Comedy
Lee Street Theatre’s “A Night of Improv” tonight — 7:30 p.m., Nov. 3-5: Three evenings of “A Night of Improv Comedy” starring Now Are The Foxes!; Every show is different,Thursday is all-ages G-rated night; Friday and Saturday may contain adult language and content. Doors open 6:45 p.m., admission $10, student ID $5, drinks available. Black Box at the Looking Glass Artists Collective, 405 N. Lee St., leestreettheatre@gmail.com
Music & more
FirstARTS series Musique Heroique: Music for Trumpet and Organ — 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11: Anita Cirba, principal trumpet in Winston-Salem and Greensboro Symphony Orchestras and Matthew Michael Brown, organist. First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St., 704-636-3121, ext. 104. Free.
Piedmont Choral Society’s Old Fashioned Hymn Sing — 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13: Traditional, beloved older hymns and anthems, congregational singing, solos, small groups. Bring canned goods for Cooperative Christian Ministry. Free, offering will be taken. Forest Hill United Methodist Church, 265 Union St. N., Concord. Community input requested: If you have a favorite hymn you would like to be considered for this program, contact 788-2000, or kayy2000@gmail.com
Weekly spoken word poetry and live jazz — 8 p.m.-until, every Friday: live jazz with the house band, spoken word poetry featuring house poet Toni Brown. A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’ 117 West Innes St., 704-245-6461, www.alittlesumthinsumthin.com
Festivals
Carolina Renaissance Festival — 10 a.m.-dusk, rain or shine, Through Nov. 20. Music, dance, comedy, circus entertainments. Hwy 73 at Poplar Tent Road, between Concord and Huntersville. Advance tickets $19 adults, $9 ages 5-12, available at Harris Teeter. Tickets purchased at gate are $1 more, or print your own online at RenFestInfo.com, 704-896-5544.
11th annual Lighting Of The Fall Fires at Gold Hill — 5:30-9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21, $15 per person, limited number of advance tickets available now at village or 704 960-6457, 704 724-4998 or goldhillpreservationsociety@gmail.com
Theater
Catawba College presents ‘Side by Side by Sondheim’— Nov. 8-9 at 6:55 p.m. and Nov. 10-12 at 7:30 p.m: Tribute to composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Hedrick Theatre. $12 adults, $10 non-Catawba students and senior citizens. 704-637-4481 or showtix4u.com.
Lexington Youth Theatre presents ‘Annie’ — Nov. 11-13, Edward C. Smith Civic Center, 217 South Main St., downtown Lexington. $8 presale, $10 at the door plus a can of food, www.lexingtonyouththeatreinc.com
Old Courthouse Theatre presents ‘Paying Tribute’ — 8 p.m., Nov. 11-12;, 2:30 p.m., Nov. 13: A theatrical and musical celebration about and for our heroes, our veterans, told from the remembrances of those men and women. Adults $10, Veterans and children, $5. 49 Spring Street NW, 704 788-2405, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org
Davidson College presents Lillian Hellman’s ‘The Little Foxes’ — 7:30 p.m., Nov. 16-20 with a 2 p.m.Sunday matinee. Barber Theatre, Cunningham Theatre Center; General admission $8, recommended for ages 12 and up. 704-894-2135, www.davidson.edu/tickets
Old Courthouse Theatre’s Living Room Reading Series presents ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’— 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20: Free, 704-788-2405, 49 Spring Street NW, Concord, 704-788-2405, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org
Hot Flash PlayersPerforming Arts Company presents ‘On Golden Pond’ — 6:30 p.m., Nov. 3-5 and 10-12, also 12:30 p.m. matinee Sunday, Nov. 6. Presented as dinner theater at Tricia’s Catering, 408 Piedmont Drive, Lexington. Tickets $25 for dinner and play, 336-236-8007.
This & That
Big Band Dance at J.F. Hurley Family YMCA — 7-10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5: Big Band Dance featuring The Hi-Liters, $5 entry fee, bring a snack to share. 828 W Jake Alexander Blvd., 704-636-0111.
Last weekend for Amazing Maize Maze, Huntersville — Ages 13+ $10, youth ages 5-12 $7. Children 4 and under free. www.ruralhill.net/ AmazingMaizeMaze.asp
Art gallery and paranormal tours — Highland Avenue Art Gallery and More. Art gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, noon -6 p.m. Paranormal tours Monday-Saturday 8:30-10 p.m., reservations required. 1031 Highland Ave., 704-636-8134 to schedule tour. Accepting memberships. www.myparanormalhouse.com
The Great Books Discussion Group — 5:30 p.m., Nov. 8: Discussing Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Concord Library auditorium. Register at 704-920-2054, 27 Union St., N., Concord, jseury@cabarruscounty.us
42nd annual Craft Village — Nov. 10-12: Juried crafters exhibit and sell quality hand-made crafts, local artist Dempsey Essick introduces latest prints. B.C. Brock Gymnasium, N. Main St., Mocksville.
