∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit artintheloft.org, email director@artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877 for more information.

∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, closed Tuesday, and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Beverly Benson Wolf’s photography is on display now through July 20 at the museum. The Northeast Michigan Artists’ Guild invites the community to their annual exhibit at the Besser Museum from April 15 through July 24. This year’s theme is “It Figures.” Each piece displayed will be an original work of art by a current NEMAG artist in their chosen medium and may present a literal or figurative interpretation of the theme. Artists will be in attendance from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the museum to discuss their artwork. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Information about NEMAG can be found under the Art Section of the Museum website; email northeastmichiganartistsguild@gmail.com, or call Karen at 989-766-9945 or Ellen at 989-916- 5997. Call the museum at 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena, features 25 local artists’ work on display and for sale. Kamara Marsh is the featured artist for April. Dorothea Sandra will be the featured artist for May and June. A reception will be held in her honor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the TBA Gallery, at 127 W. Chisholm St., downtown Alpena. The reception is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. Spring and summer hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

∫ Dragonfly Art Gallery, 116 E. Main St. in Harrisville, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 989-820-9614.

Today, April 30

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners hosts Mexican Train Express dominoes from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

∫ Great Start Collaborative Playgroup is held weekly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at Alpena County Library. No registration necessary.

∫ TOPS #1614 Alpena welcomes new members who are looking for support in their weight-loss journey. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena. Weigh-ins start at 9:45 a.m. and meetings start at 10:30 a.m. There is no obligation to join if you attend your first meeting. For more information, call 989-255-4787.

∫ Potential homeowners can find out the steps they need to take to get closer to homeownership from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Habitat for Humanity offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

∫ Every Tuesday in April, practice ukulele at 10 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, with ukuleles available for checkout, and players of all skill levels invited to join.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center offers quilting at 10 a.m. and Spitzer at 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

∫ Good Grief is a grief support group at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St.. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231.

∫ The FamilySearch Center is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 411 Long Rapids Plaza in Alpena.

∫ The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Congregational Church, Alpena. For more information, visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook.

∫ ALL will hear from Alpena High School exchange students at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at ACC’s M. Briggs Center. Alpena High School exchange students will share their experiences as 2023-2024 students. Learn about the differences between their home country and the U.S. Students will welcome respectful questions from the audience. Students include Sara Couto Vazquez, Spain, and Jasinta Puglisi, Austria. Their advisor is Alpena High School Counselor Lori Vought.

∫ Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tinker Tuesday is about getting together and exploring projects ranging from Makey Makey, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D Printing, Strawbees, littleBits, Snap Circuits, sewing and more. Let your curiosity take over and explore! Participants must be age 5 or older.

∫ Cub Scouts meet from 6 to 7 p.m., and Boy Scouts meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

∫ Bay View Center hosts a diversity support meeting at 6 p.m. each Tuesday. This weekly potluck is for those in the LGBTQ community, their families, and supporters, at Bay View Center, 710 N. 2nd Ave. If you have questions, call 989-340-0955. The time will be changed to 4 p.m. starting on May 7.

∫ Karaoke Night is from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Black Sheep Pub in downtown Alpena.

Wednesday, May 1

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for Open MakerLab. Makers of all ages can tinker, collaborate, and create a project of their choice in our lab. If you have questions about lab rules call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center exercise is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

∫ Guys Like Us is a Wednesday morning coffee crew of men who are coping with cancer, meeting at 10 a.m., in-person at Friends Together and via Zoom. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for the link.

∫ The UAW Retirees hold a gathering at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House, 411 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena. A representative from the UAW Trust and BCBS will be at each meeting. The meeting starts at 11 a.m., and then, at about noon, a variety of pizza, breadsticks and salad is served. If you choose to join in the lunch, the cost is $8. People start to arrive a half-hour early for some socializing before the meeting. Meeting dates are May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4.

∫ Alpena County Library offers Tech Help from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

∫ Bingo is at 12:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Sewing Club is held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Alpena County Library. Registration is required by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ ALL offers a Second Square Dancing Class from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at M. Briggs Center at Alpena Community College.

∫ Women on Wednesday is a support group for women with cancer meeting in-person and via Zoom at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Friends Together. Come for a dash of hope, some laughter, and real talk.

