New Kids On The Block Tour?
Today I got word that the New Kids On The Block, (a band that was all the rage when I was in elementary school and they were in their teens) will be reuniting for a tour. It’s odd to think of the now aged boy band back on stage, but they’ll be performing in Charlotte…
While you were working…
Safe and warm here on the East Coast, we know little of earthquakes. Mosquitoes, yes. Hurricanes, quite. Random thunder storms that knock out the power and scare the cat, you betcha. Earthquakes, not so much. So, while we were all cozy in our cubicles today, reading about Shia LaBeouf’s drunk driving antics and labeling our…
A better class of prostitutes, please?
According to CrimeinCharlotte.com, these two women were arrested over the weekend: Name : NANCE, JEANNIE * PROSTITUTION – SOLICITING FOR * SOLICIT – CRIME AGAINST NATURE Name : GRAY, LISA RENEE * PROSTITUTION – SOLICITING FOR * SOLICIT – CRIME AGAINST NATURE I suppose I have a glamorized picture in my head of what a…
An IMAX eyesore?
While I’ve enjoyed many a 40-minute documentary in IMAX, I still haven’t checked out a feature-length fiction film shown in IMAX but not initially shot in the format (e.g. Harry Potter and Spider-Man flicks). But here’s what my friend had to say about the whole experience: “After seeing The Dark Knight at IMAX Saturday night,…
Hate on the internet: readers sound off
Most news outlets allow its readers to discuss stories on their Web sites and solicit their input on articles of the day. What’s interesting is that people seem to type things on line that they wouldn’t say in public. It’s almost as if the anonymous nature of the Internet allows people to share their truth…
Live Review: Maroon 5/Counting Crows
Counting Crows, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre July 28, 2008 By Brittney Cason and Jeff Hahne The Deal — Another summer concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater — Home of the $11 beer. This one was Sara Bareilles, Maroon 5 and Counting Crows…. and Counting Crow’s lead singer Adam Duritz’s cane. The Good —…
And yet another Taser death
Another day, another death-by-Taser. On the heels of revelations that Charlottean Darryl Wayne Turner’s death resulted from a police officer’s misuse of a Taser, another young man has been, in effect, Tasered to death. This time, the victim is Anthony Davidson, 29, of Statesville, and, again, the weapon was used improperly. Davidson was shocked multiple…
Based on a comic?
This summer has been a season for comic books — at least at the movies. From Iron Man and The Dark Knight to Wanted, The Hulk and Hellboy, a veritable cavalcade of comics were turned into films this year. But comics on the big screen is nothing new. Over the last decade or more, the…
Another shooting tragedy
Yes, one more typical right-wing a**hole with both the brain and the heart of an acorn. The only thing almost as sickening as his actions will be the attempts of Limbaugh and Hannity and other pro-violence fascists to “jokingly” wonder whether he went far enough. http://news.aol.com/article/police-say-church-gunman-hated-liberals/102408
Vampires in literature
” I want to meet a vampire,” wrote a friend of mine in an email I received from her today. Apparently this longing to meet a blood sucking fiend is all due to her having read a book by author, Stephenie Meyer in a series of vampire novels referred to as The Twilight Saga. My…
The Maiden Voyage
Have you ever had a thing for those well endowed next naked ladies you find on the front of sea boats. These “figureheads” as they were known, were meant to guide sailor’s home safely, but they were often the source of a lot of upper deck jerk sessions. Today we bring you a position that…
CL Movie Ratings
Here are Creative Loafing’s star ratings for all movies playing in the Charlotte area through Thursday. See this week’s issue for select reviews and our Web site’s archives for all reviews. Baby Mama – *** The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – *** The Dark Knight – **** Get Smart – *** Hancock – **1/2…
Saturday night messes equal Sunday morning cleanup
Have you ever walked the streets of Uptown bright and early on a Sunday morning? If not, I strongly urge you not to; it’s pretty disgusting. I was walking up 5th Street near Buckhead Saloon, and the sidewalk was a mess. Beer bottle caps, food, trash, even a nice display of evidence that someone couldn’t…
News Roundup 7/28/08
Next president faces record budget deficit: The next president will face a record budget deficit approaching $490 billion, a Bush administration official said Monday. The deficit is being driven to an all-time high by the declining economy and the stimulus payments that were made to 130 million households in an attempt to keep the country…
Pride Charlotte, 7/26/08
According to one of my gay boyfriends, there were so many hot people out at Pride Charlotte 2008, the annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, that he didn’t know what to do with himself. Check out these photos and see if you agree with him. Photos by Tricia Gillis
Quote this
“Childless, unmarried, fifty-seven years old, and living with her bedridden mother, [Ellen Butterby] had not drunk deeply from life. As a young woman fresh out of secretarial school, she had answered a help wanted ad, appeared in the cavernous lobby of the New York Globe, and was hired at ninety dollars a week. That was…
Haven’t we seen this real-life Disney drama before?
