Aug 17-23, 2010

Aug 17-23, 2010 / Vol. 24 / No. 25

The return of P.J. Brunson, playing for a cause

Longtime Charlotte music lovers and readers of CL know P.J. Brunson. P.J., a pianist/guitarist/singer/songwriter, performed for some time, primarily in the ’90s, with a variety of partners, most notably in the duo P.J. & Marisa. These days Brunson is helping raise funds for Hospice & Palliative Care, with her musical partner, violinist Laurie Neal. The…

John Grooms

McHenry’s foreclosure remedy: More tax breaks for the rich (?!)

Our old friend, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who was already more conservative than even Reagan dreamed of, has now moved still farther right, well into Tim D’Annunzio/Tea Party La-La Land. McHenry, the one-time designated bulldog for the GOP on TV news shows – until he proved to be a little weak in the “thinking on…

John Grooms

Today’s Top(less) 5: Monday

Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, August 23, 2010 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Martini Monday at Luna Lounge • SIN Monday at Dixie’s Tavern • Free beer give away…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte stops in at Bechtler

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte is making a stop at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art tonight during the final performance of its “Summer Drive-Bys” series. Seventh Son, a small ensemble of the chorus, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Come by to view a fine selection of art and enjoy the added sounds while…

Anita Overcash

Get bragging rights from Revolution’s pizza contest

Revolution Pizza and Ale House is hosting a pizza making contest. No, you don’t have to actually have dough tossing skills to enter, but rather design a tasty pie. The contest is called Pizzas for the People by the People. They’re rolling out a new menu, and are inviting everyone to design a specialty pie…

Priscilla Tsai

Best I’ve Had All Week: Green Duck Curry at Thai Orchid

There is something reassuring about going in to a spot you’ve been to many times and being consistently pleased each of those times. Thai Orchid, which opened in 1994, in south Charlotte’s Strawberry Hill Shopping Center, is the kind of place which eschews subtle tastes for powerful Thai flavors. One of their summer specials is…

Tricia Childress

Homemade tortillas coming to Center City

I am delighted to receive a press release from Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina, scheduled to open in the EpiCentre this September. Vida will offer “traditional, regional and (Mexican) contemporary cuisine.” What is hopeful here is the statement: “every great Mexican dish begins with homemade tortillas.” Chef Chris Swinyard will use North Carolina white corn…

Tricia Childress

Mosque foe advises feds on religious freedom abroad

You gotta love the irony. Dr. Richard Land is a honcho in the Southern Baptist Convention, and an influential foe of the Cordoba House project in New York City (AKA the Ground Zero Mosque, or, more accurately, “the two-blocks-away-and-not-even-visible-from-Ground-Zero Muslim Y and prayer room”). Land is president of the Southern Baptists’ Ethic and Religious Liberty…

John Grooms

Enough already with the mosque-arade

The impassioned wailing over the “Ground Zero Mosque” is troubling, sad, and, at times, hilarious. Troubling because of what the critics of the Islamic center reveal about how shallow many Americans’ commitment to religious freedom really is. Sad because of what the wailers reveal about too-many of our fellow citizens’ pure, unadulterated ignorance about Islam…

John Grooms

National GOP: Elaine Marshall already in U.S. Senate

Thanks to NC Policy Watch for pointing out that the National Republican Senatorial Campaign needs to do just a wee bit more research before going public with new website info. The NRSC is asking for donations to help the GOP gain seats in the U.S. Senate, but perhaps they should have a list of actual…

John Grooms

Exhibits to make NASCAR Museum attendance soar

The city is stunned — stunned, I tell you — that the NASCAR Museum and Hall of Fame isn’t seeing anywhere near the astronomical attendance predicted by the usual crowd of deluded Uptown! boosters. In fact, the museum is barely drawing half of the predicted number of visitors. With the economy in the toilet and…

John Grooms

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Hot New Club: Police were tipped off to a nightclub operation that was taking place in an abandoned Mexican restaurant in Charlotte and set up surveillance on the spot. When officers entered the facility they found a bartender serving out of 30 different bottles of liquor. They also found women stripping for patrons. Any food…

