Coming Up This Week 11/15 - 11/21

The Charleston Library Society (and its grand piano) welcome a pianist of national and international renown for an intimate evening. For the past two seasons, Joel Fan has held engagements with the New York Philharmonic, the Odessa Philharmonic, and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic in a variety of concerto performances.

Southern Rites is a documentary from photographer Gillian Laub, who also created a 2015 monograph of photos of the same name, based on her experiences in Montgomery County, Ga.

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Join the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art for a free film screening of Southern Rites and a Q&A with the director and Southbound photographer Gillian Laub. Laub spent over a decade working in Montgomery County, Georgia after first learning of the high school’s segregated prom and homecoming dances in 2002. In 2010, after the community had received national attention from Laub’s photographs, the school elected to integrate the prom. Although Montgomery County had seen social progress, the community was divided once more when one of the school’s former students, twenty-two-year-old African American Justin Patterson, was murdered.

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The Thursday before Thanksgiving, why not laugh off the impending stress of being with your family by heading to the Tin Roof for Fam-Free comedy, an evening featuring a "kickass comedy lineup." Performers include Shawna Jarrett, Hagan Chase Ragland, Joseph Coker, Michael Clayton, John Pope, Keith Dee, and Tanner Riley.

After attending the Transgender Day of Remembrance at Unitarian Church, head to Sottile Theatre for the third annual Charleston Stars Gender Pageant, which gives the entire CofC campus the opportunity to be part of an experience that explores gender as performance art. There will also be a pop-up thrift shop courtesy of Closet Case.

Enjoy all the cocktails and canapes your heart desires at the opening of the Vendue's All The Blues art exhibit featuring the work of 24 artists.

Charleston's Center For Women presents the annual C4NEW conference which brings fresh ideas, useful knowledge, and innovative thinking to women in South Carolina. This year's conference features special guest Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love and Big Magic.

Back for its third year the Charleston Arts Festival features visual arts, dance, pop-up events, and more. Peep the full schedule online.

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The Charleston Classic, an early season Division 1 college basketball tournament, features a bracket format with 12 games over three days. Each team competes in one game per day regardless of results. Participating teams include Alabama, Davidson, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Wichita State, Appalachian State, Ball State, and Northeastern.

Ms. Rose's hosts a pet-focused holiday celebration to raise money for Charleston's Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary. The Here Comes Santa Paws fundraiser features live music, housemade dog treats, specialty cocktails, vendors, a build-your-own stocking station, and Santa Claus.

Village Teen Troupe presents Carrie — The Musical. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Carrie — The Musical is the haunting story of teen angst, religious fervor, and the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter.

Head to the aquarium for a shuckin' good time featuring Charleston cuisine — we're talkin' sustainably sourced small plates — as well as live entertainment and beer and wine.

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American musician singer, songwriter, and record producer PJ Morton performs at Exquis Event Center. Morton may best be known for his role as one of the keyboardists in Maroon 5. Performing with Morton at this event will be Charleston native Mike Brown and Grammy award-winning artist Grace Webber.

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The College of Charleston's department of theatre and dance presents Witness, a dance concert that explores the "importance of standing witness to life events that shape our world and define our times." The cast includes 35 dancers, four musicians, and special guest appearance by Dr. Renard Harris, associate Vice President of the College's Office of Institutional Diversity.

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission will host a 5K trail run/walk at Laurel Hill County Park on Saturday, Nov. 17. Called the Chili 5K, the event offers a post-race party featuring hot chili from Ladles as well as cold beer.

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Presented by the International Center for Sustainability, Instinct Earth, MannaFeast Productions, Seed of Life Collective, and Eufloria FlowerScapes, the Abundance Music & Arts Fest is a gathering filled with music, education, arts, dance, collaboration, nature, healing, and unity. AIR (Abundance Immersion Retreats) Walterboro is a 38 acre farm with 1.5 miles of forest trails, winding streams, and pastures. Guests can enjoy a full day of environmental/permaculture workshops, live music, yoga classes, family-friendly activities, a local craft market, and limited camping with reservations.

This event features a special series of displays centered around a letter written by Eliza Lucas Pinckney. Natasha Boyd, author of The Indigo Girl: A Novel will be at the Powder Magazine during the afternoon to sign books. At the age of seventeen, Eliza Lucas began experimenting with indigo, a plant used to create a blue dye. Within a few years, she had planted a booming indigo industry in South Carolina. Come learn more about this woman, whose botanical knowledge contributed greatly to making South Carolina the wealthiest British colony in the 18th century.

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Local artists and merchants will feature their work at this event at Park Circle Creative. Guests can also enjoy live music, food trucks, and booze available for purchase.

More than 6,000 animal lovers came out to show their support at last year’s cook-off and everyone had a great time. All the money raised supports Charleston Animal Society’s Medical Fund. Join this year as a guest, a team or a sponsor — our community’s animals are depending on you. Guests can enjoy music from four bands, kids games, 100 chili teams, oysters, beer and wine, and pet adoptions.

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Locally owned store, Worthwhile, celebrates 25 years on King Street with a celebration. Guests can meet and greet with local designers Erin Reitz of the Shelter Collection and Leigh Magar of Madame Magar. Two designers from Paris will also be in attendance, Marc leBihan and Jean Francois Mimilla. When you purchase something at Worthwhile through the month of November know that a portion of proceeds go to The Halsey Institute and Lowcountry Local First.

Redux's annual silent and live auction benefit party is the arts organization's biggest fundraiser of the year. Sponsorships are now open, as well as submissions for artists interested in donating their work.

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Head to Low Country Harley for the annual Law Riders Toys for Tots Ride and party. There will be live music, door prizes, and food.

INTRO, an innovative pop-up art exhibition spotlights 10 rising artists from across the region. Curated and hosted by the Art Mag's Matt Mill and owner of Spire Art Services, Michele Seekings, INTRO 'activates' a vacant space located at 535 King St. (most recently the location of PULP Gallery) for nine days.

Meyer Vogl Gallery's small works show features artwork by the gallery's favorite artists and friends. The pieces range anywhere from 6"by6" to 16"x20" and can fill gallery walls, small nooks, or stockings. All art is under $1,000. A portion of proceeds from Gallery Wallapalooza will be donated to Charleston Community Foundation's Lowcountry Unity Fund.

The City of North Charleston's Cultural Arts Department presents oil paintings from New York based artist, Lara Ivanovic and mixed media works by Jennifer Kelly Hoskins of Conway, S.C. Ivanovic's work is presented in a series entitled Forsaken Spaces, images inspired by abandoned factories and broken-down buildings. Hoskins' works, Nostalgia, are a series of drawings in colored pencil and acrylic depicting the hands of friends or relatives.

The 29th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights will open November 9th for patrons to drive through a wonderland of lights. A staple of the Charleston holiday's, the Festival of Lights will have marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate, and much more. Three miles of festive lights will be displayed to give joy during the holidays.

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Owls. Their soft calls echo through the forest. Silently they hunt under the cover of darkness. Spend a magical evening in the nocturnal world of owls. This program includes a reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and refreshments in the Countess Alicia Paolozzi Owl Wood; watch the owls fly by the light of the moon; hear owls vocalizing during the time of day when they are most active; and experience nearly 15 different species of owls including native species as well as species from around the world.

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