CLT Blog

One of the worst things I have seen in this industry over the years is the practice of undercutting drink prices. This is where local bars compete to have the cheapest drinks in town on a particular night. Sounds like an understandable business practice, right?

This is not always the case. In markets like Greenville, NC, Myrtle Beach, and some areas of Columbia, this practice is crippling businesses. Here is why…

Let me take Greenville, NC as an example. This is a small nightlife scene with about 10-15 spots total, all of which compete primarily over the college student business.

One bar will undercut another bar’s special in order to gain the upper hand on that particular night’s promotion. It starts there at a reasonable cut, maybe .50 cents. Eventually, and what has happened in Greenville, is the undercutting has gotten dramatic with bars featuring penny drafts or even penny liquor nights! Let me go on the record by saying no bar can make decent profit, even with a door charge, when they give their product away. Now, on any given night of the week, there is a bar in Greenville with some crazy almost free drink prices. The customer base has grown accustomed to this and that is now what they expect.

Major organized changes will have to be made to help these businesses stay afloat.

Similar issues I have seen in other cities or smaller sectors of town. Myrtle Beach seems to have unusually low drink prices compared to other cities around the Carolinas. I would have expected, for a tourist market like the Grand Strand, to have increased prices.

You will more than likely see similar issues happening in sectors of towns that are closely associated with a college; 5-Points in Columbia, Boone, etc.

I have heard of some areas creating unions among the bar owners in order to reign in the problems and issues that face their industry. These unions in my opinion are great.

Coopetition!

Lost in a trance at Forum: And not because I had one too many drinks, but rather because I was interviewing one of the top trance groups in the globe, Above & Beyond. Above & Beyond have remixed hits for Madonna, Dido, Brittney Spears, and Radiohead. Furthermore, the group’s hit volumes, like the Anjunabeats collection, are popular worldwide. In town for one night only, Above & Beyond members Jono Grant and Tony McGuinness took the time to meet with me in the Forum .  Paavo Siljamaki was not able to attend as he was manning the radio station back home. But in the small, intimate, and lit entirely by candlelight setting, Jono, Tony, and myself relaxed on the comfortable couches, and talked music and…

You’ve seen nightlife all over the world, how does it compare?

Jono: Because of the internet, it’s become more homogenous around the world. I mean, there are definitely differences. But it’s quite good in a way that the internet means that, wherever you go, people know your stuff: you can set a bit of a parameter. But there’s nice differences, obviously. The United Kingdom, for example, they party right through the night to the late morning. Whereas some places they don’t. I mean there’s different musical tastes slightly, but there’s that kind of central thing of the internet driving it. So wherever you go, there’s that running theme.

That leads me to another question, which may be the same answer, how do you prepare for those differences, if there are some, with your set list? Do you have different things set up for different countries?

Tony: I think there are, sort of, regional tastes for certain kinds of music. Poland they like it a lot more banging than they do in New York. Say South America, they also like it quite proggy. China they kinda like it quite banging. Australia like it quite banging. But to be honest, there’s also differences between towns in those countries, and night of the week, and month of the year. So generally there’s a lot of variation within the thing.

You’ve remixed songs for some of the greatest people (Madonna and Dido), anybody you’d like to perform with in the future?

Jono: It’d be nice to do something with Depeche Mode, or something like that. I think, you know, some sort of electronic act that have been massive for years.

Tony: Yeah, it’d be great to do that. Radiohead was one of my favorites for a long time and we did a remix for them last year. It was just great to get, you know, the beats: the kind of unmixed parts of a Radiohead song, which was actually very illuminating. I mean they obviously just record all of them in a room. They just push play, and everybody plays, and that’s how they make their records, which is quite illuminating.

After all of the struggles, what has been your biggest achievement?

Jono: I guess continuing to able to do this is the biggest thing, really. Cause, you know, you have achievements along the way which seem like the biggest thing at the time, like the Madonna bit, say at the time, was the biggest achievement for the time. But that gets belittled by the greater thing that you’re doing in the end.

Tony: Yeah, I think that’s a very good point actually. We’ve not actually had that question before and I think your answer is spot on. In this day and age, to be able to make a living from music is an extremely rare thing. I think there were only, (turns to Jono) how many would you say? 10 albums last year? 21 albums last year? That sold a million in America, which you know, that used to be a lot higher than that: I think, that sounds a very low number to me. The actual career of being a musician is so much harder than it used to be.  So, as Jono says I think very accurately, to be able to keep doing what it is that you love to do is our biggest achievement.