Night Life
Benchwarmers. 113 E. Fisher St. — 7-10 p.m. every Friday: Handful of Dave. 704-639-0604.
DJ’s, 1502 W. Innes St., — Live music Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays starting at 8:30 p.m. 704-638-9647.
Fat Jack’s, 120 Military Ave., — 8 p.m. until, every Friday and Saturday night: karaoke with Mark Tomei. 704-638-8996.
High Rock Boat & Ski Club, 257 Boat Club Lane — Saturday, Nov. 4: Deejay Steve Carter; Wednesday,Nov. 9: Deejay Fast Freddie. 704-633-0251, www.theboatandskiclub.com
Rick’s BBQ and Grill, 929 S. Main St. — 7-9 p.m. tonight, Nov. 3: Karaoke by Romey Carlton. Donations given to Rowan Helping Ministries. Bike Night 6-9 p.m. every Monday; Cruise-in 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday; karaoke 7-close every Friday-Saturday. 704-642-0050.
The Shack, 1205 N. Salisbury Ave., Spencer — 7-p.m., Thursdays: karaoke. 704-637-0500.
The Blue Vine, 209 S. Main St. — 9 p.m.- 11:30, Friday, Nov. 4: An evening with Michael Reno Harrell, no cover • 9 p.m.-11:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5: soul/blues/funk with Pfeiffer music student Brent Lawrence, no cover. 704-797-0093, www.thebluevine.com
The Inn, 1012 Mooresville Hwy 150 — Saturday, Nov. 5: Seventh Vessel and All of A Kind. Open 7 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, free refreshments, air hockey, foosball, pool, wi-fi. Public invited to jam or schedule their group to perform. 704-213-1467. www.inntheloop.
Classes
‘What to do with a grocery store bouquet’ design club series — 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov, 19: Bring your own bouquet. $10, Cute vased arrangement with peppermint theme. Reserve a spot, space is limited. Carolina Lily, 1375 Kern Carlton Road, 704-639-0033. www.carolinalily. com
Free design demonstrations — Saturday, Nov. 5. 10:30 a.m.: Bow tying (you tie your own bow!) and ribbon drops demo • Noon: Winter bliss demo. Piedmont Floral Galleries, 280 Furniture Drive, 704-636-7739. www.piedmontfloralgalleries.com
Bring-your-own-vase floral design — 2-3 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Designing fresh cut flowers, $5 per class plus cost of flowers, call for reservations; instructor David Harrison, Harrison’s Florist, 1012 Holmes Ave. off Grove St. near RRMC, 704-636-4251.

Ladies Night Out! Women and Wine Series — 6:30–9 p.m., Nov.  15: relaxed, no-stress classes, learn the basics of watercolor/pastel painting, go home with your own “masterpiece.” Art materials and wine provided.  “Pastels and Hearty, Spicy Reds.” Phyllis Steimel instructs. Tuition $50 per session,  (members $35. Register at 704-636-1882. Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 123 E. Liberty St., www.waterworks.org
Draw or Paint the Figure — Work from a live model each Wednesday 1-4 p.m., $5/hr, no instruction. Rail Walk Studio & Gallery, 409 N Lee St. Contact Rachel Lee, hare369@live.com
Classical Method of Oils Painting with Patt — Beginner or intermediate ongoing classes Tuesdays 1-3 p.m. at the studio of Patt Legg. One-on-one teaching methods of the Old Masters. $40 per 2 hour session, pay as you go. 704-232-6000, www.PattLeggFineArtStudio.com
Creative painting workshops — 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., ongoing series, beginning to intermediate, traditional oil painting. $200 for eight sessions; ask about scholarships and sliding scales. Registration/materials 704-245-6456. Instructor James E. Taylor, Contemporary Realism Studio, 211 S. Main St.
Watercolor classes at LGAC — Instructor Cathy Benfield Matthews, no experience needed; Mondays 1-3 p.m. or 5:30-7:30 p.m., or Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon, $35 each 2 hour session or $180 for 6, materials provided except brushes; reserve space at salisburyartists@gmail.com . Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St., 704-633-ARTS
Singles
Piedmont Singles — 7:15 p.m., Nov. 4: Group discussion. Covered dish. 1908 Statesville Blvd, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, no joining fee, donations appreciated, covered dish. Frances Ward 704-637-3241.
