Next week's party picks

To my five faithful readers (Hi Mom!), I'll be off the blogosphere all next week as part of my mandatory furlough.

To help get you through this very difficult absence, I bring you my picks for nightlife next week. And if any of you check out the new Luna or Enso, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Keep me updated here. Regular posting will resume Aug. 31.

Aug. 28

Calling all SEC Alumni

5:30-7:30 p.m. Dixie's Tavern, 301 E. Seventh St. No cover. www.dixiescharlotte.com.

The 2009 football season kicks off next week and alums from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are invited to shelve their rivalry for one night to celebrate their love of SEC sports. Free appetizers and drink specials provided. Wear your school gear.

Ballantyne Nightlife Crawl

6:30 p.m. Register uptown at Town Tavern, 200 N. Tryon St. $10. www.bandtastic.com.

Check out the best of the 'burbs on the second Ballantyne bar crawl. Cost includes transportation to and from each of the five locations (Town Tavern, City Tavern, On the Roxx, O'Shea's and a private party at LA East), ice cold beer on the bus and no covers.

Aug. 29

Three Olives launches new flavor

9 p.m. 820 Hamilton St. (inside the N.C. Music Factory). To get on the invite list, e-mail marqueesaturdays@haloclt.com.

Come test out the new Bubble O vodka at Halo's Martini Madness party. TheVelvetNights.com will host an open Three Olives bar from 9-11 p.m.

Joint anniversary celebration

9 p.m. 1440 S. Tryon St. No cover. www.thesolkitchen.com.

PopLife – the popular free weekly party brought to you by The Sol Kitchen and Creative Loafing – marks two years of packing any venue it's in. For the past year, that's been SouthEnd's Apostrophe Lounge, which will celebrate its first birthday at the Special Saturday edition of PopLife. DJ DR and DJ Frase – both PopLife regulars – will provide the music to keep the party going well into the night.