By: Shawn D. Allison, II
What’s goin’ on everyone? The weekend is here, the holidays are in full swing and the festive mood is embracing all in the Queen City! There’s quite a bit of stuff going on from festivals, musicals and feasts all the way down to funky grooves that make you want to move your feet! Now if you want the “deets” on where I’ll be, my “Hot List” below you can peep!
- Thursday–“Paint & Sip: Art From the Heart” at The Last Word
- Friday—Igbo Conversation Hour at The International House
- Friday—On Q Productions’ “A Soulful Noel”
- Saturday—CLTure Music & Fashion Bazaar at Snug Harbor
- Saturday—“Vinyl Me, Please?” at Kanvas Gallery & Lounge
- Sunday—“Digger’s Delight Pop-Up Record Swap” at Tip Top Daily Market
- Sunday—Classic Black Cinema Series screening of “A Lesson Before Dying” at The Gantt Center
——-THURSDAY 12/1——-
In Charlotte, a simple meal can have a great meaning. That’s why The Levine Museum of the New South invites you out to Cuisine With A Conscience 2016—a conversation about the power of food, philanthropy, and creative ways of achieving impact in the community. Tonight’s special guests include Lani Lawrence from Friendship Kitchen, Paul Start—VP of Food Service at Hope Haven and Vic Ward from Community Culinary School of Charlotte. Admission for museum members is FREE and $8 for nonmembers. Please RSVP/purchase tickets here: https://38686.blackbaudhosting.com/38686/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=20625349-21c3-4bad-bfcb-2c9a1d4c94ca. The feast will begin at 6 p.m. The museum is located at 200 E. 7th St. in Uptown.
Join the Young Affiliates of The Mint for their annual Holiday Party at The Mint Museum Randolph this evening! Come and kick off the holiday season with a night featuring exhibit tours, holiday music, appetizers, and s’mores. Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome! The party starts at 6 p.m. The address is 2730 Randolph Rd.
The Historic West End Initiative invites you out to The Wadsworth Estate for their West End Winter Wonderland Holiday Gathering! This is a community event filled with refreshments, music, live entertainment and fellowship. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-end-winter-wonderland-holiday-gathering-tickets-29417695118. The event begins at 6 p.m. The Wadsworth Estate is located at 400 S. Summit St.
Slide out to The Last Word and throw some express the colors in your soul at “Paint & Sip: Art From the Heart” this evening. Gather your friends and come out to unleash your inner artist with some after-work relaxation and creativity. Painter Christopher Clarke will be on hand to guide your hands through a sequence of color, pattern, stroke and technique to help you create your very own take home masterpiece. Admission is $20 and can be purchased here: https://www.paypal.me/artfromtheheart. All materials will be provided. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. The Last Word is located at 5744 N. Tryon St.
For some true adult fun, head over to Petra’s this evening for “Potions & Pixels: Video Games, Board Games and Community.” There will be a wide variety of multiplayer games from all eras and for all skill levels. From Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., Love Letter, Click Clack Lumberjack and more! Admission is only $5. Bring as many friends as you desire and have a good time! The games begin at 7 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District. #PotionsAndPixels
GCG Wealth Management would like to invite you to the second annual Red Cap Holiday Jazz Concert in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte & the Jazz Arts Initiative. For your listening pleasure, you’ll get to enjoy the sounds and spirits of the holidays through a yuletide tribute in the style of Frank Sinatra! Admission is $25 per person. Please be sure to call GCG Wealth Management at 704-688-0653 to reserve your seat. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at The Fillmore. 820 Hamilton St. in the NC Music Factory.
Theatre Charlotte’s holiday tradition is back in full effect for its 10th anniversary season and to kick off the festivities, prepare yourselves for the QC-flavored edition of the Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol!” It’s the classic tale of the cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge making a drastic alteration from his stingy ways ultimately becoming a man of genuine charity. Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig, Jacob Marley, Nephew Fred will all be there and you should be too! Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/a-christmas-carol-3 . Tonight’s show begins at 7:30. All remaining performances will be held at Theatre Charlotte. 501 Queens Rd. #TheatreCharlotte
The ever-funky band known as Suga Monkey is hosting a Winter Warming Drive this evening at The Tavern. Whatever your talents are, take the stage and showcase your skills for the audience. Also, be sure to bring hats, coats, gloves, socks and scarves to donate to our homeless brothers and sisters. Admission is FREE to attend but monetary gifts are acceptable too. The session begins at 8 p.m. The Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown.
