Jan 20-27, 2009

Jan 20-27, 2009 / Vol. 22 / No. 47

Obama’s suit maker files for Chapter 11

In economic times as hard as these, it doesn’t even help to dress the president on an historic Inauguration Day. From MarketWatch.com: Hartmarx Corp., the Chicago parent of prominent apparel brands like Hart Schaffner Marx, Hickey-Freeman and many others, said late on Friday that it filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law.…

Kimberly Lawson

Sirius XM plans rate increase

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love satellite radio. It’s like going from rabbit ears on the TV to Hi-Def. Commercial free, uncensored radio…ah, music the way it was intended! HOWEVER – current subscribers should be aware that rate increases are on the way for the struggling company. Is it worth…

Jeff Hahne

Guess who voted against the Fair Pay Act?

The Senate last night finally passed, by 61-36 margin, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the wage-discrimination bill that counters a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it extremely difficult for women to sue employers for pay discrimination. Here’s some background: Ledbetter was a Goodyear employee who discovered after decades on the job that even…

Karen Shugart

Erotic delight

This weekend Single Cell Productions presents a formal fetish ball called “Beauty’s Torment.” The event will also feature an erotic art show with works by photographers Mystic and Justin Kates. It all goes down at The Men’s Club. Check out the flyer (below) for more details:

Anita Overcash

Hey GOP complainers — shut up!

Obama hadn’t been president 24 hours before former Bush cohorts like Karl Rove and others started griping. Especially galling were comments that Obama’s inaugural speech was critical of Bush’s policies. Well, duh. The man was resoundingly elected on a platform of reversing much of the Bush agenda, so what did they expect? Here are three…

John Grooms

Annual Passion for Fashion event struts again

What better excuse to dress up all pretty and fashionable than for a fundraiser? GMAC Financial Services presents the 2nd annual Passion For Fashion event to benefit the Allegro Foundation, tomorrow night, Jan. 24, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sponsors include Felix Sabates’ Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte, Luce Ristorante, Our Place Boutique, Nitsa’s, Taylor…

Kimberly Lawson

Caroline and the city

When you don’t vote or participate in the political process that you supposedly abhor, don’t expect to inherit one of the most powerful Senate seats in the land.

Nsenga Burton

Sale of the Day: Friday

Check out Sri Shoe Warehouse’s end-of-season sale: 20 percent off the entire store. Over 45,000 pairs of brand-name designer shoes. 5331 South Blvd. 704-527-1910

Kimberly Lawson

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, Jan. 23, 2009— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.   •Martini Madness! •Exclusive Fridays. •Pumping House at the G&G Club. •Upbeat party at The Estate. • Party…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

What they wore on Inauguration Day

Now that I’m back in the office — after burning up the road to D.C. for a trip that didn’t go exactly as planned (read about it here: Straight From D.C. to the Q.C.) — I can take the time again to peruse random fashion and shopping blogs. What were people saying about fashion on…

Kimberly Lawson

Mecklenburg and beyond …

Pets: Can’t afford to feed your pets? Here’s help. (NewsChannel 36) Economy: Even government employees aren’t safe from being pink slipped. (News Channel 36) Big surprise: Cheney wanted Scooter Libby pardoned. (The New York Times) Dogs: Jacques Chirac’s depressed dog mauled him. (Daily Mail) Economy: The state of New York is actually having to borrow…

Karen Shugart

An interview with Stylist/Buyer Christy Ward

This week in our series of interviews with local stylists in Charlotte, check out a Q&A with Christy Ward, co-owner of Black & Blue and a jewelry maker. Creative Loafing: So tell us a little about yourself. Christy Ward: Well, I have a fashion merchandising retail degree from the University of Alabama. While I was…

Kimberly Lawson

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Need a cat?

Then Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control desperately needs you. The shelter is having an adoption fair this weekend that’s cats-only.

Karen Shugart

PoleApolooza 2.0

Next month, PoleApolooza is back at the Gold Club of Charlotte. While it sounds like an amateur contest, it’s all about the pros. There’s a $250 cash prize and a chance for dancers to win $2,500. For the people watching the contest, there are drink specials. The contest runs every Friday in February.

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Music Menu (1/22/09)

Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, Keller Williams picks the hell out of his guitar and Atlanta-based metal and punk maniacs Noble Rust cranks out unholy hooch with PPR, Reverser and 2013 Wolves.

Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman

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, Jan. 22, 2009— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Check out the Swing stage at the Gold Club. • Karaoke Night at The Fox and Hound.…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Tonight’s show cancelled

Just got an email from the band’s publicist: “Due to circumstances beyond our control the January 21st show for THE MACHINE at Tremont Music Hall has been cancelled.”

