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.
Dontcha wish your girfriend was raw like Sushi, Dontcha ...
Some debauchery at the Debauchery party at Kashmir ... now that's what I call some raw fish.
And for more naked people, I found this picture online ... of a girl at BAR Charlotte! Now I fully understand why "Girls Gone Wild" goes there when they visit Charlotte. I wonder if those stickers hurt her nipples when she peeled them off.
And for some cultural enrichment ... Runway for the Ballet. Dancing ... what a much more respectable way to use your body ... just saying.
Speaking of which, the following conversation actually happened between my friend and me.
FRIEND: “Is there a difference between strippers and go-go dancers?”
ME: “There is a hierarchy of dancers : there are strippers, then go-go dancers … then NFL cheerleaders.”
Not just because you get to eat X number of elaborate homemade dinners, but because it's a holiday for giving thanks. So I want to give my sincere thanks to you ... yeah you, the person reading this ... you complete me! I appreciate you! All four of you (including my mom ... Hi Mom!) :) But one or one million, I am grateful for even the one.
But just like we should appreciate and honor our troops every day, not just Veterans Day, we should have the attitude of gratitude every day as well. So perhaps we should celebrate Thanksgiving, every day. Does this mean we can stuff our faces with stuffing every day, too?
And why is it that holiday dinner parties always seem to have balls of some sort ... Cheese balls, spinach balls, meatballs ... that's a lot of balls — perhaps I should send some to my ex.
Happy Thanksgiving party people!
Last weekend I joined volunteered to pass out coats and food to the homeless – so SaturDAY I went to a very popular hangout in this community-less community in Charlotte, “The Wall,” which is an actual wall on Phifer Avenue off Tryon.
Let’s just say this community is highly populated — there are a lot more people living in Uptown than you think. That being said, they are our neighbors ... and to them I shall be neighborly.
As I walked down Phifer, people were staring me down like an uninvited house guest who just walked into their residence … because essentially I just had. But all it took was a smile for them to roll out the welcome mat for me.
While most of them were grateful for the homemade, healthy and hearty soup we were passing out, one woman ... not so much. “You got some cornbread?” she asked. When I apologized for not having any, she responded with, “You ain’t got no cornbread … you don’t even have crackers. I don’t want that.” It made me feel a little bit better about the fact that the person who lives in the bus stop in front of my condo rejected my own homemade leftovers.
Return of the G... Back by popular demand (and by dbraun Promotions) is Video DJ Roonie G. The G returns this Saturday to Mez slash EpiCentre Theaters.
\
They are converting the larger theater into a full on night club equip with a dance floor and bars. Big screen... big party.
Wanna go? First two people that e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com get a pair of tickets to the theater ... for the party. Ready, set, send!
Sushi, sake bombs, and a taste of the Big Apple
By Megan White
Unlike Enso and Fiji, Cyros won’t be concentrating on the nightlife and entertainment aspect of promoting their sushi. Sorry guys: No half-naked girls lying in front of you covered in barely there leaf loin cloths with strategically placed raw fish on them. It’s all about the rolls, rice ... and sake at Cyros.
Apparently, someone took a can opener to Cans and its Canteen because the lid has reopened, according to owner/operator Jay Runnfeldt ... for now.
Cans closed quietly, right before last weekend's Panthers home game nonetheless — which seemed suspect to me as that didn't really sound like standard procedure for Cans ... especially the quiet part.
So, they're re-opening tonight for the Panthers game ... and so they can go out with a bang. The lid will remain open until the Panthers' final game on Jan. 3 (because obviously our cats aren't making the playoffs).
Cans will only be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday (nights) and Sundays when the Panthers play. And their big finale will be their New Year's Eve party and the Panthers' last home game.
Come say farewell and drink a can for Cans!
Mobile