——-FRIDAY 12/2——-
Language is one of the most powerful elements of human existence and this Friday, you are invited to The International House for “Igbo Conversation Hour.” Igbo Conversation Hour is a cultural group that teaches and advocates for learning the rich Igbo Language in its spoken and written form. Come to learn the language spoken by 25 million people around the world. Admission is FREE. 7 p.m. The International House is located at 1817 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
CPCC Dance Theatre proudly presents, “Reflections and Ruminations: Dances of History Past, Present, and Future.” This weekend of performances will showcase excerpts of “The Nutcracker” created by CPCC faculty member Katharyn Horne and jazz and contemporary dance works by Megan Payne. The performance schedule is as follows: Friday (12/9) at 7:30 p.m., Saturday (12/10) at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday (12/11) at 2:30 p.m. You can purchase your tickets by calling, (704)-330-6534 or going online to purchase them here: http://tix.cpcc.edu/events/reflections-ruminations-dances-of-past-present-future. All shows will be held at the Pease Auditorium at the CPCC Central Campus. 1201 Elizabeth Ave. in Uptown.
On Q Productions is set to make your holiday little more joyous on this Friday night as they return with their critically-acclaimed production, “A Soulful Noel!” This one-night-only performance is a tapestry of music, telling the age old story of the reason for the season. In their holiday musical revue, they re-frame the Holiday narrative in a contemporary way with classics such as “Twas The Night Before Christmas”, “Little Drummer Boy” and “Go Tell it on The Mountain.” Fill your cup of eggnog this season with some Soul, a dash of Noel and a lot of OnQ! Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/soulful-noel-1. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The performance will be held at The McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown. #OnQ
Head out to Spirit Square this evening and get ready for an evening of words in rhythm—it’s time once again for the BreatheINK Youth Poetry Slam! These young lyricists are ready to express their minds spit hot fire in the first slam competition of the new school year. If your youth desires to compete, the registration open at 7 p.m. and closes at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 to the slam and it begins at 8 p.m. Spirit Square is located at 345 N. College St. in Uptown. #BreatheINK
This season, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra brings some Christmas flavor to your ears as they present, “Charlotte Symphony Pops: The Magic of Christmas.” Join conductor Albert-George Schram as he leads the orchestra and a host of special guests including the Charlotte Symphony Chorus, Charlotte Children’s Choir, various local choirs, handbell ringers, gospel vocalist Marsaisa Byrd, and other special guests plus an appearance by Santa Claus! Don’t miss this festive musical celebration featuring all your favorite holiday tunes. Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/charlotte-symphony-pops-magic-of-christmas-1. There will be four shows: Friday (12/9) at 8 p.m., Saturday (12/10) at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday (12/11) at 2:30 p.m. All shows will be held at the Belk Theatre. 130 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
You want to make your holiday a little more funky? Slide out to The Tavern this evening and get ready as Jazz N’ Soul Music invites you to experience “SPECTRUM: Holiday Jazz, Funk & Soul!” Take a musical sleigh ride as guitarist and conductor Mayhue Bostic and a collection featuring some of the QC’s most talented musicians put some cheer in your Friday evening with a fine selection of holiday-tinged classics from Stevie Wonder, Ramsey Lewis, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Donny Hathaway and more! Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spectrum-holiday-edition-funky-jazz-with-a-shot-of-dance-and-soul-tickets-29732589977. The show begins at 9 p.m. The Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #JazzNSoul
If you’re in a real mellow mood, head down to Kanvas Gallery & Lounge this evening for “Cocktails & Conversation!” Relax after a long week and enjoy some expertly mixed cocktails while DJ Chance expertly mixes some soulful Hip Hop, R&B, House and Reggae jams for your listening pleasure! Admission is FREE to attend and the event begins at 9 p.m. Kanvas is located at 525 E. 6th St., Suite #117 in Uptown.
Get your go-go groove on this evening at The Press Box as Charlotte’s Premier Go-Go Band, Uptown Swagga hosts, “Friday Night Live!” Get down on the good foot as this acclaimed multi-rhythm piece collection of musicians performs for you! If you’ve never experienced them before, you don’t know what you’re missing! Admission is $10 all night long and please be sure to inquire about food and drink specials from the staff. The party starts at 10 p.m. Press Box is located at 9609 N. Tryon St. in the University Area.
