Q-Tip and Common rock Amos'

In an Aug. 20 blog entry, after I announced that Q-Tip would open for Common at Amos’ Southend, a reader commented that it should be the other way around.
During Thursday’s performance, Q-Tip made a strong case that he could be the headliner. The crowd, which stretched from the front of the stage past the sound booth to the rear bathroom, re-lived the glory years of rap as Q-Tip delivered both new and old tunes. (Hear my interview with Q-Tip on the Paid to Party Fo’ Yo’ Ear podcast on Wednesday afternoon.)
He opened with a funky tune reminiscent of a Parliament-style groove. Then he tested his chops singing on another number. By the midpoint of his 45-minute set, he and the crowd performed “Check the Rhyme,” “Bonita Applebum” and “Electric Relaxation.” He also performed his solo hits, “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe and Stop.”
The best part of his set was “Scenario.” He invited two audience members on stage to rap lines from the song with him. Q-Tip started a verse, and each audience member had to finish it. The woman from the audience who joined him on stage got crazy love from the crowd. She rapped her parts correctly, confidently and then stopped. The guy who followed her mistook the concert for his own personal showcase. Along with rapping lines from “Scenario,” the guy freestyled and was quickly booed off stage. (Dawg, people paid to see Q-Tip and Common, not you.)
Common delivered a similar show to the one he did at Grand Central in May. He hyped the crowd, jumped around, and wooed a woman on stage. He performed more cuts off his new album, “Finding Forever,” such as the title track and “Break My Heart.” He gave fans a mix of old and new. The best part was “The Light.” It’s a song about love, and to hear nearly 1,000 people sing, “There is a light that shines…” was crazy-cool.
I was disappointed with Common’s treatment of “Misunderstood.” The track, on his new album, has a Nina Simone sample. It’s about people, such as a drug dealer and stripper, who make bad decisions trying to achieve their dream. The band slowed the song down so much that I barely recognized it. At the end, he gave shout-outs to all the people he says are misunderstood, such as Simone, 2Pac, Malcolm X and Michael Vick. Yes, Vick.
Yes, Vick made a bad decision, but throwing him in the same list as Malcolm X and even 2Pac is a stretch. They at least tried to uplift people with their words. Vick hasn’t -- yet. Maybe Common is just hoping Vick is misunderstood.

Gluttony at Cans

Speaking of Larken, I saw him and five others compete Saturday in a nacho-eating contest at Cans on West Fifth Street. For months, Larken has raved about his ability to devour an entire plate of nachos by himself. He convinced the folks at Cans to hold a contest so he could show off his gluttony.

But Eun Park, who doesn’t even like nachos, spanked Larken with a time of four minutes. Larken finished his plate a minute later. I give the biggest shout-out to the diminutive Maria Isenhour, the only woman in the contest. Way to hang with the big boys.

NASCAR 101 with Paw Paw

I don’t know much about NASCAR, so I was glad when Paw Paw Egleston, Larken Egleston’s dad and an avid racing fan, joined Larken and I for a tour of Michael Waltrip’s Raceworld in Cornelius last week.

I liked looking at giant tool boxes and springs and racecars and pictures, but Paw Paw Egleston totally dug it. He shared all kinds of tidbits about NASCAR with us.

Each bay at Raceworld contains a workshop. As we walked through the facility, Paw Paw Egleston explained the difference between the current car and the car of the future, which is supposed to be safer. He also gave us a play-by-play of Waltrip’s horrific crash at Bristol in the early ’90s. We got to sit in a driver’s seat and try on a helmet, but my favorite part was touring the plush RV. More info at www.raceworldusa.net.

Bringing some soul to Charlotte

As condos sprout uptown and plush new restaurants and spots open, Charlotte’s artsy, creative folks are talking about the soul of this city.

It’s a conversation that’s been going on for years over drinks at the bar or dinner at restaurants. Every now and then, that conversation gets public attention. Creative Loafing once wrote a cover story about the topic. I’ve written about it. A committee of young professionals did a study to see if we were cool, which is pretty darn close to asking if the city has a soul.

A night on the town here is often fun, but too often forgettable.

When is the last time you went to a performance, nightclub, or bar and had such a good experience that you talked about it for weeks? And I’m not talking about remembering the night because you were so hung over the next day that you’ll never drink again. I mean a genuinely good time with good people and good friends, an experience you couldn’t re-create even if you tried (and when you did try, it wasn’t the same).

For me ... let's see, off the top of my head: Celia Cruz at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center… Marques Wyatt at now-closed Tonic…Oktoberfest in NoDa…The Culinary Arts Experience two years ago…Chuck Brown at the uptown Hilton for CIAA two years ago.

A few Charlotte nightlife trendsetters have turned those complaints about soulless Charlotte into action.
(Read my Sept. 5 blog, "Info on club formerly known as Menage.") The Forum’s Andy Kastanas and local DJ James Fedele are working on a lounge/restaurant called Soul in Plaza-Midwood. (Read my Sept. 24 blog, "Soul is coming to Plaza-Midwood.")

The titles of each project give you an idea of what they’re about. Creating spaces that feed the spirit as well as the body. Both projects are supposed to be places for people who want to their nightlife to consist of more than getting sloppy drunk on cheap beer and Jager bombs, or dancing to the same songs they hear every hour on the radio.

The concepts will add variety to Charlotte’s nightlife. With the exception of live-music venues, our nightlife revolves so much around bad music and cheap drinks, or pricey martinis and pretentiousness.

So tell me, when was the last time you had an unforgettable experience partying in Charlotte? And do you think Charlotte has soul? Why or why not? Post your replies below.

Soul is coming to Plaza-Midwood

On Saturday night, I drove down 22nd street, wondering where the heck I was going. I was trying to find a party, but had never been in this area. Then I saw cars parked along the street and two police officers standing in the near the intersection of Brevard and directing people where to park and where to party.

Inside Center of the Earth Studio, basically a warehouse, people of all hues, ages, professions and sexuality grooved to the delicious beats of DJ Neil Aline, of New York. Art pieces lay scattered about, there were a few sofas near the entrance, and disco balls hung from ceiling beams. Bartenders mixed drinks among circular saws and other tools at a makeshift bar. There was one bathroom. To get to the smoking section you walked through some plastic sheeting to the outside of the building.

It was grimy and oh so lovely.

The party was called Foundation, and it was a launch party for Soul, a new concept by The Forum’s Andy Kastanas and local DJ James Fedele. Soul will be in Plaza-Midwood at the corner of Pecan and Central above Lotus. It’s where the Perch improv comedy club lived years ago. They plan to open in the next few months.

To call Soul a lounge wouldn’t do it justice. To call it a restaurant wouldn’t be fair either. It will be both. Most partiers recognize Kastanas for helping build this city’s house music and nightlife scenes in the ’90s, but he also has a culinary degree and loves to cook. He and Fedele plan to put as much emphasis on the food as the music and the vibe of Soul.

The menu will be tapas with cuisine from all of over the world. The music will be soulful house. Oh, and the cocktails recipes will be equally emphasized. There won’t be any full size entrees nor will there be a dance floor.

If you want to see the layout, go to Common Market or Central Records and see if they have any flyers from Saturday’s party. The design of the building is on the back of the flyer. Along with adding a kitchen to the building, Kastanas and Fedele will add a balcony along the Pecan Avenue side of the building. There will be seating around the DJ booth as well as lounge-style seats throughout.

The goal is for friends to go, grab a seat, nibble all night and hear good music. If you hung at Tonic and Tutto Mondo back in the early years or go to Prevue on Wednesday nights for Pop Life, then Soul will be your kind of spot.

At Saturday’s Foundation party, I ran into people I haven’t seen clubbing in ages and people I only see at certain types of parties. The true house heads were on the dance floor. Aline made me want to find his music and burn it. He spun the typical house tracks such as “Lonely People” as well as funked up cuts by Stevie Wonder.

Kastanas and Fedele want to bring the soul back to Charlotte. Kastanas bluntly says he is opening a club for he and his friends. Usually, that isn’t the smartest business plan, but I hope it works this time.

Oktoberfest sold out

Charlotte Oktoberfest is sold out.

I wondered if the move to Metrolina Expo would dampen enthusiasm for the popular event, but obviously it didn't. The last ticket was purchased at 10:46 p.m. Sunday, according to organizers.

If you didn't buy a ticket and want to go to Saturday's event, be sure to read Friday's E&T. We will be giving away three tickets.

