Contemporary music group eighth blackbird (they eschew capital letters) performs a concert labeled “Electrically Charged” Friday at Davidson College.

It sure feels like winter out there, but we’re still filling our November calendar with an array of fall events. This week brings plays, concerts, lectures and a Grammy-winning contemporary music performance to the Davidson College campus. There’s comedy at Kadi Fit and the Lake Norman Comedy Zone, and a cooking demonstration as well as a painting and wine event at Queens Landing in Mooresville. Charlotte events include the Celtic Thunder Symphony tour, “Art Fusion: NaNoWriMo” at the Mint Museum Uptown, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra at  Time Warner Cable Arena.  “Rapture, Blister, Burn” continues on stage at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius. And this week’s meetings include the Cornelius Town Board ^[1], Davidson Town Board ^[2], Davidson Design Review Board ^[3], and the Exit 28 Strategy meeting ^[4] will all take place this week. Read on for details about these events and to learn about others.

Start your engines (and the heat in them), and take a ride to NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Insiders Tour ^[5] Monday morning. If Monday doesn’t work, the Insider Tour ^[6] will have an encore full tour day on Tuesday.

Parents may be interested in taking their little ones to meet children’s author of “The Magic Christmas Key,” “My Snowman and Me,” and (new this year) “The Hope Tree,” Leann Smith. She’ll be reading to the group and then book-signing ^[7] at Toys and Company off of Sharon Amity Road in Charlotte.

Also in Charlotte, at the UNCC Center City, the Belk College presents the “Next Speaker Series ^[8]” which engages top experts and notable figures in the world of business and leadership on the topic of “Tomorrow’s Ideas.”

On the Davidson College Campus Monday, locals are invited to two lectures: The Egyptian Revolution ^[9] and a lecture with ex-POW and former Davidson College student, Commander Porter Halyburton ^[10].

Don (Bill Reilly), Catherine (Caroline Renfro), and Gwen (Anne Lambert) star in “Rapture, Blister, Burn” at Warehouse PAC.

Wrapping up Monday, the Cornelius Town Board ^[1] will host its bi-monthly meeting from 7-9pm at Town Hall.

On Tuesday, the BNI Winners Circle meeting ^[11] will be held at the U Center at 8am. Later, Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts invites you for a night of dynamic music as the first ever Symphony Tour for Celtic Thunder ^[12] performs songs from their 2013 chart-topping album, “Christmas Voices.”

How about an evening with a Tennessee Tramp ^[13]? She’ll have you rolling in laughter at the Comedy Zone in Cornelius Tuesday night at 8pm.

On Wednesday, The Mint Museum Uptown encourages you to join them for Art Fusion: NaNoWriMo ^[14]. This fun and engaging series for adults promotes unique connections between art, culture and community.

At Davidson College, the stage performance of “The Prophet ^[15]” presents a thrilling snapshot of private life in Cairo during the 2011 popular uprising. With political turmoil as a backdrop, a writer and his wife wade through guilt while their long-hidden secrets threaten to emerge and tear them apart (the show continues through the weekend and is recommended for ages 17 and up).

Thursday, the Kiwanis Club ^[16] will meet at 7:30am at the Acropolis Restaurant in Cornelius, and at 6pm, the Toastmasters group ^[17] will be at the U Center in Mooresville.

Also in Mooresville, the first of many holiday sales we will hear about this season will take place at Mooresville Arts ^[18] from 12-5pm, and at Queens Landing, the “Brew Chef” Tim Schafer will host a cooking demonstration ^[19] featuring meals that include baked brie in a three nut crust, roasted leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic and pumpkin white chocolate pecan bread pudding. Top off your meal at the Beaujolais Festival ^[20], and enjoy tastings of six wines from the Beaujolais region of France, French fare, a jazz trio, raffle prizes, a silent auction and more.

Music takes the stage Thursday evening: first, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra ^[21] wraps up 2014 by performing their rock opera “The Christmas Attic” live for the first time in arenas across the nation on their Winter Tour 2014. Also, at Davidson College, a jazz combo fall concert ^[22] will blow you away under the new direction of renowned saxophonist, Tim Gordon. While at Summit Coffee, host Rob McHale brings together an eclectic group of regional songwriters and creates a real listening room at their Songwriters Showcase ^[23].
If all this music has made you thirsty for some laughter, Bella Love presents an evening of comedy at Kadi Fit ^[24].

Fall Fridays are just getting better as this one offers a South End food truck night ^[25] in Historic South End and live music performances at Queens Landing ^[26] beginning at 5pm, Summit Coffee ^[27], the Rusty Rudder ^[28], and a show from contemporary music sextet “Eighth Blackbird ^[29]” – the Chicago-based, three-time Grammy-winning “super-musicians” – at the Duke Family Performance Hall at Davidson College.

We also dare you to lace up your corsets and wind your pocket watches as we head back to the future for Science on the Rocks: Gears & Beers ^[30]. This adults-only night at Discovery Place celebrates craftsmanship, innovation and steampunk-style artistry. Enjoy local craft brews, interact with steampunk performers and explore the science of beer – don’t forget to wear your costumes!

Queens Landing in Mooresville invites you for an evening of painting and wine ^[31]. Enjoy the beautiful Lake Norman views as a local artist helps guide you through the making of your own masterpiece all whilst enjoying wine and an array of appetizers.

How peculiar would it be if you switched places with your best friend? After grad school, Catherine and Gwen chose opposite paths. Catherine built a career as a rock-star academic while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. Decades later, unfulfilled in polar opposite ways, each woman covets the other’s life on stage at the Warehouse’s performance of “Rapture, Blister, Burn ^[32]” on Friday evening at 8pm.