Mar 23-29, 2010

Mar 23-29, 2010 / Vol. 24 / No. 4

Saturday is officially Apple iPad day

Apple heads, check this out. The iPad will be available this Saturday in all 221 Apple stores and most Best Buy locations. Reuters reports: “IPad sales are widely expected to rocket out of the gate this Saturday, helped by the scores of core Apple fans who are expected to line up hours before U.S. stores…

Kimberly Lawson

Enough with the damned weather warnings

The Charlotte area had some rough weather yesterday evening. A tornado, heavy winds, hail, thunder and lightning out the wazoo, the works. That’s bad enough — actually, that’s plenty bad enough — but local television news outfits decided they had to make things even worse. How? By going through their now-standard, the-sky-is-falling song and dance,…

John Grooms

A new race: ‘Confederate Southern American’

The South Carolina-based Southern Legal Resource Center is dedicated to “defending the rights of Southerners to honor their culture and heritage” (i.e., suing schools that prohibit Confederate battle flag gear). Now, the group wants all Americans of “Southern ancestry” to identify themselves as “Confederate Southern American” on their census forms. “The SLRC suggests you check…

John Grooms

Live review: Parsons Dance

OK, I get it. Parsons Dance doesn’t have the brand recognition of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, so on opening night of their four-performance run, there were more empty seats at Knight Theater than there were back in February when the Ailey troupe began their epic six-day stay. But Parsons is a gas, a company…

Perry Tannenbaum

Celebrate Health Care Reform Week

This is the week health care reform finally became law. True, it doesn’t include everything I would have liked to see in it (What, no internment camps for radio hosts with Oxycontin monkeys on their backs? Just kidding.), but it’s a great start. Progressives are in a celebratory mood, as much for seeing the president…

John Grooms

10-in-10 CD reviews (3/26/2010)

Each Friday, we bring you 10 CD reviews done in 10 words each: Coco Montoya I Want it All Back — Guitarist creates what could be equivalent of easy listening blues. Mose Allison The Way of the World — 12-year hiatus ends with playful, easy-going new album. Sonya Kitchell Convict of Conviction EP — Singer’s…

Jeff Hahne

Bethany

alias: None inspiration:”Everything and anything.” passion:”425 and 1017.” favorite place to eat in Charlotte: “Lang Van.” current city: Charlotte plug: “Humane Society.” To see more photos by Jasiatic, visit www.createtressphotography.blogspot.com and to see some of these portraits on the wall, visit Crave Dessert Bar

Jasiatic

Tonight’s Top 5, 03/26/10

The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, March 26, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing. • Robin Thicke Afterparty at Butter • Customer Appreciation Party at Whisky River • The Houstons at Snug Harbor • Ladies Night Out at Prevue • Blush Fridays at Kazba

Kimberly Lawson

Write a review, get 25 percent off at Niche

The good folks at Niche are enlisting your help, good shoppers, to spread the word about their shop. Check out Niche’s profile on Yelp.com here, and write a review. It can be good, bad, fab or drab, as long as it’s honest. To reward you for your hard work, you’ll get 25 percent off your…

Kimberly Lawson

Sale of the day: Sloan and STEP

Now through Saturday, check out Sloan and STEP’s Family and Friends sale, where you can take 25 percent off the entire store. Sale exclused Chan Luu and Virgins, Saints and Angels, but hey! 25 percent is pretty great! 1419 East Blvd. SLOAN 704.338.1400 STEP 704.376.1275

Kimberly Lawson

Just say ‘Hell, no’ to any library cuts

Some people are really easy to please, I guess. God knows that’s never been my problem, but still, I’m amazed at the smiley face being placed over the library board’s latest frantic decision. OK, now they’ll keep all the branches open (YAY! We win! Everything is beautiful!), which, yes, is a good thing. At the…

John Grooms

Burr vows to wreck own career

Sen. Richard Burr now says he will base his re-election campaign around repealing the new health care law. And he says it with the foolish confidence of a man raising a loaded gun to his temple, thinking the gun’s chamber is empty. Here’s the thing: opponents of health care reform read a poll that said…

