Last Friday night I had dinner with friends at Ikea. The smoke salmon was incredible, and the scrupulous desserts melted in my mouth. From there I headed over to the VanLandingham Estate (what a gorgeous piece of property) to a mix-and-mingle hosted by my gal, Jazz Diva Tammy. Lovely place to wind down for good conversation over a glass of wine.

I was on cloud nine Saturday as I attended the reopening of the Beatties Ford Road library branch. The best selection of African American authors in the city.

I also found time later that evening to have dinner with the Elite Dining Divas of Charlotte at Blueprint. Shout out to Elisa and Kia; I'm looking forward to next month.

If you can, get down to the Duke Energy Theatre (Spirit Square) to see the fabulous play "Fabulation," which runs through the weekend. As the saying goes, we can pick our noses, but we can't pick our family. Prepare yourself for an evening of laughter. Look out for director Stacey Rose; she's on fire!

If you haven't made plans, check out my weekend picks:

FRIDAY
Jean Moutoussamy-Ashe ~ Spend an evening at the Harvey B. Gantt Center viewing the creative life of Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe through the lens of her camera. This exhibition, exclusive to the Gantt Center, offers images from Africa, Asia and North America. Some date back to the 1980s; others are as recent as March 2011.
Address: 551 South Tryon St.
Cost: Free (RSVP required)
Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For more information, visit CharlotteCultureGuide.com.

SATURDAY
2nd Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest ~ Join George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Gerald Albright and The Jeff Lorber Fusion for a “Night Under the Stars.”
Place: Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre (1000 Seaboard St.)
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open 1 hour before show time.)
Cost: $33 - $58
For more information, visit CharlotteCultureGuide.com.

SUNDAY
Dave’s Paddle Boats at University Place ~ Wind down your weekend with a relaxing paddle boat ride around University Lake.
Location: W.T. Harris Boulevard and J.W. Keynes Drive (Lake located behind the Hilton University Hotel)
Cost: $10 for 30-minute ride.
Hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
For more information: Call 704 598-0281 or go online at http://racecitymarketing.com/davespaddleboats.

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