Sunday, February 9, 2025

Li’l Friday: ‘Blue Velvet’ screening, ILM Electronic Superjam, Fourth Friday Gallery Night

A screening of David Lynch’s classic, “Blue Velvet” — filmed in Wilmington — will screen at Thalian Hall on Friday. (Courtesy photo)

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.

This week, with snow blanketing much of the region and roads remaining icy due to frigid temperatures, many readers may be going a bit stir crazy. While there is plenty to do this weekend, Port City Daily is not promoting events on Thursday, Jan. 23, as officials have asked locals to remain off the roads as NCDOT continues to plow them. 

The good news is: Temps are rising above freezing Thursday, though will fall again overnight. Friday will see highs in the 40s and by Sunday the region will warm up toward 50 again.

As such, there still could be icy patches out there, so stay safe. 

All events featured were scheduled as of press; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute.

Friday, Jan. 24

Blue Velvet
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $10

Revered filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away on Jan. 15, filmed one of his most popular cult classics in Wilmington in the mid 1980s. To honor him — and the local film industry that has taken off in the region for decades since — Thalian Hall is showing “Blue Velvet” on the big screen.

Starring Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rosselini, Laura Dern and Kyle MacLauchlan, the movie taps into a bizarre underbelly world where corruption, violence, and toxic masculinity reign.

Lynch’s story follows jazz singer Dorothy Vallens (Rosselini) and her involvement with psychopathic criminals, such as bad boy Frank (Hopper), in the small town of Lumberton. Two youngsters — played by Dern and MacLachlan — attempt to crack the mystery of a suspicious severed ear located in an abandoned field, and end up learning about the rebel rousers and their seedy underground in the process.

Fun fact: Wilmington local and award-winning makeup and special effects artist Jeff Godwin — now retired — created the famed ear in the film.

Tickets to the screening are $10 and the movie starts at 7 p.m.

OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Solitary Man — Love the music of Neil Diamond? If so, Solitary Man is the show for you. Brunswick County’s Odell Williamson Auditorium is hosting the tribute act at 7 p.m. David Jericko takes on the musical icon, best known for songs like “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rose,” “Cherry, Cherry” and more. Jericko is backed by a band of professional musicians known as The Crew. Tickets start at $40.

‘Willy Wonka Jr.’ — Thalian Association Community Theater continues with its kids production “Willy Wonka Jr.” The famed Roald Dahl book follows Charlie and his family on the hunt for the winning Golden Ticket for  a lifetime supply of candy and to tour the town’s Chocolate Factory owned by Willy Wonka. The five children who win, excluding Charlie, are entitled brats, Wonka finds, and must follow his rules else be ejected off the premises. The show, adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald with lyrics and music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley, is based on Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Tickets are $17 here and the show takes place at the Community Arts Center, 120 S. Second St.

Fourth Friday Gallery Night — Every fourth Friday of the month, the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County hosts a gallery crawl at downtown participating venues. The participants stay open later, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to feature new exhibits by area and regional artists. Some of the places to stop this week include Acme Art (711 N. Fifth Ave.), which will feature the works by the 2024 No Boundaries Art Colony artists. The makers gather on Bald Head Island annually for two weeks to focus on creation and the works — paintings, ceramics, photography and more — will be on display at Acme through Feb. 21. The ArtWorks in South Front District (200 Willard St.) will feature works of more than 50 studio artists and will have live music with Bill Kerr. Wilma Daniels Gallery at CFCC (first floor of Hanover Street parking deck) will have its annual spring CFCC Faculty Exhibition, on display through Feb. 15. Oami Powers’ mixed-media will be on display at 910 Princess St. “Memory Palace” was inspired by “the shifting nature of recollection, cataloging a tangle of memories — antlers, bobby pins, a broken leg, polaroids, wishbones, tulips, 45 records, rose, nasturtium leaves — all jumbled together, blending the mundane with the precious.” It remains on display through March with an artist talk planned March 1. See all Fourth Friday participants in the Art Council’s newsletter here.

Fit4Moms Coffee Walk + Talk — New mothers not cleared to exercise but who want to get out and connect with others are welcome to stroller-up with their new bundles and meet with other new moms for a coffee walk and talk. Though designed for “fourth trimester” mothers, all moms at any stage are welcome. Coffee is provided and the meeting takes place at 10 a.m. at Long Leaf Park.

Saturday, Jan. 25

Mohanad Elshieky 
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $20-$30

A New York-based, Libyan-born comedian is coming through Dead Crow on Friday and Saturday night. Mohaned Elshieky has been featured on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Don’t Tell Comedy,” Comedy Central, and toured with Pop Up Magazine. 

Elshieky first broached comedy when he hosted a political call-in radio show in Benghazi, but the radio station was burned upon jokes offending local Islamic groups. He immigrated to Portland, Oregon, attended Portland State University and hosted Earthquake Hurricane comedy show at Ford Food and Drink thereafter. 

