New Year's Eve - The Clockwork Ball

Now here's a unique way to spend New Year's Eve if you like to dress in costume, love all things Victorian/Edwardian and think Jules Verne is the bomb! The  Davenport Sisters, two of the most fun club DJ's in the Triangle and who host a radio show (WCOM 103.5 LP-FM Carrboro/Chapel Hill) are hosting a Steampunk New Year's Eve celebration at Mansion 462 on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill featuring a live performance by Dexter Romweber & the New Romans. Jazz, Blues, Swing, Dark Cabaret, Gypsy Punk, & Dance music from times gone by or times that never were.
Music begins at 10pm
Admission: 18+, 21+ to Drink;
$10 without mask, $5 with mask
Appropriate Attire is Encouraged
MANSION 462
462 West Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.mansion462.com
For more information:
http://www.clockworkcabaret.com

http://tinyurl.com/ClockworkBall

New Year's Eve - Black & White Ball

Dance fans, here's an event for you. The Carolina Dance club is hosting the Black and White Ball for New Year's Eve. It is a smoke-free and alcohol-free event so you can dance all night in your black and white finest. No partner is necessary although last year we had a group of 10 folks and it was lots of fun. Admission includes a party favor, yummy desserts and a (non-alcoholic) toast at midnight. The Black and White Ball is being held at Temple Beth-Or 5315 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC (1/2 north of Crabtree Valley Mall). The doors open at 7:15PM and there is a free Swing lesson at 7:30pm. Social dancing from 8:30pm to 12:45am. This is a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Admission is $18.00 but get your tickets as soon a possible as it may sell out.

For details and tickets and details: http://www.musicanddance.com/cdc/special.html

New Year's Eve - First Night

There are so many choices for ways to spend New Year's Eve in Raleigh. The best $9.00 value in town is First Night Raleigh. It is a grand celebration of music, art and community that lights up downtown Raleigh. There are dozens of musical performances throughout downtown from Blues to Country to Classical. There are also comedy performances, Shakespeare and Magic shows. Coupled with all the amazing music is Artsplosure - a fantastic arts festival featuring over 170 artists. Watch the weather forecast and be sure to bundle up if its cold or carry an umbrella because you won't want to miss a moment.
Tickets are discounted through December 30th so buy your pin early.

http://www.firstnightraleigh.com/home.html

Found Some Found Art

If you don't know what Found Art is; its the ultimate in recycling. Taking "one man's junk" and making it "another man's treasure".  Found art was the foundation of my holiday giving this year as I re-purposed old hats, swimsuits and jewelry into cool and useful presents. And they got rave reviews too! 
Coming up January 9th the North Carolina Museum of Art is not letting being closed stop them from some interesting programming. They will host a free event at the Cameron Village Public Library at 2:00pm, The Art Hour: Found Objects. While it is a program for kids, I find those events targeted to children to be very engaging and inspiring. Registration is required. Click the link below for more information.
After their event, head off to the Scrap Exchange in Durham for more "junk to treasure"!
http://ncartmuseum.org/interim/events.php

Carolina Rollergirls are loved!

I love the Carolina Rollergirls. They are sassy, fun and marvelous athletes who know how to show thousands a good time.  Check out the fans choice award winners while we wait for the 2010 season to begin. See you at Dorton Arena!

http://carolinarollergirls.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/fans-choice-winners/

Plus you can tryout to be a roller girl in just a couple of weeks. I don't have the knees for it (although probably the hips) but you might! Strap on those skates and get in shape! Tryouts are Saturday, January 9th at the Skate Ranch in Raleigh.

http://carolinarollergirls.com/events.htm

Gone With The Wind -In more ways than one!

Sometimes I feel sorry for the newer generations who are stuffed full of sensory experiences all day long from multiple sources of input. I specially feel sorry for those who have never had the experience of waiting all week to "go to the movies" on Saturday and see a big screen, grand Hollywood production of a cinema classic. Now let's be clear, "Gone with the Wind" was my parent's movie experience (or even their parents first run experience) but in my small town with just one screen (the fabulous IOKA Theater) it was a BIG DEAL to see a movie like "Gone with the Wind", Dr. Zhivago" or "Lawrence of Arabia" - with an intermission with beautiful soundtrack playing.

So here is your chance. Go to the Carolina Theatre's EXCLUSIVE 70th Anniversary presentation of "Gone with the Wind".

The last showing is December 23, 2009 and there are weekend matinees. 

Tickets are $8.00 ($6.20 for matinees). Shows are at 7:30pm and weekends at 2:30pm & 7:30pm

The web site is below and remember "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn" (The first movie swear word approved by the censors!  Blame it on Rhett!)

http://www.carolinatheatre.org/onscreen/

Nuts for Squirrel Nut Zippers

Plan ahead music lovers! Next Friday night the Squirrel Nut Zippers are taking the stage again in Raleigh at the Lincoln Theater. The opening acts are Sol Driven Train and The Neverhads.

Friday, December 18th

Doors open at 8:00pm and show starts at 9:00pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 day of the show.


http://www.lincolntheatre.com/schedule.htm
http://www.snzippers.com/ 
http://www.soldriventrain.com/

Destroy All Sweaters

There is an amazing amount of high quality music in the Triangle area. We are fortunate to have a large number of bars, concert halls, university arts groups and professional and amateur performers and theaters. So - You are NEVER allowed to say in my presence "There's nothing to do". No whining about being bored with the same old-same old. Go online and see what's up! Read this blog. Pick up The Independent - an amazing newspaper that needs your support. So break out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Tonight, I will step out of my musical comfort zone (just because I am not familiar with the band) and am attending a concert of a "Weezer" cover band recommended by friends. "Destroy All Sweaters" is playing at The Pour House tonight at 9:30. Come on out!

http://www.the-pour-house.com/

222 S. Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601

"Arrgggh, matey! Prepare to be boarded"

A celebration of all things Pirate is going on at the North Carolina Museum of History. "Knights of the Black Flag" is a wonderful exhibit and it will be ending January 3, 2010 so time is running out to see it. On Wednesday, December 16th the NC History Museum will join forces with the NC Museum of Art (closed until spring while they finish their new construction) for a Yo! Ho! Ho! Holiday Event. The party runs from 7:00pm - 9:30pm. The ticket price includes two drink tickets and admission to the exhibit. For more information click or copy the links below. 

http://ncartmuseum.org/interim/events.php#yo

http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/wgo/Programs.html