The Rundown: Things To Do April 18- April 21

By Shawn D. Allison, II 

Shawn Allison shares all the places you’ll wanna be in the Queen City.

 

Salutations everyone! We have zoomed through this week and now it’s time to kick your shoes off and chill. There’s lot of relaxing and energetic digs to get into on The Rundown this week and as you all know, yours truly, The Black Ferris Bueller has got all the goods to lift you to a high place of euphoria! If you really want to know what’s blazing this weekend, check out my “Hot List” and scope out the scene!

 

  • THURSDAY – Gantt After Dark: Spring Kolors
  • THURSDAY – Vegfest Jr. at Goodyear Arts
  • THURSDAY – Dear Soul Music Co. presents FREE: Unplugged + Live: Destiny Stone & The Great Far
  • FRIDAY – Jazz N’ Soul Music presents Persona Bell: A Night of Entertaining Soul
  • FRIDAY — Tip Top Record Shop One-Year Anniversary Party
  • FRIDAY – Jazz Around Town presents Hiroshima 40th Anniversary Tour
  • SATURDAY — History of Housing & Reclamation: “Where I’m From” Workshop
  • SATURDAY – Moxie Society presents “I Still Love the 90s Spring Fling”
  • SATURDAY — Freaquency360 Live : Mythical Soul Vibrations
  • SATURDAY — The Kandie Shoppe’ at Warehouse 701
  • SATURDAY — Black Food Truck Saturday at Recess Charlotte
  • SATURDAY – Radio Rehab Carolinas and Su Casa CLT presents “Homegrown CLT”
  • SUNDAY — Jerk Chicken N Waffles Brunch — The Spring Return
  • SUNDAY – Scrambled Eggs Jazz Brunch at Tip Top Daily Market
  • MONDAY – Sol Nation, Inc. presents Girls Who Code Spring Open House and Kick Off Celebration

 

If you would like your event to be listed in “The Rundown” please send a detailed e-mail to me at: sdallison85@yahoo.com

 

——-THURSDAY, APRIL 18——-

Calling all my fellow film enthusiasts – join representatives of the Sundance Film Festival for an afternoon of networking and knowledge as they host a special Shorts Producing Session. You’re invited to come and acquire advice on producing your next film from seasoned filmmakers and Sundance Institute staff at this FREE half-day event. Whether you’re starting out with a short or looking to reach the next level, this is the workshop you need to be a part of. Please be sure to RSVP here: http://www.shortsproducingsessioncharlotte.splashthat.com. The event will begin at 1 p.m. inside the Booth Playhouse at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. 130 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

It’s time to be dashing and dapper this evening at The Gantt Center as it is time for Gantt After Dark: Spring Kolors! Presented by Herb & Felicia Gray and Posh Events, come enjoy an evening of Spring sophistication and flair with some art, delicious food and drinks, local vendors, lots of networking and live music from jazz band El Lambert & Friends with additional sounds provided by The Mashout King DJ Skillz! Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-spring-kolors-tickets-59141761601. The event begins at 6 p.m. 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Slide into the weekend on a mellow vibe and grab your friends and glide down to Loft & Cellar for Midweek Mimosas this evening! Come relax and enjoy a variety of meal and cocktail specials including $5 Mimosas and Bellinis along with $7 slushies. And for your audible grooves, Dammit Wesley transform his painter canvas into a set of turntables giving your ears some smoothed out Ambient, Deep House, Neo-Soul, Hip Hop and R&B tunes to enjoy. FREE admission. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Loft & Cellar is located at 305 W. 4th St. in Uptown.

This evening, join Free Press NC for a community forum entitled, “What’s the Story, Charlotte? On Migration & Immigration.” Every day there are new headlines about migration and immigration. It’s a hot-button issue that many of us are discussing — but how does local news shape the conversation in the Queen City? And how are our most-impacted neighbors getting important updates and information. This interactive small-group discussion between community members and journalists will be simultaneously translated between Spanish and English. Understandingly that it doesn’t represent the full scope of languages spoken in Charlotte and the goal is to acquire hope to move towards a place of being more bilingual and more multilingual in community work. FREE admission but please be sure to RSVP here: https://act.freepress.net/survey/journ_nvnc_charlotte_observer. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Aldersgate Life Plan Community Center. 3800 Shamrock Rd.

