPA), the 123rd Miners Picnic will be held on Saturday, August 25th at Empire Mine State Historic Park, 10791 E. Empire St., Grass Valley.  Special activities are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with free admission for children under 6 and free parking.  Everyone’s invited, including well-behaved dogs on leashes.  Phone (530) 273-8522 for further details or visit www.empiremine.org

Know & Go

What:  123rd Miners Picnic

When:  Saturday, August 25th, 2018 – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:  Empire Mine State Historic Park – 10791 E. Empire St, Grass Valley

Cost:  $7 ages 17 & over, $3 ages 6-16, FREE admission for children under 6 + FREE parking

Information:  Phone (530) 273-8522 or visit www.empiremine.org

September 7-14, 2018

This year’s Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) celebrates the creatives, visual storytellers, and filmmakers that dare us to dream, seek out new possibilities, forge connections, and embrace diversity, all the while sharing in this grand experiment called life.

NCFF has been called the “Sundance of the Sierra” for its emphasis on fiercely independent cinema by showcasing innovative, progressive and exciting new voices in film.  Each year, NCFF attends major film festivals, collaborates with film schools around the world, reads countless film blogs, and watches the hundreds of films submitted, to narrow it all down to the very best in independent film. From feature-length documentaries to world premiere shorts, NCFF brings in the buzzed-about festival winners, as well as some of independent cinema’s best-kept secrets.

“This year’s films bring us closer together,” says Jesse Locks, Nevada City Film Festival Director. “From miners in Appalachia to miners in Ghana, from art collectives in New Mexico to young creatives in Portugal, from Nevada County locals exploring sense of place to Syrian refugees forced to establish a new home, these stories show that even though thousands of miles may separate us, we are more alike then we are different.”

NCFF kicks off on Friday, September 7 with a Block Party on Argall Way in the 7-hills Business District. Participating businesses will feature art, food, live music, Virtual Reality experiences, films, and more. The event will also include the Grand Opening of the Onyx Theatre. Attendees who missed their Open House in May, can stop by for a tour of the brand new 2-screen art house film theatre, meet filmmakers participating in the festival, and see clips of this year’s films.

Other highlights of this year’s festival include the nearly 100 award-winning shorts and feature length films, with over 35 of the film’s filmmakers traveling from around the world to attend and participate in Question & Answer’s following the films.

This year’s feature films check all the boxes of what an independent film festival should encompass; from promising debuts by emerging directors to seasoned industry favorites taking creative risks to tell new and exciting stories, and everything in between.

Opening night’s films include The Miseducation of Cameron Post, a timely coming-of-age-story directed by Desiree Akhavan and starring Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick Ass, Clouds of Sils Maria) and the time traveling drama The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Big Foot, directed by Robert Krzykowski, with Sam Elliot and Aidan Turner (Poldark) as a legendary American war veteran who is recruited to hunt a mythical creature.

Other films include:

Cai Chengjie’s eccentric fable The Widowed Witch, about a third-time widow who falls on especially hard times and declared cursed, but turns superstition to her advantage by travelling the wintry landscape of rural China and offering supernatural advice, in this modern tale of mysticism told with mordant humor and starkly beautiful cinematography. The Widowed Witch took top prize at the Rotterdam Film Festival this year.

Taipei, directed by Jason Lester, is an adaptation of Tao Lin’s novel of the same name. Twilight, Nocturnal Animals actors Ellie Bamber and Justin Chon star in this modern romance that explores love, alienation, loneliness, drugs, writing, technology — how we can exist and connect amidst all of the cultural detritus of the internet age.

Meow Wolf: Origin Story follows a group of artists in Santa Fe, NM become a DIY collective called Meow Wolf. Their immersive, large-scale exhibitions crack open a profitable niche in the arts industry, even as their social mission is challenged by the demands of rapid success. The group’s members navigate fracture and loss for years in pursuit of their idealistic vision. When they spark the interest of George R. R. Martin and receive his support to take over an old bowling alley, Meow Wolf builds a massive exhibition with over 140 artists working at a breakneck pace.  Directed by Morgan Capps and Jilann Spitzmiller.

