Sit On Your Butt, Tongue in Cheek
It’s Christmas time at last. We’ve survived the election. Thanksgiving has come and gone. And the Christmas decorations the stores put out in August are starting to get dusty. And, of course, you’re not ready. We know. You got sidetracked. Not to mention there’s that pesky job where they actually want you to come to…
View From The Couch
THE BILLY MADISON / HAPPY GILMORE COLLECTION (1995; 1996). This twin pack of Adam Sandler’s first starring vehicles qualifies as a must-own for Sandler fans, a must-avoid for Sandler haters, and a shrug inducer for everyone else. Billy Madison, which features Sandler’s stock what-me-retarded? act, starts off practically unwatchable but soon settles into its humdrum…
Scrooge On A Shoestring
Amid a constant march of new adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the envelope has been pushed, stretched, and maybe broken in recent decades. Musical adaptations of the stingy Victorian’s overnight reformation? Now there’s a dubious idea worth numerous attempts on both sides of the Atlantic. Perhaps the most bizarre mutation was the big…
Film Clips
NEW RELEASES BUGS! / ROAR: LIONS OF THE KALAHARI The renovations that recently took place at Discovery Place’s IMAX Dome Theatre (formerly the OMNIMAX Theatre) are nice enough, but the big news is that, following these upgrades, the venue has elected to premiere two of its best offerings in ages. The “ick” factor is sky-high…
Rich Woman In Heat
It’s a point of pride with proponents of the literary genre known as Lad Lit that they exist outside the traditional cultural constraints observed by most writers. Free thinkers, the lot of ’em. Except, of course, that they must be lads — which is the main reason Helen Walsh’s Brass has the British literary lions…
Just Like Starting Over (And Over, And Over)
By the time I finish writing this introduction, it will be time for me to pack up and go home. Well, not exactly. It will be time to start getting ready to go home, which, depending on the day and my mood, might make for a quick exit or, more often than not, make me…
Arts Agenda
Classical Music Amahl and the Night Visitors One act opera by Gian-Carol Menotti presented by Central United Methodist Church Music Ministries. Sun., Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Free. Central United Methodist Church, 30 Union Street, Concord. Electronic Music Concert Students studying electronic music will present their original compositions in this concert. Wed., Dec. 8, 10 p.m.…
The Exodus
Call it the exodus. State numbers released two weeks ago show that teachers are fleeing Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s high schools in increasing numbers. Teacher turnover rates, or the percentage of teachers who leave their jobs each year, increased at 14 of the county’s 17 high schools last year. The number of teachers leaving the system stayed the…
East Meets West
Owning a restaurant is a 24/7 operation. The ability to create a business makes owning a restaurant a common American dream among immigrants. For many, this enterprise infects the blood and the rush of a crowd becomes a daily fix. Such is the case for the Nguyen family. Olivia Nguyen moved to Charlotte from Dayton,…
Last Call At The Dinosaur Lounge
That was the tide shifting that you felt last week when CBS News’ Dan Rather announced his retirement after 24 years at the anchor desk. Unlike the accolades Tom Brokaw’s been getting in his last trot around the track before he signs off on NBC Nightly News for the last time this week, Rather’s departure…
Threesomes
Many suffer from an unfamiliarity of “Meat and Three” eateries. These folks are probably new to the South or new to this part of the South and just grew up neglected. Meat and Threes are to Charlotte what a Blue Plate Special diner is to much of the country, similar to the quintessential Route 22…
Still Don’t Get It?
So the feds finally funded the damn train. Well, hallelujah. Looks like Charlotte’s big city boosters won this one. As for the rest of you who are still baffled by their determination to build a light rail line down South Boulevard, given that even the city admits it won’t reduce congestion and may actually increase…
Think Zink
GRAND OPENING: November 8, 2004 OWNER: Tom Sasser EXECUTIVE CHEF: Tom Condron, also the Executive Chef for Harpers, Mimosa, Upstream and Arpa. AMBIENCE: Tom Sasser, owner of Zink and other restaurants such as Harpers, Mimosa, Upstream and Arpa, tags Zink as a “new American restaurant that is somewhat upscale, very affordable, with a late night…
Divine Right
In my country, the last ruler who claimed to govern by God’s authority had his head chopped off. This was King Charles I, who was deposed from the throne of England after nearly a decade of civil war, tried by Oliver Cromwell’s parliament, and decapitated in 1649. Charles inherited the concept of “divine right” from…
What Is It This Month?