Feel good, clean and green at Goodyear Arts this evening and come out for Vegfest Jr.! Come experience Charlotte’s only and fully vegan food court and market with a bevy of vegan beverages, meals, snacks, body products and more. Small, reasonably priced bites, sweets and treats will be available from Nourish, Cooking With Joya, Fern, Banh Mi Brothers, Lady Go-Go’s, JAI FOOD Southeast Asian Catering Co., Kitchen, & Delivery, Jyoti’s, Move That Dough, Ganache Cafe, True Flour, Cinnaholic and many more. Information on local animal rescues and not-for-profits, as well as a stacked raffle will be on deck as well! Admission is FREE to attend. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Goodyear Arts is located at 301 Camp Rd. inside Camp North End.

The stunning and multi-talented Arsena Schroeder of Dear Soul Music Company, LLC. invites you to cast your cares away and experience a collection of eclectic entertainment as she hosts FREE: Unplugged + Live: Destiny Stone & The Great Far! This riveting showcase highlights local singer-songwriters in an intimate, acoustic setting. The features for this episode are singer, keyboardist and actress Destiny DeBerry Stone and instrumentalist duo The Great Far. Admission is $FREE.99. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at Unwind Tea & Coffee House. 333 Main St. in Pineville.

 

——FRIDAY, APRIL 19——-

Everything become very discreet and confidential at The Discovery Place this evening as it hosts “Science On the Rocks: Shaken, Not Stirred!” Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to come out for a night celebrating your favorite spies and covert operatives. Activities include a stealth laser maze challenge, MacGyver stunts, a spy movie trivia challenge, a quick-change disguise challenge and much more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://science.discoveryplace.org/explore/events/science-on-the-rocks-shaken-not-stirred. This event is for persons 21+ with valid I.D. The event begins at 5 p.m. 301 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Jazz N Soul Music aims to ease you into the weekend with an evening of classic sounds and classical beauty presenting Persona Bell: A Night of Entertaining Soul! Filled with warm, rich melodies, an angelic voice and top notch ivory tickling skills, Persona Bell is not only an artist, she’s a voice of radiance, creativity and elegance. If you’ve never witnessed this enchanting chanteuse before, I highly suggest that you come and witness one of Charlotte’s finest talents. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/persona-bell-a-night-of-entert…. Two performances at 7:30 and 10 p.m. at Loft & Cellar. 305 W. 4th St. in Uptown.

All my party people, head over to one of the dopest hangouts in the QC and come celebrate at the Tip Top Record Shop One-Year Anniversary Party! It’s been one whole year since Diggers Delight and Premium Sound found their residency at Tip Top Daily Market and now it’s time to honor a year’s worth of achievements along with a bright outlook of a creative future to come! Your festive flavored frequencies will be provided by synth collective High Cube, eclectic beatsmith Simon SMTHNG and obscure record-finding nerd Party Dad! And my peoples in the big yellow Killer B’s Food Truck will be in the house serving up the goodness! The jump off is at 8 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd.

Come and hear a joyful noise unto The Lord this evening as Have Life Church invites you out to enjoy an evening of the This Life Album Concert! Get ready to shout down the aisles and spread your love the Gospel way as Have Life Church’s worship leader Isaiah Templeton drops his new album “This Life” on this glorious evening! Come and hear his new material and be lifted in the spirit with a medley of rousing praise, worship, music, fellowship and additional anointed musical stylings from Jaylan Robinson and special guest Daniel Johnson adding more fire to the fervor! Admission is FREE to attend. 8 p.m. Have Life Church is located at 3165 Zion Renaissance Ln.

Jazz Around Town invites you out to a special concert that is four decades in the making at the Hiroshima 40th Anniversary Tour! Come and enjoy one of jazz and fusion’s most longest-running staples, Hiroshima, as their unique blend of Western and Japanese instruments continues to wow audiences around the world. Hosted by The Jazz Diva, Tammy Greene. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/hiroshima-40th-anniversary-tour. The show will begin promptly at 8 p.m. at The McGlohon Theater inside Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown.

Get a dose of island flavor at Stats Restaurant & Bar this Friday evening and come experience Charlotte Caribbean Nights! Bring all your friends out for an evening of nonstop energy with NYC Reggae artists and Hot 97’s Massive B, Jabba & Chudney Shotta giving you the best of Reggae, Afrobeats, Hip Hop and R&B! There will be a special Caribbean menu and drink specials to choose from. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carribean-nightshot-97-massive-b-sound-fri-april-19-stats-tickets-59459318422. The party starts at 9 p.m. Stats is located at 3425 David Cox Rd. in the University Area.

