Talking About Nightlife on The Charlotte Podcast

I was the guest on this week's episode of The Charlotte Podcast with hosts John and Miller. The guys had me on to talk about Charlotte nightlife. And because I have a tendency to give backstories, a lot of our discussion focused on how far the city's nightlife scene has come during the decade I've lived here; plus, where I feel it's headed and what we need more of. They also had me recommend a bachelor party night out in Charlotte, which was a fun, on-the-spot question.

During our conversation, I pretty much gave a walk down memory lane on "nightlife" in Charlotte, to the lonely days before there was an EpiCentre or Music Factory in Uptown, or bars and breweries all over NoDa, South End, and Plaza Midwood. Back when the most there was to look forward to in the nightlife and social scene was Alive After Five. (Not knocking AA5, though, which returned for the season last week, and runs each Thursday through August; it's a rite of passage for newcomers, and is still a great social event to meet people.)

If you haven't lived in Charlotte very long and/or you feel the current nightlife scene leaves a lot to be desired, you should listen to this podcast discussion because it will: 1) Cause you to realize how good you have it here now compared to before; 2) Help you understand the positive momentum and growth the scene is continuing to experience, which bodes well for the future. And, it's just fun to talk about "going out" even if you don't do so often, but we all have FOMO from time to time.

I've gone to Red Clay Ciderworks a couple of times, which is an extension of Charlotte's craft brewery scene

I enjoyed talking to Miller and John, and I appreciate them for having me on. I first "met" Miller through Twitter (@MillerYoho), maybe a couple of years ago, and we've since gotten to know each other through our day jobs. And this was my first time meeting John in person, since I'd only previously known him through his Twitter alias (@TheTrolleyWalk).

Listen to the episode in the embed below or directly on Soundcloud or iTunes (episode 015).

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New for 2014 (Apparently), September Is 'Take a Man On a Date' Month

There are a few things a young man learns early on about dating: make sure your car is clean before you pick her up, keep gum in your pocket, and be prepared to pay for the date. Doesn't matter if he's 16 or 46, he follows those simple (unwritten) rules.

Now, we men sometimes experience a date night in which the woman pays, and that's like winning $100 from a scratch-off lottery ticket--it doesn't happen often (and you've already spent a lot during previous attempts), but you cherish it when it does.

Well, apparently September is "Take a Man on a Date" Month. It's exactly how it sounds, and it seems to be something new for this year. It's gaining steam on social media, of course, including plenty of people making fun of it. You can keep up with the tweets here.

I posted a pic on IG about September being "Take A Man On A Date" month. It got 1 like.

— Dr. Moswen Adofo (@ZsNuttz) September 3, 2014

If this month take a man on a date month and ion get taken out, take my number out your phone then

— Don Black P (@Blackson1283) September 2, 2014

How is September "take a man on a date" month? Mfs done made it up..

— Heartbreak Tay (@10VE_TAJ) September 3, 2014

September is take a man on a date month? Why didn't I hear about this last year? Oh right, it didn't exist.

— Mikal Henderson (@klutzzilla) September 2, 2014

September is take a man on a date month. Watch out guys. I spit game pic.twitter.com/chcHKGAIC9

— Isabel Ward (@IsabelWard8) August 31, 2014

What's also interesting is that this new, month-long "holiday" appears to have been started by a singles group from the LDS Church (also known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints a.k.a. Mormon Church). So the Mormons have sparked the latest dating trend, eh?

Whatever its origins, we'll take it. In the words of Aloe Blacc: I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man!

Follow me on Twitter @HollidayInk, like Grown People Talking on Facebook.

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Paul C. Brunson Brings His ‘It’s Complicated Live!’ Tour to Charlotte October 17, Releases First Book, and Talks Relationships and Love with GPT

Paul C. Brunson emphatically believes that dating and finding love in 2012 (and 2013 and beyond) doesn’t have to be complicated. He’s gaining national acclaim as a leading relationship coach and matchmaker, and some lady named Oprah—you might’ve heard of her—handpicked him to co-host a show on OWN called Lovetown, USA.

Paul has made countless television appearances, has successfully helped hundreds of clients improve their relationships or find love, and he’s releasing his first book this week (October 11), It’s Complicated: But It Doesn’t Have To Be. As if his first book wasn’t already highly anticipated, he’s embarked on a cross-country tour to promote it, meet his fans, and, as he says, to inform and entertain you.

