Top parties to attend during CIAA 2010 

Wednesday, Feb. 24

Pop Life at Luna Lounge. The Sol Kitchen and Creative Loafing kick off the week's festivities with our always-eclectic weekly event, with DJ Skillz and special guest 9th Wonder. Free. 6 p.m. Luna Lounge, 521 N. College St. For more info, visit www.thesolkitchen.com.

Thursday, Feb. 25

"Good Times" -- (Purple Passion) The Kickoff Event at The Liberty. Digital Divas and The Queen City Omegas join forces to start Thursday off right at Charlotte's coolest new gastro-pub, The Liberty. $20. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. The Liberty, 1812 South Blvd. 704-332-8830. For more information, call 201-304-2933 or e-mail digitaldivasinc@gmail.com. Or visit www.digitaldivasevents.com or www.ez-tixx.com.

Celebrity NBA Day Party at Crave Dessert Bar. Hosted by Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers and Power 98's Ms. Ivory, with complimentary $1,000 open bar. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Crave Dessert Bar, West Fifth Street (behind CANS). For more information or to purchase tickets, call Nate at 704-231-7569 or 305-776-9887.

Melanie Fiona & Michael Vick Official CIAA 2010 Kickoff Party at Club 935. Fiona and Vick co-host this event -- which is also the launch party for Charlotte's own JNSQModels talent agency. $20. 10 p.m. Club 935, 935 S. Summit St. www.ez-tixx.com.

The Ultimate Red Carpet Queen City Party at 935 (in the "Red Room"). Music by Kid Capri. $20 advance tickets. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. 935, 935 Summit Ave. 704-334-4935. www.ez-tixx.com.

Pink Groove 5 -- The Ultimate Tournament Party at The Forum. The Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Rho Psi Omega Chapter, present Pink Groove 5. Music by DJ Stacey Blackman. $35-$75 in advance. 9 p.m. The Forum, 300 N. College St. For tickets, go to www.rhopsiomega.org/pinkgroove5.

Suite Dreams 2 at Suite. Sponsored by The A List and The Sol Kitchen, with music by DJ Bro Rabb. $15. Feb. 25. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thesolkitchen.com, e-mail alist_events@yahoo.com or alistcharlotte@gmail.com or call 704-287-2252.

Friday, Feb. 26

JetSet DAY Party CI Edition at Mez. Presented by The A List and The Sol Kitchen. Food available and music by DJ DR. Advance tickets $10. Noon-6 p.m. Mez at the EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. 704-971-2400. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, www.thesolkitchen.com, alist_events@yahoo.com, or 704-287-2252.

The Naked CIAA Sushi Day Party at Prevue. Naked. Sushi. Nuff said. Ladies $5 before 3 p.m. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Prevue, 2909 N. Davidson St. For more information call 704-957-3420.

The 3rd annual Deja Vu Day Party at Blue Restaurant. Presented by Digital Divas. Music by DJ Daddy D. $15. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Blue Restaurant, Corner of 5th & College St. For more information, call 201-304-2933 or e-mail digitaldivasinc@gmail.com.

CIAA Extravaganza: The Premiere at The Westin. Hosted by Velvet Entertainment. Music by DJ Bro Rabb. Complimentary and heavy hors d'oeuvres for all VIP patrons. $40 and up. 9 p.m. The Westin (2nd floor ballroom), 601 S. College St. To purchase tickets, visit www.Velvet-Ent.com. Call 919-961-5372 for more information.

"Taste of Chicago" at Apostrophe Lounge. Featuring Chicago's own DJ Vince Adams. Free before 9 p.m., $10 after. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon. 704-371-7079. www.apostrophelounge.com.

First Class at Enso. Presented by Blue Goose Entertainment Group. $15 or get a weekend pass for Blue Goose Events for $45. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Enso at the EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. For more info and to purchase tickets, check out www.bluegoosenc.com/ciaa.

History at Harvey B. Gantt Center. Open bar, open buffet, with music provided by Boogie Down Productions' DJ D-Nice. (D-Nice? From BDP? Nice.) $10-$40 advance tickets. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St. To purchase tickets, visit www.historyciaa.eventbrite.com.

