Jenna Saad

It is difficult to find a downtown bar where the customer can feel comfortably dressing up or down no matter the night of the week. Friends can meet at the bar and throw back a few and leave, or go there to visit their favorite bartenders and end up talking about nothing for hours. This dream of a bar that you as a reader/drinker are waiting to have revealed has been under your nose, tucked away in Moore Square—Slim’s Downtown.

Slim’s Downtown is located at 227 South Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh. The customer walks into the ideal dive bar: indie rock music, smoky (depending on the amount of people occupying the bar), bartenders wearing their retro Rolling Stones T-shirts that are actually from 1966, and usually a band is setting up or already playing. This is a genuine dive bar, and the bartenders are as real about the drinks they make as the bands they are in.

Slim’s is a 21 and up only bar, newly remodeled, open until 2am. It has Internet jukebox and live music on select nights which has a cover charge associated with it. There is a second story with a pool table, video games, pinball and booth seating. There is free parking in the Moore Square deck next door to it.

For more information about Slim’s Downtown and to find out their show schedule go to their myspace page at www.myspace.com/slimsdowntownraleigh.

There is a new Mexican Restaurant in Raleigh, catering specifically to those ferocious wolfpackers.  Cueva De Lobos, or for those of you who didn’t make it past Spanish 101, “cave of the wolves”, is not just any ordinary Mexican Restaurant. 

The restaurant boasts the most delicious Traditional Mexican items as well as several domestic favorites. Their lunch menu features 14 different items for $5.95 or less (perfect for penny-pinching college students!) If you aren’t hungry, then take advantage of their untouchable drink specials in the upstairs bar area.  

This isn’t your average Mexican fare, Cueva de Lobos asks its potential customers to come experience why their customers agree that “all other Mexican Restaurants suck!”  Now that’s some spicy marketing – Que Caliente!

Cueva De Lobos
3227 Avent Ferry Rd
Raleigh , NC 27606
(919) 854-9600

There are tons of new places “coming soon” to the Triangle area and we’re here to keep you in the loop. Here is the latest word on the street…

As many of you may already know, the owner’s of Zely & Ritz in Raleigh are opening a new restaurant this winter in Durham.  It will be called the Eno Restaurant and Market and the food will be completely farm focused. 

Replacing The Office is Raleigh’s newest hotspot: Tantra.  According to the buzz being built on Twitter, there will be chandeliers, lava top bars, go go dancers, waterfalls, fire pits, and jelly fish tanks. 

And the Carolina Ale House is bulding a rooftop bar on Glenwood Avenue, we can’t wait for this one.  For more info, visit any of the popular entertainment guides in the area!

The burgers are of course the main draw to this “joint” as the business likes to refer itself to.  The Classic Hall of Fame Burger is the talk of the town.  It’s a massive one-pound Angus beef patty cooked up exactly the way you want it with all the toppings.  If you can eat the whole burger, MoJoe’s will take your picture, put it on their wall, and call you “Daddy!”  It takes a little longer to cook this monster, so make sure to bring some reading material while you wait.  You can upsize any favorite MoJoe’s burger by paying and additional $4.

The late night appeal of this grill is another reason MoJoe’s has thrived over 10 years in Raleigh.  So if you are ever in the mood for great burgers of any type, this grill is open “Lunch, Dinner, and Late-Nite.”

Currently, MoJoe’s does not have a great ZSpotCard offer active.

MoJoe’s Rules:

1: Seat yourself even outside.
2: Help yourself to drink refills or we’ll get’m for you, either way.
3: Remember burgers don’t automatically come w/anything unless it says so on the menu.
4: Remember your staff’s the coolest in town.
5: Dollar burgers after 10pm every night…no take out.
6: Floats are a fabulous alternative to milkshakes. So is beer.

MoJoe’s Burger Joint
620 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC
919-832-6799

Nestled in the heart of Glenwood South is a new bar and lounge unlike anything Raleigh has seen yet.  Boasting an open patio and a luxurious inner bar and dance floor, Noir Bar & Lounge offers a sexy Miami vibe, with a mix of European sophistication, and a unique touch of unpretentious glamour.  You’ll want to keep your eye on this place, as it soon will define “hip and sexy” in the Triangle.  Their innovative potions and varied music will certainly attract a smart and diverse clientele, an exciting mingling crowd.

When you enter Noir, you almost feel you are part of a small elite that has discovered a secret and exclusive gem hidden in plain sight of the Glenwood South bar district.  The décor inside is breathtakingly simple, yet intense and mysterious, with glittering chandeliers and candles ablaze.  Dark, rich, and lush colors accent the exposed brick and invitingly plush sofas and chairs, enhancing the air of romance and passion you feel as soon as you enter.  Sexy ethereal house beats play in the background early in the evening and progress into high energy house mixes as the night matures.  In addition to house music Noir caters to dance, hip hop, funk and rock.  Enticed yet?

