#ThrowbackThursday: Jack Daniels Honey Arts, Beats & Lyrics (Photos)

8Ball & MJG weren't the only stars at the Jack Daniels Honey's Arts, Beats & Lyrics last month.

Weekend Preview: Soul music, Latin grooves and happy hour

What a crazy weekend. The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity convention is in town and we have our usual bevy of parties to choose from. See you in the streets... Let's get this party started!


Wednesday 

Latin Movie Night - The Cinemas Latino Film Series presents “Feriado” (Holiday) presented in collaboration with the Latin American Coalition and the Mint Museum. These films are considered some of the the best of contemporary Latin films. $5. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. Details.

 


Happy Hour - Rock House Events takes On The Rocks: Summer Happy Hour Series uptown. It’s a chance to experience Ri Ra’s Irish Whiskey Room if you haven’t been there yet. The newly remodeled whiskey room features more than 130 whiskies and $5 Guinness. Don’t be intimidated by the brown liquor. Whiskey Room also features some yummy whiskey punches. $5 specialty cocktails, $5 Guinness and 130+ whiskies to choose from (In addition to a full bar) 6 - 8 p.m Whiskey Room, Ri Ra Irish Pub, North Tryon St.



Meet the Future - Queen City Forward’s ImpactU Demo Day is one of the coolest events in Charlotte. It’s a chance to meet eight young visionaries whose ideas will shape this city. ImpactU Demo Day is the culmination of Queen City Forward’s 10-week accelerator program for college level entrepreneurs. 5 p.m. reception. 6 p.m. pitches, UNC Charlotte Center City
. Details.

Thursday

Bye, Bye, Bye - The Light Factory’s Member’s Show closes tonight. This is your last chance to see these local works. Noon - 6 p.m. The Light Factory, 1817 Central Ave.

Bye, Bye, Bye II - Join Charlotte Drinking Liberally for a night of cocktails and laughs. The group will watch the first Republican Presidential Debate and Jon Stewart’s final “Daily Show.” 7 p.m. Thursday Ri Ra, 208 N. Tryon St. 

 Friday

New SouthPark Event- Hear one of my favorite Charlotte DJs, That Guy Smitty, spin at the debut of Under the Lights, a new Friday night series at Village Tavern in SouthPark. Features beer and drink specials as well as bites. This will be held on the restaurant’s gorgeous patio. Should be fun, especially with friends. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Village Tavern, 4201 Congress St.

Jazz Uptown - Ziad Jazz Quartet performs a tribute to John Coltrane in Coltrane Revisited at this edition of Jazz at the Bechtler. 6 p.m. Bechtler Museum, 420 South Tryon. St. $14. Details.

   

Saturday

Shake Something - Put your salsa and tango lessons to work at the Latina American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte Summer Fiesta & Fundraiser. Ricardo Diquez & the Tropic Orchestra will perform salsa, merengue and tropical music. DJ Khriz will spin reggae ton, bachata, club and more. 9 p.m. LaCa Projects, 1429 Bryant St. $50 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets. 

Silky Soul - It’s not summer in Charlotte without a concert by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The soul singer headlines the Soulmatic Music Festival which also features SWV, Jagged Edge, Whodini and others. 4 p.m. Metrolina Expo, 7100 Statesville Road. $35 and up. Details.

Get Artistic - This isn’t a sip and wine event, but you can explore your inner artists at Open Studio Saturday at the McColl Center. This will be the last Open Studio Saturday for Summer Affiliate Artists Charles Williams, Caroline Rust, Erik Waterkotte, Endia Beal, Matt Horick, and Taproot. Free. 12-4 p.m. Details

Sunday 

Get Your Fill - Enjoy bottomless mimosas and bellinis, a brunch, big games and more at Prive Brunch. Music by Power 98s DJ LP. 11 a.m., Slate Billiards/Oak Room, 200 E. Bland St.


Get Dressed Up - Think you have what it takes to scare the crap out of people? Take your talents to Carowinds for Scarowinds Haunt auditions. Must be age 16 and up. Auditions are Sundays and Thursdays from 5 – 8 p.m. through October 15. Must apply online before attending an audition. Carowinds Employment Office 14523 Carowinds Blvd. 

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Craft cidery grand opening, arts events and a music festival

Rise and shine! The fun has already begun and crescendos this afternoon, yet this afternoon. It's a full day of fun and an evening of even more shenanigans. Let's get this party started. See you in the streets...



