november 2012 "entertainment & nightlife guide"

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Simply registering a vote for your favorite will enter you for a chance to win one of the many great prizes. Plus, you’ll be able to say you contributed to the most com-prehensive exclusive “Best Of The City” contest to see what makes Charlotte tick.

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I hope everyone is having a great November! It’s hard to believe it’s almost Thanksgiving then right around the corner is Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

This month’s issue our Entertainment & Night-life Guide. It’s packed full of great articles on music, nightlife, cocktails, and more…

I would like to give a couple shout outs as well, the first is a good friend of mine, Scott Jermyn. He is in the process of launching a website in Charlotte called ShomoLive.com. It’s a web-site where you as a music lover are able to

search where your favorite local, national or international band might be playing. It’s also great for fans because it’ll allow them to communicate with their favorite artists, venues, and other fans, as well as search for new favorites. They are planning a nationwide expansion is 2013.

The other shout out goes to Jody who owned The Breakfast Club. After their ten years their lease was up, so he decided to move to a new spot and create a new concept. Its called Roxbury. It is a Retro 80s & 90s theme nightclub. They are located at 116 W. 5th Street. Check them out at Rox-buryNightClub.com .

I would also offer my prayers to my favorite photography team, Jim Merrill and his lovely wife Mari. They run JMT Photography, and they have been shooting covers and photography spreads for Elevate Lifestyle for the last three plus years. Mari was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. You can read all about her discovery and how she has handled the “C” word.

Happy Thanksgiving, Steve Caldwell

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Editor: Edy Hinson

Creative Director: Greg Smith

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Graphic Designer: Alex Ramsey

Cover Shot Photography: Photography: Jim Merrill, Jim Merrill Photography | JMTFoto.com

Model: Emily Armstrong | Makeup and Hair: Emily PaigeSunglasses: Rock God Eyewear

Advertising, Sponsorship, Website Sales,and General Advertising Sales Information

Carla Shober | Steve Caldwell

Contributing EditorsCulture Editor: Louise Albano-Hurley | Dining Editor: Nikki Wilson

Entertainment Editor: Denise Gregory | Fashion Editor: Debra KennedyFitness Editor: Dr. Ryan Shum | Nightlife Editor: Sean Flynn

Contributing WritersAlison Penland | Anna Starnes | Brandon Russel | Claire Cilip | Corinna Kahn | Chelsea Flower

Dupp & Swat | Franchesca Wicker | Jay Johnson | Jeremy Bonham | KayAuna Jas Dodd Lauren Prussing | Lisa Lemaster | Monique Douglas | Sarah Hudson | Stanley Owings | TekaRose

Contributing Photographers: Eun Park | Jeaumane McIntosh | Lazyday.com

Justin Smith | S Ali Photos, SAliPhotos.comWing Photography, WingPhotography.com

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Intern:Scott Dudzinski

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22 Charlotte is getting FitByePharr 28 the Best Worst thing 32 take What you Want 38 MiC CheCk QC: young MaCk 42 shoMolive

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ContentsNovember 2012

48 hunters’ hands on Fire 52 the legaCy CoMMittee 58 Party in the alley’s 64 the hottest reCord laBel around 70 neW Flavors oF Fall

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fitness

Charlotte is getting FitByePharr…For years, if not decades, the country has been facing an “obesity epi-demic” in which a surging rise in poor weight management has been noticeable throughout the nation and now the world. Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with the United States possessing the highest rates of obesity in the developed world. Nutri-tion management and exercise are the two most relevant interventions in the management of obesity. No less did this get noticed than on our own door step, by Charlotte’s own Jamar Pharr and John Bye, found-ers and co-owners of FitByePharr.

As college friends at Charlotte’s own Johnson and Wales University, Jamar and John both identified with prior experiences of weight issues in their younger years and successfully made strides toward their fit-ness goals through commitment to exercise and healthy eating. Their personal journeys would eventually culminate in a reunion of two col-lege buddies and the birth of FitByePharr in 2011. Now business col-leagues and founders of Charlotte’s newest and fastest growing train-ing studio, they hope to change the game on the local fitness scene.

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Approaching their one year anniversary since opening, FitByePh-arr’s passion on Charlotte’s fitness and personal training scene is energized by the two young owners’ drive for helping others in their exercise and health goals. An open concept facility, their gym features a focus on personalized/small group training and chal-lenging functional exercise. The equipment is in immaculate con-dition, including kettle bells, free weights, TRX suspension training and mats, among other useful supplies. They stress that guidance and proper execution on form are key, while maintaining a fun and energetic approach. Clients begin with the facility’s “Polar Body Age” health and fitness assessment equipment. This technology allows for testing markers of health and fitness status including body fat composition, body measurements, upper and lower body strength, core performance, flexibility, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and aerobic capacity, stress levels and nutritional hab-its. From there, keeping their clients focused on the longer term goals and benefits are fundamental, both founders agree. Their gym’s philosophy predicates on a commitment to “inspiring, moti-vating and changing the lives of Charlotte residents.”

FitByePharr focuses also on corporate wellness programs, kid/youth fitness, and nutrition consultation. Corporate wellness pro-grams can include fitness consultations, exercise designs and educational promotion to achieve a healthier, more productive work group. From their own personal stories, Bye and Pharr feel strongly about their drive to tackle the disturbingly fast spread of childhood obesity. Both are open to admit that their current fitness levels were not always what they are today, and they had to work hard over time to avoid being chronically overweight, and to reach their fitness goals. This is the message they continue to pass on to local community youth. The pair focuses on community out-reach events and offers group/kid fitness seminars and classes. Though a seemingly challenging task, the duo is relentless in en-suring that local Charlotte youth realize that exercise and healthy nutrition are a lifestyle choice, not simply a chore or repetitive task. Pharr and Bye focus on the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s

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Move! campaign. The Let’s Move! initiative focuses on enhancing active lifestyles and healthy eating through community involve-ment, including but not limited to schools, parents, and healthcare providers. Bye and Pharr recognize exercise’s impact on con-centration, school performance, but perhaps most importantly, on self-esteem and confidence.

