By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The spectator areas at Davidson College’s Belk Arena will resemble a winter whiteout Monday night when the Wildcats’ men’s basketball team hosts Wofford during WhiteOut Belk night. It’s one of a series of Kicks From Cats fund-raisers. Elsewhere this week, several meetings with information about the Red Line Regional Rail Project are planned in Mooresville, Davidson and Cornelius.  Rotary Club of Lake Norman has its annual pancake breakfast and talent show Saturday morning at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius, and Davidson Farmer’s Market has another winter tailgate market in downtown Davidson. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Local musicians take the spotlight this weekend at clubs around the area. On Thursday night, Davidson’s Summit Coffee will hold its Songwriters Showcase, with performances by Jackie Moseley, Summit’s 2011 Songwriter of the Year winner, and Cambridge, Mass., folk singer Matthew Alexander. And on Saturday night, The Birdsnest in Davidson will hold its After Holiday Jam. The second-annual event will feature music by Billy Jones and Mason Bissett. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The Lake Norman YMCA has come up with a unique fundraiser to ring in the New Year, and it highlights a week full of events in Davidson, Cornelius and the surrounding area. The Y, on the shores of Lake Cornelius, will hold its inaugural Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday morning, with proceeds from those willing (and brave or stupid enough, depending on your point of view) to take a plunge into the lake’s icy waters going to support the YMCA’s programs.

That’s not the only opportunity for area residents to give back to the community — Davidson United Methodist Church will hold its quarterly blood drive on Monday afternoon. Looking for a little entertainment? Check out comedienne Julie Scoggins’ all-ages show at the Comedy Zone at Cornelius’ Galway Hooker on Tuesday night. On the sports scene, Davidson College’s basketball teams both host Southern Conference foe Western Carolina this week at Belk Arena — the Wildcats’ men play on Thursday night, and the women on Friday afternoon. Read the full story

Davidson men’s and women’s basketball dominates the weekend, but that’s not the only way to celebrate the end of the year in Davidson. Billy Jones & the Pocket are playing at Summit Coffee on Thursday. There’s a teen New Year’s eve party at the Davidson public library and many restaurants have New Year’s Eve events and specials that are listed on our Food & Dining page.

Also, Rural Hill is having a traditional 5k hike and Hogmanay celebration at  their annual First Footin’ event. Apart from the New Year festivities, there’s an open house at the second LEED-certified “green” house in Davidson built by John Marshall Custom Homes. In addition to the movies that are now playing at Our Town Cinemas, ‘Black Swan’ opens on Friday starting at 1:40 p.m.

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Our week begins with a blood drive at the YMCA on Monday and Tuesday, includes a free jazz concert at the college on Wednesday and wraps up with a weekend full of events, from the annual “Blackout Belk” basketball game, pitting Davidson’s men vs. Charlotte, to The Beggar Boys’ popular annual holiday concert at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. It’s the second weekend of Davidson Community Players’ production of “A Christmas Story.” And Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius hosts two nights of “Holly Days,” featuring vocalist, pianist and actress Helen Russell.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also at right on this page, see our movie listings for Our Town Cinemas, where they’re showing “Harry Potter,” “Love and Other Drugs,” “Waiting for Superman” and “Tangled.” And coming at week’s end: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which runs Dec 10-16. All tickets for this classic holiday film are $7, with $1 of each ticket donated to Ada Jenkins Center, and Toys for Tots. Read the full story

The last week of February brings author Margaret Atwood to town for a public lecture on Thursday and includes the final Davidson College men’s basketball home game on Wednesday. The week begins Monday with a visit to Davidson United Methodist Church by Haiti earthquake survivor Pam Carter of Charlotte and a Davidson Planning Board monthly meeting. Also tonight, the Davidson College women’s basketball team hosts Georgia Southern at Belk Arena.

More highlights below, and check out our community calendar at right for a full day-by-day list. Read the full story