By Shawn D. Allison, II
What’s happenin’ family? Seems like Mother Nature has brought about another cold spell for us to endure, but things are miraculously heating back up! It’s Black OURstory Month and yours truly, The Black Ferris Bueller has got a fresh lineup of soul-stirring events for the entire family! To see what the real moves to make this weekend, peep what I got on my “Hot List, you dig?
- THURSDAY – SUNDAY – BNS Productions presents August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running”
- THURSDAY – SUNDAY – Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte presents “Nina Simone: Four Women”
- FRIDAY – SUNDAY – Theatre Charlotte presents “Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show”
- FRIDAY – Art After Dark at The Gantt Center
- FRIDAY – Attune App Launch at Packard Place
- FRIDAY – Blow Your Head – January Edition at Snug Harbor
- FRIDAY – Jazz N’ Soul Music presents BreakOn ‘Em Davis at Loft & Cellar
- SATURDAY – Family First “Lights, Camera & Action” and “Hands-On Theatre Basics for the Stage” Workshops at The Gantt Center
- SATURDAY – USB Roulette at Tip Top Daily Market
- SATURDAY – JCI Legacy presents the Children’s Book Corner
- SATURDAY — Off The Wall feat. The JETA Team and The Mighty DJ DR at Petra’s
- SUNDAY – Soul Food Sunday Caribbean Brunch Buffet at Anntony’s Caribbean Café
- SUNDAY – Hazy Sunday at Petra’s
- MONDAY — A Riff of Love: Stories & Songs of Justice Community & Belonging at Myers Park Baptist Church
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, JANUARY 31——-
This afternoon, B.E.S.T., Inc. is hosting a special community dinner for government employees who have been affected by the recent government shutdown. Known as Believing Everyone Succeeds Together, founder Latoya S. Williams was inspired to create this community service platform to help assist those in need after her and her daughters experienced homelessness. B.E.S.T., Inc. is the vehicle by which provides a hand up to individuals who have taken a hit in life. Chef James H Diggs, Jr. and Derek Emmanuel Goode have volunteered to lend their time and culinary talents by providing a hot and nutritional meal and distributing boxes of nonperishable food and other essential items to those in need. The event will begin at 4 p.m. The address of the event is 501 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Africana Connections wants to put some tribal flavor in your Thursday as they invite you out to Mangos Caribbean Restaurant for the colorful return of Pangaea Thursdays! Join my good friends The Dynamic DJ Kato and Steve Nizzo as they takes you on a whirlwind of sounds from across the African Diaspora with tunes ranging from Afrobeats, House, Reggae, Hip Hop, Dancehall and more! Admission is FREE before midnight but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pangaea-thursdays-charlottes-premier-international-social-mixer-vol3-tickets-54655539189. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Mangos is located at 3112 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
Dapper Street Productions invites you to start your weekend on an infatuated artistic vibe as they proudly present Piano Jazz – The Intimate Series this evening. Take a load off and come experience the passion of Dapper Street Jazz Band with special guest vocalist Dawn Anthony setting the mood with a special Torch Song & Blues medley. Admission is FREE to attend and there will be light refreshments available. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Bette Rae Thomas Rec Center. 2921 Tuckaseegee Rd.
