Front Row Charlotte and 'Go Red' sales

If you enjoy shopping for a cause, several upcoming events might be right up your alley...

Front Row Charlotte

Tickets for the March 5 show go on sale around 7 a.m. Thursday morning, and co-founder Erica Hanks said  they move fast.

What exactly is Front Row Charlotte? Hanks describes them as "intimate" fashion shows that feature five local boutiquess, plus two local jewelry designers. A runway show will feature the best each store has to offer for the season, and each hosts a pop-up store immediately after, so you can shop for everything seen during the show.

This season's boutique lineup will include Coral, Coplon's, Poole Shop, Our Place and Social Dress Shop, as well as  Erin McDermott jewelry and Melvin jewelry, Hanks said. Tickets are $50, the event will start at 7 p.m. March 5 at Center Stage in NoDa and will feature goodies from FuManChu Cup Cakes.

Hanks started Front Row Charlotte two seasons ago with Joey Hewell. Both wear a number of hats - Hanks is a wardrobe stylist, Hewell the owner of J. Studio Salon - and both are considered locally to be fashion authorities.

"It's been fun to see how excited Charlotte is for this concept, I started it and didn't think anyone would show up," she said with a laugh.

"Front Row is my first ever atempt at organizing anything besides a birthday party. I just wanted to do a fun event my girlfriends would want to go to, that I would want to go to."

And Front Row Charlotte has had no trouble filling the seats, all of which happen to literally be on the front row. "There's no second or third row, there's no standing," Hanks said. "Want people to feel special, like they are VIPs, and for people to be able to see the cloths, take photos and have a really cool experience."

All proceeds from ticket sales go to a local nonprofit or charity, Hanks said, adding the giving back is vitally important to her and Hewell. This season's beneficiary will be Baby Bundles, which provides baby essentials to new moms in financial need. "It's something we feel strongly about, we love giving back and to (organizations that ) are small and could use the funds."

Front Row Charlotte will put the Eventbrite ticket link out on their Facebook and Twitter accounts once it goes live Thursday morning.


Macy’s “Go Red” Total Makeover

Macy’s has partnered with the American Heart Association to help promote the first Friday of each February as national “Go Red For Women” day, to raise awareness about women's heart disease.

Locally, Macy’s SouthPark (4400 Sharon Road) will host its “Go Red” Total Makeover passport event 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Shoppers can purchase an iconic “Red Dress” pin for $2, which will earn them 20 percent off most regular, sale and clearance items and 15 percent off jewelry, watches and some home items.

In addition to giveaways, a number of interactive stations will be located around the store, offering tips on heart health. A certified nutritionist will discuss heart-healthy eating and specific nutrition questions; Estee Lauder, Lancome and Clinique will provide free makeup consultations; demonstrations of simple yoga stretches and blood pressure screenings will be featured and Medic will provide hands-only demonstrations of the newest recommendations for CPR, among others.

Those who visit each station and complete their passport will be entered to win a $250 Macy’s gift card. The Go Red Total Makeover winner, Terri DeBoo, will receive a $500 Macy’s gift card, makeover and wardrobe fitting. She was selected as the promotion winner after losing more than 100 pounds to become heart-healthy.

More details from the American Heart Association: www.facebook.com/charlotteaha; 704-417-5756, www.heart.org/charlotte.