Kick off your November weekend with mead tastings and film screenings and close it out with live music events and food trucks
Complied by Rylee Parsons
‘Escape to Margaritaville’ – Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2pm and 8pm; Sunday, 1pm and 7pm – Durham Performing Arts Center presents this Broadway musical comedy based on the book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, with classic and original songs by Jimmy Buffett.
Techtalk Toastmasters Veteran’s Day Online Open House – Thursday, 5-7pm – Meet Techtalk Toastmasters members working to develop communication and leadership skills. The virtual open house will feature guest speaker Darnell Badger sharing advice on communication skills. This will be followed by prepared and impromptu speeches.
Bee Bold Virtual Tasting – Thursday, 7pm – Honeygirl Meadery owner Diane Currier leads participants through a mead 101 course, which includes a discounted tasting kit featuring a bottle of Triberry Mead, Honey Chai Mead and Strawbanero Mead.
‘Rock Castle Home’ Documentary Film Screening and Discussion – Thursday, 7-9pm – Duke cultural anthropology professor Charlie Thompson screens his new documentary on the Rock Castle farm community subsumed by the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. The free film showing is followed by a discussion with Charlie and live music by New Macedon Rangers.
Screening of ‘Noroît’ – Thursday, 7-9:30pm – Duke Cinematic Arts screens the 1976 Jacques Rivette film at the Rubenstein Arts Center’s film theater. The experimental dance film following a female pirate adventure will play in French with English subtitles.
Kayhan Kalhor – Thursday, 8pm – Duke Performances hosts the three-time Grammy nominee at Baldwin Auditorium as he performs traditional Persian music on kamancheh, a bowed string instrument. Arrive early at 6:30pm for a pre-concert conversation with the artist, who has worked with renowned Iran vocalists and instrumentalists, co-moderated by Amir Rezvani and Omid Safi.
Leaf Looker Paddle – Friday and Sunday, 9am – Experience autumn colors and cooler breezes while kayaking or canoeing on Falls Lake. Reserve a three-hour spot with Two Sisters Adventure Company, equipment included.
Louise Toppin & John O’Brien – Friday, 7:30pm – Duke Department of Music and Duke Department of English host the soprano and East Carolina University School of Music piano instructor for an operatic, orchestral performance in the Nelson Music Room.
Todd Barry Stand-up – Friday, 8pm – The actor, author and comedian performs a stand-up show at Motorco Music Hall. Todd recently released a Netflix stand-up special “Spicy Honey” and has made TV appearances in “The Wrestler,” and “Sex and the City.”
Hayti Film Next Level Series – Friday and Saturday, 7pm – This monthly film series hosted by the Hayti Heritage Center presents two films this weekend: “Martha & Niki,” a documentary on the first women to win the world’s biggest international street dance competition, on Friday, and “Sweet Thing, a fictional film that follows two children seeking escape from their dysfunctional home, on Saturday. Saturday’s film can also be streamed online. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Rescued Raptors Return to Mystic – Saturday, 10am-2pm – Raptors from the American Wildlife Refuge make an appearance during this family-friendly event featuring bourbon and a food truck at Mystic Farm and Distillery.
Bulls Fall Fan Fest – Saturday, 3-5pm – The Durham Bulls hosts an afternoon of hayrides, inflatables, face painting, Charlie Brown movies and throwing some balls around at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. This event is free, but fans must reserve tickets online.
‘Patterns of the Passing Wall’ Opening Reception – Saturday, 5-7pm – Craven Allen Gallery & House of Frames presents John Beerman’s landscape paintings representing North Carolina from the coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains. John’s exhibit will be on display through Jan. 29.
Dinner with Kent Rollins – Saturday, 5:30pm – Mystic Farm and Distillery hosts the Oklahoma native for a cooking demonstration in his chuck wagon that uses spirits from the distillery. He’ll tell cowboy stories and shares personal cooking tips, too.
Gaspard&Dancers 12th Season Performances – Saturday, 7:30pm – Choreographer Gaspard Louis and his dance company perform the world premiere of “The breath before” and “Inside Out,” and reintroduce three older works from the company’s repertoire at Reynolds Industries Theater.
The Last Podcast on the Left: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Tour! – Saturday, 8pm – Hosts Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski make a stop at The Carolina Theatre to share comedic takes on horrifying and disturbing things ranging from serial killers and war crimes to werewolves and hauntings.
Schumann Quartet – Saturday, 8pm – The three Schumann brothers and violist Liisa Randalu perform classical pieces by Beethoven, Ravel and Brahms at Baldwin Auditorium as part of the Chamber Arts Series presented by Duke Performances.
Durham County Pottery Tour – Saturday-Sunday – Celebrate the local pottery scene and its craftspeople at this eighth annual event. The mostly virtual tour covers 16 potters’ studios and two teaching studios at Claymakers and Durham Arts Council’s Clay Studio. Check participating potters’ websites for info on in-person studio visits.
‘Give Thanks to the Eno’ Hike – Sunday, 10am-noon – Join the Eno River Association for a guided hike of the 1.2-mile Cabe Lands Trail while discussing reasons to be thankful for the Eno River.
Show Me Snakes Reptile & Exotics Show – Sunday, 10am-4pm – A large array of reptiles, amphibians and exotic animals will be on display at the Durham Armory for an educational event with pet owners, vendors and others with a passion for reptile conservation.
Mayhem at Mystic – Sunday, noon – Take a medieval self-defense class at Mystic Farm and Distillery with Geek Girl Brunch and The Sword Conservatory. Learn how to defend yourself with a dagger in this course suitable for beginners. Ticket proceeds benefit The Sword Conservatory and its mission to teach the history and art of swordsmanship.
Autumn Food Truck Rodeo – Sunday, noon-4pm – Come out to Durham Central Park’s first food truck rodeo in over a year and a half to help raise money for the park. More than 25 food trucks will be on-site, along with craft beer and cider vendors.
Black Farmers Market Season Finale – 1-4pm – The final Durham market of the season is held at Golden Belt Campus, featuring Black farmers and entrepreneurs with a goal to inspire a self-sufficient community that supports and protects these vendors. The market will break until spring but is committed to continuing to create opportunities for farmers. Stay tuned for announcements coming soon.
Duke Chinese Music Ensemble – Sunday, 5pm – Duke Director of Chinese Music Ensemble Jennifer Chang leads a free performance using various Chinese music styles and instruments in the Nelson Music Room.
Give the Drummer Some – Sunday, 6-8:30pm – North Carolina Central University alumni Nasheet Waits and Thomas Taylor, along with other jazz instrumentalists, collaborate for a jazz concert and fundraiser in the NCCU School of Education auditorium. The concert is free, and all donations benefit the jazz studies scholarship fund. Music and percussion-focused workshops will occur earlier in the day beginning at 2pm.
Blockhead – Sunday, 8pm – Beatmaker Tony Simon, who has worked with indie music giants like Atmosphere, Murs and Mike Ladd, brings his funky tunes and instrumental hip-hop to Motorco Music Hall.
