Historic Downtown Davidson’s Concerts on the Green series celebrates its 10th anniversary this year—the free summertime shows begin today with Abbey Road Live. Bring your picnic blanket and a killer spread; there will be a prize awarded for “grooviest” picnic. DowntownDavidson.org

RSVP by June 26  for an informational lunch session at Dore Academy, a college preperatory school devoted to the education of students with learning disabilities and ADHD. 

The lunch will be held June 30 from noon-1:30pm. Call Portia M. Eley, the Director of Admissions at 704.365.5490 to RSVP, or visit doreacademy.org to learn more about the school.

Join Girl Talk Foundation Inc. today at Morton’s The Steakhouse at South Park Mall for a fundraising event that includes wine, chocolate, and supporting young girls!

Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. is a character-building program for girls ages 11-16 whose mission is to empower young girls to become leaders of tomorrow. The organization impacts nearly 700 teen girls annually through its various programs.

With a $75 donation to Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. you will enjoy an evening accented by fine wines paired with decadent chocolates. There will also be a silent auction featuring a champagne dinner and boat ride on Lake Norman,  paraphernalia autographed by Charlotte Bobcats, and a spa package.

Visit girltalkfoundationinc.com for details.

 Join REI Pineville to celebrate National Trails Day at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve today from 9am to 1pm!

The day will be centered around trail maintenance and building, so wear clothes you can get dirty, closed toe shoes, and bug spray. If you would like, bring work clothes and a snack from home. All participants will receive a cool REI Volunteer shirt, lunch, and water. 

Remember to bring your own water bottle to keep the earth a little greener!

Registration will be capped at 100.  To register, contact customer service at 704.341.7405.  For questions, contact Ching Fu at cfu@rei.com  or at the same number.

 The Charlotte Museum of History presents its annual World War II Encampment event today, honoring the anniversary of D-Day-- the end of the war in Europe. Attendees will experience what life was like during World War II as the grounds will be transformed with interpreters from both the Allied and the Axis armies, and will demonstrate the effects of the war not only on the soldiers, but also on Charlotte.

Today’s events will include many activities and games for families and children from 11:00am to 5:00pm. A Remembrance Ceremony will be held at 4:30pm to conclude.

Regular museum admission prices apply. Visit the website charlottemuseum.org, or call 704.568.1774 for more information. 

Basic Spanish lessons will be held at the Caribou Coffee at Park Road and Woodlawn  on Saturdays from 9:00 am-10:15am from June 7- June 28. Four weeks of lessons costs $50. For questions or to register email abc-languages@hotmail.com  or call 704.408.3666. 

GUILTY, Inc (Giving U Inspirational Lives Through our Youth) is hosting its first Charity Spring Cleaning event at Crisis Assistance Ministry today from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Sift through the back of your closet, clean out your cupboards and bring in those items you keep but rarely use. Make some space in your home and help a nonprofit at the same time! All items will be donated to needy families.

The wish list consists of toiletries, sheets and linens, kitchen supplies, towels and washcloths, baby items, clothing for men, women, and children, undergarments, hair care products, shoes, canned and boxed foods, and more. Items should be in good condition, usable and nonperishable.

GUILTY, Inc is a 501(c)(3) community youth development nonprofit organization whose primary focus is dedicated towards promoting positive growth for at-risk and delinquent youth.

 For more information, visit imguilty.org/events.

Go for a stroll today and bring along your pooch to support the fight against human-and animal- cancer. The American Cancer Society is hosting a community event in Historic Southend that begins at Metro Paws and makes a stop at Canine Cafe.

Registration is from 7am-8am and all paws hit the pavement at 8:15am. For more information visit dogswalkcharlotte.org or call Jennifer Vince at 704.553.5364.

Today, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, Shapes Salon and Day Spa will be having a Pure Indulgence Spa Event with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Two cancer patients will be chosen and treated to the best wigs on the market today. Shapes will also be doing hair cuts, facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures at a discounted rate.

Make an appointment soon to enjoy catered food and wine, live music, and an auction of items donated from local area businesses.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Program.

On Friday, June 13 from 10am-6pm and Saturday, June 14 from 9am-5pm, all books are 20% off at Julia’s Coffee. This is an opportunity to get fantastic deals on books and simultaneously support a mission to eliminate substandard housing in Charlotte and El Salvador.

As a fundraising division of Habitat for Humanity, all of the profits from Julia’s Coffee go to help build homes.  With each purchase, you are helping someone have a home of their own!

Visit juliascoffee.org to stay connected. 

Introducing The Marginals, a bold new theatre company in Charlotte, whose goal is to “effectively bring awareness to the public of the emotional, economic and social behaviors we engage in to maintain the illusion of American Society.

For their debut, The Marginals have designed “Secret Charlotte,” a night of theater inspired by postsecret.com, a website that features the anonymous secrets of people all over the country. This project gives Charlotteans a chance to let go of their own secrets, funny , bizarre and sad, by placing them in boxes around Charlotte. 

Tonight at 6:00pm in NoDa, these secrets will be turned into performance art, in hopes that people will see that their dirty little secret may not just be their’s alone. Tonight’s preview performances will take place in a variety of venues including Addies Caribbean Cuisine, The Sanctuary, Real Eyes Bookstore, Smelly Cat Coffee House, Rat’s Nest, Salvador Deli, Canvas Monkey, Solstice Tavern, and more. The full performance will take place at 6:00pm on June 30.

The show will feature spoken word poetry, one act plays, and interactive skits. 

“Sometimes it takes wearing a pair of heels to make the world a better place” – at least that’s the motto of Ms. Sweet Charity.  Tonight eight virgin drag queens will compete for the crown of Ms. Sweet Charity and the chance to win money for their favorite local nonprofit organization.  Doors open at 9:00pm the show begins at 10:00pm.  The event takes place at the Charlotte Eagle at 4544 South Boulevard in Charlotte, NC and is sponsored by Creative Loafing and Shane  Tom Promotions.  

Any individual may apply to compete in the drag contest before the deadline at www.shaneandtom.com.  Only eight charities will be chosen to represent a diversity of Charlotte area nonprofit organizations.   The show is hosted by the legendary Roxy C. Moorecox and judged by mock celebrity judges from Project Runaway – Heidi Bloom, Michael Boors, Ninah Farcia and other special guests.   

In addition to supporting the eight local Charlotte area charities, the event is a fundraiser for Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders at colleges and universities.

The primary rule for the night is that each contestant must be a “drag virgin” – meaning that they have never performed drag in a public venue.  Each drag performer must perform one song number, no longer than five minutes in full drag.  Winners are determined by the amount of tips received during their number as well as scores from the panel of mock celebrity judges.

You must be 21 years old or older with appropriate identification at the door.  Cover charges do apply with proceeds benefiting Ms. Sweet Charity.  For more information, please go online to Shane  Tom Promotions at www.shaneandtom.com or email info@shaneandtom.com.

Enjoy the taste of chocolate? How about chocolate from over ten different chocolatiers? If you answered yes, join the International House of Charlotte tonight for an evening of chocolate and culture. Featuring local and international chocolatiers, the evening promises to be full of sweet treats and chocolate from all over the world.

There will be demonstrations, tastings, games and presentations by chocolatiers including Debbie’s Delights, Godiva, Johnson University, Leah Cuisine, Salara, The Melting Pot, Spicy Roses, Trader Joe’s, Urbana Cityspa and Teabar, Yoga South, and more!

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Cash and check only are accepted.Space is limited. Contact Lara Printz at 704.333.8099 or lprintz@ihclt.org  to reserve your space.

The International House is located at 322 Hawthrone Lane, Charlotte 28204. The event runs from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. 

Paintings filled with emotion and dramatic color will be displayed at the Davidson Town Hall for the month of June.  The public is invited to an art reception today honoring June Roberts’ 90th birthday featuring her award-winning paintings and pastels.  A “meet the artist” reception will be held from 4-6pm in the Town Hall rotunda room.

Roberts has illustrated books, worked as a fashion artist and traveled with USO Camp Shows Inc. during World War II, sketching wounded veterans in hospitals throughout the U-S.  She is also the mother of six children.

She attended the “National Academy” and the “Art Students League” in New York City, where she received many scholarships and awards.  She has studied under well-known artists such Harvey Dinnestein and Ron Sherr.

For more information, call 704.236.1326.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation kicks off its 2008 Black Health Empowerment Project today at the Stratford Richardson YMCA. U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt will deliver opening remarks to begin a day of health education to intended to inform African-American families in the Charlotte area about obesity’s link to chronic diseases via an interactive forum and expo.

The day’s events include upbeat health and wellness sessions for men, women, and children, free health screenings, fitness and cooking demonstrations, healthy food tasting, music, giveaways, and more.

The day begins at 9:30am and activities run until 3:30pm. Bring your family and friends to learn how to eat, move, and get tested for health!

Visit bheptour.org for details.

This evening at 7:30 pm, the Red Hills English Country Dancers of York County, under the direction of Cindy Jentz and Martha Macdonald, will perform at the Gaston County Museum.

