Hayti Heritage Film Festival – Thursday-Saturday – One of the nation’s longest running black film festivals, its 24th season features an array of classic Black cinema, cutting-edge documentary and fictional shorts and features, and an opening night reception. This year’s festival highlights must-watch films such as Stefon Bristol’s sci-fi short, “See You Yesterday,” executive produced by Spike Lee; Durhamite Isaac Green’s NYU Tisch School of the Arts senior thesis, “Beyond All;” Elegance Bratton’s LGBTQ coming-of-age story, “Walk For Me;” Charles Burnett’s “Killer of Sheep;” Terence Nance’s, “They Charge For the Sun;” Ricky Kelly’s documentary on two biker weeks, “Black Beach/White Beach;” and many more. All-festival passes are on sale now for $35 and include entrance to all screenings and the Opening Night reception.
Street Fight Gaming Tournament – Thursday, 6-10pm – The Bullpen hosts this tournament where players are invited to show off their skills with Street Fighter V on PlayStation4. All attendees must bring $5 cash, and players must contribute an additional $5 cash for the winner’s reward pool! Sign up online prior to attending.
Donald Rosenstein and Justin Yopp – Thursday, 7pm – Visit The Regulator Bookshop to hear from the co-authors of “The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life,” an inspirational book about seven fathers’ struggles after their wives passed away from cancer. These two UNC-Chapel Hill professors present a touching perspective on their research on grief.
Earls of Leicester – Thursday, 8pm – The bluegrass group assembled by Jerry Douglas presents the music of Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and their band, the Foggy Mountain Boys, on stage at The Carolina Theatre alongside Carrboro-based singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd.
TinkerTech Family Workshop – Acoustical Engineering Workshop – Friday, 1–3 pm; Saturday, 10am–noon and 1-3pm – At this family-friendly Museum of Life and Science event, tinkerers of all ages and abilities can create their own music as they explore the science of sound as they build their own electric guitar pickup to take home. Explore the different ways animals hear during a live behind-the-scenes, hands-on animal encounter!
Chinese New Year Celebration – Friday, 11am-8pm – Celebrate with Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets‘ special Chinese New Year menu, which includes dishes like Jiaozi (Boiled Dumplings), Chunjuan (Spring Rolls) and Do Ban Yu (Whole Braised Fish).
Artist Reception – Friday, 5-7pm – Join the Durham Arts Council for the first Third Friday Durham of the new year! Peruse exhibits in the Allenton Gallery, Semans Gallery, Ella Fountain Pratt Legacy Gallery and the Durham Art Guild’s SunTrust Gallery. Artists, including Owens Daniels, Antuco Chicaiza and Yholima Vargas-Pedroza, explore themes of social justice, poverty, cultural identity and diversity. Yholima will also perform at the Huepa Culture & Arts Institute.
Happy Hour – Friday, 5:30-6:30pm – Stop by Vert & Vogue for a cocktails and conversations with special guests Marcie and Bill Ferris, life partners and professors of Southern studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Eno Paint Night – Friday, 5-7pm – Fullsteam Brewery hosts artists from Eno Magazine for a relaxing night of drawing and painting. Art supplies, including paint (watercolor, pastel and oil), colored pencils and charcoal provided. Representatives from Eno Magazine will bring beautiful landscape portraits for inspiration. Cost is $7 per artist.
Bloodsport III – Friday, 6pm – Co-hosted by the Eno River Women’s Rugby Football Club (ERWRFC) and the League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham (LUEWWD), “Bloodsport III: My Bloody Valentine” is the third annual pad and tampon drive for low-income and homeless women. Drop off donations of pads, tampons, new women’s or girls’ underwear or cash at The Pinhook.
ARTPost Launch and Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – Inspired by black Olympic athletes, George Mitchell began making art in the 1990s, when his process was disrupted by a gun violence incident that left him paralyzed. He went on to complete degrees in art from N.C. Central and UNC-Chapel Hill, and founded HappymessART, which he’s now rebranded as ARTpost. In recent years, George completed the work he started in the late ’90s, which he will display at The Carrack Modern Art. Come enjoy refreshments, art and live music at the ARTpost launch reception.