Explore your creative side at The McColl Center for Art + Innovation and come be part of the Playing With Portraiture Workshop this evening. Create mixed media portraits through painting, drawing, collage and assemblage with McColl alumni artist Caroline Rust. Techniques include blind contour drawing and an interpretive use of line and color. Tickets can be purchased here: https://53393.blackbaudhosting.com/53393/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=d8387bbf-1773-4c8a-921d-ecd605fb6203. All materials will be provided. The class will begin at 6 p.m. The McColl Center is located at 721 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Thursdays are for relaxing, entertainment, food, drinks and time well spent with your friends and tonight, slide down to Sydney’s Martini & Wine Bar for the That’s My Jam Open Mic session! Join host El Lambert events as they set the mood for you and your crew of professionals as you enjoy some local talents extend their skills of vocals and instrumentals in R&B, Soul, Jazz and spoken word. Admission is FREE all night long and there will be plenty of drink and meal specials available. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thats-my-jam-open-mic-sydneys-uptown-tickets-49631368760. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Sydney’s is located at 401 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Join the esteemed Rory D. Sheriff as he proudly presents the Dr. Corlis Hayes-directed BNS Productions presents August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running!” Set during the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s Pittsburgh, it tells the story of a restaurant owner who must consider selling his beloved restaurant due to urban planning taking over so much of his neighborhood. Two Trains Running is the seventh installment in Wilson’s ten-part series, The American Century Cycle, and premiered on Broadway in 1992. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. The American Century Cycle is a Pulitzer Prize winner. It was published later in 1993 by Plume. With an all-star cast of local actors and actresses, it’s one that you should not miss! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/two-trains-running. Tonight’s show begins at 7:30 p.m. and following performances will be held at the Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown. #BNSProductions
The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte is ready to take you on a musical journey deep into the valleys of the Black experience as they proudly present the Chanel Blanchett -directed, “Nina Simone: Four Women.” The velvet-throated High Priestess of Soul hypnotized audiences with her signature renditions of standards from the American songbook. But on September 15, 1963, a devastating explosion in Birmingham rocked America to the core, and from the memory of the four little girls that were lost in this unimaginable tragedy came “Four Women” — along with Simone’s other activist anthems like “Mississippi God****,” “Old Jim Crow” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Songs will be performed by Destiny DeBerry Stone, Erica Truesdale, Krystal D. Gardner and Arlethia Friday Hailstock. Tickets can be purchased here: Tonight’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and all remaining shows will be held at the Hadley Theater at Queens University. 2132 Radcliffe Ave. #TheatreCharlotte
Feel free and feel the spirit of dance as you witness your eyes upon rhythmic greatness in Movement Art Is feat. Lil’ Buck & Jon Boogz! Come and view Black excellence as these two dance maestros present their work and discuss dance as a tool to educate and empower. The evening will include a conversation moderated by Charlotte City Councilmember Braxton Winston and powerful dance number featuring the duo, as well as a screening of their award-winning short film, “Color of Reality.” See how MAI is resetting the spectrum of what dance is and inspiring change in the world. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.blumenthalarts.org/events/detail/movement-art-is-featuring-lil-buck-and-jon-boogz. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown.
Join Porsha the Poet as she hosts Lyrical Healing Open Mic Poetry this evening! Do you have a talent? Showcase it. Do you have friends? Bring them. Do you have positive energy? Share it and spread love among all as you experience the artistic vibrancy of some of the QC’s brightest creative vocal and verbalizing beacons of light. Admission is FREE to attend and there will be cocktail specials all night long. The show will start promptly at 8:30 p.m. at Negril Social Restaurant & Lounge. 3428 N. Tryon St.
——FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1——-
Sharpen your skills and increase your opportunities to be a dynamic teaching artist this summer and fall as The Gantt Center hosts their Teaching Artist Meetup + Boot Camp this morning. This is a great opportunity to network with other teaching artists as you learn the ins and outs of classroom management and course development. Understand what it takes to book gigs and get tips to help nurture the balance between being an artist and an educator. You will hear valuable insight from noted educators, artists and activists Dasan Ahanu, Andrea “Angie Cee” Chandler, Bree Stallings and Jason Watson. Admission is $10 per person and your tickets can be purchased here: https://give.ganttcenter.org/checkout/9813. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Head down to First United Presbyterian Church for their February installment of their United In Jazz Concert Series! Tonight, grab your friends, grab a seat and get ready to experience the mesmerizing musical methods of Willie Walker & Conversation Piece! Come experience one of Charlotte’s finest instrumental collectives filled with rousing melodies and pulsating grooves guaranteed to make you feel good! There will be a dinner available for purchase before the performance for $25. If you choose to only attend the performance, the fee is $15. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. The church is located at 201 E. 7th St. in Uptown.
Black is back and it’s time to indulge in a creative side of our essence as The Gantt Center proudly presents “Art After Dark!” This evening of music, conversation and creative expression will feature a number of interactive platforms designed to have your mind plugged into artistic reality. Workshops include “The Art of Our Stories” with Dasan Ahanu, “Ted Talks and Chill” with Ohavia Phillips, R&B Trivia and Musical Family Tree with Stephanye Woods and performance excerpts from “Black Love is Revolutionary” with Cedric Umoja and Roni Nicole Henderson. The soundtrack for the evening will be provided by We Are Stereotypez. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://give.ganttcenter.org/checkout/9306. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
A new breakthrough in addressing mental health is in our midst and this evening, come and witness the gist of the Attune App Launch! Join Building Endurance PLLC this evening as they present a new technological platform of addressing the gap of connecting people to viable mental health services. This social hour will address in-depth details of the new app which can be utilized by iPhone and Android users. Also, be sure to get engaged in some networking among professionals in attendance. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attune-app-launch-tickets-54354855837. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Packard Place. 222 S. Church St. in Uptown.
