Christmas play, paint party and toy drive

Finish up your holiday shopping and then head out tonight for dance parties, holiday parties and more. See you in the streets...


Christmas Play - A Soulful Noel re-interprest holiday classics such as “Twas The Night Before Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Go Tell it on The Mountain” through music. 7:30 p.m., McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N College St. $15. Details.

Poetry Slam - Performer, writer and community organizer Lauren Bullock headlines this month’s Slam Charlotte. 8 p.m., Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 North Tryon St.

Don't Forget
Paint and Play - Brush N Beats brings hip-hop flavor to the sip and paint theme with live music by Ron Mull. Enjoy open painting, wine and good peeps. Bring a canned good to be donated to the local food bank. 7 p.m. Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road. Free. Includes paint & brushes. Canvases will be provided at discount rates courtesy of Carolina Canvas Company.

Cultural Dance Party - This special edition of Mint To Move Cultural Dance Night. Music: DJ Pepito (Jorge Moran), Angel Delgado, Jerry Giraud, and Brandon Nater. Featuring: ArtSi members; Lena Hopkins-Jackson, caricature artist, Rodrigo and Wendy (tango). Dance Lessons by  Rumbao Latin Dance Company at 8:45 p.m. 7 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. $7-$11. Cash Bar and Complimentary Light Snacks.

Toy Drive - Join the Sigmas, Youth Educational Society and Queen City SGRho at the The Holiday Gathering. Bring a toy, clothing or non-perishable food to donate. Music by DJ Cali and DJ Skillz. 10 p.m. Oak Room. 200 East Bland St. Music by DJ Cali & DJ Skillz. Brought to you by: Sol Kitchen, Ultra Entertainment, Round Table Ent., Blue Goose & Status Inc.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

   

Not So Acoustic Christmas, ugly sweater parties, and sexy Santas

This is it! Last weekend before Christmas. Get your last minute shopping done. Wear your ugly sweater! Donate a new toy! Give a canned good! See you in the streets...

Wednesday
Rock Holiday Party - I’ve been listening to Christmas music since Thanksgiving, but I may need to take a break for Awolnation’s “Sail.” The band headlines 106.5 The End's Not So Acoustic Christmas featuring Awolnation. Metric and Grizfolk will also perform. 8 p.m. The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory. Tickets.





Ugly Sweater Party - Don’t put your ugly sweater away yet. There’s Posh Mixer: Ugly Sweater Edition. Prize given for the best holiday ugly sweater. Cash donations requested for the charity Mom4Moms and featuring HotRodtheDJ. Sip Charlotte, 200 N. Tryon. Details.

Thursday
Crafty Party - Make personalized jar-lid wreaths at Girl’s Night Out - Pinterest Party. Crafters will use mason jar lids, fabric, paper, photos and all sorts of other nik-naks to make wreaths. Hosted By Vikki O'Keefe and Vinny Trierweiler. They will provide all the supplies and assistance needed. Bring your favorite photos to add a personal touch. 6 p.m. Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road. $30. Details.

Friday
Paint and Play - Brush N Beats brings hip-hop flavor to the sip and paint theme with live music by Ron Mull. Enjoy open painting, wine and good peeps. Bring a canned good to be donated to the local food bank. 7 p.m. Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road. Free. Includes paint & brushes. Canvases will be provided at discount rates courtesy of Carolina Canvas Company.

Cultural Dance Party - This special edition of Mint To Move Cultural Dance Night. Music: DJ Pepito (Jorge Moran), Angel Delgado, Jerry Giraud, and Brandon Nater. Featuring: ArtSi members; Lena Hopkins-Jackson, caricature artist, Rodrigo and Wendy (tango). Dance Lessons by  Rumbao Latin Dance Company at 8:45 p.m. 7 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. $7-$11. Cash Bar and Complimentary Light Snacks.

Toy Drive - Join the Sigmas, Youth Educational Society and Queen City SGRho at the The Holiday Gathering. Bring a toy, clothing or non-perishable food to donate. Music by DJ Cali and DJ Skillz. 10 p.m. Oak Room. 200 East Bland St. Music by DJ Cali & DJ Skillz. Brought to you by: Sol Kitchen, Ultra Entertainment, Round Table Ent., Blue Goose & Status Inc.

