1). Museum of the Albemarle: Join the museum on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm for “All About Pirates Day!” The Museum will open a new exhibit featuring Blackbeard memorabilia. In order to highlight the opening of the exhibit pirate centered activities and demonstrations will be available and free to the public. Two members of Blackbeard’s Crew will be on hand to roam and talk with visitors from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Blackbeard’s Crew is a living history performance group dedicated to the accurate representation of seafaring life in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, specifically 1690-1720.

2). Discovery Place: The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is brought up from the ashes as Discovery Place introduces its newest exhibition, “A Day in Pompeii,” opening Friday, July 11. The exhibition only has appeared in three U.S. cities with Charlotte being the fourth and final U.S. destination. “A Day in Pompeii” paints a rich portrait of ancient Roman life in 79 A.D. and explores the fateful day in history when the city was buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. And “A Day in Pompeii” won’t be the only feature to explore the ancient past this summer. “Greece: Secrets of the Past” opens Friday, July 11 in “The Charlotte Observer” IMAX® Dome Theatre, giving viewers the opportunity to explore another of the world’s most enlightened cultures. A sweeping archeological journey back in time, “Greece: Secrets of the Past” sets out on a quest to uncover the buried secrets of one of the world’s most enlightened societies that, for 100 years, became the center of human thought and creativity. From approximately 500 B.C. to 400 B.C., ancient Greece laid many of the foundations for the way we live today.

3). Delta Arts Center: “Lois Mailou Jones (1905 – 1998), the Early Works, Paintings and Patterns, 1927 – 1937” will be on view at the Delta Arts Center through August 2. The exhibit will open Sunday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m., with a lecture by art historian, Director of the National Center for Afro-American Artists, and Jones protégé, E. Barry Gaither.

4). Reynolda House Museum of American Art will host the “Eastern Music Festival” in two successive Sunday afternoon performances. On Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m., the faculty ensemble known as the Eastern Chamber Players will play music by Brahms, Shostakovich, and Beethoven. For information and to purchase tickets, please call 336-758-5150. Cost is $16, $13 for members and students.

5). High Point Museum: On Saturday, July 12 from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, July 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm, the High Point Museum presents “Corn Shuck Doll Making.” Discover how Native Americans and early Quaker settlers used things from the natural environment to make toys. Make your own corn shuck doll to take home. Our costumed interpreters will show you how. FREE; all ages welcome.

6). Asheville Art Museum: This summer, the Asheville Art Museum invites you to partake in “Pleasant Journeys and Good Eats Along the Way: A Retrospective of Paintings by John Baeder,” an exhibition of the artist’s work that showcases his 35-year obsession with roadside architecture and focuses on America’s diners. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. with a special reception with Baeder in attendance through 7:00 p.m. that evening.

7). Weatherspoon Art Gallery presents the film “The Motorcycle Diaries” on Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. Based on his journal, this film follows the journey of Che Guevara and his best friend, Alberto Granado, in their motorcycle journey across South America in the early 1950s. The trip eventually inspires Che to become the leader of the Cuban revolution that impacted an entire country. Spanish with English subtitles; rated R. Directed by Walter Salles, 2004, 128 mins. Post-screening discussion led by Dr. José Villabla, Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Educational Development, UNCG.

8). Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies: Looking for local North Carolina history books? Then be sure to visit the web page for the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, which publishes an annual list of historical publications available from its members. Examples of local history books on the list include architecture and cemetery surveys; histories of towns, counties, and local institutions; biographies; memoirs; cultural studies; court minutes; information from deeds, wills, and census records; studies of religion and education in different communities, and more. The list is available on the Federation's web page at http://www.blogger.com/www.fnchs.org/bulletin/bulletin.htm under the link "Historical Publications from Federation Members."

9). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher: Frogs and toads and salamanders, OH MY! Join Flumpa the tree frog and Wendy the singing scientist to learn why 2008 has been designated as Year of the Frog! Meet live amphibians, make froggy crafts, hunt for all kinds of amphibian activities, and have a hoppin’ good time at the second Family Night of 2008. (Check with the museum for event time and date.) Live animal presentations, animal encounters and fun are all part of this froggy event. These and a variety of other activities for all ages are free with paid admission or membership. Ticket sales end at 8:00 pm. Visitors who tour the Aquarium earlier in the day may return for Family Night activities at no additional charge,if they present their receipts.