I spent last Tuesday night in custody of the CMPD with a blood alcohol level of .08. No, I wasn’t drinking and driving – I was at the CMPD Police Academy acting as a test dummy in training officers how to administer sobriety tests ... kinda like jury duty.
You can find the full story in my column in this week's CL, "My night in the cop shop"... but you can find the incriminating photos here. Pun intended.
The bartender — or mad scientist, rather — who was precisely pouring 50ml of liquor per drink. Perhaps bartenders should start using measuring cups to pour drinks... food (or drink) for thought.
About halfway through the study, 1.5 hours — 4 cocktails and 200ml of liquor later — they had me blow into the "Intoximeter" ... and I only blew a .04! Yet I was legally drunk in my mind at that point. So drunk in fact that I thought the cop ordering me to "blow like I've never blown before" was comical.
And then the real fun began ... the testing. These are the tests the cops administer if they pull over someone they suspect to be drinking and driving. At first they did the "Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus" in which they look for six clues to intoxication (3 in each eye). They look for maximum deviation and onset of nystagmus (whatever that means).
I found this letter in my inbox from the Casting Producer for America's Got Talent, season 5. Basically, if you want to be on the show, well, then you should read it ...
Hi Brittney,My name's Shannon, I'm the Casting Director for America's Got Talent. The show will be in Atlanta on the 20th and 21st and I want people from Charlotte to come down for it! I want to talk to you about how we can generate a lot of interest in the open call and also give you some more inside info on the "Q" acts that I need to book. I can get about 50 acts right in, in front of the judges where they won't have to wait or deal with the crowds. Most times, they are the people that end up being selected for the show. All I need from folks you know --or don't even-- is their contact info and a video showing me that they're at least good and I can book them a private audition time. Just need to spread the word and get what's good from people in the know. Like, I need the writers from your paper, your friends, their friends, the local/regional papers to come up with the best or most unique, most talented people they've ever seen in the Charlotte area. It doesn't matter if it is performance art, breakdancing, cake baking, wood whittling, spoken word speaking, dancing, quick changing, streaking, tumbling, etc... You get the picture. We'll hopefully be able to give a lot of people a great opportunity!
All the Best ...
So in synopsis, if you want to be on America's Got Talent just send me a video of yourself being talented. Send it to brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com ... consider me your direct line to cut the line... but really I'm just the Charlotte middle man to a casting producer in L.A.
Last weekend, I went to the market … as in the Dandelion Market, the newest bar in Uptown.
Although I did go to the actual market as well… after spending 15 minutes fighting my way through the parking lot of the Metrolina Shopping Center, I got to Trader Joe's. Another 15 minutes later, as I’m standing in the check-out line, I hear: “If you left your blackberry in the apples, we have it at customer service.” I look at the bag of apples in my hand, and notice the lack of blackberry in the other. I go up to customer service to retrieve my crackberry, and they tell me they found it mixed in with the apples in the crate … oops. Luckily, they have child-proofed the store for adults.
The staff of the Dandelion Market is as cool and helpful, and like in Trader Joe’s they let you have samples ... of their 24 beers on tap including many local drafts. I tried the one with a church tap. And seeing as how it’s a small plate place, you can sample the menu without committing to a whole meal. You can also try everything at the market, which is one of everything on the menu for only 200 “buckaroos” … I'm pretty sure that means a dollar in Dandelion lingo. They also have 25 different kinds of wine and only charge 25 buckaroos a bottle.
After three wins in a row, you are probably contemplating jumping on the Bobcats bandwagon, aren't ya? Well, all aboard because these 'Cats might actually go to the playoffs this year. And I got your ticket on the wagon and to the game this Saturday, Jan. 9, against the Grizzles. Grrrr
I have more VIP passes for the Front Court Bar, which is in fact a bar within the arena. And there's a game on the court and a DJ in the bar ...
The tickets will also include admittance to the after party hosted by the Lady Cats. You see, games are typically over at 9 – 9:30 p.m., which is a weird time in nightlife where it's too early to go out to a bar, but too late to go home then come back out. So, the Bobcats alleviate that problem and occupy you in the interim.
I have five pairs of passes to give away to whoever can riddle me this ...
Why is it that in a sporting complex the men's restroom line is always longer than that of the women's, yet the women's line takes twice as long ... why do women take so long? What are they doing in there? I am a woman and I don’t even get it- personally, I am in and out and back to my seat.
... or, just be the first to e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com with subject line: Bobcats
Shaq is so big his head doesn't even fit into the frame of the photo!
Virginia Tech played Tennessee in ATL on New Year's Eve. And of course I centered my New Year's plans around said college football game … I have a degree that brands me a Hokie and a dog named Smokey.
I’m a poet and didn’t even know it. But I did know the Hokies were going to win the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl as the Volunteers would volunteer to lose.
You know why else I opted to ring in the new year at a college football game …? Because I go out to clubs and bars all the time, and the only thing that makes them different on New Year's Eve is that they’re more crowded. Hate to say it, but I call it like I see it.
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!
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