The Rundown of Things to Do: Thursday, September 5 – Monday, September 9

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

 

By Shawn D. Allison, II

Peace brothers and sisters! This is the most important weekend of the year—it is The Black Ferris Bueller’s Born Day! What better way to celebrate with all of you in a wide variety of goodies to get into! Of course you know I’ll be hitting the QC streets hard, but if you want to join me as I rock out another revolution around the Sun, just peep what I have lined up on my “Hot List” for this weekend!

 

  • THURSDAY—SATURDAY – The Legacy Theatre Company presents “Forever 4 What”
  • THURSDAY—SATURDAY – Soul Food Sessions’ James Beard Pop-Up Dinner
  • THURSDAY — HOUSE WORK #018
  • FRIDAY — Black Food Truck Fridays Summer Music Tour – DC Go-Go Edition
  • FRIDAY – The Lost Tribe Release Party at Camp North End
  • FRIDAY – Blow Your Head – September Edition at Snug Harbor
  • SATURDAY – Charlotte VegFest 2019/Official Charlotte VegFest After Party
  • SATURDAY — I Still Love the 90s Brunch Food Truck Party
  • SATURDAY – USB Roulette: National Radio Day Edition at Tip Top Daily Market
  • SATURDAY – WorldLit Street Food Festival
  • SATURDAY — Off the Wall: “Best of the 80’s V.18” at Petra’s
  • SUNDAY – Classic Black Cinema Series screening of “Cotton Comes To Harlem” at The Gantt Center
  • SUNDAY – Bueller’s Born Day Boogie – 34 1/3 Revolutions On Wax

 

 

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, SEPTEMBER 5——–

This weekend, bring the entire family out to the Yiasou Greek Festival! Beginning in 1978, this festival has become one of Charlotte’s largest and eagerly anticipated cultural events. The Yiasou Greek Festival features Hellenic cultural exhibits, authentic Greek cuisine and homemade pastries, entertainment, live music and dancing, wine tastings, art, shopping and more. Experience the sights and sounds of Greece when you visit the Annual Yiasou Greek Festival. It’s a time of the year when everyone can be Greek! This festival will run from Thursday (9/5) through Sunday (9/8). For a complete listing of events, participating venues and other coordinating information, please visit this website: https://yiasoufestival.org.  

Charlotte’s coolest collective of Chocolate culinary maestros have taken over the kitchen at 7th Street Public Market to bring you a special James Beard Pop-Up Dinner! In honor of their nomination of the prestigious James Beard Award, Soul Food Sessions invites you to grab your crew, a chair, a menu and prepare to have your senses stimulated with a delectable display of fully plated dishes for your enjoyment. There will be three servings for this weekend: Thursday (9/5), Friday (9/6) and Saturday (9/7) all beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $18 per person and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hbcu-day-tickets-64539284738.  The 7th Street Public Market is located at 224 E. 7th St. in Uptown.

Dapper Street Productions, Inc. wants to take you to the lower register of sound and rhythm as they proudly present Upright – A Tribute to Bass Players! Under the leadership of John Shaughnessy ll, this three month series will highlight bassists such as Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, and Charles Mingus featuring a variety of local talents. Admission is FREE to attend. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at The Hut. 413 Johnston Dr. in Pineville.

Are you an artist or a creative looking for a group setting to explore, define and materialize your passions? If so, join artist and educator Bree Stallings as she proudly presents The Artist’s Way Charlotte Cohort Creativity Class! Whether you are a poet, painter, singer, writer, comic, woodworker, or weaver, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron presents an exciting method for artists to recover their creativity from limiting beliefs, self-sabotage, inattention, fear, jealousy, guilt, addictions, and other forces that inhibit the creative process. Bree, along with fellow artist Elizabeth Palmisano will lead these sessions which aim to provide a space where people serve one another as believing mirrors, uniting with a common aim of creative unblocking. Ultimately having a place where you can share, support, and celebrate each other provides artist-to-artist and heart-to-heart help. This class runs for 13 consecutive weeks. Tickets can be purchased here: https://breestallings.bigcartel.com/product/the-artists-way.  Each session will be held at C3 Lab. 2525 Distribution St. in Historic South End.

