Classical Music

Jazz & Classical Essentials Sunday Brunch Borders will be playing jazz and classical music from their essential catalogs. Coffee and pastry provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. Borders, Morrocroft, 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-6261.

John Apple Recital presented by the Charlotte Chapter of American Guild of Organists. First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St. Sun., June 22, 7:30 p.m. Free. 704-333-9071.

Summer Pops The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra presents concerts Sunday evenings at Southpark. Prelude begins at 7pm and concerts are at 8:15pm. www.charlottesymphony.org. Free. 704-972-2000.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Extreme Improv. Live improvised comedy created from your suggestions. Visit www.extremeimprov.com for more information. Call for reservations. Saturdays, 8 p.m. $5. 1958 E 7th St. 1-800-467-7681.

Central Ave Playhouse Psychotic Pooch. Live Sketch Comedy and improv. Material is NC-17, seating is limited. Call for reservations. Fri., Sat., 11 p.m. $10. 1118 Clement Ave. 704-502-8423.

The Comedy Zone College Night and "SIN" (Service Industry Workers) Night. Get free admission for the 8pm show and with your Comedy Zone ticket, get in free to Have a Nice Day Cafe. Wednesdays. Frank Caliendo. Star of MAD TV. June 27, 8 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.; June 28, 8 p.m. & 10:15 p.m. $16.50. 516 N. College St., Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite & American Freedom Bell Highways & Byways of Our State. Continues through June. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Continues through Sept. 30, 2004. Regular Museum admission. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Gaston County Museum of Art & History Carolinas Textile Exhibit- The Ties That Bind. Tue.-Sun. 131 W. Main St., Dallas. 704-852-6025.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. New South, Old South, Somewhere in Between. Continues through Aug. 7. Pen and Ink Politics: Thomas Nast's Reconstruction-era Cartoons and African American Equality. Continues through Sept. 29. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Burlon Craig and His Legacy. Continues through Oct. 19. Motherwell's Master Printer. In a lecture titled The Artist-Printer Collaboration, Robert Motherwell's master printer Catherine Mosley will discuss printmaking and the collaboration between Motherwell and herself. Thu., June 19, 7 p.m. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000 or 704-333-MINT.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design Constructing Elozua: A Retrospective. Ceramics, photography, 3-D computer-generated artwork & sculpture. Continues through Aug. 3. Currents In Craft. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Point of View: Public and Private Collecting Part II. Continues through July 27. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County All About Cats. Continues through Sept. 14, 2003. Illustrator Vernon Grant: A Century of American Whimsy. Continues through Oct. 5, 2003. Virtue Leads and Grace Reveals: Embroideries and Education in Antebellum South Carolina. Continues through July 20. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

North Carolina Museum of History Flashback to the 60s. Continues through Sept. 28, 2003. 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-715-0200.

Weatherspoon Art Museum Spring Garden & Tate Streets, Greensboro.

Spoken Word

Mert's Heart and Soul Uptown Saturday Nite. Musical performances, spoken word artists, poets and an open mic contest. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 11pm. $7 cover. 214 N. College St. 704-623-0058.

Theater: Openings

Chicago New National tour of Broadway's smash hit musical, the inspiration for the Academy Award winning film. Cast includes Bianca Marroquin, Brenda Braxton and Gregory Harrison. Tues-Thur at 8pm; Friday at 6pm; Sat at 2 & 8:15pm; Sunday at 2 & 7:30pm. $23-61. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.

A Chorus Line Musical presented by Summer theatre at Central Piedmont Community College. June 18-21 & June 25-28 at 8pm; June 22 at 2:30pm; June 24 at 7pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

God's Favorite A comedy by American playwright Neil Simon. July 2,3,5 at 8pm; July 10-13 at 8pm; July 6 at 2:30pm; July 9 at 7pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Graceland Presented by innerVoices Theatre Co. E-mail innervoicestheatre@yahoo.com. June 19-21 and June 25-27 at 8pm; June 28 at 2pm. $10; June 25 "pay what you can night". Central Ave Playhouse, 1118 Clement Ave. 704-451-4155.

Julius Caesar Presented by Chickspeare, Charlotte's all female Shakespeare company. June 18-21, June 25-28. June 18 "Pay What You Can Night." All performances are at 8pm. $15 adults; $12 seniors/students. Off-Tryon Theatre, 3143 Cullman Ave. 704-375-2826.

The Musical Life Story of Stevie Wonder The Afro-American Children's Theatre (AACT) will present a musical theatre tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter and musician. June 20 at 7:30pm; June 21 at 4 and 7:30pm. $10 adults; $8 Youth 17 & under. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.