Star Power 2010 at Blake Hotel. Hosted by Doug E Fresh with DJs Trauma, Biz Markie, Boney B. $40 limited access. Doors open at 9 p.m. The Blake Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St. Visit www.ez-tixx.com to purchase tickets.

The Brown Eyed Geisha Experience at Nikko's Japanese Restaurant. Presented by Q and NoGrease. Hosted by So So Def's own DJ Shakim. $30 and up. 10 p.m. Nikko's Japanese Restaurant, 1300 South Blvd. Tickets can be purchased at www.ez-tixx.com, and all NoGrease Barbershop locations. www.nogrease.com.

True School -- CI Edition II w/ 9th Wonder at Mez. Presented by The True School Corporation in association with The Sol Kitchen -- featuring Grammy-winning producer 9th Wonder. 9th rocks, for real. A not-to-be-missed shindig. $20-$30. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Mez at in EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. For more information, visit www.thesolkitchen.com or call 704-765-4131.

Saturday, Feb. 27

The SaturDAY party at Mez. Dynasty 5 and The Sol Kitchen presents this CIAA party. $10 advance tickets. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Mez at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. Visit www.dynasty5.com, www.thesolkitchen.com or www.etix.com to buy tickets or for more information.

The Wild Out Day Party at Wild Wing Cafe. Presented by The Sol Kitchen and Dynasty 5. $10. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. Visit www.dynasty5.com, www.thesolkitchen.com or www.etix.com to buy tickets or for more information.

"Unofficial Longest Running Day Party" at The Breakfast Club. Presented by the Hopewell-Prince George Crew. Music by DJ/VJ, DJ Slice. $20 advance tickets. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Breakfast Club, 225 N. Caldwell St. For event or ticket information, contact Tim Harry at 804-218-1859, by e-mail (tharry@yahoo.com) or Bunny Bailey at 804-720-9116.

CIAA Extravaganza: The Encore at The Westin. Hosted by Velvet Entertainment. Music by DJ Kool. Complimentary and heavy hors d'oeuvres for all VIP patrons. 9 p.m. The Westin (2nd floor ballroom), 601 S. College St. Call 919-961-5372 for more information. To purchase tickets, visit www.Velvet-Ent.com.

CIAA Still Standing Party at The Big Chill. Hosted by R&B artist Monica. $40 and up. 9:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. The Big Chill, 911 E. Morehead St. 704-347-4447. For ticket info call 980-275-2906 or purchase at www.ez-tixx.com.

DJ Jazzy Jeff at Halo. Presented by J. Carter & Mike Simmons in association with The Sol Kitchen. Trust and believe when I say that Jazzy Jeff is murderous on the turntables, Expect a lot of digging in crates and the body-rockingest sounds blasting from speakers. $20-$30. 9 p.m. Halo, 820 Hamilton St. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thesolkitchen.com.

P. Diddy presents The Event at Ramada Hotel Woodlawn. Hosted and performing live, P. Diddy. Wow. That's big. $70 and up. Doors open at 9 p.m. Ramada Hotel, 212 Woodlawn Road. To purchase tickets, visit www.ez-tixx.com.

The Tournament Extravaganza at Mez. The Sol Kitchen brings you CI's first theater party. DJ Bro Rabb will be spinning in the main room, Atlanta's DJ Tron spinning videos on the big screen in the theater. $20-$30. 9 p.m. Mez at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. For tickets: www.thesolkitchen.com, www.etix.com or 704-765-4131.

HELLA!!! Presents: Eli Escobar. NYC royalty, spinning alongside Charlotte's own BLNGxBDGT and A-Huf. $5 all night. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Dharma Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.dharmacharlotte.com.

Sunday, Feb. 28

"Panache" -- 4th Annual Farewell Jazz Brunch at Ruth's Chris. Presented by Digital Divas. $27. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit www.digitaldivasevents.com. Ruth's Chris, Uptown, 222 S. Tryon St. 704-338-9444.

Jazzy Sundays Farewell Party at Tempo. Wind down after the weekend in a relaxed atmosphere from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Hosted by V101.9's very own Chirl Girl. Tempo, 4809 Wilkinson Blvd. 704-391-8909. For more info and ticket prices, visit www.tempocharlotte.com.