Good times at Petra's

A cute waitress named Autumn sang “Unchained Melody,” and later, an adorable waiter named Jason sang “Imagine.” Between their solos, pianist Nathan Hefner played tunes while brave audience members took turns on the mike at Petra’s in Plaza-Midwood.

The cabaret and piano bar finally opened this weekend. There was a line out the door on despite heavy rains last Friday night. Packing the small club were friends of owner Petra Fugger and creative directors Robb and sister Connie Huddleston and Chris Hollar.

Petra’s is tastefully decorated, with dark hues, mirrors and chandeliers. The staff and patrons were friendly. It’s the kind of place that could easily become your regular hangout.

Petra’s drew (and will likely continue to draw) a predominately gay crowd, as well as heterosexual women who like hanging with gay men.

It’s an alternative to Liaison's and the dance club scene of Velocity and Eagle.

If you’re open-minded, then Petra’s is for you.

Charlotte Observer/Carolina Nightlife are No. 1

"We are the brewmasters, my friends ..." (Sing to the tune of “We are the Champions.”)
I predicted the Charlotte Observer’s Eye/Carolina Nightlife team would spank the competition in the Blues, Brews & BBQ media beer contest. And, of course, we did. (Okay, we won by one vote, but a win is a win, baby!)
Big thanks to George Allen and the folks at Carolina Beer & Beverage for making our concept -- an Oktoberfest called Five o’Clock Now -- the best beer ever.

The losers were:
Second place: Matt Harris of 107.9 The Link and Todd Trimakas of Uptown Magazine; along with Jeri Thompson and Monty Ramseur of the Charlotte Post.
Third place: The beerman himself, Chris Herring of Creative Loafing, and Mark Perez of Charlotte Viewpoint Magazine.
Honorable mention (a.k.a. dead-last): Jeff Katz of 1110 WBT and Mark Pellin of Rhino Times.

Blues, Brews & BBQ hits its stride

Several hundred people stood in the parking lot across from Rock Bottom Brewery dancing to Delbert McClinton boogie woogie music on Saturday night. Rain kept many people away from the Blues, Brews & BBQ festival on Friday, but on Saturday the folks

showed up in full force.
At least 100,000 attended the two-day event, highlighted by a barbecue cook-off and performances by McClinton, Acoustic Syndicate and others. Despite the rain, Charlotte Center City Partners spokeswoman Moira Quinn said all of the acts performed on Friday.

The festival worked well in the new location on Tryon Street from Sixth to Ninth street. Along with professional and backyard grillers, the festival featured a couple of carnival rides and games, and plenty of carnival food, such as sausages and funnel cake.

You can be the Grand Marshall

The Bank of America 500 is launching a
street party and a contest for the October
race.

On Oct. 9, uptown will see the inau-
gural Bank Of America 500 Fan Fest. As part
of the festivities, fans can audition to be the hon-
orary grand marshal. The fans with the best
“start your engines” command gets to issue
the magic words for the race and ride in the
pace car.

Entry forms are available at area branches or
at the Food Lion Auto Fair at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway on Saturday.

Are the Police too old?

I may have questioned why Van Halen sold out in Charlotte, but I do know why the Police should. They were one of the best rock bands in their heyday and their music had all kinds of crossover appeal.

Still, I'm torn about the upcoming show.

As I reported on Charlotte.com yesterday, the reunited Police perform at Bobcats Arena on Nov. 15. (Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.) Charlotte is one of four cities recently added to the popular tour, which has already sold 2.2 million tickets.

Here's why I'm torn: Even though they've done some solo work and toured since they went their separate ways more than 20 years ago, the guys seem just a wee bit old to be hitting the road now. I'm not convinced they're going to put on an electrifying, energetic show --especially since they're on such a grueling schedule. But I loved the Police growing up, and since I never got to see them live, I'm planning to attend the concert. And early reviews have been favorable.

The band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its first double-disc CD collection, "The Police." It includes the group's first single, "Fall Out," released in 1977.

Am I the only one wondering if they're too old to tour? And what song do you most want to hear at the concert: "Roxanne"? "Every Breath You Take"? Or maybe it's "Message in a Bottle"?

Post your replies below.

Petra's finally opening in Plaza-Midwood

Plaza-Midwood’s newest spot is finally ready for business.
Petra’s will have a soft opening on Thursday before bringing out the big guns on Friday.

As I reported in March, Petra’s Piano Bar and Cabaret will open next to the Penguin. Robb and sister Connie Huddleston (along with club namesake Petra Fugger and Chris Hollar) modeled the place after popular piano bars in New York’s West Village.

The club was supposed to open in April, but the owners underestimated how difficult it would be to obtain all of the permits required to open a club in this city.

Robb Huddleston said that for Friday’s grand opening, he is bringing in friends from cruise ships and tours who will sing everything from John Lennon to Patti LaBelle.

The format is like the Duplex club in New York’s West Village: The piano player starts at 9 p.m. He sings and takes requests. Audience members can sing with him. Waitresses, bartenders and doormen will also perform.

Huddleston said his priority in hiring staff was to make sure they could sing. Even the doormen can carry a tune.

“There are some very big guys out there that have very beautiful voices,” he said. “I have a couple of friends who sing, who happen to be 6-4 and 250 pounds.”

Doors open at 5 p.m. for the after-work crowd. Music starts at 9 p.m. It costs $10 for a one-year membership. Without a membership, it costs $3 to sign in with a member.

Big ups to Red Door

Longtime Paid to Party readers may remember my first column in April 2004 was about a night out with Red Door owner Eric McCoy. Back then, McCoy threw parties in addition to running his store.
These days, he’s racking up the frequent flier miles to Las Vegas to expand his business.

On a recent trip, Red Door was named the best lingerie store at the first-ever Storerotica trade show at Mandalay Bay. McCoy was also nominated for store owner of the year. You can see why Red Door took home the top honors on www.thereddoorstore.com.

Red Door is the fashion coordinator for most of the city’s dancers, but 50 percent of its customers aren’t strippers, said manager Todd Joffe, who still promotes occasional parties in town.

To cater to the non-stripping customers, Red Door is launching www.heels.com later this month. McCoy hopes the online shoe store will rival www.zappos.com. (Joffe promises me Heels will carry funky shoes for women like me who don't wear heels and girly stuff. Wahoo!)

Belly dancing uptown

At Pacha at the Sunset Club on Thursday, there were belly dancers, hookahs and a guy singing in a Middle Eastern language.

The weekly international party has been building a strong following. Last week’s party drew a diverse crowd.
The highlight was bellydancing. Three women did their thing while men tossed dollar bills onto the floor in front of them. A couple of overly enthusiastic men tried to dance with the belly dancers.

Middle Eastern-themed parties come and go here. Lava had bellydancers and hookahs on Wednesdays before the lounge changed ownership. Now there’s Pacha at Sunset, and the Forum has Cultural Fusions (also on Thursdays). It features belly dancers, live drummers, fire dancing, hookahs and extreme yoga.

The Forum also hosts occasional Greek nights, and every last Friday of the month is Greek night at Greek Isles restaurant in Southend, where a DJ spins modern Greek dance music.

Comedian Byrdman dies

Reggie “Byrd” Byrdman, one of the city’s best local comedians, passed away Sunday. He was only 38, and reportedly suffered a heart attack. He is survived by a son, a daughter, two sisters and a brother.

All week, he’s been getting love on Power 98. Tonight and tomorrow, two clubs will host memorials to raise money for his family. The first is tonight at Club Eclipse, home of Q.C. Comedy. The second is Thursday at Tempo. Singers Adina Howard, rapper Mr. Woods and local DJs Tab D'Bia$$i, Boney B., and ’O6 will perform. Both events begin at 9 p.m.

Byrdman was always on the grind, and consistently played in comedy clubs. He never reached the status of a Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle, but few do. He began his career in 1995. I first saw him perform at Eight Tracks nightclub, now Tempo. He beat several other local comedians to win the Def Comedy Jam competition in 1999. I also saw him perform at a hole-in-the-wall off South Boulevard. Those were in his early years.

Since then, he appeared on BET’s “Comic View” and toured on the Def Comedy Jam Tour. I last saw him a couple of years ago at the Q.C. Comedy showcase at its former home, the Big Chill. He was supporting young comedians and wanting to launch a comedy tour to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

If you’ve never heard of him, come out tonight and hear why he was so loved by the urban nightlife community. If you have heard of him, then come out and pay your respects with people who know how you feel.