Catch some more theatrical magic from The Legacy Theatre Production Company as they proudly present their all-new, all-original piece, “Forever 4 What.” For Valerie, life has been downhill since saying I do and the last thing she wants is to be in an environment that further proves her point. Valerie and her husband Michael have gathered at her aunt and uncle’s home for a very special weekend: her sister Rielle is getting married and her Aunt and Uncle are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. But the weekend turns out to be anything but celebratory. Valerie and Rielle have agreed on very little since they were kids and the way they view love, men, marriage and fidelity is always at the forefront. Drama seems to follow them wherever they go, and they are as addicted to the drama as they are to each-other which ensues from the moment they walk through the door. And a mysterious, alluring stranger is at the center of it all. “Forever 4 What?” is a gripping, emotional, and at times humorous roller-coaster dramedy that will no doubt start a conversation and open dialogue about unconditional love, marriage, infidelity, and whether happily ever after really exists or if it’s all an illusion. All showtimes and tickets can be purchased here: https://www.blumenthalarts.org/even…/detail/forever-4-what-2. Tonight’s opening performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown.

Start the weekend off on a funky note and head on down to SIP Charlotte for HOUSE WORK #018! Come experience a world of music unlike any other as four of Charlotte’s FINEST — That Guy Smitty, DJ A-Minor, VonFunkhauser and the lovely DOMii give you a jolt of sonic juice with a colorful variety of Soulful House, Deep House, Classic House, Downtempo, Avant-Garde, Electronica, Techno and much more! Admission is FREE and the event jam starts at 10 p.m. 200 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

 

——–FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6——–

Put some funk in your Friday and head down to Recess Charlotte as Black Business Owners of Charlotte brings the heat with Black Food Truck Fridays Summer Music Tour – DC Go-Go Edition! Get ready for some more community fun as you bring all your friends and family out for an evening of community while you dine from some of the city’s finest and most delicious Chocolate culinary chariots! Also, be sure to scoop up some cool fashions and trinkets from local vendors, enter in raffles to win cool prizes and get down on the good foot to the sounds of DJ Steel Wheel giving you a taste of DC with all sorts of funky Go-Go music! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 5 p.m. Recess Charlotte is located at 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood.

Treat yourselves to a jazzy cooldown and head over to the The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art for the September installment of Jazz at the Bechtler! Tonight’s showcase one of Charlotte’s most talented and prolific musicians, Lovell Bradford along with The Ziad Jazz Quartet paying homage to one of jazz’s brightest and most tenured dignitaries, Herbie Hancock. Hancock’s music has encompassed almost every development in electronic and acoustic jazz and R&B over the last third of the 20th century and into the 21st. Though grounded in Bill Evans and able to absorb blues, funk, gospel, and even modern classical influences, Hancock’s piano and keyboard voices are entirely his own, with their own polished harmonic and complex, and rhythmic signatures. Tickets can be purchased here: https://30796a.blackbaudhosting.com/30796a/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=ecbf8e97-eb20-4d47-af34-2bb86cc19bca. There will be two shows this evening at 6 and 8:15 p.m. The Bechtler is located at 420 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Slide down to Camp North End and get threaded up as MacFly Fresh Printing Co. and DRC ApeParel proudly presents The Lost Tribe Release Party!   “The Lost Tribe of Shakur”, is a capsule collection inspired by the release of 2Pac’s early recordings released on, “Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991.” The first track, “Panther Power” set us on a path of connecting 2Pac’s voice to the greater Pan-African musical voices, such as the Great Fela Kuti. Thus a capsule was born. Tonight, come and witness a new collection with all-new prints, enjoy some refreshments and get down on the good foot with DJ SPK spinning the hotness on the 1s and 2s! Admission is FREE to attend and the event will begin at 6 p.m. 301 Camp Rd.

Are you a local vocalist or arranger striving to put more passion in your pen? If so, Dear Soul Music Company, LLC. invites you out to Camp North End for the Using Your Unique: Songwriting Workshop this evening. This 4-week program is an interactive and collaborative platform for aspiring singer/songwriters to enhance their skills in structuring, musical literacy and more. Today’s lesson is entitled, “Protecting Your Songs – Copyright Laws.” All classes will be taught by singer, instrumentalist and Dear Soul Music Co. founder Arsena Schroeder, Curt Keyz and 1 Way North. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/using-your-unique-songwriting-…. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Hygge Coworking at Camp North End. 330 Camp Rd.

