Friday, May 14th

ZSpotlight.com and Mura of North Hills hosted one of the Triangle’s most exclusive outdoor evenings last night in North Raleigh for a capacity crowd of 300 plus.  With a winning combination of high end sushi, great music, and exciting ambiance, ZSpot added a fashion show into the mix with the runway surrounding the beautiful outdoor fountain in North Hills.  With tickets selling out well before the event, Mura and the ZSpotlight plan to expand this unique event series for the next party June 3rd, 2010.  This ZSpot concept will continue to thrive in North Raleigh throughout the summer.  For photos, visit the ZSpot Photo Galleries.  Last night’s photos are uploading now onto Z.

Event Link:  ZSpot Sushi Tasting Party

If you want to get invited to this event or be informed weekly on all the best dining and entertainment events, click here and sign up for our newsletter!  Z-Weekly Weekend Update

For other great event tickets, and AMAZING DEALS, visit these pages!  ZSpot Great Deals

   

Every month from May- September ZSpotlight will have a Summer Sushi Tasting Party at Mura of North Hills. All events will be 21 and up to enter. Ticket prices are $10 to party and eat, or party after all sushi tasting tickets are sold out.  We will have multiple cash bars and food stations set up throughout the patio where you can enjoy the best sushi in town!  Every year we have brought something new and exciting to each event and this year will definitely not disappoint!  Dates and themes are listed below so save the date and start planning that perfect outfit to fit our themes!

These events are very popular so please do purchase your tickets in advance!  We want you to be a part of this amazing experience!

 

Tobacco Road Cellars Wine Series Set to Begin

Billed as “Not Your Typical Winemaker Dinner”

  

January 25, 2010; Raleigh, NC – Boutique winery, Tobacco Road Cellars, is hosting a wine
series at Solas in the Glenwood South entertainment district of downtown Raleigh beginning
Wednesday, January 27th and following on February 24th and March 24th.

Winery owner Jason Earnest will walk the dining room and introduce Tobacco Road Cellars to diners as well as offer special pricing for some of his winery’s highly acclaimed vintages like Tobacco Road ‘s deep red with soft purple rim, lifted bright fresh berry fruit showing red currant and blueberry notes. Rich mouth filling weight that swamps the palate with ripe, juicy flavor that runs through to a long and fine tannin finish.”

Also featured on January 27th is a Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highland, one of California’s up and coming viticulture regions. In fact, many wine writers and enthusiasts agree that the Santa Lucia Highlands stands shoulder to shoulder among the top names in Pinot.   From Santa Barbara’s White Hawk Vineyard, Earnest is introducing a beautiful Syrah created through a 100% signature single vineyard. This region is quickly being recognized by wine connoisseurs the world over as a top producing wine region.

“Drinking good wine is an experience, something special; it’s a celebration of sharing, connecting with someone and making memories,” says Earnest. The North Carolina native started Tobacco Road Cellars in 2004 after going to Napa Valley on a whim to create own wine to give as holiday gifts. After bottling 25 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and tasting his bounty, Earnest was bitten by this new passion. Earnest has not lost sight on what brought his vision to where he is today. He plans on keeping Tobacco Road Cellars very intimate, keeping it a oneon-one personal experience that is lacking in today’s world.

“From the succulent grapes that we hand pick, to the high-end French oak barrels we use for aging, to the delicate hand-dipped wax seal, we pay attention to every single detail and demand the highest quality at every level,” remarked Earnest. Today, Tobacco Road Cellars has a halfdozen bottlings under its belt, a host of loyal collectors and wine enthusiasts vying for a bottle of their limited production, and the endorsement of Gary Vaynerchuk of the nation’s best-known wine aficionados. Tobacco Road Cellars also was just named “Winery of the Month” by Amanda Hagood of The

 Reservations are recommended for the Tobacco Road Wine Series at Solas where diners also will enjoy an award winning meal from Executive Chef Cliff Vogelsberg.

What: Tobacco Road Cellars Winer SeriesSharon Delaney McCloud; 919-810-5085; sharondmccloud@gmail.com

When: January 27th, February 24th and March 24th

Time: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Where: Solas – 419 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

Reservations: Call Solas now at 919-755-0755

Sono Sushi Bar of Raleigh is starting its new Lounge Nights with a kickoff weekend! On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, Sono will be open late night from 10pm-2am.  The dining room will close off and the front bar area will be transformed into a lounge, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live music and great drink specials.  Fayetteville Street’s newest late night red-hot spot launches in January 14, 15, and 16!

