By Shawn D. Allison, II
Greetings everyone! I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day this week and I hope you’re ready to feel more love with lots of fun and cool digs this weekend! Get out the house and engage with each other! If you choose to follow me this weekend, here’s my Hot List filled with exciting goodies!
- THURSDAY—Dub C Movie Night at West Charlotte High School
- THURSDAY—Screening of “I Am Not Your Negro” at Regal Manor Twin
- FRIDAY—“K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace” Exhibition at The Levine Museum
- FRIDAY—Game Night with MARS at The Local
- FRIDAY—“Hip Hop & Hookah: The South Set” at Apostrophe Lounge
- SATURDAY–4th Annual Family Valentine’s Vegan Day Party at Pure Pizza
- SATURDAY—Love Jones Slam at Apostrophe Lounge
- SUNDAY—The Bechtler Ensemble’s “Chamber of Love VIII – Passion of Latin America” at The Bechtler Museum
- SUNDAY—Verbal Expressions’ “Love EveryDae” at Sydney’s Martini & Wine Bar
- MONDAY—“Mo’ Betta” at The Morehead Tavern
——-THURSDAY 2/16——-
Be More Foundation and Hip Hop University have invited you out to West Charlotte High School for a special Dub C Movie Night screening of the new multi-award-winning Ava DuVernay documentary, “13th.” After the viewing, there will be a community discussion. All ages and voices are welcome to attend. Admission is FREE to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the film starts at 6 p.m. West Charlotte High School is located at 2219 Senior Dr.
Set your weekend off with style and sophistication this evening as The Gantt Center proudly brings you their acclaimed monthly after-work culture jam, “Gantt After Dark!” Mellow out with a mature and sophisticated crowd as tonight’s theme will focus on THE ARTIST. Bring your crew and colleagues and come indulge in artist talks, live music, food, painting, drawing, and short films. Admission to Gantt After Dark is free, but if you choose to participate in any of the mini art workshops, please register and pay here: http://www.ganttcenter.org/calendar/gantt-after-dark-0119/. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Couples and singles! Come and get your groove on at the Bette Rae Thomas Recreational Center this evening as Dapper Street Productions presents, “Love Notes.” Dance the night away to the tunes of R&B, Soul and Funk joints from today and yesteryear, from a live band, enjoy light refreshments and meet someone new—for the single folks, of course! Admission is FREE to attend and have your dancing shoes ready to slide and glide. Music starts at 6 p.m. The address is 2921 Tuckaseegee Rd.
The QCMC of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. invite you out to the Wadsworth Estate for another installment of their Economic Empowerment Series. For tonight’s session, you’ll learn how to protect your stash under the leadership and knowledge of Certified Financial Planner Cynthia Richards-Donald of MassMutual Carolinas. Admission is FREE to attend. The session begins at 6 p.m. The Wadsworth Estate is located at 400 S. Summit St. near Uptown.
Ladies, have you ever thought about taking a self-defense class? Do you have an inner warrior that would love to get some training in? Would you come if you knew you could have fun learning? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come on down to the Midwood International Cultural Center this evening for a Women’s Self-Defense Class. Join Lady Sensei New York as she guides you along basic techniques for self-defense. All ages and levels are welcome. This session will run today (2/16) and Friday (2/17) from 6 – 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-self-defense-classes-by-lady-sensei-new-york-tickets-31551602693. The Midwood International Cultural Center is located at 1817 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
This evening, come out to Regal Manor Twin and witness the work of acclaimed writer and social critic James Baldwin come to life in the screening of the documentary, “I Am Not Your Negro.” In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, “Remember This House.” The book was to be a revolutionary, personal account of the lives and successive assassinations of three of his close friends—Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Now, in his incendiary new documentary, master filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished. The result is a radical, up-to-the-minute examination of race in America, using Baldwin’s original words and flood of rich archival material. This is a one-night-only screening. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.iamnotyournegrofilm.com/. Screening begins at 7 p.m. Regal Manor Twin is located at 609 Providence Rd. near Uptown.
