Jan 5-11, 2010

Jan 5-11, 2010 / Vol. 23 / No. 45

New exhibition at Davidson College

You wouldn’t want to encounter  one of Magdalena Abakanowicz’s modern-looking, and very eerie, sculptures while walking around the campus of Davidson College at night. But no worries, as the pieces are neatly tucked away for viewing in Davidson College’s Van Every Gallery. The exhibition, which opens this Thursday and continues through Feb. 26, features a…

Anita Overcash

When he doesn’t want to F. U.

Sex can be boring. Yes, I said it. And the reason sex gets boring is because many times partners treat sex as something that has to be penciled in. No. Sex is an event. And though life gets in the way, you can still treat sex as the playful and fulfilling experience that it should…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Sale of the day: Black & Blue

Head out to Black & Blue for 20% off all regular priced clothing (excluding jeans)! Plus enjoy up to 50% off winter merchandise AND the $99 jeans sale is still in progress. 720 Governor Morrison St # 180 704-366-9339 www.shopblackandblue.com

Kimberly Lawson

Some thoughts on Harry Reid ‘controversy’

1. Sen. Harry Reid’s statement — a nearly two-year-old statement, remember — that two reasons Obama would be very electable were that the candidate was “light-skinned” and didn’t use “Negro dialect” is an embarrassment for Democrats, but shouldn’t be more than that. 2. For RNC Chair Michael Steele and other Republicans to claim any similarity…

John Grooms

Songs you were probably conceived to (January 2000)

If your birthday is in August or September like mine, you probably realized long ago that chances are you were a product of some Christmas or New Year’s lovin’ and since we’re all fans of music, here are some hits that probably helped get you here. If you were born in 2000, your 10th birthday is…

Mike McCray

The critics vs. the haters

If you’re a musician or a band, you have to get feedback on your sound, compositions, performances and so on. There are many folks out there who will give you that kind of feedback, but it’s often difficult to figure out who you should listen to. In the best of all worlds, you’ll get an…

Jeff Hahne

RJD2 in action

Producer/musician/DJ RJD2 plays the Visulite tonight. But for the uninitiated, here’s a look at the man in action:

Carlton Hargro

Step into Keaton’s Cupboard for ‘going-out’ clothing

Over in the Area 15 section of NoDa, there’s a little shop next door to Moazen’s Jewelry that calls for your attention. Keaton’s Cupboard is a tiny boutique that specializes in men’s and women’s going out clothing and church attire. Owner Keaton Wells says his target audience is the 20-40 crowd, perhaps those who go…

Kimberly Lawson

Lady Gaga is new creative director for Polaroid

Even though she looks crazy as hell, Lady Gaga talks about her new job as creative director of Polaroid in this video. Remember Polaroid? Yeah … According to Guardian: “Despite the fact that the traditional analogue Polaroid cameras were discontinued last year, the company continues to sell a range of digital products and sees Lady…

Kimberly Lawson

Mixtape Review: The Knux

The Deal: New Orleans duo drops an EP out of nowhere and complaints are scarce. The Good: The 1st track, “Floozy” is instantly in my daily rotation and the title track “Fuck You” is also a must play. “Pop Cork” is a spacey jam that’s light on lyrics but could be fun in the club.…

Mike McCray

Today, another kind of king was born

Today would have been the 75th birthday of Elvis Presley. The human being behind the icon has long been relegated to the sidelines, which is how mega-celebrity works. It’s the icon, for better or worse (in other words, slim Vegas Elvis or fat druggie Elvis), that first comes to most people’s mind when they hear…

John Grooms

Sale of the day: Paul Simon

Take 40 percent off during their winter clearance. Paul Simon for Women 1033 Providence Road 704-333-6139 To see who else is having a winter sale (it’s quite a few places), check out the Scoop Charlotte site.

Kimberly Lawson

North Carolina company gives ‘green’ a greenlight

A North Carolina company is helping people save money and energy. This is what we call a win-win situation, people. Katie Trabelsi has started a business aimed at providing folks with “greener” homes and pockets. She calls it Greenlight Go. “The concept of my store is to help you save money and to help you…

Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman

Scientists unmask climate change doubts as corporate-paid b.s.

