< Friday, December 4th 2009 >

Camano Island Coffee Roasters' 8th Annual Holiday Gift Shop features over 40 local artists and artisans. Tour the roasting facility during the month of Nov. Free lattes will be offered as well. Tour days are Mon. and Wed.

Admire the bold, vital, colorful acrylic paintings of Bush Point based artist Marshall Tripp. Mr. Tripp has sold paintings all over the U.S. and the world.

Holiday gift gallery at the Pacific NorthWest Art School

Men of Worth present a 2 man Irish Celtic Christmas with folk music from Ireland and Scotland. The beautiful blend of their voices and the intricately intertwined instrumentation is amazing for a duo. Their stories and interaction with the audience draws you into another world where you can let the stresses of your day melt away. We all enjoy good story tellers ... the music and the rapport with the audience forms a complete package that you won't forget. A perfect gift for Christmas.

Tickets: $15

Start your weekend off right with First Fridays at the Farm! Meet friends and come enjoy the community spirit at Greenbank Farm. Don't miss out on this tasting at the Greenbank Farm Wine Shop and Tasting Room. The winemaker will be pouring a wonderful selection of his wines in our fun, casual environment. Peruse the art galleries for wine and snacks, music and art. Visit the Greenbank Cheese shop where you can sample artisan cheeses and local treats. Perhaps you will treat yourself to dinner out at Whidbey Pies Cafe. Shops will remain open until 8pm and the cafe, which closes at 4pm, will re-open at 5:30 pm to serve dinner, often featuring a new local chef, and be sure to save room for pie!

Garry Oak Gallery features its First Friday event the first Friday of every month from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Meet the featured artist of every month at the event. The gallery offers fine art created by talented Whidbey Island artists working in many mediums, including wood, bronze, stone, glass, fiber, ceramic, photography, watercolor and jewelry. Several other downtown Oak Harbor shops remain open late on each first Friday for additional shopping opportunities.

The Whidbey Island Center for the Arts Conservatory Choir and the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra share the stage and celebrate the season in an evening of holiday classics.

individual tickets
adult $20
senior/military $16
youth $12

A weekend of fun events! Friday Night Flights is our walk-about wine tasting from 4 till 6:30 pm featuring Prima Bistro, the Edgecliff and Chef's Pantry. Participants begin at any venue and enjoy a sample pour of fabulous wine (based on a theme) along with a luscious food pairing. Tickets are $20 per person, advance purchase is recommended. Ticket holders are entitled to special discounts on dining and more. On Saturday at 1 pm, Chef Donna Leahy and other renowned chefs feature cooking demos on the Chef's Pantry courtyard. Cooking demos, samples and recipes are free of charge, with donations benefiting Northwest Harvest. At 2 pm, stop by Island Angel chocolates and enjoy complimentary live music. From 3 till 6 pm, enjoy Happy Hour at Prima with drink and appetizer specials. Then beginning at 5 pm, walk through our art galleries and meet this month's talented featured artists.

The unique and affordable creations include paintings, photography, glass beads, jewelry, fiber art, collaged mirrors, clay, encaustic, pipe dreams, and more ... The "frivolity and foofoo" are provided by Ann Wilson, Nikki Farias, Bev McQuary, Kay Parsons, Renee LeClaire, Renee Hockett, Patte Shanholtzer, Mariana Shawver, Judy Lynn, Carol Bement, Madrone Moulton, and M. Denis Hill.

The three day event opens Friday evening with work from over 30 Whidbey Island artisans, representing diverse media, including ceramic tableware, shibori scarves, hand-woven wraps and table runners, bows and arrows for children and adults, hand-bound books, Native American instruments, body care products, fine jewelry, wind chimes, wreaths, paintings and prints, note cards, hand-blown glass, garden art, ornaments and books by award-winning local authors. Pause to get a cup of coffee and a cookie or savory treat, and take home your pre-holiday baked delights.

This entertaining and formal event, featuring uniquely decorated trees and wreaths benefits the children of Oak Harbor, allowing them to be matched in one-to-one relationships with positive role models. Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.

Tickets $85 per person, Gala and auction at 5:30pm on 12/4, public tree and wreath viewing and open house 1:00pm-4:00pm on 12/5

Island Coffee House sponsors a benefit concert for Good Cheer Food Bank. Playing a rockin' mix of country, oldies, rock and more!

All the charm, wisdom and joy of the E.B. White original adapted by Joseph Robinette and directed by Martha Murphy. Join us for this lovely tale of friendship, tolerance and loyalty.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Family show on 12/6 all seats are $7.

Colin Lambert's sculptures range from large public works to intimate pieces for more personal settings. It is these personal pieces that will be featured at the gallery. Colin's classical simplicity and touching humanity results in memorable and meaningful sculptures you are sure to enjoy viewing.

Maren Metcalf works in 14kt. gold, brass and Argentium silver. Metcalf decorated her original pieces with fine semi-precious stones and artist-made lamp-worked beads in juicy colors.