A bar of beauty
QC After Dark’s Brittney Cason makes her way through the Beauty Crawl at the Shops at Caramel Village.
Is logic foreign to the CMS board?
Last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools voted to reduce the number of credits that students will be required to meet in order to graduate. In addition, foreign language is no longer a requirement. Can we lower our standards any more? I mean, really. Students need a foreign language in order to go to college and it is…
Cornel West in Charlotte
Cornel West to speak at the Neighborhood Theatre tonight.
Sexiest Santa Party @ Kiss Lounge, 12/13/08
When the holidays come around, the clothes get skimpier and skimpier.
SEFCA delivers for Milk
Milk wins three SEFCA awards, including Best Picture.
Charlotte Vibe’s Red & Black Affair, 12/13/08
People decked out in red and black for the 4th Annual CharlotteVibe.com Red & Black Affair, which was held at GW Fins on Saturday. Happy birthday to Chris Jenkins, founder of Charlotte Vibe! Photos by Renaul Hill, Charlotte Vibe Photography.
This isn’t likely to put donors at ease …
The United Way of Central Carolinas posted its long-awaited report today and boy, does Gloria Pace King come across as greedy and controlling.
Live Review: John Legend
A review of John Legend with Raphael Saadiq at Ovens Auditorium on Dec. 12, 2008.
Homegrown New Year’s Eve
Enjoy a 5- course New Year’s Eve dinner at Ratcliffe on the Green while supporting your local farms. From Slow Food Charlotte: Homegrown for the Holidays at Ratcliffe on the Green New Year’s Celebration Brings Locavore Tradition Ring in the New Year the “locavore” way by enjoying a special, locally grown, Five-Course Chef’s Tasting Dinner…
Blagojevich’s bad obsession
He absolutely thought that he would get away with selling the seat of the most famous U.S. senator in recent history? Wow. A prime example of being obsessed with power — I mean way obsessed.
Warped Tour returns
Charlotte date and a few bands for 2009 Vans Warped Tour announced.
Bush dodges shoes
George Bush ducks the attack of the shoes.
Christmas party at L.A. East = A great sale
L.A. East is having the 1st annual EPIC in-store party and Christmas sale. Beer, wine, food, music, and some great deals.
Fido Item: “Bristle Bone”
One of dog boutique That’s Haute’s hottest items for the doggie.
Mom was right (keep reading)
Being that most people don’t talk about sex with their mothers, I’m sure this headline is shocking. But if you will recall when your first started dating and your mother warned you to stay away from stupid boys. It seems that she was right. According to a Reuters article, smarter men have higher sperm quality.…
Today’s Top 5: Monday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 15, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at Duke Energy Theatre • Dr. Cornel West at Neighborhood Theatre • Tis the Season 1st Annual Toy Drive…
Is it threesome weekend?
Some times I wonder how I’m drawn into the conversations that I have. For instance, around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, I get a phone call from a friend in Atlanta. During the course of our phone call, we ended up talking about the fact that a guy she has a huge crush on asked her to…
The Internet or sex?
Nearly 50 percent of women would rather log on than get off. Cnet.com, reports that 46 percent of women would rather give up sex for two weeks than to go without the internet. Who are these women? And are they watching porn online? While 46 percent of the women surveyed were willing to engage in…
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. 15, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Sculpt your body and mind with yoga. • Bring Sexy back with boot camp. • Get…
Music Menu, 12/15/08
Queen City Music Awards It seems like an odd day to hold an awards ceremony, but maybe this way – on a slower night of the week – more people will show up. Not to be confused with the recently held Charlotte Music Awards, the awards here include Best Male & Female R&B Artist, Best…
Music Menu, 12/14/08
Hooray for Earth Sounding like a more muscled Pinback on new wave synth steroids, this quartet of Beantowners has been nominated for a BMA (Boston Music Award) for Outstanding Rock Act of the Year. Their self-titled debut has been reissued on Dopamine, but it’s their Cellphone EP that has folks up North wondering if HFE…
It must be your first time. . .