Remember, you get 10% off everytime you use your ZSpotCard on all food items inside Sono.

Mondays

4 course dinner for 25 dollars
Tuesdays

½ price bottles of wine
Wednesdays

$5 martinis

Thursdays

½ price drafts and hot sake
Sundays

½ off apps with purchase of entrée

 

Lunch Specials Everyday
2 Special Rolls for $14

 

$9 Lunch Everyday: Soup, Salad, and a Roll                              

miso soup, house salad, and your choice of one special roll

For more information, visit ZSpotlight.com or SonoRaleigh.com

See You On Z Town!

Since the completion of Fayettville Street a couple years ago, Fayetteville Street has become the home for every single street festival in Downtown.  And now that the street is open from the Capitol Building to Progress Energy Performing Arts Center, the options for holding street festivals like Raleigh Wide Open are infinite.

To see all of Raleigh/Durham’s New Year’s Eve events,  Click Here.

The next upcoming major event hosted by Raleigh’s on this popular main street is First Night, to celebrate the new year.  Event starts at 5pm and will last until midnight. Various performers and activities will be live throughout the local businesses that make up Fayettville Street and the surrounding area, including live music, dancing, and more!  Visitors can admire the Raleigh City Museum,  enjoy discussions at the Urban Design Center, or listen to music concerts at local churches and the Progress Energy Center.

This night will climax on the main stage with the band Annuals followed by fireworks and the annual dropping of the Raleigh Acorn.

The First Night Event Map can be viewed here and more on the performers and activities here.

Download the full First Night Downtown Raleigh Schedule here (PDF).

Step out of Raleigh and experience  all the glamour and sophistication of NYC.  Upon entry you will immediately transform to an: Empire State of Mind.”  Start out with Manhattan’s hottest new concoction, The Stoli Red Apple Martini debuting only on New Years Eve here at ESS Lounge.

Ess is a facility featuring the urban and nouveau styles of Manhattans upper west side. 

You don’t need to leave Raleigh, to get out of town.  Our $50 all-inclusive (call drinks, appetizers, and champnage toast, etc) Deal is the best ticket in town to bring in 2010.  Click Here To Purchase Tickets

Top 40 Ranking Bars and Nightlife Venues in Raleigh, N.C.

Raleigh is growing so fast, and with so many new and exciting nightlife hotspots, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all of them.  So we’ve decided to develop and present a weekly top 40 list of the area’s favorites.  This ranking is completely based on viewer page views on ZSpotlight.com and also the number of positive comments to this blog with reasons why your favorite bar or nightlife spot should earn extra points.  So post your thoughts every week and let us know what you think!  If your favorite isn’t listed just yet, then let us know also!  Enjoy!  We will begin adding information on the top 40 as we receive it!

This week’s features

1. Solas
2. Noir
3. 606 Lounge
4. White Collar Crime
5. Red Room Lounge
6. Sullivan’s Steakhouse
7. Lucky B’s Sports Bar
8. Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant
9. Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub
10. Mosaic Wine Lounge
11. Buckhead Saloon
12. Cashmere
13. Legends
14. Carolina Ale House (Brier Creek)
15. Michael Dean’s
16. Black Flower Bar
17. Bogart’s
18. The Oxford
19. Oliver Twist Lounge
20. Raleigh Times Bar
21. Ess Lounge
22. Tir Na Nog Irish Pub
23. Vivace
24. Hi5 Sports Bar
25. 42nd Street
26. Amra’s Stogies & Spirits
27. Lynnwood Grill & Bar
28. The Point
29. The Pourch
30. The Big Easy
31. Foster’s
32. Mura
33. Club Dolce
34. The Busy Bee
35. Tantra Dance Lounge
36. Flying Saucer
37. The Bassment
38. Rudino’s Rooftop Bar
39. Sono Sushi Bar
40. The Downtown Sports Bar & Grill

Solas is the Triangle’s most popular rooftop lounge, and boasts three levels of dining, lounge and entertainment, each offering a unique experience all its own.  With VIP cabanas and a view like no other, Solas has quickly become an exclusive favorite on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh.  Very busy on weekends, and offers a magical combination of dining and nightlife.  Saturdays are always busy after 10:30pm, so come early!