Dressed in clothing of the 18th and 19th centuries, performers will dance such favorites as “The Virginia Reel,” “Picking Up Sticks,” and “Mr. Issac’s Maggot.”  The audience may participate in several dances.  Between dances, Martha may sing, share a story, or ask a riddle.

Light refreshments will be served.          

Visit gastoncountymuseum.org for details.

Get ready to Dine Out For Kids ® on Tuesday, June 17th!  This annual event offers area restaurants and their patrons the opportunity to demonstrate their support for children in need in our community. Participating restaurants will donate a portion of the day’s sales on June 17 to Communities In Schools (CIS) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.

Last year’s event was a great success, with over 50 area restaurants and corporations joining together to raise more than $50,000 for Communities In Schools.  All you have to do to support the students in this community is go out to eat at one of the participating restaurants on June 17!

Communities In Schools (CIS) helps young people stay in school, graduate, and prepare for life by connecting needed community resources with schools. Last year, more than 2,500 students dropped out of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and 99% of the 4,000 students enrolled in the CIS program stayed in school.

A list of participating restuarants is available at www.cischarlotte.org.

Hosted by North Carolina Women United, Women's Advocacy day is an annual event bringing women together from across the state to participate in powerful, exciting grassroots lobbying on important statewide issues. The day will include information training on specific 2008 issues and advocacy as well as opportunities to communicate in person with legislators on important issues. Don't miss it!

To volunteer at Women's Advocacy Day held at the North Carolina Legislature, or to ask questions, email farley.griner@pphsinc.org!   

Planned Parenthood is kicking off its summer Healthy Teens Campaign with phone banks for sex education in large cities around North Carolina. The campaign comes to Charlotte tonight, where volunteers will call supporters and pro-choice individuals in North Carolina House districts asking for their support as new online advocates for teen health.

Join from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm to enjoy free Italian food and the joy of spreading the word on sex education! Email farley.griner@pphsinc.org or call 919.833.7534 to sign up. The location is to be announced. 

The Juneteenth Festival is a celebration of not only freedom for enslaved blacks in America, but freedom of all people that have been enslaved throughout time. The festival will offer a rich array of cultural traditions and diversity through food, arts and music. It offers a broad variety of tantalizing, ethnic foods, plus an even greater selection of vendors displaying unique arts, crafts and clothing from around the world. Enjoy fabulous R&B, Blues, Jazz, Reggae and many more soul-stirring sounds as music and dance groups perform throughout the weekend's festivities. 

The festival is held in Independence Park and runs from 10am until 7pm daily. The Cultural Camp on Thursday is from 10am until 4pm.

Visit JuneteenthOfTheCarolinas.com for details. 

Verizon Wireless, long dedicated to domestic violence awareness and prevention, is teaming up with up – and – coming country songstress Mica Roberts to address this social ill.  Roberts, who is currently on tour with Toby Keith, begins this effort at her upcoming Charlotte concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre tonight.

Roberts first teamed up with Keith in 2003 as a backup singer. Now a headlining solo act for the “Biggest & Baddest” summer tour, Roberts’ single “Things A Mama Don’t Know” conveys some of the trauma experienced through domestic violence, an issue of personal interest to the artist.

“Domestic violence is a form of abuse felt by women of all walks of life across the country that often remains unspoken or kept secret,” says Roberts. 

To learn more or buy tickets, click here.

Introducing The Marginals, a bold new theatre company in Charlotte, whose goal is to “effectively bring awareness to the public of the emotional, economic and social behaviors we engage in to maintain the illusion of American Society.

For their debut, The Marginals have designed “Secret Charlotte,” a night of theater inspired by postsecret.com, a website that features the anonymous secrets of people all over the country. This project gives Charlotteans a chance to let go of their own secrets, funny , bizarre and sad, by placing them in boxes around Charlotte. 

Tonight at 6:00pm in NoDa, these secrets will be turned into performance art, in hopes that people will see that their dirty little secret may not just be their’s alone.

The show will feature spoken word poetry, one act plays, and interactive skits. 

Robot Johnson, Charlotte’s premiere sketch comedy group, is coming back to Spirit Square by popular demand. The group will perform at 10pm today at McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College Street, Charlotte. The show will follow a Poetry Slam Jam.

Tickets are on sale for a reduced price of $7 for the Poetry Slam Jam and $8 for Robot Johnson tonight only. Shows contain adult content and language. For tickets, go to BlumenthalCenter.org or call 704.372.1000. 

