BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD
Insider Editor
Dusk settles over Seven Lakes. Headlights send a herd of deer scampering through the yard. A sneaky fox stalks his prey on Owens Circle. An owl’s yearning hoot echoes through the pines.
A commotion of coots — the birds, not a group of old-timers — gathers mid-lake for a slumber. A helicopter on a training run from Fort Bragg thumps against the starry sky.
Such is the active night life of Seven Lakes. Unless you know where to look. Because when it comes to the night life of Seven Lakes — well, there’s nothing trivial about it.
Sometimes even the most bucolic personalities need to paint the town. We’ve gathered a few options for those looking to raise their spirits when the sun falls below the horizon.
Sandhills Winery
In Seven Lakes, brainiacs thrive, with trivia opportunities at least three nights a week. One trivia hot spot is Sandhills Winery and Gifts, 1057 Seven Lakes Drive, which hosts trivia from 6-7 p.m. and usually anticipates a full house.
Trish Elliott, who owns the business with her husband, Tom, advises people to let them know ahead of time if they want to come to reserve a spot for a team of two to six players.
“If you want to come by yourself, we’ll put you on a team,” Elliott said.
“We’ve helped a lot of people who have just moved here or never come in before feel a part of things because we put them with a team. We pride ourselves in helping people meet each other.”
The Elliotts will celebrate seven years of ownership this June. Employee Mike Antio helps them keep the bar and the shop running. The bar serves wine and draft beer including beer from local breweries.
The owners enjoy contributing to the character of the community.
“I think our place is just quaint. They call us the Cheers of Seven Lakes ” Elliot said. “It’s a family environment. It’s not only us as staff, but it’s the customers that create that family environment. They’re going to make newcomers feel welcome.”
Another way Sandhills Winery contributes to the night life is through popular outdoor concerts on the final Friday evening of each month from 6:30-9:30 p.m., May to September. They bring in a band and a food truck and bring out some wine to sample. They have had crowds as large as 150 people.
“Its just a big family gathering, a community event for people to visit.” They also host a costume party close to Halloween.
To sign up for trivia, reach out via their email address, sandhillswinery@gmail.com or through the Sandhills Winery Facebook page.
Lake House Tavern
If your Saturday night is slow, slide over to trivia night at the Lake House Tavern, 200 Grant St. When Robert McPartland bought the tavern with business partner Chris Mace in March 2021, he was eager to liven the space.
“You could hear a fork drop in there,” McPartland said. So they brought in some music and updated the ambiance.
Trivia starts at 7:15 p.m. and packs the house, though he is considering pushing it back by 15 minutes for house management. Demand requires them to take reservations.
“We want to give the people what they want, you know,” said McPartland, “and the people of Seven Lakes really dig the trivia.”
As he moves about the packed tavern, McPartland jovially interacts with staff and customers clearly having a good time. He is in his element.
McPartland thinks Saturday night trivia suits people who are coming to Seven Lakes after dinner in Southern Pines or Pinehurst who might want to stop for a cocktail or two and some social interaction close to home.
“It’s really interesting because 95 percent of our people are locals that come into the restaurant, and we’re starting to get more and more folks coming here from Foxfire or Phinehurst. It is nice to see that they will travel the seven miles to this place,” he said. “But being that we are all locals, it’s like a centralized community where people can come and let their hair down. It’s just a meeting place.”
The nightlife at the Lake House Tavern is, for McPartland, all about taking the world off your shoulders, taking a deep breath, enjoying a cocktail or a beer, getting good service and being entertained for a couple of hours.
The tavern also boasts live music from 6:30 to 9:30 or 10 p.m. on Thursdays. Check out the tavern’s website at lakehousetavernnc.com or Facebook page for more information about events and entertainment.
And if you are looking for a third round of trivia to fill your weekly calendar, visit the Southside Bar and Grill at 7 Lakes Golf Club, 124 East Devonshire Avenue, on Monday nights. Teams of up to six are asked to check in by 5:45 p.m. for the 6 p.m. start.
Bingo is the Game-O
You can always count on the Seven Lakes Kiwanians for a good time. They host a bi-monthly Bingo game at the Chapel in the Pines, 581 Seven Lakes Drive.
