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Last updated: October 31. 2006 4:23PM
IN SEASON
Your best bets for the months ahead
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Showcasing independent N.C. films.
IN ITS 12th year, the Cucalorus Film Festival has finally achieved its own measure of notoriety – thanks in no small part to a shout-out from Time. In June, the news magazine listed Cucalorus as one of its eight “Film Festivals for the Rest of Us.”
Started by local filmmakers, Cucalorus offers a distinctly Southern flair and, with no awards, offers a noncompetitive vibe (but let’s be honest here, everyone wants to get the recognition).
This year’s festival runs Nov. 8-11 at Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, with screening on the main stage and Black Box theater. Screenings and workshops also take place at Jengo’s Playhouse, the Cucalorus home and Wilmington’s only micro-cinema, at 815 Princess St.
The festival will screen 126 films over four days, touching on topics from light to dark, political to sexual, foreign to local. The lineup includes 33 dramatic and documentary features (twice as many as last year).
Riverfront Park will play host to the Kick-Off Celebration, a street screening on the banks of the Cape Fear River, at 5 p.m. Nov. 8, with a selection of surf and silent films with live music, food and drinks.
The opening night main attraction, The Trials of Darryl Hunt, screens at 8 p.m. at Thalian, telling the tragic account of a wrongfully convicted man who spent 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The final film of the series, Forgiven, screens at 9 p.m. Nov. 11 at Thalian Hall. A journey both personal and epic, it showcases the economic and racial boundaries of our lives.
THEATER
Check out the ‘Guerillas’ in our midst.
Richard Davis is more than just The Voice. He’s also The Brain.
The director at WAAV radio is ring-leader of an up-and-coming theater troupe that’s performing some of the best shows you’ll find in Wilmington (and that says a lot considering the talent Thalian produces). “Guerilla Theatre is all about getting back to the true nature of theater – actors, story, audience,” says Davis, who helped start the group.
Davis, along with actors Robb Mann, Susan Auten, Joe Pistone and Davis’ wife, Amber, have brought a unique street-level theater performances to the city, including the jaw-droppingly good Heathen Valley.
The troupe was even called “terrific” by Tom Briggs, the executive director for The Thalian Association, who says he loves the “down and dirty theater” the group produces.
While the group churned out eight plays in 2006 (the final being Miss Julie, starting Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.), Davis says the group will rein in some next year at their home in The Soapbox’s basement, aka the Speakeasy Microtheater.
In the meantime, this tiny theater company is helping change the way Wilmington sees theater – and giving audiences a visceral ride with each performance. As Davis puts it, this is the heartbeat of theater.
Details on shows: 233-9914.
Festival of trees
‘Let Heaven and Nature Sing.’
The annual Festival of Trees comes to the Hilton Wilmington Riverside on Water Street Nov. 25-Dec. 3 with more than 100 trees decorated in themes representative of holidays throughout the world.
This year’s theme is “Let Heaven and Nature Sing,” and the festival includes holiday shopping, a dessert cafe, gingerbread village, entertainment, Kids Corner crafts and visits with Santa. Hours: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Jingle Bell Jam 8 p.m. to midnight on the first day; a family magic show 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Tickets: $7 for adults, $4 for children 3-11, free for children under 3. Benefits Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter. Details: 772-5444 or www.hospicefestivaloftrees.org.
Winter on the water
Annual events draw you to lights, water.
CHRISTMAS JUST ISN’T CHRISTMAS without lights, and when you live on the coast, involving the water is a must.
This season, Wrightsville Beach and Pleasure Island light up with their own brand of holiday celebration.
Carolina Beach gets started first, with its annual Island of Lights show at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Carolina Beach Lake, U.S. 421 and Atlanta Avenue. Walk around the lake to view the lighted displays. Even Santa will be there. The evening is free, and refreshments will be provided. Details: 458-0211.
The Holiday Flotilla, a parade of lights along the Intracoastal Waterway, offers creative holiday decorations and a fantastic show to behold. And you can really get your day’s worth of fun by heading out the Wrightsville Beach Park at 10 a.m. for a 6½-hour Festival in the Park that includes children’s games, music and holiday decorating and gifts.
This year, the parade begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 at Wrightsville Beach. Up to 50 boats ranging from yachts to personal watercraft journey along Banks Channel. The evening ends with fireworks display. Details: 256-2120.
If you don’t have your own boat and don’t want to scramble for a decent view, consider the Cruise to Flotilla. The Winner Party Boat departs from Carl Winner Avenue in Carolina Beach at 3 p.m. Nov. 25.
Eat dinner and listen to holiday music abound as you enjoy the flotilla and dancing on the trip back. Boat should dock at 10:30 p.m. Tickets: $40 adults, $30 children, include dinner. Details: 458-5356.
ART & WINE FESTIVAL
Music and wine in the air.
What better way to celebrate fall than the Fall Art and Wine Festival. The event runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 11-12 at Hugh MacRae Park, near the intersection of College Road and Oleander Drive.
Sample wine and view work by regional artists. Also, listen to music, see some dance performances and enjoy pottery, tie-dyeing, stained glass and more. $15/$25 couple for wine festival, which includes tastes of wines from around the world.
Details: 262-7216 or go to www.celebratetheartsnc.org.
CHRISTMAS GETAWAY
Season’s greetings from Biltmore House.
One of the best examples of the holiday spirit can be seen each year in at the Biltmore House in Asheville.
Wreaths, garlands, ribbons and thousands of watts of lights are spread throughout the mansion. Music will ring from the organ and provides a soundtrack for children to see Christmas scenes, fairytale-inspired trees, and, within the kitchen, a dollhouse-size Biltmore – made, of course, of gingerbread and colorful candies.
The celebration runs through Dec. 31, with he estate opening its doors on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.
Candlelight Christmas Evenings begin at 5:30 p.m.; guests must arrange a reserved entry time. Day tickets for Christmas at Biltmore are $42 for adults, $21 for ages 10-16 Monday-Thursday; $44 for adults and $22 for youths Friday-Sunday. Candlelight evenings are $18-$65 depending on age and day.
Tickets available at www.Biltmore.com, or by calling the ticket center at (800) 624-1575.
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