Davidson College’s production of Strindberg’s “Ghost Sonata” debuts Wednesday, amid a week of readings, meetings, concerts and other activities in Davidson. On Tuesday, illusionist Mike Super performs at the college. The Design Review Board considers the Hopewell Baptist Church family life center plan Wednesday. And award-winning New York Times war correspondent Dexter Filkins visits Thursday. Next weekend, the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra plays a free concert Friday, there’s a women’s conference at the college, and the Davidson Farmer’s Market winter tailgate market returns Saturday.

In sports, Davidson’s women’s basketball team plays Samford at home Monday at 7 p.m. The men’s basketball team is back home Wednesday against The Citadel, and Saturday, when they’ll play an ESPNU BracketBusters TV game against Butler.

The Saturday game also features a shoe collection drive to help the Nigerian hometown of center Andrew Lovedale. Meanwhile, you also can watch a Charlotte Checkers hockey game Saturday and help support the Ada Jenkins Center’s after-school program with your ticket purchase.

FEB. 16-22

MONDAY, FEB. 16 – President’s Day Holiday. Federal offices, banks and some schools closed, but Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools open – it’s a makeup for a snow day.

MONDAY, FEB. 16, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Women’s basketball vs. Samford.

MONDAY, FEB. 16, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union Sprinkle Room – Public reading by Rick Barot, author of “The Darker Fall” and “Want.” Barot was born in the Philippines and grew up in San Francisco. Details on the college website.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Greenways, Trails and Bikeways Advisory Board meeting.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Artist Series presents “Mike Super: Magic and Illusion.” Ticket information: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets More about Super, and his pre-show prediction, in our Feb. 13 preview.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music with Asheville native singer-songwriter Kellin Watson. $5 cover at the door.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 7-9 p.m., Johnson C. Smith University Jane M. Smith Memorial Church, 100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte – U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, who represents Davidson, holds a town hall meeting with constituents. Open to the public. Also, Thursday, Feb. 19, 7-9, at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, Salisbury. Meetings will focus on the government stimulus package.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 6:30 p.m., Fairview United Methodist Church, 1430 Mecklenburg Hwy. (Highway 115), Mooresville – Israeli TV journalist Sagi Bashan speaks about current events in Israel, sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, Jewish Council of Lake Norman and Davidson College Hillel.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Design Review Board meeting. Agenda includes discussion of a detached garage/addition at 131 Grey Road and Hopewell Baptist Church family life center site plan, 18841 Davidson-Concord Road.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson men’s basketball vs. The Citadel.

THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – Lecture “Tales from the Frontlines” and book signing with Dexter Filkins, an award-winning war correspondent for The New York Times. He is author of the 2008 book “The Forever War.” Sponsored by Dean Rusk International Studies Program. Free.

THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music with Matt Walsh – believable blues with a dose of grit. Free.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 12:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center, Tyler-Tallman Hall – Musical interludes with pianist Dylan Savage, a Bosendorfer Concert Artist. Free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., and SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building Lilly Family Gallery – Women’s Leadership Conference, bringing together 50 women from campus and 50 from the community to “create a new culture of female leadership in Davidson.” Sponsored by the college’s Chidsey Leadership Development program. See Feb. 10, “Women invited to Feb. 20-21 leadership conference.”

FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Visiting lecturer and conductor Scott Seaton leads the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in a program of Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, and Liszt. Free.

Horticultural symposium is coming March 2-3 Just a reminder that registration is now open for the 25th Davidson Horticultural Symposium March 2-3 and Davidson College. This year’s event will examine the evolution of the garden, as well as take a look ahead at garden design and procedures. Includes two days of events, with a garden tour, speakers, seminars. Details: www.davidsonsymposium.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 9-11 a.m., parking lot off Jackson Street, next to Town Hall – Davidson Farmer’s Market, winter market day (held every other week). Details: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 21, noon, Davidson College Belk Arena – ESPNU BracketBusters men’s basketball game, with Davidson vs. Butler. The game also features a shoe-collection drive called “Kicks from ‘Cats – The Andrew Lovedale Shoe Drive.” The senior basketball star is collecting shoes, along with Samaratin’s Feet, to deliver to his hometown in Nigeria. See our Feb. 6 feature, “Help Cats’ Lovedale give back to his Nigerian town.”

SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 7 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte – Charlotte Checkers hockey vs. Florida Everblades. Buy tickets and support Davidson’s Ada Jenkins Center LearnWorks after-school program. Details in our Feb. 11 news item.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music with Josh Garrels. The Hickory native has been getting a bit of radio play lately and is on a regional tour for the first time. Free.

SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church – 2009 Echo Early Music Festival concludes a performance by “Pastyme,” an a capella octet that sings a combination of music from ancient to modern, or as they say, “Renaissance to Rock.” In this concert, they’ll sing Elizabeth sacred polyphony, includng Tallis’s “Lamentations” and the Byrd Five-Part Mass. Admission $20 at the door. Information at www.eemf.net or 828-545-8865.

