Mobile
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Saturday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Sat, May 31, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 31, 2014 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Legends of Old School Hip Hop at Ovens Auditorium
* Discodonut 5K outside of Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
* Black Coffee screening at Hyatt House
* Southeast Asian Street Food Festival at Midwood International & Cultural Center
* Charlotte Beer Festival at EpiCentre
Friday, May 30, 2014
Arts Theater review: We Will Rock You
Posted By Perry Tannenbaum on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 3:36 PM
Despite the mild, boorish hostility of its public address announcement, We Will Rock You turns out to have a modicum of heart, for my wife Sue and I were able to escape its clutches with the ability to hear and see. The blinding, deafening assault at Belk Theater actually begins before the lurid curtain goes up on this devoutly weird musical inspired by the sacred oeuvre of Queen. It is a glorious affirmation of how much noise three guitarists, three keyboardists and three drummers can make when amplified by a diabolical - yet ultimately merciful - techie manning the soundboard.
In a future world, the sacred music has been almost entirely lost, stamped out by the overlords of Globalsoft, which downloads pap to all the planet's subscribers, despises the life force of rock 'n' roll, and applies a laserized shock therapy to anyone infected with it. Decked out like a golden termite, Killer Queen ruthlessly rules Globalsoft, while her loyal henchman Khashoggi hunts down all dissenters.
Afflicted with redemptive visions - and scraps of rock lyrics - Galileo doesn't realize he is one of the dissenters until he is persecuted. Scaramouche is more self-aware, and when she hooks up with Galileo, she turns out to be the brains of the outfit. Fleeing from Khashoggi, Galileo and Scaramouche find succor at the Hard Rock Cafe, the secret outpost where the outlawed Bohemians dwell, awaiting their redeemer.
Thank God they do, for at the Hard Rock we find Buddy, the leader of the Bohemians. In a world ruled by comic book villains, chiefly opposed by a King Arthur knockoff and a generic she-wolf, Ryan Knowles' exploits as Buddy are an oasis of comedy pleasure. For a champion of individuality and artistic inspiration, Brian Justin Crum is an insanely typical, assembly-line copy of the contemporary musical hero. Where have you heard him before? Everywhere.
Arts The Cheap List: Southeast Asian Street Food Festival, Blood Simple and other free events
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Going out in Charlotte doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, to prove that statement, we've compiled a list of cheap things to do in the Q.C. this weekend. These events may vary, but they're all entertaining and they won't break your bank (piggy banks excluded).
Blood Simple at ImaginOn: The summer film series Made in 1984: Hollywood Movies from 30 Years Ago continues with a screening of Joel and Ethan Coen's debut picture. Character actor M. Emmet Walsh lands the role of his career here, playing an immoral private detective who's working his own agenda after he's hired by a bar owner (Dan Hedaya) to murder the latter's wife (Frances McDormand, also making her film debut) and her lover (John Getz). - Matt Brunson Free admission. May 31, 2 p.m. ImaginOn's Wells Fargo Playhouse, 300 E. 7th St.
Works on Paper at Jerald Melberg Gallery: Thirty years. That's how long Jerald Melberg Gallery has been open and operating as a fine art venue in the Q.C. This new exhibit is going to be pumped full of works from different artists who have passed through the gallery over the years. Expect collages; watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings; graphite/charcoal drawings; mixed media works and more. Artists include Romare Bearden, Charles Basham, Wolf Kahn and Felicia van Bork. Free admission. Exhibit opens on May 31 and runs through July 5. Jerald Melberg Gallery, 625 S. Sharon Amity Road. 704-365-3000. www.jeraldmelberg.com.
Southeast Asian Street Food Festival at Midwood International & Cultural Center: This fundraiser (to benefit the Southeast Asian Coalition Youth Program) includes a pho eating contest. Need I say more? There's also a screening of mini-documentary My Life in 5 Minutes, performances by SEAC youths, a silent auction, raffles and prizes, and plenty of Southeast Asian food available for purchase. Yum! Free admission. May 31, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Midwood International & Cultural Center, 1817 Central Ave.
