Cover Story
Best of Charlotte 2015
For 28 years, Creative Loafing’s Best of Charlotte has been a celebration of everything the readers enjoy; in addition to everything staff members love or love to hate. When we started brainstorming ideas for this year’s edition, we thought, “We are constantly telling people about our favorites every week in the paper and online. Why…
Lunch Break (10/7/15): Roberts will face Peacock in Charlotte’s next mayoral race
Because we wake up late sometimes, too.
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Fun in the (lack of) sun
What do you do when the weather is awful?
Lunch Break (10/6/15): Death toll continues to rise in Carolina flooding, MKG out for season
Because we wake up late sometimes, too
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Charlotte chefs hit the road to help flood victims
Piedmont Culinary Guild is on its way to South Carolina today.
Lunch Break (10/5/15): Hurricane Joaquin causes problems throughout Carolinas, offshore
Because we wake up late sometimes, too
Today’s Top 5: Sunday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top 5: Saturday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
The press should stop publishing the names of mass murderers
They want fame, so lets cut off their fuel source.
Talks the talk, walks The Walk
THE WALK *** (out of four) DIRECTED BY Robert Zemeckis STARS Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlotte Le Bon Released in 2008, Man on Wire told the amazing true story of Philippe Petit, a French high-wire walker who in the 1970s could always be found risking his life climbing and traversing high points of note (including Notre Dame…
The Martian worth a close encounter
THE MARTIAN ***1/2 (out of four) DIRECTED BY Ridley Scott STARS Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain Superior to both Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and (by a smaller margin) Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, The Martian will disappoint only those who were waiting for Marvin to show up at some point to wreak looney havoc. Perhaps not since Ron Howard’s…
Sicario a killer film
SICARIO ***1/2 (out of four) DIRECTED BY Denis Villeneuve STARS Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro I stand corrected, while simultaneously being floored by the development. It’s barely been a month since I decreed that No Escape was the most intense motion picture I’ve seen in 2015, and yet here’s Sicario storming through the gate and…
Lunch Break (10/2/15): North Carolina man hailed as hero following Oregon shooting
Because we wake up late sometimes, too
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Opening Friday
What’s new in theaters this weekend.
Lunch Break (10/1/15): Alleged cop killer scheduled to face judge in bond hearing this afternoon
Because we wake up late too, sometimes.
Weekly horoscope (Oct. 1-7)
For All Signs: The eclipse energy of this month continues its background effect on everyone. The world’s structures are so precarious that some may have collapsed. Indeed, whether global or personal, anything built on sand rather than solid ground, is showing cracks and signs of impending change. That means issues that have been developing for…
Bizarre crime from Charlotte police files (Oct. 1)
Shooting It Out: While reporters first flocked to the Park Road Shopping Center last week after getting word of a shooting on the scanner, they arrived to find nothing of the sort, just a man doing some window shopping. Police said the man attempted to shoot heroin while driving around the parking lot. This obviously…
At Close Range, Spy, Cannon Films documentary among new home entertainment titles
(View From The Couch is a weekly column that reviews what’s new on Blu-ray and DVD. Ratings are on a four-star scale.) AT CLOSE RANGE (1986). At Close Range is one of those movies we’re sad (but not surprised) to learn was based on a true story. It’s such a unrelenting exercise in grimness and…
Arts & Entertainment
In addition to the readers’ picks, we asked some of this year’s winners to share their favorite places, people and things around Charlotte. Big Mamma D, Big Mamma’s House of Burleque Alexandra Loesser, artist Donna Scott, Donna Scott Productions
Kat Eckles, Clean Juice Bar
* Best Area To Live “We think that the best area to live in is Lake Norman. We have lived in Lake Norman for a little over a year, but have been visiting the area since Landon’s parents moved here 10 years ago. We have always felt drawn to this area because of the beautiful…
Jonathan Hughes, owner of the Milestone
