Store Wars: Vote for Charlotte’s best grocery store
To coincide with Creative Loafing’s 2nd annual “Store Wars” cover story, we’re giving you (dear readers) the chance to name Charlotte’s best grocery store. To cast your vote, just click the circle next to your favorite market. If you don’t see a store you like, feel free to write in a market in the comment…
News Roundup, 6/3/08
Democratic primary season ends today: Clinton needs 201 delegates to secure the nomination, while Obama only needs 42. Today’s primaries in Montana and South Dakota will reveal who wins the most delegates, but Clinton is adamant that she is ahead in the popular vote. Full story: CNN.com Council members backing Monroe: Charlotte City Council members…
Fear and loathing in Africa
Columnist Nsenga Burton is currently in South Africa and she sent this dispatch from the continent today: South Africa is on fire. Xenophobia is raging through a country that is just finding its legs. Having forgotten the lessons of the past, many of the downtrodden are tearing away the future by turning on foreign nationals…
R.I.P. Bo Diddley
Guitarist and music legend Bo Diddley, 79, has died from heart failure, cnn.com is reporting. Sad news for one of the founders of rock and roll. He’s also the creator of the “Bo Diddley Beat” — often imitated. I had the honor of interviewing Diddley a few years back and saw him play a three-hour…
You may have sex in the city, but you probably won’t get married.
A Rutgers article answers a question a lot of single women want to know. Why doesn’t he want to get married? Men prefer being solo over a bad marriage: study By Belinda Goldsmith Mon Jun 2, 1:26 AM ET SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – Bachelor Carl Weisman got fed up of being classified as a playboy,…
Neighborhood Theatre 5/30
Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh
Breakfast Club 5/31
Photos by Chey Scott
Sex and the City Party @ HOM
Photos by Tricia Gillis
The Face
While Perhaps not the most romantic position in the modern Kama Sutra Handbook, the guys sure seem to like it. The position begins with the woman kneeling in a subservient position with her mouth open and ready to receive her man. The man grabs the back of her head and pulls her towards his member…
News Roundup, 5/30/08
Uptown bar fights … again: Increase in violence after Charlotte bars close has Uptown police responding to more crimes than usual. Full story: Charlotte.com ‘Uncontacted tribe’ sighted in Amazon: Half of the more than 100 uncontacted tribes in the world live in the Amazon and now one of them has been photographed. Full story: CNN.com…
Artist to Watch: Anthony David
If you’ve never heard of singer/songwriter Anthony David, well, you’ve been missing out on some good music. David has been kicking around the underground soul music scene for more than a decade and has released 3 CDs on his own and through small record labels. He started out playing in clubs in Atlanta with his…
HOM 5/29/08
Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
Pura Vida Worldly Art to unveil mural by Andean artist Carlos Herrera Burgos
The local retail shop Pura Vida Worldly Art just shot over this press release about an upcoming art display: Pura Vida Worldly Art to unveil 20′ pre-Colombian influenced mural by Andean artist Carlos Herrera Burgos. OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, June 6, 2008. 7:00-10:00 PM, with Latin-American music by Ecuadorean guitarist Jaime Guevara and complimentary Peruvian h’ordeuvres.…
Sexy ‘mouse’ in bikini confronts Lowe’s shareholders this morning
Just saw this press release from PETA about a planned protest this morning: SEXY ‘MOUSE’ IN BIKINI TO CONFRONT LOWE’S SHAREHOLDERS OVER CRUEL GLUE TRAPS PETA Rep at Annual Meeting Will Grill Company Execs About Their Refusal to Follow Other Major Retailers and Ban Cruel Devices Charlotte, N.C. — Wearing a gray bikini, “mouse ears,”…
News Roundup, 5/29/08
Myrick calls for off-shore drilling: U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick is frustrated with gas prices and her solution is to allow oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic. Drilling areas would include the North Carolina coast. Full story: Charlotte.com China seeks earthquake aid from Japan: Tense relations between the two enemies have been improving in the…
Live Review: Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield w/ The Veronicas May 28, 2008 Whisky River The Deal: English pop singer hits new Charlotte venue with Aussie friends. The Good: Australian twin sisters The Veronicas opened the show with a 45-minute, 11-song set that got the packed house at Whisky River warmed up. It’s no surprise that the band’s drummer has…
Miscellany
An administrator at Central Regional Hospital in Butner spent $250 meant for patients on a portrait of herself, at a time when thousands of mentally ill people languish on waiting lists. The News and Observer Vet school dogs aren’t in danger of being euthanized after all. The News and Observer A state House committee approves…
The Weekender
Friday, May 30 Film Sex and the City: Can a popular television show really transfer to box-office gold? We hope so, because there’s not a woman in town who isn’t stoked to see this flick. If you’re a real die-hard fan (and don’t have to be at work too early on Friday morning) you can…
Just wait until I release a secret book about this shitty administration
By George Bush Oh, Scotty McClellan, we hardly knew ye. I mean that literally. I hardly knew you. I think my nickname for you was “Roundhead,” or maybe “Bubbles.” I knew you were the guy who had to go out in front of the press when I screwed things up, but there’s a point at…
Whisky River 5/28/08
Photos courtesy Brittney Cason
Beware of terrorist donuts!