The Money Stone directed by award-winning director Stuart Harmon (Emmy-nominated VICELAND series “Woman”) is the coming-of-age story of two boys chasing their dreams among the gold mines of Ghana.

hillbilly, co-directed by Ashley York and Sally Rubin, goes on a personal and political journey into the heart of the Appalachian coalfields, exploring the role of media representation in the creation of the iconic American “hillbilly,” and examining the social, cultural, and political underpinnings of this infamous stereotype. Filmed in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, hillbilly uncovers an unexpected set of artists, poets, activists, queer musicians, “Affrilachian” poets, and intersectional feminists — all unexpected voices emerging from this historically misunderstood region.

In The Long Shadow, two daughters of the South (including director Frances Causey) look beyond their white privilege to discover a history that’s been hidden, exposing the long and shockingly powerful reach of Southern politics – from slavery through to today’s racial imbalance.

NCFF and the Nevada Theatre Film Series have partnered to present a special double feature celebrating the life and work of iconoclast filmmaker and champion of social justice, Hal Ashby (Shampoo, Being There, Coming Home). On Sunday, September 9, they will screen the critically acclaimed documentary Hal, directed by Amy Scott, which features candid interviews with some of Ashby’s most loyal film collaborators and admirers including Jeff Bridges, Jane Fonda and Louis Gossett Jr as well as Alexander Payne, Judd Apatow, Beau Bridges, Haskell Wexler and Norman Jewison. Followed by Ashby’s 1971 cult classic Harold & Maude.

Directors Christina Choe and Blackhorse Lowe, recipients of NCFF’s Filmmaker Residency will also be in attendance. The focus of the Filmmaker Residency is to bring filmmakers from communities with historic ties to Nevada City, placing special emphasis on engaging Native and Asian American filmmakers, to participate in a four to six week cross-cultural exchange with Nevada County residents.

Christina Choe is an American filmmaker whose 2011 short film, I am John Wayne, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival and screened at dozens of festivals around the world including NCFF. Her feature film debut, Nancy, a psychodrama starring Andrea Riseborough, J. Smith-Cameron, Ann Dowd, John Leguizamo, and Steve Buscemi, recently had its world premiere in the US Dramatic Competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, where Choe was awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.  During the festival Choe will screen her film Nancy and take part in a discussion with attendees.

Director Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo) is known for narrative films set on the Navajo reservation that explore the pull between Navajo tradition and contemporary non-Navajo ways. His films have premiered at Sundance and Tribeca Film Festival, among other festivals. Lowe will screen his mesmerizing film Chasing the Light as well as a special program on Southwest films, both followed by a filmmaker Q&A.

BriarPatch Co-op and Nevada County Grown have partnered to launch a Food & Film Series this fall. NCFF will be the first in many community partners to host a screening in conjunction with the series.

NCFF will welcome 400 students from Nevada City schools on Friday, September 7 for a special film presentation from Pixar Studios. NCFF will also host a free screening for kids, Saturday morning on September 8 at the Nevada Theatre, of international animated shorts.

The festival wraps Friday, September 14 with an outdoor “Best of the Fest” screening in Pioneer Park at 6pm. Attendees can enjoy delicious eats from local and regional food trucks, award-winning beer from Ol’ Republic and the winners of this year’s festival including the highly coveted Audience Choice Award.

KNOW & GO

WHO: 18^th Annual Nevada City Film Festival

WHEN: September 7-14. 2018

WHERE: Historic Locations throughout downtown Nevada City, Festival HQ located at NCFF Office, 110 Union Street, Floor 1, Nevada City

TICKETS: Early Bird Festival Passes (ends Aug 18) $59 includes all films at certain locations, VR, After Dark Parties, Reserved Seating and Complimentary Membership, Festival Passes (after Aug 18) $89/$79, Individual Screenings Tickets $10/$8,

Advance Tickets available online at www.nevadacityfilmfestival.com, by phone at (530) 362-8601, and in person at NCFF Office, 110 Union Street, Nevada City, M-F 9am-5pm. During the Festival tickets are available at eave venues location and NCFF HQ.

