This Weekend's Agenda: 25+ Events (March 2-5)

THURSDAY (March 2)

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES
Birthed from the same New Jersey scene that brought us Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes rock a repertoire that begins in the mid-1970s. The Gary Douglas Band is a special guest for this appearance at the McGlohon Theater. 

ALL-IN TO FIGHT CANCER TEXAS HOLD ‘EM FUNDRAISER 
The seventh-annual fundraiser to benefit All-In to Fight Cancer. The doors open to this poker tournament at 5:30 p.m., and the cards start dealing at 6:30 p.m. JJ’S Red Hots will provide the food at this party. Ticket prices start at $75.

CHARLOTTE VEGFEST JR
The folks at Charlotte Vegfest realized last year’s event was so popular they needed a “mini” event before the next one. The event has no admission fee, but there will be a DJ and vegan food court. The event is from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Goodyear Arts, 516 N. College St.

BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
​Niki de Saint Phalle’s iconic outdoor sculpture “The Firebird” welcomes visitors. Inside, you’ll find fine art exhibitions, films, jazz, classical concerts, and talks. Bechtler Collection: Relaunched and Rediscovered, THROUGH APRIL 23, is an exhibition put together by curator Jennifer Edwards, who pulls pieces from the museum’s extensive permanent collection and presents them in a new light.

CHARLOTTE MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Built in 1774, the 5,000-square-foot Hezekiah Alexander House is the oldest surviving structure of its kind in Mecklenburg County. Guided tours are available. Charlotte’s Road to Revolution, THROUGH JUNE 15, displays the works of Charlotte artist Dan Nance, who has been painting scenes of American history for more than 20 years.

CIEL GALLERY
​Ciel Gallery is a combined teaching space and mosaic gallery in South End that showcases paintings, mosaics, photography, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, and more. Art classes are available for all ages and levels. A March salon show focuses on works on paper from the gallery’s artists.

FRIDAY (March 3)

CRAFT COCKTAIL CRAWL 
Sip your way through specialty cocktails tonight at Rooftop 210, Blackfinn, Vida, Strike City, Bubble, Suite, Whisky River, Howl at the Moon, Mortimors and Wild Wing Café (210 E. Trade St.). Registration is at Rooftop210 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

MARDI GRAS CHARITY BALL 
Fat Tuesday was this past Tuesday, and you can keep the “good times rolling” at this inaugural party. The evening at the Ritz Carlton, 201 E. Trade St., features dinner, drinks, dancing, a silent auction and more! This party runs from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.

COOLIO AT SUITE 
Coolio is still a thing, apparently. The evening at Suite, 210 E. Trade St., with Coolio runs from 9:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. 

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY: MENDELSSOHN ELIJAH
The 1846 selection, chronicling the life of the Biblical prophet Elijah, comes to the Belk Theater. Featured performers are soprano Yulia Van Doren and mezzo-soprano Leah Wool, with Giancarlo Guerrero conducting.

NEW SOUND SERIES: THE FLUTE IN JAZZ
The monthly program at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art returns with a celebration of the jazz flute. Winthrop University's Phil Thompson performs with the Ziad Jazz Quartet, the house jazz band for the Bechtler.

DISCOVERY PLACE: NATURE
Formerly known as the “Charlotte Nature Museum,” the 13,000-square-foot facility is embedded into a 100-year-old forest located between Dilworth and Myers Park. There are several indoor activities, from hangouts with live creatures and animal exhibits to puppet shows. The Fort Wild outdoor exhibit includes activities that require teamwork and allows kids to get their hands dirty. 

COCKTAIL CLASS
Take a crash course in the essentials of cocktail mixology, then recreate classic drinks at home and at parties on Friday, March 3, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hygge Co-working space in uptown Charlotte. Instructor and bar consultant Emily Elda will teach guests all about mixing, muddling, shaking, and making sour mix! Guests will practice making (and consuming) 3 full-sized cocktails using North Carolina spirits you can find at your local ABC store. For more info, visit the website. 

SATURDAY (March 4)

PLAZA MIDWOOD WINTER FLING
Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association hosts its annual party tonight, and you’re invited. A $30 ticket buys you dinner and a beer at Legion Brewing, 1906 Commonwealth Ave. The party also features a DJ, raffles and a silent auction. The fun begins at 6 p.m.

BAR WARS STAR WARS BAR CRAWL
Don your favorite Darth Vader mask or Yoda costume for this Star Wars-themed bar crawl. A $24 ticket buys you a beer and a shot, free entry to all participating bars and more. Proceeds from the bar crawl go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The evening, which also features a costume contest, begins at Lucky’s Bar and Arcade at 5 p.m. and travels to three “mystery” locations” from 7 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

CONDOM COUTURE
If you stand with Planned Parenthood, you might want to sit down for this annual gala and fashion show. Along with live music, a DJ and dancers, designers create fashion made from condoms. Doors open at 8 p.m. at the Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. Advance tickets cost $25 or you can pay $35 at the door.