 

——-SATURDAY, APRIL 20——-

Saturday mornings are a great time to come to Atherton — and you should because it’s time for the South End Farmers & Artisans Market! There are lots of great farmers & artisans that bring in meats, produce, mushrooms, sauces, soaps, dog food, flowers, plants and so much more. Enjoy a cup of joe from Not Just Coffee, a cold beer or glass of wine form Vin Master Wine Shop, sip and shop from a variety of local artisans and farmers. Take a seat at any of the indoor or outdoor tables, relax and take in all the cool vibes and energy Atherton has to give. The marketplace opens at 9 a.m. 2104 South Blvd. in Historic South End.

Take an artful journey into the past as C3 Lab and The Gantt Center have teamed up to bring you the History of Housing & Reclamation: “Where I’m From” Workshop! Join acclaimed artist, activist and educator Bree Stallings for this interactive story-telling and art-making workshop centered around her exhibition theme “Where I’m From.” As a group, you will walk to the Brookhill Community Center to learn more about the housing insecurity crisis in Charlotte from director Debbie Williams and then board the LYNX Light Rail to The Gantt Center for a guided tour by photojournalist Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr. through his commissioned exhibit “Welcome to Brookhill”, as part of the permanent collection of museum. Admission is $10 per person and please be sure to RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes7mDMyDZdR-xF8downtC7TDJLb5lWKgWH1ow3UC0zFwieBQ/viewform. The event will begin at C3 Lab at 10 a.m. 2525 Distribution St. in Historic South End.

Spring is in full swing and Moxie Society wants to enhance your equinox experience as they host the I Still Love the 90s Spring Fling! Come get down, get busy and get full of Charlotte’s best brunch experience with a delicious array Southern-inspired all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, cocktail specials, mimosas and more! And for your entertainment, DJ 06’ and the lovely DJ Micki Blendz will be rockin’ the spot with a fun and funky mix of 90s classic Hip Hop, R&B, Neo-Soul, House, Go-Go, Pop and much more! RSVPs and buffet ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-still-love-the-90s-spring-fling-f-dj-micki-blendz-dj-06-tickets-59391194662. The party starts at 11 a.m. at Explcit Bistro & Lounge. 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. #MoxieSociety

For some Saturday family fun, join TORC – Tenant Organizing Resource Center as they invite you out for the Spring Eggstravaganza & Community Cookout this morning! Come help merge unity with community with all sorts of fun games, music, an Easter egg hunt, food and more! Lake Arbor residents are invited to gain their input on upcoming community events and an opportunity to join the Lake Arbor Tenant Association to continue the efforts of making Lake Arbor great again! FREE admission. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Tuckaseegee Recreational Center. 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd.

Calling all high schoolers — Queen City Unity and the Simmons YMCA have teamed up to present to you The Equity Youth Conference this morning! Gather all of your friends and get engaged as you participate in this conference which serves as the kickoff to The Equity Ambassador Program set to take place over the summer. It combats the ongoing effects of segregation in our school system through integration, education, and cultural enrichment. The conference creates a diverse environment for participating students that is currently not available in their schools, culturally integrates our racially and economically separated students, and teaches them the importance of acceptance and inclusion. FREE admission. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-equity-youth-conference-presented-by-queen-city-unity-and-the-simmons-ymca-tickets-59052578853. Food and refreshments will be provided. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Simmons YMCA. 6824 Democracy Dr.

 

 

Get lifted and be free at Charlotte’s first-ever 420 Uptown Hemp Festival! Come and celebrate the highness of life and the passing of the Farm Bill which allows constituents to enjoy Hemp as long as it has lower than .03 Delta 9 THC in it. There will be live music, a guest DJ, CBD vendors, food trucks and much more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/420-uptown-hemp-festival-lets-smoke-its-legal-farmbill-cbd-420-hemp-burnone-tickets-58397589763. The fun starts at 12 noon at Firehouse Bar & Lounge. 320 W. Carson Blvd. in Uptown.

 

 

This afternoon, slide out to Tip Top Daily Market for another installment of the not-your-average networking jam session entitled, Freaquency360 Live : Mythical Soul Vibrations. This gathering of creatives will feature some dope music of course, but at the core its main focus is to create a platform for artists and art enthusiasts to meet, greet and collectively share positive vibrations. Today’s focus will highlight the sounds and inspirations of soulful songstress Mara Eve Robbins and multi-talented Renaissance man DJ Andy Kastanas. Theme music will be provided by the lovely DJ Kat Cramer. Admission is FREE. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd.

