Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive — The annual city-wide effort to restock area food pantries is Jan. 5-16, with several organizations participating. Canned and other nonperishable food items can be dropped off at various public and private locations throughout town. The food will then be collected, sorted and distributed among agencies serving the less fortunate including the Salvation Army, the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, the El Paso Rescue Mission, the Center Against Family Violence and others. Information: 541-4010 or 541-4140.
A kick-off event is 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5. Location to be determined.
Drop-off sites: City Hall Basement and 1st floor, County Courthouse 1st and 3rd floors, all Big 8 Food stores, Wal-Mart Super Centers and Neighborhood Markets, El Paso Juvenile Justice Center, El Paso Electric Company Facilities, Sheriff’s Department Downtown Jail, Headquarters and Annex, Socorro ISD Headquarters, Rio Grande Power Plant, Vista Central Grocery and all Public Library facilities.
Potluck Winter Concert — Young El Paso Singers will host a winter potluck dinner and concert 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Western Hills United Methodist Church, 524 Thunderbird. Choose what to eat from the buffet table, then choose what the choir sings from the list of dozens of songs from patriotic, pop, sacred and more. Audiences encouraged to bring a dish to share; dessert dishes will be used for the reception following the concert. Admission is free. Information: 227-6002 or youngelpasosingers.org.
Young El Paso Singers is a not-for-profit organization for ages 8 to 21.
Crossland Gallery — El Paso Art Association’s gallery is 500 W. Paisano (in the Art Junction of El Paso). Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free. Information: 534-7377.
Showing Jan. 6-28:
• In the Bissell Gallery: “New Light,” works by Art Junction Artists.
• In the Cox Gallery: “Ianau,” works by Marina Savitsky and Susan Wester Perez.
• Artists of the Month are Connie Weaver and James Ward.
Opening reception is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6.
‘Murder on the Nile’ — El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presents the Agatha Christie murder mystery Jan. 6-28. Directed by Frieda Voeks. When a new bride is murdered while on her honeymoon, it is up to her guardian to find out who the murderer is, before the boat reaches its destination. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/students with ID). Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.
‘End of the World’ house music show — The electro house, techno and progressive music show is Friday, Jan. 6, at Tricky Falls, 209 S. El Paso. Doors open at 7 p.m.; showtime at 8 p.m. Information: 351-9909. Also featuring Inception DJ God and DJ Detmic, with opening support by Yari, The Xqlusiv and DJ Howie. Tickets: $5 ($10 under 21).
Candlebox — The rock band known for hits like “Far Behind,” performs Saturday, Jan. 7, at Speaking Rock Entertainment Center - 122 S. Old Pueblo Road. Ages 18 and older welcome. Admission is free. Information: 860-7777 or speakingrockentertainment.com.
White Winter Wonderland Bridal and Quinceañera Showcase — The 5th annual showcase is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, in the Marriott Ballroom, 1600 Airway Blvd, with two fashion shows by Laura’s Productions and dozens of vendors from ballrooms to florists. Register to win a dress package, photography package, and a custom ceremony. First 50 people get gift bags with $300 in gift certificates. Admission is free. Information: 629-0359.
NAACP Jubilee Day — The El Paso Branch of the NAACP hosts its Jubilee Day Musical and Installation of Officers 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 3400 Wyoming, featuring music and praise dancing from choirs throughout El Paso. Admission is free. Information: 751-6490 or elpasonaacp.com.
The El Paso Branch is the oldest NAACP branch in Texas. Jubilee Day marks the end of slavery and is observed every first Sunday in January as the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln.
Sports
UTEP Men’s Basketball – UTEP hosts Houston at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Don Haskins Center. Information: 747-5234 or utepathletics.com.
UTEP Women’s Basketball — UTEP hosts Memphis at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Don Haskins Center. Ticket information: 747-5234 or utepathletics.com.
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino — The 2011-2012 live horse racing season runs through April 17. Race days are Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. First post is 12:25 p.m. each race day. General admission is free to the track and casino. Turf Club seating is $7. Information: (575) 874-5200 or sunland-park.com.
Simulcast racing begins at 10 a.m. everyday. General admission and parking are free. Information: (575) 874-5200.