The Charlotte Center for Literary Arts and Arts & Science Council invites you to spend your evening at the 4x4CLT Poetry + Art Poster Release Party! This series features poet Jennifer Chang and artists Tom Thoune and Cordelia Williams who will be on hand to share their newest works with the attendees. Admission is FREE to attend and will begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Light Factory. 1817 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

Jazz N Soul Music proudly welcomes back the ever-funky Jazz Munkee this Friday evening at Heist Brewery! Complete with their signature sound of funk, jazz, soul and fusion you will not want to just sit in your seat and listen—their sound is totally infectious and interactive! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-munkee-a-funky-jazz-exper…. Showtime is at 8 p.m. 2909 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District. #JazzNSoul

OutenLove Events and Mr. 305 Entertainment have teamed back up for their weekend party jam, Reggae Vs. Hip Hop 1st Friday’s Edition! Step in the zone and rep your sonic flavor with DJ Undertaker Sound making your whine and rock with the finest of Dancehall and Reggae mixes and get in your stance and head bob yourselves into a trance as The Blend King, DJ Shaun Nyce gives you the best of classic and modern Hip Hop and R&B! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-friday-reggae-vs-hip-hop-e…. The party starts at 9 p.m. at Stats Restaurant & Bar. 3425 David Cox Rd. in the University Area.

If you want to experience some different sonic flavor this Friday night, come out to Snug Harbor for Blow Your Head — September Edition! My good brothers of Blow Your Head, Flock of Slagles and Jah Freedom will be 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 Gordon St. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

——–SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7——–

Want some insight on a healthy eating lifestyle? Come out to The Park Expo & Conference Center for Charlotte Vegfest 2019! This celebration of healthy, sustainable and compassionate eating and explores the endless benefits of vegetarian living. This event will feature a variety of vegan foods, local vegan restaurants, food trucks, local vendors, speakers, nutritional experts, vegan cooking demonstrations, free prizes, gift bags and more! Admission is FREE to attend and will begin at 11 a.m. The Park Expo & Conference Center is located at 800 Briar Creek Rd.

It’s a new month with new creative energy and this morning, head down to The Gantt Center for the Family First: Activate the Image Ekphrastic Writing Workshop! Explore our current exhibitions, find images that you’re drawn to and, guided by instructor Franchone Bey, you’ll create a written work. It might tell the story of a scene in a photograph or express your feelings as you viewed the piece. A poem, short story, play? You choose. Ekphrastic writing gives words to feelings inspired by a work of art. RSVPs/ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-first-activate-the-imag…. The workshop will begin at 11 a.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Calling all high school students and prospective college transfers — join NC Congresswoman Alma Adams as she proudly presents the HBCU Day Social! This event will amplify Historically Black Colleges and Universities from around the country. Valuable resources, as well as the culture and heritage of several HBCUs, will be on display. Admission is FREE and open to the public. The event will begin at 12 noon at West Charlotte High School. 2219 Senior Dr.

Charlotte’s best brunch experience shifts into fifth gear this Saturday as Moxie Society proudly presents their newest concept, I Still Love the 90s Brunch Food Truck Party! Kick back, relax, wine and dine from some of the city’s finest food trucks with a variety of eats and treats to choose from! And the party doesn’t stop with tons of cocktail specials, including $5 mimosas and DJ C-Rob spinning the hottest 90s Hip Hop, R&B, Soul and Reggae jams! Admission is FREE. The engines start at 11 a.m. at Recess CLT. 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood.

This afternoon, head over to Tip Top Daily Market and join the lovely Sativaslcts for another dope episode of the increasingly popular USB Roulette! For today’s special installment of National Radio Day, four of the QC’s hottest on-air mixshow DJs — Power 98’s I Am Kue One, DJ Mydnite, Dj Buttafingaz along with V-101.9’s DJ Tab D’Biassi 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.

Catch some more fly Hip Hop culture this afternoon and head down to Crown Station for Blame It On The Funk, Pt. 3! B-Boys, B-Girls and underground culture heads of all ages and flavors come and show your skills and your styles off for the crowd and in front of judges for a chance to win cash prizes and bragging rights! Breakbeats provided by DJ Roxswift and Alex Heisey, hosted by Boris ‘Bluz’ Rogers and presented by Poppin’ Paul. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blame-it-on-the-funk-3-tickets…. The jump off is at 3 p.m. Crown Station is located at 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Charlotte! Get ready for an afternoon of nonstop fun and flavor at the first-ever WorldLit Street Food Festival! Bring the entire tribe out to enjoy authentic cuisines found in the streets of cities from Brazil, India, Mexico and Vietnam all set to a vibrant soundtrack of live music including Eritrean Pop, Samba Pagode from Brazil, Caribbean, Bhangra from India, Latin music and much more! You will also have an opportunity to learn dance moves that coordinate with the various musical styles throughout the show. In addition to food and music, the festival will feature a marketplace filled with crafts, art and products by local entrepreneurs/retailers and information booths for non-profits. Presented by International House and The Dew Group. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-lt-street-food-festival-…. The fun starts at 4 p.m. at Camp North End. 1824 Statesville Ave.