Love is in the air at The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art this evening as they present to you a special edition of Jazz at the Bechtler! Grab your sweetie, other half, boo thang and head down to the museum for an intimate concert entitled, “Jazz For Lovers!” Relax as the sounds of in-house sound machine The Ziad Jazz Quartet with guest vocalist Toni Tupponce evokes the moods of love for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Two shows this evening: 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling (704)-353-9200. The Bechtler is located at 420 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Ladies, strut your stuff down to LacedWell Studios as Turning Pointe Dance Creations for the Sexy In the City Dance WERKshop! TPDC founder Melissa McDaniels and V Steam Queen Charlotte have come together to create a unique experience designed to help you unleash the power of the V! Your ticket includes a 1-hour dance class and exclusive access to the “V Steam Queen Lounge” where you will receive a complimentary glass of wine, lite refreshments, discounts on services, and the chance to win free gifts. Come out for a hip-rolling, hair-swinging good time that will leave you feeling confident, powerful and sexy! Tickets can be purchased here: https://turningpointedancecreations.com/product/sexy-in-the-city-dance-werkshop/. The class will begin at 7:30 p.m. LacedWell is located at 5221 Equipment Dr.
Jazz N’ Soul Music invites you out to Loft & Cellar for the return of BreakOn’Em Davis performing LIVE this evening! Spearheaded by one of Charlotte’s baddest rhythm masters, Mr. Ocie Davis, Jr., come and experience a night of progressive, straight-ahead jazz with a full band! If you dig The Roots, The Robert Glasper Experiment, The Meters, Mandrill, Esperanza Spalding or anything with a Neo-Soul or Funk groove, this is the jam session for you! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breakon-em-davis-jazz-soul-funk-fri-feb-1st-730-and-10p-the-loft-and-cellar-tickets-54508625767. There will be two performances at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Loft & Cellar is located at 305 W. 4th St. in Uptown. #JazzNSoulMusic
Theatre Charlotte is ready to have you rollin’ & rockin’ in your seats as the proudly present “Ain’t Misbehavin’ – The Fats Waller Musical Show!” This sassy, sultry musical celebration of the legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. This features some creative jumpin’, jivin’ swing music that evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of the Golden Age of the Cotton Club. The intoxicating Fats Waller score includes “Honeysuckle Rose,” “The Joint is Jumpin’,” “Your Feets Too Big,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “Two Sleepy People” and many more. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is one of the most delightful, well-crafted revues of all time. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/aint-misbehavin. All shows will be held at Theatre Charlotte. 501 Queens Rd.
OutenLove Events, Mr. 305 Events and High Society CLT is ready to chill things out this Friday night on the smooth tip presenting “R&B Vibes!” Bring all of your crew out to Recess CLT for an evening full of nonstop R&B and Soul tunes from all eras and some more musical magic from a special guest DJ! Hookah, games and cocktail specials will be in effect all night long. RSVP’s can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/r-b-vibes-tickets-55484169645. The party starts at 10 p.m. Recess CLT is located at 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood.
For some different sonic flavor in the QC this weekend, come out to Snug Harbor for the February session of “Blow Your Head!” Join local musicians and cultural activists DJs Flock of Slagles and Jah Freedom spinning an entire vinyl set of Funk, Soul, Boogie, Garage, House and Rare Grooves for your listening pleasures! Admission is FREE to attend and be ready to dance! The event starts at 10 p.m. Snug Harbor is located at 1228 District. #BlowYourHead
The Sol Kitchen is back to provide some electric relaxation this evening at ‘Stache House with another installment of “#Thankgawdits1stfriday!” Sound provider and Charlotte staple DJ Ngenius will spin the best of today’s and yesterday’s Hip Hop and R&B grooves. Admission is FREE. 10 p.m. ‘Stache House is located at 1520 South Blvd. in Historic South End. #TheSolKitchen
——-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2——-
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.
