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The Rooster’s Wife

The Rooster’s Wife May lineup bursts into spring with high energy and vitality.

Sunday, May 7: Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, blending contemporary bluegrass with classic ’60s and ’70s country music, are the real deal. $20.

Friday, May 12: Laney Jones and the Spirits. Jones is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music reflects modern folk rock as well a style that’s all her own. $10.

Sunday, May 14: Haas Kowert Tice. With fiddle, guitar and upright bass, these exciting instrumentalists create unique melodies in the tradition of American roots music. $15.

Sunday, May 21: Two favorite songbirds, N.C.’s own Laurelyn Dossett of Triad Stage fame, and Red Molly’s namesake, Molly Venter, bring their newest work to the Poplar Knight Spot. $15.

Friday, May 26: Dark Water Rising is a Native American group with an indie rock/blues sound. $10.

Sunday, May 28: Front Country, a progressive roots/pop acoustic band from San Francisco, features mandolin, guitar, bass, violin, and amazing vocals. $15.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:46 at the Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. For more information, call (910) 944-7502 or visit www.theroosterswife.org for tickets. Prices above are advance sale.

For Your Summer Reading Pleasure

On Thursday, May 25, at 5 p.m., The Country Bookshop welcomes Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. Patrick will discuss her new novel, Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone, in which the title character is a middle-aged English man stuck in a rut and out of touch, similar to the protagonist of her first novel. Redemption comes through the charms of a hidden bracelet in her first novel. In the new one, it is a bag of gems. Both books are treasures. This event is free and open to the public. The Country Bookshop is located at 140 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-3211.

Life’s Layers

The Arts Council of Moore County is showcasing works this month by Deborah Kline and Tommy B. McDonell, who are hosting the Opening Night Reception from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 5, at the Campbell House Galleries. The exhibition runs from May 5 to 26. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, the gallery is located at 482 E Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-2787 or visit mooreart.org.

Polocrosse in the Pines

The Carolina Polocrosse Club invites you to an action-packed tournament weekend featuring equine and human athletes. Polocrosse, which dates back hundreds of years to Persia and its sister sport of polo, resembles the American Indian game of lacrosse on horseback. Players catch, carry, and throw a ball with their racquets. The CPC is one of the largest in the country, with top-notch players and coaches who compete internationally and participate in international exchanges. The Carolina Classic Tournement will be played at The Pinehurst Harness Track, 200 Beulah Hill Road S, on May 21 and 22, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (910) 235-8456 or visit www.carolinapolocrosse.com.

Come Dance with Me

On Saturday, May 13, enjoy an evening under the stars at the historic Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in the elegant tradition of the estate’s original owners and frequent hosts, James and Katherine Boyd. The Weymouth Heritage Affair Gala will include dining and dancing; Vegas-style entertainment, reminiscent of the Rat Pack; a silent auction of specially packaged Weymouth Experience items; and dance demonstrations by Carolina DanceWorks. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $115 for members and active duty military, $125 for non-members. This evening is sponsored by The Pilot and PineStraw. The Weymouth Center is located at 555 E Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-6261 or weymouthcenter.org.

First Friday on a New Stage

Markus King Band – photo credit: Jacob Blickenstaff

On Friday, May 5, The Marcus King Band will kick off the First Friday 2017 Season and inaugurate the First Bank Stage, the Sunrise Theater’s new outdoor stage in the Sunrise Greenspace. Combining funky R&B, Southern soul and Americana played on brass, guitar and organ, Marcus King and his masterful musicians are quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular live acts. Starting at 5:30 p.m., enjoy food and beverages along with the entertainment at this family-friendly event, but no dogs, please! Admission is free. The Sunrise Greenspace is located at 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-8501 or visit firstfridaysouthernpines.com.

 A Comic Evening

Vision 4 Moore presents this show for the entire family on Friday, May 12. The evening will begin with young, local stand-up comic Caleb Elliott, who has performed his brand of good-natured, but edgy, comedy at stages across North Carolina, including Charley Goodnights in Raleigh. Caleb is followed by Steve Brogan, a stand-up comic ventriloquist who has performed with his “dummy” friends nationwide. Steve’s comedy is clean, crisp and suitable for any audience. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of. Profits to be equally shared with our non-profit partners: Caring Hearts For Kids Of Moore, Meals on Wheels of the Sandhills and The MIRA Foundation, USA. The show is from 7:30–9:30 p.m. onstage at The O’Neal School – Hannah Center, 3300 Airport Road, Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 365-9890 or visit explorepinehurst.com.

Cameron Antiques Fair —Rain or Shine!

Whether you are a serious antique shopper or a casual browser, you are sure to find something that strikes your fancy at the Cameron Antiques Fair. On Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., more than 300 dealers will be displaying their antiques and collectibles in village shops and along the streets in the Historic District of Cameron, which is itself worth a visit. Built by railroad men, farmers, merchants and entrepreneurs in the late 19th Century, Cameron retains its turn-of-the-century character and village atmosphere. 485 Carthage St. (NC 24/NC 27). For more information, call (910) 245-3055 or (910) 245-3020, or antiquesofcameron.com.

Movie in the Pines

On Friday, May 12, The Town of Southern Pines presents Moana, a 2016 Disney computer-animated film, in which the daughter of a Polynesian chief must save her people from a blight; and on Friday, May 26, the film will be The Secret Life of Pets. The films run from 7:30 to 9 p.m., but bring a blanket or a chair and come early for good seating and to play some games before the screenings start. Concessions will be available on site. The movies are free to the public at Downtown Park, 145 SE Broad St., Southern Pines. For more information call (910) 692-7376 or visit
www.southernpines.net.

Live after 5

On Friday, May 12, The Village of Pinehurst presents The Embers at a special Live after 5 free concert in The Village Arboretum. The Embers will be performing beach music, a genre they have practically defined and one that bandleader Bobby Tomlinson refers to as “music with a memory.” Food trucks will be on-site with a great selection of sandwiches and desserts. Beer, wine, water and soft drinks will also be available for purchase. Picnic baskets are allowed, but outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Come out and enjoy the music and the memories — and maybe make a few. The Village Arboretum is located at 395 Magnolia Road in Pinehurst. For more information call (910) 295-1900 or visit pinehurstrec.org.

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100 Years of Jugtown

For 100 years, the Owens family has owned and operated Jugtown Pottery, a working pottery and American craft shop. The story of its founding and evolution have been told by Stephen C. Compton in his new book, Jugtown Pottery: 1917 — 2017 A Century of Art and Craft in Clay, released by John F. Blair, publisher. On Saturday, April 22, the Owens family will host a day-long celebration of Jugtown’s history and the book that tells it.

The shop opens at 8:30 a.m. with new pottery pieces from the wood and gas kilns, as well as fine crafts from many artisans. Activities are planned for the whole day and will include demonstrations, a book reading and signing, a Q & A session with author Stephen Compton and the Owens family, live music by local performer Momma Molasses, and food vendors. Buggytown Coffee will be on site with a wonderful variety of coffees, teas and goodies. Jugtown Pottery is located at 330 Jugtown Road, Seagrove. For more information, call (910) 464-3266 or visit jugtown@mindspring.com.

Earthly Delights

For your gardening pleasure, local plant sales are offering an abundance of horticultural treasures, rain or shine:

Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

The Weymouth Center Spring Plant Sale offers perennials, shrubs, trees, groundcovers, vines and herbs, from the Weymouth Estate and members’ gardens. The Garden White Elephant Sale will feature containers, books, baskets, tools and treasures of all sorts. Proceeds go to the Weymouth Center Gardens, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. For information call (910) 692-6261 or visit weymouthcenter.org.

Saturday, April 8, from 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

The Sandhills Horticultural Society Plant Sale includes perennials, woody plants and bulbs and will take place at the Steed Hall (new horticultural building) area of Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. For information or to pre-order call (910) 695-3882.

