And by Courtside I mean the condo building next to the arena — Kalu has opened underneath it, appreciating the value of the property. But all residents of Charlotte can appreciate this new bar and restaurant.
Just like the waitress does, let's start with the drinks... They have a sake line exclusive to their venue, and a drink menu to match it.
Cason-Point: the Sake Slurpee — which was so thick I needed a spoon to consume it. Which is better than the alternative of getting esophagus freeze like I always do at Wet Willies sucking down the spiked slurpee.
They also have (and are the only ones in Charlotte who have) Eichigo, an imported rice beer from Japan and Kissui, an Asian vodka. And their signature drink is the Geicha green tea.
And now for the food...
Green Flag on the holiday weekend!
Happy birthday, America! Time to fire up the grill, eat some hotdogs, watch fireworks ... and a NASCAR race.
You can watch the Daytona 400.
Tickets to the viewing party are $5 and include a free simulator ride and race scanner like that of an actual race that broadcasts drivers and crew radio chat and lap-by-lap commentary. But unlike an actual race at the Beast of the SouthEast, the HOF is not BYOB - concessions and a cash bar will be available.
Note, it's a simulator, not STIMULATOR ... which I learned after incorrectly saying "the vibrations of the stimulators ..." on live television. Whoops.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for NASCAR Hall of Fame Members; 7 p.m. for general public. Green Flag waves at 7:30 p.m.
The new top shelf liquor had it's launch party last night at Loft 1523.
Crown Royal Black is a blend of of Canadian whiskey, aged in bourbon. It's 90 proof as opposed to the standard 80 - and that extra kick gives it a spicier and bolder taste. You can find it at any bar Crown Royal is served.
Calvin Richardson (who performed at the launch party) not included.
To find out about more crowning events check IT out.
Blondes apparently don't have more fun because Blonde's Lounge closed and stopped having fun altogether — as did Hef's Bar and Grille in Park Road Shopping Center.
Well, rumor has it the owner of Hef's and Blonde's just bought Fairview Grille and put the Park Road bars up for sale — according to the guy who bought Blonde's Lounge and opened Thurston's Bar in its place.
Thurston's opened about a week ago, sans a sign. It is a private club — meaning they don't serve food and have to call themselves one in order to abide by ALE law. So, they can lawfully serve their champagne cocktails. They tentatively have open mic night scheduled for Tuesdays and live music on weekends. Thurston's Bar's official grand opening party is July 10.
Meanwhile, Hef's Bar and Grill is having its "Grand Re-Opening"
They're keeping the name, but changing the drink specials and offering $1 Mondays (select drinks including Bud Light and house vodka are only $1).
And Duckworth's Cheese Steakery is changing theme and location. They are now Duckworth Grill and TapHouse — they dropped the cheese steak and added several new brews on tap and over 60 different bottled beers — they are said to have a beer selection to rival that of Revolution in NoDa and Mac's Speed Shop. But even still, the new IceHouse SouthEnd blows everyone out of the water ... hops and wheat.
As you can see, you can shop for nightlife over in Park Road Shopping Center, and with Montford Drive that runs parallel to it with bars filling every space between Angry Ales and Moosehead Lounge (topped off with a late night Taco Bell) Montford Drive is kinda like Bourbon Street ... well, Dive Drive.
Sorry T-Pain, you can't come this time - I've only got two free VIP passes aboard the Ragin' Uptown Party Yacht for Anchor Island
Every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's Anchors up for Anchors Island – which is actually a 90 foot Ragin Uptown charter yacht equipped with a cash bar, live music, Kiss 95.1 DJ and a water slide.
First person to e-mail me a line from "I'm on a Boat!" at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com gets them ... then just show up at Fox and the Hound in Birkdale Village at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday morning!
But just so you know, there are more rules on Anchor Island than an elementary school field trip.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words... but the word count for my column is only 350, so to better allow you to picture what I described in few words, I included some actual pictures. The following are the visual-virtual affects of my column this week Making Charlotte Metropolitan
The porch of the city ...
Meet Molly ...
This is Molly MacPherson, the real-ife person from Scotland for which the newest pub opening in Uptown is named: Molly MacPhersons Scottish Pub.
This authentic Scottish pub doesn't open its doors until Friday — and the ribbon cutting and official grand opening isn't until July 1 — but here's a sneak peek ...
Note the English pourers. Molly's will have 76 single malt whiskeys .. .or as we call it, scotch ... 'cause it's from Scotland.
No, it's not a hockey rink ... or even a brewery that brews IceHouse beer. IceHouse SouthEnd is what has replaced SouthEnd Brewery. And they certaintly replaced everything — including the brewery.
It's no longer a brewery, at all - just a place that serves brew, and the entire venue was cut in half. No wonder it took so long to reopen.
The Grand Opening party is tonight, June 15 starting at 6 p.m., but I went last night to determine if I should tell you whether to go check it out or not. And the verdict is, you should.
The waitress (who looked identical to the crazy girl in Swim Fan, which made me jump everytime she would sneak up to our table to refill our waters) showed us a beer menu and said they have more than 100 types of beers.
Intimidated by this list larger and longer than any wine menu I've seen, I asked her to direct me to the light and fruity section. And thus we tried a "fruit plate" - and assortment of pomegrante, pear and Apple beer. If beer has fruit in it that makes it healthy, right?
IceHouse will be open and serving pub grub, such as their sweet potato fritters with warm goat cheese, until 2 a.m. They have an upper level with pool tables and a private dining room, and a picnic-style patio.
I got a new tattoo!
Actually, a temporary cartoon crab on my hand, applied by a 3-year-old at Levine Children’s Hospital. I was there for what was not only the best party I’ve ever attended in Charlotte in all my years as a nightlife writer, but just ever in general … the Starlight Society’s Beach Bash.
In addition to fake tattooing, there was dolphin ring toss, beach ball coloring, picture frame-making, and face painting … in which I found myself in charge of. A little boy asked me to draw a dog on his face. Now this is well beyond my artistic ability, but I drew the best stick figure of a dog with spots I could ... and it pretty much looked like a kid drew it. Yet, he loved it — he even showed it off to the doctors and then asked me to draw a shark on his other cheek ... he was just as happy and grateful as could be. As were all the kids attending the beach bash. Those kids appreciate every moment, every breath and they find the fun in any situation ... It’s amazing the things children can teach adults.
The Starlight Society is a group of young professionals that exists to support the Levine Children’s Hospital — it’s kind of like a fraternity or country club of community service. Their first project is the Center Stage Entertainment Series Program, in which they hold events such as the Beach Bash, and the Prelude to the Dream race-viewing party at Strike City — that Team Levine led by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch actually won. Because of Johnson’s win and Busch’s third place finish, Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte received 45 percent of the proceeds raised by the race and the pay-per-view broadcast. Perhaps the only time I’ll cheer for Jimmie or Kyle.
If you wish to join the club you can do so here.
The World Cup has (literally) kicked off, and Saturday is the big game ... USA vs England.
And seeing as how the U.S. has bought more tickets than any country outside of South Africa, futbol is the No. 1 sport in America for the time being. So don't worry if you couldn't jet off to Africa — there are plenty of places to watch the World Cup in Charlotte, on TV.
Kick-off for USA vs. England is at 2 p.m., but the parties start early.
Dixie's Tavern's doors open at 11 a.m., Hickory Tavern (Providence Road) opens at noon, and the party at Blackfinn kicks off at 1 p.m.
And Courtyard Hooligans is the premiere soccer bar of Uptown, and will be the place to be during the World Cup.
If you're looking for a list of venues to watch the World Cup, look no further than my sister site, CL's At Large blog
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