Kazba is pairing its grand opening celebration with a New Year's one, but last night I got a sneak peek ... but I'm not going to be sneaky about it. Here's the scoop, for your info-tainment ...
My friend Dianne said it reminds her of a bar you’d find where she's from … she's from the Untied Arab Emirates ... not ringing a bell? … Dubai … the Middle East, if you will. So, for her to say that, they really adhered to the international theme they were going for.
It is the epitome of a lounge with its candlelit, low-to-the-floor plush seating. It was dark and comfortable. So much, in fact, I kinda wanted to take a nap. The music wasn’t too loud so it really became a possibility come midnight; all the pillows and couches lined with drapes made it rather tempting. I even had to order a Redbull, sans vodka.
My only issue with Kazba is that there’s no bathroom in it ... you have to go use Mez like an outhouse. When both venues are crowded I imagine that is going to suck (i.e. New Year's Eve) — just be sure to go out with an empty bladder, and avoid breaking the seal for as long as you can.
So is the Kazba rockin? … You be the judge
The Mellow Mushroom used to be a little slice of heaven in Charlotte … my second favorite pizza place in fact (right behind Brixx).
However, The Pizza Peel took over the Mellow Mushroom in Costwold… and well, as for the NoDa location … there was some drama over it when Moon Dog Pizza tried to come in and use the same menu and signage. But now it’s Revolution Pizza, not to be confused with the retail store.
In the battle of pizza places replacing Mellow Mushroom … in this corner we have the Pizza Peel … and in this corner we have Revolution.
Yes, there is a VIP section in the arena, just like a club. The arena even has its own VIP entrance ... and I got your ticket through it. You see, since I give my own little play-by-play for the Bobcats Break blog, I get to give away free tickets on Brittney After Dark. I'll always have my CL reader's backs! I got several pairs of "VIP Invitations" to the game this Saturday against the Utah Jazz starting at 7 p.m.
The passes will get you into the game and into the Front Court Bar. The Front Court bar is a full bar with a live DJ, and you can even eat there too - they have a full out buffet, with a meat slicer on staff and all.
All you have to do to win them is e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com and beg for it ;)
As in make some bread at Butter.
Butter is Charlotte's newest nightclub transplanted from N.Y.C. which is under construction at the NC Music Factory. The final open "casting call" is this Thursday between 2 -7 p.m. They're not just hiring staff ... they're casting a cast and crew.
They're casting cocktail servers, bartenders, barbacks, door personnel, cashiers and hosts/hostesses. Bring your resume, and since it's considered a casting, a headshot. You may not be auditioning for a SAG film role, but you could star in a nightlife role ... because Butter is guaranteed to be "the place to be," at least for the first few months it's open.
I need a breather from blogging...
Like an athlete who has to exert her body on a daily basis… I am an artist who has to exert my creative mind muscles on the daily – not to mention stay up late considering this is an after-dark blog ... the bags under my eyes are getting so big I can put my groceries in them. And just like athletes, I need an off season too … a mental off season. So I am taking a leave of absence from Brittney After Dark, so I can work on Brittney the published author.
I will still publish my column in CL and post a blog a week … and don't worry, I'll still be giving away free shit. Starting with a massage.
The first thing I did to try and relax my tired mind – was give my body a good rub down. I went and got a massage from Jennifer Jackson who left Urbana Tea Bar to open up her own spa in Dilworth - Drift Spa.
This is going to sound really perverted when I say this … but no one has ever touched me better. But there was nothing kinky about it – she just worked out all my kinks. And that includes my knots and mental clutter.
Cason-Point: I am giving away a 60 minute Fusion massage from Drift Spa.
In all honestly, I want to keep it myself — but since I am so grateful for you reading my posts and sticking with me, I am going to share Jennifer’s hands with you … the first person to e-mail me to bid me adieu and promises me that you’ll buy an advanced copy of my book, wins. But keep in mind that this e-mail is as valid as a contract and a pinky swear ... so by winning this massage you would be obligated by blog law to buy my book.
And I'll still be updating my Twitter with breaking nightlife news! Follow me.
Peace out cub scouts!
How to get ready for a red carpet event … in Charlotte.
But the thing is… it's Charlotte. Your dress may not end up splattered in the pages of US Weekly next to Kim Kardashian with the caption: “Who wore it best?” with some not-so-smart-ass commentary from Joan Rivers. However, although there are a variety of semi-formal and black tie events in Charlotte, each one is guaranteed to have at least some of the same faces — thus the same eyes seeing your dress. Not that it really matters what other people think… Recycling is good for the environment and your wallet…
But there’s nothing better than getting all dolled up and debuting a new dress — it still has the same allure of playing dress-up and make-believe as a child. And I just make believe it’s a real red-carpet event.
