The Rundown: Things to Do Thursday, March 14 -Sunday, March 17

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

By Shawn D. Allison, II

Greetings family! I hope you all have had a wonderful week. March Madness fever has hit the QC and I know a lot of you will be out rooting for your favorite squads! But for those who aren’t into college basketball, I’ve found a few enriching digs for you to indulge in this weekend! If you want to know what the real moves are to make, check out my “Hot List” down below!

 

  • THURSDAY – DIY Comic Character Workshop at The McColl Center
  • THURSDAY—SATURDAY — Jazz Arts Initiative presents The Jazz Room: Women In Jazz
  • THURSDAY– Dammit Wesley’s “Retrospective” at BlkMrktCLT
  • FRIDAY – Screening of “Bruce – The Film”
  • FRIDAY – “Culture + Kicks: The Intersection of Sneakers & Justice” at The Gantt Center
  • FRIDAY – Jazz N’ Soul Music presents Jazz Munkee LIVE at Prime@6538
  • SATURDAY – 2019 Healthy Living Expo
  • SATURDAY – Freaquency 360 feat. See Bird Go, DJ Wizdom & Mike G at Tip Top Daily Market
  • SUNDAY – I Still Love the 90s Brunch & Day Party at Explicit Bistro & Lounge
  • SUNDAY – Jerk Chicken N’ Waffles St. Patrick’s Sunday Jam 2019
  • SUNDAY – Black Food Truck Sunday

 

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, MARCH 14——-

Give your creativity some super powers this evening as The McColl Center invites you to the DIY Comic Character Workshop! Come and learn about character creation, line composition and comic techniques to design your own comic style character with McColl Center alumnus artist Marcus Kiser. Tickets can be purchased here: https://53393.blackbaudhosting.com/53393/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=3235f788-fad0-4b92-ba58-7314ad20071c. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The McColl Center is located at 721 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

 

 

This evening, join political strategist firm People’s Voice as they invite you out to a necessary panel discussion entitled, “Where Is Social Justice In The Criminal Justice System?” Given March is Women’s History Month, our focus will be discussing the harsher sentences handed down to Women of Color and what can be done to address implicit bias in sentencing and incarceration. Tonight’s panelists include attorney Renee Little, Meck Co. D.A. Spencer Merriweather, Meck Co. Sheriff Garry McFadden, Dist. 4 County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Superior Court Judge Lou Trosch. This discussion will be moderated by attorney Rhonda Patterson and community activist Brandi Williams. FREE admission. 6 p.m. at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church. 3725 Beattie Ford Rd.

This weekend, the Jazz Arts Initiative invites you to feel the power of women through musicianship with a special installment of The Jazz Room entitled, “Women In Jazz!” From Bobbi Humphrey to Alice Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Waters, Patrice Rushen, Mary Lou Williams, Melba Liston and more you’ll get to hear some of the QC’s finest female jazz instrumentalists channel songs of legendary female jazz dignitaries. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/the-jazz-room-at-the-stage-door-theater-16. There will be six performances this weekend: Thursday (3/14) and Friday (3/15) at 6 and 8: 15 p.m., Saturday (3/16) at 7 and 9:15 p.m. All shows will be held at The Stage Door Theater. Located on the corner of E. 5th St. & N. College St. in Uptown.

Join BriGGsing this evening at Town Brewery Company for the March installment of the Thirsty Thursday Brewery Tour! Town Brewing Company, located in the heart of historic Wesley Heights district on the West Side connects camaraderie with brewing beer and building lasting relationships that exemplifies this historic neighborhood. Founded by longtime friends who describe themselves as: the risk-averse, the science guy, the unfazed and the coxswain, they all see beer as a way to bring them all together but also know it’s the element of community that keeps them together. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thirsty-thursday-brewery-tour-tickets-58389007092. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Town Brewing Company is located at 800 Grandin Rd. in Historic West End. #BriGGsing

 

For some true adult fun, head over to Petra’s this evening for another round of “Potions & Pixels: Video Games, Board Games and Community.” This time around, in addition to all of your favorite retro, modern and indie video and board games, they invite you to step into the vivid world of virtual reality! Admission is only $8. 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

Step into a world of creative splendor and wonder as one of Charlotte’s most brilliant artists talents, Dammit Wesley invites you into his artful universe entitled, “Retrospective.” Bring your friends and come take a look back at 10 years of his mind-bending, colorful abstract journey from ashy to almost classy. Admission is FREE to attend. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at BlkMrktCLT at Camp North End. 1824 Statesville Ave.

