Arts briefs: Novelist Chuck Logan to recount book-to-movie effort

What if you created something you were proud of and other people changed it?

When Sylvester Stallone adapted Stillwater novelist Chuck Logan's thriller, "Homefront," for the big screen, Stallone changed the locale from Minnesota to Louisiana and altered the story to make it work as a movie.The movie, starring Jason Statham and Winona Ryder, was released in November.

Logan will appear at the Lake Elmo Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss his book-to-movie experience. For more information, call the library at 651-773-4926.

Visit the library's website, http://lakeelmopubliclibrary.org, for library services and other information.

Cottage Grove's Parks and Recreation Department is putting on a pond hockey tournament starting at 1 p.m. Jan. 20 at Hamlet Park, 8833 Hamlet Road S., Cottage Grove.

Teams will have three to five players and play a 20-minute half-ice game with no body contact or goalies. All players must wear a helmet and skates during games; other gear is optional.

A $15 per-team fee covers the cost of referees, hot cider and snacks.

Each team is guaranteed four games, and prizes will be awarded to the champions of each division.

Call 651-458-3400 for more information.

"Cookie Book Covers," a program for tweens and teens in fifth grade and higher, will take place at 2 p.m. Feb. 1 at Hardwood Creek Branch Library, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake.

If your cookie could be a book cover for a favorite book, how would you decorate it? Participants will first learn a few simple decorating tips from pastry chef Cynthia Maxwell.

The program is free, and supplies are provided. Registration is required by calling 651-275-7300.

The event, presented by Valley Bookseller, is $10 and includes appetizers. A cash bar will be available.

Reservations are required by calling 651-430-3385.

Looking for the ideal show that blends musicals with comedy?

Then come auditions for Woodbury Community Theatre's production of "The Drowsy Chaperone," directed by Lenore Weir.

WCT will present "The Drowsy Chaperone" in March — a much-beloved "musical within a comedy" which won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in 2006. It's a parody of musical comedy of the 1920s.

Auditions will take place Jan. 26-28 at the Merrill Rivertown Campus, 380 Rivertown Drive, Woodbury. Sign up for an audition time at http://woodburycommunitytheatre.org.

Performances start in March at the Loft Stage, East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury.

The BEAR'ly Open, the annual golf tournament on ice that benefits White Bear Lake Area Food Shelves, will be held on Feb. 1. To register as a foursome or individually, go to http://bearlyopen.org.

In its seventh year, the event brings hundreds of local residents to Ramsey County Beach on the frozen shores of White Bear Lake to enjoy an afternoon of golf on ice. The event will include an 18-hole course, real pine trees, a hospitality tent, food and entertainment, to raise money for charity.

To date, the event has contributed over $67,000 to the food shelves and resulted in over $500,000 in food products.

The Shadows Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25, at the Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St., om Hudson, Wis.

The band features songs of the '50s and '60s by the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Bobby Vee (the band's former lead singer), Gene Pitney (who the band accompanied in the early '60s and who wrote one of its million seller hits, "Rubber Ball"), and Roy Orbison.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $29 at the door. Call 715-386-8409 for more information.