Gear up for another fun-filled weekend in the Queen City starting with our Scoop meet-up on Thursday. Then, plan ahead with our day-by-day guide to what to do this weekend in Charlotte:
ALL WEEKEND
UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Valentine’s Day Orchid Sale
February 10-14 | UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Gift your Galentine, your sweetie or yourself with an orchid during the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Annual Valentine’s Day Orchid Sale. Open Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sunday 1 – 4 p.m. and Monday-Tuesday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
THURSDAY
Scoop Girls Sweets for the Sweets Meet Up at Reids
Reid’s SouthPark | 6-7:30 p.m.
Grab your girls for the first Scoop meet-up of 2018. We’ll be doing a wine and sweets tasting featuring Reid’s favorites for Valentines and Galentines. Stick around for dinner and cocktails (they’re half-price!) at Reid’s. Get your free ticket here.
The Valentine’s Day Alternative Wine Experience
Bonterra Dining & Wine Room | 6:30 p.m.
Raise your glass to a great cause at one of Charlotte’s favorite fine dining destination. The Valentine’s Day “Alternative” Wine Experience includes tastings of wine from around the world and heavy hors d’ oeuvres. Proceeds benefit A Child’s Place. $150 per person. Purchase your ticket here.
Valentine’s Trivia
NoDa Brewing Company | 6 p.m.
Show your sweetie just how smart you really are at NoDa’s Valentine’s Day Trivia. Create a team and enjoy some friendly competition, food from TIN Kitchen and fresh beer while you compete for the grand prize: Charlotte Hornets tickets.
4th Annual Free Chocolate Day from Chef Alyssa
Atherton Mill | 4-6 p.m.
Start your weekend on a sweet note with free chocolate and coffee from Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen. Enjoy the extra hand-dipped caramels, ganache, chocolate-covered almonds and more from their afternoon workshop.
FRIDAY
Valentine’s Sip & Shop
7th Street Public Market | 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Check off of your V-day shopping list at 7th Street Public Market’s Sip & Shop. Enjoy complimentary sparkling wine for the first 100 guests, live music, chocolate tasting and locally-crafted gifts.
River’s Edge Craft Dinner
U.S. National Whitewater Center | 6:30 – 9 p.m.
This edition of the USNWC’s River’s Edge Craft Dinner series features a five-course dinner created by Executive Chef Michael Rayfield with beer pairings from Wooden Robot Brewing Co. $60 per person.
Winter Olympics Opening Games
Draught Charlotte | 5 p.m.
You don’t have to be competing in the games to be a winner. At Draught, participants will be assigned a country to cheer on and as your country’s medal count grows, so does your chance to win. No matter the outcomes, all can enjoy drink specials: $1 shots $2 beers and $3 mixed drinks.
Cheese & Cider Pairing
Red Clay Ciderworks | 7 p.m.
Move over wine, cider and cheese is the new power couple. Try it for yourself when Red Clay Ciderworks and Orrman’s Cheese Shop. Cider maker Jay Bradish and cheese expert Rachel Klebaur will walk you through four pairings. $19 when you purchase online.
SATURDAY
2nd Annual Bless Back Chili Cookoff
Sycamore Brewing | 12:30 -3 p.m.
At this year’s Bless Back Chili Cookoff, taste to your heart’s content and cast your vote for “Tongue Burner”, “Most Creative” and more. You can also expect to enjoy raffle prizes, vendor booths and craft beer in support of Bless Backs’ mission to serve those in need. $10 tasting tickets, $30 to enter your chili recipe. Register here.
Frigid 5k Run and Plunge
U.S. National Whitewater Center | 9 a.m.
Will you be able to brave the cold? At this USNWC race, warm up with a 5K through the trail system, then leap into the chilly waters for a much-needed cool down. $30 before Feb. 8, $37 on race day.
Mardi Crawl 2018
Flight Beer Garden & Music Hall | Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Beads? Check. Masks? Check. Free cover and drink specials at six of Uptown’s best bars? Check! Plan to join the Mardi Gras celebration at this festive bar crawl. $10+ per person. View the schedule and participating bars here.