Head on down to Winthrop University in Rock Hill as Winthrop students proudly present a stage adaption of the heralded tale, “The Wiz!” With an infectious, funky-soul score, “The Wiz” brings renewed relevance to a timeless classic. This beloved Broadway gem infuses L. Frank Baum’s original tale with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. This timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical set in the context of African-American culture. Tickets are $10 with Winthrop ID and $15 for the general public. Performances will be today (2/16), Friday (2/17) at 8 p.m. with additional shows on Saturday (2/18) and Sunday (2/19) at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on both days. All shows will be at the Johnson Theatre. 1920 Alumni Dr. in Rock Hill.
——-FRIDAY 2/17——-
The wait is over. The pictures have been taken. The expressions are bold. The time to act is now. Everyone head over to The Levine Museum of the New South for the grand opening of the new exhibit, “K(NO)W Justice, K(NO)W Peace.” This community-created exhibit centers around police-involved shootings throughout the nation and here in Charlotte. Shot by acclaimed photographer Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr. and co-created with activists and law enforcement, the media, students, clergy and civic leaders, K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace explores the historical roots of the profound distrust between police and community, tells the human stories beyond the headlines, and engages viewers in creating constructive solutions. Everyone come and experience this! The museum is located at 200 E. 7th St. in Uptown.
Gather your friends and come out to The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art for another fun edition of “Bechtler By Night!” Hailed as a leisure haven for art enthusiasts in the Charlotte region, this event for this evening will be themed as “Travel Abroad.” Hors d’oeuvres and margarita cocktails will be available. Admission is FREE and it begins at 5 p.m. The Bechtler is located at 420 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Everyone is invited down to First United Presbyterian Church as they present another soul-stirring edition of their United In Jazz Concert Series. Enjoy a delicious dinner, good fellowship, and live jazz from the electrifying Peter & Will Anderson Trio! Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome. The event begins at 5 p.m. First United Presbyterian Church is located at 406 N. College St. in Uptown.
The wildly popular Science on the Rocks is back once again to fill your Friday evening with all sorts of experimental entertainment! For tonight’s session, you will partake in an 80’s Prom! Compete for Prom King and Queen, show off your best moonwalk in our dance contest, strike a pose in our photo booth with classic prom background and much more as we go back in time for an unforgettable adult-only night at the Museum. Tickets can be purchased here: https://science.discoveryplace.org/explore/events/science-on-the-rocks-80s-prom. This event is for persons 21+ with proper ID. The fun starts at 5 p.m. The Discovery Place is located at 301 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Brass goes boom all over the room this weekend at The Stage Door Theater! Join Jazz Arts Initiative as they bring forth to you, a special edition of The Jazz Room entitled “Trumpet Summit!” Come and hear the sounds and styles of some of the area’s most professional musicians band together to create a magnificent spectacle of sound! There will be four shows: Friday (2/17) at 6 and 8:15 p.m. and Saturday (2/18) 7 and 9:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/jazz-room-the-stage-door-theater-6. The Stage Door Theater is located at the corner of E. 5th St. and N. College St. in Uptown. #JAI
Treat yourselves culinary comfort merged with some gut-busting laughter at The Gantt Center this evening as Y&S Productions proudly presents, “Comedy & Cuisine!” Enjoy some top-notch comedy from Charlotte’s own, the legendary Tone-X and a live cooking demonstration with specialty dishes created by Celebrity Chef Monica. The purpose of this event is to bring families back to the table by helping them “Laugh 2 live & Eat 2 live longer”. Comedy & Cuisine is a great opportunity for you to network and meet other like-minded individuals who have a passion for food, arts, culture and entertainment! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/yamps-productions-12692265259. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Charlotte Arts Chat invites you out to C3 Lab this evening as they present, “Performance Art: Dialogue In Action.” This fun conversational and mini-workshop centers around the questions, ‘What is performance art?’, ‘What is live art?’, ‘Is it visual art, theatre, dance?’ and more. Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome. The discussion starts at 7 p.m. C3 Lab is located at 2525 Distribution St. in Historic South End.
