Let’s be honest, we are all not made of money. And Charlotte well, it isn’t the cheapest. So oftentimes we sacrifice our Friday nights because frankly we just can’t afford it. But we at Charlotte Nightlife have conjured up some solutions to this problem and thanks to us, you will never have to sacrifice your Friday nights again.
($7) Badin Road Drive-In– With ticket prices of $7 per adult and $4 per child, you cannot go wrong with this retro pastime. With double-feature options and no sticky floors or cryptic substances on the seats; you can enjoy your Friday night in this cool atmosphere from the comfort of your car. And don’t worry, you can bring your snacks, chairs, and pets to enjoy the cinema too.
(FREE) South End Gallery Crawl– The South End Gallery Crawl takes place on the first Friday of every month. Though you may have some trouble finding parking in the area, this is a free and great way to meet people and socialize. Most of the galleries remain open until 9 pm or later and with the crawl being free, you can afford a cheap bite to eat at any of the variety of great restaurants located along South Blvd.
($10) The Rabbit Hole– With Shows only $10 in advance, The Rabbit Hole is the next new Friday nightspot. Featuring local artists, nationally touring bands, and great drink prices, this place is a perfect way to unwind after a long work week and enjoy some high-quality live music in Plaza Midwood.
($5.95) A Bite to Eat at Lupie’s– Cheap beer and a delicious burger can be yours at Lupie’s Café. Located off Monroe Road, this café offers consistently good food at great prices. On a Friday night, you can devour your delicious food at an affordable price and even catch some local music making it a timeless QC establishment.
($6) Elizabeth Billiards– If you love shooting free pool, throwing darts, and jukebox music; Elizabeth Billiards just may be your key to pure happiness. In Plaza Midwood, this dive bar has frequent specials including $2 domestic bottles, $3 imports, and every day- all day free billiards.
($8) Charlotte B Cycle – Having an adventure in the QC is the best way to spend a Friday night. Though I wouldn’t advise going out on the streets alone, with a friend or group of friends each of you can rent a Charlotte B Cycle 24-Hour Pass for $8 with 30 minutes included. Just choose a bike from any B-station, return it when you are done, and have fun! Rides of less than 30 minutes for 24-hour passes and 60 minutes for memberships incur no usage fee. For each additional 30 minutes over the initial ride time, your card will be charged $4. Hint: To avoid usage fees, dock your bike within 30 minutes and check out another to keep going!
($10 or Less)ABARI Game Bar– Membership will cost you $1 for a lifetime (A Real Steal) and then you are good to go for a night of gaming and cheap drinks at ABARI. Right on the outskirts of NoDa, ABARI Game Bar has old-school arcade games including pinball, PAC-MAN, and Mortal Kombat for .25 cents. There is also a full bar offering a nice $1.50 PBR draft and great graffiti art to admire while gaming too.
(FREE) Observation Park–If you enjoy aviation, you will love this idea. Living in the QC allows us to channel our inner pilot and watch planes land and take flight at the airport observation park at Charlotte Douglas International Airport for FREE! Bring drinks and snacks ($10 worth if you like) and you will by far have the best time relaxing in amazement doing this on your Friday night.
With Love,
Lex Paige
