I Don't Care If McCain Comes Saturday

It's being reported that John McCain may appear in Charlotte this weekend. The source is the chairman of N.C. Citizens for McCain, but McCain's campaign hasn't confirmed it.

I think presidential campaign rallies at this point are useless. Just like I thought it was useless when Barack Obama came to Charlotte last month. The only people who are going to these rallies are the supporters of the candidates, so what are the candidates gaining? How does seeing your speech and rhetoric in person solve any more problems than seeing it on TV as we do daily? Plus, I'm convinced there aren't any "undecided voters" this late in the game. Anyone who says he or she is an undecided voter is either lying or hasn't been paying attention for the past six months.

But if McCain does indeed come to Charlotte, he'll attract thousands of supporters, just as 30,000 came to see Obama last month. I wish the two candidates would find something more productive and effective to do during these final three weeks leading up to the election. Forgive me but I have campaign fatigue. Perhaps it's because I watch too much cable news, but I don't care to hear another speech from either one of these guys. And I'm voting for one of them next month. I just hope the winner makes good on all of these promises they've been making during the campaign. And I hope at some point the voters understand that they need to stop acting like fans and remember to hold their elected officials accountable.

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Events for the Week: October 13-19

Note: If I learn of more events, I’ll update this post throughout the week.

Monday, October 13

Uptown Mondays
If you wanna get the party started early in the week, here you go. Free food, $3 martinis, and $3 happy hour all night. And enjoy Monday Night Football on a big screen. 7 p.m. Free. Grand Central, 101 N. Tryon St.

Tuesday, October 14

Center City Schmooze
This annual networking event, presented by the Charlotte Chamber Center City Chapter, will be held at one of Charlotte’s premier night spots. Admission includes two complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres by BlackFinn American Saloon, and free entrance into Whisky River and BlackFinn after 9 p.m. 6-9 p.m. $25. Suite at Epicentre, 210 E. Trade St. www.charlottechamber.com/events.

Tone X and Friends (weekly event)
Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy, live skits, improv, and music, along with a performance by the Hunnie Dipz Dancers. 8 p.m. $15. Skandalos, 5317 E. Independence Blvd. 704-890-0771.

Touch One Tuesdays (weekly event)
See Charlotte’s gifted poets perform—and if you have the courage, join them onstage—during this open mic event. Presented by Touch One Productions. Hosted by Filmore and music by DJ Flemingo. 9 p.m. $10. Wine-Up. 3306 N. Davidson St. (NoDa). www.wine-up.com.

$3 Tuesdays (weekly event)
It's a $3 cover, $3 drink specials, and $3 chicken and waffles each Tuesday night. Also enjoy old school hip-hop and R&B spun by DJ Supreme. 9 p.m. Ladies free before 10 p.m. Stir Nightclub, 3500 E. Independence Blvd. www.stirnc.com.

Wednesday, October 15

Pop Life (weekly event)
After taking a month off to change venues, the popular Wednesday social networking event hasn’t missed a step. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. (South End). www.thesolkitchen.com.

A Westside Story
Enjoy music, drinks, and a soul food buffet at this networking event held at a historic African-American club. Special invited guests include local politicians. Presented by Digital Divas. 6-10 p.m. Free. Excelsior Club, 921 Beatties Ford Road. www.digitaldivasevents.com.

Debate Watch Party: The Finale
Watch the final debate between presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain in style. Food and drinks while they last. Presented by GenerationEngage. 8 p.m. Free. KISS Lounge, 204 W. Woodlawn Rd. www.generationengage.org/state/chltt/indexnew.php.

Thursday, October 16

Third Thursdays: Live Jazz
Enjoy live jazz, light refreshments, and great art during special late hours at the museum. This month’s featured musician is Calvin Edwards. Sponsored by V101.9. Mint Museum of Craft + Design, 220 N. Tryon St. Free. 5-8 p.m. (music 6:30-7:30 p.m.) www.mintmuseum.org.

Meet & Greet the Candidates
This annual candidates reception, presented by the Charlotte Chamber and the Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance, brings members of the business community together with candidates seeking office in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Food and beverages will be served from some of Charlotte’s best restaurants. 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Charlotte Chamber’s Belk Action Center, 330 S. Tryon St. www.charlottechamber.com/events.

Cufflinks and Cocktails
This installment of the monthly after-work event is “The Bar Hop.” You’ll experience three upscale restaurants and bars in Piedmont Town Center in SouthPark. The hop starts at Oceanaire Seafood Room, then on to Dolcetto Wine Room, and ends at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. 6 p.m. Free. Piedmont Town Center, 4720 Piedmont Row Dr. www.cltkappas.com/cufflinks-cocktails.

Friday, October 17

Wine Day Fridays (weekly event)
This event recently moved from Wednesdays to Fridays so you can roll right into the weekend. Enjoy some new wines while listening to music. 5 p.m. Free. Village at SouthPark, corner of Sharon Road and Morrison Boulevard (in front of M5). www.elevatecharlotte.com.