If you want to mellow out on this Thursday evening, join Sir Abstraxxx as he hosts Eclectic Soul Thursdays – The 90s Vibes Only Edition! Take a seat and glide as this wizard of words takes your soul on a ride with some riveting spoken word in a scintillating open mic set showcasing local poets, writers, musicians, singers and artists all enveloped in a creative time warp of classic 90s Black culture. To accompany the mood, there will be some Hip Hop, Neo-Soul and R&B tunes spun by DJ Blanco with a delicious food menu provided by Chef Chianti. The event will begin at 8 p.m. at QC Social Lounge. 300 N. College St. in Uptown.

 

 

 

——FRIDAY, MARCH 15——-

This afternoon, join Jazz Arts Initiative as they celebrate Women’s History Month with a special “Women In Jazz Today” panel discussion. Today’s women in jazz are a part of this ongoing national conversation empowering women. Not very often do you see a full ensemble of jazz women. However, when you do, it’s a unique experience. As a featured addition to this month’s special JAZZ ROOM, a diverse quintet of talented female jazz musicians will spend some time speaking to the public about the world of jazz from their perspective. Admission is FREE and open to the public. The event will begin at 12 noon at the Char-Meck Main Library. 310 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

 Everyone slide out to Concord Mills AMC 24 for the premiere of the brand-new comedy from writer, director, producer and actor Eden Marryshow, “Bruce – The Film”! It’s the story of a con artist, liar, player and several other manipulative hats he wears who is pretty much a jerk to everything and everyone he comes in contact with. But as soon as a special lady enters his life and falls in love with her, he realizes that playtime is over for a man in his 30s and that he has to grow up — or will he? Catch the trailer and showtimes here: https://www.brucethefilm.com/ 

Everyone shift your noses and stomachs into 5th gear and head down to Sycamore Brewing because it’s time once again for “Food Truck Friday!” Let your olfactory senses steer you to one or many of Charlotte’s colorful culinary chariots ready to fill you up with delicious eats. Admission is FREE. The fellowshipping and feasting begins at both locations starting at 5 p.m. Sycamore Brewing is located at 2161 Hawkins St. in Historic South End.

It’s time for another wild, wacky and mysterious evening at The Discovery Place as it is proud to present, “Science on the Rocks: Masquerade!” Step into an ornate adults-only event at the museum as you slide from experiment to experiment donning a decorative mask. In addition to creating your own mask, you’ll get to make memories of this masquerade in a specialized photo booth, see how creative your concealed creation is in a costume contest and discover the fantastic, creepy, crawly world of insects in the Bug Lab! Tickets can be purchased here: https://15106a.blackbaudhosting.com/15106a/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=b2daa076-a948-4d2e-9e8d-86ed8a8932bb&property=property&property=property&_ga=2.141467762.136610088.1552501173-1111252688.1552501173. All of the festivities begin at 5 p.m. The Discovery Place is located at 301 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.   #SOTR

 

 

Join Ashley Grier of RhythmicSoul Therapy, LLC and Eternity Philops of Soul Liberation Yoga & Wellness for some melodious harmony at the Drumming Meditation Circle this evening. Gather your djembes, shakers, floor cushions, friends and come bask in the holistic sensations of vibrational healing. This will be a casual, informal space where we make room for guided positive energy to speak to our souls through the divine sacredness of sound. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drumming-meditation-circle-registration-57151805589. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Soul Liberation Yoga & Wellness Studio. 4822 Albemarle Rd., Suite #305.

In collaboration with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library community read of “The Hate You Give”, The Gantt Center invites you out to a special community conversation entitled, “Culture + Kicks: The Intersection of Sneakers & Justice” this evening. To fathom sneaker culture’s marketability and the taste-making impact of African-Americans, we must recognize sneaker culture’s commodification through literature, television, and film. Acclaimed public speaker, educator, journalist and sneaker head Jemayne Lavar King will explore how author, Angie Thomas uses Hip-Hop culture in her text and film to address police brutality, and how African-Americans use sneaker culture as a means of expression and communication. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://give.ganttcenter.org/checkout/9966. The event will begin at 7 p.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Moxie Society is ready to kick your weekend off on a cool, relaxing note presenting Havana Nights this evening! Join one of Charlotte’s finest leisure firms as they turn the heat up with positive vibes, fresh-rolled Cuban cigars and delightful Mojito specials to put yourselves at ease. And for your audible amusement, Charlotte’s own DJ Shogun will blend some spicy, classic and contemporary Hip Hop and R&B jams to enhance your experience! Admission is FREE and the dress code is mature and classy. 8 p.m. at Secret Society Cigar Lounge. 2415 W. Morehead St. near Uptown.

