What's up, party people?
Welcome to another week of Paid to Party: Humpday. I'm back from a week of chilling at the beach for my birthday.
I'm rested, refreshed and ready to party all summer.
Typically, the weekend after a three-day holiday is slow. Not this time: Partying begins tonight and doesn't stop until Monday.
But first, a few announcements.
Heaven on Earth -- headlined by Donnie McClurklin, Fred Hammond, Shekinah Glory Ministry, Martha Munizzi and Youthful Praise -- will be at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on July 7.
It's not too early to plan for July 4.
Gym Class Heroes headline Uncle Sam Jam 2007 at Dixie's Tavern on June 23. Augustana, Brooke Hogan and Charity Case also will perform.
The 2007 Ball4real Streetball Tour -- headlined by AO, Main Event, Spyda, 50, Man Amazing, and others -- will be at Bobcats Arena on July 25.
On sale Saturday. .
Pop sensations Aly AJ, Corbin Bleu and Drake Bell will play Verizon on Aug.
6. Tickets will go on sale soon.
RealEyes Bookstore's Charlotte Literary Festival moves uptown this year.
Last year, poet Nikki Giovanni headlined the weekend event, which was held in venues in NoDa. This year, the two-day event will be on Martin Luther King Boulevard and at the Blake Hotel. Catherine Coulter, Robert Wilcox, and Zane headline the event, which will be Aug.
11-12.
The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions will be at Bobcats Arena on Dec. 12.
On sale now. .
Please e-mail your July 4 events to me at , whether they're the weekend before the big day or after.
Plain-text files only.
Now, let's get this party started.
AGELESS STORIES: Choreographer Martha Connerton and her Kinetic Works dance troupe bring on a multigenerational group of non-dancers to help them tell stories of human experience.
8 p.m. Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College, Davidson.
$20. 704-338-1533; .
ABOUT TO EXPLODE: Pop Life at Prevue is quickly becoming the place to be on Wednesdays.
This week features an art party by Topher from 6-9 p.m. There also will be a listening party for Atlanta-based singer Algebra's new disc.
DJ Buddy (aka Recycled Sound) will spin.
RAW DEAL: Life turns up no winning cards for the brothers in "Topdog/Underdog," Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about two young, African American men in a contest of wills. 8 p.
m.. CAST, 1118 Clement Ave.
Mature. $20-$22. 704-455-8542; .
GET THERE EARLY: Mac's Speed Shop Restaurant, the city's ultimate yuppie biker bar, celebrates its two-year anniversary. The place will be crazy-packed, but at least there will be more parking next door. 6-10 p.
m. $10 gets your first drink and a barbecue plate with two sides or an order of quesadillas. Simplified will perform.
YOU'LL BE THERE: Center City Alive After Five is the after-work event on Thursdays. Sugar, who covers everyone from Joss Stone to Corinne Bailey Rae to the Violent Femmes, performs this week. 5 p.
m. Wachovia Atrium. Free.
UPTOWN NETWORKING: Digital Divas moves their after-work networking party to Blue. 5:30-10 p.m.
Free.
HAPPY B'DAY: Reggae Central celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a performance by reggae veteran Capleton. Jah Thunder and Moses I will open.
9 p.m. Tremont Music Hall.
$22-$25.
NACHOS POPCORN: Fans of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" will be happy to know "Knocked Up" is just as funny and a shade deeper in depicting the romantic awakening of a man-boy. Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl star.
Kevin Costner changes his image as a cheerful guy whose alter ego (William Hurt) turns him into a serial killer in "Mr. Brooks." And a high school girl (Carly Schroeder) in the days before Title IX wants her chance in the soccer-playing spotlight in "Gracie.
"
A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY: Shakespeare on the Green, last year's fun venture by Collaborative Arts, returns with "As You Like It" -- or, as the artists behind this freewheeling Shakespearean hoedown are calling it, "As Y'all Like It." Various dates and times through June 17. 7:30 p.
m. On The Green, uptown between South Tryon and College streets. Donations accepted.
704-625-1288; .
FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS: Grab your friends and head to Lowes Foods' Taste of Charlotte, a festival featuring food from more than 30 restaurants children's activities, music, beer tastings and more. 11 a.
m.-11 p.m.
Tryon Street from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Sixth Street. Also, 5-11 p.m.
June 1 and noon-6 p.m. June 3.
.
NABE THEATRE ON THE ROAD: The Neighborhood Theatre is heading to Deerfields Mills River for the Asheville Music Jamboree. Features Michael Franti Spearhead, Keller Williams WMDs, the Avett Brothers, Donna the Buffalo and more.
Today through Sunday. $110 for a three-day pass. .
DANCE PARTY: DJ Rob Mirage headlines Dance For Life. 10 p.m.
Velocity. $10-$15.
MOVIN' ON UP: The monthly First Fridays party -- typically held at Southend Brewery -- goes big-time.
This month, it's the 2nd Anniversary All White Affair, and it will be in the 333 Lounge at Bobcats Arena. DJ MC and Chase will spin. Non-smoking event.
.
LOCAL FAVES: The Sammies and the Stone Figs will perform. DJ Honeyknuckle will spin.
9 p.m. Snug Harbor.
$5.
LET IT GO: Chevelle's aggressive but sensitive sound has yielded radio-friendly hits such as "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)." The hard-rock band's latest single is "Well Enough Alone.
" Finger Eleven will open. 9 p.m.
Amos' Southend. $25.
STEP TO IT: The 2007 Greek StepFest step show is at the Grady Cole Center.
5 p.m. $15-$20.
704-287-7653. The after-party featuring Lyfe Jennings will be at Amos' Southend. 9 p.
m. $25 and up. .
GET SPIRITUAL: Join fans of Christian music for a day full of music and fun at SonFest 2007 at Carowinds. Contemporary Christian artists scheduled to perform include: Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay, Kutless and more. 3 p.
m. Paladium Amphitheatre. $19.
95-$41.95 includes admission to the park. 704-522-6500; ; .
GLAM ROCKERS: You can't describe Snagglepluss' music, but you can describe how they make you feel. They throw down good, campy fun. 9 p.
m. Snug Harbor. $5.
SLURP IT UP: Cowboy Mouth headlines OysterFest 2007. Joystick and Sunny Ledfurd also will perform. 6 p.
m. Dixie's Tavern. $15.
PIMPED-OUT RIDES: The Dub Custom Auto Show Concert Tour showcases pimped-out luxury rides and new-car and product debuts; performances by rappers Lloyd, Lil Scrappy and Young Buck; and special exhibits such as Major League Baseball's Access to the Show, a high-tech trailer with batting cages and video games. Noon-6 p.m.
Charlotte Convention Center. $20-$25. ; .
SWEET SIP: The experimental arts group Ecclectic Intelligence presents "Hot Chocolate," a showcase by artist Eric Hayes. 5 p.m.
Dolce Vita. 704-208-7646.
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