Vin Diesel stars in "Fast Five," opening at Our Town Cinemas.
By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net
There are a lot of good cultural events happening this weekend to get excited about. Friday, former president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway Humpy Wheeler speaks at Davidson College and there’s an arts festival at Cannon School featuring Omimeo Mime Theatre. Saturday is Ada Jenkins Center’s “Fire” 5k and BBQ Fundraiser. The Art on the Green juried art festival is Saturday and Sunday and includes live music and food. Davidson’s Farmer’s Market is open and North Mecklenburg High School is having a horticultural sale on Saturday morning. There’s a big outdoor spring music festival in Charlotte called AWOL, and the Queen’s Cup in Mineral Springs, both on Saturday.
These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. At right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas, where “Fast Five” opens on Friday, joining “Soul Surfer,” “Water For Elephants,” “Atlas Shrugged,” and “Rio.”
THURSDAY, APR. 28
Government Regulations on Housing, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville – The Lake Norman Home Builders Association (LNHBA) will present a discussion on government housing regulations, and how those regulations affect the housing market and the current economy. Tickets are $25 per person and include a catered buffet lunch. Tickets are available online at www.LakeNormanHBA.com.
Davidson College art lecture with Tom Sachs, 11:05-12:05, Davidson College Belk Visual Arts Center, Griffith and North Main streets – Artist Tom Sachs is guest juror for the 2011 Student Juried Art Exhibition on view in the Van Every Gallery from April 29-May 9, 2011. He will give a guest lecture during “Common Hour” on April 28. Free and open to the public. Info on the college website. (NOTE: This event has been canceled)
Davidson College Spring Convocation, 4 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – The college holds its annual Spring Convocation, where awards are presented to students, faculty and staff. Details on the college website.
Green Drinks Lake Norman, 5:30-7 p.m., Campania Cafe, 416 S. Main St., Davidson – An informal networking social that seeks to connect environmentally minded people in a bar setting. Will discuss Duke Energy rebates available and how to use Energy Star to reduce building operating costs. Takes place on the last Thursday of each month. Call 704-896-0094 or visit www.pies-northcarolina.org for more information.
seminar: College savings, 6:30-8 p.m., Hopewell High, 11530 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville – Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Parent University presents a session on “Understanding College Savings Programs.” Free.
MI-Connection Board of Directors, 6:30 p.m., Davidson Town Hall, 216 N. Main St., Davidson – Regular MI-Connection Board of Directors meeting.
Davidson College Literary Event, 7:30 p.m., Rare Book Room, E.H. Little Library, Davidson College – The Davidson College faculty, staff, students, and local poets will read their poems in the 2nd annual poetry reading to celebrate National Poetry Month. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nancy Randazzo at narandazzo@davidson.edu or 704-894-2284.
Live music at Summit Coffee 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Mike Davis and Leroy Lewis. Info: 704-895-9090.
FRIDAY, APR. 29
Focus Friday at the Chamber, 8-9:30 a.m., Flatiron Kitchen & Taphouse, 215 S. Main St., Davidson – The Chamber’s monthly program will feature discussion on the Parking Lot/Employee Protection Bill, establishing that businesses cannot prohibit citizens from parking a car on a private parking lot because firearms are secured in the vehicle. Led by Brian Sisson, former Huntersville Town Board Member and Owner of The Range at Lake Norman. Free. RSVP by calling the Chamber at 704-892-1922 or visiting www.lakenormanchamber.org. DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net are pleased to be the media sponsor for Focus Friday.
English Cafe, 10 a.m., Cornelius public library, 21105 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius – Learn about America’s history and culture while improving your English conversational skills. No registration necessary. Call 704-416-3800 or visit www.cmlibrary.org for more information.
Preschool Storytime, 10:15 a.m., Davidson public library, 119 S. Main St. – A 30 minute storytime for preschoolers that includes books, flannelboard stories and musical activities. Call 704-416-4000 or visit www.cmlibrary.org for more information.