This blog item comes to you from our colleague Will Moredock, former CL news writer, and now a columnist for the Charleston City Paper: In his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore mentioned almost incidentally that the fossil fuel interests had set out to create a program of disinformation about global warming, patterned on the…

John Grooms

Collette

alias: “I don’t know, what do people call me?” inspiration: “The love of my life Billy. He makes me want to be the best I can be.” passion: “Promoting abstract thinking in our society. Forcing people to re evaluate the perceptions of reality through art.” favorite fun thing to do: “Practicing my circus arts!” current…

Jasiatic

Rap really isn’t for old people

Old people are cute, aren’t they? I spent the bulk of the day chauffeuring various family members for their errands and because I was driving, they had to listen to my music, which of course, was rap. That decision to skip the Steve Harvey & Tom Joyner and play my CDs led to a few…

Mike McCray

Just when you thought things couldn’t get more stupid

It goes without saying that American culture has always been, um, rambunctious, not to mention plagued by attention-grabbing hustlers. Just in case you were thinking things had changed, now we get word that the White House party crashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, are being paid $5,000 to host a party in the Pure nightclub at…

John Grooms

Obama promotes outdoorwear Weatherproof?

No, but a billboard in Time Square using his image says he does. When President Obama was on his trip to China back in November, he was photographed wearing a Weatherproof jacket. Weatherproof president Freddie Stollmack saw the photograph and decided to utilize it for their ad campaign — without seeking permission from the White…

Kimberly Lawson

Nicole Pietrantonio

Writing and creating art since she was in grade school, Nicole Pietrantonio finds that she is constantly reshaping and expanding her artistic talents.  Nicole is currently in the process of obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from Queens University of Charlotte where she majors in English and creative writing with a concentration in graphic design. Her education…

Web Editor

Dress Up at Knight

OK, you can’t do the full Light the Knight shmear, with the cocktails and seated dinner in the lobby, if you don’t already have a pricey ticket. Those coveted tickets are gone. But the cocktails and din-din are just acts one and two of the four-act extravaganza, which also includes performances by the host company,…

Perry Tannenbaum

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, January 7,2010 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Guaguano at Halo • Champagne Thursday at Club Onyx • Kick ass lunch at The Men’s Club…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Locally owned Gifty Gifts to close

Another casualty of the economy, locally owned Gifty Gifts (5806-A3 Prosperity Church Road) out in the University area is set to close soon. Sad face. From an e-mail sent out to mailing list subscribers: It’s time to retire said Dewayne of Gifty Gifts. We opened Gifty Gifts with the mindset of serving the gifting needs…

Kimberly Lawson

MLK Day’s coming — time for a new statue

An Associated Press story today about President Obama redecorating the Oval Office featured a photo of a beautifully sculpted bust of Martin Luther King Jr. The picture was a stark reminder, particularly with MLK’s national holiday coming up soon, that Charlotte needs to find a replacement for the statue of (supposedly) MLK, Jr. in Marshall…

John Grooms

Sale of the day: Green With Envy

Check out Green with Envy’s Semi Annual Clearance Sale. All Christmas 50% off (excluding Mark Roberts Fairies}, remaining Bluewick Candles 40% off, Scout Totes 50% off, Babazuzu recycled handbags and laptop bags 50% off, The Good Home Company products 50% off and many many more. 1111 Central Avenue 704-344-8774 www.greenwithenvycharlotte.com

Kimberly Lawson

Tiger Woods looks more black on Vanity Fair cover

Well it seems that Vanity Fair has decided to put embattled Tiger Woods on the cover, only with photos taken four years ago by Annie Leibovitz. Surprise, surprise — he looks like he’s on a prison yard, bare chested and all. Like me, he looks better with his clothes on. At any rate, Leibovitz has…

