Murdery mystery, music festival and more

The weekend is here! Races this morning and parties tonight. Let's go! See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

Soul Revival - For those of you who aren’t in New York for AfroPunk, Su Casa Presents: Jason JetPlane + The Midnight Mixtape Sessions is the next best thing. Music by: Su Casa DJ Justice Sun Tzulu, Steel Wheel and DJ Maf Maddix. Plus a big reveal of “The Midnight Mixtape Sessions,” featuring the music of Pharell + N.E.R.D., w/ vocalist Jason JetPlane + DJ SPK. Live art by Dammit Wesley, face painting, film, vendors and more. 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. $5 before 11, $10 after 11. Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.

Murder Mystery - Harold is dead, and you get a chance to help figure out who killed him at Harold Blue Note Johnson, an interactive murder mystery dinner. $30 for individuals, $20 for couples. Dupp and Swat, 2424 N. Davidson. Details.

Music Festival - Local rock and metal bands headline The Burning August Music Festival, a two-day music festival featuring 12 bands. 3 p.m. Amos' Southend, 1423 S. Tryon. $12 and up. Details.

Running Music Festival - Night Nation Run is a 5K night race featuring lights, lasers and EDM. The race winds its way through an illuminated course featuring multiple DJ stages and ends with main stage after-party. 7:30 p.m., Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. $60. Details.

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Crawls, runs and rallies today

 It's another one of those Saturdays that pay to get out early. Whether you want to run or crawl, there's an event for you. Let's get this party started. See you in the streets...


Crawl This Way - The  Light Rail Crawl 5 starts in south Charlotte and makes it way uptown stopping at some of my favorite watering holes along the way. Event presented by The Green Roots. 3 p.m. - 11 p.m. Itinerary. 

Beer/Food Rally - Check out the Berwick Manor House (north of the city center) at the Berewick Craft Beer Festival & Food Truck Rally. Complimentary beer samples from four breweries and food can be purchased from six food trucks ranging from pizza to tacos. Free, but donations will benefit Sustain Charlotte. Music by the Breakfast Club. 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Berewick Manor House, 6625 Berewick Commons Pkwy.

Shop NoDa - NoDa Eclectic Marketplace returns  with vintage items, locally-produced art, jewelry, body products, clothing, housewares and more.! 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. behind Smelly Cat Coffeehouse, 514 East 36th St.

Don't Forget

New Music Festival - The Charlotte New Music Festival showcases new  contemporary classical music. The series ends June 27. Tonight’s kickoff concert features the Laptop Orchestra with performances by composers participating and teaching at the workshop. Snug Harbor 6 p.m. $15.


Beer And Running - Get fit or get out people! (In my Shawn T voice). The 4th Annual Brew Stash Bash features live music, craft beers and a 6K run. 11:30 a.m. US National Whitewater Rafting Center. Various prices depending on how much you drink.

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Party now and run tonight!!!!

The party starts now!

Good food, good fun and the party starts today with the SQUIRT: Permanent Vacation Day Party!. Rappers include: Grip Plyaz, Stranger Day & Elevator Jay, Miami Dice + DJ's A-HUF, J. Overcash, STRTR. 2 p.m. Snug Harbor,1228 Gordon Street.

Night Run - Grab your retro-reflective and head to NoDa for the Noda 5k. Enjoy cool swag, beer, live music and food trucks. Benefits Beards BeCause. The race starts and ends at the NEW NoDa Brewing Company, 2921 North Tryon. $35 and up.

Family Fun - Sample a variety of Charlotte area restaurants, including a lot of chains, in one-spot at the three-day Taste of Charlotte. More than 100 restaurants, live music, children’s activities, street performers and more. 12 p.m. Friday - 6 p.m. Sunday. Center City, Tryon Street between Stonewall and Trade. Free, but you’ll need to purchase festival coins to sample food.  Details.

Dog Fashion Show - Bring your posh pooch out for a doggie fashion show and more at Canine Couture, which benefits Pride Charlotte and the Humane Society of Charlotte Enjoy an afternoon of local brews‚ and hang out with fellow dog owners. The event will include 12 vendors, including dog grooming and a DJ. Contests include Best Hair/Fur, Best Dressed/Costume, Best Owner/Pet Look A Like, Best Trick and Best in Show. General admission is $5, with VIP seating at $20. Entry into the contest is $15 per pet (including one category entry and admission for an owner) and $5 for each additional contest category entered. Details.

