Arts Agenda 

Classical Music

American Guild of Organists Events: July 4 at 8:30pm - Stephen Talley, Carillon / Stacey Mills, Trumpet, Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead St. July 6 at 7:30pm - Jane Arant & Michael Miller, Trumpet / Robert Rydel, Horn, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence Rd. 704-333-9071.

Jazz & Classical Essentials Sunday Brunch Borders will be playing jazz and classical music from their essential catalogs. Coffee and pastry provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. Borders, Morrocroft, 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-6261.

Summer Pops The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra presents a concert of patriotic music Thursday, July 3, at SouthPark. Prelude begins at 7pm and concert is at 8:15pm. www.charlottesymphony.org. Free. 704-972-2000.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Extreme Improv. Live improvised comedy created from your suggestions. Visit www.extremeimprov.com for more information. Call for reservations. Saturdays, 8 p.m. $5. 1958 E 7th St. 1-800-467-7681.

Central Ave Playhouse Psychotic Pooch. Live Sketch Comedy and improv. Material is NC-17, seating is limited. Call for reservations. Fri., Sat., 11 p.m. $10. 1118 Clement Ave. 704-502-8423.

The Comedy Zone College Night and "SIN" (Service Industry Workers) Night. Get free admission for the 8pm show and with your Comedy Zone ticket, get in free to Have a Nice Day Cafe. Wednesdays. 516 N. College St., Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

The Perch Theatre Smokin' Bear Tour Featuring Talking Baby. Presented by The Perch at various venues while a new location is scouted. Shows are rated 'R' for verbal content. July 5: The Comedy Zone, 11pm; July 10 & 17: The Steeple Lounge, 9:30pm; July 26 Neighborhood Theater, 9pm. Call for reservations. $12. 704-372-7724.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite The Faces of Our State. Photographic exhibit showcasing 70 years of North Carolina people as seen in Our State: North Carolina magazine. Through June 2004. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Continues through Sept. 30, 2004. Regular Museum admission. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Gaston County Museum of Art & History Carolinas Textile Exhibit- The Ties That Bind. Tue.-Sun. 131 W. Main St., Dallas. 704-852-6025.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. New South, Old South, Somewhere in Between. Continues through Aug. 7. Pen and Ink Politics: Thomas Nast's Reconstruction-era Cartoons and African American Equality. Continues through Sept. 29. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Burlon Craig and His Legacy. Continues through Oct. 19. Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Eight mid 19th century crinoline fashions, featuring wide hoop skirts, from the the museum's costume collection are currently on display. Through May 2004. Passing. Selected artists from the 2002 Juried exhibition Celebrating the Legacy of Romare Bearden are invited for in-depth presentation of their work. An Artists Gallery Walk-through will be held on Sun July 13, 3pm. Artists featured in Passing will lead a walk-through and discussion of the work on display. The program is free after museum admission. Through September 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000 or 704-333-MINT.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design Constructing Elozua: A Retrospective. Ceramics, photography, 3-D computer-generated artwork & sculpture. Continues through Aug. 3. Currents In Craft. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Point of View: Public and Private Collecting Part II. Continues through July 27. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County All About Cats. Continues through Sept. 14, 2003. Illustrator Vernon Grant: A Century of American Whimsy. Continues through Oct. 5, 2003. Virtue Leads and Grace Reveals: Embroideries and Education in Antebellum South Carolina. Continues through July 20. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

North Carolina Museum of History Flashback to the 60s. Continues through Sept. 28, 2003. 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-715-0200.

Spoken Word

Jackson's Java Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Thu., July 10, 8 p.m. 8544 University City Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Mert's Heart and Soul Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring the areas most talented singers, rappers, and poets. Sign up for the Open Mic Showcase. Details: www.motifentertainment.com. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 10pm-until. $7 cover. 214 N. College St. 704-623-0058.

Southend Performing Arts Center BareBones Poetry Project. SPAC will feature regional authors reading selections of their poetry, short stories and performance poetry. Third Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m. 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Fri., July 11, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Urban Ministry Center Community Open Mike. Artists from the homeless and greater community will play music, read poetry and show off art work. First Friday of every month this summer, 5-8pm. 945 N. College St. 704-575-7716.

Theater: Openings

Chicago New National tour of Broadway's smash hit musical, the inspiration for the Academy Award winning film. Cast includes Bianca Marroquin, Brenda Braxton and Gregory Harrison. July 1-3 at 8pm; July 4 at 6pm; July 5 at 2 & 8:15pm; July 6 at 2 & 7:30pm. $23-61. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.