The tour, “It’s Complicated Live!” stops in Charlotte on Wednesday, October 17 at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte Chamber Belk Action Center. Tickets range from $35 to $50 and include a copy of his book. Click here for more details and to purchase tickets.

Relationship expert, TV personality, and author Paul C. Brunson. Credit: paulcbrunson.com

I talked to Paul by phone last week, while he waited in an airport in route to the next city for his tour. In the interview below, you’ll learn more about his book and upcoming event, why you should analyze relationship data you read, and why he has such a positive outlook on love.

Tell me about your tour.
The whole idea with the tour is to create awareness around the book (It’s Complicated: But It Doesn’t Have To Be), to create awareness around the TV show, Lovetown, and also to create an environment to educate. It’s an interactive discussion with live music, and it’s really a good time. We’ve done six or seven cities so far. We’ve had really good reviews. It’s a good balance of information and entertainment.

The content is for anyone that’s interested in strengthening their relationship, whether that’s romantic or platonic—and anyone who likes to have a good time. If you want both of the above, this is the perfect event for you.

The title of matchmaker gets used a lot these days. How would you describe what you do?
You get those titles as relationship expert or matchmaker, but I always look at why I started doing this. And the reason I started this was really about family, about community, and it was about how there’s a direct tie between a strong community, coming from their being a strong family. And the key piece is strong families having two parents in the household. So I look at this as almost community activism work. That’s how I perceive my work, more as community work.

What made the timing right for you to write your first book?
The book came about because whenever I would prepare for coaching or prepare for a seminar, I noticed I was always pulling from different resources. I’d pull from my favorite book on psychology or biology or digital-age dating, or pickup artistry because I think there’s some value in that about body language. So there were always six or seven books that I would go to. When I started writing my column for Essence, I started realizing there’s a way to combine all of that information and frame it in a way that’s entertaining. Once I was able to do that with the Essence column, I realized that I really do have a unique voice and that’s when I decided to write the book.

We hear a lot about people getting married later in life, and that divorce rates are really high. How do you address that?
I think the first thing to consider is where we’re getting this information and data from. For example, the notion that divorce rates are really high. What’s interesting is over the last 20 years, divorce rates are actually slightly lower, so the trend is that they’re lowering. Also, when you look at—and I address this in the first chapter of my book—people getting married later in life, a lot of it has to do with societal changes that have basically allowed us to live longer. So we’re living longer which means our marriages are just as long. So even though we’re getting married later, that’s not indicative of anything bad, per se. So a lot of the book and a lot of what I like to do is have us examine this information we’re getting from media and analyze to see if this is a good thing or a bad thing, is it trending one way or another way. When you look at the number of people in this country who believe that there’s value in marriage, that percentage, which is in the 90th percentile, is stronger than it’s ever been. Now, views on marriage have decreased, yes, but those who see value in it is higher than ever before. So I think there are a lot of positive data points.

Continue reading interview after the jump.

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Charlotte Restaurant Week Summer 2012 Kicks Off July 20

It comes around twice a year, when dudes can take their chicks out somewhere nice to dine in Charlotte without feeling like they're encroaching on their Air-Jordan-sneaker or PS3-game money. LOL. That's one way to look at it, but the semi-annual Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week returns for its summer 2012 edition Friday, July 20 and runs through Sunday, July 29. Since launching in 2008, each installment of CRW has featured a record-high number of participating restaurants--and it's the same case this time with a record 107 restaurants in seven counties.

I tried Levant Mediterranean Cuisine for the first time recently. It has intriguing decor and great ambiance, and is one of several newcomers to Charlotte Restaurant Week.

There are more than a dozen first-time restaurants participating, several of which have opened within the past year like 5Church, e2 Emeril's Eatery, Levant Mediterranean Cuisine, Bernardin's at Ratcliffe, Delta's, Blackthorne Restaurant & Bar, and more. Charlotte Restaurant Week features the same deal you love: a prix-fixe, three-course dinner for $30 per person (not including tax and tip); and many restaurants will throw in a fourth course and/or glass of wine.

I was invited to a chef's table event last month at Bernardin's, which opened about eight months ago in the historic Ratcliffe building in Uptown. The goat cheese tart was one of several delicious courses we enjoyed. 