——-SATURDAY 12/3——-
Parents, bring the kids in their pajamas out to Discovery Place this morning for “PJs in North Pole City.” Celebrate the season with an IMAX screening of the classic film “The Polar Express” as the museum transforms into a winter wonderland. Bundle up in your coziest pajamas and let the train conductor lead the way for snacks, hot chocolate and a list of holiday activities including: liquid nitrogen ice cream, creating your own snowflakes, constructing Christmas ornaments, writing a letter to and meeting Santa Claus himself! Tickets can be purchased here: https://science.discoveryplace.org/explore/events/pjs-in-north-pole-city. There will be two shows today: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Discovery Place is located at 301 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Are you interested in owning or gifting artwork from some of The Light Factory’s very own luminaries? This morning, come out to The Light Factory in partnership with Hodges Taylor Art Consultancy for “Deck The Walls”, a one-day photography sale that features photographers who have been influenced by or actively involved with The Light Factory throughout its 40-year history. Admission is FREE to attend and artwork prices will vary. The event begins at 10 a.m. The Light Factory is located at 1817 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Local women’s empowerment t-shirt line, Pink Social, is back with seasonal cheer as they host their “Girl Tribe Pop-Up: Holiday Edition!” Ladies and gentlemen, come out and support over 70 local female-owned small businesses, do some networking and fellowshipping and enjoy some great food and drinks! Tickets can be purchased online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girl-tribe-pop-up-holiday-edition-tickets-28765485341 or at the door. The event begins at 11 a.m. and will be held at the Sugar Creek Brewing Company. 215 Southside Dr. #GirlTribePopUp
Charlotte’s best brunch experience is back once again at Sports One Bar & Lounge this morning! Come hang with Moxie Society as they bring to you the ever-popular “I Still Love the 90s Brunch & Day Party!” Enjoy a fine Southern-style brunch with urban flavor and rock out to best 90s Hip Hop and R&B jams from The Fan Camp DJs! Admission is FREE to attend and the party starts at 11 a.m. Sports One is located at 521 N. College St. in Uptown. #MoxieSociety
Join Charlotte Beautification Concept this afternoon as they host a Community Clean-Up. Bring the family out to W. Sugar Creek Rd. to clean up all the scattered trash and debris. Any and all individuals and organizations are more than welcome to come help with cleaning efforts. CBC will provide rubber gloves and trash bags but you are more than welcome to bring your own supplies. The meet up will be at 1 p.m. and the cleaning will commence at 1:30 p.m. The meeting place is 602 W. Sugar Creek Rd.
This afternoon, head out to Snug Harbor for the CLTure Music & Fashion Bazaar! This festive mashup of local musicians and merchants is filled with the spirit of the creative spirit of the Charlotte community. Come and scope out and scoop up some stocking stuffers ranging from paintings, vinyl, apparel, accessories and more! Also, Abari Game Bar and Save Poiint Video Games will have some video games out there for your enjoyment, Magnolia’s Poboys will be on hand to satisfy your stomach’s needs and hitting the stage will be a variety of awesome musicians! Admission is $5 and the market opens at 2 p.m. Snug Harbor is located at 1228 Gordon St. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
From ASC Culture Blocks and Dapper Street Productions comes “Jingle Jazz!” Bring the entire family out to Hickory Grove Baptist Church for an afternoon of fellowship, art and of course—jazz! The beautifully talented Nicci Canada will soothe your soul with some holiday jazz classics along with special guest Jerome Collins and acclaimed spoken word lyricist Bluz. Admission is FREE to attend and there will be light refreshments available. The program begins at 2 p.m. The church is located at 5935 Hickory Grove Rd.
Ladies, the weather is cooler and I know you all really like to add some flair in the frosty air. Gather all of your homegirls this afternoon, and head down to Revolution EGO for the “Onion Trunk Show!” The eclectic and beautiful fashion designer, Whitney Mero is back once again to give your womanly curves a boost with some elegant flair and flavor. There are sizes to fit everyone and there is a communal dressing room so that you can try the items on and find your favorites. After you’ve made your selections, the items are cut to length by hand. Admission to the event is FREE. The event begins at 3 p.m. Revolution EGO is located at 312 N. Myers St. in Uptown.
Ladies, get those picture-perfect poses ready because Juicy Body Goddess is looking for ten (10) new models to be a sparkling edition of the new modeling agency. Headed and hosted by the lovely Summer Lucille of Material Girl Life, she is looking for some voluptuous vixens with flair and flavor to flaunt some new full-figured fashions. Please be sure to send an e-mail to: mghlife@gmail.com for model requirements. The event will begin at 3 p.m. and will be held at Kimberly Boutique. 115 E. Park Ave. in Historic South End.
