Welcome to the weekly Port City Life newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter John Staton.
If you know anything about me you know I’m a big music fan, so I was happy to see that Wilmington will celebrate its first International Make Music Day on Friday, June 21, the first full day of summer, thanks to the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County and The Harrelson Center.
International Make Music Day started in 1982 and is now celebrated in over 1,000 cities worldwide. In Wilmington, the festivities will happen from 6-9 p.m. June 21 inside and outside the Harrelson Center at Fourth and Market streets. Highlights include singer Kim Pacheco (7 p.m., main stage) and all-woman band The Hot Flashes (8 p.m. main stage); Soul-R Fusion on the 4th and Market stage (7 p.m.); a “musical instrument petting zoo” courtesy of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra at the Plaza on Princess inside the Harrelson Center; and even more music in the Harrelson’s reception area.
For details on the event and a full line-up, click here. Now, let’s see what else is happening this weekend.
Weekend weather outlook
It’s looking a little dicey this weekend with some showers in the forecast. Best chances of rain are Friday and Sunday, with a potentially decent-weather Saturday sandwiched between. Highs in the upper 80s.
Go | See | Do
Wilmington’s lineup of events is jam-packed for the first weekend of summer. For starters, Opera House Theatre Co. opens its summer season of musicals at Thalian Hall with “Annie”; the Cameron Art Museum unveils a new exhibition featuring a diverse array of acquisitions from the past five years; Raleigh singer AŹUL brings her delicate yet powerful tunes to Live at Ted’s; Wilmington family band The Fontanelles plays Bourgie Nights; and Cape Fear Shakespeare continues its run of “Much Ado About Nothing” at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Link to the full list below.
Happenings:With musicals and concerts aplenty, here are 15 things to do in Wilmington this weekend
The Dish with Port City Foodies
Do you like french fries? Sorry, stupid question. We’re conducting a poll of our readers’ favorites fries in the Wilmington area if you want to weigh in.
Plus, a late-night dessert bar prepares to open downtown, and a Wilmington chef is re-imagining a local soul food favorite.
Summer screen time
In Wilmington, summer is kind of our brand. Certainly, the spirit of summer fun, beauty, romance and/or mayhem is reflected in the kinds of movies and TV shows that have shot here over the decades. If you’re looking to keep your summer viewing local, we’ve got a list of movies and shows that will keep the summer vibes lasting all season long.
Filmington:11 movies and TV shows filmed in the Wilmington area that are perfect for summer viewing
News you can use
New Hanover County is looking for public input on the future of Wilmington’s “west bank,” the marshy, undeveloped area across the Cape Fear River from downtown. Here’s how you can get involved.
Plus, a missing historical marker downtown could soon make its return, and upgrades to a beloved Wilmington music venue could be coming soon.
Let’s get social
For more Port City Life news, including updates to food and entertainment stories, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MyPortCityLife.
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