This weekend, I had the (mis)fortune of hanging out with my niece in South Carolina. Sometimes I forget how young she is. But I got a reminder when she was on the Internet at my parents’ house watching a video about Miley Cirus and Selena Gomez, both hot Disney chicks of the moment. They seem…
Caribbean Festival, 7/26/08
The Caribbean Festival took place this past Saturday at Independence Park, and from the looks of things, it was a very colorful event. Photos by Chey Scott
Getting fancy on Dive Drive
I think I’ve figured out why Uptown is so dead on Fridays – because everyone is either on a date, or on Dive Drive. a.k.a Montford Drive (the highway of fun between Woodlawn and Park Road). Especially now that Andrew Blairs opened a few weeks ago, adding a delicacy to Dive Drive — it’s a…
Today’s Menu (7/28)
Counting Crows The first line that Adam Duritz sings on his band’s new Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (“I’m a Russian Jew American/ Impersonating African/Jamaican”), to these ears, ranks right up there with Nirvana’s out-with-it verbal volley (“Teenage angst has paid off well/Now I’m bored and old”) that begins In Utero. No one’s saying Duritz…
Mark Englander’s gas saving tips
Mark Englander, owner of Charlotte Energy Solutions, offered CL these gas-saving tips. We didn’t have room in the paper, so I’m posting them here: 1. Buy gas during the coolest time of the day. Gas is dense when cool. You’re charged for volume, not density. 2. Accelerate gently. Jack-rabbit starts waste gas. 3. Go 55…
House of OM Tour 2008, 7/25/08
There’s no place like HOM, or so they say. Friday, OM Records brought their House of OM Tour 2008, featuring DJ Heather, Colette, Andy Caldwell and Fred Everything. Looks like folks were making themselves at HOM. Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
Today’s Menu (7/27)
Arrive Sax man Aram Shelton leads this alto-vibes-bass-and-drums quartet, yet another top-notch ensemble from the fecund Chicago free scene. Shelton offers some familiar rhythmic and compositional footholds here for the free-wary, but there’s still plenty of space for deep-groove exploration and invention. The band is at its best when Shelton and Jason Adasiewicz – channeling…
Today’s Menu (7/26)
Lindsey Horne Band Horne’s music is often described as “sultry” – think Savannah in the summer, humid and alive with emotions both dark, dreamy and, ultimately, exhilarating. While a cop-out descriptive for a performer (and pianist) with jazz-y leanings, it nonetheless fits Ms. Horne, who mixes lovely staccato bursts of melody with journal-ripped rambles on…
Is your kimchee fresh or sour?
