Holiday Pop Up Shops This Weekend

Holiday parties are great, and so are pop up shops. Here's a look at this weekends.

VTGCLT Pop, Friday - Dec. 20.

VTGCLT Pop is a full scale pop up shop that will be feature products from 85  local/regional vintage and handmade vendors. The shop will be open daily from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily and feature special guest and events ranging from Food Trucks to performers. The old Goodyear building at S. Tryon and East Stonewall Uptown. (100 East Stonewall St.) Details.

The Changing Room Holiday Event, Saturday
Know a needy family? Tell them about the Changing Room sponsored by the Urban League of Central Carolinas. It’s a free pop up store for those in need. The Urban League will be collecting items on site from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Then the store opens to those in need from 12 - 3 p.m. 740 W 5th St. Details.

Pink Social Girl Tribe Holiday Market, Saturday
Enjoy Joe’s Dough donuts, Pure Intentions coffee, sparkles, holiday cheer, Nsync Christmas jams (yep!), beer and more than 60 vendors ranging from boutiques to jewelers. Of course there will be a photo booth. Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Dr. 11 a.m. $5 Vip Entry,12 p.m. free entry.
Details.

Winter Market - Another chance to by gifts and baked good from 30 local vendors at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's 6th Annual Weihnachtsmarkt. This is the opening weekend of the German-inspired Christmas Market. Winter seasonal beers include Dunkel, Bauern Bock, and Yule Bock and OMB’s homemade Glühwein: a spiced red wine served hot. Weihnachtsmarkt is every Friday and Saturday through the Dec. 18-19. 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturdays.  4150 Yancey Road.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Local breweries offer free yoga, running and more

Since returning to the nightlife beat, I've been constantly amazed and impressed by the impact of the local breweries on the city's nightlife. The breweries are gathering places for beer aficionados as well as newbies. Now, the breweries are appealing to fitness enthusiasts as well. Nearly every night each week, a brewery offers a fitness activity, from run clubs to yoga. Prices range from free to $5, and often include a beer.

I call the trend Brewfit, but it's more than fitness. It's community. The breweries are taking what can often be solo activities, such as running, and turning them into community events. They're creating new communities within yoga and crossfit groups, both of which are cliquish. The breweries are finding new and fun ways to bring people together.

Brewfit schedule after the video.

Sunday

Lenny Boy Brewing Co., 2224 Hawkins Street, Noon - Run Club (1.5 or 3-mile loop)

Old Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Rd  - 2 p.m. Bike Up (1.5 hour ride, 20-mile route 12-14 mph pace or 28-mile route 17-18 mph pace)

Tuesdays

Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Drive - 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Indoor Disc Golf Putting League tournament

OMB - 6:30 p.m. Yoga On Tap Free

D9 Brewing Co., 11138 Treynorth Drive, - 6:30 p.m. Detox to Retox $10

Wednesdays

NoDa Brewing Company, 2229 North Davidson Street - 6:30 p.m. NoDa Run Club (1, 3, 5-mile loops)

Sugar Creek - 6 p.m. Taproom Fitness with Metro Fitness (calisthenics)

Thursday

Triple C Brewing Co., 2900 Griffith Street - 6:30 p.m. Run Club (1-5-mile routes) or Yoga

Unknown Brewing Co., 1327 South Mint Street - 6:30 p.m. Brewlates (check website for schedule)

Saturdays

Lenny Boy - 10 a.m. Yoga with Lindsay $5 includes Kombucha (Mats for rent for $1 limited quantity. Tap Room open after class for a pint, a trio of new samples or growler fill-up.)

Unknown - 2:30 p.m. Bike and Brew  (10, 25 and 35-mile loop)