Special Events
Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee will show a 54-minute DVD of a recent keynote talk, “Marisol Jimenez-McGee Addresses Current Situation Facing Undocumented Immigrants,†at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Thu, Jan 17, 7pm. Call 942-2535 for more info.
Umstead State Park will host “A Walk in a Ranger’s Shoes,†a 1.5-mile hike with a ranger who will discuss natural processes and park management. Sat, Jan 12, 3pm. Reservations required. Call 571-4170. Umstead State Park will host “Basic Land Navigation,†and will teach skills in using a map and compass. Sun, Jan 20, 2pm.
Kids
Toddler Time – At the Carrboro Branch Library. Every Thursday at 4pm. For more info, call 969-3006.
Preschool Story Time – At the Carrboro Branch Library. Every Saturday at 10:30am. All preschoolers are invited to this free program. For more info, call 969-3006.
ComedySportz 4 Kidz – Games & improv for the 12 & under crowd. Saturdays, 5pm. $10, students $8, kids under 5 $5. DSI Comedy Theater, 200 N Greensboro St, Ste B-11, Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, 338-8150, www.dsicomedytheater.com.
Express Yourself! – Art program for ages 3-8 & their caregivers. Weekly art projects for children & adults to explore their own creative paths; registration requested. Saturdays, 10:45-11:15 & 11:30am-noon. $2. Kidzu Children’s Museum, 105 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill. 933-1455, www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org.
Volunteers
Meals on Wheels – Seeks volunteers to deliver meals and/or bake simple desserts for recipients in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. For more info, call 942-2948.
Goathouse Cat Refuge – Seeks volunteers to help with rescued cats & kittens. For more info, call Bonny at 545-2825 or email her at brooze@embarqmail.com.
Orange County Literacy Council is looking for Adult Basic Education/GED tutors. To become a tutor, volunteers must attend one orientation and one training session. Orientations: Fri, Jan 25, 10am to noon; Mon, Jan 28, 6-8pm; or Wed, Jan 30, 1-3pm. Training sessions: Fri, Feb 8, 9:30am to 1pm; Mon, Feb 11, 5:30-9pm. Call 933-2151 or 732-0868 for more details.
English as a Second Language Conversation Club seeks volunteers to talk with groups of international students on Fridays (beginning Jan 25). 11:30am to 1:30 pm. University Methodist Church on Franklin Street. Call 967-1448 or email harwellja@bellsouth.net.
Health
Living with Advanced/Metastatic Cancer – A biweekly support group. Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month, 3:30-5pm. Drop-in, no charge. Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center, Chapel Hill. 401-9333, www.cornucopiahouse.org.
Museums
Planetarium & Digital Theater Shows – Science LIVE Demos. Ongoing. Morehead Planetarium, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill. Info hotline 549-6863, office 962-1236, tickets 843-7997. Thu-Sat 10am-5pm, 6:30-9:15pm. Tickets $5.25; $4.25 seniors, students & children. For more info, visit www.moreheadplanetarium.org.
Wilson Library – A Nursery of Patriotism: The University at War, 1861-1945. Exhibit on war’s historic impact on UNC-Chapel Hill. In the Manuscripts Dept (4th floor) at Wilson Library, UNC Campus, through Feb. www.lib.unc.edu/spotlight/universityatwar.html.
Terry Seymour, author of A Guide to Collecting Everyman’s Library, will give the lecture “The Adventures of a Collector†to celebrate the opening of the exhibit “The ABC of Collecting Everyman’s Library.†Thu, Jan 17, 5:45pm. Pleasants Family Assembly Room, Wilson Library, UNC Campus. Free and open to the public. Call 962-4207 or visit www.lib.unc.edu/spotlight/2008/everymans.html for more info.
Theater
PlayMakers Repertory Company will present playwright Lisa Kron in the one-woman play 2.5 Minute Ride. Kron weaves the story of a pilgrimage with her father to Auschwitz with a tale about visiting the roller coaster capital of the world in Ohio. Jan 9-13, 8pm nightly and 2pm on Jan. 13. $24 to $32. Tickets available at www.playmakersrep.org or (919) 962-PLAY.
Dance
Havana Nights – Cuban Salsa. 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 10pm. Mansion 462, 462 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, 967-7913, www.mansion462.net.
Salsa/Mambo – 3rd Saturdays, lesson 8pm, dance 8:30-11pm. $7, 358-4201, salsa_4u2@yahoo.com. Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 4702 Garrett Rd, Durham (Hillsborough).
Ballroom – Dancing. 4th & 5th Thursdays, 7-9:30pm, $2. 933-8982. Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, 968-2070.
Studio A Dancers present a dance theater performance of “The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles,†adapted from the book by Julie Andrews Edwards. Performances Saturday Jan. 19 at 2pm and 6pm. East Chapel Hill High Auditorium. $5. Tickets are available at Dancentre (967-4100/www.dancentre.net) and at the door. The performance will be narrated and is appropriate for young audiences.
NC Squares will host a Square Dance on Saturday Jan. 12 at Pleasant Green Community Center. Lessons 7:30pm, dance 8pm to 11pm. Partner nor experience necessary. Real live old-time music with the Carolina Cut-Ups & caller Aaron Ratcliffe. $7 general, $5 students. Contact 732-8259, or visit www.ncsqares.com for more info.
Triangle Swing Dance Society will host Swing Dancing with Bill Newton & BBQ at the Carrboro Century Center. Sat, Jan 12. Lesson 7:30pm, dance 8-11pm. $5 to $11. No partner needed. Visit www.TriangleSwingDance.org for more info.
The Carolina Song & Dance Association will present a contra dance at the Carrboro Century Center, with a live caller and music by the Carolina Cut-Ups. Fri, Jan 18. Lesson 7:30pm, dance 8pm. $8 donation requested. Please bring clean, soft-soled, smooth-soled shoes. Call 967-9948 or visit www.csda-dance.org.
Comedy
Literary Discussion/Open Mic – For poetry, music & short fiction. Tuesdays at 7pm, Market Street Books & Maps, Southern Village, 610 Market St, Chapel Hill. 933-5111, www.marketstreetbooks.com.
Other
VITA, a free tax assistance program for low- to middle-income clients, begins Feb 1. Visit www.co.orange.nc.us/aging/VITA.asp for requirements and more info.