One of the things I miss about being away from home is my momma’s cooking … of Korean food. Cho Won Garden Korean Barbeque & Cuisine (2501 Crown Point Executive Drive) opened up not too long ago, but I’m kind of picky when it comes to kimchee, the staple dish in the Korean diet (pickled…
Today’s Menu (7/25)
Lamb Handler Charlotte rockers are one-part garage, one-part ’70s arena rock and plenty of energetic punk and boogie. Their straight-up rock, no chaser, may not break any new ground, but so what. They are putting the final touches on a disc to be released by ComaGun Records in August, and if the early mixes and…
It’s about 7 years too late …
File this under: It’s about damned time! Today Congress is holding a hearing to discuss the issue of impeaching President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Granted, it’s not an actual impeachment — yet — but talk about impeachment. Follow that? Either way, it should have come sooner. Via CBSnews.com: A boisterous crowd has already gathered…
Live Review: 311, Snoop Dogg
Unity Tour w/ 311, Snoop Dogg, Fiction Plane Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre July 24, 2008 The Deal: 311 brings along Tha Doggfather and Sting’s son for musical variety. The Good: Fiction Plane may not have had a big crowd, but they did their best to get the energy level up. Fans started filing in for Snoop…
CNN’s Black in America and what the viewers think
If you watch CNN or read the Cable News Network’s web site, they you know there was this series on this week titled “Black In America.” Touted as a year long investigation that was supposed to show what it really means to be black in America, it actually shows a lot more than that. It…
Burr backs mentally unfit vets’ right to buy guns
Now here’s a smart move: Sen. Richard Burr wants to be sure that whacked-out veterans can get their hands on guns. Burr, a U.S. Senator from North CArolina who’s been making moves to ascend the national GOP ladder, has apparently found that one way to do so is to climb right up the National Rifle…
How to show your Olympic spirit
China is so excited about hosting the Olympics. I’ve heard rumors that they created a huge topiary garden and are training nearly 200,000 cheerleaders to help boost the crowd’s enthusiasm in the numerous venues where the competitions will be held. Though I wouldn’t put anything past them (they are cleaning up smog, algae and probably…
Believe it or not
X-Film almost marks the spot By Matt Brunson THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE **1/2 DIRECTED BY Chris Carter STARS David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson Perhaps they should have called it X and the City. Given the phenomenal, $150 million haul of Sex and the City, the makers of The X-Files: I Want to Believe doubtless…
Alive After 5, 7/24/08
Yesterday was the perfect summer day. What better spot to hit up after work than Alive After 5? Yes, we heard that Epicentre at 5 was popping, but we’ve got to show love to the Alive crowd, too, ya know. Photos by Christina Sakaoglu
The Weekender
Friday, June 25 Film The X-Files: I Want To Believe: It’s been way too long since we’ve seen Scully and Mulder chase down aliens, the undead, and the general creepy-crawlies that go bump in the night. The X-Files: I Want To Believe picks up where the last season of the popular TV series left off.…
Some people just can’t take a hint
If it weren’t for the area code in this call, I’d swear this guy was from Charlotte.
The separation
Long-distance relationships are hard. Imagine having to be away from your loved one for 12-15 months, with a short two-week get-together somewhere in the middle of that. Phone conversations are short, when you do get to have them. Say you’re lucky enough to get one every three days; you have so much to tell him,…
Howard Dean in Charlotte
For anyone who’s interested, Howard Dean will be in Charlotte tomorrow as part of Democrats’ voter registration efforts. The registration event is scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Margery Thompson Professional Development Center, 428 West Blvd.
McCain’s HIV advisor
On Aug. 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release data that show higher incidence of new HIV cases in 2006: 55,000 new infections, not 40,000 as previously thought. While AIDS won’t be a top issue in the campaign, it’s worth considering the presumed presidential candidates’ records on these issues. Check…
Touch’s Wednesday Block Party, 7/23/08
Last night we checked out Touch, a weekly event held at Brevard Court in Uptown. According to the organizer’s web site, “the mission of Touch is to help bring public awareness on the importance of recycling.” Photos by Kat Bidwell.
