I am back in my second city... Chicago. Actually, I impulsively made the purchase of the All-You-Can-Jet pass from Jet Blue - so I will be gone for a while. I'm also going to NYC, la la land, Houston to see my sister, Baltimore to see my other ... and home for my 10-year high school reunion (yes, I am that old).
Unfortunately however, I am going to miss out on a lot in Charlotte while I am jetting my ass all over the US ... such as the Dirty.com party at Cans tomorrow (yes, Cans is still open) and the last Alive After Five on Sept. 24.
While the show Holidate sent me to Chicago to swap cities for a love life, now I am swapping cities for a nightlife. I am going to explore Chicago's nightlife compared to that of Charlotte’s … let’s see who wins.
As a resource I grabbed the Chicago Reader - Creative Loafing's step-cousin newspaper, which is where I found ads for some events that I have yet to see in Charlotte.
* The Beer, Bikes, and Big Wheels - a bike race slash scavenger hunt
* Pabst Blue Ribbon Brawl - a wrestling match involving PBR with some sort of "Six Pack on a Pole Match"
* The Booty Crawl, which celebrates International Talk Like a Pirate Day
*Messing with a Friend at Annoyance Theatre staring Susan Messing.
... And while out in Wrigleyville following a Cubs game, Praire Organic Vodka made from corn.
But a lot of the event ads in The Reader looked familiar to those in The Loaf... wine and cultural festivals, concert series, after five mixers, live music , bars owned by BMG. Sure, Chicago has advantages - such as geographical and economical ones like Lake Michigan, the (Whatcha talking 'bout) Willis Tower, Major League Baseball and the bid for 2016 Olympics. And sure, Chicago has more venues, events and a comedy scene. But Charlotte is warmer ... and we have just as much fun as the big (ger) city.
By Tiffany Handy
Guys, I am about to impart some knowledge to you that will save both your dating life and your wallet. With this knowledge, you can quit acting like you enjoy being single because you can’t afford to date. I have a list of various date ideas that will not cost you more than $30 ... in total!
I woke up Friday morning to the sound of a ferris wheel and a petting zoo being built right outside of my apartment. I walked out onto my balcony and to my left were live pigs in a cage, and to my right were pork smokers. Essentially – there was a full out county fair in the middle of Uptown Charlotte … the Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival.
I’m just not comprehending the concept of having live pigs in the same vicinity as their pits of death like those little piggies were on death row. I personally don’t want to see Wilbur before I eat him. But considering how many people were in my front yard pigging out on pig, I am thinking that’s just me.
Tryon Street was like Taste of Charlotte – but all there was to taste was championship BBQ. With a hint of the Greek Festival that was on East Blvd.
The “city fair” was the Olympics of BBQ’ing, the pig chefs were wearing numbers like they were in a marathon. And they camped out (in the parking lot right across from my balcony) like at a NASCAR race.
And at the end of the night I watched all the policemen crowded around their trucks scarfing down BBQ – I suppose it was a nice change from donuts. And when the festival came to a close on Saturday night, the septic tank came and pumped out all the port-a-pottys (again, right in front of my balcony).
So, now my condo reeks of not only cooking pigs … but shit. (It kinda reminded me of my hometown in Virginia actually, which has a lingering aroma of chicken feed and manure). But those in my house thought it a good idea to place a wager on the game of Connect Four we were playing – loser has to go down and use the porta-potty. I lost. But then we decided we were all losers because we were playing Connect Four on a Saturday night.
When I went to bed the parking lot had emptied out and the streets re-opened… and then I woke up to a Panther’s Tailgate, which said parking lot magically transformed into overnight. There is always some sort of festival going on in Charlotte (usually right under my balcony apparently) … but up next is Festival in the Park, in Freedom Park starting Sept. 24
"When did that get there?"... That's what I was wondering when I turned the corner of Trade and Tryon and saw a restauraunt and lounge tucked in the corner behind the waterfall. For a second there, I thought it has always been there and I hadn't noticed, kind of like Champions and Cutters. But apparently Room 112 Modern Asian Cuisine and Sushi lounge opened quietly July 1.
Restaurant week (Sept. 18 – 27) might be a good time to check them out.
Though I don’t necessarily enjoy frequenting the dentist like I do, say, a happy hour, I have never missed a cleaning — every time I’ve gone to the dentist in the past 10 years or so, they’ve made me take more X-rays than necessary to jack up my bill, given me a lecture about flossing while polishing my teeth, told me I don’t have any cavities, then gave me a free toothbrush and sent me on my way. But despite the fact they took all those X-rays, they apparently never actually read them ... at least not correctly because last week I stopped by my friend Kelly's new practice and she showed me my X-rays - and even I could see with my naked, non-dental school educated eye, that there was something inside my teeth that shouldn't be ... cavities, lots and lots of cavities.
The silver fillings I got as a child from drinking well water sans fluoride and eating one too many Pixie Stix leaked creating 11, I repeat 11 cavities over the years … So how is it that four other dentists - two in Charlotte, one in New York City and one in Virginia overlooked the cavities hidden under my fillings? I guess Dr. Kelly and Micheal Wilson of SouthEnd Dentistry are just better!
And ... they make going to the dentist like happy hour – literally, there is a happy hour at SouthEnd Dentistry this Friday starting at 6 p.m. They are having an open house (and open bar, as well as a catered buffet) to showcase their new practice — said practice that saved my smile. Located right above the Wine Loft in you guessed it, SouthEnd (hence the name). Thus, you can make a night of it at the Wine Loft, or one of the many new nightlife features in SouthEnd including the Common Market and Dharma Lounge.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… football season. Waking up last Saturday for the first day of college football season actually felt like Christmas morning.
