Pop Life, the free, weekly nightlife event for the uptown eclectic, has found a new home.
After a year at Apostrophe Lounge in SouthEnd, promoter Mike Kitchen is taking his every-Wednesday-afterwork party to the Luna Lounge, one of the Qcity’s newest spots at 521 N. College St.
Pop Life’s final act at Apostrophe will be tonight (10/14), and it will begin a new life at Luna Lounge on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
“Kitch,” as he is known, said the decision to move Pop Life was about business — and was in keeping with his original goal to make the event a roving party.
Luna Lounge will be Pop Life’s fourth venue since its launch in spring 2007.
“It is fall, a new season, and it is time to change up,” said Kitch, whose Sol Kitchen promotions has brought to Charlotte such acts as Raphael Saadiq, the Roots and India.Aire. “If you stay at the same spot and do the same thing over and over again, people get tired of it. Pop Life is about introducing our crowd to spots they don’t usually go to.”
Krystie Phannareth, Luna’s general manger, said Pop Life attracts the mix she seeks.
“We are hoping to bring more diversity,” she said. “We are hoping to bring his crowd.”
Just business
Johnathan Cuevas, owner of Apostrophe, said he understands the reasons behind Kitch’s move.
“You can’t be in this (entrepreneurship) and take things personal,” he said. “We are still cool; no beef between us.”
Cuevas said Pop Life had a positive impact on Apostrophe’s business. He said Kitch approached him in September 2008 about bringing the event to his club. He said Kitch was excited to be supporting another black-owned business.
“We were just opening up,” Cuevas recalled. “It exposed Apostrophe and the atmosphere we have.”
With Pop Life moving on, Cuevas said Apostrophe will continue to provide the same vibe it has since its beginning.
“We still provide the cozy, lounge feel, while avoiding the commercialized nightclub feeling,” he said. “We stay with the classics.”
Thursday at Apostrophe is “Hip-Hop Karaoke” night. Friday is “Tribute to the DJ,” showcasing classic hip-hop tracks. And Saturday is “Unheard Session,” which spins hip-hop, reggae and house records.
An eclectic birth
Pop Life got its birth in the minds of Kitch and Carlton Hargro, editor-in-chief of Creative Loafing, which until recently sponsored the event.
Over the years, it has grown to be as underground as a 1920’s Prohibition speakeasy.
Kitch describes Pop Life as “Charlotte’s most eclectic experience.” He said his goal has been to expose people to different types of art, music, dress and venues.
“It doesn’t matter if you work for Bank of America or for yourself, you can be eclectic,” he said.
In a 2008 interview, Hargro said the event has had a different feel in each location.
“When it was at PreVue (Spring 2007), it had more of a dance feel,” he said. “When it was at Loft (Summer 2008), it was a little more expansive. It was bigger and people could go outside. At Apostrophe (Fall 2008) it’s a little loungier and a little more intimate.”
Pop Life reborn
So, what will its new feel be once Pop Life moves to Luna?
Kitch says the new décor will emanate “sexy.”
The new location will have more seating, which encourages people to sit and chat, he said. The outdoor patio will allow people to get away from the crowd for more intimate conversations.
Phannareth, the Luna general manger, says the dark rustic colors of the wooden floors and brown brick walls create a warm and highly sensual atmosphere.
“It is a place you can come in, sit down and talk and not have to scream over the music pounding in the background,” she said.
