Brittney Cason After Dark

Big Lebowski big that is.

As Brittney said in her last blog post, Friday, Aug. 21, is a big night in the Q.C. While Luna Lounge and Town Tavern are having their grand opening parties, Strike City will turn into the Dude’s world … but don’t worry, it’s safe to step on the rugs.

Since the bowling bar is already known for re-visioning the bowling experience, the parties are bound to be just as revolutionary. Lebowski night will include trivia, a full movie showing at 10:30 p.m., and White Russian drink specials — and bowling only gets better with alcohol … or at least more fun.

Alongside partying like the Dude, Strike City figures you might as well dress like him too. That’s why they’re holding a costume contest. Prizes will include gift certificates to nightlife hotspots (the final choices are still hush-hush though). All I can say is, when you dress up, make sure the judges know which Lebowski you are … you know what happens when the two get confused.

So go check out Lebowski night at Strike City. It’s the perfect location for a summer blowout — or bowl-out, rather.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

After 10 years of living away from England, a girl can get a little homesick. Since I’m in a financial flump (aren’t we all), I can’t hop the pond this summer. But if you’re like me and need a wee break, you can skip over to Scotland … and you don’t even have to leave the state. All you have to do is head over to the Tilted Kilt on Carowinds Boulevard.

The Tilted Kilt makes you feel like you’ve just taken a nine hour flight and landed in the land of Haggis — but luckily without the jet lag. Food includes Danny Boy’s Shepherd Pie, sausage sandwiches, and a Fat Bastard meatloaf sandwich. And to put a new crunch on an appetizer favorite, you can order the Irish nachos … on crisps (aka. potato chips). But as well as bringing Scottish cuisine to America, the Tilted Kilt has mixed a little east with a little west. And by that I mean American girls in skimpy Scottish kilts — what an edge on tradition … well, a shorter edge at least.

Essentially, the Tilted Kilt is like a Scottish tilt on Hooters and Bikinis. While the orange shorts and bikini tops are traditions in themselves, the outfits look like naughty schoolgirl uniforms. And ladies, even the men wear kilts, which will make any girl ponder that age old question — do men wear anything under their kilts? (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Sarah Coombes

As my best friend’s maid of honor, I have a position almost as big as the white dress — the party planner. And as a nightlife writer, I’ve been all around Charlotte. Therefore it is only fair that I share the most unique and budget friendly locations to have that bachelor/bachelorette blowout. And none of the places exceed $30 per person. So get ready for a list of the top 4 locations in Charlotte to say your pre-wedding I do’s… and by that I mean your “I DO want more alcohol” vows.

Pole Dance Charlotte: Let’s face it, inside every woman there’s a hidden urge to test out that stripper pole… in private of course. So, for your big fling, why not fling off your inhibitions too? Pole Dance Charlotte offers private classes for Bachelorettes. Included in the price is a bridal tiara for the bride to be, 90 minutes of pole dance and lap dance instruction, and a group photo that gets emailed to the hostess the next day — that’s right ladies, photographic evidence of your wild night out… just in case you forget a few details along the rest of the party path. You must pay a minimum of $150 for 6 people or less, but you can split the cost per person to come out to $25 each. The maximum amount of people allowed is 15. The parties start at 8 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday with a last start time of 9:30 p.m. … which leaves plenty of time for an after party at one of the other locations mentioned in this article. For more information contact Kelly at Kelly@poledancecharlotte.com

Strike City: The next generation bowling alley, Strike City, is like a triple threat of the entertainment world, it offers a bowling alley, a bar and a restaurant… now that’s a way to put a spin on your single night out. Strike City doesn’t take reservations, but you can book through an event coordinator – and if you take that route, you’re on the fast lane to drink tickets and chocolate fountains. But if you just want to make a pit stop on your guys or girls night out, its $45 an hour, per lane and $4 per person for shoes on Fridays and Saturdays. You can fit up to 8 people on a lane, so if you split the cost it is roughly $10 a person. Now that’s a way to ball on a budget! Oh and as a final note, Thursday is ladies night, so if the gals can afford a pre-bachelorette shindig it’s $35 an hour and free shoes — now that’s a real strike! (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

… as in Dish it Out pottery studio.

I know what you’re thinking, “What in the hell does a pottery-painting place have to do with nightlife?” Well, they serve wine there. And some of the best nights out, are nights in. Well, out, but not at a bar at least.

Places like Dish it Out allow for some good wholesome fun — and you have more to show for it than a hangover. Meanwhile, the kids can occupy themselves while moms can gather and talk about “adult things” and about how much they needed a night out.

They have just about everything you can imagine to paint, from plates to giant martini glasses to dog bowls to people bowls to jewelry boxes to … you get my point.

