Monday, February 29, 2016

King's melodic soul sells out Neighborhood Theatre (Video)




I spent my CIAA tournament week partying with old school acts such as Dru Hill, EPMD and others. By Sunday night, I was ready for something low-key. The King performance at the Neighborhood Theatre was just what I needed. The soul trio performed to a sold out room - on a Sunday night! Here's why fans love this rising group.


 


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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Tournament Sunday: Finale brunches, day parties and a concert



Day Parties




Tonight


 





 
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Saturday, February 27, 2016

CIAA Saturday parties















Concerts



King Fish, BluNotes, 3425 David Cox Road
Mississippi-based blues master King Fish returns for an encore performance. Kingfish headlined the grand opening last year. Xpressive Sound — funk, soul and blues band - will open. 7 p.m. $20. TJ's Take: Great price and awesome location. Parking shouldn’t be a hassleDetails.



The Official CIAA Post Tournament Concert ft. Mint Condition, Lyfe Jennings & Vivian Green, Charlotte Convention Center
Sing-along, dance along and reminisce with Mint Condition. This band puts on a great show with a full band. Lyfe Jennings and Vivian Green deliver heartfelt ruminations about life and love. Details.





The Commission & King Lyfe Ent pres. Kevin Gates – Islah Tour Part 2, The Fillmore
Louisiana-based rapper Kevin Gates built his reputation selling mixtapes and flirtations with bounce and trap music has found his groove with “Really Really.” Details(Explicit)



Pieces of A Dream, Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave.
Contemporary jazz band Pieces of a Dream with special guest Selina Albright. The Peace and Love Band will open. 8 p.m. $45 and up. Definitely for the grown folks and you won’t have to deal with traffic. Details.


Patti Labelle, Ovens Auditorium,  2700 E Independence Blvd.
This show would sell out if Patti Labelle brought some Patti Pies! Since she didn't, you'll have to settle for her classic hits such as "Lady Marmalade." $50 and up. Details.





Night Parties

Rick Ross, 210 EpiCentre 




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Friday, February 26, 2016

Tournament Friday: French Montana, K Michelle and Dru Hill

Wake up!!!! The day parties start in a couple of hours and the fun continues tonight. CIAA all day baby!





Tonight

















Dru Hill 20th Anniversary Party, 
Amos’ Southend
Dru Hill’s lead singer Sisqo biggest hit “Thong Song” helped him a bigger start than the Baltimore-based group. Still Dru Hill had its fair share of success with hits “In My Bed,” “Never Make A Promise” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” $40. TJ's Take: Worth checking out. I can’t remember the last time Dru Hill performed here. Details.




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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Tournament Fun Starts Tonight: Legends of Hip-Hop, Jeezy, Pink Groove

Looking for other tournament events? Don't miss Sip+Play Tournament Day Party and Concert lists.


 Concerts



The Official Legends of Hip Hop Concert, The Convention Center, 501 South College St.
EPMD & The Alumni, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Monie Love, Dana Dane and Kwame headline this official CIAA concert. 8 p.m. Tickets.


I Love New York, Amos Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St.
The I Love New York concert features Method Man, Redman and Keith Murray performing their hits such as “The Most Beautifulliest Girl In the World,” “A-Yo!” and “Do What You Feel.”
8 p.m. $40 and up. Old School hip-hop fans will love this. TJ's Take: Parking will be a challenge, but not nearly as bad as uptown. Tickets.



Jeezy, The Fillmore, 820 Hamilton St.
Jeezy’s hit “My Hitta” got him on the charts, but a shout out from President Obama gave Jeezy even more cred.  $77. $10 p.m. TJ's Take: Price is outrageous. Details.

 

Night Parties

Travis Porter, Bar Charlotte

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Distilling good food and spirits in Southend (Video)


I was excited to try the single malt whiskey at the Great Wagon Distilling Company at the grand opening party last week. Now I'm even more anxious to try the food. After talking with owner Ollie Mulligan, my mouth is watering for the meat pie and other Irish dishes not readily found here. Mulligan owns The Broken Spoke, which is a restaurant and bar attached to the distillery Great Wagon Distilling Company.

In the video below, Mulligan will have you salivating
.


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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Weekend Preview: Non-CIAA Events List

A couple of years ago, I wouldn't have been able to find any non-CIAA tournament week events in the Uptown area during the CIAA Tournament. Times have changed. Whether you're hanging at the breweries in Southend or in the heart of the fun, there's plenty to do this weekend in Uptown, NoDa and beyond. No need to leave town. Find your fun. See you in the streets...

Tonight
A Slave Story - Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks' play "Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3)" tells the story of the slave, Hero. It examines a slave’s dedication to his master and the people he leaves behind. Opens tonight through March 12. Actor’s Theater of Charlotte, 650 E Stonewall St. Various times and prices. Details.



Man’s Best Friend - Men love bacon and beer (yes, I’m stereotyping). Tonight is their night with the Bacon Beer Fest featuring seven bacon-themed brews. Until 10 p.m. Unknown Brewing, 1327 Mint St.



Hornets Watch Party - More beer fun tonight at the Beer, Basketball & BBQ Hornets’ watch party. The team plays the Cleveland Cavalier. Enjoy barbecue and the tapping of the Bring Back the Buzz Honey Pale by Sycamore Brewing. Good Bottle Co., 125 Remount Road. Free, but donations to Most Valuable Kids Charlotte-Metro accepted. Details.



Thursday
Beer and Networking - Corri Smith and Amy Herman host their second #Instabeerupclt tonight. The monthly gathering is free and moves to Plaza-Midwood for this edition. 6 p.m. Legion Brewing, 1906 Commonwealth Ave.
 


