Arts Agenda 

Alfonso Lopez Violinist Lopez, concertmaster of the Venezuelan Symphony orchestra in Caracas, will perform with Michelle Tabor (piano) in a program of European and Hispanic music. Mon., Sept. 27, 8 p.m. Free, donations accepted. Belmont Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont-Mount Holly Rd., Belmont. 704-334-3468.

Celebration of Sacred Music Featuring eight area choirs, choral and instrumental musicians. Sun., Sept. 26, 6 p.m. Free. Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Rd. 704-529-1616.

Fall Gala with Renee Fleming Making her first orchestral debut, Fleming will sing accompanied by conductor Christof Perick and the Charlotte Symphony. Wed., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. $40-$70. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

The Three Sopranos A series featuring faculty performers. Sun., Sept. 26, 4 p.m. Free. Tillman Auditorium, Winthrop U, Rock Hill. 803-323-2255.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv, Charlotte's only professional improv comedy troupe, Fri and Sat, 8pm (866-467-7681); Psychotic Pooch performs bizarre sketch comedy, Fri and Sat, 10pm (704-502-8423). www.extremeimprov.com www.psychoticpooch.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 704-332-2256.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances. Sept. 22-25: Grandma Lee, Joe West and Alan King; Sept. 3-Oct. 2: Aries Spears and Brian Cork. www.comedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Tyber Creek Pub The Pink Turtle Sketchprov Experience. "Whose Line" type short form improv. Reservations suggested. www.pinkturtle.net. Fridays, 8pm. $5. 1933 S. Blvd. 704-301-1564.

Dance

Beatles, Barbeque and Balanchine Two world premiere ballets, one set to music by the Beatles and the other inspired by the Southern writer Flannery O'Connor. The third piece is George Balanchine's Divertimento No.15 by Mozart. Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; Sept. 25, 8 p.m. Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College. 704-894-2519.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Main Streets of Our State. A traveling photography exhibit. Sept. 16-Jan. 2. Our Changing Landscape: Early Views of People and Place in the Carolina Piedmont. An exhibition that illustrates and interprets the changes in the Carolina Piedmont landscape. Sept. 25-May 25. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Through Sept. 30. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Communication Exhibit. Follow electronic messages around the world, see your voice, and get a glimpse at the next generation of the information age. Sept. 16-Jan. 10. Omnimax. Omnimax is closed for renovations through mid-November. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Focus on Justice: Carolina Photographers and the Civil Rights Movement. Through Oct. 17. Living Traditions. Folk Arts of the American South. Sept. 16-Jan. 9. We're Still Here: Native Americans in the Southeast. Sept. 16-Jan. 9. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Guild of Charlotte Artists. Meeting with slide demo by Brad Thomas Dir. Art Gallery at Davidson College. Guests welcome. Wed., Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Porcelain American Style. July 31, 2004-June 14, 2005. Pottery American Style. Sept. 18-Feb. 20. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. Sept. 16-Jan. 30. Speaking Volumes: Vessels from the Collections of Mint Museums. Sept. 16-April 17. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Wine Classes. Session III: Taste and Flavor : The Biology of Tasting; Gustatory System; Active Smelling; Olfactory vs Tactile Descriptors. Sept. 28, 6:30-8pm. $30. Young Affiliates of the Mint. Join the Young Affiliates and young Charlotte professionals for an evening on the MMC+D rooftop. Enjoy the city skyline with music by Jah Creation. Fri., Sept. 24, 6-9 p.m. $10-$15. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. Our Changing Landscapes: Early views of people and places in Carolina Piedmont. Sept. 25-May 15. Vernon Grant. An exhibit of Grant's work, Storybook Village. Through Oct. 24. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum, Gastonia Within These Hills. A photographic exhibition. Sept. 16-Oct. 3. 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Union County Public Library, Monroe Cathy Pickens. Author will discuss and sign Southern Fried. Mon., Sept. 27, 7-8 p.m. 316 East Windsor St. 704-283-8184 ext. 241.

Spoken Word

Mama's Caribbean Grill Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring singers, rappers, and poets. Sign up for the Open Mic Showcase. Details: www.freewebs.com/motifentertainment. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 10pm-until. $7 cover. 1504 Central Ave. 704-375-8414.

Queens University Poets' Night. Hosted by Main Street Rag. Gail Peck will read from her new poetry collection, Thirst. Open Mike will follow. www.MainStreetRag.com. Sat., Sept. 25, 7 p.m. 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-573-2516.

Theater: Openings

Capitol Steps Performed by a team of former congressional aides who are the Weird Al Yankovic of political satire. Sun., Sept. 26, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. $12.50-$32. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.