Nsenga Burton

Tonight’s Top 5, 01/06/10

The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, Jan. 6, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing. • Turn It Up Wednesdays at Club Ice • Have a glass of wine at Twenty-Two • Free beer at Thirsty Beaver (7 p.m.-9 p.m.) • Open mic night at Black Finn • College Night at Forum

Kimberly Lawson

Jesse Metcalfe coming to Charlotte

Make a note on your calendars, ladies … On a side note, what’s up with celebrities hosting parties at clubs nowadays? I know Jesse Metcalfe will BANK off his appearance at Suite, but what’s the attraction in it for patrons, anyway? Will girls go out to Suite that night for the sheer pleasure of being…

Kimberly Lawson

Fundies blast transgender appointment

I was on the verge of writing about how refreshing it is that Obama’s appointment of Amanda Simpson, a transgender female, to the post of senior technical adviser in the Commerce Department hasn’t triggered the usual anti-gay spewing from the right. And then the fundamentalists of the religious right had their say. The anti-gay group…

John Grooms

Moynihan’s mea culpa way too little, way too late

As my colleague Rhi Bowman pointed out, new Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan “admitted” in Raleigh yesterday that big banks are partly responsible for the economic crisis. In similar news, Hurricane Katrina admitted that it was partly responsible for New Orleans being “inconvenienced” in 2005. Moynihan also “admitted” that banks had increased penalty fees…

John Grooms

Menu updates at M5 Modern Mediterranean

Executive Chef, Scott Wallen, has created a new, more extensive menu featuring entrée salads, pastas, flatbreads, sandwiches and entrees at M5 Modern Mediterranean, 4310 Sharon Road. Also new is the “Feed Me Chef,” a five-course spontaneous tasting menu at their kitchen table. Tasting Menu is $55 per person, or $75 per person with wine pairings.…

Tricia Childress

Concert announcement: Trey Anastasio

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio and his band, Trey Anastasio Band (not Phish), are hitting the road this year, with a stop planned at The Fillmore in Charlotte on Feb. 26. The band is made up of Russ Lawton (drums), Tony Markellis (bass) and Ray Paczkowski (keyboards) who will be joined by Russell Remington (tenor saxophone…

Jeff Hahne

Intermix closing its Southpark location

A little Twitter bird told us that Intermix in Southpark is closing. A quick phone call to the store confirms the rumor. No definite date has been released, and there won’t be one of those “sad to see you go but look at the great deal I got on your ‘going out of business’ sale”…

Kimberly Lawson

Free swing dance

Head out to Morehead Street Tavern tonight for free beginner swing dance lessons, from 7 p.m.-8 p.m., followed by a dance featuring The Intergalactic Dust Bunnies, from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. The event will also include food and drink specials, DJ’s, and prizes. For more information, visit www.gottaswingcharlotte.com.

Anita Overcash

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, January 5, 2010 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Shake you body like a belly dancer • Tenderloin Tuesday at The Men’s Club • $2…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

People and things I don’t want to see in 2010

Well, 2009 was a heck of a year, and I must say that I am looking forward to 2010. But, there are some things and people that should be left behind with last year: • Snuggies. I don’t know who came up with this great idea, but awful execution. It is the most unattractive product…

Nsenga Burton

Theater: Our Lady of 121st Street

It’s “Hail Mary’s” and hoopla, as neighborhood folks (each with their own issues) gather in a funeral home, only to find the body of the recently deceased and beloved Sister Rose, whom they have come to honor, is missing. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre presents Our Lady of 121st Street, a dark comedy by playwright Stephen…

Anita Overcash

Image Comics on a roll

Has anyone else noticed that Image Comics seems to be on a roll these days? The creator-centric comic company that was maligned in the past (like when it first launched in the 1990s) for churning out crappy and late comics has been, as of late, publishing some really great books. Honestly, I can’t remember the…

Carlton Hargro

ART: Martha Armstrong, Solo Exhibition

You can expect to leave with a fresh feeling after viewing Elder Gallery’s newest exhibition, Martha Armstrong, Solo Exhibition, which features works by the Massachusetts-based artist, Martha Armstrong. Armstrong, whose works were birthed both in her Massachusetts and Vermont studios, and during her travels across Europe, takes every day subject matter — from still lifes…