Grand Opening - Red Clay Cidery joins Charlotte’s brewing explosion, and it’s our first cidery. Celebrate Red Clay Ciderworks Grand Opening, and try craft ciders. 1:30 p.m., Red Clay Ciderworks, 245 Clanton Road. Admission free. $5 drink tickets. Details.

Family Fun - The Harvey B. Gantt Center unveils three exhibitions today: AfriCOBRA Now: An Aesthetic Reflection, Charlotte Collects Elizabeth Catlett: A Centennial Celebration, and special project Intergalactic Soul. The theme is activism and community. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Gantt Center. Free for members, $5 non-members. Details.

Charlotte Black Gay Pride - Come out for a day of music, workshops and fun

at the Charlotte Black Gay Pride’s 2015 Pride Extravaganza. More than 50 vendor more. 

12 p.m. Carole A. Hoefener, 610 E 7th St. Details.

Family Fun II 12 p.m., Mosaic Village, 1601 West Trade St. Seversville. Bring the family out for an afternoon of music and art at Art & Soul. Event includes an art auction and exhibit, food trucks and food from local restaurants. Live music ranges from gospel to funk. Details.

Saturday
Adult Games - Watch co-ed teams compete in crazy games at the Social Olympics XI. It’ll be fun times whether you’re playing or watching. 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., VBGB Beer Hall and Garden, 920 Hamilton St.

Jazz In the Park - The Freedom Summer Series of Jazz in Freedom Park returns this week. Featured artists are saxophonist Jessy J and the jazz group Cino Castillo. 6 - 9 p.m. Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard.

Finale Party - The Gray Classic weekend wraps up with the finale Party with a Purpose. Vapiano, 201 South Tryon St.

Cigars and Creole Food - Sample cigars and cocktails at Southern Soirée. There will also be live music and a DJ. Dress code: Seersucker Suits/Jackets, Sundresses, Bowties, Stilettos & Stripes are requested, but not required. Men are asked to wear collared shirts.  4 - 9 p.m., Rooftop 210, 210 East Trade St. Tickets.

BYOB Music Festival - Enjoy a multi-genre three stage festival experience featuring live music and DJs at Barnstock. Bands include: indie-rockers Stop Light Observations; electronic music act Buku; reggae-tinged
rock band Simplified; hip-hop punk act Shinobi Ninja; funk band The Fritz. The event benefits a variety of local and national charities. 4 p.m. - 11 p.m., 15305 Black Farms Rd. Huntersville, $30 and up.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Weekend Preview: Two music festival and two funkified parties

Two music festival and a couple of arts events are only a peek at what's to come this weekend. Lace up your shoes and get ready to partttaayy! See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

Tonight
Celebrate Hispanic Art - The Con A de Arte celebration returns with featured speaker Mexican-American Photographer and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist José Galvez. 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 2730 Randolph Rd. Details.

Change The World - Come out to #GovJamCLT mixer to learn more about innovative solutions for the city. It’s an informal mixer sponsored by Knight Foundation, Google and the David Hoffman Group. 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Earl's Grocery, 1609 Elizabeth Ave. Read about it in Charlotte Five.

Thursday
Make A Child Smile - The 5th Annual An Evening of Believing Prom gives children with life-alternating illness one night to enjoy the prom some may never have and others missed. It’s fantastic event hosted by the Sandbox. Come out to The 5th Annual An Evening of Believing Prom Kick-Off party to learn more about the organization and the prom. Enjoy food, a silent auction, and entertainment, and meet the 2015 Youth Mentor class and interact with families the organizations serves. 6-9 p.m., Johnson Mansion, 1800 Queens Road West. $25.

Art & Wine - No, this isn’t one of those sip and paint shindigs. The Wine Club at McColl Center is a wine tasting that pairs current Affiliate Artists Taproot Ensemble with a special selection of wines. 6-7:30 p.m. McColl Center, 721 N Tryon ST.  $10, $15.

Friday
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.



Saturday

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.

Sunday
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.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Food festivals, beer festivals and live jazz

Wow! What a weekend. This is just a smattering of the events going down over the next few days. It's crazy. National Beer Day and 420 all happening in the same week. First, I must pause for the cause. Congratulations to Tom Sasser of the Harper Group who was honored as the Humanitarian of the Year at the national No Kid Hungry Summit for his 20 years of leadership with Taste of the Nation. A well-deserved honor. Now let's get this party started! See you in the streets.

Tonight

End Child Hunger - Taste of the Nation celebrates its 20th anniversary. Samplings from the area’s top chefs, restaurants & culinary schools. Enjoy fine wines, beers, premium spirits, including Mixologist Bar. Silent and live auction. All proceeds benefit Share Our Strength and local charities. Deets. $85 7 p.m. general admission, $120 6 p.m. VIP admission. Two Wells Fargo Center Atrium, 301 South Tryon St.

