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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Sept. 18

The Southern Women’s Show
The Park
The Southern Women’s Show at The Park provides all your shopping, fashion and cooking needs, in addition to countless tips on living right and dressing well, and freebies. In addition, a variety of celebrities will make appearances during the event (Kate Gosselin visited on Thursday!).

• Dance North Carolina Dance Theatre presents Ballet, Ballroom & Bluegrass tonight at Belk Theater. In addition to all the foot action, a live bluegrass band will also be performing. more…

• Theater Tonight, Machine Theatre presents a showing of act one of it’s latest play-in-progress, titled ThomThom(if that bird won’t sing) at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. Post show talkbacks, which give folks in the crowd a chance to voice their own opinions about the show, will follow the performance. more…

Saturday, Sept. 19

Sunset Jazz Festival
Symphony Park
This year’s annual Sunset Jazz Festival at Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall will feature jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows as headliner. In addition, the festival lineup also includes performances by Matt Marshak, Bryan Anderson, 5th and York, Innertwyned, Uniqueblend and the Queen’s Collective.

• Art Two new exhibitions, titled Romare Bearden: The Mystical Caribbean and Susanna Coffey: Plantings and Cuttings open today at Jerald Melberg Gallery. more…

• Theater Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte’s latest production of Big Boys is a comedy by Rich Orloff that follows a character named Norm’s ruthless quest to move up the corporate ladder. more…

Sunday, Sept. 20

Passage to India
9510 University City Blvd.
If you’re looking for savory Indian cuisine, Passage to India: The Great Indian Cuisine has it all. For starters, try the large and flavorful vegetable samosas.

• Music The electronic industrial act Slick Idiot – comprised of two very important German industrial music pioneers: En Esch and Gunter Schulz, both former members of KMFDM – will perform at Charlotte’s Underground tonight. more…

• Special Event Today is Hispanic Heritage Day at US National Whitewater Center. Join the fiesta with food, entertainment and activities that celebrate Hispanic culture. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, Sept. 11

Yiasou Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Prepare to go Greek, as the 32nd Yiasou Greek Festival goes down this weekend at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The festival offers Greek cultural exhibits, tours of the cathedral, entertainment and last but not least, food (including yummy baklava!).

• Festival Blues, Brews and BBQ, a two-day event with music, beer and, of course, barbeque, kicks off today. Are you squealing yet? more…

• Special Event Fashion alert! During Charlotte North Carolina Fashion Week at the Mint Museum of Art, you can enlighten yourself with stylish attire by emerging designers, boutiques, models and fashion students. more…

Saturday, Sept. 12

Master Class
Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
Carolina Actors Studio Theatre is stretching to hit the high notes in performances of Terrence McNally’s Master Class. The play highlights the life and lessons of opera legend Maria Callas.

• Art The 5th Annual Potters Market Invitational at Mint Museum of Art will show off a hoard of skillful handmade pottery and sculptures by potters across North Carolina. more…

• Comedy Phil Hogan knows how to sings songs that make folks laugh. The comedian blends music into his stand-up act. He’ll perform at Alive tonight. more…

Sunday, Sept. 13

The Derek Trucks Band
Belk Theater
Get your groove on with roots rock, topped with a touch of blues and soul, when The Derek Trucks Band performs at Belk Theater.

• Theater Seussical, a musical happening now at Theatre Charlotte, captures the classic tales of Dr. Seuss and characters like Horton the Elephant and all of the Whos of Whoville. Music in the show ranges in styles from Latin to pop, swing to gospel and R&B to funk. more…

• Special Event Car fanatics unite for the Food Lion Auto Fair. Whether you’re into vintage cars and trucks or mechanical upgrades, this event has it all. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Contemporary Mosaic Art
Ciel Gallery
Ciel Gallery’s newest exhibition Contemporary Mosaic Art opens tonight. It’s juried by mosaic master Giulio Menossi of Udine, Italy.

