Durham
Antares Piano-Clarinet Quartet
Duke’s Nelson Music RoomThis clarinet-violin-cello-piano lineup is known for recharging pieces from the classical, romantic and modern eras, transmitting a sense of place and history. During a Saturday performance, the quartet will perform the piece it was designed to perform, Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time.” The Saturday show also includes Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor and Belá Bartók’s “Contrasts.” Their Friday program features Brahms’ Clarinet Trio in A minor grouped with two contemporary pieces. The concerts start at 8 p.m., with tickets going for $30. Antares will lead a free, public master class at noon Saturday in Nelson Music Room. See www.dukeperformances.duke.edu. Margaret Hair
Durham
MVP: The Jackie Robinson Story
Carolina TheatreEnjoy an all-ages afternoon at the theater with this look at the life and career of the African-American baseball player whose name graces the street that runs past Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Jackie Robinson became a legend in a sport that he was instrumental in integrating. Just in time for baseball season, this acclaimed play dramatizes his struggles to break into the whites-only world of so-called major league baseball and the dignity and perseverance that helped him succeed. The performance is at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $15, with $10 offerings for students, groups, star members and those 12 and under. For more information, call 560-3030 or visit www.carolinatheatre.org. Zack Smith
Durham
Tyler Florence
Durham Performing Arts CenterGreenville, S.C., native Tyler Florence is one of the signature chefs from Food Network, starring in such shows as Food 911 and Tyler’s Ultimate. Fans can experience his cooking at his live DPAC show, which includes cooking demonstrations, audience Q-and-A, anecdotes and more, with big screens ensuring everyone in the theater has a clear view. Ticket options include a preshow dinner with Florence and a VIP meet-and-greet. While Florence’s advice is quite useful, I admit I tried one of his recipes when he did some dishes on the Applebee’s menu a few years ago, and it was forgettable. Or maybe Applebee’s just isn’t the venue for burgers on foccacia. (So it was almost forgettable.) Florence’s show is at 8 p.m.; ticket prices vary. For more information, call 680-2787 or visit www.dpacnc.org. Zack Smith
Raleigh
Harlan Coben
Quail Ridge Books & MusicEdgar Award winner Harlan Coben’s twisted, tension-filled thrillers have made him one of the top authors in his field, with works including Tell No One, which was adapted into an acclaimed French film in 2006. His newest thriller is the just-released Caught, about the host of a To Catch a Predator-type series who discovers she might have been manipulated by a vigilante group into framing an innocent man. Coben appears in a signing-line ticket event at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.quailridgebooks.com. Zack Smith