For my last entry, I wanted to travel back to my favorite area of Charlotte: NoDa. This artsy community is home to unique bar finds, friendly people and good food.
At the corner of North Davidson and 36th streets sits the Evening Muse. This venue has been drawing in crowds for years and appeals to local musicians. For those not wishing to showcase their artistic abilities, it's a relaxing atmosphere to sit back and appreciate independent artists.
The Muse has been open for about a decade now and has catered to thousands of independent music acts throughout the years. The stage has hosted genres ranging from acoustic, reggae and country and blues to alternative, pop and rock.
And while NoDa is my favorite neighborhood to visit, especially for a late dinner with friends, I had never been into the Muse until now. But I've always noticed the young, artsy crowd spilling out of the venue and onto the curb.
The night I visited I heard an alternative band that was actually pretty good. One great option about the Muse is that concerts are open to all ages, unless specifically noted. This opens the range of talent coming through
Inside, exposed brick walls are home to featured artwork from area talents and a stage is set up to host the next gig. A few round tables sit next to large widows looking onto the street for those patrons who want to relax with a beer or glass of wine.
Those interested in viewing artwork can also check out the venue's gallery crawl on the first and third Friday of every month.
The Evening Muse
3227 N. Davidson St.
Charlotte, N.C.
704-376-3737
Hours: Open Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to midnight; and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. until ...
http://www.theeveningmuse.com/
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Get your creative juices flowing at Evening Muse
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Solstice Tavern packs full house for trivia
Behind a wall of painted blue brick, bar goers in North Davidson can find a watering hole unique to the Charlotte area.
The night I visited Solstice Tavern, trivia night had this NoDa bar packed with a diverse crowd. Folks ranged in ages from mid 20s to early 60s, a blend of personalities perfect for people watching. My favorite character of the night was a short black man, probably in his 50s. He was rocking a Mohawk, dark aviators, tight black jeans with a long key chain, black combat boots and a sleeveless black tee. The first thing he said to the woman he walked in with was, "do they have liquor?" She moseyed her way to the bar while he made his way to the arcade games at the back of the room.
Drink specials at the tavern on Mondays include $3 Select Drafts; Tuesdays offer trivia and $3 well drinks; Wednesdays offer Red Oak on draft for $3.25; Thursdays are $6 vodka Red Bull's; Fridays are Patron XO shots for $5; Saturdays are $5 Jager bombs; and Sundays are $12 Bud Light and Miller Light buckets and $5 flavored vodka bombs.
Along with drink specials, patrons can also find an affordable menu at Solstice - one of the best I've found on this journey, actually. All items range from $3 to $8, so every budget can dine without breaking the bank. The menu includes dishes like zucchini and squash chips, quesadillas, grouper sandwiches, chef salads and more.
And when the Charlotte heat fades to cooler fall, the enclosed back deck with bright art at Solstice would be the perfect spot to spend the night out with friends.
Solstice Tavern
3221 N Davidson St.
Charlotte, N.C., 28205
704-342-2556
http://solsticetavern.com/
Friday, July 29, 2011
Chat about the past at Fox and Hound Smokehouse
I typically don't like exploring chain restaurants and bars, but I always pass by the smokehouse and it is packed with people. So, I decided to drag a group of friends out with me and give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly staff and low-key atmosphere at Fox and Hound. We found a long stretch of seats at the bar where we sat and enjoyed a few drinks and snacks. The venue is perfect for a group because it's spacious and offered plenty of seating.
Aside from the occasional '90s sitcom reference, our bartender debated with the guys I was with about Panther' football and the NBA. They argued for a steady 10 minutes about if Kobe or LeBron was better.
While the boys talked sports, I checked out the menu. Dinner entrees ranged from $8 to $15 , while lunch options were a bit more reasonable and cost between $5.99 and $6.99. To accompany my drink, I ordered mozzarella sticks for $6.99. Apparently they were too delicious for my friend Andrew to resist because after he finished his basket of wings, he scarfed down my leftovers too.
Some of the weekly drink specials at Fox and Hound include Monday 45 cent wings, $2.50 Bud and Bud Light bottles, $4 Skyy and Bacardi u-call-its; Tuesday $2 Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite drafts; Wednesday $3 Newcastle drafts and $4 Jack; Thursday $2 domestic drafts, $2.5 craft/import drafts, and $5 thin crust pizzas; Friday $3 Corona and Corona Light bottles, $5 monster bombs and $5 cheese nachos; and Saturday offers $3 Bud and Bud Light aluminums and $5 Cazadores margaritas.