It’s December, the month when thoughts turn to gifts, as in, “What on God’s green earth am I going to get (insert name here) for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa this year?” You may have made one too many shopping trips to Bath & Body Works or the hand tool department of Home Depot, and a gift card to…
Letters
Protect Our Ports I agreed with Tara Servatius’s article on protecting NC ports from being used by terrorists (“From Al Qaeda With Love,” Nov. 17). I also advocated using NC’s portion of the Federal Homeland Security grants to inspect the crates at the ports in my unsuccessful campaign for NC House. Hopefully, some of the…
Thinking Outside The Bottle
Since I already own just about every wine gadget, I can imagine what a pain in the ass I am to shop for. Some gadgets I use regularly, like Vacu Vin stoppers, but some just pile up on the counter, like the gaggle of extremely cute yet useless wine charms my craftier friends bear as…
News of the Weird
Lead story: “Anal-wart researcher” (visual inspection being the only way to detect anal cancer from the human papillomavirus) heads Popular Science magazine’s second annual November list of the worst jobs in science. “Worm parasitologist” can be just as challenging, however, especially for anyone studying the Dracunculus medinensis (which can settle in humans to a length…
Ice, Ice, Baby
Good ideas, ideas that are creative and challenge the prevailing thinking on what is and what isn’t acceptable in a given setting, ought to be encouraged at every turn. I know, not exactly an original idea in its own right, but bear with me. Think about what downtown Charlotte needs most. More parking, some might…
Good Eats
All Around Town Anntony’s Caribbean, 6434-F West Sugarcreek Rd., 704-598-6863; 2001 E. 7th St., 704-342-0749. A hint of the tropics; rotisserie chicken with Jamaican jerk sauce, ribs, Paradise Island fish special, curries, and Caribbean styled greens. $$ Azteca, 116 Woodlawn Rd., 704-525-5110; 9709 Independence Blvd., 704-814-9877; 1863 W. Franklin Blvd. (Gastonia), 704-866-7574. A favorite of…
Saigon Bistro: Fine Vietnamese Cuisine
East Meets West Vietnamese restaurant is an American dreamOwning a restaurant is a 24/7 operation. The ability to create a business makes owning a restaurant a common American dream among immigrants. For many, this enterprise infects the blood and the rush of a crowd becomes a daily fix. Such is the case for the Nguyen…
The Blotter
MIDDLE SCHOOL MAYHEM: A teacher at a Charlotte middle school reported that despite her instructions to stay put, an unruly student exited the classroom anyway. As the teacher held the doorknob, the pesky pupil struck her on the shoulder and pushed her out of the way as he left. At another middle school, a female…
Hired Hands
Imagine if it were this way in other artistic endeavors. Imagine if Don DeLillo hired a dialogue man to come in and spice up his latest novel with witty repartee. What if Julian Schnabel dialed up a “background facilitator” to shore up his latest painting? In the music world, calling on such a specialist is…
Creative Loafing Staff Recommended Gifts
1. The Amazing Do-It-Yourself Magic Tree may bring some holiday cheer to your desk, or to an otherwise drab corner of your life. It also may not, but it’s worth a shot. It’s a Christmas tree about six inches tall made out of some sort of absorbent paper. The kit comes complete with a little…
Spinning to the Top
Among the brand name DJs whose globetrotting success has elevated them to near-mythic status — such as John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyke — DJ Tiesto stands out as the youngest, newest addition to the canon. His ascendance began just seven years ago, well into Trance’s emergence as a major European musical movement,…
Holiday Events
Bethlehem Revisited This 6th annual event is an outdoor live nativity scene and walk through of the Bethlehem marketplace experience from 2000 years ago. www.pineville-nazarene.org. Dec. 4-5, 6-8 p.m. Pineville Church of the Nazarene, 8614 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-542-3618. Candle Tea Service & Christmas Bazaar A presentation of Moravian Christmas traditions including a demonstration of beeswax…
Sit & Spin
Daniel Johnston/V.A. The Late Great Daniel Johnston – Discovered Covered Gammon Records Daniel Johnston’s story is one of those stories — a biography of an incredibly talented yet damaged artist whose only chance at any sort of mainstream acceptance is based on his being championed by other artists. He’s Syd Barrett and R. Crumb for…
See & Do
DECEMBER 01 – WEDNESDAY Ho-ho-ho isn’t only about magnanimity at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte this season. No-no-no, it’s also about comedy, as the city’s most decorated company in 2004 finishes their banner year with a double helping of popular faves premiered a year ago. First, Mark Scarboro returns tonight with his one-man sparkler, The Santaland…
Music Menu
THURSDAY 12.2 Jump/David Mead — An acoustic set from the North Carolina School of the Arts alums formerly known as Jump Little Children, who are on a brief acoustic fling across the Southeast, trading in the electricity and amps for an accompanying string quartet. You can still expect to hear plenty from their JLC days,…
Ask the Advice Goddess
Full Meddle Jacket I’ve been dating my boyfriend for over two years. We’re both in our early thirties. When the subject of marriage comes up, he says he absolutely wants it — in the future. He’s just gone back to school, is in the middle of changing careers, and feels he has too much going…
Soundboard
Wednesday, Dec. 1 Breakfast Club DJ Boney B The Evening Muse Tosco House Party Open Mic w/ Drew Holcomb The Gin Mill Wizard’s Road Show Harry and Jean’s, Rock Hill Gary Marcus, Christian Tamburr, Ryan Weaver, David Binkley and Jeff Holland Midtown 51 Robin Brown & Andy Seets Midtown, Mountain Island Mike & Rusty Miller’s…
Stargazer
For All Signs Venus and Mars will be aligned on Dec. 5. Venus, the ancient goddess of love, carries broad feminine and romantic symbolism. Mars, the warrior god, prevails over masculine territory. The symbolism suggests the conclusion of one relationship and the beginning of another. Alternatively the conjunction speaks of the beginning and ending of…
Lost Boy Found
Destiny seems imprinted on director Marc Forster’s films. Growing up in Switzerland, Forster experienced several significant losses at an early age. His brother committed suicide and his father and grandmother all died within three months of each other during one horrible, grief-splattered year. It’s as if that early accretion of mortality has seeped so deeply…