Around 30 to 40 people try their luck every first and third Tuesday of the month excluding July and August. Kiwanis Bingo has been going since 1983. It started at the Seven Lakes North community center. The Chapel fellowship hall now offers more room and easier access by the public.
Early-bird Bingo players arrive early for 6:30 p.m. play, including four games. They come ready with colorful Dab-O-Ink daubers. Serious players manage 10 or more paper bingo cards at a time. Snacks, which can be purchased on site, flow abundantly. Regular Bingo begins at 7 p.m. for 10 games.
Club members Jerry Sink and Bill Pratt facilitate the longstanding game along with other Kiwanis volunteers. A software program by the name of Bingo Rose calls the games.
Play packages run $20 for a basic package and $25 for a full package. Early Bird Bingo packs with four games sheets (9on) are $5 per pack. Regular Bingo packs (9on) with seven games sheets are $11 per pack. Several other pack combinations are available.
Game payouts run from $15 to $60. And jackpots are $40 for a non-winning progressive mini jackpot, $75 for a non-winning progressive jackpot, $250 for a progressive mini jackpot, and $500 for the progressive jackpot.
The event raises funds for Key Club leadership training and scholarships, West End and West Pine Elementary Schools including library upgrades at WEE along with various other children’s programs throughout Moore County.
Whip out your most colorful Dab-O-Ink daubers and take a gamble with your Tuesday nights. You may even go home a little richer. Contact Jerry Sink at jwsink883@gmail.com to request more information.
Fun is In the Cards
It’s not exactly Vegas, but fun is in the cards for those looking to ante up around a table. Several card games are scheduled throughout the week, with many taking place at the Seven Lakes North Game Room for residents on the North and South sides.
If wagering is your game, try your hand at Poker night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. For the last two years this standing game has attracted a rotating cast of around 16, mostly male players who are keen to keep a low profile. With eight to ten guys showing up on any given night, they play two rounds a night for chips.
If taking tricks is more your bet, join a Euchre game from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. or Pinochle from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays. Or roll the dice with a game of Bunco from 6 to 9 p.m. every third Monday.
Odds are good for a fun time at any game night. Take a chance on making some new friends.
Sounds of Summer
Summer nights are full of sweet music in Seven Lakes West. The anticipated Summer Concert Series kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend on May 24 with TR Cogburn. If you are out of town for the holiday weekend, don’t worry, there is a full schedule.
The concerts, held at Johnson Point, foster a strong sense of community and are usually well attended by west side residents and their guests.
This year the concert on Aug. 9 with Mark McKinney will be near the community center and will include a pool party. All concerts are from 5 to 8 p.m. except for the final concert of the series. The series culminates with a Fall Festival from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 featuring Whiskey Pines.
The rest of this year’s lineup:
- June 21 – Paige Johnson
- July 5 – Reflection II
- July 19 – Amanda Acoustics
- Aug. 9 – Mark McKinney (pool party)
- Aug. 30 – Southern Haze Band
- Sept. 13 – Tony Barnes
It is typical for 100 to 200 people to enjoy a summer night concert, with boats bobbing along to the music. It’s as much of a social gathering as a concert, with friends and neighbors lounging on chairs with coolers of beverages and snacks.
Star Sightings
Night is when Seven Lakes really shines. Limited light pollution makes for excellent stargazing. As fiery sunsets fade, amateur astronomers set up telescopes in backyards or on the dams.
Larry Pizzi has earned a following through the years for the stellar sky views he captures. His collection of over 500 photos of Seven Lakes is now available to order at West End Antiques and More, 119 Trade Street. Pick up an order card with prices and ordering instructions at the store. A share of the proceeds goes to the store, giving support to two small businesses.
But you don’t need fancy equipment to enjoy the evening delights of the heavens. Supermoons, lunar eclipses, comets, constellations, shooting stars, the international space station, Starlink launches, the Milky Way and even the Northern lights are, depending on conditions, visible to the naked eye.
Seven Lakes may not be the city that never sleeps. But this is one live, night-time show that can’t be missed.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