Bring the family down to The Gantt Center this morning for the February installment of the Family First Workshop! Today, you will step into the world of two interactive sessions entitled “Lights, Camera & Action!” and “Hands-On Theatre Basics for the Stage.“ Is your child’s imagination overflowing with characters and stories? Do they dream of visiting far off places? Do you feel a star inside your being ready to showcase to the world? Join acclaimed actresses, activists and educators Tiffany Bryant-Jackson and Andrea “Angie Cee” Chandler as they will lend their expertise to teach the basics of acting out stories, participating in group scenes, developing stage presence and reading comprehension exercises. Please be sure and register for classes here: https://give.ganttcenter.org/checkout/9355 and https://give.ganttcenter.org/checkout/9358. The class will begin at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Love Day is around the corner and if you want to scoop up some nifty gifts for your loved one, come on down to the Midwood Market this afternoon! In this special Valentine’s Day edition, come and shop with over 50 of Charlotte’s most creative and unique vendors and explore on of Plaza-Midwood’s favorite streets. The marketplace will open at 11 a.m.
The dynamic divas of DRC Diamonds invite you out to West Charlotte High School for the 2nd Annual Guerilla Warfare Majorette Dance Competition! Come see ten local/regional teams battle it out with funky and pristine dance routines in the “War-Zone” to earn cash prizes, a trophy and bragging rights! There will be three dance categories and I can guarantee you that they will be full of nonstop action! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guerrilla-warfare-pt2-tickets-54525461122. Doors open at 11 and the competition will begin at 11:45 a.m. West Charlotte Senior High School is located at 2219 Senior Dr.
This afternoon, head over to Tip Top Daily Market and join my homie Sweetestcape for a totally all-new concept/game entitled, USB Roulette! This interactive and organic showcase will feature four of the QC’s hottest sound selectors — Don4ld, Earl Grey, Mad Flexx and Flls as they journey into the unknown regions of each other’s USB hard drive and construct their very own set from random music downloads and files. Each DJ will rotate until all have played. Select > Insert > Groove > Repeat. Come witness this awesome experience all for the low price of $FREE.99!! The jump off is at 2pm. 2909 The Plaza.
Hey kids, I found something cool for you all to do! Gather your friends and parents and join JCI Legacy as they invite you to the Children’s Book Corner this afternoon! Experience the works and company of local authors, vendors, games, giveawys, a live book reading and signing from the selected authors. This event will be hosted by Jayy Woo of The Little Braniacs. FREE admission. The event will begin at 2 p.m. 4822 Albemarle Rd., Suite #354.
Liven up your Saturday afternoon and head over to Firehouse Bar & Lounge for the Afro-Caribbean Day Party! Phase One Promotions is back to bring some heat in this cool weather with a delightful mix of Afro-Caribbean flavor with inspired cocktails, fellowship and a slew of Afrobeats, Reggae, Soca and Dancehall from Charlotte’s own DJ Atomix! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afrocaribbean-day-party-tickets-54935527642. The party will begin at 4 p.m. Firehouse Bar & Lounge is located at 320 W. Carson Blvd. in Uptown.
For your Saturday night cap, join the mighty JETA Team as they host another fly episode of “Off The Wall!” Get ready for some serious head bobbin’ science with Chief Rocka Aking Allah, Soul Brother DJ Justice and special guest, The Mighty DJ DR as they rock out with the best of Golden Era Hip Hop, Rare Joints, R&B, House, Soul, Reggae, Rock, Pop and a special audible tribute for one of our greatest creative geniuses, the late, great J-Dilla! Admission is $5 before 11 p.m. The music starts at 9 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District. #TheJETATeam #OffTheWall704
Come and get a jolt of sonic juice in your joints and head down to Crown Station for MOVE House Music Party! Join Elektrik Coma Productions as they invite you to get busy on the dance floor with Chicago staple DJ/producer Doc Link, RocBeezy and Melodious Funk spinning the best in underground and classic Chicago House, Soul, Funk and Downtempo grooves! Admission is $10 and the party starts at 10 p.m. Crown Station is located at 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
——-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3——-
Hungry? Join Soul 2 Go Catering at Anntony’s Caribbean Café for the Soul Food Sunday Caribbean Brunch Buffet! Bring your family down and enjoy over a dozen delectable brunch items such as jerk chicken, scrambled eggs, baked mac n’ cheese, waffles, breakfast meats, steamed coconut rice, collard greens and much more! Admission is $11 per person. Doors open at 12 p.m. 2001 E. 7th St. near Uptown.