So many events — so little dresses (and typically these dresses are literally little). Last year, former Paid to Party girl Sarah Aarthurn and I wore the same dress from L.A. East on New Year's Eve… and we had to deliberately plan not to both wear it for Bartender’s Ball. But there’s a way to increase your wardrobe repertoire without increasing your credit card bill.
While I was in Lotus looking for a dress to wear to Second String Santa, I told the owner Effie Loukas, that I should have a stock option in her store with how much money I spend there — then she told me that she rents her closet! And she essentially has one of everything that’s ever been on the Lotus rack — so, I went over to her place to play dress up.
I went into this closet …
… and came out with this entire ensemble – shoes, dress, and earrings: $30
And everytime someone complimented my dress I had no problem telling them... "Thanks, it's a rental!"
With New Years and Bartender’s Ball coming up – hit up Effie’s closet for her “Just for the Night” collection. Contact her at effie@lotuslook.com
... such as free beer! Last Monday, the nightlife industry was shaking down to Shinedown for the Miller Lite and Coors Light holiday party at The Fillmore.
The line to get into The Fillmore was wrapped around the N.C. Music Factory, and slowly tapering in… yet it didn’t seem like it was even crowded inside. Perhaps because the venue is massive and laid out perfectly for a live music venue — with a stage, dance floor, two side bars and a back lounge.
Sure, it was a Shinedown concert with a lot of rocking and rolling involved, but I was more interested in playing Wii with football pads acting as the game controller. I also played in fake snow, did the running man next to a go-go dancer … and went on a beer scavenger hunt.
Upon entry you were given a card with logos for six different types of beer — you then went on a sampling scavenger hunt, getting a stamp for each sample taken. After receiving six stamps you enter the card into a raffle to win free shit like iPods. … so, basically, you got rewarded for drinking beer. Now, that’s awesome.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds have invaded Charlotte... Oven's Auditorium has been transformed into Rydell High... and Taylor Hicks went from American Idol, to an American Classic - Grease is the word!
Last night was opening night for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's presentation of Grease at Oven's Auditorium, and it will only be here until Dec. 6.
Just like the book is always different from the movie, the movie is always different from the musical. There is new music, characters take on new traits and even the plot sequence is different. And that in itself is reason enough to go see it.
It's the kind of musical where you just can't help but bob your head and shake your shoulders ... but you kind of have to refrain from doing so, because it's rude for the people behind you. Every time someone in the crowd moves his head, the person behind him has to adjust his in order to see — and then the person behind them, the person behind them ... and so on. This tall dude in front of me kept fidgeting with his face and changing positions, which required me to. At one point, I had to maneuver myself to see through the space between his elbow and his head.
Start Thanksgiving with a hangover... suggested Frank ManZetti who kept his Tavern open until 2 a.m. the Wednesday before. I thought that strategy was somewhat smart, as it would help prevent you from eating so much. I personally prefer a turkey coma to a hangover… but that’s just me. Though, either way you feel tired and in need of Pepto.
After my college graduation, as I was packing to move to NYC, my mom told me, “The difference between being an artist and a starving artist, is the ability to sell and market yourself.” … and I just stopped having to ask her for money. But the perk of being an artist up for sale is not only do you not starve, you get to eat at places like ManZetti’s — for the small cost of having to listen to a sales pitch for an opportunity.
I went when it first opened for a dinner and drink meeting - the kind of meeting where you just shoot the shit and bull spit… and try to figure out if you’re buying what the other person is selling and picking up what they’re putting down. Sometimes I wish I had minored in business in college. Let’s just say I’m in an industry where you get fed a lot of bullshit, and I know what it tastes like… but at Manzetti’s you get fed a good portion of salad, steak and seafood... and that tastes a lot better.
So, of course I personally enjoyed Manetti’s — I got an opportunity with a side of dinner, didn’t have to pay my tab, and got my ass kissed.
ManZetti’s Tavern is the perfect place for a networking nightlife.
Its a upscale restaurant, thus an upscale lounge. The kind of place where typically top shelf liquor is their well. You know… your typical SouthPark venue.
But you wouldn't judge that by their ad, which shows pretty girls with perfect bodies in cut off shirts and short shirts ... yet, my server was a middle aged guy wearing a tux type uniform.
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