Sip and Stroll Festival, Celebrity Parties, The Peculiar Rabbit’s Anniversary, Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 Fight Parties, and More – Sept. 11-14
(Social) life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Your itinerary awaits.
Thursday, September 11
Hands On Charlotte Mix & Mingle
Meet HOC volunteers and learn more about volunteer opportunities, while enjoying refreshments and a cash bar. And in support of the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, nonperishable food items are being collected for Second Harvest Food Bank. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free admission. VBGB Beer Hall and Garden, at NC Music Factory, 920 Hamilton St., vbgbuptown.com, hocmixsept2014.eventbrite.com.
Sunset At Metropolitan (weekly event)
This outdoor live music series launched its fall season last week, taking place each Thursday through October 9. The featured band this evening is On the Boarder. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free admission. Metropolitan, 1111 Metropolitan Ave., metmidtown.com.
Panthers Season Opener Pep Rally
Miller Lite and the EpiCentre invite you to celebrate the Carolina Panthers’ upcoming home opener at this pep rally, which will feature appearances by the TopCats cheerleaders and the PurrCussion drum line. Attendees will also receive a commemorative Panthers 2014 T-shirt, a chance to win tickets to Sunday’s game, and admission to several participating bars. 7 p.m. $5. EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St., epicentrenc.com, millerlitepantherspeprally.eventbrite.com.
R&B Live (weekly event)
This live music series moves to a new home, presenting R&B acts each Thursday, ranging from local to national recording artists. 9 p.m. $10 and up. Studio Movie Grill, at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St., epicentrenc.com/venues/studio-movie-grill, facebook.com/randblive.
Friday, September 12
Fifth Annual Sip and Stroll: Art, Wine, and Music Festival (Friday and Saturday)
Friday (7-10 p.m.) features the kickoff party and reception, offering wine, appetizers, live music by Simplified, and live art. Saturday’s festivities (2-8 p.m.) include artists displaying and selling artwork, more than 40 wine vineyards participating in the wine tasting, wine seminars, live music by Crashbox and Early Ray, and more. General admission, $25 per day, or $40 for two-day pass; seminar tickets sold separately. EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St., sipandstrollcharlotte.com.
[photo credit: Full House Productions]
Black and Blue Live with Peter Thomas and Cynthia Bailey
Peter Thomas, the co-owner of this new sports bar and a co-star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and his wife, model and co-star, Cynthia Bailey, will discuss topics including the Carolina Panthers with WBT 99.3 FM Charlotte’s News Talk. 6-9 p.m. Sports One Bar & Lounge, 521 N. College St., facebook.com/sportsonecharlotte.
Daddy-Daughter Date Night
Dads are invited to bring their daughters for a special night out that will include dinner, dessert, and dancing. Proceeds will benefit the W.I.S.H. Society for Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina. 6-9:30 p.m. Daddy and one daughter, $70; daddy and two daughters, $100. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 139 S. Tryon St., facebook.com/chimacharlotte, eventbrite.com/e/daddy-daughter-date-night-tickets-12404182243.
ASOTT Fall Fundraiser Dance: The Savoy Meets the Palladium
Popular Charlotte band A Sign Of The Times hosts this event and will perform. There will also be a salsa and two-step dance class, complimentary appetizers, and one free drink included in admission. 8-11 p.m. $20. The Tavern, 300 E. Morehead St., taverncharlotte.com, eventbrite.com/e/asott-fall-fundraiser-dance-the-savoy-meets-the-palliadium-tickets-12384882517.
Funk Fest Charlotte Official After-Party Hosted by Big Boi
After Outkast headlines Friday night of the two-day Funk Fest, one half of the duo, Big Boi, will host this party. Music by the legendary DJ Red Alert and DJ 06. 8 p.m.-4 a.m. $25 in advance. Celebs Restaurant and Lounge, 445 W. Trade St., celebsrestaurant.com, eventbrite.com/e/official-funkfest-after-party-tickets-12986804883.
Concert After-Party with Fantasia
The R&B star performs this evening at Funk Fest, and will then make her way over to this after-party. Music by DJ Tab D’Biassi. 9 p.m. Free admission before 10:30 p.m.; cover charge after; discount with concert ticket stub. Privilege, 223 S. Brevard St., privilegecharlotte.com.
Cosmic Gate
The international EDM duo returns to Charlotte. Presented by Disco Donnie and Sugar Society. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. General admission, $15 in advance; VIP admission, $25; VIP tables also available. Label, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., labelcharlotte.com.
Pulse (weekly event)
This hip-hop party usually fills up both levels of this Uptown bar on Friday nights. Music by DJ Ern. Presented by ANTique Events. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free admission. Cosmos Cafe, 300 N. College St., cosmoscafe.com, facebook.com/antiquecharlotte.
Lance Stephenson’s Official Birthday Celebration 
The Charlotte Hornets’ new star celebrates his birthday and new home. 10 p.m. General admission, $15 in advance; VIP admission, $25; VIP tables also available. Studio Movie Grill, at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St., epicentrenc.com/venues/studio-movie-grill, bornreadyclt.eventbrite.com.
[photo credit: instagram.com/stephensonlance]
Saturday, September 13
Second Annual Tossin’ for Tykes Cornhole Tournament
It’s a fun-filled day for a good cause, with a cornhole tournament for cash prizes, a DJ, food trucks, a local brewery, and more. Hosted by the Charlotte West Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Charlotte, with proceeds benefiting the Council for Children’s Rights. 11 a.m. Bryant Park, 1701 W. Morehead St., tossinfortykes.org.
