Saturday, May 18, 2013
Film / Film Reviews Weekend Film Reviews: Star Trek Into Darkness; The Great Gatsby; The Iceman; and more
Posted by Matt Brunson on Sat, May 18, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
- Paramount
- Star Trek Into Darkness
Also playing:
Arts Puppets invade Theatre Charlotte
Posted by Perry Tannenbaum on Sat, May 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM
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? - by equally anxious and awkward Kate Monster.
The song list is self-recommending to anyone who has ever suffered through the varnished truths of Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, including such hits as "It Sucks to Be Me," "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist," and the imperishable "The Internet Is for Porn." Blue-chipper Billy Ensley is directing a formidable cast that stars Andy Faulkenberry as Princeton and KC Roberge as Kate. Genders be damned, the supporting cast includes Matt Kenyon as Lucy the Slut and Veda Covington as Gary Coleman. Yes, that Gary Coleman. $25-$27. May 18, 8 p.m.; May 19, 2:30 p.m.; May 22-23, 7:30 p.m.; May 24, 7:30 p.m. & 11 p.m.; May 25, 8 p.m.; May 26, 2:30 p.m.; May 29-30, 7:30 p.m.; May 31, 8 p.m.; June 1, 8 p.m.; June 2, 2:30 p.m. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. 704-376-3777. www.theatrecharlotte.org.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Arts Fortune Feimster visits The Comedy Zone
Posted by Joanne Spataro on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 3:31 PM
We've got to hand it to comedian Fortune Feimster. She impersonates Honey Boo Boo well. From spastically dancing in a pink tutu to guzzling Go Go Juice, she captures the wild spirit of 7-year-old pageant queen Alana Thompson from TLC's Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. But channeling the pint-size tornado seems to come from a real place because, like Alana, Feimster grew up in a small town. Did you know that she's from Belmont, N.C.? Feimster returns home for a two-night stand at The Comedy Zone this weekend.
The openly lesbian comedian will perform at The Comedy Zone on Friday, May 17 (two shows at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.) and Saturday, May 18 (two shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.). Feimster will then head over to the Cathode Azure at 11:30 p.m. for a celebrity meet and greet. Based on the number of attendees, proceeds from the event will benefit Charlotte Pride.
When she's not onstage, Feimster plans to catch up with family and friends. She's only able to come home twice a year, since moving out to Los Angeles in 2003. Feimster, who got her break as a semi-finalist on season seven of NBC's Last Comic Standing, is currently a writer and performer on the E! Channel's late night talk show Chelsea Lately, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler.
Keep your fingers crossed that Feimster will surprise audiences in the Q.C. with a jaunt onstage as Alana!
Stand up show: $16. May 17, 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.; May 18, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The Comedy Zone Charlotte, 900 N.C. Music Factory Blvd. 980-321-4702. www.cltcomedyzone.com.
Celebrity meet and greet: May 17, 11:30 p.m. Cathode Azure, 1820 South Blvd., Suite 106
.News / Opinion Have a happy, Sharia-free weekend!
Posted by John Grooms on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 2:24 PM
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. For instance, anything that would make life harder for poor people or women in crisis scooted through the GA like shit through a goose. One particularly weird rightwing conspiracy theory is still up for validation in Raleigh: House Bill 695 would ban the use of Sharia law in North Carolina, specifically prohibiting judges, mediators and agencies from applying Sharia to domestic cases, e.g., divorce, custody, etc. The bill passed the House on Thursday and is being taken up by the Senate.
Culture Question the Queen City: Something scary on Highway 16
Posted by David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@gmail.com.
I work in Charlotte and recently moved to Denver, N.C. My daily trip home takes me past what appears to be a very old factory by the river, with giant metal smokestacks. Do you know what it is? - Kimberly Owens, Denver
- David Aaron Moore
- Scary, dark and old: The Riverbend Steam Station was built in 1929.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted by Anita Overcash on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 17, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* First Look Friday at Mint Museum Uptown
* Buskapalooza Festival in Uptown Charlotte
* Treasure Fest at Snug Harbor
* Casino Night at Strike City
* Simplified at The Chop Shop
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Music / Live Reviews Live review: Ne-Yo, Label (5/15/13)
Posted by Kimberly Lawson on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 9:10 PM
Ne-Yo
Label
May 15, 2013
- Kennieth Holmes
I hate to start off a review so crass, but I must share the one thing that kept going through my head last night at R&B singer Ne-Yo's "intimate" concert at Label (courtesy of Amped 4-A-Cure, Inc & Malibu Red): I hope every man who was forced to attend for his lady was pleasantly rewarded later. If you know what I mean.
And of course you do, if you're reading this review (and have seen the video for "Lazy Love" from Ne-Yo's latest album R.E.D.). After all, a concert featuring Ne-Yo is not going to be a show for the fellas. I'm not a math person, but if I had to guess, I'd say the ratio of women to men in the audience last night was 13 to one.
And I was one of those weak-kneed ladies.
- Kennieth Holmes
- Me (holding the iPhone up) and Ne-yo
News North Carolina's creative class on the rise
Posted by Ana McKenzie on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Liberal arts majors rejoice! (And liberal arts haters be damned!) Apparently creative occupations are on the rise in North Carolina.
The state's annual Creative Vitality Index shows an increase of more than 8 percent in creative occupations jobs, which include architects, librarians, artists, designers, performers, photographers and PR specialists.
- flickr
- Say girl, let that freak flag fly.
The study was issued by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
"The fact that North Carolina's creative workforce remained strong despite the recession tells us that jobs in creative industries and for creative workers are vital to the overall economy of our towns and cities," department Secretary Susan Kluttz said in a statement. "This good news also reinforces the important partnership between creativity and the business sector."
Some other key findings:
- Creative Industries are directly and indirectly responsible for almost 320,000 full time, part time, and sole proprietor jobs. This figure represents 6 percent of North Carolina's overall workforce. These creative industry jobs generate over $12 billion in wages, salaries and benefits - $2 billion more than the impact four years ago.- The number of jobs in creative occupations increased by more than 8 percent over the past five years to 137,225 total creative jobs. This figure represents nearly 3 percent of the state's workforce. Between 2010 and 2011 our state gained 6,833 creative full-time, part-time and sole-proprietor positions in creative occupations.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted by Anita Overcash on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 11:35 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 16, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* OddOnesOut - "Dancing on the Other Side of the Tracks" at The Chop Shop
* Old Crow Medicine Show at Ovens Auditorium
* Into the Wild: The Moth in Charlotte at McGlohon Theater
* Louisville Bats vs. Charlotte Knights at Charlotte Knights Stadium
* Me & Jezebel at Duke Energy Theater
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Have a happy, Sharia-free weekend! 4
A ridiculous bill sweeping through the General Assembly takes aim at the rules
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Sam Bush at DrumStrong in Weddington tonight (5/18/2013)
In traditional mountain music circles, the fiddle and mandolin virtuoso is rightly a legend.
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Puppets invade Theatre Charlotte
