WEDNESDAY 4

The good about Seraphine, the dramaticized biopic of noted French painter Seraphine Louis opening today at the Nickelodeon Theatre: “What makes Seraphine … so exceptional is that it neither condescends to nor romanticizes its subject,” says the Los Angeles Times; “emotionally ravishing,” says the Christian Science Monitor; “Among the best of its kind,” says the Portland Oregonian. The bad … well, actually, there really isn’t any — the film clocks in at an aggregate score of 84 on metacritic.com, which the site denotes as universal acclaim. The film screens at 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m.; call 254-3433 or visit
nickelodeon.org for more information.

Fiddles and banjos and mandolins, oh my! The American Revival tour brings rising new stars of American roots music to the Newberry Opera House at 8 p.m. Among the lineup of hot young folk-country stars: The Dixie Bee-Liners, named Bluegrass Artist of the Year in 2008 by The Roots Music Association; Sierra Hull, who, at just 17 years old, is a two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year winner; and Uncle Earl, an all-girl bluegrass troupe which covers everything from old-timey classics to contemporary folk tunes. Tickets are $35; call 276-6264 or visit newberryoperahouse.com for more.


THURSDAY 5

November is National Native American Indian Heritage Month, and it kicks off in the Capital City today with a bang at the University of South Carolina Russell House: The 13th annual Native American Film and Video Festival kicks off at noon; the Native Art Juried Arts Exhibition kicks off at 3 p.m.; and the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs’ Institute of Native American Affairs Bi-Annual Statewide Conference starts at 5 p.m. Of particular note: Award-winning Native American singer-songwriter Jana Mashonee performs at 6 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom; originally from Robeson County, N.C., Mashonee tells the story of American Indians through upbeat rhythm and blues music. Call 699-0446 for a complete schedule of events — which run through Sunday — or for more information.

Frame of Mind continues its eclectic first Thursday art-cum-dance-cum-utter-craziness series this evening; served first is the debut of an exhibition of mixed-media works by Evelyn Wong, which hang at the eyeglassery-slash-art venue through Dec. 1. What follows: Dance performances by the Carolina Ballet and Columbia City Jazz companies; South Carolina Contemporary Dance leader Miriam Barbosa; contemporary dancers Sherry Warren and Ashley Bennett; dancers from the Vista Ballroom; and gyrators from Gyrotronics Vista. The shindig begins at 6 p.m.; call 988-1065 for more information.

The Nickelodeon Theatre kicks off the first installment of what it hopes to become monthly Local Night at the Nick series at 10 p.m.; the film series screens shorties by local film makers, video artists, animators and other auteurs. Admission is free; call 254-3433 or visit nickelodeon.org for more information.

Speaking of kickoffs, the University of South Carolina School of Music kicks off its Chamber Innovista Concert Series at the School of Music Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. The concert pays tribute to composer Andre Previn. Admission is $15 for adults or $5 for students. Call 777-4280 for more information.

Why do I have to get stuck in this stupid chair?: The University of South Carolina Dance Company presents American at Heart at the Koger Center on Friday.

FRIDAY 6

Speaking of the University, the University of South Carolina Dance Company opens its two-night run of American at Heart at the Koger Center tonight. Not only does the production feature the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra soundtracking a performance of the George Balanchine classic Divermento, but American at Heart also features USC distinguished artist-in-residence Kyra Strasberg, former principal ballerina with the Boston Ballet, in performance for the first time since retiring nine years ago. Neat! Curtain rises at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $16 for adults, $14 for faculty, staff and seniors and $10 for students. Call 777-0704 or visit cas.sc.edu/dance for more information.

And speaking of University openings, Opera at USC opens its two-night run of The Light in the Piazza at Drayton Hall at 7:30 p.m.; the musical follows an unexpected romance following a chance encounter in the idyllic Tuscan countryside. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for seniors, faculty and soliders; and $5 for students. Call 777-0058 for more information.

And speaking of openings, Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre open Moon Over Buffalo and Same Time, Next Year, respectively, tonight. The former is a comedy of errors about two stage actors who stumble, literally, into the orchestra pits; the latter follows a romantic getaway between two people who are married, but not to each other. Curtain rises on both at 8 p.m.; call Town at 799-2510 or Workshop at 799-4876 for more information.

And speaking of theater openings, Carmike Cinema 14 screens the debut of locally produced indie film My Sweet Misery tonight; the arts section has more on page 52.
And speaking of … well, nothing in particular, local jazz guru Skipp Pearson has a new home for his Le Jazz Café series; it christens its new home, The Inn at USC, at 9 p.m. Admission is $5, and the additional purchase of one beverage or appetizer is required. Call 400-1205 for more information.


SATURDAY 7

Viva la revolution! Well, the American Revolution, that is: Historic Camden kicks off its annual Revolutionary War Field Days today at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site; the two-day time-warp takes travelers back to 1781 and the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill, one of the American Revolution’s bloodiest battles. Patrons will smell the musket smoke at battle re-enactions, investigate period dwellings and watch all manner of historical re-enactors re-enact historical things. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for kids. A full schedule of events can be found at historic-camden.net; call 432-9841 for more information.

Kimchi! Cannoli! Bulgogi! Bucatini! The Korean Festival and Italian Festival invade downtown Columbia today; Chew on This! has more on page 70.


SUNDAY 8

Remember that badass opening ceremony to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing? Yeah, that was the Folk Art Ensemble of Guizhou University. The ensemble performs traditional Chinese song and dance at the Koger Center tonight; the arts section has more.

What, me worry?: Ron Paul visits the Carolina Coliseum on Monday.

MONDAY 9

Ron Paul! In Columbia! The little Libertarian that could is either small-government savior or stark-raving lunatic depending on your political bent, but a politician of his stature coming to the Capital City is pretty wicked, so color Eight Days — bleeding-heart pansy that we are — excited. Paul, currently campaigning for the 2012 Republican nomination, comes to the Carolina Coliseum at 7 p.m.; the Texas congressman will deliver a lecture entitled “The Politics of Tolerance,” which, according to his Campaign for Liberty group, is “intended to highlight the importance of civility and tolerance in politics and everyday life.” We doubt Sen. Lindsey Graham will be in attendance. The lecture is free and open to the conservatives, liberals and anarchists alike; visit campaignforliberty.com for more information.


TUESDAY 10

The lovely, abdomen-undulating ladies of the Delirium Tribal Bellydance Company host a gala fundraiser this evening at 701 Whaley; the company teams up again with Middle Eastern musicians Raquy and the Cavemen, with whom the company mesmerized audiences in November 2008. The group is led by internationally acclaimed percussionist Raquy Danziger, who has been featured on the Al-Jazeera Network and National Egyptian Television and frequently teaches and performs in Egypt, collaborating with famous musicians that include Said El-Artist and Hamish Henkish. Trust us, that’s cool. The Power Company will also perform. The undulation celebration begins at 8 p.m.; admission is $10. Call 712-3559 for more information.


WEDNESDAY 11

This week is World Kindness Week. So play nice, jerkass.