The CIAA 2010 Party Survial Guide

UPDATE: The 2011 Party Survival Guide is on the way. Check out CIAAParty.com for all the info on the events, hotel rooms, etc.

For those partygoers that hit up either the Superbowl and All-Star weekend events earlier this month, you probably had the time of your life, and spent a good amount of dough in Miami and Dallas. While both of those events draw crowds in the hundreds of thousands to their respective cities, the best parties of the year so far will be had later this week in Charlotte. The CIAA Tournament has for years been one of the best kept secrets as a regional social event, but 2010 has given the long weekend some national shine.

If you are a first timer to CIAA this year, I have my list of 7 things you must do to make CIAA Weekend a success.

1. First off, if you haven’t booked your hotel yet(you know who you are), you are not too late. Usually, the start of the week, hotel managers are contacting those who have booked rooms, but not paid deposits, and charging first night to confirm those people are coming into town. This is when rooms all of a sudden become available. Check the hotel websites hourly, or contact the hotel you are trying to stay at directly. I made friends with a girl who worked front desk at a Hyatt 2 years ago, and she has been getting me the hookup every time since.

2. Hit up the day parties. Im reading that this year many day parties will now be charging for admission, so you will have to choose wisely which event you hit up. In general, though, you really can’t lose with any event you wind up going too Friday or Saturday during the day. There is literally something for everyone(list of events below).

3. Act like you have been there before. CIAA brings out hundreds of grown and sexy women from all up and down the east coast, many whom are there with their girls having a good time for the weekend. Depending on whom you run into, “good time” could mean different things. Odds are, though, if your game is tight, you will get the good time you are looking for with NO problem. I know I have every time I hit up CIAA.

4. Hotel Lobbies are the best hangouts. Last year I spent more time in the lobby of two hotels I didn’t even stay in, it wasn’t funny. I remember hooking up with three different females all staying in the same hotel, two of which stayed on the same floor. I wish I was exxagerating, but it gets LIKE THAT at CIAA. I would say at least 7 out of every 10 people you see are women, and of those 7, 3 are dimes. I take that 3 dimes for every 1 of me ratio, and capitalize on it.

5. Have a budget. Some brothas I know were ballin outta control in Miami for Superbowl weekend, spending their tax refund check in the VIP of the 400 Club parties. That three hour time of their life may have seemed worth it, but I know now that same brotha is sitting at his kitchen table wondering why he did that. Women aren’t immune to this either. CIAA falls at the end of the month, which means make sure BEFORE you leave for Charlotte, you have paid your rent/mortgage/insurance/car note.

6. Hit up Club Onyx. This is obviously for the fellas (and those girls who like girls, too). Club Onyx is the best strip club in the Queen City, and CIAA weekend is like Christmas in there.

7. Talk to your girl once a day. You don’t wanna be that guy in your crew that is making love to the iPhone every morning in the hotel room, or right before you guys walk into the parties this weekend. If your girl is back at home, let her know you are thinking about her, but she should be understanding you are out with the fellas having a good time. If she is also out at CIAA, then she will likely be just as busy having fun with her friends. The key is contact daily, letting her know you thought about her, you love her, and be safe.

My CIAA Party Picks – Where I will probably be(or have free passes too)

Thursday 2/25
Melanie Fiona & Michael Vick Official CIAA 2010 Kickoff Party at Club 935. $20. Feb. 25. 10 p.m. Club 935, 935 S. Summit St. To purchase tickets, visit www.ez-tixx.com

Friday 2/26
JetSet DAY Party CI Edition at Mez. Hosted by The A List and The Sol Kitchen. Food available and music by DJ DR. Advance tickets $10. Feb. 26. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Mez, 210 E. Trade St. 704-971-2400. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, www.thesolkitchen.com, alist_events@yahoo.com, or 704-287-2252.

The Warm Up — CI Friday Day Party Jumpoff at Cosmos Cafe. Presented by Blue Goose Entertainment Group. Lunch specials, doors open at noon, everyone free before 1:30 p.m. $20 or get a weekend pass for Blue Goose events for $40. Feb. 26. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Cosmos Cafe, 300 N. College St. For more info and to purchase tickets, check out www.bluegoosenc.com/ciaa.

CIAA Extravaganza: The Premiere at The Westin. Hosted by Velvet Entertainment. Music by DJ Bro Rabb. Complimentary and heavy hors d’oeuvres for all VIP patrons. Feb. 26. 9 p.m. $40 and up. To purchase tickets, visit www.Velvet-Ent.com. The Westin (2nd floor ballroom, 601 S. College St. Call 919-961-5372 for more information.


Saturday 2/27
The 2nd annual Red Carpet Day Party Affair at Ruth’s Chris. Presented by Heights Entertainment with music by DJ Incognito. $30. Feb. 27. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Visit http://ciaa.eventbrite.com for tickets. Ruth’s Chris, 222 S. Tryon St. 704-338-9444.

The CIAA Ultimate Day Party With JADAKISS at Club Reign. Advance tickets $25. Feb. 27. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Club Reign, 5300 Old Pineville Road. For tickets or VIP tables call 704-957-3420.

Drake’s Official CIAA Grand Finale at Club 935. Advance tickets $40. Feb. 27. Club 935, 935 S. Summit Ave. To purchase tickets, visit www.club935.com or www.ez-tixx.com.

P. Diddy’s The Event at Ramada Hotel Woodlawn. Hosted and performing live, P. Diddy. $60 and up. Feb. 27. Doors open at 9 p.m. Ramada Hotel, 212 Woodlawn Road. To purchase tickets, visit www.ez-tixx.com.

You can check a listing of ALL the events for CIAA weekend right here.

Tagged as: CIAA, jumpoffs, parties