Aug 24-30, 2010

Aug 24-30, 2010 / Vol. 24 / No. 26

Bush policy still impacts mental health of New Orleans’ poor kids

Over the weekend, in honor of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina striking the Gulf Coast, the media was filled with Happy Talk galore. Things are getting better in New Orleans! Lots of new people moving in! We’re looking up! Our schools are better now! And so forth and so on, each media outlet bending…

John Grooms

Common House closes

The Common House, the Plaza Midwood restaurant located at 1101 Central Avenue, closed last Wednesday, but the owners plan to re-brand and open by September 10. More to come later …

Tricia Childress

Glenn Beck’s Village Idiots convention

When I heard that Glenn Beck was going to hold a “Restoring Honor” rally Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial, my first thought was of the Woody Allen film Love and Death, in which two travelers drop off their village’s idiot at a Village Idiots Convention.

John Grooms

Mocha cupcakes

With a half cup of coffee and a few teaspoons of instant espresso in both the cake and frosting, these can pass as a breakfast food and take the place of your morning coffee.

Priscilla Tsai

Celebrate women’s right to vote

Here’s something worth celebrating: Today is the 90th anniversary of the day when American women got the right to vote. It’s shocking to think that women in the U.S. didn’t have that right until 1920, but there you have it. Women didn’t gain the right to vote in America until after a decades-long struggle that…

John Grooms

Live review: The Isaac Spiveys, The Alpha Theory

The Isaac Spiveys w/ The Alpha Theory Snug Harbor Aug. 25, 2010 The Deal: Charlotte bands perform as co-headliners for small Snug Harbor crowd. The Good: The night kicked off with a one-hour set by Charlotte’s The Alpha Theory. Every time I see this rock quartet perform, I’m more impressed by how cohesive and strong…

Jeff Hahne

Treasury says failed foreclosure program OK since it saved banks

The Treasury Department, run by Tim Geithner, aka the man who manages to be hated by both left and right, had a plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. A lot of people worked hard, interviewing homeowners around the country, and for a while, it looked as if we might actually see a government program do…

John Grooms

The differences between MLK Jr. and Glenn Beck

As you’ve probably heard by now, Fox News’ comedian-turned-crybaby-political-pundit, Glenn Beck, has decided he should hold a rally on the anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech … and in the same location, no less. Below, you’ll find videos of MLK Jr.’s famous speech as well as an interview with Glenn Beck…

Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman

Tea Party racist Mark Williams steps in it again

Some people really, really don’t know when to shut up. Mark Williams is one of those people. You may remember Williams as the guy who was fired as spokesman for the Tea Party Express after he wrote an unbelievably racist “satire” of the NAACP. He had gotten into hot water before that for saying that…

John Grooms

Best bets in Charlotte comedy, Aug. 24-28

As the headline suggests, here are a few of the best places to find comedy events in Charlotte — from stand-up to improv to sketch comedy and more. For a complete listing of all comedy visit www.CharlotteComedyLIVE.com. Tuesday, Aug. 24 Stand-Up Comedy at Lake Norman Comedy Zone at 8 p.m. (seating at 7 p.m.) Nationally…

Anita Overcash

Progress made on city’s fed-funded green projects

You would never know it by reading the city’s daily newspaper, or watching our blood-and-fluff-centric TV news stations, but last night, City Council got a detailed breakdown from Rob Phocas, Charlotte’s energy and sustainability manager, on how the city is progressing on 17 citywide green projects. Those projects, funded by the federal Dept. of Energy…

John Grooms

This week’s new releases (8/24/2010)

Here’s a quick list of some of the albums hitting stores this week: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan Hawk Dead Confederate Sugar Eels Tomorrow Morning Fantasia Back to Me JJ Grey Georgia Warhorse JP and Chrissie and The Fairground Boys Fidelity! Little Big Town The Reason Why Katy Perry Teenage Dream Ra Ra Riot The…