R.I.P David Bowie - Scott Weaver and friends pay tribute to the late David Bowie at SHIPROCKED! Presents: LIPGLOSS loves BOWIE: The Glam Years. Bethann Phetamine stars with guest, Xtassi Sorcière making her SHIPROCKED! debut, and special musical guest Joshua Cotterino, interpreting glam Bowie classics. The DJ soundtrack will feature Bowie hits through the years, as well as favorite glam classics. Don’t miss the  SHIPROCKED! Go GO Crew will be glitterfied. 10 p.m., Snug Harbor - 1228 Gordon St. Free. Details.




Let’s Eat - Catch On and the Peculiar Rabbit partner tonight for their first Monthly All Seafood Dinner. The monthly seafood dinners will feature a five-course seafood meal with the first course being cocktail hour with a top shelf cocktail and appetizers like crabs claws, crudo, ceviche, poke. The 1-1/2 hour sit down four-course meal will include local made dumplings, a small plate, a fish entree and a lemon pistachio raspberry tart. The chefs will show you how the food is being made, the ingredients and how to cook it. 6 p.m. Peculiar Rabbit, 1212 Pecan Ave. Cost: $60 per person. RSVP: orders@catchonseafood.com



Free Drinks And Culture - Edwin Gil’s Faces of Diversity installation will be on display at this free event. Complimentary apps and drinks. 5 - 7 p.m., Luna’s Living Kitchen, 2000 South Blvd.



#Repost @lunaslivingkitchen・・・Please join us this Thursday, February 25th, to celebrate Faces of Diversity at Luna's...
Posted by Edwin Gil on Tuesday, February 23, 2016








Black History - McColl Center’s Winter 2016 Artist-in-Residence Heather Hart and collaborator Jina Valentine, will meet to create, update, and improve Wikipedia articles about Charlotte’s black artists. Participants will help create historical documents at Black Lunch Table: Wikipedia Edit-a-thon Charlotte Session #4. No specialized knowledge of the subjects or Wikipedia editing experience is required. Laptops welcome. Instructions on basic of Wikipedia editing at the start. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., The McColl Center of Art + Innovation, 721 N Tryon St.



Friday
Film Screening - See artist and filmmaker Stephanie Barber film "Daredevils." It is described as a “quietly riveting, filled with humor, surprising turns, and even dance.” 8 p.m. The McColl Center of Art + Innovation, 721 N Tryon St. Details.



Tyberpalooza
Enjoy two nights full of Bands, DJ's, Flip Cup & Cornhole Tourneys, beer tastings, and more. This party is billed as the The Best place to be CIAA weekend with the locals ( a euphemism for white partiers). There will be heated tenting in the parking lot. Features live music and DJs. Tonight features Flip Cub fun starting at 7 p.m. Saturday features a Craft Beer Tasting from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and a Cornhole Tournament. Tyber Creek Pub, 1933 South Blvd.



Sip & Paint - This new craze gets a new home in Southend with the grand opening of Studio Cellar. It’s a local social painting studio. No skills are needed. Classes are also available or you can free style. Alcohol is available. 5 p.m. Studio Cellar, 1800 Camden Road.




Saturday
Funk You Up - Grab your dancing shoes to celebrate the first Franco Moschino retrospective fashion exhibition in the United State - VIVA MOSCHINO! It’ll be a night of dancing and fun at the Mint Museum Auxiliary presents Uptown Funk: Moschino & Music. 8 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 2730 Randolph Rd. $125.

Transportation: A shuttle service will be provided. The service will begin with a departure time of 6:15 p.m. and run every 45 minutes between the Mint Museum Randolph to the Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts. Tickets for the shuttle service are $15 per person and can be purchased when registering. TJ's Take: This is a great deal because parking will be expensive and a nightmare uptown Saturday night!



Prophylactic Fashion - Local designers use condoms to create fashionable, wearable art, promote safe sex, at Condom Couture Charlotte 2016. It benefits Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. Also features J Buckmaster and DJ Andy Kastanas. Live music from Miami Dice and a performance by Bethann Phetamine. There will also be go-go dancers, stilt walkers and fire twirlers. 8 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St.  $35. Details.


 

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Monday, February 22, 2016

Weekend Recap: Best Bars At Bartender's Ball 2016 (Photos)


I miss the old Bartender's Ball. When I first attended the annual drunkfest, it was held in what is now the Blake Hotel. It was a grand event with couples dressed in cocktail attire and themed ballrooms. It was an event, a spectacle.

Last night, I went to my first Bartender's Ball in years. It wasn't the same. These things never are. It was fun, but it didn't feel much like a ball. It felt like any other multi-bar event that I've attended at the EpiCentre. This year's Bartender's Ball was at 210 Rooftop, and the theme was Game Night.

Each participating bar had a table and featured a special drink for the evening. I was on the panel of judges this year. I loved the creativity of several bars. Most adhered to the theme, except Bakersfield. The bartender said the Bakersfield didn't participate in the game night theme because "We like to do our own thing." Thankfully, everyone else wasn't so cool.

The winning themed bars were Best Bars, Fitzgerald's and Strike City. There was a Monopoly bar at RiRa, a magician at Crave and a Jumanji game among other concepts.




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CIAA Tournament Week: Night Parties

It's tournament week. The fun starts Thursday. Below is a list of select evening parties to attend. Don't miss the Sip+Play Tournament Day Party and Concert lists.

Thursday 

Travis Porter, Bar Charlotte










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