John Grooms

Wanted: Sam Edelman’s White Azaria Flat from Heels.com

I just MIGHT have to defriend Heels.com from my Facebook. This photo popped up in my Newsfeed just now, and I absolutely WANT these shoes. The shoe porn is eventually going to get to me and I’m going to have to break into my piggy bank. Sam Edelman’s White Azaria Flat – Off White Matte…

Kimberly Lawson

Sale of the day: Belle Ville

The days of spring break has passed for many of us … but that doesn’t mean you can’t still shop for the beach. Belle Ville is offering a spring break sale: $10 off the line Caribbean Queen. Sale ends Sunday, March 28. Birkdale Village (between Banana Republic and Starbucks) 16836 Birkdale Commons Parkway Huntersville, NC…

Kimberly Lawson

Health reform’s immediate benefits

To listen to the conservative extremists who took over the Republican Party, you’d think that the new health care reform law means the sky is crashing down; we’ll soon have to wait six months, while walking around in chains, just to get a couple of aspirin; our grandmothers will be killed; Stalin will rise from…

John Grooms

Upcoming: FLOW by Tara Davis Spring 2010 Trunk Show

In a recent interview, custom designer Tara Davis admits that she doesn’t follow seasonal trends as she puts together her collections. “It’s about creating trends for yourself, based on what you’re inspired by and then from there making sure these trends match your customers’ body types,” she said. Her spring collection will be “a little…

Kimberly Lawson

Seasonal Whispers jewelry sale at Jordanos

From the good folks at Jordanos: Fabulous new Seasonal Whispers jewelry and STRETCH rings that everybody loves…. TODAY ONLY, buy an item get the 2nd item at 30% off !!! Jordanos at The Village at Robinson Farm 8440 Rea Road 704-543-8800

Kimberly Lawson

Win free pizza for a year

Libretto’s Pizzaria is opening their Ballantyne location on Friday, March 26. In celebration, they will be giving away free pizza for a year at their grand opening. Yep, that’s right – the first 100 customers through their door on Friday will receive free pizza for a year. Doors open at 11 am. Get ready!

Web Editor

Today’s Top 5: Tuesday

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, March 23, 2010 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Ingrid Michaelson at Amos’ Southend • Grandma Lee at Lake Norman Comedy Zone • Touch One Tuesdays at Wine Up • The John & Vivian Hewitt Collection…

Anita Overcash

ART: New Danger exhibition

This evening UNC-Charlotte’s Student Union Art Gallery will have a reception for its newest exhibition, titled New Danger. The exhibition features art by two artists, including Antoine Williams (you may have seen his work on some of CL’s past covers) and John Hairston Jr. Reception is from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Exhibition continues through April 8.…

Anita Overcash

Save our Public Library System — the Queen City’s crown jewel

Unless you’re in self-imposed exile, you’ve heard the news that Charlotte-Mecklenburg is closing 12 of its 24 library branches. In fact, the news may have sent you into exile because of the ridiculous thought that the only way to remedy a budget shortfall is to close libraries. Public libraries offer countless services to multiple communities…

Nsenga Burton

THEATER: Jersey Boys

Belk Theater welcomes Jersey Boys — the Tony Award-winning musical about the popular 1960s band, The Four Seasons (Think: “Big Girls Don’t Cry”) — tonight as it opens with a wop-boppin’ run that continues on select days through April 18. This production tells the story of how the band members — Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio,…

Anita Overcash

Killola showing that hard work pays off, builds fan base

You’ve heard a similar story plenty of times — Hollywood actor/actress decides to start a band, music is mediocre and said star/starlet is better off keeping their day job. If you think that’s the case with Killola, you’d be sadly mistaken. For Lisa Rieffel, acting may be one love in her life, but music is…

Jeff Hahne

French Quarter squalor in A Streetcar Named Desire

No doubt about it, when you consider the trashiest plays in the American theater canon, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire has to figure in the discussion as surely as Tobacco Road. We can imagine the former glory of Belle Reve and Blanche DuBois from a multitude of petticoat sagas set on Southern plantations, but…

