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Weekend of Music

The After Dark Music Series continues at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the United Methodist Church with Austin's "Elana James and The Continental Two." Leading the group is a violinist and singer who is among the youngest to earn a place in the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, and promises to invigorate her Vermont crowd in the same style for which she is renowned. Tickets - which are $20 in advance and $25 at the door - are available are available at several in-town venues or by phone. For more information, call 802-388-0216 or visit the series' Web site at www.afterdarkmusicseries.com.

And if James' hot jazz, Western swing and gypsy music does not sufficiently quench your musical thirst, check out the following acts also playing in Middlebury in days to come:

Honeywell
Jan. 10, at 10 p.m.
Two Brothers Tavern

Bill Yantz' British Invasion
Jan. 12, from 4-6 p.m.
Two Brothers Tavern

The Gordon Stone Band
Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Carol's Hungry Mind Café

Martin Sheen and Electric Cars

Join the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACoRN) on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Ilsley Library community room for "Who Killed the Electric Car?", a 2006 Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, which probes the dawn, limited commercialization and rapid decline of the battery electric vehicle in the United States. Following the film, ACoRN will lead a discussion about automobile manufacturers, the oil industry and the evolving face of cars of the future. (They'll have wings? And… and…? Maybe you can concoct something more inspiring prior to the event.)


CPR and First Aid Classes at Ilsley

The American Red Cross will be offering adult, child and infant CPR and first aid training at Ilsley Public Library on Jan. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prospective participants are asked to pre-register by calling 1-800-660-9130 ex. 113, or e-mailing jrussell@nvtredcross.org.

By all hopes, you can emerge from an eight-hour day at Ilsley without succumbing, yourself, to the need for a few chest compressions.


Otter Creek = free ski pass

In the mood for a little skiing? Never mind. It's Winter Term at Middlebury, after all. Stupid question.

At any rate, if the Snow Bowl's growing old, and you're looking to branch out, ski mid-week at Mount Snow, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen or Jay Peak - for free, simply by presenting a ticket from Otter Creek Brewing at the ticket window!

Coupons are available at the store itself, by e-mailing info@ottercreekbrewing.com or by going the old-fashioned route - whipping out some paper and a pen and writing to:

Otter Creek Brewing
attn: Ski Coupons
793 Exchange St
Middlebury, VT 05753

(Oh, and, uh, the obligatory fine print: "Must be 21 or older. No purchase necessary. . .")