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Ok, so you’re not a loser, per se. At least that’s what your mom keeps telling you. But there sure are times when your wallet tells you otherwise. Not all of us can be born into wealth, marry a trust-fund baby, or sell our souls to the devil (sorry to “out” you, Paris Hilton).
Uptown Charlotte is filled with opportunities to make a splash with cash, but you can live the luxe life, even if your bank account is short on paper.
Steak
Who can resist a luscious steak at the Capital Grille? Perfect marbling, a fine cabernet and the feeling of robber baron entitlement that comes with sitting in an overstuffed chair surrounded by paintings of someone else’s dead relatives...mmmm. Delightful—unless you’re one of those annoying PETA people, or you’re trying to spend less than 50 bucks per person. If you’re looking for quality food at a decent price, you can’t get much better than the bar specials at Sullivan’s (on South Blvd.) They have this deal from 5-7 pm Monday through Friday where you can get 2 bar entrees for $10 (petit filets, salmon, shrimp); drinks for $5 (martinis, wine) and live music. On Thursdays, the bar specials last all night and the place is packed, so get there early. If your girlfriend complains the bar is “too smoky,” just buy her another martini. She’ll soon forget.
Luxe Price: Steak dinner for two with a decent bottle of wine: $200
Loser Price: Fun evening at the bar: $30
If your girlfriend is a whiner: $50
Dumping whiner girlfriend: Priceless
Cigars
Your luxe evening isn’t complete without a good cigar. Are you planning on playing pool and having a cognac at Cutter’s (in the Marriot)? If you buy cigars at the bar or in a fine hotel, chances are you’ll pay the same markup as wine, and you just never know how well they’ve been stored. Check out the tiny little Tinderbox in Overstreet Mall. Jay, the darling, will be happy to show you some well-priced finds like the CAO CX2 with a Cameroon wrapper and binder (whatever that is) for $8, or you could buy the box for a 10% discount (so if Hillary wins in 2008, you can send a few to Bill–he has a fondness for cigars).
Luxe Price: Cigar from the bar, $15
Loser Price: Tinderbox CAO CX2, $8-$10
Impressing the ladies with your stogie knowledge: annoying
Housekeeping
So the other day, I was talking with a friend who (gasp) actually took a job so she could pay her housekeeper. That must be a damn good housekeeper. My friend (let’s call her “Lisa”) loathes cleaning and is willing to pay to have her house smell like Pledge. I have to admire “Lisa” because she’s a woman clearly dedicated to luxury: she has somebody coming to her house every other week. But to get your house cleaned, you don’t have to have that level of commitment–that’s like getting engaged! Afraid of that kind of obligation? Enter Molly Maids: They’ll do a total top-to-bottom clean (details at mollymaid.com) as often as you like, with same-day service. Apparently, there are a lot of bachelors out there who are misrepresenting themselves by getting Molly Maids to do their “date night cleaning”…you know who you are…
Luxe Price: $200 per month, commitment required
Loser Price: $100 or less (for a 1bed/1bath) for 1 thorough date-night cleaning
Faking out a hookup into thinking you actually know how to use a vacuum: Naughty
Spa Treatments
I’ve seen you in the do-it-yourself nail aisle at Eckerd. Pathetic. No matter what it says on the box, you’ll never be as good as a professional at coloring your hair, waxing, nails, and facials. Think your friends don’t notice? They do. They laugh at your homemade highlights behind your back. Well, don’t worry; you’re not the only one who has a cousin who’ll give up the goods for cheap. Modern Salon and Spa owns Mantra (their cousin salon), which is the training ground for future Modern stylists. Why should you care? It means less money out of your pocket. Mantra is moving this month to Hearst Tower where they’ll have a full-service salon and spa up and running so you can pay less for highlights and stop looking like a chump. Is the full-service salon experience too rich for your blood? Try Matrix Nail. Matrix is no-frills, super-quick nails. You can get out of there for $20 (this includes tip.) No wonder my friend KB calls Matrix “fast food nails”.
Luxe Price: Modern Salon cut, color and style: $170.00
Loser Price: Mantra cut color and style: $100
Letting your friends know you’re on to them: Gratifying
Transportation:
Most Americans believe their cars say a lot about them. Admit it. You do it. You see a man driving a minivan and you think sadly, “He gave it all up for the kids.” Or the short guy in the Hummer–well, that’s too easy. What about your “straight” guy friend who drives a VW Bug convertible? Dude, it’s time to tell us.
