Weekday Planner: 23 cool things to do in Charlotte this week including the Queen City Tattoo & Arts Festival
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
Taco Mama opening
Park Square Small Shops | All day | Free | Details
Why you should go: Expect creative tacos, burritos (and burrito baskets) and quesadillas with slow-roasted meats and made-from-scratch sauces and made-to-order hand-shaken margaritas from this Alabama-based taco concept.
Homemade Pop-tarts: Wander & Whisk
7th Street Public Market | 6-7:30 p.m. | $45+ | Details
Why you should go: Your ticket includes several pop-tarts; one drink ticket for wine, beer or coffee; recipes; and a 7th Street Public Market apron.
Yoga with Cats!
Mac Tabby Cat Café | 7:30-9 p.m. | $20 | Details
Why you should go: Start your week with a relaxing one-hour yoga class, followed by cuddling with kitties. Purrfection.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
NoDa Improv Comedy Extravaganza
Free Range Brewing | 7-8:30 p.m. | $5 | Details
Why you should go: Kick back with a brew for a night of laughter and entertainment.
WDAV’s Small Batch Concert Series: ‘Concierto’ Turns 10
210 Delburg St. | 5:30 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: WDAV’s ground-breaking program ‘Concierto’ is turning 10 and they are throwing a Small Batch concert to celebrate. Have a beer in a limited edition Concierto pint glass and enjoy a program filled with Latin American and Spanish classical music performed by faculty from UNC School of the Arts.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
Hornets vs. Pistons
Spectrum Center | 7 p.m. | $10-$330+ | Details
Why you should go: Cheer on the Hornets as they take on the Detroit Pistons.
BLT Steak Charlotte 10th Anniversary Signature Dinner
110 N. College St. | 7-10 p.m. | $156 | Details
Why you should go: Chef Laurent Tourondel is creating a five-course menu paired with delicious drinks. Yellowfin Tuna Crudo, Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Diver Sea Scallops, Grilled Snake River Farms Strip Steak and Crepe Souffle are on the menu.
Cheese & Chocolate Pairing
Orrman’s Cheese Shop | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | $35 | Details
Why you should go: Learn how to pair the important food groups of cheese and chocolate, accompanied by a wine tasting.
Next Plate: Fall 2019
Camp North End | 7 p.m. | $90 | Details
Why you should go: Chef Vince Giancarlo of Zeppelin and Chef Mike Noll of Bardo are teaming up to bring you a special pairing menu, and Tosco Music will take care of the tunes.
Free Wednesday Evenings
Both Mint Museum locations | 5-9 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: Don’t forget, every Wednesday you can explore the Mint Museum (Uptown and Randolph) for free. There’s also yoga Uptown 6-7 p.m. for $10 if you want to double up on fun afternoon activities.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Common Market – 4420 Monroe Road | 6-8 p.m. | $5 | Details
Why you should go: Get in the spooky spirit and compete for cash prizes by showing off your pumpkin carving skills. Pumpkins and snacks will be provided but bring your own carving tools.
N.C. State Fair
1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh | Noon to 11 p.m. | $5-$13 | Details
Why you should go: The ultimate fall bucket list item, the fair is filled with deep-fried foods, vendors, spinning rides and excellent people-watching opportunities. Times vary each day, so check out the full schedule here.
Training on Tap
Sara’s YMCA | 4:30-8 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: Expect food, drinks, live music and a great lineup of free group workouts. The social hour is 4:30-8 p.m. and the free, drop-in group workouts are available between 5:30-7 p.m.
Music at The Met
1111 Metropolitan Ave. | 6-9 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: It’s the last Music at The Met of the season, so enjoy a performance from indie band Late Night Special plus food and drink specials, games, popsicles and more.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails opening
1320 S. Church St. | All day | Free | Details
Why you should go: The new cocktail bar/restaurant is the sister concept of Craft Growler Shop & Tasting Room. The food menu will consist of New-American small plates with a focus on craft cocktails and wine. And they have a 28-seat rooftop patio.
The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE!
Knight Theater at the Levine Center for the Arts | 7:30 p.m. | $22-$38 | Details
Why you should go: Blagg’s show combines his mind-blowing magical talents along with his trademark off-the-cuff personality to take you on a magical journey. You’ll witness objects float in mid-air, vanish in the blink of an eye and so much more.
45th Annual Carolina Balloonfest
260 Hangar Drive, Statesville | All day | $0-$300 | Details
Why you should go: Go to see hot air balloons lift off both early in the morning and in the evening, and stay for live music, vendors, the Kids’ Zone, festival food and the wine and beer garden.
Science on the Rocks: Cult Classics
Discovery Place Science | 5-9 p.m. | $12+ | Details
Why you should go: Celebrate the creepiness of Halloween and your favorite cult classic movies with an evening of spooky science. Dissect what’s brimming beneath your skin with the Bride of Frankenstein, face your fears as you spin a wheel to ingest something ghastly, put in a call to the Ghostbusters while making ghost slime, dive into how Jaws’ filmmakers created such a famously scary movie and get decked out to win the costume contest.
Queen City Tattoo & Arts Festival
Charlotte Convention Center | 2 p.m. | $20 | Details
Why you should go: Expect all things tattoo and permanent makeup needs featuring artists from around the world tattooing, vendors, performances, live art and much more.
Whitewater Center Film Series
U.S. National Whitewater Center | 6:53 p.m. | Free, $6 parking | Details
Why you should go: Every Friday in October you can head to the USNWC for move night. This week they’re showing “Women’s Adventure Film Tour” which features a compilation of short films, including the premiere of Katie Walsh’s film, “Surfing to Cope” about American pro surfer Brianna Cope.
Food Truck Friday Plaza Midwood
Resident Culture Brewing | 4-9 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: As always, they’ve got live music, unique brews and food trucks, including The Dumpling Lady, Streamline Kitchen, What The Fries CLT, Food Truck: My Sausage Buddy, Libretto’s Pizzeria Charlotte, Waffle Tastries and Hip Hop Smoothies.
Food Truck Friday South End
Sycamore Brewing | 4-10 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: This weeks banging lineup includes Papi Queso Food Truck, TIN Kitchen, OooWee BBQ, Gyro Twins Truck, GOGI, Chef Ray’s Cuban Cuisine, Chilaka Tacolab and Rollicious Ribs & More. They’ll have refreshing boozy drinks like Prosecco pops and frosé — plus the usual beer and cider.
Friday Nights at Camp North End
1824 Statesville Ave. | 5-10 p.m. | Free | Details
Why you should go: Every Friday, they’ll have food, music and a few surprises for a laid-back hangout. Note: Kids and leashed pets are welcome.