Condom Couture Dazzles (Video)

We have some talented designers in Charlotte. The 15 designers who created gowns using condoms astounded the audience. The gowns ranged from funny and cute to potential evening wear. Music by Miami Dice, DJ Andy Kastanas, DJ Vonfunkhauser and cocktail by Stefan Huebner. Enjoy the video recaps.

Jazz, photo exhibit and a bar crawl

Start your day experiencing the wonders of Tryon Street then pick between jazz or a bar crawl. See you in the streets...

Last Chance - Sean Busher’s  project, Moment Mile, brought awareness of and support for Light Factory’s recent re-opening. Nearly, 140 photographers gathered in uptown Charlotte. The photographers stood in predetermined spots on the mile-long stretch of Tryon Street and simultaneously clicked their shutters. See what they captured. Exhibit ends today. 1-5 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. Free.

Don't Forget

Chiquita’s Gone, But… - We still love bananas. Join the fun at the 3rd annual Banana Bar Crawl. All tickets include a banana costume, and VIP tickets include a giant inflatable banana, commemorative sticker, and $10 food voucher. The bar crawl features eight bars. 5 p.m., Whisky River, 210 East Trade Street A-208.

Jazz Show – See keyboardist Marcus Johnson 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sydney’s Martini and Wine Bar, 401 N. Tryon St. Next to Rock Bottom Brewery. Parking Validated for Trans America Parking Deck. $20, $30.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Carnival, condoms Poussey and Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras parties continue tonight plus two huge fundraisers and a carnival party. Let's get this party started. See you in the streets...

For The Family  - Get that carnival experience in Charlotte at A Night In Rio! - 6th Annual Brazilian Carnival presented by Neighborhood Theatre, MaxxMusic & Latin American Coalition. Enjoy an acoustic bossa nova performance by Reinaldo Brahn, free Samba dance lessons and the Carnaval parade. Other performances by: Batuque de Terreiro; Movimentos de Samba, Brazilian Fusion, Capoeira Cordao de Ouro and headliner Dende! 7 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 East 36th St. $15, $20.

 

Swanky! - VanLandingham Estate, the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association invites you to the 2015 Winter Fling: Shuck and Awe Oyster Roast. Guests will enjoy dinner, live music by the Loose Lugnuts, door prizes and dancing. Beer by Birdsong Brewery. Wine and liquor drinks also available for purchase. There will also be an Arts and Services Auction Fundraiser for the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association at-large. Money raised from the auction is put to use for a variety of neighborhood initiatives. $30. 6 -11 p.m. VanLandignham Estate, 2010 The Plaza. 

Don't Forget

Designer Fundraiser - Condom Couture is a unique runway fashion show and an outrageously fabulous party. Seventeen local fashion designers use condoms to create to create fashionable, wearable art, promote safe sex, and benefit Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. 

WPEG’s No Limit Larry will host. Other celebrity performers will include Aerial CLT, DJ Vonfunkhauser, DJ Andy Kastanas, and live music from Charlotte’s own Miami Dice during the runway show. Celebrity bartender, Stefan Huebner of Heist Brewery, created a handcrafted Condom Couture signature cocktail. Local artist, Scott Weaver, will style the event while Sharon Dowell, Rowe Gallery Coordinator at UNC- Charlotte, curated the artists and designers. 8 p.m., Chop Shop, 399 E. 35 St. $35.  Surface parking lot on premises, but it fills up fast. #TJTurnup

Poussey’s Coming! – See Samara Wiley known as Poussey on “Orange Is the New Black” at HRC Gala 2015: Evolve. This is the 20th anniversary. HRC president Chad Griffin will speak. Singer Crystal “She’s homeless” Waters will perform. This is a black tie event. 5:45 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St. $225. Paid parking at NASCAR Hall of Fame deck on Caldwell and street lots surrounding convention center.

Mardi Gras

Lupus Mardi Gras Gala - Great music, creole food, fortune telling and a Gala King & Queen Coronation are a few of the highlights from this Mardi Gras party. This is a fundraiser for the North Carolina Foundation of the Lupus Foundation. 7 p.m. Feb. 21, Centerstage NoDA, 2315 N. Davidson St. Free parking onsite. $150.

Teal Masquerade - Celebrate Mardi Gras and women who’ve survived gynecologic cancer at this casual event. Ticket includes drink special and a mask. 6 p.m. Feb. 21, Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, 911 East Morehead St. $10. Free parking onsite.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Dr. Dre tribute and a Red Bull DJ battle

I don't know about you, but I think BLT Steak is a good place to start the evening. They are kicking off National Margarita Day with the Rosemary Margarita. The "herbaceous" margarita has agave, fresh lime, Triple Sec and fresh rosemary. It'll be available during lunch and dinner today and Saturday for $5. It's a sounds like a great way to get this party started! See you in the streets....

Six North Carolina DJs: Evecon, DJ Twist, DJ Red, Sofa King, Jaycee, and DJ Complete will battle it out in the Red Bull Thre3style. A panel of three judges will select one DJ, based on technical ability and crowd reaction, to advance to the Red Bull Thre3style USA Championships in Phoenix, AZ. 9 p.m.  Label, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. Free, but RSVP required. Parking onsite.

Cool Nerds – Discovery Place makes science fun. In Science on the Rocks: Smoke and Mirrors’, visitors will experience mind-bending illusions designed to make visitors question reality.  

Tonight’s Lineup: mystery of magic and illusions with illusionist Carl Michael (6 – 8 p.m.)

• Slight-of-hand tricks by Righteous Raul 
• Tarot card reading from Madame Satarma
•  Gravity-defying aerial performance from Caroline Calouche & Co. as dancers are suspended from the ceiling on a geometric cube (6 – 8 p.m.) 
• Special illusion show (7 p.m.) 

 5-9 p.m. Discovery Place, 301 North Tryon St. $8. Paid and street parking available

Hip-hop heads pay tribute to Dr. Dre with the third annual Dre Day III. Live performances by RBLE ~ Max Fullard, Ced Hughes & Artel Carter (Virginia), LUTE ~ (Charlotte) and the Daps n' Pounds DJ's: J. Overcash, A-Minor and BlngXBdgt. 9 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E 36th St. $5. Street and paid (cash) parking available.

Let's Dance - Enjoy Afro-Cuban and Latin-American dance rhythms at Mint To Move. DJ Pepito and live musicians will crank out tunes. Guests can salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha, and more. $11 non-members. 8-11:30 p.m. Mint MuseumUptown, 500 S. Tryon St.

Don't Forget

Black People Giving - Author A'Lelia Bundles, great-great granddaughter of the iconic entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C. J. Walker, will be the featured speaker at the exhibit opening of The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibit. A Sign Of The Times will perform. 6 – 9:30 p.m. James B. Duke Memorial Library, Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Road. Free, but registration requested.

Frank Sinatra Reimagined - Jazz Arts Initiative presents The Jazz Room Special Edition: Jeremy Davenport sings Frank Sinatra. Vocalist/trumpeter Davenport will perform at this monthly event. 6 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. Stage Door Theater, Corner of 5th and College Streets, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. $15. Paid and free street parking available on College and Fifth St.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com