And Above & Beyond’s fans love them for doing what they’re doing. Towards the end of the interview, you could hear “olay, olay, olay, olay,” as the audience chanted for the group to come out. And Jono and Tony really knew how to work the crowd. From lighting, to visual, and of course sound, Above & Beyond were catching the audience’s energy and playing it back to them with an even higher impact.  The sounds of Above & Beyond were truly amazing. In fact, you could say that throughout the night the crowd was really entranced!

St. Patrick’s Day usually conjures up images of shamrocks, red hair and a whole lot of beer. All over the country people don “Kiss me I’m Irish” t-shirts and green apparel; this all while downing as much beer they can possibly drink. It’s a day everyone is Irish. Crowds and crowds of people went out for St. Patrick’s Day all over the country. I mean if there was any other holiday meant to just have fun for a full day, I can’t really think of it. It’s a day when girls can be free of thinking about what shoes to match their outfit and a a t-shirt and jeans are all you need to get in. All in all a perfect day, yes? Lets see, food, beer, friends…what is missing? Oh yes, waiting in line for an hour to get a t-shirt for a pub crawl and another hour just to get into a bar: paying cover charges to get into every place you go, even your DD.


Yes, in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami they charge cover, but there are a lot of places that will let ladies in free, guest list ect. too. Even cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia where there are blocks of bars that always have a line going out into the street don’t charge cover. I understand it was a chance to make money for the bars of Charlotte, people are going to go out for St. Patrick’s Day no matter what, but as the night wore on I heard about people spending anywhere from $50 to $200. The bars were making money regardless of cover. It really took away from the whole experience of a pub crawl. The whole point is to get a drink or two in one place enjoy the atmosphere and then move on to a different bar. You get to see a lot of different people, choices in beer and decor. But when you’re paying just as much money to get in as you are for your drinks, it sort of doesn’t seem worth it. 

In Ireland it’s a day for just having fun, good beer and good music. I was extremely disappointed though (part of my family being Irish, this is one day I get very excited about) that there was hardly any Irish music played, the whole day was taken advantage of for the bars to make the most profit and events such as pub crawls weren’t well executed. I don’t call waiting in a line for an hour a well planned event. Know how many people approximately will be coming out and have enough workers on hand to make it a good experience before the spirits start flying. A few of the bars weren’t even sticking to guidelines of pub crawls either, charging cover during the event. The one positive I found was that the bar staffs were on the ball. At the slightest sign of trouble, bouncers were like bees to honey. The bartenders were running their fannies off getting everyone their drinks and food in time and I think doormen got pretty good at checking ID’s. 


It also seemed the level of jerkiness went up yesterday too. Even at the end of the night people were in a push and shove mood. It wasn’t even crowded anymore and everyone was still elbowing their way around. Maybe it’s just me, I kind of have a thing about people touching me, personal bubble and all. Looking forward, it’s a definite I’ll participate in events for St. Patrick’s Day next year. I do like talking to people, and it’s enthralling being part of such a large crowd. I just feel that on a day of celebration it’ll be more like a Black Friday of bar hopping. True, there were deals if you were wearing a pub crawl t-shirt, most bars you got in free, maybe there are drink specials. But for the most part if you were a champ, and made it to the end of the night, and still were ready to go, your wallet better had been ready too. 


While the wait for Ri Ra’s reopening has made their closing feel like a lifetime, it was only nine months ago that the pub closed its doors to renovate after the fire. But now, just in time for St. Paddy’s day, Ri Ra has finally reopened! So in order to get in a quick pre-paddy’s celebration, as well as check out the latest restorations, my fiancé and I headed over for the grand re-opening party.

It turns out Ri Ra is just as popular as ever. When we arrived, there was already a line out the door. But luckily, the sounds of the Irish jig inside had made it out onto the streets, so the wait was like a pre-party of its own. Once inside, I learned the music was Bobby Houck (of the Blue Dogs), and they had their own stage at the back of the pub- which was pretty cool. It was a rocky grotto, built kind of like the secret pool at the playboy mansion, just with a different kind of entertainment.

Complimentary drinks covered all of the Irish favorites, from Guinness to Harp, Killkenny to Smithwick and a fine selection of wine for the non-beer drinkers! Unfortunately, we were too late for the good eats, but rumor has it there were sampler trays of the pub’s menu going around. I did notice a platter of mini brownies float by me at one point, but I wasn’t quick enough to grab one.

