(From July 19-25, 2007)

The organizers of the 2008 NCMC Annual Meeting & Conference, to be held in Fayetteville, March 4-7, 2008, would like to remind all interested parties that session proposals for the Conference are due on AUGUST 1, 2007. For all the details, visit www.ncmuseums.org. We encourage the participation of our members and their associates in each year's sessions, and 2008 is no exception!

POSSIBLE DONATION: Cory Saksenberg of Mint Hill, N.C. is the owner of two large dollhouses that Cory would like to donate to an institution where they can be enjoyed by many. Cory has already tried several local hospitals and museums and for various reasons, they cannot accept this type of donation. Cory can e-mail photos of either or both dollhouses to anyone who might like to take a look, as well as answer questions, via e-mail. To contact Cory, write to: csaksenberg@carolina.rr.com. The dollhouses are located in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Cory would prefer that whomever decides to accept these pick them up at Cory's home, but those arrangements can be discussed later if someone chooses to give the dollhouses a home.
Physical location/mailing address is: Corliss Saksenberg (Cory), 14918 Rothwell Drive, Mint Hill, NC 28227.

Looking to add more local history books to your reference collection? The Federation of N.C. Historical Societies has compiled its annual list of local history books available from its members. The list includes architecture and cemetery surveys; histories of towns, counties, and local institutions; biographies; memoirs; cultural studies; information from deeds, wills, and census records; and more. For more information, please visit www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/affiliates/fnchs/bulletin/publications.pdf.

The Mint Museums, Charlotte, will host an adult/child workshop from 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 24-26, on the subject of "Where The Wild Things Are." For tuition and registration information, call (704) 337-2098. The third annual Potters Market Invitational is also set at the Mint Museum of Art for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 8 -- tickets will be available on the day of the sale only, starting at 9:30 a.m., for $8 apiece (includes museum admission for that day).

The Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, has several upcoming activities: on July 27 at 7:30 p.m., the Literary Event is "Carolina Beach: Two Views with Images"; on Sunday, August 5 at 3 p.m., the Theatre Talk is with Debbie Scheu, costume designer; on Thursday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m., the Film is "The Devil Came on Horseback"; on Friday, August 10 from 7-8 p.m., the music offering is Pantastic Steel (steel drums); and on Sunday, August 12th at 3:30 p.m. is a Songwriter's Showcase

"Launched" is an exhibition that showcases talented students from the North Carolina university art departments. It will be on display at the McColl Center for Visual Art, Charlotte, from August 3 to September 1, with an opening reception on August 17 from 6-9 p.m. A retrospective exhibition, "Veronica's Veils: Herb Jackson, A Retrospective" is also set to open September 21 at the McColl Center and remain through November 3. The opening reception will be from 6-9 p.m. on September 28, with an Artist Talk at 6:30 p.m.

"Black Panther Rank and File" is the current exhibit at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, and will remain on display through September 28. On August 9 (7 p.m.) and 12 (2 p.m.), Cinema SECCA will present "Crazy Love" -- $5 members, $6 students and seniors, $7 general admission.

Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Winston-Salem, will host the 16th Biennial Conference on Restoring Southern Gardens and Landscapes, September 27-29. Conference registration fee is discounted for registrations prior to September 1. For details, contact Martha Ashley -- mashley@oldsalem.org or (336) 721-7360.

Tryon Palace, New Bern, will offer "Box & Cox: A One-Act British Farce" at 11 a.m. on August 4 and 18 at the Visitor Center Auditorium, and "A Historical Punch & Judy Puppet Show" at 11 a.m. on August 11 and 25, Carriage Bay of the Stable Office.

In conjunction with their current exhibition, the Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, will present a Wild Music Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 4, and a lecture, Wild Music and Bird Songs, at 7 p.m. on August 21. Several workshops and trips are also on tap -- see the website for more details.

The Orange County Historical Msueum, Hillsborough, will offer the "Seeing Red" art exhibit by artist Barbara Ziff from August 1-31, and also plans the "Back to School ... Way Back" event from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, August 31.

The North Carolina Aquariums have a number of August special events and activities scheduled -- check them out on the website.

The final Summer Breeze Concert for the season at Newbold-White House, Hertford, is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the lawn on Sunday, August 19th.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art will combine its fall exhibition opening with its 40th anniversary celebration beginning on Friday night, September 7th. The opening reception for "Wings of Adventure: Smith Reynolds and the Flight of '898 Whiskey'" will be held that evening, followed on September 8th with a free visitation day for Reynolda House, including special events for adults and children during the day.

For the first time in its 40-year history, The Health Adventure plans to be open during Bele Chere, the last weekend of July -- offering the coolest and driest place during the festival with extended hours and a featured exhibit, "The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm." Members are free and all activities are included in standard museum admission for others.

Discovery Place's exhibit "The Dinosaurs" is returning on Wednesday, July 25th, after time off for refurbishment.

Greensboro Children's Museum is planning Harry Potter Fun! from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 21st, and a free showing of the movie "Open Season" at 8 p.m. on July 27th.

July 19th is the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher's "Family Night," featuring Mojo Collins and Sea Pans, and the Shark Shindig will be held on July 29, kicking off Shark Week through August 4. Call (910) 458-8257 for more details, or visit the website.

The Delta Arts Center will premiere the exhibition "Jewels: 50 Phenomenal Black Women Over 50" by photographer Michael Cunningham, from the book with co-author Connie Briscoe, opening July 22 and running through September 11 in Winston-Salem.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in conjunction with its "Wild Music: Sounds & Songs of Life," will offer three lectures -- the first is July 19th at 7 p.m. by biomusic researcher Patricia Gray, on "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." The second lecture, on Thursday, August 21 at 7 p.m., will have Steve Nowicki discussing the intricacies of birdsongs. Finally, Donald Hodges will present "A Layman's Guide to the Musical Brain" at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 4.

The exhibits "Message in a Bottle: Reconstructing Lives," "Artifacts of Remembrance" and "Artifacts of Remembrance Featuring Chris Sullivan" open on July 26th at The Light Factory, Charlotte.