Jeff Hahne

Today’s Top 5: Wednesday

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 21, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Cross Canadian Ragweed at Neighborhood Theatre • The Comedy of Errors at Johnson C. Smith University • Charlotte Bobcats vs. Memphis Grizzlies at Time Warner Cable Arena…

Anita Overcash

I wonder…

When the President and the First Lady get it on, does she call him “Mr. President,” as she reaches her climax? Does the secret service listen when the First couple is getting busy to make sure there isn’t a terrorist threat? Does the president have time for foreplay or do they have to get right…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

A different kind of ticket problem

On my way to the metro station, I found a pair of friends from Philadelphia who had a different kind of issue with tickets. Me: So what did it take for y’all to get down here? Monika Maslany (right): Well, basically we really wanted to be here. It was hard to get tickets. We actually…

Kimberly Lawson

This week’s new releases (1/20/09)

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the CD releases for today: Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion Andrew Bird Noble Beast Bon Iver Blood Bank Mariah Carey The Ballads North Mississippi Allstars Do It Like We Used to Do Reel Big Fish Fame, Fortune and Fornication Bruce Robison His Greatest

Jeff Hahne

Obama-rama: Minus the Obama Part 1

With every media outlet O.D.ing on everything Obama, we thought it would be prudent to highlight things going on in the world that have nothing to do with the new prez.That said here’s a little food news from our resident culinary critic Tricia Childress:

Carlton Hargro

Obama-rama Nude Blogging Part 7

Today, I’m taking in the Inaugration of Barack Obama on my couch by watching every network. This is history. Gross! Newt Gingrich! I am so turning on CNN now. 11:06: The VIPs are arriving. CNN says this is the world’s Inaugration. There’s a Dan Quayle sighting. I wonder if he can spell Obama. Or does…

Cheris Hodges

FDR, JFK and Obama: a few inauguration parallels

Many observers have compared President-elect Barack Obama to FDR and John F. Kennedy: all three are ranked as articulate, trenchant speakers; all three took office with considerable — even nearly insurmountable, as in the case of the Great Depression — challenges.

Karen Shugart

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, Jan. 20, 2009— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. •2009 Inauguaration Gala. (Meet political booty.) • Bare as you dare, win $100. •Learn to line dance. •Power…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

The wine Web sites that give us a buzz

Wine websites suck up hours of time. Joyfully traipsing from one click to the next, each page ticks off another five or 10 minutes. Next thing I know, it’s midnight and the entire night is wasted. Well, not wasted, per se, since I did absorb tidbits along the way, but my patient pile of laundry…

Taylor Eason

ART: The Young and the Experienced exhibit

Being young doesn’t mean you can’t create masterpieces, and Elder Gallery sets out to explore this idea with its latest exhibition The Young and the Experienced. The gallery features the artwork of 10 artists; five “young” (including Steve Javiel, Jung Han Kim, Marcos Shih, Gopika Sitwala and Sai Thongvahn) and five “experienced” (including Carl Blair,…

Anita Overcash

Melina Fullwood, owner of Arnala’s Cuisine

Melina Fullwood has worked in a number of Charlotte’s finest eateries, and is now opening her own. Thanks to her experience in catering and running other restaurants — and traveling to countries such as Italy, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Greece and India — Arnala’s Cuisine and Catering is sure to be well off under her…

Robyn Banez

SPECIAL EVENT: Urban League of Central Carolinas 2009 Leadership Awards

Soul vocalist Noel Gourdin, best known for last year’s popular single “The River,” will serve as the headlining act for the Urban League of Central Carolinas 2009 Leadership Awards ceremony. This year the event takes place at The Big Chill and, along with providing entertainment from Gourdin, is designed to honor local African-Americans who are…

Carlton Hargro

MUSIC: Clarence Carter

Soul-blues musician Clarence Carter was born blind, but he hasn’t let it stop him from being an ongoing melody-making machine. His big break in the music industry went down during the 1960s and ’70s, when he cranked out hits like “Slip Away,” “Patches,” and “Strokin,” but even since then he hasn’t let up. Keep your…

Anita Overcash

CD Review: Lamb Handler

The Deal: Charlotte rockers release sophomore disc, Jingle Jangle, on Coma Gun Records. The Good: With the opening riffs of “You Should Shut Your Mouth,” Lamb Handler might sound rockabilly along the lines of Rev. Horton Heat, but by the time Moe Lassiz’s vocals kick in, it sounds more like Queens of the Stone Age.…

Jeff Hahne

THEATER: Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman)

Many believe that each of us has a soul mate, our one true love, the person we’re destined to spend the rest of our life with. Others live by the saying that there are plenty of fish in the sea. Jacques Offenbach ‘s opera Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman) falls into the latter…

Robyn Banez

CL previews upcoming concerts (Jan. 21-24)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Crowntown Showdown We can’t say enough about how great it is to have an opportunity to catch a bunch of acts for a low price all in the same place. This month’s performers include 2013 Wolves, Actual Proof, Case Federal, Evelyn Rose, Fox Chase and Mad Tea Party. Each band will play…

THEATER: Rent

With the economy down and the number of jobs diminishing, the nation is really going through some hard times. And just imagine all those starving artists out there — they’re really starving now if they weren’t before. Based on the Puccini opera La Boheme, the story line of Rent follows a group of young artists…

Anita Overcash

FDR prolonged the Depression?