Since, the comedian has gone on to become a writer and consultant for the podcast “Lovett or Leave It” and hosted Lemonada’s “I’m Sorry” podcast. In 2024, he was chosen as one of the San Francisco Sketchfest Dozen and continues to tour, while also hosting the podcast, “You Should Do That On Television.”

On Stephen Colbert, the comedian tackled his love of comedy, particularly more than working in customer service. 

“I remember I had one guy approach me,” Elshieky recalled. “He said: ‘I just wanted to ask: Are you Persian?’ And I was like: ‘No I’m not.’ And he replied with so much confidence: ‘But are you sure though?’ I was like: ‘It seems like you know what you’re talking about. I had a long day, maybe I forgot. I mean, the customer’s always right.’ He said: ‘I’m just asking because my dad is Persian.’ I was like, ‘Oh — OK. Do you think I’m your dad?’ … By the way I’m not. I would know if I had a kid who was older than me.”

His shows at Dead Crow take place at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night.

OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
ILM Electronic Superjam — Bowstring is featuring five of Wilmington’s EDM, electronic funk, and jamtronica acts to bring a full night of funk. Domocile, Dubtown Cosmonauts, Krispee Biscuits, Slick Mahoneys and Spacefolks are taking the stage starting at 7 p.m. There also will be live painting with numerous artists, including Rachel Rowse, Lacey Vilandry, Bryan Stacy, Rob Fogle, Grayson Toal, Brandon Besekcer, Ally Kerby, and Zack Weaver. Vendors will be on site. The bands will play a set each and come together at the end of the night for a “superjam.” The event is organized by ILM Arts Festival. Tickets are $15.

Great Gatsby Party — Blind Elephant hosts its annual glitz and glam soiree, encouraging attendees to dress in their best flapper and cloche hats, newsboy caps and double-breasted suits. It’s the 11th year celebration and the venue is rolling out the red carpet for attendees to walk. There also will be live jazz, burlesque dancing, a professional photographer and a complimentary champagne toast. It’s free for members and $15 entry for non-members.

Donna the Buffalo — Roots rockers Donna the Buffalo have played far and wide since their founding in 1989, including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits Festival, Merle Fest and more. This weekend they’ll take over the Kenan Auditorium stage. From Trumansburg, New York, the group has opened for The Dead, Los Lobos, Little Feat and others. The group has helped found numerous festivals, including Shakori Hills in North Carolina, and their discography spans 10 releases including 2018’s “Dance in the Street.” Tickets start at $34.

Simone Dinnerstein will perform at UNCW’s Beckwith Recital Hall, as hosted by the Chamber Music Wilmington. (Courtesy photo)

Sunday, Jan. 26

Simone Dinnerstein
UNCW’s Beckwith Recital Hall in the Cultural Arts Building • Tickets: $19-$39

An American pianist who has performed with New York Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony and London Symphony orchestras, Simone Dinnerstein will perform at UNCW’s Beckwith Recital Hall, as hosted by the Chamber Music Wilmington.

Dinnerstein’s rise in the classical music world began in 2007 when she recorded Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Since, she has performed in venues from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Berlin Philharmonie and Sydney Opera House. Simone has released 13 albums, all of which topped the Billboard classical charts.

Her performance Sunday will include Philip Lasser’s Twelve Variations on Chorale by J.S. Bach, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Gavotte and Six Doubles, Johann Sebastian Bach’s 15 Sinfonias for keyboard and Keith Jarrett’s Encore from Tokyo.

Tickets are $19 to $39 and the show starts at 4 p.m.

OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Chili Cookoffs — There are two cookoffs taking place on Sunday as fundraisers for area nonprofit organizations. From noon to 3 p.m., The Bend in Ogden (7227 Market St.), funds are being raised for Make-A-Wish Foundation. There is a $10 admission to taste and judge the entries, with the winner securing $500 cash grand prize, and remaining proceeds going to Make a Wish Eastern NC. Over in Leland at Brunswick Beer XChange (113 Village Road), another chili cookoff is taking place benefitting the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. What the Grill is sponsoring the grand prize and will be onsite with firepit tables, sauces and rubs. There is a $20 registration fee to participate, which closes on Friday, Jan. 24 (no walk-in participants are allowed). Tasting is at 2 p.m. and $5 for five samples to purchase the day of the event. Funds raised from tastings and registration are split between the winner of the cookoff and the food bank. Signups are here.

The Magic of Music —Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is presenting a concert at Wilson Center at 4 p.m. “The Magic of Music” features songs from movie scores and popular works and acts as an introduction of classical music for children 6 and older. An arts fair will be hosted in the Wilson Center lobby for kids to color, play, and learn about the different instruments in an orchestra in WSO’s Orchestra Discovery Zone. Tickets are $12 to $18. 


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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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