Check out these new parties tonight

A couple of new after-work parties start tonight:

• Madison's bar kicks off Fundraising Fridays, a weekly event dedicated to benefitting local nonprofits hurt by budget cuts. The after-work socials, which will run for eight weeks, will offer $2 Bud Light and $4 wine specials. Tonight's party will benefit Community Health Services, which provides preventative health care to children and adults with limited means. Other organizations will include King's Kitchen (July 17), Opera Carolina (July 24) and Mecklenburg County Boy Scouts of America (July 31). Nonprofits who would like to be considered for one of the August spots should contact Peter Gilchrist by e-mailing him here. 6-9 p.m. 115 E. Fifth St. $10 donation. www.madisonsbar.com.

• Uptown Magazine is also starting its own Friday social this week called the Uptown Cooldown. The bi-monthly party will travel the second and fourth Fridays of the month to different hotspots around town. Tonight, partygoers can slurp up Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka sno-cones at Apostrophe Lounge. Next one will be July 24 at LaVecchia's. Tonight's party starts at 5 p.m. 1440 S. Tryon St. Free. www.uptownclt.com.

Do you play Bunco?

I'm looking for women in the University City area who attend regular Bunco parties. 

I'm working on a story about the tradition -- and what really goes on at these kid-free gatherings -- for University City magazine.

Interested in being interviewed? E-mail me here or call 704-358-5207.

Thanks!

Names they are a-changing

There's more shakeup in nightlife news this week with a couple of uptown venues changing ownership and names.

Rustic Martini (a cute spot, but in nowheresville on North Tryon) has been sold to Jason Roy. New name is Club Urban Affair. Grand opening: July 18. 

In an e-mail to patrons last week, Rustic Martini owner Carlos Combs wrote, "It brings me great pleasure to have met many friends and hosted so many great events for you here in Charlotte. I thank you for always keeping it 'grown and sexy' and wish you and the future establishment as much success and happiness I have been blessed with."

He went on to add that he'll be opening another venue in 2010.

And Amnesia (otherwise known as V Lounge, V on 4th, etc.) has changed names yet again. It's now Bentley's RSVP, on the corner of Fourth and Poplar streets.

Thriller Thursday at EpiCentre

I've got more details about tomorrow's Alive After Five: The Michael Jackson edition.

Fresh off the heels of Tuesday's memorial, the folks over at AA5 are turning this Thursday's party into a massive tribute to the King of Pop.

Who's Bad, the Michael Jackson tribute band, will perform and they've also compiled a video dedicated to Jackson that will be aired on a big screen behind the main Bud Light stage upstairs. The music from Who's Bad will be piped through speakers all over the EpiCentre, including the courtyard. And in between sets, a DJ will be spinning all of the MJ favorites.

Staff members will be dressed in Jackson attire. The girls will be wearing fedoras, white tank tops, black suspenders, black shorts and a glove. The guys will wear black pants and red dress shirts.

And for the first time at AA5, you can purchase all-inclusive tickets that grant you access to a VIP viewing area, refreshments and free admission to EpiCentre bars and clubs. To buy tickets, click here.

Another uptown bar closing its doors

At 2 p.m. today, Brick & Barrel opened its doors for the last time. The tiny speakeasy on North Tryon will close tonight after six years.

On its Facebook page today, the bar posted this message:

"Today is our last day open. We are gonna miss you guys. Come say bye to the staff you love. We need you guys to come drink the bar dry. Cheers to you, Brick & the amazing family it has created. See you soon!!"

Rumors of the bar's closing have swirled since the EpiCentre's first nightlife venue, Whisky River, opened over a year ago, but partner Larry Parks says the reasons behind the closing have nothing to do with the EpiCentre or the economy.

"We can't come to terms with our landlord on a new lease," Parks says. "He (Garry Bhojwani of Binaco Investments) wants $15,000 a month and I'm not willing to pay that."

Parks says the bar has paid $10,000 a month the past six years on the small space. The upstairs bar is about 1,400 square feet.

"We'll resurface and reopen somewhere," he says. "We'll sit the bad economy out and decide what to do."

In the meantime, Parks says Bhojwani has been contacted by a number of different bars looking to strike a deal on the newly vacant space.

Live Nation offers all-inclusive lawn tickets

After a slew of successful "No Service Fee Wednesdays," Live Nation is expanding its popular ticket promotion this week.

"Over the last five Wednesdays, music fans have saved millions of dollars on concert tickets at LiveNation.com," Live Nation president Michael Rapino said in a news release. "Now fans have asked that we take it one step further and give a truly all-in price."

Starting at 12:01 tonight, concertgoers can buy lawn tickets at a flat rate to such shows as Blink 182, Crue Fest, Incubus, Alan Jackson and Def Leppard. Also included in the $29.99 ticket: parking and other fees, as well as a hot dog and soda.

The offer, which is good on all lawn seats at Live Nation-ticketed amphitheaters, will run for 24 hours.

For tickets, click here.

Free concerts and no covers

I'm heading out of town for the July 4th holiday this weekend, so things will be pretty quiet -- but before I go, I wanted to bring a couple of noteworthy free concerts to your attention.

Next Thursday's Alive After Five features Who's Bad, a Michael Jackson tribute band. Sparkly gloves not required for entry, but highly recommended.

Also at the EpiCentre: Vanilla Ice (yes, really) performs July 11 as part of the complex's summer concert series. Sing it with me: "Doo doo doo d-d-doo doo ..."

And speaking of free, a reader asked me to compile a list of all the uptown bars that don't charge a cover on the weekends. Here's what I found (let me know if I missed any):

• Brick & Barrel
• Cans
• Fox & Hound
• Therapy
• PJ's
• Cosmos
  
• Wild Wing Cafe
  
• Stool Pigeons
• Corner Pub
• The Pub at Gateway
• Cedar Street Tavern
• Picasso's
• Dixie's Tavern