Last weekend, I went to the market … as in the Dandelion Market, the newest bar in Uptown.
Although I did go to the actual market as well… after spending 15 minutes fighting my way through the parking lot of the Metrolina Shopping Center, I got to Trader Joe's. Another 15 minutes later, as I’m standing in the check-out line, I hear: “If you left your blackberry in the apples, we have it at customer service.” I look at the bag of apples in my hand, and notice the lack of blackberry in the other. I go up to customer service to retrieve my crackberry, and they tell me they found it mixed in with the apples in the crate … oops. Luckily, they have child-proofed the store for adults.
The staff of the Dandelion Market is as cool and helpful, and like in Trader Joe’s they let you have samples ... of their 24 beers on tap including many local drafts. I tried the one with a church tap. And seeing as how it’s a small plate place, you can sample the menu without committing to a whole meal. You can also try everything at the market, which is one of everything on the menu for only 200 “buckaroos” … I'm pretty sure that means a dollar in Dandelion lingo. They also have 25 different kinds of wine and only charge 25 buckaroos a bottle.
The Mellow Mushroom used to be a little slice of heaven in Charlotte … my second favorite pizza place in fact (right behind Brixx).
However, The Pizza Peel took over the Mellow Mushroom in Costwold… and well, as for the NoDa location … there was some drama over it when Moon Dog Pizza tried to come in and use the same menu and signage. But now it’s Revolution Pizza, not to be confused with the retail store.
In the battle of pizza places replacing Mellow Mushroom … in this corner we have the Pizza Peel … and in this corner we have Revolution.
... such as free beer! Last Monday, the nightlife industry was shaking down to Shinedown for the Miller Lite and Coors Light holiday party at The Fillmore.
The line to get into The Fillmore was wrapped around the N.C. Music Factory, and slowly tapering in… yet it didn’t seem like it was even crowded inside. Perhaps because the venue is massive and laid out perfectly for a live music venue — with a stage, dance floor, two side bars and a back lounge.
Sure, it was a Shinedown concert with a lot of rocking and rolling involved, but I was more interested in playing Wii with football pads acting as the game controller. I also played in fake snow, did the running man next to a go-go dancer … and went on a beer scavenger hunt.
Upon entry you were given a card with logos for six different types of beer — you then went on a sampling scavenger hunt, getting a stamp for each sample taken. After receiving six stamps you enter the card into a raffle to win free shit like iPods. … so, basically, you got rewarded for drinking beer. Now, that’s awesome.
Start Thanksgiving with a hangover... suggested Frank ManZetti who kept his Tavern open until 2 a.m. the Wednesday before. I thought that strategy was somewhat smart, as it would help prevent you from eating so much. I personally prefer a turkey coma to a hangover… but that’s just me. Though, either way you feel tired and in need of Pepto.
After my college graduation, as I was packing to move to NYC, my mom told me, “The difference between being an artist and a starving artist, is the ability to sell and market yourself.” … and I just stopped having to ask her for money. But the perk of being an artist up for sale is not only do you not starve, you get to eat at places like ManZetti’s — for the small cost of having to listen to a sales pitch for an opportunity.
I went when it first opened for a dinner and drink meeting - the kind of meeting where you just shoot the shit and bull spit… and try to figure out if you’re buying what the other person is selling and picking up what they’re putting down. Sometimes I wish I had minored in business in college. Let’s just say I’m in an industry where you get fed a lot of bullshit, and I know what it tastes like… but at Manzetti’s you get fed a good portion of salad, steak and seafood... and that tastes a lot better.
So, of course I personally enjoyed Manetti’s — I got an opportunity with a side of dinner, didn’t have to pay my tab, and got my ass kissed.
ManZetti’s Tavern is the perfect place for a networking nightlife.
Its a upscale restaurant, thus an upscale lounge. The kind of place where typically top shelf liquor is their well. You know… your typical SouthPark venue.
But you wouldn't judge that by their ad, which shows pretty girls with perfect bodies in cut off shirts and short shirts ... yet, my server was a middle aged guy wearing a tux type uniform.
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 …
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.
I'll be at the NASCARnival, but I'll be missing out on a lot in Charlotte this weekend while I drink and watch people drive.
My party picks for this weekend ...
FRIDAY: Lil Gaga will be at BAR Charlotte. Yes, I just promoted a party at BAR Charlotte. But there's a little Lady Gaga performing! That and BAR Charlotte is turning 14 years old, and it's having its birthday party this weekend. BAR Charlotte is the oldest bar in Uptown, yet it has a night for 13 and up, making the bar older than some of its patrons. People hate on BAR Charlotte all the time (guilty!), but that place has the shelf life of canned corn. Whereas a lot of bars expire more quickly... like milk.
SATURDAY: The Krawl in Plaza Midwood goes pink to "Save the Ta-Tas" in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Emphasis on the tatas because Big Momma's House of Burlesque will be at the Common Market, while La Petite Mort Burlesque will be at SOUL Gastrolounge. The breastacular krawl is 6 - 11 p.m. and afterwards you can stay in the Midwood hood to see Robot Johnson at CAST Theater. There's also a bunch of music going on.
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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