Ryan Pitkin

Exhibit: North Meets South

Artist David Benson’s multi-media works are influenced by his childhood years in South Carolina. Through color, detail and creativity, he creates enjoyable scenes — like the pictured “An Evening in 1953.” His art can be seen in the exhibit, North Meets South — which also features work by New York artist Ralph Turturro — at…

Anita Overcash

The Back-up Plan, Date Night among new DVD releases

THE BACK-UP PLAN (2010). Jennifer Lopez’s first screen outing in four years isn’t a motion picture so much as it’s a new form of Chinese water torture: Seemingly innocuous at first, it continues to pelt the viewer with one abysmal scene after another until insanity seems like the only logical result. Lopez stars as Zoe,…

Matt Brunson

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of August 18

THE A-TEAM “Overkill is underrated,” opines group leader “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson) at one point during the course of The A-Team. Clearly, the man isn’t talking about summer films, wherein the whole point of many of these heavily hyped efforts is to render everything louder, larger and more expensive. Still, as far as costly packages…

Matt Brunson

Weekly horoscope Aug. 18-24

Virgo The Virgin (Aug. 22-Sept. 22): Mercury is turning retrograde in your sign and will be more likely to affect your daily affairs than many others. It won’t be easy for you to make decisions or bring agenda to a conclusion until the end of September. Use the energy to research information and gather resources…

Vivian Carol

THEATER: Queen City Theatre Company’s Rope

Murder and erotic behavior are well in tact for Queen City Theatre Company’s latest theater production, Rope. The play, directed by Glenn T. Griffin, is based off of the written work by Patrick Hamilton that was brought to the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock in 1948 and has since been revived in London. In an…

Anita Overcash

The ‘dancing hangover’

  The morning after Creative Loafing’s Best Of party at Butter NC a couple of weeks ago, I woke up wondering if I had gotten drunk and run the Boston Marathon in heels. My thighs were burning, my groin all but torn, my neck stiff, and my calves were hard as a rock. Yet, I…

Brittney Cason

SPECIAL EVENT: Charlotte Zombie Walk

Zombies are invading Charlotte, and you’re either with ’em or you’re not. I’d say the first option is the best choice — if you want to keep your brain. During The 4th Annual Charlotte Zombie Walk, folks dress up in their undead best to walk the streets of the Q.C. in what appears to be…

Anita Overcash

Eat Pray Love: Watch Enjoy Reflect

Just for the record, not all porn flicks are of the X-rated variety. More palatable for mass consumption are the films that qualify as “food porn,” works that show off delectable dishes in all their mouthwatering glory (e.g. Babette’s Feast, Julie & Julia). Then there’s the “travel porn” branch, efforts that offer postcard perfection and…

Matt Brunson

SPORTS: Battle Slam Jam

Maneuvers reign supreme at Battle Slam Jam — happening on Aug. 21 (rain date on Aug. 28) at Grayson Skate Park. In its fifth year, this outdoor fest features skateboarding contests, graffiti writing, freestyle soccer, custom cars, music from DJs and live performers (including Pradigy Alpha Theory, Jocelyn Ellis and others) and more. Free admission.…

Anita Overcash

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World scores

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (*** out of four) is the movie that Kick-Ass wishes it could be when it grows up. Thematically savvy, cinematically eye-popping, and infused with a here-and-now pop-culture specificity that’s part of the organic whole rather than just a cynical or faddish way to tackle the material, this adaptation of Bryan…

Matt Brunson

MUSIC: Jack Johnson at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

There’s something infectious about surfer-turned-musician Jack Johnson. It’s like his music sucks you into his zone and the vibe is like a lazy, folksy, bluesy, Hawaiian vacation. He’s influenced thousands of would-be rockers to throw on some flip-flops and jam. No beef with that. G. Love and the Special Sauce joins Johnson on the bill.…

