If your gray matter is overwhelmed with minutiae but still hasn't gotten a grasp on the current holiday season, head over to the Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum for the Papoose Club's 16th annual Craft Bazaar and Raffle. It will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Not only will you find a cure for the last-minute-shopping blues but also music, soups, baked goods and other refreshments to help the process along.
The highlight, of course, is the 60 artisans and craftspeople who'll be selling everything from original artwork, jewelry and unique home décor to handmade bath products, accessories and more. The raffle has more than 20 fabulous items, all donated by supportive local businesses.
In addition, there will be alternative gift sellers, with charity gift ideas to benefit nonprofit and charitable groups, including the Sun Valley Wellness Institute, Advocates for Real Community Housing, Wood River Ride Share, the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence, YAK!, the Blaine County Hunger Coalition, Hospice of Wood River Valley and the Family Connection Project.
The primary purpose of the Papoose Club is to promote and assist cultural, social, educational and athletic activities for the children of the Wood River Valley. It was founded nearly 50 years ago. The Holiday Bazaar is one of the organizations' two primary fund-raising events. The other is the Papoose Club Pancake Breakfast, held over the Labor Day weekend during Wagon Days.
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley will throw the annual Santa Paws benefit at the Dirty Beagle, in Hailey, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. You can have your pet's photo taken with Santa. For more information, call Diane at 720-2223.
Thomas Mangelsen's Images of Nature Gallery on Main Street in Ketchum will showcase unique Animal Shelter cats in a special gallery event, Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Stray Cat Struts event will offer wine, live music by Erin Baker and shelter cats. All kitties attending will be available for adoption.
This event is not a fund-raiser and is free. For details, call 788-4351.
Do your holiday shopping at Iconoclast Books in Ketchum or Sun Valley on Thursday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 9. As part of a valley-wide effort to help local nonprofit organizations, Iconoclast will donate 10 percent of its sales on those three days to the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. You might want to purchase a book by one of the authors who visited The Center in 2006—Karen Hesse, Ron Carlson, Louise Erdrich, Terry Tempest Williams, Elizabeth Royte, E. O. Wilson, Robert Thurman or Orville Schell. Or get a headstart on next year's exhibition of children's book illustration by buying something by R. Gregory Christie, Chris Raschka, Peter Sís or Leslie Patricelli.
