Stephanie Sinclair Does Charlotte… Sounds vulgar, doesn’t it?

Well, just in case you didn’t get enough of me in my own column, The Sinclair Report, I am this month, filling in for my sis, Sierra LaMae as she takes a much needed rest. I hear she’s in a posh private rehabilitation facility in Belmont… but that’s just rumor. And you know I never spread rumors.

So I’m going to do my best to retrace Miss LaMae’s sizeable footsteps from last month and make sure all you Charlotte area party people don’t miss a thing either.

As last month, I’ll start this month’s pub jumping tour on the west side of Charlotte with a stop at the metro’s newest club, Pulse.  I, Miss Sinclair, recently had the express pleasure of meeting Mr. David Lentz, owner of PULSE. What a gentleman. I was given the grand tour (I only wish they gave us queens a dressing room like David gives his dancers). We sat and chatted for the better part of the afternoon (not to mention that David and I smoke the same brand of cigarettes) and David filled me in on a few unknown facts and cleared up a few misconceptions about Pulse.

Misconception #1. Pulse is just another strip joint. Oh contraire… as I entered the club the first thing that I noticed was how clean everything was, I’m talking Lysol clean. I had no problem walking across the club in my new Christian Louboutin Peep-Toe pumps, The velour upholstered chairs and leather clad sofas were in pristine condition, and everyone was so polite to me.

Misconception #2. Pulse is so far away. Goodness… it’s 7 minutes away from Scorpio… and that’s Vista Cruiser time.

Misconception #3. Pulse is a non-smoking club. Well all I can say is you should have seen my overflowing ashtray after our conversation… ‘nuff said.

Pulse is located at 6711 Freedom Drive and has some of the classiest exotic male dancers you will ever lay eyes on. David has gone the extra mile to find the best of the best in the south.
 
Pulse is open Tuesday – Sunday from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.  Drink specials this month are… Tuesdays…$2 vodka drinks… Wednesday… $3 imports… and Thursday… five for $5 bucket of beer. If you haven’t been there you can go online to their website at www.pulsecharlotte.com or better yet, check it out for yourself… GO, and tell them I sent you.

Our next stop on the Vista Cruiser tour of Charlotte is The Woodshed Lounge.  The Woodshed Lounge is the friendly bar where “whatever” goes and there is always something going on here.  The warmer temperatures outside can only mean one thing…the patio bar has reopened for the season on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Now you can enjoy your cocktails and breathe in some fresh air at the same time. 

The weekly lineup at the Woodshed offers a little something for everyone.  DJ Shawn cranks up the karaoke every Sunday and Tuesday around 9 p.m. and on Sundays, grab you something to eat at the buffet dinner (starts at 6).  Monday is free pool night with all you can drink Bud and Bud Light for $6… Tuesday…all beer $2.50 and top shelf liquor $3.50…Wednesday…pool tournament at 10:30 with $2.50 beer and top shelf liquor $3.50…Thursday is now Boxer Night with $1.75 domestics…and drink specials vary on Friday and Saturdays.  On the first Saturday of the month The Woodshed Lounge throws their monthly Blackout Party.  There isn’t a better way to play than to party in the dark.  On the second Saturday Night of the month, the Carolina Bear Lodge holds their monthly Meet and Greet. On the fourth Saturday of the month, The Woodshed Lounge holds “Fetish Night”. May’s fetish theme is Western. Now, if you’re looking to do a little something for our community, be at the Woodshed the third Sunday of the month.  Barber Wayne is giving haircuts out on the patio from 3:30 – 5:30 for a $5 donation.  Proceeds are being donated to RAIN.

New this month at The Woodshed is Frisky Fridays. If you’re not a member yet, come in and buy your membership for only $5, that’s $3 off the regular price and your second drink is free. Now you don’t have any more excuses for not getting your memberships.

Next stop in Charlotte is a treat for me. I only have to park the Vista Cruiser once for two great bars here in Charlotte.  The Charlotte Eagle and Sidelines Sports Bar.