Anita Overcash

10 reasons to check out Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte in 2010

The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte has earned a reputation for being many things — provocative, funny and controversial … just to name a few adjectives. In 2009, for example, the theater mounted productions that poked fun at Charlotte’s now-infamous overreaction to Angels in America with the staging of Southern Rapture (complete with full frontal nudity);…

Cheris Hodges

MUSIC: Charlotte Symphony does baroque

Tonight the Charlotte Symphony, conducted by Michael Christie — music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Phoenix Symphony — will kick off its first performance of the new year with a reflection on classical masterpieces in the realm of baroque repertoire. This will include Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Fantasia and Fugue,” Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four…

Anita Overcash

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Don’t Try Me: A 55-year-old man called police, although he was hesitant to do so, after a man attempted to rob him. The man told officers he was stopped at the intersection of Lasalle Street and Beatties Ford Road when a man approached his window and pulled out a gun. When the suspect told him…

Ryan Pitkin

THEATER: Almost, Maine

Love is in the air with Davidson Community Players’ production, Almost, Maine. The play, which takes place in the mystical (and cold!) town of Almost, revolves around the love affairs of nine different couples — falling in and falling out of love. You can catch it through Jan. 17, as it takes to the stage…

Anita Overcash

Horoscope for Jan. 6-12, 2010

Capricorn The Goat (Dec. 21-Jan. 19): The activities of your partner are on display. You must recognize and respect his/her moment in the sun. Meanwhile new seeds inside of you are just sprouting that eventually will become a change in your sense of identity. If someone told you what that would be, you’d be astounded.…

Vivian Carol

MUSIC: RJD2 at Visulite Theatre

Known for his longtime handling of hip-hop beats, producer/musician/DJ RJD2’s upcoming album, The Colossus, is a fusion of hip-hop and pop melodies, along with haunting, far-out experiemental creations. The tunes are mellow, but the feelings they generate are psychedelic. That in mind, you can expect to have an interesting night at RJD2’s upcoming show at…

Anita Overcash

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, District 9 among new DVD reviews

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (2009). Although it’s based on a children’s book (by Judi and Ron Barrett), this animated charmer is one of those equal-opportunity exercises that provides as much merriment for adults as for kids. After all, it’s the grown-ups who are sure to get a chuckle out of a voice cast…

Matt Brunson

MUSIC: Zappa Plays Zappa at Neighborhood Theatre

The son of Frank, Dweezil Zappa has been doing his father proud in recent years, going on tour with the ZPZ outfit to bring his father’s music to the masses. Sure, it could be considered a cover band, but Dweezil’s playing this stuff note for note — and that ain’t easy. He basically had to…

Jeff Hahne

Sultan Kabob House: Fast casual Lebanese

I’ve lived in Charlotte long enough to remember when the city had not one, but two Middle Eastern bakeries popping out unbelievably good pita throughout the day. Nothing beats the taste of pita straight from the oven, since this bread loses flavor as quickly as a mahi-mahi fades its bright turquoise, green and yellow color…

Tricia Childress

THEATER: The Aluminum Show

The Israeli-born, The Aluminum Show, looks pretty far out. Featuring special effects and lighting, acrobatics, dance, and shiny aluminum costumes with a cast bringing life to the slinky-like moving metal. This is the kind of thing that could spawn some deep thinking outside of the box, or it might just leave you contemplating what exactly…

Anita Overcash

Meet Michelle Goldstein, entrepreneur

Within weeks of graduating from college with a degree in business, Michelle Goldstein opened Tasty-Yo, a frozen yogurt shop located in the NoDa district, where you can choose from a mix of 25 “ornaments” like honey and strawberry to top off your fro yo. A native Charlottean, Goldstein is all about supporting her community and…

Nicole Pietrantonio

Do fire departments actually rescue cats from trees?