Friday, April 21, 1–5 p.m. and Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

The Sandhills Community College Annual Bedding Plant Sale is selling annuals, herbs, tomatoes and pepper plants to benefit the student’s educational field trip. Order forms are available at the Ball Visitors Center or you can order by phone, (910) 695-3883/3882. Mail SCC-Landscape Gardening Dept., 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Email johnsond@sandhills.edu or fax (910) 695-3894. Pre-order to get the best selection. The sale will take place at the Steed Hall (new horticultural building) area of Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst.

Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

The Pinehurst Garden Club Plant Sale features local favorites. Profits provide a scholarship for a Sandhills Community College horticulture student and contribute to area beautification projects. To place an order, please visit www.pinehurstgardenclub.com or contact Janis McCullough at (910) 420-2208. Pick up your plants or shop at the sale at Pinehurst Fire Dept. Station 91, 405 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 420-1777.

Marshmallow Madness

The ninth annual Peeps Diorama Contest is on, and the Southern Pines Public Library invites you to let your imagination and sweet tooth run wild in creating a diorama that stars the Peeps marshmallow chicks and rabbits in a scene from your favorite book. Or for the digitally inclined, create a “Peep Show” video.   

The contest, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is open to all ages, and prizes will be awarded by age group for best in show. Entries are limited to one per contestant for both the diorama and video contests and must be received by 5 p.m., Sunday, April 30. Find rules and entry forms online at www.sppl.net or at the library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, open Monday — Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m. Call (910) 692-8235 for more information or visit the website.

A Walk Through History

From the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux to the street murals of today, people around the world throughout time have used murals to express themselves. Denise Drum Baker, an artist and recently retired professor of visual arts at Sandhills Community College, will talk about murals as a means of freedom of expression, social activism and propaganda. Baker’s lecture, “If These Walls Could Talk,” is part of the Fine Arts Lecture Series presented by the Arts Council of Moore County and Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities. The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 6, at 5:30 p.m. A wine-and-cheese reception with Baker will follow. Both events are at 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Cost to members is $11, $16 to nonmembers. Info: (910) 692-6261 or weymouthcenter.org.

The Joy of Broadway

On Saturday, April 8, The Carolina Philharmonic presents a Broadway cabaret, in which Maestro David Michael Wolff will introduce you to two of Broadway’s exciting entertainers in an intimate musical event replete with all the character, color and drama of the legendary Great White Way. There will be an afternoon performance at 3 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30. Both performances will be at Sandhills Community College’s Owens Auditorium, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Tickets range from $11 to $60 and are available at www.carolinaphil.org. For more information, call (910) 687-0287.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

The Southern Pines Public Library and the Arts Council of Moore County invite children between the ages 3 and 12 to take part in a fitness-themed scavenger hunt on Monday, April 17, at the Campbell House playground. The scavenger hunt clues will lead the youngsters through some fun obstacles that will get participants of all ages up and moving as they hula-hoop, skip rope and crab walk to find eggs, prizes and fun. Top off the afternoon with a make-your-own-ice cream sundae. It all starts at 3 p.m., rain or shine, and is free and open to the public. The Campbell House is located at 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-2787 or (910) 910-692-2463.

Meet the Beatles … Again

On Saturday, April 22, Vision 4 Moore presents the amazing Beatles tribute band “The Return,” performing songs that cover two eras of Beatles music. The first set will highlight the Ed Sullivan era, with “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and other early hits. For the second set, the band will dress in uniforms from the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album to perform songs like “Hello, Goodbye,” “Revolution,” and “Hey Jude.” Tickets are $15–$35, and profits from this event will benefit MIRA Foundation USA, Caring Hearts for Kids of Moore, and Meals on Wheels of the Sandhills. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Auditorium, Pinecrest High School, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 365-9890.

Live after 5

On Friday, April 14, The Legacy Motown Revue will take you back to the days of The Drifters, The Coasters, The Jackson 5, Earth Wind & Fire, The Temptations, and many more legendary icons. The concert is free for the entire family, and you can bring your own picnic basket, but no outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. Food trucks will be on-site with sandwiches, pizzas and desserts. Wine, beer, water and soft drinks will be available for purchase with the proceeds supporting local nonprofits. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs, blankets and dancing shoes! The music starts at 5:30 p.m. at Tufts Memorial Park, 1 Village Green Road W., Pinehurst. For more information, call (910) 295-2817 or visit vopnc.org.

A Russian Virtuoso in Concert

Classical guitarist Irina Kulikova was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, where under the guidance of her mother, cellist Vinera Kulikova, she started developing her musicianship at an early age. At the age of 12, Kulikova began performing throughout Russia and abroad and graduated with distinction from the Mozarteum University in Salzburg (Austria), the Gnessins Academy in Moscow and the Conservatoire of Maastricht (The Netherlands). Treat yourself to this free concert on Tuesday, April 11, at 7 p.m. at Owens Auditorium, Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. For more information, call Ryan Book at (910) 695-3828.

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Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

On Saturday, March 18, The Village of Pinehurst will show off its Irish spirit during the 16th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Colorful parade entries, great music, dancing and good Irish cheer are in store for all who attend. The parade begins at 11 a.m. sharp at Tufts Memorial Park, 1 Village Green Road, West, Pinehurst. Following the parade, families can stick around for entertainment, children’s activities, and food and beverages. (Rain date: March 25.)

Parade entries from non-profits, businesses, civic groups, churches and families are welcome, so don your Irish green and join us for the celebration. Here’s to the Emerald Isle. For more information, contact Dugan’s Pub at (910) 295-3400.

Meet the Author

On Thursday, March 9, at 5 p.m., Michael Knight will present his new work, Eveningland, a collection of interlinked stories and a novella that are set in or near Mobile, Alabama. These stories, which range in focus from the historical catastrophe of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the personal intricacies of a marriage, will take you through the whole gamut of human emotion. Knight, who is from Mobile, has received numerous awards, including the New Writing Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award Special Citation. He is the director of the creative writing program of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This event will take place at The Country Bookshop, 140 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-3211.

The Rooster’s Wife

The Rooster’s Wife March lineup bursts into spring:

Sunday, March 5: Kerrville Song Circle. Winners of the 2015 Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition, Wes Collins, Amy Kucharik, Tom Meny and Becky Warren tour together as a four-person in-the-round show. $15.

Friday, March 10: Major and the Monbacks. This high energy, Virginia-based band is an ensemble of bass guitar, keyboard, organ, vocals, percussion and a couple of horns that blends ’60s and ’70s rock with psychedelic and a little soul. $15.

Sunday, March 12: Al Strong Quartet. As a trumpeter, arranger and composer, Al Strong incorporates progressive jazz, soul, gospel and Afro-beat grooves. $20.

Sunday, March 19: Lindsey Lou and the Flatbellys. Based in bluegrass, this stringband features mandolin, guitar, resonator guitar and sultry vocals. It’s Americana and beyond. $20.

Sunday, March 26: The Kennedys, a folk/rock/pop duo, and Jack Broadbent, a modern bluesman on a slide guitar, share the stage. $20.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:46 at the Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Call (910) 944-7502 or visit www.theroosterswife.org for info and tickets.

Young People’s Fine Arts Festival

The Arts Council of Moore County presents the 21st Annual Young People’s Fine Arts Festival showcasing the artistic talents of students in grades K–12 from Moore County public, private, charter and home schools. You are invited to attend the Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Campbell House Galleries, where all entries will be on display from March 3 to 31. The reception and exhibit, sponsored by George Little & Associates Inc., Whistle Stop Press Inc. and the Town of Southern Pines, are free and open to the public. The Gallery is located at 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays and 1–4 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. Call (910) 692-2787 or visit mooreart.org for more information.