The crowd varied from the after work crew, to singles and plenty of couples, but one thing was for sure, the place was packed. Yet instead of feeling forced into a corner, there was plenty of room to move around. Speaking of which, the upstairs was one of the newly renovated spaces, and the room was open and inviting. One of the Ri Ra employees informed me that not only had the area been brightened with new chandeliers, but the ceiling had been raised, and a new bar added. My fiancé and I had plenty of space to relax and lose ourselves in the corner, while also getting a feel for the busy bar too!
That is, once we found a table. While the usual prey at a bar is your next one night stand, seating was scarce, and everyone’s eyes were set to the tables. But even though my fiancé and I stood for most of the night, Ri Ra’s lost none of its comfortable ambience.

And while some places like to start over, Ri Ra wants guests to remember where they came from. That’s why the bar has kept some of its damaged décor. From smoke worn posters to disfigured bottles, Ri Ra kept many of the items that had been ruined by the fire, and it really added a taste of something different.  Of course, the biggest restoration was of Saint Patrick himself. Split in half by the fire, he has now regained his rightful place behind the bar, pardoning all those who eat, drink, and end up shitfaced!
Overall, the pub was warm and inviting. People were laughing and drinking as if Ri Ra’s had never closed in the first place. And having been born and raised in England (not Ireland I know), it was like walking into a pub from across the pond. Of course, the rainy weather didn’t help the delusions there.
But I think the Ri Ra experience captures was a good night at the pub can inspire in people. Even when everything goes up in flames, you can always rebuild, and throw a damn good party when the rebuilding is over!

Hunger struck around 9:30pm last Friday night as I battled through the usual Uptown traffic. By the time I settled for a spot in Hearst Tower’s parking garage one thing was for certain; I was now starving. Lucky for me, Charlotte is full of great restaurants that stay open later on the weekends.  I was immediately drawn to a small Italian place in front of Hearst Tower called Coco Osteria.

Let me reiterate that this place is small, perfect for escaping with a couple of people before facing the bar crowd. As my eyes darted over the menu, I realized it was going to be a hard decision; Coco features authentic Italian cuisine including homemade pastas.

After careful deliberation I decided that I would have to start with the bruschetta (picture 2 in the viewer) and have the pan seared salmon as my main. The bruschetta came out quickly and did not disappoint. The bread, a Tuscan style baguette, was grilled to perfection topped with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and a balsamic reduction, which was simple and delicious. Just as the bruschetta was nearing its end my salmon (picture 3 in the viewer) came out to keep me going. At first glance I could tell my salmon had a lot going on: olives, capers, tomatoes and garlic in white wine over jasmine rice, but as I began eating I realized that all of the ingredients were essential to the dish. I ended up overeating, and being stuffed yet satisfied.

The smaller environment also made for a cozy, well looked after restaurant. The staff gave off a genuine vibe and never left me wanting for anything.  If the food isn’t enough to get you down to Coco then you should also know that they have awesome drink specials all week, including half priced martinis on Fridays and half priced select bottles of wine on Saturdays.  I’ll definitely be back for more!

This is quite possibly the funniest thing I have EVER seen. Granny DJ Ruth Flowers!

If you ever thought you could never be a DJ, think again! Anyone can learn and prosper as a DJ with today’s technology and the access to the internet. Take this 69-year-old lady for instance. She strolls into a nightclub one night and decides right then and there that she wants to be a DJ, despite her old age.

Way to go Granny!

You have to watch this video. Nothing I can write would really do this justice anyhow.

One of Charlotte’s largest events and the nightlife industry’s premier event, Bartender’s Ball, was once again a huge hit this year. Located at the Blake Hotel, hundreds of Charlotteans packed the banquet hall to celebrate the service industry!

Here is a video of this year’s festivities. Video was provided by VideoCharlotte.com.

The fourth annual Charleston Fashion Week®, owned and produced by Charleston magazine, is a five-night celebration of the region’s flourishing retail and design community. Held March 16-20, 2010 in the historic city of Charleston, SC, CFW will feature more than 30 runway shows, the Emerging Designer Competition: Southeast, and a number of chic after-parties. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, the event will feature the Style Lounge, the Catwalk for Kids auction and luncheon, Rock The Runway Model Competition, the Stiletto Stampede, and the Bridal Couture Show.

This year, Carolina Nightlife will be a participating sponsor in the week’s festivities! We are getting involved in each after-party and will be covering the entire week’s events!