3H (new weekly event)
A new series celebrating homemade, homegrown, and handmade (hence the name 3H), it will take place every Tuesday and Saturday. Explore the Ballantyne Village boutiques, restaurants, and local vendors, while being treated to live music, family-friendly activities, prizes, and, on this afternoon, a grand drawing for a $500 gift card. Noon-6 p.m. Free admission. Ballantyne Village, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, ballantynevillage.com.
The Peculiar Rabbit’s Two-Year Anniversary Party
This hip Plaza-Midwood restaurant and bar celebrates turning two, with nine breweries on site ($30 ticket gets you unlimited sampling), live music, food, a cornhole tournament, and prize giveaways. 1 p.m. Free admission. The Peculiar Rabbit, 1212 Pecan Ave., thepeculiarrabbit.com, Facebook.
Awesome Random Adventures’ Uptown Bar Crawl
Awesome Random Adventures is a popular social group for twenty- and thirty-somethings, and they’re hosting a bar crawl, taking guests to Chima, Tilt, Roxbury, Prohibition, and an after-party spot. The night will include drink specials, appetizers, arcade games, prizes, and more. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. $10. meetup.com/awesome-adventures-charlottes-best-20s-and-30s-social-club.
Third Annual Charity Celebration Gala
The Charlotte-based Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation hosts this event to raise money to support its mission of providing education, women empowerment programs, and health care services to under-privileged communities around the world. At this gala, guests will enjoy a three-course meal, entertainment including classical opera and dance, and they’ll meet the 75 students enrolled in the new program. 7 p.m.-midnight. $50 and up. Embassy Suites, 5400 John Q. Hammons Dr., Concord, atdoemf.org.
Signature Saturdays
Taking place the second and last Saturday of every month, this edition features live jazz by 5th & York, followed by music from DJ 360. Drink specials include $6 martinis and $99 Moët bottles, and the food menu is available until midnight. Presented by Eddietainment. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free admission before midnight; for VIP tables, eddiet456@gmail.com. Vapiano, 201 S. Tryon St., facebook.com/vapianoclt, eddietainment.com.
The Unveiling
It’s a night of live music performances at this posh nightspot. 10 p.m. Free admission. Osso Restaurant & Lounge, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., ossocharlotte.com.
Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 Fight Parties
@ Fox and Hound
9 p.m. Fox and Hound, 8711 Lindholm Dr., Huntersville, foxandhound.com.
@ Hooters
8 p.m. Hooters, (south Charlotte) 9807 South Blvd., facebook.com/hooterssouthcharlotte; (Uptown) 123 W. Trade St., facebook.com/hootersuptowncharlotte.
@ Kennedy’s
8 p.m. Free admission. Kennedy’s Premium Bar and Grill, 366 North Caswell Rd., kennedyscharlotte.com.
@ Level
10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free before 11 p.m. with RSVP. Level Charlotte, 225 N. Caldwell St., facebook.com/levelcharlotte.
@ Regal Stonecrest
Mayhem: Mayweather vs. Maidana—fight shown live on movie screen. 8 p.m. $25. Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen, 7824 Rea Rd., regmovies.com.
@ Re:Public
8 p.m.-2:30 a.m. $20. Re:Public, 314 N. College St. thebgrayexperience.com.
@ Sports One
8 p.m.-2 a.m. $20. Sports One Bar & Lounge, 521 N. College St., facebook.com/sportsonecharlotte.
@ Vanity
9 p.m. Free admission before 11 p.m.; cover charge after. Vanity Charlotte, 500 W. Fifth St., vanitycharlotte.com.
Sunday, September 14
Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions – Where to Watch the Game
The Panthers look for a 2-0 start as they host the Lions. Game time is 1 p.m.
@ All American Pub, 200 E. Bland St., allamericanpubclt.com.
@ Bar Louie, 8760 JM Keynes Dr., barlouieamerica.com/locations/university-city.
@ The Doghouse, 401 W. Morehead St., facebook.com/cbsradiodoghouse.
@ Draught, 601 S. Cedar St., draughtcharlotte.com, facebook.com/thecansrecycled.
@ Hickory Tavern, at Metropolitan, 1100 Metropolitan Ave., facebook.com/ht.metropolitan.
@ Icehouse South End, 2100 South Blvd., icehousecharlotte.com.
@ Vapiano, 201 S. Tryon St., facebook.com/vapianoclt.
Lions Fans Tailgate Party
9 a.m.-noon. Free admission. EZ-Parking Lot, 1018 S. Tryon St., eventbrite.com/e/detroit-lions-vs-carolina-panthers-ultimate-tailgate-party-tickets-12377622803.
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Moxie SunDays: Post-Game Party
You’re invited to wear your favorite team’s jersey or colors, and enjoy music by DJ C-Rob. Presented by Moxie Society. 3-8 p.m. Free admission. Sydney's Martini and Wine Bar, 401 N. Tryon St., sydneysmartiniandwinebar.com, moxiesundays.com.
Fashion For a Cause
Five13 Studio presents a fashionable night out to benefit Dress For Success Charlotte (guests are asked to bring clothes to donate), featuring shopping and discounts, hors d’oeuvres, and wine. 7-9 p.m. Free admission. Aldo Shoes, at SouthPark, 4400 Sharon Rd., five13studio.com.
Verify dates, times, prices, and other info at the web addresses listed for each event.
