The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Oct. 20, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
• PURE Ladies Night at Halo
• Sigma Homecoming Party at Club Ice
• Americana: a Fusion of Latin and House music at Kazba
• Complimentary Wednesdays for Ladies at Apostrophe Lounge
• All-female bluegrass band Della Mae at The Evening Muse
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Oct. 19, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Jason and Drock's Open Bar Party at Tilt
• Tuesdays at Butter
• After Work Jazz Set featuring The Reggie Buie Trio
• Triple Tuesdays at Pub at Gateway
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Oct. 14, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
• SHIPROCKED! presents: "The Real Housebitches of Plaza Midwood" at Snug Harbor
• Aquavina International Wine Festival (with after party at Dandelion Market)
• EpiCentre Cage Fights V at Pavilion
• R&B Live at The Sunset Club
• Miles of Impact Design Event at Nikko
Wikipedia says that Marigny is a neighborhood in New Orleans, and Charlotteans can now get a taste of that New Orleans flavor here in Charlotte.
Marigny is a new dance club in South End (owned by the same folks who own Dharma Lounge). Opened this past Saturday, it was a celebration complete with Mardi Gras beads (which you could get without lifting your shirt up) and masks.
By the way, I've yet to actually HEAR how the name of this new nightspot is pronounced. Anyone?
Before checking out the place with the boyfriend, I had heard someone call this new spot a "mini Butter," and I can kind of see where he got that from. On approaching the front door, there is a scary doorman who looks like he wields the power to veto your entry — although I haven't heard anything about a dress code here. Inside, the place is beautifully done. The walls are splashed with velvety colors like red and purple and, to evoke the spirit of New Orleans, adorned with intricate patterns.
As for the layout of the club, as soon as you enter, you're lost in a sea of dancing souls, having almost immediately stumbled onto the dance floor. The VIP tables are lined to the left, giving full view of the dancing shenanigans. The DJ booth (who was thumping house music that I find difficult to dance to) stands to the back, and the bar to the far back right. A patio for smokers and those who just enjoy the night air exits right past the DJ booth and bar.
One patron commented that the layout was a bit disorienting, with the dance floor spilling so close to the bar. As he waited to get a drink, he wasn't sure if the people around him were also waiting to be served or just dancing. He also mentioned that he'd heard the owners planning to open up an upstairs lounge area — I don't even know if that's possible, judging from the outside of the building. But that's what I heard, anyway.
If you've seen the photos from the grand opening gala, you'll likely assume that Marigny is another gay club on Charlotte's map of nightlife. And yet, you'd be wrong. While this new nightspot does host a few gay-friendly nights (Bar Curious Thursdays and Krewe Saturdays), it is not an exclusive spot for the "alternative lifestyle." In fact, tonight is the grand opening of Divino Wednesdays, Marigny's Latino Night ($3 Coronas, Margaritas and Sangria).
And although my boyfriend admitted being a tad nervous (we don't frequent places with gay men very often), and holding onto me tighter than usual to fend off any potentially interested men, he also said the place looked great and he had a good time. And that's all that matters.
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Oct. 13, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Grand opening of Divino Nights, Marigny's Latin and International Night
• Drinking Liberally with speaker Justin Krebs at Dolce Vita
• Adult Night Rollerskating Party at Kate's Skating Rink
• Most Wanted Wednesdays with Calvin Richardson at Loft 1523
• Laugh Your Ass Off at Suite
... somewhere in this big ol' list of Halloween parties, anyway. Keep checking back, as this list will be updated throughout the month.
Ongoing Halloween events
• 13 Doors Haunted House Presents Circus of Syndrome. Located at 1101 Hawthorne Lane. Dates/times are as followed: Oct. 8-9, 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.; Oct. 15-16, 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.; Oct. 22-23, 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.; Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Oct. 30-31, 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. For more information, call 704-907-7836 or visit http://13doors.webs.com.