First, the Eagle.  The Charlotte Eagle has also opened their patio for the season.  The patio is open Wednesday through Saturday nights at the Eagle with Patrick outside as your bartender. Daily specials at the Eagle are: Monday at the Movies with bartender Nick serving $2 Miller Lite and free pool and no cover, not to mention their latest promotion, “Drinking for Prizes”… sounds like fun (?)…Tuesday is Underwear Night with $3 well drinks, dance music videos on the big screen and clothes check available. Wednesday nights offer free dance lessons with Southern Country Charlotte, and Thursdays become GRRSdays with super bear Dustin at the bar offering up free munchies, 50 cent draught, and free pool…Friday Night at The Eagle is “Sweat” with DJ Troy, and Sundays 50 cent draught and the tunes of the 70s and 80s brought to you by DJ Les.  The Charlotte Eagle opens at 3 on Sunday and it is lights out at 11 when the black out begins. Also, don’t forget about The Niki Eves or Roxy C Moorecoxe shows at The Eagle on Sundays,

This weekend at The Eagle, the Tradesmen present, Trademark 22, Roll Call.

For up to the moment events at The Eagle, check out their website at www.charlotteeagle.com or ready my weekly column in Come Out and Play on-line.

Right next door to the Charlotte Eagle is Sidelines Sports Bar & Billiards.  Thirteen televisions should be enough to keep you up-to-the-minute with all of the scores and results of your favorite teams.  They offer nightly drink specials along with free pool, darts, free Wi-Fi, and free Wii.  As a bonus, Sidelines offers bar food every day, everything from pizza to burgers to wings.  They have it!  So if you are going to take in the big game, Sidelines is the place to be!

As we leave southwest Charlotte and head towards downtown, we have to take a break and stop in at Liaisons.  The big pink house is open every day of the week and offers a relaxing atmosphere to sit back and make a few new friends.  Drink specials at Liaisons this month include…Monday…$4 imports and $3.75 well drinks $6 Pinot Noir and free pool… Tuesday…Martinis $6 (no Goose) and $3.25 Mich Ultras and $6 Chardonnays …Wednesday…Red Bull and vodka $5 and $2.25 Miller Lite, and $6 Pinot Gris … Thursday… Bud Light $2.25 and call rum $5 and $6 Vinette … Friday…call vodka $5 and Smirnoff Malt Liquor $3.25 and $ Pinot Noir and Saturday…$3.75 Yuengling and $7 Patrone and $8 Merlot Splits… Sunday… $3.75 Corona and $5 Jaeger $3.25 White Zin and free pool again.

Entertainment at the Pink House this month begins with The Ashleigh Jordan Show the first Wednesday night of the month. That would be the 7th, right Kim?  Showtime is at 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays is American Idol night at Liaisons.  What better place than the video bar to watch as the Idol judges break it all down to see who will be the next American Idol?  DJ Atomix turns up the sound at Liaisons the first and third Friday of the month and DJ Levi Brown cranks it up on the second and fourth Friday.

Well, Sierra did it last month and I’ll do it again this month and stop in over at Hartigan’s Irish Pub. Upstairs you will find some of the best food you’ll ever eat and you can dance the night away down in the basement.  This month, Hartigan’s is serving lunch only on Mondays. Tuesdays…all beers are $2…Wednesdays…$1.75 Bud Light with .35 wings…Thirsty Thursdays include Coronas for just $2.50…Fridays…half price appetizers from 4 till 7 and $2.50 Coors Light bottles.  The basement opens at 11 p.m. on Friday nights with the tunes of a live DJ.   Don’t forget, Hartigan’s is serving up some karaoke the second and last Thursday and the third Friday of the month with DJ Little Betty.

Come shake your booty at Velocity.  The main dance floor is open every Saturday night and the staff and management of Velocity invite you to come dance the night away, party, or just kick back and enjoy yourself  “where the good vibes flow freely and the party doesn’t stop!”  Velocity has a huge dance floor, two complete bars where the bartenders know how to keep things moving, and an outdoor patio where you can take a break and still enjoy the beat of the music.  It’s a party palace like nothing you’ll find anywhere else.

Speaking of parties, don’t miss out on their other bar, Crave, located just inside Velocity.  They kick off their weekends on Thursdays with ladies night at Crave.  That’s when they host a drag king show with the area’s best male impersonators.  Friday nights are a blast with Sabrina Love’s Suicide Drag show, which kicks off her live talk show, Queer View.  Saturday night is cabaret style when Sabrina and her co-host, Sierra Santana, share the spotlight with a 10:30 show along with a midnight show.