It’s almost time to kick things off for another great year of Co-Ed Kickball and this evening, the good people of M.A.R.S. invites you out to The Local Charlotte for Game Night With MARS! Curious about joining and want catch a feel of the energy before we step out onto the field? Come enjoy tons of icebreakers in the forms of games, great food, drink specials, raffles, live music, networking and more! Admission is FREE to attend and if you have any questions or concerns about the league, please visit: http://www.playmarsports.com. The fun starts at 7 p.m. The Local is located at 105 E. 5th St. in Uptown. #MARS #Funletics
Head down to The McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square for another rousing rhythmic rhetorical edition of SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam! For tonight’s feature, come and experience the verbal stylings of the beautiful Honey Sanaa. An accomplished educator, author and artist she’ll be sure to fill your soul with some down in the Delta flavor! Don’t miss this show! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. The slam starts at 8 p.m. 345 N. College St. in Uptown.
BluNotes invites you out to experience its new Friday smash hit, “The Friday Release…” this evening with none other than one of the baddest hornblowers in the QC—trombonist Buff Dillard! Come and get you a strong dose of his signature “Bonejazz” sound while you enjoy a delicious Southern-cooked meal and cocktails! Showtime is at 8 p.m. Admission is $10. BluNotes is located at 3425 David Cox Rd. in the Northlake Area.
The good people of Jazz N’ Soul Music invite you out to experience an evening of jazz and soul like you’ve never heard before. Everyone come out to The Morehead Tavern this evening and get ready to feel the vibes of 3rd Gen – The Evolution of Jazz! Anchored by Randy Hough on drums and Ron Woods on keyboards, you’ll never know what lies in store for your ears! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-gen-evolution-of-jazz-tickets-31907980629. Showtime is at 9 p.m. The Morehead Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #JazzNSoul
The Dynamic DJ Kato and DJ Steel Wheel team up once again to set fire to your Friday night with “Hip Hop & Hookah: The South Set!” For tonight’s get down, come and relive several Southern-fried Hip Hop classics from all eras! From Ludacris to The Geto Boys, Little Brother, OutKast, Goodie Mob, Cash Money, No Limit, Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boys and more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hip-hop-hookah-the-south-set-tickets-31860716260. The trunk rattlin’ bass starts thumping at 10 p.m. at Apostrophe Lounge. 1440 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
——-SATURDAY 2/18——-
This morning, rise up and head down to the Levine Museum of the New South for the Success Doesn’t Sleep Tour. Presented by Theresa Murphy Author, Founder of Murphy Life Coaching,LLC, and Owner of TAC Personnel. The 10-City Success Doesn’t Sleep Tour is a business platform that is on a mission to help corporate professionals, entrepreneurs and small business owners find the resources needed to build their brand, excel in corporate America and be influential world changers in the marketplace. This experience will feature Multi-influential women of color, including PRIDE Magazine’s own Elizabeth Colen whom are among a highly networked, motivated group trailblazers in the country. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/success-doesnt-sleep-tour-charlotte-nc-registration-29959314115. The event will begin at 9 a.m. The museum is located at 200 E. 7th St. in Uptown.
Everyone rise this morning and head over to the Midwood International Cultural Center for the Nubian Rootz Black History Month Celebration! You and the family will get to engage with many others with an African marketplace, a panel discussion, community networking and building, fellowship and a celebration of our history and culture! Admission is FREE to attend and the event will begin at 10 a.m. The Midwood International Cultural Center is located at 1817 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
The beautiful wonder woman known as QC SuperMom has put on her cape once again this time, she invites you to on her latest adventure—the 4th Annual Family Valentine’s Vegan Day Party! Nutrition is a top priority for us all and today she wants you to try a few healthy slices of pie—pizza, that is. Come out to Pure Pizza this afternoon and take a trip down to the town of Bedrock with STEM activities, a Flintstones-themed photo booth, fun games, swag bags, live music and much more! It’s sure to be a Yabba Dabba Do time! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yabba-dabba-doo-vegan-family-valentines-day-party-tickets-30066621073. The fun starts at 2 p.m. Pure Pizza is located at 1911 Central Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District. #QCSuperMom
Back Alley Film Series and Charlotte Film Society invite you out to C33 Lab for a special screening of short films this evening in an event titled, “Revenge of the Back Alley Film Series!” Come and see a film or two, or more and celebrate BAFS’s 2017 kickoff with fresh brews, prizes and much more! Admission is FREE and the event begins at 5 p.m. C3 Lab is located at 2525 Distribution St. in Historic South End.
