By: Shawn D. Allison, II
Here we are Brothers and Sisters—the very end of 2016, and what a year it has been! There’s ALL sorts of happenings and jump off goin’ down in Crown Town this weekend and I’m sure that you’ll indeed find something to get into to ring in 2017! If you want the scoop of what the hotness will be this weekend, just peep my “Hot List” just below!
- Thursday—Regaining Our Power: An African History Course
- Friday—“Vinyl Me, Please?” at Kanvas Gallery & Lounge
- Saturday—“City Nights: A New Year’s Eve Soiree” at The Morehead Tavern
- Saturday—“Su Casa’s NYE Bashment” at Petra’s
- Saturday—“Karibu Fete” at Private Affairs of Charlotte
- Sunday—The Weekend Wind Down at Grier Heights Community Center
——-THURSDAY 12/29——-
Habari Gani family! We are in the midst of Kwanzaa and there’s a whole lot of ‘edutainment’ for you! Join local grassroots initiative Kwanzaa Charlotte as they host “Kwanzaa, 2016 – A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.” Bring the entire family out each night for education, community, networking, merchants and more! The remaining schedule of events and their locations can be found here: http://www.kwanzaacharlotte.com/services/. All events are FREE and open to the public.
Kick back and relax at Coco and the Director this evening and get ready for Throwback Movie Night! Grab your friends, coffee, hot tea and delicious treats as the holiday classic ‘It’s A Wonderful Life” screens for an audience! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Coco and the Director is located at 100 W. Trade St. in Uptown
Join Tech Talent South at Industry Coworking for an Introduction to WordPress Workshop! Building a WordPress site from the ground up and finding the right place to share it with the world sounds like a lot of work, right? However, with proper coaching, it’s not as hard as it may sound. With the help of experienced instructors, you’ll go step-by-step creating a simple WordPress site with provided tips on how to promote it. If you want to follow along, please bring your Wi-Fi capable laptop. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.meetup.com/Tech-Talent-South-Charlotte/events/235943881/. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Industry Coworking is located at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Join the League of Intelligence as they continue their “Regaining Our Power: An African History Course.” This multi-week course is geared to help educate Black people about our powerful past which provides: knowledge, networking and community building. There will be food and retail vendors at each session. The session is at 7 p.m. and will be held at Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion. 1901 Rozzelle’s Ferry Rd.
——-FRIDAY 12/30——-
Create Amazing, LLC invites you out to Industry Coworking this evening to create some fun at the ‘Paint N’ Play Pre-NYE Edition!” Vivid colors and words fly around in a wondrous display of urban art featuring some of the most gifted spoken word artists and painters from right here in Charlotte. Come out and let your creativity flow along with great food, music and a fashion show. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paint-play-pre-nye-edition-tickets-30488111763. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Industry Coworking is located at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Ladies, head out to Vistas at 707 this evening and get ready to grow at the “B.Y.O.G.—Bring Your Own Goals Vision Board Soiree!” This fun-filled night of inspiration, networking and goal-sharing is geared to help you move towards success as you prepare to slay your way through 2017 and beyond! Curating the event tonight are some very driven and beautiful QC-area ladies who are making their mark in the community. Please purchase your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/byog-charlotte-the-ultimate-vision-board-soiree-tickets-30676423007. All materials will be provided except magazines which you will have to bring on your own. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. Vistas at 707 is located at 707 Seigle Ave. on the outskirts of Uptown.
Let loose at Petra’s this evening and take a musical journey into yesteryear with “Mirror Moves: The Free Alternative Dance Party!” DJ’s Cody Hare and Jason Herring will be dropping the best of 80s & 90s Pop, New Wave, Techno, House, Synth Pop, EDM and more! Admission is FREE to attend. The party starts at 9 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
The Jazz N’ Soul family has been rockin’ with dope showcases and performances all year long and tonight, come bang out 2016 with of the QCs baddest bands, Affectual—who will provide some serious emotional communication through music. Together, these men bring you sounds that communicate with your heart, mind, body, and spirit. This is a show you do not want to miss! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/affectual-jazz-n-soul-music-pre-new-years-concert-event-a-night-of-sax-infused-hot-jazz-and-soul-tickets-30238986623. The show starts at 9 p.m. at The Morehead Tavern. 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown.
Come chill out at Kanvas Gallery & Lounge, with DJ FoundACEtion this evening for another fly edition of “Vinyl Me, Please?” 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.