Still dancing?  Move on over to Scorpio.  Wednesday night is for Scorpio with their Beer Bust Wednesday.  All the beer you can drink for one cover charge.  At 11:30 you will be entertained by the performances of the “south’s leading ladies.”  Don’t forget, you can show off your production in drag the last Wednesday of the month at the Scorpio Talent Search.  Winning prize that night is $100.  On Sundays Scorpio has dance party night with 3 to 4 bars where you can grab a drink and then hit the dance floor.  Dance the night away while the DJ blasts today’s hottest music.  At 11:30, take a break and watch The Show on the main stage.  Come early and stay late is the Scorpio motto on Sundays.  You’re sure to have a good time.

Ok, let’s drive across town to the Plaza/Midwood District.  The first stop along the way is Petra’s Piano Bar is located at 1919 Commonwealth Drive. Petra’s is bringing something new to the nightlife scene in Charlotte as a piano bar.  Throughout the night, bartenders and servers sing sets to live piano music.  Anything from 60’s to Broadway to contemporary music can be found at Petra’s Piano Bar.  Patrons may also make special requests with the piano player.  Petra’s Piano Bar is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. till 2 a.m.  Drink specials are offered nightly on weekends.

Just up the street it is “All Male – All the time” at Chasers on Plaza.  Chasers provides an array of male dancers throughout the week.  Drink specials at Chasers this month are… Monday… $2 Natural Ice… Tuesday…$3 tequila and Corona… Wednesday… $1.50 vodka and $2 Miller…Thursday…$3 Jaeger and Icehouse with the Keisha Wellington Show… Friday…$3 Heinekens and $4 call bourbon…Saturday…$3 Corona and $4 vodka with the Boom Boom and Brandy Show at 8.

Be sure you don’t miss that Thursday night show at Chasers.  It starts at 11:30 and features Keisha Wellington and the boys.  And Boom Boom and Brandy on Sundays with a different line-up of guests each week at 8pm. DJ Ghost rocks the house all night Thursday after the show.  And they also throw a good time pool tournament every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10:30 sharp!

Hopping back in the car and driving just a mile or so down the road we find that friendly little neighborhood bar Central Station.  Central, known as the gathering place, is a fantastic place to kickback and make new friends.  AOL rates Central Station as having the best drinks in Charlotte.  (I’m sure they are talking about the strongest.)  This bar is about as unpretentious as you will find with a casual, laid back atmosphere and friendly bartenders. 

On special this month at Central Station… Monday…$1.25 Bud and Bud Light… Tuesday… $1.25 Bud and Bud Light… Wednesday… $2 domestics… Thursday… $1.25 Budweiser… Friday… $2 Coors Light… Saturday… $2 imports… Sunday… $2.25 domestics and house drinks… and all week long… $2 attitude shots.
 
Well, that wraps up the Cruiser crawl of Charlotte.  Before I head back to Asheville, I’ve just got to stop over in Gastonia at Night Owls.  Night Owls of Gastonia is known as North Carolina’s most entertaining show bar. 

Every week Night Owls kicks things off on Wednesday evening with a pool tournament at 10 p.m. and $4 pitchers of beer.  There is a $25 bar tab for the winner of the pool tournament.  Thursday nights bring on the drag in Gastonia.  The first Thursday of every month is Night Owls talent search contest hosted by none other than Miss Night Owls herself, Needa Samore.  This year’s contest is a competition for both kings and queens.  Winners each month will go on to compete for the title of Night Owls’ Entertainer of the Year in September. 

All other Thursdays in the month are open mic night so bring out your best talent and put it on the stage at Night Owls.  Weekends are kicked off every Friday night with the help of the Night Owls house cast.  Immediately after the show, Mixmaster Jazzy Blade opens up Gastonia’s largest dance floor where you can dance till 2:30 a.m. The last Friday of every month has been marked for the big black out party at Night Owls.  And what a party that is with Go-go dancers, drag queens, and a whole lot of fun in the dark.  You have to be there to see what you’ve been missing.  Night Owls holds nothing back on Saturday night when the Legendary Miss Kasey King presents an awesome showcase that features entertainers from all over the country.  This month’s showcase entertainers include Anastasia Paige on May 3rd, Deception on May 9th and 10th, Maya Montana on May 17th and the King, Romance St. James on the 31st.

A few special events at Night Owls of Gastonia include; Friday May 2 - Benefit show for Miss Cierra Nichole.  Cierra is the alternate for Miss NC USofA and this show is to help her get to Dallas, TX for the Miss Gay USofA Pageant.