Toddler Storytime, 11 a.m., Davidson public library, 119 S. Main St. – A storytime for children 12 – 35 months that consists of books, flannelboard stories and musical activities. Call 704-416-4000 or visit www.cmlibrary.org for more information.
Musical Interludes at Davidson College, 12:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall, Sloan Music Center, Davidson College – A mid-day concert by Davidson College student musicians. Free and open to the public. www.davidson.edu
NASCAR personality Humpy Wheeler speaks, 5:30 p.m., Vail Commons, Davidson College – Traditional southern dinner and book signing by Humpy Wheeler, former president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Wheeler will speak on “Racing, Bootlegging, Civil Rights, Hollywood and Wall Street.” Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and the talk will begin at 7 p.m. Dinner is $11.20 at the door, but the talk and book signing are free. www.davidson.edu
Cannon Arts Jam Festival, 5 p.m., Cannon School, 5801 Poplar Tent Rd., Concord – An evening of art and jazz featuring Omimeo Mime Theatre, Charlotte’s premier mime ensemble, award-winning jazz ensemble, Air Apparent and the Scrap Exchange. www.cannonschool.org
Toast the Earth, 7-9 p.m., Wooden Stone Gallery, 455 S. Main St., Davidson – Davidson Lands Conservancy wine tasting event. Sample local wines, beers and cider courtesy of the Flat Iron Kitchen and Tap House. Cost is $20/person; $35/couple. The cost of the ticket may be applied towards an annual membership to the Davidson Lands Conservancy. Great finger foods and an auction. Details in our preview article, CLICK HERE
Jazz vocalist Marlene VerPlanck, 7:30 p.m., Duke Performance Hall, Davidson College – Jazz concert featuring noted vocalist Marlene VerPlanck, joined by the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble. Free and open to the public. www.davidson.edu
Live music at Summit Coffee 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: TBA. Info: 704-895-9090.
SATURDAY, APR. 30
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, 7:30-11 a.m., Cornelius Presbyterian Church, 21209 Catawba Ave., Cornelius – All-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon or sausage, and drinks. Tickets are $5. Proceeds will benefit the church youth ministry and outreach programs.
Davidson Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m. to noon, downtown Davidson next to Town Hall – Local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items every Saturday through November. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.
North Meck horticultural sale, 9 a.m. to noon, North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville – NMHS’s Horticulture Club will sell spring plants, herbs and shrubs. Open to the public. This is an extra date, added after bad weather affected the April 16 sale.
“FIRE” 5K and BBQ fund-raiser, 10 a.m., Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble Street, Davidson – Starts with a 5K run at 10 a.m. Fee is $25 or $35 day of, includes BBQ ticket. BBQ is served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Ticket is $10. For more information or to buy tickets visit www.adajenkins.org or call 704-896-0471.
Author Signing, 10 a.m.-noon, Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St., Davidson – Elizabeth Davis will be signing her book, “Harley, the Throwaway Puppy,” about an agility dog. Her proceeds will go to animal rescue organizations.
Queen’s Cup Steeplechase, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., 6103 Waxhaw Highway, Mineral Springs – See some of the most athletic thoroughbreds compete at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. There will be contests, food, pony rides and more. Visit www.queenscup.org for more information.
Art on the Green, 10 a.m-5 p.m., the Green, Main St. and Davidson-Concord Rd., Davidson – A juried art festival featuring booths of top-quality art, live music and food. Artists from the Community Art Project and the juried show will be on hand to demonstrate their talents. Visit www.ci.davidson.nc.us for more information.
3-on-3 basketball tourney, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College, Davidson – Gethsemane Baptist Church in Davidson is holding a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for grades 4-12 to benefit its scholarship fund. Registration is $40 per team, due by April 23. To register a team or for more information, call the church at 704-892-1635 or email info@gbclakenorman.org. Also read our April 22 preview article.
