Arts briefs: Valley Chamber Chorale offers chance to 'meet Mr. Brahms'

The Valley Chamber Chorale is offering piano students a chance to "meet Mr. Brahms" in connection with a performance of the 19th century composer's "German Requiem."

The main event takes place Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater.

Johannes Brahms's masterpiece will be sung by the Chorale with soloists Rebecca Huth and Nicholas White, accompanied on two nine -foot Steinway pianos played by Gretchen Perkins and Phil Kadidlo.

Piano students are invited to purchase a special ticket for $10 that includes a 6:30 p.m. "program with Mr. Brahms," refreshments at 7 p.m. and the 7:30 p.m. concert. Pianists Perkins and Kadidlo will host.

Visit https://www.valleychamberchorale.org/store/ to buy tickets. They cost $27 for adults and $22 for seniors and students. Or call the box office at 651-430-0124.

Woodbury's recreation staff is offering what it's calling "an incredible, edible aquifer" as a way of teaching about geology and smart water use.

The aquifer will be made of Chex Mix, chocolate sprinkles, ice cream, chocolate chips and marshmallows.

It takes place at the city's Central Park, Valley Creek Room B, on Monday from 6-7:30 p.m.

To register, visit www.woodburyrecreation.com (Activity #551273-03) or call 651-714-3583.

The Lake Elmo Library's Movie Night this week features "House of Sand and Fog." The event is Thursday at 6 p.m.

The film is a 2003 American drama, screenwritten and co-produced by the St. Croix Valley's Shawn Otto.

It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Ben Kingsley). Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "Here is a film that seizes us with its first scene and never lets go."

Washington County Parks invites the public to a Valentine's Day outing at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve's Nordic Center.

The event is from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday.

Participants can cross-country ski 5.5 miles of LED-lit ski trails. They may also snowshoe, hike or walk a leashed dog on the illuminated 2.5-mile Big Bluestem Trail.

REI will lead an evening snowshoe hike class for beginners. To register, go to: www.rei.com/class/55739/market/321/03082015.

In the Nordic Center, guests warm up by the fireside in the great room with free coffee, cocoa, cookies and live music by the Hypotheticals, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. An outdoor bonfire will be lit and roasting sticks will be available; guests may bring their own treats to roast.

Washington County Parks does not provide rental equipment. Snowshoeing, hiking and dogs are prohibited on groomed cross-country ski trails.

Call 651-430-8370 for information or contact parks@co.washington.mn.us. Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at 1515 Keats Av. N., Lake Elmo, one mile north of Interstate 94.

Disney's "Aladdin Jr.," an adaptation of the movie, will be performed by the Phipps Children's Theater in Hudson, Wis., beginning this week.

Performances are Friday through March 1 at the Phipps Center for the Arts.

The cast features 27 students in grades 10–12 from Woodbury and other communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Aladdin Jr." has shows on Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and students 13 and older and $16 for children age 12 and younger. It is recommended for children age 4 and older.

For reservations, call the ticket office at 1-715-386-8409 or visit www.ThePhipps.org.

Children's book author Thomas Kingsley Troupe will discuss and read excerpts from his "Furry and Flo" series at the Park Grove branch library in Cottage Grove.

The talk is Friday from 1-2 p.m. in the meeting room, funded by Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Oakdale library has a sale of used library materials from 12:30-5 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.