Noir Bar and Lounge is nestled in the heart of Glenwood South and is a new bar and lounge that boasts an open patio and a luxurious inner bar and dance floor, with a sexy Miami vibe, mixing European sophistication and unique touches 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.  PHOTOS  Noir, with it’s larger than average dance floor, patio, and great DJ’s has quickly become a nightlife favorite on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  The majority of the crowd usually arrives after midnight.

 606 Lounge has the reputation of being a favorite upscale dance venue with a redesigned interior, great music from resident DJs, and an outdoor patio. Located in Raleigh’s Historic Warehouse District.  This dance hotspot has been able to stay consistently busy with an energetic crowds on Fridays and Saturdays, and continuously offers an attractive option on other days of the week.

White Collar Crime is consistently one of the busiest bars in Raleigh, with no cover charge any night of the week, and local DJs with a casual dress code.

Cashmere Lounge has recently opened as an upscale martini and tapas lounge that serves signature martinis, fine wines, and a selection of delectable dishes from an extensive tapas menu.  It’s a perfect place to relax, with cozy booths surrounded by rich sheer fabric draping, soft chandelier lighting, and soft sounds of live acoustical music performed every evening. Stay later to dance the night away with a top local DJs spinning the best in Top 40 hits. 

If you are feeling international, then Red Room Lounge has to be on your list for small tapas and dancing.  Thursday nights are Salsa nights, where you can taste experience delectable food enhanced with homemade sangrias and incredible Spanish wines inside or outside on their patio while dancing the night away.

 Sullivan’s Steakhouse, a steakhouse icon on Glenwood Avenue, attracts a mature crowd with an extensive wine list and and complete inventory of bourbon, single malt scotch and cognoc.  Sullivan’s features the finest steaks and seafood, unparalleled martinis, and great live jazz!

 And for something much more casual, Lucky B’s is always a fun Sports Bar with a party atmosphere where you can wear jeans any day of the week and have the cheapest beer in Raleigh.  There’s a heated patio and Lucky’s mixes top 40 and house music all night long.

Legends is a private club catering to Raleigh’s Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender community. This night features some of the best new dance tracks, female impersonation, and live entertainment.

Ess Lounge has been one of the top nightclubs for almost three years, as an upscale lounge and dancefloor with a very nice patio.  PHOTOS

And if you are feeling Irish or just love a warm, local, neighborhood bar with lot’s of non-domestic beers, the Hibernian Irish Pub is a long time favorite.  This venue is a blend of the Irish Pubs of old and the vibrancy of the new modern Irish culture.  It is a meeting place for all to talk, argue, debate, to sign and to laugh, drink and eat while listening to traditional Irish music. 

Tantra is a new upscale nightclub and Ultra lounge that  encompasses the excitement of an upscale nightclub with the charm of your favorite lounge. featuring magnificent waterfalls, crystal chandeliers, glass fire pits, lava bar surfaces, and a custom Jelly Fish aquarium.  You can indulge yourself in one of the VIP rooms surrounded by beautiful glass. 
TANTRA is located at 310 S.West Street at the corner of West and Martin. 21 $ Up.

Check in with us next week, as we add 7 more venues to our list and update our viewer rankings.  Be sure to add a comment or two below!  See you On Z Town!

Power Rankings are determined by a mathematical combination of page views, photo page views, weekly features, overall popularity, and positive comments by viewers.  Positive reviews and comments have the heaviest weight in scoring.  Rankings will be updated weekly!  If you have any comments or information as to why any of these venues are your favorite, please share with a comment to this blog below.

To add your restaurant or bar to ZSpotlight.com as a listing or an advertising client, contact us by emailing webmaster@zspotlight.com.

If you want to see all the photos every week, visit our extensive photo gallery or our main nightlife section for the Triangle’s best in bars, music, and fun On Z Town.

We’ve looked at what goes wrong when approaching women, so let’s figure out how and why things go right. As with all things, it takes time to get it right, so be patient and go slowly. You CAN do this!

Before approaching a girl who’s caught your eye, observe the situation: does she seem totally into her friends, or is she taking a genuine interest in the activity and people around her? In other words, is she even approachable? Approaching a girl at the wrong time can be as effective as waking your dad during his Sunday afternoon nap to ask him for money, so make sure she’s into meeting anyone before trying to interest her in meeting you.