Perry Tannenbaum

CD is fundraiser for hospital

Rianna Das, a senior at Cannon School in Concord, sought out guidance from Rick Booth, president of Intrepid Artists, and put together a benefit CD for the Levine Children’s Hospital. The 12-track CD, Breathe On, features songs from Evelynn Rose, Simplified, The Lo and Beholds, among others. “The primary reason I created a benefit CD…

Nicole Pietrantonio

Sutton Foster drops Broadway bombshells

Anyone who had witnessed Sutton Foster on Broadway, from her Tony Award-winning performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie of 2002 onwards through her Princess Fiona in Shrek, knew what to expect when the lights dimmed at McGlohon Theatre and An Evening with Sutton Foster began. Yet the concert, with Michael Rafter as her accompanist at the…

Perry Tannenbaum

Davy Crockett: America’s first TV fad

Now and then this column has to be about something that’s pretty exclusive to baby boomers. This is one of those columns. Yes, the schools and libraries are facing disasters; the economy and health care reform are on everyone’s mind; but, sorry, Fess Parker died last week, and for a day, at least, millions of…

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Money Saver: A 21-year-old woman called police after being threatened by her baby’s daddy over the phone. The victim told officers the man called her and stated, “If you don’t cancel the child support, you’re going to lose your life.” That’s actually the same way I’ve gotten out of paying the power bill for the…

Ryan Pitkin

The county debt bomb explodes

People were dumbstruck last week when Mecklenburg County government suddenly announced it would close half of our libraries to keep the county solvent. This, we were told, was the result of the fact that the county was in the hole at least $20 million this year and up to $85 million next year. The official…

Are some dogs racist?

I don’t have a dog, but I do have a toddler, which means I spend a lot of time hanging around parks and sidewalks. I’ve witnessed many incidents of dogs with white owners barking, growling, or otherwise being extremely aggressive towards African-Americans. I’m sorry to say my parents’ dog does this too. Since they live…

Cecil Adams

My Sister’s House joins the fight against homelessness in Charlotte

The fight against homelessness in Mecklenburg County has gained a new group of soldiers with the launch of My Sister’s House on Beatties Ford Road. Two weeks ago, The Friendship Community Development Corporation opened the shelter, which houses women without dependent children. “The way the shelter came about is three years ago, [the Rev. Clifford]…

Cheris Hodges

Horoscope for March 24-30, 2010

Aries The Ram (March 20-April 19): Your inner self is screaming for “freedom!” but everywhere you turn there seem to be stop signs. If it isn’t relationships, then it is the authorities or the rules. Every minimum wrongdoing is punishable and mercy is not to be found. There will be a breakthrough in June. Get…

Vivian Carol

Bill James’ and James Forrester’s war of words

In other cities, comments that Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James and State Sen. James Forrester are infamous for would undoubtedly mean the end of their careers. But here, these two officials — who have offended gays, women and blacks on numerous occasions — don’t seem to have anything to fear. And while the groups James…

Cheris Hodges

Inside Sexy Charlotte

Google “sex workers” or “sex industry” and you’ll be directed to a rash of Web sites about prostitution and porn. Add “Charlotte” to your search and you get news stories about Hush-Hush, the upscale escort agency that was based in town and busted a few years back. But all sex work isn’t illegal … or…

Cheris Hodges

Cl previews upcoming concerts (March 24-30)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 B*tch Not quite sure how to categorize her music, but I’d say it could be called pop music with an attitude. She’s described as a singer/songwriter/electric-violinist/poet/rocker and is currently on tour in support of her second album, Blasted! Her violin playing at times comes across more like Hendrix than anything classical. Like…

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of March 24

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Here’s the problem with the vast majority of movies based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass: They’re too tame, too hesitant and too conventional to really tap into the more unsettling aspects of an immortal fantasy that provides as much satisfaction for adults as for…

Matt Brunson

CD Review: Ludacris’ Battle of the Sexes

The Deal: After his last CD release in 2008, Theater of the Mind, Ludacris is back with the release of his seventh studio album, Battle of the Sexes. The Good: The first two songs on the CD, “Intro” and “How Low,” make you want to pop it and drop it. While the CD starts off…

