Thursday, September 3, 2009

Dharma Lounge opens in South End

After months of delays and a location change, Dharma Lounge opens its doors this weekend in South End. I got a first look at the place last night at its Friends & Family party.


I first wrote about Dharma just over a year ago, when plans called for it to be part of the Silos Subdistrict. Owner Eric Pliner, a former partner in Tonic, says those plans fell through when the developer lost his loan.

Now in its current location at Tryon and West Summit, Dharma adds to the growing lineup of nightlife options in South End, joining Apostrophe, Common Market, Gin Mill and Amos'. (And opening soon in the same block is a 5,700-square-foot dance club.)


The Scene: The lounge -- designed by Pliner's co-owner Lora Campbell -- is heavily influenced by the pair's background in Eastern philosophy. Decor is minimalist -- a lotus-blossom mural and a giant gold Buddha are the focal points, while the deep red walls fill in the rest. Day beds swathed in sheer red curtains and scattered with throw pillows serve as cozy places to rest your feet or cuddle up. An outdoor patio is enclosed with tall bamboo and that natural, organic feel also is reflected in the branch-like detail along the bar inside.
Bartenders are plentiful and drink prices are shockingly low -- a mixed drink cost me $4.50 in a town where $6-$8 is the norm.
Pliner says that was intentional and will remain so: "We all know what's going on with the economy," he says. "For longevity purposes and to get people to come in more than once or twice a week, we want to keep prices low."
And it's more than a bar -- Pliner plans to offer free detox yoga classes starting the weekend of Sept. 19. The classes, which will be open to all levels, will start at 1 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.


The Crowd: A friendly, funky alternative bunch turned out last night -- decidedly not like the people you might find at the EpiCentre. "It won't be a downtown crowd," Pliner says. "We know this -- we're a neighborhood lounge." Curiously, the guy-to-girl ratio was extremely high at Friends & Family. I'll be interested to see if that evens out as more people hear about it. Among the partygoers last night were high-profile attorney Bill Diehl and local songwriter Stephen Warwick.

The Music: A house blend with a live singer accompanying the DJ, That Guy Smitty. Pliner says that the lounge isn't tied to one genre. "We're not going to have one theme," he says. "We'll go from house to electro to drum and bass, and even some retro dance."

The Details: Dharma's grand opening starts Friday with DJ Riddim King and Tredamit. Saturday, Dharma will welcome a surprise internationally known DJ. The party starts at 8 p.m. For more information, click here.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The place sounds cool, but the presence of Bill Diehl takes the level of doucheness to a plane than I can't tolerate. Guess when you make as much money as he does, you can get invited to anyting. Instead of bar hopping, he ought to be gym hopping.

Anonymous said...

gay

Andrea Moss said...

The place is beautiful. The decor and vibe are like none other in Charlotte. I will definitely go back!

Anonymous said...

love this place.
wish you hadn't posted about it, would rather keep the "uptown" crowd out of the loop.

Anonymous said...

Yea, if it's a place where Bill Diehl goes, NOT COOL! Too bad that was in the review. Never plan to go now. Who wants to party where stuffed shirt corporate attorneys go?

Anonymous said...

...gayer, gayest!

Anonymous said...

Just love the gay comments. I'm sure it's from the same people who get their panties in a twist when people make fun of the epicenter vapidness.

Anonymous said...

cool

Anonymous said...

Hey people...you can all relax because he only reason Bill Diehl was out that night was because another attorney in his office does business with the clubs affairs so he thought it was ok that he could come out to friends and family night...He will not be coming back....yikes..everyone hopes..but I def think he wont.
This bar had a great crowd of people last night (Friday) at their official soft opening...a good mix of all kinds of people and a good time was had by all...good vibes for sure!

Anonymous said...

If you want gay, just go to Montford Drive. Frat party central ya'll!!! (not coooooool)

Anonymous said...

dharma is fabulous! It is certainly not a lounge i would consider a place "where stuffed shirt corporate attorneys go". not sure how anyone can make negative assumptions about anything they have yet to experience for themselves.

Greg S said...

Loved the lounge. I would say the feeling I got when I walked in was "Come as you are" No need to make sure you are wearing the right shoes, shirt etc... There were many different walks of life there. Not stuffy or clicky like many of Charlotte's establishments are

Anonymous said...

This place is going to get closed down in no time. I hear that the neighbors in the townhouses/condos in the blocks around the lounge are already organizing petitions to have it removed due to excessive noise, bad behavior, damage to property, etc.

Anonymous said...

think how many blitzed drunks
will try to go home, or wherever,
stumble to their auto and kill.

BARS SHOULD NOT SERVE LIQOUR WHEN
THE SUN HAS SET.