The Valentine’s Invitational
The Ballroom at Quail Hollow | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Watch some of Charlotte’s best professional and amateur Ballroom dancers perform in front of world renowned judges at The Valentine’s Invitational. Free to attend.
60th Annual Greater Charlotte Heart Ball
Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame | 6 p.m.
At the 60th Annual Greater Charlotte Heart Ball, guests will receive the royal treatment, from gourmet dining, live and silent auctions, entertainment and more. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Charlotte Symphony On Tap
The Barrel Room at Triple C | 7:30 p.m.
The Symphony heads to South End for the next edition of On Tap, where they’ll perform selections from Holst to Hendrix. $15 per person.
“A Taste of New Orleans” Mardi Gras Celebration
Wu’s Cajun Sea Food | 6:30-9 p.m.
Celebrate the culinary flavors of Mardi Gras as the Wu’s team presents their own spin on classic and Cajun and Creole dishes. The evening includes a six-course dinner and cocktail pairing crafted by Chef Troy Gagliardo and Director of Beverage Creativity, Andrew Izrael.
LYP Brunch Cocktail Class and Pairings
Nest restaurant and lounge | Noon – 2 p.m.
Instead of waiting in line at the bar, get behind the bar yourself with the help of this brunch-themed cocktail class. You’ll learn to make three cocktails (a Morning Margarita, Moscow Mule with a fresh twist and a Coffee Julep) over two hours of education and a Q & A session with the instructor. The class also includes brunch bites by Chef Jamarr, music and more. Tickets are $65 per person.
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout Release
Triple C Brewing Company | Noon – 10 p.m.
Just in time for Valentine’s, Triple C will release their Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout. This time, you’ll also be able to try a cinnamon and cayenne pepper variant, as well as a coconut variant.
SUNDAY
Heartbreakers Brunch
Draught Charlotte | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nothing heals quite like the perfect breakup song. Pair them with Draught’s brunch menu and you’ve got what you need to kick off this week of love. Enjoy drink specials, signature mimosas, a Bloody Mary Bar and beats by DJ Zio.
Valentine’s Day Treat Make Event
Red Clay Ciderworks | 4-6 p.m.
Decorate your own sweet treats for your sweetheart in a workshop led by A Smart Cookie. Put your artistic touch on cookies and cupcakes and wrap them up to take home. Tickets include a pour of cider to get the creative juices flowing.
Wines of Romance Dinner – Spain & Argentina
The Turnhouse Grille | 6-8 p.m.
End the weekend with a five-course meal and wine pairings. Call 704.503.9372 to reserve your spot.
Galentine’s Day – Shop, Drop + Flow
Sugar Creek Brewing | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The second annual Galentine’s Day event at Sugar Creek features Girl Tribe vendors, a dance/yoga mash-up class and creative workshops. Proceeds benefit the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.
Chamber Singers: American Voices
Park Road Church | 4-5 p.m.
The Chamber Singers will perform selections from The Lark, Coplan’s The Promise of Living and other American choral works in honor of the 100th celebration of American composer Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $15.
WDAV’s 40th Anniversary Reception
Steinway Piano Gallery-Charlotte | 3-4:30 p.m.
WDAV will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special concert perfect for you and your Valentine. Pianist Gregory Knight will perform, followed by a reception featuring WDAV on-air hosts. Reception tickets are $50, with all proceeds benefitting the station.
Queen City Makers at Legion Brewing
Legion Brewing | 3-7 p.m.
Celebrate Valentine’s and Mardi Gras by shopping local goods. Browse offerings from The Concord Exchange, Jewelry by SusanJ, Lush Life QC and more.
Riedel Wine Seminar
The Pump House | 4:30-6 p.m.
What difference can a glass make? Find out while tasting five wines and taking home four glasses as a souvenir. $50+ per person. Call for reservations: 803.329.8888
