Art on the Green is Saturday and Sunday. Click the logo to go to the event website.

Downtown Davidson will be busy this weekend, with Art on the Green Saturday and Sunday, followed Sunday night by the first Concert on the Green of 2013, featuring Davidson College symphony and jazz ensemble. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other festivals and other events, including a fine arts festival at Birkdale Village, and the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games. Davidson Community Players Connie Co. youth theater continues its run of “Treasure Island.” And Friday night, you can support the Davidson Lands Conservancy at its “Toast the Earth” wine tasting and fundraiser at River Run Country Club.

Our Town Cinemas has “The Croods,” “42,” “Scary Movie 5″ and “Emperor.” Opening this weekend are “Oblivion,” “The Big Wedding,” and “Pain and Gain.” See the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Sisters Cindy and Dana are the force behind Green Jeans Consignment. (Green Jeans Consignment)

Admittedly, I’m cheap. While I splurge on things that matter, like a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine, I enjoy bargain shopping, too. Having been raised by frugal parents born on the heels of the Great Depression, I learned valuable lessons about money and how to make the most of it.

My Mom would be proud. I hate wasting anything and it literally pains me to pay full price for something. As the offspring of a woman who negotiates a clearance item with the department manager at Lowe’s, and furnished her entire beach house with wicker furniture from Goodwill (Hey, people at the beach donate beach-y looking stuff) I guess it’s invevitable that some of it would rub off. Read the full story

Stile Antico plays Tuesday at Davidson United Methodist Church.

The British classical vocal group Stile Antico returns to town for a concert Tuesday night at Davidson United Methodist Church titled “Treasures of the Renaissance: Masterpieces from the Golden Age of Choral Music.” Meanwhile, Sunday brings the first Concert on the Green in Davidson, featuring the Davidson College symphony and jazz ensemble. The week’s calendar also is busy with spring festivals and other events – from Art on the Green in downtown Davidson to the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games in Huntersville, both this weekend. Davidson College has a variety of lectures, concerts and student presentations, and Davidson Community Players Connie Co. youth theater continues its run of “Treasure Island.” And Friday night, you can support the Davidson Lands Conservancy at its “Toast the Earth” wine tasting and fundraiser at River Run Country Club.

Our Town Cinemas has “Olympus Has Fallen,” “GI Joe: Retaliation,” and “The Host,” all in their final day Thursday, along with “The Croods.” Opening Friday are “42,” “Scary Movie 5″ and “Emperor.” See the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Twisters Shag Club is offering free lessons on Tuesdays for the next 7 weeks.

Enjoy some great music, meet some new friends and have some fun by learning to shag. Even those who don’t dance can learn to shag. It’s easy. It’s the dance of the Carolinas. Starting on Tuesday, April 16, in Mooresville, two 7-week sets of shag dance lessons will be offered to the public by Twister’s Shag Club, a non-profit social group for singles and couples age 21 and over.

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Roxie in happier times, at the South Carolina coast.

In March, I started the conversation about getting fit, and the energy I found that comes from running races. I also mentioned once or twice in previous columns about putting down our dog, Roxie, back in January. Well, my pick this weekend touches on both issues as I continue my effort to exercise regularly, and finally repair the whole in my heart left behind by a big, white, spotted dog.

I wasn’t ready before but now I am. I’m finally ready to open my heart to a new four legged companion. Read the full story

Astronaut and Davidson College grad Tom Marshburn speaks to a college audience Friday via video link from the International Space Station.

The spring season for community events is peaking, with more choices than you’ll possibly get to this weekend. Community Arts Project hosts a “Taste of Art” fundraiser Thursday at Fresh Market in Cornelius. Downtown Davidson’s April Is for Arts Gallery Crawl is Friday night. Saturday is chock full of community festivals, including Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Community Fest, the Davidson Lands Conservancy’s Paddlefest on Lake Davidson,, Lake Norman YMCA’s Family Fun Day on Lake Cornelius, and the Pawz Too Run 5K on the Davidson Village Green. Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. youth theater offers “Treasure Island” and the Kannapolis Intimidators minor league baseball team opens its home season with a series against the Hickory Crawdads. There’s plenty of live music at area venues, including live jazz Thursday night at Carrburritos and The Belfast Boys Friday at The Birdsnest, both in Davidson. And Temple Kol Tikvah dedicates its new synagogue in Davidson on Sunday. Read on for the details.

Our Town Cinemas has “Olympus Has Fallen,” “GI Joe: Retaliation,” and “The Host,” all in their final day Thursday, along with “The Croods.” Opening Friday are “42,” “Scary Movie 5″ and “Emperor.” See the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story