Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Feb. 11

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

Right on time for Black History Month comes playwright Tanya Barfield’s Blue Door. The drama — with original music by Larry Gilliard Jr. — carries a heavy message: the importance of knowing your roots. In the production, Lewis, an African-American professor with a wealth of knowledge, is troubled by his own ignorance in regards to his cultural heritage. Luckily — and thanks to the disorienting effects of insomnia — he has generations of looming ancestors from all eras to step in and fill the need-to-know gaps to bridge his identity.

• Music In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Carolina Voices presents its concert “Love-Sexy: Boheme to Buble.” Featuring impromptu and festival singers choirs, the show features an array of love/lust songs, from Puccini’s dramatic “La Boheme” to modern day serenades by popular musicians like Michael Buble. more...

• Art Mint Hill Arts' latest exhibit, Images Captured & Shared showcases many forms of photography, including computer-generated artwork and Polaroid snapshots. Those attending tonight’s opening reception can mingle with local photographers whose works are featured in the exhibit. In addition, complimentary wine and cheese will be provided. more...

Saturday, Feb. 12

Barnes & Noble (Morrison Place)

Local author Gail Z. Martin is best known in the literary world for her Chronicles of the Necromancer series. The fictional series — containing four books — falls into the realm of fantasy/adventure. Her newest release, The Sworn, is the first of a debut series, The Fallen Kings Cycle. Related to and containing characters from her previous works, this one can be read whether you're familiar with or completely fresh to her enchanting world.

• Comedy Comedian Eddie Griffin brings his funny business to the stage of Ovens Auditorium tonight. Griffin, who has starred in 47 films and numerous TV shows, has even appeared along side of Eddie Murphy. more...

• Nightlife Love is in the air (or not), as Mez hosts its Love-Hate Valentine's Day Party tonight. To distinguish those that are taken from those who are not, folks in relationships are encouraged to wear red and singles should wear black. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Feb. 4

Knight Theater

Charlotte Symphony goes international during its latest Tango & Tapas shindig. The concert will feature exotic music from four Latino countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Puerto Rico) with a guest appearance by soloist Elena Urioste (pictured). Arrive early for pre-concert cocktails and appetizers. Also, wear your dancing shoes, as there will be a post-concert dance party at the Mint Museum Uptown.

• Theater The atmosphere is cold at Warehouse Performing Arts Center up at Lake Norman. Currently its staging performances of British playwright Bryony Lavery’s 1998 play, Frozen. Revolving around the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl, three characters’ lives become intertwined. This includes the girls mother, the girls killer and a doctor bent on understanding the criminal mind and the powers of forgiveness. more...

• Film This evening, Waking Sleeping Beauty will be presented by AIGA Charlotte and UNC-Charlotte’s AIGA Student Chapter in collaboration with Charlotte Underground Film Festival. The film follows Walt Disney’s animation shortcomings and its rise to the top with a steady stream of classics. more...

Saturday, Feb. 5

North Carolina Dance Theatre

Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start worrying about the wardrobe. Luckily, folks attending North Carolina Dance Theatre’s Runway for the Ballet will get to peek at a roundup of some of the spring’s high-fashion trends, as selected by Neiman Marcus. In its fourth year, this shindig — benefiting NC Dance Theatre — is also slated to feature hors d’oeuvres and vignettes from NCDT’s Innovative Works.

• Benefit Davidson Housing Coalition’s annual Souper Bowl VII has nothing to do with football and everything to do with soup. The cook-off features an assortment of tasty soups from Lake Norman area restaurants. Those attending vote on their faves in a range of categories. And, it raises money for a good cause, the Davidson Housing Coalition. Arrive early, as the event is usually sell out. more...

• Festival Head over to UNC Charlotte today for the Chinese American Association of Charlotte’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration. The daylong event will feature music, dance, karaoke, food and more. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Jan. 28

McGlohon Theatre

Swing is in the air, as On Q Productions’ Ain’t Misbehavin’ takes a romp through the Harlem Renaissance era. The three-day run is based on the book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr. with music by Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller. Performers — backed by the Sign of the Times band — will reconstruct popular songscapes of the 1920s/1930s and pay tribute to the legends that created them.

• Theater Religion and sexuality collide in Queen City Theatre Company’s latest theater production, Southern Baptist Sissies. The play follows the lives of four homosexual guys, struggling to keep their faith as it clashes with their hormonal desires — deemed as “evil” by the deep Southern Baptist church they attend. From laughter to tears, the show takes its audience on an emotional holy ride with some much-needed lessons in tolerance. more...

