1). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher: The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a new treasure in its collection. A female albino alligator, currently in Aquarium quarantine, awaits completion of her new home in the Cape Fear Conservatory. A new exhibit, expected to open on May 29, is under development for the alligator. At approximately four years old, the albino alligator is almost five feet long and weighs about 19 pounds.

2). Asheville Art Museum: The Asheville Art Museum invites you on a “Photography Hike” with John Dickson on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Walk in the footsteps of George Masa as experienced hiker and photographer John Dickson leads us on an easy hike through Pisgah Forest or on the Blue Ridge Parkway and teaches us how to capture the mountain landscape through the viewfinder.

3). Greensboro Children’s Museum: The Greensboro Children’s Museum is proud to announce a special pre-publication book launch of “The Last Child,” the new novel from bestselling local author John Hart. The event, a national book launch Dinner Gala, will occur Monday, May 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Country Club, 410 Sunset Drive, Greensboro and will include a “Sneak Peek” discussion with Hart about the new book. Tickets are $150 per person and include one pre-released, signed and dated copy of “The Last Child.” Proceeds from the event will support The Greensboro Children’s Museum.

4). Weatherspoon Art Museum presents “Artist's Talk: Michael Townsend” on Thursday, May 7, 6:30 p.m, Weatherspoon Art Museum Auditorium. Artist Michael Townsend talks about blurring the boundaries between public art and private spaces while highlighting examples of public art projects he has organized throughout the world. Free and open to the public; limited seating.

5). Cape Fear Museum: From Harlem Globetrotters to Wimbledon Champions, the Lower Cape Fear region has produced its fair share of world-class athletes. An exhibit celebrating a “score” of local sports greats opened at Cape Fear Museum of History and Science on Friday, May 1. The exhibit will showcase artifacts and memorabilia from members of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame. In all, 19 sports figures are represented in the new exhibit, which will remain open through the summer.

6). Transylvania Heritage Museum: National Preservation Month presentation, "This Place Matters," featuring historic buildings in Transylvania County. Saturday, May 9, 1 - 2 p.m. 40 West Jordan St., Brevard, NC. Contact heritage@citcom.net or 828-862-8228 for more information.

7). Cameron Art Museum presents an exhibition opening: “Kaleidoscope: Changing Views of the Permanent Collection” on Thursday, May 14. Members' Preview: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Public Opening: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Explore the new exhibition “Kaleidoscope: Changing Views of the Permanent Collection” featuring art from the Cameron Art Museum's collection. This exhibition features selected paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, furniture, decorative arts and other objects drawn from the museum's permanent collection.

8). Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site: Mindful of preserving our dwindling natural resources, experts restoring the Aycock Birthplace farm house after fire damage last year are using reclaimed lumber harvested from the old Imperial Tobacco Company warehouse in Wilson in the project. Like the Aycock family who lived on this farm during the late 19th century -- who almost certainly used everything and wasted nothing -- the professionals rebuilding the home decided to use old heart pine to repair the historic building with a naturally aged look, instead of buying new wood and trying to make it “look old.”

9). Hunter Library, Western Carolina University: “Craft Revival: Shaping Western North Carolina Past and Present” is a website and a digital archive about the Craft Revival in western North Carolina. The website features a searchable database of Craft Revival objects, as well as information about the artists, crafts, the history of the period and its impact on western North Carolina. A "Resources" page includes lesson plans, bibliographic information and related links. Craft Revival Project staff invite you to visit the website and provide feedback via one of two questionnaires linked to the home page at http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/.

10). Kings Mountain Historical Museum: The Kings Mountain Historical Museum is excited to announce the upcoming exhibit “Toys and Games That We Loved,” opening on May 12th. The exhibit will run through the summer closing on August 22, 2009. Featured will be toys and games pre 1960 with several waiting to be played such as: Chinese checkers, jacks, marbles, checkers, and card games; also coloring.

11). The Bascom: Those who attend the Collective Spirits wine festival at The Bascom this month will also get their fill of two opening exhibitions. Beyond the art of wine and the art that is The Bascom’s stunning new campus, “Cheers! Handcrafted Glass Stemware and Instruments of Appalachian Music” will open at The Bascom for Collective Spirits, set for May 29-30. “Cheers!” features a grand gathering of drinking vessels focusing on the accomplishments and “voices” of individual artists and many other contemporary glass craftsmen. This exhibition closes June 6.