Our community calendar in and around Davidson this weekend has music, discussions, theater auditions, a Town Hall Chili cook-off to benefit the Arts & Science Council and the annual Green Ball contra dance to benefit Davidson Lands Conservancy. The college also hosts the 4th annual Apocalypse Greek Step Show Friday, and a “Dinner at Davidson” dinner-dance Saturday for the 50-and-over crowd, which will raise money for scholarships at the college.

Today, the college’s series of events “Voices of Middle Eastern Women: Women’s Lives in Arts and Culture” continues with “Experiences and Observations: Professors Engage in an Open Discussion on Women in the Middle East.” It’s part of the lead-up to the Davidson theater department production “Nine Parts of Desire” later this month.

Summit Coffee has more live music all weekend: Billy Jones & The Pocket – Summit’s house band – are on Thursday night, Mike Strauss Trio plays Friday, and Saturday, it’s the monthly gig for Davidson jazz guitarist Dennis Currier and Terzetto.

Friday brings a pair of fun fund-raisers: the 2010 Green Ball, a contra-dance and fund-raiser for Davidson Lands Conservancy, and the 4th annual Apocalypse Greek Step Show, a showcase of step dancing that will raise money for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care and the American Diabetes Association.

And Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation offers its 2nd annual Fairy House Festival at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve.

Details about those and other events below. Also, don’t forget to use our day-by-day calendar at right, which has 1-click access to what’s going on.

DavidsonNews.net‘s calendars are updated continuously. Check back daily for additions and changes. And come back Monday when our This Week Calendar helps you plan your weekend.

WEEKEND OF FEB. 11-14

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7 p.m., Boone – Davidson men’s basketball vs. Appalachian State. See our preview article in Sports.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7 p.m., Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St – Orchid expert David McAdoo presents “Celebrate Native Orchids” hosted by the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists.No reservations are required for this free nature program made possible each month by LNWC, a chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation whose mission is to improve and enhance wildlife habitats in and around Lake Norman for all to enjoy. Included with the program will be opportunities to learn about upcoming conservation projects and a chance to win a door prize. Visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org for more information or call 707-877-4788.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall, Sloan Music Center – “Experiences and Observations: Professors Engage in an Open Discussion on Women in the Middle East.” Part of “Voices of Middle Eastern Women: Women’s Lives in Arts and Culture,” a series of events culminating in the Department of Theatre’s Production of “Nine Parts of Desire” later this month. (See theater listings below.) Free.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Billy Jones & The Pocket. More info: 704-895-9090.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, noon, Town Hall, 216 S. Main Street – Members of the community and art lovers are invited to drop by to support the arts, socialize with Arts & SCience Council grant recipients, and sample a variety of homemade chili made by different organizations and town staff at the Chili Challenge. Vote on your favorite and make a donation. All proceeds will go to the Arts & Science Council Fund Drive. In addition, the town will have ASC pledge cards available throughout the week.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, noon-4 p.m., Historic Latta Plantation, Huntersville – Victorian Valentine: Living history day set aside for homeschoolers and their families. Learn about 19th century Valentine customs, make your own Valentine with a quill pen, learn English Country dancing, fan language, and more! Admission is $5 per person, ages 4 and under free. No RSVP required. See Historic Latta Plantation’s website for detail.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., Davidson College Lilly Family Gallery – Annual “Green Ball” sponsored by Davidson College Environmental Action Coalition, an evening of bluegrass and contra dancing to benefit Davidson Lands Conservancy. Lessons 7:30, dance 8-11. Tickets: $10 in advance at Davidson College Union or $12 at the door, children $5. More info: email Alicia Frank (alfrank@davidson.edu) or visit the college website. See also our Feb. 3 preview, “Green Ball: Fun & Funds for lands conservancy.”

