Jane Cain

Organ at Davidson presents its first concert of 2013 on Tuesday, Jan. 8, with a program of Christmas and Epiphany music by Jane D. Cain, the music director at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. The free concert begins at 7:30 in the Davidson College Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 100 N. Main St., Davidson.

She’s calling the program “Sing We Now of Christmas,” which also is the name of the carol that highlights the program in Marcel Dupré’s challenging “Variations on a Noel.” Other pieces include organ works by Buxtehude and Bach and a dynamic, driving piece called “Everybody Dance.”

Since this season’s Organ at Davidson theme “Organ-Plus,” the concert will feature guest sopranos Elisabeth Davis, Christina Tarry and Amy Weir, singing Christmas songs from the Romantic era by Peter Cornelius. Read the full story

Out with 2012, in with 2013. Where will you celebrate at midnight? We have a few ideas for Monday night’s New Year’s eve events around the area, including special events at local restaurants and First Night Charlotte in the city. Also ahead this week: Davidson basketball games, including Wednesday’s big game at Time Warner Cable Arena against No. 1 ranked Duke. And don’t forget the first Davidson Farmer’s Market of the new year on Saturday from 9 to noon next to Town Hall.

Also, Our Town Cinemas is screening “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack Reacher,” “This is 40″ and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

The end of the year is upon us, which is a perfect time to clean out our drawers and closets, and de-clutter homes and garages. Not sure what to do with discarded items? Consider giving them to The Community Arts Project. No item small or large should be tossed without thinking of its potential use in art.

Drawing a blank? No problem. Skilled at recycling and repurposing common household items into materials for classes and workshops, The Community Arts Project will gladly accept those items and brainstorm ways to incorporate them into the Winter Session beginning January 3rd, 2013. For a complete list of schedules and offerings, visit the website at www.thecommunityartsproject.org. Read the full story

The holidays continue, with preparations for New Year’s Eve. Before that, we’ve got a few other highlights over the weekend, including a drop-in kids’ art session Friday at the Community Arts Project in Cornelius, Davidson Express reunion concert at Summit Coffee in Davidson on Saturday night, and guitarist Jeff Brown Saturday night at The Wine Cellar in Cornelius. We also have highlights of Monday night’s New Year’s Eve events around the area.

Our Town Cinemas is screening the big holiday-season flicks, including: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack Reacher,” “This is 40″ and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Light display at Zootastic Park.

One of my favorite aspects of the Holiday season is the opportunity to see wonderful outdoor lighting displays. I am a huge fan of white lights, personally, and nothing makes me happier than a drive through McAdenville to see what made the town famous year after year. But, did you know we have our very own Christmas lights tradition here at Lake Norman?

In its infancy, just four years young, Zootastic Park of Lake Norman, in Troutman, offers a local alternative to interstate traffic and costly gas mileage. Read the full story

We’re creeping into the end-of-year holidays with a handful of events around the area, including a lot of live music at local venues, an End of the World Apocalypse Party, and a special pre-Christmas Davidson Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Highlights include the Summit Songwriters Showcase Thursday night and Here’s your schedule below.

Our Town Cinemas has a couple of Christmas-season blockbusters: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “Skyfall,” which some think may be the best James Bond flick to date. Openings on Friday include “Jack Reacher” and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page.
Read the full story