New morning show in Charlotte
This just in from the folks at K104.7: WKQC/K104.7 announces morning show WKQC announces seasoned broadcast veteran Jon Robinson will be the host of K104.7’s “Jon Robinson Show” 5:30-10 weekday mornings. Robinson, who has been in the television and radio industry for over twenty years, will be waking up the Carolinas beginning Monday December 8th…
More media woes
In today’s depressing media news, Tribune has declared bankruptcy. The New York Times also reported Friday that another newspaper giant, McClatchy, is seeking buyers for The Miami Herald, one of its largest and most prestigious papers. McClatchy, of course, also owns The Charlotte Observer. Never fear, however, when such great ideas — ahem — like…
Another historical election
A New Orleans East attorney becomes the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress.
New game inspires rage … and inspiration
A new game called Underworld is available on the iPhone, in which you sell narcotics on the street corner, and the kids are in danger again. The game is apparently causing a stir with parents who believe it is encouraging illegal behavior. Thelma Pickard is one woman trying to stop the game from being released,…
LeBron James at NV Lounge, 12/05/08
LeBron James was at NV Lounge Friday night hosting this month’s 1st Fridays networking event. The turnout was huge. Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh.
Black-on-black crime
Alan Keyes and Clarence Thomas have spearheaded the effort to have President-Elect Obama disqualified because he is not a “natural born citizen.” Funny, none of the founding fathers were either. I suspect if Sen. John McCain was born in Panama and he is considered “natural born,” then someone born in Hawaii to a mother from…
Really? Jeremy Bridges again?
If Charlotte has to deal with a football player getting arrested, can it be for a more interesting crime? No, scratch that –can it be a different player–not Jeremy Bridges again. This guy has already pulled a gun on a stripper and now he’s popping champagne in Ballentyne and upsetting people. The Associated Press reports…
Murphy’s Law
Any man that gets away with murder, allegedly, and cannot manage to stay out of trouble, is truly a moron.
Are you addicted to sex?
Are you a sex addict? Answer these twelve questions to assess whether you may have a problem with sexual addiction. 1. Do you keep secrets about your sexual or romantic activities from those important to you? Do you lead a double life? 2. Have your needs driven you to have sex in places or situations…
Beards BeCAUSE, 12/05/08
The grizzly guys sprouting beards for charity Beards BeCAUSE reached the final day of the growing season on Friday. The party at Amos’ Southend featured live music from the Truckstop Preachers, Belmont Playboys, Tommy Ray and the Rayguns, and the Bo Stevens Band. Proceeds benefited United Family Services’ Shelter for Battered Women. Photos by Tricia…
Cans, 12/05/08
Cans marked the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition with a party on Friday night. People were asked to wear their best gangster or flapper gear, but it doesn’t look like many dressed up. Photos by Renaul Hill, Charlotte Vibe Photography.
Today’s Top 5- Monday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 8.
Live Review: The Sounds
Live review of The Sounds performance in Charlotte.
Music Menu, 12/07/08
Scott H. Biram With a banged-up guitar belching out tangled mess of blues, rock, hillbilly, punk and Texas country, Biram shows all you need sometimes is a blazing guitar, booze and raggedy amplifiers to stir up a ruckus. He’s a one-man rocker, cranking a raw and dusty sound with occasional assist from harmonica and foot-stompin’…
Music Menu, 12/06/08
Tyler Ramsey For a while there, the lanky Ramsey was merely a promising indie-folkie from Asheville with a nice voice and John Fahey-like finger-picking chops. Then he found himself opening for Band of Horses just as that act’s career arc took off, and shortly after that he wound up in the lead guitar chair touring…
Is your Christmas green? Celebrate and save energy
How green is that Christmas display you’re putting up in your yard? Since former vice-president Al Gore said the planet was going straight to hell, “Green” has been all the buzz. Liberals have latched on to making their lives greener and have turned in their light bulbs for those compact fluorescent light bulbs. But what…
Your Weekly Roundup
Here are the top blog posts from the past week!