The McColl Center of Art + Innovation hosts its first ever Community Pie Social–a time for neighborly fellowship and dialogue about topical issues that impact people’s daily lives, from politics and education to housing and health. The works from five of McColl Center’s current and alumni artists-in-residence, this exhibition aims to respond to the increasingly visible violence against Black bodies and offers some answers to a number of questions of social issues and the systems that uphold violence and oppression. Bring a fresh-baked sweet or savory pie to share with others and let’s talk about who we are as individuals, where we are as a city and a nation, and what steps we can take to affect change. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-pie-social-registration-30898697837. The discussion will begin at 5 p.m. The McColl Center is located at 721 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Respect Da’ Mic invites you out to Apostrophe Lounge this evening for their first ever “Love Jones Slam!” Come out and listen to poets competing with their original love poems, romantic, sensual, self-love poems and more good stuff! Advance tickets are $5 and can be purchased on PayPal here: wordsRmagic@gmail.com. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the slam begins at 6 p.m. Apostrophe Lounge is located at 1400 S. Tryon St. in Uptown. #RespectDaMic #SayWord
Everyone get your feet movin’, groovin’, slidin’ and shufflin’ over to Industry this evening for the Queen City Dance Showcase! Hosted by Coco Lanell, this spectacle will feature dance companies and teams from the Charlotte metro area showcasing their talents in Tap, African, Hip Hop, Latin and Jazz dance styles. This art-cultivated event is sure to entertain as well as inform. The goal of the QC Dance Showcase is to create awareness to the arts through niche events. There will be food and vendors available and all ages are welcome to attend. Admission is FREE! The fun starts at 6 p.m. Industry is located at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Brothers and sisters, want to feed your minds with knowledge on this Saturday night? Slide over to Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church this evening and learn from the great African Diaspora professor Dr. Runoko Rashidi! Hosted by The League of Intelligence and Khui Land Productions, this family-oriented and interactive learning session will feature a dynamic visual presentation on Dr. Rashidi’s latest book “African Star Over Asia.” Tickets are $10 each. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church is located at 6116 Monteith Dr. in the Hidden Valley Neighborhood.
The Latin American Coalition proudly presents “A Night In Rio”–a colorful and vibrant celebration of the Brazilian Carnival! Come out and eat authentic foods, enjoy native drinks, dancing, fellowship, music and a small marketplace! It’s something the whole family can enjoy! Tickets are on sale at: http://www.riocharlotte.com. The event begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at The Neighborhood Theatre. 511 E. 36th St. in the NoDa District.
The King of Pop lives on this Saturday night at Amos’ Southend with a riveting performance from Who’s Bad? – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band! Relive the hits and dance moves as the spirit of one of the world’s greatest entertainers captivates your soul with a musical spectacle featuring a full band and an impersonator who has channeled Michael’s movements down to a science! It’s a show that you don’t want to miss! Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1316969?utm_source=fbTfly&utm_medium=ampOfficialEvent. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Amos’ Southend is located at 1423 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Get ready to sweat, move and groove at The Morehead Tavern this evening because Africana Connections is back one mo’ gin’ with the ninth edition of “AfroPop! – Afrobeat, Soca, Fashion, Vendors & Art!” Gather all your friends ‘round the dance floor for an explosive and colorful evening of high-energy sounds and vibrations with an all-authentic indigenous soundtrack! This is a special edition because you will be celebrating the birthday of The Dynamic DJ Kato and clothier Eric B. Ndelo! Also, my man DJ Steel Wheel will be bringing his own flavor of Africa through the speakers. Don’t miss this! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afropop-charlotte-vol-9-afrobeats-soca-fashion-vendors-live-art-tickets-31855006181. The party starts at 9 p.m. The Morehead Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #AfricanaConnections
All my fellow House Music lovers, bring your friends, your heart and get your groove on at NoDa@28th Creative Arts Studio and experience “Love In the House!” This post-Valentine’s Day celebration focuses solely on the love of House Music and the people within the space. Everyone is welcome to come and free themselves on the dance floor with two guest DJs, a live performance from a live artist and more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-in-the-house-tickets-12691700217. The love starts flowing at 9 p.m. NoDa@28th Creative Arts Studio is located at 2424 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
Do your ears need some medical attention? Head down to Kanvas Gallery & Lounge and mellow out with sound surgeon DJ Foundacetion this evening for another fly edition of “Prescribed Vinyl.” 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.
