Weekday Planner: 14 cool things to do this week including indoor putt-putt at Stroke

MOD Pizza Strawberry Hill Grand Opening

914 Old Sardis Road | All day | Free | Details

Why you should go: The first 52 people get a free pizza or salad, and you can enter to win free pizza for a year.

Whitewater Center Ice Skating

U.S. National Whitewater Center | All day | $20 single activity pass, $6 parking | Agenda Preview

Why you should go: This new ice skating rink includes 17,000 square feet of ice on the Upper Pond of the whitewater river, and it has three areas (free skate, winter sports and a 600-foot ice trail). The skating area also has a skate-up bar where you can buy craft beer, hot chocolate, and coffee.

Whitewater Center Lights

U.S. National Whitewater Center | All day | Free, $6 parking | Agenda Preview

Why you should go: The half-mile walking trail of lights isn’t your average light show. It was created by local artist Meredith Connelly and features interactive, illuminated sculptures.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

Charlotte Checkers 1950s Night

Bojangles’ Coliseum | 7 p.m. | $1+ | Details

Why you should go: It’s throwback night, which means tickets start at $1, and $1 hot dogs, 50 cent popcorn, and 50 cent soft drinks available. Don’t forget, Thursday is $1 beer night, too.

Yoga at the Dairy Barn

Anne Springs Greenway | 6:15-7:15 p.m. | $5 class, $5 to enter the greenway | Details

Why you should go: Hello, I’ve picked the perfect friend date for you. Start out with a walk along the greenway, then head to the barn for an hour-long yoga class. Friendship plus fresh air plus yoga equals bliss.

Boozy Cupcake Decorating

Blue Blaze Brewing | 6:30-8 p.m. | $40 | Details

Why you should go: Perfect friend date No. 2, if alcohol and snacking are more your speed. Learn to make — and taste test — the perfect boozy cupcake. Yum.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

Osteria LuCa opening

Park Road Shopping Center, next to Chopt | All day | Free to attend | Details

Why you should go: I know, Charlotte is getting a lot of Italian restaurants. But LuCa is bringing everything you love about TRUE Crafted Pizza plus more creative pasta, hot and cold antipasti, wood-fired entrees, and salads. 

Live at the Mint: Charlotte Ballet Performance

Mint Museum Uptown | 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Prefer the finer things in life? Nothing says sophistication like seeing a ballet performance at an art museum (with a cocktail in hand).

Final Draught: Janis Joplin, Her Life and Music with Holly George-Warren

Town Brewing Company | 6 p.m. | $35 – includes signed book | Details

Why you should go: Hear from New York Times best-selling author and two-time Grammy nominee Holly George-Warren about her new biography of Janis Joplin. Tickets include a signed copy of the book and light bites; additional food and beer will be available for purchase

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

Stroke soft opening

1318 Pecan Avenue, Suite 101 | 4 p.m. | Free to attend| Details

Why you should go: If you give a Charlottean a cocktail, they’re going to want an activity. Thankfully this place delivers with a 9-hole indoor putt-putt course. Stroke owner Ashleigh Gadd says you get the “country club environment without the country club price.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week

Citywide | Times vary | $30-$35 | Details

Why you should go: One of the best weeks of the year is finally here. More than 130 of the city’s top-notch restaurants are offering three-course meals for $30-$35 a person. If you haven’t treated yourself to a meal through Charlotte Restaurant Week yet, 2020 is your year.

Grace Potter

The Fillmore | 8 p.m. | $36 | Details

Why you should go: She worked with Kenny Chesney on “You and Tequila” in 2011 and “Wild Child” in 2015 but this rock singer has a pretty big following of her own. More than 3,000 people are interested in this concert on Facebook.

Citizen Cope

Neighborhood Theater | 8 p.m. | $40.50 | Details

Why you should go: “Let The Drummer Kick” anyone? Don’t miss this artist perform live.

Science on the Rocks: Wizarding World

Discovery Place Science – 301 N. Tryon St. | 5-9 p.m. | $12-$17 | Details

Why you should go: Calling all Potter heads. Make all of your Hogwarts dreams come true with wand making at Ollivander’s, a potion-making class, house sorting, and other Harry Potter-themed activities.

Looking for more things to do? Here’s the full Axios Charlotte calendar with more than 50 cool, upcoming events in Charlotte.