• Food Described as “New Asian,” Kalu Asian Kitchen offers up a menu of Japanese, Chinese and Korean fares. The kitchen excels at meat and sharable dishes. more...

Saturday, Jan. 29

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture

Afro-Cuban artist Campos-Pons uses her own cultural heritage and history to explore concepts of the self (body and identity) in this new exhibit. Known for expressing herself through means of paintings, installations, sculptures, video and poetry, Campos-Pons’ showcase looks like it’ll leave you contemplative.

• Music It’s time for another Tosco Music Party, so prepare for your sound palette to be on overload. John Tosco’s local music fiesta features a hodgepodge of music acts from around the Q.C. Current performers on the roster, include Ellis Paul, Mark Kroos, The Cloers, The Garvin Dean Project, Craig Carothers, Desmond Myers, Miss Tess & The Bon Ton Parade, Now You See Them, Orrin Star, Pop Ferguson, Rachel Platten and the Providence High School Ensemble. more...

• Film The Main Library pays homage to another Orson Welles gem today. Drop by ImaginOn's Wachovia Playhouse for a free screening of 1948's The Lady from Shanghai. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Jan. 21

Various locations

Foodie alert! Hopefully you’ve got an appetite — and some extra cash — because during Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week, eating is a must. Select upscale restaurants in Charlotte and the surrounding area will feature prix fixe three-course (or more) dinners for $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

• Theater Carolina Actors Studio Theatre is being held hostage by playwright Mark Medoff’s When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder?. The play is set in a small roadside diner in New Mexico, which is staffed with some of the most unenthused of employees you’ll ever meet. But what seems like just another humdrum day becomes a life-changing experience when an unstable Vietnam War veteran wanders through the doors. more...

• Visual Arts McColl Center For Visual Art's exhibit, Dis(Comfort) features artists John Osorio-Buck and Scott Townsend. Osorio-Buck has built his own camper-inspired traveling vessels made from recycled materials, symbolizing "the American pioneering spirit and a failed utopia." Meanwhile, Townsend's interactive installations are described as using "narrative and personal history to engage viewers as they explore globalization, immigration and economics." more...

Saturday, Jan. 22

ImaginOn’s Wachovia Playhouse

Orson Welles’ 1941 Citizen Kane has been cited as the greatest film ever made from so many different quarters — the American Film Institute, the long-running Sight and Sound survey, even Creative Loafing’s own poll way back in 1998 — it’s a wonder that a Congressional law hasn’t been passed making it required viewing for anyone who claims they like movies. If you’ve never seen it, or want to see it again for the umpteenth time, here’s your chance, as the Main Library is kicking off its annual slate of free movies with a screening.

• Comedy Michael Winslow’s vocal chords have led him to be referred to as the “man of 10,000 sound effects.” But, for this comedian — whose dead-on imitations earned him a start in the comedy biz — the action doesn’t end there. Winslow is even better known for his stunt with the Police Academy film and TV series, where he played the part of Sgt. Larvelle Jones. Though he’s currently host of the TV series Way Back Wednesday, Winslow continues to patrol for laughter via his stand-up. You can see him perform live at McGlohon Theatre tonight. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Jan. 14

Ovens Auditorium

Music legend Elton John’s scores for Billy Elliot The Musical may be good, but they are balanced with an uplifting tale about following one’s dreams to the fullest. The smash hit, based off of the internationally renowned movie, follows one boy’s journey from an unsuccessful try at boxing to professional ballet.

• Film The Deltas of Charlotte will present its Legacy Film Showcase tonight at McGlohon Theatre. In its eighth year, the showcase features award-winning short films by female African-American filmmakers. more...

• Visual Arts The latest exhibit to grace the walls of Baku Gallery is We The People, a photo retrospective of Charlotte personalities by local photographers. This is a pretty cool way to see the faces behind the places you may or may not frequent. The 2011 Project Halo Pinup's and Pet's calendar — which raises money for the non-kill animal shelter — will also be available during the show. more...

Saturday, Jan. 15

Metrolina Tradeshow Expo

Muscular men in tight skimpy clothes will dominate the ring tonight. Of course, this is no strip tease, nor will there be any airy ballet numbers — and by the looks of some of these guys, who look more scary than handsome, I’d say that’s better anyway. Instead, the show, put on by pro wrestling company Ring of Honor, looks like a straight shot to the testosterone-fused sport known as wrestling. Tight matches between Roderick Strong and Jay Briscoe (who are competing in a ROH World Title Match) and Davey Richards and Chris Hero (pictured) with Shane Hagadorn (who are competing in a Grudge Match) are in store.