* Worst Use of Tax Money “Are people still complaining about the CATS lane on Independence? I’m still upset about it. I know it’s an old issue. I saw a cop using it the other day. I’ve seen a bus on it once. I was driving on Independence coming back to the city and I…
Jennifer Yates, makeup artist
* Best Tattoo Shop “I would say Paris Tattoos has the best artists. They are also classical artists who do paintings and stuff like that. To me, it’s like a gallery, as well, and I’m kind of an art snob. I like it so much I brought my mom there when she came to Charlotte.”…
Food & Drink
In addition to the readers’ picks, we asked some of this year’s winners to share their favorite places, people and things around Charlotte. Kat Eckles, Clean Juice Bar Brandon Decurtins, King Of Pops Joey Hewell, co-founder of NoDa Farmer’s Market
Bree Newsome, Charlotte activist
* Best Hookah Bar “Red @ 28. Thursday nights at Red’s I always see familiar faces. The wings are great and so is the Holy Grail hookah.” * Best Restaurant in Plaza Midwood “Mama’s Caribbean Grill & Bar. Everything on the menu is good and the owners are great people.” * Best Soul Food “Sunset…
Consumer Culture
In addition to the readers’ picks, we asked some of this year’s winners to share their favorite places, people and things around Charlotte. Amy Tynan, owner; Katie Rothweiler, community relations of Aerial CLT Carlos Parayes, designer Jennifer Yates, makeup artist
City Life
In addition to the readers’ picks, we asked some of this year’s winners to share their favorite places, people and things around Charlotte. Bree Newsome, Charlotte activist Scott Swimmer, DrumStrong President/Founder Andre Larmond, Uber driver in Charlotte
Donna Scott, Donna Scott Productions
* Best Local Celebrity “Jon Wilson of Wilson’s World, WCCB. He’s got his finger on the pulse of Charlotte and always brings the fun — whether it’s with sports, charitable organizations, the arts, kids events. He covers it all with a joie de vivre and very crazy early in the a.m., but it’s worth it.…
Scott Swimmer, DrumStrong President/Founder
* Best Concert of the Past 12 Months “He’s done more than one in the last 12 months, but Justin Fedor has been bringing bands together for a cause, similar to what Drums for Cures does. It’s not just putting bands on stage, but putting together fun combinations. It creates a new flavor of music…
Joey Hewell, co-founder of NoDa Farmer’s Market
* Best Area to Live in Charlotte “Of all the neighborhoods I’ve lived in, [NoDa] has the most community feel. From pick-up softball games every Monday night at the neighborhood park to the NoDa run club with hundreds of runners every Wednesday, there is a lot more going on than just the restaurant and bar…
Amy Tynan, owner; Katie Rothweiler, community relations of Aerial CLT
* Best Local Coffee Shop “Central Coffee fuels our lives around here. We have our meetings there. It’s the only place I know that can really make almond milk work” — Tynan “The atmosphere is great and it’s awesome coffee.” — Rothweiler * Best Vegan-Friendly “Nourish is a vegan food delivery company. It’s well-balanced and…
Best Dentist
Your SouthPark, NC Dentist Located just a few blocks away from the SouthPark Mall, Gentry Dental specializes in general and cosmetic care. Dr. Heather Gentry also offers specialty services including Invisalign, implants, and headache relief. The office is warm and inviting with amenities such as warm blankets, complimentary beverages, and music during treatment that helps…
Bob Peters, Mixologist at Ritz-Carlton’s The Punch Room
* Best Art Exhibit (Local) “At Gallery Twenty-Two they have one of the coolest reassuring art exhibits I have ever seen. They do a skate deck art exhibit every year that I always look forward to all year. They pack the walls with beautifully painted decks from floor to ceiling all done by local artists.…
Andre Larmond, Uber driver in Charlotte
* Best New Thing “BB&T Ballpark. The park features beautiful architecture and an amazing fireworks show after Friday night games.” * Best Concert Venue “PNC Music Pavilion has a designated Uber lot for us drivers. There’s also the amazing, open layout of the pavilion.” * Best Bowling Alley “Park Lanes has the best drinks and…
After Dark
In addition to the readers’ picks, we asked some of this year’s winners to share their favorite places, people and things around Charlotte. Jonathan Hughes, owner of The Milestone Bob Peters, Mixologist at Ritz-Carlton’s The Punch Room
Brandon Decurtins, King Of Pops
* Best Festival “VegFest. This one’s right up my alley. Needless to say, I’ve been a part of a lot of the local festivals. Festival in the Park is the obvious, and is still one of the biggest and best festivals in the area, but my personal favorite is VegFest. I am by no means…
Carlos Pareyes, designer