Music Menu: 311/Snoop Dogg
311/Snoop Dogg This may be an odd pairing at first glance, but a closer look makes you realize it’s not so crazy. 311 does the rap-rock thing pretty well, and the D-O-double-G has always attracted rock fans with his rap. Sounds like a pretty good duo – though I’ll be more impressed if the two…
Live Review: Avenue Q
The Deal: Avenue Q, the Broadway musical that features puppets and humans, opened in Charlotte at Belk Theater last night. The Good: It’s full of adult content, from puppet nudity to foul language. If you no longer watch Sesame Street (because you’re too old), but you still like puppets, then Avenue Q is a quick…
Hard working in the Q.C.
Seen on Overheard In The Office.com — a couple of Q.C.’s own, making their mark on the world: 4PM There’s Always Been Doubt About That Cubicle #1: Why is Jim* here!? Cubicle #2: Because he works here? England Street Charlotte, North Carolina (Yeah, I don’t where England Street is either, or why Jim is there.…
Tales of puppet porn…
Avenue Q is not just full puppet nudity and puppet porn, it’s a life lesson brought to us by puppets. Remember when we learned everything we needed to know in life from Sesame Street? Well, Avenue Q is an R-rated Sesame Street meets Rent. R for Reality. This play was so inspirational and educational, the…
Normie the lake monster
This past weekend, I was in Georgia for a family get-together. We went swimming in the lake, which I have to admit sometimes freaks me out: In some places, it’s at least 150 feet deep; anything could be living in those waters! Anyway, today I googled “swimming in Lake Norman” just out of curiosity and…
News roundup 7/23/08
President Bush drops opposition to housing bill: President Bush dropped his opposition Wednesday to a broad housing package aimed at boosting the economy, despite his objections to including $3.9 billion for neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosure. Under the bill, the government would help struggling homeowners get new cheaper loans. Fox News Dolly strengthens to a Category…
Can oral sex lead to cancer?
When this headline popped into my in box, I thought it was some right-wing group trying to scare people into abstinence. But this is actually a medical professional writing about HPV (human papillomavirus) and how the next time you get a cold, it could be throat cancer. Scarier than anything any right-wing group could say.…
Eric Roberson talks
Soul vocalist Eric Roberson hits town tonight (Wed., July 23) to perform at Tempo … along with Bilal and Yazarah. On CL’s urban music podcast Audiofloss, I was lucky enough to get him on tape talking about his music, and we even played some of his tracks. Wanna hear it? Visit: Audiofloss.
Charlotte Bestsellers List
1. 365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy by Charla Muller with Betsy Thorpe 2. The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart by M. Glenn Taylor 3. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh 4. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney 5. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski 6. The Shack by William P. Young 7. Goodnight…
CD Review: Benji Hughes
The Deal: Charlotte native Benji Hughes releases debut two-disc set, A Love Extreme, on July 22. The Good: Hughes, 33, shows musical diversity throughout the 25 tracks. He comes across like Beck on “I Went With Some Friends to See The Flaming Lips” while other tracks come from a ’70s time machine – “So Well.”…
A few more good books
If you read this column last week, you noticed that instead of bringing you my normal comic book reviews, I offered a short list of titles I’m currently digging. Well, this week I decided to do a repeat of last week’s approach. So, here goes another short list of recommended comics: X-Men No. 500 (Marvel):…
CL previews upcoming shows
THURSDAY, JULY 24 311/Snoop Dogg This may be an odd pairing at first glance, but a closer look makes you realize it’s not so crazy. 311 does the rap-rock thing pretty well, and the D-O-double-G has always attracted rock fans with his rap. Sounds like a pretty good duo – though I’ll be more impressed…
Music: Soul of sounds
MUSIC
CP’s tap-stravaganza
Crazy about Crazy for You
American (Records) heroes
After an Avett Brothers’ Nashville showcase in 2003, band manager and label-head Dolphus Ramseur got a phone call the next day; could the Avetts drop by the RCA Records offices and play a brief set for the major label’s major players? Already on the road, the band turned the van around and hot-footed back to…
Special events: Show your pride
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities wil head to the Q.C. for Pride Charlotte 2008, a celebration that isn’t your average. It usually lures around 8,000 people from all over the United States and features a variety of guest speakers, musicians, dancers, poets and more. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Gateway Village, 800…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
