Weekend Preview: restaurant week, black gay pride, music festival

Oh yeah! I'm back from Buenos Aires and ready to party American style. Let's get this party started. See you in the streets...

Thursday
Afterwork Happy Hour - The Kappas return with their after-work happy hour Cufflinks and Cocktails. The gathering moves to Evoke restaurant inside Le Meridien hotel, 555 South McDowell St. 6 p.m.

Beer Sampling - Cary-based Fortnight Brewing Company specializes in traditional English Ale brewed with English-grown ingredients. A brewery rep will provide beer samples and answer questions. The brewery offers English Ale, porter and ESB. The brewery also has a blonde ale, coffee amber and an IPA that is a fusion of English and American IPA styles. An English IPA and seasonal releases will be available in the near future. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Jackalope Jack’s, 1936 E. 7th St.

Friday

Arts Groups Unite - Five Charlotte-based performing arts organizations will present On the Hook, the first of a planned series of collaborative performances calling for action on issues of justice and inequality in the community and the nation. This week’s performance is in remembrance of the Emanuel Nine.  Participating organizations are On Q Productions, One Voice Chorus, the Possibility Project, A Sign of the Times and XOXO. 6 – 7:30 pm, Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, 401 N. McDowell St. Free.

Good Eats - Queen’s Feast, aka Charlotte restaurant week, starts today and ends July 26. More than 120 restaurants throughout the region are participating. Helen Schwab reports there’s a new pricing structure. Get the latest.



Saturday
Adult Games - Watch co-ed teams compete in crazy games at the Social Olympics XI. It’ll be fun times whether you’re playing or watching. 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., VBGB Beer Hall and Garden, 920 Hamilton St.

Jazz In the Park - The Freedom Summer Series of Jazz in Freedom Park returns this week. Featured artists are saxophonist Jessy J and the jazz group Cino Castillo. 6 - 9 p.m. Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard.

Finale Party - The Gray Classic weekend wraps up with the finale Party with a Purpose. Vapiano, 201 South Tryon St.

Cigars and Creole Food - Sample cigars and cocktails at Southern Soirée. There will also be live music and a DJ. Dress code: Seersucker Suits/Jackets, Sundresses, Bowties, Stilettos & Stripes are requested, but not required. Men are asked to wear collared shirts.  4 - 9 p.m., Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. Tickets.

BYOB Music Festival - Enjoy a multi-genre three stage festival experience featuring live music and DJs at Barnstock. Bands include: indie-rockers Stop Light Observations; electronic music act Buku; reggae-tinged
rock band Simplified; hip-hop punk act Shinobi Ninja; funk band The Fritz. The event benefits a variety of local and national charities. 4 p.m. - 11 p.m., 15305 Black Farms Rd. Huntersville, $30 and up.

Sunday
For The Family - The Mint Museum celebrates its newest exhibit America The Beautiful with this edition of Sunday Funday. Enjoy family-friendly art projects, gallery visits, artist demos, and Let's Move! yoga sessions once a month.America the Beautiful: Works on Paper from the Mint Museum features drawings and prints by talented American artists spanning 150 years of American history. Today is Special Exhibition Discount Day!  Additional fees for the special exhibitions are waived today. 1-4 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon St. Details.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com