Well, you can … Seriously. This Saturday, MB The Clown, Charlotte’s scary purple-dressed fiend (also, announcer for Charlotte Roller Girls, where you’ve no doubtedly seen him), will host an Evil Clown Bar Crawl. Folks attending are encouraged to wear make-up and dress in their clown best, big shoes included. The crawl, which is 21 and up, will start at Café Central and stop into a variety of other pubs, all of which haven’t been notified of the madness.

It all starts at 10 p.m. For more information, click here:

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The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, March 18, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Gore-A-Licious Sideshow-Carnaval de Débauche at Tremont Music Hall

• Sexy Latin Night at Hartigan’s

• The Movement at Kashmir

• An Evening of Old School hip Hop and R&B at Midtown Sundries

• Flying Saucer’s Meet the Brewer Night

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When it comes to my nights out, I usually try to keep clear of the EpiCentre — that’s mostly because I work there and I know how crazy it can get. But I won a free VIP party to Howl at the Moon on St. Paddy’s Day, and realizing I’ve never actually been to Howl, I figured I’d brave the crowds and give it a shot.

Imagine my surprise when it turned out the EpiCentre was more like a ghost town in comparison to its Saturday shenanigans. Howl at the Moon was only semi-full; in fact, there wasn’t even a wait to get in the door. But the crowd was more than ready to find their Irish roots in the bottom of their beer glasses. As the hours rolled on, the crowd did thicken out a little.

Beer specials included 2 for 1 Irish Car Bombs for $8, Irish Ice Tea Bones for $8 and Green Beer for $3. And to get a little taste of the Irish, there was a complimentary buffet of Shepherd’s Pie and Corn Beef and Cabbage.

As far as décor went, there were the usual three leaf clovers and pots of gold, but on top of the regulars, there was another green guy sitting at the stage (and he wasn’t a leprechaun). As a little symbol of Irish luck for the musicians, there was a green Kermit resting on the piano — he didn’t perform though, he must have been feeling a little froggy.

Kermit wasn’t the only thing on stage that night. A birthday boy ended up geting roasted, as the entire audience raised their pinkies in tune to the “It’s Really Small” song.  And it was pretty small . . . his five minutes of fame, that is. But for that short time, everyone was involved in the roast. The mirrors behind the pianos also had some humorous messages written on them all throughout the night. Comments ranged from Happy Birthdays to “Christine swallows for a good time call 704-604-XXXX.”

And as Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Rollercoaster of Love” played in the background, we got a little Coyote Ugly as the bar and wait staff started dancing on the bar tops and stage.

When we first arrived, Irish music filled the place, but when the musicians came out, the Irish sounds got tuned down. The dueling pianists played some of the usual bar classics (”Hotel California” and “Sweet Caroline”) and some humorous picks, too (like “Baby Got Back”), everything to get a bar crowd performing their own version of an Irish tap dance. But it was a St Patrick’s Day bash, and as far as the Irish themed hits went, well, there were none.

My friends and I left when our party was over, which was a little early. But it paid off. As we walked away, my friend found her pot of gold … well, some of it. A security guard handed her gold tokens for her festiveness — she was doing an Irish jig around the EpiCentre.

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This is probably the third or fourth bar crawl in a matter of 7 days — who can keep count? — but this one is sponsored by a worthy organization. Amped 4-a-Cure Inc. supports cancer research through live music, and they’re hosting their first annual Uptown bar crawl this Friday, March 19. For $5 (or $20 if you want the T-shirt) you can hit up five bars, and it’s for charity, people!

Here are the deets:

07:00pm-08:30 pm (Tilt Lounge @ 127 W Trade Street)
Drink Specials:
$1 Draft Beer, $2 Royal Flush Shots, $3 Well Liquor Drinks, $4 Naked Cowboy Shots
Food Specials:
Complimentary Appetizers
Music: Live DJ
Other: Check-in/Registration, Introduction to Amped, Social Mixers/Icebreakers, Silent Auction Bidding Starts

08:30pm-09:30pm (Whiskey River EpiCenter 2nd Floor @ 210 E Trade Street)
Drink Specials:
$2 drafts $3 wells
Music: Live DJ
Other: Social Mixers/Icebreakers, Silent Auction Bidding Continues

09:30pm-10:30pm (Buckhead Saloon @ 201 E 5th Street)
Drink Specials:
$1 Draft Beer, $2 KamiKaze Shots, $3 Well Liquor Drinks
Food Specials:
Complimentary Appetizers
Music: Live Music Inside
Other: Silent Auction Winners Announced

10:30pm-11:30pm (Alleycat @ 314 N College Street)
Drink Specials:
Beer & Shot Specials
Music: Live Music Inside
Other: Silent Auction Winners Announced Again

11:30pm-02:00am (Forum @ 300 N College Street)
Drink Specials:
The Forum will host a fashion show during our stop which is presented by Blu Magazine featuring dozen’s of the areas top fashion houses & models. Music will be provided by Tommie Sunshine with Kevin Focus and Buckmaster. This is a $20 event you will be getting in when you purchase either a bar crawl ticket! Don’t miss out!