Info on club formerly known as Menage

The tacky slide is gone, and Menage’s fall from premier-nightclub status is complete.

Tonic lounge co-founder James Funderburk and several partners (including Tonic’s Andre Araiz and Funderburk’s real estate partner Alvaro Kraizel) ) who purchased Menage and Belle’s BBQ from Stefan Latorre are rapidly renovating the three-level space. It will hold three different concepts.

They’re calling the overall vibe HOM (pronounced “home”) because Funderburk and his partners want it to be a community hub. The bottom floor will be a down-tempo lounge open seven days a week at 4 p.m. The street level, formerly Belle’s BBQ, will be a European style restaurant/bakery featuring local, organic meats and vegetables with additional selections for vegetarians and even raw foodies with menu items created by artist-actor John Love.

Funderburk’s partner Andre Araiz refers to the top level as the Penthouse. They plan to create a club that will house a state-of-the-art sound.

“Our aim is to make this place feel like your own personal place in uptown Charlotte, that you can identify with in terms of design, ambience and sound,” Araiz said.

Ozzfest was rank

When I walked through the gates at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre for Ozzfest on Tuesday, the stench hit me harder than the music.
Thousands of bodies sweating out in temperatures zooming past 90 degrees made things yucky. Although, the heat didn’t stop fans from guzzling beer, crowd-surfing and rocking out to lesser-known metal bands.

Admission to Ozzfest was free this year, but Verizon charged $20 to park. Ridiculous.

The concert drew a crowd that ranged in age from young kids to Baby Boomers. Lines snaked from autograph tents, and fans crowded in front of the stage. Inside the main pavilion area, vendors sold T-shirts, bags, sunglasses and more.

Most fans (predictably) wore black, although I saw several men wearing kilts. What’s up with that? There were lots of spiked, multi-colored mohawks. The outfit that caused the most rubbernecking was worn by a rail-thin woman wearing thigh-high fish nets, a G-string and a bra.

Along with the stench, the other thing that stayed with me longer than the ringing in my ears was the frat-boy style obsession with women’s breasts. At one point, a crowd of men gathered around a woman in a grassy area who acted as if she was going to flash her breasts.

One guy held a cardboard sign that read “Show your (you know what)” Later the MC berated women in audience for not showing off any breasts. Of course, that prompted someone to do just that.

Pathetic.

Martini lounge braves uptown's no-man's land

Carlos Combs hopes couches, free parking and an upscale atmosphere will separate Charlotte’s newest martini lounge from the competition.

Combs’ Rustic Martini officially opened last week on North Tryon near Ninth Street. It joins a slew of martini bars in Center City, from Loft 1523 to Tutto Mondo to Therapy. Combs says his spot is the only true lounge –- with sofas, a humidor, a stonework bar and all premium well liquors -– on Tryon. Martinis cost $12.

Combs, a Fairfax, Va., native, picked the spot two years ago, but couldn’t close the deal because he was sent to Kuwait for the Coast Guard.

After finishing his active-duty commitment, Combs bought a former bank and turned it into Rustic. The spot has two patios. The one out front is good for people-watching (although there aren’t a lot of people on that end of Tryon). The patio out back overlooks the parking lot, so there isn’t much to see -- but it’s a good place to go if you want to be incognito.

Combs plans to offer VIP members free birthday parties. His staff will hire a limo for the birthday boy or girl, send out invitations and create a photo album from the party. Combs said he will also offer complimentary cab fare of up to one mile for members.

He’s going to need those types of amenities and more to be successful. North Tryon past Seventh Street doesn’t receive the same amount of foot traffic as businesses between the Square and Seventh Street. New Orleans restaurant GW Finns is slated to open next month. It’s where the Palomino restaurant was, so that should help generate more traffic on that end of the street.

Combs isn’t relying on Charlotte’s martini crowd. He’s building a steady clientele by renting the space to wedding parties for engagement parties and pre-wedding receptions.

M5 has the great patio

If you’re looking for a place to kick off your evening or chill with friends, M5’s patio is the hotness.
M5 is the newest venture by the Harper’s crew. It’s an upscale Mediterranean restaurant in SouthPark near Crate & Barrel.

I tried it Friday and loved the spacious patio, which has tables on the Sharon Road side and wicker sofas and love seats closer to the building. Overall, the restaurant’s design is stylish, with suede panels on the wall, but the bar is narrow. And on Friday, a bunch of older men looked for hot young thangs.

When it comes to the food, stick to brunch. The Spanish eggs and French toast were tasty and filling. When it comes to dinner, save your money. It’s one of those places that gives you a big bill and a little meal. Plus, my server completely screwed up the filleting of my whole Red Snapper. The gnocchi was delicious, as was the halibut.

There’s a portable bar and servers. DJ Steve Tuohui spun chill house music. The people hanging out Friday were a mix of diners, like ourselves, and others. They were black and white, straight and gay, and a range of ages. Some were couples, and others were small groups of friends.

The patio is the restaurant’s biggest success because it’s a space where you hang before a night out. It’s also comfortable enough to chill for the evening. The patio is open on weekdays until 10 p.m. and on weekends until 1 a.m. or later depending on the crowd. Tuohui spins Thursday-Saturday.

Have you been to M5? What do you think? What other restaurants’ have a cool patio? Post your replies below.

Charlotte Observer will smash the competition

You read it here first: The Charlotte Observer’s Eye team -- which is paired with Carolina Nightlife -- will win the Carolina Blonde Beer Brewing Contest.

The contest will kick off the Brews, Blues & BBQ festival the weekend of Sept. 14. I’m on a team with Crystal Dempsey, editor of the Observer’s Eye, a new publication "for people who live, work and play in central Charlotte," and Charles Wilson of Carolina Nightlife.

We’re going against WBT, led by Jeff Katz and paired with the Rhino Times (aren’t they’re too conservative to drink beer?); along with The Link, led by Matt Harris (is he dressing himself yet?) and paired with Uptown Magazine; and Creative Loafing (our stiffest competition), which is paired with Charlotte Viewpoint's Mark Perez.

We brewed our batch this week. Cheers!

Loving "The Lion King"

“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, my misconceptions sleep tonight. AweemawayAweemaway...”
Please indulge my tribute to “The Lion King.” I’m still reliving the memories of seeing the musical play, which ended its run at Belk Theater last week.

When the production first went to Broadway, I gagged. I couldn’t believe the big-time playwriters didn't have a more original idea than turning a Disney movie into a Broadway production. I had no interest in seeing it.

But last year, promoter Mike Kitchen and I bumped into one of Blumenthal’s public relations people at a party, and she raved about the play. She encouraged me to see it -- and to arrive on-time (a rarity for me).

I ordered tickets early, and went with my girl, her little ones, and Kitch. I’m not sure what was better, the play or watching the kids’ mouths drop during the early scenes.

My favorite parts were the opening scene, the one after intermission, and when Simba talks to Mufasa’s image in the lake. Amazing.

Van Halen sold out

Wooo-wheee. Concertgoers in Charlotte love themselves some rock music.

Tickets for the Sept. 27 Van Halen concert at Bobcats Arena, which went on sale Saturday morning, sold out in less than 48 hours. The only other artists to sell out arena concerts that fast were the Rolling Stones (who christened the arena) and U2.

I can understand the enthusiasm for the Stones and U2, but I’m truly scratching my head over Van Halen. Yeah, “Jump” was cool, but I can’t imagine that Eddie Van Halen can bring it on the guitar like he used to, or that David Lee Roth can still work the stage. Besides, will they even stay together long enough to tour?
But that’s just me.

Tell me what you think. If you have tickets to the show, what are you looking forward to the most? Post your replies below.

No band, no problem

I had some tasty lemonade on Friday night.
I was at the Chrisette Michele show at Grand Central. It was after 10:30, and neither Michele nor her opening act had been on stage yet. In fact, her opener never made it to the show.
And that was a problem, since singer Peter Hadar and his band also had planned to back up Michele during her set.
Unfortunately, he and all but two of his band's members were in Virginia Beach, and were so behind schedule driving to Charlotte that promoter Mike Kitchen said he told them not to come. Only two members -- who drove separately -- made it.
So instead of performing with a full band, Michele and her background singers did their thing with two musicians and instrumental tracks.
Michele, a Def Jam artist, is known for singing hooks with Jay-Z and Nas. This was her first Charlotte appearance, and she was promoting her new album “I Am.”
Once Michele took the stage about 11:30 p.m., the crowd forgot the long wait and it looked as if everyone knew all six of the songs she sang. The show only lasted about 25 minutes, but the capacity crowd seemed satisfied.
Despite the glitches, Michele filled the stage with gracious energy and gave fans an intimate show worth talking about. She didn’t complain. She served lemonade that quenched fans’ thirst for soulful R&B.
Did you go to the show? What did you think? Post your replies below.