* Best Weekend Getaway “Chimney Rock. I love the nature and the fresh air. It’s an amazing place.” * Best Restaurant in Uptown “Bentley’s on 27 is a nice place with amazing views, high-end cuisine and good service.” * Best Make-up Artist Jennifer Yates. * Best Hair Stylist Michelle Dianne. “Both Michelle and Jennifer (Yates,…
Honorable Mentions
BEST SLOGAN FOR CHARLOTTE It’s not surprising that readers chose “The Queen City” to be the city’s slogan. after all, people tend to get creative with their answers, so the chances of having multiple people writing in the same slogan is slim to none — unless someone campaigns for their suggestion. So, in the interest…
Alexandra Loesser, artist
* Best Local Charity “Friendship Gardens, for making healthy food available, especially in areas that dont have access otherwise, starting with gardens.” * Best Old Thing “What old thing? This is Charlotte.” *winks* * Best Art Space “C3 Lab is a really exciting new collaborative art space in South End that brings creative people and…
Big Mamma D, Big Mamma’s House of Burleque
* Best Activist “Joanne Spataro. I just love her voice and her message of equality I love that she asks the best questions to some of the most important people of Charlotte.” * Best Display Of Public Art “The new Wall Poem of Charlotte piece [“Bus Stop,” by Donald Justice] on the corner of 7th…
Three questions for Scott McCannell, owner of Tip Top Daily Market
Folks who remember the pre-NoDa days might recall a small little market that sat in the middle of the neighborhood on 35th Street. It was called Tip Top, a name that owners — Scott McCannell, Kelly Call, Jason Michel and Derek Ghent — are fond of and decided to resurrect as their own new establishment…
CD review: Secret Someones’ Secret Someones
Early in 2012, I caught a concert at the Evening Muse featuring two artists who have gone on to bigger and better things since then. One, Rachel Platten, is becoming a household name thanks to her hit single, “Fight Song.” The other, Bess Rogers, entertained the crowd with her singer-songwriter stuff as well as a…
CD review: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ self-titled album
If I had to pick an off-the-radar song of the summer, I’d suggest Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ “S.O.B.” From the foot-stomping, hand-clapping rhythm to its “Son of a bitch, gimme a drink,” chorus, the song has garnered plenty of well-deserved attention in the Colorado band’s direction. Even Jimmy Fallon couldn’t speak highly enough…
CD review Big Grams’ self-titled album
This seven-song EP is a merger between electronic duo Phantogram and rapper Big Boi (Outkast). It’s an unexpected pairing which is able to balance the funky flow of Big Boi with the flowing, dreamy vocals of Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and solid production work by Phantogram’s other half, Josh Carter. It’s an interesting dichotomy in which…
Homer’s night on the town
Joe Gillespie woke up at the bottom of a BB&T Ballpark stairwell with no idea how he got there. It was hours after an event he attended in the venue, and it didn’t seem like the beginning of what would be one of his “top three nights of all time.” That is, until he began…
Times have changed
In 2007, I was a 21-year-old gay man moving to Charlotte; a city full of LGBT nightlife, arts, culture, politics and community. No doubt, Charlotte’s LGBT community was large and diverse nearly a decade ago, but in all that time it’s only grown larger and far more diverse than we can sometimes imagine. Certainly, it’s…
The Best Blotter Items of the Year (and then some)
It’s been a while since we put together a Best of The Blotter collection, and we figured what better time to gather a group of 2015’s craziest stories of criminals, cops and kooks than in the Best of Charlotte issue. This year, we’ve even crowned a Best Blotter Moment (see sidebar for an interview with…
Can you handle Bearing Witness?
“Extreme.” That’s one word you could use to describe Guatemalan performance artist Regina Jose Galindo’s Bearing Witness exhibit, currently on display at Davidson College’s Van Every/Smith Galleries. “Crazy,” that’s another word that many would use in regards to her extreme measures. But Galindo’s messages are clear, her works leaving a permanent impression in the mind…
Pho Hong brings tasty dishes to East Charlotte
The best rule of thumb when approaching a Vietnamese noodle shop is not to put all your phos in one basket. In other words, pho, Vietnam’s ubiquitous rice noodle soup, has a variety of permutations throughout Vietnam. In fact, pho has three distinct regional broths: northern, central and southern. In the north, the broth is…
