Upcoming Arts and Entertainment 1-21

Area codes are 850 unless noted.

Gumbo contest

DESTIN – Area restaurants and individuals compete for the title of the best gumbo in the Panhandle at the Destin History & Fishing Museum’s annual Gumbo Contest and Silent Auction fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Destin Community Center. Tickets are $10/adult and $12/day of event. To enter, call 837-6611 or email kathydestinhistory@gmail.com.

Emerald Coast Concert Association

FORT WALTON BEACH – The Emerald Coast Concert Association the DePue Brothers, four violinist brothers and their band, with a vivid blend of bluegrass, classical, and rock, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College.

• Feb. 18: The Doo-Wah Riders will appear at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium with their sounds of high-energy country with a Cajun twist. Meet the artist after the concert at the Magnolia Grill.

• March 3: Hotel California – A Tribute to the Eagles is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College.

• March 12: Andy Cooney’s Forever Irish will come to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College at 7:30 p.m. for a celebration of happy music that makes memories last forever.

Single tickets for the three concerts at the Civic Auditorium are available at Kitchenique in Destin/Sandestin; P.S. Gifts in FWB; Connect with Flowers in Shalimar; and Artful Things in Niceville. Tickets for the three concerts at Mattie Kelly Arts Center are available after Nov. 24 at NWFSC Box Office or call 729-6000.

Winter Concert Series

DESTIN – Free concerts will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sundays on the HarborWalk Village Stage. Performers include:

• Jan. 22: Dave Posey and the Jazz Band. 

• Jan. 29: Playground Big Band.

Pensacola Opera

PENSACOLA – The 29th season of the Pensacola Opera presents Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini at 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi at 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 2 p.m. March 11 in the Saenger Theatre. Season tickets range from $40-$160 and are available at 433-6737 or www.pensacolaopera.com and are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale Aug/ 1 and can be purchased from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Pensacola Opera box office, Saenger Theatre box office or www.ticketmaster.com.

Gordon Lightfoot concert

PENSACOLA – Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, a legendary balladeer, performs in concert at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Saenger Theatre. Tickers range from $38-$58 and are on sale at the Saenger box office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or at www.ticketmaster.com.

ADSO

FORT WALTON BEACH – The Arts and Design Society will host the following events at the Art Center, 14 First Street, SE., unless noted. Call 244-1271 for more information or visit www.artsdesignsociety.org.

 • Through Jan. 25: The Blizzard Art Exhibition features 19 artists exhibiting their interpretations of Blizzard, creating a chilling and exciting art show. Admission is free.

• Jan. 28: Open House with artists’ exhibits and demonstrations. Refreshments will be served. ADSO takes this opportunity to introduce what it does and increase awareness of its available classes and activities.

• Feb. 10-12: The 53rd Annual Beaux Arts Exhibition will be held in the atrium at Westwood Retirement Community, 1001 Mar Walt Drive. A reception will be held from 2-4 on Feb. 12 with awards to be given at 3:30 p.m. Artists in a widespread area will be competing for prizes.  Call 244-1271.

• Feb. 13-15: Jef Raasch of Milwaukee, Wis., will present a workshop on Sculpting from Life and demonstrate various hand-building techniques, exploring textures and scale. Beginners, intermediate and advanced students will work with clay. Cost is $220/ADSO members, $255/non-members plus a $15 supply fee. A deposit of $110 is required upon registration. Call 244-1271.

• Feb. 16-18:  Joye Moon will present three new art projects on each of the three days of this watercolor workshop, which uses landscape, flora and abstraction for subject matter. This class is for beginner through advanced watercolor students. Cost is $235/ADSO members, $260 for non-members for the three-day workshop. Students provide own materials. Call 850-244-1271.

• Feb. 17-29:  An opening reception for "Human Palette” gallery show, reflecting the diversity of human cultures, is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 17. 

• March 23-April 14: An opening reception for "Masque," the theme of this year's annual recycle show with all entries made from recycled items, is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. March 23. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Snowbird Movie Matinee

DESTIN – The Destin Library hosts free weekly movie matinees at 3 p.m. The film series will feature new release DVD movies hyped as this year’s Oscar contenders. Seating will be limited to 30 on a first-come-first-serve basis.

• Jan. 26: Moneyball

• Feb. 2: The Big Year

• Feb. 9: The Tree of Life

• Feb. 16: Midnight in Paris

Denim & Diamonds

OKALOOSA ISLAND – The annual United Way fundraiser, Denim & Diamonds, will be held from 6:30-11 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Dress in denim and enjoy food, casino games dancing, and an auction. Cost is $100/person.

T-shirts and Ties Party

OKALOOSA ISLAND –The Emerald Coast Autism Society will hold its Second Annual T-shirts and Ties Party at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Howl at the Moon to help raise funds to support local families affected by autism in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Partygoers are encouraged to wear a snazzy t-shirt or favorite tie, or both. Tickets are $10/person and will include the cover charge, two free drinks from the sponsor and a raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased at 736-0879 or email myra@ecautismsociety.com. Donations will also be collected at the door between 7 and 8 p.m. All proceeds from tickets sales will benefit Emerald Coast Autism Society.

