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Night Howl
By Karen Reardanz

Take a Bow Wow: Wishbone, the literature-loving Jack Russell terrier, does his finest Ichabod Crane impression when he acts out Washington Irving's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' on PBS. This Art Is Cookin': Atelier Gallery expands its horizons into the eccentric world of food and performance art, and a new dog learns old tricks AS SC'S ART POPULATION GAINS STRONGER LEGS to stand on, the need for accessible venues grows. As of now, we have What Is Art? and the SC Dance Gallery--two spots that cater to different groups of arties cut from the same canvas--but they are the only ones providing reasonably consistent stages for local acts. Downtown's Atelier Gallery has its sights set on getting in on the act, but it's going to take some blood, sweat and tears to make the space conducive to performers, as well as to the town's painters and sculptors who already call the spot home. Still, owner John Teply aims to spiff up the place by adding a stage and lights and breaking through red tape for those pesky city permits. All this handiwork feeds on cold hard cash, so Teply's organizing a benefit dinner this weekend. He and cohort Steve Chang don chef hats, create a gourmet dinner and lasso a group of performing talent to entertain while the crowd dines. Gabrielle performs her Earth Dance, Michael Gruber offers an eclectic mix on cultural instruments and Aedan MacDomhnaill works magic on the harp. The dinner takes shape on Friday and Saturday (8pm), and a lunch version cooks on Sunday (noon). Tickets cost $15 per person, and you must make reservations early--you can't get in without 'em. Atelier is located at 320 Cedar St., SC. Call 429-9005 for more info. This 'Sleepy' Dog Don't Lie Children's television has come a long way from the days of Saturday morning cartoons. PBS, always on the forefront of using the tube as a means to educate young minds, ushers in the new TV season with one of its finest outings, Wishbone, a cult favorite with kiddies and parental types alike. Wishbone's a scrappy, lit-loving Jack Russell terrier who, with his imaginary powers, transports himself--and glued-to-the-set youngsters--into the intellectual world of literary classics. The little canine with a big imagination gets into character, flexes his fantasy muscles and sinks his canines into live-action reenactments of classic books, all in the hopes of getting the young 'uns to read. The doggie, his 12-year-old owner and two neighborhood kids act out--in full period garb, no less--scenes from the highbrow world. Imagine Wishbone hovering in the scaffolding as the hunchbacked Quasimodo in the episode The Hunchdog of Notre Dame. Or riding bareback through Sleepy Hollow as the haunted Ichabod Crane in the Halloween special The Legend of the Creepy Collars. Or perhaps as a furry Pip in Groomed for Greatness, Wishbone's fantastic voyage into the world of Dickens' Great Expectations. Wishbone may not be local, and he may not have mastered the fine art of the open mic or spoken word performance art, but the little pup has plenty of talent. This kiddie venture is not simply for the little tykes. There's probably not a-one of us in town who couldn't use a little brush-up on that required reading that sits on the bookshelves. FutureThink UC Santa Cruz Presents kicks off its new season on Oct. 11 with Ruby Nelda Perez's Doña Rosita's Jalapeño Kitchen. ... Dr. Schaffer and Mr. Stern Dance Ensemble celebrate 10 years of dance on Oct. 12 at the Mello Center. [ Metro Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]