To get there, take the Sunland Park exit from I-10, go south (left turn coming from Downtown) and follow the signs.
Southern New Mexico
Statehood Day Celebration — Silver City Mainstreet will celebrate New Mexico’s Centennial Friday, Jan. 6, with exhibits, activities, contests, gallery events and more throughout the historic downtown area. Information: SilverCityMainStreet.com.
• Centennial Exhibits and Children’s Activities with Lego Mindstorm and the Silver City Public Library are 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Silver City Museum, 312 W. Broadway.
• A reception with refreshments for WNMU Campus History Permanent Exhibit is 2 to 4:30 p.m. at WNMU Museum, 1000 W. College. Short program at 3 p.m.
• “Voices of New Mexico” kick-off event for the Student Centennial Reading Project essay and illustration contest is 5 to 5:30 p.m. at the Silco Theater, 311 N Bullard.
• Centennial Birthday Party announcing the results of the Birthday Cake Contest is 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the Silco Theater. Professional and recreational bakers interested in entering the contest may register by Jan. 2 at silvercitymainstreet.com.
• “Choose Your Own New Mexican Adventure” performances and activities repeat every half hour, including Chautauqua performance by Randy Carr portraying Sheriff Dan Tucker, vintage 1912 silent movies and more are 6 to 8 p.m. at various downtown venues.
• A dance with Brandon Perrault and Rhythm Mystic is 8 to 11 p.m. Location to be announced.
Exhibits at the Silver City Museum and WNMU Museum and themed events at downtown galleries continue Saturday, Jan. 7. A presentation on the history of railroads in Grant County is 11 a.m. at the Silver City Library.
New Mexico Centennial Celebration — Las Cruces hosts a series of events to mark the 100th anniversary of New Mexico statehood. New Mexico officially joined the Union Jan. 6, 1912, becoming the 47th state. Information: nmcentennial.org.
• A parade celebrating New Mexico’s 100 years of statehood begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Main and Mesquite streets.
At about 11:35 a.m., the parade will devote about 10 minutes to each decade as cars, equipment, representations of people and events, people born, and groups formed in each decade pass along the parade route. The end of the final decade (2002 to 2011) will pass over the same spots over which the beginning of the first decade (1912 to 1921) will have passed 100 minutes before. Information: (575) 202-5654.
• Following the parade, Dale Liikala of Ohio will read “The President and Mon’s Apple Pie,” at 2 p.m. at the Branigan Cultural Center 501 N. Main, (Downtown Mall). Liikala travels the country portraying President William Howard Taft, and the book is about Taft’s 1909 whistle-stop tour. Liikala (who at 6’5” and 300 pounds looks the part) will also perform in character after the reading.
• Liikala also will portray Taft in a Chautauqua performance, “Our Reluctant President” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs, Las Cruces. Admission: $2.
• Liikala presents a reenactment of “Eyewitness to History: New Mexico Becomes a State” 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 6, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Admission is free.
The fundraising Centennial Luncheon follows the reenactment 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the museum. The menu will include some items that would have been served in 1912. Dr. Jon Hunner of NMSU will speak about New Mexico’s struggle for statehood. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum and the New Mexico State University Foundation. Tickets: $25. Ticket information: Lori, (575) 522-4100 or Deb Widger, (575) 646-4034.
‘Broadway Rocks!’ — The Las Cruces Symphony Chamber Orchestra’s annual pops performance is 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7-8, at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave. The cabaret-style show features Christiane Noll, Rob Evan and Capathia Jenkins performing hits from rock-inspired Broadway musicals like The Wiz, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll and Hyde, Lion King, Tommy and more. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres offered. Tickets: $35, $45, $50 and $55. Information: (575) 646-3709 or lascrucessymphony.com.
‘Scenes from Moliere’ — The student showcase of scenes from Moliere’s great 17th-century farce, Tartuffe (or “The Impostor”) is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. The performers are students who have undergone an intensive six-week master class in voice and movement for the stage, in preparation for working on Moliere, led by instructor Algernon D’Ammassa. Admission: $5. Information: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.
The showcase will amount to an abridged performance the farce, and a narrator will bridge the scenes so the audience may follow the story, and introduce the actors, many of whom play two characters.