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 7-10 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College will be hosting its 4th annual Apocalypse Greek Step Show,” hosted by Mike Simms. All Students: $5, Davidson Faculty/Staff: $5, General Public: $10. All proceeds will go to the American Diabetes Association and Davidson-Cornelius Day Care. Tickets available online, CLICK HERE>

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Mike Strauss Trio. More info: 704-895-9090.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 10 a.m., Meadowlake Church, 6501 Gilead Rd., Huntersville – Girls in kindergarten or first grade and living in the Huntersville, Cornelius, or Davidson areas are invited to join the Meck 1 Service Unit for a special Girl Scout Daisy recruitment event. Girls will rotate through four stations, making some fun crafts and singing Girl Scout songs. Parents will listen to a special presentation about joining the Girl Scout organization. Admission free, RSVP required, to: 704-631-3740 or by emailing daisydayreg@meck1girlscouts.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, 5226 Sample Road, Huntersville – Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation invites children and families to 2nd annual “Fairy House Festival.” A fairy house is an outdoor natural habitat structure for fairies, insects and small animals. With storytelling, face painting, crafts, children’s activities, refreshments. Prizes for best fairy and gnome costumes and construction of the best fairy house. Raffle for Tom Clark yard gnomes. Call 311 or contact the Latta Plantation Nature Center at 704-875-1391. Web: www.charmeck.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 6-9 p.m., DuPont Room of Vail Commons, Davidson College – The Student Government Association of Davidson College will host the first Dinner at Davidson event, a fund-raiser to benefit The Davidson Trust. Area residents aged 50 and above are invited to dinner, dancing, musical entertainment, and well as a silent auction. The event will also feature remarks by Davidson College President Thomas W. Ross ’72, the Mayor of the Town of Davidson John Woods, Davidson College President Emeritus John Kuykendall ’59, and students who benefit from The Davidson Trust. Tickets cost $30 a person or $50 for two. Tickets are available for purchase on the Davidson web site at www.davidson.edu/tickets, by calling (704) 894-2135, at the Ticket Office in the Alvarez College Union, and will be available at the event while seats remain.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and SUNDAY, FEB. 14, 1-5 p.m., Historic Latta Plantation, Huntersville – Sweetheart Tours: Learn about 19th century Valentine traditions as you take a special sweetheart tour through the plantation home. See antique valentines and special treats! Free with regular admission. No rsvp required. See Historic Latta Plantation’s website for details.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 5 p.m., Birmingham, Ala. – Davidson women’s basketball vs. Samford.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 6-11 p.m., Birkdale Golf Club, 16500 Birdkale Commons Parkway, Huntersville – Hope House Foundation, which serves homeless residents in the Lake Norman area, holds a “Heart of Hope” fund-raiser. Tickets $75 per person, available online at www.hopehousefoundation.org or by mailing checks to Hope House Foundation, PO Box 61, Huntersville, NC 28070. For event and tickets inquiries, call Chris Anthony, the event chair, at 704-960-1835 or email thehopehouse@att.net.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 7 p.m., Cullowhee, N.C. – Davidson men’s basketball vs. Western Carolina.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Davidson-based jazz guitarist Dennis Currier and his group Terzetto play an evening of guitar jazz and blues. Besides Currier, the group includes Chris Garges on drums and Ron Brendle on bass. Info: 704-895-9090 For more about Currier and his music, listen to a DavidsonNews.net audio 4-minute interview, CLICK HERE>

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 8 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St. – Live music: TBA. Details: 704-987-2022.

THEATER AND FILM

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7 p.m., Our Town Cinemas, Sadler Square, Griffith Street – Davidson Community Players holds a free screening of the movie “Boycott,” depicting events in the 1950s in Montgomery, Ala. that helped launch the civil rights movement. The screening comes in advance of the Players’ March production of “Violet.” Free. (NOTE: As of Friday, Feb. 5, reservations were all taken.)