Music, food and funk tonight

The NC Music Factory continues to set a new standard in concert series tonight. Plus Taste of Charlotte kicks off uptown. Is it 5 o'clock yet? See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

George Hendricks Photography 

Comedic Melodrama - PaperHouse Theatre presents "A Woman of No Importance," Oscar Wilde’s take on the battle of the sexes. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m., June 5-14, FROCK Shop, 901 Central Avenue. $30 includes complimentary sips and nibbles. Reservations: paperhousetheatre@gmail.com or 704-659-3638. Space is limited to 30 people per performance. Reservations are mandatory. #AWoNI #‎cltcrafttheatre‬ ‪#‎experiencelocaltheatre‬ ‪#‎cltarts‬

Celebrity Comedian - Bobby Lee has appeared on MadTV, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."$20 various times Friday and Saturday. The Comedy Zone, 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd.




Friday Live: The N.C. Music Factory has the best lineup for it's Friday Live summer concert series. Tonight's headliner is Shovels & Rope, which music writer Courtney Devores says sold out two Charlotte venues and opened for the Avett Brothers a couple of years ago. Sounds like seeing them for $8 is a steal. 6 p.m., NC Music Factory Fountain Plaza, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., $8.



Don't Forget

Family Fun - Sample a variety of Charlotte area restaurants, including a lot of chains, in one-spot at the three-day Taste of Charlotte. More than 100 restaurants, live music, children’s activities, street performers and more. 12 p.m. Friday - 6 p.m. Sunday. Center City, Tryon Street between Stonewall and Trade. Free, but you’ll need to purchase festival coins to sample food.  Details.
Updated info:  Don't miss the Race to the Taste, 5K and Cupcake Run/Walk on Saturday at 9 a.m. Starts at 4th Street near Church. Race through uptown to Southend. Enjoy live music. The Cupcake Run/Walk involves racers grabbing cupacakes along the route! Register here.

International Club DJ - Get ready to dance the night away as DJ Camillo takes over the N.C. Music Factory. POWER 98's DJ Phalse ID opens. 10 p.m. Label 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $10.




The Mothership - Get funky with George Clinton. You know how this show will go. So bring your funky spirit and get ready for a trip you won’t forget. 8 p.m. Amos’ Southend, 1423 South Tryon Street, $35 and up.

LGBTQ Gala - If you applaud Caitlyn Jenner’s courage then the Platinum Gala: The Art of Expression is a great chance to support our local LGBTQ youth. The gala celebrates LGBTQ youth in the Carolinas. Molly Barker, Founder of Girls on the Run is the key note and Ben Thompson, Anchor WCNC, will be the Master of Ceremonies. 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., The Mint Museum-Uptown, 500 S Tryon St. $100.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

A 5k party in Freemore and it's halfway to Halloween!

Oh yeah, it's Friday and the fun begins. There are several events to celebrate this beautiful spring weather so be ready to hang outdoors. There's even an evening 5K!

Paint Party - Support local artists at the "Now Is Fireworks" exhibition and sale. Proceeds from the art sale and raffle will go towards the painting of a mural that includes the poem “Now is Fireworks” on the side of the Studio K building. Featured Artists: Nancy Albert, Amy Bagwell, Byron Bagwell, Graham Carew, Stephanie Chesson, John Eft, Rebecca Jones, Matthew Myers, Terry Shipley, Kris Solow, Karen Thoune, Kate Vasseur, Christina Welsh, Amy Wyckoff. 6 p.m. Studio K, 2024 E 7th St.

Get Running - The 3rd Annual FreeMoreWest 5K on the Greenway benefits Classroom Central. Experience the burgeoning FreeMoreWest (named for Freedom, Morehead and West Side) which has a great skyline view. After the race, enjoy  food trucks and beer. 6 p.m., Uptown Cycles, 1432 W. Morehead. Details.


Don't Miss

Get Your Costume - Break out your masks, capes and whatnots for the 1/2 Way to Halloween Costume Party. 9:30 p.m., On The Roxx Cornelius, One Norman Boulevard.



















Patio Fun - The Peculiar Rabbit and OMB are celebrating the official opening of Peculiar Rabbit’s two patios at the Patio Party. It's also the release of OMB's Hornets Nest Hefewiezen. Enjoy $4 OMB Drafts, food and live music. 4 p.m., The Peculiar Rabbit, 1212 Pecan Ave.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com