According to Hensley Fontana Public Relations & Marketing, which owns and manages the execution of the event, 120,000 dinners were served during Charlotte Restaurant Week's winter edition in January.

Keep in mind that it's best that you make advance reservations at these restaurants during CRW, and the weekend times fill up fastest. For complete details, including the list of participating restaurants and the descriptions of the prix-fixe menu each of them is serving, visit www.charlotterestaurantweek.com.

I dined at Campania Italian Café in Davidson during CRW in January and highly recommend it as an intimate date spot.

All photos above by my camera phone.

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Dating, Reality Show Opportunities for Singles this Week in Charlotte

If you've been watching the new season of The Bachelorette, which was filmed largely in Charlotte, perhaps you've caught the reality show dating bug. If so, you could be in luck with one of two casting/recruiting events this week.

Thursday, June 7
The Bachelor Casting Call at Suite
This Thursday during the popular Alive After Five event, producers from The Bachelor will hold an open casting call for single women, taking place 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Suite, 210 E. Trade St., at the EpiCentre. Think the odds won't be in your favor to make the cut for the ABC reality show? Keep in mind that Emily Maynard from Charlotte, who's currently starring in The Bachelorette, not only was a contestant on The Bachelor in 2011 but was the eventual winner (though her and Bachelor Brad Womack soon broke up).

Saturday, June 9
Celebrity Matchmaker Seeking Single Black Men
Celebrity matchmaker Jasmine Diaz is coming to Charlotte to recruit the city’s most eligible, single, successful African-American men. If you’re single and looking, and between the ages of 35 and 45, this will be your opportunity to connect with the matchmaker for free. The Shawn Mackenzi Agency, a Los Angeles-based matchmaking company that specializes in matching affluent African-Americans and Latinos, is hosting a special recruiting session that will be taped for a new reality series being produced by Comcast Entertainment Studios / NBCUniversal. The event takes place this Saturday, 1 p.m., at Aloft Charlotte Uptown Hotel. 210 E. Trade St., at the EpiCentre. Click here to RSVP.

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Emily Maynard—and Charlotte—Premiere on 'The Bachelorette' Tonight

Millions of people will tune into the premiere of The Bachelorette at 9:30 p.m. tonight on ABC to see 25 single men begin the ritual of competing for the heart of Emily Maynard of Charlotte. The hour-and-a-half long premiere follows Dancing With the Stars, which should bring in high ratings for The Bachelorette, now in its eighth season. I've never seen more than a few minutes of the show, but I have my DVR set to record the series, which will play out over the summer, because the city of Charlotte is getting a lot of face time.

A scene showing Emily being courted on season eight of The Bachelorette. Credit: ABC 

As you probably know by now, the producers agreed to bring a large portion of production of The Bachelorette to Charlotte to accommodate Emily's life as a single mother. It's the first time the series has ventured outside of its traditional home base of filming from a mansion in California. Instead they filmed from a large house in south Charlotte. Viewers can expect to see Emily and some of her suitors as they go on dates throughout Uptown, such as at NC Music Factory, and other parts of the city. They will also travel around the country for dates, as is customary for the series.

Below are some news links you can read to glean insight into the show:

Why 'Bachelorette' Emily Maynard came back: 'Dating's hard. Why not?' — The Charlotte Observer

New 'Bachelorette' season will be 'drastically different' — USA Today

The Bachelorette: Meet Emily Maynard's 25 Sexy Suitors — US Magazine

'The Bachelorette' starts tonight -- will you be ready? — Entertainment Weekly

Visit abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelorette to keep up with The Bachelorette over the next 10 weeks.

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Durham One of 'Best Cities for Singles,' Asheville One of 'Worst,' Charlotte Neither

Kiplinger, a leading publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, which in recent years has become best known for the annual city rankings it publishes, has placed two North Carolina cities on a couple of its recent lists. Durham is No. 9 on the list of 10 Best Cities for Singles, while Asheville is No. 8 on the list of 10 Worst Cities for Singles. It's interesting how Kiplinger describes its methodologies. At the heart of it, it doesn't seem to be much about heart at all, but rather about money.

