Avett Brothers wow a sellout crowd

The Avett Brothers opened their two-night homecoming show Tuesday at the Belk Theater -- and it was easy to see why the bluegrass band from Concord is making waves in the music industry.

The guys -- Scott Avett on banjo/vocals, brother Seth on acoustic guitar/vocals, Joe Kwon on cello and Bob Crawford on bass -- started with a bang, opening the show with "Left on Laura, Left on Lisa" and quickly built on the sell-out crowd's energy, rarely slowing down for a break in their hour-and-a-half set and playing such favorites as "At the Beach" and "Salina" as well as newer songs such as "Standing With You."

At times, it seemed as though they were throwing their whole bodies into each note while playing multiple instruments at a time. The only people working harder than the band were the backstage crew who worked throughout the show to fix broken banjo strings and a kick drum that felt the full force of Scott Avett's enthusiasm for the music.

The biggest ovation of the night was saved for "Go to Sleep." The audience continued to sing the refrain from the song a full five minutes after the Avetts had left the stage. The guys returned to play a four-song encore consisting of "Colorshow," "The Lowering," "Kick Drum Heart" and "Salvation Song."

The energy from the stage was infectious and had everyone in the crowd -- from children to seniors -- up and out of their seats, dancing in the aisles. It's hard to imagine how raucous the show will be tonight on New Year's Eve.

But it was the Avetts who were most thankful:

"Thanks for having us home," Scott Avett said. "You are old friends and we thank you for coming."

(Tonight's New Year's Eve concert starts at 9. It's also sold out, but you might be able to buy tickets through Craigslist.)

Win NYE tickets!

Rich & Bennett's popular NYE bash is already sold out, but you're in luck -- I scored two tickets to give away to one lucky reader.

The party will serve as the grand opening for the new Common House restaurant in Plaza Midwood and features an open bar from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., a full dinner buffet from Hawthorne's Pizza, a champagne toast at midnight and music by DJ Kadence.

Interested? Just call 704-358-5207 by noon today and sing the first verse of "Auld Lang Syne" into my voicemail.

Best version wins the tickets.

Good luck!

For a full list of NYE parties, click here.

NIX owner responds

My last blog about Nix Burger & Brew received a large number of negative comments about the new uptown restaurant that opened just last week.

Owner Nick LaVecchia sent me an e-mail today addressing some of the concerns.

"I am hoping you can help me clarify some of the issues we've experienced during NIX debut. We experienced many delays during construction that were beyond our control. When we finally opened, business volume was way above our projections. We are addressing many issues daily that exist with any new restaurant opening. We are working diligently to fix problems, mostly related to the high volume with very limited space. With any new concept, there are always kinks to be worked out in the first few weeks of operation. I just want you to know we are aware of these issues and are working hard to fix them. We hope we are given the chance to fix problems and not be judged based on the first few days after opening."

In short, have patience, people. We should be rooting for all businesses to succeed right now.

Uptown burger joint opens today

NIX Burger & Brew opens tonight at the corner of Fifth and Tryon streets, offering a rare mid-range option for dining uptown.

NIX, owned by Nick LaVecchia of LaVecchia's Seafood Grille, offers about 20 different eight-ounce burgers from the traditional cheeseburger to ones topped with fried egg or onion rings. Most burgers are $8.95 and you can choose whether you want turkey, beef or bison as your meat.

Drafts, including Shock Top and Kona Fire Rock, are $5, while bottled beer starts at $3.

I checked it out last night during a pre-opening event and found my buffalo cheeseburger to be perfectly cooked and smothered in blue cheese. I also liked that the bun didn't overwhelm the burger and leave me feeling sickly stuffed.

The place has an industrial feel to it with a keg-inspired ceiling treatment, deconstructed chandeliers and bolts used as accent pieces along the wall. There's a small bar and six flatscreens located throughout the cozy 80-seat space.

LaVecchia said NIX will be open for lunch, dinner and late night (food served until about 1:30 a.m.) seven days a week.

Check out photos here.

Will Smith visits Observer newsroom

The first sign Will Smith was approaching the Observer: a luxury motorcoach emblazoned with a huge photo of the actor's face, advertising his new movie "Seven Pounds."

Subtle he is not.

Smith is in Charlotte today promoting the film and raising awareness for Second Harvest Food Bank.

He stopped in the Observer newsroom after visiting the Levine Children's Hospital and students at John Taylor Williams Middle School and Northwest School of the Arts.

Wearing a white button-down shirt, v-neck sweater, hooded vest and jeans, Smith breezed through the Observer lobby, smiling ear-to-ear and saying hello to gawking employees.

After a quick elevator ride to our fourth-floor newsroom, Smith stopped to shake hands and greet everyone he passed.

A reporter was able to snag an autograph for his 12-year-old son, a big fan of the actor's.

"Best Hanukkah present ever!" he exclaimed after he walked away.

Smith stopped to give a hug to one copy editor, commenting that her jacket "felt like butter." She's been seen re-enacting the moment ever since he left.

He then sat down with movie critic Lawrence Toppman for a half-hour interview, his trademark booming laugh trickling into the newsroom every so often.

