Last week, The Shops at Caramel Village converted into a beauty bash during the Beauty Crawl. But there wasn’t too much crawling – now I’m not talking about the Santa bar crawl where people dressed like snowflakes and elves were stumbling from bar to bar pretending to be led by an imaginary Rudolph while girls in slutty santa suits were chanting “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

Although, this crawl was festive in it’s own right.

The Beauty Crawl was a quaint party including two makeshift beauty bars and a tea bar: Salon Tribeca, Skin Elements, and Urbana City Spa & Tea Bar.

I used to think that having to consistently shave my legs was annoying... but at least we women don’t have to shave our faces. Thus, we need not complain. I’m sorry boys — that sucks for you.

But a group of guys, led by Jared Yerg and Scott Doerr, stopped shaving all together and grew beards — not just because — but for the purpose of raising money for the United Family Services Shelter for Battered Women in Charlotte.

The men jeopardized having an itchy face and getting potato chips stuck in their facial hair for the sake of helping women... proof that although endangered, chivalry is not yet extinct.

Over two months of “manscaping” and fundraising, Beards BeCAUSE raised over $33,000.

And they went out with a bang (as in Bang Bang Salon shaving beards) at their Grand Finale party at Amos' SouthEnd.

It looked like half of Charlotte got naughty at the 20th Annual Second String Santa party — to be nice as the philanthropic party collects thousands of toys for the tots throughout Charlotte. Second String Santa is more like a Second Chance Prom.

This semi-formal soiree is not only a good cause, but an adult prom with spiked punch... and cute cater waiters. Guys wear suits while the ladies throw on their best dresses and heels that hurt. Everyone pretty much looks like they’re going to a prom, homecoming or college formal of some sorts. And I do mean everyone... and their moms too.

The Secret String Santa “Miracle on College Street” is now the “Miracle at the Arena” as the party that started as a backyard bash got so big it had to migrate from Founders Hall to the Time Warner Arena.

Well, that is, if you live Uptown.

But not only do Uptown residents no longer have to trek it to Phillip’s Place to catch a flick — Charlotteans no longer have to trek it from restaurant to cinema because the EpiCentre is opening both a movie theater and a place to eat, stay, and play… Mez, an upscale restaurant where you can fine wine and dine.

But between the EpiCentre Theater and Mez, we no longer have to sneak the outlawed outside food and beverages into a movie, because you can take your meal and cocktail from Mez into the theater. Now that’s what I call dinner and a movie.

Mez and the EpiCentre Theaters are opening next weekend and I’m giving away VIP passes for the grand opening party on Dec. 12.

All you have to do is e-mail me. That, and keep reading...

Ayrsley is a Neo Traditional community (much like Birkdale Village) in South Charlotte with residential, retail and restaurant space. And there’s the wild Wild Wings, and the newest edition to South Charlotte nightlife — Red Lion Restaurant and Tavern.

Red Lion has such the ambiance of an old English pub that it reminded me of something straight out of London. And they have a menu to match: Crispy brie, fish and chips, bangers and mash... all they were missing was some Spotted Dick on the dessert menu — (who remembers the movie King Ralph?)

I am giving away 2 V.I.P vouchers for Turkey Fest TONIGHT that will not only grant you V.I.P admittance, but six free cocktails. HOLLA!

The drunken fest, I mean Turkey Fest, is tonight on 5th Street's own trifecta — the Attic, Madison's and Connelly's.

Although it might be a drunken fest for me as I have to judge the bartender's competition at Connelly's along with Carolina Panther Gary Gibson, Brotha' Fred and my partner in "paid to party" crime, Sarah Aarthun.

Turkey Fest will also feature a "Rock Band" competition at The Attic, makeovers at Madison's courtesy of the Aveda Institute and MAC.

All of the proceeds from the event go to the Second Harvest Food Bank and the cover charge is merely a canned food item.

Good times for a good cause!

The first person to e-mail me at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com and tell me which "So You Think You Can Dance" star I want to pinch, wins! Don't worry, I didn't actually pinch her.

This past weekend, Dixie’s turned 10 – making it one of the oldest bars in Charlotte, and still one of the most popular.

So how has Dixie’s survived and thrived all these years? Hmmmm... cue to me scratching my head. Apparently, that helps to turn the light bulb on because I have a few ideas as to why...

• The Music — When I’m at Dixie’s I’m not just dancing to the beat of my own drum — nor am I ever the only one dancing. At their anniversary party, I found myself doing the twist — to the actual old school song the dance was derived from, boot scooting and boogying to Kid Rock’s "All Summer Long," hip-hopping til I almost dropped to Rhiana and T.I, head-banging to Aerosmith, jumping up and down to O.A.R and I even had a Michael Jackson dance off with some random dude I am pretty sure I looked equally as ridiculous as. I was so amp’ed up with severe dancing ADD (as in I couldn’t carry a conversation longer than a song because another good one would come on and I’d want to start dancing) that my friend told me I had the attention span of a ferret on Crystal Meth.

In other words, it was the best playlist... ever, thanks to DJ Jazzy Jimmy. I would pay him to make me a mix tape.

• Bob Durkin — That man is like Midas the Myth god — everything he touches turns to gold. When I gave him a Happy Anniversary high-five, I was weary of turning into a golden statue that would end up as decoration in one of his bars in the EpiCentre trifecta.

I had the most fun the past two nights on random Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

I started my night off at Bank of America Stadium for the Panther’s Taste of the NFL, followed by opening night of "Chicago" (in Charlotte), as well as the Cast After-Party at Feast... and, by cast, I mean the cast of "Chicago" AND "So You Think You Can Dance."

And All That Jazz...