 | Author George Sand (aka Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin, Baronne Dudevant) was born on this day in 1804. She wore men’s clothing and smoked in public, pushing the early 19th century social boundaries. Novelist Ivan Turgenev said of her, "What a brave man she was, and what a good woman." |
| Domestic violence victims will share their stories at today’s “Lunch and Learn” program titled “Terror at Home: Domestic Violence in America.” The program is free and runs from 12:30-2pm at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 507 South Tryon Street. This is a compelling program that captures the many challenges victims face when trying to flee from violence at home. You are guaranteed to walk away with a new perspective about intimate partner abuse, how it effects friends and family members and the importance of safety planning. An open discussion will follow. This Domestic Violence Lunch and Learn series is organized by the Domestic Violence Advocacy Council, which includes the Mecklenburg County Women’s Commission, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and other businesses and civic groups. For details, visit dvac.charmeck.org. |
| Relax with yoga as you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! Yoga classes are taught every Tuesday from 6:15pm- 7:30pm in July at Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte. Classes are taught by a certified Kripalu instructor and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be an optional hike one hour before class. Payments of cash or check can be made at the beginning of class. Each class costs $12, but attend five classes and get one free! For more information, or to register call 704.336.7600. |
 | Psychoanalyst Marie Bonaparte was born today in 1882. The great-grand-niece of Napoleon I of France, Marie was a Princess by title. Her interest in (and financial backing of) psychoanalysis was a great instigator in its popularity. Her wealth enabled Sigmund Freud to escape Nazi Germany and it was to her that Freud said, “The great question that has never been answered and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, is ‘What does a woman want?’” Bonaparte also conducted extensive research on female orgasms. |
 | Charlotte Perkins Gilman, best known as the writer of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” was born on this day in 1860. The short story illustrated the cultural views on women’s mental and physical health in the 19th century. Gilman experienced what is now believed to be severe post-partum depression after the birth of her only child, which inspired the tale. The great-niece of influential humanists Harriet Beecher Stowe, Catharine Beecher and Isabella Beecher Hooker, Gilman believed that economic independence was the only thing that could really bring freedom to women, making them equal to men. |
| Dial “M” for Murder, the play that inspired a Hitchcock thriller starring Grace Kelly, opens tonight as part of CPCC Summer Theatre’s 35th season. The whodunit mystery promises to be a spine-tingling performance for the whole family. For tickets, visit arts.CPCC.edu. |
| “The stores and restaurants of Mooresville Town Square are pleased to invite local residents to celebrate summer with them during our first annual Festival on the Green,” said Ed Fahey, director of property management, Pinnacle Properties. “We are proud to present live entertainment and family themed activities prior to the evening’s fireworks display. We are also offering free, convenient parking and an exceptional grassy viewing pad for picnicking with family while enjoying the local fireworks display.” Other activities include a veteran’s ceremony, kids zone, entertainment stage, and food and beverage vendors. Entertainment begins at 5:30pm and runs until the firework display at 9:30pm. Visit MooresvilleTownSquareEvents.com for details and directions. |
 | “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Happy Independence Day. |
| Charlotte Pop Fest, a two-day “power pop” music festival, highlights more than 24 artists performing uptown at The Alley Cat. All proceeds from the event will benefit the World Vision: Sponsor a Child charity. For a list of scheduled performances, visit CharlottePopFest.com. |
| For the first time, the Charlotte Museum of History will be open to the public with free admission all day. Special family-friendly activities will be planned from 10am-2:00pm. For more information, visit charlottemuseum.org. |
| Stowe Park in Belmont hosts Summer Celebration—a weekend of outdoor events including carnival rides, games, food, and a Saturday night concert and fireworks. Visit BelmontParksAndRec.com for info. |
 | Veronica Guerin was born on this day in 1958—watch Cate Blanchett portray the Irish journalist in the heartbreaking namesake film, Veronica Guerin. Her life and death inspired fellow Dubliners to crack down on the growing drug trade and clean up the city for good. |