Stay tuned to our site for new photo albums from the shows, events, and after-parties!

Here is a teaser video about Charleston Fashion Week 2010!

CFW Teaser ‘09 from Charleston Fashion Week on Vimeo.

I wasn’t always the nightlife type. For the longest time, I was the nerdy girl who spent all her time studying- man, I love college. . .  not! Then I graduated. In fact, you could say I graduated to full on nightlifer. Now I not only write about nightlife, I work in a bar as well. As you can imagine, I’ve seen and heard a lot of crazy things. So after living the night life, I’m here to tell you a few of the stories that we service people see all the time. The things I’ve seen, heard, and been told to forget. . .

“I wanna make love in this club”
One thing I’ve found, is that every club has that cuddly couple, at least, that’s the politest thing to call them. You know the ones I’m talking about. The couple that hides in the hallway or finds the way to the middle of the dance floor and disappears? Where I work, it was a couple who snuck into the women’s bathroom, past the bathroom attendant, to . . . talk, yeah that’s it. It wasn’t until their conversation got a little loud that anyone knew they were in there. Needless to say, the bouncer wanted to get in on the conversation and took them outside so he could hear better.

The Hidden Hulks
You never know why, but there’s always that one guy or girl whose attitude is amped all the way up- but unlike the Hulk, they makes for funny stories when they’re angry! I usually see about one livid lifer every month, both guys and girls. I’ve seen people push others down stairs, and the usual people picking fights with the bouncers. But one night, stuff really hit the fan. . .  well, actually, it was the front door. I was working the front desk, when this guy came storming past me. I noticed a glass in his hand, and as I looked up, the glass ended up in my hand . . .  well, part of the glass that is. I didn’t get injured, but the nightlifer had thrown his glass at the front door and sent shards flying everywhere. I never did find out what made him so mad!

When Dancing Gets Dangerous
While I’ve seen many funny, unforgettable stories, there are also the stories that you’d rather forget. Like when people get hurt. And at every club there is the fair share of dancing turned dangerous. On the night I’m thinking of, someone actually fell off a second floor balcony. I remember the police running down the escalators and crowds of clubbers forming a group beneath the balcony. There were so many nightlifers that it took forever to find out what had happened. To this day, I can never guarantee why the man fell, but the news reports, say that alcohol was involved! (View that news story here)

From couples sneaking into bathrooms, to things hitting the fan, I’ve seen a lot on my nightlife adventures. And now that I’ve graduated to the night life, I’m sure I’ll have many more to share in the future.

Ri-Ra, the quintessential Irish pub here that closed after a devastating fire on May 23 of last year, has reopened after an extensive restoration, just in time for a proper St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  Rí Rá (208 N. Tryon Street, www.rira.com, 704-333-5554) is open 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM daily, serving lunch and dinner, with Irish-style brunch specials on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s been a long, arduous, but ultimately rewarding process restoring the pub to its original authenticity,” stated David Kelly, co-founder and -owner of Rí Rá. “My partner Ciaran Sheehan and his master Irish craftsmen have meticulously refurbished every piece of our antique furnishings, while making some timely updates to an establishment now in its second decade.  Our customers will find the same genuine Irish pub atmosphere and service, in addition to enhanced menu and entertainment offerings.”

The 7500-square-foot Rí Rá debuted in March 1997 and quickly became a stalwart on the dining and nightlife scene for locals as well as visitors.  The pub’s name means uproar or hubbub, taken from the phrase “Rí Rá agus Ruaile Buaile,” which roughly translates as devilment, good fun, or any social activity that improves with fine food and drink.  Adding to the pub’s authentic milieu are numerous natives of Ireland among the staff.

Original fixtures reclaimed from layers of soot include the Victorian bar, built in the early 1800s for the officer’s mess in the Phoenix Park Barracks in Dublin, removed in 1920 and stored in a Dublin garage for over 70 years before becoming the centerpiece of the original Rí Rá.  It survives with other antiquities such as a restored Guinness mirror; exquisite etched glass panels dating to the early 1800s; a collection of Dublin Corporation Ledgers from 1800-1840 available for pub patrons’ perusal; and a statue of St. Patrick, origins unknown but aged well over 100 years, which presides over the bar.

To replace components of the pub that couldn’t be saved, Sheehan again sourced vintage pieces from Ireland and sailed them across the Atlantic to find a home in just the right spot in the revitalized establishment.  A stunning example is the foyer’s hardwood parquet floor, salvaged from Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was built.