Horses, Hearts and Heroes

On March 30, enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing and the music of DJ King Curtiss in celebration and support of horses and heroes at the Prancing Horse Annual Spring Barn Dance, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets for the dance are $50 per person and can be purchased at Cabin Branch Tack Shop, Southern Pines; A Bit Used, Vass; Sandhills Winery, West End; Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour, Pinehurst; or online at www. prancing-horse.org. The $100 raffle tickets can be purchased at www.prancing-horse.org or at the event. The festivities take place at The Fair Barn, 200 Beulah Road S, Pinehurst. For more information, call (910) 281-3223.

Photography Stroll

On Saturday, March 11, at 9:30 a.m., take a one-mile hike through the Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve with wildlife and nature photographer Brady Beck. The towering long-leaf pines of Weymouth Woods provide a home for many rare and intriguing creatures, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, pine barrens tree frog and fox squirrel, as well as a habitat for the highly photogenic wiregrass and wildflowers. While strolling one of the easy trails through the forest, Beck will share tips for capturing the natural beauty of the longleaf pine ecosystem.

Brady Beck is a biologist studying the red-cockaded woodpecker in the Sandhills. His interests in photography include capturing natural history details, observing wildlife behaviors and creating wildlife portraits in both still and HD video formats. 

This program celebrates the conservation legacy of Ansel Adams and the exhibition of his photographs at the NC Museum of Art through May 7, 2017. Weymouth Woods is located at 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. (910) 692-2167.

Sandhills Farm to Table Now Open for 2017! 

Become a member of the Farm to Table Co-op and get boxes of the freshest local fruits and vegetables delivered to your Gathering Site from mid-April to November. Being a member of the Co-op has many additional benefits — You will receive newsletters with recipes and tips and have access to the online artisanal market, which delivers grass-fed beef, local honey, homemade ice cream, goat cheese, salsas and jams, baked goods, sustainably-raised pork and poultry and more, fresh to the Gathering Site nearest you. You will be able to order extra and bulk seasonal produce each week, like peaches for canning or strawberries for jam. And members are eligible to take part in classes, demonstrations and community events such as You Pick Days! Sign up today and help create a healthier, resilient community that ensures a long-term, secure market for Sandhills farmers. Info and signup: www.sandhillsfarm2table.com or call (910) 722-1623.

And Then There Were None

Beginning Thursday, March 23, and running through the 26th, The Judson Theatre Company (Moore County’s only professional theatre) presents Agatha Christie’s bestselling mystery of all time. Ten guilty strangers are trapped in a mansion on Soldier Island, stranded by a torrential storm and haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme. One by one, they begin to die. Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson on TV’s Little House on the Prairie, stars as the ruthless, remorseless Emily Brent. Tickets: $38. (Save $8 per ticket when you buy 10 or more.) The performance is at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, at Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. For more information, call (910) 585-6989 or visit www.judsontheatre.com.

Saturday in the Gardens

The 69th annual Southern Pines Garden Club Home and Garden Tour is being held on a Saturday for first time, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour features six elegant homes and gardens from horse country to historic Pinehurst and includes stops at Weymouth and Sandhills Gardens for springtime plant sales. Proceeds are used for community beautification and horticultural education projects that benefit all Moore County residents. Tickets ($20 in advance) are available at the Campbell House, the Women’s Exchange, the Country Bookshop, and online at www.southernpinesgardenclub.com.

Cliff Aikens Sings Our Songs

Gather at Given for an evening of “American History and Americana Told in Song,” as folk singer Cliff Aikens recalls the decades from 1920 to 1970 in dialogue and songs  by Woody Guthrie; Bob Dylan; The Weavers; Peter, Paul and Mary; Pete Seeger; The Grand Ole Opry; Simon and Garfunkel; and the Kingston Trio. Come, listen, sing along, remember and reconnect to the special times in your own lives.

Performances are free and open to the public on Tuesday, March 7, 3:30 p.m. at Given Memorial Library, 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst; and on Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. at Given Outpost, 95 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst.

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Lots of Laughs and Bluegrass

This month the Rooster’s Wife lineup shows its totally serious appreciation of humor as well as music.

Friday, Feb. 3, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, a high-energy five-piece bluegrass band, $20.

Friday, Feb. 10, Urban Soil , Dance Party! $10.

Sunday, Feb. 12, Rebecca & the Hi-Tones reunion! $15.

Friday, Feb. 17, Time Sawyer, $15.

Sunday, Feb. 19, Chris Jones and The Night Drivers, known for combining their distinctive music with a unique blend of dry wit and broad humor, $20.

Friday, Feb. 24, The Johnny Mac Comedy Show, $15.

Sunday, Feb. 26, Underhill Rose, a trio of female troubadours, accompanied by singer/song-writer Eric Taylor on his acoustic blues guitar, $20.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:46 at the Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Call (910) 944-7502 or visit www.theroosterswife.org for more information and tickets.

A Poet’s Love

On Feb. 3, just in time for Valentine’s Day, tenor Timothy W. Sparks and pianist Deborah Lee Hollis evoke the highs and lows of romance from the perspective of a writer. This collection of songs covers a variety of musical styles from across Europe and explores every facet of a love affair, with selections from “To Julia” by Roger Quilter, “Poème d’un Jour” by Gabriel Fauré, “Petrarch” sonnets by Franz Liszt, and the complete “Dichterliebe” by Robert Schuman. The performance, which begins at 7 p.m., is sponsored by Ralph and Vivian Jacobson, who invite you to stay for a reception in the Great Room at Boyd House following the performance. Tickets are $10 for Weymouth Members and $20 for non-members. Weymouth Center for Arts and Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. For more information call (910) 692-6261 or visit weymouthcenter.org.

Dress up, Dine and Dance… and Bid

The Sandhills Classical Christian School is holding its 2nd annual Valentine’s Day Bowtie Ball on Feb. 10 at the Fair Barn. Elliott’s on Linden is catering the dinner and a string quartet will provide the music during cocktails. The evening also includes a silent and live auction managed by professional auctioneer Colonel Ben Farrell, special student performances, Champagne and sweets and, of course, dancing. A ticket of $125 per person includes a choice of entree, salad, dessert bar and beverage, as well as two drink tickets for cocktails. Beer, wine and Cham-pagne are complimentary. A portion of the ticket is tax deductible. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. The Fair Barn is located at 200 Beulah Road S. Pinehurst. For more information or to see items up for bidding, call (910) 690-6176 or visit www.sandhillsccs.org. Tickets can be purchased at https://portal11.bidpal.net/Portal/bpe299703/tickets/preview.html.

From Broadway with Love

On Feb. 10 and 11, Touching Humanity presents New York singers Jason Gotay and Elysia Jordan at The Hannah Center Theater at The O’Neal School. Tickets are $28 in advance and can be purchased at The Given Memorial Library, The Country Bookshop or online at www.touchinghumanityinc.org (plus $2 service charge); or $35 at the door. A portion of the proceeds benefits Friend to Friend, a Moore County nonprofit organization that helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking rebuild their lives. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. The Theater is located at 3300 Airport Road, Southern Pines. For more information, contact Michael Pizzi at sandhillsbroadway@gmail.com or call (347) 385-4207.

Penick Art Show and Auction

The 11th Annual Penick Art Show and Auction, held on Feb. 25 and 26 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Village House, features two local artists.

Evelyn Dempsey has studied drawing and painting with Denise Baker at Sandhills Community College and Jeffrey Mims of Southern Pines. Her still lifes, landscapes and portraits reflect her early interest in South Carolina artist Elizabeth O’Neill Verner and Classical Realism.

Potter Ben Owen III’s apprenticeship to his grandfather formed the basis of his work. With formal studies and international travel,
Owen has developed a unique style inspired from culture and nature.

A Ticketed Preview ($50) will be held Friday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds are dedicated to the Penick Village Benevolent Assistance Fund. 500 E. Rhode Island Ave., Southern Pines. For information, contact Hunter Wortham at (910) 692-0492.