His entourage -- mostly public relations reps and security guys -- mingled with others in the newsroom. One of them pointed to TV/radio reporter Mark Washburn's desk and said, "You know all the '70s movies about reporters? That's what I envision."

On his way out, the actor stopped to pose for a brief photo shoot and signed some more autographs, including an Observer section promoting "I Am Legend." He told the autograph-seeker that his K-9 co-star in the 2007 film was "the best dog ever."

Afterwards, the (straight, male) staffer said, "I never felt like a giggly schoolgirl before, but I did."

In fact, the whole newsroom seemed like a bunch of giggly schoolgirls -- the room was louder today than it was on election night last month.

He said, "Excuse me, love," to one young woman, who then flushed, clutched her heart and exclaimed "He called me love!"

Smith left about 1:45 to head back to his south Charlotte luxury hotel before heading over to Regal Stonecrest tonight, when he'll donate 300 turkeys to Second Harvest.

Click here and here for more Smith coverage.

Carol of the Pipers

It's nice to know that after a year of covering Charlotte's nightlife, I can still be surprised by things I see during my party travails around town.

On Saturday I was celebrating a friend's birthday at the Gin Mill -- a low-key gathering of shuffleboard, cheap beer and music played at a reasonable volume (what a concept).

We were all thinking about heading home for the night when about 10 men wearing kilts and Santa hats and carrying Christmas-light-adorned bagpipes walked in, making a beeline for the bathroom.

I stopped one and asked what they were up to.

Turns out the guys are part of Ceol na Gael, an Irish Pipe Band, which for the past three holiday seasons has been piping its way to center city bars during its annual Carol of the Pipers.

"The guys have had a few beers," band manager (and bass drum player) Frank Keenan told me, waving at the line to the men's room.

The bagpipers -- who had already played at Tyber Creek Pub, Connolly's and Phil's Deli -- stayed long enough to play three Christmas carols for partygoers (who also demanded an encore) before heading on to their next stop, Vinnie's.

As the last member left with candy canes swaying from his bagpipe, I couldn't help but think it was a lovely way to spend the evening.

Hope some of you guys got a chance to see them, too!

Nightlife on 'Monday Night'

The energy uptown was palpable yesterday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and ESPN came to Charlotte for "Monday Night Football."

Some of that energy was, of course, generated by the buzz building up to the pivotal game, but did anyone notice how bright the uptown sky was? The buildings were encouraged to keep all of their lights on for the national broadcast as Charlotte enjoyed its moment in the spotlight. (I'd love to see the Bank of America building's overnight electric bill. No wonder we're in an energy crisis.)

Fans started tailgating hours before kickoff at Bank of America Stadium, and for those who couldn't take a half-day from work, their frustrations and excitement were documented hourly on Facebook. (I'd also love to see the productivity rate at Charlotte businesses yesterday. I'm guessing it's about the same as it is during March Madness.)

But while banks, law firms, (newspapers) and other businesses experienced a drop in productivity yesterday, the hospitality sector saw a boon: Charlotte Center City Partners predicted the game generated up to $8 million in extra revenue to area bars, restaurants and hotels.

I stopped in to WFNZ's Dog House before the game to check out early revelers. For those of you new to Charlotte, the Dog House sits in the shadow of the stadium at Mint and Morehead streets. It's open only on game days when the WFNZ on-air team broadcasts from the bar and fans use it as a tailgating/meeting/game-watching spot.

Inside, fans dressed in Panthers garb munched on peanuts and loaded up on beer while listening to the radio show. Out back, a live band played while folks from Sagebrush served up steaming hot BBQ.

It was nice to see everyone just out having a good time and not sitting at home listening to news reports about the flagging economy.

The Dog House opens two hours before every home game (last one's next Sunday when the Panthers host the Broncos) and stays open as late as two hours after the game ends.

Where are your favorite places to tailgate or watch the game?

Updated holiday party list

Here's a list of festive fetes this month. Don't see yours on the list? Send me an e-mail with the details. Happy holidays!

Dec. 16

• Analog Daze at the Double Door Inn. Party like a rock star with Analog Daze at this Christmas party. Food, drinks and live music. 8-midnight. Info here.

Dec. 17

• Pet PALS Holiday Bash at Suite. 7-9:30 p.m. $15 at the door (includes one drink ticket). Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Charlotte.
• Holiday Happy Hour at Brio. Mingle with the Young Affiliates of the Mint during their monthly social with a holiday theme. 6-9 p.m. No cover.
• Gin Mill is hosting an "Appreciation, 3/4 of the way to St. Paddy's, Recession Proof Christmas Party." $1 domestics, $2 imports, $3 house liquor. Live Irish music from The Merrows. Karaoke later in the night. 
• Rusty Rudder's Ugly Sweater/Naughty Santa party. Starts at 8 p.m. No cover. Karaoke. Specials include $1 Miller High Life bottles, $1.50 Coors Light drafts, $2 domestic bottles and $5 Sweet Tea Vodka drinks.