The gym has also teamed up with TNT Nutrition company (Total Nutrition Technology), in recognition of the major role that nutrition plays in achieving fitness/wellness goals. TNT helps FitByePharr to provide a complete nutritional assessment and to develop cli-ent-specific dietary plans and education. The goals of TNT nutri-tion can include weight loss, health management and sports per-formance. All products associated with FitByePharr are nutrient rich with organic, whole food coming from natural sources.

Jamar Pharr and John Bye remarked, “Some of our goals to reach by the end of the year are to continue to grow our brand and client base. We want to continue to create and offer new and exciting

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programs so that we can stay competitive and give clients more options. Our goal is to make fitness as fun and exciting as pos-sible so that our potential clients will stay on the path of a healthy lifestyle and encourage others to make the change as well. We want to put Charlotte on the map to be the most FIT city, and not known for only banking!”

Fitness Editor, Ryan Shum

Jamar Pharr and John Bye are college buddies from Charlotte’s own Johnson and Wales University. Although Bye was originally from Chicago and Pharr briefly relocated to sunny Miami to work with the Miami Heat and Dolphins, both reunited in the Queen City to start FitByePharr. John Bye is a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise and will soon also become a Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach. Jamar Pharr is a certified personal trainer through the WITS Cer-tified Personal Training Program and the National Personal Train-ing Institute. FitByePharr is easily located in Charlotte at 201 W. Morehead St – Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28202, 704-375-0220. Jamar and John can be reached at their gym through [email protected] as well.

About the author:Dr. Ryan Shum is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and Doctor of Chiropractic. He has been a consultant to a variety of athletes from the high school to college to profes-sional levels. His past research focus has included exercise sci-ence/kinesiology with a focus on muscle physiology and metabo-lism with a degree in Kinesiology. He is Chairman of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association’s Sports Council and Research Committee and has been consulted by the NHL’s Florida Pan-thers. He can be reached at [email protected]

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The BestWorst Thing

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It’s nothing. I’m sure it’s just a benign cyst. I’ve had lumps in my breast before and they were always fine. I was wrong. When they want to do a core biopsy the same day as your mammogram you start to worry. The test results take a few days and it’s agony. What if? What if I have cancer? What if it’s really bad? Am I going to die? I was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 5, 2012.

After an especially difficult week Jim asked me if I wanted to write an article about my breast cancer for Elevate Lifestyle magazine. I said yes not knowing what I wanted to say or what to really tell other women. There’s so much to know. There’s a blur of doctor appointments and tests. They needed to stage the cancer and figure out the best treatment. They needed to see if it had spread or was still contained. I needed to wrap my head around what was happening - I went in thinking it was just a cyst – now what? What do I do next?

The Presbyterian Cancer Center has provided great guidance. I am fortunate to have a “Nurse Navigator” who has helped me make sense of the process and has been a good guide along this very interesting adventure. Nurse navigators are nurses assigned to a cancer patient after their diagnosis. My Nurse navigator has made a world of difference for me and has been a valuable resource and source of support.

Self-Exam and Mammogram – not words you should be afraid of when it comes to breast cancer. I found my lump through a self-exam. I have a fast growing cancer and if I had waited until my mammogram the lump would have been much bigger and my diagnoses would have been different. Jim and I made our treatment decisions quickly. We got a second opinion. I had surgery to check my lymph nodes and a port put in my chest for chemotherapy 2 weeks after diagnoses. Chemo-

The BestWorst Thing

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therapy started the next week. I refer to this summer as my “chemo adventure”. Not the adventure I was looking for this year, but the one that was chosen for me.

While sitting in the chemo treatment room what I’ve noticed is that breast cancer is not just a disease of older woman. Most of my “chemo buddies” are under 45. These women either had the breast cancer gene or had found the lump themselves and gotten it checked out. What this tells me is that younger women need to be more diligent in doing self-exams and knowing their family history. It’s scary I know. But it’s a lot less scary when you catch it early and get treatment.

I have told many people that being diagnosed with breast cancer is the best worst thing that has ever happened to me. I have certainly learned a lot about myself. I’ve been blessed with wonderful support and a husband who has held on to me tightly and has made sure I am taken care of at all times. I am grateful for excellent doctors, a great family and good friends. There have been lots of hurdles to overcome during treatment. I came across a quote that pretty much sums things up for me.

“The difference between fear and excitement is your attitude about it.”

I’m a fighter and I know I am going to come through this and be healthy again. My 8th round of chemo is October 3rd. From there we move on to surgery and then radiation. So there’s still a long road ahead for me. Do me a HUGE favor – do a self-exam after you read this. Encourage your friends to do the same. Don’t be afraid – it’s the best thing you can do for yourself.

Mari Merrill is the wife of photographer Jim Merrill and an integral part of JMT Photography.

“Take What You Want, But Eat What You Take”That was the strict dining code imposed (all three squares), back in the day at Camp Deerwoode, in Brevard, North Carolina; and, metaphori-cally, it applies to this burgeoning MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) craze.

Should you sit down to eat, you’ll get your fill. How much you swallow? That’s the question. It effectively started for Kenny Letts’ Fight Lab outfit one August night in a remote gym in Gastonia. A “Smoker” in the “Gashouse.” You can’t make that up.

Kenny, Scott Thompson and Rip Farris, who had been training in Jiu Jitsu with Anthony Quartapella, at Athletic Club Southend, decided they’d ply their wares in the ‘Squared Circle’ – a ring in common terms, but among old Mid-Atlantic Wrestling guard, a ‘Squared Circle.’ A cage would soon follow in their narrative, but that first night…just a plain ole boxing ring.