Under the Sea on Stage

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel is fascinated by the world above. When a handsome human prince falls overboard, she returns him to land, and falls overboard in love with him. Now she wants to live in his world, much to the distress of her father, the King, who has problems of his own with an evil sister threatening his rule. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story and Disney’s animated film, The Little Mermaid is a legendary love story brought to life with delightful characters, stunning sets and irresistible songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.” Performances at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Feb. 12 at Cape Fear Regional Theatre, 1209 Hay St., Fayetteville. For tickets, call (910) 323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org.

An Evening with Amadeus

On Feb. 1, just a few days and 251 years after the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the North Carolina Symphony will be in Southern Pines to present “All Mozart.” The program includes the overture to “The Abduction from the Seraglio,” Violin Concerto No. 4, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and Symphony No. 39. On the violin will be Jinjoo Cho, a young performer who has won numerous international awards for her technical skills and captivated audiences around the world with her vibrant musical personality. With the charismatic Grant Llewellyn conducting, this promises to be a memorable celebration of one of the most beloved composers of all time. The performance begins at 8 p.m., at Lee Auditorium, Pinecrest High School, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. Call for ticket prices and additional information: (910) 692-6554.

A Rising Cellist Star

On Feb. 6, The Arts Council of Moore County present cellist Cicely Parnas in the third performance of the 2016–17 Classical Concert Series. Parnas, now in her early 20s, started playing the cello at the age of 4, made her concerto debut at 11, and in 2012 won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and with numerous orchestras. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Start your evening with a pre-concert dinner at Wolcott’s for $37/pp (tax and tip included). Reserve for dinner by Feb. 2 by calling The Arts Council (910) 692-2787. The performance will be at the Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 692-8501 or visit sunrisetheater.com.

Raise the Roof

One of the Sunrise Theater’s most popular and enduring events, returns for its 16th edition on Saturday, February 18, at 7:30 PM at the storied venue. As always, it will spotlight an array of local talent with acts that will appeal to people of all ages and tastes.
For more information, call (910) 692-8501 or
visit sunrisetheater.com

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Get To Know Your Town

The Citizen’s Academy invites residents of Southern Pines to get to know the inner workings of their community and meet some of its elected officials. Monthly sessions from January through May highlight town programs, services, policies, and procedures. Staff from various departments conduct tours, provide overviews of departmental functions, and answer questions — enabling participants to create an invaluable guide to the town and its services.

The program is free, but limited to 20, and application is required. Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings, beginning January 10. In order to graduate (and receive a certificate!), participants must attend all five sessions. (One make-up allowed.) High school students are welcome to apply. Application forms are available online at www.southernpines.net/DocumentCenter/View/3841. For availability of individual sessions, call the library, (910) 692-8235.

For The Love Of Coffee And Tea

On Sunday, January 29, enjoy an afternoon at Pinehurst’s historic Fair Barn exploring the many varieties of coffee and tea and browsing the art on display and for sale. Coffee and tea samples and products will be available for purchase, and you can design your own coffee mug at the DIY coffee mug station. It will be a latte fun! The event is from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at Pinehurst Village Hall. The Fair Barn is located at the Pinehurst Harness Track, 200 Beulah Road South. For more information, call (910) 295-1900 or contact Danaka Bunch at dbunch@vopnc.org.

An Evening Of Baroque

On Sunday, January 8, the Weymouth Chamber Music Series presents “Light and Shadow,” a performance by Ensemble Vermillion, whose unique interpretation of 17th and 18th century chamber music will delight you. Musicians Frances Blaker (recorder virtuoso), David Wilson (baroque violinist), Barbara Blaker Krumdeick (baroque cellist), Barbara Weiss (harpsichordist) and Billy Sims (theorbo and baroque guitarist) are joined by soprano Molly Quinn and her silken voice in a program that features the music of Baroque masters Dietrich Buxtehude and JM Bach. Enjoy the music at 3 p.m. and stay for the reception to meet the artists in The Great Room at the Weymouth Center for Arts & Humanities, at 555 E. Connecticut Ave. in Southern Pines. Tickets, available at the Weymouth Center, are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Call (910) 692-6261 or visit www.weymouthcenter.org for more information.

Hot Off The Algonquin Press

Susan Rivers will be at The Country Bookshop on Friday, January 13, at 5 p.m. to discuss her debut novel, The Second Mrs. Hockaday, published this month by Algonquin Books. The story, set in South Carolina at the end of the Civil War, is about Placidia, a young bride left alone to raise her husband’s baby, run his farm, and survive. Her husband returns from the war two years later and discovers Placidia accused of bearing a child and murdering it. The truth is revealed over the course of three decades through letters, court documents and a diary in this suspenseful narrative.  Rivers has an MFA in fiction writing from Queens University of Charlotte and currently teaches in upstate South Carolina. The Country Bookshop is located at 140 NW Broad St. in Southern Pines. Call (910) 692-3211 for more information.

Live At The Met

On Saturday, January 21, The Sunrise Theater will present Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette in HD via satellite from New York. The opera (in French with English subtitles) is based on William Shakespeare’s passionate play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, which tells the story of two teenage lovers whose marriage is forbidden by their feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues. The production features several memorable duets between the characters. The show begins at 12:55 p.m. Tickets are $27. The Sunrise Theater is located at 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Call (910) 692-8501 or visit www.sunrisetheater.com for more information

Campbell House Galleries

This month’s art exhibit, Color in Nature, features paintings by Glenda Parker Jones, Meridith Martens and Miriam Sagasti. The exhibit is presented by The Arts Council of Moore County and sponsored by Shirley and Bill Frei. Hosts Bonnie and Buzz Parker, Howard Schubert, Jean Webster, and Mickey and George Wirtz invite you to the opening reception on Friday, January 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will run through January 27. The Campbell House Galleries are open weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday, January 21, 2–4 p.m., and are located at 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Admission is free. For more information, call (910) 692-2787 or visit mooreart.org.

Celebrating January Authors’ Birthdays

On Saturday, January 7, between 10 a.m. and noon, bring the kids to Given Memorial Library to celebrate the birthdays of J.R.R. Tolkien and A.A. Milne. Special stations will be set up with creative and interactive projects and activities inspired by characters and settings from The Hobbit series and Winnie the Pooh. Alone or with a parent, kids can create characters, draw maps, and explore Chaos Tower. At the Photo Booth Station, they can get their pictures taken with a Hobbit or Pooh creature of their own making. A special map of the Kids Room will help them find books to check out and take home to read. Library cards are free, and kids of all ages are invited! The library is located at 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Call (910) 295-6022 or visit www.giventufts.com for more information.

The Rooster’s Wife

Aberdeen’s casual venue “with a totally serious appreciation for the best music found anywhere” presents the following this month:

Jan. 6, Missy Raines, 7-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year fronts her jazzy string band, the New Hip.

Jan. 13, House of Dues. Dance Party.

Jan. 15, Moors and McCumber, multi-instrumentalists, splendid songwriters ranging from Celtic through Americana

Jan. 19, Mitch Capel presents a Night of Love and Laughter.

Jan. 22, Louis Romano Quartet interweaves Latin, Middle, and Far Eastern influences within an American jazz framework.

Jan. 29, the Martha Bassett Trio returns with no genre left unexplored. Japanese guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto will open the show.

For all of the above, doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 6:46 at the Poplar Knight Spot, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Call (910) 944-7502 or visit www.theroosterswife.org for more information.

And on January 5, at 7:30 p.m., you can catch Miss Raines and the New Hip at the Roosters Wife at the Cameo Art House Theater. 225 Hay St, Fayetteville. (910) 486-6633.