• The Fright Factory at NC Music Factory. A multiple room haunted house, featuring “zombieland,” “vampire manor,” and “the circus of fear,” in addition to coffin rides, a fleet of hearses and more. $10. Box office opens at 7 p.m. and the factory opens at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday through Oct. 31. NC Music Factory, 820 Hamilton St., Charlotte. For more information, visit www.ncfrightfactory.com.
• Scarowinds. Featuring 11 nightmarish frights, scare zones and live shows. Oct. 22, 7 p.m.-12 a.m.; Oct. 23, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.; Oct. 24, 7 p.m.- 12 a.m.; Oct. 28-29, 7 p.m.-12 a.m.; Oct. 30, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.; Oct. 31, 7 p.m.-12 a.m. For more information, visit www.scarowinds.com. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. 704-588-2600. www.carowinds.com.
Friday, Oct. 15
• Friday Night Frights: The Bar Crawl. Presented by Rockhouse Events. $20 includes free cover to five bars, drink specials, VIP tickets to The Fright Factory at NC Music Factory and transportation to and from all stops on the crawl. Oct. 15, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. For more information, visit www.rockhouseevents.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 26
• Haunted Ball at Whisky River. Hosted by Tucker Max and Brittney Cason. Free cover for everyone dressed up before midnight. Witching Hour costume contest includes $300 for the sexiest costume and $200 for the scariest costume. Drink specials include $2 Miller Lites, $4 vodka cranberry and $5 jager. Whisky River, 210 E Trade St., Charlotte. 704-749-1097. www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 27
• Miss All Hallows Eve Pageant at Scorpio. The first annual Miss All Hallows Eve Pageant 2010, hosted by Sierra Santana. For more info (or to register) go to: http://www.biggirlbarbie.com/Pageants---Contests.html. 11 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Scorpio, 2301 Freedom Drive.
Thursday, Oct. 28
Carnival of Carnage for a Cause. LoveGrows will be hosting this event to raise funds and awareness for the water project at the Royal School and Orphanage in Mityana, Uganda. Featuring carnival fun with Halloween costume contests and prizes. All proceeds go towards www.lovegrows.org. $10-$15. 9 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, email alyson@lovegrows.org. Ri Ra Irish Pub, 208 North Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-333-5554. www.rira.com.
• Shiprocked presents: Tricks and Treats Halloween Party. Weekly Shiprocked party at Snug Harbor does Halloween theme. 10 p.m. Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. www.snugrock.com.
Friday, Oct. 29
• Fright Night Bash. Halloween Party featuring a cash prize costume contest, raffles, music and drink specials. $5 with costume; $10 without costume. 9:30 p.m. The Pit, 1925 Westinghouse Blvd., Charlotte. For more information, visit http://thepit.bugzinc.com/.
• 2nd Annual Nightmare on Montford. One free draft beer (until they are gone), cash bar, free parking, two costume contests (with cash prizes) and drink specials. $5 with costume; $10 without costume. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Andrew Blair’s, 1600 Montford Drive.
• 5th Annual Halloween Howler Bar Crawl. A costume mandatory Halloween Bar Crawl on a Charlotte double-decker party bus. Check-in at Bad Dogs Burger & Brew. Crawl will go to Howl at the Moon, Buckhead Saloon, Dixie’s Tavern and more. For more info, call: 704-516- 2674. $10. 7 p.m. $10. Bad Dog Burgers & Brew, 8933-2 Jim Keynes Drive, Charlotte.
• A Nightmare on Cedar Street - Hartigan's Halloween Weekend. Friday: Takeover Friday will be there for a spook-tacular cocktail party, while the SCC hold its monthly Barn Dance in the basement. Saturday: Costume contest in the basement, with $100 grand prize. Hartigan's, 601. S. Cedar St. www.hartigans.com
• Halloween Costume Party at Dharma Lounge. Dharma Lounge hosts its first international/Latino night, with live band and show by Ultima Nota. Up to $1000 in cash and prizes for sexiest costume and scariest costume. $10. 9 p.m. Dharma Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.dharmacharlotte.com.
• Haunted "House" at Loft 1523. With DJ Tober. No cover, drink specials, and spooky dress encouraged. Loft 1523, 1523 Elizabeth Ave.