Thursday

Tribute Concert - Jazz fans pay tribute to keyboardist Joe Sample, who died last year. Sample was a multi-Grammy winner and member of the Crusaders. Alex Bugnon headlines the Joe Sample Tribute Concert. Sample’s son Nick (bass) and original Crusader Wilton Felder (saxophone) will also perform in this special tribute show. It’s part of the CPCC Sensoria Arts Festival. 8 p.m.,  Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Avenue. $50 and up.

Global Bites - Celebrate Charlotte's cultural diversity at the Levine Museum’s annual fundraiser, Taste of the New South: Global Dish. This year's theme will take guests around the world with cuisine, decor, entertainment and more. 6 p.m., Levine Museum of the New South, East 7th Street. $100. Limited street parking and paid parking available.

Caribbean In Concord - The Cabarrus Arts Council’s Art On Tap, young adult group, is hosting a Caribbean themed party featuring reggae rock trio Sun-Dried Vibes. 7:30 p.m., Davis Theatre, 65 Union St. S, Concord, in the Cabarrus County Historic Courthouse. $15.

Friday

UNCC Benefit - Enjoy an elegant evening entertainment, food and fun along with street performers and the Leslie and Friends variety band at the Green Tie Gala Masquerade. 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Byron's South End, 101 W Worthington Avenue #110.  $50.

Throwback Jazz - See the Calvin Edward Trio perform at Jazz at Packard Place. It’s billed as a throwback to the jazz era nightclub experience. Two shows: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. $12 and up. 

Boxfight - Curious about crossfit? Watch to boxes (gyms) battle it out when top athletes from Crossfit Staxx takes on Crossfit Kaiju in a battle of the WODS. Adult beverages will be for sale. 7 p.m. Crossfire Staxx, 3722 South Tryon St. Free.

Celebrate Outdoors - Tuck Fest is a three-day festival outdoor festival featuring competitions, exhibitions, demos and live music. The festival features a variety of outdoor sport competitions that include trail running, kayaking, biking, climbing, stand-up paddleboarding, slacklining and adventure racing. Starts today and end Sunday. U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC)

Saturday

Brew Beatdown - The annual Battle of the Brews puts Charlotte's local breweries against each other. Each of the 10 breweries will bring three kegs. There will be eight food truck and live music from 5 on Sundays. 3.m.m - 6 p.m. Southend’s Food Truck lot, 100 W. Park Ave. $40

420 Fest - Tyber Creek is hosting a 420fest on Saturday April 18th. Start with a FREE Fun Run/Walk at 11 a.m. There’s a Kan Jam Tourney at 2 p.m. and live music all night. Tyber Creek,1933 South Boulevard. Free entry. 

For The Family - Curious about how to live a healthy lifestyle? Start with the Healthy Home Market Fair. There will be practitioners from the Community Wellness Center, food vendors, vitamin educators and more. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m Plaza Midwood, 1330 Central Ave. Free.

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Art Gala - Studio Party 15: Upcycled Gala, presented by Bank of America, is the McColl Center for Art + Innovation annual celebration and contemporary art sale, with complimentary cocktails, gourmet tapas, and an Art Showcase featuring exceptional works for sale from current Artists-in-Residence and Alumni curated exclusively by Renee McColl and Brad Thomas. 7 p.m. McCoy Center,721 N Tryon St. $150. 

Sunday

Help Girl Rockers - Join family, friends and supporters of girl musicians at Cover Me: A Girls Rock Charlotte Friendraiser. Learn what the organization is all about, and hear some cool bands. 2 p.m. Hattie’s Tap and Tavern, 2918 The Plaza. $5.

Beer Festival - Celebrate National Beer Day a day early with samples from local and regional breweries. Organizers have even added ciders this year. Live music, cornhole and other  games, enjoy grub from food trucks and more! 1:30 p.m. All American Pub Parking Lot, 200 E Bland St. $30 an up. 

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Bikes, artful dance, beer festival and Best Of!

Get up and get out early today. Beer festivals, dance, art and music. No rest for the weary. Let's get this party started!


Rock ’n’ Soul - According to Courtney's Soundbites, Les Baines III and the Glory Fires delivers blistering performances of well-educated punk and literary folk-meets-Southern rock. Late Bloomer, Totally Slow, and Motel will open. 9 p.m., The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd., $8.