The owner of Noir brings his experience from South Beach, and hopes to give Raleigh a sexy and mysterious bar with an artistic edge.  The general manager is also an experienced DJ, and his contribution will be in serving up some of the best electronica available.  Sunday nights will showcase his true talents, bringing in great DJs and guiding them as they energize the night.

A few details:  Noir is open Tuesday through Sunday nights.  The patio opens at 8PM, which allows for some great people watching as the night heats up.  There is no cover charge, except during special events, but don’t think that means any slob gets entry.  This place is sexy, and you’ll want to fit in.  The dress code is smart casual, meaning anything from designer t-shirts and jeans to your best club wear is allowed. 

Finally, in case you are curious about the name, the owners chose it out of their love for film noir.  Film noir literally means “black film” in French and features themes with an overall dark and shadowy outlook, filmed in black and white.  Most noir stories feature main characters who find themselves embroiled in hopeless situations, fighting against a force that threatens to overtake them. That force is usually a man’s inability to resist the temptation of a beautiful, mysterious, sometimes cruel, and overwhelmingly sensual woman — the femme fatale.   Soon the inner bar will showcase these films, lending an intriguing air to an already intense atmosphere.

If you’re a music lover, if you’re a film lover, if you’re a cocktail lover…honestly, if you’re a lover period, be prepared to fall for Noir.

Noir is located at 425 Glenwood Avenue, between Tucker and North Streets, in Raleigh.

Carolina Ale House is the Exclusive Host of the Canes Cool Bar Tours Once Again

Carolina Ale House and the Carolina Hurricanes Team up for Another Great Season of Hockey

Raleigh, NC – When the Canes are on the road during the 2009-2010 season, Caniac fans will once again gather at Carolina Ale House for the Canes Cool Bars Tour.  All Carolina Ale House locations will play host to games, contests, prizes, raffles and more. The Canes’ mascot, Stormy, will be in the house, as well as Ron the Ref & members of the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad.
 
The 2009-2010 Cool Bar Tour schedule is:

 Wed., Oct. 21^st, 7P, Canes vs. NYI @ Cary (2240 Walnut St. Cary)

Wed., Nov. 4^th, 7:30P, Canes vs. FLA @ Brier Creek (7981 Skyland Ridge Pkwy. Raleigh)

Wed., Dec. 9^th, 7P, Canes vs. NJ @ Wake Forest (11685 Northpark Dr. Wake Forest)

Fri., Dec. 18^th, 7:30P, Canes vs. FLA @ North Raleigh (4512 Falls of Neuse Rd. Raleigh)

Thur., Jan. 14^th, 7:30P, Canes vs. DET @ Brier Creek (7981 Skyland Ridge Pkwy. Raleigh)

Sat., Jan. 23^rd, 1P, Canes vs. PHI @ Wilmington (317-C College Rd. Wilmington)

Sat., Feb. 6^th, 7P, Canes vs. NYI @ Durham (3911 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham)

Wed., Mar. 10^th, 7P, Canes vs. WSH @ Cary (2240 Walnut St. Cary)

Wed., Mar. 31^st, 7P, Canes vs. MTL @ Wake Forest (11685 Northpark Dr. Wake Forest)

Sat., Apr. 10, 1P, Canes vs. BOS @ Raleigh (512 Creekside Dr. Raleigh)

Carolina Ale House has great daily food and drink specials, as well as separate smoking and non-smoking sections (with air purifiers) so the whole family can come out and cheer the Canes on to victory.

Fans that attend five of the 10 Cool Bar events will be entered to win a unique hockey stick chair autographed by the Carolina Hurricanes at the end of the season. (See EXAMPLE of the chair attached.  This is not the actual chair.)  Some restrictions will apply.  Cool Bars schedules are available at any Carolina Ale House and at the RBC Center.

 Carolina Ale House (www.CarolinaAleHouse.com), celebrating 10 years of business in 2009, boasts eleven locations (six locations in the Triangle, a location in Terminal 2 of RDU International Airport, two locations South Carolina and two in South Florida.)  Additional locations are in the works for 2009 (Fayetteville & Wilmington, NC) and two more confirmed for 2010 (Greenville, SC and a rooftop concept in downtown Raleigh.)  LM Restaurants is the parent company of Carolina Ale House and several other award-winning restaurants on the East coast (www.lmrest.com). 

Raleigh, NC – Mike Lombardo (Lucky B’s) and Kurt Lam have announced a new venue that brings New York-Style pizza, a complementary lunch and dinner menu, and a casual, yet upscale full bar to the popular Downtown Raleigh district known as Glenwood South.

The eatery – opening this summer – will feature not only pizza by the slice, but also appetizers, salads, calzones, and other casual-fare menu items. An emphasis on fresh ingredients and detailed attention to service and experience is what owners Lombardo and Lam are paying careful attention to, ensuring customers a dining and bar experience that will warrant many returned visits.

“I’ve been in the bar and nightlife business for 12 years now here on Glenwood South and I’ve always felt like a New York-Style pizza restaurant would be successful, and I still do”, says Lombardo. “This is something that I know this market will appreciate – not only from a nightlife-perspective, but as a lunch, dinner, and late-night establishment catering to customers of all types. We want families to be just as welcome and comfortable here as the customers who will be in for a late-night slice.”