Exhibit Receptions: “Definition of METAL” and “Electric Avenue” – Friday, 6-9pm – Pleiades Arts gallery hosts a reception for their exhibits. Running February 1-25, “Definition of METAL” explores the thrilling and beautiful properties of metallic materials and their function in art. The “Electric Avenue” exhibit, open February 8-March 31, reminds viewers of bright cityscapes and hit songs of the 1980s. Join artists Tom Dawson, Al Frega, Joe Galas, Jackie McLeod and Renee Leverty as they discuss their artwork.
Exhibit Opening: “Hotel Theory” – Friday, 6-8pm – Join the 21c Museum Hotel for the opening of Bill Thelen’s “Hotel Theory” exhibit, located in the Vault Gallery. Inspired by his residency in Oaxaca, Mexico, and author Wayne Koestenbaum’s novel “Hotel Theory,” this artwork investigates themes of identity, history and environment while using a color palette reminiscent of the Oaxaca landscape.
Love in Durham – Friday, 6-8pm – Wrap up your Valentine’s Day celebrations with the Museum of Durham History by making a Valentine dedicated to whomever makes you feel love in Durham! Enjoy live music while you craft. Supplies, wine and chocolate-covered strawberries provided.
Exhibit Opening: Behind the Eyes – Art as Therapy – Friday, 6-9pm – Artists Alyssa Draffin and David Underwood showcase their work at The Scrap Exchange’s Cameron Gallery with light refreshments and time for free art making in the Make and Take space. Their pieces explore the connections between art and mental health and, naturally, feature repurposed materials. The exhibit runs through March 10.
Justin Nozuka – Friday, 7pm – Stop by Motoco Music Hall to hear the tunes of this singer-songwriter as well as opening acts Good Old War and River Matthews.
‘The Mound Builders’ by Lanford Wilson – Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm, and Sunday, 2:30pm – One of Lanford Wilson’s finest works, performed by the Ward Theatre Company. Winner of the Obie Award, this play tackles issues that are still as relevant as when it came out in 1975, such as current gender hostilities in America.
An Acoustic Evening with Trey Anastasio – Friday, 7:30pm – At The Carolina Theatre, this intimate concert features songs from Traveler, the new solo album that Anastasio co-produced with Peter Katis.
NC HIP Music Festival – Saturday-Sunday – The Mallarmé Chamber Players host the fourth HIP (Historically Informed Performance) Music Festival in North Carolina. This festival features many concerts and collaborations between Mallarmé musicians and other triangle based HIP performers. This weekend’s concerts include Festival Orchestra with Barthold Kuijken, baroque flute and conductor, at First Presbyterian Church in Durham Saturday at 3pm; HIPster Horns family concert at Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Sunday at 1pm; and Duke Chapel Evensong Singers with Christopher Jacobson, conductor, at Duke Chapel on Sunday at 4pm.
Diana Krall – Saturday, 8pm – The multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and world-renowned singer takes the stage at DPAC on her “Turn Up The Quiet World Tour,” which features material from her new album, Turn Up The Quiet, as well as a mix of some of Diana fans’ favorites.
Smetana Trio – Saturday, 8pm – Founded in 1934 by prominent Czech pianist Josef Páleníček, the trio borrows its name from Bedřich Smetana, the 19th-century composer whose operas and short symphonic works characterized and inspired the country’s quest for independence. This Duke Performances program at Baldwin Auditorium features Piano Trio in D Minor by Austrian composer Alexander von Zemlinsky and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor before concluding with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor.
Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen – Saturday, 8:30pm – Help welcome back the unofficially crowned “Queen of The Bullpen” on Saturday as Pat Cohen puts on what is likely to be the best blues party in Durham, at least for the night! Remember, for every draft pint purchased, The Bullpen donates $1 to Music Maker Relief Foundation to help support and sustain American roots musicians.
Wedding and Events Showcase – Sunday, 3-6pm – If you’re planning a wedding or special event, make sure to stop by The Rickhouse to meet with area caterers, photographers, planners, florists and more! Enjoy wine and food as you browse. Free.
Chili Cookoff – Sunday, noon-4pm – Taste participants’ creations at Ponysaurus Brewing’s annual chili cook-off! The winner will receive free food and drinks and a trophy.
Singalong to Benefit the Reality Center – Sunday, 7:30-10:30pm – In honor of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion month, Fullsteam Brewery hosts Durham County Beers and Hymn’s monthly fundraiser, this go-around for The Reality Center, which serves adults with developmental disabilities. Come sing and enjoy locally brewed beer for a great cause. All are welcome, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof.