Saturday August 25, 6:00pm

Traditional West-African drumming and dance will shake Pioneer Park in Nevada City on Saturday, August 25 when the East-West Ghana All-Stars return to rock the foothills.

The East-West Ghana All-Stars are a traditional, high-energy drum and dance troupe founded by the top Ghanaian musicians now living in the United States. From all corners of America, they come together a couple of times a year with their top US students to put on an artistically unmatched demonstration of their craft for lucky US audiences.

You’ll be treated to an evening of traditional Ghanaian music and dance unlike anything seen outside of West Africa itself. Aside from swaying to the rhythm during the show, it is an All-Stars tradition to invite audiences to stand up and participate at the end.

The East-West Ghana All-Stars are led by Artistic Director, Nani Agbeli, one of the top Ghanaian dancers of his generation, who runs the African Music program at CalArts in Los Angeles. He thrills audiences with his athleticism, charisma, and precision.

Attah Poku is a phenomenally powerful drummer who was the lead drummer for the King’s palace in Kumasi before coming to the US to teach drumming and dance at Tufts and Wesleyan Universities.

Kwaku Manu is a highly skilled dancer and drummer who honed his craft at the University of Ghana before arriving in 2010 to assist the legendary C.K. Ladzekpo, teaching Ghanaian drumming and dance to students at U.C. Berkeley, Cal State, and the East Bay Center for Performing Arts.

Francis Kofi Akotuah taught traditional music and dance at the University of Ghana for two decades, mentoring many up-and-coming performers as well as introducing countless students from around the world to Ghanaian music. He has performed with Ghana’s leading ensembles and conducted workshops at universities in the US, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Their American students are lifelong devotees of Ghanaian music and dance, and have all traveled to Ghana extensively to study and perform. They are all excellent drummers, dancers, and in most cases, teachers in their own rights. They include Joe Galeota, who teaches African Drumming and Dance at Berkelee College of Music in Boston, Faith Conant, who teaches African Drumming and Dance at SUNY Stonybrook in NY and Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and Philip Ago Agyapong, who teaches West African Dance at USF and Mills College.

Traditional West-African drumming and dance will shake Pioneer Park in Nevada City on Saturday, August 25 when the East-West Ghana All-Stars return to rock the foothills.

WHAT: East-West Ghana All-Stars

WHEN: Saturday August 25, 6:00pm

WHERE: Pioneer Park 421 Nimrod St, Nevada City, CA 95959

TICKETS: $20
BriarPatch Food Coop – 530-272-5333
Tickets online at www.thecenterforthearts.org

Please join our gathering Wednesday, August 22nd.  Social hour begins at 6:00 pm followed by a potluck dinner at 6:30. Everyone is asked to bring an appetizer, entrée, or dessert for 8 to 10, your tableware, and beverage of your choice. Water, coffee and tea will be available.

This month our members and guests are invited to speak 5-10 minutes about themselves, backgrounds, and Celtic heritage.

Please join us – you don’t have to be Celtic!  Nevada City Veterans Building, 45 No. Pine St., Nevada City. Information: 530-274-0185 or www.nevadacountycelticclub.org.

August 26th at Pioneer Park

Under the artistic direction of Cheryl Woldseth, the Nevada County Concert Band continues its 47th season with its final of four Picnic Pops concerts, themed “Episode 8: The Phantom Mayhem,” featuring big band, classic, jazz, folk, film and popular music. The theme connecting this year’s summer concert series is “Star Wars,” but no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away!