• Film Today the Main Library hosts a one-day film festival, titled Breaking Down Barriers: Creating an Inclusive Community Through Film and Discussion, at ImaginOn. The fest, which includes films that bring light to mental illnesses, will be screening photojournalist Dan Habib’s Including Samuel (from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) and Ben X (from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. — see pictured photo from film), a 2007 Belgian drama that picked up three awards at the 31st Montreal World Film Festival. Each film will be followed by a discussion with facilitators from Southeast Psych. more...

• Nightlife Ouzo Productions’ kicks off the new year with its Global Fever: Beirut Edition at Dharma Lounge. The series — a nightlife event that honors a range of countries around the world — will feature music from Kosta X and DJ DIM. This time they’re going Middle Eastern with a special shout out to Lebanon. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Jan. 7

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

It’s described as “one of the rowdiest musicals of all-time.” Hmmm ... I wonder why? The parody features six beauty “queens” — Miss Deep South, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Texas and Miss West Coast — played by men. Five judges picked from the audience will decide who is crowned Miss Glamouresse.

• Visual Arts Ciel Gallery opens its winter season collection of art with a loving start. The exhibit, titled Heartistry, features an array of love-themed, heart-oriented mosaics constructed by artists across the globe. It opens today with a reception. more...

• Special Event Jazz at the Bechtler continues this evening with Ziad Jazz Quartet's latest themed concert, "Post-holiday Blues." The show, which is free with museum admission, will feature music selections by Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus. more...

Saturday, Jan. 8

Amos’ Southend

When word got out that legendary singer/rapper/musician/cultural icon Lauryn Hill was scheduled to perform in Charlotte, feelings of both fear and excitement swept through the land. And that doesn’t come as a surprise. Although Hill made musical history as a member of the Fugees and with her award-winning, game-changing solo album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, she also garnered a pretty crappy reputation for putting on lackluster and erratic concerts. As a result, folks in the Q.C. are asking: “Should I go to the show?” In response, I’d like to say: “Lauryn Hill don’t get around these parts much. Don’t be a sissy. Buy a damn ticket.” That is all.

• Comedy The Legends of Comedy tour stops into Ovens Auditorium tonight. The show features four notable African-American comedians, including Teddy Carpenter, Chris Thomas, Shuckey Duckey and Alonzo "Hamburger" Jones. The host of the show will be the lovely actor/author Bern Nadette Stanis, whom you should remember as Thelma Evans, aka the original "It" girl from the '70s sitcom, Good Times. more...

• Special Event The Light Factory’s upcoming screening of the 1922 western film Big Stakes at Queens University tonight may come as a silent surprise for some of you. Directed by Clifford S. Elfelt, the action-packed tale is diced with rivalry, rejection, romance and rescue. The Devil Music Ensemble — a Boston-based trio of multi-instrumentalists known for adding hypnotic scores to cinema without sound — will accompany the screening with a live performance. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Dec. 17

Neighborhood Theatre

It's time for local artists of all sorts to come together for NoDaRioty's All Arts Market. The indoor marketplace features handmade goods/arts and crafts, including jewelry, photography, clothing, paintings, bags and more. Finish your holiday shopping at this hot spot for cool finds.

• Nightlife What type of mark would you get on Santa's list, naughty or nice? King Ent. and JRK Ent. have teamed up for the Naughty or Nice party at Alley Cat tonight. My prediction is that more people will fit into the first category, unless that is, this party doesn't weigh in on any kind of judgment. DJ Pyro will provide the music. Wear red to get in. more...

• Benefit Head over to Butter tonight for its White & Gold Gala. Just bring a toy or donation (to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital) to get inside, where you can enjoy music, dancing and holiday cocktail specials. more...

Saturday, Dec. 18

Grease

Ovens Auditorium

It’s been a little over 30 years since Grease made its claim to fame. With a dramatic story line that consists of star-crossed lovers in high school cliques that are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it’s a step down (meaning, no one dies) from the harsher nature of say, a classic like Romeo & Juliet. But the 1950s-based flick does feature an electrifying assortment of hit songs - “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin,’” “We Go Together,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One That I Want” - that may have you wishing you had a dagger after they repeat in your head for the millionth time. Today, you can put a twist in your poodle skirt during two performances at Ovens Auditorium. Laverne & Shirley’s Eddie Mekka (Carmine “the big ragu” Ragusa) stars as DJ Vince Fontaine.

