CD Review: The Killers
The Killers Day & Age Island; Release date: Nov. 24, 2008 The Deal: Las Vegas alternative rock quartet The Killers release a new 10-track album, titled Day & Age. The Good: The disc begins with “Losing Touch,” a feel good song filled with jingles and jangles, as well as a guitar solo towards the songs…
The results are:
So, I took one of those online sex quizzes today.
Chocolate party
Calling all chocoholics and/or alcoholics: Whisky River is hosting a Holiday Chocolate Party tomorrow evening! The chocolatefest begins at 9 pm and there will be “tons of CHOCOLATES to Eat!!!!” In addition to the sweet treats, Whisky is offering $2 Miller, $2 Kamikazis and $2 Shooters.
And the bands are…
We listed a few not too long ago, but now the entire lineup has been announced though they also tease to “special guests” at stops along the way. Here’s the lineup for the 2009 Vans Warped Tour: 3OH!3 A Day to Remember A Skylit Drive Alexisonfire Anti-Flag Bad Religion Bayside Big D and the Kids…
For some retailers, desperation is setting in
Time to brush up on your best haggling skills.
$200 at Pura Vida gets you so much more
Spend a lot, get a lot.
Tis the season to be horny
If you’ve spent your day fighting through the mall looking for a gift, the best thing for you do at home is to get some, hard and fast.
30 percent off sale at Niche
Did you read that? 30 percent off the ENTIRE STORE at both the NoDa location and SouthEnd location. Niche 1504 Camden Road, Suite 100 Niche Market 3120 N. Davidson St., Suite 100 For more info, click here.
Today’s Top 5: Monday
The five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 22, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
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, Dec. 22,2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
Who knew?
Janet Jackson is having a baby with Jermaine Dupri, allegedly. Jennifer Lopez had babies with Marc Anthony who is now cheating, allegedly. Britney Spears had babies with K-Fed. I’d like to personally apologize to all of the men out there that thought they did not stand a chance with three of the most successful and…
Music Menu, 8/20/08
CL previews upcoming shows: Murdercyle, Hope for Agoldensummer, Buschovski
Affirmative action
Oh, to be a white woman named Kennedy in America.
Benefit party at Blue
The Blue Santa Benefit Party happens on Saturday at Blue Restaurant & Bar.
Your weekly roundup
The most viewed blog posts this week.
Get your head shot
CL photographer Jasiatic is hosting another “Headshot Party.”
It’s all for the kids…
Charlotte Bobcats host holiday party for kids.
10-in-10
10 CD reviews done in 10 words each: Xavier Rudd Dark Shades of Blue — Australian activist mixes indigenous instruments with rock for psychedelic groove. Zac Brown Band The Foundation — Country-fried album finds inspiration in bluegrass, rock and reggae. Caesars Strawberry Weed — Swedish rockers have ‘60s influence with rough-around-edges style. Rosie Thomas A…
The Weekender
Get off your ass with Creative Loafing!
Blitzen’s Holiday Party, 12/18/08
Last night was the 8th Annual Blitzen’s Holiday Party at BlackFinn Saloon. We have your photos here!
A twisted fashion show: ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
Photos from the “Nightmare Before Christmas” fashion event.
Can’t afford to buy porn, try online.
I have a good friend who admits she has an semi-addiction. She likes to watch porn. Good porn, bad porn, gay porn, whatever. But she works for a giant that could fold any day now and she can’t purchase as many movies as she used to. Five a month to be specific. So, last night…
Music Menu, 12/19/08
CL previews upcoming show: Paleface
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 19, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • A Tuna Christmas opens at McGlohon Theatre • The Gathering, a charity party hosted by The Sol Kitchen and friends, at Alive in NoDa • Paleface at…
Jewelry party at JT Posh
Local jewelry designer Stephanie Speers will be showcasing her stuff at an exclusive jewelry party at JT Posh (2400 Park Road, Suite 2A) on Saturday from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The saavy consignment boutique will also be having holiday sales in conjunction with the jewelry party. Call 704-375-1334 for more information.
