Jun 20-26, 2018
Southern Tiger Collective, Charlotte street art; solar energy; Savannah Kasay; Amos’ Southend; John Shaugnessy; Poppy’s Bagels; The Stanley
Rocky Mountain High
MOUNTAIN **1/2 (out of four) DIRECTED BY Jennifer Peedom STARS Willem Dafoe Superhero and science fiction films are often given a pass thanks to their robust visuals, so why not documentaries? Filmed on all seven continents and in approximately 20 different countries, Mountain is basically 75 minutes of freebasing highly addictive footage that is sure…
Jurassic World: Fallen and can’t get up
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM **1/2 (out of four) DIRECTED BY J.A. Bayona STARS Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard Given the general slipshod quality of the franchise since the excellent original, stating that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the best of the sequels is a largely empty declaration, equivalent to opining that a Hostess Twinkie is…
Willie Nelson’s return is worth the wait
The Avett Brothers crush their opening spot performance.
Listen Up: Adrienne Nixon Basco Embodies Southern Rock on ‘Local Vibes’
Fresh off the Hog Happenin’ Bikes and BBQ festival in Lincolnton, Adrienne Nixon Basco of Tombstone Betty dropped in to the Hygge West podcast studio to chat with Local Vibes’ Mark and Ryan about the band’s new album, being a black front woman in a Southern rock band, her connection to biker culture, writing songs…
News of the Weird: The King of Commodes
The Passing Parade Ninety-six-year-old Barney Smith of Alamo Heights, Texas, is known around those parts as the King of the Commode for his life’s work: more than 1,300 decorated toilet seats, all displayed in the retired master plumber’s Toilet Seat Art Museum. But now, he concedes, it’s time to put a lid on it: “I’m…
Bowling for Columbine, Designing Woman, Night of the Lepus among new home entertainment titles
(View From The Couch is a weekly column that reviews what’s new on Blu-ray, DVD and Streaming. Ratings are on a four-star scale.) BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (2002). An Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature, Bowling for Columbine remains a hard-hitting treatise that, in typical Michael Moore style, might stretch the facts in spots but…
I Stan for The Stanley
When the boyfriend told me he had to make a reservation for The Stanley a couple weeks in advance, my brows raised in anticipation of the cuisine that was to come. I’d heard rumblings about the newest addition to the Elizabeth community but hadn’t done much research on it. Now that we had a reservation,…
Amos’ Southend to Reopen
Charlotte music fans who have been missing all those great metal bands and tribute acts that Amos’ Southend once brought over to South Tryon Street are in for a treat. Amos’ Southend will return to a smaller section of its old haunt, most likely by early January, according to owner John Ellison. Last May, Ellison…
Former Panther John Kasay’s Daughter Savannah Releases ‘Friday Night Lights’
When your dad is among the top 10 players in NFL history in points scored, field goals made and games played, you not only have the right to call your debut album “Friday Night Lights” — it’s practically a responsibility. Singer-songwriter Savannah Kasay, 18, laughs when she hears such a proclamation. “This may be the…
How Trump’s Tariffs and Duke Energy’s Rebates Impact the Solar Market Today
If a recent poll from Conservatives for Clean Energy is an accurate indicator, you’re probably in favor of more renewable energy production in North Carolina. But is it time for your very own solar array? Under normal circumstances, knowing when to enter any market is an imperfect guesstimate. That uncertainty spikes when coping with an…
Charlotte Chef Chris McLean Caters to Celebs and Loves a Good Cheeseburger
So what does a top-tier celebrity chef order when he finally gets a chance to relax and go out for a bite? “Believe it or not, I love a nice cheeseburger,” Chris McLean says. “Everyone laughs when I say this.” McLean is one of a few local chefs buzzing on social media, with his colorful…
Southern Tiger Collective Helps Propel a Burgeoning Street Arts Scene in Charlotte
It’s noon on a 92-degree mid-May day in Plaza Midwood, and Mike Wirth is standing outside staring at a wall. In a paint-stained white t-shirt and shorts, he’s looking at a sketch he just finished of a bunny holding a beer on the side of a restaurant called Peculiar Rabbit. He’s coming to a realization…
Finally, Something North Carolinians Agree On: Clean Energy
“Clean energy should be a mainstream conservative issue,” said Mark Flemming, CEO of Conservatives for Clean Energy. He made that statement during the Raleigh-based group’s fourth annual polling luncheon last week. The polling data results are clear: North Carolinians want their elected leaders pushing for renewable energy options and they could give a damn about…
Salome’s Stars
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Before you adventurous Arians charge right into those new projects, take a little time to learn where you’ll be going so you can avoid getting lost before you get there. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your time is devoted to career demands through much of the week. But…
Authentic New York-style Bagels Come to South End
Northerners new to the South End area can breathe a sigh of relief — their beloved New York-style bagels can be found at Poppy’s Bagels and More. The Cotswold and Myers Park bagel hotspot is opening a new location on South Boulevard this fall. After six and a half years at the current location off…
John Shaughnessy Lives for Free Improvisation
Half the time, John Shaughnessy just makes shit up. It’s part of his job. “I do a lot of free improvisation and avant-garde stuff,” the 49-year-old bassist says. “I play with different configurations, trying to do as much non-commercial music as possible.” Since settling in Charlotte in 1997, the Buffalo, New York, native has balanced…