Saturday


Sexy Santa - In keeping with the naughty spirit, the 5th Annual Sexy Santa party celebrates all things naughty. Wear your sexiest, funniest, goofiest Christmas-themed costume. Ice Martini Bar, 9525 Birkdale Crossing Drive #102, Huntersville

Christmas Comedy - The Evening Muse and Matt Barrentine feature local, regional and even national comedy talent for the Stand Up, Get Down Comedy Show Holiday Special. 10:30 p.m., The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $8 - $10. Details.

Sunday
Punk Holiday Party - This party sounds real loud and real fun. Hail Santa features red cups and Krampus. Appearances by Toke and Green Fiend and DJ J. Overcash. Music: Death Metal, Punk, Hard Core, XXXMas Trap, Carole No Cover. 8 p.m., Snug Harbor, 288 Gordon St.

Happy Birthday - The city’s venerable blue club celebrates more than 40 years of bringing live blues to Charlotte with the Federal Bureau Of Rock & Roll at the Double Door Inn’s 42nd Anniversary. 7 pm., The Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetowne Avenue $10. Details.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Moulin Mint Was The Gala Of The Year At the Mint (Photos)

The partiers at the Young Affiliates of the Mint's Fall Ball: Moulin Mint have me sold. I'm already putting it on my calendar for next year. The partiers were fun and unreserved. You know how sometimes, people attending galas are too cute to dance? The women don't want to mess up their dress and the guys are just too stiff.



It wasn't like that at Mint on Friday. Everybody danced. How could they not when the cover band, 5 On Sunday performed their version of "Trap Queen!" Loved it. Oh, and did I mention the food. Yes! There was a sausage tray. Not those silly wieners, but brats and peppers and so many yummy bites.

Uptown fun: beer festival or free museum stuff

The fun has already begun with the ASC Connect Cultural Day, but it continues uptown, in NoDa and parties tonight. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started!


Fight Breast Cancer - Join the Carolina Breast Friends at the 6th annual Pink Boots Ball to benefit the Pink House. Music by Soul Psychedelique Orchestra. Details.
7 p.m., Caramel Country Country Club, 4735 Carmel Road. Details.

Family Fun - From free admission to museums to events throughout the city, ASC Connect With Cultural Day is great family fun. See the full schedule.

Don't Forget
For the Family - The multi-platinum band Gin Blossoms will headline the two-day Southern Sauce Beer, a BBQ and bands two-day festival in Uptown Charlotte. The festival celebrates Southern BBQ, craft beer and live music.


The Q-City Charlotte BBQ Championship portion of the festival will be held at Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church St. Free. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Features BBQ vendors, a “Pig Pit” dining area and blues bands performing on the Charlotte Blues Society stage. More information is available at www.southernsauceclt.com.

The Charlotte Beerfest portion will be held inside BB&T Ballpark on Saturday, September 20. VIP admission begins at 4 p.m. and general admission begins at 5 p.m. Features 10  breweries. Live music includes Simplified and the Gin Blossoms.

Bike Scavenger Hunt After Party - This sounds real fun. Birdsong Brewing Co., Heist Brewery, and Four Dogs Pet Supplies present the Char-Heel Classic, a bicycle scavenger hunt. It’s a fundraiser for REACT Thyroid Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds to find the cure for thyroid cancer. $80 registration fee for team of four to bike around Charlotte collecting points by photographing stuff from a list of activities. 9 a.m. Registration, Birdsong Brewing, 1016 N Davidson St. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Scavenger Hunt, 2 - 5 p.m. After-Party with music, food trucks, the event slideshow, and a silent auction. Registration details.

Dirty Dancing party tonight

It's Friiiidddayyyyy! The party starts now. Here are my highlights for tonight, and check out my list of fave Pride events.

Something Different - This sounds so cool - a dance festival themed after the movie "Dirty Dancing." The Dirty Dancing Festival starts with a movie screening tonight and events including dance lessons and games on Saturday. 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Morse Park Meadows, 2948 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure. Free today. Details.

Don't Miss


Last Chance - Experience Prison Zoo, a multimedia exhibition by artist Alix Lambert, and say goodbye to Summer 2015 artists Charles Williams, Caroline Rust, Erik Waterkotte, Endia Beal, Matt Horick, and Taproot. There will be live music, appetizers and a cash bar. 6–9 p.m. Free and we’ll have music, light hors-d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. Details.

