Clean Your Block Party – Thursday, noon-6pm, and Saturday – Start your Saturday the right way with Keep Durham Beautiful. The Clean Your Block Party is an opportunity for neighbors, friends and family to band together to create positive, lasting change throughout Durham. Registered “Clean Your Block Party” communities will be able to pick up available cleanup supplies – litter grabbers, safety vests, trash bags, gloves, gardening tools, volunteer waivers and a variety of prizes and goodies to show appreciation to volunteers – from Keep Durham Beautiful on Thursday afternoon.
Dinner and a Movie – Thursday, 5-9pm – Visit the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University for a special dinner at the Nasher Museum Café and then a free screening of “Mystery Train,” a 1989 film lauded for its offbeat characters and cinematography. Reservations for dinner at the café are recommended.
Raise Your VOICE – Thursday, 6-7pm – Help your teen unleash their inner poet with Durham County Library. Featuring local poets, this workshop will guide teens, tweens and young adults in writing and performing original works. The poems will be performed at the end of the program and the library will publish them in an anthology.
Billy Strings with Town Mountain – Thursday, 6pm – One of American Tobacco‘s Back Porch Music on the Lawn free concerts on the historic campus’ interior quad, enjoy Asheville-based Town Mountain’s hard drivin’ bluegrass sound and tight harmonies before the 23-year-old, tattoo-covered guitar picker/singer Billy Strings takes the stage. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Picnics, coolers and well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Stephen Jurovics – Thursday, 7pm – The author will be at The Regulator Bookshop to discuss his new book, “Hospitable Planet: Faith, Action and Climate Change,” which explores environmental issues such as climate change, land treatment and sustainability from a Biblical perspective.
Noir at the Bar – Thursday, 7-9pm – Join eight North Carolina crime authors for a night of fun at 106 Main. Noir at the Bar provides an opportunity for independent crime authors to mingle, share their works and exchange ideas. The featured authors are J.D. Rhoades, Katy Munger, Sean Jackson, Eryk Pruitt, S.L. Coney, Shawn A. Cosby, Greg Barth and Jay Wilburn.
Pilobolus – Thursday, 7pm, Friday, 8pm, and Saturday, 1pm and 7pm – Kicking off the 2016 American Dance Festival at DPAC, the company’s groundbreaking performance “Shadowland” was created after years of experimentation with shadow-play and is part shadow act, part dance and part concert. The evening performances contain nudity, but a family-friendly matinee is offered Saturday afternoon.
“How to Train Your Dragon” – Thursday, 7:30-10:30pm – As part of the family-friendly Movies on the Plaza series, Northgate Mall presents the DreamWorks film about a young Viking teen named Hiccup who tries to follow his tribe’s tradition of becoming a dragon slayer, but instead befriends one. 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.
Ruthie Foster – Thursday, 8pm – The Blue Note Grill presents Grammy- and Koko Taylor Award-winning Ruthie Foster as the first of the venue’s Women in Blues concert series. Foster’s soul-filled voice captivates audiences wherever she goes – from houses of worship to houses of blues.
Becky Heron History Grove Dedication and Spring Gala – Friday, 5-8pm – The Museum of Durham History and Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL) invite the public to join them in a dedication ceremony on the plaza in front of the DCSL honoring the late Becky Melton Heron. Ms. Heron, a former Durham County Commissioner, was a vigorous supporter in the planning and construction of the Senior Center and an advocate for resources for senior citizens. Along with Becky Heron, the contributions of DCSL founders Howard Clement of late, Jack Preiss, John Lucas and Patricia Robertson will be honored with a plaque at the History Grove dedication. There will be live music courtesy of Johnny White and the Elite Band.
Geometric Universe Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – Artist Darius Quarles is the featured artist at Pleiades Gallery this month. Join him at the reception for his “Divergent” series, focusing on geometry in our world.
The Carrack’s 5th Birthday Bash and Community Art Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – Join The Carrack for the biannual community arts show! Celebrate local art and support artists during June 17-25, and come out to this opening reception during Third Friday. Small works from featured artists will also be available to purchase at the event.
“Mottainai! Waste not, Want not” – Friday, 6-9pm – The Scrap Exchange welcomes artist Katherine Soucie and the Vancouver-based art collective Sans Soucie to the Cameron Gallery. Soucie hand-dyes waste hosiery from North Carolina textile mills and creates large-scale installations. “Mottainai! Waste not, Want not” also includes clothing and rugs by artist Michelle Sirois-Silver, jewelry by Diane Farnsworth and embroidery by Kristen Chursinoff, and will be on display until July 9. The opening reception’s festivities include light snacks and drinks, as well as free art making in the Make N Take Room.
