2016 ACC Baseball Championship – Through Sunday – Come out to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for games played by top-ranked ACC baseball teams at 11am, 3pm and 7pm Thursday through Saturday. The two pool winners will play Sunday at noon for the 2016 ACC Championship. Ticket packages and single-game tickets are available by calling 919-956-BULL or here.
Museum Mixtape – Thursday, 5:30-8pm – Join Juan Obando at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University for a free showing of his exclusive video-audio album that mixes freestyle rappers and art in the museum collection. Stay after to get the inside scoop on Obando’s unique album and take part in a Q-and-A with Daniel Pressley and Daniel Watkins, former members of the Durham-based rap duo The Koolest.
Art Opening featuring BC Crabtree – Thursday, 7-9pm – Durham’s own Unexposed Microcinema presents a free screening of pieces from local artist BC Crabtree. Sharing their love for experimental film, the two brothers, Jeremy and Brendan Smyth, created the Unexposed series to make this art form more celebrated by Durham’s artistic community. While taking in Crabtree’s art, treat yourself to complimentary wine and finger foods.
Grand Re-Opening Party – Thursday, 7-11pm – Now that the construction of its new space is all wrapped up, come out and celebrate the new-and-improved Beyú Caffé, and hear Aaron Hill Trio perform live.
If/Then – Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2pm and 8pm; and Sunday, 1pm and 6:30pm – This contemporary musical about living in New York stars original Broadway cast members Anthony Rapp, Jackie Burns, Tamyra Gray and Matthew Hydzik. On stage at the Durham Performing Arts Center for a weeklong stint, this original show was written by the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award- winning creators of the musical “Next to Normal.”
“The New Colossus” – Thursday-Saturday, 8:15pm – The Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern is presenting “The New Colossus,” a new play inspired by Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” This play explores the pitfalls of making art and making love in modern day America. The New Colossus is being presented as part of Manbites Dog Theater’s Other Voices Series.
Blues on the Plaza – Friday, 6:30-9pm – Spend Friday night enjoying blues, beer and Big C’s Waffles. Bring a chair or towel and get your groove on at The Plaza at Northgate Mall with Mel Melton & Wicked Mojos and Durham blues legend John Dee Holeman. Plus, there’s beer and wine by Bull City Burger and Brewery.
Alex Weiss – Friday, 7-9pm – Alex Weiss & Different Drum is a versatile ensemble, based in Raleigh/Durham, that takes the rich sounds of African and Latin American music and blends them with original compositions and jazz standards. See them perform at Brightleaf Square.
Rien Fertel – Friday, 7pm – The Regulator Bookshop hosts the historian to discuss his new book, “The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke and the Pitmasters Who Cook the Whole Hog.” The author digs into the Southern roots of this American food tradition to expose the beauty of barbecue. There will be some “true ‘cue” from Picnic paired with beer from Fullsteam.
Audio Under the Stars – Friday, 8-10pm – It’s hard to find something more relaxing than listening to stories under the stars. Gather in the backyard at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke for the premier of this summer-long audio festival featuring Bad Advice & Second Chances. Lie out under the stars and listen to stories about skydiving, broken hearts, spelling bees and much more. Rain date: June 3.
DOUGHMAN Quadrathon – Saturday, 8am – Inspired by Raleigh’s Krispy Kreme Challenge, this nonprofit-minded race pits teams of four against one another as they eat local meals and participate in bike rides, runs and aquatic activities. Costumes are encouraged.
Bicycle Tour –Saturday, 10-11:30am – Take a tour exploring the murals and history of downtown Durham co-organized by Preservation Durham, the Museum of Durham History and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Check in 15 minutes early at the Durham Farmers’ Market, and BYO bicycle and helmet.
Burk Uzzle: Southern Landscapes Opening – Saturday, 10am-5pm – The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University presents the opening of this exhibition of 16 photographs exploring the connection between Southerners and their landscapes over time.
Memorial Day Remembrance: The American Soldier Through the Ages – Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 10am-3pm – Following the American Civil War, a “Decoration Day” began in communities across America remembering soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Senator John A. Logan, a former Union officer on staff with Major General William T. Sherman, was instrumental in making this a formal national day honoring fallen soldiers, which became Memorial Day. Join military living historians representing the American soldier of all time periods throughout the nation’s history at this free event at Bennett Place.
Open Farm Day at Prodigal Farm – Sunday, 1-5pm – Live music from Americana/folk band Miss Rosie, as well as blacksmithing demonstrations by Randy Stoltz of the Triangle Blacksmithing Guild and beekeeping demonstrations by Emily Ingram, who keeps hives at the farm. And, of course, lots of baby goats! Plus, tours of the dairy, cheese tasting and more. Bring a picnic, grab some cheese, enjoy the day.
Durham Symphony Orchestra: Tribute to Duke Ellington and Excerpts from the Opera “X “ – Sunday, 4pm – Join conductor William Henry Curry with special guests bass-baritone Jason McKinney, spoken word artist and Harvard fellow Dasan Ahanu for the season finale – an intimate, casual afternoon program with excerpts from Copland’s Music for the Theater (a mix of energy and confidence through jazz, blues and other rhythms) and ending with the rhythmic styling of Davis in an excerpt from “Malcolm X.”
Rissi Palmer – Sunday, 5-7pm – This Southern, soulful, country songstress performs at The Blue Note Grill.
Encore Academy of Dance – Sunday, 6pm – Watch as the talented dancers of Encore Academy of Dance perform Peter’s Menagerie at The Carolina Theatre.
Nikki Hill – Sunday, 8pm – Rock out with this native Durhamite at Motorco Music Hall.
Nappy Roots – Sunday, 8pm – One of the best-selling and most successful hip-hop groups of all time performs at The Pinhook.
