I would like to take the liberty of saying that I am happy that The Liberty Gastropub has replaced McIntosh's on South Boulvard.
I went for lunch this week and upon approaching the table the waiter greeted us and offered us a beer … at 12:30 in the afternoon? I like this place already.
Makes sense because said place not only has a beer monopolized menu, but it’s even decorated with beer. Literally. Even in the dining room there’s a beer mural that kinda–sorta looks like a fish tank, which inspired me to come up with the genius idea of having an actual beer filled aquarium (which I accidently turned into an outside thought).
My friend's response: “Right Britt, then we’ll also have beer coming out of the sink, too. This is a restaurant, not Willy Wonka’s Beer Factory.” Oh, but I beg to differ. The columns are made of kegs (now that’s what I call a keg stand). Wheat grass is used as floral decoration with kegs serving as vases, and the chandelier is made from beer glasses.
Meanwhile, the bar is lined with 20 beers on tap … and another 60 in bottles. They even have PBR on tap… and Jewish Brew He'Brew and Big Hoppy Monster … and the apricot-flavored beer I ordered on my lunch meeting. The Liberty’s beer selection rivals that of Revolution in NoDa and Mac’s BBQ right down the street.
They even rotate their beer selection …
According to owner/operator Jay Runnfeldt, Cans has closed its doors. This is not a rumor, the lid on the can is officially closed. I wish a can opener would open it back up thought because Cans has been a staple of Charlotte nightlife for the past few years, and we will miss it more than MC Hammer misses money and David Spade misses Chris Farley.
But when one door closes another one opens. Such as ...
• Dandelion Market ...
A small plate party place brought to us by the management team of Madison's, Connoley's, Tyber Creek Pub and The Attic. Opening in mid-December in the old Latorres restaurant location between Fiji and Basil, Dandelion Market will have 2 levels, 2 full bars, 24 craft style beers on tap, and 30 menu items ranging from $4-$15. Oh, and a coffee shop.
• The Wooden Vine is coming soon to a bar near you ... as in Zink on Tryon.
• Speaking of wines and vines, The Grape at Northlake Mall is now Forte and they offer live jazz every Wednesday.
• Cyros Sushi and Sake Bar is opening soon in South Park.
• Twenty-Two in Plaza Midwood and The Liberty on South Boulevard both recently opened, too, which you can read about on Creative Loafing's new comprehensive nightlife blog @LARGE
My girlfriends joke that their periods last longer than my relationships … so I’m not really inclined to celebrate anniversaries. But I do tend to celebrate a lot of bar anniversaries. That, or there are just a lot of them this month.
From oldest to youngest …
• Cosmos Cafe is turning 12, and they’re celebrating all week. Do you remember turning 12? Boy, were those years awkward and adolescent. I wonder if Cosmos is going to start their period this year … because that’s about the only thing I remember about turning 12.
• Dixie’s Tavern is turning 11, and they’re celebrating this Friday with a free buffet from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. with all new menu items – which you can wash down with drinks so cheap it’ll almost feel like open bar.
• On the Roxx at the Lake is turning 5, and they’re celebrating next Saturday, Nov. 21 with live music from The Pursey Kerns Band, free food courtesy of Matt's Chicago Dog, UFC 106 Pay Per View and a special guest DJ TBD. (As in To Be Announced … that’s not his DJ name. Just clarifying because that’s totally what I thought upon first read.) And … it’s a charity cover. $5 Donation Benefiting Huntington's Disease Society of America
PS- There's also an On the Roxx AND Cosmos in Ballantyne as well.
• Wild Wing Café in University is turning 1 … not to be confused with its red-headed stepsister in the EpiCentre. And they’re celebrating this Friday and Saturday with live music with The Brent Cates Band on Friday and The Aristocrats on Saturday. There is a picture of a cupcake in the ad, and I think they should give out those as well. … just saying.
Whenever you see the words “Anniversary” next to a bar’s ad, you can already assume that there will be good deals and a good time. It is their birthday party after all!
Why don't I just tell you what I'm doing this weekend and you can join me if you like ...
Thursday:
I'll probably work out after work just so I can justify going to Cosmos Uptown and gorging myself in a 3-course meal for $12 to celebrate their 12 year anniversary. After I eat myself into a coma, I'm going to migrate south to South Charlotte for the Ballantyne aloft and wxyz bar's grand, grand opening party. And I may go check out Cosmos in Ballantyne while I'm at it for their inaugural '90s night ... and maybe even eat some more.
Friday:
Debate over which outfit I'm going to wear for entirely way too long for as much as it matters, and then show up late to meet my friends, who thankfully are probably running late, too. You know, I wish Virginia Tech offered Time Management 101 courses because I am pretty much late for life.
We'll probably start at Kashmir for the Debauchery party hosted by my homeboy Mike Palladino. We'll then mosey on over to Madisons to bid adieu to my fellow paid partier, Charlotte Observer's Paid to Party Sarah Aarthun who has taken a job with CNN in Atlanta. And then we'll, as inevitably and always, end up at the EpiCentre ... this time for ELEVATE Lifestyle Magazine's 6th anniversary party at Suite. (I write for them too, you know).
