Weekday Planner: 18 things to do after work this week including $10 Hamilton tickets, Zipline & Dine at USNWC and Hornets vs. Bulls preseason

Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls

Spectrum Center | 7 p.m. | $10-$156 | Details

Why you should go: See how the Hornets are shaping up for the upcoming season when they take on the Bulls.

Forced From Home Interactive Exhibit: Charlotte

NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza | All day | Free | Details

Why you should go: This one-hour interactive tour is aimed to teach you more about the international refugee crisis. Tour guides will take you through a 10,000 square foot room where you’ll encounter the types of scenario that force someone to flee. There will be virtual reality simulations, materials gathering from refugee camps and more.

Tuesday, October 9

Evening for Educators

Discovery Place Education Studio | 6-8 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers will be sharing newly designed curriculum they created over the summer for their students in serval subjects and across all grade levels.

Talk About It Tuesday

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Listen to Ashley Clark of UNC-Charlotte’s Urban Institute share her research on affordable housing in Charlotte and what it means for the area’s most vulnerable populations. This event is part of the “Welcome to Brookhill” exhibition which focuses on the history of redlining and black neighborhoods in Charlotte. 

High West Whiskey Dinner

Essex Bar & Bistro | 7-10 p.m. | $75+ | Details

Why you should go: You’ll be getting a five-course meal, including an infused dessert, and four different tasking of High West whiskey.

Wednesday, October 10

Pitch Breakfast

The Garage at Packard Place | 8-9:30 a.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: If you’re a startup with a solid plan, you can sign up to share you 2-minute elevator speech with IDEA Fund Partners — a North Carolina-based early stage venture investor. If you’re not quite there yet, go for the breakfast and listen to feedback given by the panelists.

Wine & Cheese Class

7th Street Public Market | 6-7:30 p.m. | $25 | Details

Why you should go: Love wine and cheese but don’t know much about either? Pros from Orman’s Cheese Shop will lead you through a wine and cheese tasting.  Bonus: You can get a 10 percent discount on any cheese you buy to take home.

Charlotte Family Housing Friendraiser

Heist Brewery | 6-7:30 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Affordable housing is a hot topic around Charlotte. Learn more about what Charlotte Family Housing is doing to empower local families and what resources they have available.

Hamilton

Belk Theater | 7:30-10:00 p.m. | $10+ | Details

Why you should go: You can see the show for $10, if you’re lucky. Two days before the show, you can enter a lottery through the Hamilton app, and 40 people will win the chance to purchase one or two $10 tickets.

Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl 20th Anniversary Tour

The Fillmore | 8 p.m. | $75+ | Details

Why you should go: Why don’t you slide some room in your schedule to belt all the words to the best Goo Goo Dolls songs.

Thursday, October 11

Chris Stapleton

PNC Music Pavilion | 7 p.m. | $89+ | Details

Why you should go: Kick off the weekend a little early with some live, outdoor music.

Sunset at Metropolitan featuring Liquid Pleasure

The Metropolitan | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: There’s nothing like a Liquid Pleasure performance, so listen to some classic beach music and shag dance (or don’t).

Friday, October 12

5th Annual Premature Oktoberfest

8.2.0 Pizzeria & Bar | 7-11 p.m. | $75+ | Details

Why you should go: Help raise money for Pierce’s Project, a local nonprofit that gives back to nearby NICU units, while listening to music, sippin’ on beer and chowing down on some good food.

TEDxCharlotte 2018

Dale F. Halton Theater | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $35-$50 | Details

Why you should go: Thirteen locals are signed up to share expertise on anything from prioritizing and decision making to learning how to make a difference to fierce optimism — topics really run the gamut.

Black Food Truck Friday

Recess CLT | 6 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Support Black Business Owners of Charlotte and other African-American entrepreneurs by stopping by one of the many food or craft vendors. You can expect to see anything from seafood to soul food.

The Charlotte Fall Fair

Charlotte fairgrounds, Concord | 4-11 p.m. | $5+ | Details

Why you should go: There will be all the traditional fair rides and foods (hello, fried Oreos) and other fall-themed fun.

Zipline and Dine

U.S. National Whitewater Center  | 6-9 p.m. | $75 | Details

Why you should go: This event is an adrenaline junky’s dream. Start out with zip line ride and ropes course challenge, and end the night with a chef-prepared meal.