It's Friday!!! Gospel festival, Breakin' Convention and Cider Festival

The party resumes tonight. The weekend is here with a little outdoor fun and other events that you don't want to miss. 

Congratulations to this week's CiderFest ticket winners: Courtney Gaston, Antanea Mitchell, Sara Silavent, scott warren, Alan Glenn, Carol Towne, Nicole Macenka, Ray McCormick, Inge Stepp
Daniel Yeboah. Next contest for VIP tickets to GraveDiggers Ball will launch next week. Check back!

I have to say a fond farewell to Charlotte Observer Features editor Mike Weinstein. He was my boss in my Paid 2 Party days. He had my back when I angered the big bosses on more than a few occasions - something about strip clubs and OJ Simpson. He also spanked for my occasional misdeeds. Readers will miss his keen editing eye. Good luck Weinstein!

Celebrating #hiphop Thursday night with friends including @tonyajameson, whose Instagram name escapes me. @blumenthalarts getting ready for @breakinconventionclt

A photo posted by Mark Hames (@northlaurelstudio) on Oct 8, 2015 at 7:48pm PDT

See you in the streets. Let's get this party started....



Pet Fundraiser - Help our furry friends at Art Unleashed featuring artists, food and fun. Beneficiaries include: Spay Neuter Charlotte, Chapman's Daschund Rescue and FurBabies Animal Rescue. 5:30 p.m. 528 North Brevard St.

Gospel Fest - The Festival of Praise Tour features multiple Grammy, Stellar, BET Award Winning artists Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell. 8 p.m. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $55-$65. Details.

Don't Forget

Break Dancing - The Breakin’ Convention is in an international festival of hip-hp dance theatre Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the Street Jam, a free family festival at Spirit Square from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  The Obey Your Verse Stage returns at 5 p.m. Saturday. Details.

Cider Festival - This isn’t your grandma’s apple cider. The 2nd Annual Charlotte Cider Festival features the good stuff - hard ciders. Along with sampling hard cider cocktails, participants will also learn how to make cider drinks. 6 p.m. Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. $15. Tickets.

  


Night At The Museum - Spend the evening at the Mint. Start with Festive Nights on Broadway featuring professional ballroom and amateur dancers. 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. $11. Then stay for Mint to Move Cultural Dance Event featuring Afro-Cuban and Latin-American dance music. Live musicians and a spoken-word artist will also perform. Dance Lessons by Rumbao Latin Dance Company. Guests can salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha, and step to other dance forms relative to various global communities as well as enjoy visual art by local artists. 8 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S Tryon St.

Jazz Concert - The New Frequencies jazz series returns with a performance by Erb/Baker/Rosaly Trio. 8 p.m. McColl Center, 721 N Tryon St.

Preview Night - See a preview screening of Steve Crump’s documentary "I'm Walkin' For My Freedom: The Selma March And Voting Rights." It honors the 50th anniversary of the Martin Luther King’s historic march on Selma. 6 p.m. Gantt Center, 551 South Tryon St. $10 for non-members, free for Gantt Center members.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Winter Brew, jambalaya and a really short film festival

The weekend starts now! Okay, it starts at 4:30 p.m. in NoDa and winds all over town. Tonight's nightlife offerings range from a raucous party to a talent show. It continues over the weekend with a Moonshine Festival, musical performances, a film festival and more. These are my picks for tonight and a glance at the weekend parties, concerts and other entertainment and nightlife.

Thursday

A New Brew - Saturday, I tried sour beers. Today, I'll enjoy one of my favorite styles at Birdsong's Winter Release Party. Birdsong will tap The Pride Belgian Abbey, which according to the company has warming cherry, caramel and bready notes. Yum. 4:30 p.m. Birdsong Brewing Co., 4:30 p.m.  2315 N Davidson St, Cristian Skilone of Dimestore Saints performs at 6 p.





Charlotte's Got Talent - See some of the area's funkiest performers at Jambalaya Joint, a talent showcase, at Dupp & Swat, an art space/performance venue in NoDa.  The cover charge includes beverages and jambalaya by Chef Barry Francois. 7 p.m. Dupp & Swat,  2424 N Davidson St. Suite 112B Charlotte. $10.










Turkey Day Is Coming - Before you head out of town or brave crowded grocery stores, come out for the holiday jump-off, the 20th Annual Red Hot Turkey Bash. This is one of Charlotte's longest running holiday events. 7 p.m. Oak Room at All American Pub, 200 E Bland St. $10.













A Peek At This Weekend 

Friday

 Not Your Uncle's Moonshine - I've tried a few legal moonshines, and I haven't been impressed yet. Hopefully, that will change at the first Moonshine Festival. The event will feature samplings from several distilleries, including Broadslab, Piedmont and Sazerac. 6 p.m. Rooftop 210 Pavilion At EpiCentre.











Love Songs - R&B singer Kem brings his Promise To Love Tour to Ovens Auditorium. He performs songs off his newest album, "Promise To Love." 8 pm. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E Independence Blvd. $37.50 - $85.81.

Saturday

For the Family - Bring the kids out for the annual the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. Proceeds provide treatment and care for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The walk includes live music, face painting and a kids fun zone. Park Road Park, 6220 Park Rd. 8 a.m. registration. Various prices.



Uno out! - It's okay to be a kid again at PlayDate The Inspirational Edition. Games range from poker to Uno. Don't miss the signature PlayDate takes on Hula Hoops and musical chairs. 8 p.m. Venue @ 1801 South Tryon St. $10/$15.












Keep It Real Short -  I'm really excited about the 100 Words Film Festival. I can't wait to see what these filmmakers do with such a strict word count. Categories are documentary and dramatic. 8 p.m. McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. $10. More details.

Sunday

Disco Chicken - We love to mock it, take pictures with it and brag about it. Now, there's a musical event. Tribute to the Firebird is part of the Bechtler's Music and Museum program. The Bechtler Ensemble will perform. 6 p.m., Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 South Tryon St. $12.


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