Need something relaxing for this Saturday? Head out to Romare Bearden Park this evening for another round of Bearden Music Series! For your entertainment, experience some eclectic electricity from Spyro Gyra with special guest, saxophonist Dante Lewis and Kevin Whalum! Your host is none other than the lovely Jazz Diva herself, Ms. Tammy Greene. Admission is FREE to attend. Please be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets. There will be food trucks available too. The music begins promptly at 6 p.m. Romare Bearden Park is located at 300 S. Church St. in Uptown.

Some new flavor has arrived in town and this evening, you’re invited to come and experience The Artisan’s Palate Grand Opening Party! This all-new art gallery and gathering space in NoDa features small plates, craft cocktails and collections from local artists. For today’s opener, this establishment will debut its full food and cocktail menus, plus the opening of “PRIVATE,” a painted collection by the incredible Sam Guzzie. Admission is FREE and open to the public. 6 p.m. 1218 E. 36th St. in the NoDa District.

It’s time to rock your blue and gold and cheer on our hometown heroes for the 2019 JCSU Football Season! Come and make some noise and cheer on those brave and bold Golden Bulls in this season opener against the neighboring Wingate Bulldogs! And of course, you don’t want to miss the halftime show! Tickets can be purchased at the gate or here: https://goldenbullsports.com/sports/2009/12/1/GEN_1201095257.aspx?id=8. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Irwin Belk Complex at JCSU Main Campus. 100 Beatties Ford Rd.

Also, in conjunction with Charlotte VegFest, come experience some more flavor on stage at The Official Charlotte VegFest After Party! Enjoy some chilled beverages and some live music from four of the city’s hottest up-and-coming creatives: Celeste Moonchild, Cyanca, It Looks Sad. and a special DJ set from SeeBirdGo! Admission is FREE to attend and the event kicks off at 7 p.m. at Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts. 1030 Woodward Ave.

First 2 First Ent. is back for some Saturday styles and tonight it’s all about the vivacious vixens at Ladies First feat. DJ Fannie Mae! Ladies, grab your girls and come out for a night of nonstop Black Girl Magic, dancing, cocktails and eats with one of the QC’s hottest crowd rockers, DJ Fannie Mae spinning all the hits of today and yesteryear! And fellas, be sure to come correct! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ladies-first-dj-fannie-mae-tickets-70214211597. The party starts at 9 p.m. at The Press Box Bar & Grill. 9609 N. Tryon St. in the University Area.

It’s 2019, but this Saturday night, The JETA Team invites you to go back in time in a special retro round o’ sound with one of their most anticipated jam sessions — Off the Wall “Best of the 80’s V.18”! Join three of Charlotte’s finest on the wheels of steel Chief Rocka Aking Allah and Soul Brother DJ Justice as they give your earholes memories of the greatest tunes of our generation in the culture-defining decade, the 1980s! — From Billy Joel to Public Enemy, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, The Jacksons, Tears For Fears, 52nd Street, Kashif, Eric B. & Rakim, LL Cool J, NWA, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, Lionel Richie, Stephanie Mills, David Bowie, Mantronix, Prince, Sade and MUCH more! Also, the lovely lady with the ill techniques on the Technics 1200, DJ DK will be spinning Downtempo and House grooves and K&J’s Kitchen Food Truck will be parked out front serving up some Caribbean deliciousness! Admission is $5 before 10 p.m. and $10 after. The jump off is at 9 p.m. at Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

If you’re seeking some smoother sounds this Saturday, head over to The Evening Muse for a special concert featuring Jason Jet w/ Curt Keyz and Greg Cox performing LIVE! These three brilliant beacons of light and creativity have wowed many audiences with pristine musicianship, rousing and energetic performances and trademarked sonic styles that are all their own. If you’ve never witnessed any of these fine musicians, do yourselves a favor and cop your tickets here: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1878863. Doors open at 10 and the show starts at 10:30 p.m. The Evening Muse is located at 3227 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