Do Dunkin Donuts and Rachael Ray support terrorism? Yes, that’s an amazingly stupid question, but it was asked over and over again in the past few days by conservative bloggers. Inspired by rightwing nut commentator Michelle Malkin, conservatives had a collective fit over a scarf Ray wore in a commercial for the donut company. Malkin…
R.I.P. Sydney Pollack
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Sydney Pollack, who died Monday of cancer at the age of 73. Pollack was often dismissed as an impersonal, middlebrow filmmaker, but his credits speak otherwise. More often than not, the man’s nose for sniffing out quality projects was on-target. As a director, Pollack helmed 20…
POP LIFE TONIGHT!
Charlotte’s most eclectic nightlife event — Pop Life — is back for yet another evening of cool vibes and good music. Tonight, sounds are provided by DJ “That Guy Smitty” — and live rhythms by percussionist Robert Beasley. Plus live art from a member of the God City crew. And tonight we’re hosting our monthly…
Father knows best
It is that time of year again, when we celebrate our fathers for being more than just the guy that gets the big piece of chicken. In spite of the commercialization of the day, the intended meaning is a good one. Tell Dad how much you love him. And because he is a Dad, that…
Last week on The CLog …
The List
View from the Couch
RAMBO: THE COMPLETE COLLECTOR’S SET (1982-2008). The packaging is handsome. The menu designs are eye-catching. The bonus features are exemplary. So what’s missing from this six-disc set? Oh, yeah, quality films to complement the bells and whistles. Based on David Morrell’s novel, First Blood (1982) is the first and best of the four films produced…
A woman fed up
The time has finally come for R&B artist R. Kelly to face the music. The Grammy award-winning singer, hailed by critics as a genius and an innovator, may soon add convicted felon to his resume. After years of being dogged by rumors of a predilection for young girls, R. Kelly finally got caught — literally…
Magic Kingdom
Latest Indy adventure is built Ford tough
Rockin’ ribs, jammin’ beer
MAY 29 — B.R. Cohn Wine Dinner. The event hosted by Dan Cohn will start off with a reception full of specialty hors d’oeuvres. This will lead to five courses of an assortment of foods (some of the courses include blue fin tuna carpaccio, Spiedino of Grilled Palmetto Farms quail, line-caught wild sea bass and…
Buay Calito
Profile
Embrace Life
The Life Before Her Eyes (***1/2 out of four) runs the risk of being dismissed as a crass and tasteless attempt to make an exploitative movie out of the rash of Columbine-style massacres. The fact that it contains a cinematic sleight-of-hand more likely to be found in a glossy Hollywood thriller only adds further fuel…
CD Review: The Mooney Suzuki
The Deal: Live recording from the collection of the legendary club CBGB’s. The Good: The Mooney Suzuki switched on its amps in 1996 and lovingly cranked them to the max, without forgoing melody. The native N.Y.C. rockers’ raucous ’60s garage and ’70s punk and hard rock, lit up by a raw Stones-like vibe, has a…
QC After Dark
Two fingas Dixie’s Tavern, May 19 Hey! Whisky River, May 21 Grin and beer it Alive After 5, May 22 Two guys and a beer Alive After 5, May 22 For more nightlife photos, visit www.qcafterdark.com.
Vino bits
The Passing of a Legend I couldn’t call myself a wine writer if I didn’t honor the passing of Robert Mondavi on May 16, a month short of his 95th birthday. The industry is abuzz about this relentless, wildly charismatic man, affectionately calling him “the patriarch,” “the godfather” and “the ambassador” of wine. To me,…
CD Review: Tristan Prettyman
The Deal: California gal Tristan Prettyman releases her second full-length album, a follow-up to 2005’s twentythree. The Good: From the album’s first track “Hello,” Prettyman exposes her acoustic melodies with a twang of pop and a heavy mixture of country, blues and folk. She also does this on “California Girl,” “Handshake Agreement,” “You Got Me”…
Servatius Junior: Part 2
Citizen Servatius
Wine 101
A new class of wine drinkers
CD Review: Constantines
The Deal: Authentic, life-affirming, gen-u-ine rock ‘n’ roll from Canadian troupe. The Good: We hear a lot about rock ‘n’ roll’s redemptive powers, most of it rote and rarely lived in. Not so for Canada’s Constantines, one of the few acts with the talent and brass ones to make us believe this shit really is…
Mixed Media is Back!