Buff Dillard & Co. have been bustin’ out his signature ‘Bonejazz’ grooves all year long and tonight at Sydney’s Martini & Wine Bar, he and the crew are giving a special performance for your Friday evening delight! If you have never experienced this man before, come and feel his passion through a colorful array of tunes! Admission is FREE and the show begins at 9 p.m. Sydney’s is located at 401 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
——-SATURDAY 12/31——-
Charlotte’s best brunch experience is back once again at Sports One Bar & Lounge for a final get-down in 2016! 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 DJ Flemingo! 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
Mario, Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog, Zelda, The Ninja Turtles and more beloved video game characters invite you all to spend New Year’s Eve at Abari Game Bar for a day full of fun at the “Abari New Year’s Eve Pinball Bash!” While the pinball machines are the primary highlight for the day, the staff encourages everyone to play every game available! Youth ages 20+ and under are admitted from 12 noon – 5 p.m. and adults are admitted all day with proper I.D. Abari Game Bar is located at
Awesom & E.O.C. So Street Ent. have been making some serious noise all year long and this evening at BluNotes, they invite you out for their “NYE Black & Blue Affair!” Come out for an evening of rousing energy, great food, top shelf drinks and a special performance from legendary Hip Hop turntablist DJ Kid Capri! Charlotte’s own heavy hitter DJ K-Nyce will also rock the crowd to keep the party going. Complimentary champagne toast at midnight with a breakfast buffet after the party. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/awesom-eoc-new-years-eve-black-and-blue-affair-wdj-kid-capri-tickets-28835711389. The party starts at 7 p.m. BluNotes is located at 3425 David Cox Rd. in the University Area.
GMitch and Charlotte Nightlife Entertainment invite you out to King of Spicy Restaurant this evening for the “All Black NYE Go-Go Explosion!” Get dressed down and draped up in your grown and mature all black attire and get down on the good foot as Charlotte’s premier Go-Go band, Uptown Swagga sets the soundtrack for the new year! Food and drink specials will be available. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-black-new-years-eve-go-go-explosion-with-uptown-swagga-tickets-29116672752. The event will begin at 9 p.m. King of Spicy Restaurant is located at 5546 Albemarle Rd.
You want to end the year on a strong culture jam tip? Head down to Petra’s for “Su Casa’s NYE Bashment!” Jasiatic and Carlton have been busting out the dopeness all year long and now it’s time to end 2016 with a bang! Get your groove on as DJ Justice and DJ Steel Wheel power steer you into 2017 with a hot mix of Afrobeat, Soca, Reggae, Dancehall, Rare Grooves, Soul, The Funk and more! Be sure to get your face painted by the lovely Catherine Courtlandt and check out more art, vendors and other goodies! Admission is $10 before 11 p.m. and $15 after 11 p.m. The jump off is at 9 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
The creative forces of Moxie Society, Eddietainment and NxLevel Charlotte team up to bring you “Resolution 2K17!” Bring your crew down in your grown and mature attire and get down with audio pilots DJ Loui Vee and DJ Shaun Nyce aka “The Blend King” bringing you the best grooves from multiple eras! There will also be complimentary gourmet pizzas for VIP guests and a champagne toast for everyone at midnight. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resolution-2k17-dj-loui-vee-dj-shaun-nyce-tickets-29207347964. The event kicks off at 9:30 p.m. at Vapiano Charlotte. 201 S. Tryon St. in Uptown. #MoxieSociety #Eddietainment #NxLevelLifestyle
The Radio Rehab Carolinas family in association with Jazz N’ Soul and PepShaker Productions invites you out to The Morehead Tavern to experience “City Nights: A New Year’s Eve Soiree!” Come end your 2016 with a special guest live band, adult games, complimentary buffet, a midnight champagne toast and more! Fin the DJ aka Chaundon will be handling the turntables all night long. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-nights-nye-2016-at-the-morehead-tavern-tickets-30643960912. The party starts at 9 p.m. 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown.
All roads lead to tropical paradise this evening as S. Kehinde, DJ Corporate and Nizzo Entertainment proudly presents “Karibu Fete!” Come out and get some colorful island flavor with a hot Caribbean soundtrack from DJ Corporate and DJ Steve Nizzo, authentic Caribbean dishes and a drink selection that is sure to get your body moving! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/karibu-fete-nye-2016-tickets-29471057727. The party starts at 10 p.m. and will be held at Private Affairs of Charlotte. 520 Clanton Rd., Suite G.
——-SUNDAY 1/1——-
It’s a new year today and a new time to start on the right path. This afternoon, join Revolution EGO co-owner Kelley Carboni-Woods as she hosts “The Weekend Wind Down.” Relax, release and replenish yourselves with some uplifting and soothing Yoga exercises for all. Admission is $5. Be sure to bring a yoga mat and an open heart. The session begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at The Grier Heights Community Center. 3100 Leroy St.
COMING SOON…
- Friday, 1/6—Jazz at the Bechter: Many Shades of Blue
- Saturday, 1/7—“Off The Wall: Best of the 80’s V.10”
- Monday, 1/16—MLK Day Celebration
- Thursday, 1/21—Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
- Tuesday, 3/21 and Wednesday, 3/22—“Black Violin”
May your 2017 be full of joy, peace, love, positivity and all that other good stuff!
Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#WeekendWarrior #TheBlackFerrisBueller