——–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8——–

This afternoon, join Mr. Felix Curtis for the September installment of the Classic Black Cinema Series! Today’s feature is the 1970, Ossie Davis co-written and directed classic “Cotton Comes To Harlem.” Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are two Harlem detectives with a reputation for cracking cases. Both are annoyed at the success of the Reverend Deke O’Mailey who is selling trips back to Africa to the poor on the installment plan. When his truck is hijacked and a bale of cotton stuffed with money is lost in the chase, Harlem is turned upside down by Gravedigger and Coffin Ed, the Reverend and the hijackers. The screening is FREE with Gantt Center admission and will begin promptly at 2 p.m. 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Need some more House music in your life? Don’t worry, I got you! Bring all your friends and fellow House heads down to Crown Station for the Second Sunday Jam! Join DJs Tony Essence, Johnnie Davis, Raw Substance’s Steve Howerton and Charles Gatling and birthday honoree Mike Brown as they power the place with a vibrant mix of House grooves ranging from Classic, Soulful, Afro-Latino, Deep and much more! There will also be exquisite dishes for sale from Kafe’ InterNational. Admission is FREE, but donations will also be accepted. 2 p.m. 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Also at The Gantt Center, come and get engaged and hear stories of history and culture at its newest social platform, Diaspora Dialogues. For almost 150 years along the west coast of Africa, Ghana was the center of the transatlantic slave trade. Remnants of the trade in Ghana remain visible today. In fall 2018, the country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, declared 2019 the “Year of Return” for Africans living in the Diaspora, encouraging them to retrace their roots and return to Ghana. During this Year of Return, noted educator James E. Ford – an African-American living in Charlotte – traveled to Ghana. Join us as Ford explores the history and culture of the country 400 years after the first Africans were brought to the Americas. Ford will share images he photographed in rural, coastal and urban areas in the country and discuss his experiences with and among Ghanaians. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diaspora-dialogues-james-e-for…. The event will begin at 3 p.m.

People, gather round for some soulful sounds at Tip Top Daily Market for Bueller’s Born Day Boogie — 34 1/3 Revolutions on Wax! It’s my 34th birthday and I want you to grab your friends as yours truly, The Black Ferris Bueller gives you four full hours of nonstop R&B, Soul, Funk, Jazz & Hip Hop hits, remixes, album cuts, rare grooves and more from my personal vinyl collection! There will be eats and treats available and I will be taking up donations for Covered Girls, Inc. — a local nonprofit initiative geared towards helping teenage girls involved in unhealthy relationships, sexual exploitation and negative lifestyles through educating, equipping & empowering them with a healthy guide to maintain a positive image in lifestyle. Admission is $FREE.99. The tables start turning at 5 p.m. 2909 The Plaza Rd.

 

——–MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9——–

Calling all aspiring cosmetologists – The Dooby Shop School of Cosmetology invites you out for a special community Open House this evening. Meet with established cosmetologists, learn about available programs, receive full training in a wide variety of styles and much more! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 7 p.m. The Dooby Shop is located at 2107 Beatties Ford Rd.

 

 

 

——–TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10——–

New Era Music House is set to relax you on this Tuesday evening with the remixed and revamped return of their cultural cooldown, The Sun Dipped In Black! Before your work week gets too much on your nerves, come get your mind, body and soul right with some poetry, food and drink specials and a special soundtrack of your favorite neo-soul, R&B and jazz jams provided by Ron Styles and the lovely Nasya Lucas! Admission is FREE and the experience begins at 7 p.m. at LaWan’s Soul Food. 7520 S. Tryon St.    #NewEraMusicHouse

 

COMING SOON…

9/12—9/21 – BNS Productions’ “Boys To Baghdad”

9/13 – Charlotte DOES Jamiroquai

9/14 – RELEASE! Classic & Soulful House 5th Year Anniversary Party

9/14 – The LoveAnyway Show: Charlotte

9/18 – The Midnight Hour: Ali Shaheed Muhammad + Adrian Younge

9/19 — Ubuntu – Power of Unity – A Community Building Course

9/20 — 90’s Vibes: The Best of Hip Hop and R&B Featuring Orchestra Noir

9/21 – Art Is Life Rooftop Gala

9/21 – EmpoweHERment, Inc. Annual Teen Summit

9/21 – View The Right Thing Film & Discussion Series – “Get On The Bus”

9/25 — Short Films and Sketch Film Festival

9/26 — 4th Annual Black Mental Health Symposium

 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”   – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

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

 

Everyone have a great weekend and I hope to see you all out and about! .

 

#WeekendWarrior   #TheBlackFerrisBueller   #EarsToDaSkreets #CommunityFirst