Wine Tasting, Pajama Bar Crawl, Cigar Festival, Pink Party, and More this Weekend
There are a lot of great parties and social events on tap for this weekend, and several of them benefit great causes. Here’s the rundown.
Friday, September 30
A Jazzy Wine Tasting
The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) present this event to raise money for their annual college scholarship. Mix, mingle, and enjoy good drinks and food at one of uptown Charlotte’s trendiest wine bars. There will also be a special raffle and silent auction with items from Perry's Estate Jewelry and more. 7 p.m. $20. Free parking available in gated parking deck at W. Trade and S. Mint streets. Press Wine/Food, 333 W. Trade St. caabj.com.
Luau Party
Spend a night in Hawaii without leaving town. It’s a full-on luau with plenty of scantily clad women (of course), a pig roast, and drink specials including $3 Corona and $4 well drinks. 8 p.m. Free admission if you wear Hawaiian attire. The Men’s Club of Charlotte, 444 Tyvola Rd., mensclub.com/charlotte-mens-club.
Pajama Bar Crawl
Carolina Nightlife is leading a bar crawl throughout NC Music Factory and you’re asked to wear your favorite bedroom attire. Each venue will have its own pajama-themed party. Butter NC: Lingerie Night; Halo: One Night in Heaven, contest for sexiest and most creative pajamas; VBGB: Idol Lullaby Showdown; Wet Willie’s: Best Fuzzy Slippers Contest; The Saloon: Boxer Contest. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $5 in advance; $10 at the door. Ticket gets you entrance into each venue for the night. NC Music Factory, 820 Hamilton St. ncmusicfactory.com, carolinanightlife.com.
Grand Opening of Privilege
Last week, on Dusk Till Dawn, I gave you a sneak preview of this new nightclub (“Privilege Is Uptown Charlotte’s Newest Nightclub”), and now the grand opening is here. Last week’s events were rescheduled so this weekend you should expect to find both sides of the club rocking with parties Friday night by Six Figure Entertainment and From A 2 Z Entertainment, and Saturday night by Mingleberry. 10 p.m. Cost varies; VIP available. Privilege, 223 S. Brevard St., privilegecharlotte.com.
Saturday, October 1
Lite Up Charlotte
This second annual event is the area’s largest cigar festival. Your all-inclusive admission gets you twenty cigars to smoke at the event and take home, a wine and beer tasting, food, live entertainment, raffle giveaways, a silent auction, and more. Food will be provided by Mellow Mushroom, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Extreme Pita, Blushing Bakery, Kilwins, and Newk’s Express Café. A VIP ticket gets you access to Outland Cigar Club’s Lounge to watch college football, food from Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, a small humidor, and more. A portion of proceeds will benefit Beds For Kids. Plus, peruse the shops at the village while you’re there. 1-6 p.m. $85-$110. Ballantyne Village, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, ballantynevillage.com, liteupcharlotte.com.
Vida’s First Anniversary Celebration
The owners of Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina celebrate their one-year anniversary of the popular restaurant with an all-day celebration. Enjoy great food and drink specials, including $2 street tacos, $3 Dos Equis, $4 house wines, and $5 Vida Margaritas. 5 p.m. Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina, 210 E. Trade St., inside EpiCentre, vidacantina.com.
Chocolate for a Cure
Enjoy some fine chocolates at this cocktail reception, while supporting breast cancer research. Featuring chocolatier Sadruddin Abdullah of Dessert Specialist, Inc. Belva W. Greenage, publisher of Today’s Charlotte Woman and a cancer survivor, is the guest speaker. 7 p.m. $35. The Omni Hotel, 132 E. Trade St., ez-tixx.com.
Dharma’s Two-Year Anniversary
The trendy lounge/nightclub in South End is celebrating its terrible twos with the renowned house music DJ, Doc Martin, on the turntables. And DJ Nat Eichler will play on the patio. Eighteen years-old and older admitted. 10 p.m. $10 in advance at wantickets.com/dharma2yr. Dharma Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. dharmacharlotte.com.
Fifth Annual Pink Party
Dbraun Promotions’ annual fundraising benefit for the American Cancer Society is also one of the biggest parties of the season each year. You’re asked to wear pink attire, as you party between two venues. 9 p.m. Cost varies. Mez and Kazba, inside EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. , mezcharlotte.com, kazbacharlotte.com.
Libra Birthday Bash starring Jadakiss
Heights Entertainment presents a party for all the Libras—and everyone else who wants to party with rapper Jadakiss. Music by DJ Paradime. Ages twenty-five and up. 10:30 p.m. Cost varies. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 139 S. Tryon St. heightsent.com.
Be sure to bookmark www.charlottemagazine.com/Blogs/Dusk-Till-Dawn to stay plugged into Charlotte nightlife.
