Tattoos at the Mint, bike race uptown, beer festival and more

A huge bike race, another beer festival and a best of awards celebration are all happening this weekend. And tattoos at the Mint Museum! Sounds crazy. Start making your plans. The fun starts now. Let's get this party started.

Wednesday

Fight Autism -  AZN Asian Cuisine and Asheville Distilling Co. are hosting a benefit for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Enjoy speciality sushi rolls, cocktails and entertainment. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. AZN Asian Cuisine, 4620 Piedmont Row Drive. $75. Free parking decks onsite.

Black Film Festival - The Charlotte Black Film Festival celebrates its fifth year with independent film screenings starting today through Sunday. The event includes screenings, panel discussions and more. Click here for details. Various locations. Tonight: Violence of Media Symposium includes a film screening and local media professionals. 6 p.m. Levine Museum of the New South.



Thursday

Jazz and Art - Enjoy music, and conversation at this installment of Gantt After Dark. Features artist Nellie Ashford and jazz trombonist Ivan Hall. Authors Dr. Angela Strothers and Daryl Rice will sign books. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Gantt Center, 551 South Tryon Street. Free. Limited street parking. Paid parking available.

Tattoo and Nail Art - Tattoos and nail art don’t typically come to mind when thinking of the Mint Museum, but the exhibit Body Embellishment examines how we artistically modify our bodies. Opens Saturday, but patrons get a sneak preview Thursday. Body Embellishment 6:30  p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon St. $75 and various prices for museum members. See other events tied to this exhibit. (Photo:  Filip Leu (Swiss, 1967--). Tattoo on Dre, 2010, digital image. Collection of the designer, Switzerland. Image © Bobby C. Alkabes)













Friday
What A Pair! - Enjoy an evening of classic hits and good beer at the Beatles and Stillwater Tap Takeover. Hear Beatles tunes ranging from the early days to the band's final album. Stillwater created three batch beers Mono, Stereo and Surround. The beers are being paired with how the Beatles recorded their music. Cute concept. 7 p.m., Cork and Cask, 9624 F Bailey Road.




Saturday

Family Fun - Head uptown to see world class bikers compete in the Novant Health Invitational Criterium. It’s an all day event with an expo, BMX Freestyle shows, and the races. 2:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Uptown.

Best Of Awards - This best of awards celebration benefits Project Halo. Enjoy beer and cocktails specials, appetizers, a fashion show and more at Elevate Lifestyle Best of the City Awards 2015 Celebration. 7 p.m., LABEL Charlotte, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $5.

Beer Benefit - Creative Loafing’s Moo & Brew Craft Beer & Burger Fest isn’t just another beer festival. Well it is, but it benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. The event features samplings from 40 breweries and bottle shops and food from 10 local restaurants. Music by Ancient Cities, DJ Overcast and Langhorne Slim and the Law. 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. NC Music Factory, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $45.















Sunday

Soulful Sunday - Enjoy the sounds of Grammy nominated Algebra Blessett, Anthony Hamilton’s band Innertwynned, Tony Lelo, and Eliah at the Soul Series event. There will be a meet and greet and an afterparty. 7 p.m. Cosmos Cafe, 300 N. College St. $20 and up.

















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