Ticket purchase and contact information for select Twin Counties venues are at the bottom of this file.

EVENTS

(ENLARGE)

James Otto will perform in August at Keihin Auditorium in Tarboro. Details, see PERFORMANCE listing.

HERE THIS WEEKEND The following events from the Coming Attractions calendar take place this weekend in the Twin Counties: Downtown block party starts at noon Friday on Howard Street, Rocky Mount. The Via Cappuccino Chess Club meets Saturday morning. A Super Smash Bros. Melee game tournament will be held Saturday at Game On!, Rocky Mount. Five art exhibits will be on display Saturday and on Sunday afternoon at the Rocky Mount Arts Center. Two exhibits and three planetarium shows run Saturday and Sunday at the Rocky Mount Children?s Museum and Science Center. The Watchmen Quartet and Southern Comfort performs Saturday night at Spaulding Middle School, Spring Hope. USA Dance holds practice sessions Sunday afternoon at Crystal?s Elite Dance Studio.

Live at 5ive! music parties: 5-7 p.m.; Imperial Centre lawn (rain site is center theater); free, food available for purchase; downtownrockymount.com.

Friday – STA, playing 1980s music; welcome ceremony for 1132nd Military Police Company.

Sept. 5 – Mighty Saints of Soul, playing beach.

Oct. 3 – Joceifus Rifle, playing rock and pop.

Super Smash Bros. Melee game tournament: Saturday; Game On!, 1242 Home Depot Plaza, Rocky Mount; all-ages tournament; registration $4 through Friday, $5 Saturday; Crystal Ciccone, 937-GAME (937-4263), gameongames@embarqmail.com.

Rocky Mount downtown block parties: Events include music and food; free; downtown

rockymount.com.

Noon-2 p.m. Aug. 15 – Southeast Main and Tarboro streets.

Noon-2 p.m. Sept. 19 – South Washington and Marigold streets.

Noon-3 p.m. Oct. 17 – Howard Street.

Chess lessons: 7-9 p.m. Thursdays; Church on the Rise, 3250 Bishop Road; all skill levels welcome; free; Evan Whittington, 252-451-1140 or 919-333-3635 before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., tinaslion@yahoo.com.

Rocky Mount Arts Center summer older youth and adult programs: Preregistration required; classes meet in the Arts Education Building at the Imperial Centre; nonresident premium fee waiver available for purchase.

Airborne and Special Operations Museum trip – Leaving 9 a.m. Aug. 16, returning 7 p.m.; visit to museum honoring development of new branch of Army from 1940s through today; $10 city residents, $12 others.

Japanese embroidery – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 16 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 17; embroidery on silk and fabric held in a wooden frame using silk and metal stitching using Japanese needles and other tools; open to all skill levels; to determine skill level and material fee, contact instructor Carl Newman at 336-784-6886 or cnewman706@aol.com; $68 city residents, $85 others.

USA Dance: Promotes ballroom dancing and educates the public regarding its physical, mental and social benefits; Vince Tesoro, 212-5525.

Chapter social dance – 7:30-10:30 p.m. second Saturday of the month; Rocky Mount Arts Center; short class on the dance of the month included before the social dance begins; members $5, others $7.

Practice sessions – 4-6 p.m. Sundays; Crystal's Elite Dance Studio, 3040 Zebulon Road, Rocky Mount; $5; lessons on wide variety of dances also available for groups.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

Billy Farmer-Bill Morrison Collection exhibit and sale: Through Friday; Mims Gallery, N.C. Wesleyan College; works include those by Farmer, Charles Howard Marsh, Louis Orr and Walter Elmer Schofield.

Edgecombe ARTS exhibits: Through Aug. 10; admission free, works available for purchase.

"Handmade Fanciful Creatures" – Dolls created by Anna Hammond.

"Birds, Part of Nature" – Wildlife photography by Danny Lloyd.

"Man and Nature" exhibit: Through Aug. 17; Via Cappuccino, 3002 Sunset Ave. (in Englewood Square Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; display of landscapes by Charles Philip Brooks, artist in residence at the Rocky Mount Arts Center, and American figure paintings by Jamil Barnes; originals, prints and cards available for purchase.

Rocky Mount Art Center exhibits: Catherine Coulter; 972-1175, catherine.coulter@rockymountnc.gov.

"Elma Johnson – Clay and Glass" – Through Sept. 7.

"Water, Thread, and Glass: Digital Art Quilts by Christine Zoller" – Through Sept. 7.

Fifty-first National Juried Art Show – Through Sept. 14.

"Mel Stanforth: Reunion: These Folks Ain't Company! Homecoming" – Through Sept. 14.

North Carolina Fellowship Recipients Exhibition – Through Sept. 21.

