Friday, 11/6
What We Carry: An Heirloom Portrait Party
6-8 p.m. | Liberation Station Bookstore, Raleigh
Children are already acquainted with sharing special things from Show and Tell circles (the cutest school and daycare tradition, in my opinion); at this event, families can commemorate that special item—whether it be a recipe book, a quilt, whatever—forever with a portrait session from Chris Facey (IG handle: @coco.butter.shutter) at Raleigh’s Liberation Station Bookstore. This event is timed to Raleigh’s monthly Third Friday arts event, so make an evening of it with a downtown walkout.
Saturday, 11/7
Transfiguration International Film Festival
3 p.m. | plum, Raleigh
Founded by artist Jonni Peppers and now in its fourth year, Transfiguration International Film Festival curates a broad swath of experimental films from around the world—including more than a dozen from North Carolina filmmakers and several, specifically, from the Triangle. This year, Transfiguration makes its North Carolina stop at plum, the new arts space in the former LUMP Gallery. The first block of screenings begins at 3 p.m.; a second block, with the slate of Tar Heel films, begins at 6 p.m. Tickets run at a sliding donation of $10-$50.
Saturday, 11/7
80’s Double Feature: Playing for Community Integration Tour
12 p.m. | The Durham Athletic Park, Durham
1926 was a big year for classic Durham spots—the Carolina Theatre opened, as did El Toro Park, now known as the Durham Athletic Park. To celebrate the park’s centennial, national nonprofit Alternative Baseball Organization (ABO) is coming to Durham and holding a special 9-inning event. ABO holds trainings, events, and activities for youth with disabilities; this event will star athletes with disabilities “who will play alongside/against local community leaders and former pros to promote awareness for disability integration/ opportunity,” per event copy. Wool E. Bull will be on hand at this free event (donations encouraged), which runs til 4 p.m.
Saturday, 11/7
Til My Voice is Gone: A Short Documentary About the Old Ceremony
6:30 p.m. | The Rialto Theater, Raleigh
Til My Voice is Gone is filmmaker Will Weldon’s chronicle of indie-rock mainstay The Old Ceremony’s twenty-year, seven-album run. Fans of the Chapel Hill band can get a full experience at this screening of the short documentary, which will be followed by a live set from the band (which is, incidentally, recording a new album, so there’s likely to be new material). The Rialto has several noteworthy local screenings this week; if you can’t make it to this one—on Thursday, November 5, there’s a screening of Where Do I Vote Again?, a documentary about the importance of early voting; the next Thursday, November 12, Five Points Short Film Fest will showcase local independent films.
Wednesday, 11/11
Moudi Sbeity Reading
7 p.m. | Durham Friends Meeting, Durham
Lebanese-American poet and writer Moudi Sbeity grew up between two cultures; he was also queer, with a stutter, and writes, in his about page, that “belonging wasn’t always a given.” It was navigating these differences, though, that made him attuned with “a curious listening towards the importance of kindness and compassion” that imbues his writing. At this release event, held at the Durham Friends Meeting (404 Alexander Avenue), Sbeity will read from his new memoir Habibi Means Beloved as well as his new collection, Alhamdulillah Anyway. This event is free; RSVPs are encouraged.