THEATER

FEB. 18-22, Davidson College Cunningham Theatre Center – “The Ghost Sonata,” by August Strindberg, translated by Evert Sprinchorn, directed by Steve Foglia ’09. A terrifying world populated by vampires, mummies, and ghosts is the setting for this student-directed classic. Performances: Wednesday, Feb. 18, to Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. nightly, and Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m. Details on the college website.

FEB. 19-MARCH 7, Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte – Charlotte’s Off-Broadway and producer Anne Lambert (a Davidson College grad) presents “Living Out,” Lisa Loomer’s play about the complicated relationships between moms and nannies. Performances Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. (with pay-what-you-can admission); and Sunday matinee March 1 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $15 Thurs./Sun.; $20 Fri./Sat. The cast includes: Donna Scott (Nancy), Glenn Hutchinson (Richard), Cristina Layana (Ana), Sal Garcia (Bobby), Nury Antomarchy (Zoila), Delia Rabah (Sandra), Carly Howard (Wallace) and Kim Lanphear (Linda). Tickets 704-372-1000 or www.carolinatix.org. More info: www.chickspeare.org/livingout/

MARCH 19-29, Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St. – Davidson Community Players present “How I Learned to Drive,” by Paula Vogel. Performances: March 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 8 p.m., March 22 & 29 at 2 p.m. A wildly funny, surprising and devastating tale of survival as seen through the lens of a troubling relationship between a young girl and an older man. Includes mature themes. Tickets: Adults $17; Students and Seniors (65 & above) $15. Reservations: 704-892-7918.

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE GALLERY, at South Main Square Executive Offices, 442 S. Main St. – Through March 27, 2009 Photography Exhibit and competition. Gallery hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For details visit www.lknart.org.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE VAN EVERY/SMITH GALLERIES, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Through Feb. 26: “Re/Formations: Disability, Women and Sculpture,” curated by Jessica Cooley and Davidson professor Ann M. Fox. Artists include: Harriet Sanderson, Rebecca Horn, Judith Scott, Nancy Fried and Laura Splan. Gallery hours: weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends, noon to 4 p.m. Details on the exhibit website. See also our Jan. 14 exhibit preview and our Jan. 15 audio interview with the curators.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERIES, 463 S. Main St. – Through March 31: original watercolors by Davidson artist Virginia Quillen. These paintings were used to illustrate the unique book/DVD combo, Lake Reflections, depicting familiar scenes of Lake Norman. In addition, works of art in all media and price ranges will be offered by many familiar gallery artists including Addie James, Loren DiBenedetto, Susan Jennings, Betsey Hampton, and many others. For more information call 704-895-1213 and visit the website at www.merrilljennings.com

CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – Through March 17, “Dreams and Abstractions,” paintings by Joana Wardell. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. Information: www.christafautgallery.com or 704-892-5312.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Featured artist: Elaine Unzicker will be at the gallery Feb. 20-21 with a collection of her latest jewelry and accessories. Reception Friday, Feb. 20, 6-9 p.m. She’ll also be there Saturday, Feb. 21, 10-4. Also this month, Feb. 7-28 silent auction of furniture and art items, to make room for new work. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays/Mondays. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.com.

CREATIVE ART EXCHANGE/CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, 19725 Oak St., in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station, Cornelius – Through Feb. 28, paintings by Tonya Gregg. Ms. Gregg’s work, which comments on issues of contemporary culture and identity, has been exhibited throughout the Southeast, New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Germany. She has received residencies from the South Carolina Arts Commission and Kaiserslautern Artist Association Wollmagazin studio complex. Reception and gallery talk, Jan. 30, 7-9 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Sean Carroll

• MONDAY, FEB. 23, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – The college’s Henry Louis Smith Lecture Series presents Dr. Sean B. Carroll, professor of molecular biology and genetics and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Wisconsin, lecturing on “Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Orgins of Species. Free.
• MONDAY, FEB. 23, 7 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, Room 216-218 of the Alexander Building, 233 S. Main St. – “Legal and Financial Issues in Caring for Aging Parents,” a free discussion sponsored by the Caring for Aging Parents Support Group of DUMC and presented by Robert McIntosh, Amy Isaacs, and Erika Erlenbach of McIntosh Law Firm. Information will include options available when aging parents do not have financial resources to pay for needed care, living trusts, and other end of life considerations. Free. Childcare available by calling the church in advance at 704-892-8277. More information: call Karen Gray, director of congregational care, 704-947-0612.


