QC Livin'

Finally! The rain breaks and the sun finally comes out! What a great way to start your weekend…and just in time for the Dixie’s Tavern Anniversary Party!  I look forward to this event every year and in case you didn’t know; there’s always a great buffet and drinks– for FREE! This year Dixie’s stepped it up a notch by providing FREE aristocratwell drinks– keepin’ it classy! Needless to say, I was ecstatic about this revelation and decided to double fist & get the most out of my night.

Their buffet was incredible and showcased many new menu items that I’m sure to hit up, and even pay for next time! After the two-hour free for all [and many Blue Moons/Whisky Gingers later]…Buckhead was the next stop on the agenda.  They waived the cover charge for those who took part in the Dixie’s Tavern Anniversary ___ -show [be creative].  The place was pumping out great music and the drink specials themed the night. 

After enjoying the crowd and some select beverages later…my body turned to auto-pilot mode, and I cruised my way over to Fuel Pizza [my late-night eatery], but not without some casualties on the way. My crew discovered my food ambitions and quickly figured out where I had disappeared too..I was unstoppable. Following my lead, they screamed for me to slow…but I was on a mission. 

[Now, let's take a break from this story to reflect upon how many valet drivers there are in Uptown Charlotte...they're EVERYWHERE! Running up and down the streets, and driving quickly to not miss out on a potential customer...and now back to the story.]

With my destination in sight, a member of my crew was hit by one of these reckless ‘valet drivers’ rounding a corner…now it’s OK to laugh [she's OK], seriouslyit was the best part of the night…when it was repeated to me the next morning. With her feet on the ground and a few curse words later…mission completed. KRAwL 1, Uptown Charlotte 0

KRAwL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Gravedigger’s Ball 2009 is this Saturday, October 24th @ Dixie’s Tavern!  This is the biggest one Kiss 95.1 has EVER put on!  Headlining the concert is:  The Backstreet Boys [yes, apparently they're making a come-back and have a decent song on the radio] with Priscilla Renae [girl who sings "Dollhouse"] and Who’s Bad?, The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band; which, by the way, I’m pretty stoked to get my Thriller on [minus the choreographer].  Every year Gravedigger’s Ball delivers hot, scantily-clad ladies strutting their best for the ‘Sexiest Costume’ contest[^winners posted above ^] and for ‘Best Costume’, but this year there will also be another addition to the contest…Michael Jackson look-a-likes.  OK, I get it.  It’s because there’s a tribute band coming and MJ’s no longer with us.  I love the guys music, but to dress like him is over-kill [no pun intended] and I’m pretty sure that’s one of the top 5 most popular costumes in the nation.  It’s all good though…I’d do it too to snatch up $500 because I can’t hate on the hustle.  Oh- and if you haven’t bought your tickets to the biggest Halloween party/concert[Gravedigger's Ball] in Charlotte …maybe even North Carolina…they’re still available.  As of today, over 4,000 tickets have been sold!  Scoop one up before it’s too late…and prices might go up at the door!  Click here to buy!

I’m done- time for the final touches on my costume and no, I’m not telling you about it…just keep your eyes peeled for a video camera.

-KRAwL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

So there’s been a lot of buzz lately around “Dilworth” bars and I decided to see what it was all about.  Last night I ventured [by way of crazy cabbie who I think was color blind and red=green] over to Braswells on Monford Dr. behind the Park Road Shopping Center. Monford Dr. was poppin to say the least!  There’s a lot of bars just a drunk lean and a stumble away from each other…I thought to myself…JACKPOT!  My crew walked in and it was an incredible difference from the BMG choke-hold on all bars in Uptown Charlotte.  The views were especially appealing with beautiful girls scattered all around the place.  Although, I will say the bathrooms were less than sufficient for a bar..i found myself in a small lavatory with just one toilet and one urinal and thinking that at any moment someone will try to play ‘swords’ with me.  After some drinks and a Tour de Braswells, I found my newest party oasis.  Outside there was a sick patio overflowing with high-spirited folk…but it could have been the $2 High Lifes kicking in.

I definitely give Brazwells 2 thumbs up and salute you for your specials, bar staff and location. Thanks for a change of pace.

-KRaWL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Aaahhh the crisp smell and refreshing feeling of Fall is in the air, and that can only mean one thing..FOOTBALL SEASON is here!  I hope you’re as excited as I am and Charlotte has been buzzing with anticipation for the new Panther’s season [minus their incredibly successful preseason- good thing it's just 'practice'].  With the Panthers season comes alive the ‘unofficial’ Panthers after party..CANS Bar and Canteen located on 5th street Uptown. Every season, hundreds of people swarm CANS on foot upon exiting the Bank of America Stadium.  Maybe it’s because CANS resembles the stadium…beer is comparable in price, there’s always a line for service and they run out of things..IE. Bud Light! Who runs out of Bud Light when you know a huge crowd of Football fans are hustling to quench their thirst?!  Regardless, people will still be back after every home game, so count on getting there early before you lose your chance to catch some prime real estate. All in all, CANS Bar and Canteen is the place to be after a Panther’s home game, but beware..all of Charlotte will be there and I recommend a good ol’ fashioned double fist whenever you do get served at a bar.

