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CSO al Fresco returns this summer with four FREE virtual concerts, each featuring a different ensemble of CSO musicians performing a diverse range of works. Principal Cellist Alan Black hosts the concerts, which take place in his backyard in Charlotte, and engages the musicians in conversation about the music and their lives as performing musicians. The virtual concerts will premiere on Facebook and YouTube on Fridays at 7:30 pm between July 23 and September 3. Alex Wilborn, principal trumpet Gabriel Slesinger, third/assoc. principal trumpet Byron Johns, principal horn John Bartlett, principal trombone Scott Hartman, principal bass trombone LAUREN BERNOFSKY Fanfare from Suite for Brass Quintet GABRIELI/arr. Arnold Fromme Canzona Prima a 5 J.S. BACH/arr. Room "Little" Fugue in G Minor KOETSIER Brass Quintet, Op. 65, Mvt. 2 EWALD Brass Quintet Op. 7, Mvt. 4 SHERWIN/MASCHWITZ/arr. Kirby Shaw A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square WALLER/arr. Norris Ain't Misbehavin

You're invited to Markets at 11 to explore 40+ market vendors and enjoy live music, picnicking, brews, food trucks and family-friendly activities! August's Markets at 11 is a part of Ballantyne's 2021 Color the Park School Supplies Drive. Activities and partial vendor sales benefit Classroom Central, an organization with a mission to distribute school supplies to teachers in six local districts and over 100,000 students in need. Saturday, August 14 Markets at 11 Schedule 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Food trucks, vendors and Color the Park activities open. 11 a.m. | Live: Matthew Ablan 12:45 p.m. | Story Circle with local author, Joe Garrick 1 p.m. | Live: Calvin Edwards Trio 3 p.m. | Live: Laylo Browse home, specialty, fashion, beauty and health products in Ballantyne's Backyard, the area's newest community park. Grab food truck bites and beers from Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Sycamore Brewing. Kid-friendly food options are available. Post up on your picnic blanket and get your groove on with musical artists all day long! Start your Saturday in flow at Yoga & Mimosas! Class begins at 10 a.m. and registration proceeds benefit the drive. Online registration is required. Yoga & Mimosas is located at the Kosonen Park entrance to Ballantyne's Backyard. Markets at 11 opens at 11 a.m. in Ballantyne's Backyard on the second Saturday of each month. Pack a picnic, games, sunscreen and the pups!

JazzArts Charlotte’s virtual live music series is excited to present bassist Dave Vergato and his quartet, playing a tribute to some of his favorite bassists, including DownBeat Hall of Famer Ray Brown. Charlotte-based bass Dave Vergato is the name you call when you want a bassist, with extensive performance experience in a wide variety of musical styles from jazz to classical, musical theater, rock, funk, and contemporary Christian music. We last heard Dave in the JAZZ ROOM in August 2019. Dave Vergato has been offering his knowledge to the next generation in schools for years, and is also currently an Adjunct Professor at Wynthrop. Tune in to Keep Jazz A-Live-Streaming to hear local jazz musicians live, straight to your living room via Facebook Live & YouTube Live. Performances for this series, introduced by our host Braxton Bateman, come to you from Neighborhood Theater. Featuring: Lovell Bradford, piano Troy Conn, guitar Alfred Servel IV, drums Free Event - Donations and tips can be made at www.thejazzarts.org/donate Thank you to our sponsors, @Knight Foundation, O’s Place Jazz, @Arts and Science Council, @NC Arts Council, and our many donors who keep jazz thriving.

Get ready for fall’s most ‘spirited’ event! Join the Historic Elmwood Pinewood Inc. (HEPI) Saturday, November 6, 2021, for the first-ever Historic Cemetery Drop Dead 5K. The race will take place within the 70+ acres of Charlotte’s Historic Elmwood and Pinewood Cemeteries. Participants will run by the likes of Belk, Ivey, Morrison, Tate, and Blake, just to name a few of the resident luminaries. The post-race event will include an awards presentation, DJ, food trucks, and guided tours. All proceeds help support the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Historic Elmwood Pinewood, Inc. (HEPI). Help us support the cemetery’s restoration and preservation while getting some exercise and enjoying some history! Can’t make the race but still want to support? Register as a "Sleep In Supporter" and get the official 2021 race shirt.