“Fraqture” Opening Reception and Creator Talk – Friday, 6:30pm – Continuing the spirit of Moogfest, Fraqture blends art and technology, exploring parallels between glitch art and graffiti. Conceived as an installation for the Durham Storefront Project and in collaboration with The Carrack, Smashing Boxes constructed Fraqture, an experimental platform with a large monitor, Arduino board and 2 handmade panels containing over 500 LEDs. The glitch code that manipulates the images on the monitor is open source and written in Clojure and C by developers at Smashing Boxes. More than 140 local artists are featured, including Dave Alsobrooks, Tedd Anderson, Jackie MacLeod, Parasol B and Basia Coulter. This community-wide, interactive digital installation is on display at 21c Museum Hotel until July 18.
“The Return” Screening – Friday, 7pm – Come out to the Full Frame Theater on the American Tobacco Campus for a free, one-night-only screening of “The Return,” a 2016 documentary that examines Prop. 36, an amendment to California’s “Three Strikes” law, one of the harshest criminal sentencing policies in the country. The film focuses on those affected most – prisoners suddenly freed, families turned upside down, re-entry providers helping navigate complex transitions and attorneys and judges wrestling with an untested law.
Audio Under the Stars: Destination Unknown – Friday, 8-10pm – This month’s Audio Under the Stars theme focuses on travels and transformation – from sea voyages to hidden tunnels to what it means to leave it all behind. Audio Under the Stars is a completely unique audiophile event presented by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Visitors are invited to relax and listen to local stories curated by the Center.
Historic Game Day – Saturday, 10am-noon – Take the family out to Duke Homestead State Historic Site to play games from the 19th century. Children will have the opportunity to make and take home a 19th century toy of their very own at this fun-filled, educational morning.
Take the Plunge – Saturday, noon-9pm – ALS Together hosts this awareness event and fundraiser. Take the Plunge takes place at SPECTRE Arts and features live music from seven bands; food trucks including Mama’s Hot Chicken and Mama Voula’s; a mini beer fest with “The Beers of Summer” from Mim’s, North Coast Brewing and Carolina Brewery; a kids’ zone with Magic Dave; an art show; and a fun new twist on the ice bucket challenge! This event is a great way to learn more about and help fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.
NC Juneteenth Celebration – Saturday, 1pm-10pm – In honor of Juneteenth, this educational and uplifting event will take place on East Main Street between Roxboro and Dillard streets. There will be entertainment throughout the day featuring national recording artists and local performers, food and merchandise vendors, a kids zone and more!
Pilobolus Play Day for Kids – Saturday, 2-3pm – Bring the kids to Durham County Library where teaching artists from the acclaimed Pilobolus troupe will lead children through playful exercises and movement!
Triangle Community Band Festival – Saturday, 4:30-6pm – Come out to Durham Central Park for the first ever Triangle Community Band Festival! Five local bands, made up of hundreds of volunteers, come together to present an afternoon of free music. On-site food vendors include Bam Pow Chow, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Dang Good Dogs, Locopops and Pie Pushers. Bring a blanket and chairs, and enjoy free music in the park.
Party Illegal – Saturday, 10pm-2am – As always, The Pinhook presents a killer lineup of local DJs for its all-inclusive monthly dance party. This month’s Party Illegal welcomes Sound Resurgence, Marie, Bitchcraft and NeatFreak, so get ready to dance till you drop.
Zero Waste Dyeing: The Sequential Method and Acid Dyes – Sunday, noon-6pm – Ever wanted to learn how to use environmentally friendly dyes to color silk, wool or nylon? This workshop, lead by Katherine Soucie, will teach you how to make dye stock solutions and leave you with recipes so you can replicate the process at home. Students (ages 16 and older) should bring rubber gloves and an apron.
Father’s Day Rodeo – Sunday, 12:30-3:15pm – Bring friends and family to this gathering of 50+ food trucks, local craft beer and live music. Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, a kora-fueled dance band that combines West African traditionals, funk, rock, blues and elements of jazz, will perform.
Father’s Day Dinner – Sunday – Treat dad to a special dinner at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club’s Fairview Dining Room. Executive Chef Jason Cunningham will serve mouthwatering, seasonal entrees such as tobacco-cured Muscovy duck breast, wild king salmon, grilled hand-cut Angus steaks and more! Book a tee time on the golf course before dinner for the perfect day! Call 919-493-6699 for reservations.
Brit Floyd – Sunday, 7:30pm – Brit Floyd is coming back to Durham Performing Arts Center! With painstaking attention to detail, the band aims to replicate the nuances of every Pink Floyd moment, both musically and visually.
Beer and Hymns – Sunday, 7:30pm – All are welcome to sing along with the best-known, best-loved hymns while enjoying Fullsteam beer and live music led by founder Jesse DeConto of The Pinkerton Raid. This community sing “with no regard to spiritual inclination or lack thereof” is purely intended for good times, fellowship, nostalgia.