In an adult video store is what I wanted to say to the man who kept looking at the door. Yesterday, I discovered a store hidden in East Charlotte, Carolina Video. It’s been there for 15 years, I just didn’t know about it. When you walk in, you have to show your ID to get…
Music Menu, 12/13/08
Hot Tuna Hot Tuna’s Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, both of whom have been hunting white wabbits since the mid-’60s with Jefferson Airplane, don’t seem ready to rest their collective heads on the pop-star pillow – Surrealistic or otherwise – anytime soon. Kaukonen’s finger-picked blues, jazz and bluegrass-inflected fretboard runs still sound as silvertoned and…
Milk: Great film does a viewer good
Sean Penn is terrific in powerful biopic.
Slumdog Millionaire worth the admission price
Slumdog Millionaire is three-quarters of a stellar movie.
The Day the Earth Stood Still never gets moving
Sci-fi remake fails on its own terms.
Delgo is an animated eyesore
Delgo is a toon turkey.
Clasping Position (Female Dominant)
The Clasping Position has traditionally been recognized with the male on top, but this version has been swapped around, giving the woman complete control of the motions. The position begins easiest with the man lying on his back, legs together, with a readied erection. The woman sits on him in standard cowgirl position and then…
Your weekly roundup
The most popular blog posts of the week.
Jewelry Trunk Show at Pura Vida
Check out the Asian-inspired art from L.B. Lee this Saturday.
Patty Larkin in Charlotte
Patty Larkin will perform tonight at The Evening Muse.
Who knew McCrory had a soul?
Like much of the city, we were shocked that the be-suited corporate automaton was claiming to have an actual soul.
The art of Bill Nelson
CL talked with the artist about his work and new show at Green Rice Gallery
Put him in the doghouse
When your boyfriend/husband is acting up, disrespects you, gets you a thoughtless gift, and/or is misbehaving, there is only one thing to do. That’s right, ladies: throw him in the dog house!
Nutcracker opens tonight
N.C. Dance Theatre production of Nutcracker being performed Dec. 12-14, Dec. 19-21.
Stalking Will Smith in Charlotte
The star of Seven Pounds comes to the Queen City for a screening.
The art of Bill Nelson
CL talks with the artist about his work and new show at Green Rice Gallery
Being a changed man won’t keep you from the pen
… for what that’s worth.
10-in-10 CD Reviews
Each Friday, we bring you 10 CD reviews done in 10 words each — Dion Heroes — Tearing through classics, you’d never guess he’s 70-years old. Semi-Precious Weapons We Love You — Garage-style glam rock with androgynous singer is campy fun. (At the Milestone on Jan. 29, 2009) Hoots and Hellmouth Hoots and Hellmouth —…
Stalking Will Smith in Charlotte
Last night mega-star actor Will Smith was in Charlotte for a charity event/screening of his new movie Seven Pounds at Regal Stonecrest. Smith donated 300 turkeys to the Second Harvest Food Bank and CL stalked him on the red carpet. Here’s the proof. (And to the reporter who tripped on my camera bag and got…
Getting bad sex? Talk about it
The only thing worse than no sex is bad sex.
Back in the ’70s, porn had a plot
I like a bit of a plot to go along with all the sucking, licking and fucking.
Today’s Top 5- Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 12, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • NC Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker at Belk Theater • Neil Diamond at Time Warner Cable Arena • John Legend with Raphael Saadiq at Ovens Auditorium •…
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. 12, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Find a date quickly at Speed Dating. • Watch John Legend on stage. • Latin night…
Music Menu, 12/12/08
Switchfoot Frontman Jon Foreman’s crooning tempers the San Diego-based band’s Christian rock and power pop. Credit this combo for, um, evolving their sound over the past decade into a varied and eclectic pop-rock that appeals to listeners outside the Christian music fold. It’s that forward gazing post-grunge ethos, mixed with straight alt.rock and melodic vocals…
Colin Powell: Nothing wrong with big-city values
Check out this preview of Colin Powell’s interview on Fareed Zakaria’s show this weekend on CNN.