Weymouth Writer-In-Residence Reading

On Thursday, January 12, Sheryl Monks will be reading from her collection of stories, Monsters in Appalachia, set mostly in the story-rich mountains of West Virginia and rural North Carolina. Monks brings to life factory and mine workers, mothers and daughters, outlaws, abused wives, schoolchildren, and monsters in tales that have been described as both gothic and grim, realistic and surrealistic, haunting and humorous. Monks grew up in West Virginia and western North Carolina, holds an MFA in creative writing, and is a past winner of the Reynolds Price Short Fiction Award.

Her reading at 5:30 p.m. and the wine and cheese reception following will be held at the Weymouth Center for Arts & Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Sponsored by St. Joseph of the Pines, this event is free and open to the public. For more information call (910) 692-6261 or visit www.weymouthcenter.org or Facebook.

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Holly & Ivy Time Travel

Go back in time for a good cause when Given Tufts celebrates the season at its annual Holly & Ivy Dinner, Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Evergreen Room of the Holly Inn. The evening includes “old-fashioned” parlor entertainment (magic, songs and readings) and a delicious meal recreated from a menu at the Holly Inn circa 1915. Period dress is encouraged but not necessary to have a great time. Tickets are $125 per person and are available now, online only, at www.giventufts.org. For additional information, call (910) 295-3642. Space is limited.

Will Ferrell and a Winter Wonderland

The Arc of Moore County’s fifth annual Christmas Movie and Snow Spectacular is Saturday, Dec. 17, beginning 11 a.m. at the Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad Street, Southern Pines. There will be caroling, a visit from Santa, a screening of Elf at 11:30 a.m. and refreshments, too. A winter festival on the green (white) space — covered with snow for sledding — will follow the movie. A bouncy house, face painting, live entertainment and food trucks Stacks Cheddar, Dawg Wagon and Ouida’s Wildfire Pizza will make it a fun day for the whole family. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds benefiting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Access to the green space activities only is $5. For tickets and more information, visit www.thearcofmoore.org or The Arc of Moore County, 673 S. Bennett St., Southern Pines, or call (910) 692-8272. Tickets will be available at the event but seating at the Sunrise Theater is limited, so booking in advance is recommended.

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Holidays at The Rooster’s Wife

Dec. 2: Jeanne Jolly and the Mistletoes in the Jolly Holiday Review bring a big voice to the season with the band to match. There will be mistletoe, and a special holiday cocktail from Reverie’s Tony Cross.

Dec. 4: Jonathan Byrd and Corin Raymond put the low in loneliness, and the high in hijinks with their unforgettable stories, poetry and guitar slinging.

Dec. 11: A new album brings jazz wonder Peter Lamb and his Wolves to Aberdeen. Horns, vocals, keys and more horns! Full band show for your holiday pleasure.

Dec.31: Perennial favorites and two-time International Bluegrass Music Association performers of the year, the Gibson Brothers, end the year with a matinee and full-blown New Year’s Eve party. The afternoon show begins at 2:46 p.m. The New Year’s festivities begin at 8:46 p.m., with a break for Champagne and tasty treats from Thyme and Place. Hold onto your party hat, as the Brothers are joined for an all-star jam with Hank and Pattie, Laurelyn Dossett, Alex McKinney, Alex Bingham to ring in 2017.

Elvis Christmas

Vision 4 Moore presents “An Elvis Christmas Special” featuring Todd Allen Herendeen, whose drive, dynamic voice and excellent showmanship have earned him wide acclaim, including the No. 1 hit “My Name is America” during his 15 years of performing professionally. Join him on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Robert E. Lee Auditorium at Pinecrest High School, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. Music begins at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $20, reserved seating section $30. Group rates are available for 10 or more. Purchase your tickets in advance at The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines; Sandhills Winery, West End; or Given Memorial Library, Pinehurst; or by credit card on our website, www.vision4moore.com (no additional fees added). For additional questions call (910) 365-9890 or email info@vision4moore.com.

First Eve

Bring friends and family to celebrate the New Year with music, games, activities and entertainment — then a countdown to the Pinecone Drop — on Dec. 31 (naturally) from 6-to-8 p.m., downtown Southern Pines, at the train station. No possums will be endangered

Reindeer Fun Run

A community event for everyone from serious runners to recreational walkers, families and pets. The 5k Reindeer Fun Run/Walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. curves through Aberdeen’s historic downtown neighborhoods with rolling hills and wide turns. The 12ks of Christmas Run beginning at 9 a.m. incorporates the 5k route along with a scenic tour of Bethesda and the Malcolm Blue Farm. Both courses finish on a sloping downhill toward downtown and the historic Union Station. For kids, the 1/2 Mile Egg Nog Jog & Kids Zone at 10:30 a.m. is a holiday must and fan favorite. Costume judging begins at 9:30 a.m. Awards presentation begins at 11 a.m. All proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills. Register at http://reindeerfunrun.com.

Murphy Family Encore

The annual Murphy Family Christmas Concert is Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:15 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 and VIP tickets are $20. Proceeds benefit the Sunrise Theater. The family will be performing American popular standards, jazz, alternative rock, gospel-influenced Christmas arrangements, traditional carols, and Brazilian bossa nova and samba.

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Christmas at Shaw House

Enjoy period decorations, warm apple cider and homemade cookies at the annual Christmas Open House at the historic Shaw House, Friday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec.11, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tour three house museums built between the 1700s and 1800s to see how early Southern Pines and Sandhills residents lived. Admission is free. Shaw House is located at 110 W. Morganton Road and South West Broad Street in Southern Pines. For information, call (910) 692-2051, email info@moorehistory.com, or visit www.moorehistory.com.

Open House at Bryant House

Get into the old-time Christmas spirit with the annual open house at the historic Bryant House and McLendon Cabin, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. The Moore County Historical Association and Friends of the Bryant House host the event free of charge so every Yule visitor can get a little taste of how early settlers celebrated Christmas. Decorations are based on old-timey materials and traditions. There will be refreshments, live music, a historical interpretation and tours. The Bryant House and McLendon Cabin are at 3361 Mount Carmel Road, in Carthage. Built in the 1760s, the cabin is the county’s oldest dwelling remaining on its original site. Next door on the same lot is the Bryant House, a bigger dwelling dating back to the 1820s. For information, call (910) 692-2051, email info@moorehistory.com, or visit www.moorehistory.com.

Sound of Sandhills

Classical guitarist Dr. Adam Kossler performs Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., at Sandhills Community College, Owens Auditorium. Kossler has been a top prize-winner in a number of international guitar competitions, including the Boston Guitarfest, Columbus Guitar Symposium, East Carolina Guitar Competition, Music Academy of North Carolina Guitar Competition, Texas International Guitar Competition, Music Teacher National Association Competition, and the Appalachian Guitarfest Competition. Kossler performs regularly as a solo artist, as a member of the NOVA Guitar Quartet, and with the Kossler Guitar Trio alongside his father, Bill, and brother John. He has been featured on several prestigious concert series, including the John E. Marlow Guitar Series (Bethesda, Maryland), Isle Newell Concert Series (Appalachicola, Florida), and the Seven Hills Guitar Series (Tallahassee, Florida). Admission is free.

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Conductors of Magic

The Sandhills Central Model Railroad club presents its annual Train Show on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Founded in 1979, the Club is located in the Aberdeen Train Depot, where an HO model railroad features a beautifully constructed re-creation of the town of Aberdeen and surrounding areas. The layout depicts portions of Main, South, and Poplar Streets, U.S. 1 and Hwy. 5, and billboards modeled in detail. Admission: $5; free for children. The Historic Aberdeen Train Depot and Museum, 100 E. Main St., Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-1115 or explorepinehurst.com.

Fare-Thee-Well

On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, Canadian-American rock group The Band performed a farewell concert that featured more than a dozen special guests, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond and Eric Clapton. The performance, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese for a documentary called The Last Waltz, will show for free at the Sunrise Theater this Thanksgiving night (Thursday, Nov. 24), at 7:30 p.m. Rolling Stone magazine called it the “Greatest Concert Movie of All Time.” Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com.

