Matthews Alive!

The 16th Annual Matthews Alive!
Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1

www.matthewsalive.org

Free!

The Matthews Alive! Festival is a Labor Day weekend celebration dedicated to the support of local non-profit organizations through music, arts and community involvement.

Stumptown Park
120 South Trade Street
Matthews, NC 28105

Cultural Free For All

Cultural Free For All
http://www.charlottecultureguide.com/feature.php?id=21

Celebrate Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural community and the Arts & Science Council’s (ASC) 50th Anniversary with the Cultural Free for All. During the month of September, participate in daily free arts, science, history and heritage events across Mecklenburg County.

Sponsored by The Charlotte Observer, ASC and CharlotteCultureGuide.com.

Charlotte Museum of History Family Fun Night

Family Fun Night: Treasures

Thursday, August 21
Presented by Charlotte Museum of History & Hezekiah Alexander Homesite

www.charlottemuseum.org

Time: 5:00-9:30pm

This year's family fun night will be themed around the museum's newest exhibit, Charlotte Stories: Our Collections, Your Treasures.

Come to the Charlotte Museum of History for a pizza dinner and meet Princess Simone Simplicita of Musea and renowned museologist professor Dr. Carolina Jones. They will be here to discuss a stunning gift donated to the Museum of Musea History by the Princess. Families will assist with the process of research and documentation of a new gift. Children will also help celebrate the Princess’s childhood companion, the donkey Simple Simon.

Next on the evening adventures is the Priceless Treasures Tour. Children will join the White Glove Brigade in investigating artifacts from the museum’s collection, learning how to preserve them so that future generations can enjoy them.

The evening of fun will conclude with popcorn and a showing of the movie National Treasure.

$5 for children ages 6-12; $7 for Adult members; $10 for Adult non-members.

Advanced reservations are required.

Charlotte Museum of History & Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
3500 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte, NC 28215
704-568-1774

Roman Army Festival

Roman Army Festival

Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7
Presented by Discovery Place
FREE!

www.discoveryplace.org

Ancient Rome Comes Alive in Charlotte! Fun for the Whole Family. See gladiators and soldiers. Experience drills and thrills. Become a Roman soldier. Call 704-372-6261 x300 for details.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, Sept 5 - Open Noon – 5pm
Noon Camp Demonstrations Begin
1:00 p.m. Drill/Kids Cohort
3:00 p.m. Gladiator Demonstration
4:00 p.m. Camp Tours/Kids Cohort
5:30 p.m. Drill

Saturday, Sept 6 - Open 9am – 6pm
9:00 a.m. Camp Demonstrations Begin
9:30 a.m. Formation and Ration Issue
10:00 a.m. Drill and Formation
Demonstration/Kids Cohort
11:00 a.m. Gladiator Demonstration
1:00 p.m. Weapons Demonstration
2:00 p.m. Needlefelt Combat
3:00 p.m. Formation and Pay
Ceremony/Kids Cohort
4:00 p.m. Gladiator Demonstration

Sunday, Sept 7 - Open 11am – 4pm
11:00 a.m. Drill Demonstration
1:00 p.m. Gladiator Demonstration
2:00 p.m. Weapons
Demonstration/Kids Cohort
3:00 p.m. Final Drill and Closing
Ceremony

Charlotte Literary Festival

Charlotte Literary Festival

www.charlotteliteraryfestival.com

Saturday, September 6
Presented by Real Eyes Bookstore
$0-$10

The Charlotte Literary Festival is an annual event held in Charlotte, NC that focuses on both youth and adult literacy. The festival hosts a myriad of local, regional and national authors from various genres.

The 2008 Charlotte Literary Festival will take place September 6th in Uptown Charlotte. This year the festival will have 7 speakers, 6 New York best-selling authors, 2 bands, an Author's Lane with local and self-published authors over 40 vendors and of course the Kid's Corner which will include an arts and craft fair as well as storytellers and live entertainment.

Our mission at The Charlotte Literary Festival is to foster an atmosphere of unity, awareness and growth, through literature, art and culture.

Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College St
Charlotte, NC 28202

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Tour

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Tour

www.blumenthalcenter.org/default.asp?blumenthal=120&urlkeyword=Center_Tours

Monday, August 25
FREE!

Take a complimentary tour of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and experience the MAGIC of showbiz. Explore "Behind the Scenes" and see areas usually off limits, such as; a "Stars' Dressing Room" and the "Kong Doors." Learn the mystery of the "Ghost Light" and the meaning of "Break a Leg!"