Q Tip opening for Common

Rapper Q Tip, of a A Tribe Called Quest, will open for Common.
The two will be performing at Amos Southend on Sept. 27. Common's new album, "Finding Forever."
Advance tickets are $35 and are on sale. www.amossouthend.com.

Common returning to Charlotte

After a blazing show in May, rapper Common is returning to Charlotte. He will be performing at Amos Southend on Sept. 27. Common's new album, "Finding Forever," came out July 31 and peaked at No. 1 on the charts. It's No. 7 this week. According to www.thesoulmovement.com, "a very special guest will open." No other details have been released.

Advance tickets are $35, and go on sale Monday. www.amossouthend.com.

SlamCharlotte No. 1 in the country

I’m in Dallas stuck on yet another hot American airplane waiting for a mechanic to check out a fuel problem. I’m heading back to Charlotte from Las Vegas. This is the third time in two trips that I’ve been on an American plane that’s had mechanical issues.

Evil is an understatement.
Plus, the two women next to me won’t stop talking. But before I completely tune them out, I hear one say she attended the National Poetry Slam competition in Austin. She says our city's representative, SlamCharlotte, kicked booty.

Winning the championship has been four years in the making for a team that started with Terry Creech’s vision and blossomed under Slam master Bluz. Each year, they’ve placed in the Top 10. (Since Creech launched the slam team, locals like Bluz and JC the Poet have developed a strong scene with poetry at Wine Up, Spirit Square and at one point the Jazz Cafe.)

This year, Charlotte sent SlamCharlotte and Respect the Mike, which included Maze, Q and Filmore. SlamCharlotte’s winning team consisted of Charlotte’s Bluz, Carlos Robeson and Mike Simms, along with Beth Sheba from Atlanta and Paul D of Albany, Ga. (who replaced an ill Da’ Minister of Columbia, S.C.).

“After going through so many years of being so close, (it's sweet) to finally actually get it, and know that you really fought hard and really earned it,” Bluz said.

Now that Charlotte has a championship, Bluz said the team’s next goal is to win again - of course - and introduce more people to slam poetry. You can hear them on Power 98 at 8:50 a.m. on Friday, or see them perform at Wine Up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (The Wine Up crowd is late, so don’t arrive before 9 p.m.; you might even be safe getting there after 11). The next SlamCharlotte event is at 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at McGlohon Theatre in Spirit Square.

Partying, working and camping

I’ve spent the past 10 days camping, partying and working in the Southwest. My trip started with camping for two days in the Grand Canyon’s north rim and two days near Lake Powell in Page, Arizona. I finished with four days in Las Vegas for the National Association of Black Journalists convention.

In these next few blogs, you’ll get to share a little of my vacation and get my tips in case you ever head this way. Tip No. 1: Don’t fly American. They’re the worst.

Partying in Rum Jungle

One of my goals in Las Vegas was to see as many spots as I could. After all, Las Vegas's Peppermill Lounge was James Funderburk’s inspiration for the fire pits at Tonic. And Sin City's Ice, now closed, was an inspiration for the Forum.

When we arrived at the door of Rum Jungle in the Palm hotel, the line wasn't short. But Creative Loafing's Carlton Hargro paid the door lady $40 bucks to let us in through the VIP line.

Rum Jungle is an uber-club.
It’s spacious and open, so you can see and be seen. When you walk inside, water glides down the front wall. Sofas and ottomans line the front section, and were perfect for escaping the crowded bar and dance floor.

A long bar split the club into two sections. On each side of the bar were sofas and booths, which seemed like VIP areas. Many partiers had bottles of champagne or liquor at their tables. Four cages containing go-go dancers hung from the ceiling. Another dancer worked the catwalk above the bar. To get to the dance floor, you had to walk past the bar and up a few stairs. Two smaller waterfall walls separated the dance floor from the other sections. Two guys played drums and percussion along with the music that the DJ spun.

The National Association of Black Journalists' task force rented Rum Jungle for Thursday’s party, so the vibe was extra-hype. In Charlotte, we have a healthy black professional party scene, but the NABJ convention draws journalists from cities that don’t. So on Thursday, hundreds of black journalists eagerly took over Rum Jungle.

My only complaint was the DJ. He played enough of a song to let you say, “That’s my s…” But then he'd prematurely start up another song. Annoying. He had deep stacks, and played everything from Luther Vandross to Stevie Wonder to DJ Unk -- but partiers didn’t get to truly enjoy his collection.

Shrimp scampi and bellydancing

When we arrived at Marrakech restaurant on Thursday night, our waiter gave each of us hand towels instead of napkins. He placed a large bowl in the center of the table. We held our hands over the bowl as he poured warm water over them.

I'd never been to restaurant so concerned about the cleanliness of their patrons’ hands. When the waiter brought our platter of shrimp scampi, the first of six courses, I understood why. He explained that we should eat the shrimp with our fingers and use the bread to soak up the butter sauce.

We dove in. The shrimp was so good, but we didn’t want to stuff ourselves with the bread. But I swear, if I had a straw I would have slurped up the butter sauce.

By the time the belly dancer jiggled from behind a curtains into the restaurant, we were on our fourth course.
When my new friend Robert first pitched the idea of going to a belly-dancing restaurant for dinner, I drooled over the idea of watching such a beautiful art form while eating. But after putting down the tasty shrimp scampi, a Moroccan salad - marinated vegetables dipped in the best hummus I’ve had ever - and lentil soup, I’d forgotten about the dancer.

The food was so good that I ran out of buttons to unbutton on my pants, but Robert’s friend Charmagne still had enough energy to shake a lil’ sumthin’-sumthin’ with the dancer. The belly dancer worked her away around the restaurant, which had about 20 customers. She smiled, winked and cajoled a stunned crowd into applauding after she did the most hypnotic hip-shimmy move. She moved so fast, yet the movement seemed subtle.

We finished our meal with well-seasoned and tender beef kabobs (tasted as good as the buffalo, and was cheaper), followed by Cornish hen and couscous (we did get a fork for the hen and dessert). We shared dessert, a pastry the size of a dinner plate that reminded me of baklava. We each also received a warm cup of mint tea.

If you go to Marrakech, slightly off The Strip, bring your appetite. Each night’s menu is set, so if you’re a picky eater this isn’t the place for you. It costs $37.

A conga line in a German restaurant

When my friends and I walked inside the cavernous Hofbrauhaus restaurant, we heard a band rocking a German song. As we sat down, members of the Rothseepower German band - many of the guys didn’t speak English - raised liter-sized mugs in the air and yelled “Ein Prosit!”

We looked around wondering what the bleep was going on.
After one bock beer and an order of brats and pretzels, I had my mug in the air yelling “Ein Prosit, oi, oi!” with everyone else. Before the night was over, a German tourist would chug a beer on stage, a conga line would snake through the restaurant, a couple of girls would join the band on stage, and we all would dance to Rothseepower singing “Proud Mary” - at our table’s request.

It was Wednesday, and my first night in Las Vegas after camping for four days. It only got better.

Buffalo meat and weak beer

If you ever go to Kanab, Utah, try the buffalo at the Rocking V Cafe on West Center Street. It’s a restaurant downstairs, and the Rafters Gallery is upstairs. I ended up joining two women -- one from New Jersey and the other (her cousin) from Florida -- who were sharing a bottle of wine and a meal.

I stopped in Kanab to get one good night’s sleep in a hotel before four nights of tent camping at the Grand Canyon’s north rim and near Lake Powell in Page, Arizona. The cousins were there because each year they bring their daughters to volunteer at the Best Friends sanctuary, an animal rescue facility. Along with walking and feeding all types of animals, the women and their kids take road trips throughout the area. They loved Zion National Park, but said the actual Salt Lake was a dried-up, fly-infested disappointment.