The Obama collectibles craze still going strong
Obamabilia still going strong
Coldplay = plagiarism?
Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay, claiming that the band’s recent hit, “Viva La Vida,” is a copy of his song, “If I Could Fly.” \\\\\\\\\\ They definitely sound similar….but then so does this song by The Creaky Boards. And the Boards claim Martin was in the crowd at one of their shows… \\\\\\\\\\
Date your way to the inauguration
One lucky lady will get the opportunity to attend the inauguration in all its glory. Just email your picture.
10-in-10
Every Friday we bring you 10 random CD reviews done in 10 words each: Natalie Cole Still Unforgettable — Followup to 1991 album doesn’t feature her father as much. Il Divo The Promise— No matter how hard I try to listen…it’s opera. Plain White T’s Big Bad World — Generic pop rock from the quintet…
Screw the CEOs, change the cars, save the workers
The Big Three automaker honchos were told yesterday that Congress isn’t exactly getting revved up about handing over $34 billion to save dysfunctional car companies. The CEOs — who had the audacity to make a big deal out of driving to the Congressional hearing after being slammed for flying to D.C. in separate corporate jets…
Music Menu, 12/05/08
Eyes of the Elders While it’s technically Eyes of the Elders with Stump Dickens –they’re gonna get that pirate ship rockin’ regardless of the name. If you haven’t seen the Eyes/Stump combo before, it’s basically Eyes of the Elders with a live band backing the duo up, including violin, guitar and drums. Not to say…
Eater’s Digest
The beat on Charlotte’s restaurant scene.
Women aren’t able to process casual sex?
A report out of London say women lack the skills to hit it and quit it.
Ex sex gone wrong
You couldn’t make up a sex story like this one if you were a bestselling author. A man in Ohio is in jail after he shot his wife during sex.
Today’s Top 5- Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 5, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Richie Havens at McGlohon Theatre • Beards BeCAUSE finale at Amos’ Southend • Children’s Theatre of Charlotte presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at McColl Family Theatre…
The Weekender
Plan your weekend with Creative Loafing!
Thursday sounds in Charlotte
The Sounds, Farewell Fli
A new flavor
A recipe for out-of-this-world lemon bars!
Ho, ho, ho…
A look at last night’s Second String Santa event.
Kanye West: More humble than we thought?
Interns generally don’t get a lot of play, regardless of what industry they may be working in. Get the coffee. File these papers. Or here at Creative Loafing, input these event listings. It takes a certain degree of humility to be a good intern, to work for someone else without getting paid. To deal with…
Grammy nominees announced
Nominees have been announced for the 51st Grammy Awards. Some of the more interesting categories: Record of the Year — Adele, Coldplay, Leona Lewis, M.I.A., Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Album of the Year — Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, Coldplay, Radiohead Song of the Year — “American Boy” by Estelle featuring…
Tutu, Obama and the Middle East
As President-elect Barack Obama focuses on the meltdown of the U.S. economy, another fire is burning: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You may not have heard much lately about the disaster in the Gaza Strip. That silence is intentional: The Israeli government has barred international journalists from entering the occupied territory. Read the rest of the column…
How to react appropriately to the recession
If you’re at all concerned about the state of the economy — and have a sense of humor — 236.com has compiled a financial planning guide you should check out: “6 ways to seriously lose your sh*t.” My favorite: Bury your soups People are going to start murdering each other for soup before Valentines Day.…
Chevron in the White House: Continuity we can believe in
President-elect Barack Obama introduced his principal national-security Cabinet selections to the world Monday and left no doubt that he intends to start his administration on a war footing. Perhaps the least well known among them is retired Marine Gen. James Jones, Obama’s pick for national-security adviser. The position is crucial — think of the power…
Fond du Lac’s gang problem, and ours
Not long ago, an acquaintance of mine was shocked that I would suggest — after she’d bitched at length about the conditions of our roads — a midwestern city I’d visited (Columbus, Ohio) had worse roads than Charlotte. It seemed logical to me — Columbus has much more snow and weather-related road damage. But conventional wisdom…
Today’s Top 5: Thursday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 4.