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, Dec. 19 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Alternative lifestyle party. • Have a party and breakfast at the Men’s Club. • Celebrate with…
The Weekender
Friday, Dec. 19 Music: Colbie Caillat Amos’ Southend The original MySpace-girl-made-good – no, we’re not talking Tila Tequila – shares her talent and prowess for songwriting tonight at Amos’. Sharing the bill is John McLaughlin. Food: Eat happy and dance the night away at Villa Antonio. Arts: Give back and do some good with Sol…
CL bankruptcy update
The current Creative Loafing ownership wins a round in bankruptcy court; more hearings lie ahead in January that could determine who controls the newspaper chain.
Ga. lawmakers want to elect president by popular vote
And no, the push doesn’t come from Republicans upset by Obama’s win. Democrats in the Georgia legislature filed the legislation.
Music Menu, 12/18/08
CL previews upcoming shows: Mark Mathis, AC/DC
AC/DC in the Q.C.
AC/DC will perform tonight at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Merry Mongrel Holiday
It’s exactly one week until Christmas Day, a good time to savor the glory, complexity, sweetness, oddity and just plain hodgepodge-ness, if that’s a word, of the Western world’s biggest holiday. As usual, the ignoramuses of the right are complaining that we all need to return to the pure, unadulterated roots of Christmas — like…
What are your neighbors up to?
Everyblock.com offers a wealth of public record information about your neighborhood — certificates of occupancy, police calls for service, food establishment inspections, etc. — for you to indulge your nosy self.
It was supposed to be a one-night stand
But it won’t be tonight. R&B artist Jazmine Sullivan has postponed her show tonight at Amos’ Southend to Jan. 8. More details to come, I’m sure.
Online Item: “Seriously, Who throws a shoe?” T-Shirt
The perfect gift for anyone who thinks Bush is an idiot.
Today’s Top 5- Thursday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 18.
Fighting over the wet spot
Then it was over and there was a huge wet spot on the sheets. Now, you’re doing everything in your power not to end up sleeping in it. He glances at it and moves to the driest spot in the bed, looking over his shoulder saying, “You made it, you sleep in it.”
‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Fashion Show @ Apostrophe Lounge
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
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, Dec. 18 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
Obama glasses at Flying Saucer
Tonight The Flying Saucer will host its annual Christmas Glass Night, unveiling its newest glass to feature Barack Obama (And … ‘Yes, we can!’ drink to that). The glasses are available for a small charge beginning at 7 p.m. Flying Saucer is located at 9605 N. Tryon St. For more information, call 704-568-7253. See the…
Workers laid off, executives paid off, Bernard Madoff
The global financial crisis deepens, with more than 10 million in the United States out of work, according to the Department of Labor. Unemployment hit 6.7 percent in November. Add the 7.3 million “involuntary part-time workers,” who want to work full time but can’t find a position. Jobless claims have reached a 26-year high, while…
CL’s day in court
Creative Loafing — the chain, not this paper alone — is scheduled to make its case for reorganization before a Tampa judge tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Movies on the radio
Local crix on the airwaves.
It’s no surprise
Barack Obama Time Magazine’s Person of the Year.
Christmas treats to bake for Santa
Here are a few holiday cookie recipes from a few of my favorite food sites and blogs. Happy baking! Spicy Molasses Cookies Layered Peppermint Crunch Bark Hot Chocolate Linzer Cookies Maple Shortbread Cookies Chocolate Thumbprints
Phish-aroo?
Well, Bonnaroo tickets are on sale, so let the rumor mill get revved up! Last year, there were rumors of Led Zepplin flying about. This year, the rumor at RollingStone.com is that a newly-reunited Phish will headline TWO nights of the festival, while Bruce Springsteen is rumored to close out Sunday night. As someone who…
Crowntown Showdown tonight
8 bands tonight at the Double Door Inn.
Welcome to Klepto
Your one stop to extreme consumerism in Charlotte.
Artsy Item: Paintings at Fifteen Ten
Make your own offer on paintings in a PM antique store.
He wants you to take the banana test
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, the old trick is to get a banana, go down on the banana and if you can taste it you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 17, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Appalachian band R.I.S.E. performs at The Evening Muse • Pet PALS Holiday Bash at Suite • Handel’s Messiah at Belk Theater • Themed wine tasting at Dolce…
Sales rack at Boris and Natasha
$15 clothing rack!! Enough said.
Today’s Top (less) 5: Wednesday
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, Dec. 17 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
New Cornell music video
Watch Chris Cornell’s new music video for “Scream.”
