This & That
Planetarium show — 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 15: “Constellations Tonight,” live sky interactive program teaches constellations, bright stars, planet positions; stories from various cultures, each guest receives star map. Doors open 4:30 p.m., $3 adults, $2 children 12 and under. Horizons Unlimited Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium, 1636 Parkview Circle, 704-639-3004.
“Thomas & Friends Live Onstage” — Jan. 22-23, Thomas the Tank Engine and friends at Bojangles Colisuem, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., tickets begin at $17, www.tickmaster.com, www.bojanglescoliseum.com.
Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department father/daughter Valentine dance — 6-9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, daughters (ages 4-13) $6, fathers $8; only 300 advance tickets sold. Salisbury Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., 704-638-5275.
“Plato Not Prozac” — 4-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26 and 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27: Dr. Jim Spiceland leads discussion of “Plato Not Prozac” by Lou Marinoff. Purchase books at Literary Book Post, 110 S. Main St., discussions held at Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W. Harrison St. (lower level Haven Lutheran Church), no cost to attend, pre-registration requested, 704-647-0999, faithart@bellsouth.net.
Music & more
Folk/American Triple Feature: Jim Avett, Sue McHugh, Johnson’s Crossroad — Jan. 14, doors open 7:30 p.m. Looking Glass Artist Collective black box theater, 405 N. Lee St. $7 cover. Concessions available. www.johnsonscrossroad.com.
Charlotte Folk Society — 7:30 p.m., Jan. 14: The Snyder Family Band. Free, family-friendly.Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., uptown Charlotte. www.folksociety. org.
Metropolitan Opera auditions open to public — 10:30 a.m., Jan. 15, regional applicants with prepared operatic arias compete to go to NYC National Finals. $3 donation suggested, Dana Auditorium, Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-845-4624, lesliepaliy@windstream. net.
Monthly Bluegrass concert and jam — 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, featuring Wood & Steel, free, $5 donation suggested. Also bring instrument for jam sessions 3-6 p.m., guitar/mandolin workshops 3:30-4:30 (fee charged). Greensboro Cultural Center, Band Rehearsal Hall, bottom floor, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro.
Festivals
Salisbury Rowan Human Relations Council presents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday events — 7:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Jan. 17: breakfast at J.F. Hurley YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd W., followed by parade, then family activities at Civic Center, 315 MLK Jr. Ave. S., music by Mac Arnold and the Plate Full O’ Blues Band, hands-on musical demonstrations for youths. Rowan-Salisbury Human Relations Council 704-638-5217, 704-638-2168.
Harvey B. Gantt Center Charlotte presents MLK Jr. Day multicultural activities — 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Jan. 17: a day of activitiesincluding children and adult films, music workshop led by Yewande Austin, two-hour drop-in crafts workshop entitled “Bookmarks, Buttons and Protest Signs” and lecture/concert “Bridging The Gap–Rhythms, Rhymes and Race In America.” Free. Wells Fargo Auditorium at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, 704-370-1181. www. ganttcenter.org.
Fundraisers
“A Night of Jazz and Swing” — 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, tickets $15. Featuring the Brubakers, Salisbury Swing Band, Lonnie Carpenter. Proceeds benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., 704-798-2821, Lonniec923@yahoo.com.
“Off Your Rocker” rock-a-thon — 8:30 a.m. opening ceremony, Saturday, Feb. 12: Cabarrus County Senior Center fundraiser, sponsor a rocking chair or enter a Rock-A-Teer team. 12-hour event, silent auction, live auction, car show, dinner dance featuring the Fantastic Shakers. General admission (no dinner dance) $7 adults, $4 children 5-12, free children younger than 5. Dinner dance and all events $30 individual, $50 couple. Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 704-920-3484.
Night life
Brick Street Tavern, 122 E. Fisher St. — 10 p.m., Jan. 14: Elemental, no cover. Tuesdays: open mic, performers of all types welcome, sign up as you arrive; 8 p.m. Wednesdays: team trivia; 9:30 p.m. Thursdays: plugged open mic night. www.thebrickstreettavern. com, 704-637-6047.
Chicken and Oyster Shack, 1205 N. Salisbury Ave., Spencer — Bike Night every Wednesday and karaoke every Saturday Night, 704-431-4444.
Cripple Creek, 17665 Stokes Ferry Road, New London— Fridays, deejay 9 p.m-2 a.m. Open Saturdays 8 p.m.-2 a.m. 704-279-4250.
High Rock Boat & Ski Club, 257 Boat Club Lane — Jan. 14: Deejay Chad Sain; Jan. 15: Too Much Sylvia, $10 cover. Sunday afternoons: shagging. Memberships available. open Wed.-Sat. www.theboatandskiclub.com. 704-633-0251.