——-SUNDAY 2/19——-
Start your Sunday Funday off on the right foot at Red Clay Ciderworks as they host their Sunday Brunch! PepperBox Doughnuts returns with their amazing doughnut creations and The Breakfast Food Truck will be serving up brunch with a dynamic and diverse menu. In addition to the food, try some some special craft cider cocktails including Cidermosas, Bellinis and the wonderfully roasted, cold-brewed nitro Pure Intentions Coffee! Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome. The event begins at 12 noon. Red Clay Ciderworks is located at 245 Clanton Rd. in Historic South End.
Attention all gamers! Head out to Abari Game Bar this afternoon for the 1st Annual Killer Queen CLT Invitational! Get those hands and wrists lose as you either compete or cheer on various contestants in this wildly popular game! I’ve played this game and let me tell you that you will be hooked just as I am! If you choose to participate, please check out the roster standings and join a team here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jIUNm74oUbFvjmX1ow66pcgLVtoJR4HZWci1xeQr-kA/edit#gid=0. There will be prizes and all sorts of goodies here—try it out, you just might like it! Admission is FREE to attend and the battles start at 1 p.m. Abari Game Bar is located at 1721 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
True Dreams Radio invites you out to 360 Lounge this evening as they proudly present to you “Shot 4 Shot CLT!” Models, photographers, artists, musicians and connoisseurs come out for a multisensory art experience filled with nonstop positive, avant-garde energy! There will be live performances from local artists, several photoshoot stations, body paint and a live nude photoshoot. All models and photographers are admitted for $5 but have to RSVP here: http://www.truedreamsradio.com. General admission is $7. People only 21+ with proper ID will be admitted. The event will begin at 6 p.m. 360 Lounge is located at 3060 Smith Corners Blvd. in the Northlake Area.
This evening, everyone come down to The Becthler Museum for a special Sunday treat! The Bechtler Ensemble is pleased to present to you “Chamber of Love VIII – Passion of Latin America.” This beautifully constructed composition will feature the stylings of guitarists Mary Ackerman, Bob Teixeira and cellist Tanja Bechtler. Admission is $8 for museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will start at 6 p.m. The Bechtler Museum is located at 420 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Verbal Expressions is back one mo’ gin’ with some all-new poetic flavor for the month of February! Join host Chosen the Poet as she proudly presents “Love EveryDae.” Bring your friends out to hear and experience what lies between the stanzas of creativity and imagination from a number of spoken word artists and a special performance from featured act, R&B artist, JJ Dae. You don’t want to miss this! Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/verbal-expressions-tickets-31002309743. Showtime is at 7 p.m. at Sydney’s Martini & Wine Bar. 401 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
——-MONDAY 2/20——-
On Q Productions is back again to put some funk in your Monday with another fly edition of Mo’ Betta! Join host Quentin Talley and On Q musical director Tim Scott, Jr. for an evening full of great music, spoken word, film, comedy, dance and more visual art! Your featured act for the evening is none other than the musical mixologist Najma Jahaan and the flyness known as JC the Poet! Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/mo-betta. Showtime is at 6 p.m. and it will be held at The Tavern. 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #OnQ
Everyone hop on your bikes, get ready to lift off and fly across the sky to The Spoke Easy for their “Bike In Movie Night!” For tonight’s feature, relive one of cinema’s beloved masterpieces, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” It’s the story of a young boy who befriends an alien and their worlds collide in love, curiosity and understanding. It’s one of my favorite movies and if you haven’t seen it (shame on you) come on down and experience the magic! Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Spoke Easy is located at 1523 Elizabeth Ave. in Uptown.
COMING SOON…
The CIAA 2017 Rundown Special Edition
Have a super weekend everyone! Keep your heads up high, keep the faith and keep on pushing for greatness!
Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#TheBlackFerrisBueller #WeekendWarrior