Eugene Weekly : Calendar : 04.06.06

The Roots and Rhythms series, now in its second show of five, was set up to promote the musical skill and knowledge of elders and showcase the musical talents of generations of musicians. In January, the series brought David "Honeyboy" Edwards, a 90-year-old Delta blues musician; this week, the elder star is blues harmonica player Johnny Dyer (pictured), who grew up on the same plantation as Muddy Waters. Dyer will be backed by Jerry Zybach and his Blues Scoundrels with special guest Hank Shreve, a 17-year-old local harmonica player. The show also features Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, Rollie Tussing III, the Inkwell Rhythm Makers and more remarkable local blues talent. Herman, a member of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame, won a "Keeping the Blues Alive" award for his work with blues in the schools. He'll give a short talk and answer questions on his work at 3:15 pm Sunday, before the show. Earlier in the day, Herman hosts a "Blues Guitar for Everyone" workshop at 1 pm, and Dyer gives a workshop on "Blues Harp" at 2:15 pm. The workshops and talk are free; the show, at the Eugene Hilton at 4 pm, is $15 plus two cans of food for FOOD for Lane County. See Sunday Calendar.

DIVA Executive Director Mary Unruh leads Lane Arts Council's April First Friday ARTWalk, which starts at Jacobs Gallery in the lower level of the Hult Center. Jacobs is currently showing "Double Vision — Shared Site," the work of Terri Warpinski, Garry Fritz, Gina Rubin Cody, Shelley Foster, John Holmgren, Lorri Nelson, Kurt Norlin and Michael Sherwin. Stop #2, White Lotus Gallery, presents new work by photographer Gary Tepfer, including Wild Rhubarb, Altay Mountains, at left. At La Follette Gallery, stop #3, work by Anna S. Horrigan, a pastel painter from Ashland, is on display. Stop #4, New Zone Gallery, features "Fools and Fantasy," work by more then 30 artists whose work challenges perceptions of the world, and the final stop, DIVA, hosts "Autism Rocks! Autism Artism 2006," with work by Melissa Dahl, Carl Kinney, Frank Flanders, Kwame Minta and Mary Minn Sirag. As always, other galleries and shops downtown are open late but not part of the walk — including M.E.C.C.A., where Marilyn Kent has a one-night show, "Exuberance." See Friday Calendar.

This week, there are two fantastic ways to empty your wallet for a good cause — and get something wonderful in return. Saturday and Sunday, head to the Lane County Fairgrounds for the annual Friends of Eugene Public Library Book Sale. 60,000 books of all kinds, never- and gently-used, are on sale, most for a single dollar. The sale also includes rare and specialty items, and introduces a special Oregon section this year. Arrive early for the best finds, but don't fret: There's good stuff all day long, and your dollars help support Eugene Public Library programs. And when you're worn out from toting all those books home, look ahead to Tuesday, when the Hult Center once again hosts Chef's Night Out, the annual food and drink extravaganza and fund-raiser for FOOD for Lane County. More than 50 local restaurants, breweries, wineries and more sprawl across six floors of the Hult Center, with live music on three levels and a "Cake Deco" cake decorating contest in Jacobs Gallery. We're salivating just thinking about it. See Calendar.

It must really be spring — the Nearby Nature Egg Walk is a sure sign of it! The annual event celebrates the egg-straordinary creatures that hatch out of eggs, from frogs to ducks to dragonflies. Costumed critters (left) appear along special hikes in Alton Baker Park, telling stories and sharing facts. Kids can also meet live reptiles, participate in egg critter crafts and a sustainability raffle (check out the prizes at www.nearbynature.org)and more. The Egg Walk is suggested for pre-school through elementary-aged kids, but adults are welcome too. See Sunday Calendar.