Dance Party - Love Mint to Move! Afro-Cuban and Latin-American music with DJ Carlos LeBron, Jerry Giraud, Angel Delgado, and Brandon Nater. This a fun, diverse dance event. Rumbao Latin Dance Company dance lessons starts at 8:45 p.m. 8 p.m. Mint Museum, 500 S Tryon St. Details.

House Music Party - House music fans come out tonight for House Wars, a FREE event featuring UK DJ Chris Sterio of Gravity. Other featured DJs are Sean McClellan and Chad McNeely. Stew Art will also be doing live painting throughout the course of the night! 9 p.m. Crown Station, 1425 Elizabeth Ave.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Art, soul and music today

The Mint Museum will be bustling today with activities for families and the closing of Halston & Warhol: Silver & Suede. Don't forget the NoDa music festival ends today.

For The Family - Bring the kids for free and enjoy a day of activities at Sunday Fun Day Summer Kick-Off. Get creative with your kid and build family-friend art projects, stroll the galleries and enjoy artists demos. 1- 4 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon St.

Last Chance - Halston & Warhol: Silver & Suede closes today. Don’t miss a chance to see this exhibition which unites the work designer Roy Halston and artist Andy Warhol. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown. Details.

Photo by T. Ortega Gaines

Don't Miss
Can I Get A? - Soul Clap! This gathering of for lovers of classic Soul, R&B, smooth grooves, boogie, disco, rockers and pop has a new location. It’s moving to theThe NeighborHood Cafe' (the spot owned by No Grease Barbershop’ Johnson Brothers in Mosiac Village). Along with good music there will be apps, hookah and drinks. 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., NeighborHood Cafe’, 1635 W Trade St Suite 1F.

Music Festival - Head to NoDa for the NoDa Summer Music Festival showcasing local and regional bands and artists. Starts today. Along with music there will be food from restaurants featuring cajun cooking, southwest food and pizza. Chop Shop, 399 E. 5th St. Doors at 4 p.m. (Sunday) | Show at 4:30 p.m. (Sunday). $10 per day. See today's lineup.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

NoDa music festival and a funky, gay party

It's Friddayy!!! Let the fun begin. I'm headed home tonight for a couple of events and to watch USA women's world cup. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started....

Have A Funky Gay Time - The Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund hosts Funky Good Time. The group combines its love of fashion and fun at this event. Wear festive attire. (I’m rocking my team USA gear to support the USA women’s soccer team in the World Cup). 8 - 10 p.m., Mint Museum Uptown.

Music Festival - Head to NoDa for the NoDa Summer Music Festival showcasing local and regional bands and artists. Starts today. Along with music there will be food from restaurants featuring cajun cooking, southwest food and pizza. Chop Shop, 399 E. 5th St. Doors at 8 p.m. (tonight), 4:30 p.m. (Saturday), 4 p.m. (Sunday) | Show at 8:45 p.m.(tonight), 5 p.m. (Saturday), 4:30 p.m. (Sunday). $10 per day / $15 for a 2 day pass! See the lineup.

May The Force…. - Okay not yet. But I am so ready for the new “Star Wars” movie. This last edition of New Frequencies highlights the short films of “Star Wars” special effects consultant Pat O’Neill. 8 - 9:30 p.m., McColl Center. $5.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Latin-tinged soul in #NoDa tonight, live Body Embellishment

The Body Embellishment exhibit, which opened Saturday, made me see tattoos in a more artistic light. I have always appreciated the skill of the artists, but the new Mint Museum exhibit is an example of how this former symbol of rebellion is now mainstream. Heck, I think it’s more rebellious not to have a tattoo these days. Programming around the Body Embellishment exhibit, which includes nail art, jewelry and fashion, continues throughout the month. Today, there’s a CAD (Contemporary Architecture + Design) lecture by fashion design group threeASFOUR (Gabi Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil). 3 p.m.   $12 or $5 for Mint members, free to teens and college students with ID.

Here's a peek at the opening reception:




Old School Soul - I can’t wait for tonight’s show! According to Courtney’s Soundbites, The Suffers is the next buzz band in the old school soul revival. See for yourself below, and then go experience the band live. 8 p.m., Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., $10.





Don't Forget

Soulful Sunday - Enjoy the sounds of Grammy nominated Algebra Blessett, Anthony Hamilton’s band Innertwynned, Tony Lelo, and Eliah at the Soul Series event. There will be a meet and greet and an afterparty. 7 p.m. Cosmos Cafe, 300 N. College St. $20 and up.

















Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Tattoos at the Mint, bike race uptown, beer festival and more

A huge bike race, another beer festival and a best of awards celebration are all happening this weekend. And tattoos at the Mint Museum! Sounds crazy. Start making your plans. The fun starts now. Let's get this party started.

Wednesday

Fight Autism -  AZN Asian Cuisine and Asheville Distilling Co. are hosting a benefit for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Enjoy speciality sushi rolls, cocktails and entertainment. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. AZN Asian Cuisine, 4620 Piedmont Row Drive. $75. Free parking decks onsite.

Black Film Festival - The Charlotte Black Film Festival celebrates its fifth year with independent film screenings starting today through Sunday. The event includes screenings, panel discussions and more. Click here for details. Various locations. Tonight: Violence of Media Symposium includes a film screening and local media professionals. 6 p.m. Levine Museum of the New South.



Thursday

Jazz and Art - Enjoy music, and conversation at this installment of Gantt After Dark. Features artist Nellie Ashford and jazz trombonist Ivan Hall. Authors Dr. Angela Strothers and Daryl Rice will sign books. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Gantt Center, 551 South Tryon Street. Free. Limited street parking. Paid parking available.

Tattoo and Nail Art - Tattoos and nail art don’t typically come to mind when thinking of the Mint Museum, but the exhibit Body Embellishment examines how we artistically modify our bodies. Opens Saturday, but patrons get a sneak preview Thursday. Body Embellishment 6:30  p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon St. $75 and various prices for museum members. See other events tied to this exhibit. (Photo:  Filip Leu (Swiss, 1967--). Tattoo on Dre, 2010, digital image. Collection of the designer, Switzerland. Image © Bobby C. Alkabes)













Friday
What A Pair! - Enjoy an evening of classic hits and good beer at the Beatles and Stillwater Tap Takeover. Hear Beatles tunes ranging from the early days to the band's final album. Stillwater created three batch beers Mono, Stereo and Surround. The beers are being paired with how the Beatles recorded their music. Cute concept. 7 p.m., Cork and Cask, 9624 F Bailey Road.




Saturday

Family Fun - Head uptown to see world class bikers compete in the Novant Health Invitational Criterium. It’s an all day event with an expo, BMX Freestyle shows, and the races. 2:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Uptown.

Best Of Awards - This best of awards celebration benefits Project Halo. Enjoy beer and cocktails specials, appetizers, a fashion show and more at Elevate Lifestyle Best of the City Awards 2015 Celebration. 7 p.m., LABEL Charlotte, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $5.

Beer Benefit - Creative Loafing’s Moo & Brew Craft Beer & Burger Fest isn’t just another beer festival. Well it is, but it benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. The event features samplings from 40 breweries and bottle shops and food from 10 local restaurants. Music by Ancient Cities, DJ Overcast and Langhorne Slim and the Law. 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. NC Music Factory, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $45.















Sunday

Soulful Sunday - Enjoy the sounds of Grammy nominated Algebra Blessett, Anthony Hamilton’s band Innertwynned, Tony Lelo, and Eliah at the Soul Series event. There will be a meet and greet and an afterparty. 7 p.m. Cosmos Cafe, 300 N. College St. $20 and up.

















Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Jazz, photo exhibit and a bar crawl

Start your day experiencing the wonders of Tryon Street then pick between jazz or a bar crawl. See you in the streets...

Last Chance - Sean Busher’s  project, Moment Mile, brought awareness of and support for Light Factory’s recent re-opening. Nearly, 140 photographers gathered in uptown Charlotte. The photographers stood in predetermined spots on the mile-long stretch of Tryon Street and simultaneously clicked their shutters. See what they captured. Exhibit ends today. 1-5 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. Free.

Don't Forget

Chiquita’s Gone, But… - We still love bananas. Join the fun at the 3rd annual Banana Bar Crawl. All tickets include a banana costume, and VIP tickets include a giant inflatable banana, commemorative sticker, and $10 food voucher. The bar crawl features eight bars. 5 p.m., Whisky River, 210 East Trade Street A-208.

Jazz Show – See keyboardist Marcus Johnson 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sydney’s Martini and Wine Bar, 401 N. Tryon St. Next to Rock Bottom Brewery. Parking Validated for Trans America Parking Deck. $20, $30.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

R Kelly & Big Al Jefferson's Birthday

Tough loss for the Panthers last night. The best way to get over that hurting feeling is to get out and about.

