'Daily Show' comedian, pool party and two beer festivals

My weekend started last night at the Visulite Theatre with Austin-based soul band Mingo Fishtrap. It continues tonight at the Comedy Zone. Yep, it's that kind of party week. So let's go!

Tonight

Smart Comedy - Comedian Wyatt Cenac is best known for his work on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” as a correspondent and writer. Cenac spent three seasons writing on “King of the Hill” and he has a host of film credits. Cenac can next be seen in David Cross' film "HITS, "which premiered at Sundance earlier this year. 8 p.m. the Comedy Zone, $20.

Party With A Purpose - The afterwork networking party The Agenda will honor the Chris Canty Foundation, Nikita Sanders & The Urban League of Central Carolinas Young Professionals at tonight’s event. 6 p.m. Bubble, 210 E. Trade St. Free and appetizers will be served.


















Thursday 

Gaelic Fun - Enjoy horse racing, drink specials and more at Night At the Races. It’s a fundraiser for the Charlotte Gaelic Athletic Association. The men’s and ladies’ teams travel to Chicago on Labor Day Weekend looking to defend their title. 7 - 9 p.m. Prohibition, $10.









Friday

Science on the Rocks - Discovery Place returns with more nerd fun. This month’s edition of Science on the Rocks: The Birds and The Bees examines pollination (Can I say that in a blog?) and propagation. The fun includes: a seahorse mating ritual game involving an egg toss. There’s a dissection demonstration of a fetal pig and rat (6p, 7p and 8p). Don’t miss a chance to try the Drunk Googles before you drink too much! 5 p.m. Discovery Place, 301 North Tryon St. $8 and up.

Previous Science On the Rocks events: 




Pop up Dinner - Dinner Lab Charlotte-Pop Up Dinner with chefs Jon Heilman and Noam Bilitzer. Menu includes green chili snapper, grilled octopus, pork shoulder, fennel gazpacho and a goat’s milk Panna Cotta. The location is a secret. Email support@dinnerlab.com to see if there are any tickets available.







Saturday 
Beer Festivals: Southend Hops Festival features craft beer, live music, food trucks and it’s dog-friendly. $35 and up. General admission tickets include unlimited beer tastings and a souvenir tasting cup. VIP tickets are $50 and include early entry into the festival, unlimited beer tastings, souvenir tasting cup, private VIP ares with Newk's Eatery appetizers, seating area and a VIP-only restroom. 2 p.m. Carson and Mint. Tickets.


 



Speedway All-American Craft Brewer’s Festival features the Beer Haven mobile festival, a self-pour beer sampling station billed as the world's largest mobile bar and brewery. The festival will feature 50 craft beers from Charlotte-regional craft breweries during both the NASCAR Sprint All-Star and Coca-Cola 600 race weekends. It will also include the Bucking Mule Brewery, a mobile brewery with a five-barrel brewing capacity and canning system mounted to a 53-foot-long tractor trailer. Participants can learn the brewing and canning process from brewmasters. Admission includes unlimited sampling. 1-4 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway. $39.
Take the Ragin’ Uptown Party Bus to the Speedway festival. $20. BYOB and small coolers are welcome for the ride. 11 a.m. Check-in at Tyber Creek Pub.


Sunday

Post Racial? - Not! Destination Freedom: Civil Rights Then and Now Community Day features films, performances, activities, exhibits and more. Along with learning about the Civil Rights Movement in Charlotte, participants will also explore today’s activism. This is the last two weeks of the two-year series. 12 p.m. Levine Museum of the New South, 200 East 7th St. Free.

Pool Party! - Break out the  bikinis and trunks at Splash Charlotte. Music spun by "The Mash Out King" DJ Skillz. #SplashCLT. 4 p.m. Fairfield Inn & Suites 201 S McDowell St. Uptown CLT Poolside. $10 and up.

















Italian Festival - Two chefs will be flown in from Lake Como, Italy, and demonstrating the primo and secondo dishes of the day at Festa Italiana. More than 10 regional chefs of Italian cuisine will serve Italian appetizers. Enjoy the Festa’s three-foot seafood and vegetables risottos. 1 p.m. Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Avenue. $25, $75.






Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com