Merced Arts Wrap for Dec. 19
Live music at Star Club
There’s live music at the Star Club from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. both today and Saturday at 1331 W. Main St., Merced. There is no cover charge. Patrons must be at least 21.
Ahwahnichi at The Partisan
The Merced-based trio Ahwahnichi is scheduled to bring its ethereal musical sounds to The Partisan at 9 p.m. today. Also scheduled to perform is the band Strange Vine from Fresno.
The members of Ahwahnichi include RC Essig on guitar and vocals, Vanessa Hofmann on keys and Dante Johnson on drums. According to the biography on Ahwahnichi’s website, the group “achieves a rare victory for the true storytellers with their poetic tales of sorrow and beauty.”
Essig, former frontman of the Merced band El Olio Wolf, “spin yarns about animals, love and death.” His songs are “patient, tender and simple and he captures crowds with the profound meaning of the stories he shares” according to the biography.
The Partisan is at 432 W. Main St. Tickets are $5. Additional events at The Partisan include karaoke at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Braingazm trivia at 7 p.m. Thursdays.
Exhibits at the Arts Center
The Merced Multicultural Arts Center is hosting a group of exhibits by Martin Castro, Elaine Sachs and Edwin Macaraeg, along with “The Really Big Show” in the Arbor Gallery. The center is at 645 W. Main St. in downtown Merced. Entrance is free. The exhibit runs through Jan. 9; hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information about the exhibit or the Merced County Arts Council, go to www.artsmerced.org or call (209) 388-1090.
Events at Kewl Cats
Kewl Cats, 1111 Motel Drive, has karaoke from 9:30 p.m. until closing, Monday through Thursday, and DJ/dancing from 8 p.m. to closing every Friday, no cover, ages 21 and up only. Doors open at 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Dynamical Systemsat Coffee Bandits
“Dynamical Systems: Spontaneous Compositions in Duo Vernacular” is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Coffee Bandits, 309 W. Main St. During the event, multi-instrumentalist Robert William Magill and percussionist Marshall R. Trammell are scheduled to perform a series of spontaneous musical improvisations. Admission is free.
Christmas moviesat Merced Theatre
A screening of “A Christmas Story” is scheduled for 7 tonight at the Merced Theatre, 301 W. Main St. In addition, “A White Christmas” is scheduled to be shown at 3 p.m. Saturday, “The Polar Express” is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, and “The Santa Clause” is scheduled to be shown at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $9. For more information call (209) 381-0500.
Christmas Cabaret
“A Christmas Cabaret With Nelson & Nelson” will be held at 7:30 tonight at the Merced Multicultural Center and will include cabaret standards “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; carols such as “Silent Night”; other holiday favorites such as “The Man With the Bag”; and jazzy new arrangements of “We Three Kings” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” A no-host bar will be available before the cabaret and during intermission. The center is at 645 W. Main St. in downtown Merced.
Winter dance social
A dance social is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. A variety of swing, fox trot, Latin and polka tunes will be played by Gloria Coronas and George Rego. Cost is $8 per person, doors open at 1:30 and refreshments are available. For more, call (209) 723-0839.
New Year’s Eve party
Club Mercedes is scheduled to present a New Year’s Eve party featuring Donnie and the Wayrads. Tickets are $15 per person and you must be 21 or over to attend. The club is at 569 West 9th St. in Merced. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the music starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. A full beverage bar is available at extra cost. There will be finger foods at 10 p.m. and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets can be purchased by calling (209) 777-6750 or the club after 4 p.m., (209) 383-9906.
If you have an event that you would like to have listed in Arts Wrap, email aroundtown@mercedsunstar.com. Include “Merced Arts Wrap event” in the email’s subject heading.
This story was originally published December 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Merced Arts Wrap for Dec. 19."