• HOT TICKETS

Music and Nightlife: The eclectic fiddle, celebrated anew

IF YOU THINK fiddle music is strictly of the bluegrass variety, think again. The multifaceted instrument will be celebrated Friday by a team-up of Maine bands Alba’s Edge and Velocipede as they play everything from traditional toe-tapping tunes to Latin, jazz and funk.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $10 in advance; $12 day of show

INFO: stlawrencearts.org

Art and Theater: Frolic over to see Farnsworth’s folk art 

THE FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM begins its winter season with a folk art exhibition, “Decorating the Everyday: Popular Art from the Farnsworth.” It features furniture, paintings and textiles reflecting mainly 19th- and early 20th-century regional life in Maine and New England.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. Through Sept. 22.

WHERE: Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St., Rockland

HOW MUCH: $12; $10 for seniors and students; free for ages 16 and younger and Rockland residents

INFO: farnsworthmuseum.org

Dining and Drink: Cooks to savor winter flavors

COMFORT FOODS such as winter roasted salad with butternut squash and warm cider vinaigrette will be on the menu at a “Sensational Winter Flavors” cooking class.

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School, 2 Stonewall Lane, York

HOW MUCH: $50

INFO: To register, call (877) 899-8363 or email cooking@stonewallkitchen.com 

Et Cetera: Time to get back into the swing 

DANCE OFF some of your holiday excesses at the Port City Swing Dance. Lessons starts at 8 p.m., followed by dancing to The Delta Knights.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodford St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $10

INFO: portcityswing.com

 

• CHEAP THRILLS

Music and Nightlife: Booked into library: Spike & Co.

VETERAN JAZZMEN Spike Hyssong (upright bass), Lincoln Blake (piano and keyboards) and David Clark (guitar) join forces as Spike & Co. for a free concert at the Rockland Public Library.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Rockland Public Library, 80 Union St.

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: 594-0310

Art and Theater: Library’s ‘Prints’ show well worth walking to

THE FIRST First Friday Art Walk of the year should get 2013 off to good start. Among the many gallery shows worth mentioning is “Prints: Breaking Boundaries” at the Portland Public Library. Sponsored by the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport, it features 35 Maine artists who use new techniques and materials to expand fine-art printmaking.

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Portland Public Library, Lewis Gallery, 5 Monument Square

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: portlandlibrary.com

Dining and Drink: Fulfill those grape expectations

KEEP YOUR New Year’s resolution to learn about wine by attending a tasting and learning from the experts.

WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Browne Trading Co., 260 Commercial St., Portland

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: 775-7560; email nicholasgrenier@brownetrading.com

Et Cetera: Snow fun? You bet, at Westbrook fest

CELEBRATE the frozen pleasures of the season during the Winter West Festival in Westbrook. Weekend-long activities include skating, a hockey tournament, a snow sculpture contest, dog races, a flash mob recreational paddle and a dance with the Snow Queen.

WHEN: Friday to Sunday

WHERE: Locations throughout Westbrook

HOW MUCH: Most events are free

INFO: westbrookmaine.com