• Food Can’t wait for the Yiasou Greek Festival next weekend? Go to The Mad Greek Restaurant for some savory Greek cuisine, including spanakopitas and gyros. more…

• Music The instrumental ensemble Sea of Cortez will perform a free show tonight with Chapel Hill act Lost In The Trees at Neighborhood Theatre. more…

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

The Charlotte Literary Festival
Corner of 36th Street and Davidson Street
The Charlotte Literary Festival offers a variety of workshops, panels, and guest speakers. Christopher Gardner, author of The Pursuit of Happyness, will speak this year.

• Comedy Robot Johnson is taking its act on the road. Catch the sketch comedy troupe perform a special show at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre tonight. more…

• Festival Festival of India at Belk Theater features arts and crafts, music and dancing, cultural exhibits and authentic cuisine. It’s the perfect way to spice up your weekend. more…

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Who Got Served?
The Breakfast Club
If you are one of the lucky ones, you don’t have work or school tomorrow. That’s where Who Got Served?, a party and break dancing competition at The Breakfast Club comes in. Expect to see some serious dance moves, as cash prizes are in the mix.

• Food Lee Garden Chinese Cuisine presents tasty Americanized Chinese dishes, served in large portions. Prices are good too. more…

• Theater Today is your last chance to catch a performance of the hilarious murder mystery, Shear Madness. Make your way to Stage Door Theater to decide who-dun-it. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Kung Fu Panda
Symphony Park
Tonight you can check out a film screening of Kung Fu Panda on the lawn of Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall. And best of all, it’s free.

• Comedy Comedians Colby Davis and James Lee Walker II make up mitOsis live, a show aimed at laughter, happening at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. more…

• Music The L.A. based group, known as AM is in town to bring its musical mix of sounds, from pop to soul, to the stage of The Evening Muse. more…

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Cedric The Entertainer
Ovens Auditorium
It’s show time at Ovens Auditorium and Cedric The Entertainer is in the house. Be prepared to be heavily entertained.

• Food Service is personable and food is made with loving care at Passion 8 Bistro. more…

• Comedy If an evening of sketch comedy is what you want, look no further. Summer Sketch at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte is ready for some funny business with subjects ranging from Broadway to wrestling, fairytales to philosophy, and court TV to technology. more…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

Crüe Fest
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Crüe Fest, featuring bands like Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, Charm City Devils and of course, Mötley Crüe is set to rock Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre today. Now, ain’t that a prescription to kick-start your heart?

• Sports Charlotte Roller Girls’ intra-league bout between the Fraid Knots and the Cockpit Candies happens tonight at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Wheel there be action? Of course, it’s roller derby. more…

• Theater The Color Purple, a moving musical presented by Oprah Winfrey, continues with its final performance at Belk Theater. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

Saved By The Beat
Suite at the EpiCentre
Remember Screech from Saved By The Bell? Well, it was Dustin Diamond who played the geeky character. And he’ll be in town tonight for Saved By The Beat, a ’90s flashback party at Suite.

• Music Counting Crows’ fifth studio album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings features rock and country-styled songs. You can catch them perform both the newbie songs and older hits from their music catalog at Uptown Amphitheatre. more…

• Music Local hip hop act Eyes of the Elders will have its CD release party at Neighborhood Theatre tonight. And even better, the show is free. more…

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

Battle Slam Jam
Grayson SkatePark
Go to Grayson SkatePark this weekend for Battle Slam Jam, an outdoor showcase of urban artists, athletes and performers. From skateboarding contests to graffiti writing, DJs to live music, there’s plenty to do at this annual event.

• Festival Want to know more about those marvelous little creatures known as hummingbirds? The Hummingbird Festival at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve will enlighten you. more…

• Comedy Take in some laughs tonight, as comedian Jared Stern performs at Alive. more…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Vietnam Grille
5615 South Blvd.
Try a variety of delicacies, including the grape leaf appetizer and the broken rice house special, at Vietnam Grille: Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine.