Tasting of Champions

SANDESTIN – The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation will host Tasting of Champions from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in The Magnolia Ballroom at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Tickets are $50 and available at www.dcwaf.com.

‘Greater Tuna’

DESTIN – A special showing of the comedy “Greater Tuna” is scheduled for a two-night performance at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 at the Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave. Advance tickets for the show are $20/adults, $18/military, students and seniors. Tickets also can be purchased at the door for $22.50. Order tickets at marinaciviccenter.com or 763-4696.

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

NICEVILE – The 2011-12 season at Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College includes the following. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Call 729-6000 or visit the Box Office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for ticket information.

• Jan. 28: Damn Yankees

• Feb. 4: Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia

• Feb. 15; Brigadoon

• Feb. 24: Monty Python’s Spamalot

• March 10: Andy Gross

• May 10: Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein on May 10.

Pancake breakfast

FORT WALTON BEACH – The Magnolia Grill, 157 Brooks St., SE, will host a Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Choctawhatchee High School Chorus from 8-10 A.m. Jan. 28. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased in advance from a choral student or email denhamj@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us, or at the door the day of the event. The Choctaw Madrigals will sing and serve breakfast. 

Benefit concert

DESTIN – Musician David Seering and the van Deusen Quartet will perform in a concert, featuring opera singer Katie Saunders, at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Village Baptist Church. All proceeds will benefit local charity Children in Crisis. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at 864-4242.

Wine dinner

DESTIN – Todd Reber of Vin’tij Wine Boutique & Bistro will host a wine dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 to benefit the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. A wine reception will be followed by a four-course dinner paired with select wines. General seating is limited to 50. Cost is $65/person MKAF members and $80/non-members. Gratuity not included. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s “All Kinds of Art” youth educational programs and cultural events for the fine and performing arts serving Okaloosa and Walton Counties. For reservations, call 650-2226. 

American Legion

DESTIN – American Legion Post 296, 311 Main St., will serve breakfast from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Sundays with all proceeds going to the building and maintenance fund. Pub Sunday continues in Captain Salty’s Lounge from 1-4 p.m. and live music and dancing in the ballroom with Jabbo and Michael J Thomas from 4-7 p.m. Open to the public. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Bar Bingo is played at 6 p.m. Mondays in a no-smoking atmosphere. Call 837-3818.

Film series

DESTIN – The Destin Library’s Independent Film Series is held at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. The unrated foreign films, for mature audiences, are open to the public with seating on a first-come-first-served basis. Call 837-8572.

Thursdays in the Twilight

DESTIN – Enjoy music and food on the beachfront lawn at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at Beach Walk Café at Henderson Park. Reservations suggested at 650-7100.

FEBRURY 2012

First Arts Concerts

FORT WALTON BEACH — Tickets are on sale for the 23rd season of First Arts Concerts at www.firstartsconcerts.org. For information, call 863-2436 or 243-9292. Season Tickets are $60/adults and $30/full time students under age 18.  Individual concert tickets are $15/adults and $8/students. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.

• Feb. 3: Don Edwards, Cowboy Balladeer

• Feb. 17: Dominick Farinacci and Aaron Diehl

• March 2: Festival of Four

Sinfonia Gulf Coast

OKALOOSA ISLAND – Sinfonia Gulf Coast continues at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center with the Florida premiere of Dave and Chris Brubeck’s “Ansel Adams: America.” The concert also features Naumberg Award-winning pianist Anthony Molinaro and Grammy Award-winning harmonicist Howard Levy. Tickets range from $29.50-$42.50 and can be purchased and printed online or call 269-7129.

Oil painting

DESTIN – Class featuring the “Bob Ross Method” will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Destin Community Center. Fee is $40/person. Call 654-5184 to register.

Mardi Gras Kickoff Parade

DESTIN – Enjoy floats, costumes, street performers and float riders tossing beads at the fourth annual Mardi Gras Kickoff Parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 at HarborWalk Village. Live music fills the Main Stage after the parade. The event is free to the public. A $20 entry fee for parade participants and floats goes to benefit Destin Harvest. Call 424-0600.

Tops in Blue Concert

OKALOOSA ISLAND – The U.S. Air Force's Tops In Blue concert will be held from 6-11:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Music includes jazz of Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday, rock n’ roll of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, Motown of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, country sounds and more. Patriotic music will pay tribute to the heroes of 911.

Valentine cruises

SANDESTIN – SunQuest Cruises will host Valentine’s dinner cruises from 5:15 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 11 and 6:15-10 p.m. Feb. 14 aboard the Solaris. Cost is $150/couple and includes a 3-course meal, cruise and live entertainment. A full service bar and appetizers are available for purchase onboard. Casual cocktail dress, suit not required. Seating is limited. Make reservations at www.SunQuestCruises.com or call 650-2519.

