Special Events
Ackland Art After Dark — see a variety of artwork, listen to jazz, commune with art lovers. Fri Apr 19, 9pm.
ClydeFest — Bynum, N.C., celebrates folk artist Clyde Jones with art, food, games and more. April 26, 11am-4pm at Bynum Ball Park. 542-0394, chathamarts.org
Fishy Fourth Friday — showing of The Thin Man in downtown Pittsboro at about 6pm Apr 25 in the Capital Bank Parking Lot. Shops and galleries open late. pittsboroshops.com
Fourth Friday Studio Stroll — downtown Pittsboro artists open studio doors from 6-8pm Apr 25. Demonstration at Side Street Gallery 6:30pm pittsboroshops.com
Healthy Kids Day & Family Fest — parents learn about local program services while children enjoy music, games, crafts, nutrition demos, exercise clinics and more. Sat, Apr 26, 10am-2pm. Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 442-9622, chcymca.org.
International Creativity and Innovation Day — free workshop where participants learn about creative processes, exercise their imaginations and generate ideas. Mon, Apr 21, 1-2:30pm. Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd, 932-7234, applyimagination.com
Outdoor activities
Niche Gardens guided garden walks — Saturdays through June, 10am. Spring planting, garden maintenance, design & gardening for wildlife with bird and butterfly gardens. Free. Niche Gardens, 1111 Dawson Rd, Chapel Hill. 967-0078 or www.nichegardens.com
Guided Tours — of the N.C. Botanical Garden’s Plant Collections, every Saturday at 10am. Led by trained volunteer tour guides and Botanical Garden curators. Free.
Digital Camera Workshop — Lecture and photo sessions in the gardens. Free, Fridays from 12:30-4pm
Kayak trips — small-group, local flatwater trips hosted by Kayak Adventures. 929-3805, kayakadventuresnc.com.
Kids
Toddler Time — At the Carrboro Branch Library. Every Thursday at 4pm. 969-3006.
Preschool Story Time – At the Carrboro Branch Library. Every Saturday at 10:30am.
ComedySportz 4 Kidz — Games & improv for the 12 & under crowd. Saturdays, 5pm. $10, students $8, kids under 5 $5. DSI Comedy Theater, Carr Mill Mall, 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. Saturdays, 10:45-11:15 & 11:30am-noon. $2. Kidzu Children’s Museum, 105 E Franklin St, 933-1455, www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org
Nature Tales: Storytime in the Garden — NC Botanical Garden. Thursdays, 10-11am Children 3 to 5 years old are invited to attend a storytime in the garden. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free.
Volunteers
RSVP 55+ Volunteer Program — seeks volunteers to match other volunteers with opportunities for public service. 968-2056.
Meals on Wheels — seeks volunteers to deliver meals and/or bake simple desserts for recipients in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. 942-2948.
English as a Second Language Conversation Club — seeks volunteers to talk with groups of international students Fridays from 11:30am-1:30pm. University Methodist Church on Franklin St. 967-1448, harwellja@bellsouth.net.
Health & Wellness
Living with Advanced/Metastatic Cancer — A bi-weekly support group. Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 3:30-5pm. Drop-in, no charge. Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center. 401-9333, cornucopiahouse.org.
The Compassionate Friends: Self-help support after the death of a child — Free and open to all adults grieving the loss of a child or sibling. Third Mondays, 7-8:30pm. Evergreen United Methodist Church. 967-3221chapelhilltcf.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. moreheadplanetarium.org.
Dance
Contra Dance — presented by The Carolina Song & Dance Association with a live caller and music by the Fabulous Shamrocks. Century Center. 967-9948, www.csda-dance.org
Havana Nights —Cuban Salsa. 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 10pm. Mansion 462, 462 W Franklin St, 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.
Ballroom — 4th & 5th Thursdays, 7-9:30pm, $2. 933-8982. Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, 968-2070.
Carrboro DanceJam —Free-style dance to an eclective mix of music. First Fridays. Balanced Movement Studio. 304 W Weaver St, upstairs. Smoke & alcohol free. Call 968-8776 for more info.
Lectures, Discussions & Open Mics
Open Mic —Poetry, music & short fiction. Tuesdays, 7pm, Market Street Books & Maps, Southern Village. 933-5111, www.marketstreetbooks.com
“What’s the Big Idea? Genetics, Ethics, and Human Health†— lecture series at the Friday Center. Lectures Apr 17 and 24. Call 962-2643 or visit fridaycenter.unc.edu/pdep for more information and online registration.
Role of Human Rights Commission in Orange County — discussion of racial profiling, immigrants’ rights and cooperation of human rights organizations in Orange County. Thu, Apr 17, 7pm. Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Dr. 942-2535.
“A Tar Heel Cartoonist in Texas: Drawing the Line in the Lone Star State†—Editorial cartoonist John Branch. Accompanies a student cartooning exhibit. Wilson Library, 5pm, April 17.
“The Stone Center Cafe†— evening of tea, desserts, music and poetry. Readings of Harlem Renaissance authors and original works. Mon Apr 21, 7pm. Stone Center Theatre, UNC Campus.
Poetry Readings — in conjunction with Rare Book Collection exhibit “The Beats and Beyond: Counterculture Poetry, 1950-1975.†Tue, Apr 22, 3:30-4:30pm. Bull’s Head Bookshop.
“Avant-Garde Poetry in America After World War II†— panel discussion of post-WWII American Poetry. Wed, Apr 23, 6pm. Pleasants Family Assembly Room, Wilson Library.
“A View from the Bench†— forum and discussion with women candidates for the N.C. Court of Appeals of the importance of women’s voices in our judiciary. Thu, Apr 24, 7:30pm. The Chapel Hill Museum, 523 E Franklin St. 644-0869.
Films
“Searching for Angela Shelton†— Screening and discussion of Angela Shelton’s documentary about sexual assault across America. Sat, Apr 26, 5-7pm. Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building Auditorium, UNC Campus.
Other
Haiku Holiday — Readings, workshops and walks with experienced haiku poets. Hosted by the Haiku Society of America. Sat, Apr 26, 9am-3:45pm. Bolin Brook Farm. 929-4884, nc-haiku.org.