‘Booze it and lose it’ crackdown through Sept. 7
Our state legislature must be chock full of poets.
Robot Johnson to hit the road
The Nook is closed and Robot Johnson plans to take its show on the road.
$5 off at T.G.I.Friday’s
No, it’s not quite Friday yet, but you can still rejoice. VISA is giving you $5 off a $15 or more purchase at T.G.I.Friday’s. Just pay for your meal with your VISA card. Offer valid until 10/31/09. Click here for details.
Tonight’s transportation meeting open to the public
Have an opinion on the topic? Here’s your chance to share it.
Enough already with the new United Way honcho
One quick question for the Observer: Are we going to have to read about every single move Jane McIntyre makes as the new local head of United Way? Just wondering, after seeing today’s front page with the big, shiny story on McIntyre’s first day at the organization. Yes, people are interested in seeing what she…
Best bets in Charlotte comedy this week, Aug. 24-30
Here are a few of the best places to find comedy events in Charlotte this week.
Jimmy
alias: None passion: Experiencing what life has to offer inspiration: Life favorite hookah flavor: Blue Mist current city: Charlotte plug: “Toronto — Definitely one of the most progressive places in the world, very refreshing, very inspiring” To see more photos by Jasiatic, visit www.createtressphotography.blogspot.com.
Why stop with Beck?
Glenn Beck, the unstable B.S. artist who FoxNews has the Audacity of Dopes to call an actual journalist, is back on the air today, after the network forced him to take a weeklong “vacation.” FoxNews’ edict came after an uproar over comments Beck made that Pres. Obama “hates white people,” which resulted in the loss…
Hartigan’s Irish Pub and …
A new place opens up near Bank of America Stadium.
Cops drive those lousy roads, too
Tonight, City Council will decide whether to spend $4.5 million in supplemental money to resurface streets or hire more police officers. City Manager Curt Walton will recommend shifting the money from street maintenance to the police department. Consider this blog entry a vote for leaving the money where it is and fixing the streets. Nothing…
Sex news roundup: Monday
Here’s a look at the sex in today’s headlines around the World Wide Web. Sex study stimulus. Risk loving women, hungry for sex. “Sex and The City” author is not a cougar. Policeman posed as brother to have sex with a woman. Jenny Sanford on media tour about her husband’s infidelity. “Hung” star Thomas Jane…
Dancing with the (music) Stars
There are six music-related competitors on the upcoming season of the television show.
Live review: Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Augustana
A look at the unique set-up of the Traveling Circus and Medicine Show.
Today’s Top 5: Monday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
U.S. stock of chemical weapons go bye-bye
Lethal nerve agents set to expire.
The Wack List: Aug. 24
Five people, places and things we really ain’t digging today. • The late Ryan Jenkins. Sadly, his alleged murder scandal was the most interesting thing to come out out of that dumb-ass reality show Megan Wants a Millionaire. • People who hate on street food. Hey, I liked the stuff before it got all gourmet…
Burglars should think twice: Home owners are armed
In Charlotte and Tabor City two would be burglars learned the hard way that some people take the right to bear arms seriously. But will the justice system punish these men who protected their houses? Should either of these men face charges? Let’s start with what happened in the Queen City. According to the Charlotte…
Sale of the day: L.A. East
1135 Stonecrest Blvd., #115 803-746-7792 9852 Rea Road 704-341-5962 www.laeast.net
Battle Slam Jam, 8/22/09
Battle Slam Jam went down at Grayson Skate Park Saturday, August 22.
Art and music fill my days
Seeing local art, for me, is no longer limited to the museums in Charlotte or crawling through NoDa several times a year.
Inglourious Basterds: Pulp friction
History and fantasy at war in new Tarantino flick.
Adam & The Cove
Reviews in brief.
The Time Traveler’s Wife & Ponyo
Reviews in brief.
Don’t even ask me…
I would like to take the time this week to talk to you, Mr. and Ms. Party goer… In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had you come up to the dj booth and make requests, which, every now and then is ok. However, if I’m playing, lets say, an old-school hip-hop party, please don’t…
Smart president doesn’t equal smart country
Poll after poll reveals the massive stupidity of the majority of Americans.