Mardi Gras on the Island

OKALOOSA ISLANAD – Mardi Gras on the Island begins with a parade at 11 a.m. Feb. 11. After the parade a Block Party with games for the kids, vendors and food takes place a Helen Back on Amberjack Drive. Parade applications are available at www.fwbchamber.com/mardigras or call 244-8191. 

Hearts and Art

DESTIN – Geana’s Art Gallery & Custom Framing, at City Market east of Bass Pro Shops on U.S. 98, will host a date night, Hearts and Art, from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 14. Spend the evening with your loved one and paint a canvas together and share wine and refreshments. Reservations required at 650-0779. Cost is $50/person and includes supplies.

Art exhibits

NICEVILLE – Duncan Baird and Cetin Oguz, two Cleveland, Miss.-based artists, bring a decidedly contemporary two-man show to the McIlroy Gallery at Mattie Kelly Arts Center through Feb. 17.

In the Holzhauer Gallery, Elizabeth Austin will display her cassetinas, Italian for “little boxes.” These small-scale works, some of which display Austin's signature style of reverse painting evoke magical, otherworldly scenes, and have often been compared to jewel boxes or reliquaries.

NFSO Symphony

NICEVILLE – The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra 2011-12 concert season presents the following at 7:30 p.m. in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College. Call 729-6000 for ticket information.

• Feb. 17: Annual Stars of Tomorrow, with guest artists from some of the finest young talent the area has to offer as well as the orchestra’s tribute to the Old West in a performance of Copland’s Billy the Kid.

• April 28: Season finale will feature three giants of classical music, Franz Josef Haydn and his two most talented students, Mozart and Beethoven.

Sandestin Gumbo Festival

SANDESTIN – The 23rd annual Sandestin Gumbo Cook-off will be held Feb. 18-19 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf and includes fun, food and live entertainment. Guests can sample gumbo and Bloody Mary's, voting for their favorite as People's Choice. Celebrity judges will hold blind judging contests for the “Area's Best" awards for gumbo. The award for Best Display, which goes to the business or restaurant with the most innovative booth, will also be announced.

Mardi Gras Celebration

DESTIN – Enjoy free red beans and rice from Poppy's Crazy Lobster, street performers, and live music plus a Party Animal Parade with your four-legged friends at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at HarborWalk Village. Call 424-0600.

The Modern Bridal Expo

SANDESTIN – An opportunity for brides-to-be to mix and mingle with more than 50 vendors at Sandestin’s Baytowne Conference Center from 12:30-4 p.m. Feb. 19. Fashion show starts at 3:30 p.m.

Zydeco Jam

DESTIN – Live Zydeco music fills the harbor at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 as soulful tunes sound at the HarborWalk Village Main Stage. Concert is free and open to the public. Call 424-0600.

Don Williams in concert

PENSACOLA – Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Williams hits the stage at7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets are $48 and $43 and can be purchased at the Saenger Theatre Box office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or www.ticketmaster.com.

On stage

SANDESTIN – Shirley Simpson performs on stage as Gracie Allen at 5 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Sandestin Hilton Coral Ballroom. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the benefit performance for Billy Gray Ministries. Call 502-548-5311 or 582-4986.

Jerry Seinfeld

PENSACOLA – Comic Jerry Seinfeld performs his first love, stand-up comedy, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Saenger Theatre. Purchase tickets, $80, at the Theatre box office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or at www.ticketmaster.com.  

Sock hop

OKALOOSA ISLAND – The second annual Snowbird Appreciation Sock Hop will be held from 6-11 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Enjoy live music, costume and dance contests and a cash bar. Tickets are $8/advance and $12/door. Call 609-3800.

MARCH 2012

Choral Society

PENSACOLA – The Choral Society of Pensacola has announced the following schedule for the 2011-2012 season. To purchase tickets or for information, call 484-1806, or email csop1@juno.com.

• March 24: Beethoven’s Mass in C and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy at First Presbyterian Church, 33 E. Gregory St.

• May 5:  “20th Century Classical and Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2203 N. 12th Ave.

NWF Ballet

NICEVILLE – Northwest Florida Ballet’s 2011-2012 season serves up three major productions at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center, including an epic romance, a beloved favorite, special new guest artists and a touch of magic. Call 664-7787 for ticket information.

• Romeo and Juliet: 7:30 p.m. March 30 and 2:30 p.m. April 1.

• Starlight Ballet: June in Rosemary Beach.

APRIL

Haydn Goes Hawaiian

NICEVILLE – It's Hawaiian shirt night as the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra spotlights the father of the symphony, Franz Josef Haydn and two of his most famous pupils, Mozart and Beethoven, at 7:30 p.m. April 28 on the mainstage at Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Tickets are $22.50/adult or $16/youth age 18 and younger and available at wwwkellyartscenter.org or call 729-6000.

MAY

ANNIKA & Friends

SANDESTIN – Country music performer Darius Rucker will headline a charity concert at 7 p.m. May 13 on the North Park lawn at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin as an exciting finale to the inaugural ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. General admission tickets go on sale Dec. 1 at www.AnnikaandFriends.com.