| Don’t miss “The Art of Affluence,” an exhibit opening this month at the Mint Museum of Art. Showcasing the art of haute couture, the display of one-of-a-kind luxury garments and accessories features expert construction, fine fabrics, and intricate details sewn by top fashion designers from the second half of the 20th century and the first years of the 21st century, including Chanel, De La Renta, Dior, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, and Valentino—even a Versace ensemble worn by Elton John. Dress pictured: |
| Put a spin on your usual dinner routine by attending “Not Just Another Love Story,” a dinner theater experience at NarroWay Theatre & Conference Center at 6pm. Set in the days of World War II, this patriotic play captures the inspiration and nostalgia we reserve for America’s finest generation. Call 803.802.2300 for details. |
 | “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” Artist Frida Kahlo was born on this day in 1907. |
 | Today is the 415th birthday of Artemisia Gentileschi, an Early Italian Baroque painter, who is now considered to be one of the most talented painters (besides Caravaggio) of the era. She was the first female painter to become a member of the Academy of Art and Design in Florence, and one of the first females to paint religious and historical themes in a time when these things were considered beyond a woman’s reach. |
| Relax with yoga as you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! Yoga classes are taught every Tuesday from 6:15pm- 7:30pm in July at Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte. Classes are taught by a certified Kripalu instructor and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be an optional hike one hour before class. Payments of cash or check can be made at the beginning of class. Each class costs $12, but attend five classes and get one free! For more information, or to register call 704.336.7600. |
| Join a march against domestic violence today from 12:15-1pm at the corner of Long St. and Marietta St. in Gaston County. The march is in memory of a life that was lost due to domestic violence. The event is an effort of the Shelter of Gaston County to broaden public awareness. Call 704.810.6493 for more information. |
 | Author Ann Radcliffe was born today in 1764. Considered the pioneer of the gothic novel, her stories of heroic young girls exploring mysterious and dangerous locales became very popular and influenced the work of writers like Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Read Austen’s Northanger Abbey for examples of imitation and parody of her work. |
| Today is the last day to register for the North Carolina Writers’ Network’s 2008 Elizabeth Daniels Squire Summer Residency program, July 25-27 on the Queens University campus. The three-day event will include intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. For details, visit NCWriters.org. |
 | Aphra Behn was born on this day in 1640. She was one of the first women to earn a living as a writer. Behn’s work was revolutionary, discussing race and female sexuality—something not touched upon by the predatory Libertine male writers of her time. Virginia Woolfe said of her, “All women together, ought to let flowers fall upon the grave of Aphra Behn...for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.” |
| CAST (Carolinas Actors Studio Theatre) is producing a new play called “Limbo” based on interviews with Marie Gonzalez and other undocumented college students. Originally from Costa Rica, Marie Gonzalez came to the United States when she was 5 years old. She grew up in Missouri and her father worked as a courier for the Governor. When a “concerned citizen” contacted immigration about their citizenship status, Marie’s parents were deported. She has been given a temporary extension to study at Westminster College. Since then, Marie has become a national leader in immigration reform and has testified before Congress promoting the Dream Act (legislation that would help other students in her situation). After each performance opening weekend, the real Marie Gonzalez will speak with the audience during a talk-back discussion. The play is in English, Spanish, and Spanglish and will feature dance, live music, and video. As part of its mission to produce culturally diverse theater, CAST is excited to partner with the Hispanic Cultural Center of Charlotte (HCCC) to produce a new play with a Latino cast of performers. Performances run from July 10-26 at CAST. Pre-show dancing begins at 7:30pm and the curtain opens at 8pm. Tickets are $20. For more information visit nccast.com. |
| Girls, here’s a chance to hike off your workday worries! This series of strenuous hikes will get your heart pumping. Participants will enjoy a quick paced, stress-relieving hike throughout Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. All hikes will meet at the nature center. The hike is 1.6 miles and runs from 6:00-7:00pm. Ages 18 and over are welcome. This is a free event! To register, call 704-336-7600. |
 | More than 25 artists from around the nation will be offering art, pottery, jewelry—or whatever medium strikes a chord—at Songcatcher: A Visual Interpretation of Sound. Celebrate the diversity of music and expose yourself to a world of new music at the opening reception tonight at Lark and Key Gallery in NoDa. 704.379.1826 |