Public transportation is a necessity, not a frill
Thinking of cutting bus service because sales tax revenue is down is like Duke Energy threatening to cut off electricity a couple of hours a day because its stock price has dropped.
Street Style: Vintage with a modern twist
Found on Tryon Street near Spirit Square
Shiny item: Wired jewelry
Shots of gold and silver
Qiana Martin at play in Brazil
This week’s cover story profiled S.C.-born athlete Qiana Martin and her quest to play soccer in Brazil by any means necessary. We managed to get our hands on some video of her training while she was in Rio. Check it out:
Rolling Stone announces top 50 albums of 2008
TV on the Radio at the top of magazine’s list.
Delgo
There’s a perverse pleasure in taking down a bloated, big-budget Hollywood bomb that has managed to siphon away two hours of our precious time — let’s face it, attacking turkeys like Battlefield Earth and The Love Guru won’t lead anyone to lose even a second of sleep out of guilt. But lambasting an independent feature…
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still still holds up beautifully as a science fiction classic (see this issue’s View From The Couch column for a review of the new DVD reissue), but I’ll refrain from taking the usual route of using a cherished original to bludgeon a shoddy remake to death.…
Seven Pounds
The last time Will Smith teamed up with director Gabriele Muccino, the result was the box office smash The Pursuit of Happyness. With their latest collaboration, it seems as if the pair were engaged in the pursuit of crappyness. Read more…
Yes Man: Yes, no, maybe so?
Watch the Yes Man movie trailer.
Avetts to tour with DMB
It was announced today that The Avett Brothers will tour with Dave Matthews Band for eight shows on the upcoming 2009 spring tour. Among the tour dates is April 24 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale on Jan. 17.
This week’s new releases (12/16/08)
A list of some of the big names releasing albums this week.
Partying for our pets
Pet PALS Holiday Bash goes down tomorrow night.
Dixie’s Tavern, 12/15/08
The Miller Lite girls paid Dixie’s Tavern a visit on Monday night donning tight blue tees and festive, shimmery scarves. Other partiers showed up in festive bikinis and blue velour tops trimmed with white fur. Check it all out for yourself! Photos by Renaul Hill, Charlotte Vibe Photography.
Is your relationship recession proof?
It’s hard out there, money is tight and companies are collapsing around us. Unless you are a bankers or an auto worker, you probably still have a hold, no matter how slippery it is, on your job. But what about your partner? Has he or she been laid off and now you two are a…
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 16.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Tuesday
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, Dec. 16, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
Seven Pounds not worth its wait in ticket price
The last time Will Smith teamed up with director Gabriele Muccino, the result was the box office smash The Pursuit of Happyness. With their latest collaboration, it seems as if the pair were engaged in the pursuit of crappyness. That might sound like an especially harsh pronouncement for a film that seeks only to provide…
PARTY: CL and The Sol Kitchen presents Pop Life
You don’t have to go to church on Christmas Eve, you know? There’s other things to do and heading to the Apostrophe Lounge for Pop Life — an eclectic nightlife event presented by Creative Loafing and The SolKitchen each and every Wednesday night (no exceptions, even if it is Christmas the next day) — is…
The Day the Earth Stood Still remake never gets moving
The 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still still holds up beautifully as a science fiction classic (see this issue’s View From The Couch column for a review of the new DVD reissue), but I’ll refrain from taking the usual route of using a cherished original to bludgeon a shoddy remake to death.…
CD Review: Girl Talk’s Feed the Animals
The Deal: Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, releases latest mash-up creation featuring more than 300 samples/”snippets.” The Good: It’s amazing this guy hasn’t been sued – he uses more than 300 other songs to create his songs that generally blend from one into the next. It’s a walk through just about everyone’s CD collection –…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Tickle Monsters: Police responded to a call about loud screams and shouts coming from a house. When they arrived, a 22-year-old man told them that he had been the one yelling. He told police that his two drunk roommates had “tickle raped” him and that he could not escape their clutches. Some people are suspects,…
Delgo is an animated eyesore
There’s a perverse pleasure in taking down a bloated, big-budget Hollywood bomb that has managed to siphon away two hours of our precious time — let’s face it, attacking turkeys like Battlefield Earth and The Love Guru won’t lead anyone to lose even a second of sleep out of guilt. But lambasting an independent feature…
CD Review: T-Pain’s Thr33 Ringz
The Deal: It’s the latest CD from T-Pain, the rapper/singer who’s infamous for producing songs using synthetic-sounding, computer-manipulated vocals – better known as AutoTune. The Bad: Let’s start this review off with what sucks about Thr33 Ringz first – because to many people, like me, T-Pain represents everything that’s wrong with music these days. Not…
Can animals sense earthquakes?