In preparation for the Billie Holiday JAZZ ROOM tribute, we speak with vocalist Melissa Morgan and Harlem Legend Bill Saxton about the amazing “Lady Day”, who changed the way jazz was sung. Billie Holiday’s vocal style was inspired by the jazz instrument, pioneering a new direction in improvisation of phrasing and tempo. She used that same powerful voice as a statement on Civil Rights. For this she has been recognized in the Grammy Hall of Fame, the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, and in books and TV. Melissa Morgan, who considers Billie Holiday one of her main influences, will share with us what she has learned in reimagining this epic performer, and how Billie Holiday has shaped her jazz career. Bill Saxton, owner of the venue where a teenage Billie Holiday got her start, will share anecdotes of Holiday’s legends and legacy that continues today. Bill’s Place, Harlem’s still-active speakeasy, got its start in the early years of Prohibition during the 1920's. It was a lawless era of gangsters and illegal drinking in small underground parlors of private houses uptown. If only those walls could talk… Tune in to the monthly Conversation with Curtis series to discover outstanding musicians, past and present, regional and international. Our interactive events are a chance for you to engage with the artists who are usually up on the stage. These conversations are led by jazz expert, JAZZ ROOM MC, and CurtJazz radio host Curtis Davenport. Join us free on YouTube or Facebook at the downbeat of the show. Thank you to our sponsors, Knight Foundation, Infusion Fund, NC Arts Council, Dorris Duke Foundation and our many donors who keep jazz thriving. Want to support? https://www.thejazzarts.org/support/

Join us for a Charlotte literary tradition and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s signature annual fundraiser. Last year’s first-ever virtual Verse & Vino was a resounding success and attracted viewers from all over the country. This year, we’ll build on that success with an event that streams to gatherings of all sizes. Celebrate the joy of reading, writing and libraries with New York Times best-selling authors from around the world. Ticket options include books, wine, beer, a viewing party, food, and even a three-course meal.

In Charlotte, as in other communities, the color of your skin correlates strongly to the amount of wealth your family is likely to have. Nationwide, White households have 10 times the wealth of Black households and 7 times the wealth of Latinx households. How did this come to be, and what can we do to change it? On Oct. 12, we're exploring the roots and consequences of the racial wealth gap, looking at policies and practices that have set some groups up to accumulate far more wealth than others. Our virtual panel is set to start at 12 p.m. This community conversation is free to attend, but registration is required. We'll be taking audience questions, so come prepared to ask and learn.

Panelists:
+ Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America Charlotte
+ Dr. Darrick Hamilton, professor of economics and urban policy at The New School's Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment
+ Angelique Gaines, a research associate at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

Moderator:
Dr. Byron White, Associate Provost for Urban Research and Community Engagement

“Old Things” will feature photography by Steve West and paintings by Andrew Atkin, and will be on display starting October 1, 2021 through November 26, 2021. Steve’s photography for this exhibit focuses on old eclectic subjects such as buildings, machinery, and vehicles. A nostalgic connection to aged artifacts reminds him of pleasant memories from childhood, and he is drawn to the interesting textures of aging wood or the rust patterns on old vehicles. Andrew Atkin has been an active artist for over 50 years, sketching and painting barns, outbuildings, and other scenes in western North Carolina. His acrylic works are collected widely. The Caldwell Arts Council is located at 601 College Ave SW in Lenoir, NC, and is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s newest community event series, Good Morning, Opportunity!, is designed to be a bright and vibrant annual event that serves to remind all in attendance of the opportunities that each day brings. We will be sharing inspirational stories of Goodwill participants who have utilized our services and training classes along their journey and spotlight local employers who partner with Goodwill. Jia Jiang, a top keynote speaker on emotional intelligence, will be speaking at the event about how you can lead and influence beyond the different boxes that have already been defined for us based on our identity – the very boxes that many in the community have placed Goodwill participants in. Together, our community is helping people see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper.

