Belle-y Dancing at Menage?

Greetings from vacation, where the Crawl gets ready to camp at 12,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains...
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Stefan Latorre's latest experiment in late night cuisine makes its debut in part of the former Menage Ultra Lounge with Belle's BBQ, his first endeavor into Southern grub.

We already know of his work in Latorre's Latin Cuisine next door and Aquavina. But 'cue? It's an unusual option for this savvy lawyer better known for dabbling in South Beach fare.

The third floor of Menage remains intact, but perhaps this change was inevitable. Competing for nightclub traffic was becoming an issue as observed from the long lines at Forum up the street and reader email. Latorre has also had to shake allegations of discriminatory behavior that was addressed in this blog and by the Observer in recent history.

But late operating hours, live music, and a tempting late night munchie option deserves a chance. After all, he's entitled to run a profitable business.

Charlottenightlife.com reports that they seek a run at the hottest bar staff. Have they ever been to Phil's Deli?
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I redacted part of last week's blog about the Skeeball championships at Joe's Raw Bar after organizer Brian Farrell misinterpreted my usual sarcasm that litters this column.

Citations regarding his cheeky use of the word "skee" ("skee you later," "skee"-E-O, etc.) in his email correspondence and a discretionary reference to labeling him as a tool were taken out of context, and after an email apology, all is well.

So why mention it?

Please, stop taking me seriously. This is a column about drinking, and written within the PG-13 confines of a demographic viewing the city's most popular website. In other words, it's for entertainment purposes only.
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A fellow friend and reader named John advises me that South Charlotte's (waaaayyy South Charlotte) newest addition is O'Shea's, an authentic Irish pub perched at the new shopping center development at Ardrey Kell and Tom Short roads.

For a reportedly five bucks a pint, the Guinness is flowing and the business is co-founded with the 5th St. crew owning Madison's, Connolly's, and The Attic. This information has yet to be corroborated.

But more importantly, at this intersection, are we really in Charlotte anymore? Seems like Waxhaw to me. Go get your own nightlife column.

Reach Bryan. All emails will be answered.

What a Great Set of Cans

Cans announces the launch of its THP cannery--in dedication to the Three Headed Productions parent company--starting Thursday, July 20th, with a $2 tribute to its inaugural microbrewery in the Cotton Mills warehouse basement.

Playing it safe with a Light, Dark, Amber, and a Belgium White (although the latter is enhanced with fresh orange and coriander), the brewery process is reduced to a three man operation of brewmaster Charles Joly, a canner filling two at a time, and a third man that we'll simply call the "lidder" sealing off the finished product. Six packs are sold for $8.99.

Since this writer prefers the more complex compositions of a lager, stout, or an IPA, I'll take the Dark, sight unseen. A Light simply questions my masculinity, an Amber reminds me of a fat girl that had a crush on me in high school, and Belgium White probably resembles a Blue Moon, a forbidden attraction accentuated by an orange slice that I appreciate only in private, in the absence of fellow men.

With born-on dating already yesterday's news among the major breweries, the local fresh canning might have some traction.
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The Mint Museum's "Mint After 5," reserved for the third Friday of each summer month and hosted by their Young Affiliates of the Mint sibling, invites you to their North Tryon rooftop deck for its happy hour affair starting at 6:00.

We'll call it the perfect weekend prelude; nowhere else will you get all you can drink, eat, and music for twenty bucks, unless you're me, enjoying the rare media pass.
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The area's latest addition to the philanthropy pool is Guys with Ties, comprised of five native Charlotteans applying for 503(c)(3) status as a nonprofit organization seeking the usual greater good.

Saturday, July 22nd's "Concert for a Cause," expected to attract some two to three thousand patrons, will benefit the Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, a horseback therapy offered to area youths afflicted with Downs, CP, autism, and more.

Scheduled acts include national touring act Two Step, MTV college band finalist Rhymes with Orange, and local fave Dear Carolina.

Tickets are ten bucks in advance at Dixie's online and fifteen day of the show.

Reach Bryan. All emails will be answered.

Cruisin' for a Bruisin', and Pray 4 Ray!

So I return from vacation to learn that twenty-four people were arrested uptown last weekend. Char-Meck police are cracking down on cruising, they say. Without a city ordinance in place to forbid it, the violations center around loud music, open containers, and even illegal weapons possession.

We already know about the 2nd annual Riot After the Fireworks.

What's going on?

The same issues that have plagued any town with a successful nightlife district. In a few short years, Center City is now the place to see and be seen, and with that success breeds an attraction of all types.

Consider the difficulties facing Atlanta's Buckhead district, as well as Tampa's Ybor City. In what amounts to an inevitable vicious cycle, deserted areas under the right circumstances blossom into a bustling area soon overrun by trouble and a police presence, then return to normal.

But let's don't overreact. The arrests were largely preventive measures, and other than an unexcusable shot fired at the July 4th riot, we still love us some Uptown.

Or shall we call it Downtown again?
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Congratulations to our buddy Chuck Wilson, proprietor of www.carolinanightlife.com. Thanks to early success, he's made a formidable attempt at franchising, having sold three templates to Iowanightlife.com, Indianaevenings.com, and NightlifeVirginia.com.

Operating under the www.thenightlifenetwork.com mother ship, franchisors spend a measly $8,000 for a state license fee along with a $300 joining fee and $150 monthly dues.

He deserves it. For years, we've watched him prowl the bars, tirelessly hording the photo shots to take a grassroots website to buzzworthy recognition.

I had no idea Iowa was rockin' after dark! Is it even a state?
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While the Elizabeth area quietly creeps into a desirable Crawl stop, Visulite's recent press release indicates business as usual at perhaps the city's best live indoor venue (okay, Neighborhood Theatre deserves equal billing, and I have not seen Amos' renovations yet).

I don't follow our music scene, but the Wednesday, September 20th show for Cowboy Mouth is a bittersweet appreciation for this band I once applauded.

Lead singer/drummer Fred LeBlanc's tired "Are you glad to be alive?" chant, and his hairy gorilla arms are wearing me out, and after a lackluster attempt a year or two ago at Buckhead Saloon, this band's flame has flickered out.

"Jenny say-as! Turn off the ra-d-io." Enough. The radio already turned them off.
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Lazyday.com is promoting what appears to be the first fundraiser for Ray Ducharme's "Pray 4 Ray" website quickly embracing his tragic accident in Pamploma, Spain while preparing for the Running of the Bulls.

One hundred percent of the "Sharin' Sugar Pub Crawl's" proceeds will benefit Ray, with whom I already know I share two degrees of separation. My Myspace account already has at least one blast bulletin, so it appears the guy's got a lot of love around here.

My prayers for his difficult recovery.

Reach Bryan. All emails will be answered.