Can animals sense earthquakes? I’ve heard stories about cats carrying their litter of kittens out of a building just prior to a quake. Is there any truth in it? We’ve had two quakes in the last three hours, and my goldfish didn’t do a thing. —- Nick E., Manchester, England Of course animals can sense…
CD Review: HodgePodge Messiahs
The Deal: Combine hip-hop group Eyes of the Elders with local poet Turtle and a variety of the area’s beatsmiths for a 33-track album, Casual Sabbath. The Good: The album’s feel is similar to that of Jim Morrison’s An American Prayer – spoken word and poetry done over music. Some tracks lean toward hip-hop more…
DVD Review: Living Colour’s The Paris Concert
The Deal: Colour still vibrant after nearly three decades. The Good: This is no nostalgic comeback look at a band that once had it. Recorded last July in Paris, Living Colour is as vibrant and powerful as when they first hit the scene in the mid-’80s. The band – vocalist Corey Glover, guitarist Vernon Reid,…
Horoscope for Dec. 17-23, 2008
Sagittarius The Archer: (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) You are a bit short on patience and probably have a heavy accelerator foot. Overall, though, good things are happening. Chill. For All Signs: The winter solstice this year is timed at 3:17 a.m. on the 22nd. This is the point of deepest darkness in the northern hemisphere. Ancient…
Original The Day The Earth Stood Still among DVD reviews
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951). One of the defining science fiction films from a decade that witnessed the explosion of the genre, The Day the Earth Stood Still has lost none of its topicality – if anything, the march of time has only increased its importance as a pacifist doctrine. Klaatu (Michael Rennie),…
New Year’s Eve meals
New Year’s Eve: At Sir Edmond Halley’s Restaurant and Freehouse, 4151-A Park Road, are slow cooked roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; potato encrusted black cod with grilled asparagus and a lobster hollandaise; wild mushroom Wellington with pecan pâté, new potatoes, leeks and a porcini whole grain mustard sauce. The three course dinner is $25 per…
Bubblies for your budget
Haiku for Champagne: Tasty small bubblesFabulous fizz tornadoSeduces my tongue Rarely refused, bubbly wines are the Don Juan of refreshment, seducing the most stalwart red-wine snob, the “I don’t drink” drinker and the “I have to work in the morning” denier. This time of year, everyone’s partying, and everyone knows Champagne. But bubblies come wrapped…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Dec. 17
AUSTRALIA Director Baz Luhrmann’s frenzied approach, which worked just fine for Moulin Rouge! and Romeo & Juliet, ends up hurting this roller coaster of a romantic epic. As Lady Sarah Ashley, who journeys to Australia and ends up trying to protect her late husband’s cattle ranch from being taken over by rival King Carney (Bryan…
Workers laid off, executives paid off, Bernard Madoff
The global financial crisis deepens, with more than 10 million in the United States out of work, according to the Department of Labor. Unemployment hit 6.7 percent in November. Add the 7.3 million “involuntary part-time workers,” who want to work full time but can’t find a position. Jobless claims have reached a 26-year high, while…
Eat the rich: A modest proposal for the current crisis
It’s the holidays in the land of the free, and people are tapped out and fed up. Job losses and belt-tightening rule the Yule in 2008, along with foreclosed homes, credit crunches, worries, and corporate crooks using money from taxpayer-funded bailouts to enjoy luxury spa vacations. Yet we keep hearing that it’s up to us,…
Santa serves cocktails
Lots of seasonal fare out there
Every team can find a home in Charlotte’s sports bars
My friend, a hardcore Eagles fan fresh out of Philly, made it her personal mission to find a bar in Charlotte where she could watch her team without having to be interrupted by shit-talking. She found a nesting spot for the Eagles and NFC East teams alright — Picasso’s on East Boulevard. Based on game…
Final Crisis among comic book quick takes
This week, I picked up four or so comic books but (like a few weeks earlier) nothing really stood out as terribly good or bad. So here are my quick takes on all the titles I read: Secret Invasion: Dark Reign No. 1 — Writer Brian Michael Bendis pumps out another of his dialogue-heavy comics.…
