The Rundown: Things to Do Thursday, December 26 – Sunday, December 29

By Shawn D. Allison, II

Habari Gani Brothers and Sisters! Happy Kwanzaa to you all! Well, here we are—the last Rundown of 2019 and ultimately, this decade! It’s been an honor and a privilege giving you all, the community, all the goods, deets and beats pulsating through these Queen City streets! I’ve got a lot to do this weekend to get my last fixes of fun in for the history books, but if you want to know what the real moves to make, take a look at my Hot List just below, you dig?

 

  • THURSDAY–SATURDAY — Kwanzaa Charlotte Citywide Celebration
  • THURSDAY — Kil Ripkin X Jah Freedom : Premedicated — The Listening Party
  • FRIDAY — Black Food Truck Friday at Planet Mitsubishi
  • FRIDAY — SoulFlo Celebración: A Unique Blend of Live Music, Storytelling & Spoken Word
  • FRIDAY — Radio Rehab Carolinas & We Are Stereotypez presents HELLA COLLAB
  • SATURDAY — Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at The Gantt Center
  • SATURDAY — Su Casa: The December Celebration at Petra´s
  • SUNDAY — Stop Human Trafficking Workshop & Information Pop Up Hub 

 

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, DECEMBER 26——–

This weekend, get to know your heritage through the arts as Kwanzaa Charlotte hosts their Annual Kwanzaa Charlotte Citywide Celebration! Experience this enlightening holiday with a number of lectures, live performances, poetry pieces, dance number, fellowship, an African marketplace and much more! Kwanzaa Charlotte events are educational and cultural activities designed to benefit the entire Charlotte Community centering on Kwanzaa’s seven core principles. All info for event times, locations and additional material will be listed here: http://www.kwanzaacharlotte.com 

This weekend, cool out with some cool jazz sounds as Middle C Jazz Club invites you out to experience the Dwan Bosman Quartet! Dubbed by event promoters as, “The Show Stopper”, sax man Dwan Bosman brings Las Vegas style showmanship and entertainment to every audience he performs at. From straight-ahead jazz to Funk and a menagerie of other music flavors, you will be sure to enjoy this ride! Tickets and performance times can be found here: http://www.middlecjazz.com.  

Charlotte, experience Hip Hop the way you like as Freaquency360 invites you out to Kil Ripkin X Jah Freedom : Premedicated — The Listening Party! It’s all back to the basics with longstanding underground staple emcee Kil Ripkin fresh out of the lab with his newest creation, “Premedicated”, and tonight you have the opportunity to hear the funk fresh out the fryer with project collaborator DJ/Producer Jah Freedom accompanying the boom bap groove. Also, be sure to plug your senses into the the realm of QC fire spitter Jah-Monte OGBON giving you the Black truth in rhyme. Accompanying sounds will be provided by the illest turntablist you never heard of, my man DJ L.O.! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kil-ripkin-x-jah-freedom-premedicated-the-listening-tickets-83534707559. The event will begin at 9 p.m. at Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

 

 

——–FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27——–

Black Business Owners of Charlotte (BBOC) has been on a serious roll with recycling our coins back into our community and tonight, get your stomachs revved up at Planet Mitsubishi for final round of Black Food Truck Friday! Bring all your friends and family out for an evening 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 4 p.m. 110 Northchase Dr.   #BBOC

 

 

Ladies, grab your girls and treat yourselves to a special gift of wellness and relaxation as Coco Yoni Lounge invites you out for a special Friday Night Sip & Steam Party! Enjoy an evening of post-holiday regrouping as you get to experience a tranquilizing and fashioned V-steam (an ancient herbal detox to help tighten, tone and cleanse your most intimate parts). There will be some soothing soul music to accompany the mellow mood and some crafty cocktails to enhance your experience. TIckets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-night-sip-steam-tickets-86222007345.   The event will begin at 5 p.m. Coco Yoni Lounge is located at 3448 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa DIstrict.

