what's happening

Birds are local! Gold Beach, December 6 & 7

The Gold Beach area is a great place to see birds. In winter, many species of birds are common and easily viewed, with an occasional rarity to spice things up. If you want to find out what’s around, attend the orientation Friday evening before the Saturday morning field trip to some local destinations. The focus of the class offered by Southwestern Oregon Community College will be observing birds. Orientation topics will include: ethical birding, field guides, optical equipment, local birding/locations, birding organizations, and internet birding resources.

The class begins with an orientation from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 6 at Southwestern’s Gold Beach Center, followed by a field trip from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 7. Cost of the workshop is $25. For more information or to register, contact Southwestern at 541-247-2741 or kshumaker@socc.edu.

Holiday Home Tour - Newport, December 7 & 8

The Newport Symphony Orchestra is hosting a feast for the senses: the second annual Holiday Home Tour along with concerts by internationally acclaimed opera singer Erica Brookhyser.

The Holiday Home Tour includes four beautiful homes and the Pacific Maritime and Heritage Center overlooking breathtaking Yaquina Bay, each uniquely and sumptuously decorated for the holidays. Vocal and instrumental musicians will provide holiday fare throughout the Tour.

Also during the weekend, Newport native Erica Brookhyser will perform two concerts of ocean-themed art songs. Brookhyser, who got her performing start on stage at the Newport Performing Arts Center, is now the principal mezzo-soprano in the permanent opera ensemble at Staatstheater Darmstadt in Germany.

Erica Brookhyser’s concerts are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center; tickets are available by calling 541-265-2787. The Holiday Home Tour is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. All proceeds from the Holiday Home Tour go to support the NSO and its youth musicians program. (541-574-0614; www.newportsymphony.org)

Astoria Winter Market - Live Music, Bacon And Beer!, December 14–15 & 21–22

From decorative pieces to practical tools and useful items, you’ll discover something unforgettable for someone special at Astoria Winter Market, an intimate market showcasing about 30 vendors each day. Some artists and crafts people are present only one day or weekend, so be sure to make this part of your downtown shopping experience both weekends.

New this year is a mini Winter Brew Cup, December 14–15, with craft beers from Fort George and an all-bacon menu from North Coast Chef Syndicate. Live music each day features performances by Port City Players, Brad Griswold, and Greg

Parke. Hourly raffles for gifts donated by vendors and merchants liven up the final weekend.

Astoria Winter Market takes place at the Astoria Event Center, at 9th and Commercial in downtown Astoria, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.AstoriaSundayMarket.com

Gingerbread Tea at the Butterfield Cottage - Seaside, December 14 & December 21, 1–4 p.m.

The Seaside Museum and Historical Society’s lovely Victorian beach cottage is transformed into a holiday jewel December 14 and December 21. Guests are served fresh gingerbread with whipped cream or a homemade gingerbread cookie and a hot drink, either tea, hot chocolate, or hot cider. Exquisite gingerbread houses and other donated holiday gift items are raffled off.

Jeff Blanche provides true holiday spirit with his music on a variety of instruments. Dr. Blanche, as well as the hostesses, volunteers his time to keep this lovely Seaside tradition alive. Enjoy a leisurely holiday afternoon visiting with other guests and joining in on the caroling. The tea takes place from 1–4 p.m. Admission is $5 adult and $3 for kids 12 and under. The Butterfield Cottage at the Seaside Museum is located at 570 Necanicum Drive in Seaside. (503-738-7065)

Oregon Coast Culinary Institute to Host 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Ball

Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College and The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute will host its 4th annual New Year’s Eve Ball on December 31st, 2013. This year features a Moulin Rouge theme. Festivities for those 21 years and older begin at 8:30 pm and include gourmet food, DJ and dancing, no-host ice bar, silent auction, and a New Year’s countdown complete with a champagne toast. Tickets are $35.00 in advance or $40.00 at the door.
The ball is sponsored by the Culinary Club with all proceeds going towards sending Chef Instructor Chris Foltz and student Jillian Howell to compete in Ice Alaska, the World Championships of Ice Carving, in February 2014. OCCI is the only school in the world that participates in this elite professional competition. It is a tremendous opportunity and learning experience. It also serves to highlight the unique opportunities available to the students of OCCI & Southwestern Oregon Community College that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Last year the team placed 2nd!

For additional information or to purchase tickets please contact Shannon Poynter at (541) 888-7189 or shannon.poynter@socc.edu .

Twinkling Tradition at Shore Acres, November 28–December 31, Charleston

The brightest place on the Oregon Coast shines as brightly as ever November 28–December 31 for the annual and very popular Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park. The walk-through display includes 300,000 LED lights, 30 large landscape lights, dozens of small landscape lights, 26 large holiday trees, and a beautifully decorated Garden House.
The light sculptures are a huge draw—the must-see sculptures include the life-size leaping orca and a life-size spouting gray whale, a “jumping” frog in a pond, Koi carp, playful sea lions, and a myriad of other sea creatures including pelicans, puffins, jellyfish, Dungeness crab, and more.
Last year nearly 50,000 visitors, including those from 45 different states and 28 countries viewed the lights display, where they also had the opportunity to enjoy the hot cider, punch, coffee, and cookies available in the Garden House and listen to live entertainment in the Performance Pavilion.

The display is open every night, including Christmas, Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve from 4–9:30 p.m. There is no charge for lights viewing but parking is $5 per vehicle or current parking pass. 541-888-3732; www.shoreacres.net

Click here for a sneak preview of our 2013 Calendar

Local artists paint circle in Rockaway Beach

Renovation of the Rockaway Beach wayside features this 1600 Sq ft circle. The circle is made of commenorative brinks being sold byt the city of Rockaway. The center (picture in blue) is being painted by Lynda Holm, an artist and local resident of Rockaway Beach.

EVERY YEAR PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY SNEAKER WAVES - WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE WHILE ENJOYING THE OCEAN

Our editors found this video that illustrates the problem with standing on logs. This happened on Rockaway Beach but could happen anywhere. Click Here to watch

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