N.C. Democrat repeats health care lies
You have to give some opponents of health care reform their due: they’re unashamed of lying through their teeth. Apparently, the lies aren’t the possession of one political party, either. That’s being proved by Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina’s 7th District, which covers the southeastern part of the state including Wilmington and Fayetteville.…
As you were on standing ‘O’s’
Late last month, the Big O (The Charlotte Observer) published a big putdown of Charlotte audiences who unconscionably give everything that plays at Belk Theater a standing ovation. The broad implications were that Belk audiences were unique and that Charlotte’s indiscriminate standing O’s exposed our pitiful provinciality to ridicule. Well, here’s my answer to Larry…
Live review: Dustin Diamond and Johnny Millwater
Live review of Dustin Diamond and Johnny Millwater’s performance at Lake Norman Comedy Zone.
Port-a-party …
Tailgating is officially a sport and NASCAR races are Woodstock for rednecks.
Milk Money Boutique hosts shoe drive
Milk Money Children’s Boutique is hosting a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls™ Inc., the international footwear charity that delivers shoes to needy people around the world. During the shoe drive, Milk Money will be offering a $5 discount to all customers who bring in gently worn pairs of shoes toward the effort. The shoe drive…
Mike
favorite candy: Jolly Ranchers!
Upcoming: Wine events with Master Sommelier Brian Koziol
Sibling restaurants M5 Modern Mediterranean, 4310 Sharon Road, and Zink American Kitchen, 201 North Tryon, are hosting wine events with Master Sommelier Brian Koziol of Constellation Wines U.S. A four-course $75 wine dinner will be held on Wednesday, September 2 at 7 p.m. at M5 Modern Mediterranean. Reservations: 704-909-5500. A reception with Koziol will feature…
10-in-10 CD reviews
Each Friday, we bring you 10 CD reviews done in 10 words each.
Have you heard the one about Sting and tantric sex?
We’ve all heard it — Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, like to have tantric sex for hours on end. Now Sting’s daughter, Coco, has come out to say it was all a joke and rumor that isn’t true. That’s all well and good, but why in the hell did we have to hear this…
Starbucks ice cream coupon
Enjoy $1 off a pint of Starbucks ice cream with this coupon.
Stupid Thing of the Week
It looks like the city “leaders” of Oxford, Ala. don’t have much use, much less respect, for the important Native American history in their midst.
Quickie comic review: Daredevil No. 500
Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Michael Lark wrap up their run on Daredevil. But is it worth buying?
Cheap date of the week: Free music at Neighborhood Theatre
While you do want to have a good time with the person you plan to sleep with tonight, your pockets are on the thin side.
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Friday
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 21, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. •After hours party at The Men’s Club. •Gallery Crawl Evening in NoDa. •Stripper Pole Fantasies at The…
Ridge spills beans
After the Nixon White House tapes were released, friends and I used to say, “Your most paranoid fears were true, after all.” The same may be said about the Bush years, with one change: rather than “your most paranoid fears,” make it “your worst hunches that those guys were sleazebags.” Today, Tom Ridge, the first…
Audiofloss — Vol. 3, No. 4: Angela Johnson, Julie Dexter and more
Presenting this week’s brand-new episode of Audiofloss
‘Saved by the Bell’ and killed by the economy
I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news … Good news first … Tonight Dustin Diamond — whom you may better know as Screech Powers from Saved by the Bell — will be taking the stage at Lake Norman Comedy Zone in his quest to prove he’s a comedian, not just some child star.…
Fact: Clean energy costs more
More than what? A healthy life on a healthy planet? O.K.
Top five concert facts from StubHub
StubHub has released some information about the biggest cities for concerts, as well as the biggest concert ticket prices, etc. According to their findings, the top five summer concert tours ranked by sales dollar volume were Jonas Brothers followed by Phish, Taylor Swift, Elton John and Kenny Chesney. The top five summer concerts based on…
The Weekender
Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend.