Here's how the Best were determined:

"Finding the best cities for singles goes beyond simply identifying the places with the highest percentage of bachelors and bachelorettes. Financial factors count, too. After all, you’ll want to meet someone who can afford to date, right? To put together our list of best cities for singles, we took into account income and living costs. The cities that made the final cut boast household income levels well above the Census Bureau average of $49,536. The cost-of-living score -- derived from Council for Community and Economic Research data -- indicates essential costs, including rent. A high score is acceptable as long as it’s offset by attractive incomes and a strong dating pool..."

You weren't with me shooting in the gym. [Image source]

And how the Worst were determined:

"Landing on our list of worst cities for singles doesn’t necessarily make a city a bad place to live. Far from it. Many of these cities are great for couples, families or retirees, and many offer enviable amenities, from warm weather to low living costs. What these cities don’t offer are deep pools of financially attractive singles. Like it or not, when it comes to dating, money matters -- at least to a degree. So while love might ultimately conquer all, a steady paycheck conquers the here and now -- the tab for dinner and the like."

This all reminds me of a memorable line from I Think I Love My Wife: "You can lose lots of money chasing women, but you will never lose women chasing money."

Topping the list of best cities for singles, strangely enough, is Ann Arbor, Michigan. Notables on the list are Los Angeles at No. 5 and New York at No. 8. Topping the worst is Yuma, Arizona. Notably, all of the worst cities for singles are either in the South or Midwest. Interesting.

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Watch this Week's Episode of '282', and Each Monday at 6:30 p.m. on WTVI

You might recall, back in December, me telling you about a new, local news roundup television show called 282 that was coming to WTVI, that I'd become a part of. At that time, we were in pilot/beta mode and over the course of a month and a half we taped four online-only episodes. On January 30, the first broadcast episode of 282 aired and the show began its weekly run, so you can now watch new episodes each Monday, 6:30 p.m. on WTVI (channel 42 on broadcast television, DirecTV, Dish Network, and AT&T U-verse; channel 5 on Time Warner Cable).

Set your DVRs to record 282 so you can watch each week as host Carlton Hargro moderates a panel of guests who discuss topics important to and prevalent in Charlotte. I have a role similar to that of Tony Reali on Pardon the Interruption, in that I moderate conversation of the show's topics in the social media world (follow @282tv on Twitter; tweet your comments using #282tv), and I chime in with (hopefully) beneficial facts and stats corresponding to what the panel is discussing.

During the first topic, when we discussed the role the Internet and social media are playing in news today, I flexed my old-school journalist muscle by rocking a trench coat and fedora--the hat was used to hold my press badge. My wardrobe--the button-down shirt, blazer, trench coat, and fedora--were provided by Revolve Upscale Men's Consignment in Dilworth, www.revolvecharlotte.com.

On this week's show, which aired this evening, the topics discussed are: the overload of news content these days thanks to websites, blogs, and social media but does that mean people are being more informed; accessing achievement and dropout rates at Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and whether the district gets an unfairly bad rap; and the effects of people staying single longer/getting married later in life (special nod to Valentine's Day).

Adding substance and perspective to those topics are this week's guests: Bill Anderson, MeckEd executive director; Shameika R., a Charlotte-based blogger and writer; and the venerable Mark Washburn, columnist for The Charlotte Observer. You can watch the full episode below.

282 is a partnership between CLT Blog and WTVI, and you can watch a live stream of the show while it is being produced each Monday at noon at www.cltblog.com/live; then the finished product airs that evening at 6:30 p.m. on WTVI (repeats at 11 p.m.). We hope you'll interact with us on Twitter because we read some tweets/comments on the show. And if you have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover or local people you'd like to see appear on the show, tweet those suggestions to @282tv or email to info@cltblog.com with 282 in the subject line.

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Next Charlotte Restaurant Week—January 20-29, 2012

The semi-annual Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week returns for its Winter 2012 edition, taking place Friday, January 20 through Sunday, January 29. The CRW website, www.charlotterestaurantweek.com, went live today with the updated info and there are a record 101 restaurants participating.

Charlotte Restaurant Week began in 2008 and since then has been held each January (winter) and July (summer). I remember the first time I blogged about it here on Grown People Talking was in the summer of 2009, in which was its third installment--it featured a then-record high 71 restaurants and also marked the first time it spanned 10 days. Clearly, CRW has grown—the last one featured 92 restaurants—and it's now solidified as a culinary tradition in the city.

It's the same deal you love: participating restaurants offering a prix fixe, three-course dinner for $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity). Many restaurants will throw in a fourth course or glass of wine for the deal.

