Monday, December 2, 2024

Li’l Friday Roundup: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pride events, Flamenco Carolina

Beer Picture of the Week: Waterline Brewing Company's Hoppy Pilz, a hybrid between a New Zealand-style Pilsner and a session IPA. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)
Waterline Brewing Company and Cape Fear Museum collaborate monthly on What’s Brewing in Science, slated to take place Thursday night. (Port City Daily/File)

Thursday, June 23

What’s Brewing in Science
Waterline Brewing, 721 Surry St. • Free

The Cape Fear Museum is teaming up with Waterline craft brewery — located at the base of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge — to host an educational event about cars. 

Professor Yang Song from UNCW’s Department of Computer Science will lead the talk. Specifically, Song will discuss how self-driving cars will impact the future and what it takes to get there to utilize them as a society.

The session is interactive and welcomes attendees to explore social and economic impacts it could have on transportation and convenience.

MORE THURSDAY HAPPENINGS
Southern Trouble — Performing their brand of country rock, the five-piece will entertain for free beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Wrightsville Beach Park. Picnic, coolers, lawn chairs and blankets are welcome for an evening of music — no alcohol allowed.

Preserving Our Shrines — The Bellamy Mansion Museum (503 Market St.) is holding a free lecture at 6:30 p.m. about Black women and historic preservation from 1896 to 2000. The event is hosted by UNCW professor Dr. Tara White, who wrote a dissertation about pioneering black preservationists. The lecture will tackle contributions Black women’s organizations have made in society duringthe 20th century. It is being held in collaboration with the current exhibit, “We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina,” on display through Nov. 4 at Bellamy Mansion.

Friday, June 24

Flamenco Carolina 
Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Way, Leland • Tickets: $12

Southern Spain’s exotic dance will come to life in the American South on Friday night only with a touch of India in its moves too.

Gypsy Kathaa will perform a Flamenco-Kathak fusion show. Kathak was performed in Hinduu temples as storytelling, while Flamenco — believed to have derived from India into Spain — is based on folkloric music traditions deriving from people expressing their struggles. Similarities between both dances are explored in revealing motion and refined elegance.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here. The show takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

MORE FRIDAY HAPPENINGS
Show Your Pride Party — Bottega Art and Wine (723 N. 4th St.) is hosting a celebration in honor of Pride month starting at 7 p.m. ($5 cover). Music will be performed by The Ford Project from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be Pride swag and a chalk mural that LGBT+ kids will design. All net proceeds from the door are donated to the Wilmington Transgender Teen Support Group for kids ages 11 to18.

Wilmington Sharks — The local baseball team will take on the Holly Springs Salamanders at 7:15 p.m. at Buck Hardee Field Legion Stadium (2139 Carolina Beach Rd.). The Town of Burgaw will be on hand to honor five local heroes following the first pitch. Tickets are $8. 

City of Wilmington Pride Proclamation — On City Hall steps (102 N. 3rd St.) at 11:30 a.m. groups will gather to celebrate the mayor’s signing of the Pride proclamation, which will take place in the mayor’s office. Members of the LGBT+ community are encouraged to attend. The event is free.

The Shape of Color: Paintings by Stephanie Holt — The WHQR emcee Erny Gallery is participating in Fourth Friday Gallery night with a new exhibit by Stephanie Holt. Paintings consist of still life and contemporary abstractions. “She conveys positive narratives that invite the viewers to reflect upon their own experiences and memories,” according to the event notification. It’s free, and light refreshments will be served. Folks can meet the artist to speak about her work from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pleasure Island Pride — Carolina and Kure beaches are celebrating Pride month with events all weekend. It starts Friday night with Gay Watch Music Bingo, hosted by Tatianna Matthews, at Island Beverage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include two drinks, five rounds of Bingo cards, snacks and a chance at $100 in prizes per round. It’s “Baywatch” themed and the best costume takes home the prize. All proceeds benefit the LGBTQ Center of the Cape Fear Coast. Saturday will feature Nauti Pride Day at Nauti Dog (5 Cape Fear Blvd.) with live music beginning at noon, featuring Emily Burdette and Jordan, Striking Copper, Courtney Lynn and Quinn, and DJ Quinn. On Sunday at the Seawitch Tiki Bar, Drag Me to Brunch takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be hosted by Tara Nicole Brooks; tickets are $50-$75 and available here.