Caleb
inspiration: “My father.”
Hop over to The Forum
Tonight at The Forum, Sugar Society presents a DJ set, titled Rabbit In The Moon.
Get two DVDs for $30 at Manifest
Coupon expires Aug. 23. 6239 South Blvd 704-552-8448 www.manifestdisc.com
Back to school food news with Counter Culture Coffee, Morton’s
Check out these educational events coming up in September.
Upcoming: Modern Trousseau trunk show
Today through Saturday, Hayden Olivia Bridal is hosting a Modern Trousseau trunk show. Check out the designer Callie Tein’s latest collection to find that special gown for that special day. Designer trunk show appointments are limited and book quickly. Call to schedule your appointment at 704-333-0377. 221 S. Tryon Street, Suite 200 www.haydenolivia.com
No Pat McCrory in 2010?
Our region got a double dose of good news this morning. Jim Morrill of the Observer reports that neither former Congressman Robin Hayes nor former Charlotte mayor (oops – current mayor) Pat McCrory will run for Congress in 2010. It seems the two GOP pols met at a Concord barbecue eatery Tuesday and gave each…
Get a glimpse of Michael Jackson’s clothing line
The king of pop meets the king of fashion, Christian Audigier. Check out this video: the TODAY Show got a first look at the clothing line. Among the pieces are the signature Jackson jacket, rhinestone gloves, rhinestone socks, and even an umbrella. Yeeeeppppppp. MJ’s gonna live forever. <
Sale of the day: 1510 Antiques
Head out to 1510 Antiques in Plaza Midwood to check out their current sale: 50 percent off entire store (with some exclusions). 1510 Central Ave 704-342-9005 www.1510-antiques.com
Today’s Top 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 20, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Altar Boyz at Duke Energy Theatre • Dustin Diamond at Lake Norman Comedy Zone • Neighbors Acres with No Strings Attached at Visulite Theatre • Raft Guide…
CMS to kids: Walk
It will not hurt kids to walk a couple blocks.
Top energy sources
According to a Stanford University professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Former Charlotte on-air staple passes away
Nate Quick dies from liver complications.
Suite, 8/19/09
Check out these photos from the party at Suite Wednesday night, August 19.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Thursday
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 20, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. •Champagne Thursday at Club Onyx. •$5 Table Dances at Baby Dolls. •Ladies in free at Halo. •Alive…
Opening Friday
What’s new in theaters this weekend.
Winning at a ‘man’s’ game
OK, so the IAAF has asked the South African athletics federation to conduct a gender verification test on 800-meter runner Caster Semenya amid concerns she does not meet the requirements to compete as a woman. She’s 18 years old and they think she might be a man because of her incredible performance beating out the…
Golden Krust celebrates 20 golden years
Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill, which started in Bronx, is the the nation’s largest and fastest growing Caribbean franchise. They are celebrating 20 years in business with 20 cent beef patties for the first 100 customers who come in on August 22. The Special 20th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Day event will be held at…
Real Housewives star very ‘tardy’ to Auto-Tune
Anyone that consumes the polished train wreck you can’t seem the flip away from, Bravo’s the Real Housewives of Atlanta, has seen “housewife” Kim Zolciak’s seemingly forced and failed attempts at a music career. In the past, showing seemingly no passion or work ethic for music but lots of expensive help, Kim has been able…
Self-destruction through social media
Whether you realize it or not, we are all, our own corporation. Each time we make a move, we are exposing ourselves to potential clients, employers, friends, business associates, or significant others. That’s why it is paramount that, at all times, we make conscientious attempts to protect our brand. Our brands are our reputations. In…
Bringing sexy back
Before you step out of the house and decide to ruin everyone’s eyesight for the evening, can you look in the mirror?
Quickie comic review: Outsiders No. 21
Is the new issue worth a damn?
Street Style: Baggy vest with denim
Name: Amanda Rittenberg Occupation: Court Advocate Spotted: PF Changs’ at Phillips Place Rockin: Basic Wet Seal tank top, baggy knotted Express vest, medium wash bootcut Levi’s jeans, cork wedge Joey shoes, Oakley sunglasses, & Tiffancy & Co. dogtag necklace Style Philosophy: “I like to wear clothing that is flattering.”