Fern, Flavors from the Garden is one of a dozen first-time participants in restaurant week.

Restaurant owners love the promotion because it draws in diners during what is typically slow periods, and brings them a lot of first-time customers whom they hope will become regulars. And we, patrons, love it because it's a chance to enjoy a great meal and evening out at a reduced cost. Hensley Fontana Public Relations & Marketing, which owns and executes Charlotte Restaurant Week, reports that the summer edition in July 2011 generated approximately 90,000 dinners and an estimated economic impact of more than $4 million in revenue.

While nearly two-thirds of the participating restaurants are located in the Uptown, Dilworth, SouthPark, and south Charlotte areas—understandably so because those areas have the most restaurants period—the list spans the entire Charlotte area. The Lake Norman/North Mecklenburg/Iredell County section of the list has grown the most, now featuring 17 restaurants.

There are also a dozen first-time participants, including Bernardin’s at Ratcliffe in Uptown; Campania Cafe in Davidson; Fern, Flavors from the Garden in Plaza Midwood; Waldhorn Restaurant in Pineville; Yama Asian Fusion in SouthPark; Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Mooresville; Osso Restaurant & Lounge at N.C. Music Factory (opened just last week); La Paz in the Metropolitan; and several others.

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Good Luck Stephen and Ayesha!

Stephen Curry and fiancée Ayesha Alexander are getting married this Saturday in Charlotte, where they both grew up. At ages 23 and 22, respectively, I hope these two young lovebirds have a long, happy future together. (And if the NBA continues its lockout, the couple might be able to enjoy a long honeymoon).

Photo via ThanksUSA.

Keep up with the soon-to-be-newlyweds on Twitter--@stephencurry30 and @ayeshaalexander--and see if they share any of their wedded bliss (or wedding jitters). Ayesha tweeted earlier today her excitement about her bachelorette party tonight.

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A Meetup Group for WM and BW

Even though I don't have a profile on Meetup.com and am not a member of any Meetup groups, I've attended a few "meetups" with friends, usually a networking event or mixer of some sort. Probably the main reason I never joined Meetup is because I don't want an additional web profile to have to maintain (Facebook and LinkedIn are enough for me), but I've always admired how Meetup enables you to meet and build relationships with people whom you have similar interests.

A person can start a Meetup group that focuses on just about anything. The more than 600 groups in the Charlotte area include: Charlotte Area Jewelry Artists, The Charlotte Asperger's Syndrome Meetup Group, Charlotte Area Singles (24-36), Charlotte Yoga Club, and The Charlotte Movie & Dinner Group. So as you can see, the groups' interests can be very specific.

Perhaps none is more specific than one of Charlotte's newest Meetup groups, White Men & Black Women Together, which formed three days ago. My girlfriend forwarded me an email alert she received about this group (it matched two of her interests criteria: social networking and new in town) and she thought it was interesting. So did I, which is why I'm blogging about it. I thought it was interesting how the focus of this group is specifically for white men and black women who want to date each other, as opposed to a larger potential pool of interracial couples of black and white, meaning the man or woman could've been either race. But hey, that's the beautiful thing about Meetup. If you're not interested in a particular group, then it's not for you.

The stated criteria for White Men & Black Women Together is that the white men must be 28-55, the black women must be 25-55, they all must be heterosexual and single, divorced, or widowed (no married or separated people, but single parents are welcomed), and college graduates are preferred.

Many people might look at a group like this and have negative feelings about it. Some might even view it as racially bias or divisive in some way. Personally, I think it shows how comfortable we've become with each other, and because of that I think it's okay. We each have our own preferences when it comes to dating, so really this isn't much different than men who only want to date women with big boobs or women who will only date men who are at least a certain height. The heart wants what the heart wants. But while we're using clichés, remember: We're all the same color once the lights go off.

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The Best Picnic Spot in Charlotte

Friday was my birthday. Yes, I've stopped celebrating--it only lasted through the weekend. But I wanted to tell you about the great evening my girlfriend, Andrea, planned for me on Friday. She arranged a private picnic for the two of us at VanLandingham Estate and not only was it picture perfect, but you can do it too.