PSYCHO FRIEND: A 32-year-old man said one of his male acquaintances got mad and yelled at him for no apparent reason. His friend then picked up a hammer and ran the claw side of it down the man’s arm, which cut his wrist. The friend then grabbed a bush axe and said, “I’ll kill your…
Ask the editor
Q: Got anything to plug this week? A: Man, I’ve always got things to plug. First up, be sure to cast a vote on our Best of Charlotte ballot. Voting for this massive, annual list of the best people, places and thing in the Queen City ends July 28; so, don’t pass up this chance…
Special events: BEATING COMPETITION
SPECIAL EVENT
Lovely junk
There’s been a one-armed baby in my tree all month, which I didn’t think would be a big deal until the neighbors kept pointing it out like I misplaced it or something. Like I’ve been looking for it everywhere and I just need to be reminded where I put it. “There’s a baby in your…
Goodbye to road hogs
You’ve probably been through something like this: You leave a store, let’s say Target, with your bags of stuff, walk through the parking lot, get back into your normal-sized car, start the engine, put the car in reverse, get ready to back out of your parking space, and suddenly realize you can’t see a damned…
Exhibition: Flower Power
EXHIBITION
Stargazer
Leo The Lion: (July 22-Aug 22) While the Sun continues its path through your sign, notice how its warmth is bringing inspiration into your life. We have experienced the annual cycles so often that we may not really pay attention to the new “birth” heralded by one’s birthday. Listen to what you are feeling. For…
Your guide to pride
CL’s picks for the best of this year’s LGBT-centric celebration
Film Clips
New Releases ROMAN DE GARE Ever since winning a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for the 1966 international smash Un homme et une femme (A Man and a Woman), writer-director Claude Lelouch has steadily turned into persona non grata in the United States, to such a startling degree that most of his movies don’t even…
Showing up for life
April Isenhour never crossed the stage at any sort of graduation. A tenth-grade dropout, she last week gave a commencement speech of a different sort: “Every one of us has a different story, but today we all have a fresh start. We sit before you today filled with renewed hope, faith and strength. We are…
Theater: More Shakespeare
THEATER
View From The Couch
21 (2008) Loosely adapted from Ben Mezrich’s fact-based bestseller Bringing Down the House, 21 is an entertaining and fast-paced film that occasionally manages to make the act of counting cards seem as exciting as any given Super Bowl – and as perilous as climbing Mount Everest with both eyes closed. Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe)…
Scrutinizing the system
By the time this newspaper comes out, the Justice and Public Safety Task Force is expected to have held its inaugural meeting. It has no binding authority and, at press time, had no agenda, but the panel is charged with examining every aspect of the justice system in Mecklenburg County and offering suggestions to the…
Forbidden Fruits
JULY 23 — Brooklyn Beer Dinner. The guest of honor, Jason Gavin of Brooklyn Brewery, will be at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for this dinner that features Brooklyn Lager at the cocktail reception and, later, a three-course meal. The meal will include the following: crab-cake salad paired with Brooklyn Local One and petit filet with…
Super, man
Brooding Batman saga is seriously excellent
Local civic events
Finding Affordable Housing Thursday, 12:15 p.m., Main Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, 310 North Tryon St. Housing Appeals Board Thursday, 2 p.m., Old City Hall, 600 East Trade St., www.charmeck.org. Former Army Sgt. Darren Manzella, gay medic once featured on 60 Minutes will speak about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He will be joined by former Air…
CD Review: Beck
The Deal: “Loser” releases his eighth album, produced by Danger Mouse. The Good: Beck has always been great at taking on a retro sound without sounding dated. Ranging from synth to psychedelic, backed by plenty of funky beats and soundbites, Modern Guilt is just about everything you’d expect, with more maturity – at times he…
Out of tune
Meryl Streep fans and ABBA fans can at least count on those two components firing on all cylinders in this adaptation of the Broadway smash. Everyone else, though, may be forced to rummage through the debris that constitutes the rest of the picture to find anything worth salvaging. As a closeted ABBA fan and not-so-closeted…
Truth vs. fiction
Five myths about Barack Obama and John McCain
CD Review: Beau Jennings
The Deal: Dull solo debut from Cheyenne lead singer. The Good: This record will not cause cancer, shit on the floor or sleep with your girlfriend. The Bad: This solo debut from the lead singer of the Oklahoma-born band Cheyenne is the kind of record that might have survived the cut-out bin when gas was…
What would Jesus drink?