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All three comported themselves respectably (if by only entering the ring); but alas, this is a young man’s game. And the wiles of a cagey old fighter most often give way to the vitality of youth. These three 40-somethings fought boys half their age.Rip, a track athlete at Chapel Hill, got caught early in a guillotine choke. Rip was not an imposing figure…least not before he climbed into that ring.

Kenny, whom I later nicknamed ‘The Pitboss,’ was winning his fight and almost executed a couple of triangle chokes, oma platas, and sweet Jiu Jitsu sweeps, before he slipped up, and got knocked out. Cold.

Scott forsook all his Jiu Jitsu training for the glory of the stand-up game (boxing, veritably). He, too, was winning, until a slight miscue. And, the young man knocked out the old(er) scrapper, leaving a nasty little mouse under his left eye.In the locker room after Scott’s bout, my 10-year-old son, Evan, and I were gathered around as Scott dressed his eye a bit.

“Does Denny know you’re here tonight, Mr. Thompson?” A curious 10-year-old inquired of Scott’s son, who is about the same age.

“He’s getting ready to find out, uh, and so is my wife!”Then, Scott blew his nose and innards ballooned into the once-small mouse in his face, like a blowfish. Whoa! Dude!Take what you want…but you gotta eat it now. That’s the rule.And, these three did, especially the extra helping served by their brides, none of which had prior knowledge of ‘such courage!’

At the ‘table,’ too, that evening, Phil Quatrale and Matt Malone sat, feasting on the thrill of the fight. These five men, along with Jimmy Flowers, would soon after form Fight Lab Promotions, LLC under the principal direction of Kenny Letts…aka, The Pitboss.

Since, they’ve hosted 27 MMA events, at sites like The Grady Cole Center, The Rooftop Pavilion of the EpiCentre, The Music Factory, vari-

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ous military bases around the Southeast (talk about a captive au-dience), and lately they’ve settled in at Coyote Joe’s.

Coyote Joe’s has been the site for the last six MMA events; yet an-other captive crowd. And, certainly, it’s always fortuitous to have a prominent antler chandelier hovering just near the cage! Combine this with a 15-foot stuffed grizzly bear by the bar, boots, and beer, and you’d might as well have some brawling.

What’s on the menu at a Fight Lab Event? If you attend-ed some of the earlier fight nights, you’ll now see a vastly improved production value. Fighters are well matched (be-ginners, skilled amateurs and seasoned pros) and you’ll see most all of the fight disciplines that make up this sport, which has become the new boxing for a couple of younger gener-ations. If you’re approaching 50, like me, and your father sat you down for Friday Night Fights or the Ali/Frazier Tril-ogy, etc., as a boy, you’ll find plenty to eat, too. The “10 pt must scoring system” governs MMA and some of its best ac-tion mimics boxing of old.

You’ll also find on the menu a healthy offering of some of Charlotte’s most attractive women - The Fight Lab Knock-outs - who help to market the

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shows as well as keep us informed as to which round we are en-tering. There’s an appetizer - some call it a photo shoot - about 45 minutes before the bouts begin - in the cage - and, son, it is quite a shoot.

This IS a vastly different sport, though. Brutal, but disciplined if only subtly by the defensive and respectful posture and influence of Jiu Jitsu. Considerably more intricate in tactics and strategy…it will make you hungry for understanding beyond the thrill of ‘seeing someone get punched in the eye.’

And, although not a Southern-based sport, the hosting promo-tion company, Fight Lab Promotions, LLC, offers, at every fight…free…the South’s most enduring, mythical comfort food…Corn-bread...also known as Michael Allen, the Fight Lab MMA Match-maker, Director of Fighter Relations, and instigator of all things to be instigated.

The Apostle Gx

MIC CHECK QC: Young MackCharlotte native Young Mack (born Mike McCoy) makes no qualms about it: he was born to be an emcee. His passion and love of music surely shine through his rugged exterior; and his personality and work ethic only solidify that statement. Writing, singing, and promotions are just a few of the things this artist/entrepreneur does to bring his dream to fruition.

Although a young artist, Young Mack’s level of professionalism and dedi-cation is comparable to that of a seasoned professional. He exudes a business-like aura and demands respect from everyone. The founder and CEO of Elite 5 Records, he strives to develop great artists, while work-ing as a whole for everyone’s success in the music business. He has surrounded himself with a close-knit team that backs him on all fronts: Phreelance is one of Elite 5 Records’ artists who he works with frequently; his photographer is Brittany Best; and Jay Price and Matt Shoup handle Marketing and P.R.

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Young Mack’s versatility cannot be placed into any mediocre package. It will need much space for his many styles and genres that he will most definitely break into. He offers up-tempo hip-hop tracks like “Flying High” and “So Skeptical” featuring Sevdaproducer, to thought-provoking tracks like “We Gotta Change” that address war, race and politics – all available on his latest album, The Prince is Here. The entire CD makes a proclama-tion of arrival and survival that is full of fortitude. Young Mack is one artist that has a drive that shouldn’t be slept on by anyone. His upcoming al-bum, Acoustic, will feature cover songs and original songs backed only by an acoustic guitar. That has yet to be breached in the hip-hop community; which further proves Young Mack’s ability to be versatile.

With dreams that most have, but few can back up, Young Mack shows his desire to succeed by working not only with his team, but other artists aspiring toward his same goal. Always one to reach out for positive net-working opportunities, he has encountered the same resistance from this city as have most other local artists. That resistance being a lack of unity and community support for and from other local artists. While TekaRose and MIC Check QC are no strangers to this particular topic of discus-sion, I must admit it hurts a little every time I hear it. Other cities such as Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, New York and Miami always get credit for being the cities that build up their Local Arts and Entertainment, yet Charlotte (although full of talented artists) cannot yet grasp the sense of community that is desperately needed to build our music scene into one that would rival those aforementioned cities. Young Mack refuses to let that hinder his ultimate goal toward success, so he branches out as nec-essary to areas that will embrace up and coming artists, like many other local artists must do. Yet he maintains and holds out hope for his city, to one day be that place he can accomplish all of his goals and be able to do what he loves in Charlotte.