∫ Alpena Sportsmen’s Club is a nonprofit located at 4260 M-32 West in Alpena, open to members and non-members — everyone with an interest in shooting sports. Skeet and sporting clay shooting are offered from 5:45 p.m. until dark on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, text Joel Suszek at 989-255-4928 or Jeff Welch at 989-255-6068.

∫ Open Mic Night is from 6 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday at Patchwood Plaza in Hillman. For more information, call the Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce at 989-742-3739.

∫ The Long Lake Improvement Association will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Parker House Restaurant, at 24732 U.S.-23 North, Presque Isle. The public is welcome.

∫ Rich Rider hosts Open Mic Night from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Black Sheep Pub, 113 S. 2nd Ave., downtown Alpena.

Thursday, May 2

∫ The National Day of Prayer Breakfast will be held on Thursday, May 2. Laura Hoffman, MyMichigan Medical Center spiritual care manager, will be the speaker at the breakfast. Doors open at 6:30 a.m., and serving begins at 6:45 a.m. The program will commence at 7 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. Tickets are $10 per person. A limited number will be available at the door. This annual event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Alpena. To RSVP, call or text Beth Pelkey at 989-619-2837 by April 30.

∫ Community Walking Club meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ Join the Alpena County Girlfriends at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for coffee and conversation. This is a women-only group whose purpose is to make friends and socialize with women from Alpena County and the surrounding areas.

∫ Join ALL for Spitzer from 10 to 11 a.m. at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.

∫ Zoom Book Club is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Call 989-356-3585.

∫ The annual observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, at Alpena City Hall, 208 N. 1st. Ave.

∫ Friends Together presents Journaling with Friends, from noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday. Explore creative ways to organize your thoughts. Registration is required by calling 989-356-3231.

∫ Pinochle and bridge are held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Join ALL for Exploring a World of Learning on the Web at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at ACC’s M. Briggs Center. Have you pondered what bait to use when fishing for walleye? Have you sputtered when trying to replace a taillight on your vehicle? Do you lie awake at night wondering how they built those huge cathedrals? Let’s learn about learning with Jane Roose.

∫ Needles and Threads group is held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Bring your latest knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, or other crafts. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2 with questions. The library is at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.

∫ Michigan Notable Author John Smolens will visit the Alpena County Library on May 2. Smolens, an author from the Upper Peninsula, will discuss his book, “A Cold, Hard Prayer” at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2. Selected by the Library of Michigan as a 2024 Michigan Notable Book, “A Cold, Hard Prayer” tells the story of a girl of mixed race and a boy with a disabled hand dropped off by an orphan train in 1924 rural Michigan, where a farmer’s attempted rape and subsequent murder forces them to flee; hunted by law enforcement and the reemergent KKK, mutual trust and determination helps the teenage suspects navigate a stark American landscape shaped by prejudice, hypocrisy, and fear. Books will be available for purchase by Parallel 45 Books and Gifts, and Smolens will sign books following the event.

∫ Thursday Eve Serenity Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. If a problem drinker has or is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help you. Meetings are anonymous and confidential. Call 989-354-5476.

∫ Author Carson Prichard will launch his book of oral history featuring Rogers City community members, about the fishing boom in the early 1980s to mid-2000s. The book is called “The Salmon Capital of Michigan — The Rise and Fall of a Great Lakes Fishery.” A presentation will be held at 7 p.m. at the Rogers Theater, with a question and answer session and book signing to follow. This event is presented by the Presque Isle District Library and Wayne State University Press.

Friday, May 3

∫ Join the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce to hear updates from a variety of businesses and organizations from around town at the next Good Morning Alpena. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m., and the program will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Alpena Golf Club, 1135 E. Golf Course Road, Alpena. The cost is $10, and advanced registration is required to info@alpenachamber.com, or by calling 989-354-4181. This GMA is sponsored by ITC Holdings Corp.

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Then at noon, Mahjong is played, and pinochle starts at 12:30 p.m.

∫ Presque Isle District Library’s Posen branch offers knitting and crocheting from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.

∫ On Fridays in April, get ready for a world of giggles, wonders, and creativity at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Storytime and Craft for Kids is not just about learning; it’s about unleashing the joy of discovery!

∫ ALL hosts contract bridge from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Fridays at M. Briggs Center. This is an ongoing group of card players who welcome any players at any time. This group is a teaching class but experienced players are also welcome to join.