Permanent Collection and New Acquisitions – Through January.

CHILDREN

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center planetarium programs: Steve Schmidt, 972-1586, steve.schmidt@rockymountnc.gov.

Exploring the Summer Sky – 7 p.m. Aug. 7; all-ages introduction to stars, constellations and astronomical events; children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; per session, city residents $8, others $9.

Children's art programs: Edgecombe ARTS, Tarboro; preregistration required; enrollment limited.

Fine arts camp – 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday; Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall, 406 E. Church St.; based on age groups 4- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 9-year-olds, 10- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 17-year-olds; introduction to rudimentary art skills; $40 per child per session or $75 for both for Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council members, $65 for others for one session or $100 for both.

Manners camp – 9:30 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday; Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, 303 E. Saint James St.; ages 7 to 10; instruction in etiquette in social occasions; $65 for council members, $90 others.

Acting workshop – 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Aug. 15; Calvary Episcopal Church; based on age groups 3- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 10-year-olds and 11- to 13-year-olds; writing and performance of a children-created play; $45 per child or $70 for two siblings.

KinderScience: 10 a.m. first Wednesday of each month; Rocky Mount Children's Museum; children ages 3 to 5 introduced to science; preregistration required; city residents $8 per class, others $9 (includes paid admission to museum for child and accompanying adult).

Wednesday – Color-Rama; colors introduced through mixing the hues of the rainbow.

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center exhibits: Through Dec. 31; adults $4, seniors and children 3 to 16 years old $3, children 2 and younger free; all admitted free 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays.

"Microbes: Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies" – Interactive journey through the hidden world of microbes.

"Maze Mania" – Interactive exhibit with mazes of varying types and levels of difficulty.

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center summer camps and workshops: Preregistration required; Candy Madrid, 972-1167.

Lights! Colors! Reaction! – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; children ages 7 to 12 explore the science of colors; city residents $120, others $145.

Anthropology 101 – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Aug. 8; children ages 7 to 12 use anthropology to study people and cultures; city residents $120, others $145. Eco-Edventure – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 11-15; children ages 7 to 12 study environmental science through field study, health checks of plants and animals and other indoor and outdoor experiments, activities and projects; city residents $120, others $145.

Rocky Mount Arts Center summer children's programs: Preregistration required; classes meet in the Arts Education Building at the Imperial Center; nonresident premium fee waiver available for purchase.

Summer Creation Lab – Classes based on center's exhibits and studio work; ages 5 to 8, 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday, Aug. 4-8; ages 9 to 11, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; $86 city residents, $107 others.

Creativity Cultivators – 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 26; multimedia art class for ages 4-5 teaches painting, printing, ceramics and other activities; $35 city residents per session, $44 others.

Big Painted Canvas – 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays; arts and crafts projects for children of all ages; free.

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center planetarium: $3.50 per person per show, plus admission to the museum; special showings can be scheduled for groups; now showing:

"Microcosm": – Full dome video and 3D computer graphics show of a microbe-perspective trip through the human body; 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays; showing through Aug. 31.

"Astronaut" – Exploration of outer space and its effects on the human body; 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; showing through Aug. 31.

"Laser Beatles" – Laser show set to the music of The Beatles; 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. first Thursday of each month.

"Seasonal Stargazing" – Brief guided tour of the night sky; included with all other planetarium shows.

AREA MOVIES

Premiere Theatres: 821 Benvenue Road, Rocky Mount; 446-6500; films run Friday through Thursday unless noted; "The Dark Knight," "Hancock," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Mamma Mia!" "Meet Dave," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Space Chimps," "Step Brothers," "Sing Vote," "WALL-E," "Wanted" and "The X-Files: I Want To Believe."

Carmike 10: Parkwood Mall, Wilson; 252-265-5538; films run Friday through Thursday unless noted; "The Dark Knight," "Hancock," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Mamma Mia!" "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Space Chimps," "Step Brothers," "Swing Vote," "WALL-E," and "The X-Files: I Want To Believe."

CLUBS

Via Cappuccino: 3002 Sunset Ave. (in Englewood Square Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; shows run from 8-9:30 p.m. unless specified; Via Cappuccino is smoke- and alcohol-free; 937-0004; vccoffee.com; free admission.

Aug. 22 – Anthony Wood, playing acoustic Americana and originals.

10 a.m. Saturdays – Via Cappuccino Chess Club; free.

7 p.m. Mondays – Tar River Gamers, playing board games; free.

Nightlife Bar and Grill: 821 Country Club Road (Country Club Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; valid photo ID required for entry; nightlifebarandgrill.com; 985-3866.

9 p.m. Mondays – DJ David Howell plays karaoke dance party; $2.

9 p.m. Wednesdays – Open-mic night; free.

