Music, food and funk tonight

The NC Music Factory continues to set a new standard in concert series tonight. Plus Taste of Charlotte kicks off uptown. Is it 5 o'clock yet? See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

George Hendricks Photography 

Comedic Melodrama - PaperHouse Theatre presents "A Woman of No Importance," Oscar Wilde’s take on the battle of the sexes. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m., June 5-14, FROCK Shop, 901 Central Avenue. $30 includes complimentary sips and nibbles. Reservations: paperhousetheatre@gmail.com or 704-659-3638. Space is limited to 30 people per performance. Reservations are mandatory. #AWoNI #‎cltcrafttheatre‬ ‪#‎experiencelocaltheatre‬ ‪#‎cltarts‬

Celebrity Comedian - Bobby Lee has appeared on MadTV, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."$20 various times Friday and Saturday. The Comedy Zone, 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd.




Friday Live: The N.C. Music Factory has the best lineup for it's Friday Live summer concert series. Tonight's headliner is Shovels & Rope, which music writer Courtney Devores says sold out two Charlotte venues and opened for the Avett Brothers a couple of years ago. Sounds like seeing them for $8 is a steal. 6 p.m., NC Music Factory Fountain Plaza, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., $8.



Don't Forget

Family Fun - Sample a variety of Charlotte area restaurants, including a lot of chains, in one-spot at the three-day Taste of Charlotte. More than 100 restaurants, live music, children’s activities, street performers and more. 12 p.m. Friday - 6 p.m. Sunday. Center City, Tryon Street between Stonewall and Trade. Free, but you’ll need to purchase festival coins to sample food.  Details.
Updated info:  Don't miss the Race to the Taste, 5K and Cupcake Run/Walk on Saturday at 9 a.m. Starts at 4th Street near Church. Race through uptown to Southend. Enjoy live music. The Cupcake Run/Walk involves racers grabbing cupacakes along the route! Register here.

International Club DJ - Get ready to dance the night away as DJ Camillo takes over the N.C. Music Factory. POWER 98's DJ Phalse ID opens. 10 p.m. Label 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $10.




The Mothership - Get funky with George Clinton. You know how this show will go. So bring your funky spirit and get ready for a trip you won’t forget. 8 p.m. Amos’ Southend, 1423 South Tryon Street, $35 and up.

LGBTQ Gala - If you applaud Caitlyn Jenner’s courage then the Platinum Gala: The Art of Expression is a great chance to support our local LGBTQ youth. The gala celebrates LGBTQ youth in the Carolinas. Molly Barker, Founder of Girls on the Run is the key note and Ben Thompson, Anchor WCNC, will be the Master of Ceremonies. 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., The Mint Museum-Uptown, 500 S Tryon St. $100.

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George Clinton, Canine Couture and Whiskey Women

Nice weather equals more outdoor events. The Mint rescheduled it's Party In the Park and the Charlotte Symphony launches it's Pop Series. More event inside and outside below. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

Tonight

Rescheduled! Family Happy Hour - Bring the kids to the front lawn of Mint Museum Randolph for the fourth annual Party in the Park, a family-friendly event, benefitting the Mint's annual fund. Bring snacks or cash for the food trucks and bar.  Enjoy an evening outside listening to summer tunes, playing games and watch a movie. The museum will be open. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. Free.

Brown Liquor Ladies - The Queen City Whiskey Women host their monthly “Drink-Up.” $5 whiskeys. Cocktail Sensei, Stefan, creates a specialty cocktail each month inspired by the whiskey-swillin' ladies. The group nominates a monthly "MANhattan" - an adventurous and supportive male friend that is invited to attend the drink-up and regal us with his humor (and chivalry). Tiaras are strongly encouraged! 6 p.m. Heist Brewery, Heist Brewery, 2909 N Davidson St Ste 200.




Thursday 

New Monthly Series - The Cosmic Union Zulus presents: o&mi - w/ Pako the Panik, DJ Wizdom & The Dirty Drummer is a new monthly series that features rare grooves, afro, funk, hip-hop and soul. Dirty Drummer will do an Afrobeat, Brazilian, electro set. Plus there’s up rock from the Raleigh Rockers. 9 p.m. Crown Station, 1425 Elizabeth Ave, $5 / Ladies free before 11 p.m. 


Friday 

Family Fun - Sample a variety of Charlotte area restaurants, including a lot of chains, in one-spot at the three-day Taste of Charlotte. More than 100 restaurants, live music, children’s activities, street performers and more. 12 p.m. Friday - 6 p.m. Sunday. Center City, Tryon Street between Stonewall and Trade. Free, but you’ll need to purchase festival coins to sample food.  Details.

International Club DJ - Get ready to dance the night away as DJ Camillo takes over the N.C. Music Factory. POWER 98's DJ Phalse ID opens. 10 p.m. Label 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $10.