∫ Alpena Zonta’s Fashion Show showcases local businesses including Maurices, Cedar & Threads, Emery Enterprises, Colburn Outfitters and Myers Fashions and their clothing options, providing the opportunity for community members to discover new styles and shop local. This is an annual fundraising event. Attendees to the 2024 Zonta Spring Fashion Show will be treated with an evening of fun, food, and entertainment – with a cash bar, including a specialty signature event cocktail. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy viewing fresh fashion styles that are available in our local market. Tickets are available at the following Alpena locations: Star Staffing, 537 W. Chisholm St.; Nicolet Bank, 100 S. 2nd Ave. and 468 N. Ripley Blvd.; and HPC Credit Union, 1234 W. Chisholm St. and 300 S. Ripley Blvd. You can purchase individual tickets, reserve a table of 10, or reserve a half table of five. Tickets are $30.

∫ The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday night, with your choice of fish or shrimp, potato, coleslaw, roll, and drink. The fish fry is open to the public, and the cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner.

∫ ALL hosts square dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 or email all@alpenacc.edu.

∫ The Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, May 3 at the FIrst United Methodist Church in Alpena. This meeting will host special guest Deb Strain who is a designer for Moda fabrics. She will do a program on how her hand-drawn artwork evolves into fabric, along with a presentation of her own special quilts. This meeting begins with a social time at 5:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 6 p.m. The meeting was moved to Friday for this month only, due to scheduling conflicts, so please note the change. New members are encouraged to attend.

∫ You are cordially invited to the ACC Art+Design Student Expo from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at the Alpena Community College Fine Arts Building. The event includes student work from courses in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, 3-D design, 3-D digital art, and graphic design. Piano music will be performed and catered cuisine will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

∫ Soprano Paige Heidrich and Pianist Tina Gorter will be performing in a collaborative classical recital at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Alpena. This free concert is sponsored by Thunder Bay Arts.

Saturday, May 4

∫ The Alpena Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mich-e-ke-wis Park, 1302 State Ave. in Alpena. For more information, visit Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ Join Thunder Bay Theatre and the Dork Brothers for the annual Break a Leg 5K Run/Walk Fundraiser on Saturday, May 4. Dress up in your best theatrical garb or as your favorite Star Wars character (it is May the 4th after all)! All proceeds benefit Thunder Bay Theatre. Join in before and after the race for light refreshments at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (500 W. Fletcher St.) in the Education Room. Registration and check-in at 8 a.m. at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. The race route is along the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail. Participants can register online or in person. Registration can be dropped off at the United Way Office, 108 Water St., Alpena, MI 49707. Make checks payable to Thunder Bay Theatre. You can download the registration form or register online by visiting the TBT website, www.thunderbaytheatre.com. The entry fee is $15 per adult, and $10 per student. Awards will be given to the Top 5 Finishers, Best Costume — Adult, Best Costume — Kid, and Last Finisher Overall.

∫ Celebrate Bob’s Bullpen’s Ninth Anniversary and Free Comic Book Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bob’s Bullpen, 125 N. 2nd Ave., downtown Alpena. Free comic books will be given out. We buy promo comics from all the major companies to hand out for free. Books for all ages. These are new books promoting their stories for the next year. First come, first served till they run out, and they do EVERY YEAR. We’ll have raffles starting for super cool expensive stuff. Sign-ups begin in the store. We’ll be doing cake to celebrate the anniversary. This is a fun, family-friendly event.

∫ On Saturdays in April, forge new friendships, strategize with your party, and let your creativity soar in the teen-exclusive Dungeons and Dragons Club, now meeting upstairs at the Hollyhock Emporium in Harrisville from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

∫ Feeding Kids Ministry will host a nacho bar fundraiser from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 4 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 500 Brooks St., Alpena. Meals will be available for dine in or takeout. The cost is $10 per adult, $7 per child ages 4 to 12, and free for children age 3 and younger. This is a dry event — no alcohol will be served.

​​∫ The Alpena Symphony Orchestra will present its Spring Gala concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at the Alpena High School Auditorium, 3303 S. 3rd Ave., Alpena. The orchestra will be under the direction of Maestro Jim VanEizenga, Director of Orchestras for Novi High School, Novi. Admission for this performance is $15 for adults with no charge for students and children. Admission will be collected at the door. The ASO is a nonprofit organization and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you have questions, please call Andrea Arbuckle at 989-464-9586.

Sunday, May 5

∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 2 to 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Raphael Church in Mikado.

Monday, May 6

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Euchre starts at 12:30 p.m.