Purchase tickets here.

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OK, now if I were bidding, I’d be putting my money on Charlotte firefighter Matt Yost. (See the 12 packages here.) Mmm!

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The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, March 18, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Sexy Skin Thursdays at Loft 1523

• The Original Cufflinks and Cocktails party presented by the Kappas at Vivace

• Petra’s Red Party with Art of Facts

• Almost Kings at Whisky River

• Rock It Thursdays at Luna Lounge

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In a few minutes, Lazyday.com’s 3rd annual Irish Flu Bar Crawl will begin at Dandelion Market in Uptown. Here’s the itinerary for those lucky drunkards who were able to get out of work early. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
3-5pm – Dandelion Market
- FREE WING BUFFET
- $2 Budweisers, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

5-6pm – The Attic
- $2 Budweisers, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

6-7pm – Town Tavern
- $2 Bud Lights, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

7-8pm – Dixie’s Tavern
- $2 Bud Selects, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

8-9pm – Pravda
- $2.50 Bud Lights, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

9-10pm – Buckhead Saloon
- $2.50 Bud Lights, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

10-??? – Connolly’s On Fifth
(Parking Lot Party)
- $2 Budweisers, “Irish Flu Shots” For $3 And Our Favorite Drink For $5

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The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, March 16, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Karaoke for charity with Panthers’ Kenny Moore at Dixie’s Tavern

• Tune-up Tuesday St. Practice Day at Whisky River

• March on Myrick/Tuesday night trivia at Petra’s

• Poker night at The Gold Club

• Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, others at Tremont Music Hall

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The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, March 15, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Red Bull Thre3 Style Charlotte with headliner DJ Jazzy Jeff at The Forum

• One Mic Mondays ft Live Perfomance by TRANSFERS at Skandalos

• Bruce Peninsula, Worst Case Scenario at Snug Harbor

• Wine Tasting at Bel Caffe’ Italian Coffeehouse & Wine Bar

• $10 buckets at Strike City

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By Sarah Coombes

While the wait for Ri Ra’s reopening has made their closing feel like a lifetime ago, it was only nine months prior that the pub closed its doors to renovate after the fire. But now, just in time for St. Paddy’s Day, Ri Ra has finally reopened. So in order to get in a quick pre-Paddy’s celebration, as well as check out the latest restorations, my fiancé and I headed over for the grand re-opening party last night.

It turns out Ri Ra is just as popular as ever. When we arrived, there was already a line out the door. But luckily, the sounds of the Irish jig inside had made it out onto the streets, so the wait was like a pre-party of its own. Once inside, I learned the music was Bobby Houck (of the Blue Dogs), and they had their own stage at the back of the pub. It was a rocky grotto, built kind of like the secret pool at the playboy mansion, just with a different kind of entertainment.

Complimentary drinks covered all of the Irish favorites, from Guinness to Harp, Killkenny to Smithwick and a fine selection of wine for the non-beer drinkers. Unfortunately, we were too late for the good eats, but rumor has it there were sampler trays of the pub’s menu going around. I did notice a platter of mini brownies float by me at one point, but I wasn’t quick enough to grab one.

The crowd varied from the after-work crew to singles and plenty of couples. One thing was for sure: The place was packed. But instead of feeling forced into a corner, there was plenty of room to move around. The upstairs was one of the newly renovated spaces, and the room was open and inviting. One of the Ri Ra employees informed me that not only had the area been brightened with new chandeliers, but the ceiling had been raised, and a new bar added. My fiancé and I had plenty of space to relax and lose ourselves in the corner, while also getting a feel for the busy bar, too. Even though my fiancé and I stood for most of the night, it is apparent that Ri Ra has lost none of its comfortable ambiance.

And while some places like to start over, the owners of Ri Ra want guests to remember where the establishment has been. That’s why the bar has kept some of its damaged décor. From smoke worn posters to disfigured bottles, Ri Ra kept many of the items that had been ruined by the fire, and it really added a taste of something different. Of course, the biggest restoration was of Saint Patrick himself. Split in half by the fire, he has now regained his rightful place behind the bar, pardoning all those who eat, drink, and end up shitfaced.

Overall, the pub was warm and inviting. People were laughing and drinking as if Ri Ra had never closed in the first place. And having been born and raised in England (not Ireland I know), it was like walking into a pub from across the pond. Of course, the rainy weather didn’t help the delusions there.

But I think the Ri Ra experience captures what a good night at the pub can inspire in people. Even when everything goes up in flames, you can always rebuild, and throw a damn good party when the rebuilding is over.

Here are some photos of the interior of Ri Ra, courtesy of Ciaran Sheehan.

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