Beer and more

Blue hosts a Mother Earth Brewing beer and food pairing May 19, with five dishes and five beers, in a tasting set-up. Among the fare: poached rock shrimp with Weeping Willow Wit; and herb-roasted ostrich with corn souffle and Dark Cloud. $34.95; Hearst Tower uptown (corner of College and 5th streets); 704-927-2583.

Widmer Brewery's Chris Squier hosts a beer and cheese tasting at Whiskey Warehouse May 19, with some proceeds going to buy gifts for kids in Levine Children's Hospital. Three beers and cheese pairings are included. Tickets are $14 and a donated toy ($20 without) when purchased at www.bandtastic.com/cheese; $20 and $25 at the door. 1221 The Plaza; 704-334-7005.

Dine out, do good

Buy a piece of Triple Chocolate Miracle Cake at Texas Land & Cattle Steak House and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Levine's Children's Hospital of Charlotte. The chain, along with Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, hopes to raise more than $100,000 for the nearly 60 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals involved in the campaign.
7779 Lyles Lane in Concord; 704-510-0021.

Wine and burgers

May 12, the Wine Vault orchestrates a dinner with Morton's and Catena and Cousino-Macul wines. The unusual entree in this four-course lineup? One-pound burgers made of USDA Prime filet, ribeye and New York strip, topped with Vermont aged sharp American cheese, artisan bacon and caramelized onions, with wines. $75; 704-548-9463.

New free uptown shuttle

Now available: The "Entertainment Express," a free shuttle running loops through uptown and the N.C. Music Factory Thursday through Saturday evenings. Stops are at 4th and College streets, on College and 6th at the public bus stop beside the Holiday Inn and at the Music factory fountain plaza. The shuttle runs about 6:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., and you can catch it about every 15 minutes at those stops; others may be added.

Updated: Mother's Day madness

It's this Sunday, May 8, y'all.

Cajun Queen will serve brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and dinner all day (jazz starts at 6:30 p.m.); 1800 E. 7th St.; 704-377-9017.

Zink offers brunch for $29 ($12 for 12 and younger). 4310 Sharon Road; 704-909-5500.

Mimosa Grill offers a chef's table 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with brunch and lunch dishes and a dessert table ($27.95; $10.95 for kids 3-10), plus half-price wines by the glass and $5 Mimosas. 327 S. Tryon St.; 704-343-0700.

Andrew Blair's brunch buffet is $14.95 ($9.95 for 12 and younger). 1600 Montford Drive; 704-525-8282.

Cosmo's Cafe at Ballantyne will have brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for $22.95 (there's a separate kids' buffet). 8420 Rea Road; 704-544-5268.

Kabuto Lake Norman will be open 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mother's Day with a special of hibachi chicken, shrimp and steak, plus a slice of red velvet cake, for $59.95 per couple or $29.99 per person. (The special will be offered May 5-8.) Reservations required: 704-655-0077; 16516 Northcross Drive, Huntersville.

Moms get one free cup of frozen yogurt on Mother's Day at any of the five Charlotte-area TCBY self-serve locations (Myers Park, Birkdale Village, Blakeney, Colony Place and Wesley Chapel: go here for addresses).

At the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark, kids can make pancakes for mom without the cleanup part: The hotel restaurant offers a station where kids don chef's hats (that they can take home) and make buttermilk pancakes with toppings. Also offered at the brunch buffet, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for $29 ($14 for kids 6-12, free for younger): omelets and eggs Benedicts, cinnamon apple crepes, grilled mackerel, beef roulade and more. 5501 Carnegie Blvd.; 704-501-2510.

Both Red Rocks Cafe locations will do brunch buffet 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with an a la carte menu kicking in at 3. Reservations required: Strawberry Hill (4223 Providence Road) 704-364-0402; Birkdale in Huntersville 704-892-9999.

