Brittney Cason After Dark

… and they’re showing it off at a campus wide talent show this Thursday. Translation: party on campus! – the Cone Center at McKnight Hall to be exact. But don’t expect to see frat kids doing keg stands – it’s not that kind of college campus party. College kids do have talents other than bonging beer.

The event will feature a variety of acts, special guest judges and DJ Prep. The winner of the talent contest will walk away $150 richer – which is essentially riches to a college kid.

Show runs from 7 – 8 p.m. … you can hit the keg party on Greek row afterwards if you want.

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By Bailie Thompson

Last Saturday afternoon started off a bit rainy in the Queen City, but when the clouds parted and the sun started shining the 4th Annual Stonefest got fired up at The Philosopher’s Stone. The Philosopher’s Stone is known for being one of those local hangouts where everyone knows everyone and good music and good times can be found — especially at their Stonefest.

Stonefest IV was the perfect opportunity to sit outside, eat some BBQ and enjoy the tunes of several regional jam, rock and reggae bands.

One Big Love kicked off the show at about 2 p.m. The band creates unique grooves; a little reggae-infused with danceable beats and a saxophone to top it off. Then they transition into a DJ-backed ‘intelli-rap’ hip-hop set that is refreshingly smart and even pokes fun at all of the rappers that only flow about bling.

(more…)

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As in George Strait tickets for tonight at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, with special guests Blake Shelton and Dancing with the Stars star Julianne Hough. Now, I am strictly dickly, but Hough is a hottie! Therefore, the guys going strictly for Strait can at least have something pretty to look at while tuning out the girly country tunes.

I have one pair of tickets and the first person to hit my Crackberry at brittney.cason@creativeloafing.com wins them, to be picked up at the Creative Loafing offices (and home to the new Uptown Boutique Amphitheatre) at the NC Music Factory.

If your high-speed internet isn’t speedy enough to win, there are ways to get tickets for a lot of shows for practically free… Check out the Vibes blog for info on Live Nation’s $10 Lawn Blow Out.

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…as in getting bigger.

As you may have read in Jeff Hahne’s cover story this week: NC Music Factory is Ready to Rock we’re getting a new Uptown Amphitheatre and we’re getting some new nightlife.

The Fillmore, a live music venue larger than Amo’s and Neighborhood Theatre is opening up on June 19 with Corey Smith (read more about the Fillmore in Jeff’s article.)

Also opening eventually …

* Wet Willie’s Daiquiri Bar, which is like a bar of alcoholic slurpees with just about every flavor imaginable. I went to the one in Charleston and let me just go ahead and warn you about the dangers of brain freeze.

* Crobar, a large dance club where you can get jiggy with it, drop it like it’s hot, and shake it like a polaroid picture … at least that’s what I did at the Crobar in Miami.

*The owner of Butter, the celebrity hang-out in Manhattan that you’ve probably seen pictures of stars stumbling out of in US Weekly, is personally coming down to Charlotte to open this upscale lounge here.

There will also be an Irish Pub, Sushi and Sake Lounge, a wine bar and a two story brew pub.

So, while Rob Dyrdek has the Fantasy Factory, thanks to the Lazes, we have the N.C. Music Factory.

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Lebowski’s, the new bar-a-raunt on East Boulevard is a neighborhood bar perfect for the neighborhood it’s in … Dilworth. Located by Rockin’ Lobster and Big Daddy’s, it too has a bar, dining area and patio. (You have to wonder how they’re getting away with the naming it that…?)

And following the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival in South Park, said patio was packed for some samplings of a little beer (Sweetwater), Bourbon (Gentleman Jack & Woodford Reserve) and BBQ (straight pig – hold the swine flu).

Meanwhile, the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival at Symphony Park in South Park reminded me of an upscale country fair with beer tents rather than carnival games.

They even had a contest that none of my friends were successful in talking me into entering (as a joke) …

Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe Contest
For all our Daisy Duke-Wannabes – there is the hallowed Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe contest. Not only will these fine-looking ladies be judged on their appearance and costume but also their knowledge of beer, barbeque, moonshine and redneck history. The lucky lady will proudly wear the Ms. Bar-B-Q-Babe sash, as well as receive $100 in cash!

Granted, I do know a lot of redneck history and I know that NASCAR actually originated from moonshine running. (more…)

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By Tiffany Handy

When you have to have something and nothing else will do, what’s the word for that? Oh yeah, crave!

Tuesday I went to check out Crave, a new dessert bar located behind Cans. I was expecting overpriced cake and martinis; however, I was pleasantly surprised to find the contrary. As soon as I walked in, I saw a sign that read “Bottomless Wine $15.” Cheapo for a wino!

After playing a couple rounds of Connect Four (don’t ask, they just brought it to us), I ordered one of their many cheesecakes — Southern Pecan. Although $7.95 may seem like a lot to pay for cheesecake, the caramelized pecans and rich flavor made it more than worthy; it’s a splurge in taste more so than the wallet.

