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

EVENTS

Contributed photo (ENLARGE)

Eric Greene is one of the artists who will perform at the Music for Everyone benefit. 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 Southeast Main and Tarboro streets, Rocky Mount. Romance book club meets Friday night at Books-A-Million, Rocky Mount. Cory and the Gaints plays Friday night at Java Mott's Coffee Co., Rocky Mount. Ryan Spencer plays Friday night at Via Cappuccino, Rocky Mount. Straight Jacket plays Friday night at Nightlife Bar and Grill, Rocky Mount. A military museum trip leaves Saturday morning from the Rocky Mount Arts Center. A Japanese embroidery class will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Rocky Mount Arts Center. The Via Cappuccino Chess Club meets Saturday morning. 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. Music for Everyone benefit concert will be held Saturday night, Tarboro. Git Lit and Straight Jacket plays Saturday night at Nightlife Bar and Grill, Rocky Mount. Speakeasy plays Saturday night at Westridge Grill, Rocky Mount. Steel Standing plays Saturday night at Hogs Pen Pub, Macclesfield. USA Dance holds practice sessions Sunday afternoon at Crystal?s Elite Dance Studio.

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

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

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

Noon-3 p.m. Oct. 17 – Howard Street.

Romance book club meeting: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Books-A-Million, 1100 N. Wesleyan Blvd. (Golden East Crossing mall); organizational meeting to set club's structure and pick first book to be read; door prizes to be offered; free; Fatin Soufan, 452-1611; mad4rombks@aol.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. Saturday, 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. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; 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.

Painting workdays – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays; experienced painters use the center's painting studio at the Arts Center for uninterrupted independent work; participants responsible for all materials; city residents $20, others $25 per week or city residents $60, others $75 per month.

Clay open studio – Hours vary based on other programs at the center; call Jennifer Rankin at 972-1632 to confirm hours; opportunity for potters who wish to work independently; includes firing and use of glazes on hand; participants must have taken at least one class with the center or show proof and knowledge of good studio practices to be eligible; $65 city residents, $81 others per month.

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

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

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

Rocky Mount Fair: 4 p.m. Sept. 8-12 and noon Sept. 13; 14109 U.S. 64 Alternate W.; activities include entertainment, food, rides and shows; adults $6, children 6 to 12 $2, children younger than 6 free; Vicki Parker, 977-3247.

Tarboro Second Saturdays street fair: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13; Courthouse Square; activities includes music, crafts and food; free; 567-0915; gotarboro.com.

Soul Calibur IV game tournament: Sept. 27; Game On!, 1242 Home Depot Plaza, Rocky Mount; all-ages tournament, parental consent required for children ages 13 and younger; registration $5; Crystal Ciccone, 937-4263.

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.

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.

Arts and crafts guilds: Imperial Centre (unless specified); Jennifer Rankin, 972-1632, jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov.

Tar River Basketweavers – 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month; Battleboro Community Center, 280 W. Battleboro Ave., Rocky Mount; basketweaving taught through shared experience and knowledge.

Embroiderer's Guild of America – 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; meetings offer workshops, exhibits, stitch-ins, social activities.

Tar River Piecemakers Quilting Guild – 9 a.m. second Saturday of the month; works on fabric, design and art, including donations made to various charitable organizations.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

"Man and Nature" exhibit: Through Saturday; 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.

"The Lush Landscape-Poetic Spaces" exhibit: Through Sept. 28; Mims Gallery, N.C. Wesleyan College; oil paintings by Janette Hopper; free artist reception 7-9 p.m. Sept. 12; works 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. Sept. 4; 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.

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.

Children's safety programs – 3 p.m. Wednesdays through August; Rocky Mount Fire Department and Life Safety Puppeteers perform safety-education programs for prekindergartners through second-graders; free.

Space Cadets – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Aug. 22; children ages 7 to 12 explore astronomy, physics, rocketry and astronautics; 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.

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, $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 shows: $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," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Mamma Mia!" "Mirrors," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Pineapple Express," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," "Step Brothers," "Swing Vote," "Tropic Thunder" and "WALL-E."

Carmike 10: Parkwood Mall, Wilson; 252-265-5538; films run Friday through Thursday unless noted; "The Dark Knight," "Fly Me to the Moon 3-D," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Mirrors," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Pineapple Express," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," "Step Brothers" and "Tropic Thunder."

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.

8 p.m. Friday – Ryan Spencer, playing originals.

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

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

8 p.m. today – DJ Gro Large and IN Charge; $2.

9 p.m. Friday – Straight Jacket; $5.

9 p.m. Saturday – Git Lit and Straight Jacket; $5.

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

Saturday – Speakeasy.

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.

Friday – Cory and the Giants.

Aug. 22 – Jason Sessoms.

Aug. 30 – Travis Moss.

Hogs Pen Pub: South Fountain Road, Macclesfield; 827-5510.

9:30 p.m. Saturday – Steel Standing, playing Southern rock; $6.

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

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

Sept. 6 – Jennifer Shelton Licko.

PERFORMANCE

Music for Everyone benefit concert: 7 p.m. Saturday; 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.

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

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

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

Oct. 10 – Chapter 6; $15.

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.

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

Oct. 3 – Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train.

Rocky Mount Community Theatre productions:

"The Art of Dining": 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; adults $8, seniors $7, children and students $6.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!": auditions 7 p.m. Oct. 1-2; performances 8 p.m. Nov. 7-8 and 14-15 and 2 p.m. Nov. 16; stage adaptation of 1970s educational Saturday morning cartoon series.

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.

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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/