Paws to Read, 10:30 a.m., Davidson public library, 119 S. Main St. – Read to a certified therapy dog. For elementary and preschool ages. Call 704-416-4000 or visit www.cmlibrary.org for more information.
WOW nature activity, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Erwin Lodge, 1345 Grey Road, Davidson – Dr. David Grant, Professor Emeritus of biology and Davidson College, will take participants to a nearby creek where they will discover and learn about the critters that live there. Minimum age is 5 years old. Pre-registration is required. Register by emailing dlc.wow@gmail.com.
All Walks of Life Concert, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Symphony Park near South Park Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. Charlotte – AWOL is an outdoor spring music festival to benefit Charlotte community organizations. BYOB. Acts include singer and Duke grad Mike Posner, Lollapalooza and MTV veterans Matt & Kim, Charlotte’s Lucky Five and more. There are free shuttle buses going to and from the concert. Visit www.awolcharlotte.com for more information.
Pitch, Hit & Run Competition, 4 p.m., Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Rd., Cornelius – Free baseball/softball skill competition that awards boys and girls in four different age groups: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14. All participants must bring birth certificates. Registration will begin on site at 3:30 p.m. For more information, please contact the Cornelius PARC Department, at 704-892-6031 ext. 160 or visit them online at www.corneliuspr.org.
Davidson College Theater Production, 7:30 p.m., Barber Theatre, Cunningham Theatre Center, Davidson College – Performances of student-directed one-acts plays. General admission is $3. To purchase tickets, call 704-894-2135 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or go to http://www.davidson.edu/tickets.
Remembering Loonis McGlohon, 8 p.m., Tate Hall, Central Piedmont Community College, 1201 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte – The legacy of pianist/composer Loonis McGlohon will be celebrated at a gala performance by musicians who worked with him and words from those working to preserve and promote his memory. Free but must RSVP for admission. Call 704-366-4320 to reserve a seat.
Live music at Summit Coffee 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music: Billy Jones & The Pocket. Info: 704-895-9090.
SUNDAY, MAY 1
Scottish Heritage Sunday, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Concord Rd. & Main St. – Everyone who has Scottish heritage or knows of someone who does is invited to wear his or her favorite plaid. Church services are at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Art on the Green, noon-4 p.m., the Green, Main St. and Davidson-Concord Rd., Davidson – A juried art festival featuring booths of top-quality art, live music and food. Artists from the Community Art Project and the juried show will be on hand to demonstrate their talents. Visit www.ci.davidson.nc.us for more information.
BUZZKILL basketball tournament, 2-5 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – annual BUZZKILL benefit 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament. NBA Golden State Warrior Stephen Cury, a former Wildcat, will be on campus for the weekend along with his former teammate and one-time roommate Bryant Barr, who started the event in 2008. It’s a fund-raiser for Nothing But Nets, which provides mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Africa, and for Freedom from Hunger that provides health education for women in Africa. There’s also an online auction starting April 26. See more: buzzkillfoundation.org See also our April 14 preview and interview with Barr.
Concert: ‘Vivaldi, The Storm,’ 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson – Music @ St. Alban’s series presents Seicento String Band: “Vivaldi, The Storm.” The ensemble plays Vivaldi’s concerti on historical instruments. Details in our April 22 preview
Concert on the Green, 6-8 p.m., Davidson Village Green, Main Street and Concord Road in front of Davidson library – First concert of the 2011 Concert on the Green series, featuring Davidson College Symphony and Jazz Ensemble. Free. Details and season schedule: April 26, 2011, “College ensembles open Concerts on the Green Sun.”
Davidson College Theater Production, 7:30 p.m., Barber Theatre, Cunningham Theatre Center, Davidson College – Performances of student-directed one-acts plays. General admission is $3. To purchase tickets, call 704-894-2135 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or go to http://www.davidson.edu/tickets.
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