The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center extends an invitation this summer to your special group for a complimentary tour of Spirit Square provided by our knowledgeable tour guides. Tours begin at the N. Tryon Street entrance of Spirit Square. Experience first hand an insider’s look at the McGlohon Theatre and Duke Energy Theatre. You won’t want to miss the behind the scenes view of a Black-Box theater and a working hemp house theater. Come discover the passages, equipment and secrets generally reserved for the pros.
Summer Walk-Up Tour Schedules:
Walk-up tours are offered the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 11am-2pm. (No reservations are required).

Spirit Square is located at 345 North College Street, at the corner of College and 7th Street.


For groups of 10 or more, free-guided tours are available by reservation. Groups can choose from either a general or a technical tour. General tours offer a behind the scenes look at the Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, and Spirit Square. Technical tours are an extension of the general tour with a special concentration on stage, lighting and sound. Group tours can be scheduled anytime between 9am and 4pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information call 704.379.1378 or email tours@ncbpac.org

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
130 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Charlotte's Master Plan

Charlotte's Master Plan: A Panel Discussion and Reception

Saturday, August 23
Presented by Staying Ahead, Carolina
FREE!

www.stayingaheadcarolina.com

Staying Ahead Carolina invites you to an informative session on Charlotte’s Master Plan, Saturday, August 23, 2008, 2:30 p.m. Get a glimpse of Charlotte over the next five years and how it’s evolving with respect to: infrastructure, industry, culture, and neighborhoods.
What makes Charlotte unique and the key to its continued growth.

Meet our guest panel of experts :

Robert Bush, SVP, Arts & Science Council
Mark Hahn, Director, Mecklenburg Real Estate Services
Moira Quinn, COO of the Charlotte Center City Partners
Keith Parker, CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System
Facilitated by Linda Lockman-Brooks, President of Lockman-Brooks Marketing Services, LLC.
A social will immediately follow the session located at 131 Main Restaurant on East Blvd. Space is very limited for this event. Reserve your seat today.

Email sbrown@StayingAheadCarolina.com

131 Main Restaurant
1315 East Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203

2008 Yiasou Greek Festival

2008 Yiasou Greek Festival
www.yiasoufestival.org

Thursday, September 4 through Sunday, September 7
$0-$2

Venue: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
600 East Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28203

For many Charlotte foodies, Yiasou ranks as the city's top festival. The Greek women of Holy Trinity start six months in advance preparing baklava, spanakopita, gyros, souvlaki, pita bread, and pastries, readying them for crowds of thousands to devour. An outdoor "drive-through" and "pick-up" station have even been installed to handle the great demand for these Greek delicacies.

Art, entertainment, and crafts are available at the much-anticipated festival too, and a children's play land offers rides and activities.

Thu, Sep 4, 2008 11am - 9pm
Fri, Sep 5, 2008 11am - 10pm
Sat, Sep 6, 2008 11am - 10pm
Sun, Sep 7, 2008 Noon - 8pm

Admission:
Adults $2
Children (12 and under) Free

School groups and senior citizens groups can make arrangements for free admission by contacting Helen Karras at the church office at 704-334-4771 by Thursday, August 28th.

An Evening With Hitchcock

An Evening with Hitchcock

Thursday, July 17 @ 8:30 pm
FREE!

Transamerica Plaza Courtyard
421 North Tryon Street

Enjoy an outdoor movie screening of Alfred Hitchcock's ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' .

Bring lawn chairs or blankets to comfortably enjoy Hitchcock's most popular British picture of a Canadian visitor in Scotland, who goes on the run to break a spy ring when he stands accused of the murder of a woman stabbed to death in his flat. Food and beverages available.

Sponsored by McColl Center for Visual Art and The Light Factory.
www.mccollcenter.org

Blakeney Summer Concert Series

Summer Concert Series at the Village Green - Blakeney

Blakeney Village Green
Ardrey Kell & Rea Road
(printable .pdf schedule onsite)

Free outdoor summer concert series.
All shows 7pm - 10pm

May
23, 24 Parltly Cloudy
30, 31 Kimberly Carper Trio

June
6, 7 Jessica Says No
13,14 Carey Sims Band
20,21 Jes Seda Band
27,28 Robin Rogers Trio

July
4,5 Partly Cloudy
11,12 Cookie 4.0
18,19 Kimberly Carper Trio
25, 26 Jessica Says No

August
1,2 Carey Sims Band
8,9 Jessica Says No
15,16 Robin Rogers Trio
22 Cookie 4.0
23 Acoustic Soul
29,30 Partly Cloudy

September
5,6 Kimberly Carper Trio
12,13 Jessica Says No
19,20 Carey Sims Band
26,27 Jes Seda Band

Queen's Feast

Queen's Feast: Charlotte's Restaurant Week
www.charlotterestaurantweek.com

Saturday, July 12 - Friday, July 18, 2008



Dig into the inaugural
Charlotte Restaurant Week!
July 12 - 18, 2008

Enjoy a culinary extravaganza during this week-long celebration of Charlotte’s restaurant scene. From Saturday, July 12, through Friday, July 18, each participating upscale restaurant will offer a spectacular 3-course, prix fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

It’s a royal opportunity to experience Charlotte’s ever-expanding array of dining options and remarkable chefs, from popular favorites to new hot-spots.