| Spend “A Day in Pompeii” at Discovery Place’s newest exhibit, featuring more than 250 artifacts and national treasures from the ancient city. The last stop on a four-city tour, seeing this exhibit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. DiscoveryPlace.org |
 | Get your fill at Charlotte Restaurant Week, where the city’s finest restaurants will offer a prix fixe, three-course dinner for $30 per person. For details and a list of participating restaurants, visit CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com. |
| At Historic Brattonsville, the tumultuous times of the American Revolution are brought to life with a vivid reenactment of the 1780 Battle of Huck’s Defeat. This annual event includes camp life demonstrations, music, firearms presentations and theatrical performances. Call 803.684.2327 for more information. |
| The Carolina Renaissance Festival, a combination of outdoor theatre, circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament and feast, is searching the Queen City for its next King! Auditions for the featured role of King will be held today from noon to 3pm in the community building at the Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, 8300 McClure Circle, in Charlotte.
Professional and amateur opportunities are available at other audition times. Prepared material is not required. Head shot and resume are appreciated but not required. Contact 704.896.5555 or email vreanie@royalfaires.com to schedule an audition appointment. Audition location and general festival information can be found at RenFestInfo.com. Anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent. |
 | Simone Veil, France’s former Minister of Health, was born on this day in 1927. Veil was a Holocaust survivor (she, her mother and sister were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau) who went on to build a good life and political career, despite losing her father, brother and mother during the Holocaust. She pushed the notable laws of making access to contraceptives easier (1974) and legalizing abortion (1975) and went on to become President of the European Parliament (1979-1982) and still continues to be socially and politically active. |
 | It's Bastille Day: celebrate with pommes frites and a French kiss (ooh la la!). |
 | Maggie L. Walker, the first female founder/president of a bank in the US, was born on this day in 1887 to a former slave and an abolitionist. She worked her entire life trying to make life better for African Americans and women—the founding of her bank was due to her idea that people should pool their money together to help each other. Her bank, St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, still exists today as the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company in Richmond, VA. |
| Relax with yoga as you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! Yoga classes are taught every Tuesday from 6:15pm- 7:30pm in July at Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte. Classes are taught by a certified Kripalu instructor and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be an optional hike one hour before class. Payments of cash or check can be made at the beginning of class. Each class costs $12, but attend five classes and get one free! For more information, or to register call 704.336.7600. |
| Have you ever wanted to run in a marathon, compete in a triathlon, or cycle 100 miles but didn’t know how to begin? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT), the world’s largest endurance sports training program, provides the perfect start. Founded in 1988, TNT provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathalons and century (100 mile) bike rides – all to raise funds for blood cancer research. Along with preparing for endurance sports competition, TNT competitors have opportunities to see other parts of the country and are provided with airfare and lodging to each event. To learn more or sign up, call 1-800-482-TEAM, visit teamintraining.org, or attend an interest meeting. (Dates and locations on the website). |
| The Carolina Renaissance Festival, a combination of outdoor theatre,
circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament and feast, is
searching the Queen City for its fall talent! General auditions will be held for street characters, musicians, dancers and a variety of acts today from 6:30-9:00pm and Saturday, July 19 from noon to 3pm. Auditions are held in the community
building at the Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, 8300 McClure Circle,
in Charlotte. |
 | On this day in 1862 Ida B. Wells was born. Wells fought for equality of women and African Americans—especially the equality of African American women in the suffragist movement. 71 years before Rosa Parks, Wells refused to give up her seat on a train, and when they made her move, she sued the railway company. She won her case in the local court but lost when the railroad took it to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Her refusal to stand in the back of suffragist parades garnered her more media attention for her causes. As a further landmark for her time, Wells was one of the first married women to keep her own last name after marriage. |