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY, FEB. 17-20, 7:30 p.m., SUNDAY, FEB. 21, 2 p.m., Davidson College Barber Theatre of Cunningham Theatre Center – The Davidson College Theatre Department presents “Nine Parts of Desire” by Heather Raffo and directed by Sharon Green, the play explores the struggles, passions, and triumphs of Iraqi women. Tickets $8 general admission; $5 faculty, staff and seniors, and $4 students. For reservations and information call 704-894-2135 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or purchase tickets online.

MARCH 24-28, Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – The Davidson College Theatre Department’s 2009-10 Mainstage Series concludes with “Leading Ladies,” by Ken Ludwig, directed by theater professor Mark Sutch. Performances March 24-25 at 7:30 p.m., March 26-27 at 8 p.m., and March 28 at 2 p.m. Admission $15, seniors $11, faculty/staff $9, students $6. Details: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets.

GALLERIES & ART EVENTS

MONDAYS, 6-9 p.m., Creative Art Exchange, Cornelius – open figure drawing sessions, hosted by David Smith. $10 model fee. Contact davidbsmith@bellsouth.net to be added to the notification list.

"Bambini" by Magdalena Abakanowicz.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE BELK VISUAL ART CENTER, Main and Griffith streets – Jan. 15 to Feb. 26: sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm, Sat./Sun., noon to 4 p.m. Direction sand details on the college website. See also our Jan. 17 video preview, “Sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz at Davidson.”

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER/COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., behind the police station, Cornelius – Through Feb. 26: Works by Gordon C. James. Reception with the artist Friday, Jan. 29, 7-9 p.m. Presented by The Town of Cornelius Department of Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture (PARC) with The Community Arts Project. For information call: 704-896-8823 or visit www.corneliusartscenter.org. Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, contact the Cornelius Arts Center online at corneliusartscenter.org or Details: 704-896-8823.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE, gallery in South Main Square, 442 S. Main St. – Details: 704-620-4450 or www.lknart.org.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERIES, 463 S. Main St. – Hours: Mon-Fri 10–5, Sat 10–3. For more information call 704-895-1213 and visit the website at www.merrilljennings.com

DAVIDSON TOWN HALL Atrium Gallery, 216 S. Main St. – Paintings by Jane Ellithorpe. Open weekdays during Town Hall hours, and other times during Town Hall events.

SUMMIT COFFEE, upstairs, 128 S. Main St. – “Through the Lens,” photos and photo creations by Marisa Cohen. On view during Summit Coffee regular hours.

CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – 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.

ARTWORKS ON MAIN, 165 N. Main St., Mooresville – Current show: Botanical drawings from the “Field Guide to the Piedmont” as well as still lifes, by Betsy Birkner. Coming up, February Gallery Crawl Friday, Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m., Featured artist Carlleena Person Gallery hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information: artworksonmain.com or 704-664-2414.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Gallery hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays, 1-5 p.m. 704-892-1449 . www.woodenstonegallery.com.

