Weekend entertainment highlights

ART/ON STAGE/OUT AND ABOUT

The Yard, Garden and Patio Show kicks off the gardening season with displays, more than 250 exhibitors, outdoor cooking seminars, a recycled garden art section, wine and beer gardens, and dozens of giveaways. The show is from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-13 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland. Tickets $11, and free for children 12 and younger accompanied by a paid adult. Discounted advance tickets and coupons are available online and at select retailers. Complete information is available online. Call 800-342-6401 or visit http://ygpshow.com.

The Bridal Show in east Vancouver brings together a variety of vendors and exhibitors to help couples prepare for the upcoming wedding season. Photographers, caterers, florists, travel agencies, wedding dress and tuxedo boutiques, musicians and jewelers will be on hand. More than 45 vendors will take part in the show, which is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Firstenburg Community Center community room, 700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver. No admission fee. Call 360-487-7001 or visit http://cityofvancouver.us/fcc.

The Monster Jam monster truck series features fan favorites such as Grave Digger, Donkey Kong, Blue Thunder, Iron Man, The Patriot, Tropical Thunder and Captain USA. Monster Jam competitions include freestyle events and races. The Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits gives fans the chance to view the trucks up close and meet the drivers. It is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 13. The Monster Jam series is at 2 p.m. Feb. 13-14 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Rose Garden arena, 1 Center Court, Portland. Tickets $20-$45 and $10 for children through the Rose Quarter, 877-789-7673 or http://rosequarter.com.

A variety of works are currently on display at Washington State University Vancouver. Abstract paintings by Brooke Keitel and Frank Rysavy are on display through March 26 in the Engineering Life Science Building galleries. Keitel’s work is influenced by Pacific Northwest landscapes, and Rysavy is a WSU Vancouver student who creates brightly colored geometric works. The campus, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., Vancouver, is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays. Call 360-546-9551 or visit http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu.

The latest exhibit at the Aurora Gallery blends a variety of works. Handmade jewelry by Pat La Croix and mixed media paintings by Barbara Kaempf Matkowski are on display through Feb. 27. Matkowski’s work is embellished with metal, fabric and photography in a contemporary abstract style. The gallery, 1004 Main St., Vancouver, is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 360-696-0449 or visit http://auroragalleryonline.com.

Visitors to the Sixth Street Gallery might not want to check out the gallery’s latest exhibit on an empty stomach. The exhibit, on display through Feb. 28, spotlights art that represents connections between art and food. Digital photographer Ray Klein is the featured artist. He is among 18 local and national artists with work on display. The gallery is open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays at 105 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. Call 360-693-7340 or visit http://sixthstreetgallery.com.

CONCERTS/THEATER

A variety of local bands will come together in concert to raise money for disaster relief in Haiti. Embercity will headline the show, which also features performances from Spiritual Plague, Without a Shadow and Madaleine Noelle. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted. The concert is at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Living Hope Student Campus, 10800 N.E. 76th St., Vancouver. Visit http://myspace.com/embercitymusic.

Magenta Theater launches its 2010 season with “Crossing Delancey.” In the production, Isabelle is a young woman who lives alone and works in a book shop. She pines for a handsome author, but her grandmother and a friend think they have found the perfect match for Isabelle. Isabelle struggles with who to choose — or whether to choose at all. Shows are at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-13, 19-20 and 25-27, as well as 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Magenta Theater, 606 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets $10-$15. Call 360-635-4358 or visit http://magentatheater.com.

Pianist Thomas Rheingans will take the stage as part of the ongoing Live at the Fries concert series. Rheingans will perform a variety of classical works, including compositions by Ravel and Chopin. He will be joined on stage by tango dancers Rebecca Smith and Eric Lindgren. Concerts are at 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Washington State School for the Blind’s Emil Fries Auditorium, 2214 E. 13th St., Vancouver. Tickets $12 for the 2 p.m. show, and $16 for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets through Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006 or http://brownpapertickets.com. Visit http://liveatthefries.com.

The Vancouver USA Singers will take the stage in east Clark County for a pair of concerts over the Valentine’s Day weekend. The group will perform songs from productions such as “West Side Story,” “Wicked,” “Brigadoon” and “Tarzan.” Each show will include solo performances by a member of the Camas and Washougal High School choirs. The concerts are at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Washougal High School’s Washburn Performing Arts Center, 1201 39th St., Washougal, and 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Camas High School’s Camas Theatre, 26900 S.E. 15th St., Camas. Tickets $20, $18 for seniors 60 and older, $10 for children 4-18, and free for children 3 and younger. Call 360-834-7807 or visit http://eccgas.org.

Misty River will headline the annual benefit concert for the Salmon Creek Kiwanis Club. The folk-inspired acoustic quartet has been together for more than 11 years. All of the concert’s proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Kiwanis’ general fund. That money, in turn, will be given to a variety of community organizations in need. The show is at 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Skyview High School, 1300 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver. Tickets $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Call 360-699-1234 or 360-574-3747.

Broadway Across America tells the story of Elle in “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” In the production, Elle is dumped by her boyfriend for someone he sees as more serious. Elle decides to put down the credit card, hits the books and enters Harvard Law School. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16-20, 2 p.m. Feb. 20, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St., Portland. The Feb. 18 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired. Tickets $23.25-$73.25. Call 866-739-6737 or visit http://portlandopera.org/broadway/2009_2010.

Emotional alternative rock band Dashboard Confessional will headline a concert in Portland. Dashboard Confessional originally began as a solo acoustic venture for vocalist and guitarist Chris Carrabba, but has since evolved into a full-fledged band that has gained acclaim for its catchy tunes and emotional lyrics. The band is touring in support of its latest album, “Alter the Ending,” which was released in November. The concert is at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St., Portland. Tickets $25 through Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000 or http://ticketmaster.com.