Weekend Ahead: August 29-31

SIP
Rustic Martini is turning a year old and throwing themselves a birthday bash. Order one of their tasty vodka libations to sip while you mingle under the tent in the parking lot next to the uptown bar. 616 N. Tryon St. (www.groovetickets.com) August 30. 9 p.m.

SHOP
Belk is having a one-day sale on Saturday when their doors open early at 9 a.m. Considering Labor Day is on Monday, we think there’s no time like the present to start stocking up on your new fall wardrobe. August 30.

HEAR
Catch the soulful tunes of Midnight Star, E.U., Carmen Chiles, Morris Day and the Time, and others when they hit the stage for the Summer Soul Music Festival. At the Frans Park Center, 2600 W. Trade St. 704-372-1000. (www.2thelimitevents.com) August 30. 2 p.m.

CELEBRATE
Eat your weight in fried food Get out and enjoy the sunny, end-of-summer weather in historic downtown Matthews and check out lots of local vendors (more than 150 arts and crafts vendors will be there!) during the four-day long Matthew’s Alive! festival. August 29-Sept 1

LISTEN
So this isn’t exactly on the weekend, but, well, we love Nelly. Ok, Sarah loves Nelly. Jenn, not so much. However, even Jenn can appreciate the fact that someone with Nelly’s star power is putting on a free performance. Courtesy of MySpace and T-Mobile Sidekick, the concert is at Neighborhood Theatre on September 4. Half the tickets will be given out through MySpace and the other half are first-come first serve starting at 8 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. (www.neighborhoodtheatre.com)

(photo courtesy of istockphoto.com)