Jeff Hahne

EXHIBIT: Terrain

It’s your last chance to check out Green Rice Gallery’s Terrain exhibit before it comes to a close on Aug. 29. Featuring new art by Kate Vasseur, the exhibit celebrates nature with glimpses into the many overlooked forms and shapes (like faded tree lines) that make up its beauty. Patterns and textures also come alive…

Anita Overcash

Bizarre crime from Charlotte police files

Prime Suspect: A 27-year-old woman called police last week after she thought her car had been burglarized. She told officers that she didn’t have any idea how the suspects entered her car, and her wallet was the only thing missing. She called back an hour later and told officers that her son had the wallet…

Ryan Pitkin

Will alcohol in cupcakes make you drunk?

I read a letter to Dear Abby from someone who had served cupcakes made with Kahlua liqueur. A coworker claimed she’d gotten drunk from one cupcake, and the writer wondered whether this was possible. Abby said enough alcohol remained to affect someone with alcohol sensitivity. In my opinion, the woman claiming to be drunk from…

Cecil Adams

How to save the NASCAR Hall of Fame

So the NASCAR Hall of Fame isn’t bringing in as many fans as expected. Wow, am I shocked! Who would have thought that our ever-eager Uptown! boosters would miss their attendance forecast of 800,000 visitors by, oh, 400,000 or so? The answer to that question is: Pretty much everyone who isn’t an Uptown! booster. But,…

Weekly horoscope Aug. 25-31)

Virgo The Virgin (Aug. 22-Sept. 22): It is possible you are wanting to start a business or develop a creative enterprise. The economy is not going to recover rapidly, so keep your investments small at the beginning and invest more on positive results later. Circumstances may be forcing a decision on the subject of whether…

Vivian Carol

CD REVIEW: Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse’s Dark Night of the Soul

THE DEAL: Originally circulating in 2009, the collaboration between Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and an array of guests is finally seeing the official light of day. THE GOOD: Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous, who committed suicide in March of this year, is getting plenty of posthumous accolades thanks to this work. He shines on “Daddy’s Gone,” a duet…

Jeff Hahne

Scoring at the right sports bar

  Football season has officially kicked off … with a Panthers loss to the Ravens and Michael Oher, the real life player portrayed in the movie The Blind Side. But that doesn’t count, and football season has kicked off nonetheless. And in Charlotte when it’s game on, that means party on, Wayne … party on,…

A user’s guide to ‘legal weed’

I’ve been aware of the availability of legal marijuana substitutes for years, but like many people, I assumed this was nothing more than a racket. After all, it struck me as quite odd that this would get past the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and I was at pains to imagine what chemical substitute could possibly…

Kevin Keck

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Aug. 25

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

Bev Perdue: It takes a thief?

Two guys rob a bank. Both plan the crime, but one drives the get-away car and the other does the robbery. When police catch up with the getaway car, they capture only the driver. Do investigators A) arrest and interrogate him or B) let him go without asking any questions and then claim they can’t…

THEATER: Breaking Silence at Knight Theater

Charlotte native and dance choreographer Justin Mann brings his latest dance showcase, Breaking Silence — a modern day love story about a young couple facing the joys and strains of dealing with matters of the heart — to the stage of Knight Theater for a debut and one-night-only performance. “Movement, music and passion” are described…

Anita Overcash

The Ghost Writer, City Island among new DVD reviews

THE GHOST WRITER (2010). No other filmmaker living today better exemplifies the integral need to separate the art from the person than Roman Polanski. The Oscar-winning director is clearly a rapist and pedophile, but he’s also a moviemaker of the highest order (well, that silly Johnny Depp occult flick aside): To ignore his movies on…

Matt Brunson

The curious case of Fantasia Barrino

It’s old news by now that, a little more than two weeks ago, former American Idol winner, R&B singer and Charlotte resident Fantasia Barrino allegedly tried to commit suicide. It was reported that she took an overdose of aspirin and sleep medication in an effort to escape the media scrutiny related to her role in…