The Weekender
Plan your weekend with Creative Loafing!
Ten Out of Tenn Tour in Charlotte
Tomorrow night (Fri., Dec. 12) the Ten Out of Tenn Christmas Tour will go down at Visulite Theatre. The show, sponsored by American Songwriter Magazine will feature a variety of artists (all from or living in Tennessee … duh!), including Andy Davis, Butterfly Boucher, Erin McCarley, Griffin House, Jeremy Lister, K.S. Rhoads, Katie Herzig, Matthew…
Top baby names announced, boys no longer unique
A couple years ago, everyone and their significant other tried to make their baby have a unique name. It started with Aiden, which then became Jayden, which became Caden or Brayden. OK, note to parents — your child is no longer unique and is going to be in school with 150 other kids with a…
McCrory won’t run for re-election
He indicated he planned to seek office again at the state or federal level. Will he run for governor again? Seek U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick’s seat (if she plans to give it up)?
Swipe that credit card
Now’s the time to shop ’til you drop. Retailers are offering deals you just can’t resist! Here is a list of sales courtesy of TalkingShopping.com.
A liberated couple
For a man to help his woman pick out a dildo, that’s automatic head for a week. Has to be. He’s going to make her come and she’s going to make sure he gets his as well.
Top tours of 2008 announced
Billboard has announced the top tours of 2008. At the top of the list is Bon Jovi’s Lost Highway tour which grossed $210.6 million and drew more than 2.1 million fans. Here’s a quick rundown of the top 10: 1 – Bon Jovi, $210.6 million 2 – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, $204.5…
What is Mayor Pat going to do?
Now that the city knows McCrory has higher goals, maybe if he runs for mayor again, he will experience his second loss.
Head Item: Hats at The Boulevard
Something to keep your head warm on those cold Charlotte nights.
Pop Life @ Apostrophe Lounge, 12/10/08
Despite the rainy weather, Pop Life fans came out to party at Apostrophe Lounge Wednesday night. Photos by Renaul Hill, Charlotte Vibe Photography.
Today’s Top 5- Thursday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 11.
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. 11, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Have a “kick ass lunch” at the Men’s Club. • Celebrate a year of 1,000 table…
Music Menu, 12/11/08
The Cool and the Deadly Dub done right can be soothing and otherworldly. This NYC trio wields a double-edged sword, one that’s occasionally punk on one side and mostly island-dubbed on the other. The Brooklyn dub posse is touring in support of the new CD, Rudeboys Revenge, a recording laced with psychedelic touches, sinewy reggae,…
If Illinois has the most corrupt politics …
… then North Carolina is a competitor, though arguably a second-rate one. If may not be http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2008/12/is_illinois_the_most_corrupt_s.html Most fresh in local voters’ minds is probably Jim Black, who the Raleigh News & Observer called the “most powerful elected official in North Carolina history to be convicted of public corruption.” The former state House speaker in…
JCVD is A-OK
Jean-Claude, meet the art house crowd
This sounds backwards…
Pearl Jam has announced that they will remaster the band’s debut album, Ten, and release four different versions in March of next year. Meanwhile, Kiss has announced that they will hit the studio for its first new album in 10 years. The ’70s band has made an extended living off of its classic songs, usually…
A holiday cocktail will make things merrier
Give the ol’ vodka cranberry the heave-ho — it’s time to get festive with these cocktails.