• Comedy Local sketch comedy troupe Robot Johnson is celebrating the holiday season with its own special Christmas Show at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. Expect a round-up of the year’s best takes, as well as some naughty or nice (well, probably just naughty) extras. Robot Johnson is described as “an equal-opportunity offender, taking shots at Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and John Fox.” Prepare to either laugh or be offended. more...

• Nightlife For the last two years, the local organization known as Culture Initiative - consisting of Arthur Brouthers and Joel Tracey — have been treating the city to a slew of events designed to showcase music and art. And tonight, this dynamic duo will celebrate their anniversary by hosting a multimedia party dubbed Cake + 2 in Charlotte’s South End. The shindig promises to feature 100 pieces of art (displayed on panels measuring 2-feet by 2 feet) and music by a cadre of DJs (Cement Stars, Kev Kev, B Willackers, and the C.I. boys). Be sure to be on hand and help these dudes mark this momentous occasion. more..

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Dec. 10

Venues vary

Weekend festival features more than 25 bands (including Amy Godwin, Andy the Doorbum, Bo White's Holiday Ensemble, Human Pippi Armstrong, In the Year of the Pig, Ultimate Optimist, Veda Woolf and many more) to perform at eight different venues around town. There will also be holiday karaoke, snowflake making stations, hot chocolate, a holiday/sweater party, barbecue, a potluck and more.

• Theater Every holiday season, you’re pretty much guaranteed to hear Irving Berlin’s Christmas classic “White Christmas,” whether it be on the radio or blasting from some album that a family member keeps spinning on repeat (sigh). Luckily, this year you have the opportunity to hear it as it takes on a new form, thanks to Broadway. The musical (of the same title) at Ovens Auditorium, will feature a wintry mix of hits. The merry storyline follows two friends in showbiz that perform at a Vermont inn, where they find the unexpected. more...

• Benefit The annual Jingle Bell Ball is a semi-formal event with music, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres catered by Blue Restaurant. It’s also a way to do some good, since the funds raised from ticket sales benefit United Family Services’ domestic violence programs and The Shelter for Battered Women. more...

Saturday, Dec. 11

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

CAST won’t be spreading any holiday cheer onto the stage this year. In fact, its latest production The Day They Shot John Lennon is anything but merry. The show revolves around a group of fans who gather outside of the apartment where Lennon was shot to pay tribute. Take cover as stories are shared and Lennon’s legacy is remembered in this show by playwright James McClure.

• Special Event With the arrival of holiday-related stress (shopping, relatives, blah blah ...), I’m sure some of you could use a drink. The 11th Annual Santa Bar Crawl just may be your key to merriment. The crawl will stop in at 11 bars — Dixie’s Tavern, Town Tavern, The Attic, Phil’s Tavern, Hooters, Tilt, Buckhead Saloon, Suite, Whisky River, Bar Charlotte and Alley Cat — with drink specials. more...

• Special Event Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is brewing more than just beer for the holiday season. Today the brewery will have its own German-style Christmas Market. An array of arts and crafts and other goodies will be available for the gift buying season. Oh, and even better, you can down a beer (maybe the seasonal Yule Bock?), while you browse. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Dec. 3

Slate

Fluxomat - an art concept by Jacqueline Heer - will celebrate its grand opening at Slate tonight. Each month a different artist will bring objects of their choosing to the gallery where they will be declared as art. Pieces in the space will be sold at a higher starting cost, which will decrease in price ($10 less to be exact) each day. At the end of the month unsold pieces will be sold for $1 (Yes, I said $1!).

• Special Event Wine and cheese ... boring! Well, really alcohol’s great with pretty much anything, but it’s even better with art. During The McColl Center for Visual Art’s Palate to Palette 2010: A Wine and Art Pairing Event, six different wines await you, in addition to art by six local and national artists, food, a live performance by Heywire and an art/wine raffle. more...

• Benefit For those of you in dire need of decorating ideas for holiday trees and/or wreaths comes The Festival of Trees Prevue Party at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. Since the event features finely decorated trees and wreaths, you’re bound to leave with some ideas. In addition, the event — which benefits children and adults with developmental disabilities — will also have live music, a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. more...