Reservations are recommended.



See the site to peruse the participating restaurants and learn more about their offerings and how to book your table.

You may also join the Queen's Feast email list for news and updates.

RiverGate Summer Concerts

RiverGate Shopping Center
12807 S. Tryon St.
www.shoprivergate.com

SUMMER CONCERTS SERIES

Saturdays From 7 p.m. until 10 p.m

June 7th Pat Carpenter
June 14th Undercover Band
June 21st James Deem
June 28th Vanilla Cornbread

July 5th Thrive Band
July 12th Vanilla Cornbread
July 19th Undercover Band
July 26th Vanilla Cornbread

August 2nd James Deem
August 9th Pat Carpenter
August 16th Undercover Band
August 23rd Vanilla Cornbread
August 30th James Deem

September 6th Aerial View
September 13th Thrive Band
September 20th Aerial View
September 27th James Deem

Charlotte Folk Society Ice Cream Social & Old-Time Music Jam

Charlotte Folk Society Ice Cream Social & Old-Time Music Jam

Sunday, July 13
Presented by Charlotte Folk Society
FREE!

Charlotte Museum of History & Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
3500 Shamrock Drive

Charlotte Folk Society Ice Cream Social and Old-Time Music Jam, in conjunction with the Charlotte Museum of History.

1:30-4:30 PM

The Charlotte Folk Society’s Annual Old-Time Music Jam & Ice Cream Social offers families the ideal summer Sunday afternoon, with open acoustic jams, a slow jam, singing, clogging, storytelling, history, and historic children’s games. Co-sponsored and hosted by the Charlotte Museum of History. Bring lawn chairs to be sure of a seat.

Rockin' & Reelin' Summer Concert & Movie Series

Rockin' & Reelin' Summer Concert & Movie Series

Friday, August 8 through Friday, September 26
FREE!

Lake Park
100 Park Lake Dr.
Pineville, NC

Join us for a summer full of movies and entertainment sure to please the entire family.

Pre-shows begin at 7pm. Movies begin at dusk. Bands tune-up at 7pm.

June 6: Movie - The Bee Movie

June 7: Concert - Charlotte Symphony - Summer Serenade

June 20: Concert - Air 5 (Christian Rock)

July 11: Movie- ET

August 8: Concert- Key West (Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band)

August 22: Movie - High School Musical 2

September 12: Concert - Travis Allison Band (Classic Rock/Current Music)

September 26: Movie- Enchanted

Bon Odori Festival

Bon Odori Festival

Saturday, August 2
FREE!

Enjoy the 24th Annual Japanese Dance Festival in Charlotte.

Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wachovia Atrium and Plaza
301 S. Tryon St.

Free admission

"Bon Odori" Japanese Dance Performance
Japanese Drum Performance by "Matsury-za"
"Aikido" (Japanese Martial Art) Exhibition
Japanese Tea Exhibition
Japanese Food & Crafts
Grand Prize: Airline Ticket (purchase a raffle ticket for $5)

Hosted by the Japanese Association in Charlote and The Japanese Language School in Charlotte

Supported by the Arts & Science Council and the Consulate General of Japan, Atlanta.

For more information, call 704-333-2775

Charlotte Caribbean Festival

Charlotte Caribbean Festival

Saturday, July 26 @ 12 PM
FREE!

Independence Park
300 Hawthorne Lane

Take the family and friends to enjoy a day of Carribean culture!

Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries

Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries

Through Sunday, August 17
Presented by Discovery Place
$8-$10

Discovery Place
301 North Tryon Street

Shatter your notions about dinosaurs and take a journey of discovery into the world of modern paleontology. This amazing exhibition focuses on dinosaurs not as fossils but as living creatures. The ever-changing field of paleontology joins forces with the fields of biology, biochemistry, geology and computer sciences to show how dinosaurs breathed, battled and bred.