Hallway Hump
For lack of a better title, this position is designed to do just what it sounds like. You will need to find a narrow room to accomplish this task, which includes anything from a bathroom, hallway, corridor, alleyway, or closet, etc. To begin, the man removes enough clothing to expose his throbbing erection. With his…
Citizen Servatius in the afternoon
If you’ve ever wanted to ride home with Creative Loafing’s Tara Servatius, you’ll have your chance starting Monday. Granted, you can’t go home with her, but she’s taking over as the afternoon shift at Servatius, who pens the Citizen Servatius column for CL, has been the host of her own show on WBT from 9…
We’re on the radio
OK, maybe not we. Music editor Jeff Hahne will be, though, tomorrow morning to talk about, uh, music. Click here for more details.
Music editor does radio
Ever wonder what music editor Jeff Hahne sounds like in real life? Here’s your chance to swoon over his voice ladies — he’ll be talking about all things music on WSGE-91.7 FM tomorrow morning. Catch him at 9:40 a.m. WSGE is a community college-owned, community-oriented public radio station playing an eclectic blend of alternative country,…
Coldplay not splitting
Chris Martin says the band isn’t making plans to break up.
The unanswered questions about Tasers
If CL’s story this week about Taser use piqued your interest, here’s another report you should check out.
Better than a bar crawl is a beauty crawl
It’s an interesting twist on the average bar crawl. Salon Tribeca, Skin Elements and Urbana CitySpa & TeaBar bring you Charlotte’s first holiday beauty crawl tomorrow night from 6-9 p.m. at The Shops at Carmel Village (7510 Pineville Matthews Road). Complimentary wine, champagne and hors d’oeuvres, giveaways and drawings. Quick party updos, makeup consultations and…
Man sentenced for deputy’s poor health
When a Columbia, S.C. sheriff’s deputy died doing his job, the man who didn’t pull over for his blue lights was sentenced to jail. Sounds cut and dry, but the deputy had heart disease and according to The State newspaper: Deputy Darral Keith Lane, 41, suffered a heart attack Dec. 14 as he tried to…
Extra hours at L.A. East
Now open on Sundays through Christmas.
Obama art for the heart
For the Obama lover in your life, check out this locally-created poster for sale.
The end of Dead End Parking
Ever wanted to see some funk mixed with jazz, a splash of rock added in set up in some kind of odd jam-band-type setting? That’s one way to look at Dead End Parking, and if you ever wanted to see the Charlotte band live – tonight’s your last chance! The band will offer up two…
Second String Santa, 12/02/08
Hundreds of people turned out for the 20th annual Second String Santa holiday party was held at the Time Warner Cable Arena last night. The party raised money and gifts for needy children around the area. Though the party itself lacked glitz and glamour in the decor, the guests shined in their best black-tie attire.…
Sex toys at Spencer’s in a mall near you.
So, thank you Spencer’s at Northlake Mall for selling vibrators in the mall. And we’re not talking about a “massager.” I’m talking real cock shaped toys that will touch your g-spot.
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 3.
Will Obama’s drug czar oppose needle exchange funding?
Many AIDS activists have been excited about President-elect Barack Obama’s election win, hoping the 44th president will bring a fresh urgency to combating the disease. Now, some are lining up against Obama’s potential drug czar appointment. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., has been cited as a possible candidate for the job, which directs federal drug policy.…
Coming soon — A theater near you…
A new movie theatre is set to open at the Epicentre.
Speaking on domestic violence
Witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
Seen today
Charlotte is full of creativity. Local artist Gabriel Donaldson paints while you sip your Starbucks.