 | McColl Center for Visual Art and The Light Factory are collaborating to bring a free outdoor movie screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” to the courtyard of Transamerica Square, 401 N. Tryon St. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in comfortably under the stars and city lights to enjoy Hitchcock’s most popular British picture. “The 39 Steps” weaves the suspensful tale of a Canadian visitor to Scotland, who goes on the run to break a spy ring when he stands accused of the murder of a woman stabbed to death in is flat. The screening is scheduled for sundown, around 8:30pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Bring your friends, bring your family or make it a date! Call The Light Factory at 704.333.9755 for more information. |
| The Women’s Initiative Network will hold a meeting at the Ballantyne Village Theatre this evening from 6:30-8:30pm. The event is free if you RSVP or $10 at the door. The Women’s Initiative Network is “a community of women who are dedicated to helping one another while seeking to glorify God in their personal and professional lives.” For details, visit womensinet.com. To RSVP, call Nanci Singer at 803.802.5454 ext. 203. |
 | Today is the 160th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention—the first women’s rights convention in the United States. |
| 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. |
 | The curtain opens tonight for the first evening performance of Avenue Q at Blumenthal’s Belk Theater. The 2004 Tony award winning musical featuring a cast of humans and puppets has charmed audiences across the nation with its hilarious and risqué content. Visit blumenthalcenter.org for tickets. |
 | Amelia Earhart Day honors the birthday of the woman who took aviation and feminism to new heights. |
| Stowe Park in Belmont hosts Summer Celebration—a weekend of outdoor events including carnival rides, games, food, and a Saturday night concert and fireworks. Visit BelmontParksAndRec.com for info. |
 | Turning Point is an organization committed to “turning our community away from domestic violence” and providing victims of domestic violence and their dependent children with safe shelter while they learn to break free of their abuser. Turning Point is hosting its 1st Annual Chicken BBQ today from 11am to 7pm at Belk Tonawanda Park. Plates are $7.50, which includes chicken, a roll, slaw, beans and dessert. Meals are available for take-out or eating in. Delivery is available for orders of 10 or more people. For more information or advance tickets, call Jaime Underwood or Julia Simpson at 704.283.9150. |
 | Visit the North Carolina wine county on a three stop “Hop On” Tour, the fourth Saturday of every month through October. Join the tour at Kenton Place, West Catawba Avenue or NC 73 in Cornelius in front of the old Palace Theatre. Tours are $35 per person. For an itinerary or to make a reservation, call 704.804.1547. Cheers! |
| The Downtown Bookstore in historic Mooresville, in collaboration with Mick and Tess Pulver, is hosting a Breakthrough Performance Workshop. Express and refresh yourself in this unique event combining creative movement, playful activities and vocal exploration. The experience, which runs from 11am to noon, is called "A Rockin' Musical Journey into a Fully Expressed Life." For more information about this event, please contact store owner Cupil Schroeder at 704.664.1923. |
 | “When Harvard men say they have graduated from Radcliffe, then we’ve made it.” Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis would have been 77 years old today. |
 | Relax with yoga as you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature! Yoga classes are taught every Tuesday from 6:15pm- 7:30pm in July at Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte. Classes are taught by a certified Kripalu instructor and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be an optional hike one hour before class. Payments of cash or check can be made at the beginning of class. Each class costs $12, but attend five classes and get one free! For more information, or to register call 704.336.7600. |
| Have a secret passion to decorate like Martha or cook like Miss Ray? Cakeman, a local custom cake creations company, is offering summer classes to teach you the skills of the pros. Today you can learn to create an edible masterpiece out of cake with “Sculpture Cake Techniques” held at 2pm and 6pm for a cost of $10. Class is held at the Cookie CafÃ, 113 E.Main St. in downtown Rock Hill, SC and is demonstration only. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited, so register by Friday July 25. Vist Cakemanonline.com for pictures of some of the sweetest creations and for more information. |
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