Saturday, Dec. 4

McGlohon Theatre

You may have recently seen comedian Jon Reep on TV, advertising Zaxby’s new caramel pecan pie milkshake as being better than his “meemaw’s” (for those of you not fluent in the Southern vernacular, that’s “grandmother”) actual pies — and then worrying over her newly opened Twitter account. That’s just a small sample of the Hickory native’s Southern-styled humor. A winner of the fifth season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, he’s got heaps of “redneckery” to rap about and you can hear it at his performance tonight.

• Sports In the past few years, women’s flat track roller derby has become a sensation across the states. The action-packed sport draws crowds to sit mesmerized at fast-moving skaters who are prepared to bust a move (or hard hit) for a rush of increased speed and a spin of glory around the rink. That being said, I’m happy to announce that the Q.C. now has a new roller derby organization (not affiliated with the Charlotte Roller Girls) called Race City Roller Derby. Its first team, the Charlotte Speed Demons — said to wear sports-style uniforms and use their real names during games — will have its debut bout against the Greensboro-based Gate City Roller Girls today at First Ward Recreation Center. more...

• Festival Snug Harbor will be the home of the 3rd Annual Breastival today. The event is held as a benefit for the Keep a Breast Foundation, which promotes awareness and education for the prevention of breast cancer. It will feature live music by Cement Stars, Fat Camp and Small Talk Industries, as well as performances by punk-dragsters Lilith DeVille and BethAnn Phetamine. DJ Scott Weaver will provide some extra tunes. There will also be donations of art and other items for a raffle. more...

Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Nov. 19

Wok Bar

Atlanta-based comedian Jarrod Harris is bringing his witty, sarcastic storytelling brand of humor to the Q.C. – at the brand-new Wok Bar Uptown tonight. A finalist in the San Francisco Comedy Competition and guest on Comedy Central, Harris covers a range of topics (from things like shitty airline experiences to redneck comedy gigs). He’s pretty darn funny, too. Local comedian Steven Forrest opens.

• Festival Charlotte is just one of 16 lucky U.S. cities that’s being given the opportunity to host an official uncorking French wine tradition. Beaujolais Festival – happening at Levine Museum of the New South this evening – celebrates the tasting of "les premieres vendanges,” better-known in English as "the first grapes harvested that year." Sample the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau (a very light, fruity wine), as well as other wines from the region. more...

• Arts Check out the McColl Center for Visual Art for solo exhibitions by its 11-month affiliates. Daniel Allegrucci, best known for woodcuts of explosions and other intimations of force, is jumping out of his comfort zone and adding installations to his repertoire in the show Deliberate Acts. Patricia Steele Raible is exhibiting InnerSights, a series of mixed media paintings that explore different manifestations of prayer. Opening reception tonight from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. more...

Saturday, Nov. 20

The Fillmore Charlotte

Ben Folds has teamed up with English novelist Nick Hornby for his latest album, Lonely Avenue (for which Folds provided the music and Hornby the lyrics). You may have already heard the track "Your Dogs," as it's the theme song for the new CBS' show $#*! My Dad Says. Lady Danville opens.

• Special Event The Light Factory’s Annual Art Auction returns for its 29th year with an international theme of “A Night In Spain.” At the event you can bid on an array of artistic creations, taste traditional tapas and feel the rhythm of Spanish music as you dance the night away. more...

• Festival The Puerto Rican Cultural Society of Charlotte throws its 2nd Annual Puerto Rican Festival today at Plaza Fiesta Carolinas. At the event you can get a taste of authentic food, music, arts & crafts and more specifically linked to the culture. more...

Sunday, Nov. 21

Marigny

Is it me or has Charlotte been visited by a lot of world-class DJs lately? Well, the parade of talent continues tonight when DJ Scratch hits town to spin at the latest I Luv the 90s party. Gaining notoriety as the DJ for the legendary hip-hop group EPMD, Scratch (pictured above in the center) has gone on to rock the wheels of steel for big names like Diddy, Jay-Z, Q-Tip and many more. These days, you can also catch him on the new BET reality show Master of the Mix. Don’t pass up your chance to see/hear him do his thing live.

• Special Event Today’s your last chance to shop (or browse) at the Southern Woman’s Show. The annual holiday bazaar features a plentiful selection of vendors selling their hand-made arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, toys, food and more. more...

• Theater Just because a fairytale may have a happy ending, doesn’t mean it won’t have a disturbing twist to it, as is the case with the Brother Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel. A witch burned alive in an oven? Good or evil, that’s a pretty gruesome thought. But, it hasn’t scared Central Piedmont Community College’s Opera Theatre from staging performances of the opera version of the tale by Engelbert Humperdinck. more...