Cavatina Duo performs Feb. 24

• TUESDAY, FEB. 24, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center Tyler-Tallman Hall – Davidson Concert Series presents the Cavatina Duo, playing music of Astor Piazzola, Miroslav Tadic, Toru Takemitsu, Alan Thomas and Francois Borne. The duo is flutist Eugenia Moliner and guitarist Denis Azabagic. Tickets $20 for adults, $15 seniors, $5 under 18. Ticket info at 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets
• FRIDAY, FEB. 27, 10 a.m., Ralph Johnson House, 115 Mock Circle – Ribbon cutting ceremony for the home, which has been renovaed by Davidson Housing Coalition.
• SATURDAY, FEB. 28, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church – To prepare Christian hearts for a holy Lent, the Episcopal Church Women of St. Alban’s will sponsor a Quiet Day, “I Still My Soul and Make It Quiet.” The leader is Davidson resident Pat Andrews, author of the congregational resource “Psalm Meditations for the Church Year.” Refreshments at 8:30 a.m., light lunch noon. Suggested donation $10 at the door. Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Contact Rosalie Allen at ro-ro-12@live.com or call 704-892-0173.
• SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Music at St. Alban’s series presents countertenor Ian Howell with Tableau: Handel’s Inheritance. They’ll explore the music behind the man who wrote “Messiah.” Tickets required. Details on the Music at St. Alban’s website.
• MONDAY, MARCH 2 and TUESDAY, MARCH 3, Davidson College – 25th Davidson Horticultural Symposium, examining the evolution of the garden, as well as a look ahead at garden design and procedures. Includes two days of events, with a garden tour, speakers, seminars. Details: www.davidsonsymposium.org.
• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 7:30 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Solo piano concert by George Winston, to benefit St. Alban’s Habitat for Humanity House. Tickets $100, available in the church office and on Sundays. Or reserve tickets by calling the concert series line 704-892-0173.
• THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Artist Series presents Celtic Crossroads, a theater concert of arrangements and bass-driven groove in the Celtic tradition. Ticket information: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets
• TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Organ at Davidson Series continues with a “Bach Birthday Bash.” Music by Bach accompanies readings from works by Albert Schweitzer. Details in our Organ at Davidson season preview.
• SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Village Green, Main and Griffith streets – 7th annual community rummage sale. Register for space on the Village Green to sell you household items. Hosted by Davidson Parks & Recreation. Items for sale may include furniture, kitchen items, clothing, book, children’s toys, bicycles, etc. Please call Angie Blashaw, Davidson Parks and Recreation at 704-892-3349 or register on-line at www.d-recs.org.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 31,, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Fresh Market, Fresh Market Shopping Center, off I-77 Exit 28 – Third annual “A Taste of Art,” wine, hors d’oeuvres, and art auction, to benefit Creative Art Exchange and Children’s Arts Project. Tickets $25. Tickets available at Fresh Market or Cornelius Arts Center, in the Oak Street Mill, behind the police station, Cornelius. www.creativeartexchange.org.
• SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Music at St. Alban’s series presents VOX & Friends. Vox is a professional vocal group from Charlotte, led by David Tang. Tickets required. Details on the Music at St. Alban’s website.
• SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 11 a.m., Davidson post office plaza – Dedication of the town’s first public artwork, “Bouquet for Davidson,” a 15-foot metal sculpture to be installed in mid-April by artist Andy Dunnill. More about the work and the artist, as well as past coverage of the town’s development of a public art program, at davidsonnews.net/category/public-art/

ONGOING EVENTS

50+ COFFEE CLUB, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Join the 50-Plus Coffee Club, meeting every Wednesday. It’s a relaxing social environment where you can meet old and new friends. Coffee, games, newspapers and pastries provided. No registration required, just show up! Info: 704-892-3349.

CHRONIC AND LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP, first and third Wednesdays each month, 7-8:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. – Individuals coping with an illness or who have family members coping with an illness welcome. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612.

SEPARATION AND DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP, Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. – Facilitators Mark and Gayle Olenik provide resources to help you cope and work toward a new beginning. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care.

NOW WHAT? GRIEF BEYOND THE FIRST YEAR, second Saturday each month, 9:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregational Care House, 262 South St. – If you are coping with the loss of a loved one for one year or more, we welcome you to join. Janet McKee and Bryan Readling will facilitate. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Register by calling the church office at 704-892-8277. Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612.

DAVIDSON DASH SHUTTLE BUS – Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Town of Davidson has begun service on a weekly shuttle bus called Davidson Dash. The bus will visit downtown, South Main Street, Sadler Square and the Harris Teeter shopping center near Exit 30. Cost: $1 per roundtrip. To reserve a space, call the recreation department before noon on the Friday before, 704-892-3349 or sign up on the recreation department website, d-recs.org. More information in our Jan. 8 news report, Town plans a weekly shuttle bus for seniors.

CALENDARS ON THE WEB

DAVIDSONNEWS.NET SCHOOL CALENDAR – Laurie Dennis’s most recent listing of school events, see our “schools” category. CLICK HERE>

DAVIDSON COLLEGE – For an up-to-date listing of events on the college campus, visit the college calendar page.

DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – http://davidsonumc.changemywebsite.com/calendar.asp

DAVIDSON COLLEGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Calendar of events. http://www.dcpc.org/article83232.htm

DAVIDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH events – Events calendar on Charlotte-Mecklenburg public library’s PLCMC.org website.

NORTH COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY events, Huntersville – Events calendar, www.plcmc.org

ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH online calendar – http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/

ST. ALBAN’S SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD – http://www.stalbanssq.org/calendar.html

LAKE NORMAN SENIOR CALENDAR, at LKNSenior.com

MUSIC AT ST. ALBAN’S, 2008-9 concert season.

YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR – online listing of alternative and holistic health information and events. http://www.yourcommunityconnector.com/

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Send listings and press releases to us at editor@davidsonnews.net. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.

021609 0600