Aside from an appealing lunch and dinner menu, Sauced Pizza will also feature several high-definition flat screen televisions and an open layout, encouraging diners and drinkers alike to enjoy the venue for their favorite sporting events or as a stopping point for any “night out on Glenwood”. The recipe for music at Sauced will include rock ‘n’ roll favorites from U2, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Dave Matthews Band, and more.

“Our goal is to have many different people come in for many different reasons”, says Lam. “That’s why we’re going to serve not only a fantastic slice of New York-style pizza, but also feature dessert selections from the well-known Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery, as well as a robust wine menu and beer selection.”

And while last call for alcohol may come at 1:30am, Lombardo and Lam are excited to offer fresh slices well past then for the hungry late-night crowd. “Serving good, fresh food well past last call is something we know is really going to set us apart”, notes Lam.

Sauced Pizza has already begun the process of making 410 Glenwood home. Lombardo and Lam are encouraging those interested to follow along with the progress online at menu choices will be shared before the restaurant and bar’s grand opening later this summer. Grand opening staff is now being recruited by formal application available on the website. Those interested in being placed on the guest list for the grand opening can sign up online as well.

For more information, contact Sauced Pizza by email at available on the restaurant’s website at Info@SaucedPizza.com.   General information is also available on the restaurant’s website at http://www.SaucedPizza.com.

About Sauced Pizza:
Sauced Pizza is a new addition to the Glenwood South restaurant and bar line-up, featuring New York-style pizza, full bar, and a casual atmosphere.

From Kim Ruskan – Organizer

It took a while but our photo gallery is up for 2009 and hope you will enjoy seeing the pictures as it tells the full story of our journey over 5 years. Look for pictures of you in the galleries. Thank you ZSpotlight.com and all for being part of the unique adverture to serve many communities and hope you fully realize how you all made many people happy with your efforts, talents, support, etc. Pictures prove it. We are open to ideas and feed back to improve to make TOD 2010 the best thus far even with the economic challenges. Thank you for your support! Check it out.

You don’t need to be a celebrity to be photographed by Taste of Durham Paparazzi. Turn the pages of five progressive years of creating a welcoming and fun escape to the good life during burdensome and challenging economic times. There are various galleries of pictures at the Taste of Durham 2009 website that convey the essence of the mission of The Community Chest, Inc. (TCC): Creating positive platforms in hopes to stimulate proactive efforts to invigorate a good vibe, bring people together, nurture respect for diverse cultures, and serve many communities in various ways with a focus on arts and cultural experiences: Happiness triggered by the activities of the good life. Sit back and relive the festival through the pictures and see if they can give a glimpse and reminder of happiness, contentment, a sense of peace and possibly bliss.

Check to see if there are pictures of you, friends and family who are part of our living and growing story. If not, we hope to see you at the next festival. Flip through the fun and spontaneous pictures of Mayor Bill Bell, professional dancers showing their dance moves, and vast community members enjoying the ambiance, choice food sampling from restaurants and caterers, an array of eclectic bands and musicians, international wine and beer tasting, arts and cultural interactive activities, and the “Too Much Fun Zone” activities.

Pictures speak a thousand words and we hope they convey the story and our journey to grow a vision. The Community Chest, Inc. produces festivals and projects with old-fashioned ideals of supporting community in many ways. Beyond the festivities we hope you were inspired to welcome change, embrace cultural diversity, gain awareness of community needs, and participate in creating solutions to enrich lives and we also hope you had a BLAST!   TCC is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that supports community enrichments with innovative and distinctive project-based initiatives which produces the Taste of Durham Festival designed to offer a buffet for the senses called “Festivals within a Festival.”   It is inspired by the diversity of Durham County and serves many communities with deliberate, inclusive, and varied programming.

For more details and information for TOD 2010 call: Kim Ruskan (919) 401-2926 The Community Chest, Inc. www.tasteofdurham.org ruskan@earthlink.net

Now Open!

Tantra is now open to the Triangle, introducing a fresh exciting nightclub combined with an upscale ultra lounge.  Located in the property formally The Office Nightclub, Tantra has been completely reborn and remodeled as a high end nightlife venue that combines a light food menu with an extensive list of cocktails.  On one side is a relaxed upscale lounge and on the other is a large dance venue open from after work until late night every week and weekend.  Music will vary from 80’s and 90’s dance music to the most popular current top 40 hits.

Update from Tantra Raleigh:
Welcome to TANTRA…The premiere upscale nightclub and Ultra lounge that will set a new standard in Raleigh nightlife.  This Friday and Saturday Experience the opening of TANTRA….. Featuring Magnificent Waterfalls, Crystal Chandeliers, Glass Fire pits and a custom Jelly Fish aquarium. Indulge yourself in one of our VIP rooms surrounded by beautiful Glass walls with your own Hostess. TANTRA is located at 310 S.West Street at the corner of West and Martin. Ladies 21, Gentlemen 25 and Up.