Space exploration has inspired and united us as a nation ever since we first set our sights on the Moon. Launch yourself behind the scenes of the first Moon landing during this limited-run exhibition—for anyone and everyone who has ever wondered, "Where will humanity go next?” Explore the Apollo era through an interactive and immersive experience that puts you in the astronaut’s seat and at the forefront of human space exploration. More than 100 artifacts from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will be on display along with activities designed to relive the excitement and awe of the Space Race. Apollo: When We Went to the Moon is a touring exhibition co-produced by U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL and Flying Fish. Discovery Place’s presentation of this exhibition is generously sponsored by Honeywell.

What happens to the memories in a house when the family has to leave a gentrifying neighborhood? Explore the answers during FixaPlate, an outdoor theater and arts experience, concluding with a meal from Grinning Mule restaurant. FixaPlate tells the story of a Charlotte family packing up their Auntie’s home when she can no longer afford to live there. As they pack up, they discover recipes revealing the history of their home and family. Interspersed throughout scenes of the play, audiences will visit rooms that tell the story of Charlotte kitchens and gentrification through sound, paint, projections, and more. The story and installation art was created by Charlotte artists for an experience that’s powerful, moving, and unforgettable. Bring your own blankets and chairs to enjoy this outdoor performance.

RAO Community Health is hosting a “Care Village” to provide a safe and collective space for members of the community to access various resources dedicated to health and wellness in both Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County.  Join us at the Carole A. Hoefener Center on Saturday, September 25 from 12-3PM for free cooking demonstrations, health chats, HIV testing, COVID-19 vaccinations, health screenings, flu education, and more!  Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is recommended for testing, vaccinations, and cooking demonstrations.  To pre-register, visit https://raoassist.org/event/care-village.  In accordance with the mask mandate, everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors.

Head to Ballantyne from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 1 for local bands, beverages and bites! Bring a picnic blanket or chairs to claim your spot on the lawn. Order food truck fare, wine or beer from local vendors. Eversol is opening for Unknown Artist Band! RSVP for the October 1 concert on Facebook. Pay $1 per person using cash or a $5 family fee via the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina donation portal. For easier entry, donate a minimum of $1 for each person in your group via the website before arriving at the event, and show your donation receipt at the admission tent. Parking is free. Live at 11 takes place in Ballantyne’s Backyard located at, 11611 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277. Learn more about the event on goBallantyne.com.

JazzArts Charlotte’s virtual live music series is excited to present a night of blues, with the legendary Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues. Mac Arnold has blown the roof off THE JAZZ ROOM and set the Jazz at Victoria Yards night on fire. He’s back with his band, to bring the deep southern blues to your living room. Blues: A style originating from the deep South, is steeped in American history. It’s call-and-response style is irresistible, and the 12-bar structure and blues scale were a major influence on rock and roll. Mac Arnold: Mac’s first band included James Brown on piano. In Chicago, Arnolds toured and recorded with none other than the Muddy Waters Band, helping shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement. Moving to LA, his music career reads like a “who’s who” list of blues and R&B: producer on Soul Train, backup band for Otis Redding, B.B. King, and the Sanford & Son TV show. He has shared the stage with Eric Clapton, Big Mama Thornton and John Lee Hooker. Back to his South Carolina roots, Mac is serving up a mess of Blues with his own band, “Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues”. Featuring: Austin Brashier, guitar and vocals Max Hightower, keyboards, harmonica, guitar, bass, and vocals Dizzy Dizzy, drums and vocals Mac Arnold, vocals, bass and Gas Can Guitars Tune in to Keep Jazz A-Live-Streaming to hear local jazz musicians live, straight to your living room via Facebook Live & YouTube Live. Performances for this series, introduced by our host Braxton Bateman, come to you from Neighborhood Theater. Free Event - Donations and tips can be made at www.thejazzarts.org/support Thank you to our sponsors, Knight Foundation, Infusion Fund, NC Arts Council, Dorris Duke Foundation and our many donors who keep jazz thriving.