One of these road trips ended with the women sharing a bottle of wine at Rocking V Cafe instead of sipping ice-cold brews. While cruising through small towns and national parks, the two knocked back three Coronas and didn’t feel a thing (not something I recommend, but I’m just telling you the story).

At Rocking V, Victor Cooper, the owner’s husband, explained to my dinner partners that in Utah, the alcohol content in beer is so low it’s like drinking O’Doul’s.

Cooper, an affable guy who chatted up new and regular customers about the food and their visit to Kanab, convinced us to try the buffalo tenderloin.

I’d never eaten buffalo before. It was tender and more robust than filet mignon, but it wasn’t worth $36. Rocking V -- which reminded me of 300 East -- seemed to be the most expensive restaurant in Kanab. Most of the other places were diners or cheap Mexican and Italian restaurants.

I followed dinner with the bread pudding. Not good. To sum up: Try the buffalo; avoid the bread pudding; stick with wine; and watch out for the two crazy cousins who make Thelma and Louise look tame.

Partying at Tangerine

When we walked inside of Treasure Island hotel, a man handed us free passes to Tangerine nightclub. The line for the club stretched back into the casino area on Friday.

We hopped into the VIP line. I showed the guy my ID and he asked for my VIP card. I gave him a $20. He let us in. (I learn fast. Sookie sookie, now!)

Tangerine was a mixed bag.
The crowded dance floor dominated the club. There’s a drum kit above the bar, but no one played while we were there. Every now and then, women danced on the bar. Women also danced on platforms in the two large VIP lounge areas. Tangerine had my favorite DJ of the weekend. He knew how to mix, and spun Top 40, smatterings of rock, classic hip-hop, and hip-hop songs I’d never heard before - a rarity in today’s club scene.

But Tangerine is wannabe posh. It had the look, but the floor was sticky as heck and the people were kind of scraggly-looking.

Not craving Krave

The DJ was killing me.
During Girl Bar, a weekly lesbian party held in a section of Krave dance club (kind of like the Forum’s Pravda lounge), the DJ played “Survivor,” Janet Jackson's “All for You,” Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” and a bunch of other dusty hits over the course of at least an hour.

I finally asked if she had any contemporary music. She looked offended. Whatever.
I told her everything she was playing was at least two or three years old. She said people had been telling her that all night. Um, hello. Change your music then. She didn’t.

Her whack skills put a damper on an already weak party.
Still, the spot was cute, especially compared to the places where most lesbian parties take place. In Charlotte, we’re lucky to have the parties at Wine Up, but the other spots are booty.

Despite the bad deejaying, most of the 50-75 women in attendance got their $15 worth and danced. The partiers were a mix of locals and tourists of all ages and ethnicities. One group of women paraded around as if they were the cutest women in the spot. (They weren’t that cute, but the pickings were slim.)

Two go-go dancers worked the stage. One tried to undulate on a pole that was so rickety it looked as if it would fall over if she held it too tightly.

By the way, there are also weekly Girl Bar parties in Los Angeles, Chicago and Palm Springs. (I hope those are better than the one in Vegas.)

Lessons from camping and Las Vegas

1) Take dry ice. It lasts way longer than regular ice. The secret is to put it in a plastic bag on the bottom of your cooler, line the dry ice with regular ice, then pile your stuff on top. On a related note, if you have a choice between block and chipped ice, block lasts longer.

2) Don’t ever rent a PT Cruiser. It has to be the most underpowered car on the face of this Earth. The rental guy at Payless tried to warn me, but I’m cheap, and I figured he was trying to sell me on a pricier upgrade.

3) If you’re planning to camp somewhere new, research whether there are any state or national parks nearby. When I went to Lake Powell, I stayed at an RV campground. I basically had a big patch of hot sand in the middle of a concrete parking lot. The water in the indoor pool was greener than Kermit. (I swam anyway -- I'm preparing for a triathlon sprint.) However, 10 minutes away was Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. You literally can camp on Lone Rock Beach at the lake. I chilled there for the day. Best part was laying out on the beach. Worse part was the guy next to me blasting heavy metal from his Honda Accord. Ignorant.

4) Don’t try to drive a PT Cruiser in soft sand. I got stuck twice. The first time, a couple pushed me out. The second time, a nice guy from Utah pulled me out with his gigantic pickup.

5) It is not cheap to party in Las Vegas. You can’t take a cab ride anywhere for less than $10, including the tip. Most places charged a $15-$20 cover. And one beer cost $9. Criminal.

6) Don’t eat at the Sidewalk Café in Bally’s in Las Vegas. The food is average and the service is horrible.
7) If you have a large group in Las Vegas, the buffets are a good way to eat. They have food stations with cooks who make soups, steaks and omelets to order.

Talib show cancelled

In an email, promoter Mike Kitchen announced that Wednesday's Talib Kweli show at the Neighborhood Theatre has been cancelled, but will be rescheduled.

Beyonce did the darn thang!

An all-female band, thick sisters as background singers and a non-stumbling Beyonce filling the stage.
That was the scene on Sunday at Bobcats Arena as thousands of folks screamed and danced during a nearly two-hour performance that was part girl-power, self-love and romantic-love.

I wasn’t sure how much of Beyonce's hip-shaking I could take, but she balanced her signature moves with routines by dancers and solos by band members. I can’t stop raving about the all-female band, made up mostly of women of color. It sent such a strong message to the thousands of young girls in the audience.

Beyonce gave plenty of space during, before and after songs for each member to shine.
The best was the blond-dredlocked bassist who played OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean,” the hook to “Get Money,” and other fan favorites. She finished her solo by playing the bass behind her head and giving it a long lick.

During the nearly two-hour set, Beyonce played every hit from her albums, as well as Destiny’s Child favorites and songs from the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack. The best were “Get Me Bodied,” “Irreplaceable” (which she dedicated to men and women who’ve been hurt in relationships), and “Dangerously in Love” (which she blended with Jill Scott’s “You Love Me”).

Her cheesiest moment of the night was crying at the end of “That’s Why I Love You.” She cried after singing the song in ATL as well, so you know she's just putting her acting skills to use.

Her best moment of the night was when she wiped her face with a towel she then gave to a guy wearing a white golf shirt. She told him that he was her biggest fan, and she’d watched him sing all the songs and do all of the choreography to the dances. She made sure security handed the young man the towel. The gesture said a lot about how she cares about her fans, and how she paid attention to her audience. Nice.

I’m not a huge fan of Robin Thicke, who opened with a respectable 30-plus-minute opening set, in which he played piano during some songs. He’s cute as all get out and I love “Lost Without U,” but the blue-eyed soul singer has little singing ability.

Did you go to the concert? What did you think? Post your replies below.

Did Menage shoot itself in the foot?

In my New Year’s prediction last year, I said Menage would be the place to watch because it had changed so much since opening in 2004.

In 2006, it went from being a premier nightspot to adding a restaurant on the second floor – weird – to allowing black promoters to book prime weekend nights (often a sign of money problems).

The reported sale of Menage is dramatic considering the hype surrounding the club’s opening. Before The Forum opened, Menage was the hotness, with three levels, posh lounge areas and a giant slide.

But drama also surrounded Menage from the git-go.
Not long after opening, there was a flap between owner Stefan Latorre and well-known local DJ Niz -- Niz said he wasn't compensated for being a consultant for Menage, while Latorre said Niz never worked for the club. Niz's backers began an e-mail campaign urging people not to go there; the note also alleged that Latorre snubbed two owners of the trendsetting Cosmos Cafe who had stopped by Menage's grand opening to congratulate him.

In the spring of 2005, the club came under fire when it stopped playing hip-hop on Fridays, a night which had been drawing a predominately black crowd.

Then later that year came the biggest of the controversies: A promoter accused the club of racial bias after the cancellation of a party that drew mostly blacks. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee cleared the club of any wrongdoing.

Not long after that PR fiasco, Latorre denied rumors that he was trying to sell the club and he turned the second floor into the restaurant Belle’s BBQ.

He also began reaching out more to black promoters. In recent months, Adolph R. Shiver had begun hosting parties there featuring various rap artists. This is significant because historically, many white Charlotte club owners have allowed black promoters to host parties at their venues to raise cash; it happened at Time (which is now closed), Liquid Lounge, and Crush, which is now a mostly hip-hop club. (Insiders tell me the reason that financially strapped clubs do this is because blacks, especially young ones, spend loads of money at bars.)