THE SANCTUARY OF DAVIDSON, 108 S. Main St. (next to Village Store) – Fine art and handmade crafts by local artists. Gallery hours: Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Faculty Chamber Music Concert: Diane Thornton, contralto; Alan Black, cello; and Ruskin Cooper, piano.
• TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Organ at Davidson presents Michael Rowland, accompanist at Davidson College and Associate Director of Music at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, in a program ranging four centuries from Buxtehude, Saint-Saens, Jongen, Brahms and Pinkham to Petr Eben. Free with donations encouraged. Reception follows. See www.dcpc.org for more details.
• THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 12:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Musical Interludes: Chamber Music with Shirley Gilpin, flute, Nick Lampo, cello and Cynthia Lawing, piano.
• THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Symphony Orchestra Concerts for a Cause continues with a performance benefitting “VH1 Save the Music.” Program features guest soloist Jacque Culpepper, Artist Associate in Voice at the college, and will include works by Barber, Copland, Glass, and the “girl Gershwin.” Free and open to the public, though donations will be accepted at the door for VH1 Save the Music. Details on the college website.
• SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 9 a.m. to noon, Chapel of Davidson United Methodist Church, 304 S. Main St., Davidson – Knitters and crocheters are invited a meeting of the Prayer Shawl Ministry of DUMC. We will learn the method of Centering Prayer that will enable us to focus on prayer as we knit. We will also learn about what other Prayer Shawl ministries in our area are doing with their Prayer Shawl Ministry. Light refreshments served. Bring your Prayer Shawl knitting/crochet project with you. Don’t knit? We will teach you how in 10 minutes! RSVP by Feb. 15 to Marsha Brodsky, 704-892-8277.
• SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 9 a.m. to noon, downtown Davidson next to Town Hall – Davidson Farmers Market Tailgate Market, with local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Open every other Saturday this winter. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.
• SUNDAY, FEB. 21, 6-9 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union and Chambers lawn – Davidson’s Asian Cultural Awareness Association sponsors the annual Lunar New Year celebration, marking the arrival of the Year of the Tiger. Food, music and dance performances, including a Lion Dance, will run until around 9 p.m., when the party will adjourn to Chambers lawn for the annual fireworks display.
• THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Annual Conarroe Lecture, by Margaret Atwood, the Booker Prize-winning author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Blind Assassin.” The lecture will be free, but tickets will be required, available Feb. 4. Details on the Davidson College tickets page.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Davidson College – Davidson Horticultural Symposium “Through the Seasons: A Southern Garden’s Journey.” With Allan Armitage, Pam Baggett, Robin Ripley, W. Gary Smith, William Welch. Details: www.davidsonsymposium.org.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Concert Series: Yarn/Wire. General Admissions: $20; Faculty/Staff/Seniors: $15; Youth 18 and under: $5; Students: Free at the door with Davidson ID.
• THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – A Celebration of the Bicentennial of Chopin’s Birth.
• SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Liederabend
• THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 10 p.m., 900 Room of the Alvarez Union, Davidson college – Jazz Ensemble at Live Thursdays
• FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 12:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Musical Interludes: Adam Snow, percussionist.
• SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Faculty Recital: Diane Thornton, Grant Jones, with music by Mary Armistead Jones.
• SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Piano Studio Recital I.
• FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Decision Davidson Incoming Student Music Scholarship Competition.
• SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 4 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Piano Recital II.
• THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson college – Davidson College Symphony Orchestra.
• SATURDAY, APRIL 17, Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. – Second annual Fire BBQ and 5K run. The 5 K will be held at Ada Jenkins first thing in the morning, followed by a BBQ sale, BBQ competition and food from area restaurants. More details as the date gets closer. www.adajenkins.org
• MONDAY, APRIL 19, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Multi-Studio Studio Recital.
• WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Davidson College Chorale Spring Concert.

<liFRIDAY, APRIL 23, 12:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – Musical Interludes: Outstanding Student Musicians.

• MONDAY, APRIL 26, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson college – Ralph Vaughan Willams Dona Nobis Pacem, Morten Lauridsen, Lux Aeterna: Davidson College Concert Choir and Davidson Pro Arte Orchestra, Jacquelyn Culpepper, soprano; Anthony Deaton, baritone. General Admissions: $15; Faculty/Staff/Seniors: $10; Youth 18 and under: $5; Students: Free at the door with Davidson ID.
• SATURDAY, MAY 1, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson college – Berklee College of Music Jazz Residency Concert.
• SUNDAY, MAY 2, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson college – Davidson College Symphony Orchestra
• TUESDAY, MAY 4, 7:30-10 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center, Davidson college – New Music Davidson.
• FRIDAY, MAY 14, 9 p.m., Mariam Cannon Hayes Amphitheatre, Alvarez College Union – Davidson College Jazz Ensemble: Senior Soirée.
• SATURDAY, MAY 15, 7:15 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Davidson College Chorale Farewell to Seniors Concert.

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