See & Do

Wednesday, December 28

Don Reitz isn’t just another potter. Considered “one of the most important and influential ceramic artists of the century,” his Abstract Expressionism is embodied in jar- and teapot-like forms with alluring glazes and textures achieved through salt and wood firing. His exhibit, Clay, Fire, Salt, and Wood, features a retrospective of 71 pieces of his works from 1960 to present day. The exhibit at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design closes Dec. 31. Admission: $3-$5, call 704-337-2000. (Emily Milloy)

For those who never tire of hearing “He shoots! He scores!”, the Lowe’s Shoot-Out event will be the best 15 bucks ever spent on a Thursday afternoon. Basketballs will fly through the air with skill, as the top US high school teams, including Charlotte’s own and the best 100 players in the nation, compete for basket-gluttony glory. Dec. 29, 3:30pm at the Bobcats Arena, www.charlottebob catsarena.com. Tickets: $15. (Emily Milloy)

Since Gov’t Mule is now a quartet, the North Mississippi Allstars — led by brothers Luther (guitar/vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums/vocals) — are the finest Southern rock trio in the land. Although the Allstars have joined the virtually never-ending tour of their generation of jam bands, they have found time to produce four fine albums since Oct. ’04: Hill Country Revue: Live at Bonnaroo, John Hiatt’s Master of Disaster and their latest featuring the trio alone — Electric Blue Watermelon and its screwed-and-chopped alternate version. Having already proven their mettle in traditional country blues, the brothers’ focus has now turned to Dirty South hip-hop, and its paying off well. The show is at Visulite; tickets are $15. Details at www.visulite.com. (Crazy Horse)

If you don’t sprechen zie Strauss, then the Salute to Vienna that’s heading to Belk Theater is a great way to brush up on your Waltz King and revel in the burgeoning franchise that modestly proclaims itself as the “World’s Greatest New Year’s Concert.” Classical music buffs and NPR devotees are already hip to the annual Neujahrskonzert that sprung up in Vienna over 60 years ago and became New Year’s Day tradition — seen by more than a billion TV viewers worldwide. Live offshoots will sprout up in 28 North American cities this year, including this Charlotte premiere, featuring The Strauss Symphony of America™ conducted by Sascha Goetzel, dancers from the Vienna Opera Ballet, soprano Mónika González and tenor Valeriy Serkin. Polkas, waltzes, excerpts from Fledermaus and The Merry Widow, and the obligatory spin on the “Blue Danube” are all in the festivities. Wrap it up with tickets priced at $35-$75, and strike up the band at 8pm. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)

Mt. Holly tunesmith and true believer David Childers, along with his band The Modern Don Juans, play the Loft at RODI tonight down in G-town (Gastonia, for the uninitiated). Look for tracks from Childers’ new CD, Jailhouse Religion, along with Auld Lang Syne and all the rest, as this show’s also serving as Childers’ official CD Release Party. Tickets are $50 for the show and dinner, $35 for dinner, and $30 for the show only. Go to Rodiworld.com or call 704-864-7634 for more information. (Davis)

Real-life brothers Scott and Seth Avett, along with one Bob Crawford, comprise The Avett Brothers, the most rag-tag, rambunctious, one-oar-in-the-water mix of punk rock, bluegrass, and old-time you ever heard in your life. As the saying goes, “I mean that in a good way.” The Avetts have become a regional — and to some extent, even a national — name, playing big-seat venues all over. What’s more, they’re pulling in the fannies, as anyone who’s ever seen a prior Avett Neighborhood Theatre show can attest. For more on this show (tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door), call 704-358-9298 or visit www.neighborhoodtheatre.com. (Davis)

Say good-bye to 2005 and ring in 2006 uptown tonight at Uptown Countdown on the Square. The streets around Trade and Tryon will close at 10pm to make way for food and soft-drink vendors (no booze will be available for purchase at the event) and the thousands of people who waited too long to make a reservation somewhere. The Duke Power Crown will light up at the stroke of midnight, and a fireworks display will kick off the New Year with a bang (lots of them). The event is free. For more info on the festivities, call 704-332-2227 or go to www.charlottecentercity.org. (Vespa)

If midnight is too late for the kiddies, they can get in on the uptown excitement earlier in the day at Noon Year’s Eve, a free family-oriented New Year’s celebration at The Green. There’ll be games, dancing, party favors and performances by Radio Disney stars from 11am to 2pm. That gives you plenty of time to bring the young’uns home and get ready for your night on the town. The Green is at 435 S. Tryon Street. Call 704-332-2227 for details. (Vespa)

They’re taking the cream of the string quartet repertoire at the monthly Chamber Music at St. Peter’s Concert — and they’re punching the shuffle button! The randomized result: four movements from four different string quartets by four all-star composers. We begin with some Mozart, build with some Brahms, climax with a choice allegro from Beethoven’s first “Rasumovsky” quartet, and fade out on the plucky second movement from Ravel’s F Major quartet — unless the musicians decide to shuffle that, too. Series director Alan Black anchors the ensemble on cello, with Jacqui Carrasco and Nicole Cherry on violins, and Scott Rawls on viola. Free concerts begin at 12:10 and 5:30 at Pete’s Episcopal, 7th and Tryon, with free 90-minute parking at the Transamerica Building. Want free foodies, too? At the Hodges Taylor Gallery after the 5:30 gig. (Tannenbaum)

Over the past dozen years, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has been blessed with a couple of ambitious remakes. If you thought the 1994 Winona Ryder film was better than the book deserved — even if Alcott did become a suffragist after writing it — you may be better pleased with Little Women — The Broadway Musical of 2005. It comes to Belk Theater through January 8 with part of its Broadway character still intact. Maureen McGovern appears above the title as Marmee, mother of the March sisters, who teaches them to be “little women.” Now if that doesn’t mean intelligent, kind, and modest anymore, that’s showbiz. And the march of progress. Tickets are priced at $20-$56. Evenings through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm. Family matinees at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)

This article appears in Dec 28, 2005 – Jan 3, 2006.