Art, Cookbooks, and Healthy Foods

Spend the weekend discovering the talents of Queen City residents

The weekend is here! Below are a few options for your Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.

1. The October Gallery Crawl takes place in SouthEnd tonight. The event includes five permanent galleries and two pop-ups. Lark & Key Gallery (on East Park Avenue) will hold an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for its October exhibition called "TWO." The month-long exhibit presents mixed-media work by nine couples, including gallery owners Duy Huynh and Sandy Snead. (The Food Truck Friday event will take place as usual, so you can make a night of it without leaving the neighborhood.)

2. The first fall Cookbook Swap happens on Saturday morning at Matthews Community Farmers' Market. The events will continue every Saturday in October. Bring a cookbook from your kitchen that you no longer need and swap it with another at the market information booth. If you're unable to part with one of your own, you can select one at the booth for a $2 donation, which benefits the Matthews Help Center Food Pantry. The market runs from 8 a.m. until noon.

​3. The ribbon cutting for the Healthy Home Market in Plaza Midwood is Saturday at noon. The first 200 people will receive goodie bags. The festivities will continue until 4 p.m. with assorted vendors, raffles, and product demonstrations. The new market is located at 1330 Central Avenue, beside Bistro La Bon.

4. Twenty-five merchants will participate in the Plaza Midwood Art Crawl on Saturday from 4 p.m. till 9 p.m. From the unexpected, such as exotic dancing, to the traditional, such as painting and pottery, the event demonstrates the neighborhood's diversity. Download the map here to plot your route.

5. The third art-focused event of the weekend takes place north of Charlotte in Sherrills Ford. The sixth-annual Lake Norman Folk Art Festival showcases the work of 60 artists. The booths are arranged throughout the open-air campground. Several food trucks will be on-site, as well as a wine and craft beer garden. Admission is free.