Want to stock up on some nifty stocking stuffers? Head out to Advent Coworking this afternoon and get ready for the “Holiday Sip & Shop!” Hosted by Dazz Accessories Boutique and High Maintenance Boutique, come and scope out over 10 local vendors with lots of gift varieties. There will also be holiday cocktails, music and complimentary gift wrapping. Admission is FREE to attend and the event begins at 3 p.m. Advent Coworking is located at 933 Louise Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Slide out to nearby Mooresville this evening and join Tammy Greene aka “The Jazz Diva” and Casa De Monticristo as they host, “Toasted: A Cigar & Jazz Set feat. The Al Strong Quartet.” Learn about the fine art of cigars while partaking of some of the World’s top brands–all while enjoying live jazz from renowned jazz Trumpeter Al Strong. Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.jrcigardinner.com/?variant=30764062156. The event will begin at 8 p.m. The address of the venue is 130 Consumer Square Dr. in Mooresville.
Fresh from across the giant pond, and back at Kanvas Gallery & Lounge, come chill out with DJ Foundacetion this evening for another fly edition of “Vinyl Me, Please?” Come and cool relax with a drink and your friends as he rocks a whole set of Hip Hop, R&B, Neo-Soul, House and Downtempo grooves totally on wax! Admission is FREE to attend and the cool-down starts at 9 p.m. Kanvas is located at 525 E. 6th St., Suite #117 in Uptown.
The Gi Spot feat. GiGi Mack is back once again at BluNotes this evening for another sultry edition of The Get Down at Live Soul Saturdays! If you want a unique and intimate blend of music, mature people and delectable culinary delights, this is the joint for you! There will be two shows this evening: 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Admission is $5 per show. BluNotes is located at 3425 David Cox Rd. in the University Area.
TerryBerry Events is back for the month of December and in conjunction with Eddietainment, they proudly invite you out to “Signature Saturdays!” Enjoy some delicious and hearty Italian cuisine, socialize with cool people and get your boogie on as DJ Shaun Nyce aka “The Blend King” rocks out another one of his signature sets of multi-era music grooves! Admission is FREE before 12 midnight. The party starts at 9 p.m. and will be held at Vapiano. 201 S. Tryon St. in Uptown. #TerryBerryEvents
——-SUNDAY 12/4——-
Attention all Crate Diggers, Vinyl Enthusiasts and Music Lovers… Spin yourselves over to the Tip Top Daily Market for the “Diggers Delight Pop-Up Record Swap” this afternoon. Sift and scour through a healthy selection of Jazz, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, R&B and Rock LPs for trade or purchase! Admission is FREE. The fun begins at 2 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Join Mr. Felix Curtis of Classic Black Cinema Series this afternoon at The Gantt Center for a special screening of “A Lesson Before Dying.” Based from the acclaimed book by Ernest J. Gaines, it’s the story of a schoolteacher in 1940s Louisiana who reaffirms a wrongly-accused man awaiting execution that he has dignity. The film stars Don Cheadle, Cicely Tyson and Mekhi Phifer. Admission to the film is FREE and it will begin promptly at 2 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
——-MONDAY 12/5——-
All Charlotte creatives head out to Advent Coworking this evening and join ArtsCharlotte for a gathering of the minds of artists, arts organization leaders, community and church leaders for conversation and connection around the arts. This is an opportunity for artists of all stripes and community and church leaders who have an interest in nourishing the soul of our city to come together. Admission is FREE to attend. The event begins at 7 p.m. Advent Coworking is located at 933 Louise Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Rounding out your spectacular Sunday, head out to Petra’s Bar for the “Second Sunday Jazz Workshop & Improv.” Join host, instrumentalist and local jazz enthusiast, John Shaughnessy as he conducts a live jazz session in front of an intimate audience. All are welcome to join in! Whether you are a flautist, guitarist, funky drummer, vocalist, horn-blower, percussionist or ivory tickler, this is the workshop for you! FREE. The jam session begins at 8 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
COMING SOON…
- Thursday, 12/15—A 704 Christmas feat. Anthony Hamilton
- Friday, 12/16—Hip Hop & Hookah: The Little Brother Edition
- Saturday, 12/17—AfroPop Charlotte: Holiday Edition
- Sunday, 12/18—Verbal Expressions presents: “4 Chosen Poems”
- Monday, 12/19—A Mo’ Betta Holiday
“Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” -James Baldwin
Everyone have a fantastic weekend and always be sure to show your neighbor lots of love! Peace.
Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#WeekendWarrior #TheBlackFerrisBueller