Film festival, paint event and cool hip-hop show

This weekend is what I call the calm after the storm. After all of the Halloween partying, this is the weekend to slow down and chill at a few low key events. See you in the streets.

Wednesday

Canvas & Beats - You’ve seen all of the different painting events. Paint Craze blends live art and music. Each week the paint-your-own-party features a different live band. 7 p.m. - 10  p.m. Dirty Hippie, 5028 South Boulevard in the tan building next to Pep Boys. $10 cover includes canvas and paint.

Jazzy Happy Hour - Trombonist Buff Dillard headlines the weekly after-work mixer. 7 p.m. 10 p.m., Sydney’s Martini Bar, 401 N. Tryon St. Free.

Thursday
Independent Play - An unexpected pregnancy ends a fighter pilot’s flying career, but piloting drones provides new opportunities and pitfalls in Grounded, a one-woman play. Tonight through Saturday, and Nov. 12-14. 7:30 p.m., Studio 1212, 1212 E. 10th St. $20. Tickets.

Dinner With The Ghost And The Devil

Friday
Buy Art - The Light Factory hosts its auction this month, but you can get a sneak peek at the Auction Preview Party. Light hors d’oeuvres and a casual discussion about featured auction artwork. 6:30 p.m., The Light Factory, 1817 Central Ave.

Film Festival - The 100 Words Film Festival expands to an entire weekend of film premieres, parties, and a panel discussion. The festival features 35 films from award-winning professionals and student filmmakers will make their world premieres. $10 per show, $24 for all three events.  Screenings are Nov. 6 and 7 at 8:00 p.m. at the McGlohon Theater, 345 N College St.  After-parties immediately following at the 7th Street Market (tonight) and Rooftop 210 (Saturday).  Details.




Alt Hip-Hop - Fresh off their fifth studio album, The Foreign Exhchange: Phonte + Nicolay continue to challenge hip-hop and R&B with their blend of electronica, jazz and hip-hop. 8 p.m. Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $25. www.amossouthend.com




Saturday
Fashion Show Benefit - Fashion Street is an outdoor fashion show features 22 local models, seven boutiques and celebrity models. Guest are encouraged to bring canned good to benefit the Harvest Center. The event is free. Boutique owner LeMond Hart is hosting this event. 6 p.m. at East 15th Street between Caldwell Street and Davidson Street.

Hit The Streets - Sustain Charlotte is promoting healthy lifestyle with the Walk Your Neighborhood kick off event in Plaza-Midwood. Participants are encouraged to walk from their residence to the Pizza Peel on Central Avenue. There will be a table for residents to check-in, log their miles, and receive a wristband, which qualifies for discounts at area restaurants and shops. 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Pizza Peel & Tap Room, 1600 Central Ave. Details. #WalkCLT

Music Festival - The North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue and Birdsong Brewing Co. are teaming up for music festival. Bands: Tina Crapsi, Dane Page and Jennifer Millis. Admission gets you a pint glass, beer, flight of beers, Koozie an more. 5 p.m. Birdsong Brewing, 1016 N. Davidson St. $25. Details.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

This black chick didn't die at Bohemian Grove

"The black character always dies first in the horror movie. This is some bulls---," I thought while awaiting my fate at the XOXO's "Bohemian Grove."My spidey senses tingled, and I cursed my girl Crystal Dempsey for inviting me out. I can't tell you what happened, but for a hot minute,  I thought I might be found chopped up in little pieces. That is now how the monthlong #celebrationoftonya is supposed to end.

Most of the Grove, an experiential theatrical production, isn't hair-raising. It's campy fun, and cool way to spend an evening in the woods outside of Charlotte. It starts with a ride in a passenger van about 40 minutes outside of Charlotte to historic farm for the performance. The show takes place all over the farm and outside. That's all I'm going to say about the performance so I don't spoil it for you.

If you're going, here are a few tips:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
•  Wear long sleeves and long pants. The mosquitos are no joke and covering up is the best protection. 
•  Eat a full meal before you go, and bring snacks, such as trail mix or protein bars. (I'm growing so I get hungry quick)
• Take advantage of the bathroom stop. (Ladies bring some tissue to the show. You may need to cop a squat)
•  Bring an open mind. This is not your typical theater performance, but it's definitely one you won't forget.

Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Today - May 30. Departure site will be revealed via email after reservations are made.
$50, which includes transportation to/from the Grove and cold beverages. For reservations: xoxoperformance@gmail.com

Bikes, bourbon, beer and a play at a farmhouse

Whew! after last weekend I need a party break. Ah, but there a few events calling my name ranging from a weird theatrical production (I love all things weird) to another festival. No rest for me. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started!


Thursday

Empowering Women - Enjoy lunch with local women expressing hope through arts at Strands of Pearl’s Luncheon. Strands of Pearls celebrates its fourth year. Proceeds benefit Pearls for Creative Healing Art Programs.  11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Foundation For The Carolinas, 220 N Tryon St. $40.










Live Funk - Time to get funky! It's SHIPROCKED! presents: The Soul, Funk and Disco Edition, with special guest Shana Blake of Double Door’s The Monday Night Allstars! This is going to be an unforgettable Shiprocked! 10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.

Weird Theatre - Your going to have to experience XOXO's (formerly Machine Theatre) Bohemian Grove to understand it. Bohemian Grove is a theatrical experience, immersive performance party. Guests for each performance will begin their journey in a 15-passenger van that glides through the backwoods of Mecklenburg County before arriving at a historic farm for the performance. Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, May 7-30. Departure site will be revealed via email after reservations are made.
$50, which includes transportation to/from the Grove and cold beverages. For reservations: xoxoperformance@gmail.com







Friday

Bike & Breakfast - Join the city’s bike community as they launch Free Wheelin' Fridays to encourage people to bike to work on Fridays. Meet and network 7 a.m. Head uptown by 8:15 a.m. The Common Market, 1515 South Tryon St. Organizers will add locations in Plaza-Midwood and NoDa in coming weeks.

Get Creative - Talk about what creativity means in Charlotte at Be Original: presented by Advent Coworking. The networking event includes a Q&A and representatives from Google Fiber, Dupp & Swat and others. 6:30 p.m. The Cube, 617 E. 28th Suite B.
















Saturday

My Favorite Things - Head to SouthPark for what the Charlotte Bourbon Club calls the best bourbon event - Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival. Enjoy the Shrine of Swine, seminars in the Tasting Theater and live music. 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. 5440 Carnegie Boulevard. $39.

Fashion Timeline - The Decades of Fashion show features style and fashion from the 1920’s to 2000’s by local boutiques, designers, salons and make-up artists. Admission includes red carpet, live music, fashion show and the after party with dancing. Participants are encouraged to dress in their favorite decade. 6:30 p.m. Le Meridien Charlotte, 555 South McDowell Street, North Tower.

Wine Tasting - Charlotte Food & Wine Weekend finale Big Bottles & Blues features 40 wineries, live and silent auction and blues music. The event benefits local children’s charities. CWFW is partnering with retailers The Wine Vault, Arthur’s Wine Shop and Bond Street Wines to offer the option to purchase wine at the event. There will also be special guests. 6:30 p.m. Founders Hall, Bank of America Corporate Center. $125.












Sunday
Black Cinema - This month’s edition features “Honey Baby, Honey Baby,” a 1974 film about the craziness that happens when an interpreter wins a free trip to Lebanon. The other film is “Winnie Mandela,” starring Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard. 2 p.m. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 S Tryon St.



Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Beatles tribute and Barbie bday

Plays and tribute bands take center stage tonight. Tomorrow the St. Patrick's Day celebrations start. Here's my list. Let's get this party started. See in you in the streets.

For The Family - Searching for Starlight is a play based on their original children’s book Searching for Starlight. Searching for Starlight tells the story of a young girl's search for acceptance at a new school. Actor's Theatre of Charlotte, 650 E. Stonewall St. Various times tonight and Saturday. $20. Tickets and info. Parking onsite.

Tribute Night - Four musicians from the Athens, GA music scene make up Abbey Road Live, the Beatles Tribute Band. Feelin’ Groovy (Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Band) will open. 9 p.m., Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $12, $14.

Time Travel - Ten-year-old Joey Stoshack travels back in time to meet the legendary Jackie Robinson in the play Jackie & Me. Various times today and Sunday. ImaginOn's Wells Fargo Playhouse, 300 E. 7th St. $14.

Don't Forget

Barbie Birthday – Celebrate all things Barbie at the “The Life of Barbie” party. Champagne toast, birthday cake, giveaways and my favorite - Barbie and Ken Look a Like contest. 7 p.m.,  Bubble Champagne Lounge, 210 East Trade. Free.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com