Mike McCray

Heat up with The Girl Who Played With Fire

It’s not often that I fail to review a movie as major as this past spring’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but that’s the peril of being away on vacation. Lest I be accused of being remiss in my duties, though, let me rectify that now: This Swedish import, in which disgraced journalist Mikael…

Matt Brunson

MUSIC: Find Your Muse open mic at The Evening Muse

It’s Find Your Muse open mic night at The Evening Muse this and every Monday. Musicians, grab up your music gear and head over to perform one of your own creations in front of a crowd. No one can guarantee they’ll be liked, but constructive criticism is always helpful! Get there early to snag a…

Anita Overcash

Countdown to Zero: Cause, 10; movie, 4

Panning a well-meaning documentary is probably comparable to giving the finger to those Girl Scouts trying to sell their cookies in grocery-store parking lots, but as a movie attempting to entertain as well as educate, Countdown to Zero unfortunately has more in common with the drudgery of The 11th Hour than the zest of An…

Matt Brunson

MUSIC: Maroon 5 at Davidson College

It’s a little surprising that the mainstream Grammy award-winning groove-rock act Maroon 5 isn’t hitting up Charlotte on its current tour. Oh well, we don’t mind if we never see their faces again, right? Just kidding. Instead, the group is coming to Davidson College, which is close enough. On tour in support of its upcoming…

Anita Overcash

Where to find: Wahoo

Wahoo, which is also known as ono in Hawaii, is a white-fleshed fish related to king mackerel. In the Caribbean and in Central America, it’s known as peto. Recently, a reader asked where he could find wahoo since he had enjoyed this fish during a dinner at his neighbor’s house. That neighbor, a fisherman, had…

Tricia Childress

THEATER: Mary Poppins at Belk Theater

It’s really no wonder that wild children could become tame in the presence of Mary Poppins. She’s the perfect fictional nanny since she makes things come alive, she can fly and, more importantly, teach a busy working father how to love and make time for his family. Combining original stories by P.L. Travers and the…

Anita Overcash

Chingari Fine Indian Cuisine heats up

It’s been hot, way too hot. How many times do we need to feel that our body temperature is cooler than the outside air to know it’s time for a change? But until then, when it gets hot, I say eat hotter. For this, I turn to Indian food, which has always been my go-to…

Tricia Childress

Book review: Ron Chepesuik’s Sergeant Smack

Sergeant Smack: The Legendary Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson, Kingpin, and His Band of Brothers by Ron Chepesiuk (Strategic Media, 422 pages, $22.95) Writer Ron Chepesiuk, of Rock Hill, has gained a reputation as a great crime reporter, whether it’s about Colombian drug cartels, Miami gangsters, or the Trafficantes. His new book, Sergeant Smack…

3 questions with Karin Glenski, wine bar owner

For anyone who’s been to The Wooden Vine, it’s hard not to notice the unique furniture and décor. Everything is inspired or made from wood. But what you might not know is that owner Karin Glenski is also the designer, and her brother and his wife (Ricky and Nia LaBonte) made the furniture. Located in…

Sarah Coombes

CD REVIEW: Los Lobos’ Tin Can Trust

THE DEAL: As the group has for the last four decades, Los Lobos delivers the goods with style. THE GOOD: A musician friend once paid Los Lobos the ultimate musical compliment: “Man, those guys aren’t afraid to mess anything up.” What he meant was that the band members — Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, Louie Perez…

Grant Britt

Book review: The Collected Stories of Deborah Eisenberg

The Collected Stories of Deborah Eisenberg (Picador, 992 pages, $22). Over the past 20 or so years, Eisenberg has gained a reputation as one of the great short story writers of our time. This is a huge book, and I confess to having read only about a third of the stories, but Eisenberg’s themes are…

V.V. Brown focused on career as much as debut album

Listen to V.V. Brown’s debut album, Traveling Like the Light, and you may make comparisons to fellow Brit Amy Winehouse that couldn’t be further from the reality of the situation. While they’ve both taken new approaches to a retro sound, Brown’s gospel church background and musical family have driven her to do what she loves…

