Brittney Cason After Dark

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 … (more…)

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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 …
(more…)

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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. (more…)

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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. (more…)

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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.

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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. (more…)

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I know, I know … Charlotte is no N.Y.C. or L.A., but it’s still a metropolitan city worthy of red carpet events – and we’re rolling out the red carpet for YOU.

Sleeping Giant Productions is going to be E! and I will be the red carpet correspondant. And Sleeping Giant doesn’t sleep on anything, so come red carpet ready … although renting hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, wearing a specialty made designer dress, and getting a colonic are not required. Just dress to impress (yourself).

Miami’s Mark Leventhal will be DJ’ing with opening DJ Charlotte’s own D-Rock. When a DJ has an opening act, you know he’s good … just saying. AND – DJ R Wonz, DJ Rob Reeves and DJ Fotizo will be spinning on the patio

Speaking of red carpets and paparazzi …

This past year while attending the Sundance Film Festival I thought to myself … Charlotte should have a film festival. Turns out, we do … and parties too. But I highly doubt I’ll have another moment with Paris Hilton in the bathroom of the event locations: Whisky River, Blackfinn, or Therapy, as I did at Sundance. See a list of film festival festivities here

Hopefully, I’ll see you Saturday, but either way, just remember that you don’t need to be taking a bite of the big apple or off in la la land to walk the red carpet.

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I woke up Friday morning to the sound of a ferris wheel and a petting zoo being built right outside of my apartment. I walked out onto my balcony and to my left were live pigs in a cage, and to my right were pork smokers. Essentially – there was a full out county fair in the middle of Uptown Charlotte … the Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival.

I’m just not comprehending the concept of having live pigs in the same vicinity as their pits of death like those little piggies were on death row. I personally don’t want to see Wilbur before I eat him. But considering how many people were in my front yard pigging out on pig, I am thinking that’s just me.

Tryon Street was like Taste of Charlotte – but all there was to taste was championship BBQ. With a hint of the Greek Festival that was on East Blvd.

And at the end of the night I watched all the policemen crowded around their trucks scarfing down BBQ – I suppose it was a nice change from donuts. And when the festival came to a close on Saturday night, the septic tank came and pumped out all the port-a-pottys (again, right in front of my balcony).

So, now my condo reeks of not only cooking pigs … but shit. (It kinda reminded me of my hometown in Virginia actually, which has a lingering aroma of chicken feed and manure). But those in my house thought it a good idea to place a wager on the game of Connect Four we were playing – loser has to go down and use the porta-potty. I lost. But then we decided we were all losers because we were playing Connect Four on a Saturday night.

When I went to bed the parking lot had emptied out and the streets re-opened… and then I woke up to a Panther’s Tailgate, which said parking lot magically transformed into overnight. There is always some sort of festival going on in Charlotte (usually right under my balcony apparently) … but up next is Festival in the Park, in Freedom Park starting Sept. 24

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… football season. Waking up last Saturday for the first day of college football season actually felt like Christmas morning.

My friend, Lisa, a hardcore Eagles fan fresh out of Philly, made it her personal mission to find a bar in Charlotte where she could watch her team (when they’re not playing here) without having to be interrupted by shit talking (about the team … not just Vick).

Based on game day patronage, different sports bars throughout Charlotte play for different teams — college and NFL. Dixie’s is the place Steelers fans can go wave their terrible towels, Buffalo Bills fans herd to Town Tavern and Tavern on the Tracks, Strike City is the official Buckeye bar, Beantown in Matthews caters to the New England fans, and the Tarheels paint Angry Ale’s Carolina Blue … and pretty much every sports bar come to think of it.

Meanwhile, Blackfinn was officially stamped the Hokies Headquarters when the alumni packed the place during the ACC Championship game last year — that, and when Wild Wings changed the channel on the Virginia Tech – Georgia Tech basketball game … (don’t worry though, we won both). And an extra point for Blackfinn for playing music during commercials and an extra point for playing the VT fight song when we score.
Blackfinn is also a Florida and Giants bar. Meanwhile, Dilworth Grill has affiliations with Georgia, Michigan State, Auburn and WVU. Lake Norman Sports Grille has a bunch of cocks … as in South Carolina Gamecocks. Wild Wing at the Epicentre is where the Clemson fans go this year. And Bailey’s Sports Grill caters to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Boo! Yes, I’m still bitter – rip tide, R.I.P.

Oh, and Lisa eventually found a nesting spot for the Eagles and NFC East teams — Picassos on East Boulevard.

Considering there are practically enough sports bars in Charlotte to cover every team, all avid sports fans are bound to find a place where they can high five a fellow fan. Also on the roster of sports bars is 1300 SouthEnd Tavern , Jocks and Jills, Situations, Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Sidelines, Hickory Tavern, Steamers Sports Pub, Fox and the Hound… and pretty much any bar that specializes in wings or has televisions. But when the Panthers are playing, every bar is a Panther’s bar – whether the transplants like it or not (sorry Lisa).

In NYC there’s a bar on 39th and Park called Red Sky and when the Redskins play girls get to drink free in the fourth quarter… now doesn’t that sound like a great idea. Hint, Hint sports bars.

And for the record, on the top floor of Blackfinn the men’s room is on the left of the bar whereas the women’s is on the right. I made the mistake of walking in and almost using the men’s room, and just when I thought no one noticed – I received a Facebook message the following morning that read:

Hey how are you doing today? I am pretty sure I saw you in the men’s room at Blackfinn so I am sorry for not saying hi then but I was a little confused.
Sam

Now that’s what I call a flag on the play.

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If you walk down College Street past the Epicentre … past Cosmos … past AlleyCat … keep going … keep going … you have arrived at your destination: Luna Lounge, Uptown’s newest nightlife lounge.

The space is unrecognizable from when ugly coyotes were dancing on the bar. For starters the place is clean now. And it now has VIP couches lining the dance floor and a solarium, glassed-in patio. The ambiance has been completely renovated to a more elegant caliber. I can’t speak for the caliber of the men, however. One inebriated non-gentleman was such a groping groupie to my friend, I had to tell him that she has a venereal disease of the skin and if you so much as touch her you’ll get a disease of the dick … just so he would quit touching her. He still didn’t. But don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of cool people there when I went last Thursday (and a lot of people in general).

Note: picture is pretty accurate to guy-girl ratio, ladies

Luna intends to keep the momentum going from their grand opening with their calendar of weekly events including … (more…)

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