The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

The Chinese New Year Celebration starts this week! Try a family dinner this weekend, with home cooked or take-out Chinese favorites. Surprise everyone by eating on cushions on the floor and sharing tea and oranges with a fortune cookie after dinner. Symbols and colors are an important part of the New Year celebration. A round table signifies wholeness and decorations should be rich red and gold. Toast to a year of good fortune. You can get recipes and entertaining tips at www.kikkomanusa.com

The First Taste of Chocolate will take place in Downtown Rhinelander tonight! The evening runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and more than 30 businesses are participating. You are welcome to stop in at the various participating businesses to sample, shop, drink and eat. You can register at any stop for one Grand Prize. Call the DRI office for more info at 369-3830. The Fun Factory is featuring two Chocolate Tasting Sessions with the first one starting at 5:30 p.m. Each session will feature their scrumptious treats plus sampling from the chocolate fountain. The cost is $10 each for a 45-minute dessert session�a great price to sample their delicious chocolates. Call the Fun Factory for more details at 369-3451.

Tonight is a Valentine's Pajama Party night at the YMCA of the North. You can bring the entire family to enjoy the open gym, swimming, games, crafts and snacks hosted by the Children's Learning Center. The kids are invited to wear their pajamas or comfy clothes. The cost is $8 per family and free to members. Call the YMCA at 362-9622 for more info.

Tonight is the start of Cruiserfest on Lake Minocqua. There will be a snowmobile parade at Torpy Park on Lake Minocqua starting at 5:40 pm with a cookout and bonfire to follow. On Saturday there will be events and a craft show at the American Legion Hall throughout the day and evening. In the morning there will be a Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Following the Breakfast will be a Brat and Chili feed from 11 to 6 p.m. There will be Radar runs throughout the event. To register for the races and check times go to www.minocqua.org, www.snowmobilewi.com, or call the Minocqua Chamber at 362-5266.

The 2008 High School Nordic Ski Championships will be held at Winter Park in Minocqua today and tomorrow. Come and watch over 400 talented high school athletes compete. Call 356-3309 for more info.

The 32nd Annual Rhinelander Lions Club Fisheree is taking place on Boom Lake in Rhinelander on Saturday and Sunday. The proceeds from this family friendly outdoor weekend support the Lion’s community events. The main tent and information area is located at the Boom Lake boat landing at Hodag Park. Call 369-3830 for more info.

The YMCA of the Northwoods and Mel's Trading Post are hosting free Cross-Country Ski lessons on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. The program will teach basic skills, how to choose the right equipment, and where to go skiing in our area. Everyone ages 5 years and older is welcome�meet in the back of the Y near the trail. Call the Y at 362-9622 for more info.

The 25th Annual Ride with the Snowmobile Champions will take place on Saturday. The Celebrity ride and the new Hall of Fame Induction take place in St. Germain. Call the Whitetail Inn at 542-4488 for more info or go to www.snowmobilehalloffame.com

The 45th Anniversary of the 1st World Championship Snowmobile Derby will be held Saturday and Sunday on Dollar Lake in Eagle River sponsored by the Chanticleer Inn and the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. Call 479-4486 for more info.

If you like foot stomping, heart-warming music, come to the 28th Annual WXPR White Pine Jamboree on Saturday night at the Taj Mahall in Rhinelander. The family entertainment starts at 3 p.m. with an open jam session. Bring your acoustic musical instrument and join the jam. There will also be a fiddle contest and a performance by “Duck for the Oyster” band in the early evening. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children. Food will be available as well as a bake sale sponsored by the volunteers. Call WXPR at 362-6000 to register or for more info.

On Wednesday, Feb 13 the Northwoods Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club will sponsor a Tabletop Exposition. The club is inviting inventors to talk about and display their inventions, as well as invite the public to come and ask questions and get advice about ideas they may have. Register ASAP by calling the University Extension office at 365-2750.

Thursday is Valentine's Day! Send a special Singing Valentine greeting performed by our local Barbershop quartet this Valentine's day. What a perfect way to show you care to your office, or a special teacher or friend. Contact the Barbershoppers for price information at 362-7600. Proceeds are used for local music scholarships.

Need more Valentine ideas for the special people in your life? Jewelry, flowers, cards and chocolates are traditional favorites you can find all over our area. I like the unexpected, like “Car Wash Coupons”, movie tickets, or“ I'll Cook Dinner Tonight” certificates. [David, Max, Arianna, are you reading this article?] Make no mistake though; the other things are all quite welcome by all, I'm sure! For the kids, how about a “No Chores for a Week” coupon, or a certificate to “Stay Up Until Midnight” (for the weekend of course), or a “Just You and Me Date” certificate to do whatever you like.

Start making plans now to celebrate with your special someone next weekend. You know, the person who cooks you dinner, cares for you when you don’t feel good, and who loves you as much as your own mother. Make dinner reservations now at one of our wonderful Northwoods restaurants. Might I suggest an extra-special evening for you? Tickets are available for the Annual Sweetheart Dinner and Dance to be held next Saturday (Feb. 16) at the Holiday Acres Resort. The new Chef at Holiday Acres will be preparing an exquisite dinner along with a variety of homemade cheesecakes for dessert. Jeremy Fadoul with Jamz DJ will be providing fun dancing music. Many local businesses have donated great prizes, and there will be a special drawing for complimentary Midwest Airline tickets for two to anywhere (continental US)! The event is a fund-raiser for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, a special program to provide financial assistance to qualifying area youth, families and seniors so that anyone can have equal access to the YMCA. Tickets are $40 each (half of the proceeds or more going directly to the Strong Kids Campaign) and are available at the YMCA Front desk. Call 362-9622 today and reserve a spot for you and all of your friends!

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