A Closer Look: This week's "Paid To Party" column

In what I hope to be a weekly feature, we will take a closer look at Tonya's "Paid To Party" column (not the blog) that is published weekly in the Observer and on charlotte.com


Posted on Fri, Sep. 14, 2007

PAID TO PARTY TONYA JAMESON

New piano bar's a sing-for-all

Plaza-Midwood's newest spot, Petra's Piano Bar and Cabaret, will finally open tonight next to the Penguin. Robb and sister Connie Huddleston (along with club namesake Petra Fugger and Chris Hollar) modeled the place after popular piano bars in New York's West Village.
Robb Huddleston said that for tonight's grand opening, performers will sing everything from John Lennon to Patti LaBelle.
The format: The piano player starts at 9 p.m. He sings and takes requests. Patrons can sing along. Servers and bartenders also will perform. (Huddleston said his priority in hiring staff was to make sure they could sing. Even the doormen can carry a tune. "There are some very big guys out there that have very beautiful voices," he said.)
Doors open at 5 p.m. for the after-work crowd. Music starts at 9 p.m.

Jameson has been talking about/promoting this place since March, highlighting the fact the owners will be bringing in "Cabaret-style" entertainment. (read: drag shows and gay performers) There have been other piano bars that have opened during Jameson's tenure, but this is the only one that's ever even managed a mention in Jameson's column and subsequent blog. Go figure.

Lil' E's joint

Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to open Whisky River, a bar and live-music venue in uptown's new EpiCentre development this December, according to a story in the Observer's business section on Sept. 7. It will open in a 10,000-square-foot space across from the main entrance to Charlotte Bobcats Arena.It will have multiple TVs and a mechanical bull "with rides a bit rougher than those in a race car," according to a news release.
"He really wants it to be a cool place he can take his friends and not be a shrine to anyone," said co-owner Chris Epstein, who owned the former Liquid Lounge.

Hmm, this is just a copied and pasted article from the Charlotte Observer's business section. Not only does Jameson get "paid to party", she also apparently gets paid for raiding and regurgitating her coworker's columns to beef up her own. Hmm. Sweet gig.

Charlotte Music Awards

I arrived for the last hour of the inaugural Charlotte Music Awards on Sept. 6.Best part: The Sammies. (The last hour?? Now that's dedication. Way to show your support!)

Loved the energy. (hopelessly vague; like 99% of her work)

Worst part: The rest. Maybe 200 people filtered in and out, and the event seemed disorganized and had terrible sound. Plus, I'm pretty familiar with the local music scene,(Riiight)

and I hadn't heard of many of the acts that were nominated. (this means there were no rappers or any racially-concious African Americans involved)

Hmmm. (exactly. If it wasn't for Affirmative Action, you'd be working at Captain D's.)

AFRO-CUBAN BEATS

Winthrop University music professor Michael Williams and Grammy-nominated San Francisco musician Michael Spiro have become stars playing African-Cuban instruments such as the mbira and the bata. Their CD "BataMbira" has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered." 7:30 p.m. Byrnes Auditorium at Winthrop in Rock Hill. $5-$15.

If you're a minority that plays ethnic music Tonya will always give you great press and plenty of props. If you're white? forget it homies!

Tune in next week!