Haines author and former Daily News columnist Heather Lende received a starred review in the American Library Association's Booklist for her new book, "Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: Family, Friends, and Faith in Small-Town Alaska" (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill).
"Lende writes emotionally but never sentimentally," writes the reviewer, "giving us the best Alaska memoir of late, maybe the best ever."
"I am going to have the last sentence tattooed on my stomach," Lende told us before adding, "Just kidding."
The book will be released in May.
We note that the reviewer, Pushcart Prize winner Patricia Monaghan of Chicago, is originally from Anchorage. She's the sister of Peggy Monaghan, whose next Arctic Sirens cabaret show at Snow Goose Theatre on April 2 will feature the release of Kevin Barnett's new CD, "Alpenglow." Barnett's trio is the house band for the cabarets. They will be joined by rocker Lulu Small and the Aqua Nets. Advance tickets, $15, can be reserved by calling 245-7311.
Chilly reading
Back in the books department, the Alaska Design Forum's "Freeze Project" in Jan., 2009, brought artists, architects and designers from Alaska and around the world to town, where they created large-scale outdoor installations. A warm spell shortened the lifespan of the constructions, but not before they could be recorded by photographers.
Alaska Design Forum is now releasing the catalogue for the event, documenting the 14 projects that were created from snow, ice and light. The cost is $95 plus $5 for shipping at alaskadesignforum.org.
Writers' conference registration
The annual Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference will take place June 11-15 in Homer. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Cunningham will be the keynote speaker on a roster that includes 17 other professional writers, agents and editors who will conduct workshops, talks, readings and panel discussions.
Optional activities include manuscript reviews, editor-agent consultations, receptions, a boat cruise and open mike event.
Early registration is now under way. Sign up before May 1 and it will cost $325, $225 for University of Alaska students. More information is available online at writersconference.homer.alaska.edu. You can also e-mail iyconf@uaa.alaska.edu or call 907-235-7743.
Swank fundraisers coming up
The Anchorage Museum Association's black tie fundraiser, "2010: An Art Odyssey," will take place April 10 at the Dena'ina Center.
Dancing and auctions are featured along with a New York steak dinner. (A vegetarian meal is optional -- so, by the way, is the black tie.) Basic reservations are $150 per person and were supposed to have been made by March 10, but call 929-9226 anyway. You might get lucky.
The Anchorage Symphony's annual "Symphony of Wines" silent auction and wine tasting will take place April 22 at the Hotel Captain Cook. More than 30 well-known wineries will be represented. Tickets are $70 in advance at the Brown Jug Liquor Warehouse, or online at www.anchoragesymphony.org. Or take your chances at the door, where the tickets will be $75 per person.
The Anchorage Concert Chorus' third annual gala is being planned for May 1, again at the Dena'ina Center. It's titled "All You Need is Love ... A Melody of Sweets and Wine (and Song)." Details yet to come.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM
mdunham@adn.com