Not one to accept the copycat image or cookie-cutter radio stereotype, Young Mack is in a league of his own, and is ready to take on the world one track at a time. He wants his fans to know that he will continue to

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bring his own style to the table; and without having them, he would not be where he is now and is thankful for all the love shown.

When asked the million dollar question to de-scribe himself in ONE word inside the studio and one WORD outside the studio these were his answers: Inside, FOCUSED; Outside, CHILL.

Both qualities anyone should hope to possess, they are what make Young Mack the “dude you want to get to know more of.” And with that unyielding resolve for success, you most definitely will. You can find Young Mack, Elite 5 Records and downloads at the below links for music and contact information, as well as following him on Twitter and liking him on Facebook. Do you have what is takes to be ELITE? I know Young Mack surely does, so with that fair Prince…your MIC. Has been CHECKED!

Elite5Records.com

Contributor Writer, TekaRoseDo you have what it takes to be ELITE?

ShomoLive.comWhen three friends from upstate New York decided to go into business to-gether, they knew it would be an adventure. “Revolutionizing the live music industry is no small task,” said co-founder Scott Jermyn, who’s lived in Char-lotte since 2000.

“But after many long conversations with my buddies, and now business part-ners, I had a good feeling we were on to something pretty special.”

“ShomoLive” is a web-based tool that solves many of the problems of the live music industry. When they talk of live music they don’t mean U2 or Coldplay, they mean the millions of musical acts that play a couple of times a month at their local bars, restaurants, and music venues.

“These acts, whether rappers, country singers, rock bands, or DJ’s, have a really tough time navigating the world of finding places to play, getting booked, and telling their fans about their shows,” co-founder Tim Beideck said.

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“Shomo makes it easier.”

“It makes it a lot more efficient for places that book live music to find the bands they want, book them, and get the word out to the public,” said CEO Tony Verrioli.

Jermyn, who is the Director of Sales and Marketing, added, “It’s also great for fans because it’ll allow them to communicate with their favor-ite artists, venues, and other fans, as well as search for new favorites.”

“I’ve been approached by lots of companies in Charlotte looking to help local musicians, and I’m always skeptical. ShomoLive is the real deal,” said Laurie Koster, who’s often referred to as the “Queen of Live Music” in Charlotte.

“Shomo will not only help all the artists we know here in Charlotte but all the acts we help around the world too.”

Account executive Allen Bollinger added, “They thought it all out with Shomo. It cares about all parties involved, artists, venues, and fans. It’s not something trying to take advantage of a bad situation. Instead, it figured out what was wrong and fixed it.”

With its nationwide expansion planned for 2013, Shomo will first launch in Charlotte where it’s been laying the groundwork with the help of Koster and others.

“We’ve had so many awesome people volunteer their time, eager to help the cause, and we’re super grateful for that,” Jermyn said.

“I’ve been involved in various companies over the years, and have never seen anything close to the excitement that surrounds this.”

ShomoLive board member Adrian Wilson, who is the Managing Direc-tor of Square 1 Ventures based in Raleigh said, “I’m so impressed with the team Shomo has assembled in Charlotte and nationwide. So many talented people support their product and I’m really looking forward to its success. It certainly solves many problems that help a lot of people in the live music community.”

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“We’ve been at this a long time,” said CEO Tony Verrioli, who holds an MBA from Simon School in Rochester, New York.

“We really wanted it to be a tool that would be both useful and fun.”

Creative Director, Tim Beideck, who describes his job as focused on “Product development…and making it awesome…” has a background in feature film making, having just finished writing and directing the movie “Sophomore” starring Patrick Warburton from Seinfeld; and the recent hit movie “Ted;” as well as having worked with Amanda Plummer from “Pulp Fiction,” who will star in the next “Hunger Games” movie.

“It’s been really cool working on ShomoLive with two good friends and so many incredible people we’ve met along the way,” Beideck said.

“I can’t wait to get it out in Charlotte, which we feel is the perfect city to launch in!”

ShomoLive was recently chosen as one of three finalists in a N.C. grant challenge powered by “Startup Rockon,” who made its announcement during the Democratic National Convention. They also just finished up a successful Indiegogo campaign and are in discussions with possible investors to fulfill their first round of funding. The guys at Shomo are always looking to consider strategic partner-ships and are currently looking to team up with local promotional com-panies, ticketing and merchandising opportunities. Please feel free to reach out to them with any questions, to learn more about investment opportunities, or for possible strategic partnerships at [email protected].

They are very excited to be launching here in Charlotte and we are definitely happy to have them!

Please pre-register to get updates on the launch at www.shomolive.com.

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Hunters’ Hands on Fire - punk rock back to the basicsTo many purists, punk rock is dead and has been since the 80’s and 90’s (when the revival was strong). Since the early to mid-2000’s, punk rock has been watered down with pop and transformed into what many describe as ‘emo,’ growing in popularity and appearing every-where from the radio waves to MTV. Because punk rock started as a counter-culture movement in the 70’s and soon came to be known as anti-establishment and anarchical in nature, it may have felt to many as though the heart and soul of the genre had been lost and wouldn’t be found again – but nothing could be further from the truth. There are many underground bands who hang on to that feeling and keep it alive with gritty, street-brawl lyrics and the rough-and-tumble spirit of simple – yet passionate – music. Although not all these bands are aggressive, they have the true punk soul that pulls its roots from the hardcore revival period. Of these bands, Hunters is one of the few that

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has retained that original soul and channeled it through noise rock with origins in classic punk – and even maintained the authenticity of an older, analog recording style, really bringing to the table the grungy, garage feeling of an older style of rock n’ roll.