It's something like a best kept secret that this historic bed and breakfast caters private picnics on its beautiful grounds. Andrea called ahead early in the week to inquire about the menus offered (she even stopped by to see what spot she wanted). When we arrived at 6 p.m., all we had to do was pick up our fully packed basket, wine chiller, and blanket. Then we sat down in a shaded area near the pond. The weather was perfect for it.

The basket was packed with five courses and a bottle of wine. We were nearly full before even eating the main course (a turkey, brie and pepperoncini panini), and although there was a dessert for each of us we only had enough room in the belly to split one. (Plus, I had a yellow cake with chocolate icing--my favorite--waiting at home that Andrea made for me earlier that day.)

Click here for more details on the picnics offered at VanLandingham Estate.

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Jessica Stroup Warns Against Sexting in MTV PSA

Actress and Charlotte native Jessica Stroup stars in a new public service campaign rolled out today by MTV. The PSAs are a series of new ads that bring Eve Ensler's bestseller I Am an Emotional Creature: the Secret Life of Girls Around the World to life on MTV and MTV.com. Actresses Rosario Dawson and Aubrey Plaza join Stroup to give voice to Ensler's work, addressing teen issues such as safe sex, sexual pressure, sexting, and dating abuse.

Stroup, a graduate of Providence High School who currently plays the role of Silver on 90210, appears in the segment titled "I Dance." She illustrates the pressures of being a teen girl today, including sexting, and the need to escape from the stresses of the modern world. See her in the clip below.



For more on this campaign, visit emotionalcreature.mtv.com.

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Events for the Week: May 20-23

Your best weekly list for parties, nightlife, social, and cultural events in Charlotte. This isn’t intended to be a complete list of everything that's going on, but instead are the events GPT recommends. Use contact/website info listed to verify event details.

Thursday, May 20

Business After Hours
The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce presents this event each month at a different venue around Charlotte. Mix, mingle, and network with other professionals--bring your business cards. Complimentary food and drinks will be served. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15 (free for Chamber members). Drury Inn and Suites, 6920 Northlake Mall Drive. www.charlottechamber.com.

Cufflinks and Cocktails
This monthly after-work event brings out plenty of well-dressed, professional people. Presented by the Charlotte Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. 6-10 p.m. Free. M5, 4310 Sharon Road. www.cufflinksandcocktails.com/cc/May2010.htm.

Strike and the City
Each Thursday, enjoy half-price martinis, specialty “skinny” menu items, free shoe rental, and “increased level of attention and pampering” at this trendy bowling alley. This week, media darlings Brittney Cason, Jacinda Garabito, and Dianne Gallagher will be giving away designer shoes and four VIP passes to the upcoming Sex and the City 2 screening. 8 p.m. Free. StrikeCity, inside the EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. www.strikeandthecity.com.

Friday, May 21

Fridays at the Factory
It’s a new Friday event that sees the NC Music Factory transformed into a tropical escape. Enjoy entry into Black Bear Saloon, Butter NC, Halo, and Wet Willie’s. Cabanas and day beds available by reservation. Drinks served at multiple cash bars around the plaza. Sushi by Nikko served 7-9 p.m. Come dressed comfortably—shorts, bikini tops, and flip-flops allowed. Featuring a DJ and live bands. 5-11 p.m. Free. NC Music Factory, 1000 Seaboard St. www.ncmusicfactory.com.

Gauntlet Slam
This edition of SlamCharlotte’s monthly slam will be a great evening of poetry, improv, and comedy. 8 p.m. $10. McGlohon Theatre, at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. www.slamcharlotte.com or www.blumenthalcenter.org.

PlayDate Charlotte
Bring out the kid in you. Play card games, checkers, dominoes, Connect Four, Twister, Monopoly, old-school video games, and more while enjoying music, food, and drinks. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Tyvola Marriott, 5700 Westpark Dr. www.playdatecharlotte.com.

Customer Appreciation Night
Hang out at one of Charlotte’s most popular lounges and enjoy the beautiful outdoor patio. $5 Gentleman Jack specials. Music by DJ C-Rob. 10 p.m. Free all night. Kiss Lounge, 204 W. Woodlawn Rd. www.kisscharlotte.com.

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Charlotte a Top Divorce City

We love hard in Charlotte. But we also love to split up, according to Men's Health. In its June issue, the magazine ranks 100 U.S. cities by prevalence of divorce. The higher a city is ranked on the list, the more common divorce is there. Cheyenne, Wyoming (where?) is the divorce capital, landing in first place. Rounding out the top five are Las Vegas (not surprised); Billings, Montana; Reno, Nevada (so that's two in the top five for the state where prostitution is legal); and Little Rock, Arkansas. Charlotte is ranked sixth.

