As the headline suggests, here are a few picks of art exhibition openings and shows to check out this weekend in Charlotte and the surrounding area — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Art Show For The Homeless at Fine Furniture Direct on Nov. 20 & 21, 5-8 p.m.. Featuring abstract and contemporary works with mixed media by Greg Walker. To benefit the homeless in Charlotte. For more information, visit www.gregwalkerart.com.
Fine Furniture Direct, 2900 Griffith St. 704-334-1068.

• Clayworks by Sherudan Hathaway at Tres’ Chouette. Opens: Fri., Nov. 20, 7 p.m.
Tres’ Chouette Gallery, 1900 Shamrock Dr.

• Holiday Open House at UMAR Arts Center. Fri., Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Featuring ornaments, wreaths, manger scenes, bracelets, and a variety of other types of arts and crafts. The event will also feature portraits by artist/instructor, Randy Leibowitz Dean, in conjunction with UMAR artists. For portrait reservations, call 704-348-0994. Hot apple cider will be provided.
UMAR Arts Center, 1025 E. 36th St.

• Charlotte: Layered Perspectives at UNC-Charlotte. A collaboration installation by Sonja Hinrichsen and students of UNC-Charlotte. Continues through Dec. 10. 704-687-3315.
Rowe Arts Building at UNC-Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd.

• Abundance/Abundance Lost at Waterworks Visual Arts Center. By ARPA 10. Held in Norvell Gallery. Opens Nov. 20 and continues through Dec. 4.; Appalachians: End To End. Featuring works by Phyllis Steimel. Held in Stanback Hall Gallery. Opens Nov. 20 and continues through Feb. 13.; Selections from the Collection of Katherine W. Osborne. Held in Osborne and Woodson Galleries. Opens on Nov. 20 and continues through Feb. 13.; 2009 Artists Invitational Exhibition. Held in Young People’s Gallery. Opens Nov. 20 and continues through Feb. 13.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

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Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 20, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Free Music Night, “Rat’s Nest Harvest Hoedown,” featuring  Bill Noonan & the Barbed Wires, Brandon Kirkley, The Loose Lugnuts, and The Pistoleros at Neighborhood Theatre

Brandon Kirkley will perform at "Rat's Nest Harvest Hoedown" at Neighborhood Theatre.

• 16th Annual Beaujolais Wine Tasting Festival at Levine Museum of the New South

• SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam at McGlohon Theatre

• Charlotte Comedy Theater at Prevue Music Hall

• Moon Lite Dance Party at Queen City Ballroom

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Nov. 20

UniverSoul Circus
Freedom Shopping Mart Center
Sick of the standard “Ringling Bros. and yadda yadda” circuses? Then head over to Freedom Shopping Mart Center for UniverSoul Circus, which features an international and multicultural brand of entertainment. This includes West African contortionists of Twisted Soul, Chinese Foot Jugglers, and a whole lot more.

• Music Tonight, – during NoDa’s Gallery Crawl – Neighborhood Theatre and The Rat’s Nest have partnered up to present a free music night, dubbed “Rat’s Nest Harvest Hoedown.” Bill Noonan & the Barbed Wires, Brandon Kirkley, The Loose Lugnuts, and The Pistoleros will perform. more…

• Festival The Beaujolais Wine Tasting Festival at Levine Museum of the New South offers a diverse taste of wines (including the 2009 Beaujolais nouveau) from France’s wine-producing region, Beaujolais, for sampling. more…

Saturday, Nov. 21

Yankee Tavern
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte’s latest production, Yankee Tavern, is a teasing mystery that will have your pulse racing – and that’s without alcohol in your system. The play centers around a series of events that unravel, and ultimately suggest conspiracy theories to key events in American history.

• Food Plant-eaters will leave with their bellies full at Zizi’s Vegetarian (Vegan) to Go. The menu is full of a wide range of tasty choices for both vegetarians and vegans. more…

• Comedy Charlotte sketch comedy troupe Robot Johnson will deliver a crazy-funny performance tonight at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. more…

Sunday, Nov. 22

Matt and Ted Lee
Park Road Books
Matt and Ted Lee will visit Park Road Books today to sign and discuss their new cookbook titled, The Lee Bros. Simple, Fresh, Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor.

• Music Known for his powerful vocal chords and as the front man of The Who, Roger Daltrey will visit Charlotte for a rock hard performance at The Fillmore during his current solo tour. more…

• Music Tonight, Carolina Reggae Vibes and Reggae Central present the One Love Reggae Festival at Amos’ Southend. You can expect to hear reggae sounds from Capleton, Cocoa Tea, Jah Thunda, and Prophecy Band. more…

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Though a trip to France sounds delightful, it isn’t all that necessary if all you really want to do is sip on wines. To save in costs, try hitting up  the 16th Annual Beaujolais Wine Tasting Festival at Levine Museum of the New South this Friday. The event celebrates the French tradition of honoring the grape harvest, “Les première vendanges.” It offers a diverse taste of wines (including the 2009 Beaujolais nouveau) from France’s wine-producing region, Beaujolais, for sampling. 21 and up. For more information, call 704-336-2174 or click here. Tickets are $25-$30. Starts at 5 p.m. and continues until 8:30 p.m.

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Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 19, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Author Elizabeth Strout at Queens University

• NoDa Stand-Up Comedy Showcase at Prevue Music Hall

• UniverSoul Circus at Freedom Shopping Mart Center

• Robbie Fulks at The Evening Muse

• One in the Spirit at Warehouse Performing Arts Center

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We all love free events, and even more so good, free events. That’s where Neighborhood Theatre and The Rat’s Nest come in. This Friday, – during NoDa’s Gallery Crawl – the music venue and the vintage shop located in the heart of NoDa partner together to present a free music night, dubbed “Rat’s Nest Harvest Hoedown.” Enjoy live performances by bands like Bill Noonan & the Barbed Wires, Brandon Kirkley, The Loose Lugnuts, and The Pistoleros — let’s just hope no actual rats are there. Free. Doors open at 8 p.m.; Show starts at 9 p.m.

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On Q Productions’ latest, In The Blood, explores racial, gender, and social injustices through Hester La Negrita, a homeless mother with street smarts. The play, written by Susan Lori-Parks, kicks off on Nov. 27 with performances through Dec. 6 at Duke Energy Theatre. For more information, check out the flyer below or click here.

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Mark your calendars for the Art & Spa event on Dec. 3, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. See flyer (below) for more details.

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Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 18, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Yankee Tavern at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

• Neko Case at Knight Theater

• Curator’s Choice exhibition at Elder Gallery

• Laugh Out Loud Wednesdays Stand-Up Open Mic at Situations Lounge

• Southern Christmas Show at The Park

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Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 17, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• New Urbanscapes exhibition at Jerald Melberg Gallery

• Lyle Lovett at Belk Theater

• Mike Speanburg at Lake Norman Comedy Zone in Galway Hooker

• Kasey King’s Disco Ball at Scorpio’s

• Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation’s Film Festival, Our Rivers vs. Us at Central Piedmont Community College

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