I made a ring holder and painted “With This Ring” on it to and gave it to my friend as a wedding gift. In her thank you note she wrote: “Thanks for doing arts and crafts for us Brittney — it was my favorite gift — something needed and something homemade.” And that was my favorite thank you card I received … it’s normally just, “Thanks for the Target gift card.” Because they know I wait until the last minute when everything on their registry is out of my budget so I just get them a gift card … considering 87.9 percent of my friends are married, they’ve figured me out by now.

Then you leave your pottery to be fired, and you can then walk down the street to Big Ben Pub for a drink, catch a movie at the Manor … or, go home and put the kids to bed.

They also host “Creative Parties” for birthdays, bridal and baby showers, and my personal favorite … girl’s night out. It actually won Charlotte Magazine’s Best of Award for “Best Place to Have a Party.”

Dish it Out has locations in Myers Park and Stonecrest.

And no, no one is in there replicating the scene from Ghost .

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Honor the Red, White and Blue with Red, White and Brew … Red, White and Boom … Red, White, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. There are all kinds of ways to celebrate our independence and do a little indepen-dance in Charlotte, but below are the Brittney After Dark party picks, as in pick of party.

Britt’s pick …

Inaugural Queen City Hot Dog Eating Contest. There’s just something about shoving wieners in your mouth at a rapid rate that sounds fun … and to benefit the troops no less. Friday, July 3 at Alley Cat – $2 door donation that includes one free hotdog and there’s a $1000 cash prize to whoever can inhale the most wieners.

The Intern’s Party Picks …. (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Sarah Coombes

It’s no secret that Charlotte nightlife draws us in like a moth to a flame. However, despite being a wild child in the city, things are always sweeter in the South… in Ballantyne that is. And while I’m not a part of the million-dollar home owner’s association, I still know how to party like a Ballantyne baller. Despite being 30 minutes from the city, you’d think Ballantyne was a mini-Uptown. Don’t believe me? Let me give you the tour…

We have our own sinfully satisfying dessert place… at least, now we do. On June 19, City Tavern at Stonecrest opened its new Wine and Dessert Bar — and the place is totally sweet! The menu ranges from “Tiramisu” to “Death by Chocolate” — and when you take a bite, you’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven. While City Tavern owns the Dessert Bar, it’s off to the side and has different hours. The bar opens 5 p.m. – closing, Thursday – Saturday. So pick your vice.

Speaking of vices, there’s also the D’Vine Wine Café. With its warm colored walls and comfy couches, the inside looks like a fancy Mediterranean villa. And alongside its menu of meat and cheese plates, you can dig into some Chocolate Dessert Sushi — make mine a Swedish fish roll! (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Sarah Coombes

This summer, Ballantyne Resort is putting a new spin on the after work party – literally as they’re having DJ Lotta Noize from Greensboro spin at their weekly pool parties.

The Ballantyne Resort recently opened its new outdoor pool which hosts weekly pool parties every Thursday. It’s kinda like an Alive after Five just with an added feature… a big-ass pool equipped with two bars and a pool menu. The weekly swim soiree runs (or should I say swims) thru Sept. 3 from 7 – 11 p.m.

But Ballantyne Resort will be fitting into something else tonight — a swimsuit fashion show. Charlotte Style magazine will be hosting its Summer Soiree from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. And with the pool party, it’s just another way Ballantyne wears its new party look well. Tickets are $25 and $20 for guests with a “Style card.” And while you’re feeling good in the sun, you can feel good on the inside too, because Style’s Summer Soiree benefits Dress for Success Charlotte. (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Well, technically it was before dark, but there is nightlife at the Mint Museum.

When it comes to artwork, I always feel like I’m staring at those magic eye books. It doesn’t matter how far away I stand – I still don’t know what the hell I’m looking for. Yet, like music, art speaks to everyone, no matter our culture and what language we speak. So what better way to bring people together for a cause than with the universal language of art.

This week is the final week of the New Orleans exhibit at the Mint and it’s going out with a bang and a bash; the Mint is turning into Bourbon Street (kinda) with “Big Easy on the Lawn” on June 19 from 6 – 9 p.m. (more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

As the summer sun starts making an appearance, so do summer music festivals — and as it turns out, Marshall Park is the right venue to hold them both … and will every Sunday in June from 1-6 p.m.

After spending a weekend in clubs and wine lounges, what’s better than doing more lounging … in a lawn chair, that is. You can bring out your picnic furniture and relax to the beats of live jazz music. And if you don’t pack the picnic basket, there’s food for sale. There’s a four band line-up every Sunday. Music for the following weeks will include ….
(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Between Moosehead Grill, Angry Ales, George Pappas and Jeff’s Bucket Shop, I used to refer to Montford Drive as Dive Drive, but it’s a little hard to now that Andrew Blair’s has opened for fine dining and wining, and one of the most famous dives, The Press Box, is now a premium pub – Brazwell’s.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites