MURALISTS! Art + Resistance – Thursday, 7pm, and Friday, 6-9pm (Through Feb. 27) – 13 artists who collaborated with the Durham Civil Rights History Mural Project – Franco, Brenda Miller Holmes, Rodrigo Dorfman, Malcolm Goff, Jhordan Perry, Maja Kricker, Gary Atkinson, Cynelsa Broderick, Lenny Green, Gary Atkinson, Nate Key, Faye Brandon, Marcus Boone, and Rachel Goodwin – host a series of workshops, panels and parties that celebrate cultural resistance and the power of art to engage and bridge communities. Come to “Occupy the Imagination, Stories of Seduction and Resistance” on Thursday and an opening reception on Friday. The Carrack, 111 W. Parrish St.
Durham under Development – Through March 6 – The Pleiades Gallery and Aaron Mandel present a special exhibit that recognizes it is a time of transition in Durham. The process is unfinished, the result undetermined. Artists showcase what they see, hear, sense and feel about Development – what is happening in the community and their visions of what might happen going forward. Juried by the Pleiades Gallery, Aaron Mandel, community activist, Carter Cue and development expert Josh Parker, “Durham under Development” selected works by 15 artists and the nine artists-in-residence at The Pleiades Gallery on this theme. Aaron Mandel will host a slideshow syncopated to the music of Treee City Beats featuring hundreds of pictures of “Durham under Development” shot over the last six years this Friday from 7-9pm. Pleiades Gallery, 109 E. Chapel Hill St.; 919-797-2706
Hayti Heritage Film Festival – Thursday-Saturday, 5:30pm – Showcasing diverse works of, by and about people of African descent through short and full-length films, the Hayti Heritage Center supports the talents of rising filmmakers and features classic films as well. The festival kicks off Thursday with independent film “Middle of Nowhere” and concludes Sunday with “A Deeper Love,” by local filmmaker Terry D. Q&A sessions and discussion panels will be held throughout. Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St.; Free admission, ticket required, donations accepted; 919-683-1709
Panel Discussion: Collecting and Presenting Work by Artists of African Descent – Thursday, 7pm – Enjoy the diverse exhibition “Reality of My Surroundings: The Contemporary Collection,” and join a discussion about the presentation and preservation of work by artists of African descent. The event is hosted by a panel of experts, including “New York Times” art critic Holland Cotter, Studio Museum in Harlem Director Thelma Golden and New York gallery owner Jack Shainman. Visitors will have a chance to mingle with panelists beforehand. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Dr.; free; 919-684-5135
Karen Branan – Thursday, 7pm – Join acclaimed journalist Karen Branan as she discusses her narrative “The Family Tree,” a personal exposé of Branan’s family’s involvement in a 1912 lynching in Georgia. Branan’s research reveals the realities of racism in the Jim Crow era and its currents today. The Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth St.; Free; 919-286-2700
Blitz the Ambassador – Thursday, 8pm – The Ghanaian-born, Brooklyn-based rapper has been applauded for his progressive musical flare – blending ‘90s American hip-hop and traditional African rhythm to produce some seriously inspired soul. A seven-piece band will join him on stage in this intimate Duke Performances concert. Motorco Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave.; $15-$22; 919-684-4444
Colin Hay – Thursday, 8pm – Familiar to millions as the front man, songwriter and vocalist of pop sensation Men at Work, Hay has made 11 critically-acclaimed solo albums, including the highly successful Man at Work, and has recently announced the release of his new album, Next Year People, on Compass Records. He appears with indie-rock singer-songwriter Heather Maloney. The Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St.; $29.95; 919-560-3030
Venus in Fur – Thursday-Saturday, 8pm, and Sunday, 3pm – This play-within-a-play, an adaptation of an 1870 Austrian novel, follows one frustrated director’s search for his perfect leading lady. When he finishes the day auditioning an out-of-the-ordinary young actress, he’s taken by surprise and the typical director-actor balance of power is unexpectedly reversed. Common Ground Theatre, 4815-B Hillsborough Rd.; $12+; 919-384-7817
The Underground Beat Battle – Thursday, 9pm – The battle of the beats is back! Support The Pinhook’s mission to preserve local hip-hop culture with a soulful evening of beat battles, freestyle battles, poetry open mics, art galleries and dance showcases. Full Street Wings will be serving food. The Pinhook, 117 W. Main St.; $10; 919-667-1100
The Nevermore Film Festival – Friday-Sunday, 1pm-midnight – Created in 1999, this festival is a juried competition that showcases brand-new horror shorts and features from around the world as well as timeless fan favorites. More than 500 features and shorts have screened at the festival in its 16-year run. Accepting submissions for horror, science fiction, mystery, thriller and action-adventure, it has gained an international reputation as one of the premiere genre festivals in the U.S. This year, 11 features and 41 shorts will be showcased, including international material from 25 countries. The Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St.; $10; 919-560-3030
Love Is On The Air – Friday, 6-8pm – Kick off your Valentine’s weekend with a romantic listening party and cocktail hour showcasing stories of love (or “Love Notes”) recorded in the Story Room. The stories were recorded in conjunction with Audio Under the Stars from Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies. Sip champagne and nibble on chocolate-covered strawberries as you listen to candid recordings of Durhamites’ love stories. Leave your own love story on the Valentine Wall for a chance to be featured online. Enter the “Romance Raffle” for a chance to win one of the exciting prizes. Singles welcome! Museum of Durham History, 500 W. Main St.; 919-246-9993
