Bartender's Ball tonight, HRC brunch and Legos

I really need to rest up tonight for the Bartender's Ball, but I have a kettle bell class this morning and an afternoon hike. Then I can return to what used to be one of my favorite events. I haven't attended the Bartender's Ball in years. I'm looking forward to seeing how it's changed. 

Best Brunch - End the HRC festivities at one of Charlotte's best brunch at the HRC Recovery Brunch. 1 p.m.  Bistro La Bon, 1322 Central Ave.

For Kids - The interactive LEGO KidsFest is a family event for builders of all skills and interests. 3 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College St.

Don't Forget
The Best Ball - The Bartenders Ball was one of my favorite events with mountains of cocktails, well-dressed partiers and great music. It’ll be interested to experience it on the EpiCentre Rooftop, but in the words of Drake, “We gon’ see!” The 15th Annual Bartender’s Ball features live DJ’s, dancing, live entertainment, performers, and more. 7 p.m. Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. $70, $100. Tickets.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Southend restaurant opens, Banana Bar Crawl and Guys & Dolls

It's the weekend! The excitement has been building for the new Korean restaurant in Southend, but there's a lot more fun happening today. See you in the streets...

Korean BBQ - A new concept of Asian fusion dining is coming to Southend with Seoul Food Meat Co. The menu, designed by Charlottean Tim Chun, features traditional BBQ including beef and pork ribs, chicken, and pulled pork, but then it gets funky. There’s crispy miso pork belly, salted salmon and crispy wings, which is fried in rice bran oil. 4:30 p.m. Seoul Food Meat Co, 1400 S Church St.

Live Jazz - This is a special Saturday night edition of the Jazz Room. It’s Dawn Anthony sings Ella Fitzgerald. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Corner of 5th and College.

Corrected: A Different Bar Crawl
The Banana Bar Crawl returns for its fourth year. The crawl takes partiers dressed as bananas to Whisky River, Blackfinn, Suite, BAR Charlotte, Fitzgerald’s, Prohibition, Whisky River, SIP and Bubble. Registration is from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Whisky River, 210 E. Trade St. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the event. Details.

Don't Forget
LGBT Black Tie - The 21st Annual HRC Gala is the annual black-tie fundraiser for the LGBT community. 5:45p.m., Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St. $250. Tickets. Start the day early at the HRC Fun Run & Breakfast. 9 a.m., Just Fresh, 1231 East Blvd. The After-party: HRC Equality Lounge - Gala After-Party 10 p.m., The Westin Charlotte, 601 S College St.

Young Professionals Black Tie - The Guys & Dolls fundraiser for young professionals celebrates its 16th year. The gala features a live auction featuring “Guys” and “Dolls.” Packages include trips, shopping and more. 6:30 PM, Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 E 3rd St. Tickets.

Children’s Play
Experience the wonder of The Wizard of Oz with your family in this immersive experience in Journey to Oz. Children from the audience are picked to help tell the story. Audience members will join the cast on stage as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion and others to help complete the story. Tickets.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Updated: bar crawls and midget wrestling

Oh yeah! The warm weather is back and it's time to play go play. The fun starts early with bar crawls and more.

Correction: The incorrect date was listed for the Banana Crawl. The event is Feb. 20.

Rescheduled March 4: A Different Bar Crawl
This isn’t the usual bar crawl. Participants will travel to four Charlotte bars inside hotels tonight with transportation provided by SilverFox Limos. Start at Libations inside the Double Tree, 895 W. Trade St., from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and go to three other spots, including the bar at the Westin and the Omni. $22. Registration from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. @ Libations in DoubleTree Gateway. Details.

Children’s Play
Experience the wonder of The Wizard of Oz with your family in this immersive experience in Journey to Oz. Children from the audience are picked to help tell the story. Audience members will join the cast on stage as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion and others to help complete the story. Details.



Adult Science
This month edition of Science on the Rocks features fire demonstrations, dry ice experiments and liquid Nitrogen Baileys-flavored ice cream among other activities. 5 p.m. Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. $8, $10.  Details.

Don't Forget
Live Jazz - This month’s edition of the Jazz Room features Greg Agid plays Benny Goodman. Jazz clarinetist Agid will pay tribute to Goodman, known as the King of Swing. Showtimes: 6 p.m. & 8:15 p.m., Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Corner of 5th and College St. Details.

So Not Right - It’s like a staring at a car accident. You don’t want to, but you can’t help it. Extreme Midget Wrestling is kind of like that with continuous action. 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. 8:30 PM  $15, $18. Amos' Southend, 1423 S Tryon St, 1423 South Tryon St. Tickets.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

CIAA Tournament Week: The Day Party List

Tournament week is almost here. These day parties will get your week started. They range for celebrity DJs to old school hip-hop artists and others.

Find CIAA week concerts here.