Rick’s BBQ and Grill, 929 S. Main St. — Tonight, Jan. 13: Carol Tysinger, aka “Smiley.”Karaoke every Friday and Saturday. 704-642-0050.
The Blue Vine, 209 S. Main St. — 9:30-midnight, Jan. 14: Celtic music with Trip Rogers and Tom Eure, the Thistledown Tinkers; 9 p.m.-11:30 p.m., Jan. 15: blues/soul/ groove with lley Soul. No cover either night. www.theblue vine. com. 704-797-0093.
The Inn, 1012 Mooresville Hwy 150 — Jan. 15: Conviction Notice and Undignified. 7 p.m.-midnight Saturdays. Free refreshments, air hockey, foosball, pool. Public invited to jam or schedule their group to perform. 704-213-1467. www.inntheloop.
E.H. Montgomery General Store — 6-8 p.m. Fridays: bluegrass jams. Historic Village of Gold Hill. www.HistoricGoldHill.com. 704-279-5674, 704-267-9439.
Old Stone Vino, 515 S. Main St., Kannapolis — 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays: guitarist, singer, songwriter Marty DeJarnette. Fridays, Saturdays: various artists. 704-938-2337.
The Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. — 9 p.m., Jan. 19: Wahnderlust, $5 in advance, www.doubledoorinn.com.
The Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte — Jan. 20: JJ Grey and Mofro, doors 8 p.m./music 9 p.m., $20 advance, www.visulite.com, 704-372-1000.
Classes
Piedmont Players’ Youth Audition Workshops — 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Jan. 22: How to Audition for a Play: 6th-8th graders. $40, bring a lunch. 704-633-5471 to sign up, spaces limited. Norvell Theater, 135 E. Fisher St.
Clogging classes — Thursdays, Jan. 20-Feb 24, beginners 7 p.m., continuing dancers 8 p.m. Steps, lines, circles taught to bluegrass and country western. $72, no partner required. Call 704-892-9978 or register in class. Mooresville ARP Church, 659 Carpenter Ave., Mooresville.
Homeschool art classes — Randolph Arts Guild offers • Elementary art class, ages 7-11, 4-6 p.m. first and second Thursdays Feb. 3-May, all materials provided, $30 for two classes/month, register by Jan. 20. • Middle school class, ages 11-15, 4-6 p.m. third and fourth Thursdays Feb. 17-May, all materials provided, $30 for two classes/month, register by Feb. 3. Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, 336-629-0399, www.randolphartsguild.com.
Theater
Piedmont Players’ “The Three Musketeers” — Jan. 27-30, Feb. 2-5, Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St. 704-633-5471, www.piedmontplayers.com
Old Courthouse Theatre’s Living Room Reading Series “Mrs. Murphy’s Porch” — 4 p.m., Jan. 23, free admission, 704-788-2405, OCT main stage, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org.
Davidson Community Players Youth Theater’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” — Jan. 21-23, all tickets $7, Cunningham Fine Arts Center at Davidson College, 704-892-7953, www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.
“Billy Elliot the Musical” at Ovens — Through Jan. 30, tickets begin at $32, Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, ww.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.
Queen City Theatre Company “Southern Baptist Sissies” — Jan. 20-Feb. 5. Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St., Charlotte. Tickets begin at $16, 704-372-1000 or www.carolinatix.org.
Old Courthouse Theatre’s “Divorce Southern Style” — 8 p.m., Feb. 3-5, 11-12, 18-19; 2:30 p.m., Feb. 6, 13, 20, tickets $15/$12/$10, 49 Spring St,. SW, Concord, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org. 704-788-2405.
“Blue” at Burning Coal Theatre, Raleigh — Jan. 13-30, “dramedy about relationships, tickets $20, Murphey School, 224 Polk St., Raleigh, 919-834-4001, www.burningcoal.com.
Singles
Piedmont Singles — Jan. 14: Lisa Pence, Guardian at Litem. Fridays 7:15 p.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1908 Statesville Blvd. No joining fee, donations appreciated. Covered dish. Contact Frances Ward 704-637-3241.
Zodiac Club — Jan 14: Goodman band. Second and fourth Fridays, alternate fifth Fridays. Doors open 7 p.m., food served 8 p.m., live band starts 8:30 p.m. Open to mature singles over 40. $10 members, $12 guests. Dress code-upscale casual. Smoke-free. Married couple may attend with spouses only. American Legion Post 380, 4235 West Tyvola Rd. 704-752-8824, taylorbt@msn. com, www.charlottezodiacdanceclub.com.