Fox and Hound Smokehouse
330 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-333-4113
http://www.foxandhound.com/
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thomas Street Tavern a hot spot
Dozens of readers have suggested Thomas Street Tavern in Plaza-Midwood. Last night, I finally had the chance to check it out.
Inside the brick building, classic rock played on the jukebox. Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams give the tavern an open feel and slightly reminded me of a large barn, minus the horses and pigs, of course. Photos of Elvis, Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Holly hang on the walls, a mural of street cafes and shops above the bar and there's beer memorabilia all over the place.
The tavern was a completely relaxed atmosphere where old friends gathered for drinks after work. A couple members of an adult softball league sat at the bar and enjoyed burgers and beer.
Near the entrance there's a pool table to keep patrons entertained. Two couples played a round and one woman had a blast dancing around her boyfriend, trying to distract him. I didn't see a single person that wasn't in a good mood in the place. I started to understand why so many of you had steered me in the tavern's direction.
The night I visited, I had a glass of La Terre Cabernet for an expected $6. All beers on tap were $4.50. Aside from reasonable drink prices, the tavern also had a wide menu that includes favorites such as cheese fries, sirloin sandwiches, melts, burgers and hot dogs. Prices were extremely reasonable and ranged anywhere from $6 to $10.
If bar goers want to relax outside, the tavern also offers a some seating out front and a spacious area out back with games and comfy seating.
Thomas Street Tavern
1218 Thomas Avenue
Charlotte, N.C., 28205
704-376-1622
Hours: Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from noon to 2 a.m.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Patrons can kick it at Kickstand
We parked in an open gravel lot behind Kickstand Burgers -N- Bar and went in through the venue's back porch - which was one of the better outdoor seating areas I have seen at a bar. Lights were strung along the deck, darts and corn hole were in the corner and over-sized woven lawn furniture served as seating.
The unique bicycle-themed bar was well know for an extensive menu and creative burger selection, but also had a variety of drink specials for those looking for a late night watering hole.
The night I visited with my boyfriend, our bartender, Tim Arnette, recommended the Horseradish steak flatbread. The crisp flatbread was topped with marinated steak strips, red onions, jalapeno strips, arugula and horseradish mayo.
Everyday specials at Kickstand include $2 PBR 16 oz., $3 Fat Tire, $4 Jagermeister, and
½ price appetizers from 4 pm. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The bar also features 24 craft beers on draft for patrons to choose from.
If burgers and beer aren't what you're craving, no worries. The bar is connected by a short hallway to Loco Lime, where patrons can find a variety of Mexican dishes and plenty of margarita options. I suggest hungry bar goers visit Loco on Tuesdays for $1 tacos, or Mondays for half-priced house Loco-ritas and jalapeno margaritas.
Inside the sports bar though, there are only good seats to view whatever big game is on television. Kickstand features 30 HD television screens in the bar, with some even located in booth seating for an optimal view.
The night I visited, my boyfriend and I were able to watch both of our favorite baseball teams play without compromising because there were multiple screens above the bar. Unfortunately I had to watch my Braves lose to Pittsburgh, while his Yankees pulled out a 10 to 3 victory over the Mariners.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Kennedy's lures patrons in from street
The tiki torch flames and brightly colored porch lights at Kennedy's Premium Bar and Grill quickly drew me in from the street when I was searching for my next bar stop on this journey.
The Elizabeth neighborhood bar was completely packed and had customers overflowing onto the front porch terrace deck. It instantly felt like I was walking into a giant party when walking up the brick stairway to the front door because a live band played Kings of Leon, diners were dancing with beers in hand and a few girls were playing corn hole on the lawn. It was the perfect way to spend a summer night in Charlotte.
The night my friend and I visited Kennedy’s, we also checked out the bar’s menu. The food was absolutely delicious. We stuck to the appetizer menu since it was later in the night and ordered teriyaki skewers with chicken and shrimp that came with a light dipping sauce for $8.95.
If you are trying to avoid the traditional Irish cuisine and pounds of food at Kennedy's, the bar also offers drink specials each day.
Learn more:
366 N. Caswell
Charlotte, N.C., 28204
704-375-0218
Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.