Uptown fun: beer festival or free museum stuff

The fun has already begun with the ASC Connect Cultural Day, but it continues uptown, in NoDa and parties tonight. See you in the streets. Let's get this party started!


Fight Breast Cancer - Join the Carolina Breast Friends at the 6th annual Pink Boots Ball to benefit the Pink House. Music by Soul Psychedelique Orchestra. Details.
7 p.m., Caramel Country Country Club, 4735 Carmel Road. Details.

Family Fun - From free admission to museums to events throughout the city, ASC Connect With Cultural Day is great family fun. See the full schedule.

Don't Forget
For the Family - The multi-platinum band Gin Blossoms will headline the two-day Southern Sauce Beer, a BBQ and bands two-day festival in Uptown Charlotte. The festival celebrates Southern BBQ, craft beer and live music.


The Q-City Charlotte BBQ Championship portion of the festival will be held at Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church St. Free. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Features BBQ vendors, a “Pig Pit” dining area and blues bands performing on the Charlotte Blues Society stage. More information is available at www.southernsauceclt.com.

The Charlotte Beerfest portion will be held inside BB&T Ballpark on Saturday, September 20. VIP admission begins at 4 p.m. and general admission begins at 5 p.m. Features 10  breweries. Live music includes Simplified and the Gin Blossoms.

Bike Scavenger Hunt After Party - This sounds real fun. Birdsong Brewing Co., Heist Brewery, and Four Dogs Pet Supplies present the Char-Heel Classic, a bicycle scavenger hunt. It’s a fundraiser for REACT Thyroid Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds to find the cure for thyroid cancer. $80 registration fee for team of four to bike around Charlotte collecting points by photographing stuff from a list of activities. 9 a.m. Registration, Birdsong Brewing, 1016 N Davidson St. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Scavenger Hunt, 2 - 5 p.m. After-Party with music, food trucks, the event slideshow, and a silent auction. Registration details.

Gay bingo recruitment and running with the bulls

I'm getting it all in tonight! I'm putting on my activist hat for two events this evening and then I'll be in party mode cheering on Team USA v. China.

Fight The Power - The SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage doesn’t mean the end. Join Equality NC and HRC North Carolina at their #DecisionDay Hub in Charlotte, to get engaged with the important work of learning and sharing the High Court's marriage ruling and impact, and what's next on our state's Equality agenda. Complimentary pizzas and a cash bar. The Pizza Peel Plaza Midwood, 1600 Central Ave.

Be A Diva - If you love Gay Bingo, here’s your chance to get involved at the Bingo Verifying Divas Recruitment Party. Gay BINGO return in November and they need help. Meet hostess Barbara Burning Bush and the  Executive Board of Gay BINGO. 8 p.m. - 11 p.m., Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood, 1228 Gordon St.

Don't Miss
Cultural Imperialism - Wanna talk about race? Start here. Educator and artist de'Angelo Dia will explore sports, cultural imperialism, and Mike Tyson's response to the British empire. Dia uses photography, poetry, and performance art for the dialogue. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, 551 S. Tryon Street This talk coincides with the exhibit Venturing Out of The Darkness, which ends Saturday. $2 Donation. RSVP Encouraged.

This Bar Crawl Is Bull - Rockhouse events the first Running of the Bulls Bar Crawl in Uptown Charlotte. It honors the running of the in Spain There won’t be any bulls here, but you can still run. $5 in advance and includes cover into all bars, drink specials, and bull horns/bandanas to the first 200 ticket purchasers. 7 p.m. Tilt (Check-in), 127 W. Trade St.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

A white party, MMA fight, jazz and more tonight

Tonight is going to be great. Fun-seekers can choose from a bloody MMA fight or a sensuous jazz show just to name a few things.

Let me explain: In Wednesday's Sip + Play, I listed the incorrect date for the Inaugural STEM to Fork Culinary Competition.  It's happening now. It ends at 11:30 a.m., 7th Street Public Market, 224 East 7th St.

Now let's get this party started. See you in the streets.

Intimate Jazz - Maysa sings the kind of moody jazz that pairs well with a cigar and a bourbon. Prepare for a great evening of jazz at An Intimate Evening with Incognito Featuring Maysa. 8 p.m. McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College. St. $42.50 and up.

