The cursed corner that was once Menage, then Hom, has had an Asian invasion and is now Fiji & Kashmir.
Now you can "Feast" at Fiji Sushi Bar and Lounge.
And where Liv used to live is going to be an upscale nightclub, Kashmir.
Kashmir is slated to open in two weeks and Fiji in mid-August. Meanwhile, the attic of the old Hom — Play — is still for lease
"This is a reinvention of the 5th Street Corridor" says owner Chandler Alan Beal with Bar Concepts Inc. who is also remodeling Indochin Grill and transforming it into an ultra-lounge serving Asian tapas and cocktails, such as Asian infused teas, until 2 a.m.
Bombay Sapphire Gin to be exact … and used in original recipes made by Charlotte’s top bartenders. Last night was the Bombay Sapphire and GQ Magazine’s Most Inspired Bartender Contest at Loft 1523.
The contest consisted of lot of the same bartenders as the Bar Wars event at Alley Cat — but it was a lot classier of an event with a lot higher stakes. The winner of the event last night will be flown to Las Vegas to compete against bartenders from all over the country — and that winner will then be featured in GQ Magazine and be credited for creating Bombay Sapphire’s new drink to be mass-marketed in the U.S.
I felt like I was in Hell’s Kitchen for bartenders, slash a science fair. Anyone that thinks bartending is easy is apparently only a beer tub girl because bartending is a science … literally. Mixology is chemistry.
The bartenders were using fruits and ingredients I’d never even heard of before. There were edible flowers frozen in ice, lemon peels wrapped around ice tubes, homemade jams lacing the glasses and extraordinary garnishes. And there were a lot of recipes involving cucumbers; apparently cucumbers are the new it ingredient — like pink is the new black, cucumber is the the new pomegranate.
And the winner is … (drum roll please)
Is it just me or does it seem as though being single these days is kinda like the current state of the economy? In fact, it’s so bad I'm considering going on a reality show to find love... no, really. Or, to this event...
But you better hurry up and register because spots are going faster than dateable people off the market.
"The Better Class of Charlotte presents Dating: How to Find LOVE in 60 Seconds!" Hosted by Charlotte relationship expert Dr. Anne Banicks and author Brian Howie. Complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres for all pre-registered guests. Cost is $20.
Tuesday, July 14th, 7 - 9 p.m. at Ashton South End.
125 W. Tremont Ave.
The wristbands we get when we enter a bar, club, concert or event do not constitute as an accessory. In fact, it can ruin your whole outfit.
Getting ready for a night out is a production — especially for the ladies when it comes to coordinating the fashion … and a neon-yellow paper bracelet typically doesn’t coordinate with our fashion.
We scour our closets and do our own little version of a fashion show and movie wardrobe montage trying to figure out what to wear. And after carefully selecting an outfit and shoes to match, we apply makeup to coordinate, style the hair accordingly and accessorize carefully to give the outfit some frosting. And when it’s a girl’s night out and we're all dolled up, we pose for “before pictures” — as in before going out, before getting sweaty from dancing and before having to top off our wardrobe with a wristband.
So, there we are, all dressed up and ready to go … and then as soon as we get out, we have to put on a tacky plastic wristband with its excess poking us in the eyeball all night when we go to take a sip of a drink.
By Tiffany Handy
University vs. Uptown … who can bring in the greater throng. While on Thursday nights Uptown is jamming with Alive After Five, University has its own concert series that is just as jamming.
The University Summer Concert Series is every Thursday through June and July at University Place — home of Boardwalk Biily’s, The Wine Vault and Bad Dogs. This past Thursday, a Dave Matthews tribute band rocked the boardwalk while surrounding bars supplied cheap beer and well drinks.
I spent most of my time at Boardwalk's due to its $2 liquor specials in addition to the $2 drafts and domestic bottles. Bad Dogs had some great specials as well, such as half-off appetizers from 5-7 p.m., $2 Coors Lite and $1.25 PBR. And then there was The Wine Vault with its Beer Cannon, which is, exactly what it sounds like. $5 Riesling and $2 can beers were the featured items. In summary, whatever your poison, you can get it on a college student’s budget in University.
Just Because.
What are you doing this weekend? How about this ...
