Friday, April 17, 2009

Local mag names best of Charlotte nightlife

Charlotte Magazine released its Best of the Best awards this week, naming winners in categories ranging from best pizza to best service.


Here are the mag's picks for the best nightlife (my picks are in parentheses, but for the most part I think they got it right):
  • Best Reason to go to the EpiCentre: Howl at the Moon (Howl at the Moon)
  • Best Lounge: Tutto Mondo (Tutto Mondo)
  • Best New Bar: Mez (Mez)
  • Best Place to Chill: Ed's Tavern (The Thirsty Beaver)
  • Best Live Music Venue: Neighborhood Theatre (Visulite)
  • Best Dance Venue: Suite (Suite)
  • Best Place for After-Dinner Drinks: Chima (Blue Restaurant)
  • Best Outdoor Patio: Selwyn Pub (Loft 1523)
  • Best Wine Bar: Dolce Vita (Yn Cafe)
For a full list of winners and to see readers' picks, click here.

Now, what the magazine left out was a category for best bartender. Luckily, AIDS Walk Charlotte has our city's master mixologists covered with Bar Wars 2009. Stop by your favorite participating bar this weekend and with a $1 donation to AIDS Walk Charlotte, you can cast your vote for your favorite bartender in a variety of categories, including hottest, fastest and funniest bartender.

On Monday night, a panel of celebrity judges (Breezekat from the Ace & TJ Show, Brittney Cason from Creative Loafing, Joey Hewell from Uptown Magazine, Steve Caldwell of Elevate, drag queen Roxy C. Moorecox and yours truly) will sample concoctions in the tastiest cocktail competition. Added bonus: cutie Chad Rock from Kiss 95.1 will host.

And you won't want to miss the flair competition at the end of the night when bartenders will attempt to defy gravity by tossing bottles a la Tom Cruise in "Cocktail."

It all starts at 9 p.m. Monday at Alley Cat. Hope to see you there!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hard to argue with any of those selections, but my top two in no particular order are Dolce Vita and the Thirsty Beaver.

Anonymous said...

I second the above entry. Nothing like a little Yin and Yang in your life, i.e. a night begun with a bottle of wine at Dolce Vita and then heading over to the Beav to have bovine skulls watching you pound a cold one at the bar.

Anonymous said...

There are some good wine bars in Charlotte but I agree that Dolce Vita is at the top! The staff is the best, and it's a very laid back, fun crowd. None of the snobby stuff. A great date place too.