The Tallman series brings some of Northern California’s finest musical talent to this delightful Lake County venue.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the concerts are held in the intimate meeting house next to the hotel, which has superb acoustics and comfortable seating for up to 45 people.

Ten percent of all proceeds from the concerts will be donated to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre Fund, which has converted the old single-screen movie theater in Lakeport into a state-of-the-art performing arts center.

“These informal musical events are always a lot of fun,” commented Tallman owner Bernie Butcher, “but I think our program this year will be something special. The artists are not only world class musicians, but also great entertainers and personalities. I think our guests will be treated to a truly unique musical experience.”

The 2011 season kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 29, with acclaimed Cuban pianist Elena Casanova, who has delighted audiences at the Tallman in previous appearances. This time she will be joined by violinist and vocalist Margie Salcedo Rice.

Rice is the concertmistress of the Ukiah Symphony and her crystalline vocals can be heard on CDs of her inspiring classical, traditional and original music

The remainder of the 2010 season features the following eclectic group of accomplished musicians:

Saturday, Feb. 26 – Bob Culbertson is one of the few true masters of the Chapman Stick, a unique and captivating 12 string instrument that is neither strummed nor plucked, but tapped with two hands on a wide fretboard. Culbertson will be joined by one of the world’s leading solo bassists, Michael Manring. Manring, with his custom-designed “hypobass,” has been pushing back the boundaries of what is possible on the bass guitar for over two decades.

Saturday, March 26 – Rita Hosking’s brand of country-folk music is always fierce, lovely and personal. A descendant of Cornish miners, Hosking grew up in Shasta County and developed a deep regard for folk music and the power of the voice. She makes a deep connection with her audience, and was a hit at last September’s Bluegrass Festival in Lower Lake. Her guitar and vocals will be backed by Sean Feder on banjo and dobro.

Saturday, April 24 – Grammy Award winning reed instrumentalist Paul McCandless will make his third appearance in the Tallman series. In addition to his solo and small group work, McCandless has been integral to the ensemble sound of two seminal world music bands, the Paul Winter Consort and the innovative quartet, OREGON. Fresh off a tour of Japan, he will be joined by Motoshi Kosako, considered the most influential jazz harpist in Japan. Kosako now lives in California where he performs locally and with the Stockton Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday, May 21 – Keyboard artist and entertainer Kelly Park is known to patrons of the Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant next to the Tallman Hotel as part of the David Landon Blues Band from San Francisco. But Park is also the musical director for the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko and his real love is connecting with small audiences through the medium of jazz. Joining Park as part of the KP3 Jazz Trio will be Daniel Fabricant on bass and John Lazarus on drums.

Tickets are $25 plus tax and include coffee and cookies served at the concert venue.

The hotel offers an attractive package for guests looking to make this the center piece of a weekend visit to Lake County.

Tickets and information on the series can be obtained at the Hotel reception desk at 707-275-2244 or by checking the Web site at www.TallmanHotel.com/packages.

Symphony conductor John Parkinson promises a program aimed at instilling the finest and most heartwarming Christmas Spirit.

Along with a program of secular and popular holiday songs, this year will see a special presentation of “T'was the Night Before Christmas” narrated by popular local actor Bert Hutt.

Lake County's favorite jazz singer Paula Samonte returns after a one-year absence, to entertain her many fans with a medley of her signature Christmas songs.

The CLPA Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Susan Condit, will deliver two numbers. First is “A Burgundian Carol,” often better known as “Sing We Now of Christmas” with a modern arrangement of the ancient melody by Deborah Baker Monday.

The second selection, “Bobsled Run” is a snow-scene memory, not of Olympic style bobsleds, but rather the antique models pulled by horses. It was written by Lloyd Conely.

Tickets to see the show in person are still available. Tickets for a full dress rehearsal at 11 a.m. are $5 general admission and free to all youths under 18.

Admission to the 3 p.m. concert is $20 general and $15 for Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA) members.

Advance purchase tickets can be had by phone at 707-263-0577 or online at www.soperreesetheatre.com.

Tickets also available in person at Catfish Books in Lakeport and Lower Lake Coffee Co. in Lower Lake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the film starts at 6 p.m. at the Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave., Clearlake.

This is no children’s movie. This documentary takes a fascinating and penetrating look at a root cause of the current financial misery suffered by so many of us and our country.

The “secret” is simply that our money is printed by the privately owned Federal Reserve rather than the Federal government.

If our money were printed by the government, rather than being borrowed from The Fed, no interest would have to be paid – and untold gazillions of dollars would be saved.

As it is, we are in the hands of bankers, who were as self-serving a century ago as they are now.

Consider this breathtakingly candid quote from a banker’s letter in 1891 to his fellow banksters: “On Sept. 1st 1894 we will not renew our loans under any consideration. On Sept. 1st we will demand our money. We will foreclose. We can take two-thirds of the farms west of the Mississippi as well, at our own price ...” (From the American Bankers’ Association, as printed in the Congressional Record, 1913.)

Frank L Baum’s children’s book expresses his concerns over the same issue in a code featuring the yellow brick road, Dorothy’s originally silver slippers, the Emerald City – and that little man behind the camera. Rarely has monetary policy been so gripping – and so very pertinent.

Creating our own local currency is one very positive solution to this problem. SSC is delighted to report that a speaker from Transition Lake County who heads up the TLC Local Currency working group will be speaking after the film.

For more information call 707-279-2957.

The concert begins at 7 p.m.

The award winning jazz band and concert band will perform on the MAC Auditorium stage, Lange Street, Lakeport.

Admission is free.