Culture This week's BNR Weekly (5/29/14): A tribute to Maya Angelou
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 2:46 PM
This week's episode features a tribute to the recently passed inspirational poet Maya Angelou, a peek at NBA veteran, Charlotte-born Anthony Morrow's workout routine and more.
BNR Weekly is a local pop culture and entertainment Web show, now in its third season.
Music Luke Bryan falls off stage at PNC Music Pavilion
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 11:33 AM
Luke Bryan was performing a cover of Macklemore and Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" last night at Charlotte's PNC Music Pavilion when the country singer fell off the stage.
I'm good. Few stitches.
- Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) May 30, 2014Judging by this YouTube clip posted by one of the attendees, he lost his footing while dancing.
In another clip, Bryan is shown trying to laugh about the situation and asked people to post the videos and photos they got. The incident is getting plenty of national attention.
First Drip First Drip (5/30/14): No property tax cut or teacher raises from county, Senate budget attacks Medicaid, more
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 10:04 AM
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio offered up her recommendations for the 2014-15 budget yesterday. Not only did she shoot down a property tax cut, she also nixed CMS' $19.4 million request for teacher raises. "Asked after the meeting why no teacher pay increase in this budget Diorio said she doesn't believe the county should give raises to state employees."
North Carolina legislators are coming for Medicaid: The Senate budget proposes cutting thousands of disabled and elderly people from Medicaid rolls by cutting optional services - which include prescription meds, mental health and dental care. "Under the provision, elderly people who qualify for a benefit called State/County Special Assistance would no longer automatically qualify for Medicaid. The Senate's budget document says nearly 12,000 people would be dropped from the program."
The Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Alliance of Baptists announced yesterday they are joining the lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage on the basis that it deters clergy from practicing their right to freedom of religion.
The often-forward-thinking Google released some numbers this week that prove, for once, the company isn't ahead of the game. Not only does the company employ way more men than women - 83 percent of its workforce is male - but the number of minorities are dismal. "In terms of racial diversity, the company overall is 61% white, 30%, Asian, 3%, Hispanic, and 2%, black."
Looks like the LA Clippers might have a new owner soon. Former Microsoft head Steve Ballmer has reportedly agreed to buy the team from Rochelle Sterling, Donald Sterling's wife, for $2 billion.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 10:03 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 30, 2014 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Love's Labor's Lost at The Green
* ConCarolinas at Charlotte Hilton University Place
* Yonatan Gat at Snug Harbor
* PlayDate at Tempo
* Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme at The Comedy Zone
Culture Question the Queen City: Joan Crawford and Charlotte
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 30, 2014 at 9:53 AM
Editor's note: We recognize how quickly Charlotte has changed over the years, so here's us trying to preserve its story. In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte and the surrounding metro area. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@gmail.com.
I just read an article online that cited the 75th anniversary of some of the best movies ever made. One of them was a film called The Women starring Joan Crawford. My mom was named after her, and she has told me over the years that Joan had a close relationship with Charlotte and visited often. Do you know why? - Barbara Jones, Charlotte
- Microfilm projection shot and manipulation by David Aaron Moore
- Joan Crawford, left,receiving an award from a member of Charlotte society in the late 1950s.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, May 29, 2014 at 2:00 PM
- Disney
- Maleficent
Maleficent - Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning
A Million Ways to Die in the West - Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron
Environment Learn how to solarize your home
Posted By Ana McKenzie on Thu, May 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Now that we've all (finally!) wised up to the ills of using coal for energy production, it's time to seriously consider alternatives. Enter Solarize Charlotte, a newly formed nonprofit that aims to up our solar panel usage.
On Thursday, June 3, Solarize will host a panel discussion for "anyone interested in reducing their electrical bill and carbon footprint with a home solar system." Participants will explain how to install the panels and low-interest loans and tax credits available to interested homeowners.
Show up at the Plaza Midwood International House, 1817 Central Ave., at 5:30 for the meet and greet and stick around till 6 for the panel.
-
Question the Queen City: Charlottetown Mall and its nearly forgotten time capsule
A child's coffin contained relics of the past that stood neither the test of time nor the elements
-
Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
-
Question the Queen City: The unsolved death of Delette Nycum 2
The trial that followed was nothing short of a Charlotte version of the O.J. Simpson spectacle.
