It was Vargas … then Amnesia … then V Lounge … then V on 4th … and now it’s Bentley’s RSVP. Sign companies throughout Charlotte probably really like that location.
I RSVP'ed yes to the recently opened Bentley's to check it out when my girl Jacinda was hosting the party with the official DJ of the Black-Eyed-Peas, DJ Rocky Rock.
There was a NASCAR race on downstairs, which was kind of random, but later the television switched to show live footage of the dance floor upstairs. Because the downstairs is a lounge, and the upstairs is a club. And the VIP sections upstairs are segregated nicely with two different sections — one for those that want to be seen ... and one for those that don’t.
There’s free parking on the corner of 4th and so, if nothing else, it’s a good place to park, go in for a drink (if you’re the passenger) and a dance (if you’re the driver) – and you can mosey elsewhere later. But you need not mosey if you're looking to dance — it's the kind of place your hips can’t sit still. The house DJ is so good he won a trophy.
I always thought I belonged in the circus with the sideshow freaks … but I found another form of circus act welcoming me to their big-time-big-top. Although, they called me a dork when I hadn’t yet seen their show, referring to it as “Nitrus Circus,” as opposed to the correct name of the popular MTV show — Nitro Circus.
But I quickly became a fan of these fun and funny guys, and apparently I fit right in when I suggested we hijack paddle boats and race them through the lake at University – apparently that was illegal though, so we just ended up playing beer pong at Boardwalk Billy’s instead … with water.
I met up with the guys (and gal) Tex, Jim “T-Rex,” Andy Bell, Travis Pastrana and Jolene in University due to the fact they were staying at the Hilton and remaining within walking distance. Nitro Circus set up tents, and shut down downtown in order to film their show here, including Andy and Travis racing Scott Speed and Brian Vicker’s RedBull cars through Uptown Charlotte.
And meanwhile in University …
While I was in Nashville for the CMA Music Festival getting proposed to in Paradise Park, a trailer park bar on the Nashville strip (read about it in this week’s CL) – I thought it only appropriate to send Tiffany to a White Trash-themed bash … my poor interns
The White Trash Bash
By Tiffany Handy
A teaspoon of butter, a dash of salt and two half-naked girls … that’s how grits were served this past Saturday at the Nasty Productions White Trash party. The Visulite Theater hosted this Fifth Annual event and there couldn’t have been a more perfect setting … other than an actual trailer park somewhere not even listed on a map, maybe.
On one side of the bar was a pool of grits and on the other was the White Hammer game where the objective was to dangle a hammer from your crotch and try to get a hole in one with the golf ball. You might be a redneck if...
Go shorty its yo birthday, we gonna party like its your birthday ... Jacinda!
ASaturday, my girl Jacinda, from Brotha Fred's A.M. Mayhem on 96.1 The Beat, is celebrating her birthday ... and you're invited.
Last year for Jacinda’s birthday, all she wanted to do was go rollerskating, but Kate’s closed early and we ended up back-up dancing to karaoke at Murphy’s instead. Well, this year they planned ahead …
Saturday is an adult skate party at Kate’s Skate in Indian Trail starting at 11 p.m.
Beer and wine will be served (good luck remaining vertical) and old school music will be played — the kind of skate party us adults use to have when we were kids ... as if we ever actually grow up! Now we just hire a babysitter so we can go act like kids.
Proceeds of this skate soirée will benefit Cystic Fibrosis.
I went to check out Good Food on Montford, which was, well … good food on Montford. Between the recently opened Brazwells and it's new next door neighbor Good Food on Montford, Montford Drive is transforming from Dive Drive to Divine Drive.
Good Food is a global tapas place and, let me just say, the food was an orgy in my mouth and a party on my platter. They have a cheese plate that will make you salivate …
But there’s something about turning around and seeing the man that broke your heart sitting with the woman he knocked up somewhere in between waking up with you that can make you lose your appetite. The thought of him watching us sit back to back pretty much made me want to throw up. But then the steamed bun with pork belly and hoisin came out and just looked so good my appetite came back faster than an anorexic's … I mean, it puts Carolina BBQ to shame.
Truth be told Mr. Big, Donnie, Jason, whatever you want to call him, is basically dead to me … so seeing him was like seeing a ghost. And I’m not afraid of no ghosts. Of course he still haunts me, I’m not going to lie and tell you that I didn’t uncharacteristically scour the parking lot for a blue Volvo while I parked because I somewhat sensed his spirit — just like I did right before I randomly bumped into him in Boston and then at the Quail Hollow Championship. I feel like I have a sixth sense or some shit.
But I got there first and sat first, and I didn’t actually notice him until I turned around to look and see who was being an obnoxiously loud drunk behind me ... him. But surprisingly I didn’t feel compelled to throw a drink in his face, or drink to sedate myself from my pain – I was neither sad nor mad, I just felt startled, like I’d seen a ghost. I know that I have to make it past my Caspers in order to live — an exorcism of the heart. But I have come to realize that the only way to free my spirit of my ghost is by doing the unthinkable … forgiving him. Guess you could say I’ve gotten down to the heart of the matter – and I came alive on my trip to Montford Drive.
By Tiffany Handy
99 bottles of beer on the wall? How about 83 different kinds of beer on tap! And you don't even have to go to a different planet, you just have to board the Flying Saucer.