Each page of the menu offers something different. You could order a cheese plate for $8.95 to go with your wine, or choose from the variety of desserts ranging from cup cakes to crèmes, all priced at $7.95. They also have a full service bar and lists of martinis that either fall under Lust or Euphoria ranging from $11-$12. (more…)

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I walked it out last night at the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk at Wintrhop Lake in Fort Mill … you know, home of the National Disc Golf Championship.

Dianne Gallagher of CN2 in South Carolina was there doing the exact same thing I did at Laugh MS just two days prior … talking about our siblings who suffer from the incurable diseases.

She also released butterflies to represent the sobering statistics of how many people suffer from Kidney Disease in our area alone. After the butterflies actually came out of the box and then proceeded to hit Dianne in the face … there were a lot of them.

Laugh MS at the Lake Norman Comedy Zone sold out, which raised thousand for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Charlotte’s Walk MS coming up May 16. When I profusely thanked everyone for their donations in the form of tickets, I said in this economy they were probably expecting a strip tease with their ticket. But it’s non-profits such as the MS Society and Kidney Foundation who are really feeling the effects of our shitty economy.

My favorite kind of party is a philanthropy party — the kind of nightlife that helps lives. Anytime there’s an event that benefits a cause … might I suggest you go to it, whether the charity personally affects you or not. It’s kinda like a tax write-off for partying.

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Who was seen on the scene …

* Tee Party: Peyton Manning teeing off with Tiger Woods at the Quail Hollow Championship Wednesday morning.

* Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and a lot of racer chasers at the Rusty Rudder on Tuesday night.

* Trent Tomilson serenading lunchers at McCoy Smokehouse on Wednesday afternoon.

* Kellie Pickler was at Whisky River last time she was here and probably will be again when she comes back to open up for Taylor Swift.

* Notorious actor Jamal “Gravy” Woolard was at SUITE Wednesday night, and he loved it when they called him Big Poppa.

And as for the Tupac pictures… it’s a profile shot and I would imagine Tupac would have aged a little bit, if he’s been alive this whole time and all.

Another Charlottean seen on the country scene … my friend Sue whom I met in NYC while working at MAXIM. Sue was the leading lady in the Little Texas video “My Love”
And ten years and two kids later, she’s still that hot …

Little Texas is actually coming to the Old Town Ampitheater in Rock Hill on May 8.

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As we get older, we earn more responsibilities … between work and school, we start to tune out the rest of the world and march to the beat of our own drum. Yet, DrumSTRONG, offers a way to get back in touch with our community- by beating on someone else’s drum!

Scott Swimmer, the founder of DrumSTRONG, reminds us that music is a great unifier. We all have a natural rhythm, so the event plays on that with hand drums, fiddles and flutes- the origins of drumming itself. But the drummers aren’t getting together to just bang out a song or two — DrumSTRONG volunteers come together in the fight against cancer. (more…)

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I went to Tavern on Park for lunch the other day and the first thing the hostess said as she walked us to our patio table was, “you should come back at night, it’s so pretty out here.” And by out here she was referring to Park Town Village Shopping Center where lights drape atop two stories of patios where bands, such as The Dempsey Gibson Band play (and will be playing again on May 1 and 2, might I add).

Tavern on Park is a restaurant fancier than the price. When I walked in, it felt as though I had entered a fancy restaurant in South Park, even the patio has fans and wooden benches cushioned with decorative pillows. I had a delectable little sandwich and salad with a fancy plate presentation and friendly service … for the same price as the Market Fresh chicken salad I got from Arby’s last week.

Between Tavern on Park, Duckworth’s Cheese Steakery, Hef’s, Marble Slab, Jason’s Deli and WAM (what Mama Fu’s mysteriously transformed into overnight), Parktown Village Shopping Center is like the EpiCentre of Dilworth and Myer’s Park … for food. But at night, Tavern on Park turns into Tavern on Park After Dark. While I was in Boston, I sent my newest intern, Tiffany, there to see Simplified. So, everyone meet Tiffany … Tiffany, Everyone – Everyone, Tiffany. (But don’t worry, Sarah’s not going anywhere)

By Tiffany Handy

Old men dirty dancing to Reggae and cougars on the prowl were among the many at Tavern on Park After Dark, last Friday.

I went there to see Simplified, whom I’d heard so much about — great band, by the way — but I was disappointed when, in the first five minutes, a fuse was blown … but that didn’t blow the night.

Tavern on Park After Dark could use some work preparing for bigger crowds — granted, Simplified draws a big crowd, but drinks were served in 20-minute increments while guitars and drums motivated dancers to take the floor. As the night went on, the once empty dance floor filled up. A drunken girl couldn’t stop swooshing her hair back and forth. I was sure she would soon get sick from all the swaying, but surprisingly, she held her own. (more…)

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