North Meck Community Chorus's jazz ensemble, Left @ 25.

Interested in joining other singers for fun and performances? North Mecklenburg Community Chorus is getting ready for its spring choral session, with rehearsals beginning later this month. They’ll have an open house Sunday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Wedgewood North Clubhouse, 8925 Babbitt Way, Charlotte. Read the full story

Susan Heaton Bates

As a high school organ student at Davidson College, Susan Heaton Bates fell in love with the pipe organ and was organist for Davidson United Methodist Church in the late 1960s. After a lengthy music ministry at West Market Street UMC in Greensboro, last year she became Organist and Music Associate at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem.

Ms. Bates returns to Davidson next Tuesday night for a performance in the Organ at Davidson series at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. It’s the fourth in a seven concert series offered annually from September through May on the refurbished Wicks organ at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. 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

Our Town Cinemas has "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and other offerings this weekend.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

OK, a show of hands — how many readers made resolutions for the New Year? And how many of you have kept them so far? If you’re in that majority that made (and broke) resolutions, make up for it by resolving to take advantage of the activities available in our area this weekend.

For the civic-minded, the second in a series of public planning workshops on Davidson’s plans for development along the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Line will be held Thursday night at the Davidson Town Hall.

Summit Coffee in downtown Davidson will have the grand opening of its new upstairs Freckled Dog Pub on Friday evening, with plenty of microbrews and music to go around. Summit Coffee also will also have live music on Thursday and Saturday nights.

A teetotaler (or just someone who vowed to lay off the hard stuff after a wild New Year’s celebration)? Then check out Tea Time at Wooden Stone Gallery on Saturday afternoon in Davidson. You can try out an assortment of teas, and sample cupcakes made by SweetCakes of Cornelius. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Hey, it’s the first week of 2012 — gotten over celebrating the New Year yet? GOOD! (Oops … for those of you still nursing a headache — my bad on shouting). Now that the holidays are over, the kids are back in school and you’re back at work, there’s also plenty going on during the week in Davidson and the surrounding area to keep you entertained.
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By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The new year is upon us – made your plans yet? Our calendar has plenty of area events to ring out 2011 and ring in 2012. They range from the large – First Night Charlotte in downtown Charlotte Saturday – to the small – a free timed 5K run in downtown Davidson New Year’s day – to the wild – the 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge swim at The Point on Lake Norman.

At First Night Charlotte, activities begin at noon Saturday with First Night Kids, then the adults take over downtown beginning at 8 p.m.  Meanwhile, several area restaurants — Davidson’s Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse and Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Mooresville, among others — have special New Year’s Eve dinners planned; and nightclubs — among them Skybar and Unleashed in Mooresville, Davidson’s Brickhouse Tavern, and Cornelius’ Dirty Martini, Rusty Rudder, Galway Hooker Irish Pub and Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub — will celebrate the coming New Year. Read the full story