The Mothership - Get funky with George Clinton. You know how this show will go. So bring your funky spirit and get ready for a trip you won’t forget. 8 p.m. Amos’ Southend, 1423 South Tryon Street, $35 and up.

LGBTQ Gala - If you applaud Caitlyn Jenner’s courage then the Platinum Gala: The Art of Expression is a great chance to support our local LGBTQ youth. The gala celebrates LGBTQ youth in the Carolinas. Molly Barker, Founder of Girls on the Run is the key note and Ben Thompson, Anchor WCNC, will be the Master of Ceremonies. 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., The Mint Museum-Uptown, 500 S Tryon St. $100.

Saturday 

Night Run - Grab your retro-reflective and head to NoDa for the Noda 5k. Enjoy cool swag, beer, live music and food trucks. Benefits Beards BeCause. The race starts and ends at the NEW NoDa Brewing Company, 2921 North Tryon. $35 and up.

Dog Fashion Show - Bring your posh pooch out for a doggie fashion show and more at Canine Couture, which benefits Pride Charlotte and the Humane Society of Charlotte Enjoy an afternoon of local brews‚ and hang out with fellow dog owners. The event will include 12 vendors, including dog grooming and a DJ. Contests include Best Hair/Fur, Best Dressed/Costume, Best Owner/Pet Look A Like, Best Trick and Best in Show. General admission is $5, with VIP seating at $20. Entry into the contest is $15 per pet (including one category entry and admission for an owner) and $5 for each additional contest category entered. Details.

Sunday 

For The Family - Bring the family to the LGBT Community Picnic with cookout food, a DJ, games, such as kickball and Twister, face painting and Equality Cupcakes. Park Road Park, Shelter One.


Symphony In SouthPark - The Charlotte Symphony’s annual outdoor Summer Pops Series starts today. 5 p.m. Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road. June concerts are $12; July 3 tickets are $16; Summer Passes for all five programs are $48.

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Getting funky with Shana Blake at Shipwrocked! (Video)

Shana Blake is known for her sets as the songstress of the Monday Night All-Stars at the Double Door Inn, but on Thursday she showed her chops singing disco and funk. Flanked by two go-go dancers, Shana had Shiprocked partiers boogying (that's what you do to disco) at Snub Harbor.




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Get funky with great music and a special benefit

Don't the let the dreary weather stop you. Plenty of fun today from music to dance parties. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started.

Foundations of Funk - Groove to the masters: James Brown, Fela, Rick James, Prince, George Clinton, D'Angelo, Stevie Wonder and more with DJ Justice Sun Tzulu. Along with music Su Casa Presents: On the One also features film, face painting, photography and more. 9 p.m. Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave, $5 and up.









Don't Miss

Patio Crawl - This takes patio parties to another level with stops at Libretto’s Parktowne Village, Brazwell’s, Maverick Rock Taco, Angry Ale’sl and 10 Park Lanes. It's the Patio Kickoff Party. $5, and includes drink specials, a pair of RockHouse sunglasses, swag from Bacardi and Montej. 2:30 p.m. Libretto's Parktowne Village (check-in).

Tailgating At The Track - If you can’t get to Kentucky next weekend or even if you do, the Queen’s Cup Steeple Chase is the next thing. Thousands will come out to watch horses race more of than 30 miles per hour and party. 10 a.m. gates open, Mineral Springs. There a variety of entrances depending on which parking pass you have.

Party With A Purpose - This event benefits the NC Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event shares the story of Shelby who has battled leukemia for two years and is nominated for Woman of the Year. Alex's Lemonade Stand for childhood cancer research, Be The Match for bone marrow registry and Charlotte's own Ace & TJs Grin Kids will all be there. There will be food trucks, live bands and a Pumpkin Peach Ale competition. Organizers want to be able to fund one person for an entire year of cancer research.  2 p.m. - 8 p.m., D9 Brewing, Cornelius. D9 is donating $2.50 from every pint they sell to LLS. Details.










Gay Film Festival - The Charlotte Gay and Lesbian Film Festival features a variety of films ranging from a lesbian romance to fan favorite George Takei of “Star Trek.” I’m most excited about the “Out in the Night” screening Saturday. There will also be a special screening of "brocKINGton,” a documentary about Charlotte’s Blake Brockington. Various times and days through Sunday. All screenings at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. $8 per movie.





Roadtrip

Art of Cool, Durham
Jazz enthusiasts don’t want to miss the Art of Cool festival in Durham. It features Roy Ayers, Snarky Puppy, Charlotte’s Anthony Hamilton and a host of other musicians you’ll be glad you heard. Ends Sunday. Details.





MerleFest, Wilkesboro
This is one of my favorite festivals. I camped, met some great people and discovered some great Americana bands. It’s worth a day-trip. The Avett Brothers headline tonight. Dwight Yoakam performs on Sunday. Details.



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