The fall of Menage is unfortunate. Had it been able to thrive alongside The Forum, it would have made Charlotte an even bigger regional draw and strengthened our nightlife overall. It’s hard for a city with only one upscale dance club to be a real nightlife destination.
Latorre hasn't responded to an e-mail request confirming the sale of the club and on his decision to sell the venue.)

Do you think all of the negative incidents killed Menage, or is Charlotte not big enough for two huge dance clubs? Post your replies below.

Menage sold - surprise, surprise

Menage’s tumultuous ride as a premiere nightclub has ended. James Funderburk, who co-founded Tonic lounge, issued a press release today saying he and several partners have purchased Menage and Belle’s BBQ from Stefan Latorre. (Latorre has not responded to an e-mail request confirming the sale.)

Funderburk and his partners, who include Tonic’s Andre Araiz, won’t release any details about what they plan to do with the space. Their goal is to quench partiers' thirst for Tonic, a cool lounge at Fourth Street and Independence Boulevard that closed in 2005 because of construction near Central Piedmont Community College.

In an e-mail, Funderburk said “We envision a place that will become part of the fabric of Charlotte uptown culture, not just for nightlife, but for all times. A place to eat, a place to relax, a place to party, a place for people who love people.”

Although Funderburk and Araiz want to appeal to fans of Tonic, Funderburk said he won’t try to re-create Tonic.
“It existed in a certain time and place that could never be re-created. What we strive for now is a new dream that we know our friends and supporters will love.”

Thank goodness. Every new lounge owner says he wants to re-create Tonic’s vibe, but none have. What would you like to see Funderburk and his partners do with Menage? Post your replies below.

New hangout on Central Avenue

Nearly a decade ago, the Avramovic brothers -- Branko and Djordje (pronounced Georgie) -- started as busboys and barbacks at Cosmos Cafe. After working their way up to become servers and bartenders, the two realized a lifelong dream on Wednesday when they officially opened their own restaurant: Intermezzo at Central and Louise.

The restaurant has the potential to expand Plaza-Midwood offerings beyond Pecan Street. It’s a tiny spot across from the Salvation Army that features a mix of American and Yugoslavian food, including many family recipes. For example, their burger is made of beef and lamb and called pleskavica.

At a friends and family party on Sunday, I liked what I saw.
The brothers are humble and gracious, the food - pizza, along with lamb, chicken and beef kabobs - was yummy-yummy to my tummy. The draft beer selection is sweet. They have Duck Rabbit on tap.

Interior designer Boris Tomic, who worked on Cosmos and the Forum, created a warm, industrial look with exposed brick and beams. The place only seats 50 people, but the Avramovic brothers plan to expand as business grows. They will have a DJ spinning downtempo house on some Fridays and Saturdays, and every Sunday.

DJ Jazzy who?

One show that was unquestionably worth attending was the DJ Jazzy Jeff set at Amos’ last Saturday. Promoter Mike Kitchen has been trying to get Jazzy Jeff here for years, and he finally landed him.

As I’ve written before, I only knew him as rapper-actor Will Smith’s sidekick, but now I know what I’ve been missing. At Amos’, Jazzy Jeff spun classic hip-hop for about two hours. He gave fans songs that only true hip-hop heads knew, as well as a healthy dose of faves with his West Coast, East Coast and rock sets.

Several hundred people grooved to Jazzy Jeff’s tunes while MC Mad Skillz worked the mike. Jazzy Jeff did a smidgen of impressive scratching, but he mostly spun cuts folks wanted to hear. Songs ranged from Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But A G Thang” to Common’s “The Light” to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Although plenty of people danced at Amos’ during the show, Jazzy Jeff would be an even better fit deejaying at a dance club or party. I hope he returns for the CIAA basketball tournament next year, because that would be a party not to miss.

DMX crazy as ever

I was out of town on Wednesday, and it sounds like I missed a crazy night. Josh Groban cancelled at the last minute because of laryngitis (read Courtney Devores' interview with him in the A-List on Page 2A of Tuesday's Observer.)

My buddy Larken said he loved DMX’s performance, but that opener Bazaar Royale was horrible. I, however, also heard from reliable sources that DMX’s antics at Amos’ Southend may have been more ridiculous than Meshell Ndegeocello's. I have a feeling he won’t be playing at Amos’ again.

Here are a few e-mails the Observer received about the DMX show.

From Ray Anderson:
He got on stage around 12:40. I had to wait around in order to review it (I write for charlottevibe.com). All I kept thinking was “I’m missing ‘King of the Hill’ for this?”
He played/prayed until 2 a.m. and did A LOT of preaching between songs. I kept thinking to myself, "Well, it is Wednesday night" (the night normally associated with bible study).
Maybe Josh Groban cancelled because he wanted to go to the DMX concert.

From Leah Day:
When we first arrived and got in line to give our tickets, we noticed on the counter there was a notice that said DMX would start at 11:30 p.m. and that the bar was not responsible for his punctuality. Our tickets said 8 p.m. Seeing that, we decided to go take advantage of Therapy’s half-price martini night until 11:15 p.m. in case it started at 11:30.
The concert was excellent, and lasted a decent amount of time. I was all the way up front and really enjoyed the performance. My friend caught the T-shirt he threw out. Overall, I think it was worth the wait and my friends and I all said we would go again if he came to town.

From Heather Blake:
Had a great time! Yes, he came on stage a little late -- around 12:30 a.m. -- but he’s rather notorious for doing so. Amos’ had several signs posted at the door that the Bazaar Royale started at 10:30 p.m. and DMX at 11:30 p.m.; however, right below they also clearly stated that they were not responsible for the artists’ punctuality.
Do I wish they had been a little more clear about what time the show started? Of course. But it’s a concert -- relax, and just have a good time. I’m most definitely not a rap fan usually, but he was worth the wait.

A really angry lady:
Doors opened at 8 p.m. and DMX was supposed to be there from 9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., so we got there around 8 p.m. and waited while some DJ played.
Waited...waited...waited...and about 10:30 p.m., we got angry.
So about 11 p.m., I went up to the lady at the front and asked if DMX was even going to perform. She said, "He’ll be on at 11:30 p.m." About 11:25 p.m. his cover band played for about half an hour. About 12:30 a.m., I wanted to go home, so we went up to the lady at the front and demanded our money back.
We didn't get it, but the point is we paid for a concert on Wednesday night, not one on Thursday morning.

--------------------------------
Like I said, I didn’t go to the concert, and I’m glad I didn’t. Anyone who goes to rap concerts at clubs knows that the main act often doesn’t go on until 11 or 11:30 p.m. (Yes, after midnight is a bit ridiculous. This is Charlotte, not D.C.)
Your best bet is to call the venue and ask what time the main act will perform if you don’t want to arrive too early. Anyway, I’m glad I didn’t go to the show because I can’t take the whole preaching/rapping thing. DMX obviously has issues, and if he wants to express that in his lyrics, that's fine. But I’m not going to a concert to hear him preach.

Have anything to add? Post your replies below.

A week in New Mexico

Last year, my mom invited my girl and I to spend a week in New Mexico. My mom’s best friend Sue has a cabin that her family owns in the mountains between Taos and Eagle Nest. Sue’s mother, whom I called Momma Sarah, vacations in New Mexico every summer to escape the Oklahoma heat.

I want to eventually move to the Southwest, so I’m always looking for opportunities to explore that region of the country. I went to Phoenix a few years ago for a journalism convention. It was pretty, but I remember stepping off the airplane at midnight and it was 100 degrees. A hundred degrees at night!

The forecast for Santa Fe and Taos, where we also would be staying, called for cooler temperatures than that, so I was excited. I’d never been to New Mexico, and my vision of the Southwest is based on the movies “Waiting to Exhale” and “Boys on the Side.”

I imagined lovely adobe houses with miles and miles of land, pretty scenery and laid-back people. I got some of that, but I also got carsick from all the winding roads, a broken windshield from flying rocks, locals who look at black people as if they’d only seen them in magazines (one woman called us a novelty) and lots of poverty.

Hotel heaven and not-so heavenly

After flying into Albuquerque on Saturday, we drove to Santa Fe for the night. We met my mom and her friend Sue in the lobby of our hotel, the Eldorado, a picturesque hotel with huge columns out front and grand steps leading to the entrance. The rooms were stately, but the hotel is a rip-off for $299 a night.