Hands on Fire begins with “Deadbeat,” a song that throws you right into the EP and is infused with influences from Bay area punk bands. It can be most closely compared to a less aggressive Cer-emony, the song starting out with a heavy guitar line reminiscent of “Sick,” from Ceremony’s 2010 release – Rohnert Park EP. Vocals are punctuated in short, emphatic bursts – in chanting and yell-ing, not the gravelly, hoarse screaming known to many hardcore bands. One of my favorite parts of this track is how Isabel Almeida and Derek Watson’s vocals blend and complement each other, giving their songs an almost story-telling quality.

The follow-up track, “Noisy Bitch,” retains the underlying punk vibes while lightening the mood. The bridge offers a pleasant sur-prise by disrupting the structure of the song in typical noise-rock fashion before sliding back into the song, where Almeida and Wat-son end with a string of “oh’s.”

“Brat Mouth” is one of the highlights of the EP; it starts off sound-ing like it will be a harder song before it launches into the catchy chorus, “I don’t know where you go when you say no – I don’t know it, I don’t know it.” And I promise you it will be difficult to get this one out of your head, much less keep yourself from singing it all day! According to Almeida, the song is about the excitement – and confusion – of wanting to spend all your time with a special someone and not being able to. The song certainly reflects that not-so-smooth transition between the fantasy world of being with your infatuation and then the longing of wanting to go back again, that comes with the rougher landing into reality.

The fourth track, entitled “Headache,” is without a doubt my fa-vorite song. They continue their style of mixing harder guitars with

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smooth sounding percus-sion and echoed-light vocals. “Headache” is a stark con-trast to “Brat Mouth,” talking about the feeling of being a thorn in someone’s side, of confrontation. The chorus flows well and it is also that song that you won’t get out of your head all day, the writ-ing being tight and catchy and easy to relate to. “Head-ache” is a prime example of how Hunters captures strong

scenarios that happen in every day life and reflects them through clear, blatant writing and passionate music.

Hands on Fire ends with “Acid Head,” the strength of which lies in the vocals which pull strongly on wild-sounding howls and ono-matopoeia to tell the story more than the lyrics themselves. The lyrics serve to punctuate the tone of the vocals, which show a sort of anxious urgency and desperation. From my perspective, the song is about not knowing what you want and being caught between different callings and desires, many of which contradict.

All in all, Hands on Fire is a solid release by this Brooklyn-born noise-rock group. If you’ve been craving an old-school punk rock sound in the midst of the electronica and dubstep whirlwind, then you should definitely check Hunters out. And with the new single “Street Trash” out, we can be sure to see lots more from them for a long time to come.

For more information, check out their Web site at www.hunters-hunters.com or like them on Facebook at facebook.com/hunter-sny.

Entertainment Contributor, Sarah Hudson

The LegacyCommittee

The LegacyCommittee

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I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with members from The Legacy Committee. This is one group that you need to pay attention to; they are on the rise to stardom.

Elevate Lifestyle: What exactly is The Legacy Committee?The Legacy Committee: The Legacy Committee is a hip-hop group composed of members Orion, A.Dunn, and GQ. Origi-nally all of us were individual artists, but after working together on several songs and listening to some industry executives we respect, we decided to form a group. At this point in our career, forming the group has been a very good move. Lately we have gained a lot of attention for our music and are taking steps in the right direction. We are all good friends and have a good chemistry in and out of the studio, which we feel reflects in our music and shows.

EL: What does each member of the group specialize in or bring to the group? TLC: Each member of the group writes and contributes to each song. Orion is our group’s main producer and is respon-sible for our “sound.” He plays several instruments and always stays up-to-date on the latest musical equipment and technol-ogy; plus he has great hair! A.Dunn, who has performed to packed houses at Panther’s Stadium and the Bobcats arena, is the voice of the group and really adds the ‘wow’ factor to our live performances. She also is responsible for bringing food to the group’s recording sessions, which is a vital part to making a hit song. GQ is the quiet one, more of a behind-the-scenes business type. He is also kind of like our hook guy. He has written for Grammy nominated Calvin Richardson and has a knack for coming up with a catchy chorus. He is also is the group’s time keeper and mediator/referee/shrink.

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EL: How would you de-scribe your group’s sound?TLC: A lot of people compare our sound to a combination of The Fugees and the Black Eyed Peas early years; which we would say is a pretty fair comparison. We don’t agree, but a lot of people feel hip-hop is dead. If that is indeed the case, then you could say our sound is haunted!

EL: Earlier in the year, you guys had a pretty big event at Mez in the Epicenter. How have things changed for you guys since that event? TLC: Yeah the video premiere was a huge success and we really want to thank everyone who came out and supported us that night, as well as the Mez management and Charlotte’s fire marshal for helping us out. People have known we were musicians for a long time, but after the premiere it kind of put us on a different level in the eyes of our peers. Now it’s like, people take us more seriously as musicians. It also set the bar very high for our group as far as our events and performances, but we consider that a good problem.

EL: The videos that your group creates are very impres-sive. How do you come up with the concepts for most of your videos? TLC: We have three video teams that we normally work with and all of them are great! They have a vision we respect and we have ideas which we think are “cool.” Add in some beauti-ful women and a lot of slow motion and we are able to find a way to meet in the middle and come up with great visuals!

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EL: How do you guys feel about the local music scene here in Charlotte? TLC: Charlotte has a ton of talented musicians in a wide range of genres. From national music television competitions, producing for major acts, and even performing at the recent Democratic Convention here in Charlotte, our city’s musicians really have been working hard.

EL: Since you guys are primarily a hip-hop group and not a band, do you feel that limits your performance oppor-tunities? TLC: Unfortunately here in Charlotte it does. Most venues seem more open to an “open mic acoustic” type performance setting. We also have a “Legacy Unplugged” set which we can perform at those venues. The more people you can per-form in front of, the better of you are!