The colossal 6,500-square-foot exhibition includes an extraordinary diorama of a 130-million-year-old Mesozoic forest in China. Investigate dramatic breakthroughs in paleontology, including newly discovered fossils that reveal the evolutionary link between ancient dinosaurs and modern-day birds. View a fossil cast from Sinornithosaurus millennii that exhibits both downy fluff and primitive feathers. See a fossil of the foot of a Coelophysis, which resembles that of a modern-day turkey and watch an animatronic T. rex walk in place.

New dinosaur fossils are being uncovered faster than ever before while advanced technologies are helping to paint new pictures of prehistoric life. This interactive exhibition addresses many persistent and puzzling dinosaur mysteries, but at its heart are questions about how one of the most captivating creatures of all time lived... and died.

Culture and Cookies

Culture and Cookies

Sunday, July 20 @ 2:00 PM
Presented by Levine Museum of the New South
FREE!

A free, fun day for you and your family at the Levine Museum of the New South. Explore the new exhibit Corapeake and enjoy a hands-on activity and refreshments. Refreshments will follow immediately.

Bring your family to explore an exhibit, experience the artistic activity, and enjoy some cookies!

Pride Charlotte Festival

Pride Charlotte Festival
www.pridecharlotte.com

Date: Saturday Jul 26, 2008

Address:
900 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Pride Charlotte, the largest celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons in the entire Charlotte region, has announced the dates and location of its 2008 event, moving up the annual celebration one month from its traditional August date.

The 2008 Pride Charlotte festival will be held Saturday, July 26, 2008, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Gateway Village at Trade and Cedar streets, across from Johnson & Wales University. With a goal of attracting 8,500 to 9,000 attendees to Uptown Charlotte, festival organizers hope to break last year’s record-setting attendance of 8,000.

“The Pride Charlotte festival is the one time each year the Charlotte-metro LGBT community gathers together for community-wide fun,” said Pride Charlotte Co-Chair Raine Cole.

The day-long festival will feature several entertainers, including Josh Zuckerman, Melissa Reaves, Ira Levi, Rodie Ray, Sugarbeach, The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte and the Queen City Outlaws. Other community speakers and performers are planned and will be announced at a later date at PrideCharlotte.com.

The event is the culmination of more than a week of Pride Charlotte events, including workshops, panels, performances and more. The Gateway Village festival grounds will include food and beverage vendors, community organizations and a family and children’s play area.

Pride Charlotte is a project of the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Community Center. It is for the LGBT Community and its allies to come together to socialize, support each other, share ideas, and organize in a visible and positive environment.

For more information, including information on how to become an individual, small business or corporate sponsor, visit www.pridecharlotte.com.

Celebracion Latina 2008

Celebracion Latina 2008
July 12 & 13

Carowinds

Salsa fever is hitting Carowinds as we celebrate the culture of the Carolinas’ growing Latino community. Two full days of great food, entertainment and time spent with the family can be enjoyed at Celebracion Latina.

This year’s event features:

Authentic Latin Cuisine

Special appearances by Dora the Explorer

Traditional Dance

VOZARRON Singing Competition Finals

Carowinds is open to the public during Celebracion Latina and the event is free with park admission. Don’t miss this unforgettable weekend celebrating diversity, fun and our commitment to family entertainment. $2.00 per each ticket purchased for this event will go toward funding Hispanic youth scholarships throughout the Carolinas’. To date nearly $30,000 has been donated to the Latino Diamante Awards, the Latin American Excelente Awards and the NCSHP Youth Scholarship Fund.

Carowinds se ha contagiado con la fiebre salsera al celebrar la cultura de la creciente comunidad latina de las Carolinas. En la Celebración Latina disfrutará de dos días completos de sabrosa comida, entretenimiento y tiempo con su familia.

El evento de este año ofrece lo siguiente:

Cocina latina auténtica

Presentaciones especiales
de Dora la Exploradora

Danzas tradicionales

VOZARRON canto final de la competencia

Carowinds está abierto al público durante la Celebración Latina y el evento es de entrada libre para quienes hayan comprado un boleto de admisión al parque. No se pierda este inolvidable fin de semana donde celebraremos la diversidad, la diversión y nuestra dedicación al entretenimiento de las familias. Dos dólares ($2.00) de cada boleto comprado durante este evento serán destinados al fondo de becas para jóvenes hispanos en ambas Carolinas. Hasta la fecha se han donado $30,000 a los premios Diamante Awards Latino, Latin American Excelente y Juventud NCSHP Scholarship Fund.

Carolina Panthers Fan Fest

Carolina Panthers Fan Fest
www.panthers.com

Saturday, August 2, 2008
11:00 a.m.