One for the Books is a one-time, free event created to mark a turning point in Main Library’s history. It’s an opportunity for our community to honor the history of an uptown anchor, say goodbye to the current building and welcome the future together. Take a weekend tour through time at Main Library – explore 118 years of innovation, community and opportunity through audio, video, performance and activities for all ages. All events are free, but reservations and masks are required. CDC and local health guidelines in place at the time of the event will be followed. Join us to celebrate your place in the story!

We can better serve all of the communities in our state, and we need your help. Please join us to share your feedback to identify everyday needs and ideas to improve local programming, news coverage, and public engagement. "Your Voice, Your Vision" is presented by the NC Media Equity Project, NC Local News Workshop, and Media 2070. Attendees will receive a gift card as a token of our appreciation.

The Leaders in Action Lecture Series provides the McColl School of Business and Queens University’s campus community with an opportunity to interact with and be exposed to a variety of leaders with varying leadership styles and experiences. The lecture events are hosted in an intimate setting where the audience can ask questions and hear personal and professional leadership experiences from our guests. The lecture begins at 5:30pm and a networking reception will immediately follow each lecture.

Tesfa Ethiopia, a non-profit organization based in Charlotte, NC for the benefit of kid's education in Ethiopia is holding its first Fall Fest at OurBridge for Kids to bring the community together for a great cause!

A new, monthly Caregiver Support Group to be led by Dr. Sarah Kalish will begin meeting at Light of Christ United Methodist Church (at 9106 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277) on Wednesday, January 12th from 11:30am until 12:30pm in the church's Soundproof/Conference Room. If you are a caregiver for a loved one or have a friend who cares for a loved one, please join us and invite others in the community to come for support, resources, and friendship. Dr. Sarah Kalish is a retired United Methodist pastor who has been a caregiver for her husband before he passed away and is currently a caregiver for her mother. For more information, email locumc@locumc.org .

UNC Charlotte partners with JazzArts Charlotte to continue a Charlie Parker 101 celebration, including his own bebop jazz compositions plus featured selections from the rarely played Charlie Parker with Strings albums. The JAZZ ROOM provides a casual and intimate setting with tables and a full bar, reminiscent of the classic jazz rooms of yesteryear. Legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, “Bird”, led the development of bebop with his musically blazing virtuosity and revolutionary harmonic ideas. Parker's identifiable tone ranged from clean and penetrating to sweet and somber. While Charlie Parker is recognized as developing the fast-paced sound of bebop, he was a keen lover of classical music. His Grammy award winning album “Charlie Parker with Strings” – a visionary album of ballads incorporating a classical string section and a jazz rhythm section - is dubbed one of the most beautiful jazz recordings of all time. An icon for the hipster subculture, Parker personified the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual rather than just an entertainer. His tragically sort life was lived to its fullest and his contributions continue today. “Bird Lives!” Dr Will Campbell, UNC Charlotte Director of Jazz Studies, will be leading this musical collaboration, including a full string section and jazz combo. Will Campbell has toured internationally as a member of the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra. Recording credits include Blue Light, Red Light, When My Heart Finds Christmas, and The New York Big Band Concert (DVD). This JAZZ ROOM performance is part of a full set of Charlie Parker 101 events led by UNC Charlotte celebrating Charlie Parker’s Centennial +1. Note: In following regional directives and venue protocols for the comfort and safety of attendees, masks will be required at all times inside the Stage Door Theater. No food or beverage will be allowed. Keep your eyes out for opportunities to gather with your JAZZ ROOM friends for dinner or a drink before and after the show at surrounding restaurants. Thank you to the program sponsors and supporters, who each bring jazz alive in Charlotte: Infusion Fund, Knight Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, North Carolina Arts Council, and O's Place Jazz.