New Spirit film clip
A new video about the upcoming superhero flick by Frank Miller
Coyote sighting
Here’s your nature lesson for today. Throughout North America coyotes can live in backcountry and urban city environments. Until last night, I didn’t know this. On my drive home from shopping in the city of Mooresville, I became befuddled as a strange dog-like creature ran out into the road, before me. Luckily, I didn’t hit…
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse
Photos from the newest restaurant in Uptown.
Say goodbye to Maharajahs
The most surprising reaction to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai over the weekend came from an acquaintance who said, “I don’t think of modern weapons and cars and luxury hotels when I think of India; I imagine swamis and elephants and maharajahs and all that,” to which I replied, “Where in hell have you been…
A martini with your holiday purchase?
Martinis and Heels: Shop Til You Drop Holiday party goes down tomorrow night.
Tara Servatius named new afternoon host at WBT
Talk radio station WBT made this announcement yesterday about radio host and Creative Loafing columnist Tara Servatius: Tara Servatius Named New Afternoon Host at WBT AM & FM Charlotte, NC (December 1, 2008): Greater Media announces Tara Servatius has been named the new Monday through Friday, 3pm – 6pm afternoon drive on-air host at WBT…
Niche goes online
Your favorite
New Wolverine photos
A look at Wolverine and Gambit from the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie.
World AIDS Day forum for teens and parents
This Saturday, teens and parents are invited to talk about stopping the spread of HIV in the community at the Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself World AIDS Day Forum. The event is sponsored by Teens Taking Action of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Park and Recreation, and Time Out Youth. Teens Taking Action of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Park and Recreation,…
Obama and the Dragon
President-elect Barack Obama makes his first superhero comic appearance February 2009 in the pages of Savage Dragon No. 145, which is published by Image Comics. Here’s a sneak peek:
This week’s new releases (12/2/2008)
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the big names releasing albums this week: Akon Freedom Panic at the Disco Live in Chicago Britney Spears Circus Neil Young Sugar Mountain-Live At Canterbury House 1968
‘Roo News
The 2009 edition of Bonnaroo will be held on June 11-14 with ticket pre-sales beginning on Dec. 4. No bands have been announced yet, but if you keep up with this blog, you’ll know there are plenty of good ones to be seen!
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 2.
2nd annual Beards BeCAUSE event sets return to Amos’
The Second Annual Beards BeCAUSE finale will be held at Amos’ Southend on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. If it’s anything like last year’s, you can expect great music, “interesting” entertainment and the option to witness a whole bunch of guys get shaved. Last year, Truckstop Preachers singer Nathan Palmer proceeded to shave his newly…
CD Review: Ike and Tina Turner Sing the Blues
The Deal: Rare Ike and Tina blues sides light a fire under back porch thumper standards. The Good: File this one under the “woke up this morning and went upside your head” category. Ike and Tina put a ass whuppin’ on the blues on this resurrected treasure from 1969. Tina pays homage to Robert Johnson…
CL previews upcoming shows
THURSDAY, DEC. 4: Liz Durrett The Athens songwriter took a leap forward with this year’s Outside Our Gates by handing the production reigns to Eric Bachman of Archers of Loaf fame. He fleshed out Durrett’s compelling Southern gothic processionals with some horns here and some sonic-noise pixie dust there, all without ceding the central tenet…
CD Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela’s Live In Japan
The Deal: Dynamic acoustic duo show off its skills in a live setting. The Good: They started out as electric guitar players in a metal band and have brought that energy to the acoustic guitar. Playing plenty of originals with a few covers thrown in, the duo strums their way through an hour and 15…
When good things come to an end
Summers … vacations … college … college football season … employment … relationships … my relationship … and 2008. As well as NASCAR season and Grand Central Deli & Spirits — both of which were celebrated last Thursday at Whisky River’s end of NASCAR season shindig and GC’s last throw down before they shut down.…
CD Review: Taylor Swift’s Fearless
The Deal: Teen country sensation releases sophomore album, follow up to triple-platinum self-titled debut, one month before her 19th birthday. The Good: First off, credit has to be given to the fact Swift wrote or co-wrote all the tunes on her album. The album’s tone sticks to the pop side of the country road. She’s…
How do female astronauts menstruate in space?