The city ranking last on the list (100), which means married couples tend to stay together, is San Jose. And, surprisingly, next on the list where divorces are least likely to occur is Columbia, South Carolina (99).

Men’s Health used several factors in its study: frequency of divorces, stringency of divorce laws, percentage of the population who’s broken up, and the number of licensed marriage and family therapists.

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Kendra James Isn't So 'Bad'

I interviewed Charlotte native and Bad Girls Club star Kendra James last week as she was home for a few days while on spring break. You can read the results of that interview in the article I wrote ("Catching up with Bad Girl Kendra James") in the March 17-23 issue of Creative Loafing, which is online now and hitting newsstands over the next day. James is getting an extension on her reality TV shelf life because as season four of Bad Girls Club is finishing up with part one of a two-part reunion show tonight at 10 p.m. on Oxygen, the new spinoff show, Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too, is airing immediately following and stars James alongside two BGC cast members from past seasons.


In the Creative Loafing article, you can read about the new dating show as well as how James handles the love and the hate she gets from TV viewers who enjoy watching the drama-filled Bad Girls Club as much as they like to diss the girls who are on it.

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When It's a Great Idea to Pay Someone to Go Out with You

Thursday night I attended the Hope for Haiti Benefit Date Auction, held at Prevue Rhythm Lounge in NoDa. The event was put on by Glam23 Public Relations & Events, with proceeds going to a Haitian orphanage called God's Littlest Angels. It was great to be able to socialize and be entertained, while supporting a good cause.

I don't think I'd been to Prevue since the weekly Pop Life event was being held there more than two years ago, but it was a great venue for this event. The first thing I noticed when my brother and I walked in around 9:30 p.m. (well, the second thing--first I noticed how there were way more women than men) was that the place has been renovated. The bar has been moved to the second room, and the former bar space has been replaced with a stage, complete with stage lights above.

The DJ kept the crowd entertained until the auction began around 10:30. Anthony McPherson of Maz Entertainment was the emcee. The women were auctioned off first. Bids started at $5 and the first four women went for $45, $60, $115, and $65. The fifth, a very curvaceous young lady, went for a whopping $300. I guess the generous bidder really wanted to help the orphans.

My bro and I dipped out after the women's portion. It's not that I didn't want to see the fellas parade around on stage (okay, I didn't), but I had to make another stop to visit a new nightclub for an upcoming magazine article. Props go out to Lauren Grimsley and Karissa Hayden of Glam23 for putting together a great event. And it's great to see that people are continuing to make contributions to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake.

Photos by Neil Nicholson Photography.

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'Flirt Academy' Tonight

Here's an event I thought some of you ladies might be interested in, and according to its website there are only four spots remaining.

The Better Class is presenting "Flirt Academy" tonight at Therapy Cafe (401 N. Tryon St.), 7-9 p.m. The event is being conducted by Los Angeles relationship specialist and founder of "ManFixer" Shelli Stutz, along with Charlotte's Natalie Hymel.


A for-women-only event, the agenda is listed as:

•How to turn a first glance into a first date
•What to DO and when to DO it
•Body language - become fluent!
•7 actions to guarantee reactions
•How to use it so you won't lose it
•Turn it on...to turn him on!

Admission is $20 and there will be complimentary beer, wine, and flirtinis. Visit www.thebetterclass.com for more details.

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The Sex Toy Charlotte Is Offering the World

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Cason the Joint on 'Holidate'

Charlotte media darling Brittney Cason will appear on the SOAPnet series Holidate, which is a TV show that sends women to another city in search of romance. Cason is a columnist for Creative Loafing and co-hosts the racing show Three Wide Life, in addition to hosting events around the city (she's also a former Carolina Panthers cheerleader). She was sent to Chicago to go on dates, while a Chicago woman named Patrycja (interesting spelling, I know) was sent here.


The one-hour episode of Holidate, aptly titled "Chicago & Charlotte," airs tomorrow night (August 26) on SOAPnet, which is Time Warner Cable Charlotte channel 189 and DirecTV channel 262. Below is a video tease of the episode.

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