Pick up a Homebrew CD tonight
At the All Arts Market at Neighborhood Theatre tonight, music editor Jeff Hahne will be there displaying/selling some photos that he’s taken over the years — music, wildlife, nature and more. Stop by his table and say hi, and pick up the latest Homebrew CD, if you haven’t yet gotten your hands on one. They’re…
Slumdog Millionaire worth the price
I’m not entirely sure how a film in which a small boy gets permanently blinded by someone deliberately pouring hot liquid onto his eyeballs while he’s unconscious ends up being hyped (by critics and audiences alike) as the “feel-good” movie of the year, but that’s the strange case with Slumdog Millionaire, the latest from director…
Milk: Great film does a viewer good
Watch the trailer for Milk.
New soul artist performs in Q.C. tonight
Laura Izibor live at Apostrophe Lounge
Calling in gay? Does this generation know how to protest?
Gay or straight, does this generation know how to make a positive impact in society?
The relationship between bloggers and layoffs
Here’s a diagram.
Gaston-based YouTube star arrested
The creator of The Pete Moss Show gets in trouble
New soul artist performs in the Q.C. tonight
Up-and-coming singer Laura Izibor probably isn’t on your radar, but she’s an artist that should not be overlooked. Some folks have compared her to talents like Alicia Keys and Chrisette Michelle, but the Irish-born Izibor sports an organic, piano-driven sound that’s all her own. Come check hr out for yourself when she pays a visit…
Gaston-based YouTube star arrested
I saw a story this morning on News 14 Carolina and in The Charlotte Observer that said: A Gaston County man has been charged with impersonating a police officer after what authorities say was a YouTube stunt where he asked people to clear a street. David Christopher Moss, a self-described comedian and the face behind…
Penis- and vagina-shaped bottles filled with perfume
The bottles are on the erotic side but the description of the scents leave much to be desired.
Individual World Poetry Slam begins
Poetry champs unite for a battle of words, workshops and open mic events.
Sale on Ed Hardy T’s at Pure Denim
Plus a secret sale for VIPs and those in the know.
Mind your manners in bed
Did you know there are sex rules?
Today’s Top 5- Wednesday
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Dec. 10.
Welcome to Bang Town
Charlotte seems to be a buttoned up town that centers on banking, but if you look underneath the surface of the Queen City, you’ll see Queen Charlotte wears a thong and carries a whip.
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. 10, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
Music Menu, 12/10/08
CL previews upcoming shows: David Byrne and Jukebox the Ghost.
Hard times hit everyone
American Idol Fantasia losing her Charlotte home.
Beards BeCAUSE
A look at last Friday’s Beards BeCAUSE finale at Amos’ Southend.
Hey honey … lovers
Taste some of the world’s rarest honeys.
Christmas is not a holiday to slut up
“Sex sells” ideology
The Observer proves it’s bankers’ bitch
If you ever doubted that The Charlotte Observer is the banking industry’s bitch, take a look at the front page of today’s business section.
Gift idea for the foodie in your life
Harper’s Restaurant group is offering “Get Cookin” cooking classes at their restaurants Upstream, Arpa, Zink, M5 and Mimosa Grill, each for $35.
The ‘Great Gift Sale’ at Home Eclectic
Over 100 items marked down!
Tiny bubbles
You don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve to enjoy your champagne. Fig Tree restaurant in Elizabeth will be hosting a 5 course champagne TONIGHT at 7pm!
Green Item: I Am Not A Paper Cup reusable mug
Found at your local gift store Paper Skyscraper.
Domestic violence tree lighting ceremony
Tonight at 6 p.m. the memories of murder victims who were killed due to domestic violence will be honored. The Domestic Violence Advocacy Council hopes you can join us for this moving and heart felt public awareness event. The Domestic Violence Memorial Tree ceremony in Uptown Charlotte will commemorate the 69 lives lost due to domestic…
This week’s new releases
A quick list of some of the big names releasing albums this week.
All Arts Market on Wednesday
NoDaRioty’s All Arts Market is set to go down tomorrow at Neighborhood Theatre.
