Whether you want to watch a movie in the park or check out a new exhibit, there's plenty to do in Charlotte this first weekend in June including live music.
Joining All Things Considered guest host Gwendolyn Glenn to talk about this and other weekend activities is Emma Way, editor of Charlotte magazine.
Gwendolyn Glenn: Thanks for joining us Emma.
Emma Way: Thanks so much for having me. Glad to be here.
Glenn: Great. So tell me about Groove 8 and when will they be playing?
Way: So Groove 8 is a local jazz band. They've been playing together for a while since 2005. Last year they actually just released a new four track E.P. RPM Vol. 1 and tickets for the show at Evening Muse are actually only $7. The show is on Saturday and starts at 9 p.m.
Glenn: So have you heard them before. And do you plan to go?
Way: Oh yeah, yeah. So they're on Spotify. You can stream them ahead of the concert, listen to some of their old albums and Evening Muse is a great local venue, smaller but more intimate. You get to know the band, you can really see them up close and personal.
Glenn: And that's in NoDa right?
Way: Yes that's in the heart of NoDa.
Glenn: Great. Sounds good. Well, there are also going to be movies in the park this weekend right?
Way: Yes. So this is a return of a local series favorite. So this is put on by the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association and it happens once a month over the summer. They pick a movie and they put it on the big screen under the stars and wait for dusk. And it's totally free. This is the first one of the summer and they're going to be playing Jurassic Park.
Glenn: Okay. And can people bring their own food, snacks or do they provide it?
Way: It’s kind of a little bit of both. So you can bring your picnic table, bring your own snacks, bring your own drinks. But the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association will also have free popcorn available.
Glenn: Is there a cost to get in?
Way: Totally free.
Glenn: Great. Okay. So on Saturday I understand there will be a Morning Market at Camp North End. What's that about?
Way: Yes. So Camp North End is just a little bit north of the city. And this is going to be a free market for you, kind of a family celebration...the first Saturday of every month. This is actually the last one until October though, during the summer months they take a break. What it is is just coffee, breakfast things, for families to have fun, shopping, live music sort of a collection of a bunch of great organizations coming together. Yeah. And it's totally free.
Glenn: Well, sounds great. Let's move to the theater scene in Charlotte. The Producers will be here. Tell me more?
Way: So the producers is of course the movie to musical created by Mel Brooks. It's about a producer creating what he hoped to be an awful show in order to scam some investors. But then the show is a hit. So this will be the last show for Theatre Charlotte's main stage until September. And tickets for this are $28. And this is going to run through June 9. So you can really go any day of the weekend you want.
Glenn: Well, for nature lovers and others I hear there is a new exhibit in town?
Way: Yes. So this new exhibit opens on Saturday, but you can have a chance to preview Bloom at Lark and Key on Friday at 6 p.m. This is a free preview event with other local artists who will be there to talk about their work. The exhibit is really unique and I think it embodies the spring and summer feeling we're all experiencing with this warm weather and beautiful flowers bloom. I mean, what could be more appropriate than that?It's gonna be really whimsical like Lark and Key Gallery itself and really embody nature.
Glenn: Well, thanks so much for giving us the scoop on what's happening in Charlotte this weekend.
Way: Of course, I'm happy to be here.
Glenn: Thank you. Emma Way is editor of Charlotte magazine.