Make eye contact first, and make sure she looks back at you. Once is not enough, because it could have been an accident. If you get any warmth back at all, from a friendly glint to red hot desire, then gently move in. I say gently because if you come on too strong, a girl might feel threatened or even mistake your zealousness for desperation.

While smiling and acting truly friendly, confidently introduce yourself. Try commenting on interesting people, activities nearby (“I just heard Darius Rucker is out in the bars tonight, have you seen him?”), asking her opinion on whatever event is on a nearby TV screen, or simply giving a non-sexual compliment. Be relaxed and in control, maybe in lean a tiny bit to show your interest specifically in her. Be careful, as she will not be impressed if you’re talking to her but still scanning the bar for your next target. If you’ve approached her, commit to it or you may as well wave a “Player” flag. If it looks like you have been or are planning to hit on multiple women in the bar, your credibility is shot.

Once you’ve broken the ice with a smooth intro – brace for the key point here — make it clear you have no intention of camping out in her space, and explain you have friends to get back to. This serves two purposes: it takes the pressure off and validates you. If a one or two minute chat goes well, consider this win #1. Be content with this small step and resist the temptation to dive right in, which is where most guys blow it. Don’t forget girls don’t go to bars alone. Diverting her attention for very long or efforts to pull her away from her friends will create ill will from the entire group. So be brief, excuse yourself, and while making solid eye contact say, “Maybe we can talk later.” Leave her feeling desired and wanting more.

How can you tell if she wants more? Did she laugh at your hilarious jokes? Did she play with her hair or the straw in her drink? Is she now blushing and making playful eye contact with you across the room? If she made any physical contact, like touching your arm while she laughed, it’s a very good sign. Women don’t intentionally or affectionately touch people they do not desire in some way.

If she did none of this, unless you get the feeling she was just incredibly shy, take the hint she’s not interested. You can approach the second time, but if she seems disinterested, or if your comic genius isn’t being appreciated, then give her your best “no harm, no foul” smile and an enthusiastic “It was great to meet you”. Cut your losses, but go out like a gentleman.

If you’re getting a good vibe, come back again for a brief chat. This time let her do most of the talking. Show interest in what she’s saying and in getting to know her. Smile, make eye contact and show her respect. You’d be amazed at how far those three little, but often ignored, things will take you with the right girl. Girls are people too, just like your friends and your family, and they want to be treated with the same appreciation you’d give those you care about. Close with an offer of getting together sometime soon (not that evening). Promise to call her at a specific time, and commit to actually doing it. She doesn’t know you well yet, but if she’s intrigued she’ll want to know more and will happily give you her number.

A helpful hint: If you’re not particularly comfortable with making the first move, get an introduction through someone. Taking a girl as your wingman to the bar could be a big help, since girls can get you in where guys can’t easily.

Don’t be afraid to approach the pretty girls either. Want to know why they always seem to go for the wrong guys? They are usually only approached by the arrogant jackasses who have the guts to sidle up to them. A genuine gentleman, no matter how average-looking he may think he is, has a better shot than you’d think.

So what’s the bottom line? Give chemistry a chance. It doesn’t take gimmicks, twenty questions, buying her tequila shots, or extreme persuasion. It takes a genuine effort of making a girl feel special and respected enough so she can decide if you’re someone she wants to get to know better…perhaps over a drink next week?

Let me know how it goes!

In Part 1, I discussed why approaching women is such a tricky task.  Men around the world feel your pain, and the women who’ve endured the fumbling approaches do too.  It’s time to get to the meat of the problem: what works and what doesn’t, because after all, identifying the problem is just the first step.

So what are some of the wrong ways men approach women?  Wait, “wrong” sounds so harsh; let’s go with “ineffective.”  Believe me, I could fill a 256GB hard drive with the lame lines, goofy gimmicks, and desperate approaches my girlfriends and I have survived over the years, but I will try to boil it down to a few general efforts that, in our eyes, ultimately don’t get guys the right attention.

First there’s the pushy and offensive approach, which can take many forms.  The guy can be grabby, touch excessively or just come on way too strong.  Enthusiasm is great, but why not let her decide how close or when it’s time to get cozy?  While getting all up in her personal space may secure temporary attention, most girls will feel cornered or even violated, and will find a way to ditch Groping Guy at the first opportunity.