• Theater Become a detective in a murder investigation during performances of Shear Madness at Stage Door Theater. more…

• Music Tremont Music Hall is poppin’ tonight with music from electro-funk rockers Cobra Starship. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, AUG. 14

Charlotte Irish Summer FestivalUptown at 3rd Street and Tryon Street

It doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day to give cause for the Irish to celebrate. In fact, summer is reason enough! Lads and lassies make your way Uptown to the Charlotte Irish Summer Festival, which kicks off today and continues on Saturday.

• Comedy Comedian Doug Stanhope, former host of Comedy Central’s The Man Show is in town tonight at Tremont Music Hall. Along with him is Sean Keenan, co-founder and producer of Charlotte’s own sketch comedy troupe Robot Johnson. Come out for some laughs. more…

• Special Event Head over to Queen City Ballroom for an evening of hot salsa dancing lessons, followed by a tapas and wine party. more…

SATURDAY, AUG. 15

Nuthing Summer Collaborative
McGlohon Theatre
If it’s entertainment you want Nuthing Summer Collaborative has it all. With art, music, comedy, spoken word and more, the fest, which continues through Sunday and is held at NC Music Factory, is worth booking it to.

• Festival In honor of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary, Michael Lang (original creator of Woodstock), is putting on a series of Woodstock tributes nationwide. The tour stops in at Charlotte’s Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall today. more…

• Music Delivering her own pop melodies, solo artist Aslyn’s performance at The Evening Muse is well-worth checking out. more…

SUNDAY, AUG. 16

Kavkaz Family Restaurant
1542 Stallings Road, Stallings
If it’s Eastern European food you want, you’ll find it at Kavkaz Family Restaurant.

• Special Event Kick back and relax at Concert on the Green in Davidson. The band Stardusters will be performing this evening. And don’t forget to pack a picnic (theme is elegant and classy). more…
• Theater Collaborative Art Theatre’s performances of Julius Caesar make for a thrill of off the deep end politics. Check out the final performance at McGlohon Theatre today. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

Coldplay
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
The British alt-rock act Coldplay will grace Charlotte with its melodic rock creations on Aug. 7 when they perform at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. The band’s most recent album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, released in 2008 has already earned the reputable group a pile of Grammy nominations and wins, all of course in addition to the lame-o music theft allegations.

• Art Tonight, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., is the opening reception for Mark Doepker’s solo exhibition, In the Meantime at The Art House. The exhibition features drawings, paintings and wall sculptures. more…

• Theater Queen City Theatre Company’s newest production, Altar Boyz, looks to be a holy helluva good time. Be prepared to gaze upon a boy band that dishes out songs about Christianity instead of booty. more…

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

Julius Caesar
McGlohon Theatre
Collaborative Arts presents free performances of Mista William Shakespeare’s political thriller Julius Caesar at McGlohon Theatre.

• Music Carolina natives, The Avett Brothers will bring their rootsy, bluegrass rockin’ vibes back to the Q.C. for a performance at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Come out and support your local music. more…

• Art Stop by Elder Gallery and check out its newest exhibit, Young–Fresh-New. It features paintings by a variety of artists from across the nation. more…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

Woodcut Prints by Dan Allegrucci
Lark & Key Gallery and Boutique
Lark & Key Gallery and Boutique’s exhibit Woodcut Prints by Dan Allegrucci with featured potter Ronan Peterson is cool to gaze upon. Go see it today.

• Sports Charlotte Roller Girls intra-league championship at Grady Cole Center continues today with a bout between The Fraid Knots and the Block’em Sock’em Rollers. more…

• Theater Delve deeper into the South by catching a performance of Grits: The Musical Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, JULY 31

Mamma Mia
Belk Theater
You gotta love mother-daughter relationships, especially in Mamma Mia. Check out a performance of the catchy musical at Belk Theater, before it’s too late.