WTF Wednesday: Brett Favre is a football whore, another homeless ‘Housewife’ and VH1 reality show contestant connected to a murder?
Rants about the latest in pop culture.
N.C. artist makes Blueprint 3 roster
Previously written about on the Vibes blog, it was revealed that Fayetteville native and Roc Nation artist J. Cole will be featured on Jay-Z’s upcoming album, The Blueprint 3. Jay-Z officially released the track list for the album last night to huge online buzz and Cole finds himself in exclusive hip hop company, joining the…
Brian Daye
Hey all! This is my first official opportunity at writing for a blog – Creative Loafing Charlotte, no less! As an actor/writer/director for 30 years who has done film, theater, commercials, TV and voice-overs throughout most of the country, I’m truly excited! I’ll make sure all my “I”s are dotted and “T”s are properly crossed.…
Poll: FoxNewsies ignorant about health care
Here’s a quick follow-up to this week’s story on health care reform lies. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal and NBC News announced a wide-ranging poll looking at how Americans feel about the health care reform debate. Among other things, including reports of poor PR by the Obama folks, the poll showed that many Americans believe…
I-485 v. Independence Boulevard
What’s your vote?
Adachi
alias: Chi-chi? (shhhh) inspiration: “Rhythm in the body — it inspires my movement to work, play, fight and love.” passion: Activism in artistry favorite documentary: “Stylistically somewhere between The Gleaners and Scratch.” current city: Philly plug: www.adachipimental.blogspot.com, www.rawtalentphilly.com
He Said She Said (with Brotha Fred): Are weddings just funerals for friendships?
Brotha Fred joins Brittney Cason After Dark for a He Said, She Said
Box Office Top 10
The week’s top moneymakers.
Sale of the day: JT Posh
Ahhh, the weather was bearable enough this morning to actually drive with the windows down. Yes! Guess that means it’s summer sale time! Check out JT Posh’s summer clearance sale. Save up to 75 percent off! 2400 Park Road 704-375-1334 www.jtposh.com
Cover Me: Boldly going where some other band has already been
The paradox known as the Cover Song — Harmless Pleasure or Pure Poser?
When it’s teeth-pullin’ time down South
You don’t joke with rural Southerners about teeth. Too many stereotypes, too many humiliating jokes, and too many missed kernels in their corn on the cob. Teeth problems were especially un-funny to Elizabeth Smith, a resident of Sumter, S.C., who made the news yesterday when … well, let’s let our colleagues at Charleston’s Post &…
New at Nonna’s
Nonna’s Kitchen has a new dinner menu that will be served from 5 to 8 pm. Included is a “Create Your Own Pasta” dish for $8. You can have your choice of noodle and one sauce. If you’d like to add a meat or veggie, just tack on an extra $1. The sauces and meat…
N.C. healthcare premiums up 96.8 percent since 2000
Salaries are, well, not.
More fake letters sent to Congress
So far, 13 forged letters verified — 58 discovered.
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
This Week’s DVD Releases
What’s new on disc this week.
News: Enso’s grand opening, food at Whisky River
The scoop on what’s shakin’ and bakin’ in Charlotte.
In case you missed it: McCrory on CNBC
In case you missed it, here’s video of Mayor Pat on CNBC last week:
Cocaine-tainted cash
What’s in your wallet?
The Nook falls into a cranny
The Nook, which just opened in the location of the old Graduate on The Plaza now long ago, is now closed.
Video: Everything Doesn’t Suck Party
Music blogger Mike McCray checked out last week’s Everything Doesn’t Suck Party in NoDa and came back with this nifty-ass report:
15% off at Tasty-Yo
Charlotte’s newest frozen yogurt shop located in NoDa is offering free Wi-Fi and 15% off your purchase (with coupon).