New text message: Sale at Wal-Mart!
Utilizing a digital str
Today’s Top 5- Tuesday
The five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 9.
Cabo Wabo Tequila Dinner
La Paz, 1910 South Blvd., is hosting a Cabo Wabo Tequila Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Music Menu, 12/09/08
Shinedown Singer Brent Smith wails and croons on Shinedown’s post-grunge groove that tips hats to Soundgarden and, to a smaller extent, Creed. On its third recording, The Sound of Madness, the Florida band isn’t afraid to blast out of the gates with full-on rockers and then hit the brakes and slow it down with moody,…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Odd Behavior: A 33-year-old man told police that somebody broke into his house through a rear window and moved bags full of clothes from one room to another, before leaving through said window. Just another episode of Not-So-Extreme Makeover: Dumbass Edition. Strangest Strangers: A woman reported that she was harassed by an unknown man who…
Wachovia tower incident provides window into worksite rules
With one death and at least two other accidents within a month, the Wachovia tower Uptown may appear to have experienced more construction problems than usual. But appearances don’t necessarily make it so. “This is the biggest [Uptown] job site in Charlotte history, that I know about. If you were to combine the NASCAR Hall…
DANCE: 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…
Gifts for comic book lovers
This week, Creative Loafing’s cover story is designed to provide cheap holiday gift ideas. But if you’ve got a little more cash, here are a few graphic novels that would make great gifts for the comic book lovers in your life: Watchmen (hardcover): Before the film version hits the big screen next summer, get your…
In response to “Shocked and awed” by Cheris Hodges
It is unfortunate that this incident occured Oct. 18. The Penguin Restaurant has a zero tolerance policy for discrimination of any type. We are unable to comment, because this is an ongoing legal matter. There are usually two sides to any story, and unfortunately in this article there is only one. — The Penguin Restaurant…
THEATER: The Eight: Reindeer Monologues and Santaland Diaries
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte presents a double whammy of holiday-themed theatrics with The Eight: Reindeer Monologues and Santaland Diaries, which will run through Dec. 21. But these aren’t your typical Christmas productions about sparkling holiday glee, good deeds and a love of one’s neighbor. No, siree. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues by playwright Jeff Goode features…
Horoscope for Dec. 10-16, 2008
Sagittarius the Archer: (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Plan to work and play alone early in the week. You likely will be feeling restless and generally tense. Your patience could be short and you might say things you’ll wish you hadn’t. You have a desire to break free from restraints. Beware of erratic impulses. Think. For All…
Are bailouts just a rationale for the mother of all spending sprees?
Most people remember the controversy over the $700 billion bailout package the week it was passed in Congress. They are probably less familiar with the additional $800 billion bailout program the Federal Reserve launched under the radar two weeks ago while everyone was chomping on turkey. And most people likely missed the trillions more in…
SPECIAL EVENT: Dr. Cornel West
Dr. Cornel West is one deep brother. A professor at Princeton and the author of more than 18 books, he’s known for spitting ultra-intellectual observations that often fly over folks’ heads. But don’t be daunted by the big words; West’s literary and spoken work have done much to promote dialogue, thought and policy on issues…
Could I survive on nothing but potatoes and milk?
I heard it’s possible to live for an extended period of time, not just short-term, on nothing but potatoes and milk. Is there any truth to this? If I could really get all the nutrients I need from just potatoes and milk, it sure would make my grocery shopping easier. —- Joshua B., Olney, Maryland…
Gift books galore
Our picks for Charlotte’s coffee tables
EXHIBITION: Celebrating 25 Years and 25 Artists
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jerald Melberg Gallery with the Celebrating 25 Years and 25 Artists exhibition, which is filled with masterpieces by artists closely related to the gallery, including Thomas McNickle, Wolf Kahn, Romare Bearden, Dale Chihuly, James Rosati, Robert Motherwell, Raul Diez, and plenty more. The Jerald Melberg Gallery was the first…
Q: So what do you want for Christmas?