 


Family Fun

Art Through Dance  - Get the whole family moving at Family First: Danstallations. Kinetic Works dancers interpret art through dance. It’s part mystery and part activity. By the end of the program, the entire family will be creating dances to art. 11 a.m., Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 South Tryon St. Free with museum admission. Limited Street parking available and paid parking decks.

Cool Bikes - 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.





Don't Forget

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.

Cultural Initiative: Batman, skateboards and ramen

Cheery women posed with mannequin parts on the small stage at the Chop Shop while Ryan Fenix Sumner snapped pictures. A half dozen people buried their heads in  bowls of ramen noodles. Scores of others milled about admiring art that ranged from a skateboard sculpture to framed paintings and photos. On the mainstage, Adrian Crutchfield, Tony Diaz, and others performed. In masking tape squares, random party-goers danced dramatically. Human mannequins posed on a platform. A handful of vendors hawked everything from coffee to handcrafted items. All of this occurred at the exact same time.

Saturday was my first time experiencing Cultural Initiative. At first it, felt overwhelming. So much happening simultaneously. Then I felt emancipated. I'm so accustomed to events being linear experiences. There's a set schedule. Typically all of my attention must be focused on the main performer on stage, then the next performer.

Cultural Initiative let the audience decide. It was a refreshing approach to entertainment. I caught a little bit of everything, talked with friends, made new acquaintances all at my own pace. Kudos to Joel Andrew Tracey and the rest of the Cultural Initiative collective for trusting that the audience could experience the evening on its own terms.

Shiprocked! gets funky and cool art events

Last week was fun with the Queen City Brewers' Festival, Haunt at Earl's Grocery and of course the Super Bowl. My biggest disappointment was Party Your Way Around the World at Whisky River. It was a cute concept. Hang out and taste food from different regions of the world. For some odd reason, I thought the food would be a little more creative than tacos from Mexico and gnocchi from Italy. I don't know what I was thinking. The people seemed to enjoy themselves. The tacos were the most popular.

Wednesday

Artistry Honors Art - Poets, ballroom dancers and other local artists will honor the work of NC notables at Remembering the Artistry & Times of Romare Beardon & Maya Angelou: Art, Poetry & Music. Featured local visual and performing artists include Yolanda Bynum, Sean Mason, Brock and Charli Montgomery, Quentin Talley, Stacy Utley, and Symphony Webber. 6:30 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. Free. Street and paid parking available.

Thursday

Funked Up! - Shiprocked gets funky with Shiprocked! Classic Funk, Soul & Disco Edition.  This will be a “semi-regular” Thursday homage to “Soul Train,” R&B, funk and disco from the ‘60s-‘80s. 10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. Free. #TJturnup

Latino Art Exhibit - Arte Latino Now 2015: An Exhibition of Latino Artists showcases cultural and artistic contributions of Latinos in America in partnership with ArtSi and artist Edwin Gil. More than a dozen artists were selected through a national competition. Opening reception will also feature literary pieces by Margarita Pignataro, Kurma Murrain and spoken-word artist David Romero. 5:30 p.m. Max L. Jackson Gallery, Watkins Building, Queens University, 1900 Selwyn Ave.

Friday 

Symphony For Novices - Charlotte Symphony makes the genre less intimidating for newbies with A Waltz to Remember, part of Knight Sounds Series. Along with soaking up beautiful music, attendees will see a performance by the Metropolitan Ballroom dancers. It ends with a champagne toast. 12 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. $15.50, $29.

PM Art Crawl - Head over to Plaza-Midwood for the Crawl B4U Ball Art Crawl at Pint Central, Salon 1226, Tuft and Fumanchu cupcakes. Starts at 7 p.m.

Saturday

Gantt Exhibit - Venturing Out of Darkness uses interactive exhibits, mixed mediums and features more than a dozen artists. The exhibit examines the impact of colonialism on societal attitudes that define black culture in America. Opens today. Harvey B. Gant Center, 551 S. Tryon St. Street and paid parking available.

Art Experience – Artists were tasked with finding the perfect frame to match their creative style at Cultural Initiative 6: Frames - An Arts and Social Experience. The event showcases more than 75 regional artists along with bands, DJs, aerialists, interpretive dancers, a photo booth, a merchant market, pop up cafe, and more. 8 p.m., The Chop Shop NoDa, 399 East 35th St. $10. 

Sunday

Candid Discussion - The Levine Museum of the New South continues to explore the intersection of race and culture at Freedom Forum: Unfinished Business. Panelists will discuss the challenges post- Brown v. Board of Education. Panelists will include historians, educators and advocates. 2:30 p.m., Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com