Destination: Music

Best thing about a Rooster’s Wife show at Poplar Knight Spot? There isn’t a bad seat in the house. You’ll just want to make sure you snag one. Here’s what’s hot at the Spot this month:

Nov. 4 – Martin Grosswendt and Susanne Salem-Schatz deliver country blues with bottleneck and finger-busting guitar, powerful vocals, soul and wry humor.  Tickets: $10. You can also catch them on Thursday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., at the Cameo Arthouse Theater, 225 Hay Street, Fayetteville. Tickets: $12.

Nov. 6 – Southern Pines native Sam Lewis comes home from Nashville with a full band and a new record to share his folksy roots and soulful persona with friends new and old. Tickets: $15.

Nov. 11 – Cicada Rhythm. Chilling harmonies and unbridled enthusiasm redefine so-called folk music. Tickets: $10.

Nov. 13 – Joe Walsh delivers his newest project, “Borderland,” for this CD release celebration. The Matt Flinner Trio splits the show. Talk about modern mandolin mayhem — and all things stringed. Tickets: $15.

Nov. 20 – Jordan Tice is a singular voice on the American roots music scene. Stray Local opens. Tickets: $15.

Doors open at 6 p.m. All shows start at 6:46 p.m. The Rooster’s Wife, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-7502 or www.theroosterswife.org.

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Art that Pops

New work by collage and assemblage artist Louis St. Lewis will be on display at Broadhurst Gallery on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 5 p.m. Hailed as a “cunning pirate of art history,” St. Lewis is a bold and witty artist and designer whose brilliant manipulations of appropriated art grace the collections of French fashion designer Christian LaCroix, former Vogue editor André Leon Talley, The Prince of Kuwait, and Oprah Winfrey. Born in nearby Albemarle, he now divides his time between Raleigh, Paris and New Orleans. Don’t miss his “Collecting Art” talk, during which he just might explain what he means when he says artists are “social court jesters.” Broadhurst Gallery, 2212 Midland Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 295-4817 or www.broadhurstgallery.com.

If These Trees Could Talk

On Saturday, Nov. 5, learn about our region’s first and biggest industry — naval stores — during this fascinating excursion back in time. “Tar, Pitch and Turpentine” will be presented hourly from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. by filmmaker, historian and writer Bryan Avery. Watch Avery extract resin from a tree, light fires to distill turpentine from gum, and more. Bring a blanket or chair for the outdoor demos, and since they’re open, don’t miss the chance to tour the property’s two house-museums. Free admission. Bryant House and McLendon Cabin, 3361 Mount Carmel Road, Carthage. Info: (910) 692-2051 or explorepinehurst.com.

Enchanted Forest

The 20th annual Sandhills Children’s Center Festival of Trees will take place from Wednesday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Over 200 decorated trees, wreaths, gift baskets and gingerbread houses will be featured in a winter wonderland complete with live entertainment, silent auction and a Festival Marketplace. Three words: lights, children, magic. Admission by any monetary donation at the door. Proceeds benefit Sandhills Children’s Center. Carolina Hotel, 80 Carolina Vista Drive, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 692-3323 or sandhillschildrenscenter.org/trees.

Made With Love 

The Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival, to be held Saturday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., celebrates the craft heritage of Seagrove, the Randolph County gem that is home to the largest concentration of working potters in the United States. In addition to pottery — both functional and sculptural— the festival features food vendors and live music, educational activities for children and adults, and demos by blacksmiths, basket makers, woodcarvers, weavers, and potters. Admission: $5. Seagrove Elementary School, 528 Old Plank Road, Seagrove. Info: (336) 873-7887 or discoverseagrove.com.

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Boot Stomping Music

The Hackensaw Boys inject traditional Appalachian and Delta music with a heavy dose of contemporary, good-times-roll kind of spit and vinegar. If the sound of that makes you feel like putting on your dancing boots, mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. Known for their spirited and rowdy live shows, the Hackensaw Boys will perform old favorites and tunes from their latest album at the Sunrise Theater. Produced by Larry Campbell — the multi-instrumentalist wizard who has lent his talents to the likes of Bob Dylan and Levon Helm — “Charismo” has a casual, porch-front aesthetic that’s sharpened around the edges, focusing on the simple beauty of Hackensaw’s melodies and the earnestness in their delivery. Tickets: $20 (general admission); $30 (VIP). Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com.

Walk in the Woods

You’ve heard of Eat, Pray, Love? Why not Hike, Pray, Eat? On Thanksgiving Day, meet at the Weymouth Woods Visitor Center for a 10 a.m. discovery hike sure to help you work up an appetite for the afternoon feast. Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve is an enchanted window to the longleaf pine forests that once covered millions of acres in the southeastern U.S. The lanky pines – some of them hundreds of years old – tower over expanses of wiregrass and rare and intriguing species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, pine barrens tree frog, bog spicebush, and fox squirrel. Who knows what else you’ll discover? Wear comfortable shoes and bring bottled water for this ranger-led two-mile hike. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-2167 or www.ncparks.gov/weymouth-woods-sandhills-nature-preserve.

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Get Wind of This

Any member of the Golf Capital Chorus will tell you that it’s always a good day for singing, but what makes Saturday, Nov. 5, extra special is that they’ll be joined by international medalists A Mighty Mind for a 7 p.m. performance featuring barbershop harmonies that are downright electric. Tickets for “It’s a Good Day For Singing A Song” are available at The Country Bookshop, Givens Outpost and Heavenly Pines Jewelers, or by calling Larry Harter at (910) 295-3529 or Marty Matula at (910) 673-3464. Pinecrest High School, Robert E. Lee Auditorium, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. Info: www.thegolfcapitalchorus.org.

Vessels Made of Clay

The Fall Studio Sale and Open House at Linda Dalton Pottery will be held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 – 29, and Nov. 4–5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Silent auction features a 13-by-10-inch saggar fired orb with rare North Carolina-grown black bamboo mechanically attached to the lid. All proceeds from the auction of this piece will go to benefit Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills. The Dalton’s studio is located 10 minutes north of the village of Pinehurst. Linda Dalton Pottery, 250 Oakhurst Vista, West End. Info:  (910) 947-5325.

The Music Rx

The fabled healing properties of the Sandhills have long drawn folks to Moore County. Combine that with the curative qualities of an intimate house concert at Poplar Knight Spot and you’ve got yourself a magical formula. Here’s what’s hot at the Spot this month, a Rooster’s Wife lineup sure to spell tonic for mind, body and soul.

Oct. 2 – Harlem-based soul singer/songwriter Caleb Hawley says his two greatest musical influences are Randy Newman and Prince. We say: Yes, please. Tickets: $12 (advance); $15. Listen: calebhawley.com

Oct. 9 – Headliner Danny Barnes speaks banjo. And wait until you hear what The Buck Stops Here has to say in their inimitable Indie meets folk meets Americana-kinda style. Tickets: $15 (advance); $20. Listen: dannybarnes.com; www.thebuckstopshereband.com.

Oct. 16 – Nashville singer-songwriter Irene Kelley is a musical storyteller with a voice like a bluegrass angel. Christiane Smedley opens the show with honest songs that reveal strength through vulnerability. Tickets: $12 (advance); $15. Listen: www.irenekelley.com; www.iamchristiane.com.

Oct. 23 – Slide guitar player and song poet David Jacobs-Strain redefines roots and blues while modern-day troubadour Beth Wood defies labels. Tickets: $15 (advance); $20. Listen: www.davidjacobs-strain.com/home; www.bethwoodmusic.com.

Oct. 27 –April Verch and Joe Newberry. Fiddle plus banjo equals music that will make you feel like step dancing. Tickets: $15 (advance); $20. Listen: aprilverch.com; joenewberry.me/wordpress.