• Suite Halloweekend Part 1: $1,000 costume contest. Suite, 210 E. Trade St. www.suitecharlotte.com.
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Oct. 12, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
• A Different World ~ College Life Edition at Apostrophe Lounge
• Thinkin’ and Drinkin’: Tuesday night trivia at Jeff’s Bucket Shop
• Networking Social at 5th Element
• Karaoke with Mike at Bar at 316
• Million Young, Sunglasses, Cool Runnings at Tremont Music Hall
Panthers games are really no place for the hungover.
I woke up late one Sunday morning, confused and surrounded by empty beer bottles, a half-drunk Gatorade and other remnants of a great 24th birthday. I knew I was in for a rough day.
After a groggy phone call informed me kick-off was in an hour, I got up to make moves. My hangover let me know early on that it would have a say in how this day would go. I grabbed my wallet to head out the door and was confused to see it stuffed with $1 bills — did I stop off at a strip club the night before somewhere between Liberty East and home?
My pores reeking of Hennessy Black, Bacardi 151, countless beers and saki, the hangover had heightened my senses in a way only a hangover can. I needed shades to stand the sun when I stepped outside into a light but steady shower and made the methodical walk to Bank of America Stadium, battling tailgates blaring hair metal and fighting the urge to vomit at the sight and smell of food.
Bombarded by an obnoxious sea of humanity, I dragged my ass up to the cheap seats where I sat directly in front of a couple, who, by the looks of the water bottle turned dip cup for chewing tobacco, wasn’t going to make my day any better.
I was sadly within earshot of all their annoying, uninformed conversations. First, it was him incorrectly explaining the rules. Later, she insisted that two guys seated to our left were twins (they weren’t). Eventually, they had the proverbial domestic dispute over the phone when she got lost trying to find her way back from a nacho run.
The only solace in that day was a pocket of Bengals fans intent on ruining our section’s Sunday with matching paraphernalia and surprisingly organized cheers (I can appreciate collective asshole behavior).
Sobriety set in just after halftime. Relieved, that euphoria wore off almost instantly with the realization that I was sitting in the rain and watching one of the worst teams in the NFL stink it up. Only another hangover could drown out the pain of having paid to see this. Scrolling for Raiders scores on my Blackberry and waiting for high jinks that would never happen from Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens, I welcomed myself to 24.
Mike McCray, a Charlotte native and North Carolina A&T grad, is a city explorer, neighborhood partier and dress code ignorer who shakes his head at DJs getting away with bad blends, girls pretending to be drunk and grown men with low tolerances for alcohol. Follow him on Twitter.
Today's listing of events for the weekend is brought to you by this lovely white mocha frappe I'm sipping on. Gah. Don't you love Fridays?
Friday, Oct. 8
• Did you know that Stoli is doing a Hugh Hefner's Limited Edition Playboy Bottle? Stoli Orange! Town Tavern is hosting a Bunny Party to commemorate the bottle tonight.
• Digital Divas presents: Fall Fling at The Met with live performance by PFP.
• Mez is hosting The Relaunch with a new menu, a new 3D theater, new VIP area and so much more.
• 100 percent of the door proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Awareness at Suite for the Cure
• Mortimer's brings you Oktoberfest (and it's in October!)
• Charlotte STYLE Magazine hosts its Fall Issue Release Party at Loft 1523
Saturday, Oct. 9
• Single Cell Productions' Decadence Project: Sci Fi CyberFetish at Amos' Southend. The name of that event says it all.
• DJ Kemit from Atlanta presents "Spread Love" at Apostrophe Lounge
• Grand opening of Club Marigny in South End
• Big Mammas House of Burlesque brings you the Rock N Roll Pastie Show at Visulite Theatre
• The Official 7th Annual Plaza Midwood-Chantilly Chili Cook-Off goes until 11:30 p.m. Good neighborhood fun!
• Niche's grand opening after party will be at Dharma Lounge with Prince Presto and BBQ on the patio
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