The Northwest Passages Book Club in February will host a symposium to celebrate art created by high school students in honor of Black History Month. The book club, in collaboration with the Black Lens, is accepting Black art in all mediums that examines, expands and celebrates the Black experience.

With a melding of historical fiction, social commentary, fairy tale and science fiction, Anthony Doerr delivers a deft and intricately woven tale that makes “Cloud Cuckoo Land” one of the most memorable books of the year. The novel challenges the reader with five characters spanning five centuries.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Legendary rocker Lenny Kravitz gave a private performance Friday for a star-studded crowd that included Leonardo DiCaprio and local Latin boy band CNCO during Miami's Art Week. The lavish party is an annual affair hosted by business mogul and art collector Wayne Boich.

Singer-songwriter Aaron Lewis of Staind fame will perform with his band the Stateliners on Thursday at Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Lewis is on the road in advance of his forthcoming fourth solo album, “Frayed at Both Ends,” which will drop late January.

"Encounter" opens with a shot of a bright celestial object streaking across the night sky, followed by ickily close-up footage of insects, particularly the mosquito – or, it is suggested, some mosquito-like E.T. – that pierces the skin with its proboscis and deposits something nasty into the bloodstream.

Latah Books and the Community Building team will host a party celebrating the release of “One-Block Revolution: 20 Years of Community Building,” an anthology chronicling more than 20 years of community building history. Contributors to the anthology include Breann Beggs and Jim Sheehan.

In the fantasyland of director Nathalie Biancheri's imagination, Species Identity Disorder is a common-enough condition to afflict several children, teenagers and young adults, each of whom is struggling with the belief that he or she is a parrot (Lola Petticrew), a horse (Elsa Fionuir), a squirrel (Darragh Shannon) and more.

True stories: “The Rescue” (2021, PG) recounts the daring 2018 rescue of 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Northern Thailand (Disney+), and “Burning” (2021, TV-PG) looks at the catastrophic Australian bushfires of 2019-2020. (Amazon Prime Video).

It’s easy to understand why Peter Rivera has earned so much respect from his peers. The vocalist-drummer-songwriter of Rare Earth fame is always going full tilt. Even though Rivera is 76, he continues to write songs, hit high notes from his salad days and bash away with abandon behind his drum kit.

“Cool Like Us,” the catchy jingle created for the Fox network in Spokane a quarter century ago, could be the moniker of a Peter Rivera-Dave Cebert project. Rivera, the former Rare Earth vocalist-drummer, delivered the lead vocal for the Fox clip, which was crafted in Cebert’s studio.

Hosted annually by the Spokane Symphony Associates since 1983, Christmas Tree Elegance features a raffle of themed, decorated trees donated by local individuals and businesses, each valued at up to $4,999 in assorted decorations and other prizes. The 13-day event is free and open to the public. 

Expect a different but not better entrance when Brad Williams returns to the Spokane Comedy Club. “The last time I was there (in 2019), I was on one of those scooters you people in Spokane like to ride,” Williams recalled about Lime scooters while phoning from his Los Angeles home.

Shawn Stratte is most recognizably a pianist, a staple at the Ridler Piano Bar (where he plays Fridays and Saturdays) and Zola’s (where he performs with a group of talented local musicians). He plays with a delicate and practiced touch, sings with a relaxed and soulful voice.

"A Match Made at Christmas" is a family affair. Coeur d'Alene's Annie Poling Swet directed and co-wrote the charming romantic comedy with her sister, Lizzie Poling. Her brother, Josiah Poling, edited the film, and their sister, Rachel Jordan, produced the project that was inspired by their parents' relationship.

Hold on to that wig, Eurovision, because “Queen of the Universe” is coming for your gig. For the most part, “Drag” and lip-syncing go hand in hand. But in “Queen of the Universe” – a cross between “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “American Idol” – drag performers from all over the world will face off in a live singing competition.

Gonzaga Snowflake Showcase - 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Magnuson Theatre at Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave. GU Dance Club’s winter concert will feature work from student-taught classes, academic classes, and premiere works for the Gonzaga Repertory Dance Companies.

Although major video game releases have slowed somewhat over the past couple of years due to the pandemic forcing most development teams to abruptly shift to working from home, 2021 has been a great year for gaming, and 2022 surely will be, too.

Before you read anything further: find a full body mirror right quick. ... OK, you're back. Could you see the culture you come from looking back at you? Is it in the fuzzy socks Grandma knits and gifts every Christmas? The gold or silver cross hanging from a chain in the center of your chest?

Metal iconoclasts Iron Maiden will return to Spokane next autumn. The British band, while on its Legacy of the Beast world tour, will perform Sept. 30 at Spokane Arena. The word has been that this might be Iron Maiden's last big tour. It'll be worth catching the group, which redefined heavy metal.