The valet service is slower than mud. (Actually, everything in Santa Fe and Taos is slow. No one moves with a sense of urgency, which drove me nuts.) They lost our car. They didn’t have free Internet access, and their mojitos weren’t all that. Did I mention the hotel cost $299 a night?

My mom and Sue stayed about a block away in the Inn of the Governor’s on West Alameda Street. It’s rustic, with cute little fireplaces in the rooms and free breakfast. And I’m not talking about Comfort Inn-style dry cereal and muffins -- they had eggs cooked with peppers and onions, bacon and sausage, fruit, yogurt, waffles and French toast. That’s what I’m talking about. The hotel bar, the Saloon, seemed to be the most popular hangout in all of Santa Fe.

Whoa, he sounds like Tracy Chapman

After cocktails, we went to the Inn and Spa at Loretto on the Old Santa Fe Trail for dinner. We sat outside on the patio of the hotel’s restaurant, Baleen Santa Fe. The patio had a white canopy and it looked like the kind of place where you could have a small wedding.

Matthew Andrea played guitar, and if you closed your eyes, he sounded like a less-raspy Tracy Chapman. Andrea played covers, originals and instrumentals. He complemented the vibe with a soothing set that wasn’t too loud, but still audible enough to sing along if you wanted.

The hotel is one of those fancy places where the food looks pretty, the portions look small and your bill looks big. I ate the giant sea scallop with mussels in a broth. My mom tried the poached Halibut with forbidden rice. (It’s dark purple and sweet. The waiter said ancient Chinese emperors served it to their concubines.) My girl and Sue ate the salmon.

After eating, I was surprisingly stuffed and had little room for sopadillas (a fried pastry square filled with rich dark chocolate) for dessert. I preferred my mom’s hot doughnuts and my girl’s apple tart topped with ice cream.

If you’re going to Santa Fe, the Loretto is definitely worth a splurge. And they don’t have any mosquitoes in Santa Fe, so you can sit outside without dousing yourself in Off.

Partying in Santa Fe

After we put my mom and Sue to bed, my girl and I wandered the streets of Santa Fe looking to get into something. Santa Fe is rich in history and art culture. It’s not rich in nightlife.

We strolled through the square area, but most of the places were bars and none of them were jumping enough to stop. After partying Friday night at Charlotte’s NV, and then rising at the crack of light to fly to New Mexico, I was exhausted and needed a loud, busy bar to keep me awake.

It was Saturday night, but the town was dead except for a cover band performing at a tiny joint. After noting the shops we wanted to visit during business hours, we headed back to the hotel about 11 p.m. (1 a.m. Charlotte time) and called it a night.

Braving hail and falling rocks

On Wednesday, my girl and I headed to Red River, a “ski resort” about 30 miles north of Sue’s mountain cabin. As we drove through the mountains, we noticed signs that warned of bobcats.

We were talking about how cool it would be to get chased by a bobcat when my girl pointed to white stuff in the distance. I said it was cotton. When my car skidded, I realized I had driven into the aftermath of a hailstorm. Marble-sized pellets lined the highway and the landscape.

I rolled down the window. It was cold outside. I turned the car around to return to the cabin. (We wore shorts, sandals and T-shirts -- not exactly cold-weather clothes.) But then I decided I couldn't resist driving into a hailstorm in a rental car, so I turned around again and forged ahead toward Red River.

We eased around twisting roads only to find our lane blocked by mounds of fallen rocks and boulders. Awesome! We plodded along for another 10 miles, crunching through hail and easing past debris in the road to reach Red River.

Jesus stuff and saloons

Jack Bell, a friend of Sue’s family, told us that Red River was a one-road town where cowboys from Texas hang out. Although it’s called a ski town, Jack said real skiers don’t go there. I could see why. I swear one of the slopes runs into a building. Red River has a mile-long main street with a couple of saloons and cafes. The place that caught my eye had a sign advertising wireless Internet, coffee, jewelry and Jesus stuff. Yep, Jesus stuff. I had to go inside.

The Jesus stuff place had T-shirts that read "Jesus has MySpace in heaven," or something like that. There were other Jesus shirts, a jewelry case and various trinkets.

We stopped for a drink and a game of pool at the Bull of Woods Saloon. Before leaving, we tried Tractor Brewing Company’s Farmer’s Tan Red Ale. Despite the hearty name, it was a light beer.

Folks inside the saloon, and on the streets of Red River, looked at us as if they’d never seen real black people. Apparently, the percentage of African Americans in the Santa Fe and Taos area is miniscule. Mostly whites, Mexicans and Native Americans live there. Tourists tend to be from Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma, where it’s blazing hot in the summer.

We were a novelty, as someone put it.

Bobcats, bears and elk - oh my

New Mexico’s nightlife isn’t much to brag about, but the scenery is. The air is so clean and the land is so flat that you can see miles of mountains that make the ones along the Blue Ridge Parkway look like hills. The rock formations, such as Camel Rock, are gorgeous.

We didn’t see any bobcats or bears, but on a hike Thursday morning we saw real bear poop. And on our way to dinner at Sue’s sister’s house in Angel Fire on Thursday night, we saw two elk. This one wasn’t camera-shy.

Albuquerque's night scene is funny

On Friday, we stayed in Albuquerque to catch our early-morning Saturday flight. In Albuquerque, I finally got my taste of nightlife. The city’s entertainment district is along Central Avenue. The downtown area is clean and reminds me of Charlotte’s nightlife in the late ’90s and early ’00s -- i.e. there wasn't much to do.

The police close Central Avenue for about four blocks. Three cops on horses patrolled, as well as cops in cars and on foot. Mind you, the party section is only about four blocks and most of the action is in a two-block radius.

One mounted cop cracked me up. She trotted out from the plaza area with her left hand on her hip, her head high and a grin on her face. I couldn’t tell if she was policing or parading. Nevertheless, she and all of the other officers got serious quick at the first sign of trouble. They tooted their whistles (hard to mount a siren on a horse) and trotted over to the trouble spot. Partiers quickly cleared the street. Being trampled by a horse would have been a buzz-kill.

Along with being serious about quelling trouble, the folks in Albuquerque are equally serious about preventing underage drinking. At most of the bars, clubs and restaurants we checked out, the doorman or server took our ID and scanned it in a machine to check the authenticity.

A gay bar for all types

We started our Central Avenue partying at The District. We found it because we were walking around and heard club music blaring from the outside patio.

It was great. We saw women dressed in all kinds of funky styles, from Earthy tree-huggers to punk to hip-hop to stale-enough-to-be-yo-momma. The range of ages, styles and looks made the District feel more like an alternative club rather than the gay club that it is.

Outside on the patio, a DJ spun club music, and there were two bars, seating and a dance floor. Inside, a DJ spun hip-hop. Three makeup artists painted partiers' bodies and faces for tips. One young woman had a bustier painted on her torso, with matching stockings painted on her legs.

My girl got a wolf and some other kind of design on her chest. It lasted for 10 minutes before she sweated it off on the dance floor. It was real cute for those 10 minutes. Speaking of dancing, you know it wouldn’t be a night of clubbing if an older white lady didn’t try to steal my girl on the dance floor. This one latched onto my girl’s thumb -- and tried to latch onto other things -- and wouldn’t let go.

Hanging on Central Avenue

After leaving the District, we went to Sauce/Raw, a popular dance club. Sauce has a dance floor, bar, sofas in a lounge area, a projector showing eye-candy, and various art mediums on the wall. It reminded me of a much smaller and warmer Forum. A DJ spun club mixes of top 40 songs.

Inside Sauce, a line stretched from the doorway that led to Raw, the hip-hop club. (Imagine if the doorway leading from Forum to Pravda were closed.) I didn’t wait in line, but from what I could see while standing outside, Raw reminded me of Tilt. It looked long, with a bar and a patio.

After leaving Sauce, we walked across the street to the Distillery Downtown. Think Fox & Hound without the TVs. After leaving the Distillery, we bought water from a hot dog vendor and sat on a bench to people-watch. It was the highlight of our night.

I have never in my life seen so many women wearing shirts two thousand sizes too small and shoes one million sizes too big.

Then there was the guy wearing an oversized suit who looked like he was going to church not the club; two women -- who weren’t a couple -- wore matching denim overalls with one strap hanging down; a man wore a matching shorts and shirt outfit that made him look like a lemon-lime Starburst; a dude walked around with one arm out of his shirt (so not-cool); and a couple of women wore prom dresses for an outdoor concert. Why? Why? Why?