Bank of America Stadium
admission is free

Fan Fest is a fun event the entire family can enjoy that features music, interactive games, face painting, contests, giveaways and visits from the TopCats and Sir Purr so bring the family and get ready for a new season of Panthers football!

Watch some fun videos from past Panther Fan Fests here.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Saturday, July 12, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
$15-$40

Symphony Park at South Park Mall
4400 Sharon Rd.

This is an outdoor event where you can indulge in tasting the best International beers, sipping the finest Kentucky bourbons, and eating the best barbeque that North Carolina has to offer. July 12th from Noon-6pm Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall
Join us at Symphony Park for a great day of beer sippin', bourbon tastin', music listenin', cigar smokin', and barbeque eatin'. 60+ Brews, up to 40 Bourbons and numerous BBQ tastes are available for sampling. Head to bourbon college with tasting classes from Master Distillers or relax in the cigar tent.

VIP Tasting Glass: $40 Advance online
Valid from Noon-6pm. Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, a VIP class in the Tasting Theater, unlimited sampling, the opportunity to explore the show two hours prior to gate opening and an event novelty t-shirt.

Regular Tasting Glass: $30 in advance online or $35 on-site
Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, bourbon college classes, unlimited samples from 2pm - 6pm.

Designated Driver Ticket: $15 in advance online or on-site
Includes admission into the event only.

Kids 12 and under are FREE.

Imaginon Tricycle Music Fest

Tricycle Music Fest, Featuring: They Might Be Giants, The Jellydots, and Frances England

Saturday, July 26 through Sunday, August 3
FREE!

ImaginOn
300 East Seventh Street
www.imaginon.org

Last year fans raved about the library’s fun-filled concert series for kids, and this year it promises to be even bigger and better. Join us for these three high-energy, kid-friendly concerts at ImaginOn:

They Might Be Giants:
Sunday, June 15th One Day Only!
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
McColl Family Theatre 1 pm & 4pm

Ticket reservations are required for ImaginOn performances
Please call 704-973-2828 for ticket reservations
Tickets are limited to four reservations per adult.

In a singular career, perhaps no turn has been more unlikely than They Might Be Giants’ emergence as one of America’s most popular creators of children’s music. Leading the charge of what is now a full-blown movement of creative musicians looking to save tots (and parents!) from the shrinking world of mainstream children’s music, TMBG’s kids’ projects have become the gold standard of the industry.

The alternative rock legends entered the world of kids' stuff in 2002 with their self-styled kids album "No!" Prepare to be delighted as They Might Be Giants triumphantly return to the world of kids stuff with their new CD & DVD set "Here Come the 123s.".

The Jellydots:
Saturday, July 26th

South County 10 am
Please contact the South County Branch at (704) 416-6630 for concert information.

North County 3 pm
Please contact the North County Branch at (704) 895-8178 for concert information.

Sunday, July 27th
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
2 pm & 4 pm,
The Wachovia Playhouse

Ticket reservations are required for ImaginOn performances
Please call 704-973-2828 for ticket reservations
Tickets are limited to four reservations per adult.

Last year, the Jellydots were the first ever band to play for the Tricycle Music Festival, rocking out with songs from "Hey You Kids!"! Now the Jellydots have returned to Charlotte with their sophomore album of "Changing Skies". At times they rock, at times they’re sweet, but the Jellydots resonate with parents and kids alike.

Frances England:
Saturday, August 2nd
University City 10 am
Please contact the University City Branch at (704) 595-9684 for concert information.

Mint Hill 3 pm
Please contact the Mint Branch at (704) 545-4054 for concert information.

Sunday, August 3rd
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
2 pm & 4 pm, The Wachovia Playhouse

Ticket reservations are required for ImaginOn performances.
Please call 704-973-2828 for ticket reservations.
Tickets are limited to four reservations per adult.

Noted as one of the freshest voices in kindie rock, Frances England originally created "Fascinating Creatures" as a fundraiser for her son's preschool and never thought that anyone outside of her own circle of family and friends would hear it. But thanks to the Internet, the power of word-of-mouth and some great reviews, the cd began making its way into people's homes across the country and as far away as Europe, Asia, and Australia. Frances lives in San Francisco with her husband John, their four year-old son, Liam and new baby boy, Rowan. Aside from music, Frances also works at her son’s cooperative preschool and is getting her master’s degree in library science.

Tickets are FREE and can be reserved by calling the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Box Office at 704-973-2828.

Currently the Box Office is accepting reservations for They Might Be Giants.

The Tricycle Music Fest rolls on throughout the summer with mini concerts at library branches. More information, including ticket reservation details, will be posted soon on this site, so stay tuned!

