Welcome to the weekly Port City Life newsletter brought to you by me, John Staton.
Local music is the life blood of Wilmington’s arts scene, providing a soundtrack to the Port City whether you’re checking out live shows by area bands or dialing up their tunes on Spotify. (Speaking of Wilmington bands, one show I found out about too late to make it into this week’s curated events list has the excellent surf rock act Birdwell Beat playing Fermental in the Cargo District on Saturday evening; check the super-cool flyer above.)
That’s why, when the Cameron Art Museum asked me to curate a Spotify playlist inspired by their exhibit “Close to Home,” which features over 200 works with ties to Wilmington, my thoughts immediately went to shining a spotlight on songs from local musicians.
You can get my whole playlist here — it’s 49 songs but could’ve been hundreds. To sample “Close to Home”-inspired playlists from Fort Lowell Records, record and book shop The Fuzzy Needle or local music show “Smooth Landings” with George Scheibner, check the Cameron Art Museum’s Spotify page.
Now, on with the weekend.
Weekend weather outlook
We’ll get a brief respite from the deep freeze this weekend, but the bad news is the cold will be replaced with rain. Highs in the 50s, lows in the 40s, with temps dropping lower Sunday night.
Go | See | Do
The Wilmington weekend brings a Broadway tour to CFCC’s Wilson Center, a touring stand-up to the Dead Crow Comedy Room, a historical commemoration to Fort Fisher and an event for you green thumbs to the mall. Plus, there’s Dance Theatre of DREAMS, a film screening at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and a wide range of live music. Peep the full list below.
Happenings:14 ways to beat the cold in the Wilmington area this weekend
The Dish with Port City Foodies
Food writer Allison Ballard wants to warm you up with soup from six Wilmington establishments. Plus, a popular Indian restaurant closes, but a longtime French restaurant is getting new owners.
Getting to know Pam Toll
Longtime Wilmington artist Pam Toll is retiring from UNCW. To mark her departure, a solo exhibition of Toll’s work, “Longing & Movement,” opened in the Cultural Arts Building (CAB) Art Gallery on campus Jan. 13. I talked with Toll about her art in the show.
Pam Toll:As a longtime Wilmington artist retires from UNCW, a striking solo show sends her on her way
News you can use
Wilmington’s getting its first social district with relaxed drinking rules. Reporter Molly Wilhelm has the details.
Plus, we’ve got a fun list of 19 famous people with Wilmington ties, and a look back at the Port City’s lengthy but sporadic status as cruise ship port of call.
Let’s get social
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