TRIPLE B AT TRIPLE C 
Triple C Brewery invites you to experience the triple b: barbecue, band and beer. Heirloom’s chef Clark Barlowe provides the food portion of this evening from 7 until 10 at 2900 Griffith St. Tickets cost $40. 

BADFISH: A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME
The last-ever show at Amos’ Southend is the popular Sublime cover act Badfish. The music venue had been in its current spot for the past 18 years.

THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
The members of The Marshall Tucker Band are often cited as the forefathers of Southern rock. The group has produced dozens of albums. Expect to hear tunes that range from the band’s start in 1973 until now.

CARIBBEAN COOKING CLASS
Get a taste of the islands by heading to Blue Restaurant & Bar in uptown for a class on Caribbean food on Saturday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Guests will learn to make everything from curried Jamaican beef patties to Caribbean butter rum cake. Cost is $49.95 per person excluding tax and gratuity. Advance reservations are required – call 704-927-2583 or visit the website. 

CHOCOLATE TEMPERING
The Secret Chocolatier is at it again with ann upcoming chocolate class. Students can learn the ins and outs of chocolate tempering from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the Providence store location. Cost is $60 per person. Guests will learn to dip fruit, fill molds, make bon bon shells, and much more. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the website. 

FARM 2 FAMILY OPENING
Healthy Home Market's Farm to Family Foods is opening on Saturday, March 4, with a celebratory ribbon cutting at noon. There will also be raffles, free samples, prizes, and more. Check out the website for more info. 

JERALD MELBERG GALLERY
Once a curator for the Mint Museum, Jerald Melberg founded this gallery in 1983. Since, the gallery's garnered relationships with New York's Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and other institutions. Argentinian painter Raul Diaz’s exhibition, THROUGH MARCH 18, presents his mixed-media works, which have dreamlike environments. 

SUNDAY (March 5)

COLD WAR KIDS
California indie rock band Cold War Kids first broke through with the 2007 single "Hang Me Up to Dry." Four records have followed the first, Robbers & Cowards, as well as several EPs.

LOS LONELY BOYS
Los Lonely Boys, a Chicano rock trio from Texas, returns to Charlotte fresh off the project Quiero Creedence. The Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute featured the band’s cover of John Fogerty’s “Born on the Bayou.”

DISCOVERY PLACE: SCIENCE
Genghis Khan, THROUGH APRIL 30, examines the life of the legendary conqueror. The exhibit displays more than 200 artifacts from Khan’s treasures and possessions, including jewelry, clothing, pottery, musical instruments, and weaponry. Mysteries of China, THROUGH APRIL 30, is an IMAX film that explores ancient and modern China through the lens of a stunning archaeological find in 1974—the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors and the First Emperor’s Tomb. $5 for members, $10 for adult nonmembers, $9 for seniors and children 2-13. 

HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTS + CULTURE
Named for Harvey Gantt, the first African-American mayor of Charlotte, this 46,500-square-foot museum celebrates the contributions of Africans and African-Americans to American culture. The Future is Abstract, THROUGH JULY 8, highlights mixed-media artists and painters Rushern Baker, DeShawn Dumas, Torkwase Dyson, and Brenna Youngblood. Alison Saar: The Nature of Us, THROUGH JULY 8, is a solo exhibition for Saar, who explores motherhood and femininity. Zun Lee: Father Figure, THROUGH JULY 8, looks at African-American fatherhood through black-and-white photography. And finally, Jordan Casteel: Harlem Notes, THROUGH JULY 8, offers paintings from Harlem-based artist Jordan Casteel.

ALSO AHEAD:

TUESDAY (March 7)
ERTH'S DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE!
Travel back to prehistoric Australia in this live "zoo" experience, in which dinosaurs from the Mesozoic are resurrected as life-like puppets. The interactions take place in the intimate Booth Playhouse.

THE BODYGUARD
The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer Deborah Cox stars as Rachel Marron in the U.S. tour of The Bodyguard. The show is based on the 1992 film of the same name, and it features Whitney Houston songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and her cover of the Dolly Parton hit "I Will Always Love You." 

LACA PROJECTS
The venue reflects the ever-growing and vibrant Latino artistic community in Charlotte. Cristina Toro: Strike a Match to Hear My Sound, THROUGH APRIL 8, is a new body of work from Toro that explores fire and light through acrylic and collage works.