A: I want everybody to read this issue of Creative Loafing dammit! Seriously, I’m quite proud of this collection of gift ideas we’ve culled together. Not only do we outline an ass-load of cheap and free shit (both real and unreal) to purchase, but check other sections of the paper and you’ll see dozens of…
‘Tis the season for some holiday fun, families and… weight gain
The other night, a group of girls just came out and asked me, “Did you get a boob job?” So I told them the truth. “No, I just gained weight.” Because that’s what people do over the holidays. We’re mammals — it’s like insulating ourselves for the cold weather. Eastern chipmunks and black bears, for…
ART: Wishful Thinking
Art is found in words, tunes and images alike, evoking emotions you never thought you could feel from something so simple, yet complex. Art is also talent on display and it gives an insight into a person’s inner being. The artists presented in Wishful Thinking — Flora Bowley, Michelle Caplan, Duy Huynh, Lisa Kairos, Carl…
Grooms’ 2009 wish list
This is my favorite part of the year — the weather’s cooler, the leaves have fallen, and I get to pull out my jazz Christmas CD mixes (“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Dexter Gordon, here I come!). True, this isn’t exactly the greatest holiday season ever. The economy is in the toilet and…
Milk: Great film does a viewer good
The China Syndrome, Wall Street and even Casablanca are examples of movies that happened to be in the right place at the right time — that is to say, life imitated art (or vice versa) as each picture’s release neatly dovetailed with real-life incidents that in one way or another mirrored what was happening on-screen.…
CD Review: Michael Zapruder’s Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope
The Deal: S.F. indie pop with surrealist bent. The Good: San Franciscan Zapruder teamed up with this loose cadre of fellow pop-experimentalists (aka Zapruder’s Rain of Frogs, which includes occasional members of the Decembrists and Tom Waits’ bands) to create this blend of pop song-craft and left-of-center accent-ry. Produced by S.F. expat (and current local)…
Books for cooks
Recommendations for the gift-giving season
Slumdog Millionaire worth the price
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE *** DIRECTED BY Danny Boyle STARS Dev Patel, Freida Pinto I’m not entirely sure how a film in which a small boy gets permanently blinded by someone deliberately pouring hot liquid onto his eyeballs while he’s unconscious ends up being hyped (by critics and audiences alike) as the “feel-good” movie of the year,…
CD Review: Of Montreal’s Skeletal Lamping
The Deal: Highly-hyped Athens, Ga., band’s ninth album is soaked in sex and varying rhythms. The Good: The band comes close to a more complex, pop version of The Flaming Lips at times infused with ’80s instrumentation. Usually a band’s influences can be sited as taking elements from different groups and combining them into their…
Susanne Dillingham, owner, The Tiny Chef
At 24 years old, Susanne Dillingham can make any young entrepreneur feel humble. She attended culinary school in Italy and returned to open a business here called The Tiny Chef, which she created to prepare private dinners in people’s homes and to give hands-on cooking classes. Creative Loafing: How did it help to learn in…
Capsule review for films playing the week of Dec. 10
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…
CD Review: Mudvayne’s The New Game
The Deal: Metal outfit releases fourth studio album, shows an increasingly softer side. The Good: The first single off the album, “Do What You Do,” could be considered Mudvayne-lite when held up against the standard the band has set with previous efforts. However, that’s not to say the old Mudvayne is missing completely. “A New…
John Legend expands sound on latest release
It’s evolution
Mamma Mia! among reviews of new DVD releases
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN (2008). This C.S. Lewis adaptation is darker than 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which seems to be the path taken by many second installments in film franchises (The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Back to the Future…
Good grub for $10 or less