Focus, Mr. President, focus
The health care reform debate, or rather, free-for-all, gets more confusing by the day, with signs of both retreat and progress on both sides. Yesterday, it looked like a public option was dead, as both Pres. Obama and HHS Secretary Sibelius implied that a public option wasn’t an essential part of health care reform. Today,…
Video: Everything Doesn’t Suck Party
We checked out last week’s Everything Doesn’t Suck Party in NoDa and came back with this nifty-ass report.
The BMG unofficial newsletter: Breaking nightlife news + free shit
Bar Management Group (BMG) has so much new nightlife news, they need a newsletter.
Comic headlines: Dabel Brothers owe cash, Spider Woman preview, more
The latest news — or what I find interesting (so there) — from the world of comics
Obama’s ticking off the Left with confusing rhetoric
Reminder: We don’t have a bill to vote on yet.
Is executive pay out of control?
The highest court in the land set to weigh in on the issue.
Hayley (Lakeman)
favorite song: “Tangerine”
Live Nation’s Twitter Scavenger Hunt starts tomorrow
Twitterers and music fans alike, check out this press release for your chance to win a Season-Long Lawn Pass good for every show next summer in the Live Nation amphitheater in your city. Los Angeles, CA – August 17, 2009 – This coming Wednesday, Live Nation will tap into the power of millions of twittering…
Summer events, Aug. 18-Sept. 2
Check out a list of summer events happening in Charlotte and the surrounding area Aug. 18-Sept. 2.
How’s the stimulus working out for N.C.?
So far, the state has received $2,719,107,840 in stimulus funds.
Point8 Blog: Art in the summer
It’s strange to start blogging about art in the summer, when the art world tends to go to sleep. I understand why commercial galleries power down, but I’ve never fully accepted this phenomenon as it applies to nonprofit and alternative spaces. It’s not as if we’re all spending the season at the beach house. What…
Local ‘lingeriexperts’ share latest trends
What lies beneath is more than just a bra and underwear: It’s a statement, a color choice, and at times, a gadget. After entering the world of four local “lingeriexperts,” it is clear that despite the pressures of a slow economy and fast-growing lingerie giants like Victoria’s Secret, local lingerie stores are strapped-in and here…
Down home baking with Lauren Plesz
Lauren Plesz is a young art enthusiast with a big heart and an even bigger passion for baking. At only 21 years old, she already has a degree in Culinary Arts and is well on her way to being the sweetest little rock-n-roll pastry chef on the East Coast. Fearlessness and desire for unique tastes…
Sponsors still dropping Beck like a bad muffler
At least someone’s paying a price for spreading astonishingly ignorant views.
The Wack List: Aug. 18
The Postal Service, the entire country of Dubai and other fucking losers
Sale of the day: Handpicked
Also, click here to print out more coupons, valid through Aug. 22. 1721 Kenilworth Ave. 704-334-2037 8040 Providence Rd., Suite 600 704-541-1431 9844-A Rea Rd. 704-405-9780 www.handpicked.net
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
District 9: A site worth seeing
DISTRICT 9 *** DIRECTED BY Neill Blomkamp STARS Sharlto Copley, Vanessa Haywood District 9 is Independence Day for the art-house set. Although its press launch has been so deafening that it’s managed to permeate the mainstream consciousness, its modest approach and meaty metaphors will curry greater favor with filmgoers who opt for Tsotsi over Transformers.…
Troy Davis and the meaning of ‘actual innocence’
Sitting on death row in Georgia, Troy Davis has won a key victory against his own execution. On Aug. 17, the U.S. Supreme Court instructed a federal court in Georgia to consider, for the first time in a formal court proceeding, significant evidence of Davis’ innocence that surfaced after his conviction. This is the first…
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: Suicide screening
Action heroes are known for arriving in the nick of time, but movie reviewers often don’t have the luxury of operating in such dashing fashion. Certainly, the fact that Paramount Pictures didn’t screen G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in advance for critics prevented the nation’s scribes from weighing in on the merits of the…
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard: No sale
Like a Frankenstein monster that can never quite find the strength to climb off the table, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is a lumbering creation stitched together from body parts of past comedies operating in a similarly sophomoric vein. A slapdash effort that celebrates the Idiotic Man-Child in all his various incarnations, it quickly…
COMEDY: Dustin Diamond at Lake Norman Comedy Zone
If you’ve seen the cover of People magazine’s latest issue, which highlighted Saved by the Bell’s 20-year reunion, you were most likely just as perplexed as I was. Where’s Dustin Diamond, who played the geeky Screech? Not on the cover, that’s for sure. Not only did the mag not feature him in the up-to-date photo…
Vietnam Grille injects originality into South Charlotte dining
The Vietnamese obsess over fresh herbs. The word for herbs is rau thom, which translates as fragrant vegetable. Fragrance is primal in Vietnamese cuisine. Consider what pho would be without the side plate of fixings to “doctor” the soup: Thai basil, cilantro, mint, and, perhaps, rau ram (Vietnamese coriander). Much of Vietnamese cuisine is dependent…
MUSIC: Counting Crows at Uptown Amphitheatre
Front man Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows could have been a doctor (well, maybe … he is the son of two of them), but he decided to take the rock star route instead. And boy are we glad he did! How would we have gotten through the ’90s without all those hits from albums…
What does V.I.P. really stand for?