Mardi Gras Blue Light Bingo – Friday, 7pm – Cap off Mardi Gras weekend right with bingo for a cause! The Durham Armory will host a lively night of NOLA-inspired entertainment, including a showcase of female impersonators – all to raise funds for the Wellness and Education Community Action Health Network. Durham Armory, 220 Foster St.; $20; 919-930-7403
8th Annual Cabaret for Valentine’s Day – Friday, 7pm – For the eighth year in a row, Ellen Ciompi, her pianist/music director Glenn Mehrbach and bassist Robbie Link bring a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend. This year’s program is called “C-Ya!” featuring songs with music and lyrics by “C” composers. You’ll hear songs by Cy Coleman, Noel Coward, Harry Chapin, Sammy Cahn, Elvis Costello, George M. Cohan and many others. Cabaret encompasses music, acting, a little improv, and most of all the intimate connection between performer and audience. Join the performers afterward for a post-concert reception. Chocolates will be available! The Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth St.; $15; 919-286-2700
Music + Film – Friday, 8pm – UNEXPOSED Microcinema presents their second Music + Film live exhibition where the featured films of February will visually score the live music of Nathan Bowles. For these exhibitions, the musician will give UNEXPOSED their set list for the night, and with all songs in hand, the UNX team will pair each tune to a particular experimental film that will play side by side with the music – creating a visual/audio experience blending these two art forms. Come listen to Nathan Bowles, watch films from Mid-Atlantic filmmakers, or do both. UNEXPOSED, 105 Hood St., Ste. 5; $5; 352-318-5872
Austin Piazzola Quintet – Friday, 8-11pm – Hailed as “one of the foremost tango ensembles in the country,” the Austin-based quintet specializes in the fiery compositions of the late Astor Piazzolla, honoring Nuevo Tango tradition and adding to it with innovative original material and improvisations. The band’s latest album, “Lo Que Vendra,” guarantees to have you on your feet. The Shed Jazz Club, 807 E. Main St.; $5-$10; 732-570-2935
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Presents: The Passion of Flamenco – Friday and Saturday, 8pm, and Sunday, 2pm and 7pm – Experience the romance and power of flamenco, performed in an intimate tablao (café-style) setting, with dance and live music by the company’s internationally acclaimed artists, along with food and holiday drink specials from Motorco. Motorco Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave.; $10-$30
Swap-O-Rama-Rama – Saturday, 10am-3pm – Bring your unwanted clothing (hats, shoes and accessories included), swap them out for new-to-you items, and create one-of-a-kind fashions with DIY sewing and embellishing stations. In addition to swapping clothes, you can alter and embellish clothes with DIY stations, such as a T-shirt press, bedazzlers, fabric stencils and more. The Scrap Exchange, 2050 Chapel Hill Rd.; $10 per person (suggested donation), free admittance for children 10 and younger; 919-688-6960
Dress for Success Inventory Excess Sale – Saturday, 10am-5pm – Exceptional buys on winter clothing: $5 – Tops, pants, skirts, shoes, purses; $10 – Boots, dresses, jackets; $15 – Suits, sets, outerwear. (Early bird shopping at 9am for a tax-deductible $20 donation!) Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Blvd., Ste.248; Free admission; 919-286-2128
Presidents’ Day Sidewalk Sale – Saturday, 11am-5pm, and Sunday, 1-5pm – End of season sales will be in full swing along with mall-wide clearance prices. Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Blvd., Ste.248; Free admission; 919-286-2128
Fair Trade Chocolate Tasting – Saturday, noon-6pm – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, taste tons of Fair Trade chocolate samples from Divine, Equal Exchange, Taza & Theo. Come find your favorite new flavor and the perfect sweet treat for that special someone. Stop by from noon-2 to also taste new, direct-trade Honduran coffee and meet the roasters from Five Star Coffee Co. One World Market, 811 Ninth St.; Free; 919-286-2457
Home Movie Day – Saturday, 2-5pm – An international celebration of amateur films, designed to both provide a showcase for home movies, student films and other forms of amateur media, and to provide a gathering to discuss best practices for film and digital media preservation. Look through your attic, dig through your closets, call up Grandma and search out your family’s home movies. Bring 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm film, VHS and Video8/Hi8 video tape (sorry, no slides) to see your movie projected. Or just show up and watch the films of others. Raleigh’s A/V Geeks Transfer Services will transfer attendees’ film to digital formats for free on-site. Durham County Library, 300 N. Roxboro St.; Free; 919-560-0268
Soul Food Saturday – Saturday, noon-4pm – Boricua Soul Food truck will be out front serving favorite recipes from James Beard Award-winning author and soul food scholar Adrian Miller’s book, “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.” Fullsteam will have some seasonal/limited releases on tap like Coffee is for Closers and their sweet potato lager, The Carver. At 2, Adrian will give a short presentation on the history of Soul Food and “drop knowledge like hot biscuits.” He will be available for book sales and signing afterwards. A raffle will be held for a free copy of Adrian’s book, gift cards to Boricua Soul Food truck and more. All proceeds will benefit SEEDS. Fullsteam, 726 Rigsbee Ave.
The Love Market – Sunday, noon-5pm – Local makers include Lo & Behold Natural Body Care, Amy Richards Illustration, Hana Lee / lee attracting birds and bees, Rivtak handmade, Dixon’s Dollops, Stubborn Love Vintage, Cupcake Sonata, Davie Paper Co., Chocolatay Confections, Trade and Union, Relay Foods, plus live music by Eugene Chadbourne, cider and Buddhalicious Food Truck. Bull City Ciderworks, 113 S. Elizabeth St.; Free admission
Love: Triangle – Sunday, 5:30-8pm – A musical celebration of love and local music, featuring three Triangle singer-songwriters – Charles Latham, Reese McHenry (Dirty Little Heaters, The Second Wife) and Shayne Miel (of The Future Kings of Nowhere). BYOB. Letters Bookshop, 313 W. Main St.; Free; 919-973-2573
