Jane Cain

Organ at Davidson presents its first concert of 2013 on Tuesday, Jan. 8, with a program of Christmas and Epiphany music by Jane D. Cain, the music director at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. The free concert begins at 7:30 in the Davidson College Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 100 N. Main St., Davidson.

She’s calling the program “Sing We Now of Christmas,” which also is the name of the carol that highlights the program in Marcel Dupré’s challenging “Variations on a Noel.” Other pieces include organ works by Buxtehude and Bach and a dynamic, driving piece called “Everybody Dance.”

Since this season’s Organ at Davidson theme “Organ-Plus,” the concert will feature guest sopranos Elisabeth Davis, Christina Tarry and Amy Weir, singing Christmas songs from the Romantic era by Peter Cornelius. Read the full story

Out with 2012, in with 2013. Where will you celebrate at midnight? We have a few ideas for Monday night’s New Year’s eve events around the area, including special events at local restaurants and First Night Charlotte in the city. Also ahead this week: Davidson basketball games, including Wednesday’s big game at Time Warner Cable Arena against No. 1 ranked Duke. And don’t forget the first Davidson Farmer’s Market of the new year on Saturday from 9 to noon next to Town Hall.

Also, Our Town Cinemas is screening “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack Reacher,” “This is 40″ and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

The holidays continue, with preparations for New Year’s Eve. Before that, we’ve got a few other highlights over the weekend, including a drop-in kids’ art session Friday at the Community Arts Project in Cornelius, Davidson Express reunion concert at Summit Coffee in Davidson on Saturday night, and guitarist Jeff Brown Saturday night at The Wine Cellar in Cornelius. We also have highlights of Monday night’s New Year’s Eve events around the area.

Our Town Cinemas is screening the big holiday-season flicks, including: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack Reacher,” “This is 40″ and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

We’re creeping into the end-of-year holidays with a handful of events around the area, including a lot of live music at local venues, an End of the World Apocalypse Party, and a special pre-Christmas Davidson Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Highlights include the Summit Songwriters Showcase Thursday night and Here’s your schedule below.

Our Town Cinemas has a couple of Christmas-season blockbusters: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “Skyfall,” which some think may be the best James Bond flick to date. Openings on Friday include “Jack Reacher” and “Les Miserables.” See showtimes at right on this page.
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Dancers in Community School of Davidson’s production of “Catching Fire” rehearse for Saturday’s performances. See below for details of “The Hunger Games” themed production.

Must be nearing the holidays! Our weekend calendar has a seasonal feel, with holiday-themed concerts and theater. Historic Latta Plantation offers its annual candle-light tours of the decorated plantation house in Huntersville. And there are two alternative gift fairs in Davidson, offering ways to help local and international nonprofits and honor those on your gift list. But that’s not all: We’ve also got wine tastings, restaurant ribbon cuttings, a “Hunger Games” inspired dance performance from Community School of Davidson, and the opening of “The Hobbit” at Our Town Cinemas in Davidson.

“The Hobbit” opens at Our Town Cinemas and other theaters. Click for info.

Our Town Cinemas has a premiere of “The Hobbit” at midnight Thursday (12am Friday). Also there: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “Playing for Keeps,” “Skyfall,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Killing Them Softly,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus.

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy, but for some, especially those facing financial hardships, this time can be stressful. With this in mind, and the threat of the fiscal cliff looming large in everyone’s not-so-distant future, I’d thought it would be nice to focus on some fun, cheerful, free ways to get into the holiday spirit. The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus, one  of my favorite organizations, does an excellent job of infecting the spirit with gladness and filling the ears with joyful noise. Their series of free “Season of Joy” concerts wraps up with dates Saturday and Monday. Read the full story