This evening, join 7th Phaze for an evening of community, creativity and lifestyle as they proudly present Culture Fridays! Come and experience a variety of creative expressions in the areas of art, music, poetry, literature, fashion, dance and many other outlets! Also, you’ll get to enjoy delicious eats, raffle prizes, gift bag giveaways and fellowship. Admission is FREE but you are asked to bring a canned food item that will be collected and given to needy elders in the area. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at NoDa @ 28th Creative Arts Studios. 2424 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Get your laugh on this evening as the Queen City Omegas present another hilarious round of Comedy Night! Bring your friends out and get ready for some side-splitting humor from headliner, Smoke and opening act Julio Hennessy! Then, be sure to stick around as DJ 06 burns up the speakers with a hot mix of Hip Hop and R&B tunes. The host for the evening is Brother Tito. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queen-city-omegas-comedy-night-tickets-85259400161. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. The Omegas of Charlotte Fraternity House is located at 3301 Statesville Ave.

Tonight, the stage is set for a magical showcase of music and the good people of Jazz N’ Soul Music, and Tochi Bueno Productions invite you out to SoulFlo Celebración: A Unique Blend of Live Music, Storytelling & Spoken Word! Prepare yourself to be positively entertained, encouraged and excited as featured artists Curt Keyz, One Way North, Emaejai, Crump Casso, Eden Fiore, Malaika Denise and many more bring forth soulful and inspirational vocal performances designated to create a “flo” that’ll definitely touch your soul! Spoken word artist Dr. T and Nate Mask will also be sure to ignite the stage on fire with some inspiring words. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soulflo-celebracion-a-unique-blend-of-live-music-storytelling-and-spoken-word-tickets-80398430871. The event will begin at 8 p.m. at The Rabbit Hole. 1801 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.   #JazzNSoulMusic   #TochiBueno

The coolest crew known as Radio Rehab Carolinas is back one mo’ gin in conjunction with our family We Are Stereotypez presenting another episode of the city’s hottest Hip Hop jam & networking session, Sounds N’ Sixteens presents HELLA COLLAB! Step into the zone and gear your ears to the stage as a collective of the QC’s hottest up-and-coming producers, MCs, beatsmiths and musicians collaborate in an evening of pure, unfiltered Hip Hop energy! Tonight’s features include: SEGA, Bernie Burns, Kil Ripkin and Luc Macnamera. Music will be provided by The Mighty DJ DR and will be hosted by Bluz, Loot-Tenant Trax, Earl Grey and DJ SPK. Admission is $5 per person. The jump off is at 10 p.m. at Crown Station. 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Some new tunes are in the air and this evening, you are invited to a special jubilee of sound and life as The Evening Muse hosts the Genesis Album Release & Birthday Celebration! Come and experience the wondrous and soulful sounds of R&B songstress Genesis! While not new to the scene, she brings a fresh sound with a sultry voice as she describes, ¨music can mend a broken heart, uplift the contrite spirit, stir the stagnated soul and to want nothing more than to tap into that very power and penetrate the hearts of listeners worldwide.” Having released her highly anticipated EP, ¨emerGENce¨ in July 2019, she has a brighter outlook on the future than what she already possesses and is hopeful that she will bring life back into music. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/genesis-album-release-and-birthday-celebration-tickets-76264746911.   The event will begin at 10:30 p.m. The Evening Muse is located at 3227 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

 

——–SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28——–

Brothers and Sisters, get ready for a day of multisensory flavor as The Gantt Center invites you out to their Annual Kwanzaa Celebration! Come out and experience some creative hands-on arts & crafts activities, witness live African dance performances, get engaged in community conversations as you celebrate the principles of Kwanzaa, shop from local vendors, sample Black-owned and locally-made sweets, partake in a special yoga session, tour the museum’s art exhibitions and much more! Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. In Uptown.