Without gravity, how do female astronauts menstruate while in space? —- Gayle, Ventura, CA For a while there, Gayle, the question wasn’t how women would menstruate in space but whether it was too risky to find out. Although the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, had flown in Vostok 6 in 1963, women were excluded from…
Dinner: the most important meal
Opening/Closings • Restaurateur Nick LaVecchia (LaVecchia’s Seafood Grille and Old Stone Steakhouse, Belmont) will open the 80-seat Nix Burger & Brew with 30 burgers on the menu at 201 N. Tryon St. (Fifth and Tryon) by early December. General Manager is Donny Anderson. • Opening Dec. 4 is D’Vine Wine Café, 14815 John Delaney Drive…
Make ‘Em Laugh examines comedy greats
Comedy, from PBS to your coffee table
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Peeping Hulk: A man got into an argument with a woman who said that he became so enraged that he punched two holes in his bedroom wall, turned over a dresser and threw a TV through the wall. The reason for this argument? She had confronted him about printing pornography from the computer. I wouldn’t…
Tutu, Obama and the Middle East
As President-elect Barack Obama focuses on the meltdown of the U.S. economy, another fire is burning: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You may not have heard much lately about the disaster in the Gaza Strip. That silence is intentional: The Israeli government has barred international journalists from entering the occupied territory. Last week, executives from the Associated…
Daredevil, X-Force among this week’s comic book reviews
As usual, I read a ton of comics this week; however, no book stood out as incredibly good or awful. So for this edition of Comic Proportions, I thought I’d (as I sometimes do) offer a few brief overviews of several titles I picked up. Here goes: Daredevil No. 113: Writer Ed Brubaker serves up…
Horoscope for Dec. 3-9
Sagittarius The Archer: (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Your optimistic and happy attitude causes others to join your bandwagon and support your projects. Give attention to the quieter people around you. Your energy could overwhelm them. Watch the heavy accelerator foot. For All Signs: Pluto is the lord of the underworld. It rules whatever is below the…
Chevron in the White House: Continuity we can believe in
President-elect Barack Obama introduced his principal national-security Cabinet selections to the world Monday and left no doubt that he intends to start his administration on a war footing. Perhaps the least well known among them is retired Marine Gen. James Jones, Obama’s pick for national-security adviser. The position is crucial — think of the power…
Miss Coco Peru returns
Miss Coco Peru has already cast her magic spell on Charlotte, helping to launch the new Queen City Theatre Company last year with a sold-out fundraiser at Actor’s Theatre. Now QCTC is an established fixture, with Side Show and Dog Sees God among its homegrown hits plus Emily Skinner and The Kinsey Sicks added to…
Tasered man: Shocked and awed
Man says CMPD officer shouldn’t have Tasered him while handcuffed
Tropic Thunder, Hancock among DVD reviews
Plus Casablanca, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and more
I’m starting to feel like I’m from Charlotte
Even now, 27 years later, I still hesitate when someone asks me if I’m “from here.” My first inclination is always to tell them “no.” This is because it was drilled into me, from the time I arrived in Charlotte at age seven, that you had to be born here to be from here. You…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Dec. 3
Current Releases: 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…
‘Extreme eaters’ to bust wide open!