Jeff Hahne

Jim Pendergraph stirs the pile

Jim Pendergraph is a man of these times. The problem is that these times are awful. I don’t mean the bad economy, although that’s awful, too. What I’m referring to is the upsurge in America of irrationality and venom toward illegal immigrants — a sad spate of foolishness that’s nearing the point of mass psychosis.…

Book review: Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial, $16.99). Kingsolver took a big leap with this novel, incorporating her love of history, art and stories of lifelong journeys. The book follows one American, Harrison William Shepherd, from 1929 to 1951. He’s kicked out of military school, and winds up in the 1930s as a cook and…

CL previews upcoming concerts (Aug. 18-24)

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 18 THE ORIGINAL WAILERS 400 Million albums sold. Does anything else really need to be said? Backing reggae legend Bob Marley, the Wailers helped spawn an international phenomenon that’s lived on decades after Marley’s death. Reformed with three original members, watch them recreate moments they were there to make the first time around.…

Therapy Café closes amid allegations of racism

After a few weeks of dealing with allegations of racism, Therapy Café has closed. As Creative Loafing reported last week, the Uptown restaurant/bar had been making headlines after Kirk Brown, CEO of the African-American-owned promotion company Six Figure Entertainment, accused the establishment’s management of “racial profiling” for charging black patrons an additional 20-percent gratuity. Former…

Cheris Hodges

Comic review: Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors No. 1

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors No. 1 Published by DC Comics. Written by Peter Tomasi. Pencils by Fernando Pasarin. Inks by Cam Smith. The Deal: The Green Lantern family of comics increases by one with the debut of Emerald Warriors. The new title stars (so far) the tough guy of the Green Lantern Corps, Guy Gardner,…

Carlton Hargro

Nightlife profile: ThatGuy Smitty

If you ask DJ ThatGuy Smitty his real name, he will probably look at you like you’re crazy; in fact, unless you knew him pre-1987 (and chances are you didn’t), you won’t know his real name. Moreover, the name holds a special meaning to him. “I got my DJ name by overhearing a conversation about…

Victoria Creasy

State Bureau of Investigation crime lab’s crimes

They stole fax machines, printers, anything that wasn’t nailed down. These weren’t the criminals, but the people who were supposed to be managing them. “Lost” is the official term used to describe what happened to hundreds of thousands of dollars of office equipment owned by the state’s probation and parole department. The same people also…

Like Mary Poppins, Disney composer’s story defies belief

The road to Mary Poppins and Broadway began over 50 years ago with a little pop song by Robert and Richard Sherman called “Tall Paul.” The cuddliest Mouseketeer, Annette, recorded it and it became her first hit. So when Walt Disney began elevating his protégée to TV and movie stardom, the brothers were asked to…

Perry Tannenbaum

CD REVIEW: Jon Lindsay’s Escape from Plaza-Midwood

THE DEAL: The solo full-length debut from Charlotte singer-songwriter — known for his work with Benji Hughes, Catch Fire and The Young Sons. THE GOOD: The album starts out with basic acoustic strumming behind Lindsay’s soprano vocals, but don’t let the simplicity fool you — it’s not long before you hear the depth of production…

Jeff Hahne

How black Charlotteans should harness online power

As you may have read in this issue of Creative Loafing, the Uptown eatery/bar Therapy Café recently ceased operations. The closing occurred shortly after Kirk Brown, CEO of the African-American-owned promotion company Six Figure Entertainment, sent an e-mail to reportedly thousands of people alleging that Therapy routinely added a 20-percent gratuity to the bills of…

Nsenga Burton

Performing Arts: Negritude Movement

Charlotte-based artist/real-life superhero de’Angelo Dia (aka “El Negrito”) is scheduled to resurface on Aug. 20 at The McColl Center to host a performance art event titled Negritude Movement during the Center’s closing reception. Mixing step with poetry, visual art and other cool stuff, Negritude promises to continue Dia’s exploration of racism, tokenism and heroism. Free.…

Carlton Hargro

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