EL: If you could change one thing about the music scene here in Charlotte, what would it be? TLC: Well as cliché as it may sound, belief is the one thing we would change if we could. We want to help put Charlotte on the map. People are constantly telling us, “You guys should move to another city where the big music deals are done.” On one hand they are right, Charlotte is a banking city, not known for its music. Other cities may have more opportunities. But on the other hand, the DJs and radio personalities here in Charlotte have the same star-making power. They just have to believe in the talent our city has. Most recently Atlanta, Detroit and Nashville, has done it; why can’t Charlotte?

EL: What has the Legacy Committee been up to lately?TLC: We are staying busy! Lately we have been network-ing with various producers and business partners about our project. We have a new music video and premiere in the

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works at one of the city’s most elaborate clubs. We were also invited by several designers and attended their shows at Mercedes Benz Fashion week in Miami and New York City. These design-ers are also going to be involved in our next motion picture video we are currently planning. We are also in talks for a performance at a new club opening in the Mu-sic Factory later this year.

EL: Where could someone find more information about The Legacy Committee, hear your music, or check out some of your videos? TLC: Our music can be found on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spo-tify, Rhapsody, and most major digital distributors. Or if you see us out and about just ask us and we can give you a free download card. We are working on a Web site, but until then our info can be found on our facebook page at Facebook.com/TheLegacyCommittee. Our twitter handle is @LegacyCom-mittee. All of our videos and performances are on our Youtube page: YouTube.com/TheLegacyCommittee

Steve Caldwell

Party In The Alley’sNight Life = Bowling Alleys?! The days of old school bowling al-leys are making their way to an end. This is something a lot of people including myself have had a hard time accepting. No more stale beer, smoky old alley ways packed with a majority of an older generation. Besides the goofy bowling shoes the alleys have had for the past few years have a whole new look. I wonder if The Dude from The Big Lebowski would approve? Would he still be able to order a White Russian at the bowling alley? I for one was skeptical about these modern day alleys popping up, especially in South Charlotte. Who would have thunk that now bowling alleys in town would be somewhere to pull some ass and be known for a good nightlife scene? Twenty years ago—unless you fancied bald guys that looked like they had careers of writing bad checks or women who looked like they’d arm wrestle you for a cigarette – you wouldn’t come to an alley with intentions of scoring anything but

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hopefully a 300. Now, bowling alleys are the new destination for a good nightlife scene. With Strike City having opened a few years ago, they proved that a happening nightlife can be held here for bowlers and non-bowlers and recently the old Park Lanes off Montford Drive has done the same.

Now under new ownership, a new name, a new look, everything at the old Park Lanes is turned totally inside out. This bowling alley that has been here since 1960 is now called Ten at Park Lanes. The 60’s retro look actually fills in the newly brilliantly designed interior. Three covered patios with plenty of flat screens for game watching along with

cornhole boards are outside with no lines for the bar areas inside. There is a heavy demand for private parties in cer-tain areas so if you are interested, be prepared to book in advance. Along with the loud sound of pins breaking you can expect good loud music at Ten at Park Lanes and Strike City. At the new Park Lanes, live music is held during the week-ends and Strike City blares all of today’s hit music to add to the feel that you are somewhere more than just a bowling al-ley. TPL’s food options are wide open so there should be no concern if you’re hungry or picky about the choices, even for a good date night. Their signature mason jar used for food and booze is already making its name in town – along with their ja-lapeno and bacon infused moonshine Bloody Mary! The food is bringing a lunch and dinner crowd that would normally not show up to a bowling alley. And with options ranging from fried

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pickles to ribs, it’s kind of hard not to draw a crowd for just the food and a great destination to nurse a hangover. Ten smokes their own BBQ and offers all the sauces you would want to have on hand. For grub, the mason jars can be filled with prime rib, mac and cheese and smoked jalapenos or bar-becue, beans and slaw. You can build your own

jar but these seem to be the best jar combos. The jars can also be filled with their chilled moonshine from their very own dispensing system which is probably not as poignant as your Uncle Jessco’s, but still a very cool concept to offer at a bowl-ing alley of all places. Local breweries are heavily poured and go down good with one of their juicy burgers that is highly recommended. O’yeah they serve White Russians here at Ten too- you’re welcome Dude!

Solid specials can be found on different nights. Ten at Park Lanes has a Sunday Service Industry night for ballers and shot callers. Fourteen bucks for all you can bowl (including shoes), $6 Jagerbombs and $5 vodka Redbull specials should go swell with football season revving up. Strike City offers sim-ilar deals on Monday night (a perfect place to go for Monday Night football), and is well-known for being the home for all Ohio State Buckeye fans for Saturday’s. Ten at Park Lanes and Strike City can be utilized for numerous outing scenari-os. Dates, dinner outings, mingling and – oh yeah – bowling! Once you are at either location, you’re surrounded by other

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nightlife options as well. Park Lanes, you’re off the bumping Montford Drive scene, and Strike City you’re in the heart of the Epicenter so if your game is weak (you can take that in several ways) other nightlife options are all in walking distance.

One thing that has not changed is the game of bowling: a game to be played by all generations, from partiers to serious bowlers. Personally, my mind constantly stays in the gutter but if your mind is in the gutter in any way about the new look and new scene at the old Park Lanes and are hesitant about giving the nightlife scene a shot at an alley off Montford or the Epicenter you should think again and give it a shot – or a roll!

Cheers!Nightlife Editor, Sean FlynnAny feedback or QC night life happenings you think are El-evate worthy that I should share with the QC? Email me at [email protected]

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BNR Records:The Hottest Record Label AroundMusic is a form of art involving sound or tone. The rhythmic sound waves of instruments create a harmonic love affair with which many people iden-tify. Driven by those sounds and beats, it is no wonder Mr. Diondre Lewis also has identified. As a lover of music from childhood, he has channeled his passion for music into establishing his record label, BNR Records. As CEO of BNR Records, Mr. Lewis is paving the way for many upcom-ing artists to express their talent and reach their potential, all the while building a reputable label. BNR Records stands out from the rest. With its “no-negativity” policy, artists signed to BNR must bring their creative ideas and be committed to branding their craft. This policy is a mantra for the label which produces artists that fans rave over and steadily pushes BNR to the forefront. With an objective to simply make good music, BNR Records embraces all genres. I was privileged to have the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Lewis and discuss how BNR Records has rapidly become the hottest record label in Charlotte.

