BLOGS

√ CheckList: Five cheap things that look like fun

Blog: Culture Check

No one likes a spoil-sport, but consider this morsel as you sit down next week to your turkey, dressing and cranberry dinner: the Pilgrims came late to the Thanksgiving table.

Yep. According to those rascals down in El Paso, Texas, the first Thanksgiving in North America was held in 1598 on the banks of Rio Grande River by a bunch of Spanish explorers led by gold miner and adventurer Juan de Onate. That was about a quarter-century prior to the meal prepared by those — hmmph! — pretenders at Plymouth Rock.

But wait a minute. There’s also evidence that Onate was a latecomer, too. The city of St. Augustine, Fla., claims to have had the first Thanksgiving on the continent in 1565. The question is: After the meal, did their Uncle Carlos undo his belt and fall asleep in his chair?

Tastier offerings this week include:

√ Your Neighbor’s An Artiste (today through Dec. 10) — You’ve wondered what’s going on in your neighbors’ garages? Well, they could be painting or sculpting or tossing pots. Proof is on display at the 33rd annual Members Invitational Exhibit and Sale at WVC’s Robert Graves Gallery. (See photo below.) This probably ranks as the highest quality show in many years, so don’t miss it. The gallery, in Sexton Hall just off Ninth Street, is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and by appointment. Free. Info: 665-5977.



√ Watch These Guys Hurl (Friday) — It’s a toss-away career path, but catapult design could be considered right on target for some physics majors. WVC’s brainiacs pitch in to build catapults for a 2 p.m. on-campus competition where even the winners might sling a few sharp exclamations. The devices must be all wood and natural fibers (no metal or rubber). It’s all free for spectators, but wear your hounskull (helmet). Info: 682-6800.

√ Women With Big Sticks (Friday to Sunday) — Rumors have it that some of the roughest, toughest hockey in town will take place this weekend at the three-day Hot Autumn Ice Women’s Hockey Tournament at Toyota Town Center, 1300 Walla Walla Ave. This competition has a grueling schedule of fast-paced games that, on Saturday alone, runs from 8 a.m. to midnight. Thankfully, spectators can drop by anytime, munch concession snacks and watch for free. Info: hockeywenatchee.com or call 741-0407.

√ Bewitching Author? (Friday) — Lyricist-turned-novelist Amy Foster shares her thoughts on writing and, um, witches when she discusses her debut novel “When Autumn Leaves” at 7 p.m. at the Leavenworth Library, 700 Highway 2. The fantasy, bordering on parable, focuses on a good witch who embarks on a journey to find her replacement for sorcery duties in a Pacific coast hamlet. It’s received high praise from national journals and gets five-star reviews on Amazon.com. Free. Info: 548-1451.

√ To Make A Long Story Short (Saturday) — Tall tales and good stories told by expert yarn-spinners will fill a local venue as part of “Tellebration,” an international evening of storytelling sponsored by the National Storytelling Network. Locals Rocci Hildum and Rebecca Hom will spin tales beginning at 7 p.m. at Caffé Mela, 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. Free. Info: 888-0374.

CheckList is a weekly posting for Culture Check, a wenatcheeworld.com blog, where Mike Irwin writes about art, books, bad TV, oddball places and anything else he finds interesting. You can reach him at 665-1179 or irwin@wenatcheeworld.com.