• Dance North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance presents some serious foot action with its Summer Repertory Performance at Booth Playhouse. The show features dance numbers by students who were enrolled in the schools summer program. more…

• Theater You can decide who-dun-it and chow down on at 3-course dinner at a special performance of the murder mystery Death Under Cover at Grand Central Events. more…

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

American Idols Live
Time Warner Cable Arena
American Idol addicts unite for a night of pure excitement as the American Idols Live tour stops in Charlotte. All of season eight’s finalists will perform at Time Warner Cable Arena.

• Festival Bon Odori Festival at Wachovia Atrium celebrates Japanese culture with an array of entertainment like Japanese dance and drum performances, as well as martial arts (like “Aikido”) demonstrations. There’s also food, crafts and more, including a raffle with a trip to Japan up for grabs. more…

• Comedy Let Charlotte Comedy Theater make you laugh. If you’ve never been to one of the groups improv shows, you’ve been missing out. Saturday night shows at The Nook include off the wall stand-up comedy and a special show titled Culture Shock. more…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

Grits: The Musical
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
You can expect some good ol’ Southern charm in performances of Grits: The Musical at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. The show is based off the book Friends are Forevah!, a series of stories about women and their Southern culture, by author Deborah Ford.

• Food Stop into Cakes n Flakes for yummy Indian puffs stuffed with chicken, paneer tikka or vegetables. And don’t forget to try the delicious fruitcake pound cake. more…

• Music The L.A.-based duo The Crystal Method will perform its electronic creations at Amos’ Southend tonight. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, JULY

Laura Izibor
Utopia SoundStage
The rising Irish-born singer Laura Izibor returns to Charlotte for an intimate show of catchy, keyboard-driven tunes at Utopia Lounge.

• Food Carlos Café has your Cuban comfort food fix. Try the lechon asado. more…

• Theater Love, marriage, and hostility, it’s all in Davidson Community Players’ performances of Barefoot in the Park at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall. more…

SATURDAY, JULY 25

Pride Charlotte 2009
Gateway Village
Charlotte goes gay today, as Pride Charlotte 2009 – a huge fest celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities – brings its merriment and entertainment galore to Gateway Village.
• Festival Charlotte Caribbean Festival at Independence Park gives folks the opportunity to check out a parade, performances by a variety of entertainers, vendors and of course, flavorful Caribbean food. more…

• Theater Don’t miss a performance of Shakespeare Carolina’s daring Antony & Cleopatra at Theatre Charlotte. more…

SUNDAY, JULY 26

Kid Rock/Lynyrd Skynyrd
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
“My name is…” Kid Rock is set to perform with none other than Lynyrd Skynyrd at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
• Dance Belly dancing might look easy, but if you’ve ever tried it you know it’s not. See it done by the pros at Belly Oasis Mid-East Dance Concert at CPCC’s Pease Auditorium. more…

• Theater Murder mystery is in the air and you can decide who-dun-it at performances of Shear Madness at Stage Door Theater. more…

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Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

FRIDAY, JULY 17

The Afromotive
Neighborhood Theatre
The Afromotive will deliver funk-driven, moving rhythms to Neighborhood Theatre tonight. And to top if off, the show is free.

• Nightlife La Petite Mort Burlesque puts a special spin on strip-tease and booty shakin.’ See the troupe strut their stuff at Halo (formerly Garden and Gun Club). more…

• Nightlife Hazmat is an event bent on providing harsh industrial sounds to bring havoc to the dance floor. Put on your safety mask and go to The Players Club & Lounge in Pineville. more…

SATURDAY, JULY 18

Dick Gregory
McGlohon Theatre
Dick Gregory might be quick to identify injustices and demand social change, but he can also make folks laugh. Check him out when he performs at McGlohon Theatre tonight.

• Art Mint Museum of Arts’ Passionate Journey: The Grice Collection of Native American Art opens today. The cultural exhibition features modern and contemporary Native American pottery, basketry, performance masks and more. more…