Matthews Summer Concert & Movie Series

Matthews Summer Concert & Movie Series

Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, July 26

Stumptown Park
120 South Trade Street
Matthews, NC 28105
704-847-4411 phone

Presented by Matthews Park, Recreation, and Cultural Resource Department
www.matthewsfun.com

Join us every Saturday Night at Stumptown Park for the Summer Concert & Movie Series!

Each week it will alternate between a concert and a movie.

All concerts begin at 7pm.
Pre-movie activities begin at 7pm, movies begin approximately 8:30pm or dusk.

Vendors will be on-site selling dinner food, treats and drinks.

NO PETS PLEASE

Schedule:

May 3rd The GT All-Stars
Motown, Oldies, Variety Band

May 10th Enchanted
Movie—Rated PG
With Mother’s Day Crafts and a Princess Costume Contest!!

May 16th Sleeping Beauty w/Matthews Ballet

May 17th The Catalinas Beach Band

May 24th Open Season
Movie—Rated PG
Come enjoy the Matthews Barnyard Petting Zoo!!

May 31st The Gougers Country/Americana Band

June 7th The Goonies Movie
Rated PG
Come early for fun summer activities and give-a-ways!!

June 14th Charlotte Symphony
Matthews Help Center Annual Food Drive!!

June 21st Bee Movie
Rated PG
Bingo with 107.9 the Link!!

July 4th Too Much Sylvia Variety Band
People’s Parade, Games, Activities, & More!!

July 12th E.T. Movie
Rated PG
Game Show with 107.9 the Link!!

July 19th Joystick 80’s Cover/Party Band

July 26th Surf’s Up Movie
Rated PG
Come early for Surf Activities and fun!!

Schedule may be subject to change

YMCA Parents Night Out

YMCA Parents Night Out

July 20, 2008
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Enjoy all Ayrsley has to offer while we watch the kids.

Register early by calling 704-716-4925.

$15 per child in advance / $20 the day of the event.

Steele Creek YMCA
2135-A Ayrsley Town Boulevard

Steele Creek Farmer’s Market at Ayrsley

The Steele Creek Farmer’s Market at Ayrsley
Saturdays, 8 am - 1 pm
All Summer

Feature fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other locally-grown produce.

Ayrsley Kid Show - Free Movies

Ayrsley Kid Show - Free Movies

Tuesday, July 15 through Thursday, August 7
FREE!



Ayrsley Cinemas
9110 Kings Parade Boulevard

Kid Show Movies

All screenings at 10am



Schedule:

JUNE 17TH & 19TH
Happy Feet

JUNE 24TH & 26TH
The Prince of Egypt

JULY 1ST & 3RD
Open Season

JULY 8TH & 10TH
Monster House

JULY 15TH & 17TH
Ice Age : The Meltdown

JULY 22ND & 24TH
Flushed Away

JULY 29TH & 31ST Madagascar

AUGUST 5TH & 7TH
Shrek the Third

BluesFest & Benefit

BluesFest & Benefit

Saturday, July 12, 2008 at Visulite Theatre (18 + / Non-Smoking)



The Visulite Theatre
1615 Elizabeth Avenue
www.visulite.com

Doors Open: 2:30 - Headliner Begins: 3:00

Tickets: $12

Bands:

Rusty Barkley · Contagious · Lenny Federal · Jake Haldenwang · The Johnny Rockit Band · Matter of Fact · The Murry Brothers · Part-Time Blues Band · Bob Polino . Mac Arnold . Michael Wolf and the Voodoo brothers . Ned Lucas Band . Phil Harmonic Blues Band . Donna Duncan . Blues By Soul

silent auction · guitar raffle * All proceeds go to support the programs & operations of the Charlotte Blues Society.

www.charlottebluessociety.org

Charlotte Alive After Five

Charlotte Alive After Five
www.charlottealiveafterfive.com

Thursdays- 5:30 - 9:30pm

Still Alive Thursday, July 17 through Thursday, August 28
Presented by Charlotte Center City Partners
FREE!

Location: 301 South Tryon, Charlotte

The original downtown after work party - Alive After Five - returns for an eigth year!

The event is held in the same great location at the foot of the Wachovia Buildings at the corner of Tryon and Martin Luther King (formerly 2nd St.)

Join us for great music, food and drink and a fun way to spend every Thursday afternoon. We'll be serving up your favorite drinks and food and adding some festive frozen drinks to the mix!


See full schedule below:

April 17 Breakfast Club

April 24 Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)

May 1 Almost McGraw

May 8 Right On!