Dec. 18

• 8th Annual Blitzen's Holiday Party. DJ spinning holiday tunes. Passed appetizers and drink specials. Silent auction features spa packages, a trip for two, and gift certificates to area restaurants and retail stores. 6-10 p.m. at BlackFinn Saloon. $5. Portion of proceeds benefit American Red Cross. Get your tickets here.
• Cans Bad Sweater Party. Bring out your ugliest sweater (holiday-themed preferred) and win a prize for worst sweater. $4 Skyy Red Bull, $2 Swill of the Month. Music from DJ Stix. Starts at 9 p.m.

Dec. 19

• The Gathering: A Soulful Xmas Party, hosted by Consuella and Brittney Cason. Collecting toys for toys for tots, canned goods and handbags for Bags of Love. Music by The Sol Kitchen and DJ DR. Starts at 10 p.m. at Alive in NoDa. $10 cover.
• Sunset's Ugliest Christmas Sweater Party. Dig out that old ugly Christmas sweater your grandma once gave you and make it pay off. The club is giving away a free VIP section and bottle service to the one that has the most tacky holiday sweater. Starts at 10 p.m.
• Naughty or Nice/Sexy Santa party at Bar Charlotte. Sexiest Santa wins $500 cash. No cover if you bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Starts at 9 p.m. 

Dec. 20

• Blue Santa Benefit Party at Blue Restaurant. $3 drafts, $6 martinis. Live music from the Presley Brothers. Proceeds benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. $5 cover without a canned food item. Free with a food donation.
• Executive Entertainment presents The Black Affair, a Christmas Party at Grand Central Events on Central Avenue. More info here.

Dec. 24

• Matzo Ball Party. Forum, along with the Society of Young Jewish Professionals hosts a party for all those who aren't celebrating Christmas Eve. SYJP offers men and women ages 21-49 the opportunity to develop networking connections, long-lasting friendships and romantic relationships. 9 p.m. $30 at the door or online here.

Dec. 27

• Queen City Hollywood at the Blake Hotel. Enjoy two ballrooms with different music (pop, hip-hop and old school in one, a live jazz band in the other). Complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Gift bags and over $2,000 in giveaways. Hosted by Power 98's Consuella and Ife Moore. Guests include Bobby Valentino, Ryan Leslie, Wali Rainer, Aaron Brooks, Angelo Crowell and Dre Bly. Tickets are $35. Click here.

Whisky River employee arrested

An employee at Whisky River was arrested as he arrived for work Tuesday night at the EpiCentre bar in uptown.

Anthony Ortega Rodriguez, who worked security at the front door, was arrested on warrants for selling cocaine to undercover detectives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

According to a press release, Rodriguez's arrest was the culmination of an investigation that began after CMPD received complaints about drugs being sold inside the bar.

At the time of his arrest, officers found 12 bags of cocaine totaling 15 grams in his pocket.

Bob Durkin, president of Bar Management Group, which runs the bar for owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., said Rodriguez is no longer employed.

"We are definitely shocked by the whole thing," Durkin said. "We go through extensive background checks on everyone we hire."

Durkin also said BMG has a zero tolerance policy for drugs in its bars, requiring employees to sign a form saying they will not bring drugs on the premises and to report employees who do.

"We take as many steps as we can," Durkin said. "Unfortunately, we had one bad seed."

Second String Santa draws 4,000

More than 4,000 people turned out to Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday night with gifts in hand.

The annual Second String Santa party celebrated its 20th anniversary in a big way, collecting more than 3,000 gifts for needy children in the Charlotte area and raising a record $57,000.

The party was started by a group of friends who wanted to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season by collecting toys for children. The first year saw 600 guests at a backyard gathering and that number has steadily grown, making it one of the biggest social events of the season. It outgrew its longtime location at Founders Hall and moved to the uptown arena this year.

I hadn't been to the party when it was at Founders Hall, but I have a few suggestions for next year if they decide to hold it at the arena again.

• Kill the fluorescent lights in the concourse at the arena. The lights were unforgiving and took away from the festive atmosphere. Hint: Ladies love Christmas twinkle lights. They make everyone look gorgeous.
• Add a dress code to invites. I saw people in a broad range of outfits, from summer-weight dresses to women in full prom hair and makeup and full-length gowns. Cocktail attire seems appropriate for a holiday party. Although I have to give kudos to the three brave men in jaunty Christmas sweaters.
  
• More bars! I saw a comment on a web site before I went along the lines of "You know how long you have to wait for a drink at SSS..." And while we're on the subject of adding stuff, more coat check areas are needed. My friends waited at least 20 minutes just to check their coats. Total buzzkill.

But aside from the lighting and long lines, it was cool to see so many people out on a Tuesday night, celebrating the giving season -- and enthusiastically partaking in the open bar. The arena floor was a sea of people socializing and dancing along with the live band to hits like "Proud Mary." I heard one person say "this is more people than they get for Bobcats games."

Even Michael Jordan made an appearance, briefly passing through the VIP area of the party before watching the festivities on the floor from an upper-level suite.

For more pics from the evening, click here and here.