Kilts, bikes and good food

Couldn't ask for a prettier Sunday. Get out and play! See you in the streets...


Deadpool On A Bike -  I loved Discovery Place’s steampunk event so I’m intrigued by  Cirque Mechanics Pedal Punk, a Steampunk-inspired performance. A wacky bike shop mechanic interacts with cyclists and bikes to escape the technology-obsessed society. The mechanic inspires the cyclist in all of us to become a Pedal Punk. Great timing considering the big Open Streets next month. 7 p.m. Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 S Tryon St, Levine Center for the Arts.
 

Family Fun - The annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Games highlights Celtic culture with music, athletics, dancing an more. 7:30 a.m. Today and Sunday, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. Various prices. Schedule.

Monday
Food Event II - No shame about it. Taste of the Nation is one of my favorite local fundraisers. I’m also a board member so I’m biased. New location this year, but same great expectations: delicious food, yummy cocktails and good people. 6 p.m. The Fillmore, 820 Hamilton St. Tickets.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Review: Sklar Bros. deliver best McCrory joke at Comedy Zone

When I walked into the Comedy Zone, Jason Sklar (or maybe it was Randy) told me the comedic twins were looking forward to unveiling new Charlotte-specific material. I figured they would deliver the now mandatory jokes about HB 2.

"We're here, we're queer, the governor's not used it!"

That one was okay, but I loved, loved, loved the one about Governor Pat McCrory versus Mayor Pat McCrory. I don't want to spoil it. It's definitely one of the most creative takes on the HB2 debacle.

The Sklar Brothers didn't limit their local jokes to HB 2 nor did they simply name-drop Charlotte places, like most entertainers. They poked fun at everything from Price's Chicken Coop to the plethora of restaurants uptown.

My other favorite was their take on the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

"You get to see what it's like to have Tony Stewart try to kill you."

Or maybe it was the one about the NASCAR Racing Experience. It involved Elevation Church.

At least the first 15 minutes of the Sklar's performance consisted of jokes and observations about Charlotte and Raliegh - the confederate statue in the state capitol.

Then they launched into their more standard material about everything from the Kennedy assassinations to the Golden State Warriors to fatherhood - a daddy strip club. It was easy to tell why Jason and Randy Sklar have appeared on "@Midnight," "Entourage,"  and other shows. They are pop culture encyclopedias about current and past events.

Onstage they finish each others' jokes. Watching them onstage feels like you're listening to a couple of buddies at a bar, interrupting each other as they tell stories. It's a volley of words and laughter.

The Sklar Brothers perform Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at the Comedy Zone.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Beer festival, art party and shopping

Today offers a little something for everyone from shopping to family fun. Get up and get out early. See you in the streets.


Sounds Yummy - The Urban Stick starts this year’s series of the cigar social with the Cigar Social Brunch. Menu features mimosas, chicken & waffles, french toast, eggs, shrimp & grits and more. Cigars by Tailored Smoke.  11 a.m. The Neighborhood Cafe, 1635 W Trade St, Ste 1F. Free. More info.

 

Studio 16 Party

April 16, McColl Center

Every floor and art studio features contemporary art, installations pop up performances, music and dancing. Benefits Artists-in-Residence and McColl Center.

Dance Competition - You won’t see Wanya Morris or Kim Fields at Dancing With the Stars of Charlotte, but you will see local celebrities. The ballroom dance competition benefits Carolina Breast Friends. 7 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. $50. Tickets.

Family Fun - The annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Games highlights Celtic culture with music, athletics, dancing an more. 7:30 a.m. Today and Sunday, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. Various prices. Schedule.

Beer Festival - Grab beer samples and burgers at Moo and Brew. Live music by Ancient Cities, Sinners & Saints, Bubonik Funk, Truckstop Preachers and DJ Overcash. $45. 12:30 p.m.,  Avidxchange Inc., 1111 Metropolitan Ave. Details.

Shop Local - Support more than 70 local women-owned business at Pink Social Girl Tribe Pop Up: Spring Break Edition. The taproom will be open. 12 p.m. Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Dr. $6. More info.

Shop Local  II - Celebrates small business and entrepreneurship by perusing 50 area fashion, arts and food vendors. Vendors will feature hand-crafted goods and original artwork by local merchants. Enjoy local brews, pastries and other food. 11 a.m., C3 Lab, LLC, 2525 Distribution St. Free. More info.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com

The Sklar Brothers, food truck lineups, live jazz and spoken word tonight

It's Friday! Get out for night of live jazz, good food and spoken word. See you in the streets!

 Food Truck Friday 

Matthews Food Truck Fridays

Friday Night Festival

A Bao Time, Maki Taco, Gyro Twins Truck, Bebo's Mac Shack, Hart's Soda Shop, All-Star Cafe, & Joe's Doughs!

Food Truck Fridays

Light Factory, Plaza Midwood

Other Events Tonight

Celebrity Comedians - Comedians and identical twins Jason and Randy Sklar, known as The Sklar Brothers, debut in Charlotte this weekend. They mix pop culture, sports and comedy. They are regulars on my fave “@Midnight,” and have also appeared on “Conan, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage, Comedy Bang! Bang!,” “Grey's Anatomy” and more.  Various times tonight and Saturday.  The Comedy Zone, Suite B3, 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd. Tickets.
 