-KRAwL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Ahh yes another weekend in Uptown Charlotte!   This weekend was the epic Irish Festival and Bar Crawl throughout the mingling Uptown streets of Charlotte!  It was actually nice to see crowds of lushes walking the streets bouncing from bar to bar.  Nothing gets Charlotte energized like a reason to drink…any reason…real or made-up…no, but seriously we drink for anything [Irish Festival? Really? It's August].  Fifth street was the main attraction including Phils Tavern and the Irish Pub Connellys.  Phils Tavern is one of Charlotte’s smaller bars, but has some BIG attractions.  Some of the hottest female bartenders in Charlotte call Phils Tavern home, serving up your favorite drinks in tip-worthy attire.  They’ve got plenty of TVs to watch your favorite games and even a projection screen. Although the dance floor is small and the bathrooms smaller, their DJ packs a punch!  I’ve never heard such an awesome play list with great remixes to the hottest songs and even classics! $2 beers + sick tunes = accelerated drinking so be careful and if you end up stumbling around..you’ll bump into some of the hottest Charlotteans our nightlife has to offer!

-KRAwL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

This past weekend was the Rascal Flatts concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.  I know that I’m not much of a country fan, [say with country twang>] but I tell you what- that is one of my favorite concerts to go to of the summer concert season!  The parking lots/tailgating goes on for as far as the eyes can see [plus rando drunks coming out of the bushes or squatting next to cars taking care of Mother Natures "call"].  Tailgating gets started early at the Amphitheatre and continues well into the night..mostly because people get too loose to remember the reason they were drinking in a parking lot!  Walking inside, the amphitheatre is impressive and holds an incredible 18,741 between reserved seats and the lawn.  The lawn is definitely my favorite place to be..it’s cheaper and people just rage out as if they’re at their own private party…that definitely wasn’t me hah. 

I would recommend pre-gaming before any concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre due to the fact that a 24oz. brew costs $11!  Yeah, I said it– $11!  It’s like they thought it out and made it so a $20 bill [plus $3.50 service fee at the ATM] wouldn’t be enough to get two!  Anyway, country concerts are full of Hottt girls and I think they send memos out through a Universal Email to tell all girls attending to wear their favorite boots and mini skirts. H.E.A.V.E.N. Walking amongst the crowd, there was a sea of screaming fans losing all of their inhibitions..AND then there were ‘those’ people that were silent and seemed to be attached at the face like Siamese twins.  How do I know this?  I’ll let you youngins figure that one out. TAXI!!! I’m out!

Always a good time at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre..just don’t be drinking underage, because it’s illegal and they WILL catch you.

-KRAwL of Shame

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Once upon a time, University area bars used to be fun.  What I’m trying to say is that they’re only fun when you’re enrolled in the University.  Otherwise, you just seem like someone who can’t get over their ‘glory’ days and try to move forward with their life.  I went to Picassos in the University area after Alive After 5 last night [yes, I drove back to the University to go to a bar] and it was what I expected.  The ‘usuals’ are always there and it’s like Cheers where “Everybody knows your name.” Don’t get me wrong, some people are into that stuff and that’s why they’re called the ‘usuals,’ but it’s really not my style.  There’s no way to meet someone ‘different’ to have a ‘good time’ with for the night…basically who you come with is who you get.  Although, I gotta give it up to Picassos because there’s always one thing you can count on at a University area bar…great drink specials and karaoke!  They have $5 pitchers of beer and usually a $3 shot special.  On top of that, they have  a sick shuffle board to play, and guys are drawn to it like Amy Winehouse is to…well you know what I’m saying.  Picassos also has flat screen TVs plastered everywhere and a huge projector screen to watch all the games going on for the night…Baseball.  My-all-time-favorite sport was playing on nearly every screen [minus the smeared records from all the steroid controversies but we won't get into that].  Seems I’m just rambling and I should really stop typing and cop a Revive by Vitamin Water. Overall good time at Picassos..not my style, but 1 & 1/2 thumbs up for college students and/or ballers on a budget.

Room. Please. Stop. Spinning.