 

 

Floyd Hodge, Mr. 305 Entertainment and Get Live, Ent. invite you to experience some high class fun as they invite you to the Good Vibrations 420 Day Party! Bring your crew through for an afternoon of good energy, food, fellowship and Celebrity DJ Shogun giving you the rundown of all the blazing hot Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, Dancehall, Neo-Soul, Pop, Funk and much more! RSVPs and ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/420-day-party-tickets-60389062311. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. at Loft & Cellar. 305 W. 4th St. in Uptown.

 

 

Add some scintillating spice to your Saturday as Author Kandie Marie and Sae Productions invites you to get a taste of The Kandie Shoppe’! Come and be enticed, enthralled and enchanted with an eclectic collective of erotic authors, poets, visual performers, vendors, edible aphrodisiacs, cocktails, special classes, music and much more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kandie-shoppe-volume-1-tickets…. VIP guest will enjoy early entry, some goodies and an extra special experience. The lights dim at 4 p.m. and the event will begin at Warehouse 701. 701 Atando Ave.

 

 

Black Business Owners of Charlotte is ready to rev things up for 2019 and tonight come out for another round of Black Food Truck Saturday at Recess Charlotte! Bring all your friends and family out for an afternoon of fun as you dine from some of the city’s finest and most delicious Chocolate culinary chariots, scoop up some cool fashions and trinkets from local vendors, have chances to win cool prizes and get down on the good foot to the sounds of DJ Steel Wheel! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 5 p.m. Recess Charlotte is located at 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood.

 

 

The party don’t stop at Tip Top this weekend as my creative comrades invite you to get mentally lifted at the Blow Your Head — The 420 Tip Top Takeover! Celebrate the highness of life as Flock of Slagles and Jah Freedom break out the vinyl crates and spin a winning selection of House, Soul, Boogie, Garage and Funk — all the way from gritty to sophisticated! Come dance, eat, drink, be merry, fellowship, politic, laugh, joke and all that other feel good stuff! $FREE.99. 8 p.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd.

 

 

Saturday night is filled with delight as Black Singles CLT and OutenLove Events proudly presents the Dope Vibes Only Party! As the title suggests, it’s strictly dope vibes and positivity as you live it up with some of the city’s flyest professionals as DJ Ngenius rocks out with the best of Hip Hop, R&B, Top 40, Neo-Soul, Reggae and much more! There will be drink specials all night long. RSVPs and ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dope-vibes-only-tickets-60343661516. The good vibes start at 9 p.m. at Firehouse Bar & Lounge. 320 W. Carson Blvd. in Uptown.   #BlackSinglesCLT #OutenLoveEvents

 

 

For your deep Saturday night grooves, make that move over to Crown Station and get a taste of Charlotte’s underground flavor as Radio Rehab Carolinas & Su Casa CLT fuse forces to bring to you Homegrown CLT! Come experience a night of earthly rhythms, seductive dance and vibrant positive energy from one of Charlotte’s hidden gems, Soul Brother DJ Justice and special guest, QC’s homegrown and DC’s own DJ 2-Tone Jones spinning an eclectic array of Classic Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeat, Soulful House, The Funk and more! Admission is $10 all night long. The vibes start at 9 p.m. 3629 N. Davidson St.

 

 

 

——-SUNDAY, APRIL 21——-

Issa Vibe Adventures continues the journey into experiencing the beauty of nature this morning as they invite you out to be part of Issa Hike – Linville Falls! Linville Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because of its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” Please bring snacks, water and a light lunch and non-perishable items that do not require cooking. Kids and pets are welcomed with adult supervision. The group will meet at Target on W.T. Harris Blvd. (9841 Northlake Centre Pkwy) at 8 a.m. and will depart no later than 8:15 a.m.

 

 

Charlotte’s fastest growing brunch experience is back for some equinox action as The Culture Cooperative proudly presents Jerk Chicken N Waffles Brunch — The Spring Return! Join The Dynamic DJ Kato & friends for an afternoon of nonstop Afro-Caribbean flavor featuring the vibrant sounds of Soca, Reggae, House, Soul, Hip Hop, Afrobeats, R&B and much more! The kitchen also be fired up with all sorts of delicious meal & drink specials. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jerk-chicken-n-waffles-brunch-…. The jump off is at 11 a.m. at Mango’s Caribbean Restaurant. 3112 N. Davidson St.

 

 

The celebration still continues on at Tip Top Daily Market as they extend a warm invite you out for the Scrambled Eggs Jazz Brunch! Come and relax as DJs Luke Stemmerman, Flock of Slagles and friends sets the mood with a selection of Ambient, Avant-Garde, Fusion, Soul and Jazz tunes from their own personal vinyl collections. Also, be sure to grab a fresh brew and delicious eats from Killer B’s Food Truck! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 11 a.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

 

Look, I know it’s Sunday and you want to be lazy, right? How about you come out to Petra’s instead and experience Hazy Sunday! This afternoon cool down is a meeting for those who appreciate the finer things in music. Join sound selectors, my man DJ Ray and Probably Will as they cultivate a carefully curated selection of vibes from jazzy instrumentals, Hip Hop, avant-garde frequencies, trippy Deep House music, and whatever else your purveyors of waves care to dig. Admission is FREE and the music starts at 3 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

 

End your weekend on a soulful note and join BRAVE Entertainment as they proudly present THE SESSION feat. Tweet this evening! This Sunday cool-down will bring the heat as the stage will be set on fire with host Quentin Talley and DJ Fannie Mae and be sure to stick around as the gorgeous multi-award-winning Tweet gives a live performance! You don’t want to miss this! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-session-tickets-58949960920. The event will begin at 8 p.m. at Heist Brewery. 2909 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

 

 

 

——-MONDAY, APRIL 22——-

This evening, join Sol Nation, Inc. at The Nest at BLKTECHCLT for the Girls Who Code Spring Open House and Kick Off Celebration! This initiative is a great opportunity to provide girls in our community with resources that train them to #OwnOurOwnSOLutions especially those in the areas of environmental, climate, and social justice. Admission is FREE to attend. The event will begin at 6 p.m. 330 Camp Rd. inside Camp North End. #SOLNation

 

 

Want to know who’s got the lowdown in Crown Town? Get dressed and dazzled up and head down to The Westin for the 7th Annual Who’s Who in Black Charlotte Affair! Who’s Who In Black is an opportunity for us to recognize, document and celebrate the men and women who have made their mark in their respective professions or in service to others in the community. Enjoy an evening of achievements with networking, cocktails and live performances from local artists. Tickets can be purchased here: https://shoprealtimesmedia.com/shop/whos-who-shop/whos-who-in-black-charlotte-7th-edition-unveiling/. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Westin is located at 601 S. College St. in Uptown.

 

 

Start your week off on the good foot and head down to Tip Top Daily Market for the all-new Motown Mondays! Take a step Black in time, when the music was live, the Brothers were clean and the sophisticated Sister was the quintessential paramount of beauty. There will be rotating DJs throughout each installment giving your ears the best of classic Soul and R&B tunes! Admission is FREE. 8 p.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

COMING SOON…

4/24 — Melanin Enterprises Presents: Networking Game Night

4/24 – Legacy of Lynching

4/25 – Mosaic Live presents “Bars & Beats”

4/25—4/27 – 3rd Annual BOOM Charlotte

4/26 — AfroPop! x BOOM CLT After-Party: The Third Annual Edition

4/27 – Black Men ROCK 2019

4/27 – 4th Annual International Sandwich Festival

4/27 – Su Casa: The April Edition

4/29 – Black Singles in CLT Game Night

4/29—5/4 – 2019 Charlotte Jazz Festival

5/4 — All White Party & Jazz Cruise

5/4 – Off The Wall: Best of the 80s V.17

5/5 – Sweet Honey In the Rock 45th Anniversary Tour

5/9—5/18 – Brand New Sheriff Productions presents August Wilson’s “Jitney”

5/11 – Dapper Street Productions presents Jazz On the Green

5/14 – IgniteCHARLOTTE 9

5/18 — African Diaspora International Festival

5/18 — Charlotte X Kumasi: Art and Culture Festival

 

“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.”   –Acts 4:33

 

 

Enjoy your Resurrection weekend Brothers & Sisters! HE IS RISEN!

 

Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.

 

#WeekendWarrior   #TheBlackFerrisBueller   #EarsToDaSkreets   #CommunityFirst