Nsenga Burton

MUSIC: Tears for Fears at The Fillmore

Whenever people bag on ’80s pop rock (I’m usually leading the charge), a lotta folks reserve a little extra vitriol for Tears for Fears (unless, of course, they’re doing karaoke, when it becomes OK to SHOUT/SHOUT/let it all out). And yes, there’s the whole “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”/”Sowing The Seed of Love” period.…

Timothy C. Davis

Vampires Suck: Bloody awful

Go to the Internet Movie Database (www.IMDb.com) and you’ll find a section that lists the 100 worst movies ever made according to the site’s visitors. The writer-director team of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer is noteworthy in that three of their first four pictures — Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie — have…

Matt Brunson

The Expendables: Truth in advertising

The Truth In Advertising award for the summer of 2010 goes to The Expendables, which employs (however unintentionally) its own title to push the fact that this is a disposable action film that will dissipate from memory almost immediately. Its primary — make that only — selling point is its large cast of macho action…

Matt Brunson

BENEFIT: Nasty Productions White Trash Party

Getting down and dirty trailer-trash style has never been so easy, especially since Nasty Productions began hosting its White Trash theme parties. This year’s White Trash Party marks No. 6 and is taking place (and starting earlier) in a new location — The Ultimate Gym. Dress as redneck-like as possible to win prizes in categories…

Anita Overcash

The Switch: Exchange it for a good film

A vile scenario doesn’t necessarily have to translate into a vile movie, providing there’s some objective or empathy on the part of the filmmakers. Gaspar Noe’s 2002 French release Irreversible, for example, centers around arguably the most brutal rape sequence ever committed to celluloid, but several factors, specifically Noe’s decision to tell the story in…

Matt Brunson

Mosque-issippi burning

Salman Hamdani died on Sept. 11, 2001. The 23-year-old research assistant at Rockefeller University had a degree in biochemistry. He was also a trained emergency medical technician and a cadet with the New York Police Department. But he never made it to work that day. Hamdani, a Muslim-American, was among that day’s first responders. He…

Amy Goodman

SPECIAL EVENT: Food Lion Auto Fair

Every year car lovers make their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the annual Food Lion Auto Fair. This year’s event continues today, featuring 50 car club displays, as well as vendors with a variety of automotive parts and memorabilia, autograph sessions with NASCAR drivers and more. $10 for adults; free for children 12 years…

Anita Overcash

Nanny McPhee Returns for little reason

Considering that 2005’s Nanny McPhee hasn’t exactly established itself on this side of the Atlantic as a family classic, there’s nothing about the title Nanny McPhee Returns to suggest that this sequel will fare any better. Perhaps Universal Pictures would have been wise to keep the film’s original British moniker, Nanny McPhee and the Big…

Matt Brunson

FILM: Cult Movie Monday screening of Back to School

Tonight’s Cult Movie Monday at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte is a fitting movie for this time of year. The screening of Back to School — directed by Alan Metter and starring Rodney Dangerfield — is about a father who poses as a college student in the hopes of improving his son’s — a misfit student…

Anita Overcash

Bison meat increasing in popularity

Before the Europeans arrived in North America, the American Bison (also affectionately, but inaccurately, known as buffalo), the largest land mammal weighing as much as 2,000 pounds, numbered in the millions. In fact, some estimate the total number of bison between 30 to 60 million. Yet by the time President Teddy Roosevelt founded the American…

Tricia Childress

COMEDY: Carlos Mencia at McGlohon Theatre

Comedian Carlos Mencia has some reputation. From being accused of plagiarism, to saying things that are just wrong (like the uncalled-for remarks he made about the Hurricane Katrina aftermath), the former star of Comedy Central’s (now defunct) Mind of Mencia, is really only funny to folks who aren’t easily offended. Dubbed on his website as…

