Restaurant week starts today and arts groups unite for Charleston

This is the week that you've been waiting for to try that new restaurant that you heard about. Yep, Charlotte restaurant week is here. Get out and eat someplace new.

Geek Fun - Discovery Place celebrates one-year with an all-star tribute to Science in the Rocks. The fun includes: liquid nitrogen wine slashes, green screen and Oculus Rift. 5 p.m. Discovery Place, 301 N Tryon St. $10. Details.





Jazz Tribute - Pianist Ernest Turner pays tribute to another NC-native Thelonius Monk in the monthly Jazz Room concert series. 6 and 8:15 p.m., Stage Door Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., $12, www.blumenthalarts.org



Roots Reggae - Morgan Heritage is riding the top of the reggae charts today. Friday 9 p.m., Chop Shop, 399 E. 35th St., $30 and up. Tickets.

Read Courtney Devores Soundbites for live music. 

Don't Miss

Arts Groups Unite - Five Charlotte-based performing arts organizations will present On the Hook, the first of a planned series of collaborative performances calling for action on issues of justice and inequality in the community and the nation. This week’s performance is in remembrance of the Emanuel Nine.  Participating organizations are On Q Productions, One Voice Chorus, the Possibility Project, A Sign of the Times and XOXO. 6 – 7:30 pm, Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, 401 N. McDowell St. Free.

Good Eats - Queen’s Feast, aka Charlotte restaurant week, starts today and ends July 26. More than 120 restaurants throughout the region are participating. Helen Schwab reports there’s a new pricing structure. Get the latest.





Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Four festivals and a gazillion parties this weekend

This weekend is like the perfect spring storm of parties. It's all coalescing on Saturday. The pre-Cinco de Mayo parties, fight parties, Kentucky Derby parties and three community festivals. Stay tuned for my fight and Cinco de Mayo parties.

Wednesday 

Hip-hop Wordsmith - This is going to be heck of a party. Sir Abstraxxx and Sunshine Anderson in one night. 8:30 p.m. Dupp & Swat, 2424 N. Davidon St. 112B



Thursday 

Southend Festival - The South End Art and Soul Festival kicks off today with marquee events throughout the weekend. The celebration of local arts starts tonight with Pecha Kucha at Amos’ Southend, Carolinas Got Art on Friday and South End Art and Soul on Saturday. Full lineup here.

Ladies Night - It’s girls night out at the 7th Street Market Spring Sip & Shop. More than 40 local artisans will participate including Queen Charlotte’s Pimento Cheese Royale and more. 7:30 p.m. 7th Street Public Market, 224 E 7th St.



Salute The Duke - The Jazz Arts Initiative Presents: Jazz Room Delfeayo Marsalis plays Duke Ellington. Hear trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis’s reworking of Ellington classics and more. 7 p.m. McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. $25 and up.




Friday 

Bass Beatdown - Get ready for a night of pounding beats at the Downlink w/ Dieselboy & KJ Sawka "Blood, Sweat, & Bass" Tour. 9 p.m. The Chop Shop, 399 East 35th St. $20.

Burlesque and Metal - This sounded so odd that I couldn’t resist. Big Mammas House of Burlesque - "Metal May" features burlesque performances to heavy metal. Performers include: Ophelia Pop Tart, Meredith Sparkles, Veronica Broadchest, Rebel, Jackson Heels, Pepper La Rouge & Big Mamma D 10 p.m. UpStage, 3306-C N Davidson St. $15 and up.

For the Family - Enjoy Fort Mill’s spring kickoff at the Fort Mill Strawberry Festival. The event features entertainers, food, a wing eating contest and more. Free. 4:30 - 11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Walter Elisha Park, 345 N. White St. Fort Mill, SC.









Saturday

PM Party - Plaza-Midwood struts its stuff in the annual Midwood Maynia and Home tour. The weekend event featuers a home tour on Friday and a neighborhood party on Saturday at Midwood Park. There's a road race, pet parade, live music and more. Details.

Chocolate Fundraiser - The annual Sweet Escapes Fundraiser features more than 500 lbs of chocolate prepared in a variety of tantalizing desserts. The event benefits the Community Links, which helps families find affordable housing . Cocktail attire. 7 p.m. CPCC Harris Conference Center, 3216 CPCC Harris Campus Dr. $75 and up.

 

NoDa Arts - Head over to NoDa Day for a free street festival with more than 40 artists and vendors. Food trucks will be on scene. House DJ's from the MOVE & Bassment Crew will spin. 1 - 7 p.m. Corner of 35th and McDowell.














Sunday 
Jazz Keyboardist - Start the week with a a little jazz by national keyboardist Brian Simpson. 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sydney's Martini and Wine Bar, 401 North Tryon Street #104. $15 and up.




 

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Sour Beer, Latin Dancing And Running In The Streets

Welcome to Sip + Play: Things To Do In Charlotte. Each week, I’ll be your online guide to things to do in Charlotte, especially on the weekends. On Wednesdays, I'll give you a preview. Think of it like entertainment tapas. A taste of what happening this weekend in restaurants, nightlife, music, art and more. Basically, if it sounds fun, I’ll share it with you in Sip + Play. On the weekends, look for live coverage from events as well as more things to do and of course - a party or two!!! Let’s have some fun. I’m starting tonight with the Charlotte Bourbon Club for Bourbonista’s Bourbon & Babble.

  Tonight

Beer and Adventure - Two of my passions come together - hardcore fitness and beer - at the Whitewater Race Series Party, 6 p.m., NoDa Brewing Company, 2229 N Davidson St. Grab a NoDa Brewing's newly released Ashley's Love Potion, a Saison, and see what’s in store for the 2015 race season.

For The Naughty - After a six-year hiatus the Suicide Girls return with their popular Burlesque Tour. Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque, 9 p.m.,  at Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.

Fresh Beats - Rapid rhythms, live instrumentals and a fancy drum machine have made DJ AraabMuzik a rising star on the DJ scene. He's worked with ASAP Rocky, Azealia Banks, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and Eminem and more.  Doors open at 10 p.m., Suite.

  Friday

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.

Saturday 

 Running and Partying - It’s the Thunder Road Marathon and the fun begins at 8 a.m. at Romare Bearden Park. Don’t feel like going uptown? The race will likely come to you with live music performances or a DJ at various mile markers along the way. Here's the line up. I'll be live-tweeting from some of the neighborhood block parties along the route. Follow me at this link or grab your bike and join me.




Sour Beer Lovers - If the name doesn’t entice you, the beer will. It’s Release The Funk 2: The Electric Funkaloo presented by Salud Beer Shop & New Belgium Brewing. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E 36th St. More than two dozen breweries are expected to participate. Get tickets here.








 Sunday 

For the Family - Don’t miss Art & Soul at Latibah Collard Green Museum, 720 Tuckaseegee Rd. Enjoy music by A Sign of The Times Band, live music and art auction and of course soul food. 980-206-1768.


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