Film
Free film at Old Courthouse Theatre — 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20, animated film “Sita Sings the Blues,” Thursday, Jan. 20, Davis Theatre, 65 Union Street S., downtown Concord.Not rated by Motion Picture Association of America,Cabarrus Arts Council encourages viewers to research the film at www.sitasingstheblues. com to determine whether it is appropriate for their family. 704-920-2787, www. CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.
Auditions
Old Courthouse Theatre auditions “Honk” — Feb 7: Children 6:30 p.m., no need to prepare a song, children will be taught a song from the show to perform for the audition, also cold reading from script. Adults: 7:30 -9 p.m., prepare Broadway style song which shows range, also cold reading from script. Feb 8: All, 7-9 p.m. 49 Spring St. SW, Concord. www.oldcourthousetheatre. org.
Call for musicians
Piedmont Prime Time Community Band open enrollment — through Feb. 3 for new members for spring season beginning Jan. 6. Rehearsals Thursdays 7 p.m., Blackwelder Park Baptist Church, 2299 N. Main St., Kannapolis. Instruments needed: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, percussion. Other requirements: ability to read music, attend rehearsals. 704-425-3508, 704-932-9438.
Call for artists
Art about women — Hickory Full Circle Arts’ juried art exhibition open to all visual artists over 16. For prospectus, info@fullcirclearts.org or SASE to Full Circle Arts P.O. Box 3905 Hickory NC 28603. Registration $35, up to three pieces of artwork per artist, prize monies for first, second, third. Intake: Jan. 20-22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Full Circle Arts, 266 First Ave. NW. Opening reception 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 3. Show on display through March 5.
North Carolina Symphony design contest — to find new family-friendly mascot for NCS Kids Events. Submit entries by Feb. 18 to bjohnson@ncsymphony.org on or before Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Contest rules and eligibility at www.ncsymphony.org/mascot.
Bluegrass musicians — Bluegrass jam open to all Saturdays at Dixie’s Roasting Co., 102 S. Main St., China Grove. 704-857-9169.
Home and garden
The Kneeling Gardeners — 7 p.m., Jan. 24, Trinity United Methodist Church, Kannapolis. Local authors and Master Gardeners Joyce and Jim Lavene speakon their use of native plants in their writing. Open to anyone interested in gardening, 704-933-1127.
Art
Waterworks Artists EXPO 2011 — April 7-9, three-day juried art show to promote and encourage relationships between artists and collectors, enhance the presence of art in our community, and enrich the community’s experience in the arts. www.waterworks.org, 704-636-1882.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 123 E. Liberty St. — Featuring acrylic paintings, pastels by Walter Stanford, textile art/embroidery by Elizabeth Leal, acrylic paintings by Cindy Taplin, terra cotta, red earthenware clay by Beth Tarkington, fused glass sculpture by Syed Ahmad, acrylic paintings by C.J. Calvin, wood turnings by Barry Russell, ceramics by Jenny Lou Sherburne, oil paintings by Jane Woodward. Stanback Sensory Garden: Sculptures by Don Green. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday/ Thursdays until 7 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Guided tours for groups call 704-636-1882. Admission free, donations appreciated. www.waterworks. org.
Rail Walk Studios and Gallery, 409 N. Lee St. — Group Show featuring Rail Walk studio artists. New winter hours: Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 704-431-8964. www.railwalkgallery. com. Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte — Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Admission $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $5 ages 6 to 17, free for members and children 5 and younger. Free on Tuesdays 5-9 p.m. 704-337-2000. www.mintmuseum.org.
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem — Reynolda House is closed to the public in January and will re-open Feb. 1. Premier American art museum with masterpieces by Mary Cassatt, Frederic Church, Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, Gilbert Stuart among its permanent collection; house, gardens and village feature public garden, dining, shopping,walking trails. 336-758-5150, reynoldahouse. org.
Trips
Cape Fear 14th annual model railroad show and sale — Jan. 29-30, 702 Pine Grove Drive, Wilmington. N scale, Lionel, G scale and HO scale modular layouts, free clinics, door prizes, raffles. $5 adults, $3 children 6-12. 910-270-2696 or www.CapeFearModelRailroadSociety.org.
Parks
Dan Nicholas Park, 6800 Bringle Ferry Rd. — 704-216-7800. www.dannicholas.net.
Ellis Park, 3541 Old Mocksville Road — 704-216-7783.
Sloan Park, 550 Sloan Road, Mt. Ulla — Just off NC Hwy 150 approximately 10 miles west of Salisbury.Features Kerr Mill, an 1823 grist mill.
Gold Hill Mines Historic Park 735 St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill — Historic tours available by appointment. Information about tours: 704-267-9439; rentals: 704-279-5777. www.HistoricGoldHill.com.