Jazz N’ Soul Music proudly welcomes back the ever-funky Jazz Munkee this Friday evening at Prime@6538! 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-experience-friday-march-15th-tickets-56955298832. Showtime is at 8 p.m. 6538 N. Tryon St. #JazzNSoul

Come enjoy a night of rhythm, music and community as the NC Brazilian Arts Project presents the Charlotte Samba Social! Feel the power of dance from Brazil as this troupe along with the band Caique Vidal & Batuque bringing the color and heat of the Latin, funk, Reggae and Afro-Brazilian sounds. NC Brazilian Arts Project is an organization dedicated to promoting diverse Brazilian cultural arts throughout the community, and provide outstanding entertainment, private, and class instruction in various Brazilian movement arts. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-samba-social-with-caique-vidal-batuque-tickets-55781461854. Doors open at 8 and the event will begin at 9 p.m. at Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

——-SATURDAY, MARCH 16——-

Come celebrate National Agriculture Week at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market this morning! Vendors and farmers alike will be showcasing how agriculture plays an important role in our everyday lives presenting a variety of meats, dairy, honey, plants, cut flowers, beeswax and soy candles, wooded products, goats milk soap and much more. Admission is FREE and the marketplace opens at 8 a.m. 1801 Yorkmont Rd.

The Queen City Metropolitan Chapter of the National Coalition for 100 Black Women invite you out to the Carole A. Hoefener Center for their third annual Healthy Living Expo. This family-friendly day of health awareness will feature a variety of workshops, health screenings, physical activities, vendors, exhibitors and more! Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healthy-living-expo-tickets-54441303404. The expo begins at 11 a.m. 610 E. 7th St. in Uptown.

Ladies, bring your daughters and join the lovely Resha K. Washington as she hosts “Tiaras and Tea: A Little Brown Girl Publishing Literacy Social” this afternoon! This informative but fun-filled event will focus on empowering girls in both Elementary and Middle School through books while engaging them in discussions about relevant topics such as self-awareness, manners and first impressions. There will also be guest speakers, hands on activities and most of all books. If you have a daughter, niece, female cousin or hold a special relationship with a school-aged girl this event is for you! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tiaras-and-tea-a-little-brown-girl-publishing-literacy-event-tickets-53768944360. The event will begin at 12 noon at Venue@1801. 1801 N. Tryon St.

This afternoon, Knardirell & Company invites you to experience a vibrant creative showcase entitled Verbal Portraits of SHE! Influenced by Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is not Enuf”, women bring original works of spoken word to the stage ranging in a wide variety of thought-provoking topics. Dinner will be provided after the show. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/verbal-portraits-of-she-tickets-55576190883. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at Little Rock AME Zion Church. 401 N. Myers St. in Uptown.

Ladies, it’s time to rise, shine and move those hips like the ocean as 4Thirty-Two invites you out to a special dance workout class called Curves N’ Motion –Hip Hop Dance Workshop! Join these courageous and curvaceous divas as you sweat, dance, “werk” and twerk to some dope routines set to classic and modern Hip Hop jams! Everyone and every dance level is welcome. Admission is $5 per person. The class begins at 11 a.m. at NoDa @ 28th Creative Arts Studio. 2424 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

This morning, come and step away from all the hustle and bustle in contemporary society and partake in a more sophisticated rhythm at the Detroit Ballroom & Chicago Steppin’ Line Dance Class! If you want to be away from the madness of the Top 40 scene, put a stride a glide, a dip in your hip and join your lovely instructor Kim Pickett for an evening of classic Midwest dancing styles set to a soothing soundtrack! Tickets are $15 per person. Please call: (704)-401-8890 for further details. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Fusion Force Fitness Complex. 3716 West W.T. Harris Blvd., Suite “A”.

This afternoon, slide out to Tip Top Daily Market for another installment of the not-your-average networking jam session entitled, Freaquency 360! This gathering of creatives will feature some dope music of course, but at the core its main focus is to create a platform for artists and art enthusiasts to meet, greet and collectively share positive vibrations. Today’s focus will feature the up-and-coming talents of MC/musician See Bird Go, hear an all-original set from DJ Wizdom and a special living room convo with Mike G from the Jungle Brothers of the Native Tongues Posse! Admission is FREE. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd.