If you’re a member of the local media workforce — and that includes newspapers, magazines, TV stations, radio stations, public relations firms, Web sites, freelancers and more — you need to check out Mixed Media 2.0. What is Mixed Media? It’s Creative Loafing’s official media mixer. And honestly, we just want to give folks…
It’s a flat world after all
• Chef owner Chris Edwards’ New South Kitchen is offering a bevy of lighter, summer-styled paninis on the lunch and dinner menus this week, including the lemon roasted chicken with house-made tasso ham, fontina cheese and grilled red onions; and the portabella mushroom panini with roasted red peppers, tomatoes and mozzarella. $8 to $10. New…
DVD Review: Zappa Plays Zappa
The Deal: Son of Frank showcases his father’s music with new band, special guests. The Good: Dweezil knew he couldn’t put together something that was half-assed. He had to assemble a handful of incredibly talented musicians to pull off his father’s music, and was wise to throw in some guests to boot. He harnessed the…
Raul Diaz and Manuel Reyna
Arts Flash
Luisa Amadio, restaurant owner
Luisa Amadio and her husband Rudy are the proud owners of Dolce Ristorante, located in Dilworth. Her first offering to Charlotte was Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, which is still open today. “At the time no one was doing brick oven pizza in Charlotte. They said people were not ready. But I say if you bring…
CD Review: Langhorne Slim
The Deal: Brooklyn-basesd singer-songwriter releases his third studio effort. The Good: Langhorne Slim is another one of those artists you can lump in with The Avett Brothers and The New Familiars as groups that are creating something new while based in old Americana and folk. From stripped-down tunes like “Sometimes” that feature Slim on acoustic…
Dad reckoning
The ghosts of their fathers haunt Augusten Burroughs and Rick Bragg. But that’s not all the writers have in common, despite their profound differences. Burroughs and Bragg are both best-selling memoirists whose breakthrough books focused on their difficult childhoods, and particularly their mothers. In Running With Scissors, Burroughs chronicles his dysfunctional family experiences with harrowing…
Time to enjoy the NASCARnival
No wonder the NASCAR Hall of Fame came to Charlotte (or should I say is currently contributing to making Uptown look like one big construction site). Charlotte (slash Concord) makes a two-week long festival out of the races … NASCARnival. Step right up ladies and gentlemen, it’s a celebration with drinking and driving. As in…
CD Review: 10 Years
The Deal: Alt-rockers release sophomore album, follow-up to Autumn Effect. The Good: The album’s first single, “Beautiful,” has flooded the airwaves. The question is whether the rest of the album can stand up to that and stand out from each other. There are plenty of radio-friendly hits on the album and the required acoustic ballads,…
Charlotte Bestsellers List
1. The Gospel of Father Joe: Revolutions and Revelations in the Slums of Bangkok by Greg Barrett 2. The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate by Kevin Duffus 3. Where the Blind Horse Sings: Love and Healing at an Animal Sanctuary by Elizabeth Stevens 4. Death Will Get You Sober by Elizabeth Zelvin 5.…
Rowdy Frynds
Hank Williams Jr., Skynyrd team up for tour
Comedy: Improv act brings laughter
Chuckleheads will present their stellar show, “Are you ready for the Summer Comedy Improv Spectacular” at Matthews Comedy Zone. The group feeds solely on improv with lots of audience participation. They are part of the Actor’s Crib and Charlotte and the surrounding area is abuzz over their jokes, rhymes, games and ability to spread laughter.…
It’s for the young’uns
Local Lit
CD Review: Eyes of the Elders
The Deal: Charlotte hip-hop collective releases innerstellar rubberkarma holdingcell. The Good: Judging by the band’s MySpace page, there’s no telling how many people comprise the group, but one fact remains – this is some of the best music I’ve heard come out of Charlotte since I started this job. It’s more than just hip-hop –…
Convention: Sci-Fi FUN
South Eastern Convention Fandom, Inc. presents the three-day ConCarolinas science fiction convention. The event features sci-fi writers Mike Resnick, Faith Hunter, David B. Coe among others. Boogie Knights will play music in Middle-Age-style attire. More highlights of the convention include appearances by Suzie Plakson (who starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Gary Jones…
Reggie Rose redeemed
Superior script gets its day in court
CL previews upcoming shows
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 Secondhand Stories If it seems strange to suggest that Stephen Warwick is one of the city’s most underappreciated performers/songwriters, that’s more a testament to how good his impeccable indie/folk/blues hybrid is than a comment on the average music fan’s unfamiliarity. No shit, there’s something here for everyone, from singer-songwriter fans and indie…
Music: Twisted night of shrills and spills