May 15 General Johnson and the Chairmen

May 22 Tuesdays Gone
& Tres Hombes

May 29 Who's Bad

June 5 Frontiers (journeytributeband.com)

June 12 ZOSO (The Led Zeppelin Tribute)

June19 Heather Hayes Band

June 26 Girlz Girlz Girlz

July 3 Coconut Groove Band

July 10 Fair Warning

July 17 Liquid Pleasure with Kenny Mann

July 24 Vertigo (U2 Tribute Band)

July 31 80'Z - ENuff

August 7 Rubberband

August 14 The Backbeat

August 21 White Chocolate

August 28 TBA

Be President for a Day - Summer Camp

Be President for a Day - Summer Camp

Monday, July 28, 9 AM til

Children will learn about the electoral process and the Polk Campaign of 1844! Participants will nominate their vote for President and hold a mock election filled with speeches, campaign posters and slogans!

Lunch is provided.
Boys and girls aged 8-12 years.
$30 per child
Pre-registration required.
For more information, call 704-889-7145.9 a.m.-3 p.m.

President James K. Polk State Historic Site
12031 Lancaster Highway
Pineville, NC 28134

www.nchistoricsites.org/polk/

"My Charlotte" Art Exhibition

"My Charlotte" - Local and Regional Artists Ehibition

July 18, 2008 - September 11, 2008

Red Sky Gallery
1244 East Blvd
www.redskygallery.com

In honor of the gallery’s five year anniversary, RedSky Gallery artists created work that represents their view of “My Charlotte”. The show includes work by Svetlana Baklanova, Wil Bosbyshell, Andy Braitman, Loren DiBenedetto, Sylvia Coppola, Dale Duncan, Robert Hasselle, Anna Henderson, Kerrin Hopper, Schelly Keefer, Betsy Klein, Dina Lowery, Suzann Marchin, Lambeth Marshall, Bridgette Martin-Pyles, Bill McInnis, Tim McMahon, Mary Ellen Neff, Ben Parrish, Martha Sharp, Saundra and Tom Snyder, Gina Strumpf, Terry Thirion and Eleanor Wirth.



Loren DiBenedetto
Hydrangea (diptych), 2008



Mary Ellen Neff
Reach for the Sky, 2008



Anna Henderson
Canyons of My Mind, 2008

Center City Green Market

www.CenterCityGreenMarket.com

Address: 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Dates: Saturday May 10, 2008
through Saturday Aug 30, 2008

Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Repeats Every: Sat., until 8/30/08

On May 10, the Center City Green Market is back for a tenth season on7th Street. Across from Reid’s Fine Foods, the Levine Museum of the New South and ImaginON, the Green Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 30th.

“When we started the Green Market nine years ago, it was to draw people back into the Center City on the weekends and expose them to our museums and the few restaurants that were here,” said Robert Krumbine, vice president of events at Charlotte Center City Partners.

As always, the key ingredients to this year’s Green Market is its selection of fresh local produce from Creekside Farms, Unity Farms and Greeneman Farms; fresh fish from the Carolina coast and beyond provided by Michael LaVecchia’s Seafoods.com; and fresh-cut flowers from Jefferson Herr, well-known for selling bouquets along Tryon Street. But, over the years, the Market has brought an interesting array of local artists into the family, as well, offering handmade crafts such as jewelry, stained glass and more.

And, for children of all ages, each Saturday at the Green Market offers a special theme with free activities. This year, market-goers will note an emphasis on food-related themes.

Events:

July 5 – Red, white and blueberries pancake breakfast with firefighters

July 19 – Blessing of the pets (dog days of summer)

August 2 – Criterium race, Reid’s Spiedie Chicken samples,
Charlotte Corvette Club (Speedy Saturday)

August 16 – Great Cookie Crumble

September 6 – Back to school event with supply donations


For more information:

Phone: (704) 332-2227

Contact: Ted Boyd

Email: tboyd@charlottecentercity.org

Steele Creek Community Night with Charlotte Knights

Steele Creek Community Night with Charlotte Knights is July 31

The Charlotte Knights are having their first annual Steele Creek Community Night at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill on Thursday July 31st. Little League players can participate in a pre-game parade. They'll have other on-field promotions and 1st pitches involving the community. Look for more information on the Steele Creek Forum.

This is one of a series of promotions involving area communities. Be sure to come out and enjoy an evening with your Steele Creek neighbors.

Contact Chris Petot @ (704) 357-8071 ext. 2107 for information about tickets and discount food vouchers for groups.

A Day in Pompeii

A Day in Pompeii has arrived at Discovery Place!