Set yourselves free in rhythm as dancer/choreographer Adefemi Kia Oyemade hosts a special African Drum and Dance Workshop this afternoon! Master drummer Dr. Djo Boi will conduct a segment focused on rhythms from Cote D’Ivoire: Zaouli, Chacha, Forest and Tonpalon. After the drumming, Adefemi will introduce a style of dance from the Guro People of Cote D’Ivoire. Admission is $15 and all drumming/dance levels are welcome to participate. The class will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the International Capoeira School. 635 Atando Ave.

Need something fun for your Saturday? How about me and you, yo’ mama and your cousin too hop in the Cadillac on vogues, slam the doors and head down to The Fillmore for Grits & Biscuits: The Dirty South Set! Enjoy a night of Southern-fried, trunk-rattling, booty shaking Hip Hop classics from all eras! Tickets can be purchased here: https://concerts1.livenation.com/event/2D005642A6462ED2. Showtime is at 9 p.m. The Fillmore is located at 820 Hamilton St. in the NC Music Factory. #GritsAndBiscuits

 

——-SUNDAY, MARCH 17——-

Moxie Society is ready to paint the scene all sorts of green this afternoon as they proudly present a special St. Patrick’s Day edition of the I Still Love the 90s Brunch & Day Party! Charlotte’s best brunch experience returns to the all-new Explicit Bistro & Lounge as some of the finest chefs in Charlotte give your taste buds some delight with a delectable Irish-inspired brunch menu, drink specials and fly 90s tunes from DJ Shaun Nyce aka “The Blend King!” RSVPs and ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-still-love-the-90s-brunch-st-patricks-day-edition-f-dj-shaun-nyce-tickets-58115665520. The jump off is at 11 a.m. Explicit is located at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. #MoxieSociety

If you’re in the mood for some tropical greenery this afternoon, join The Culture Cooperative and Africana Connections as they proudly presents the Jerk Chicken N’ Waffles St. Patrick’s Sunday Jam 2019! The Dynamic DJ Kato and friends will be rockin’ the spot once more with a day full of NONSTOP Afro-Caribbean flavor giving you a colorful cornucopia of music ranging from Afrobeats, Soca, House, Reggae, Hip Hop, Dancehall, R&B, Afro-Trap, Afro-House and much, much more! Also, the kitchen will be sizzling up the scene with all sorts of savory meal and cocktail specials! RSVPs and ticket purchases can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jerk-chicken-n-waffles-brunch-stpatricks-sunday-2019-tickets-58363934098. The party will be held at Mangos Caribbean Restaurant beginning at 11 a.m. 3112 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Look, I know it’s Sunday and you want to be lazy, right? How about you come out to Petra’s instead and experience Hazy Sunday! This afternoon cool down is a meeting for those who appreciate the finer things in music. Join sound selectors, my man DJ Ray and friends as they cultivate a carefully curated selection of vibes from jazzy instrumentals, Hip Hop, avant-garde frequencies, trippy Deep House music, and whatever else your purveyors of waves care to dig. Admission is FREE and the music starts at 3 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

Get ready for some more community fun as Black Business Owners of Charlotte (BBOC) invites you out to special installment of Black Food Truck Sunday! Bring all your friends and family out for an afternoon of fun and fellowship as you root on your favorite ACC basketball team and 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 3 p.m. 4128 South Blvd. in Historic South End.   #BBOC

 

This afternoon, head down to the Main Library for a special workshop entitled, “The Art of Storytelling: How Music Influences Writing.” Join writer Tiffany B. Grantham for a writing workshop on musical influence in writing through characters, mood and dialogue. Admission is FREE and open for adults and teens. The event will begin at 3 p.m. 310 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

 

COMING SOON…

3/23 — 19th Annual Black History Concert: Women Movers of the Movement

3/23 — All-Star Youth Shootout

3/23 — The Queens of Soul Jazz – Jeanette Harris and Althea Rene

3/23 — Su CASA: The March Edition!

3/24 — The Farmer That Feeds Us Screening/Dinner

3/25 — Knocturnal Presents: Tha Alkaholiks

3/27 — Thuggishness: A Celebration of CLT Hip-Hop

3/30 — AfroPop! Charlotte: The Bantu Experience, Vol.2

3/30 — I Still Love The 90’s Brunch & Day Party: West Charlotte H.S. & Friends

3/30 — Depression Doesn’t Look Like Me: Christians + Emotional Health

4/4 — Sol Summit 2019

4/5 – “Where I’m From” – A Bree Stallings Experience

4/6 — Off the Wall: “Aries Edition”

 

Everyone enjoy your weekend! Peace.

 

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

 

#WeekendWarrior   #TheBlackFerrisBueller   #EarsToDaSkreets   #CommunityFirst