-KRAwL of Shame                        TweetTweetTweet

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Alive After 5 was another crazy fun night that led to bar hopping, so I had to take Friday off and stay in!  Although, it was a very successful AA5 because I got this hot betty to lower her ‘dating age’ from 9yrs to 11yrs her Jr.  Anyway, Saturday night was my time to shine. After grilling out and a corn hole/beer pong combo for a good friends birthday, we migrated to the EpiCentre. First stop:  Blackfinn.  The line seemed endless outside Blackfinn but we decided to wait anyway- it was $5 at the door to get in [they usually have free passes floating around Alive After 5] and I didn’t have to pay.  Instead of a wristband I ended up tattooed and emasculated with a weird purple flower on the inside of my wrist …I thought Blackfinn was dubbed a ’sports bar/saloon’ and you’re putting flowers on my arm?? Moving on, the place was packed and they were still letting people in.  I got my $3.50 beer and headed upstairs to land a spot to claim as my own.  Blackfinn was a cool place, but the only standing room they have is around their wrap around bar upstairs… getting drinks was a pain in the a**.  Once we heard word that Whisky River had $2 domestic beer and $3 wells…Blackfinn was a distant memory.  As I’ve said before, Whisky is my favorite place in the EpiCentre.  There’s plenty of bar space/options to refuel with, a great dance floor and plenty of space to post up and mack.  My ‘crew’ stayed for the night dancing and drinking the night away while watching people face plant off the electric bull. Good. Call. Whisky River.

-KRAwL of Shame                        Tweet This!

[Drinking of for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

Ok so it’s been a long week and you haven’t heard from me because i’ve got my Pimp Limp going on from an [i'm not going to tell you how] injury.

I decided to do something different with the ‘crew’ and went to Mez to see Public Enemy…on a Friday Night…at 10:15pm [usually it's smooth sailing by this time of night].  Mez is a really cool place to catch a flick— the chairs recline, there’s a small space for food [ordered from the Mez Restaurant] and a great cup holder for my your $9 + tip redbull vodkas or ‘water.’  I mean this place defines the perfect movie-goer experience except for one thing.  At that time of the night, the [small] bar downstairs is poppin off with people getting their drink on and the tunes are thumpin…through the ceiling and into our ear canals as we watch Public Enemy [hows that for temptation to sneak out and pound drinks?]. Needless to say, I couldn’t entirely focus on my $12 movie [yes, that's what it costs]. When the movie was over [2 1/2 hrs later..] we had to hustle to the parking deck to move our car— because they validate your parking if you go to the Mez Theatres and park at the EpiCentre Deck…BUT the validation lasts for only 3 hours [you do the math...dinner + movie + drinks= >3 hrs wtf?]. So we scurried downstairs and peaced out on the pricey EpiCentre to my Dixie [Land Delight] for some quick $2 beer chugging sessions before last call at the bar!

Later on Charlotte! 

p.s. If you see a guy limping around..after 1am- it could be me and I’d appreciate some water.  

-KRAwL of Shame                    Follow my limp around Charlotte…on Twitter

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]

One of my all-time favorite downtown debauchery destinations is Dixies on 7th street!  Take a break from the EpiCentre and mosy on over to Dixies.  They always have a $2 beer of the month and great shot/drink specials mixed by some serious eyecandy.  The DJ is always spinning great classics from ”Dixieland Delight” and the always-a-bar-favorite Journey to Lil Wayne and The Lonely Island [I'm on a boat!...I know you know it, don't play].  It’s a pretty big place with a huge wrap-around bar and 2 side bars inside.  Me and my ‘crew’ [cliquey Charlotte] went recently and this will sum up a Dixie’s night for atleast someone you might know. 

We make a bee-line to the bar once we’re there to get in on the specially priced ‘royal flush’ shots and grab some beers so we don’t have to make a trip anytime soon.  The bar fills up by 11:30p and there’s a great mix of songs playing…”Shout” came on and no matter what you were doing you got down and duurtaay to keep up with the song [great music=beers beers and more beer].   The bartenders get to know your name and it’s easier to get drinks.  After that, a visit to the bathroom ended up in a minor confrontation with a ‘drown-my-sorrows-with-beer’ dude who made a smart comment about my shorts…so he got a stiff arm into a urinal and it was over.

One friend, i’ll name him Beer Nut, took his drinking to another level and Dixies gladly accomodated.  I turned around and he’s grinding with some full on monets [good from a far but far from good].  I realized he was headed towards a face-plant in a downward spiral and I would sit back to enjoy!  Needless to say I got a little looser as the night went on and managed to lose track of most of my ‘crew.’  Beer Nut ended up passing out in the expansive Dixies parking lot next to what he thought was a ‘crew’ member’s car.  A homeless man woke Beer Nut up and pointed him to the CATS bus at 6am.  Well, he also passed out on the bus, and the forever kind employees of CATS kicked his a** off onto the street where he found a Burger King and regained communication with everyone again.  My Dixie-Land delight is on 7th street where there’s never a dull moment!

-KRAwL of Shame          Follow me on Twitter…it’ll be worth it!

[Drinking is for 21+, Drink in Moderation and Live Responsibly]