Bartender's Ball 2009

Bartender's Ball is coming back next year with an international theme.

Yes, it's still three months away, but tickets are on sale now for only $50.

After Sunday, the price jumps to $60.

If you've never been to a Bartender's Ball, you need to check it out. It's one of the biggest parties of the year for Charlotte's young professionals, featuring open bar with premium liquors, free food and music from a host of DJs. Participating bars really get in on the fun, designing elaborate booths to fit with the theme.

This year's party benefits The Guys with Ties.

To get your tickets, click here.

Iconic music venue to open in Charlotte

Charlotte is getting a major addition to its live music scene.

The N.C. Music Factory announced Thursday that Live Nation will open a Fillmore Music Hall in the entertainment complex in uptown's Fourth Ward. The concert promoter will also exclusively book the music factory's 5,000-seat outdoor boutique amphitheater.

“Having the Fillmore brings a world-class recognition to Charlotte,” said Noah Lazes of ARK Group, which is developing the Music Factory. “The Fillmore is arguably the most respected club venue in the world, by artists as well as fans.”

And with Live Nation operating the venue, “it's the best. It's like having Microsoft running your company,” Lazes said.

The original Fillmore opened in San Francisco in 1965 and attracted such music acts as The Who, Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead. Since then, Fillmore venues have opened in New York, Miami, Detroit and Denver.

Lazes says the 2,000-seat venue is slated to open in late spring or early summer.

What do you guys -- especially everyone posting on my last entry -- think about the news? Is this what Charlotte needs? Does a name like the Fillmore put Charlotte on the music map?

Cans tries out new concept

Cans General Manager Brian Labovitz tells me you'll find a whole new vibe on Saturdays in the lower level of the uptown bar, called the Underground.

Previously, the lower level was mostly used as an extension of the main floor entertainment, catering to the overspill of the crowd. Now, the bar is bringing in master mash-up DJ Vandam for Chop Shop on Saturdays.

“His style of mash-up DJing, by layering the new and trendy top 40 and house hits with our thematically appropriate retro '80s and '90s hits, gives Charlotte a much-needed musical kick in the (backside),” Labovitz says. “Best example I've heard (of his style) was M.I.A.'s ‘Paper Planes' with Bon Jovi's ‘Dead or Alive' mashed in.”

Labovitz also says the atmosphere of the lower level will be more clublike – but without pretentious lines or covers.

“Unlike most venues in Charlotte, Cans does not and will not charge a cover and avoids senseless lines to create the perception of being busy,” he says. “The new Underground will not alter that approach in the slightest.”

I didn't make it to the first Chop Shop this past Saturday -- did any of you? What did you think?

Gobble, gobble, gobble

Some of Charlotte' s best bartenders gathered at Connolly's on Monday night to show off their mixology skills -- and it was all for a great cause.

Turkey Fest 2008 was sponsored by Absolut, Jameson Whiskey and American Honey, and the trifecta theme was carried on at Madison's, The Attic and Connolly's.

Proceeds from the night benefitted Second Harvest Food Bank.

Partygoers could choose between different drink specials in each bar including a Lemon Drop Martini, Uptown Cosmo, Ruby Red Martini or a shot from the American Honey ice luge.

Highlights included free makeovers from the MAC makeup gurus and massages courtesy of the Aveda Institute.

Some brave guys also entered the "Rock Band" competition at The Attic -- and by brave, I mean their singing voices were painful to listen to.

But the high point of the night was the Absolut martini competition at Connolly's. The big winner of the night was Russ from Loft 1523. His cinnamon inspired, fruity flavored Confusion Infusion had the judges -- me, Carolina Panther Gary Gibson, Creative Loafing's Brittney Cason and 96.1 The Beat's Jacinda -- all begging for more.

And the best part? Russ donated his $200 prize back to Second Harvest.

A very honorable mention goes to Michael at PJ's Coffee & Lounge, whose complex kiwi-flavored concoction tasted more like a smoothie than a mixed drink.

In total, the event raised $2,075 for the food bank -- or in Second Harvest lingo, 12,500 pounds of food.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

About that uptown fight

I did a little digging to find out more about the "brawl" that happened uptown early Sunday morning.

I thought it was a little fishy that the Observer story said the fight happened at Buckhead Saloon at 2:41 a.m. when the bar -- at North College and Fifth streets -- is normally closed. The story was based on an incident log filed by CMPD over the weekend that described a large fight inside the bar.

Turns out the fight occurred out on the sidewalk a short distance up the block.

"Our doors are locked at 2:15," said Buckhead manager Wes Cumberland.

Buckhead staff was closing out registers and cleaning up for the night when they noticed the blue lights of police cars outside.

Cumberland and assistant manager Jason Astephen said none of the people involved in the fight was at the bar.

Cumberland said the fight involved Marines who had attended the Marine Corps Ball at the Marriott Center City at 100 W. Trade St. earlier in the night.

"I think they (CMPD) associated us with the fight because we're right there on the corner, but College Street is a walkway for all of the bars in the uptown entertainment district and a lot of people park in that parking structure," Astephen said.

A police report had not been filed as of Monday afternoon, but a CMPD sergeant confirmed Monday that the fight happened outside of Buckhead.

He said the fight happened when two groups passed each other on the street. One man said something about another's girlfriend and the fight broke out between the two men.

"Probably the only relevance to Buckhead was the fact that one of their bouncers came out to try to break the fight up," the sergeant said.

Come to Turkey Fest on Monday

Connolly's, Madison's and The Attic are hosting a huge party on Monday night -- and it's for a great cause.

Turkey Fest 2008 will feature a "Rock Band" competition at The Attic, makeovers at Madison's courtesy of the Aveda Institute and MAC, and the main event: a bartending contest at Connolly's.

I'll be judging the martini portion of the evening, along with Carolina Panther Gary Gibson, Creative Loafing columnist Brittney Cason and radio and TV host Brotha' Fred. Larken Egleston will be our MC for the night.

Lots of goodies -- including spa packages, autographed sports memorabilia and gym memberships -- will be for sale during a silent auction in Madison's.

All of the proceeds from the event go to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

It all starts at 7 p.m., so stop by, check it out and say hello. (No cover; just bring a canned food item for donation to Second Harvest.)

Another uptown bar closing its doors

Grand Central Deli & Spirits is closing after five years -- but the uptown bar promises to go out with a bang.

It's hosting a "Last Bash" party next Thursday starting at 6 p.m. and drink specials ($1 beer, $2 well drinks, etc.) will be offered throughout the night. Is that kind of like the equivalent of a clearance sale at a furniture store?

No word on what's behind the closing. 

What do you guys think? The EpiCentre? The economy? The shooting outside the bar awhile back? All of the above?

I for one have never trusted places that are delis by day, beer-soaked clubs by night.