Holidays In The City: home tours, bar crawls, parties and more

Time to break out my collection of Santa hats! Below is a starter list of holiday parties and things to do. I noted the ones I'm especially excited about attending.

Congratulations to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture for selling out Saturday's Jazzy Holiday Gala. It seems that moving the annual holiday luncheon to a black-tie evening gala was a good look.

If you're looking for holiday performances, please read Lawrence Toppman's comprehensive list. Family holiday events on the Observer's mommy blog.

Please note, this list will be updated throughout the holidays. If you have a party or some cool holiday-related event please hit me up: sipandplayclt@gmail.com.

Thursday

Holiday Sip & Shop offers something for ladies night with live music, sparkling wine, appetizers and shopping. Do your holiday shopping from a selection of handmade products from more than 25 local businesses. Enjoy free apps and other samplings. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., 7th Street Public Market, 224 E 7th St. Free.

The Bechtler Young Visionaries hosts its annual holiday party as a tribute to the current Bechtler exhibition British Invasion. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., Bechtler Museum,  420 South Tryon Street Tickets $35/$50. Includes apps and libations.  Limited street parking typically on Tryon and Church streets. Paid parking at the Duke Energy Center (Stonewall between Church and Tryon) and The Green (Tryon and Levine Avenue of the Arts). 

The Weihnachtsmarkt is a winter marketplace held in OMB Biergarten. Gifts, crafts, baked goods and beer will be available. Learn more on Helen Schwab's blog. Various times today to Saturday. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road.

The Holiday Rawk 2014 Showcase features 40 visual artists, musicians, fashion designers and more.  7 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 East 36th Street. $15/$20. TJ's #turntup

Friday

Holiday Homes Tour is a self-guided walking tour of Fourth Ward homes decorated for the holidays.  Complimentary horse and carriage rides throughout the neighborhood, wine, food and beer samplings and holiday surprises at the 7th Street Public Market.  Various times this weekend. TJ's #turntup

Jazz N 'Soul Music is a First Friday special event featuring vocalists Persona Bell, Kerri LaShawn and Amanda Hampton performing classic jazz and holiday standards. 9 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.  Petra's Piano Bar & Cabaret, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.

Saturday

Jingle Bell Bash benefits Safe Alliance, formerly known as United Family Services, which helps women impacted by domestic violence. Enjoy live entertainment by U-neek Flav'ur. Ticket gets you apps and libations. There's also a silent auction. 7:30 – 11 p.m., The Atrium Uptown, 301 S Tryon St. $75.

Tuesday

Just addedKissmas Concert 2014 featuring Jessie J, Nick Jonas, and BeBe Rexha. 6 p.m. The Fillmore, 1000 Seaboard St. $30. 

Dec. 12

Collure - Network.Taste.Listen Ugly Sweater Edition is the holiday version of DJ DR's monthly networking event. Free admission, but bring canned goods to donate. 7 p.m. The Vinmaster, 2000 South Boulevard, Ste. 610 (behind Luna's). Free parking.

A Holiday Evening of Blues and Soul features bluesy singer Mel Waiters and soul singer Shirley Murdock ringing in the holidays. 7 p.m. Charlotte Scottish Rite Temple, 4740 Randolph Road. Tickets $35 and up.

Dec. 13

The Grays' Holiday Party is one of the biggest holiday parties for Charlotte's black bourgeoises. What started as an intimate party in the Grays' homes moved successfully to the Gantt Center and added WBAV 101.9 as the sponsor. 8 p.m. Gantt Center, 551 South Tryon St. $50 includes apps and specialty cocktails. Limited street parking typically on Tryon street. Paid parking available at the Duke Energy Center (Stonewall between Church and Tryon) and The Green (Tryon and Levine Avenue of the Arts). TJ's #turntup

NoDa Krampus Krawl takes St. Nick & his Krampus into the streets of NoDA with stops at Heist, the Johnston YMCA, Jack Beagles (f/ Krampus Rampus), and storytelling at Pura Vida Wordly Art. Don't miss face-painting at Growler's Pourhouse and art displays at Baku Art Gallery. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. Heist. Full schedule here. TJ's #turntup

15th Annual Santa Bar Crawl means a whole bunch of bad Santas will take over uptown for this yearly tradition. This crawl winds along Fifth Street and the EpiCentre. Get the full schedule here. Starts at 2 p.m. Please line up a designated driver or a safe ride home.








60th Annual Singing Christmas Tree is comprised of performers, puppets and dancers. WFAE's Mike Collins will host this two-night show. Various times and days. There's also a Singing Christmas Tree For Kids. Details about both shows. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E Independence Blvd. $21-$35.

Dec. 16

Marine Corp Toys For Tots is as much a tradition as Santa Bar crawls and singing Christmas trees. Don't miss this annual fundraiser. 6 - 9 p.m. Napa On Providence, 110 Perrin Place. $20 with one unwrapped gift includes apps and libations. 










Got a holiday party? sipandplayclt@gmail.com