Highlighters Dance Club — First and third Fridays, doors open 7 p.m., dancing 8-11 p.m., free line dance class 7:15 p.m. Singles 40 and over. $10 members; $12 guests. Join for $20 and get in free the first night of joining. Non-smoking, dressy casual. Bring your own snacks. American Legion Post 380, 4235 W. Tyvola Road, Charlotte, 704-536-5561.
Singles dance, Oriental Shrine Club — 8 p.m.-midnight, first Friday, Nov. 4. Oriental Shrine Club, 5010 High Point Rd., Greensboro. $10 at door. Business casual attire. Deejay Fast Freddie Thompson, 704-636-8348.
Film
Free screening of ‘Galsand’ tonight — 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3: Gasland the Movie is an award winning environmental documentary film about natural gas fracking at Kannapolis Rotary Hall, 211 West St., Kannapolis, www.TheOptimisticFuturist.org
Free screening of ‘Race To Nowhere’ — 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, Salisbury AcademyJaguar Gym. Viewing is free but tickets are limited, register at www.salisburyacademy.org
Auditions
Old Courthouse Theatre ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ auditions — 7-8 p.m. registration, Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 5–6. Performance dates Feb. 9-26. 49 Spring St. SW, Concord. 704-788-2405, www.oldcourthousetheatre.org
Call for talent
Veterans’ Choice talent show — Now taking applications for youth and adult acts in the following categories: voice, instrumental, dance, drama and other. Acts should be no more than three minutes in length. Applications must be received by Nov. 9. Contact 704-638-9000 ext3575 or ext4160 or ext4167. Sponsored by W.G. (Bill) Hefner VAMC Recreational Therapy and Community Living Center. Show date 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, building 6 – social room.
‘Soulful’ singers caroling group — Seeking singers to perform holiday songs in front of the A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’ on Holiday Nite Out (Nov. 25) and at nursing homes, senior centers, etc. throughout the season, Nov. 25-Dec 23. No special talent required. Send email to alittlesumthinsumthin@gmail.com, subject Soulful Caroler, indicating interest and your gift, song or instrument. Weekly rehearsals. Director needed as well.
Call for artists
Call for fiber artists — Green Goat Gallery and TranqWool Knitting Provisions are accepting original work, up to two pieces per artist, for Fiber Art show on Jan. 21. $5 per entry. Pieces will be available for sale during show. Entries accepted through Jan. 14. Green Goat Gallery 704-639-0606 or TranqWool Knitting Provisions 704-431-4527.
Speakers and forumsThe Event Center presents Paula White — 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5: Author, teacher, mother, mentor, TV personality; her international television program “Paula Today,” seen in 200+ countries, listed as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Christians in America by The Church Report (2006). Free. The Event Center, 315 Webb Road, 704-855-1218, www.theeventcenter.net
“A Look at the Cannon Family” — 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10: Historian Gary Freeze of Catawba College on the history of the Cannon family, their business and cultural legacies and their contributions to the community. Free, open to the public. Sponsored by Cabarrus County Public Library, 704-920-2054.
Home and garden
Garden Club discussion group — 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12: “Gardening for a Lifetime,” tips to make gardening easier using book by the same name as discussion point; free seminar, RSVP to reserve spot. Carolina Lily, 1375 Kern Carlton Road, 704 639-0033, www.carolinalily.com
Art
Pottery 101 at 101 S. Main St. opening reception — 6-9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4: “Mark of the Fire: Wood and Soda Fired Potter” by William Baker and Joy Tanner, free, with music by Jack Burgess and Annie Griffey. Exhibit on display until Dec. 16. Gallery hours 10 a.m-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday. 704-209-1632.