9 p.m. Thursdays – DJ dance party; $2.

Westridge Grill: 3639 Sunset Ave. (in Westridge Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; 937-7299; shows run 8-11 p.m. unless noted.

Aug. 9 – Justin Hunt.

Aug. 23 – Adam Stone.

Java Mott's Coffee Co.: 1237 Cobb Corners Drive, Rocky Mount; shows run from 8-10 p.m. unless specified; Java Mott's is smoke- and alcohol-free; 212-5282; javamotts.com.

Aug. 9 – Travis Moss.

Aug. 15 – Cory and the Giants.

Aug. 22 – Jason Sessoms.

Aug. 30 – Travis Moss.

R.A. Fountain General Store and Internet Cafe: 6754 E. Wilson St., Fountain; 252-749-3228; rafountain.com.

7:30 p.m. Saturday – The Mayhaws, playing country, folk and bluegrass; $7.50.

Aug. 22 – Richard Hood and The Hot Lix, playing bluegrass.

Sept. 6 – Jennifer Shelton Licko.

PERFORMANCE

Spring Hope Music Jubilee – 7 p.m.; former Spaulding Middle School Auditorium, 600 S. Pine St.; advance $7, at door $8; Ann Wright; 459-8255.

7 p.m. Saturday – The Watchmen Quartet and Southern Comfort.

Sept. 6 – Ronnie Ezzell and Southern Comfort, playing 1950s music.

Oct. 3 – Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train.

Nov. 1 – Bluegrass Redemption and comedian Cousin Brossy.

Dec. 6 – Ronnie Ezzell and Southern Comfort, playing holiday music.

Rocky Mount Community Theatre productions

"The Art of Dining": auditions 7 p.m. Wednesday through Aug. 7; performances 8 p.m. Sept. 12-13 and 19-20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21; a man and woman who co-own a small, elegant restaurant comically clash over how to run the eatery as their diners act out their own private dramas.

Music for Everyone benefit concert: 7 p.m. Aug. 16; Keihin Auditorium, Tarboro; fundraiser to support restoration of Colonial Theater; program includes Milton Bullock, Danny Daughtridge Trio, Eric Greene and Tarboro High School Gospel Choir; $15; for tickets call 823-4159, 823-0891, 823-5166 ext. 187 or 823-3611.

James Otto concert: 8 p.m. Aug. 29; Keihin Auditorium, Tarboro; singer-songwriter playing country originals; adults $20, students $15.

Dunn Center for the Performing Arts concerts: Show times 8 p.m. except as noted; N.C. Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount.

7 p.m. Aug. 8 – Jerome by Request, playing piano and keyboard favorites; free, ticket required.

Sept. 10 – Harlem Gospel Choir.

Sept. 13 – 101 Years of Broadway; $20.

Sept. 20 – The Blues Brothers Revival; $20.

Oct. 10 – Chapter 6; $15.

Country, gospel and bluegrass sing: 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays; Temperance Hall Opry, 3799 Temperance Hall Road; performances by local musicians; $3 donation requested; Carlene Smith, 972-3331.

—————

Twin Counties Arts Venues

- Braswell Memorial Library – N. Grace St., Rocky Mount; hours – 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 442-1951; braswell-library.org

- Dunn Center for the Performing Arts – N.C. Wesleyan College, 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; box office hours – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; director, 985-5248; box office, 985-5197; dunncenter.com

- Edgecombe ARTS – 130 Bridgers St., Tarboro; hours – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, 2-4 p.m. weekends; edgecombearts.org; 823-4159

- Four Sisters Gallery – Pearsall Building, N.C. Wesleyan College, 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; gallery hours – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; 985-5268; ncwc.edu/arts/foursisters/

- Keihin Auditorium – on the campus of Edgecombe Community College, 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro; box office hours – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 823-5166, ext. 187; www.edgecombe.cc.nc.us/ac_and_t_center/ac_and_t_main.htm

- Mims Gallery and Civic Gallery – In the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, N.C. Wesleyan College, 2500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; gallery hours – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; the galleries also are open during evening performances at the Dunn Center; 985-5268; ncwc.edu/arts/mims

- Nash Arts Center –100 E. Washington St., Nashville; gallery hours – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 459-4734; nasharts.org

- Rocky Mount Community Theatre –270 Gay St.; ci.rocky-mount.nc.us/artscenter/theatre.html; 972-1266

- Rocky Mount Arts Center –270 Gay St.; 972-1163; closed Monday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday; 972-1163; ci.rocky-mount.nc.us./artscenter/

- Children's Museum and Science Center – 270 Gay St. Rocky Mount; 972-1167; closed Monday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday; 972-1167; ci.rocky-mount.nc .us./museum/