Michael Franti and Spearhead will return to Wilmington this weekend. (MoonFrog Media/Tom Dorgan)

Saturday, June 25

Michael Franti and Spearhead
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Dr. • Tickets: $49.50

Annually, Michael Franti and Spearhead bring their positive vibes and messages of peace to the Port City, through hits like “The Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey I Love You,” and “Good for a Good Day,” among other tracks.

Since 1994, Franti and his band have been traveling and performing its blend of hip-hop, funk, reggae, blues and jazz. They’ve also released a dozen albums, including 2020’s “Work Hard & Be Nice.”.

The musician released his first self-directed documentary “I Know I’m Not Alone” in 2004. The film depicts his mission for peace in the Middle East, with a focus on the human cost of war. Franti visited war zones in Iraq, Israel and Palestine, playing music to both soldiers and civilians regardless of affiliation.

Franti will return to the Greenfield Lake stage two days this weekend, June 25-26.

MORE SATURDAY HAPPENINGS
Entangled Dreams + Friends — Local female artists Entangled Dreams will perform at 10 p.m. at Reggie’s 42nd St. Tavern (1415 S 42nd St.) on Saturday evening. The rock duo has announced it will be its last show for a bit. The pair will be performing with local rock trio Vestige of Mora (8 p.m.) and hard rocking, instrumental trio Escape Velocity (9 p.m.). Doors are at 7 p.m., and admission is $7. 

A Gathering of Men — Rona Simmons will be at Mayfaire’s Barnes & Noble (850 Inspiration Dr.) reading from and signing “A Gathering of Men” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Based on a former Wilmington native, Lt. Harry Bethea, the novel is set during World War II. It follows the B-17 bomber pilot, based on the real-life military man’s records. On site will be Bethea’s son, Harry, as well. The event is free.

Completely Free Market — Sokoto House (1219 Dawson St.) will host a free community market from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be clothing, home goods, decor, shoes, kids books,toys and more available to the community. 

Burlesque Nights — Bourgie Nights in downtown Wilmington will be host to a Burlesque Show. There will be performances by Puppie Buffé, Jo’Rie Tigerlily, Rusty Dawn, Sally Stardust and Arianna Tysinger. The event is hosted by Ego Von Hubris, with doors at 8 p.m. and show starting at 9 p.m. It’s for 21 and up only, with tickets $17 in advance and $25 at the door.

Sunday, June 26

Gotta Sketch ‘Em All! Original Pokémon Sketch Comedy Show!
Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess St. • Tickets: $15-$18

Local comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps are returning to the stage at downtown’s Jengo’s Playhouse all weekend long for an original performance, “Gotta Sketch ‘Em All! Original Pokemon Sketch Comedy Show.” 

According to the troupe, the three performances will take on “all things Pokémon!” 

The PG-13 show will be interactive, too, and contain some adult humor and language. Still, Pokemon lovers are asked to bring all the questions they want answered: “Where do Pokémon go when they die? Is Gary Oak really into cryptocurrency? And … does Ash Ketchum know how to read?”

Tickets are $15; show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

OTHER SUNDAY HAPPENINGS
Here Comes the Sun Summer Bash — Waterline is celebrating the kick off to summer with a pop-up market, Wheelz Pizza, 3 p.m. to7 p.m., and live music by The Swellians,  4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s free to attend and takes place at 721 Surry St.

Historic Downtown Wilmington — Another outdoor marketplace will set up Sunday on Front between Dock and Market streets. There will be artists and makers selling handmade and upcycled jewelry, fused glass, fine crafts, essential oils and accessories, fiber arts and more. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Family Pride Picnic — At Long Leaf Park, families are welcome to gather for food and fellowship. Kids can enjoy the playground area as well the splash pad, plus there will be volleyball and cornhole. The event takes place from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Born this Way Pride Event — Coglins in downtown Wilmington also is throwing a Pride event with Tara Nicole hosting two drag shows (4 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and Mr. Mac’s OG Burgers and BBQ food truck on site. There will be vendors, face painting and body marbling, plus live music from MB Love and DJ Brewtal spinning tunes. Proceeds benefit the LGBTQ Center of the Cape Fear Coast and the event begins at 1 p.m.


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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