December Happenings

December is just around the corner and we’ve got quite an extensive list for getting into the holiday spirit.

Now showing at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: The UNC Clef Hangers in Concert, Richard Marx, Keb Mo, Rockin’ in a winter wonderland, The Birth, Charlotte Symphony: Messiah, This is the 60′s, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, The Temptations and the Four Tops, NC Dance: The Nutcracker

Reduced Shakespeare Company: the Ultimate Christmas Show

Step back in time with Christmas in Mecklenburg County with the Polks

Speedway Christmas

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour

WBT Holiday on Ice

Christmas at the Billy Graham Library

Theatre Charlotte presents A Christmas Carol

Singing Christmas Tree

Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play

McAdenville

Holiday Tea at Ritz-Carlton’s Urban Sip, Nutcracker Tea the Omni Hotel, Holiday Tea at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Tea and shopping at the Duke Mansion

A Modern Christmas Carol

Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne, 8 foot chocolate tree display at Ritz-Carlton

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party, SantaCon

Pops: Magic of Christmas

University Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, Wingate University Wind Ensemble Instrumental Concert

Queen City Ringers

Music and Museum: Christmas in Venice

Jazz at the Bechtler: Holiday Jazz, Richard Elliot and Nick Colionne, Nnenna Freelon with John Brown Big Band

Christmas at St.Mary’s, The Choir School at St.Peter’s Christmas Concert

Winter Wonderettes

Clara’s Trip: A Nutcracker Story

A Patchwork Christmas

Classic International Black Cinema Series: A Warm December

An Evening with Nicholas Kristof

Party for a cause at  Jingle Bell Bash, 24th Annual Second String Santa Holiday Party

For the kids: Join the Elf Academy at Carolina Place Mall, Saturday Art Sessions: Mexican Tin Art Ornaments, Singing Christmas Tree for Kids, Cross Cross Mangosauce: Bilingual Storytime, Icelebra! A Bilingual Holiday concert for children, Free family Christmas movies at the Neighborhood Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Santa’s Bag, Build a gingerbread house at Lowes, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Littlest Angel, Jami Masters School of Dance Enchantment Camp, “The Polar Express” at Discovery Place’s IMAX, Photos with Santa,The Leonard Bearstein Symphony, First Night Charlotte, Breakfast with Santa (and Ace&TJ) at the Palm, Breakfast with Santa at Bravo

Kwanzaa Programs at the public library

Hanukkah Celebrations at South Park Mall

Movies opening Christmas Day: Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Parental Guidance

All movies at Cinebarre (where you can dine while watching a great flick) are $5 every Tuesday.

Events outside Charlotte

A Huntersville Christmas

Christmas in Davidson

Arts at the Abbey: Annual Holiday Concert Belmont Abbey, NC

Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christmasville in Rock Hill

Christmas in Cramerton

Kannapolis Christmas

Waxhaw Christmas Parade

Fort Mill Christmas Parade

Polar Express Bryson City, NC

Christmas at Biltmore Asheville, NC

National Gingerbread House Competition and Display Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC

Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC

Cookies and Cocoa with Santa Spencer, NC

Santa on the Chimney Chimney Rock, NC

Salem Christmas Winston-Salem, NC

Tanglewood Festival of Lights Clemmons, NC

Scandinavian Christmas Fair Raleigh, NC

More December fun:

Carolina Chocolate Drops, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, I Fight Dragons, David and Jessica Lea Mayfield, Steep Canyon Rangers, Dan Bern, Wanda Jackson,Acoustic Syndicate, Rebirth Brass Band,Keller Williams/That 1 Guy, Drivin’ n’ Cryin’/The Blue Dogs , Willie Nelson, Maybach Music Group, Sum 41, Metalocalypse, Trey Songz, 2 Chainz, 95.1 Kissmas with PSY

Palate to Palette

The Cake Boss

Belk Bowl, 2012 Dr.Pepper ACC Football Championship (ACC Fan Fest: Lee Brice and Little Big Town)

Bob Saget, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker

Twilight

Glogg and meatballs buffet at IKEA

Death Tax and 33 Variations at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

The Charlotte School of Law Library wishes you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!

~Jamie Sunnycalb~

May Happenings

Consider May to be music to your ears as several musical acts take center stage this month.

Food Lion Speed Street and NC Brewers and Music Festival are two not-t0-be-missed events.

