Hidden Gem: Wednesday Night Live

If you work in Uptown or find yourself nearby on a Wednesday night, do yourself a favor and make plans for Wednesday Night Live. It’s the kind of midweek reset that makes you feel like you’re in the right city at the right time with art, music, and a crowd of people who also aren’t ready to call it a night at 6 PM.

What is Wednesday Night Live?

Every Wednesday from 5–9 PM, three of Uptown’s most iconic museums, the Mint Museum, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and the Harvey B. Gantt Center, open their doors late and for free, thanks to Bank of America. There’s always something happening at one of the museums, whether its live DJs, a pop-up fashion show, spoken-word artists, cultural dance performances, or curated film screenings. The special programming rotates each museum each week, so there’s always a reason to come back and to visit all three.

Whether you're planning a midweek date night, heading out with friends, or flying solo, here’s how to make a night of it in Uptown:

5:00 PM – Drinks + Light Bites
Start your evening just a few blocks from the museums. Depending on your mood:

Fin & Fino – Go for oysters and a “Trust Me” cocktail order.
Coquette – A stylish new French spot with great wine and even better energy.
Mariposa – Mediterranean-inspired small plates and seriously good cocktails.
Dean’s Steakhouse – A classic choice if you’re feeling fancy.

6:00 PM – Wednesday Night Live
Head over to the Mint Museum, Bechtler, or Gantt Center depending on the programming that week or their latest exhibitions. (Pro Tip: You can hit more than one museum, they’re all within a few steps of each other!)

7:30 PM – Dinner
After soaking in some art and music, keep the energy going:

Caroline’s Oyster Bar – Perfect for seafood lovers and good vibes.
JINYA Ramen Bar – Comfort food, but make it cool.
La Belle Helene – Gorgeous atmosphere, French classics, and one of the best lemon desserts in town.
Mimosa Grill – A Charlotte staple with Southern charm and city views.

9:00 PM – Dessert
Don’t head home just yet. A proper midweek night out needs a sweet ending.

Golden Cow Creamery – Local, small batch ice cream with flavors like Salted Oreo and Dunkaroos, right across the street from all the museums.
La Belle Helene’s lemon dessert – On theme: it looks exactly like a real lemon until you crack into it, the perfect pairing of art and sweets!
Crave Dessert Bar – Open late, with boozy desserts, and a great nightcap spot.

It’s easy to fall into the weekday routine of work, dinner, Netflix, bed. Wednesday Night Live is your excuse to shake that up without breaking the bank or staying out too late. Whether you're art-curious or just looking for something different to do, it’s a creative way to take a break from the usual.

See you there next Wednesday?
Tag @uptown.clt on Facebook or Instagram to show us your Wednesday Night Live!