Live music tops the schedule of events this weekend, from opera to a classical trio, and an open mic night at Kadi Fit to a CD-release party for Davidson’s Rusty Knox Saturday at Summit Coffee. Warehouse Performing Arts Center has one more performance Thursday of “The Last Five Years,” a concert version of Jason Robert Brown’s contemporary musical about the five-year life of a marriage. There’s a winter tailgate market Saturday morning at Davidson Farmer’s Market, and local residents plan a Day of Service Saturday at Ada Jenkins Center. Meanwhile, Davidson College’s basketball teams have several games, including the annual Kicks from Cats fundraising night Saturday, when College of Charleston plays the men’s team at Belk Arena.

On the big screen, Our Town Cinemas has “Gangster Squad,” “Les Miserables,” “This is 40″ and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Opening Friday, it’s “Lincoln,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The newly formed Davidson Film Club will make its debut on Saturday, Jan. 26, screening the 2010 France/Chad political drama “A Screaming Man.” The club also announced a new location for its planned monthly screenings, at the Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St. in Davidson. Read the full story

Davidson Senior Scholars holds its monthly program this Wednesday, Jan. 16, featuring Scott Galloway, director of Susie Films in Charlotte. The program begins at 1pm at the Davidson Parks & Recreation offices, 416 Armour St., Davidson. Read the full story

It’s a big week for live music in the Lake Norman area, with gigs at a variety of local venues. That includes a CD-release party for Davidson musician Rusty Knox Saturday at Summit Coffee in Davidson, and weekend music at The Galway Hooker in Cornelius. Warehouse Performing Arts Center has two performances this week of “The Last Five Years,” a concert version of Jason Robert Brown’s contemporary musical, which chronicles the five-year life of a marriage. Also this week, several meetings are scheduled on regional growth and transportation issues, beginning with a “Widen I-77″ citizens meeting Monday night.

On the big screen, Our Town Cinemas has “Gangster Squad,” “Les Miserables,” “This is 40″ and “Zero Dark Thirty.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

Davidson Parks & Recreation is now accepting registration for a variety of programs in the next couple of months from a Feb. 10 lecture called “Murder on South Street” co-hosted with Davidson Historical Society to a March 16 mystery dinner theater presentation by About Town Tours at historic Beaver Dam. There’s also a Seagrove Pottery road trip, a watercolor class with instructor Jim Kerr, and cooking and writing classes. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

I don’t know about you, but the forecast of spring-like weather has me looking forward to the weekend. Temperatures pushing 70 will add a twist to Saturday’s Rocky River Road Club Polar Bear 100k and 50k bike rides, which depart from Ingersoll Rand in Davidson. At Friday happy hour, Summit Coffee’s upstairs Freckled Dog Pub marks its first anniversary. Or will the crowd choose the patio? On Saturday, Too Wet to Plow plays old time string band music at Summit, while Clark’s Creeke acoustic duo is at The Wine Cellar in Cornelius. On stage, Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius has a cool theatrical event: a three-night production of a live radio-play of the detective classic “The Maltese Falcon.” I got a preview Wednesday and can’t wait to see it. the Read on for the details.

And don’t forget the movies: Our Town Cinemas has “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack Reacher,” “This is 40″ and “Les Miserables” this week, with openings Friday for “Gangster Squad” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story