Billy Currington,  The Life Story of Rick James, Styx REO Speedwagon & Ted Nugent, Jane’s Addiction, Dave Matthews Band, Rise Against, Drake, New Edition, Esperanza Spalding, Eric Hutchinson, Ingrid Michaelson, Mayer Hawthorne, Collective Soul, Neon Trees, Blake Shelton

Performing Arts:  25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee  and Rhinoceros for the kids

Cultural Events: Dragon Boat Festival

Sports: Knights Baseball

Walkathons: Arthritis Walk , Walk for Lupus, Free to Breathe

For Mother’s Day this year, treat Mom with a visit to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden for Mother’s Day in the Garden , or a Mother and Daughter Cooking Class, or a Mom’s Nite Out at South Park Mall, and even Purses with a Purpose (purchase $50 designer purses benefitting the American Cancer Society)

May is National Bike Month: Cycle Charlote, Plaza Midwood Bike Fest

Bring Fido to join other pet lovers at the Humane Society of Charlotte’s Pet Palooza (You may even spot a local celeb with their pooch) and Pet Expo

Other fun things to do: Clean and Green Festival, Microbrews Cruise at the US National Whitewater Center

~Jamie Sunnycalb~

April Happenings

Charlotte is hoppin’ this month with fun things to do!

Performing Arts: Stomp, Bring it on: the musical, Shatner’s World, A Raisin in the Sun, Don’t Cry for me Margaret Mitchell, NC Dance: Dangerous Liasons

Concerts: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hot Chelle Rae, Daughtry, Natalie Cole, Trace Adkins,Van Halen, Sugarland, Young the Giant, Cage the Elephant, The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show, Alive after Five, Joan Osborne, MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC

Just for laughs: Jerry Seinfeld , Lewis Black, Jeanne Robertson

For the foodie: Taste of the Nation , Charlotte Wine and Food Festival ,BBQ Cookoff

Sporting Events: Charlotte Bobcats v New York Knicks, Jordan Brand Classic, NoDa Grand Prix, Wells Fargo Championship, Queen’s Cup, Charlotte Knights Home Opener, Charlotte Hounds Opener

Marathons: Celebrate Better Health 5k, Charlotte Walk to Cure Diabetes

For the kids: Disney’s Phineas and Ferb, Salt and Pepper, Busytown, Easter Egg Hunt, Geocaching, Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Superheroes, Wizard of Oz

Other fun things: Passport for Fashion, World and Parade Festival, Charlotte Auto Fair, Science Festival with Mythbusters Adam and Jamie, 8th Annual Hope Floats Duck Race , Science and Technology Expo, International Pillow Fight Day, Violins of Hope, Sensoria Arts Festival, Dances of India , 2nd Annual Kings Drive Art Walk

~Jamie Sunnycalb~

Welcome to Charlotte!

Whether you are a native of the Queen City or new to the area, we’ve compiled a list of how you can enjoy all that North Carolina’s most populous city has to offer.

Sporting Events: Panthers Football, Knights Baseball, Bobcats Basketball, Checkers Hockey, NASCAR, Charlotte Roller Derby, Charlotte Hounds, Charlotte Eagles , Charlotte Lady Eagles, Carolina Speed, Charlotte Rugby Football Club

Concerts : Time Warner Cable Arena, Ovens Auditorium (site of our Graduation 2009) Bojangles Coliseum, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, NC Music Factory , Visulite Theatre, Neighborhood Theatre , Double Door Inn

Performances, Plays and Musicals: Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Opera Carolina , Charlotte Symphony , Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Theatre Charlotte,Knight Theatre (site of our 2011 Graduation), Comedy Zone

Art, History and Culture: Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Levine Museum of the New South, Harvey B. Gantt Center, McColl Center for Visual Art , Billy Graham Library , The Light Factory , Carolinas Aviation Museum,  gallery crawls , NASCAR Hall of Fame , Charlotte History Museum

Get into Nature at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden , the Charlotte Nature Museum or the Carolinas Raptor Center . Go for a hike at  Crowders Mountain.

For kids of all ages: Discovery Place, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte,  Imaginon:the Joe and Joan Martin Center, Carowinds , Lazy 5 Ranch

Shopping in and around Charlotte: South Park Mall, Northlake Mall , Carolina Place Mall, Concord Mills Mall, Birkdale Village , Westfield Eastridge Shopping Mall

Parks&Recreation: Freedom Park, Frazier Park, Park Road Park , area Greenways. YMCA, Whitewater Center

Dining:

Morehead Street: Pinky’s Westside Grill, Burger Company, Picante Mexican Grill, Savor, Open Kitchen, Dilworth Neighborhood Grill, Art’s BBQ

