Ginger Bread Cookie drink recipe (Video), tonight's beer events

Welcome to the Sip edition of Sip + Play where we feature adult beverages. Today we have Tracie Nasta of the Chop Shop Noda making her yummy Ginger Bread Cookie. It's an easy drink you can make and take a holiday party. Watch her make the recipe.

On tap tonight: 

Heist Brewery's Experimental Flight school starts at 4 p.m. (2909 North Davidson Street #200) You get 5 beers for $8 and some beer knowledge. 

Birdsong Brewing (2315 North Davidson Street) taps its Cowgirl Boots, a maple milk stout today at 4 p.m. And Jenny will be at The Beer Growler (1427 South Boulevard) to tap the Bourbon Barrel-Aged St. Tuber Abbey! She's doing a Birdsong pint glass giveaway and handing out samples from 6 - 8 p.m.             

Big day today: Queen City Brewers Festival tickets onsale, Art Social and family fun

The holiday season started with hip-thrusting-rolling-on-a-river fun last night. The 2nd Chance Santa started a little slow, but it built steam quickly last night. Look for my full review from that later. Until then, here's a list of things to do today. And don't forget the Queen City Brewers Festival tickets went onsale this morning. The event is Jan. 31 at Bojangles. 

Get out early - Rockin' Kids First presents Southern Experience Band, Sacramento, The Roadshow Band, Faith and Scars, Grey Revell's Roman Candles, A Course of Action, Halden Vang, Grown Up Avenger Stuff, The Joe Davis band, and Kelen Heller. 3:30 p.m., Amos' Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $10 ($5 discount w/ unwrapped toy).

Family fun - The ACC Football Championship is tonight so there's lots of free fun. Enjoy free concerts, autograph sessions and watch ACC mascots square off during the ACC  Football Championship Fan Fest. Noon - 7 p.m., adjacent to Bank of America Stadium along Mint, Graham and Stonewall streets. Florida State vs. Georgia Tech starts at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets.

Party With Local Grassroots Artists - Cultural Initiative: An Art Social Fresh showcases 25 local and regional grassroots artists.  Their works will be on display and for sale, but this is more than an art show. The music will be ridiculous featuring: Miami Dice and Elonzo, and Charlotte's Justin Aswell along with vocals by Charleston's Jordan Igoe. 8:30 p.m. Neighborhood Theater. Limited free street parking. Bring cash for parking. Tonya's Pick

Variety Show - Amusements; A Night of Music, Magic and Laughs features local comedians, musicians and yes magicians. Many are regulars at the Evening Muse. 10 p.m. Evening Muse, 3227 North Davidson St. Read the full lineup. Limited free street parking. Bring cash for parking.

6th Annual Red Pump/Red Tie Affair - This is the signature event for the Red Pump Project which highlights HIV and AIDS impact on women and girls. The event will feature a fashion show, a silent auction and local boutiques. R.A.I.N. President and CEO Rev. Debbie Warren is this year's honoree.  7 - 10 p.m.,  Hart Witzen Gallery, 136 E 36th St. Tickets: $40. Driving Alert: Access via South Tryon Street instead of North Davidson Street because of road construction.

Jingle Bell Bash - This party benefits Safe Alliance, formerly known as United Family Services, which helps women impacted by domestic violence. Enjoy live entertainment by U-neek Flav'ur. Ticket gets you apps and libations. There's also a silent auction. 7:30 – 11 p.m., The Atrium Uptown, 301 S Tryon St. $75.

ACC Fan Fest, art social and a new brunch

A big congratulations to the organizers of the Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade. Attendance reached an estimated 70,000 this year! The parade kicked off  the most wonderful time of the year when football and basketball collide with shopping and parties. Let's get started.

Thursday 

Country star - Brantley Gilbert most recently opened for Toby Keith and Tim McGraw, but now he's headlining his own arena show. 7 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St.  $34.78-$47.89. Read Theoden Janes' article on Gilbert.





Family Fun - Head to The Square for Lights On the Square: The Uptown Tree Lighting. ACC mascots join the festivities to start the ACC Tournament weekend. Families can enjoy Santa Village in Polk Park (free photos!), and a performance by The Wonderettes! Food trucks will be there too. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Square, Trade and Tryon streets. Tree lighting starts shortly after 6:30pm. Parking tips.

Friday

It's Your Anniversary - Birdsong Brewery Third Year Anniversary features new brews each weekend night starting tonight with Puppies on Penguins and Nighthawk Postcard, Sour Stout with Raspberries. The three-day celebration begins at 4 p.m. Birdsong Brewery, 2315 N Davidson St. 











Cats! Cats! Cats! - Join the Queen City Cats, UK alumni group, when the #BBN takes over Sip Charlotte, 200 N. Tryon St. Suite 100 to watch Kentucky v. Texas. 7 p.m.

Saturday

Family fun - The ACC Football Championship is today so there's lots of free fun. It starts with the ACC Fan 5K and Kids Mascot Run at 8 a.m., Wells Fargo Plaza, Uptown Charlotte. Then enjoy free concerts, autograph sessions and watch ACC mascots square off during the ACC  Football Championship Fan Fest. Noon - 7 p.m., adjacent to Bank of America Stadium along Mint, Graham and Stonewall streets. Florida State vs. Georgia Tech starts at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets.

Party With Local Grassroots Artists - Cultural Initiative: An Art Social Fresh showcases 25 local and regional grassroots artists.  Their works will be on display and for sale, but this is more than an art show. The music will be ridiculous featuring: Miami Dice and Elonzo, and Charlotte's Justin Aswell along with vocals by Charleston's Jordan Igoe. 8:30 p.m. Neighborhood Theater. Limited free street parking. Bring cash for parking.

6th Annual Red Pump/Red Tie Affair - This is the signature event for the Red Pump Project which highlights HIV and AIDS impact on women and girls. The event will feature a fashion show, a silent auction and local boutiques. R.A.I.N. President and CEO Rev. Debbie Warren is this year's honoree.  7 - 10 p.m.,  Hart Witzen Gallery, 136 E 36th St. Tickets: $40. Driving Alert: Access via South Tryon Street instead of North Davidson Street because of road construction.

Sunday

New Brunch Spot - Restaurant critic Helen Schwab reports that Lumiere plans to start serving Sunday brunch today. More details on Helen's blog. Update 12/7! Lumiere says they are not serving brunch.

Read more here: http://helendining.blogspot.com/#storylink=cpy

Don't be shy: sipandplayclt@gmail.com