Miss Taurus Pageant...May 18.

2nd annual  Miss Gastonia Pageant. May 23 - May 24 - with a prize package of 1,000 dollars to go to the winner. Categories are Interview, creative sports wear, evening gown, and talent. Anyone interested can register online at nightowlsofgastonia.com and if you register before May 22 the entry fee is $50.00. On the day of the pageant the entry fee will be $75.00. Registration is at 6:00 at the bar Interview begins at 8:00 and the pageant begins at 10:00. For more information you can call Theresa at 704-740-6115.

Lastly, before we leave Night Owls, There is no cover charge on Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday. On Wed. $2.00 on all domestic beer. Thursday $2.00 Natural Ice beer. On Friday  Long Island Ice Teas for $3.50. On Sat Blue Motorcycles for $3.50. On Sunday it’s  Corona beer for $3.00.

New summer hours are Wednesday thru Saturday 7:00pm until 2:30pm. Sunday 8:00pm until 2:00pm.

Check out Night Owls May Madness. On Friday nights members get in free and guest pay $3.00 for the whole month of May. Underage $15.00.

South of Charlotte in Rock Hill is where you will find a rocking dance club called the Hideaway.  Yes, I know I said I was headed back to Asheville, but…The Hideaway is located at 405 Baskin Road.  Properly named, the Hideaway offers entertainment every Thursday through Saturday with drink specials each night.  Thursday night is free pool night for all of you sharks who want to give a shot at some billiards.  On Friday, karaoke is the name of the game along with dancing on one of Rock Hill’s best dance floors.  Make sure you hit the Hideaway on Saturday night to see Makaylah Dushot’s Cabaret show.  Special entertainers appear on the Hideaway stage throughout the month.

For those of you in the Triad, listen up.  There are three fabulous clubs in the greater Piedmont Triad Area that you don’t want to miss out on.  We are going to start off at Warehouse 29.

Warehouse 29 is the party palace of Greensboro.  If you have never been to W29 now is the time to hit the road and go.  W29 features a large dance floor where you can dance the night away as DJ Kimo and DJ Jeff Richards deliver a selection of high-energy dance hits.  Be sure not to miss the show when the dance floor becomes the main stage every Sunday night for one of the Triad’s best drag shows.  Warehouse 29 rounds up their team of Sex Kittens for a show the third Saturday of every month. 

There are always plenty of pageants to keep you busy at W29.  For more pageant details consult the W29 website at www.w29.com.

Now if you want something a little more laid back in the Triad then I would recommend The Q Lounge.  The Q, Greensboro’s alternative gay bar, is located at 708 West Market Street.  Drink specials at The Q Lounge this month are…Mondays…$3 kamakazees/$2.50 Sam Adams…Tuesdays…$4 blue motorcyles/$3.50 pitchers of Busch Lite…Wednesdays…Karaoke Night…$4 tequila cosmos/$2 Mill chill…Thursdays…$3 Cuervos/$2 Natural Light…Friday…$4 Absolut/$2 Coors…Saturdays…$3 house highballs/$2 Ultra Limes...and Sundays…$4 house martinis/$2.50 New Castle.  Make it a point to drop in at The Q Lounge and relax with a cocktail this month.

Just up the road in Winston-Salem is Club Odyssey.  Every Wednesday you can expect some outrageous drink special at the bar and hit the dance floor while DJ Bill spins the latest hits.  Thursday is pool tournament night and The Odyssey brings you the music of DJ Bill on the first and third Thursday along with DJ Atomix on the second, fourth, and fifth.  Be sure to join in on the second Thursday when Jasmine Perry hosts The Odyssey’s talent search.  Fridays feature Cass Westbrook’s Cabaret show.  On Saturday, you can dance the night away on both sides of the bar at The Odyssey’s Party Night.  If you looking for some Sunday entertainment, The Odyssey has free pool and $3.75 well drinks all night long.

OK, I hope I’ve covered everything for Charlotte, Gastonia, Rock Hill and the Triad. If you don’t have any fun this month, it’s not my fault. And If I’ve missed anything, please let me know at misssinclair1545@gmail.com and I’ll be sure to include it in my weekly email newsletter. What, you don’t get my weekly email newsletter, will log on to www.outinasheville.com and subscribe. You’ll never be in the dark, after dark again.

Till next month,

Stephanie Sinclair