Known not only for heavy metal, but also for their extravagant costumes and gruesome theatrical stage performances, GWAR will bring their monstrosity to the Q.C. Previous concerts have featured costumed figures posing as Osama Bin Laden, George W. Bush, O.J. Simpson, Paris Hilton and other politicians and controversial figures in the media. During their shows…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
CAVEMAN TACTICS: A 42-year-old man was arguing with a lady friend in the middle of the street. She became so irate that she picked up a big-ass stick, caveman-style, and starting whaling on him. The man said the two are just friends and have never dated. NOT-SO-SLICK THIEF: A Wal-Mart employee said a shopper picked…
First FemmeFest will highlight female-led acts
After the third or fourth time locals The Near Misses learned they would not be the support on an out-of-towners’ bill because of a rider in the headliners’ contract precluding female-led openers, they decided to do something about it — particularly because those acts were also females. Their answer is the inaugural Charlotte FemmeFest: Women…
Film: It’s all about you
Witness a rare screening of The Century of the Self, a BBC documentary by Adam Curtis. The documentary is a four-part series: “Happiness Machines,” “The Engineering of Consent,” “There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads” and “Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering.” Each episode lasts for one hour and stands alone in case time…
Karma Cleanser
Dear Karma Cleanser: I’ve been working at a place for a little over a month now. I finally realized that I attended high school with one of my co-workers. This male co-worker has, on several occasions, insulted other female co-workers to tears, and he has just generally been a pill to work with due to…
Presidential race ignores arms race
As the U.S. presidential race continues, so does the arms race worldwide. People — civilians, children — are being killed and maimed, on a daily basis, by unexploded cluster bombs and land mines. Thousands of nuclear missiles remain at hair-trigger alert. The U.S. government rattles its saber at Iran, alleging a nuclear-weapons program, while at…
Class: Get Healthy
If something is bugging you about your health, you might want to check out this free Healthy Life Class at Zitel Family Chiropractic. Whether you are having back, neck, shoulder problems, hip problems, migraines, asthma or allergies, this class will cover the basics about what you can do to ease the pain and it will…
Howling in the shower
The closest thing I have to a sex life lately happens in my shower. Don’t get high expectations. I’m not having fun; it’s just that I’ve been howling a lot in there these days, and recently while I was howling (“Ooooh! Ahhhh! Oh my GOD!” Shudder, shudder), I realized that if someone came to the…
McCain a ‘maverick’?
Sen. John McCain’s reputation as a so-called political “maverick” has taken a beating lately, and it’s about time. The GOP presidential contender’s “maverick” reputation, tirelessly promoted by the media for the past 15 years or so, was only marginally true to begin with, and by now has become a bad joke on the American public.…
Theater: Jesus is back
I’m sure you’ve heard plenty of talk about the musical Jesus Christ Superstar as being one of theater’s masterpieces. Written in 1971 by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, it’s still walking on water (so-to-speak) 37 years later. The performances will feature Ted Neeley, playing the part of Jesus, and Corey Glover (from Living Colour),…
Stargazer horoscope
Gemini The Twins: (May 20 — June 21) Give attention to the lead paragraph. Mercury is turning retrograde in your sign and will be more likely to affect your daily affairs than many of the other signs. Don’t even try to finalize anything while a retrograding Mercury is dancing through Gemini. For All Signs: Mercury,…
Doing more with less
A manifesto for the unemployed
Spoken word: Lip service
If you want to hear poetry or speak out and read your own to a crowd then Lip Service … A Poetry Open Mic, is the event to mark on your calendar. The open mic will feature an assortment of readings and rhymes and is hosted by L. Monique, an advocate for the Lesbian, Gay,…
Letters to the editor
The Mecklenburg County phenomenon Great article (Boomer With Attitude: “Consumer hell” by John Grooms, May 14). Thanks for the humor that prevented me from throat-punching a worthless mouth breather in the “customer service” industry. To your question about theories on the subject, I believe it is simple. In hindsight, customer service was a marketing/advertising tool.…
Film Clips
Current Releases BABY MAMA With Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and other comedians routinely hoarding the screens in our nation’s multiplexes, here come Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to remind audiences that girls just want to have fun. Indeed, the Cyndi Lauper hit of that name is granted its own karaoke-set scene, and its inclusion is…
Replacing McCrory
Democrats say interim replacement shouldn’t run in 2009
