ARTS NEWS

AT BAM THIS WEEK

How about a martini to sip while you wander Boise Art Museum? This Wednesday, BAM hosts Martinis and Marsden with a no-host bar, snacks and jazz as art lovers enjoy its newest exhibit, "Marsden Hartley: American Modern."

Wednesday, April 9, 6:30-9:30 p.m., FREE for members, $15 nonmembers. Boise Art Museum, 670 Julia Daw's Dr., 208-3453330, BoiseArtMuseum.org.

Through April 10, Boise Art Museum members receive an evening ticket for the matinee price to see The Rape of Europa. Winner of the Writer's Guild of America 2007 Best Documentary Award, the film chronicles the effort on the part of a few to save Europe's artwork from the looting and destruction of Nazi soldiers.

Flicks, 646 Fulton St., 208-342-4222, TheFlicksBoise.com.

BODO ARTS BENEFIT

We're not shy about admitting our disdain for the corporate world, particularly when it comes to homogenizing the restaurant industry. Nor are we shy when it comes to our support of the arts in Boise. So when the two collide-which happens less often than a blue moon-we don't really know what to do. Should we pat the corporate world on the head for giving back to the communities in which it's set up shop, or should we write off the attempt as a shameless marketing ploy to drum up press for a restaurant's grand opening?

On April 28, Bonefish Grill will become BoDo's newest addition, effectively replacing the seafood void created when local favorite Milford's closed a few years ago. Apparently, the Florida-based chain restaurant feels the need to support Boise's Cultural District because it's located right in the thick of it. On April 25, the new restaurant and marketing firm Drake Cooper team up with the newly formed Boise City Department of Arts and History to host the first of what they say will be an annual fundraiser to benefit Boise's performing arts organizations.

At the event, a $30 ticket gets you some Bonefish grub and a little hobnobbing with dancers, actors and musicians. But get ready for the big hook: Choreographer Trey McIntyre of the soon-to-be-based-in-Boise contemporary Trey McIntyre Project will also be in attendance.

Proceeds from silent and live auctions benefit City Arts Fund grants, specifically the Anchor Fund for major arts organizations with major budgets. Typically Boise Contemporary Theater, Ballet Idaho, Opera Idaho, Boise Philharmonic and Idaho Shakespeare Festival divvy up the Anchor Fund. Next year, Trey McIntyre Project may put its hand out, as well. Our guess is that event partner and Trey Mclntyre Project handlers Drake Cooper decided it wouldn't hurt for the new kid on the block to do his part to pump up the City Arts Fund.

Friday, April 25, 6-8:30 p.m., $30. Bonefish Grill, 855 W. Broad St. Tickets and information at CityofBoise.org/CityGovernment/Arts_Commission.

KIDS AT THE CABIN

The Cabin is now enrolling kids for its annual summer series of Idaho Writing Camps for kids in grades four through 12. The weeklong camps offer several different tracks for elementary and junior high school students, and participating high school students will learn creative writing skills in a separate program. Participating students give a public reading of their work at week's end, and after the camps have finished for the summer, campers each get a copy of an anthology containing work from students.

Camps run June through August. To register, visit TheCabinldaho.org.

-Rachael Daigle