Nicole Pietrantonio

The Bounty Hunter: Run for the exit

The Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing frequently go to war movies or science fiction films — this year, for example, The Hurt Locker beat out such competitors as Avatar, Inglourious Basterds and Star Trek for both statues. Frankly, I think the criteria regarding these categories should be modified so that the…

Matt Brunson

Obama’s bad prescription for Indonesia

President Barack Obama dedicated the signing of health-care legislation to a number of people, including his mother, S. Ann Dunham Soetoro, who, he said, “argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.” The health-care legislative process, and its frenetic endgame, prompted the president to postpone a trip to the country…

Amy Goodman

COMEDY: Beards Of Comedy

You don’t have to have a furry animal growing on your chin to attend this show, but you do need a sense of humor. The Beards Of Comedy tour sweeps through the Q.C. tonight, stopping in for a gig at Prevue Music Hall. The bearded foursome, comprised of Andy Sandford, Joe Zimmerman, TJ Young and…

Anita Overcash

Repo Men: Manufacturer defect

Not to be confused with 1984’s dissimilar Repo Man but easily able to be mixed up with 2008’s identically plotted Repo! The Genetic Opera, Repo Men mostly plays like an uninspired rip-off of Logan’s Run plus Brazil plus Total Recall plus Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life plus … well, I could do this all…

Matt Brunson

COMEDY: Lisa Lampanelli at Ovens Auditorium

No one is out of the line of fire when it comes to Lisa Lampanelli’s insults. She’s fair, spitting clever observations at everyone no matter what color you are, and especially zooming in for a closer look at her own relationship preferences for black men. Often referred to as “Comedy’s Lovable Queen of Mean,” Lampanelli…

Anita Overcash

Where to find 750 gram Chocolate Easter Eggs

Chocolate Easter eggs are sold throughout the Christian parts of the world during this season. However, countries and cultures have developed unique presentations. Here in the U.S., small foil-wrapped eggs, or milk chocolate (solid or hollow) formed into rabbits or chickens, are common. In Brazil and Lebanon, large, colorfully wrapped eggs are popular. Where to…

Tricia Childress

THEATER: Leading Ladies

Desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures and ’tis the case in Ken Ludwig’s comedic play Leading Ladies, which twists through the stage of Davidson College’s Duke Performance Hall this week. In the play, all is well for two actors traveling across the U.S. to perform hits by William Shakespeare; that is, until they hit…

Anita Overcash

Bold cuisine takes patrons to Spice 9 Indian Cuisine

This decade bears the promise of confident Indian restaurants opening in the Charlotte area. Too often in the past, Indian restaurants presented timid dishes — whispers of what they could be — to non ex-pats. But this is not so at Spice 9 Indian Cuisine, which opened last October in Concord. Co-owners Jagan Gundala, Sai…

Tricia Childress

DANCE: Parsons Dance

Fans of modern dance get giddy, as contemporary dance company Parsons Dance visits the Q.C. for performances at Knight Theater this week. Founded by choreographer David Parsons, the group is comprised of 10 full-time dancers and a repertory of more than 70 works. But here’s the cool part: 20 of the works are original scores,…

Anita Overcash

3 questions with Ciaran Sheehan, restaurateur

After temporarily closing its doors in May 2009 due to a fire, Ri Ra, Charlotte’s very own authentic Irish pub, has reopened recently. Whether you’re in the mood for a pint, house-brined corn beef or to shoot the breeze with a couple of pals, Ri Ra is the place to be. Co-owner Ciaran Sheehan, born…

Nicole Pietrantonio

FILM: Death Race 2000

Monday don’t have to suck, especially when The Light Factory and Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte bring you Cult Movie Mondays. Death Race 2000 will be screened during this week’s series. The film — directed by Paul Bartel and starring David Carradine, Simone Griffeth and Sylvester Stallone — is set in the year 2000 and takes…

Anita Overcash

Living amongst variety of rats

A couple weekends ago, it rained on our parade. Literally, the St. Patrick’s Day parade. In fact, it rained so hard, that if I had shampoo … I could have taken a shower in it. That said, my friend refused to walk the two blocks from my condo to the EpiCentre garage to catch the…

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