Rí Rá manager Spencer Brantley handles bookings for private parties; the two-story facility can accommodate groups up to 200 people.  Updated lighting, sound, and electronic components put the spotlight on Rí Rs ongoing entertainment options such as the perennially popular Pub Quiz trivia contests, live Irish music, and sports programming, as well as special events such as oyster festivals.  Rᒭ Rá will participate in Charlotte’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 13, helming a float, dispensing coupons, and featuring live music in the pub from 12 noon into late night.

The sparkling renovated kitchen is the crafting place of an enhanced menu from Chef Tom LaFauci that features traditional Irish fare as well as regional favorites, many with a contemporary twist and all with a focus on quality and authenticity.  Fresh seafood and locally-sourced seasonal ingredients pair with signature items such as house-brined corned beef, custom-ground burgers, daily baked Irish soda bread, and award-winning Beef ‘N Guinness Stew.

Other traditional pub dishes include Fish & Chips, featuring beer-battered fresh haddock and the kitchen’s hand-cut traditional Irish potato chips; hearty Shepherd’s Pie; Steak & Chips, a 12 oz. NY strip with Cognac butter and malt vinegar mayo dipping sauce; Emigrant’s Corned Beef & Cabbage; and the Traditional Irish Breakfast served at lunch and dinner—a proper fry-up of eggs, Irish sausages, rashers (bacon), black & white puddings, grilled tomato, and pan-roasted mushrooms.  These join contemporary bistro items on the menu such as Steamed Mussels in whiskey garlic butter, white wine, fresh herbs, and crostini; and Broiled Haddock with a savory lemon crumb topping over Parmesan roast potatoes and baby spinach in pan sauce.

Lunch standouts include pan-seared Irish Potato Cakes served with balsamic reduction and savory sour cream and touted in one review as “ethereal cylinders of light potato and cheese, crisp on the outside and fluffy within.”  Rí Rs signature sandwich, the Publicanᒒs Reuben, boasts thin-sliced, house-brined beef brisket, crisp sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and Marie Rose sauce on grilled rye.  The pub’s ½ lb., house-ground burger selections include the Guinness BBQ Burger with the pub’s famous tangy Guinness BBQ sauce, melted Cheddar, and crispy onion rings; and the Paddy Melt topped with grilled Irish rasher, melted Cheddar, and caramelized onions on grilled rye with a side of Marie Rose sauce.

Dessert here carries on the theme with options like the Guinness Sundae, vanilla ice cream over a warm Black & Tan brownie topped with Guinness chocolate sauce, toasted walnuts, and whipped cream.

Saturday and Sunday brunch adds specialties to the lunch menu such as the Irish Benedict, featuring twin pan-fried potato cakes, Irish rashers, poached eggs, hollandaise, home fries, and grilled tomato.

Rí Rs full bar features a wide array of imported and hand-crafted beers and a variety of spirits and wine selections.  The pub also serves Bewleyᒒs Teas of Ireland and classic bistro French press coffee.

The pub’s popular Sandwich Bar on Hearst Plaza has reopened as well, offering freshly prepared, ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads along with a build-it-yourself salad bar Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM.

Rí Rs owners and long-time team members have been heartened by the support and interest of the pubᒒs many fans who have followed the restoration process with great anticipation of the reopening.  “People have fond memories of Rí Rá,” explained Sheehan, “and in the current time of turmoil and change, people are looking for familiar reliables—authenticity, community, and quality.  We’re proud and thrilled to once again offer those to our patrons.”

About the Owners

Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, David Kelly and Ciaran Sheehan have been close friends since they were 14 years old.  The two lads took an early interest in pubs when they’d meet at Toner’s Pub on Merrion Row before going to rugby matches.  They immigrated separately to America.  Kelly and Sheehan have stuck to their original goal and made each Rí Rá pub unique.

Prior to co-founding Rí Rá, Sheehan worked as a project manager for architectural firms in Holland, Belgium, the U.S., and Ireland, where he specialized in the renovation of historic homes and castles and even contributed to residences for U2 band members.  Sheehan was offered a position with a firm in Florida that served clients such as Universal Studios, Church Street Station, and Pointe Orlando.

Kelly’s marketing background guided him through 11 years with Guinness, where he received the International Gold Advertising Award for the “I Believe” campaign and redefined Guinness advertising with “Anticipation.”

Sheehan currently resides in Raleigh, NC, while Kelly calls Waterford, Ireland, home.