As someone said in a song, “It’s the most won-der-ful time of the year,” and for many of us, it’s true. For some people, however, this holiday season will be a time of dread, an ordeal to be avoided. Why? No, not because they’ve lost their jobs or they’re lonely or their parents hate them…
Thai Emerald Restaurant fills a void
Eating by the numbers
Cyber deaths reveal a societal lack of integrity
Abraham Biggs, a 19-year-old Floridian, killed himself while an estimated 1,500 people watched via a Web cam. He took an overdose of pills, posted a suicide note and, over the course of ten hours, expired. People watched as this young man took his last breath, not notifying authorities until it was too late. Those who…
A primer on label lingo
Holiday parties present a plethora of “impress people” possibilities. Wine knowledge delivered with confidence can bring out your “inner coolness,” as well as shut down that verbose braggadocio trying to abscond with your date. Armed with a wine label, take over the scene with these urbane tidbits, both useful and trivial. VintageMost wines carry a…
MUSIC: The Sounds
Ahhh Charlotte, I’m dying to say this to you: The Swedish electronica indie rock band The Sounds will make its way to Charlotte for a performance at Tremont Music Hall. If you haven’t heard of them, you need to get with the program — take a listen to “Painted By Numbers,” the band’s biggest hit…
Catherine Rabb, instructor/restaurant owner
Between the double shifts she’s pulling as an associate instructor at Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts, the wine classes she teaches at CPCC and the successful restaurant, Fenwick’s, she owns with her husband, Catherine Rabb is a busy woman. She sat down with Creative Loafing during one of her few breaks — a…
SPECIAL EVENT: Christmas in Davidson
As the holidays near, so do traditions — tearing out your hair and saying, “shit, I should have went shopping sooner,” spring to mind — but other more pleasant ones exist too. Christmas in Davidson has been a tradition since 1988. For three nights (Dec. 4, 5, 6) downtown Davidson becomes a Christmas-fused zone (setup…
Neil Diamond finds resurgence with acoustic albums
For more than 40 years, Neil Diamond has been a fixture on the world’s music scene. He’s had countless hits and hit records, been the butt of jokes and created numerous sing-a-longs that are heard just about everywhere — “Sweet Caroline” among them. Surprisingly, it was his 2005 album, 12 Songs, that brought him back…
THEATER: Miss Coco Peru
A night of girlish gossip, rousing rants and colorful chit-chat awaits as Queen City Theatre Company brings storyteller and performer Miss Coco Peru aka Clinton Leupp (that’s right, she’s a he!) to McGlohon Theatre. Last year’s show An Evening with Miss Coco Peru was a sell out, so be sure to get tickets fast if…
Q: So what does Creative Loafing have planned for the holidays?
A: Well, as I briefly stated last issue, CL is slated to roll out some big issues during the holiday season. First off, next issue we’re unleashing our annual Holiday Guide. I won’t divulge the theme for this year’s edition, but rest assured it will change your life! (Well, maybe not your whole life, but…
THEATER: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Christmas is going to the Herdman kids and it’s like something from a nightmare. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (based off the book by Barbara Robinson) about a group of unruly kids cast in an annual Christmas pageant. Along with them they bring sibling revelry, mayhem and … fun? You…
Best of the Blotter 2008
CL‘s annual look back at Charlotte’s most insane — and inane — illegal acts
EXHIBITION: A Day In Pompeii
History buffs or not the A Day In Pompeii exhibition is a must-see. It tells the story of the ancient Roman city Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius left it buried and forgotten. It displays authentic artifacts, religious relics, cooking items, furniture, frescoes, jewelry and more, all adding up to more than 250…
Crowntown Showdown continues to showcase variety of talent
A common complaint around every music scene is that people won’t pay money to see a band they’ve never heard before. In order to combat this, bands will play free shows, offer songs online and try various other methods to get their music out to the masses. One creation by me to aid the local…
ART: Simply Red
The color red can be seen in a number of different places, from stop lights to juicy tomatoes in salads. Ciel Gallery’s newest exhibition Simply Red honors red by giving it its own exhibition of various mediums. Explore the vibrant color in mosaics, marionettes, concrete, fabric, photography, digigraph, oils, acrylics, and animation. Artwork from the…
