Weekend Top Picks

August 25, 2010

Annie Monjar,

Everywhere you look, inklings of fall are appearing: the days are shorter, the humidity has dropped to a three-month low of 73%, and those big, yellow buses are bringing traffic to a screeching halt every morning at rush hour. September is just around the corner, which means there’s not too much more time to savor summer. To help you soak in August’s last rays, we selected this weekend’s best outdoor outings.

Garden Nights at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

This Thursday marks the last of DSBG’s Thursday night Garden Nights—their own, au naturale Alive After Five. Listen to live music while munching on sandwiches and salads from Something Classic Catering, and even take a carriage ride through the gardens with Southern Breezes carriage tours. It’ll be one of your last opportunities of 2010 to enjoy hydrangeas and azaleas in bloom before those grotesque, glowing gourds and potato sack scarecrows take over the premises.

Movies Under the Stars at Symphony Park

On Friday night, this outdoor summer movie series will feature its final flick at Symphony Park: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. While Hogwarts’ Quidditch matches, spell casting, and proper, English wizards will make for a magical evening for you and the kids, you might find them getting a little depressed about going back to their unenchanting school with the rest of the Muggles.

Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls at Knights Stadium

Carrying sports enthusiasts from its spring season openers to the final bat of summer, baseball is, at the very least, America’s summer past time. And since another devastating Panthers season is about to befall Charlotte, it wouldn’t hurt to spend another warm Sunday out at the ballgame. In one of their last home appearances of the season, the Knights will face off with the Durham Bulls at 2:15, and while in-state competition is always fierce, minor league prices on tickets, hot dogs, and beer will keep the day as laid back as summer days should be.