It’s summer … go out on the lake! Lake nightlife feels more like a vacation than a night out (it’s also a vacation from cover charges, dress codes, and VIP segregation). This is the perfect weekend to set sail for your favorite watering hole. Here are six great options.
Friday
Reggae on the Lake: This evening yacht cruise features live reggae music, Caribbean hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, drink specials and prizes. Meet at 9:30 p.m. at the Galway Hooker Pub (17044 Kenton Drive, Cornelius). Cruise runs from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. $40. 704-377-2782.
Mingling on the Green Concert Series: Birkdale Village (8712 Lindholm Drive, Huntersville) hosts this outdoor event every Friday and Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Birkdale is Lake Norman’s equivalent of the EpiCentre, with great hangouts like Red Rocks, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Corkscrew, Eez, Brixx, and Fox and the Hound. A flash mob even broke out one time while I was there. 704-895-8744.
Montford Island Bar Crawl: OK, so this isn’t at the lake, but it’s too summer-y to leave off the list. You pick up your “passport” at Brazwell’s (1627 Montford Drive) between 7:30-9 p.m., and then set sail for four other ports of call: 10 Park Lanes, Duckworth’s, Andrew Blairs, and Angry Ale’s. At 12:30 a.m., one lucky crawler will win a trip to the Bahamas. $5. www.rockhouseevents.com.
Saturday
Blue Monday: The ’80s cover band – a local favorite – is performing at the Rusty Rudder (20210 Henderson Road). The popular lakeside restaurant/bar will host live music from Scott and Woody on the Tiki Deck. Never any cover, ever. 704-892-9195.
Two other Lake hotspots
Saeed’s Bar & Grill (20832 Catawba Ave., Cornelius): Situated right behind a Sunoco station (I didn’t believe there was actually a bar in the back of a gas station until I went), this is my favorite weekend spot on the lake. Saeed’s sponsors karaoke every night of the week, with thousands of song options. 704-896-3633.
T-Bones on the Lake (3990 Charlotte Highway, Lake Wylie): This is basically the Lake Wylie version of the Rusty Rudder. 803-831-0170.
