The last stop before the stadium coming from Center City (where beers are reasonably priced) is an interesting little cafe Uptown.
I didn't even know the place existed until I walked by it and was offered a beer "to go."
As in, buy a beer from their patio beer tub and keep walking down the street with it. Last I checked, that was illegal. But everywhere I looked, everyone was already just walking around, beer in hand — passing cops in crosswalks on their way to the stadium.
I felt like I had died and gone to New Orleans. So do we abide by a different game book of laws on game day and the container one gets benched?
So I called and asked ... no, the law does not get lifted on game days, the cops are just busy. So, they can bust you ... but not if you're in a private parking lot, they informed me. Either way, if you pour your beer into a styrofoam cup the foam it makes it appear like hot chocolate ... I mean, that's what I heard.
Head over to clclt.com/halloween to see a continuing growing list we've compiled of Halloween parties and events. Happy tricking -- I mean, trick-or-treating!
(photo taken at last year's CarnEVIL by Jeff Hahne)
No, everything doesn't suck!
It's the 3rd Everything Doesn't Suck Party at Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa. The FREE party on Thursday, Oct. 22 will celebrate fun and all the good things in life -- reason enough for a party, no?
There will be live music from Horse Ghost and Hot Hand Spirits, door prizes, ticket giveaways, massages, and drink specials including $3 Red Stag drinks (it's bourbon that tastes like black cherry!).
See you there!
What's that? ... Thought you'd never ask. Well, right now it's a construction site, but it will be the new ballroom shared between the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center. The first event to be held here is the NRA National Convention in May of 2010. Looks like it'll be done by then don't you think?
...Charlotte is getting a homegrown version of a House of Blues or Hard Rock Cafe — that's what's going down the Blvd. ... or going up rather.
The Blvd. is located down the Boulevard ... Independence, that is, where Stir used to be, but they are stirring it up completely. For starters, it’s not a nightclub anymore — it’s an all-genre entertainment venue. And I do mean all genres.
They have a big-name schedule and diverse calendar penciled in, but general manager Marc Harding said they do not wish to announce it just yet. But Marc did tell me the schedule will include a blend of country acts to pop to beachy music, to old school pop, to '70s and '80s mix. From local to national acts and concerts to comedy.
Wednesday night is comedy night, Thursday will host local to regional bands, Friday and Saturday are slated for national acts and a Gospel Brunch on Sundays.
Diet Beer! … This is the best thing since frozen yogurt. Not only does Bud’s Select 55 only have 55 calories, it only has 1.9 g of carbs and even has some protein … a whole .5 g. Sure, it’s mostly water (and only 2.4% alcohol) … but that’ll keep you hydrated and functionally drunk.
But sadly, this diet beer delicacy is only available in test markets now. I found such wonderment in my friend’s fridge. Select 55 will be available in Charlotte in February.
First Enso opened up in the EpiCentre, then Room 112 magically (or quietly rather) opened tucked in the corner of Trade and Tryon.
And now, Fiji and Kashmir are opening where Feast and Liv use to have a HOM. That's Fiji Sushi Bar and Lounge — not to be confused with Fujo Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar in One Wachovia Building.
Kashmir Nightclub and Fiji Sushi Bar and Lounge are opening this weekend, Oct. 9 and 10, with a fashion show from Jordanos boutique on Saturday. The event will feature "surprise sponsors and celebrities"... which I'm guessing is still somewhat a surprise to them as well. I've heard a rumor that one of them is my bathroom buddy from a party at Sundance ... Paris Hilton. That's hot. And the liquor sponsor is Johnny Love Vodka. It's their launch party in North Carolina this weekend as well.
Within this sushi club is the Zen Lounge, exclusive for VIP Gold Card members. But this card has more perks than just a roped off room. According to manager Chandler Alan Beal, the gold card members will have full-out concierge services. Wednesday-Friday from 5-7 p.m. gold card members get fed and their first beverage free - and there will be a massage therapist available. They also have WiFi, should you want to access the Internet at happy hour. Random... but nice nontheless.