Gold Hill Rail Trail — Hiking, biking trail begins at NW entrance to Gold Hill Mines Historic Park at Miner’s Field, continues into Cabarrus County. 704-267-9439.
Dunn’s Mountain Nature and History Preserve, 1640 Dunn’s Mtn. Road — Trail walks, overlooks, see 120 miles in most directions, blacksmith shop display, Saturday-Sunday shuttle service, 704-216-7803.
Museums
N.C. Transportation Museum, Spencer — 1 p.m., Jan. 29: “The Wreck of the Old 97,” historian Larry Aaron tells of the Wreck of the Old 97, piecing together the events that led the locomotive to plummet off a forty-five foot trestle into the ravine below, Bob Julian Roundhouse, bBook signing follows.Museum open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Train rides Saturday 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $6 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 and seniors ages 60 and up. Roundhouse Turntable rides at $1. Group rates available with advance notice. 704-636-2889 or 877-NCTMFUN. www.nctrans.org.
Rowan Museum, 202 N. Main St. — “Local Architecture, Our Downhome Style,” also “Cooking by the Book.” Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Contributions accepted. 704-633-5946. www.rowanmuseum.org.
Utzman-Chambers House, 116 S. Jackson St. — Open 1-4 p.m. Saturday. $3 adults, $1.50 students, museum members free. 704-633-5946.
Dr. Josephus Hall House, 226 S. Jackson St. — 1820 house museum features furniture and decoratives from Hall family and others. Costumed docents provide tours. $3 adults, $1.50 students, free to members of Historic Salisbury Foundation. For group tours, call HSF office, 704-636-0103.
Old Stone House, Granite Quarry —Open 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $3 adults, $1.50 students, museum members free. 704-633-5946.
Historic Rockwell Museum, 102 E. Main St. — For special tours call 704-279-4979. Museum open Sundays 2-4 p.m. and by appointment. For information call Ann Teague: 704-279-5783.
Price of Freedom Museum, Old Patterson School building, China Grove — Sundays 3-5 and by appointment. American war memorial dedicated to men and women of the armed services. Intersection of Weaver, Patterson Roads. www.priceoffreedom.us, 704-857-7474.
China Grove Roller Mill Museum —Guided tours 2-4 p.m. second Sunday of each month. Museum is operated by Historical Society of South Rowan. For special tours call 704-433-3912. www.hist-society-srowan.com.
Historic Gold Hill,NC/Gold Hill Mines Historic Park — 19th century living history interpretations and educational tours weekends April-October and weekdays by appointment. Interpretative displays reflect life in the 1800s gold mining boom town. Village merchants and interpreters dressed in period costume weekends. Free admission. 704-279-5674, 704-267-9439. www.HistoricGoldHill. com.
Historic Latta Plantation,  Sample Road, Huntersville – 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 22: Open hearth cooking workshop, learn the basics of open-hearth cooking and work with period recipes. Participants will prepare a meal over the fire and enjoy it together. Pre-registration is required, $30 per person. Contact Blair Elder at 704-875-2312 or belder@lattaplantation.org.10 a.m.-4 p.m., $7 per person, ages 5 and under free. www.lattaplantation. org. 704-875-2312.
Historic Rosedale Plantation, 3427 N. Tryon St., Charlotte — Civil War National Register Federal house circa 1815, excellent example backcountry NC federal period architecture. Originally part of 911-acre plantation. $5 adults, $4 students and seniors. Groups of 10 or more $4 per. Guided tours 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. 704-335-0325. www.historicrose dale.
Discovery Place, Charlotte — “The Alps,”a man’s mountain expedition to climb the storied North Face of the Eiger, at IMAX Dome Theatre. “World Alive” and “Fantastic Frogs.” Museum hours: 9 a.m-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 704-372-6261 or www.discoveryplace.org.
Discovery Place KIDS: Huntersville — Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m., Sunday, closed Monday. Admission $8 for adults and children age one and older, children younger than age one and Members are free. Discounts available for groups of 15 or more. 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville. discoveryplaceKIDS. org, 704-372-6261.
NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh — Special exhibition “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell,” on view through Jan. 30, 2011. Featuring 40 original works of art and a complete set of 323 Saturday Evening Post covers. General admission $15, students, seniors, military, groups of 10 or more $12. Children 7-12 $7.50, children six and under free. www.ncartmuseum.org/rockwell.
NC Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh — “Discover the Real George Washington,” 100+ original objects associated with Washington, including the only surviving complete set of his famous dentures, through Jan. 21. 919-807-7900 or ncmuseumofhistory.org.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh — Museum admission is free. 919-733-7450. www.naturalsciences.org.