The Town of Cornelius is hosting a Community Book, CD & DVD Swap on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 4pm in the community room at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave. Come offload what you’ve been reading, listening and watching and trade it for something new!

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Davidson Community Players will hold open auditions Feb. 9 and 12, for youth actors and actresses ages 8 to 18 for its April 2013 production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s raucous swashbuckling adventure, “Treasure Island.” Read the full story

Soprano Mary Kathryn Withers sings Sunday at St. Alban’s in Davidson.

An action-packed weekend lies ahead in the Lake Norman area, from Davidson basketball games to a lecture on the “Science of Speed” at Davidson College. The college on Friday also hosts the annual “Green Ball,” a contra dance and fundraiser for Davidson Lands Conservancy. On the music scene: Soprano Mary Kathryn Withers sings a concert Sunday as part of the Music at St. Alban’s series, and the local southern gospel quartet Heaven’s Reign performs Friday night in the Cornelius Concert Series at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Other live music is on tap at local venues including Summit Coffee and Rusty Rudder. For kids, there’s a Fairy House Festival Saturday at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, and drop-in events Friday and Saturday at the Cornelius Arts Center.

Meanwhile, on the big screen, Our Town Cinemas has “Lincoln,” “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Lincoln” for one more night, along with “Warm Bodies” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” On Friday, they’ll add “Identity Thief,” “The Impossible,” “Safe Haven” and “A Good Day to Die Hard.” See the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Love is in the air. Or is that King Cake I smell? Hard to believe that Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day are upon us. Will you start celebrating early? If your answer is yes and you’re not sure what to do here are some suggestions to fill up your weekend.

Kick up your heels in true zydeco dancing fashion at the Charlotte Mardi Gras Parade — starting Friday night at 7pm at the Epicenter. Beads, King Cake, Bands, Performers. Everything you need for a true New Orleans style party. Just be careful what you do to get said beads. Or not! The choice is yours. Enjoy! Details http://charlottemardigras.com/ Read the full story

Davidson College’s theater department is in rehearsals for “Sonia Flew” by Melinda Lopez, a poetic, thought-provoking family drama about how world events affect the lives of ordinary people. Starting in post 9-11 Minnesota and ending in 1961 Cuba, this Norton Award-winning play magnifies the tension between love of family and love of country. Directed by Sharon Green, “Sonia Flew” runs Feb. 20-24 at the college’s Cunningham Theater Center.

DavidsonNews.net readers have a chance to win a of tickets to “Sonia Flew.” If you’re interested, email Lyndsay at ads@davidsonnews.net in the next few days, and we’ll draw winners on Monday, Feb. 11.

Find out more about “Sonia Flew” on Davidson.edu.

Prof. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky

What makes the difference between victory and defeat on the track at a NASCAR race? Often, it’s technology, according to physicist and NASCAR expert Diandra Leslie-Pelecky. The West Virginia University professor and author will lecture Thursday night, Feb. 7, at Davidson College on “The Science of Speed: Why Driving Fast is Harder than You Think.”

Her talk is free and open to the public, at 7:30pm in the Davidson College Chambers Building, Lilly Family Gallery. It’s followed by a Q&A and book signing hosted by the Davidson College bookstore. Read the full story