Cool Combo - The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and The Jazz Room for The Jazz Room at the Symphony. The performance celebrates American jazz legends. They will perform Anthiel’s “A Jazz Symphony,” Gerswhin’s “Walking the Dog,” Schuller’s “Concertino for Jazz Quartet” and Ellington’s “Harlem.” Afterparty featuring live jazz from the Jazz Arts Initiative's All-Star Youth Jazz Ensemble and signature cocktails in the speakeasy lounge following the concert. The Jazz Arts Initiative presents a special pre-concert talk hosted by The Jazz Room's Curtis Davenport beginning on stage at 6:30 pm. Show: 7:30 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St. Tickets.
 

Adult Science - The monthly party Science on the Rocks returns with Geek Out, Freak Out. This month features comics, robotics, virtual reality and more. Capes and Spandex supersets are encouraged. There will be a prize for best superhero costume at the end of the night. 5 p.m. Discovery Place, 301 N Tryon St. $20.

Spoken Word - This a themed spoken-word event with performances focused on the state of the climate including crime, schools, music, domestic violence and climate change. G.O.O.D. Music’s Malik Yusef will host along with Mark Prophet. Charlotte’s J.C., Mason Parker and live bands Quent Young & The Free Will Project and Dee Dray will perform. There will also be live painting. 7 p.m. One-Five-O Studio Gallery, 4825 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 150. $20 and up. Details.

 Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Roadtrip: Boone Breweries have good beer and great food

Since it's midway North Carolina Craft Beer Month, I'm spotlighting breweries outside of Charlotte. This week I head west.

Not Asheville West. The other West. The Boone area boasts a handful of local breweries that are worthy of a road trip.

Boonshine Brewing Company

You can find Boonshine beers on tap at McKethan Brothers Barbecue. The beers pare well with the smoked meats at this family-owned barbecue restaurant in Boone. Both are relatively new additions to Boone’s restaurant and beer lineup. McKethan Brothers opened in May 2015. Moonshine opened in July. Owners Carson Coatney and Tim Herdklotz, former homebrewers, crafted the typical range of brews from the 3150 Ale (a light ale) to the Molasses Porter. My favorites was the 3150 ale, which was refreshing with a hoppiness that smooths out near the end.

Ben and Aaron McKethan’s used old family recipes such as slow-cooked chicken to create a menu inspired by their childhood. The ribs and chicken are cooked overnight, and finished on the wood-fired grill.  I suggest the pimento cheese tray and the ribs. All of the meats,  except the smoked turkey, are delicious. The turkey was a dryer than the other meats. If you have a large group, order the sample. If it’s just you and your boo get the meat combo.

Appalachian Mountain Brewery
If you like the loud, vibrant brewery scene then AMB is your spot. It will reminds me of NoDa. The bar was crowded. There was also live music. AMB has a rustic feel with wood, cinder-block walls and wooden taps handles. The beers are the typical craft fare, but it’s really the atmosphere that separates AMB from the other Boone area breweries. It draws a young crowd. Bring a group of friends for a good time.

By Sam Dean

Lost Province

I do not like saisons, but I loved, loved, loved Lost Province’s Heirloom Saison. It was tasted like a fall harvest in my mouth. It wasn't pumpkiny like most fall beers. It was robust and flavorful. Oh, and did I mention the St. Nick’s Revenge? Oh my goodness. Out of all of the Boone area breweries, Lost Province was definitely my favorite. Both of the beers I mentioned are seasonal brews, but Lost Providence how to brew a beer. I also liked the Belgian Dubbel. I haven’t even mentioned the wood fired pretzels, the sriracha honey wood fired wings, the beer hummus and house-made pita. We also crushed the beer mac & cheese and the charcuterie. Those are just the starters - the starters! So, you know the pizza was delicious. The Morning Sunshine is creative (features a sunny side egg), but my favorites were the Rosticceria  and The Depot Street.

Be sure to finish the night with a late night cookie delivery. Boone has Insomnia Cookies and Appalachain Cookie Company.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Review: Nene loves gays, slams haters at Comedy Zone (Video)

Tonight, Charlotte's gay communities wasn't the center of a national firestorm about gender identity and discrimination. Tonight, our gay communities was simply the apple of Nene Leakes' eye and it felt good.

During Leakes' performance at the Comedy Zone, Leakes repeatedly expressed her love for her gay fans who've helped propel her from a one-trick reality star into a national celebrity.

"I have to have gays on my team," she said. "They pump your a-- up."




Leakes didn't show her love for her gay fans by slamming HB 2 or the N.C. state legislature. Her joke about that:
"What ya'll need to say 'bye wig' to is the people who make laws down here. On a good day, I can be a straight up dude. I can pee standing up. Don't do me."

