We have one busy weekend coming up

Oct. 24 — Roller derby: It’s Cherry bombers v. The River Reapers as Gorge Roller girls compete at The Dalles Armory. Doors open at 5 p.m.; action starts at 6 p.m. Beer and food will be available. Admission $10 general, $5 for students and seniors; 6 and under get in free (order at gorgerollergirls.com).

Oct. 23 and 25 — Beethoven: Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta and Voci choir present Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, his 9th symphony, with its famous “Ode to Joy.” Performances are Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and Oct.25 at 2 p.m. in the Wy’east Middle School Performing Arts Center.

See page A5 for director Mark Steighner’s thoughts on the work and the chance for local residents to hear it for themselves.

Oct. 24 — Gear Swap: Gorge Gear Swap happens at Hood River Valley High School. Early sale 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. See Happenings for details, page B3.

Oct. 23-24 — Quilt Show: Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild (CRGQG) will be presenting its annual Quilt Show at a new place and date, the Hood River Armory.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and admission is $6.

“We have moved the show from August to October because we felt the colorful, warm nature of quilts is a perfect fit with the autumn harvest events in Hood River. Plus the Armory is right on the Fruit Loop scenic drive so visitors can easily find our show,” said Guild president Kim Vogel.

The Guild is bringing highly qualified teachers to Hood River for three classes open to everyone. Space is still available in the classes offered. You can find class descriptions and enrollment information at www.gorgequiltersguild.org.

“We’ve titled this year’s show ‘Discover Quilting!’ because so much is changing in quilting today,” Vogel continued. “Young people around the world have created a whole new modern quilt movement. And artists who want more texture and dimension are producing outstanding abstract and representational work in the form of wall quilts. We find viewers are both surprised and delighted by these new directions.”

The show features the current traditional and contemporary work by local quilt makers in communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge and will exhibit more than 100 quilts representing all forms of quilting. The show will also include demonstrations, vendors and Quilters’ Market, where Guild members clean out their sewing rooms and show attendees get great deals on fabric, magazines, books, patterns, tools and more. The market also features new items made by members.

Oct. 24 — Party in Pink: Zumbathon event for the fight against breast cancer, 5-8 p.m. at St. Francis House, Mid Valley Elementary in Odell; see Happenings, page B3 for details.

Oct. 24 — Auction/Gala: Helping Hands Against Violence annual auction gala at Springhouse Cellar, 6-9 p.m. in Hood River. Admission is free, thanks to sponsors Columbia Bank and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. Enjoy hearty appetizers and music by Kevin Holman, along with a plethora of creative auction items, including everything from a kids’ day as a firefighter to a case of locally raised lamb to Mt. Hood Meadows passes. Helping Hands will be introducing a Millicent May Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors in the memory of the dynamic woman who stuck her neck out to help victims become survivors and started Helping Hands 37 years ago.

Oct. 23 — Talk about the weather: If Not for the Mountains, a talk on the rain gradient and how the Cascade Mountains effect the rain shadow, plants and animals, will be presented by zoologist and Gorge guide Ivan Phillipsen as part of the La Lluvia (the rain) exhibit (through Oct. 31) at Columbia Center for the Arts. Outreach Manager Maegan Jossy of the sponsoring Friends of the Gorge will talk about and the best rainy day hikes in the Gorge. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7:30 p.m. Beer and wine will be available.

Oct. 23 — Climate change: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center presents the first in a three-part series: “Foreshock: Climate Change in the Gorge,” with geologist Steve Carlson. The series begins Oct. 23, with an overview, “Climate Change: Facts Not Fiction.” An optional lasagna dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m. at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum, The Dalles.

Cost for the program and lasagna dinner is $17; program only is $8. Sign up by October 21 by calling 541-296-8600. For more information visit www.gorgediscovery.org.

Oct. 23 – “Icons” art: The Remains gallery’s final art show of the year opens with a “live funk costume party” starting at 6 p.m. Goldfoot provides the music starting around 8, and Manny’s Lunchera will have food for sale outside the entrance.

of The Remains, 500 Industrial Way, just below Full Sail Brewery. “This show is all about icons as people see them, so the interpretations will really vary,” said Nik Vik, who owns The Remains along with fellow artist Nate Chavez. “It will definitely be oicon-themed. It’s not limited to icons – if you want to be something weird, we welcome it, and if you want to come as you are, that’s cool, too,” Chavez said. This is an all ages event.

The works range from pop art to political art, prints and acrylics to reclaimed objects and photography—even a C3PO portraits in fragments of flattened beer cans, by Alea Bone. Kelly Phipps presents her latest hand-cut metal art and Kim Lindemeyer envisions a set of “bad decision” tattoos including Gandhi with “Thug Life” on his neck. “Icons” features artists Catilyn Abdow, Leah Hugon, Michelle Yamamoto, Brendan Hall, Kim Lindemyer, Jess Caudill, Kelly Phipps, Mark Nilsson, Dan Price, Jesse Lindsey, Ace Troy, Jeff Betz, Wild Roamers, Kristen Fix, Alina Aaron, Alea Bone, Manya Warner, Vik and Chavez.

“All the artists surprise us every time with how good it is and what they come up with,” Vik said. “This is an exciting show with some ‘out there’ stuff but something that will appeal just about anyone,” Chavez said.

Oct. 22-24 — “Romeo and Juliet”: On stage at Columbia Center for the Arts. This is the closing weekend for the play, directed by Emma Spaulding, who sets the production in a 1930s Pennsylvania orcharding community, though retaining William Shakespeare’s original words.

More theater happens Oct. 30-31 with the opening weekend of the musical “Grease” at Hood River Valley High School.

Oct. 23 – Tea ceremony: Haiku poetry reading and a rare public performance of a Japanese tea ceremony happen at Columbia Center for the Arts at 2 p.m.

Members of Kashentei Kai from the Japanese Gardens in Portland will take the audience on a journey into the tranquil world of Chanoyu, a tea ceremony that focuses on achieving a heightened awareness of the beauty of the present moment through the simple act of sharing tea. Four honored guests will be served on stage during the ceremony.

Marjorie Yap will narrate the ceremony. “Every aspect of the ceremony is leading up to the drinking of tea and to quiet the mind of both the host and the guest,” said Yap. “When we make tea, we are taking things apart to do it, and the closing puts it all back together again so we are ready for the next thing. What I hope the audience will take away is mindfulness in just what we do every day.”

Internationally acclaimed haiku poet Margaret Chula, who lived in Japan for 12 years and now resides in Portland, will weave readings of rain inspired poetry throughout the presentation. Chula will have a book signing following the program.

Event sponsors Good Medicine Tea Lounge and Kaze Japanese Restaurant will provide special tea and dessert samples in the lobby. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the program begins at 2 p.m. in the theater.

According to Yap, this is a meditative event requiring silence from the audience so this program is recommended for adults and children 12 and older.