And on Saturday RockHouse Event's Social Olympics is going to rock Midtown Sundries at Lake Norman. The teams are sold out, but this event is more fun to watch than the actual Olympics.
... as in Dish it Out pottery studio.
I know what you’re thinking, "What in the hell does a pottery-painting place have to do with nightlife?" Well, they serve wine there. And some of the best nights out, are nights in. Well, out, but not at a bar at least.
Places like Dish it Out allow for some good wholesome fun — and you have more to show for it than a hangover. Meanwhile, the kids can occupy themselves while moms can gather and talk about "adult things" and about how much they needed a night out.
They have just about everything you can imagine to paint, from plates to giant martini glasses to dog bowls to people bowls to jewelry boxes to … you get my point.
I made a ring holder and painted “With This Ring” on it to and gave it to my friend as a wedding gift. In her thank you note she wrote: “Thanks for doing arts and crafts for us Brittney — it was my favorite gift — something needed and something homemade.” And that was my favorite thank you card I received … it’s normally just, “Thanks for the Target gift card.” Because they know I wait until the last minute when everything on their registry is out of my budget so I just get them a gift card … considering 87.9 percent of my friends are married, they’ve figured me out by now.
Then you leave your pottery to be fired, and you can then walk down the street to Big Ben Pub for a drink, catch a movie at the Manor … or, go home and put the kids to bed.
They also host “Creative Parties” for birthdays, bridal and baby showers, and my personal favorite … girl’s night out. It actually won Charlotte Magazine’s Best of Award for “Best Place to Have a Party.”
Dish it Out has locations in Myers Park and Stonecrest.
And no, no one is in there replicating the scene from Ghost .
Considering I host the show 3 Wide Life, I couldn't have been more proud when my intern voluntarily went to cover nightlife at the track ...
By Tiffany Handy
If you’re under 16, you can’t drive a car … unless it’s a race car that is.
Raise your hand if you like the idea of 10-15 unlicensed drivers behind the wheel, going around in circles and crashing into one another. You can’t see it, but I'm raising my hand ...
For the past four summers, I have been going to Lowes Motor Speedway for the Summer Shootout Series. The cost is a mere $7 a person — and just like at NASCAR races, you are able to bring a cooler … because the Beast of the Southeast is BYOB after all.
The Summer Shootout is racing in the raw — there’s the Bandolero BANDITS (8-11 year-olds), the Young Lions (12-16 years-old) and the Masters (40 and older). Meanwhile, semi-professional and professional drivers race round the front stretch and through the pits for 10-20 laps. There are plenty of crashes followed by hundreds of hoots and hollers from the crowd. Last Tuesday, one crash was so good — if it’s morally right to say that — that the ambulance had to come. No one was injured in the making of this entertainment.
Honor the Red, White and Blue with Red, White and Brew … Red, White and Boom … Red, White, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. There are all kinds of ways to celebrate our independence and do a little indepen-dance in Charlotte, but below are the Brittney After Dark party picks, as in pick of party.
Britt’s pick …
Inaugural Queen City Hot Dog Eating Contest. There’s just something about shoving wieners in your mouth at a rapid rate that sounds fun … and to benefit the troops no less. Friday, July 3 at Alley Cat - $2 door donation that includes one free hotdog and there’s a $1000 cash prize to whoever can inhale the most wieners.
The Intern’s Party Picks ….
When I first moved here, I had to beg my friends to stop going to B&B, as they called it, because it's the only place they went (granted, it was one of the only places to go), but, now, I feel bad because come Tuesday Brick and Barrel is sealing the barrel and shutting their doors.
I guess that's what happens when the EpiCentre takes half of your staff and pretty much all your customers. I am slightly surprised no one is trying to sue them for a monopoly — or just challenge them to a game of it or something.
But they'll be blowing out the Barrel with a blow-out bash all weekend long before they blow the doors off on Tuesday.
Hey, when one bar closes, another door opens...
Meanwhile, Murphy's off Woodlawn also closed. To be honest, the only reason I ever went there was for one random night of karaoke, and to partake in the Charlotte SkeeBall League — which has since relocated to Hef's and Blondes ... had some good times there. Moment of silence, please.
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