Where Is the Love?
The relationship series continues and this month’s topic is “Dating with Children/Dating Someone with Children?” Presented by Not the Average Chicks. 6:30 p.m. Free. Café Room and Lounge, 1250 Lucky Penny St.

SCarowinds
The Carolinas’ popular theme park is transformed into a place of fright for the Halloween season. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $34 and up. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. www.scarowinds.com.

Grown Folks Fridays
Party with a 25-and-older crowd. Music by DJ Rham. Kitchen open all night and serving chicken and waffles. 10 p.m. Men free before 11 p.m., ladies free before 12 a.m. Stir Nightclub, 3500 E. Independence Blvd. www.stirnc.com.

Saturday, October 18

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Travel back centuries and enjoy outdoor theater, circus entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, and a feast fit for royalty. This annual festival runs for consecutive weekends October 4-November 16. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $17 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12. 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville (go to website for directions instead of using Mapquest or Google Maps). www.royalfaires.com/carolina.

3rd Ward Picnic in the Park
Enjoy an afternoon of picnicking and live music at this annual event. Bring your own picnic or enjoy free hotdogs, chips, and drinks (for the first 500 people). Johnson and Wales will provide dessert. 12-2 p.m. Frazier Park. 1201 W. Fourth St.

SCarowinds
The Carolinas’ popular theme park is transformed into a place of fright for the Halloween season. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $34 and up. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. www.scarowinds.com.

Dangerous
This event will feature a fashion show highlighting Charlotte-based boutique Jordanos’ fall lines, a diamond giveaway, live entertainment, hair exhibits by top stylists, and swag bags (Oscar-style gift bags). Presented by Jordanos, Elevate Magazine, and Suite Nightclub. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. 8 p.m.–2 a.m. $20; VIP is also available. EpiCentre Rooftop Pavilion, 210 East Trade St. www.bandtastic.com.

Sunday, October 19

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Travel back centuries and enjoy outdoor theater, circus entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, and a feast fit for royalty. This annual festival runs for consecutive weekends October 4-November 16. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $17 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12. 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville (go to website for directions instead of using Mapquest or Google Maps). www.royalfaires.com/carolina.

SCarowinds
The Carolinas’ popular theme park is transformed into a place of fright for the Halloween season. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $34 and up. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. www.scarowinds.com.

Ssshh! Sensual Seduction Sundays
Enjoy an infusion of open-mic poetry and jazz over candlelight during the first and third Sundays. Featuring jazz saxophonist Shableek Richardson and nationally ranked slam poet Bluz. After-party and dancing follows. Presented by Pink Diamond. 9 p.m. $10. Happy Hour Bar and Lounge, 3603 S. Tryon St. www.pinkdiamondpromo.com.

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Advanced Screening of The Secret Life of Bees

RushmoreDrive.com is hosting a special screening of The Secret Life of Bees next Tuesday at Ballantyne Village Theatre. That's three days before the film, which stars Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Dakota Fanning, hits theaters nationwide. The invitation says it's a private screening, but it appears that anyone can register online. RSVP is required. Click here.

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Today's the Deadline to Register to Vote

If you're a North Carolina resident, today is the last day for you to register to vote for next month's election. If you haven't registered yet, either you're not going to or you're the world's biggest procrastinator. This year has seen the biggest promotions for voter registration in history. You couldn't turn on the TV or radio or surf the Net without hearing or seeing something or someone telling you to register to vote.

Registering to vote wasn't always so easy. Remember?

It's not that hard, you slacker. You can get all of the info you need from the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. Click here. And according to the site, as of today 6,072,277 North Carolinians are registered to vote. It breaks down like this:

-Democratic: 2,758,161
-Republican: 1,967,441
-Libertarian: 1,987
-Unaffiliated: 1,344,688

-You: 1

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People Will Party When It's Free

During this economic crisis, people are looking to cut costs wherever they can. Reports released today show that consumer spending was down in September and analysts expect it to continue to fall the remainder of the year. I wonder if nightlife is being affected. I would think fewer people are going out or spending less money when they are out. I've noticed of late that more clubs and promoters are having free parties (hoping that they can make up for it at the bar, I assume).

Free parties are a welcomed relief because Charlotte promoters are notorious for renting venues and jacking up the price at the door. "Forty dollars to get in here and an hour ago this was just a restaurant?" I know there are a lot of you who are familiar with that sentiment. It doesn't have to be free for me to attend, but I like to avoid being taken advantage of.

KISS Lounge, one of Charlotte's newest and nicest clubs, has free nights sometimes. They recently kicked off Free Friday, the first Friday of every month. Here's a photo from the event last Friday. KISS is a very well-appointed lounge, but it's so crowded in there you can't tell. I'm sure the outdoor patio was equally packed. It's never been that crowded the nights I've been there, and I bet it's because those times there was a cover charge.

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