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To begin, I was given a brief history of BNR Record’s humble begin-nings. Having its roots locally here in Charlotte, the plan behind BNR Records began in Mr. Lewis’ in-home studio in 2008. Inspired by a love to understand how music was recorded and engineered, Mr. Lewis’ interest soon evolved into actual recording sessions with local artists. After a while of conducting these sessions, he began to real-ize the potential opportunities they presented for the artist. Although some failures came alongside the triumphs, expectations were kept high and Mr. Lewis held onto his passion for making music; a pas-sion that launched BNR Records from small to large scale in a mat-ter of four years. The BNR Records office is now nestled in the cozy West Trade Street block of Uptown Charlotte. With the background knowledge in mind, let’s look to what BNR Records CEO had to say about his label.

Elevate Lifestyle: I heard you say that you didn’t want to limit BNR Records. So it’s going to take on all genres of music?Diondre Lewis: Right, absolutely. Right now we’re in an ‘A and R mode’ where we’re bringing on talent and expanding the roster, so to speak. Currently we have Young Jules who is an Urban/Rap art-ist and he’s moved more toward the mainstream. We’ve got J Da Realest, he’s Urban/Christian. We have Pradigy GT and they are a mainstream Rock/Pop/Rap Fusion band. We also have Future Kid which is basically a group that makes electronic dance music, and one’s a DJ. In the pipeline we have two other acts; one is a country female act, and one is a male country act as well. So, we’re kind of touching everything and our ultimate objective is to build that brand right here where we sit.

EL: Please continue, tell me a little more about BNR Records…DL: We want to expose internationally, via the web. It’s a good way to get a feel for who likes what. From a larger marketing standpoint we will be saturating the region that we live in 100 miles in all directions. My whole vision behind this was to build all of the resources that an artist needs to develop themselves in-house. We’ve got a full blown professional studio. We’ve got all of the things that artists don’t typi-cally have at their disposal: the Internet presence, the graphic design

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presence, and the marketing muscle. The primary objective is to give all the artists unlimited exposure and access to all the things that al-low them to create world-class music.

EL: Where can fans purchase BNR Records’ artists music?DL: We distribute through Select-O-Hits. They’re the second largest independent record distributor in the U.S. They pretty much push everywhere: to Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, F.Y.E. etc. We also do digital release; iTunes, etc.

EL: What sets BNR Records apart from other record labels?DL: We’re very relationship driven. We understand that there are a number of things that an artist needs to succeed. There are a lot of sharks out there and a lot of people that will try to take advantage of an artist. We’re flexible in that, if an artist exhibits the drive and determination required then we will back them. It’s all based on re-lationship. We don’t just jump into deals with artists. We don’t know how long it’s going to take but we’re going to be there with them all the way through.

Allow me to give you a more in-depth look into the artists that are signed to BNR Records. As Mr. Lewis mentioned previously, they have the multi-talented Pop/Alternative Rock/Hip Hop band Pradigy GT. This band is one of the most popular bands in the Southeast! Fronted by a guitar-playing rapper with limitless creativity, Pradigy GT is – as Deon Cole of Power 98 FM says – “Wow!!! Can you say a breath of fresh air?” As a matter of fact, “If Jimi Hendrix and Kanye West had a baby, it would sound like Pradigy GT,” the band proclaims.

Next on the list is none other than Young Jules, the very first artist signed to BNR Records. Young Jules played a major role in the label’s start-up. Jules brings an Inspirational Hip Hop flow with beats and a message that rock the crowd. Look out for his new single en-titled, “Heart Attack.” Also in the Inspirational Hip Hop genre, BNR features J Da Realest. With his properly fitting name, J Da Real-est brings a flow that transcends racial, musical and generational

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boundaries with a message of faith that always underscores his music. Likewise, contributing a Hipster/Urban style, BNR Records may soon boast Humble Nation. Incorporating their music, Humble Creations brand apparel, and the ideology behind their name, Hum-ble Nation produces a signature style of their own. Although cur-rently unsigned, this unique duo has a good chance of soon being a part of BNR. Furthermore, signed to BNR Records, is Future Kid, an upcoming EDM duo featuring DJ Niko. EDM – an acronym for Electronic Dance Music – is the newest high-energy movement to hit the music industry and BNR Records is excited to partake in the velocity. And last but certainly not least, Mr. Diondre Lewis, himself is an artist under the name D Major and will be promoting his own Pop album soon.

One thing’s for sure, BNR Records is cutting edge all the way around. They are keeping a pulse of the music industry and are able to adjust to changes in real time. From my conversation with Mr. Lewis, it’s apparent that BNR Records is committed to providing world class music that’s relevant in all genres. BNR artists can be heard on a variety of radio stations including Power 98, 101.9, WGIV 103.3 K104.7, 106.5 and Praise 100.9!!! BNR Records expects to continue to build a strong marketing base through Social Media, make special appearances to college campuses across the country, and promote artists through college campus radio. BNR Records is set to become a household name in the Charlotte region. But it won’t stop there, BNR is preparing to spread globally and build a fan base across the world. I can tell that BNR will become all that it’s destined to be, and will surely leave a legacy for other record labels following. For more information, music samples and updates on BNR Records’ artists check out www.bnrrecords.com.

Contributor Writer, Franchesca N. Wicker

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New Flavors of FallThe bright colors of the turning leaves and the hint of a chill in the air, Pan-ther games and girls in boots and scarves can only mean one thing…Fall! It’s time for tailgating, chili cook-off’s and fire pit gatherings with friends. Along with football and comforting foods, here are some of the season’s newest colorful and unique spirits and cocktails that make familiar drinks taste fun for fall!