Word on the street is that the 2007 Lexus IS is the hottest ticket to ride, but it’ll set you back 30-35K. Unless your rent is being paid by your mama, you don’t have that kind of dinero, so what’re you gonna do? Public transportation. Yeah, I said it. When you’re playing/living/working Uptown, take the Goldrush. Or as I prefer to call it, the faux trolley, or “Frolley.” It’s free, clean and easy to figure out. You won’t be yelling at other drivers yakking on cell phones or paying for parking. Just pick up one of the route maps in the Frolley, at the concierge desk in your building, or online at CATS website. The Charlotte Area Transit System has all kinds of services putting your pesky tax dollars to work.
Luxe Price: Lexus IS $30,000-$35,000
Loser Price: Free!
Knowing you can ignore conversations about gas prices: Blissful
Linens
Believe it or not, when polled about luxury goods, most people mentioned Frette linens. Okay, two people, but it still doesn’t change the fact that really high-quality linens are a luxury not to be missed. Ditch your Scooby Doo sheets (you know you still have them). When you slip into fine linens, the only word that comes to mind is ‘buttery.’ Remember the bikini and butter wrestling event from college? It’s like that, but without the “walk of shame.” A fine Frette bedding set can cost upwards of three grand at Isabella on Providence. But take the bus over to Stein-Mart in the Cotswold shopping center and get their 600-thread-count premium sheets for $90. You won’t be sliding into cotton butter, but you’ll notice a difference–sorry Scoob.
Luxe Price: Frette king bedding set, $3,000
Loser Price: 600-thread-count king sheet set, $90
Sleeping in a grown-up bed: Dreamy
Clothing
Prada isn’t in your budget. Whose budget IS it in? Looking hip while saving cash IS possible. Head over to Lotus in Plaza Midwood or Dilworth and find cutting-edge clothing, personal service, and unique accessories at reasonable prices. You can get a smashing outfit sans the “mall look” for under $150. If you insist on designer duds, I must mention the Junior League of Charlotte’s Wearhouse on 4th. With consignments from some high-dollar shops and donations from the well-heeled among us, you might just find an Escada jacket for $30, if you’re lucky.
Luxe Price: Prada, Escada, Donatella…: Ugh
Loser Price: Whole outfit–heels to headband–for $150
Looking dope without debt: Trčs chic!
Travel
It’s hard not to wish Montezuma’s Revenge on your pal who’s taking yet another trip to Cancun. Leisure travel is definitely the first thing to go when you’re pinching pennies. If you’ve read any lame travel articles before where they suggest that you “Be a tourist in your own town,” and you thought it might sound good if you lived in San Francisco or NYC, but Charlotte? C’mon. Perhaps you think Ballantyne is just another place where people with kids go to die, but consider the hidden gem of the Ballantyne Resort. The incredible golf course, dining, spa and accommodations can be energizing after a tough week at work and you don’t even have to pay airfare, car rental or even pack much. If you have kids, then you know how just taking a trip to Gastonia would soothe your soul, so long as you could leave the ankle biters behind. The resort has plenty of amenities and the rooms are ultra plush. A little bird told me they’re working on getting a fifth star added to their plaque, so now’s a good time to go. The website has info on packages, pricing and reservations.
Luxe Price: Weekend away to anywhere but here: $2000 plus
Loser Price: Ballantyne weekend $700 or less
Knowing your bags won’t get lost: liberating
Alliteration for Losers
Five of life’s little luxuries found right here in CLT
1. Libraries: Charlotte has an incredibly user-friendly library system. I don’t know where they’re hiding the crazy, mean spinster librarians, but they aren’t here. The Main Library has easy access to reading materials, CD’s, videos, research, computers and enrichment programs for free!
2. Love: Sounds downright corny, but do you ever thank the people who have loved you even when you weren’t likable? Do it. It’ll do your soul good.
3. Light: A Charlotte winter is chilly, but you can always see the sun. This is not the way most people experience winter and early spring every year. Even if it’s cold, get out and soak up some vitamin D for a few minutes.
4. Levine Children’s Hospital: This amazing place, which will open later this year, will be the largest children’s hospital between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The design is based on the family-centered care philosophy. We should all be grateful for such a place.
5. Liberty: A lot of people on this planet die every day fighting for the kind of freedom we enjoy in this country of ours. We all have the opportunity to be grateful for it, regardless of the imperfections.
~ Sheri Joseph |