Spring Fever - It’s not Memorial Day yet, but it’s okay to break out white for The White Party. The outfit doesn’t matter as long as it’s white. 10 p.m. On The Roxx Cornelius, 19712 One Norman Blvd, Cornelius. Free. Presented by Social Flockers.







Don't Forget

For Real Beatdown - Somebody’s going to tapout at Fight Lab MMA /Fight Lab 45. South Carolina Stingrays’  Nate Kiser makes his MMA debut  6 p.m., Grady Cole Center, 310 North Kings Dr.  $35 and up.

Jazz and Film - This editioin of New Frequencies: Inspired Lunacy features short films by Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. Maddie is known for reimagining the silent film era. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m., McColl Center for Art + Innovation, 721 N Tryon St.









For The Kids - Play hoops and raise awareness about teen violence at The 5th Annual Midnight Madness Basketball Tournament for teens and young adults. It’s for ages (13-22) 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Johnston YMCA, 3025 N. Davidson St. $5 and registration is onsite.

More Craft Week Events, MMA Fights and more freakiness

Craft Beer Week continues and Easter events are kicking off too. Let's get this party started. See you in the streets...


Tonight

Happy Hour - Hang out with Charlotte’s young black professionals and listen to the grooves of the The Mighty DJ DR at Charlotte’s Favorite Happy Hour. 5:30 p.m. Bubble Charlotte, Epicenter, 210 East Trade St. Free. Paid parking onsite and limited street parking.







Beer Beatdown - 15 NC breweries participate in the Annual Rumble In The Alley, part of Charlotte Craft Beer Week. The first hour is blind taste-testing and voting and then good ol’ enjoyment of libations. 6 p.m. The Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Avenue. $25. Free street parking.

Celebrate Black Women  - Raheem DeVaughn is showing his love for black women with his new project “Queen.” His Queens For A Day event earlier this month supported battered black women. He joins songstresses Ledisi and Leela James. 8 p.m., Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Boulevard. $48.41. Standing room only. Parking onsite.





Thursday

Freaks and Beer - Enjoy rare brews from NoDa Brewing, Terrapin Brewing, Hi-Wire Brewing and others breweries at Freakfest, another Charlotte Craft Beer Week event. Rare beers paired with  entertainment by Purgatory. You know there’ll be fire! 6:30 p.m., The Common Market Southend, 1515 South Tryon St. Limited surface lot parking and street parking.


Monthly Zaniness - The freakiness continues at Shiprocked Presents: Lipgloss. It’s all about the burn, spandex, and headbands and shake weights. BethAnn Phetamine and guests Oliver Clothessoff and Miley Virus tear up the Snug Harbor stage with a campy physical fitness-themed drag revue. Spandex-clad Go Go dancers; it doesn't get any crazier. 10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. Free. Street parking available.

Friday

For The Kids - Four CMS middle school will compete in a head-to-head kids cooking competition the Inaugural STEM to Fork Culinary Competition. 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 7th Street Public Market, 224 East 7th St.

For Real Beatdown - Somebody’s going to tapout at Fight Lab MMA /Fight Lab 45. South Carolina Stingrays’  Nate Kiser makes his MMA debut  6 p.m., Grady Cole Center, 310 North Kings Dr.  $35 and up.

Jazz and Film - This editioin of New Frequencies: Inspired Lunacy features short films by Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. Maddie is known for reimagining the silent film era. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m., McColl Center for Art + Innovation, 721 N Tryon St.









For The Kids - Play hoops and raise awareness about teen violence at The 5th Annual Midnight Madness Basketball Tournament for teens and young adults. It’s for ages (13-22) 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Johnston YMCA, 3025 N. Davidson St. $5 and registration is onsite.

Saturday

For The Kids II - Bring the kids out to see the Easter Bunny and enjoy balloon artist and face painting at Easter Hoppenings. 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Phillips Place in Southpark. Free.

Celebrate Leaders - Celebrate community leaders at the Whitney M. Young Gala. It’s a celebration of philanthropic, diversity and inclusion. Festivities  begin at 6 p.m. with registration and hor d'oeuvres. Formal program and dinner begins at 6:45 p.m. After the program, the evening there will be dancing and dessert. Omni Hotel Charlotte, 132 E. Trade St. Paid parking available. Ticket info.



Sunday

Jazzy Sunday - Enjoy music by jazz/soul singer and keyboardist Frank McComb.  5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sydney’s Martini and Wine Bar, 401 N. Tryon St. Parking validated for Trans America Parking Deck.