It's going to be a wet one today. Be sure to check websites for outdoor events such as the food truck festivals to see if they are still happening. See you in the streets... Bark & Brew - Bring the pooches out to a bar made for them and you with the grand opening of Lucky Dog Bark and Brew. Enjoy tours of the 20,000 sq ft. facility. There will be food trucks, music, drink specials, giveaways and more. There are indoor and outdoor play areas, a full sports bar with beer, liquor and wine. Today through Sunday, 2220 Thrift Rd. Details.
Storyteller Showcase - Eight Charlotteans share their stories of love, heartbreak, parenthood and more at the Charlotte Storytellers' Showcase. 7 p.m. Union Shop Studio, 5019 Wilkinson Boulevard. $10. Details.
Two-Day Festival - Enjoy two days of music at the Rippin Weekend music festival. Tonight’s lineup features: Hungry Girl, Naked Gods, The Tills, Zack Mexico and Shadowgraphs. 9:30 p.m. Details.
Don't Forget Gallery Crawl - The monthly Southend & Gold District Art Crawl features
the galleries of South End will stay open late to display an
interesting mix of everything from contemporary folk art to national
juried shows, and from garden-inspired paintings to mixed media
childhood memories. Details.
Headphone Party - Silent Disco
returns. You know the deal. Everyone wears headphones and dances to the
music of different DJs. It’s a silent, but not really silent party.
People watching is supposedly the best part. 8 p.m. Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. $12. Details.
I have two words to sum up this weekend's fun - Pillow fight!
Thursday Need A Haircut - The men of the RiRa family are participating in St. Baldrick’s fundraiser to raise money to fund children’s cancer research. They’ll be shaving their heads. 5 p.m. Ri Ra Irish Pub, 208 N Tryon St. Details.
Favorite Outdoor Happy Hour - Grab your friends and head outside for the crowd favorite Alive After Five. Groovetown headlines the first party of the year. 5 p.m. Rooftop 210, EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. Details.
Tastes Like Chicken! - That’s what I expect to hear at the Vegan Wine & Cheese event. Apparently the cheese isn’t soy-based, but does contain nut products. Is that a good thing? Three wines and a three cheese course. 5:30 p.m., Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, 224 E 7th St. $20. Details.
R&B Live - Keith Sweat had great lyrics, but couldn’t sing. Hopefully, vocalist Jacci McGhee is much better. McGhee sang with Keith Sweat on “Make It Last Forever.” She headlines this edition of R&B Live. 9 p.m., Studio Movie Grill, 210 E Trade St. $12.50. Tickets.
Tribute Party - The monthly Shiprocked returns with a tribute to the campy “Valley of the Dolls.” 10 p.m. Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. Free. Details.
Friday Gallery Crawl - The monthly Southend & Gold District Art Crawl features the galleries of South End will stay open late to display an interesting mix of everything from contemporary folk art to national juried shows, and from garden-inspired paintings to mixed media childhood memories. Details.
Headphone Party - Silent Disco returns. You know the deal. Everyone wears headphones and dances to the music of different DJs. It’s a silent, but not really silent party. People watching is supposedly the best part. 8 p.m. Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. $12. Details.
Saturday
Pillow Fight - It’s not a pajama party, but sounds just as fun. The International Pillow Fight Day features thousands of people throughout 200 cities in a giant throwdown. So far at least 200 people have signed up to participate in the Charlotte fight. Only soft pillows allowed.
5 p.m., The Unknown Brewing Company, 1327 S Mint St. Details.
Family Fun - The 5th Annual Black Dog Appreciation Day & Black Dog Walk features more than 150 vendors, demonstrators, food trucks and more than 25 rescue groups. Dogs will be available for adoption. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pineville Lake Park,1000 Johnston Dr, Pineville. Rain or Shine. Details.
Choral Music & Beer - One Voice and Sotto Voce choruses come together for Rite of Passage, a concert that explores rites of passage, both humorous and serious, including those unique to the LGBT community, and universal to the human experience. This is a traveling show. 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sugar Creek Brewery, 215 Southside Dr. $10-$20.
White Party - The 3rd Annual White Party at On The Roxx encourages partiers to wear tighty-whities. Dresses, pants and shorts are allowed too, but that doesn't sound as fun. Music by DJ Bob. 10 p.m., On the Roxx, 19712 One Norman Blvd, Cornelius. Free and free parking.
Beer Festival - The Beer Me Brewfest features 50 beers or ciders makers from local breweries and others throughout the state. Parking Lot, 200 Bland St. Details.
Sunday Shop Local - More than a dozen local vendors including food trucks, fashion trucks, artisans and entrepreneurs kick off the spring edition of Front Porch Sundays. 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Parking lot of the Shook Kelley building, next to Sycamore Brewing, 2151 Hawkins St. on the Charlotte Rail Trail. Details.
I'm back!!! In 2005, I launched the Paid To Party column for the Observer. Now I'm back with a fresh look at Charlotte's entertainment offerings. For the next few months, I'll be testing a new feature, primarily aimed at weekend events and other ways to entertain yourself, your family, your visitors.
Sip + Play is your guide to fun things to do in Charlotte from Food Truck Fridays to bar crawls to events you've never experienced. I still love a party, so there also will be plenty of that.
Sip + Play will take you all over Charlotte and beyond with live event coverage on the weekends and recommendations of where to go and what to do. I'm looking forward to sharing my adventures with you. #cltevents