Eugene Weekly : Calendar : 11.30.06

The spirit of goodwill and holiday cheer highlight the Lane Arts Council's First Friday ARTWalk this month. Since Friday marks World AIDS Day, it's fitting that Diane Lang, executive director of the HIV Alliance, will lead the tour, starting with the inspired group exhibit "HIV Awareness Through Art" (excerpt pictured below) at DIVA. Second stop is La Follette Gallery, where Steve Karras displays his abstract facial portraits of jazz musicians. Stop #3, Goldworks, features new work by Gary Dawson and Erin Murphy. Stop #4 is White Lotus Gallery with a group exhibit by gallery member artists, as well as Katazome stencil dyeing by Karen Miller. If you're still chugging along, the final stop at Opus6ix will dazzle with the "Best of Oregon Crafted." Coinciding with the art walk will be the Downtown Holiday Party, starting with a lighting ceremony at 5:15 pm (just prior to the art walk) as businesses (not just galleries) stay open late and bask in the lighted — not blighted — downtown. See Friday Calendar.

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is a blogger and mixologist with an aim to create a new national holiday that honors our long struggle toward the freedom to consume alcohol. Dec. 5, or Repeal Day, marks when we sobered up, took a swig of tomato juice and junked the Prohibition laws in 1933. Morgenthaler notes that holidays that have nothing to do with alcohol (Halloween, Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day, for example) are celebrated with mass consumption all the same. "There are no outfits to buy, costumes to rent, rivers to dye green," writes Morgenthaler, who urges his readers to "celebrate the day by stopping by your local bar, tavern, saloon, winery, distillery or brewhouse and having a drink. Pick up a six-pack on your way home from work. Split a bottle of wine with a loved one. Buy a shot for a stranger. Just do it because you can." Join the conversation at www.jeffreymorgenthaler.comor see the Tuesday Nightlife listings for some Repeal Day suggestions.

If signed copies of books (or locally made art) are on someone's holiday wish list, look no further than the 2006 Authors and Artists Fair at the Downtown Library. Up to 70 authors and artists will be present to mingle and get out their Sharpies for the bookworm masses. That's a lot of egos in one room, people, so please be wary of famous author imposters! Some notable "real" authors planning on attending include Jane Kirkpatrick, Judith K. Berg, Paul Chasman, Kurt Cyrus, Jan Eliot, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Joseph Lieberman and Bill Sullivan. A silent auction and traditional Celtic music round out this spectacular annual library benefit. See Saturday Calendar.

Got a spare $150? If so, step right up for the Gala Opening of the Wildish Community Theater in downtown Springfield. Mason Williams (right), of Grammy fame and super-popularity, kicks off the grand reopening of the old McKenzie Theater. The 284-seat theater provides what some local performing artists are calling an accessible and affordable alternative to Beall Hall (yes, Beall Hall is wonderful, but it's both busy and somewhat spendy for non-UO performers) and the definitely expensive Hult Center options. And Springfield's charming downtown can use the attractive venue as a magnet for other artsy development. By the way, as the end of the year approaches and people look for tax write-offs, those with arts money to spare should note that $100 of the $150 is tax-deductible. Hey, that means it's practically free! Support your community and yourself and have a lovely night of music in the meantime. See Friday Calendar.