Anita Overcash

3 questions with Bill Averbach, pickler

Bill Averbach, a pickler by day and musician by night, stands behind his booth currently nestled in the Atherton Mill Market. Just look for the Pickleville sign. He has been pickling everything from pickles to jalapeños to tomatoes for many years. “I’ve made pickles my whole life; that is something that everyone in my family…

Alexis Greene

SPECIAL EVENT: ‘We Need Someone Like You’ Happy Hour

Mecklenburg Guardian ad Litem and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte come together for the “We Need Somebody Like You” Happy Hour at Buckhead Saloon tonight. At the event, they’ll be recruiting members and child advocates. Complimentary drinks, appetizers and live music, in addition to a door prize donated from RockHouse Events for Kings…

Anita Overcash

Moreland and Arbuckle is more than a blues act

It sounds like Little Walter fronting ZZ Top, mixing uptown Chicago blues with the muddy, swampy sound of the Delta. But Moreland and Arbuckle don’t want to be known just as a blues act. With the help of drummer Brad Horner, guitarist Aaron Moreland and harpist Dustin Arbuckle blast out an industrial strength blend of…

Grant Britt

Comic review: Chew No. 13

The Deal: Image releases that latest issue of its foodie-centric detective comic, Chew. Put together by the usual creative team of John Layman and Rob Guillory — and starring comicdom’s only “cibopath” (someone who can get psychic impressions from objects by eating them) — this month’s edition attempts to answer a few dangling plot threads…

Carlton Hargro

CL previews upcoming concerts (Aug. 25-31)

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 25 THE MUMBLES This duo, two keyboards and a drumkit, toast Joe Jackson and Ben Folds with jazzy pop while tossing in light funk and R&B. They recently set up shop in New Orleans and are on the road plugging their cocktail hour, hipster lounge music. After touring this summer the duo plans…

Where to find Southern Pies

Nothing exemplifies Southern cuisine more than flakey Southern pies. They’re hard to find at bakeries, but relatively easy to find by the slice in Southern-styled restaurants such as Sadie’s Soulful Southern Experience and La’Wan’s Soul Food Restaurant. The woman behind these treats at many area restaurants is baker Brandi Jones. She says she learned from…

Tricia Childress

Theater review: Queen City Theatre Company’s Rope

Nearly five years after Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped and murdered their 14-year-old neighbor, Bobby Franks, the 1929 dramatization of their notorious crime, Patrick Hamilton’s Rope, opened in London. Classically, the story had hubris to spare, for Loeb had written of himself and his best bud in Nietzschean terms as supermen, “exempted from the…

Perry Tannenbaum

Nightlife profile: Bill Wilson

As a 25-year resident of Charlotte’s Midtown district, Bill Wilson has seen the Uptown area and its accompanying nightlife grow by leaps and bounds. On a nightly basis for the past two years, the Harley-Davidson enthusiast from Raleigh has experienced it firsthand by being a driver for Zingo of Charlotte. (The franchise has been a…

Chris Triplett

Exhibit: Suspicious Minds

According to the folks at The Light Factory, the gallery’s newest exhibit — Suspicious Minds — examines the “phenomenon” of surrealism. The show features new work by surreal photography pioneer Jerry Uelsmann and other photographers and film/installation artists — all with divergent approaches to surrealist imagery. Free. Now through Feb. 6, 2011. (Opening reception: Sept.…

Carlton Hargro

CD REVIEW: Street Sweeper Social Club’s Ghetto Blaster EP

THE DEAL: Collaboration between Tom Morello and Boots Riley puts together seven-song EP as follow-up to debut full-length. THE GOOD: If you heard the self-titled debut, you have a good idea of what to expect — Rage Against the Machine-like guitar riffs with Boots spitting over the top of them. Nothing as politically-charged as Rage…

Jeff Hahne

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