The walls of the Flying Saucer are painted with hundreds of plates that reflect the glow of the dimmed lights. Girls in plaid mini skirts and knee-high stockings hasten through the obstacle of bar stools, booths and tables, while in the back room the sounds of billiards pierce the ear. It sounds like such a guy’s place — and it is — but women love it just as much.
There are 13 of these establishments scattered across the U.S. and one of them can be found off of Tryon, across from UNCC. Surprisingly, more than just college students fly to The Saucer. Perhaps it’s the 83 taps they feature or the over 300 domestic and imported beers in their beer cooler, I don’t know … what I do know is that it is an extremely popular watering hole in Charlotte.
Not as in Patrone XO, but as in the kinda-sorta-new tapas lounge in Lake Norman that just re-opened after getting a make-over and new management. Meanwhile, NV Lounge has new synergy. As in, the owner of NV is now an owner of XO and NV is now called Synergy.
XO kinda reminded me of Soul Gastrolougne in Plaza Midwood – it has a similar tapas menu and sparkling sake. But it’s more of a leather couch kinda lounge. It’s upscale, but not uptight. I rolled through in my swimsuit fresh off the lake and although I was out of place, I wasn’t made to feel that way. I xoxo the staff.
Wednesday is the grand opening, which will include a wine tasting. Speaking of wine, try their red wine ice cream.
I went to Wild Wing Cafe when they first opened to watch my Valentine’s Day segment on ESPNU and the Virginia Tech basketball game that immediately followed. After 20 minutes, they put the television at our table on the U, but sans the volume – I was ok with not having to hear my own voice that sounds to me like a raspy 12-year-old phone sex operator, but I wanted to hear the game. Which brought me to the conclusion that just like restaurants which have smoking and non-smoking sections, sports bars should have game volume and music sections.
My favorite food is anything smothered in buffalo sauce — so one would think that I would recommend Wild Wings menu with 33 variations of wings ... not so much. I ordered a buffalo chicken salad but something else came out ... so I just sent it back. Then a girl came out from the kitchen, whom I assume was on her period because she barked at me, “Do you want a to-go box for this? Because I can’t re-sell it so I’m still going to have to charge you for it.” W… T…. F….?
It may have rained on NASCAR’s parade, but there was much to be seen on the scene when the NASCARnival came to its hometown.
* Pretty much every driver was at the O.A.R. concert and/or Pit Crew Challenge prior to the All Star race. I actually saw Brian Vickers, Kasey Khane, Michael Waltrip, Denny Hamlin and Dale Jr.’s right-hand man JR Rhodes.
* Meanwhile O.A.R was straight chillin' up at the Rusty Rudder the Tuesday before the show with their fellow Ohio State alum, Panther alum Drew Carter.
* Party with a Politician: Pat McCrory was both at the 600 and backstage at the O.A.R. concert.
* Panther DeAngelo Williams was at the Red Bull suite at the race (you know, the giant infrastructure with a DJ between turns two and three). As was Scott Speed …
You can learn a lot about Scott Speed in his interview with 3 Wide Life. Trust me when I say there was a lot of stuff that didn’t make the cut considering it’s an educational program – such as his incisive make-out session with his fiancée.
* Michael Waltrip is, well, a trip. He acted as a backup dancer for the Lost Trailers on WSOC’s Redneck Yacht Club, which was followed by a contest to see who could put their foot behind their head the furthest, at the dinner table, at Red Rocks … where there’s a new menu item — the Brittney Cason Sweet Tea Mojito. (Thanks Ron! ... and Congrats to Michael for winning the contest!)
* A Dessert Storm Veteran at a tailgate at the Coca-Cola 600 insisted Brotha Fred try his “Chicken Balls.” I partook of one of his cherries ... soaked in Moonshine.
* Oh, and Ric Flair went from Piedmont Town Center After Five to my hometown., Harrisonburg, Va., and Peyton Manning was at Blair Acres on South Boulevard following his tee time with Tiger Woods at the Quail Hollow Championship
* Meanwhile, in the elevator of my building I saw my new neighbor ... Denny Hamlin.
Followed by Monday Funday at Dixie’s where he was with Jay “Motha Fucking” White
And there’s a lot to see on the NASCAR scene ... like a guy with the number 88 shaved into his back or a pregnant woman in a bikini with 24 painted on her belly, and someone wearing a confederate flag cape.
And then there’s Lowe's Motor Speedway celebrities Couch Man and Beer Man.
Lebowski's, the new bar-a-raunt on East Boulevard is a neighborhood bar perfect for the neighborhood it’s in ... Dilworth. Located by Rockin’ Lobster and Big Daddy’s, it too has a bar, dining area and patio. (You have to wonder how they're getting away with the naming it that...?)
And following the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival in South Park, said patio was packed for some samplings of a little beer (Sweetwater), Bourbon (Gentleman Jack & Woodford Reserve) and BBQ (straight pig - hold the swine flu).
Meanwhile, the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival at Symphony Park in South Park reminded me of an upscale country fair with beer tents rather than carnival games.
They even had a contest that none of my friends were successful in talking me into entering (as a joke) …
Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe ContestFor all our Daisy Duke-Wannabes - there is the hallowed Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe contest. Not only will these fine-looking ladies be judged on their appearance and costume but also their knowledge of beer, barbeque, moonshine and redneck history. The lucky lady will proudly wear the Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe sash, as well as receive $100 in cash!
Granted, I do know a lot of redneck history and I know that NASCAR actually originated from moonshine running.
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