Both Melting Pots of Charlotte, at Midtown and University, will be open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., with a four-course menu of cheese fondue, salad, entree and chocolate fondue for $38 ($48 for seafood). There are kids menus, also, at $22 for those 10-15 and $9 for 9 and younger. Reservations recommended: 230 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 704-548-2432 and 901 S. Kings Drive, 704-334-4400.

Luce will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for brunch ($30; $15 for kids). 214 N. Tryon St.; 704-344-9222. Toscana will have the same hours and price; 6401 Morrison Blvd.; 704-367-1808. MezzaNotte will be open for brunch and dinner, adding Mother's Day specials to its regular menu. 2907 Providence Road; 704-365-4650.

Café 157 will offer a limited dinner menu 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 157 N. Trade Street in Matthews; 704-844-8686.

Vida plans a buffet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with more than two dozen dishes, including chipotle-rubbed prime rib and mole chicken breast, for $22.95 (half-price for kids 4-1 and free for younger). The restaurant will close at 3, then reopen at 5 for dinner. 210 E. Trade St.; 704-971-8432.

TOMI is doing brunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., with an entrée plus side of whole-grain wild rice, plus dessert (vanilla egg custard cake), all for $10. 7741 Colony Road; 704-759-1288.

Passion8 Bistro offers four courses for $42, with mom getting a complimentary Champagne, Mimosa or white sangria. 3415 Highway 51 North, Fort Mill, S.C.; 803-802-7455.

The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge will do brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m. for $55 ($28 for those 5-12; free for 4 and younger). Reservations required: 704-248-4100; 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway.

BRIO Tuscan Grille will do brunch beginning at 10 a.m., as well as offer a full dinner menu all day. 4720 Piedmont Row Drive; 704-571-4214.

Mama Ricotta’s buffet will run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and include breakfast items, classic Italian dishes and desserts for $18.95 ($10.95 for kids 10 and younger). Reservations recommended: 704-343-0148; 601 S. Kings Drive.

Epic Chophouse in Mooresville will be open 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. with its full menu and a chef's feature. 104 South Main St., Mooresville; 704-230-1720.

At The Liberty, diners will start with assorted pastries and breads, then choose an appetizer and main course and finish with a dessert buffet for $24.95 ($9.50 for those younger than 10). Choices include Low Country she crab soup, butter-poached shrimp, brioche French toast, trout, steak frites and more. 1812 South Blvd.; 704-332-8830.

The Morehead Inn and VanLandingham Estate open for brunch, with reserved seatings at 10:45 and 11 a.m., and 1:15 and 1:30 p.m. If weather permits, there will be outside seating as well. $28.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $15.95 for 4-12, free for those 3 and younger. Reservations required; The Morehead Inn (1122 E. Morehead St.) 704-376-3357 and VanLandingham Estate (2010 The Plaza) 704-334-8909.

Meatless Monday

Gallery has signed up to participate in the national Meatless Monday initiative. Among the dishes it will offer: an express lunch of vegetable noodle soup with crispy eggplant and tomato parmesan slider, marinated tomato and fresh mozzarella salad and dessert "shooter" of the day (shown above) for $12; a sandwich of grilled spring squash, sweet onions, roasted red peppers and melted Fontina cheese; and charred Asian vegetable stir fry. Get more info at www.meatlessmonday.com. 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; 704-248-4100.

Waxhaw Food & Wine Weekend

Look for some of the area's best-known chefs at this Waxhaw event May 13, held with the town's seventh annual Spring Fest. It's a five-course meal with wine pairings (and passed hors d'oeuvres to start), and Union County's Habitat for Humanity is the main beneficiary. Chefs are Paul Verica of the Country Club at Longview, Gene Briggs of Blue, Marc Jacksina of Halcyon, Joe Kindred of Rooster's, Ben Miles of BLT Steak and Bruce Moffett of Barrington's. $100; cocktail attire; held at the Woman's Club at 200 E. South Main St. Reservations: Cathy Murphy at 704-843-2195 ext. 226 or events@waxhaw.com. You can get more information about the weekend here.