A lot of us have been here before, startled out of sleep by an early morning alarm. “What time is it? What day is it?” Then you realize you have to get up and go to work — hungover.
The reason? You decided to grab drinks after work. I don’t know about you, but every time I engage in “social drinking” after leaving my day gig, one drink turns into two drinks turns into, “Maybe I should just take a day tomorrow?”
After-work drinking is commonly referred to as “Happy Hour” because it’s a time to relax after a stressful day — get happy! (But apparently it’s illegal in North Carolina for establishments to advertise drink specials only during a specified time, such as 4 p.m.-6 p.m. That’s why most places have daily specials. I know, transplants, it’s news to me, too.) As shown by those fuzzy weekday mornings, grabbing a couple of cheap beers after work can be pretty dangerous.
As the weather starts to heat up, I can already tell my willpower to avoid after-work social gatherings is fading.
Not to mention, it’s been a month since <a href="http://www.aliveafterfives.com/
“>Alive After Five kicked off. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Alive After Five (AA5 for short) is a huge after-work hangout Uptown every Thursday at the EpiCentre. AA5 features live entertainment on the rooftop and enough beer tents that long lines are rare. The crowd is diverse with young professionals, old professionals and even the unemployed. Long story short, it’s a great place to meet people. But be advised: There’s nothing “special” about these drinks. Tall boys run you $8. And the biggest challenge is the temptation to keep drinking is quadrupled due to the amount of other venues in the vicinity.
If the EpiCentre isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other really great after-work places to grab a drink around Charlotte. Here are some of my favorites.
Hickory Tavern: Self-proclaimed as “the preferred game day location of the Carolina Panthers,” Hickory Tavern offers a great atmosphere for watching sports. With many locations across the area, it’s a great spot to not only grab a beer on special, but also perfect for having dinner with a friend. They have a wide variety of domestic and craft beers, as well as an extensive food menu for drunken munchies.
Bars on Montford: A very popular spot to hang out after work is Montford Drive. I haven’t quite pinned down the allure of this street, but the main thing is you don’t have to commit to one bar the whole night — everything is within walking distance. Two of my go-tos there are Angry Ale’s with karaoke and Big Ass Cups (32 ounces for $4) or Maverick Rock Taco with its $1 Tecate (Mexican beer) and $2 chicken tacos. I don’t even like Mexican cuisine, and I had to put down two tacos the last time I visited.
Common Market: Whether you’re hanging out in Plaza Midwood or South End, Common Market is a great place to chill. You could even bring work here for a different atmosphere? Sike. But seriously, every time I visit, it’s like I’ve died and gone to hipster heaven. Why, you ask? Between the unlimited selection of man buns — I’m obsessed with this hairstyle — craft beer and wine, I always wonder how I control myself.
Whiskey Warehouse: Going with the theme, Whiskey Warehouse has great specials but also arguably the best patio in all of Charlotte. And most importantly, they have Brussels sprouts with bacon jelly and Parmesan. Yes, I said bacon jelly. I haven’t had Brussels sprouts since I was a kid and I hated them, but these were pure bliss! By the way, appetizers are half off Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Tiki Hideaway: Right around the corner from Montford, the Tiki Hideaway on Woodlawn is for someone looking for a tropical escape. I’ve chatted them up before but went there after work last week and immediately felt the weight of my day lift. The small plates are awesome, and the drinks will carry you to another life. (If you’re over this way on May 7, you’re in for a treat: They’ve got some live music slated to take you away.)
Whether you’re looking for good drinks, yummy food or great company, there is something for everyone in the Queen City, even during the week after work. But be careful: If your friends and co-workers are anything like mine, you may end up partying like it’s the weekend.
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2015.