Quick reminder. Don't let this week slip away without making your reservation for Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week starts Friday. Don't wait to make a reservation at the fancy restaurant that you've been dying to try. More than 100 restaurants, three courses for $30. Ends Jan. 25.

For the Family - Sunday Funday All About the Blues includes family yoga, family-friendly art projects such as the Colossal Collage, a listen and learn at the Jazz Arts Initiative’s Blues Jam Session and more artsy family fun. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S Tryon St.

Happy Birthday - R. Kelly hosts Big Al Jefferson Birthday Celebration. Don’t miss special guest MC Big Tigger. 10 p.m. Label,  900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $15 and up.














Jazz and Soul - See Sai the Violinist and Johnal perform at Soulful Sundays. Comedian Brisco will perform and Bluz is the host. Hookahs will also be available. Live music starts at 8 p.m. DJ Strategy begins at 10 p.m. Red On 28th, 2424 N. Davidson St. Ste. 112A Parking onsite.









Don't Forget - Daytime Activities

Black Cinema Classic - See Dorothy Dandridge in "The Decks Ran Red." This was re-released for the first time in 40 years in 2013. Watch this thriller on the high seas. 2 p.m. Harvey B.Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.











Film Screening - "I Learn America" documents five immigrant teenagers at New York City’s International High at Lafayette. 2:30 p.m. Levine Museum of the New South, 300 N. College St.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Real heroes, Latin dancing, pin-up girls and youth poets headline tonight

It's Friddaayyyyy! I can't wait to get started. There's so much to do this weekend. I mentioned a few events in Wednesday's Sip + Play, but that was only a taste. I will post weekend picks today, Saturday and Sunday. Don't forget, I'll be tweeting and blogging live throughout the day on Saturday, starting with the Thunder Road Marathon festivities. And look for my Saturday event picks Saturday morning.

Tattoo Is Art - Whether you're tatted or not, it's hard to deny that good ink is a work of art. East Meets Zest is a gallery installation by Matt Terry and Hans Drost of Fu's Custom Tattoo (I have two Fu's tattoos). The opening reception is tonight and the exhibit runs through Dec. 7. 6 p.m. Baku Art Gallery, 3200 N. Davidson St.










War Documentary - I've always been fascinated by Vietnam war movies. Today, documentaries such as "KORENGAL: This Is What War Feels Like," cover the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are my generation's wars. I have family and friends who have fought both. "Korengal" details the Battle Company 2/503 of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the remote Korengal Valley. This area was the epicenter of the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008. It includes unseen footage and post-deployment interviews with the soldiers. Don't miss KORENGAL: THIS IS WHAT WAR FEELS LIKE; A screening and conversation with filmmaker Sebastian Junger. 6 p.m. Wells Fargo Auditorium, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 South Tryon Street. $10.

 


I'll House You - Fans of classic house music don't want to miss the monthly Release! Classic&Soulful House Party. Grooves by That Guy Smitty, Gary 'Jackmaster' Wallace, DJ Badala B and more. 7 p.m. Petra's, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. A little snippet.

Dancing Uptown -  Art and dancing unite at Mint To Move Cultural Dance Night. There will be Afro-Cuban and Latin-American music by DJ Pepito and live musicians. Featured performances: Café Amaretto Music with Ana Lucia Divins and Rumbao Latin Dance Company. 8 p.m. - Midnight. Mint Museum Uptown.






Models, Makeup and Photographers - This isn't your #IG selfie. The cuties in the Charlotte Seen hosts its 2015 Calendar Preview Cover Contest Party have the runway look. Vote for your favorite pinup. 8 p.m. Automatic Slims, 820 Hamilton Street (Next to Fillmore)

For The Family

Text this! - I swear using emoticons and text messaging are ruining the English language. Inked Uprising Youth Poetry Slam shows teens still love real words. This slam is open to all students ages 13-19 years old.  8 p.m. Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square, 130 North Tryon Street. $5. Tickets and info.




Wolverine, Iron Man & Storm! - Am I the only adult without kids who wants to see this production? So many of my favorite characters will be  saving the world under one roof for Marvel Universe Live!. It's going to be so great. Various times. Tonight through Sunday. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E Trade Street. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.




Don't be shy: Tonya Jameson, sipandplayclt@gmail.com