Moxie Society is back to add some more spice to your Saturday presenting the I Still Love The 90’s Brunch & Day Party! You know the flavor – get your grub on with a delicious Southern-inspired brunch with all sorts of cocktail specials including $5 mimosas, get your boogie on with some classic 90s Hip Hop, R&B, House and Soul tunes from the beautiful DJ Micki Blendz! Admission is FREE to attend and the event will begin at 11 a.m. at Recess Charlotte. 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood. #MoxieSociety #TheArtOfTheDayParty

Experience the beauty of our rhythm as Ballet of International Africans invites you out to their Annual Dundunba Kwanzaa Celebration this evening. A Dundunba is a Guinea party with live drums, music by popular African artists, performances by djeli’s, food, along with dancing freestyle whenever the spirit moves you. There will be a 30 minute beginner West African dance class for those who are curious to try it out and then live drumming paired with music by artists such as Sekouba Bambino, Davido, Olamide, Youssou Ndour, Sona Jobarteh, Wunmi and more will take over and close out the event. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bias-annual-dundunba-kwanzaa-celebration-tickets-83766025437. The event will begin at 9 p.m. at MoveStudio Charlotte. 1111 Hawthorne Ln. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

Charlotte has been on a whirlwind of positive energy in 2019 and tonight, come get this decade’s finale at the city’s premiere oasis for the culturally-starved as Jasiatic hosts “Su Casa – The December Edition!” Celebrate all elements of your life on the dance floor and be ready to freely express yourselves in rhythm to a vibrant soundtrack of Afrobeat, House, Soul, Reggae, Deep House, Funk, Downtempo, Dancehall and more indigenous flavors from in-house maestros Soul Brother DJ Justice and DJ Steel Wheel giving their own special dose of Afrocentric flavor! Admission is $10 all night long. The party starts at 10 p.m. at Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

 

——–SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29——–

With all the occurrences of kidnappings and abductions on the rise lately, local activist QC SuperMom invites you out to a special Stop Human Trafficking Workshop & Information Pop Up Hub. Here’s a great opportunity to link up with community members and increase the awareness on ways to protect everyone in our backyard. Topics include how to recognize human trafficking, how to protect your family, signs that help identify victims and how the community can address the root causes of these heinous crimes. The panel discussion will feature local community experts, resources and a special guest who is a human trafficking survivor. There will also be a live self-defense demonstration, firearm permit forms and more. Admission is FREE but please be sure to bring a toiletry item of necessity they will be donated to neighbors in need. The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Beatties Ford Library. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd.

This afternoon, prepare your peepers for some cinematic magic as local film buff and cultural advocate Angel Truesdale invites you out to a special Holiday Movie Party! Bring your friends out and get ready to view the 2019 release, “Fast Color.” Directed by Julia Hart, this story highlights a woman as she’s forced to go on the run when her superhuman abilities are discovered. However, years after having abandoned her family, the only place she has left to hide is home. There will be a post-film discussion. Admission is FREE and you are also free to bring your own bottle of wine. The screening will begin at 2 p.m. at VisArt Video. 3104 Eastway Dr.

COMING SOON…

12/31 – Hindsight 2020 New Years Eve Party

12/31 – Prive Marketing Group presents Confetti Reign 2020 NYE

12/31 – RELEASE! New Years Eve Celebration

12/31 — Royal Excellence: A Salute to Our Culture

1/3 — Blow Your Head feat. Gary Wallace

1/4 — #BlackOwnedCLT Cash Mob Saturday

1/4 – Off The Wall: Best of the 80s V. 19

1/6 — Revolt Comedy Show #15

1/11 – 2020 HBCU College Fair

1/11 — In Livin´ Color: A Paint + Sip Party for Black Women

1/11 — The Sound + BLAST + Stagelights

1/18 – Media Maven Connect

 

See you in 2020! Peace!

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

 

#WeekendWarrior   #TheBlackFerrisBueller   #EarsToDaSkreets   #CommunityFirst