Bastille Day Wine Tasting – Thursday, 6-9pm – Parizade teams up with Queen of Wines for a wine tasting to celebrate Bastille Day. The tasting will feature four French wines and include light snacks that complement each individual wine.
Storymakers – Thursday, 7pm – This community listening event focuses on topics of unity and division within Durham during a night of storytelling. The event at Motorco Music Hall will also include a guest appearance by gospel singer Mary D. Williams.
“Dirty Dancing” – Thursday 7-9pm – Part of the Movies on the Plaza series, Northgate Mall presents the classic film about how a privileged girl uses dancing to go against her family’s expectations. Grab some blankets and head to the mall early to get good seats and relax with a beer or wine from Bull City Burger and Brewery.
Provincial Dances Theatre – Thursday, 8pm; Friday, 8pm; and Saturday, 7pm – The dance company performs at Reynolds Industries Theater this weekend as a part of the American Dance Festival. Inspired by Kōbō Abe’s book “Woman in the Dunes,” the re-imagined performance of Tatiana Baganova’s “Sepia,” highlights several symbolisms of sand. Accompanied by Avet Terteryan’s symphony, the piece provides complexity within its beauty. Note: This performance contains partial nudity.
Koma the Ghost Festival – Thursday, 8:30pm – American Dance Festival and 21c Museum Hotel co-present “The Ghost Festival:” a project for which artist Koma Otake designed, choreographed and set up lighting himself. In his art, Koma presents and interactive representation that explores time and lost spirits.
Cinc Hayes – Friday, 6-9pm – Meet award-winning artist Cinc Hayes as he presents his “Whimsical Travels” exhibit at Urban Durham Realty. Celebratory and vibrant, his work conveys the adventures of his global journeys from Norway to Central America.
Rissi Palmer and Powerhouse Blues Vocal Workshop – Friday, 5:30-7:30pm – Singer Rissi Palmer visits Durham Central Park for a free singing workshop between sets at her concert. With music Rolling Stone called a “neo-soul-to-throwback-Southern-R&B sound,” you won’t want to miss her tips. Beer and wine from Bull City Burger & Brewery will also be available as well as food trucks.
Something Human – Friday, 6-9pm – Stop by Cameron Gallery for the opening reception of artist and former Scrap Exchange store manager Julia Gartrell’s exhibit, “Something Human.” Her work incorporates gathered objects, materials and fabrics from around Durham County and will be on exhibit from till August 13. The opening reception includes light refreshments and free art making.
“Truth to Power” Opening Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – Pleiades Gallery‘s fourth annual show on social justice, called “Truth to Power” features an open mic event across the street at Five Points Plaza.
Tripp Jarvis – Friday, 6-9pm – Liberty Arts Sculpture Studio & Foundry presents the sculptor’s work, which aims to restore a certain kinesthetic stability in moments of distress while simultaneously seeking to re-establish in others a similar affirming experience. Proceeds earned from this exhibition will directly contribute to his planned research into and teaching of the healing impact that sculpture has on the mind’s well-being, a subject close to the artist’s heart. The gallery will feature art pieces of medium and large scale for your garden, home or office.
“In Pursuit of Silence” – Friday, 7pm – The film, which challenges Western society’s most basic preconceptions about the very nature of silence, returns to Durham after a sold-out screening at Full Frame 2016 for a one-night-only appearance at the Full Frame Theater at American Tobacco Campus. Third Friday screenings are free and open to the public, but attendees must reserve a ticket via Eventbrite starting at 9am on the morning of the screening to attend. Seating is limited. There will be a last minute line at the venue to accommodate any last minute cancellations/no-shows.
Underground: A Pop Up Cocktail Series in The Vault – Friday, 7pm-1am – Partnering with Fullsteam, Counting House presents beer-centric cocktails. Space is limited and access will be granted on a first come, first served basis.
Somi – Friday, 8-11pm – The vocalist and songwriter has been dubbed “the new Nina Simone” by “The Huffington Post” while NPR describes her as “an ambitious artist and superb jazz singer [who] creates an elegant amalgam of her bi-continental experiences.” She performs tonight at Beyu Caffe.
Poetry vs Hip Hop – Friday, 9pm – Choose a side! Internationally recognized poet and author Queen Sheba leads #TeamPoetry against #TeamHipHop with captain MICXSIC, emcee and founder of Savage Fam Productions at The Pinhook. Plus music by Djknodat. Buy tickets or register as an emcee/poet today.
Love is Greater – Friday, 10pm – Join together at Motorco Music Hall to support the LGBTQ community in the wake of tragedy and oppression, and to remind ourselves that love is greater. Produced by The VaudeVillain Revue, and featuring burlesque, drag, belly dance, interpretive dance and more! Hosted by The VaudeVillain Revue and featuring special guests Vivica C. Coxx, The LadyMan, Sterling Maxwell, Hysteria Cole, Sara Beaman, Kegan Dean Rushing and more.
Food on the Farm – Saturday, 10am – 2pm – Find out how food goes from the barn yard or field to your own kitchen table and explore some of the creative ways our ancestors preserved their food at Duke Homestead.
Medical Practices and Procedures at Bennett Place – Saturday, 10am-4pm, and Sunday, 10am-3pm – Come out and see living historians portraying surgeons and medical practices and instruments used during the war. Learn about the emergence of the ambulance corps and see the differences between the Union and Confederate medical equipment.
Heat of the Night 4 Mile Fun Run – Saturday, 7pm – This will be an out-and-back run on the American Tobacco Trail, starting and finishing at Bull City Running Co. The turnaround points for the 4-mile distance (i.e. 2 miles) will be marked – no additional mile posts will be marked. There will be water available at the beginning and end, but not in the middle, so hydrate accordingly! After the run, stick around and kick back for a little post-run recovery with some snacks and summer essentials: beverages, watermelon and icy pops!
All Vinyl Night – Saturday 10pm-2am – Party Illegal hosts a night of DJs for the All Vinyl Night at The Pinhook. DJs include DJGonzo PlayPlay and more.
Pub’s Grill Master Cook Off – Sunday, 9am-3pm – Join West 94th St. Pub as Backyard griller contestants compete for a grand prize. Grill time starts at 9am, judging begins at noon and public tasting starts at 12:30pm. All guests should bring a minimum of five canned goods for the public tasting, to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Live music also starts at noon featuring Queen Esther and the Shelter Cats! Bring your lawn chair and enjoy an afternoon of tasting good food, listening to good music while helping a good cause.
Summer Chill Out Day Party – Sunday, 4pm – Take a break from the heat with Bull City Cigars and Triangle Coffee House at the Summer Chill Out Day Party at the Courtyard off Alley 8. Drink specials, music and food trucks.
Bee Bash – Sunday, 6-8pm – A summer evening spent sipping, snacking, basking in beautiful city views and learning all about bees! Local bee keepers Bee Downtown will demo a couple of their clear hives so you can get up close and personal with the bee world, get some bee-keeping fun facts and learn about how Durham just became Bee City USA. There will also be plenty of handmade honeys and soaps for sale! The rooftop bar will be whipping up some specialty drink and menu items, too.
Maks & Val Live On Tour – Sunday, 7:30pm – The thrilling all-new smash hit dance tour of the summer. These brothers and hot stars of ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars” are coming to the DPAC stage with a show combining an honest and unfiltered narrative of their life story, with the world-class dancing, creativity and passion they are known for.