Three Olives Vodka has done it again! I would love to envision how these vodka masterminds come up with these ingenious flavors…is it a room full of chemists with drawing boards and plethora of fruit, candies and toys? Yeah, probably not, but that’s how it works in my mind. Minus the sweating, dirt and bugs, the vodka flavor kings were able to take cap-ture childhood nostalgia with a new S’mores Vodka. Three Olives has

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managed to capture the famous campfire favorite into a bottle and make it drinkable. S’mores cocktails aren’t new though, and were commonly made using variations of vanilla vodka, cream liqueurs and graham cracker bits. Three Olives, however, has done the dirty work and cut out the middle-man, making it even easier for you to make S’mores cocktails at home. Considering these are the same vodka masterminds that have brought us Fruit Loop, Mountain Dew, Birthday Cake, Bubble gum and Tang flavored vodkas, I can’t say I’m surprised, just pleasantly excited as with all of their new flavor launches. As a liquor peddler, I have a portfolio of more flavored vodkas that I can keep up with at times without a cheat sheet, but after tasting Three Olives S’mores and the delish S’mores Camp-fire Martini, I am confident this flavor is a hit. Chocolate, marshmal-low flavors mixed with sugar and graham crackers, and you’ve got yourself a pretty awesome combination for dessert martinis, holiday cocktails, and more.

S’mores Campfire Martini3 oz Three Olives S’mores VodkaCrushed graham crackers, chocolate syrup, marshmallows

Dip the rim of martini glass in chocolate syrup and coat with crushed graham crack-ers. Pour Three Olives S’mores into martini shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a skewer of three marshmallowsStoli…Hot and Salty Karmelely Goodness

Two new flavors have been released by Stolichnaya (Stoli) that are perfect for the fall weather ahead. The first flavor is actually an updated take on one of Stoli’s first flavors from 1962, Pertsovka…for those of you who

don’t speak Russian, that’s Pepper. Released a few months ago, Stoli Hot has quickly become a Sunday favorite for me. Stoli Hot is

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the only pepper vodka that I have found to have real mouth heat and spice. It’s spicy with a little hint of smoke and adds another level of flavor to any Bloody Mary that I cannot explain. Not a Bloody Mary fan? Mixers like lime and pineapple also work well with Stoli Hot.

Lauren’s Stoli Hot Bloody2 oz. Stoli Hot Jalapeno Vodka4 oz. Bloody Mary Mix – I prefer Zing Zang1 tsp. HorseradishDash of WorcestershireDash of Old Bay SeasoningDash of Hot SauceSqueeze of fresh lemonGarnish with a celery stalk, pepperoncini, olive and lemon wedge

The second flavor is another “Drink Your Dessert” flavor: Stoli Salted Karmel … yep, it’s spelled with a ‘K.’ According to Lisa Pfenning, Category Director at Stolichnaya, “Next to choco-late, market research has shown that caramel is the most popular indulgent flavor; and offering that savory flavor combination is cur-rently one of the fastest growing trends.”

I’m not one to argue with one of the longest vodka flavor brands. Stoli Salted Karmel is inspired by the chocolate flavored sweets that marry sweet and savory with yummy warm tastes of sweet English toffee with a light saltiness, which also tastes a little buttery to me. It’s perfect to mix with a non-working day coffee, hot chocolate, or our new discovery…milkshakes.

Salted Karamel Macchiato Martini 2 oz. Salted Karamel 1 oz. Kahlua Splash Milk Shake over ice and strain into Martini glass.

Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon Fruit “Few Family Recipes Carry A Jail Sentence”

Moonshine, now that’s something you know (or at least have tasted) if you live anywhere in the south. My favorite North Carolina special-ties to end out this article are Junior Johnshon’s Midnight Moonshine Fruit Inclusions. Inspired by the family moonshine recipes of the legendary moonshiner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Junior Johnson, these moonshines are legal and quite tasty! Handcrafted in single batches, fruit inclusions come in a range of mixable flavors like Apple Pie, Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Cranberry and Blackberry. These spirits begin with a 100-proof version of the original Midnight Moon, which is then authentically infused with whole pieces of gourmet-quality fruit. No extracts, color additives, or artificial flavors, just real

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fruit is placed into each of the mason jars by hand, just as the moon-shiners have done for generations. All of the fruit flavor and color in the Midnight Moon inclusions comes from the fruit itself. They are then aged in the jar for several weeks to capture the full fruit flavor before it leaves the distillery. They are sure to catch your attention, uniquely packaged in authentic mason jars.

Junior’s Apple Cider – my favorite for fall tailgating!2 oz. Midnight Moon Apple Pie1 cup warm Apple CiderDash of nutmeg & cinnamon, add a cinnamon stick Junior’s Cherry Bourbon2 oz. Midnight Moon Cherry1 oz. Wild Turkey 81Shake over ice. Strain into ice filled glass, top with a splash of ginger ale. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Blackberry Ginger Splash2 oz. Midnight Moon Blackberry, over iceFill with Ginger Ale

I hope that you are able to try at least one of these unique spirits sometime this fall…what will be next? Buffalo wing? Neapolitan Ice Cream? Whatever it will be…I will be here waiting to do my due diligence in tasting them, researching them, tasting some more and reporting back! Enjoy your fall!

Lauren NguyenOn-Premise Manager for Republic National Distributing Company, representing various portfolio of spirits for North Carolina.

Want to know where you can try these spirits? Want more recipes? Ideas? Have a question? Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

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Psychographics Of Elevate Lifestyle Readers• dine out 3x a week 90.2%• go out for drinks 3x a week 67.1%• order drinks by brand name 68.3%• order beers by brand name 81.7%• frequents nightclubs/lounges 73.2%

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