August is month number eight, so “Episode 8: The Phantom Mayhem” features songs that have stood the test of time – and can withstand remakes, sequels and other pop culture references. The mayhem will include:

Selections from “Mary Poppins” (can you spell “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”?)
“Dance of the Lunatics (An Idiotic Rave)”
“The Muppets’ Greatest Hits” (look for Animal on drums)
“What’s Up At the Symphony?” (a medley of Bugs Bunny cartoon songs)
Johann Strauss’s rousing “Radetzky March” (clap along!)

Plus there will be film scores by John Williams, hits from the legendary rock band Chicago (“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”), a tribute to the big band era, and much more.

2018 Foote Scholarship recipient Zachary Riner will be a featured soloist, performing “That Old Time Religion” on tenor saxophone with the band.

Join the fun! These family-oriented concerts are always free, accessible and great for all ages. Bring a picnic to the park, or enjoy treats from the hot dog or ice cream vendors. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

To conclude their summer concerts, the band will also perform a Labor Day concert on Sunday September 2 for Lake Wildwood residents. Their 2018 season will end with a downtown Nevada City street concert on Saturday September 8, as part of the Constitution Day Celebration’s weekend events.

Non-profit donations to support the Nevada County Concert Band are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit the band’s web site at nccb.org, follow the band on Facebook, or check out the band’s growing collection of YouTube videos.

KNOW & GO

WHAT: “Episode 8: The Phantom Mayhem”

WHEN: 5-7 p.m. Sunday August 26, 2018

WHERE: Pioneer Park, corner of Park Avenue & Nimrod Street, Nevada City

TICKETS: Free (non-profit donations accepted)

CONTACT: nccb.org or email nccband@yahoo.com

Are you a good listener? Want to improve your negotiation skills? Become a certified mediator.

Conflict Resolution Center of Nevada County (CRC) will hold their popular three-day beginning mediation training ‪on October 25, 26, & 27, 2018, ‪from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, at the Association of Realtors Building, Esterly Hall, 336 Crown Point Circle, Grass Valley.

During this 25-hour basic mediation skills training, participants will learn how to convene and open a mediation, facilitate communication, encourage problem solving, balance neutrality and fairness, and much more. Participants will discover effective ways to settle differences and mediate disputes across a variety of contexts.  This program will provide participants with core mediation skills and training, along with hands-on experience as a mediator in a variety of simulations.

For over twenty years, CRC has worked with the residents, businesses, and organizations of Nevada County to find common ground.  CRC is a non-profit provider of conflict resolution and mediation training. CRC mediates for the civil and small claims courts of Nevada County as well as private mediation with a sliding scale fee.

The cost to litigate disputes is enormous. Statistics have proven time and time again that mediation resolves more disputes in less time for less money and with less stress. Trained mediators help the disputants as neutral third parties by facilitating communication and resolving disputes whereby the disputants can craft their own agreement.

BBS Internship hours possible. MCLE credits approval pending. (Additional fees for credits collected at time of event.) Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate as a certified mediator.

Group discounts and limited scholarships are also available.  Registration includes lunch and snacks.

Register online at ‪www.ResolveConflicts.org or call ‪530-477-6517 for further information.

KNOW & GO

WHO: Conflict Resolution Center of Nevada County (CRC)

WHAT: 3-Day Beginning Mediation Training

WHEN: October 25, 26 & 27, 2018, ‪from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m

WHERE: Association of Realtors Building, Esterly Hall, 336 Crown Point Circle, Grass Valley

TICKETS: Early Bird Registration $295 (deadline is September 15, 2018), Regular Registration $325; group discounts and limited scholarships are also available. Registration includes lunch and snacks. Register online at ‪www.ResolveConflicts.org or call 530-477-6517 for further information.

AANESTAD LAW will be holding a FREE Estate Planning Workshop on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11:00am-12noon OR 6:00pm-7:00pm. The workshop will be held at the Grass Valley Courtyard Suites. Anyone is welcome to attend! Please call our office to RSVP (530)798-4321 or visit the website at www.aanestadlaw.com.