V.I.P. Very Important Person … that’s what it stands for. But what makes said person very important, or apparently more important than us, to warrant his or her own section in the nightlife world, segregated in a club like smoking and non-smoking in a restaurant? I have this theory … that we’re all lateral in…
FESTIVAL: Hummingbird Festival at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve
You’re sitting outside when something starts buzzing around you. You raise a hand to swat it away, thinking it’s a bee, but you look up to see a hummingbird, hovering over your potted petunias. Whenever I see one, I tend to stalk it until it flies away — annoyed at my persistent attention — and…
The class-y side of Brandon Kirkley
It isn’t anything new and trendy for bands to sprout up on college campuses, but what does seem to be a fresh idea is the fact many are looking to actually take this pastime further than a keg party or jam session in the dorms. College bands are beginning to think more lucratively, instead of…
MUSIC: Cobra Starship at Tremont Music Hall
Pop band Cobra Starship gained notoriety with their song “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” from the ballyhooed flick of the same name. The novelty of boy band meets pop punk via synth and electro funk is still there, but seems to have worn off a bit. Just as their snarkily witty numbers, sung by…
CD review: Actual Proof’s Paradigm Shift
The Deal: Intense, quietly persuasive philosophy professor forms a nimble jazz band and quietly, subtly, rocks out. With vibes in the lead, Dr. Eric Mullis (yes, he has a doctorate) and Actual Proof perform as a quartet; drums, electric bass and keyboards. The new album, Paradigm Shift, was released on July 31, 2009. The Good:…
NIGHTLIFE: Karaoke Night at Dixie’s Tavern
Mondays suck. The beginning of the work week comes much too fast after a fun weekend of drinking and hanging with good peeps. Why not extend your weekend fun a bit by checking out Karaoke Night at Dixie’s Tavern. This is one of the hottest spots to be at every Monday, with $2.50 drafts and…
CL previews upcoming concerts (Aug. 20-25)
Thursday, Aug. 20 Neighbors Acres Playing bluegrass standards their own damn way, bending genres when the mood suits the moment, this septet nevertheless remains bound to traditions. There’s an Appalachian, jazz, ragtime, blues, and even jug band, sway, but the bluegrass remains firmly underfoot. They are also musically keen enough to craft taut originals to…
THEATER: The Color Purple at Belk Theater
There’s a reason The Color Purple, presented by none other than Oprah Winfrey, is coming back for round two (it was last here May 19-24) at Belk Theater. It’s good, damn it! This musical — based on both the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Alice Walker and the Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg — is soooo…
CD Review: The Working Title’s Bone Island
The Deal: Front man and founder of ex-major label band The Working Title attempts to keep the music alive all by his lonesome and with little cash to back it up. The Good: Going from being on the American Wedding soundtrack to self-producing CDs, the break from the corporate world gives Joel Hamilton the freedom…
COMEDY: John Heffron at McGlohon Theatre
Comedian John Heffron is one funny guy. He can twist everyday occurances — like bar encounters, marriage and getting older — into humorous stories and rants that you just can’t help laughing at. That’s probably why he won the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2004. Originally from Detroit, Heffron’s latest DVD, titled…
CD Review: Band of Skulls’ Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
The Deal: UK trio releases debut disc of charged-up indie rock. The Good: The band’s first single, “I Know What I Am,” has been swarming radio waves and it’s only a good indication of the band’s “vibe” in its harmonized vocals – the rest of the album isn’t as pop-leaning. The album kicks off with…
New paperbacks on parade
At 224 pages, Breath is a relatively short novel, at least for these days when literary doorstops are the rage (which is incomprehensible, since no one has much free time to read, but that’s for another article). Author Tim Winton tells the story of Pikelet and Loonie, two Australian teenaged boys in the 1970s who…