Secondly there are the lame or offensive pick-up lines and gimmicks.  Let me state I am NOT a fan.  Many men think they need something unique or entertaining to break the ice.  What they don’t realize is while some women may tolerate an inane conversation or politely laugh at a ridiculous line, they will not take you seriously and overall will not be impressed with you beyond your ability to make an ass out of yourself.  Are you hoping to be seen as Clueless Guy with the dorky lines, or as Cool & Sexy Guy she wants to laze in bed with tomorrow morning?  Ask yourself this the next time you want to approach a group of girls for their opinion on the debate your friends are supposedly having: “Who’s got the best rack in Hollywood?”  (Yes, this cringe-worthy opener was used on a couple of us recently)

There are also the quiet and timid guys who have no plan at all, mumble, and have already accepted defeat before they even uttered their first word.  Those are the most frustrating, because the girl feels guilty right off the bat, but she is also underwhelmed by the lack of confidence and strength.  She usually doesn’t have to excuse herself because Low Self-Esteem Guy beat her to the punch, leaving her sitting there bewildered, wondering “what just happened?”

Lastly I see plenty of guys intensely working what many people refer to as “interview mode,” accosting the girl with a barrage of questions.  This is the guy who is already asking the next question (about her hometown, her job, where she went to school, her preference of dogs or cats) before the girl can quite complete her last answer.  Her answers get shorter and shorter, and she grows impatient, so he pushes harder and faster with questions hoping for any answers just to maintain her attention and the flow.  Again, while it may temporarily seem like he’s doing well because he’s upholding the conversation at a skillful pace, it’s very one-sided and the girl is going to feel overwhelmed.  Eventually she’ll glaze over and decide she doesn’t want to waste her time recanting her life story to someone she never wants to talk to again.

There are more, but you get the idea.  In each case, the problem lies in the approach not focusing on impressing or intriguing the girl, but rather imposing upon her.  Is it possible to get the right attention the right way?  My answer is coming up in a few short days.

As all women know, each and every guy has his own style in approaching women. Some men boast they know exactly what’s going to get them an “in” with the ladies, but it seems most claim not to have a clue about what they’re doing. From a girl’s perspective, it seems insanely simple, but I’ll bet most guys will not like hearing what I have to say regarding what could be most effective and why.

In our culture men are supposed to approach, then girls welcome or rebuff these approaches. You can argue things have changed – “the 21st century encourages a less traditional view” — but for the majority of us out there, this is simply how it still goes. That said, I believe most women today appreciate and are flattered by guys approaching them. With the exception of a demure yet provocative “come hither” look, many girls will shoot at a cute guy across the bar, it will be the rare and “ballsy” girl who takes the initiative to actually approach a guy in a social setting. Someone has to initiate, and if you’re a guy, that person might as well be you. “You miss all the shots you don’t take.” Take Gretsky’s words to heart and seize the good opportunities. Believe me, as you get older, you don’t want to carry around regrets about missed chances with great girls.

I’ll bet you’re thinking, women get hit on so much by guys. Most seem like they don’t want to deal with yet another guy coming up and wasting their time. How do I know when to approach and how do I set myself apart? Don’t I need some hook or signature line? What if she just rejects me straight out in some horrible and humiliating way? What is it about some guys who seem to have such luck and others who always strike out? There has to be something I’m missing.

You’re right, there is! If this is your concern, let me offer this hint: both guys and girls need to accept that although it’s mostly a numbers game, it’s also about choosing when, why and how to approach to secure success. Understanding what women want goes a long way toward giving them that and gaining not just the attention, but even the admiration, of a great girl.

Before I sign off and go to Part 2: What Goes Wrong, let me leave you with this: no one can help who they are and are not attracted to. Chemistry is real and it’s either there or it’s not, usually right off the bat. It’s not really something that’s up for discussion. Approaching is hard because you don’t know if she’ll bite on your line, or bite your head off. However, keeping perspective goes a long way toward maintaining your resilience. Yes, a rejection is personal, but it’s not the real you if she doesn’t know you yet; it’s just the fleeting idea of you in a loud and noisy bar, or a bustling and distracting restaurant. Generally speaking, girls are more interested in personality than looks, so keep in mind maybe you were hooked the moment you saw her walk in, but she likely won’t be nearly as interested yet because she doesn’t know you. You want to have a chance? You’re going to have to go over and talk to her to see if chemistry is in your favor. After that, it’s part timing, part style, and luck of the draw. We’ll see if we can get you past “hello” in Parts 2 & 3.