Saturday:
Leave Uptown and really going out on the town ...
A while back I wrote a column entitled Tales from the ladies' restroom, which, in summation, indicated that females tend to flock together like birds of the same feather when in the ladies' room. But not too long ago, on a weeknight in Suite’s bathroom, I found myself having to bond a little more than I ever bargained for.
As I eagerly scurried my impatient bladder into the ladies' room, I was greeted by a girl passed out up against the wall. People were just walking by her — no one seemed to know nor notice her. Apparently, I have motherly instincts because I felt inclined to make sure she was OK. I alerted the bathroom attendant, who was busy soaping and drying girls' non-tipping hands, that there was a girl passed out in the back of her bathroom. She hadn’t noticed her come in and was thus unable to provide any clues to the mystery. So we questioned some of the girls coming and going … “She belong to you?” But no one claimed her.
At that point, I found myself wishing there was a lost-and-found for humans that I could drop her off at — because clearly I couldn’t just leave her with a clear conscience. So, I tried to wake her up. I spoke to her, I nudged her, I shouted to her, I shook her … nothing. She just laid limp soaking in a vat of her own vile. As I reached for my phone to call 911, the bathroom attendant came over with some water for her, which I proceeded to splash in her face. That woke her up.
My Saint Sarah has graduated from her internship with me, but has left me with her collegiate colleague, Megan White.
Megan will be my eyes and ears at the bars — and behind the bar as she works in the service industry. And she has nightlife vision goggles, too, might I add. She writes about what it's like to go behind bars in Charlotte bars.
Introducing Megan White ...
Tales From Behind the Bar
By Megan White
On any given weekend night, you can always find your typical types roaming around the EpiCentre in Uptown: the drunk girls who are in hot pursuit of cheaper shot specials, the middle-aged party of bachelors who are making way too many unnecessary Ric Flair hoots from the bar, and you can’t forget the clique of college students who will probably be laughing hysterically all night at each other … or until one of them passes out in the nearest bathroom stall. And then there’s me … the person behind the bar that has a front row, and sober, view of all of it.
According to Jay-Z, “after the party it’s the hotel lobby” ... or, you can just have the party at the hotel bar.
BLT in the Ritz Carlton just opened, and pretty much the entire hotel lobby is a lounge. It stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel — not bacon, lettuce and tomato. In fact, a BLT in that joint would probably cost you $15, for lunch.
It’s not cheap... it is at the Ritz after all and the lounge is well, rather ritzy. And their organic cocktails and premium wine list of the lobby-lounge correspond with the price range of a steak house.
It’s been open a few weeks and since then has been the hot spot for N.Y. Knicks and pretty much every celebrity that comes through Charlotte.
Don't know? Well let me help you out with that ... here are my party picks for the weekend.
Friday - party at the Time Warner Cable Arena - the Bobcats will be the belle of the ball. Pun intended.
Saturday - There are a lot of races in Charlotte ... NASCAR races ... Race for a Cure ... the mayoral race. But this weekend the Go Urban Adventure Race will be in town. A scavenger hunt based on text clues and physical and mental challenges. Kinda like the Amazing Race, minus all the reality show drama. Two person teams can register on-line.
Sunday - Runway for the Ballet Now this is like Project Runway meets So You Think You Can Dance. This fashion -slash- dance show will feature feature fashions from Morrison Boutique, Black & Blue, eMartini, Scout and Molly’s, and ChezElle on the runway and NC Dance Theatre’s Innovative Works will take the stage. All this strutting and sashaying will benefit the North Carolina Dance Theatre. And did I mention there will be catering from RuSans and wine from Aroogi's Wine Room
In spirit of Election Day I have decided to elect my favorite nightlife spot in Charlotte. The votes have been tallied, and I have come to a unanimous decision (with myself) that my favorite place to go for a night out is ... (drum roll please) ... The Time Cable Warner Arena.
Yes, really.
Not only have I seen concerts from Kanye West to Taylor Swift there (no, not together - or else he probably would've stolen the mic out of her hand), but the Bobcats season opener was last weekend against the N.Y. Knicks. So you know what that means ... we have 30 some odd parties, er, I mean ... games to go to.
But let's just say I didn't mind that the Knicks game went into double overtime, for the win ... because I got to stay at the arena longer – they even have a post game party in their Front Court Bar.
In fact, I like going to the games so much that the Bobcats have noticed and started publishing my blogs on their site. See …
Check out Bobcats Break for behind the scenes, and in the stands reports from the dome of nightlife that is the arena.
Trick or Treat? Halloween isn't just for the tricks ... sure, it has turned into "Dress Like a Slut Night" with so many girls going as "Slutty (insert occupation here)" — but despite the fact that it's hard to find costumes that'll cover your ass anymore, there were a lot of creative costumers out this Halloween. And as I made my rounds to judge various costume contests, I captured some of the winners .... Treat!
A blind Jake Delhomme seen at Coyote Joes — and even though just in costume, he still got boo'ed off stage during the costume contest. I also saw a Jake with a for sale sign on.
All the single ladies! Beyonce and her back-up dancers seen at Andrew Blair's
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