January 26, 2012

Documentary films and plenty of music

Documentary fans can show up at Maine Maritime Museum Thursday to see a screening of the 1997 Maine film "On the Job: Women Launching New Traditions," which details the societal change of the 1940s as women had to fill the shoes of men gone to war. It includes interviews with Portland women who worked in the city's shipyards. The film starts at 6:30 p.m. and costs $5.

Also tonight, if you're not concerned about the expected storm, head out to Blue to see and hear Samuel James and Dana Gross trade songs and stories at 10 p.m. It's late, sure, but there's just one more work day and there's no cover.

Those in the Lewiston area on Friday should take part in the Bates College Art Crawl, which is open to the public for free. The event features outdoor activities - a cappella singing, snow painting and ice sculpture contests - and indoor options - student film shorts, spoken word pieces, acoustic music and dance improvisation - and begins at 4:30 p.m. The Bates College Museum of Art will stay open for the evening and the night will culminate with Asia Night, a 7:30 p.m. performance in Schaeffer Theatre. Also find popcorn, hot chocolate and hot apple crisp as you roam around campus. View a map of the event locations here.

Metal lovers will want to be at Asylum for Friday's 9 p.m. show with Twisted Roots, Sun Gods in Exile and Clubberlang. The 21-plus show features alternative, metal and rock music and advance tickets are just $5.

If you've been wanting to take a drive to Camden, this weekend may be the time to do it. The town is hosting its Winterfest on Saturday, with ice skating in the Camden Amphitheatre, ice carving with help from Chef Tim Pierce of the Samoset Resort, snacks donated by local restaurants and music from All That Jazz in the library.

If you're looking for music, there's a triple bill at Blue tonight. Pianist/vocalist Hattie Simon joins with bassist Nick Thompson-Brown for jazz from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Elissa Nargolin, who is Fine Line Forming and plays alternative electroacoustic at 8 p.m. Last up for the evening are JD and the Boyz with some blues, R&B and soul at 10 p.m. No cover; donations please.

It's a football-free Sunday this week so how about a documentary film? "Miss Representation," which premiered at Sundance and aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network, screens at Catherine McAuley High (Stevens Avenue, Portland) at 2 p.m. The film explores how the media's misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. See it for $5 thanks to the Smith College Club of Maine.

If you're in the mood for seafaring history, head to the Irish Heritage Center for "The Titanic Centenary: A Survivor's Story," with St. Joseph's College professor Dr. Karen M. Lemke. Her talk is based on interviews with Marshall Drew, an 8-year-old passenger on the "unsinkable" ship. It's free and starts at 2 p.m.