Unhealthy lies and the truth about health care reform
For weeks, health insurance companies, Republican political operatives and politicians, and their media cheerleaders have thrown a thick blanket of lies over the national debate of health care reform. By now you’ve heard the one about how Obama is going to pull the plug on your granny. Maybe you also heard that illegal immigrants would…
Review of The Marvels Project No. 1
The Marvels Project No. 1 Published by Marvel Comics. Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Steve Epting. Folks who complain about the horrors of “decompression-style” comic book stories will be pleased with the first issue of The Marvels Project. The eight-issue limited series — written by Ed Brubaker with art by Steve Epting — starts…
Wrong-way driving: It’s hard out here for a drunk
The latest fad among Charlotte-area drivers is way too dangerous, and I don’t mean texting while driving — that’s so May or June. I’m talking about driving on the wrong side of the road — which means, of course, driving drunk. Just last week, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Rowan County on a DWI…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
On Track: Police were cruising their beat downtown when they witnessed a man and a woman running down the tracks of the Lynx light rail. The officers were able to stop the man but the woman got away. After looking around a bit, the officers found a car stuck sideways quite a ways down the…
Are health care ‘town halls’ really that bad?
OK. Enough is enough. Have these town hall meetings on health care reform really run amok or have we? I must say that I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I turn on the television and see people fussing and fighting, pushing and shoving, yelling and threatening, bullying and…
Is the arsenic in treated wood dangerous?
I’ve noticed a lot of my neighbors have built elevated gardening beds in their yards using wood that’s marked as treated with arsenic. Will the arsenic get into the vegetables and fruits these people are growing? If so, is that a health concern? — Ray Charlton, Corvallis, Oregon Hard to say. Were these vegetables and…
The tipping point: School board axes neighborhood schools
Eleven years ago, this would have been easy. Fifty-eight percent of the students at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were white, and more than 60 percent were middle-class or better. Had the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board wanted to, it could have integrated local public schools using poverty as a driver, as Wake County has, setting up every school with…
Horoscope Aug. 19-25, 2009
Virgo The Virgin (Aug. 22-Sept. 22): You are caught between what you should do and what you or your partner want you to do. The routine is safe, but also boring. Your mind may play tricks and you could be distracted easily. This is not a good time to do work that requires discipline with…
Ralphie May is living his dream
Comedian Ralphie May is living his dream. A contestant and finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2008, May is a favorite of many for his jokes — from those about race to the mentally challenged — which cross the line into what could be considered downright offensive territory. The Comedy Zone and Blumenthal Performing…
Fast & Furious, Paris 36 among new DVD reviews
FAST & FURIOUS (2009). The best part of Fast & Furious is its tagline – “New Model. Original Parts.” – which means that the studio wonk who created it deserved the big bucks more than anybody else who worked on the film. It’s a catchy line because it advertises the fact that all four stars…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Aug. 19
Current Releases ANGELS & DEMONS Angels & Demons, the follow-up to the international smash The Da Vinci Code, feels like nothing more than a cross between a Frommer’s travel guide and a scavenger hunt, as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon hits all of Rome’s holy hot spots gathering up clues as if they were empty Dr.…