The clubs closed at 1:45 a.m., and I thought the police would rush people home, but they didn’t. Partiers milled about Central Avenue flirting and talking for about an hour. There was at least one fight and one towed car. At one point, an ambulance drove through. The driver politely tooted the horn to get people to move, and when that didn’t work, she said over the loudspeaker, “Move it or lose it.” Wow.

When we left about 2:15 a.m., the police on horses began clearing Central Avenue. The lady cop’s horse stopped to eat branches off a tree, and then several people came up to feed it more branches or pet it.

If we ever get mounted police here, I hope they’re that nice.

Comedy and The Graduate in Plaza-Midwood

The Graduate is the latest entry into the expanding Plaza-Midwood bar scene. The restaurant and bar opened in the spot that used to be Joe’s Raw Bar at The Plaza and Central Avenue on Friday. The grand opening will be next weekend.

Last Friday, about 50 longtime Graduate regulars, Joe’s Raw Bar faithful and neighborhood residents filed in after 9 p.m. The Graduate is more inviting than Joe’s, which felt dark and depressing. It’s lighter inside with lots of wood from the floor to the tables. There’s a pool table in the back room and the bar is now in front of the door.

Along with giving Plaza-Midwood area residents another watering hole, the Graduate is also home to the Charlotte Comedy Theater. The improv comedy group will perform in the Graduate’s back room every weekend. The bar will also have the NFL package for football season, but there are only a few flat-screen TVs. Still, if they’re showing the Redskins I’ll either be there or at Steamers.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at NV

The hundreds of patrons bobbed their heads to the chest-thumping beats. Sweaty men pumped their arms and rapped along with Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone and Wish Bone as the trio zipped through more than a decade’s worth of material at NV lounge on Friday.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony fans enjoyed rehashing the group’s tunes with the late Tupac, Notorious B.I.G. and Easy-E as well as rapping to newer cuts such as “I Tried” and “Bump In the Trunk.” The crowd spanned from the front of the stage past the bar to the dance floor. Diehard fans sweated it out near the front on stage. Some sat on the bar. Others stood on bar stools.

The dance floor was nearly empty because so many people crowded toward the stage, but a handful of people danced on the floor where it was cooler and less crowded. Those farther from the stage watched the show on a giant projection screen hanging from the ceiling.

Bone didn’t rap as much as they entertained. The DJ played a song, the crowd screamed and the trio rapped a little, talked a little, stalked a little and kept the crowd hype – a lot. The fans didn’t mind the combination of lip-synching, rapping and dancing as long as the DJ played faves such as “Xcstasy.”

The success of the show underscores NV’s rise as one of the area’s premier nightclubs. Bone performed in Charlotte about a month ago and still drew a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd to the Lake Norman area. NV, which primarily draws partiers north of Charlotte, manages to be a place where blacks, whites and Asians consistently support rap concerts. In Charlotte, with the exception of classic hip-hop performers such as Nas, most rap shows tend to draw a predominately black crowd although the genre’s popularity spans all ethnicities.

Shen Wei not for me

I went to see the Shen Wei Dance Arts group perform at Appalachain State’s Farthing Auditorium last weekend.

My girl’s a dancer, so I surprised her with tickets for her birthday. I didn’t know much about the company except for that it was imaginative and creative, and wouldn’t perform typical modern dance. The group sounded great on paper: It performed at Lincoln Center in New York, and at all kinds of famous festivals throughout the world.

I didn’t realize "imaginative and creative" meant watching dancers perform the same moves over and over. Imagine seeing someone do the “Matrix” move a hundred billion times -- that’s what it felt like watching the performers during their meditatively slow performance. At one point during “Folding,” a woman walked really quickly in a circle so many times she made me dizzy.
I wanted someone to jump in the air and do a split so bad, it wasn’t even funny.

I like to stretch myself with the arts, but Shen Wei drove me nuts. There was a mass exodus to the parking lot during intermission. A lady told me that folks in Boone are retired and conservative, and that Shen Wei was a bit too much for them. The best part of the night was when one of those retirees imitated the first performance during intermission.

My girl and I toughed it out. She liked the performance -- but not enough to see again. Next time, I’ll stick to scraping my nails down a chalkboard.

Rolling with a blonde at Alley Cat

All kinds of Harleys and custom bikes lined the area directly in front of Alley Cat on Tuesday.

It was the bar’s first Bike Night, and about 25 bikers came out early that evening to show off their rides and eat.

I had just polished off a fried bologna sandwich there and was headed to my flag football game when I got a call from Urban Vixen, who was still hanging out there.

Apparently, after I left, employees cleared away tables and created a path through the middle of the club. Then a guy with a cute blonde sitting on his lap drove through the club on a tricked-out, Harley-accessorized go-cart. They looped around the club while the small crowd cheered. A few minutes later, he made another lap with a different blonde. Playa, playa ...

College night at Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is still building its fledgling College Night. On Tuesday, about 75 people hung out at the ’80s club dancing to top 40 music while the song’s video played on the screens. The club’s College Night draws a crowd comparable to the partiers you’d see at Bar Charlotte’s College Night.

Owner Jody Sullivan said Tuesday night was light compared to July 3, when the place was packed. They are having a Who Got Served breakdance party there for College Night on July 31.

Teens flood uptown on the Fourth

Cops on every corner. Cars pulled over along College and Tryon streets. Breathalyzers administered. Men in handcuffs. Swarms of teens pacing up and down Tryon.

That was the scene uptown last night about midnight. Clubs along Tryon Street were either closed or dead. Phil's Deli was the only place that was packed. (Considering Phil's only holds about 100 people, that's not saying much.)

The scene last night underscores two things about this city: 1) Officials are obsessed with protecting uptown (you could have been driving tore-down drunk anywhere else in the Charlotte and in no danger of being arrested), and 2) no one offers people under 21 decent nightlife options.

Co-worker Olivia Fortson has an idea I want you to consider. Since teens take over uptown on the Fourth of July, why not give them that night to party uptown? Clubs and bars along Tryon Street could hire DJs and extra security and admit only those under 21. The clubs could charge a cover and serve only non-alcoholic drinks (at increased prices).

What do bars and clubs along Tryon Street have to lose? Like I said, with the exception of Phil's, everything else was either closed or dead. As an adult, I had no desire to stay uptown and hang out with the cops and the kids.

What do you think? Could it work? Post your replies below.

A rap attack in Charlote (New shows added)

We haven’t gotten any huge rap shows at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena or Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre this year, but it plenty of major rappers are hitting the smaller venues.
This summer is starting to get exceptionally busy. Here’s a look at some upcoming shows.
One of the hip-hop shows biggest of the summer -- the Outta School Crunk Jump Off -- hits Cricket Arena on Saturday. Artists like DJ Unk (“2 Step”; “Walk it Out”), Baby Boy da Prince (“The Way I Live”), Jibbs (“Chain Hang Low”), Fabo and more will perform. 5 p.m. $20. All ages. www.cricketarenacharlotte.com.

*T-Pain, known for hits “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper) ” and “Buy U a Drank,” will perform at Crush on Sunday. 10 p.m. $20 and up.

*Lil Flip performs hits such as "Playa 4 Life" and more at this pre-Independence Day party on Tuesday. 9 p.m. NV lounge. www.nvlounge.net.

*Bone Thugs-N-Harmony -- whose new disc, “Strength & Loyalty,” features the tune “I Tried” -- will perform at NV lounge on July 13. $20. www.nvlounge.net.

*DMX performs at Amos’ Southend on July 18. The New York based rap-rock band Bazaar Royale, which is building underground buzz, will open. 8 p.m. $25. www.amossouthend.com.

Talib Kweli performs at the Neighbhorhood Theatre on Aug. 1.9 p.m. $25. www.neighbhorhoodtheatre.com


Power 98’s SummerFest which brings Lil Boosie, Lil Webbie, Crime Mob, Gorilla Zoe and Heizman Boyz to Cricket Arena on August 4. The first 1000 tickets are $10. The rest are $24. www.ticketmaster.com.

Pete Rock, Little Brother, Supastition, and DJ DR will perform at the Neighborhood Theatre on Aug. 5. The event will also include an art exhibit, indie film screening, breakdancers and vendors. 8:30 p.m. $18, $25. www.neighbhorhoodtheatre.com