Colbie Caillat’s MySpace success
In the ‘net of success
Harp the Herald Angel
Back in August, when I wrote my CLog requiem for the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, I stirred up some unintended tumult when I compared the Phil’s clueless board of directors with the hubristic crew that sank Charlotte Rep. The phone began ringing at David L. Cook’s office, subscribers wanting to know how and why Charlotte Civic…
CMS shouldn’t have cut graduation requirements
Last week, I read that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had cut graduation requirements. Starting with next school year’s freshmen next school year, the number of credits to graduate will be reduced from 28 to 24. In addition, foreign language will no longer be required. Supposedly the school board voted to reduce the number of credits needed to…
Meet Concrete2Green
Concrete2Green, a new concept in using sports to produce social change, is a grassroots group in Charlotte working to turn inner city kids into soccer players. According to a press release from C2G, “The company enters once abandoned fields of recreation in urban areas and revitalizes them, giving cities safe, pristine Edens for play. C2G…
Easley needs to shoulder blame for probation failures
Before Eve Carson and Abhijit Mahato, there was Frederick Johnson. Johnson was a drug addict and a repeat offender. In the months before he was shot to death during a robbery in 1999, Johnson violated his probation in a myriad of ways. Unlike most criminals, Johnson was actually trying, with the help of his father,…
SPECIAL EVENT: “Nightmare Before Christmas” Fashion Show
Apostrophe Lounge presents a spooky “Nightmare Before Christmas” fashion event sponsored by L.A. East, Escape Hair & Skin Studio and Urbana City Spa & Tea Bar. The party’s slated to feature a runway fashion show that “will make you redefine a bad hair day,” drink specials and twisted Christmas songs by DJ R Wonz. $5…
BoA isn’t the only local bank with mountaintop mining ties
Coal mining’s dollar
PARTY: The Sol Kitchen’s charity party The Gathering
Concert promoter Mike Kitchen — of The Sol Kitchen — is known for throwing great shows (many co-sponsored by this here paper), but for the holidays, he’s decided to give back. His seasonally themed soiree The Gathering — which is hosted by radio personality Consuella and CL columnist Brittney Cason, and features music by DJ…
South by South America
A S.C.-born athlete searches for soccer below the equator
THEATER: CAST’s A Tuna Christmas
Just in time for the holidays, Carolina Actors Studio Theatre presents a comedic production about the merriment of seasonal disasters via A Tuna Christmas. The play chronicles a series of unfortunate events for a group of Texans from the small city of Tuna. (Sounds fishy, huh?) Actors Tom Olson (in his third year running) and…
Breaking bread at Andrew Blair’s
Comfort food in the Parks
DANCE: North Carolina Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker
The artistically-created nutcrackers you see in the stores are so impractical. I mean, really … just who cracks nuts with them? And what would happen to a pricey Steinbach nutcracker if you put a nut in place and pulled the lever? Ahhh, I don’t want to know. It’s much less tragic to think about that…
CL previews upcoming shows
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 The Howlies A garage rock version of, um, Lou Rawls? Atlanta’s Howlies are like listening to old-timey garage rock on vinyl. They rock with the hisses and scratches intact. The blokes also write quirky blues-inflected “ballads” with the ole Barry White/Lou Rawls styled manly banter embedded in between the crooning. The Howlies…
EXHIBITION: Circus! at Discovery Place
I often like to remember all the things I loved about my childhood, like swinging on monkey bars and, of course, a visit to the circus. Whether it be creating my own version or going out to see Barnum and Bailey’s, everything about the circus excited me. Now, the livelihood of the circus can be…
Yes Man: Yes, no, maybe so?
Jim Carrey sweet as he is sweaty
MUSIC: Pianist Jim Brickman at Ovens
Jim Brickman’s “Holiday Homecoming Tour 2008” will stop by Charlotte at Ovens Auditorium tonight. What better way to enjoy the season than by listening to a brew of holiday-themed melodies? And pianist Jim Brickman is no stranger to concocting a variety merry compositions. After you’ve finished with the hustling and bustling of getting Christmas presents…
