Monster Mash Adoption Bash

CMPD Animal Care & Control and the Humane Society of Charlotte are partnering once again for a Hallowen-themed adoption event made possible by a grant from the ASPCA. The goal is to find 100 animals great new homes.    

The Monster Mash Adoption Bash is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 18. 

It's at two locations: 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control, 8315 Byrum Drive; and the Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Avenue. 

A food truck and DJ will be at both locations. 

Details: www.adoptcharlotte.org. 

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Charity Wedding Gown Sale

The Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale and Bridal Show is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Embassy Suites Charlotte, 4800 S. Tryon St.

Hundreds of new and gently worn designer and couture gowns from designers, manufacturers, bridal shops and individuals will be for sale. Gowns are sizes 4-18, priced from $99 to $3,900. Proceeds go to programs and services for those impacted by cancer.

If you want to be the first to shop, there's a VIP Event from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17 ($45 for a bride plus a guest, $25 for each additional guest). It includes refreshments, entertainment and giveaways.

Admission to the Oct. 18 sale is $7; $10 at the door.  www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org.

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A new signature Charlotte Symphony fundraiser

From 1972 to 2010, The Symphony Guild of Charlotte worked hard to put together the annual ASID Designer House, which became one of the most successful fundraiser of its kind in the country.

The Symphony Guild is now launching a new annual tour that will become its signature annual fundraiser, the Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour. It's from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18; tickets are $25 ($30 at the door).

The tour of 12 indoor and outdoor kitchens at eight residences in the SouthPark, Myers Park and Eastover neighborhoods showcase current design trends. Each stop has a special event ranging from tastings from local chefs and food shops to flower arranging demonstrations and young musicians performing.

The opening reception, Prelude to the Tour, is 7-10 p.m. Oct. 17 at South End Kitchens, 1500 South Blvd. Tickets are $50. Proceeds from both the party and tour benefit the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras and youth music education.

Details: www.symphnyguildcharlotte.org.

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Feast of the Hunter's Moon

Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, a fundraiser for Historic Rosedale Plantation, is at 6 p.m. Oct. 27.

The five-course meal accompanied by special wine pairings is served by candlelight under tents set up among the circa 1815 plantation home's grounds filled with ancient treasure trees and shrubs including 200-year-old English boxwoods.

Seating is limited. Tickets: $150; www.historicrosedale.org.

Bling it on

Before I introduced celebrity hair colorist Rita Hazan at the Southern Women's Show a few weeks ago, I had a chance to take in a few performances by the talented dancers at Arthur Murray Dance Studios.

One dancer had extra sparkle on stage and I thought she looked really glamorous.

A few days later when I was giving a presentation at the show, she happened to walk by my booth and I immediately stopped her because I realized why she shined so much on stage - she had strategically placed "bling" on her face and in her hair.

I forgot to get her name, but she told me that she buys the bling at Michael's. It's self-adhesive and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. She says to plan carefully where you want to put it first because the more you move it around, the less the adhesive sticks. Once it's on, she says the trick is to not touch it at all. Just leave it be and shine on.

With Halloween coming and the holidays, I thought this was a great tip to share if you want to add a little extra sparkle to your look.

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Model doctors and lawyers

 Area doctors and lawyers will walk the runway to raise money for the nonprofit Safe Alliance and its Clyde and Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter during Fighting For Women With Fashion.

Over the past three years, the event has raised more than $80,000. This is the first year fashions for both men and women will be modeled. Funds from this year's event go to help launch a healthcare clinic at the shelter.

It’s from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Foundation for the Carolinas uptown. Tickets: $85; www.safealliance.org.

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An evening with Retro Charlotte

Maria David, the Charlotte Observer's archivist and research librarian, has always had access to the thousands of images that make up our photo archives. When they were digitized recently, she started the Retro Charlotte blog and Twitter account to share some of the most fun and interesting photos. It's such a hit, it has become one of the Observer's most-read blogs and her @ObserverArchives Twitter account quickly picked up more than 2,000 followers and the number increases daily.

Here's the link to the blog:
http://retroclt.blogspot.com/2014/09/hurricane-hugo-aftermath.html

Three times a week, she comes up with a different theme for the photo-driven blog. Recent examples are a look back at the first Festival in the Park and the hoopla around the Monkees 1967 Charlotte concert.

Historian Tom Hanchett of the Levine Museum of the New South asked her to be part of the museum's "New South for the New Southerner" on Sept. 23 starting at 5:30 p.m.

Guests will gather for wine and a chicken dinner catered by Merts Heart & Soul restaurant. Then Maria will show photos from Charlotte in the 1970s and talk about that time in our city's history followed by a Q&A session.

Wilson from WCCB did a fantastic piece on the event that aired this morning. Here's the link:

http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/rising/wilsons-world/Going-Back-to-the-70s-with-Wilson-at-the-Levine-Museum-of-the-New-South-275982571.html

If you're interested in attending, here's how to register:
http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/calendar/detail/?ProgramId=551&OccurrenceId=686

Expect to see a lot of Observer staff there because if the newsroom was high school, Maria would be voted Most Popular.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson