American Guild of Organists Recitals sponsored by Guild. July 27: Mark Swicegood, First Baptist Church, 301 S. Davidson St.; August 3: Patrick Pope, Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St. All at 8pm. Free. 704-333-9071.

Heritage Singers The Heritage Singers of Yorkshire, England, formed in 1984 with a mission to restore and maintain the Anglican Choral Tradition by providing sung services to parishes without choirs and as a stand-in for cathedral choirs on holiday. Mon., July 28, 7:30 p.m. Free. Third Presbyterian Church, 4019 Central Ave. 704-537-5313.

Jonathan Richard Cring & Janet Clazzy Scott Author and composer Cring and Symphony conductor Scott present an evening of music and monologue. Cring will read from his new book Jesonian and Scott will perform pop-classical tunes on the oboe, piano and more. A cookout will precede the event. Fri., July 25, 7:30 p.m. Free-will offering. 704-523-7981.

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. 1-866-467-7681.

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 James Gregory. Appearing live - July 25-26. Showtimes: Wed. & Thurs. 8:00pm, Fri. & Sat. 8:00pm & 10:15pm.Sunday: 9:00pm. 516 N. College St., Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

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 26: Neighborhood Theatre, 9pm; Aug 2: Comedy Zone, 11pm. 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 All Aglow. An exhibition featuring 300 years of candlesticks on display. Through February 15, 2004. 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. Lauren & Friends. Tue., July 29. Passing. Selected artists from the 2002 Juried exhibition Celebrating the Legacy of Romare Bearden are invited for in-depth presentation of their work. 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. 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

Mert's Heart and Soul Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring the area's 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. 704-593-0114.

Tea Rex Teahouse Jonathan Rice. Poetry open mic night. Fri., Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Wine Basket Poetry Night. Featured reader will be selected from those signed up for Open Mike and will get extended reading time, door proceeds and an honorarium from Main Street Rag. The venue features wine for those of legal age and language is not restricted. For further details call or visit www.mainstreetrag.com. Fri., July 25, 8 p.m. 830 Lamar Ave. 704-573-2516.

Theater: Openings

Brighton Beach Memoirs Neil Simon play directed by John Hartness and presented by Davidson Community Players. For Mature audiences. Hodson Hall of the Cunningham Fine Arts Center. July 31-August 2 & August 7-9. All performances at 8 pm. $15 general admission, $13 for students and seniors. Davidson College. 704-892-7953.