Florence Jowers Recital sponsored by American Guild of Organists. Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Rd. Sun., July 20, 7:30 p.m. Free. 704-333-9071.

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.

Timothy Smith Recital presented by American Guild of Organists. First United Baptist Church, 200 W. Gay St, Lancaster, SC. Sun., July 13, 7:30 p.m. Free. 704-333-9071.

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. 516 N. College St., Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

Cricket Arena Party Gras Comedy Fest. The comedy show features Arnez J, Earthquake, Broman and Chris Thomas. Sat., July 12, 8 p.m. $33.50/$23.50 (in advance) $35.50/$25.50 (day of). 2700 E Independence Blvd. 704-372-3600.

The Perch Theatre Smokin' Bear Tour Featuring Talking Baby. Presented by The Perch at various venues while a new location is scouted. Shows are rated 'R' for verbal content. July 10 & 17: The Steeple Lounge, 9:30pm; July 26: Neighborhood Theater, 9pm. Call for reservations. $12. 704-372-7724.

Dance

Get Kinetic! Watch open rehearsals of works in progress for Kinetic Works SummerDance concerts. Call for details and reservations. July 19, 26 and August 2, 12:30-2pm. Studio C, 2nd floor. $5. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-338-1533.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite The Faces of Our State. Photographic exhibit showcasing 70 years of North Carolina people as seen in Our State: North Carolina magazine. Through June 2004. 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. Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Eight mid 19th century crinoline fashions, featuring wide hoop skirts, from the museum's costume collection are currently on display. Through May 2004. Passing. Selected artists from the 2002 Juried exhibition Celebrating the Legacy of Romare Bearden are invited for in-depth presentation of their work. An Artists Gallery Walk-through will be held on Sun. July 13, 3pm. Artists featured in Passing will lead a walk-through and discussion of the work on display. The program is free after museum admission. Through September 7. 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.

Spoken Word

Jackson's Java Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Thu., July 10, 8 p.m. 8544 University City Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Mert's Heart and Soul Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring the areas most talented singers, rappers, and poets. Sign up for the Open Mic Showcase. Details: www.motifentertainment.com. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 10pm-until. $7 cover. 214 N. College St. 704-623-0058.

Southend Performing Arts Center BareBones Poetry Project. SPAC will feature regional authors reading selections of their poetry, short stories and performance poetry. Third Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m. 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Fri., July 11, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Theater: Openings

Footloose Based on popular film. Presented by CPCC Summer Theatre. July 16-19 at 8pm; July 20 at 2:30pm; July 22 at 7pm; July 23-26 at 8pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Open Season New comedy by Florida playwright Michael McKeever presented by SummerStage. Runs July 9-27. Wednesday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm. Tickets range from $20-$28. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

Parade Day A new play by Terry Roueche. Special opening night Dinner & a Show package, July 10. Presented by BareBones Theatre Group. July 10-27. Thursday-Saturday, 8pm. Sunday July 27, 3pm. $15 adults, $12 students/seniors. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Stuart Little - The Musical Presented by Creative Kids and StageWorks Theatre. Call ahead for reservations. July 11, 7:30 p.m.; July 12, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $6. Providence Day School. 704-364-0081.

Theater: Ongoing

Dorothy and the Planet OZ Join Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man as they make their journey to the Land of Oz. A musical for children of all ages. Runs June 30-July 12. Monday-Saturday performances at 10:00 a.m. $5. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

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

Visual Arts: Openings

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Bob Rankin. A show of his original works in acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Meet the artist: July 24, 6-9pm. Exhibit runs July 14 - August 9. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Summer Invitational Exhibition. Four regional artists. Opening reception on July 11, 6-8pm. Exhibition runs July 8 through August 29. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Joie Lassiter Gallery John Nickerson. Exhibit: Hotter than July -- New Glass, at 525 N. Tryon St., Odell Bldg. Exhibit starts July 11. Reception: July 11, 6:30-9:30pm. 318 E 9th. 704-373-1464.

Redsky Gallery Gallery Opening. A combination of fine arts and crafts gallery and working pottery studio. Opening exhibit will feature six artists. Opening July 21. www.redskygallery.com. 4705 Savings Pl., Suite 108. 704-552-5200.

Sanctuary Art Studio & Galleries Art in America. A group show celebrating American craftsmanship and creative ingenuity. Exhibit runs through September 3. 3440 North Davidson St. 704-877-2692.