Oct. 30 – Jason Marsalis of New Orleans’ venerable first family of jazz celebrates the release of Heirs to the Crescent City. Tickets: $25 (advance); $30. Listen: jasonmarsalis.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. All shows start at 6:46 p.m. The Rooster’s Wife, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-7502 or www.theroosterswife.org.

Top Shelf

Three North Carolina authors will be inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. Inductees include best-selling author Clyde Edgerton, prolific mystery writer Margaret Maron, and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Sandburg. Program participants include Rhonda Bellamy, H. Tyrone Brandyburg, Talmadge Ragan, Bland Simpson, Shelby Stephenson, George Terll and J. Peder Zane. The Hall of Fame is located in the former study of James Boyd, the historic literary gathering place said to have “launched the Southern Literary Renaissance” in the 1920s and 30s. Reception to follow ceremony. Free and open to the public. Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-6261 or weymouthcenter.org.

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Shaw Season

The eighth annual Shaw House Fair of Vintage Collectibles happens on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located on its original foundation at the crossing of the famed Revolutionary Pee Dee and Morganton roads, the historic Shaw House was built circa 1820 by a first-generation Scottish settler whose son became the first mayor of Southern Pines in 1887. Come for the vendors and collectibles, food and live music, raffle, historical reenactors from Civil War days and frontier times, demos of old-time crafts, and tours of the homestead. Admission: $2. Proceeds go to maintain the Moore County Historical Association’s five house museums from the 1700s and 1800s, located in Southern Pines and Carthage. Shaw House, 110 W. Morganton Road (corner of Broad Street), Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-2051 or www.moorehistory.com.

Glad We Met

This month, the Sunrise will stream two Metropolitan Opera performances and a Bolshoi Ballet production — live and in HD. 

Saturday, Oct. 8 – Live via satellite, Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” runs from 12–5:05 p.m. This three-act opera is widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire. Tickets: $27.

Sunday, Oct. 16 – Direct from Moscow, Bolshoi Ballet’s “The Golden Age” runs from 1–3:20 p.m. With its jazzy score, this ballet is a colorful and dazzling satire of Europe in the Roaring 20s. Tickets: $25 (adult); $15 (child).

Saturday, Oct. 22 – Live via satellite, Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” (with English subtitles) runs from 1–4:22 p.m. Based on the legends of Don Juan, a fictional libertine and seducer, this two-act opera blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural elements.

Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com.

All Keyed Up

On Thursday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., piano and vocal duo Dr. Jaeyoon Kim and Seung-Ah Kim will perform a free concert at Sandhills Community College. A native of Pusan, Korea, Seung-Ah Kim teaches piano at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), where she plays for a guest artist recital series that has included world famous musicians such as Øystein Baadsvik (tuba), New York City opera singers Anna Vikre (soprano) and Rod Nelman (bass), Dr. Terry Everson (trumpet), and Michele Gingras (clarinet). Praised for his lyric tenor repertoire, her husband, Dr. Jaeyoon Kim, is an associate processor at UNCP whose operatic credits include principal tenor roles in “The Tales of Hoffmann,” “La Bohème,” “Don Pasquale,” “The Merry Widow,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “The Magic Flute” and many others. In 2016, the Kims released Romantic Art Songs, an album featuring art songs by Donizetti, Bellini, Turina, Liszt, Duparc, Rachmaninoff and Tosti. You won’t want to miss this free performance. Owens Auditorium, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 695-3828 or sandhills.edu.

The Wide Blues Yonder

The last First Friday of the season happens this month, which makes us feel kind of blue, but we won’t sulk just yet. On Friday, Oct. 7, from 5–8:30 p.m., don’t miss the chance to experience Blues Music Award-winner Danielle Nicole (singer/bassist/songwriter) and prodigious blues guitarist Lakota John doing what they do best — stirring our blues-loving souls — at this concert series season finale. Danielle Nicole has a voice like chocolate ganache, and you can hear Lakota John’s old soul sing through his slide guitar. Rain or shine, First Friday concerts are free and open to the public. Food and beverages available for purchase. The Preservation Green (grassy lot) adjacent to the Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Listen: www.daniellenicolekc.com; lakotajohn.com. Info: (910) 692-8501 or firstfridaysouthernpines.com.

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Steal the Show

First Friday Southern Pines presents The Ballroom Thieves on Friday, Sept.2, from 5–8:30 p.m. Trio Martin Earley, Calin Peters and Devin Mauch create a captivating mélange of acoustic styles, blending folk conventions with modern hymnals, Delta blues grit with rich harmonies, and exploring the basic constructions of pop music while simultaneously rejecting its restrictions. Rain or shine, First Friday concerts are free and open to the public. Food and beverages available for purchase. The Preservation Green (grassy lot) adjacent to the Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St. , Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or firstfridaysouthernpines.com.

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Old Cars, New Tricks

On Saturday, Sept. 17, dozens of old cars will shine like new pennies on the campus of Sandhills Community College, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The car show, organized by the Sandhills Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) and hosted by the SCC Automotive Technologies program, features live music by the Sandhills Community College Jazz Band, guided tours of the renowned Horticultural Gardens, on-site food, 50/50 and silent auctions, and awards presented by Miss Moore County. Car entry registration prior to Sept. 13 is $15 (includes food voucher and special door prizes). Registration on day of show is $20. Show is free and open to the public. Sirotek Hall, Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.ncregionaaca.com/sandhills.

Coneheads

This year, celebrate the Ice Cream Parlor’s 40th anniversary by registering for a chance to win free ice cream for life. Repeat: Free ice cream for life. Drop in for lunch or a cone before Sunday, Sept. 25, when one lucky participant will have reason to flash their sweet-toothed grin. Ice Cream Parlor, 176 NW Broad Street, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7273.

Hicks in Town

Robert Hicks, New York Times best—selling author of The Widow of the South and A Separate Country, will be at The Country Bookshop on Monday, September 26, at 5 p.m. Hicks’ new novel, The Orphan Mother, tells the story of midwife and former slave Mariah Reddick, who, in the wake of tragedy, embarks on an epic quest for justice. Free and open to the public. The Country Bookshop, 140 NW Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-3211.

Gone Vogue

The United Way of Moore County will host a fashion extravaganza on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. Featured merchants include Apricot Lane, Cottage of Hope, Eloise & Co., Eve Avery, Morgan Miller, and Patricia. Eat, drink and be dazzled. Tickets: $40. Proceeds benefit United Way of Moore County partner agencies. Grand Hall at Penick Village, 500 E. Rhode Island Ave., Southern Pines Info: (910) 692-2413 or unitedwaymoore.com.

Crème de la Crème

You won’t want to miss Judson Theatre Company’s production of “Twelve Angry Men,” the electrifying Reginald Rose classic about a jury forced to decide one boy’s fate. Emmy-winning Broadway and TV star John Wesley Shipp (“The Flash,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “As the World Turns,” “Guiding Light”) headlines a cast from New York and North Carolina, which includes Broadway actor Mike Boland and local pros Rick McDermott, Chris Thomas (from Star 102.5), and Adam W. Faw.  Show runs Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. Tickets: $38 (advance); $43 (day of show); $20 (students, military, SCC faculty and staff). Owens Auditorium, Sandhills Community College. Tickets/Info: (800) 514-3849 or judsontheatre.com.

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The Hot Spot

Best thing about a Rooster’s Wife show at Poplar Knight Spot? There isn’t a bad seat in the house. You’ll just want to make sure you snag one. Here’s what’s hot at the Spot this month:

Sept. 2 – Classical/nuevo flamenco guitarist Ed Stephenson. One word: virtuoso. Tickets: $15. Listen: edwardstephenson.com.

Sept. 11 – Scythian, Celtic rock band with strains of Gypsy and klezmer. Sure to make the walls and floor shake. Tickets: $20 (advance); $25. Listen: www.scythianmusic.com

Sept. 16 –  Award-winning singer/songwriter Liz Longley breathes soul into country pop. Tickets: $15. Listen: www.lizlongley.com.