My father and his parents would spin in their graves if they could hear the nonsense conservatives are peddling about the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. In case you haven’t heard, the right wing’s latest fantasy is that the New Deal made the Great Depression worse. Try telling that to the tens…

ART: Re/Formations: Disability, Women, and Sculpture exhibition

The Re/Formations: Disability, Women, and Sculpture exhibition features works by five female artists (including Rebecca Horn, Nancy Fried, Harriet Sanderson, Judith Scott, and Laura Splan) who chose to focus on the cultural identities of disabilities in their sculptures, rather than the insufficiencies that are so often associated with mental and physical disabilities. The exhibition is…

Anita Overcash

LECTURE: Author Russell Banks

We all know that reading is FUN-damental, so in that case this event should interest us all. Davidson College is hosting a literary reading by Russell Banks, author and 1985 recipient of the John Dos Passos Prize for fiction. Banks’ writings reveal the tragedies people face and the recession in everyday life (now we all…

Ciara Lilly

CD Review: Los Campesinos!’s We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

The Deal: Sophomore album from seven-piece outfit from Wales. The Good: The band’s first album was released in February of last year and the group decided to quickly release a follow-up of new material. You have to respect that kind of production, though the album is short (see The Bad, below). I like the dichotomy…

Jeff Hahne

Green Arrow and Black Canary: It had potential to be great

Green Arrow and Black Canary No. 16 Published by DC Comics. Written by Andrew Kreisberg. Pencils by Mike Norton. Inks by Josef Rubinstein. The Deal: It’s the latest issue of Green Arrow and Black Canary — featuring the new creative team of Andrew Kreisberg and Mike Norton. The Good: The cover sure is pretty. The…

Carlton Hargro

A 12-step program for Uptown

Any day now, the ax will fall. The first wave of job cuts has already come. It will be followed by the second, third and fourth waves as Charlotte’s banks shed thousands of high-paying jobs and the hundreds of businesses that serve them follow their lead. This will hurt Charlotte, but it could devastate Uptown.…

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

High On Hygiene: A man was arrested at a Rite-Aid for shoplifting. The man tried to conceal socks, batteries, a razor, a pack of refills for said razor, Rogaine Extra Strength, and a beard trimmer. I guess it is pretty smart to stay ready with extra razors and a beard trimmer if you’re going to…

Ryan Pitkin

Horoscope for Jan. 21-27, 2009

Aquarius The Waterbearer: (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Jupiter in your sign will lighten any load, renew your sense of optimism and reinforce your self-esteem. Help and cooperation of others will be more available to you, especially if you make your requests in person. The spiritual dimension of your life will improve and travel or education becomes…

Vivian Carol

CD Review: Pavement’s Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition

The Deal: Another Pavement reissue brightens the legacy. The Good: In some quarters, BTC is considered past the apex of Pavement’s career arc, but even if you buy into that, this is still remarkably epic shit. The original 12 Mitch Easter-produced cuts show Stephen Malkmus and crew solidifying all the aspects of the rock canon…

John Schacht

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Jan. 21

Current Releases BOLT In recent years, Disney plus Pixar has led to some terrific animated features, but Disney minus Pixar has led to yearnings to locate the nearest auditorium exit. Bolt is straight-up Disney, which would be worrisome if it wasn’t for the fact that Pixar guru John Lasseter has been handed the keys to…

Matt Brunson

The Symphony and Omimeo

It wasn’t the Gershwin Brothers’ “Stiff Upper Lip” that came to mind as Rossen Milanov stood at the podium and led the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in Jean-Philippe Rameua’s “Overture to Zais.” No, the physicality reminded me more of the Tim Burton’s universe, Edward Scissorhands or Nightmare Before Christmas. Loo analogies I overheard at intermission, robot…

Perry Tannenbaum

DVD reviews: The Catch-Up Edition

Between the glut of year-end theatrical releases and seasonal vacation time, it’s been a while since any couch-(re)viewing has taken place. Here, then, is the Catch-Up Edition, a look at several titles that have been released over the course of the past month. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (2008). Think of this film version as instant coffee: If…

Matt Brunson

A long train ride

It started with a train ride. Barack Obama rode to Washington, D.C., for his presidential inauguration on a whistle-stop tour. “To the children who hear the whistle of the train and dream of a better life — that’s who we’re fighting for,” Obama said along the tour, which was compared to the train ride taken…

Amy Goodman

The Wrestler: Rourke as lord of the ring

There are some movie debuts that stay with you permanently. Barry Levinson’s 1982 Diner actually marked Mickey Rourke’s fifth screen appearance — amidst throwaway bits, he had previously been memorable in a small role in 1981’s Body Heat — but I will never forget the flush of excitement I felt as this intriguing new presence…

Matt Brunson

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