Shain Gallery Summer Open House. See new works from the gallery's featured artists. Fri., July 11. Free. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Wil Bosbyshell. An exhibition of egg still life series. The paintings portray eggs in dramatic light with bold colors and deep-cast shadows. Artist reception is on Wed, July 23, 5:30-7pm. Exhibit runs through July. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Plaza Maker versus Material. A two-location exhibit. Also on display at the First Citizens Building, 128 S. Tryon St. Continues through Nov. 21. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Christa Faut Gallery Solo exhibition of oil paintings. "The Nature of Tranquility," by Kenneth Freed. Continues through July 12. Summer Show. Group exhibition of paintings, drawings and prints by gallery artists. July 15-August 11. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Clay on Camden Fireworks: Contemporary works in Raku. Works by some of the region's potters. Through July. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.

Crazy Jane's Local Artists. Works by Ellyn Bernstein, Mike Watson and Rod Wriner. Pottery by Ann Hamilton. Mon.-Sat. 1817 Hawkins Street. 704-332-5454.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Montotypes by Francisco Gonzales. Francisco, a native of Mexico has been printmaking in Charlotte for over 8 years. He is a gallery artist with Blue Pony Gallery and Press. Through July 12. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Das Maultier Art Gallery Store/Gallery. Art and design shop located in NODA with affordable art for novice to the serious collector. In the Colony. 3472 N. Davidson St. 704-333-0277.

ElderArt Gallery Leon A. Makielski, A Journey of Creativity. Exhibit will feature portraits and landscapes painted over a 50 year period by Makielski (1885-1974). Through July 25. Hours: Tues - Fri: 10 am - 6 pm. Saturdays: 10am - 2 pm. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

The Gallery at Carillon Convergence. Presents the work of five women artists offering a wide variety of recent paintings and sculpture. Exhibit runs through September 29. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.

Green Rice Designs & Studio New Gallery now open. A working artist studio and gallery. Visit during business hours or gallery crawls. www.green-rice.com. 510 E. 35th St. 704-344-0300.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Introductions. Exhibit featuring eight artists. Through July 12. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Robert Motherwell. Works on Paper by Motherwell (1915-1991), featuring over 30 lithographs, etchings, ink drawings and paintings. Continues through July 12. 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-3000.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Shaun Cassidy. New paintings and drawings by former McColl resident. July through August. 318 E 9th. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory Members 2003 Show. The show will exhibit members' works in a wide variety of styles and media in images that have never been seen at the Factory. Exhibit on through August 9. Spirit Square, Knight Gallery, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

McColl Center for Visual Art Summer Affiliates Artists Exhibition. Six area artists join current affiliates through August 15. Artist Forum: July 16, 7pm. Closing House: August 15, 6-8pm. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

McGregor Downs Galleries Boris Tomic. Exhibit of Tomic's work including oil, watercolor, mixed media and sculpture. His local credits include Ballantyne Gates. Other local artists works exhibited include Elaine Rockey, Justin Rivenbank and Han Cashion. Through August 31. 10801 Johnston Rd., Suite 219. 704-333-6699.

Original Art, Concord New Gallery. The gallery will have for sale original art paintings, drawings, jewelry, books, sculpture and more. There will also be ongoing classes, tours and workshops. 21 Union St. South, Concord. 704-784-1549.

Rauch Gallery, Gaston College Anne Cowie. Featuring a mixed media exhibit of sculpture, ceramics and paintings. July 1 through August 15. 201 Highway 321 South, Rauch Science and Fine Arts Bldg., Dallas. 704-922-6245.

Rising of the Eagle Native American Art Gallery. Chief Richard Eagle Thomas will be on premises dressed in full regalia and telling short stories. Hours Sat 10-6pm, Sun 12-6pm. 4742 East Hwy 27, Iron Station.

Shain Gallery New Gallery artists. New paintings by regional artists. Summer reception July 11, 6-9pm. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Stewart's Village Gallery American Crafts. Featuring pottery by Bill Stewart, Sylvia Coppola, Lambeth Marshall & Bill Campbell. Daily. 116 McDonald St., Waxhaw. 704-843-5638.

The Art Preserve Jan Kinslowe. Exhibit of paintings. Framing Design Studio and Gallery. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.

W.D.O. Bridging Fine and Decorative Arts. During the summer, the gallery will feature works by artists who have shown major works during the Winter/Spring season as well as previews of the upcoming Autumn/Winter season. Through August. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Lynn Baney, Todd Stone, Sharon Wolpoff. Baney (ABSTRABET), Wolpoff (Summer Light), Stone (Pools and Reflections). Through August 23. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.