We ae extremely lucky. Charlotte is the fourth and final city in the United States to receive this limited, once in a lifetime showing of one of the most dramatic events in human history.



A Day in Pompeii: What Nature Destroys, It Also Preserves
July 11. 2008 - January 4, 2009

Discovery Place

It is 79 A.D. and Pompeii is a bustling Roman city blessed with beautiful weather, built on fertile ground and filled with lively people.

It is the end of August and the summer has been hot and dry, the sea is swelling and the ground is vibrating slightly. Nature is talking, but no one is listening.

Suddenly, the mountain explodes and the unthinkable happens as Mount Vesuvius violently erupts. Ash and pumice rain down from the sky and 20,000 people perish.

Buried with them are their villas, their treasures, their pets and their loved ones. The people and their city are forgotten for 1,700 years.

A Day in Pompeii has only appeared in three U.S. cities with Charlotte being the fourth and final U.S. destination. Now journey back in time to experience everyday life in Pompeii the day before it vanished and marvel at precious and authentic pieces of ancient life.

Summer Basketball With Pro and College Players

SUMMER BASKETBALL WITH PRO AND COLLEGE PLAYERS
FREE FOR FANS AT GRADY COLE CENTER

Charlotte, NC -- Basketball fans are invited to watch top flight men’s basketball, Monday through Thursday, throughout the summer at the Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Drive. Admission is FREE. Sixteen teams comprise this year’s summer league that has a special NCAA sanction which allows pros and amateurs to play together. Teams play a thirteen game schedule with four games a night at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30pm. Play is already underway and runs through the end of playoffs August 8.

This league presents an extraordinary opportunity to see top quality basketball close-up, as some of the finest amateur adults in the Charlotte area play with and against big-time nationally known stars. The league includes several current and former pro and college players with ties to over 35 regional schools including UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, Davidson, Johnson C. Smith, USC-Aiken, Winthrop University, and more.

The league was organized under a partnership of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and several local sponsors including former Charlotte Bobcat Jeff McInnis, Derick Webber, Danny Wilson, TLI Hoops, Back to the Basics and Russell Sports. The league includes four special challenge games featuring Old Timers, Alumni, Overseas and College players on July 17 at the Grady Cole Center with festivities beginning at 6:30pm.

Free parking for games is provided beside Grady Cole Center in the lot at 7th Street and Kings Drive. Games will not be played July 28 and 29.

For more information contact Mike Moraglia at Grady Cole Center at 704 336-2884.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens Summer Series

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens is a wonderful way to get away without leaving during the summer. Any age can revel in the lush beauty of nature.

Check out their website: www.dsbg.org

They have a series of Summer Events that have been underway, such as the Great Sunflower Contest, and continue until the fall.



DSBG is open every day, but a few upcoming special events include:

Re-Purposed Planters
Sat. Jul 12, 2008

*Green Thumbs / Herbal Explorations Grades 3 & 4
Mon. Jul 14, 2008 to Fri. Jul 18, 2008

*My First Camp / Garden Play
Mon. Jul 14, 2008 to Fri. Jul 18, 2008

*Sprouts / Garden Friends Kindergarten camp
Mon. Jul 14, 2008 to Fri. Jul 18, 2008

*Twigs / Hands-On Nature Grades 1 & 2
Mon. Jul 14, 2008 to Fri. Jul 18, 2008

[*Those all-age classes meet every Monday, so if you miss this week, go the next.]

Drawing with Carmella Jarvi (2-day class)
Thu. Jul 17, 2008

Accenting the Garden with Art
Sat. Jul 19, 2008

Water-Wise Gardening
Sat. Jul 19, 2008

Garden Nights - "Forbidden Fruits"
Thu. Jul 24, 2008

Garden Color with Perennials Session I: Perennials for the Cool Color Palette
Sat. Jul 26, 2008

Garden Color with Perennials Session II: Perennials for the Hot Color Palette
Sat. Jul 26, 2008

Welcome to the Yorkshire Community Outreach Blog

Yorkshire Community Outreach is an organization for building connections between neighbors and neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC.

We are an open door to the Greater Charlotte community. We hope to create a dialogue with our city, get involved, get to know them, and thus create a better city together. We seek to raise awareness, facilitate contact, and provide information, education, and opportunities to our residents.

This blog is for postings about community issues, events, groups, meetings, and other pertinent information. All relevant posts are welcome. Please feel free to share.

YCO is a division of the Yorkshire Home Owners Association (www.yorkshirehoa.org), a tight-knit community of thousands of people located in southwest Charlotte, NC.

Thomas Fortenberry is Yorkshire Community Outreach Committee Chairman.