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.
This afternoon, Project BOLT invites you out to be part of the second installment of their “What About Our Houseless Neighbors?” series. This meeting will be a focus of planning for collective action related to people experiencing homelessness in our city. Project BOLT’s mission aims to enhance the lives of criminally involved individuals by equipping them to become key contributors to society. The event will begin at 2 p.m. The address of the event is 2516 Sherrill St.
——-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4——-
This evening, lend your ears and minds to the stage at Myers Park Baptist Church and come out for A Riff of Love: Stories & Songs of Justice Community & Belonging. As the co-founder of QC Family Tree, jazz saxophonist Greg Jarrell will share his unlikely story of building relationships with his neighbors. Establishing Enderly Park in West Charlotte as his home following graduation from seminary, Jarrell recollects, “We thought that living deeply into the journey of faith, for us, required us to immerse our whole lives into a place where we would be in close proximity to people that Howard Thurman called ‘the disinherited.’” Accompanied by vocalist Dawn Anthony, Jarrell will tell his story using Jazz as a metaphor to the relationships he’s built with his neighbors. Come learn, listen, and find yourself challenged to be intentionally present with those around us. Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome. 7 p.m. 1501 Queens Rd. in the Myers Park Community.
Charlotte has an ongoing public conversation about the re-segregation of public schools, segregation of neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, income inequality and the poverty trap. This evening, join noted historian Dr. Tom Hanchett and the esteemed Rachel Kubie as they host the discussion, “How Charlotte Got Segregated.” The two will discuss the long history of racial segregation in Charlotte from the Civil War to today and how national and local influences shaped the city we live in. In his book, “Sorting Out the New South City,” Hanchett describes how Charlotte “came of age in the New South decades of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, transforming itself from a rural courthouse village to the trading and financial hub of America’s premier textile manufacturing region.” They will also traces the city’s spatial evolution over the course of a century, exploring the interplay of national trends and local forces that shaped Charlotte, and, by extension, other New South urban centers. Admission is FREE and will begin at 7 p.m. at Morrison Regional Library Branch. 7015 Morrison Blvd.
COMING SOON…
2/8 – 2/24 – Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”
2/8 — Dancing Stories: An Evening of African Dance and Music
2/9 — Archive Your Legacy: Photo Scanning Session
2/9 – Rhythmic Soul Dance Company Dancce Expo
2/9 — Bueller’s Vinyltine’s Day Boogie — The Quiet Storm Session
2/9 – OutenLove Events presents The Meet Market: Singles Mixer
2/9 – Unified Souls presents STR8 HOUSE—For The Love of House
2/10 – Classic Black Cinema Series presents “Within Our Gates”
2/10 – University Little League East Family Fun Day
2/10 – The Sol Kitchen presents “Vittles & Vibes” w/ Chefs Greg Collier & Jarobi White of ATCQ
2/11 – Labor of Love Clothing Drive
2/11 – Revolt Comedy Show #04
2/14 – An Evening of Love: Sensual Massage Workshop
2/15 — The Official Blackest Weekend Ever 2.0 Allstar Edition
2/16 – The House of LeMond presents “GROOM + GO”
2/16 — AfroPop! Charlotte, Vol.29: All-Star Edition 2019
2/20 — ShapingCLT: KNOW Justice KNOW Peace
2/20 – 2/23 – The Legacy Theatre Production Co. presents “SISTAS: The Musical”
2/23 — In White America: A Documentary Play
2/28 – 3/2 – CIAA Tournament 2019
3/2 – Radio Rehab Carolinas presents “House Iz My Release” feat. Lady Alma
3/2 – The JETA Team presents “Off The Wall: Sincerity An Ode to Mary J. Blige & Nas” feat. DJ Shakim
“The way you get to know yourself is by the expressions on other people’s faces, because that’s the only thing that you can see, unless you carry a mirror about.” –Gil Scott-Heron
Enjoy your weekend Brothers & Sisters! Peace.
Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#WeekendWarrior #TheBlackFerrisBueller #EarsToDaSkreets #CommunityFirst