Sept. 18  – Will Overman Band delivers Southern fried rock with Americana fixin’s.  Locust Honey String Band opens. Tickets: $15 (advance); $20. Listen: willovermanband.com.

Sept. 22  – Guy Davis Trio spells American Blues. Tickets: $20 (advance); $25. Listen: guydavis.com.

Sept. 29  – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen are a bluegrass festival attraction. Tickets: 20 (advance); $25. Listen: dirtykitchenband.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. All shows start at 6:46 p.m. The Rooster’s Wife, 114 Knight St., Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-7502 or www.theroosterswife.org.

Trikes Are for Kids

The Tour de Trike makes a kid out of everyone. On Thursday, Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m., come watch your neighbors cruise down West New Hampshire Avenue in a tricycle race to benefit area nonprofits. Or, better yet, pedal alongside them. If you’re lucky, the giant pink gorilla will catch a ride on the back of somebody else’s bike. Entry: $100 donation. Costumes encouraged. Info: United Way of Moore County, (910) 692-2413.

The Real Dealers

Serious collectors already know what’s happening in Cameron on Saturday, Oct.1. The Annual Fall Antiques Street Fair, of course. Rain or shine, 250 dealers will display their antiques and collectibles in the shops and streets along the Historic District on Carthage Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The old smells are free. Info: (910) 245-7001, (910) 245-3020, or www.antiquesofcameron.com.

Gone to Temple

Director/cGavan Pamer is traveling from Pittsburgh, to direct Temple Theatre’s production of “Anything Goes,” the classic Cole Porter musical about a st  ble cast features Broadway veteran Peggy Taphorn, 2013 Miss North Carolina, Hailey Best, and regional stars Lynda Clark and Sean Powell. Pamer and Taphorn, now in her ninth season at the helm of the Temple, toured nationally with the show and are delighted to be reunited. Says Taphorn, “Our audiences have come to expect lavish musical extravaganzas. They won’t be disappointed.” Show times for are Thursdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 2 and 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets: $14–25. Temple Theatre, 120 Carthage St., Sanford. Box office: (919) 774-4155. Info: templeshows.com.

August

One for the Kids

This month, as part of the popular Movies by the Lake series, The Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Departments and sponsors will show The Good Dinosaur, a Disney/Pixar film that follows a young Apatosaurus named Arlo and his unlikely friend, a feral cave boy named Spot. On Friday, August 12, from 8:15–9:30 p.m., bring the whole family along to experience this Jurassic adventure on the big screen. Free admission; concessions available for purchase. Aberdeen Lake Park, 301 Lake Park Crossing, Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-7275 or townofaberdeen.net.

Band Together

On Sunday, August 7, 3 p.m., Weymouth Woods Nature Study features Hummingbird Banding with Ornithologist Susan Cambpell. Witness the delicate process of handling these tiny birds, collecting data, and banding and releasing them — a rare and specialized activity that will render you absolutely spellbound. And if you get a chance to explore a longleaf trail, who knows what other wild things you’ll encounter? Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-2167.

General Admission

Join Retired Maj. Jason Hawk for In & Out at the Outpost on Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m. This free lecture will focus on the life and legacy of Gen. George C. Marshall, the soldier and statesman whom Winston Churchill called “the last great American.” Marshall had a home on Linden Road from 1944 until his death in 1959. Learn more about Marshall’s life and connection to Pinehurst during this summer evening program. Given Outpost, 95 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 295-7002.

Banjo-ification

On August 5, 5–8:30 p.m., First Friday presents Parsonsfield, a five-piece alt/folk band from Northampton, Massachusetts. Think: banjo in the park with a rowdy, rock ’n’ roll spirit that stomps out all the rules. Chris Freeman (vocals, banjo), Antonio Alcorn (mandolin), Max Shakun (vocals, pump organ, guitar), Harrison Goodale (bass), and Erik Hischmann (drums) recorded their debut album in 2013 under the moniker Poor Old Shine, but changed their name in July 2014 following their inspired experiences recording two albums in Parsonsfield, Maine, at producer Sam Kassirer’s farmhouse studio/retreat. Rain or shine, First Friday concerts are free and open to the public. Food and beverages available for purchase. Alexandra King opens. The Preservation Green (grassy lot) adjacent to the Sunrise Theater, 250 Northwest Broad Street, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or firstfridaysouthernpines.com. 

Frank Admiration

On Thursday, August 18, beginning at 7:30 a.m., golf professional Scott Holmes will attempt to play one-hundred holes of golf in 12 hours as a tribute to his late uncle, Frank Smither. Frank lived with a developmental disability and was an active member of The Arc of Moore County and the community for many years. Pledges per hole and flat donations will benefit The Arc’s social and recreational programs, which Frank loved. “Fore For Frank” will take place on Course #4 at Pinehurst Resort. Friends of The Arc who sponsor or contribute $100 or more will be invited to an evening celebration and entered into a raffle to win two tickets to “An Evening With David Feherty,” a benefit for the Linden Lodge Foundation on Friday, August 19. For more information or to volunteer, please contact The Arc of Moore County at (910) 692-8272. Donate here: www.foreforfrank.com.

Pop Goes the Matrix

The Dancing Dream is a professional ABBA tribute band based in New York City and so close to the real deal that watching them will feel like experiencing a glitch in the matrix. And you’ll love it. On Sunday, August 28, at 3 p.m. Vision 4 Moore presents “A Tribute to ABBA”, a high-energy concert that benefits Meals on Wheels of the Sandhills and The Linden Lodge Foundation. In 2012, this sparkling tribute band appeared on The Colbert Report. Don’t miss the chance to see them play in the Pines. Tickets: $25 (general admission); $30 (day of show); $35 (center orchestra). Robert E. Lee Auditorium, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 365-9890 or www.vision4moore.com.

Making Paper

On Tuesday, August 16, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., artist Kathy Leuck will lead “Playing with Paper”, a crafty workshop for students of all levels. Alter paper in ways you’ve never imagined. Use a sewing machine and Gelli printing plate, make your own rules, and create one-of-a-kind note cards and collages that will change the way you look at paper evermore. Cost: $50; $45 (associate members); $40 (members). Includes lunch. Artists League of the Sandhills, 129 Exchange Street, Aberdeen. Info: (910) 944-3979 or www.artistleague.org.

Carolina Chronicles

In Slave Escapes & the Underground Railroad in North Carolina, authors
J. Timothy Allen and Steve M. Miller use harrowing first-hand accounts to investigate how African Americans escaped oppression in a dark chapter of Tarheel State history. Hear them discuss Quaker safe houses and freed slave communities on Saturday, August 27, 4 p.m., at this free Meet the Author event. The Country Bookshop, 140 Northwest Broad Street, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-3211 or www.thecountrybookshop.biz.

Bosom Buddies

Three words: Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. On Thursday, August 4, at 7:30 p.m., Sunrise Theater Summer Classic Series presents Some Like it Hot (1959), the  Billy Wilder film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. When two Chicago musicians witness the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Joe and Jerry flee town (in drag!) as Josephine and Daphne, the newest members of an all-female band fronted by a ukulele-playing blonde named Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Monroe). Mayhem and hilarity ensue. Screening sponsored by Whit Lauter. Tickets: $6. Sunrise Theater, 250 Northwest Broad Street, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com. 

Planting Happiness

Lunch and Learn in the Gardens with Master Gardener Bruce Fensley will ready you for Mama’s spicy collards. On Monday, August 22, learn when to plant which root and leaf crops and how to plan for fresh veggies all fall and winter. Free one-hour workshop begins at noon. Bring your own lunch; drinks provided. Ball Visitors Center, Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Register by email: landscapegardening@sandhills.edu. Info: (910) 695-3882 or sandhillshorticulturalgardens.com.  PS