And according to a press release: T1 Visions will be unveiling a demo of its patent-pending T1 Connection BoothTM system, an electronic touch surface incorporated into a conventional lounge table that will allow customers in the VIP room to control audio and visual content in the room, including choosing songs, photographs, music videos and internet content from either a local database or their own portable devices. This will be the first use of the T1 Connection BoothTM Technology in a night club setting.
In laymen terms ... there will be touch screen table tops
Oh, and the sushi is said to be good.
Want a VIP Gold Card? ... well you are golden because I am giving one away. Just e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com and tell me your favorite sushi place in Charlotte ... because I can't decide. First e-mail to hit my crackberry wins.
Meanwhile, for Halloween Kashmir and Fiji are teaming up with ELEVATE Lifestyle Magazine for "Nightmare on 5th Street" ... the lift the curse party.
... Cafe Central and Frank's East Boulevard Bar & Grill. Easy enough.
East Boulevard Bar and Grill isn't necessarily new, but it is just opening. Once located closer to Freedom Park, East Boulevard will now be on the busier block of Dilworth in Latta Pavilion (where Quiznos and Super Suppers use to be).
New location .... new hours and new menu. Well, additional items ... which will be available during their new later hours. Their homemade bar fare and entrees will be available until 2 a.m. - not to mention a full bar. They've completely remodeled the space — there is no evidence of a Quiznos or Super Suppers even being there, and they've combined the two spaces and added cool garage door style windows, which will keep the bar-slash-grill feel like an indoor patio.
Frank will be opening the new East Boulevard Bar & Grill soon. Very, very soon ... they're hoping next week if the construction is finished (but we all know how that goes).
And Cafe Central is having their rooftop: The View at Cafe Central grand opening party on Tuesday, Oct. 6 with live music from Big Octave. This Plaza Midwood bar has quite the view of the city … one that could challenge that of Loft 1523 in Elizabeth. The spot are open late and serve brunch on Sunday (note to those of you waiting for over an hour for a table at Zada Janes).
Cason-Point: Two cool neighborhoods just got two new cool neighborhood bars.
Skirt Magazine that is … And you can put on your skirt (or lift it up if you really want to) at Skirt! After Work today, Sept. 30, at The Spa (and pool) at Ballantyne Resort. And it is right after work from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Skirt! After Work featured drink is peach-and-cranberry flavored Silk Skirts – and $2 from each purchase will go toward benefiting the charity Circle de Luz.
Summer is falling into fall, so you may want to hit this pool party before the pool gets covered.
Skirt! has its happy hour-slash-charity events sporadically, but they're consistently a good time. I have been to two Skirt! After Work events in the past … one at McCormick and Schmick's in SouthPark Mall for which I ended up getting pink hair extensions in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. And the other was at The Wine Shop where drinking wine was good for the heart … the American Heart Association.
By the way, The Wine Shop in SouthPark has more than wine for sale … nightlife is also in their inventory.
They offer tastings every Friday from 5 – 7 p.m. and cooking classes one a month … and they serve you wine while you cook (I wish my Home Ec classes in high school were that cool).
Charlotte is full of bleacher bars for football fans to watch their teams, there’s even different cheering sections.
But now there’s a new way to watch Monday Night Football … on the big screen. And by big screen I am not talking about a 52 inch flat screen, I am referring to a movie theater.
Last night, I watched the Panthers lose at the EpiCentre Theater. They showed the big game on the big screen… and had a full bar under it. And even better, there were no movie theatre prices - Bud lights were a mere $2 and admittance was even free.
They have trivia during commercials and timeouts so you can really get into the game … and a game of your own. There was also a raffle for a Bud Light Grooler (grill-slash-cooler) and tickets to Panthers games. It wasn’t the typical theater atmosphere where you have to whisper and put your phone on vibrate, it was more like a sports bar with a really, really big television. Mez-slash-EpiCentre Theaters will host all Monday Night football games – next week the box office will be showing the Vikings vs. Packers.
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