Looking for some wallet relief? Here are a few places around town that won’t melt your plastic and still taste good. • At Pão Brazil Bakery you can fill up a bag of baked goods for $10. The oval-shaped pão francês, a bread similar to a Mexican bolillo, about six-inches long with an ultra-crunchy crust…
Charlotte Bestsellers List
1. Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos 2. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham 3. Charlotte: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem by David Aaron Moore 4. Emily’s Christmas Gifts by Cindy Post Senning & Peggy Post 5. Swing! By Rufus Butler Seder 6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society…
Racism and homophobia: ignorance cut from same cloth
A couple of weeks ago, I had a fabulous birthday celebration. My friends got together and took me to a great dinner at Fleming’s, we had drinks afterward at Apostrophe Lounge. To top it off, I had an opportunity to see Gritz and Jelly Butter, one of my favorite “under the radar” music groups. I…
Deja Yule: Charlotte’s Christmas Habit
When the turkey leftovers are nearly gone and the Black Friday sales have subsided, it’s that wonderful time of year when chia and shaver ads flood the airwaves. This is the time when good Charlotteans put up their holiday lights, catch up with their holiday shopping, and partake in all their holiday parties and entertainment…
A few gift ideas for the foodies on your list
Most wine geeks are also foodies (a term I loathe, but it’s pervasive) who own a decent corkscrew, a set of sharp knives and upgraded-from-college pots. But we can never have enough gadgets or tasty ingredients to fan our foodie fire. Satisfy insatiable yearnings with these gift ideas: Food Gifts Bacon of the Month ClubNot…
Battle of the mall Santas
CL rates the best and worst St. Nick’s working area malls this season
Babyshaker celebrates 10 years
Rock band years are like dog years; to survive 10 of them deserves recognition, preferably in the form of a rock show. Being smart boys and girls, that’s precisely how local quartet Babyshaker’s gonna roll, with a blow-out birthday bash this Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Milestone, featuring Zoe Vette And The Revolvers, 2013 Wolves…
A tale of two noble nations
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The days are short here in Stockholm, which is so far north that winter daylight is limited to about four hours a day. But the city is buzzing with visitors, media and activities, as the Nobel Prizes are being given this week. While the Nobels recognize lifetime achievements in medicine, chemistry, physics,…
CL previews upcoming shows
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10: David Byrne Forget Chinese Democracy – the comeback of the year was the recorded reunion of David Byrne and Brian Eno. The two had only sparingly worked together since the early days of Talking Heads, most notably on the seminal field-rock salvo My Life In The Bush of Ghosts. On Everything That…
MUSIC: Laura Izibor
Fans of soul music should rejoice this week — there’s a lot of good music going on. You may have heard that superstar vocalists John Legend and Raphael Saadiq are playing Ovens Auditorium on Dec. 12, but a local visit by up-and-coming singer Laura Izibor probably isn’t on your radar. Izibor, however, is an artist…
Buschovski breaks the mold on debut disc due Dec. 20
When a songwriter cites Chopin, Scott Walker, The Carpenters, ABBA and “Shostakovich and the Russians” as inspirations, it’s a good bet you’re not in pop-song Kansas anymore. If you’ve ever heard local maestro Todd Busch in any of his musical incarnations over the last decade-plus, then that doesn’t come as shocking news. But an official…
THEATER: Savage In Limbo
Carolina Actors Studio Theatre kicks off the comedy Savage In Limbo by playwright John Patrick (think: Moonstruck) today. Here’s the deal on the production: When a group of regulars meet in a bar they take refuge from their problems in the ears of each other, reciting dilemmas such as life as a virgin, love problems…
Hard Times Holiday Guide
Presenting 40 things to do and buy this season for $10 or less
MUSIC: John Legend
Known for his soulful songs, John Legend just may surprise you on his current tour. While the production is bigger than ever for the 30-year-old, multiple Grammy winner, his recently-released third album, Evolver, shows a funk and reggae side on select tracks. For more on Legend’s new sound and tour, see the Vibes section of…