Wilkinson Blvd: Dairy Queen, Bar-B-Q King, Subway (located inside the Super Wal-Mart), Little Caesars, Burger King

Freedom Drive: COOK-OUT, Showmars, McDonald’s, KFC, Captain D’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s

Charlottetowne Avenue/Kings Drive: Wendy’s, Zoe’s Kitchen, Chipotle, La Paz, Hickory Tavern, Arby’s, Subway, Pizza Hut, Original Pancake House, Mama Ricotta’s, Wok Express, Dunkin’Donuts, Maharani, Great Harvest Bread Co., Pizza Fusion, Which Wich, Trader Joe’s, Zoe’s Kitchen, Cherry Berry, Dressler’s, Pisces Sushi Bar/Lounge, Vivace, Bojangles

South Blvd: Chipotle, Luna’s Living Kitchen, Five Guys, Noodle&Company, Chick fil-A, Owen’s Bagels, Einstein Bagels,  Nova’s Bakery, Beijing Chinese, Fuel Pizza, Sub Station II, Ice House, Big Ben’s, The Liberty, Pewter Rose, Mac’s Speed Shop, McDonald’s, Burger King

South End: Phat Burrito, Price’s Chicken Coop, Pike’s Old-Fashioned Soda Shop, Common Market

7th Street: Hawthorne’s Pizza, Crisp,  Sunflour Bakery, Lupie’s Cafe , Showmars, Starbucks, Cajun Queen, Jackalope Jack’s, Philosopher’s Stone, Kennedy’s, Ho Ho Cherry House, Sub Station II, Jersey Mike’s

Elizabeth Ave: Nothing but Noodles, 1900 Mexican Grill, Cuisine Malaya, Carpe Diem, Customshop, 88 China Bistro, Elizabeth Creamery

Plaza Midwood: Whiskey Warehouse, The Penguin, The Diamond, Dish, Zada Jane’s, Soul Gastrolounge, Bistro La Bon, Midwood Smokehouse, Loco Lime, Kickstand Burgers, Intermezzo Pizzeria, Krazy Fish, Lulu, Akahana Asian Bistro,  Something Classic Cafe, Central Coffee Company , Fern, Thomas Street Tavern, Nova’s Bakery, The Peculiar Rabbit

Park Rd/Woodlawn Ave: RuSan’s, Fran’s Filling Station, Toast Cafe , Starbucks , The Flying Biscuit Cafe, Jason’s Deli, Chick fil-A, Which Wich, Sushi 101, Qdoba, Carolina Soda Shop, Subway, Bruegger’s Bagels, Fuel Pizza, Wendy’s, McDonald’s

Selwyn Avenue: Mellow Mushroom, Yoforia, Reid’s Fine Foods,

South Park: BRIO, Del Frisco’s, Ruth’s Chris, Georges Brasserie, The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s, Cowfish Sushi and Burgers, PF Chang’s, Terrace Cafe, Dean and Deluca, Firebirds, California Pizza Kitchen, McCormick and Schmick’s, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Bojangles, Donato’s Pizza

Costwold: Jack in the Box, Chick fil-A, Bojangles, Table 274, Bruegger’s, Wolfman Pizza, The Pizza Peel and Taproom, Krispy Kreme, IHOP, Starbucks, Mama Fu’s Asian House, Salsarita’s, Dairy Queen, Eddie’s Place,

East Blvd:  Moe’s Southwest Grill, Bruegger’s Bagels, Big Daddy’s Burger Bar, Something Classic Café, Starbucks, Brixx, Cantina 1511, Caribou Coffee, Outback Steakhouse, Showmars, Lebowski’s, Dilworth Coffee , Smoothie King, Carolina Smoothie, JJ’s Red Hots, Crisp, Jersey Mike’s, Menchie’s, Berrybrook Farms, Copper, Thai Taste

NoDa: Amelie’s 24 hour French bakery, Cabo Fish Taco, Crepe Cellar, Growler’s Pourhouse , Salvador Deli,Revolution Pizza, The Dog Bar, Solstice Tavern, Boudreaux’s, Jack Beagles, Smelly Cat Coffeehouse

The EpiCentre: Vida Mexican Kitchen y cantina, Moe’s, Wild Wing Cafe, Enso, Jason’s Deli, Bruegger’s Bagels, Five Guys, Firehouse Subs, Libretto’s Pizzeria

Other sites to check out:

http://www.charlottesgotalot.com

www.charlottemagazine.com

www.charlotteobserver.com

www.charlotte.creativeloafing.com

www.charlotteonthecheap.com

~Jamie Sunnycalb~