Creative Loafing Charlotte

My Neighbor Totoro, One Hour Photo, Philadelphia among new home entertainment titles

Matt Brunson — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:40:00 -0400

This week's reviews of what's new on Blu-ray and DVD by Matt Brunson (View From The Couch is a weekly column that reviews what's new on Blu-ray and DVD.) LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945).…

State finally sues Duke for endangering Charlotte's water supply

John Grooms — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:25:00 -0400

Apparently following the axiom that late is better than never, North Carolina is suing Duke Energy over carcinogenic pollution in Charlotte's major water source, Mountain Island Lake. Seven months after a Duke University study found high levels of arsenic in Mountain Island Lake - and two months after a much-publicized report from the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and the Southern Environmental Law Center on pollution in Mountain Island Lake - the N.C. Division of Water Quality says Duke's coal ash has resulted in pollution that could threaten Charlotte's water supply with carcinogens that can cause central nervous system damage.…

Youth is served at the Blumey Awards

Perry Tannenbaum — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:19:00 -0400

For the record, South Mecklenburg High School's entry in the 2nd Annual Blumey Awards was their production of The Wiz. This will probably be news to most of the audience who packed Belk Theater to capacity for the Blumey ceremonies on Sunday night.…

Today's Top 5: Tuesday

Anita Overcash — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:00 -0400

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 21, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* Maz Jobrani at The Comedy Zone

* Sara Bareilles at Booth Playhouse

* Lights.…

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Live review: Paramore, The Fillmore (5/20/2013)

Alison Angel — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:26:00 -0400

Paramore
The Fillmore
May 20, 2013

A new album (the group's first in four years) and its first tour on American soil in far too long had Paramore's already ravenous fans literally clawing at the barrier separating themselves from the three original members left standing Monday night. And, no, the sold-out Fillmore wasn't only filled to the brim with tweens - though many had bright hair in an effort to imitate their idol.…
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Book review: James Salter's All That Is

John Schacht — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400
Author's first novel in 40 years shines by John Schacht Midway through James Salter's new novel, his first in four decades, an editor at a small New York City publishing house has to turn down a novel from an aging writer still respected for a book or two early in his career. This latest novel, the editor/protagonist Philip Bowman says, is "done elegantly enough but past its time."…
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Dixie's Tavern closes, land to be used for park

Ana McKenzie — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:24:00 -0400

Dear Hangover,

I'm sorry to have to break it to you like this - if only there could have been more time! - but I have some bad news.…
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BREAKING: Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon to announce mayoral bid Tuesday

Ana McKenzie — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:56:00 -0400

Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon will announce his "political intentions" - aka his mayoral bid - noon Tuesday at Elizabeth Park. Cannon is seeking to replace Democrat Mayor Anthony Foxx, who will leave his position to serve in President Obama's cabinet as Secretary of Transportation.…
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James T. Kirk, millennial: Latent morality in the new Trek films

Corbie Hill — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:16:00 -0400

Hello. My name is Corbie Hill, and I'm a huge Star Trek fan.…
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Now open: Bubble Lounge

Kimberly Lawson — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:09:26 -0400

After teasing Charlotte for what feels like forever, the champagne bar Bubble Lounge finally opened this past weekend.

In addition to serving Dom Perignon by the glass, getting all mad scientist on us by steaming martinis with liquid nitrogen and creating "spherical flavor pearls" that add a "touch of color" to the drinks on the Slim List (that would be your low-calorie cocktails), Bubble will offer a "small but challenging and approachable menu," says operating partner Bourke Floyd.…
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Today's Top 5: Monday

Anita Overcash — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 20, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* Isabel Wilkerson at McGlohon Theater

* Kitten at The Fillmore

* Mayhem Monday at Sanctuary Pub

* Monday Night Allstars at Double Door Inn

* Karaoke at Dixie's Tavern

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This is Charlotte: An interview with R&B singer Karen Ann Marie

Kimberly Lawson — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:31:00 -0400

ABlackTV returns for another episode of This Is Charlotte. This time, filmmaker ABlack gets to know local R&B/reggae singer Karen Ann Marie a little better.…
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Kitten at the Fillmore tonight (5/20/2013)

Pat Moran — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:22:00 -0400

KITTEN
Fronted by precocious 17-year-old Chloe Chaidez, Kitten is aptly named. The band's electro-punk attack is more New Wave than riot grrl, and Chaidez's impressive vocals trend more toward a breathy purr than the lioness roar of Karen O, though both extremes are well within her range.…
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Raising the bar: Building a cocktail culture in Charlotte