Today marks the longest day of the year, so to embrace every moment of daylight, United Ways across the country will be participating in Day of Action.  Today we can all make a difference right where we live by giving, advocating or volunteering.

The message of the day is to “Live United.” In the Central Carolinas, United Way will have a multitude of projects and new items to share with the public including volunteer work at Crisis Assisstance Ministry, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and others. 

Visit the website uwcentralcarolinas.org for details on how to get involved. 

Baby Loves Disco is an afternoon dance party featuring groovy music spun and mixed by real DJs, blending classic disco tunes from the 70’s and 80’s that guarantees to get those little booties moving and grooving. Baby Loves Disco is a fun way for parents and kids to meet their friends and stay fit to boot. In every Baby Loves Disco city, the party takes on a local flavor and includes people from across the social spectrum who share good times in a child-honoring, parent-pleasing environment.

Today’s event will be held at Can’s Bar and Canteen, 500 W. 5th Street, Charlotte. Activities run from 12-3pm and $12 tickets can be purchased at BabyLovesDisco.com. Today you can enjoy healthy snacks and juices, a chill out area featuring new books from Scholastic, hula hoops, swirly scarves, product giveaways and more!

Robot Johnson, Charlotte’s premiere sketch comedy group, is coming back to Spirit Square by popular demand. The group will perform two shows at 8 and 10pm today at McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College Street, Charlotte. 

General Admission is $15. Shows contain adult content and language. For tickets, go to BlumenthalCenter.org or call 704.372.1000.  

Learn to make peace with food and your body at today’s lecture held at Northlake Mall at 7pm at rear entrance #3. The lecture is part of LiveWELLCarolina!, a Carolinas Medical Center program. 

Pick up some valuable information about nutrition and be free from food obsession. Find a new, healthier you!

Visit SecretsOfSlimPeople.com for details. 

Women Who Rock is a salute to women who are making Charlotte a cooler place to live. The party begins at 6pm at Loft 1523 (1523 Elizabeth Avenue). Twelve dynamic dames will be honored.

Along with the awards, this event will feature an exhibition of photography by Moye, music by DJ “That Guy Smitty,” drink specials and more. Admission, as always, is free.

Calling all working women!

Expand your network of fellow business women today at 4:30pm at The Yacht Club in Cornelius. This is a chance to meet other success-minded professionals and gain easy access to others’ skills, talents, knowledge, and resources. The purpose of eWomanNetwork is to support, promote, and showcase members products and services and help them achieve their professional objectives.   

Hors d’oevres will be served and goodie bags will be handed out with more information about members. Join the fesitivities in your Hawaiian attire and grass skirt for a fun and informative evening!

 Call Debbie Snider for more details at 980.722.0997.

Robot Johnson, Charlotte’s premiere sketch comedy group, is coming back to Spirit Square by popular demand. The group will perform two shows at 8 and 10pm today at McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College Street, Charlotte. 

General Admission is $15. Shows contain adult content and language. For tickets, go to BlumenthalCenter.org or call 704.372.1000. 

Stir up some fun with your kids and give them their first taste of cooking today at Southpark Mall’s Center Court! Radio Disney invites moms, dads, and kids to delve into hands on fun with food and learn kitchen safety tips as well as proper manners to use during meals.

The event will also feature fun giveaways and a charity food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Attendees will receive a special gift, while supplies last. Simon Kidgits Club members may attend the event for free; the cost for non-members is $5.

The event runs from 11am -1pm.

Farm to Table Wine Dinner, a charity dinner benefitting Carolina Breast Friends, will present an organically prepared menu by chef Anthony Soriano. The meal features fresh organic wines and foods from local farms and organic retailers as well as special guest Toni Coturri from Coturri Winery.

The evening begins at 5:30pm at Nolen’s Kitchen, 2910 Selwyn Avenue. Bring a loved one and treat yourself to a fresh dinner benefitting a great cause. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at CarolinaBreastFriends.org. 

After a month-long hiatus due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Theatre 650, a new late night experience at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, is pleased to announce its latest Cult Movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” the 1975 film written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. The film will show today beginning at 8:00pm at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, located at 650 E. Stonewall Street.

The film is a comedic spoof of the legend of King Arthur and his search for the Holy Grail. After the film, stay for a special performance by Robot Johnson, Charlotte’s premiere underground sketch comedy troupe.

Cult Movie Mondays are an excellent networking opportunity, as well as a great alternative to the bar scene. Visit http://blog.myspace.com/actorstheatrecharlotte for more information. Admission is free to the public, and popcorn will be provided for free. Seating is first come, first served and is limited to 220 people. Drink specials include $2 select beers and $3 select wines.