Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Season's Best

Clutching a red rubber wristband and my new clickety ballpoint pen, these tokens are all that’s left of my $30 investment for one of the year’s first annual downtown galas, the Red Hot Turkey Trot benefiting the American Red Cross this past Tuesday, November 22nd.

Whew. I sneak in my hurricane philanthropy after all.

On a brisk evening where I even score a free parking spot, walking to the Wachovia Atrium is becoming a tradition, considering a plethora of summer events and copycat parties following the same recipe of 1) mix in a few dozen dollars of your own cash, 2) drink unlimited sponsor beer & wine, and 3) enjoy adult contemporary band. 4) Repeat.

It works. On this evening, where Toys for Tots and 2nd String Santa still beckon me to whip out my annual Christmas tie over the next couple of weeks, an estimated thousand patrons or so deck the halls for the good cause.

Frankly, if I would show up on time I would get my money’s worth, before the hordes deplete the available buffet and it would also give me time to slug back a few more complimentary Buds.

The Atrium events, or any downtown “festival” for that matter, are a textbook case of the dating scene, admittedly attracting the hottest clientele crowd in Charlotte on a regular basis.

“But all the good guys are married or gay,” observes a fellow friend Jen, who apparently was oblivious to the male gene pool available. I mean, is she aware of our adverse ratio?

The chilly air, the 40 foot lit tree, and ceiling ornaments kick off the holiday season in grand fashion, while I watch the band Liquid Pleasure’s dance floor flip from “Gold Digger” to “Rock Around the Clock” to the humiliating “Electric Slide.” Admittedly, I can do the latter, but only under intense interrogation.

The flyer says lights out at 11:00, but they roll up the carpets before then. No matter, as our holiday season is officially underway. Better start getting all those $20’s stacked up for admission.

Calendar dates: 12/2 Toys for Tots (South End Brewery), 12/3 Santa Bar Crawl (Dixie’s Tavern), 12/6 Second String Santa (Founders Hall), 12/8 Blitzen’s Holiday Bash (Morehead St. Tavern). More info: www.elevatecharlotte.com, www.lazyday.com, www.charlottesportsconnection.com.

Anyone have a good story from the party? String me.

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