Friday


The Day Party of All Day Parties
 w/ Doug E. Fresh

Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick Friday Day Party

Saturday 
T.I. & Fabolous Day Party

The "La Di Da Di" Day Party

Kid Capri Master Mix Day Party

Day Go-Go 2016

Party With the Stars Day Party

Pardis Gras 2016: Yo Gotti Day Party

The Official I-95 Exclusive Day Party

Sunday

Nawlins Low Country Boil

Farewell 2016: Free Day Party

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Lent Fit: Tight abs and triceps (Video)

Don't let your Lent sacrifice of alcohol and sugar go to waste. Each week, Sip + Play Charlotte is giving you workouts to enhance your sacrifice. In this week's edition of Lent Fit, Crossfit Kaiju's Steve Adams shows you the right way to do moves that will get your belly flat and your triceps tight. Plus there's a little cardio to get you in shape. This workout can be done in one session or depending on your fitness level broken up into three workouts. Ash Wednesday workout.

Here's the workout:
Every minute on the minute (for 12 min):
8 reps of floor wipers
8 reps of floor press
[alternating minutes]

10 Min Time Cap
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps of:
burpees

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 reps of:
dips

4 rounds:
Jump Rope 60 Times
rest 30 sec
1 min plank hold
rest 30 sec


Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Weekend Preview: Bartender's Ball, midget wrestling, two galas

The weather is going to be beautiful. Go outside early and play and then hit the streets that night. See you in the streets....

Tonight
Yoga Uptown - Working late? Dash over to the 7th St. Market for a workout at NC Yoga In the Market. 7:30 p.m. Yoga at 7th Street Public Market, 224 E 7th St. $5. Details.
 

Get The Beat - Immerse yourself in blackness at African Dancing & Drumming. There will be a performance by Oneaka Dance Company and tribal face painting. 5:30 p.m. Mint Museum,  2730 Randolph Rd.

AFRICAN DANCE AT FOX 46
FOX 46 Celebrating Black History Month! The Oneaka Dance Company is keeping African culture alive in the Queen City. Here's a preview of their performance this Wednesday! #fox46 #africandance #africandrums #dance #blackhistory
Posted by Felicia Lawrence FOX 46 on Sunday, February 14, 2016

Thursday
Fashion For A Cure - Bid on Charlotte’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes at A Night Out For A Cure Soiree. It’s a charity date auction. Semi-formal attire. Proceeds benefit various charities. 7:30 p.m. La Revolution, 900 Music Factory Blvd. Details.

Friday

Live Jazz - This month’s edition of the Jazz Room features Greg Agid plays Benny Goodman. Jazz clarinetist Agid will pay tribute to Goodman, known as the King of Swing. Showtimes: 6 p.m. & 8:15 p.m., Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Corner of 5th and College St. Details.

So Not Right - It’s like a staring at a car accident. You don’t want to, but you can’t help it. Extreme Midget Wrestling is kind of like that with continuous action. 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. 8:30 PM  $15, $18. Amos' Southend, 1423 S Tryon St, 1423 South Tryon St. Tickets.

Saturday
LGBT Black Tie - The 21st Annual HRC Gala is the annual black-tie fundraiser for the LGBT community. 5:45p.m., Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St. $250. Tickets. Start the day early at the HRC Fun Run & Breakfast. 9 a.m., Just Fresh, 1231 East Blvd.

Young Professionals Black Tie - The Guys & Dolls fundraiser for young professionals celebrates its 16th year. The gala features a live auction featuring “Guys” and “Dolls.” Packages include trips, shopping and more. 6:30 PM, Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 E 3rd St. Tickets.


Sunday
The Best Ball - The Bartenders Ball was one of my favorite events with mountains of cocktails, well-dressed partiers and great music. It’ll be interested to experience it on the EpiCentre Rooftop, but in the words of Drake, “We gon’ see!” The 15th Annual Bartender’s Ball features live DJ’s, dancing, live entertainment, performers, and more. 7 p.m. Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. $70, $100. Tickets.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

CIAA Tournament Week: Hip-hop, R&B and Jazz Concerts

The CIAA tournament is known for drawing dozens of unofficial parties, but the week is also draws a large number of concerts. These are actual shows not hosting events behind VIP ropes. Here's a sampling of this year's tournament concerts.

Find CIAA tournament week day parties list here.

Thursday, 2/25

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.

Young 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.

Friday, 2/26

The Language of Love Concert, Amos’ Southend
Aaron Camper, Grammy nominee Bilal (“Soul Sista”) and Grammy nominee Eric Roberson headlines The Language of Love Concert. 8:30 p.m.  $29.50 and up. TJ's Take: Eric Roberson performs here all of the time. Bilal doesn’t. Details.

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.

Saturday, 2/27
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 hassle. Details.

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.

Sunday


King, Neighborhood Theater, 511 East 36th Street
L.A. trio King performs cuts off its debut album “We Are King.” Pitchfork gave the trio’s single “Hey” much love in it’s review. The Queen’s Guard will open. 7 p.m. $20 and up.  TJ's Take: This is one of those shows that you should see now before the group explodes. Details.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com