RCCC student exhibit reception tomorrow — 6-8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4 at Rail Walk Galleries, free. Exhibit Nov. 4-19, include new artworks by RCCC students enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts degree and other academic and technical programs. Most artwork will be for sale, all proceeds go directly to the student. Rail Walk Gallery, 409-413 North Lee St., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cauble Creek 2011 Artist Invitational — Nov. 4-20, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays 1-6 p.m.; Reception Sunday, Nov. 6, 3-6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds during the final week will go The Landtrust of Central North Carolina. Cauble Creek Vineyard, 700 Cauble Farm Road, 704-633-1137, www.caublecreekvineyard.com
Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 123 E. Liberty St. — • Art for the Soul exhibition by residents of Abundant Living Adult Day Services: photography, collages, sculptures, paintings. Through Nov. 12 • “Imprints” features three exhibitions through Nov. 19: “Through a Soldier’s Eyes: Remembering Vietnam,” Vietnam veteran Thomas L. Floyd’s lithographs and paintings in his work “Principles and Reality,” woodblock prints from Mona Wu • Free admission, donations appreciated. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday 10 a.m-7 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 704-636-1882, www.waterworks.org
Fourth annual Art and Fine Craft Holiday Show at LGAC — 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. and Sun., Nov. 12 and 13: All items sold are the works of the artist renting the space including woodworkers, photographers, jewelry designers, potters, painters, cutwork paper artist, sculptors. Santa will be on premises and available for photos. Professional photographer David Lamanno will be taking Santa Photos Sunday, Nov. 13. Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St., 704-633-ARTS, www.salisburyartists.com
Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte — Celebrating Queen Charlotte’s Coronation. 704-337-2000. www.mintmuseum.org
Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon St., Charlotte — Sheila Hicks: Fifty Years. 704-337-2000. www.mintmuseum.org
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem — Modern Masters through Dec. 31. 336-758-5150, reynoldahouse. org
Trips
Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte — Nov. 11, $25 includes ticket and transportation, depart 9 a.m. from J. F. Hurley Family YMCA, 828 W. Jake Alexander Blvd. 704 -636-0111, Barbara Franklin.
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 — Off NC Hwy 150 approximately 10 miles west of Salisbury.
Gold Hill Mines Historic Park 735 St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill — With Rail Trail, 704-267-9439, www.HistoricGoldHill.com
Dunn’s Mountain Nature and History Preserve, 1640 Dunn’s Mtn. Road — 704-216-7803.
Museums
N.C. Transportation Museum, 411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer — Drive an antique steam locomotive. “At the Throttle” Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec. 3, 10, and 17, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sessions $150, Museum members receive a discount. Schedule rides at 704-636-2889 ext. 237 or email sara.gettys@nctrans.org. Gift certificates available.704-636-2889, 877-NCTMFUN, www.nctrans.org
Rowan Museum, 202 N. Main St. — 704-633-5946. www.rowanmuseum.org
Utzman-Chambers House, 116 S. Jackson St. — 704-633-5946.
Dr. Josephus Hall House, 226 S. Jackson St. — 704-636-0103.
Old Stone House, Granite Quarry —704-633-5946.
Historic Rockwell Museum, 102 E. Main St. — 704-279-5783.
Price of Freedom Museum, Old Patterson School building, China Grove — 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12: Veteran’s Day event, “Pearl Harbor Memories,” military ceremony led by Corriher Lipe Middle School Chorus, Mrs. Wooten, director. Military vehicles, military weapons and war-related memorabilia, everything free but food and drinks. Joint event by Price of Freedom Museum and A Company of the CMVPA. Weaver and Patterson Roads, 704-857-7474, www.priceoffreedom.us
China Grove Roller Mill Museum — 704-433-3912. www.hist-society-srowan.com
NC Music Hall of Fame Museum, 109 West A Street, Kannapolis — 704-934-2320, www.NorthCarolinaMusicHallofFame.org
Reed Gold Mine historic site, 12 miles southeast of Concord — 704-721-4653, reed@ncdcr. gov
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, 438 Fort Dobbs Road, Statesville — 704-873-5882, www.fortdobbs. org
Historic Latta Plantation, Sample Road, Huntersville — 704-875-2312, www.lattaplantation.org
Historic Rosedale Plantation, 3427 N. Tryon St., Charlotte — www.historicrose dale.com
Discovery Place, Charlotte, 301 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, — Mummies of the World Exhibition makes Southern U.S. premiere on 11.11.11. 704-372-6261, www.discoveryplace.org
Discovery Place KIDS Huntersville, 105 Gilead Road — 704-372-6261, discoveryplaceKIDS.orgCharlotte Nature Museum, 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte — www.charlottenaturemuseum.org
Old Salem, Winston-Salem — 336-721-7300, www.oldsalem.org
NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh — A loan of ten works of Rodin from collection of Iris Cantor. www.ncartmuseum.org
NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh —919-733-7450, www.naturalsciences.org
NC Museum of Life and Science, 433 Murray Ave., Durham — 919-220-5429, www.ncmls.org
Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem, 390 S. Liberty St. — 336-723-9111, childrensmuseumofws.org
Natural Science Center of Greensboro, 4301 Lawndale Drive — 336-288-3769, www.natsci.org
Greensboro Children’s Museum, 220 N. Church St. — 336-574-2898, www.gcmuseum.com