My friend, Lisa, a hardcore Eagles fan fresh out of Philly, made it her personal mission to find a bar in Charlotte where she could watch her team (when they’re not playing here) without having to be interrupted by shit talking (about the team … not just Vick).
Based on game day patronage, different sports bars throughout Charlotte play for different teams — college and NFL. Dixie’s is the place Steelers fans can go wave their terrible towels, Buffalo Bills fans herd to Town Tavern and Tavern on the Tracks, Strike City is the official Buckeye bar, Clemson congregates at Stool Pigeons Uptown, Beantown in Matthews caters to the New England fans, and the Tarheels paint Angry Ale’s Carolina Blue … and pretty much every sports bar come to think of it.
Meanwhile, Blackfinn was officially stamped the Hokies Headquarters when the alumni packed the place during the ACC Championship game last year — that, and when Wild Wings changed the channel on the Virginia Tech – Georgia Tech basketball game … (don’t worry though, we won both). And an extra point for Blackfinn for playing music during commercials and an extra point for playing the VT fight song when we score.
Blackfinn is also a Florida and Giants bar. Meanwhile, Dilworth Grill has affiliations with Georgia, Michigan State, Auburn and WVU. Lake Norman Sports Grille has a bunch of cocks … as in South Carolina Gamecocks. Wild Wing at the Epicentre is where the Clemson fans go this year. And Bailey’s Sports Grill caters to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Boo! Yes, I’m still bitter – rip tide, R.I.P.
Oh, and Lisa eventually found a nesting spot for the Eagles and NFC East teams — Picassos on East Boulevard.
Considering there are practically enough sports bars in Charlotte to cover every team, all avid sports fans are bound to find a place where they can high five a fellow fan. Also on the roster of sports bars is 1300 SouthEnd Tavern , Jocks and Jills, Situations, Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Sidelines, Hickory Tavern, Steamers Sports Pub, Fox and the Hound… and pretty much any bar that specializes in wings or has televisions. But when the Panthers are playing, every bar is a Panther’s bar – whether the transplants like it or not (sorry Lisa).
In NYC there’s a bar on 39th and Park called Red Sky and when the Redskins play girls get to drink free in the fourth quarter… now doesn’t that sound like a great idea. Hint, Hint sports bars.
And for the record, on the top floor of Blackfinn the men’s room is on the left of the bar whereas the women’s is on the right. I made the mistake of walking in and almost using the men’s room, and just when I thought no one noticed – I received a Facebook message the following morning that read:
Hey how are you doing today? I am pretty sure I saw you in the men's room at Blackfinn so I am sorry for not saying hi then but I was a little confused.
Sam
Now that’s what I call a flag on the play.
Whereas most people need an agent to get on TV... you just need a beer.
Bud Light is casting for their Tailgate Approved commercial. Who knows, this could be your big break ... beer break at least.
The casting call (or party rather) is Friday, Sept. 11, at the Bud Light Prowl Party at the EpiCentre Pavilion from 6-9 p.m.
The "audition" will entail a Bud Light Locker Room Challenge for the Ladies and a Skills Competition for the Men. 20 casting candidates (yes, 20 - therefore your odds are pretty good) will qualify and win tickets to the Panthers vs. Eagles game, passes to the Bud Light Tailgate Port-a-Party, and a chance to get shot ... with a camera.
You don't even need a headshot ... just two forms of ID (stating that you're 25 or older).
The commercial will be filmed on Sunday, Sept.13, 2009 at the Bud Light Tailgate on the Corner of Mint and Morehead at 9:30 a.m. and air on the Jumbotron during Panthers games throughout the season.
Say cheese! ... or CHEERS rather.
Remember Reading Rainbow, where LeVar Burton made reading look cool? Well, reading is cool again ... so cool, in fact, it gets its own festival. The Charlotte Literary Festival (and Carnival)
I have three pairs of tickets to give away for the Festival-slash-Carnival in NoDa this weekend. Just e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com and tell me your favorite Reading Rainbow book.
Dharma Lounge opened its doors yesterday to friends and family and will open its doors to extended family and acquaintances (as in the public) this weekend.
Dharma is not your typical lounge with a dance floor (and bamboo lined patio) — it is nightlife enlightened, a place of Zen. The kind of place where you can find inner peace … and get drunk (and with Zen green tea liquor even).
Yesterday, a Buddhist Monk blessed the venue … and the giant Buddhist statue above the bar that is blessing the booze, which is incredibly inexpensive might I add.
Not only can you shake your Buddha on the dance floor, but Dharma will offer free yoga classes at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays , making it the only bar that offers both alcohol and detox. And you can also find peace in the fact that Dharma is non-smoking.
Dharma is located near Apostrophe Lounge — between Pop Life at Apostrophe, Media Night at the Gin Mill, the Common Market always being busy, and Dharma’s opening, South End was more busy and bumping than Uptown.
Next week is Charlotte N.C. Fashion Week at the Mint Museum of Art (the one off Randolph Road, not Uptown). Because having fun never goes out of style.
I'll actually be hosting the Young Designer Showcase on Thursday night. In addition to watching me potentially trip down the runway, there will be performances by Jocelyn Ellis and Alpha Theory.
After party at Decor 1220.
Vogue, vogue, vogue ....
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