Monday, Jan. 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events —
Area events include a Unification March in Columbus at 11 a.m., from Missionary Union Baptist Church to the Hunt Museum at 924 20th St. N., concluding with a an address by Mississippi Sen. David Lee Jordan. For information, call 662-574-0699. In Starkville, Mississippi State University hosts a complimentary Unity Breakfast in Colvard Union on campus from 7-9 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Freedom Riders and Civil Rights in Mississippi — At 5 p.m. the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library presents Dr. Robert Luckett of Jackson State University discussing events surrounding the Freedom Riders, with clips from the film “Freedom Riders.” Sympathizer Hezekiah Watkins, who was arrested in Jackson with some of the Freedom Riders, is a special guest. For more information, contact the library, 662-329-5300.
Thursday, Jan. 22
“On the Ancient Inca Road” — In conjunction with The Big Read, the Columbus Arts Council screens this PBS “Conquistadors” segment at 6:30 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center. For information, call 662-328-2787.
Gordy Series honors Kirkpatrick — The Mississippi University for Women Gordy Honors College Forum Series opens with a talk by 2014 Faculty Member of the Year Mary Jo Kirkpatrick at 6 p.m. in Nissan Auditorium, Parkinson Hall on campus. Free to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Velek at 662-241-6850 or visit muw.edu/honors/forum.
Exhibit reception — The Starkville Area Arts Council hosts a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 200 Main St., Starkville, for the exhibit “Barns,” featuring work by 10 area artists.
Friday, Jan. 23
Musical program — Guest artists Susan Williams, soprano, and Kevin Chance, pianist, present a program at 7:30 p.m. in Poindexter Hall on the Mississippi University for Women campus. Free to the public. (The master class originally scheduled for Jan. 24 has been canceled.) For more information, contact the Department of Music, 662-241-6399.
Saturday, Jan. 24
“Our Bridge” writing project — As part of The Big Read, a community writing project around Columbus’ recently refurbished Old 82 bridge begins with a bridge walk and discussion at the Riverwalk at 1 p.m. For more information, call 662-328-2787.
SOUPer Bowl — Area chefs create soups for this tasting event at the STAGgerIN Sports Bar and Grill in Starkville from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership; $20 at the door. (Bring a can of soup for the St. Joseph Catholic Church food pantry and get $5 off door ticket price.) For information, contact the GSDP, 662-323-3322.
Book signing — Wynne Huddleston, Mississippi Poetry Society’s 2014 Poet of the Year, signs copies of her book “From the Depths of Red Bluff” from 2-4 p.m. at The Book Mart, 120 E. Main St., Starkville.
Monday, Jan. 26
Book groups — Book groups begin meeting weekly to discuss The Big Read’s “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” at noon at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library. For information, call 662-329-5300.
The Legacy of Wilsonianism — Part of the World War I Symposium at Mississippi University for Women, this talk by Dr. Brian Anderson is at 5:30 p.m. in MUW’s Painter Hall, Room 113.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
Big Read keynote speaker — Mississippi University for Women presents Thornton Wilder scholar Edyta Oczkowicz of North Carolina’s Salem College at 7 p.m., sharing insight into the acclaimed author’s life. Location TBA. For more information, call 662-328-2787.
Black Violin — The MSU Lyceum Series presents this viola and violin duo that fuse classical and hip-hop, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on the university campus. Tickets are $25 (seniors, MSU faculty/staff $20; children 3-12 $12). For tickets or information, call 662-325-2930 or visit [email protected].
Jack White in concert — Rocker and record producer Jack White performs at Mississippi State University’s Humphrey Coliseum at 8 p.m. Get tickets at msuconcerts.com or call 662-325-2930.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
Mitt Romney at MSU — Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney is the featured speaker at Mississippi State University’s Global Lecture Series at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on campus. Admission is free, but attendees must have tickets, available at the Colvard Student Union Center for Student Activities, Suite 314. For information, call 662-325-2930.
Thursday, Jan. 29
Black Mississippians in the Civil War — Dr. Max Grivno of the University of Southern Mississippi examines experiences of black Mississippians in the Civil War at 5 p.m. at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 Seventh St. N. For information, contact the library, 662-329-5300.
Friday, Jan. 30
Music program — Dr. Valentin Bogdan presents a piano program at 7:30 p.m. at Poindexter Hall on the campus of Mississippi University for Women. Free to the public.
Bully Gras Ball — This fundraiser for Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services is 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, Starkville. Kannawermz entertains. Tickets are $50 at OSERVS, 501 Highway 12 W., Suite 130, or call 662-384-2200. Proceeds benefit OSERVS’ disaster and emergency preparedness and assistance..
Thursdays, Feb. 5 and 19
Gordy Series civil rights programs — The MUW Gordy Honors College Forum Series presents a two-part examination of the civil rights movement in Mississippi with a screening of the documentary “Spies of Mississippi” Feb. 5. Dawn Porter, the film’s producer/director, speaks Feb. 19. Programs are at 6 p.m. in Nissan Auditorium on campus. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Velek, 662-241-6850, or visit muw.edu/honors/forum.
Friday, Feb. 6
Guest artist recital — Dr. Ellen Elder, assistant professor of piano at the University of Southern Mississippi, presents a piano program at 7:30 p.m. in Mississippi University for Women’s Poindexter Hall. Free to the public. Elder presents a free master class Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.
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