Arts Agenda 

Classical Music

Lucia Di Lammermoor A bel canto opera based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott. www.operacarolna.org. May 20, 7:30 p.m.; May 22, 8 p.m.; May 23, 2 p.m. $10-$79. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

The Singers of Renaissance Charlotte-based choral group's annual Piccolo Spoleto concert, featuring Brahms and other composers. Dilworth UMC, 605 East Blvd. www.singers-renaissance.org. Sat., May 22, 8 p.m. $10-$12. 704-333-3698.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv: Fridays 8pm - Chicago Style long form improv "The Gallery"; Saturdays 8pm - "Who's Line Is it?" style improv; Psychotic Pooch at 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays. www.extremeimprov.comwww.psychoticpooch.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 866-467-7681.

CJ's, Adams Mark Blue Light. Talent show with stand-up, musicians and more. Thursdays, 8pm. 555 S. McDowell St. 704-506-3156.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. May 19-22: Mike Mesemer with Scott Oseycheck. www.thecomedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Ovations Comedy Variety Show. "The Waki Tiki show" featuring the Kahunas of Comedy. In the Luau Lounge. Fri & Sat, 10pm. 3014 East Independence Blvd. 704-602-2595.

The Perch Theatre New Location. Sketch comedy club/theater. www.theperch.com. 1111-P Hawthorne Ln. 704-372-7724.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History The Faces of Our State. Through June. Powerful Persuaders: World War II Posters. An exhibit of propaganda posters. Through Sept. 1. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Through Sept. 30. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Mix & Max: Omnimax after hours. The program is aimed at anyone looking for something different. Live music, Omnimax films, food and cash bar. Third Friday of every month. $10 members $12 (non-members). Omnimax. Now showing: Ocean Oasis, NASCAR: The IMAX Experience, T. rex: Back to the Cretaceous, and Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance. Call or visit website for times. www.discoveryplace.org. A T. Rex Named Sue. A fully articulated cast of a T. Rex fossil now on display. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Courage: The Carolina Story That Changed America. Brown vs. Board of Education exhibit. Through Aug. 15. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Through May 2004. Here's Lookin' At You Kid. Prosperity America Incorporated (PAI), an organization helping at-risk youth throughcommunity-based programming, will host its kickoff event. Proceeds benefit PAI. Wed., May 19, 7 p.m. Jazzy Ladies 2004. A series of evenings featuring picnics, live jazz and classic New York City films. June 1: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bill Gerhardt Trio performs; June 8: Tootsie, Evans & Coppola perform. www.youngaffiliates.org/events/jazzyladies. $5-$7, free for Young Affiliates members. VantagePoint II. Julie Heffernan: Interior Transformations, featuring large scale paintings. May 12-Sept. 5. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Art of Gold. Exhibit presents 80 contemporary gold objects. Apr. 3-Aug. 8. The Artful Teapot: 20th Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection. Through May 30. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Wine Class. Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz: Triangular tasting, geography, climate, soils and more. www.carolinawineclub.com. Tue., May 25, 6:15-8 p.m. $30. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Rock Hill From A to Z. May 22-Aug. 15. Vernon Grant. An exhibit of Grant's work, Storybook Village. Through Oct. 31. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum, Gastonia 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Beatties Ford Road Library Robin Edgar. Author will read and signIn My Mother's Kitchen. Tue., May 25, 7 p.m. Free. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-432-6706.

Books-A-Million, Concord Mills Connie Nelson & Floyd Harris. Authors will sign Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina. Tue., May 25, 1-3 p.m. 8301 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord Mills Mall.

Costco Ruby Ann Boxcar. Author of Dear Ruby Ann. Sat., May 22, 1-3 p.m. 500 Tyvola Rd. 704-501-2403.

Main Library Carlos Eire. Author will read and sign Waiting for Snow in Havana. Thu., May 20, 7 p.m. Free. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2074.

Park Road Books B.J. Mountford. Author of Bloodlines of Shackleford Banks. Wed., May 19, 7 p.m. Greg Lilly. Author of Fingering the Family Jewels. Thu., May 20, 7 p.m. Judson Mitcham. Author of Sabbath Creek. Fri., May 21, 7 p.m. Floyd Harris. Author of The Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina. Tue., May 25, 7 p.m. Sheri Lynch. Author of Hello, My Name is Mommy. Wed., May 26, 5:30 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.

Spoken Word

Queens University Poets' Night at Queens University. Hosted by Main Street Rag and featuring Maureen Ryan Griffin. Open Mic follows. www.mainstreetrag.com. Sat., May 22, 7 p.m. 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-573-2516.

Tonic The Soul Movement. An underground nite for Spoken Word/Poetry, Soul Classics, Neo-Soul, Deep/Soulful House, Urban Grooves & Underground Hip-Hop. www.thesoulmovement.com. Sundays. $5 before 9:30pm. 1427 E. 4th St. 704-580-7187.