Tricia Childress — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400
New additions to ABC's "boutique" list means more specialty drinks by Tricia Childress A decade ago, Charlotteans were in search of top-notch dining experiences. We have that now: imaginative, highly skilled chefs, stunning local produce, achingly gorgeous restaurants.…
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Crosby, Stills and Nash at Ovens Auditorium tonight (5/19/2013)

John Schacht — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:56:00 -0400

CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH
The aging '60s icons have recently found their waning stars on the ascendant again, thanks in part to getting name-checked by trendy multi-part harmony bands like Fleet Foxes. CS&N were considered one of the first 'supergroups' because all three members had been in well-known bands prior to forming in '68 - David Crosby was booted from the Byrds, Stephen Stills had played in Buffalo Springfield (whose Neil Young would rescue CS&N from complete treacle) and Graham Nash had ditched the Hollies.…
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High stakes at the Blumey Awards

Perry Tannenbaum — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The nominees have been announced and 15 winners will be named at the 2nd Annual Blumey Awards this Sunday evening at Belk Theater. Thirty-two high school musical productions are competing for bragging rights from across 16 counties in the Metrolina region.…
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Weekend Film Reviews: Star Trek Into Darkness; The Great Gatsby; The Iceman; and more

Matt Brunson — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.

The Great Gatsby

The Iceman

Star Trek Into Darkness

Also playing:

The Company You Keep

The Croods

42

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Iron Man 3

Mud

Oblivion

Olympus Has Fallen

Pain & Gain

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Puppets invade Theatre Charlotte

Perry Tannenbaum — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Lovers of irreverence can rejoice greatly, for the potty-mouthed puppets of Avenue Q are bringing their song-and-angst routine to Theatre Charlotte. Recent college grad Princeton is the newest tenement tenant on this queer city block, wondering how he can parlay an English degree into a livelihood while instantly smitten - how could he not be?…
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Sam Bush at DrumStrong in Weddington tonight (5/18/2013)

Pat Moran — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:52:00 -0400

SAM BUSH
In traditional mountain music circles, fiddle and mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush is rightly a legend, but he's far from a traditionalist. It's hard to believe now, but when Bush formed New Grass Revival in 1972, the combo's seamless mix of bluegrass, rock, jazz and gospel was seen as a heresy on the order of Bob Dylan going electric at the Newport Jazz Festival.…
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Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files (May 16)

Ryan Pitkin — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400
Flying barbecues top the list by Ryan Pitkin Feel the burn: Police responded to a vandalism call last week in west Charlotte after a man got too heated during an argument. The 22-year-old victim told police that the suspect came into her home through a rear window and tried to take a television that he said belonged to him.…
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Star Trek Into Darkness: Beaming with pride

Matt Brunson — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400
Rating: ***1/2 by Matt Brunson STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS ***1/2 DIRECTED BY J.J. Abrams STARS Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto One of the promotional posters for Star Trek Into Darkness depicts a damaged Enterprise free-falling toward the planet below it, but any worries that J.J. Abrams' series reboot will experience a similar tumble with this second installment can immediately be laid to rest.…
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The Great Gatsby: Novel approach mars novel adaptation

Matt Brunson — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:50:00 -0400
Rating: **1/2 by Matt Brunson THE GREAT GATSBY **1/2 DIRECTED BY Baz Luhrmann STARS Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire One of the Ten Commandments of movie reviewing, at least in The Gospel According to Matthew Brunson, is that "Thou shalt not compare the film adaptation with its source material."…
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Fortune Feimster visits The Comedy Zone

Joanne Spataro — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:00 -0400

We've got to hand it to comedian Fortune Feimster. She impersonates Honey Boo Boo well.…
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Have a happy, Sharia-free weekend!

John Grooms — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:00 -0400

Amid all the noise and ruckus of the General Assembly's current, historic session, many bills tainted by far-right myths and misperceptions were introduced. A lot of them passed.…
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Design geek Aaron Draplin offers budding entrepreneurs advice

Ryan Pitkin — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400
He comes off as the guy who took more mushrooms than anyone else on the camping trip, but in a good way by Ryan Pitkin I came dragging into an Uptown office building at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, not really knowing what I was doing there. I knew that more than 100 members of Charlotte's "creative community" would be in the house to listen to some speaker from out of town, and my recent desire to do more with said community brought me in to see if I could catch some leads.…
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