Is it necessary for the fire department to rescue a cat that’s stuck in a tree? I mean, c’mon, they got up there. Can’t they get down on their own? — Big Dave, Austin, Texas This was the occasion of another argument between me and my assistant Una. I reasoned along the same lines as…

Cecil Adams

Recycle cans, not ex-lovers

Call me a hippie, but has anyone ever stopped to wonder why most bars and clubs don’t have recycling bins — when the bulk of their trash is comprised of bottles or plastic, both of which are recyclable? I started investigating the trash cans at these places, which I think both concerned and embarrassed my…

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Jan. 6

AVATAR The only film capable of surpassing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as the Fanboy Fave of 2009, James Cameron’s massively hyped Avatar at least differs from Michael Bay’s boondoggle in that it’s, you know, entertaining. On the other hand, the notion that it represents the next revolution in cinema is nothing more than studio-driven…

Matt Brunson

Those Darlins attack music in their own way

Too often a group of girls will form a band and they’re immediately labeled due to their gender instead of by what talent may or may not exist. You may find yourself doing that at first listen to Those Darlins, but there’s a guy playing drums, so maybe that will help to limit any gender…

Jeff Hahne

Best films of the decade

THE 10 BEST (In Alphabetical Order) 1. FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002; Todd Haynes). It’s a little frightening to realize exactly what writer-director Todd Haynes has managed to pull off with this audacious endeavor. Channeling the spirit of filmmaker Douglas Sirk (Imitation of Life, All That Heaven Allows), he has replicated the look, the feel, the…

Matt Brunson

CD review: Transmission Fields

The Deal: Charlotte rock quartet Transmission Fields releases eight-song, self-titled studio effort on Nov. 28, 2009. The Good: Too often, a band releases its debut CD and gets all of the great stuff out and then begins a steady downward slide from album to album as their fanbase decreases and they’re slowly forgotten. The opposite…

Jeff Hahne

Worst films of the decade

THE 10 WORST (In Alphabetical Order) 1. ALONE IN THE DARK (2005). Most bad movies possess occasional lulls in their ineptness, brief moments salvaged by, say, a clever line of dialogue or an interesting character insight. This amateurish horror yarn defies that assumption, stumbling from one astonishingly awful sequence to the next until the viewer’s…

Matt Brunson

CL previews upcoming concerts (Jan. 7-12)

THURSDAY, JAN. 7 Blastoids Murfreesboro, Tenn., if you haven’t had cause to visit, is to Nashville sort of like Concord is to Charlotte, without the benefit of Lowe’s Motor Speedway or the Avett Brothers. But the ‘Boro does have a sneaky good, diverse little music scene, thanks to not much going on there/plenty of venues…

The decade’s best books

As we’ve said here before, these are simply the picks of one book addict. Any additions by readers are welcome. Fiction 10. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey (2001). Beautiful and harsh, this retelling of the story of legendary Australian bandit Kelly, in his own words, says volumes about national identity, family,…

CD Review: John Mayer’s Battle Studies

The Deal: Singer/guitarist fails to make something memorable with his fourth studio effort. The Good: John Mayer is one of the top guitarists today, though he’s been pigeonholed into a pop-tune, radio-friendly version of himself. If you’ve caught his live show, you’ll notice that he doesn’t play a lot of those early tunes, such as…

Jeff Hahne

Sick with terror

The media have been swamped with reports about the attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day. When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, now dubbed the “underwear bomber,” failed in his alleged attack, the lives of close to 300 people were spared what would have been, most likely, a horrible, violent end. Since that…

Amy Goodman

CD Review: Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom

The Deal: Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys releases her fourth studio album. The Good: Keys’ freedom of expression is evident on her latest release in that she goes beyond the usual ballads and piano-driven tracks. She finds more soul, hip-hop and blues influence. “Put It In a Love Song” sounds like something out of Beyonce’s archive, so…

Jeff Hahne

It’s high time for N.C. to bring on private liquor stores

Liberal or not, this time around, I’m in favor of privatizing a government function. I’m talking about liquor stores. The recent hoopla over the liquor distiller who paid $9,000 for Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials’ dinners eventually veered into a discussion about replacing North Carolina’s familiar “ABC stores” with privately owned liquor marts. So let’s discuss…

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