Cans losing a familiar face

One of Charlotte’s most popular club managers has a new home - pun intended.
Constantine Mouzakitis, the face of Cans, officially starts working at Hom on Friday.

He will be the director of operations at the building formerly known as Menage. He will work with Hom’s general manager Marc Lista, formerly of Jillian's.

The move gives Constantine a chance to be more creative, because he won’t have to focus on operating such a large venue. Plus, he plans to eventually team with Hom’s investment partners to open other establishments. Constantine said he likes that the partners in Hom also have investments in the fashion world and other projects.

Constantine’s presence will bring a different element to the crowded lineup of people fronting Hom. James Funderburk and the crew running Hom travel in similar glam circles, while Constantine worked with a raucous party crowd. That mix of personalities should bode well for Hom.

But losing Constantine will be a blow for Cans. He had been the consummate host since the place opened, and replacing him is going to be tough. Plus, he’s so darn cute.

New club opens uptown

The lights were dim, the line at the bar was long and the music was chillicious at Liv last Saturday. Dozens of people packed the basement of the club that used to be called Menage. Liv is the lounge concept for the three-level building now called Hom.

This weekend, Play -- the club on Hom's third floor -- will open. DJ Lee Burridge will spin at a private ticketed event on Friday. Play will open to the general public on Saturday.
I know it’s confusing, so here’s how it goes:

Liv is the downtempo lounge in the basement. It will open daily at 4 p.m. There will be a cover charge of $5 on Fridays and $10 on Saturdays before 11 p.m. The bar will feature high-end cocktails and a full selection of microbrews and high gravity beers (don’t bother asking for Bud or Miller -- they won’t be serving cheap domestics). Buddy and That Guy Smitty will be resident DJs.

Feast is the name of the street-level café that used to be Belle’s BBQ. Chef Bruno Machiavelo will run this French-Moroccan café, which will specialize in bakery items. It will be open from 6 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. Hours will extend till 4 a.m. on weekends. It is scheduled to open in mid-November.

Finally, Play is the club on the third floor. It’s more of a dance club. At the front of the club (overlooking Fifth Street), there’s a lounge with a fireplace and a piano. It opens at 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Each level is a separate entity, which means if you can’t go from one level to the next without paying a separate cover charge. You also can’t take your drinks from one floor to another.