PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson Museum of Art & History, 540 Water St., will host Rod Freeman as the keynote speaker of the First Friday Lecture series at 7 tonight.
There is a suggested donation of $5, which supports historical society programs.
The history Freeman will be sharing wasn’t what he taught as a high school teacher at Chimacum High School nor is it found in any of the local history books, according to a news release.
This history is of a freer, younger and more idealistic time when Freeman managed to gather local poets and artists and put out a literary magazine in the early 1970s known as Wale.
Only one issue of Wale was published, but the adventures surrounding its publication and the poets who appeared in its pages — some of whom became well known in time — create a lively story, according to the release.
Wale was printed by hand on an antique letterpress and included original block prints by local artists.
A copy of Wale is currently in the Jefferson Museum’s exhibit, “The Printed Word in Port Townsend: Literary Presses of the 1970s and ’80s.”
Freeman will talk about the cultural climate of the 1970s and the rich literary and printed art activities of the time.
Friday Story Night
PORT TOWNSEND — Better Living Through Coffee, 100 Tyler St., will host First Friday Story Night, featuring “James the Obscure,” from 7 to 9 tonight.
Entry is by a suggested donation of $10, although no one will be turned away for inability to pay.
After James’ opening set, the public is invited to participate in an open-mic section during which up to six attendees sign up for five minutes each to share an original story, song or words of poetry.
Guest hosts Perry Spring and Rick Thomas will each share a story in the third set.
Founded in 2009 by Brian Rohr, and handed over to the care of Aimee Ringle in 2013, this monthly event explores the art and ritual of the oral tradition — sharing the old myths, folk tales and fairy tales along with more modern stories and personal sharing.
For more information, call 360-316-9600.
Contra dance
PORT ANGELES — Black Diamond Community Hall, 1942 Black Diamond Road, will host a dance workshop at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a dance beginning at 8 p.m.
Musical trio Purple Heys will perform during the event. The trio consists of Melissa Coffey on whistle and flute, Sean Bolton on fiddle and sax, and Doug Plummer on piano.
Sherry Nevins will be the caller.
Participation in the dance is $8 for adults or $4 for minors, or the equivalent in food to share.
PT Shorts
PORT TOWNSEND — Key City Public Theatre, 1128 Lawrence St., will present the works of Sayantani Dasgupta as part of PT Shorts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
PT Shorts is free, although donations are welcome. It is produced in collaboration with Northwind Arts Center.
Peri Robin of Port Townsend will read three selections from Dasgupta’s books “Fire Girl,” “Oracles,” “Five Students” and “Beyond the Ivory Tower.”
Together, the books explore themes of religion, perspective, education and the ways in which two disparate cultures can meet upon common ground, according to a news release.
Born in Calcutta, India, and raised in New Delhi, Dasgupta teaches at the University of Idaho.
Her essays and stories have appeared in The Rumpus, Phoebe and Gulf Stream magazines.
Fore more information, visit www.keycitypublic theatre.org.
Trident Winds
PORT ANGELES — The woodwind trio Trident Winds — a detachment of Navy Band Northwest — and a tuba soloist will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Following their performance, the ensemble will join the Sequim City Band for a combined concert.
This event is the first indoor concert of the 2016-2017 season.
Trident Winds performs for official military ceremonies and receptions, as well as public concerts and patriotic events throughout the Northwestern United States, according to a news release.
Composed of flute, clarinet and bassoon, they perform a variety of musical styles, including an eclectic blend of classical and Americana music featuring composers such as Vivaldi, Sousa, Joplin, Kummer, Haydn, Ibert, Rossini, Bozza and Muczynski.
The featured Tuba Soloist is Petty Officer Third Class Patrick Melvin.
Melvin enlisted in the Navy in June 2015. Following boot camp and Musician “A” school, he reported to his first duty station with the Navy Band Northwest in February 2016.
He is a native of Niceville, Fla., and holds an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and a masters degree from the University of Cincinnati — both in music performance.
Arts to Elders
PORT TOWNSEND — Discovery View Retirement Community, 1051 Hancock St., will host a performance by musical group Pies on the Run from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The group will feature a multi-talented cowboy for this program.
Pies on the Run is a three-piece, Port Townsend-based acoustic band featuring Baila Dworsky on bass, Claudia Neva on fiddle, Nancy Fitch on guitar and George Radebaugh on accordion.
Known for their two-and three-part harmony vocals, the group’s tunes are drawn from a wide variety of genres, including Western swing, swing standards, bluegrass, country, originals and yodeling cowgirl songs, according to a news release.
“Having fun is what it’s all about,” Dworsky said.
Friends and relatives of all the retirement residences, as well as members of the Northwind Arts Center, are encouraged to attend.
The free concert also is open to the public.
For more information, call 360-379-2620.
