The Eros Negras exhibit at the Afro-Am Cultural Center will be wrapping up its run this Saturday. The exquisite collection of images representing the African Diaspora that explores the "sexuality of black women from a socio-political perspective" will be open to the public during regular gallery hours until Saturday at 6pm. For more information, call 704-374-1565 or visit online at www.aacc-charlotte.org. (McKinney)
NOV 28 - THURSDAY
Happy Turkey Day! That's right, it's (already) time again for Thanksgiving -- when the family gathers around the living room/dining room area for food, fun, and football, and other "f" words. If you can shake off the turkey and pry yourself away from the house, there's a lot of stuff going on out there. Check our Holiday listings in the Happenings section for more information. (McKinney)
The Carolinas' Carrousel Parade will mark its 55th year as it cruises the Thanksgiving Day uptown streets starting at 1pm. The wide open performances by the West Charlotte and Harding High Schools' bands have been in the news lately, with the parade's director asking them to tone down the hootchie coo. Others who aren't as eaten up by whitebread, vanilla, suburban concepts of entertainment are not happy about the new directives. As of press time, there's no word whether the bands will be keeping it real at the parade. This year's Grand Marshall is Charlotte Fire Chief Luther L. Fincher Jr. The parade begins at North Tryon and 11th Streets, proceeds on Tryon to 3rd, turns east on 3rd, south on College, and then east on 2nd Street as it comes to an end where 2nd meets McDowell in front of the Adams Mark Hotel. Make plans to get there early or get around the traffic by checking the website at www.carrouselparade.org. For additional information, call 704-372-9411. (McKinney)
NOV 29 - FRIDAY
Apres Turkey Day, you can dine lite at Theatre Charlotte with A Thurber Carnival, a one-act production of staged favorites from the venerable print anthology of the same title. Joe Copley, one of our more consistent performers, soldiers on bravely as the protagonist in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty -- apparently unperturbed after being implicated in CP's Picnic. The price is as light as humorist James Thurber's cunningly crafted drawings and entertainments, $7 per ticket. The show runs tonight and Saturday night at 7:30pm; Sunday matinee at 2:30pm. Call 704-334-9128 for reservations. (Tannenbaum)
NOV 30 - SATURDAY
Texas troubadour Billy Joe Shaver will perform at the Neighborhood Theatre tonight in NoDa. No stranger to life's hard knocks, Shaver writes and plays real country music, as well as being a blistering hot guitarist. In addition to releasing albums of his own, his earthy compositions have also been covered by everyone from the Allman Brothers to Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley. The man who many call today's real honky-tonk hero takes the stage at 8pm. Tickets cost $15. Call the theater at 704-358-9298 for more details. (Farris)
DEC 3 - TUESDAY
Yes, you can escape the rabid commercialism of the holidays -- for one precious hour, anyway -- at St. Peter's Episcopal Church! Concerts at the popular First Tuesday at Noon chamber music series actually start at 12:10, but you'll want to arrive at Seventh and Trade before noon since admission is free and seating is open. The December concert features NC composer Dan Locklair's Dream Steps for flute, viola and harp. Two African-American spirituals and a German chorale tune serve as important motifs in Dream Steps. There's free parking in the Transamerica Building and $5 lunch in the parlor after the concert. (Tannenbaum)
DEC 4 - WEDNESDAY
Anybody who's gotten their hands on correspondence between their parents, grandparents or great grandparents during the "wars" knows what an incredible treasure they've discovered. Tonight at the Levine Museum of the New South, Andrew Carroll presents an evening of "War Letters," including a lecture, book signing and a chance for all to share their own personal letters with Carroll following the presentation. The evening begins at 6pm. Space is limited. Cost is $10 for nonmembers. For more information or to make reservations, call 704-333-1887. (McKinney)
The Charlotte 49ers will play their second game of the regular season against the Temple University Owls tonight at 7:30pm in Halton Arena. The Atlantic 10's Owls aren't looking very good this season following a drought in recruiting and the exit of big guns Lynn Greer and Kevin Lyde. But nobody spins straw into gold like John Cheney, so "Niners" fans would do well not to count their chickens before they hatch. Tickets are $5. For more information, call the box office at 704-687-4949. (McKinney)