I doubt the Romans contemplated the tannins in their grapey grogs. The end goal was drunkenness, mixed with gorging on food and other bodily pleasures. But Rome’s ancestors to the southeast are the true geniuses who most likely invented wine. Earthen jugs crusted with a reddish, wine-like substance were found several years ago in present-day…
All about Eva
Charlotte A.D. Soul vocalist Anthony David spits lyrics during his album release party at The Evening Muse last Tuesday. The body delicious Grace Seo acts as a human platter and serves up tasty raw-fish delights at Prevue’s Nyotaimori “Naked Sushi” event held on July 19. For Eva America’s Next Top Model winner Eva Pigford…
CD Review: Limp Bizkit
The Deal: A concert film recorded at Rock im Park in Nuremberg, Germany on June 1, 2001. The Good: First official live DVD from Limp Bizkit, one of the catalysts and hitmakers of the nu metal and rap-metal blasts of the late 1990s. This disc captures their gig at Germany’s biggest and most prestigious rock…
Local foodie pleasures
Taking advantage of the season for local eating
The chief scores again
You go, Rodney Monroe. Yes, that’s how I started last week’s column, but it bears repeating. The people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have learned more in the past two weeks about what went down during controversial shootings by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers than they did in the previous several years. Now Monroe says he’ll continue…
Kim Bradford, store owner
Three-Course Spiel
A new artery for nightlife
We’re moving on up … to the East side. Or East Boulevard rather. East Boulevard is moving on up and becoming a source of nightlife in Charlotte. If Uptown is the heart of nightlife, then Dilworth — particularly East Boulevard — is a major artery. A few Saturdays ago was Dilworth Alcohol Awareness Day (D.A.A.D).…
Festival: Not a Japanese game show
FESTIVAL
Art Preserve Summer Abstract Show
Exhibit: Art Preserve Summer Abstract Show Dates: Showing now through August 2 Location: The Art Preserve, 3200 North Davidson St. Info: 704-358-8882 What is abstract art? Some people think it’s just a bunch of colors splashed around a canvas, showcasing little talent while making little sense. (How many times have we heard someone say, “My…
Keeping the listener tuned in
The music of the Old 97’s is a time machine, transporting you back to the ’70s when radio was worth listening to. Tunes that came at you over the airwaves had a similar heritage, but enough diversity for you to want to keep listening. The 97’s have kept that basic concept, but improved the model.…
Theater: Hitting the right notes
THEATER
Gaillard’s greatest hits
Former CL columnist publishes collection of profiles of various Southerners.
Let’s be Frank
Dweezil brings dad’s music to life as Zappa Plays Zappa
Don’t drink the nuclear Kool-Aid
While the presidential candidates trade barbs and accuse each other of flip-flopping, they agree with President Bush on their enthusiastic support for nuclear power. Sen. John McCain has called for 100 new nuclear power plants. Sen. Barack Obama, in a July 2007 Democratic candidate debate, answered a pro-nuclear power audience member, “I actually think that…