She slammed Trump for insulting "the" gays, but mostly she simply told jokes and stories that expressed how much she valued her gay fans and staff.  Leakes' show wasn't just about gays and lesbians, but she drew such a vociferous gay audience during her Comedy Zone show that I couldn't ignore it.

Leakes kicked off her "So Nasty, So Rude" tour with two sold out shows at the Comedy Zone tonight. I'm not sure where else the tour is going. No other cities have been listed. However, based on her performance tonight and the exuberance of the crowd, I'm sure more cities will be announced soon.

Leakes walked onstage to a standing ovation and immediately high-five fans. Leakes gave fans exactly what they expected, a mix of dissing her Real House Wives of Atlanta nemeses Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore, Leakes' style braggadocio about her wig and her looks, and her response to haters.

I know who Leakes is, but I wouldn't call myself a fan. I'll admit, her profanity-laced show - every other word started with a B - was funny. She had a one-liner about Tyler Perry, impersonated Janet Jackson's IG video about preparing for a family and gave plenty of shout-outs to her husband Greg, who walked her onto the stage.

She was extremely gracious. She started the show by giving high fives to her fans from the stage. She ended the by answering questions from the audience. Upon her exit, she walked through the crowd and posed with as many people as she could on her way out the door.

Fans swarm Leakes after her performance.

 Audience Q&A

Why did you quit Housewives?
I didn't quit. My season was up and I was like b----, I'm not coming back. It was an overly stressful season. I had to deal with Claudia.'s stank-a--"

Why a comedy show in Charlotte?
"I do this s--- everyday. I love to talk s---. I'm a s--- talker. I had nothing to do with it. The first show happened to be Charlotte. I didn't choose Charlotte. Charlotte chose me."

How do you fight being put in a box?
"Ain't none of my s--- boxed."

 F---, Marry, Kill Real Housewives husbands?
"People be acting like I date Peter (Thomas). I don't date Peter. I don't do people with accents."

Maybe not, but she gave Thomas and his bar Sports One plenty of shoutouts on stage. She told the crowd to meet her at the College Street bar after the show.

Holla: sipandplayclt@gmail.com

Weekend Preview: Best of, beer fest, shopping, food

What a way to start the weekend. Headed to the sold out Nene Leakes show at the Comedy Zone tonight. Her one-night stand in Charlotte was so popular that the Comedy Zone added a second show tonight, and it's sold out too. Look for my review tomorrow. Don't forget this is the final weekend of CPCC's Sensoria.



Tonight
The Winner Is…. - Come out to celebrate Elevate Lifestyle Award winners in the Best of City.  Categories include culture, dining, fashion, fitness, entertainment, lifestyle, and nightlife. 5 p.m. Slate Billiards, 200 E. Bland St. $10. Tickets.

 











Thursday
Food Event - If you like Latin food then you will love Taste of the New South ¡Savor Sabor!. This year’s edition of Taste of the New South features a Latin twist on Southern culture and cuisine. Celebrity guest Panthers Coach Ron Rivera. 6 p.m., Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E 7th St. $100. Details.

Friday
Spoken Word - This a themed spoken-word event with performances focused on the state of the climate including crime, schools, music, domestic violence and climate change. G.O.O.D. Music’s Malik Yusef will host along with Mark Prophet. Charlotte’s J.C., Mason Parker and live bands Quent Young & The Free Will Project and Dee Dray will perform. There will also be live painting. 7 p.m. One-Five-O Studio Gallery, 4825 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 150. $20 and up. Details.

 

Saturday

Studio 16 Party

April 16, McColl Center

Every floor and art studio features contemporary art, installations pop up performances, music and dancing. Benefits Artists-in-Residence and McColl Center.

Dance Competition - You won’t see Wanya Morris or Kim Fields at Dancing With the Stars of Charlotte, but you will see local celebrities. The ballroom dance competition benefits Carolina Breast Friends. 7 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. $50. Tickets.

Family Fun - The annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Games highlights Celtic culture with music, athletics, dancing an more. 7:30 a.m. Today and Sunday, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. Various prices. Schedule.

Beer Festival - Grab beer samples and burgers at Moo and Brew. Live music by Ancient Cities, Sinners & Saints, Bubonik Funk, Truckstop Preachers and DJ Overcash. $45. 12:30 p.m.,  Avidxchange Inc., 1111 Metropolitan Ave. Details.

Shop Local - Support more than 70 local women-owned business at Pink Social Girl Tribe Pop Up: Spring Break Edition. The taproom will be open. 12 p.m. Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Dr. $6. More info.

Shop Local  II - Celebrates small business and entrepreneurship by perusing 50 area fashion, arts and food vendors. Vendors will feature hand-crafted goods and original artwork by local merchants. Enjoy local brews, pastries and other food. 11 a.m., C3 Lab, LLC, 2525 Distribution St. Free. More info.

Monday
Food Event II - No shame about it. Taste of the Nation is one of my favorite local fundraisers. I’m also a board member so I’m biased. New location this year, but same great expectations: delicious food, yummy cocktails and good people. 6 p.m. The Fillmore, 820 Hamilton St. Tickets.

Holla: Sipandplayclt@gmail.com