Best bets in Charlotte comedy, May 24-28
Here are a few of the best places to find comedy events in Charlotte this week.
Noise ordinance passes unanimously
New ordinance is based on decibels and targets repeat offenders.
The Hangover Part II trailer
Comedy sequel opens this Thursday, May 26.
Ohmibod, come with your iPod
This product is not endorsed by Apple. (I wonder why?!)
N.C. GOP evenly divided over wishing South had won Civil War
To this writer, these results are amazing …
Are you a ‘hot Southern mess’?
Brad Paisley’s new song “Old Alabama” describes many a woman in the South …
Franklin Graham a little too revealing?
Tim Funk of the Observer had an interesting piece yesterday about our old friend Franklin Graham.
Monsters in my kitchen
Green Monster Smoothies are packed with fruit and … spinach!
Concert announcement: Carnival of Madness
Theory of a Deadman highlights second annual outing.
Live review: 2011 FemmeFest
The fourth annual installment of the festival hit NoDa with plenty of talent and variety.
Bar Charlotte, 5/20/11
Friday night partying at Bar Charlotte on May 20.
RE:PUBLIC, 5/20/11
RE:PUBLIC hosted a ladies night on May 20, in which they gave away free shoes from Fergie’s new line.
Today’s Top 5: Monday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Congressional leaders agree to keep Big Brother alive
House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are normally worlds apart on everything …
Arts and Science Council launches Power2give.org
Website will reportedly change how donors give to cultural organizations.
Facebook’s bad for marriages? No, cheaters are bad for marriage.
Any excuse will do when it comes to divorce …
Free hugs today (until 8:59 p.m.)
Give hugs, not drugs
10-in-10 CD reviews
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each.
Pirates: On Stranger Tides: Plundering the booty
Fourth Jack Sparrow adventure runs aground.
Kristofferson can’t save bloodless Bloodworth
Movie about Southern fried hicks offers nothing new.
Things to do before the end of the world tomorrow
Obviously it’s too late for much of a bucket list, but here are a few suggestions to choose from for your final Friday and Saturday activities.
EPA punts on coal ash regulations
Two words: Typical and disappointing.
It’s Spider Lily time again!
Ooooo, pretty.
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Weekender, May 20-22
Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend.
Blueberry Buckwheat Muffins
Eating one of these is like eating oatmeal, buckwheat blueberry pancakes, and a muffin for breakfast all at once.
Opening Friday
What’s new in theaters this weekend.
RE:Public, 5/18/11
Common’s official DJ, DJ Dummy, hosted the night’s festivities at Pop Life at RE:Public on May 18.
Lululemon athletica takes on SouthPark Mall
South Park Mall is opening a Lululemon athletica apparel store May 20 and offering complimentary yoga classes over the weekend.
I was wrong on abortion bill (a satirical change of heart)
I urge the state legislature to come up with other bills to help give people of all stripes “as much background as possible when they’re making decisions.” Here are my suggestions …
Get a deal on Beer Connoisseur Magazine
A year-long subscription (4 issues) of Beer Connoisseur Magazine is on sale right now for $5.99.
Dharma Lounge, 5/18/11
The weekly Le Bang party was held at Dharma Lounge on May 18.
TreasureFest this weekend
Underground bands set to hit Charlotte this weekend.
Noise ordinance update
City council expected to vote on Monday.
Power, sex and bad choices …
These men and many others allowed the thought that they were super powers go to their heads, but when the dirt comes to light, it doesn’t take long for them to be reminded that this behavior only goes unpunished in comic books.
Caution flags in relationships
Brittney cooks up some relationship advice for the Rachael Ray show
Photos from Menchie’s
Going to Menchie’s was like a taking a trip to Asia.
How to get a free makeover from Lavish Salon & Spa
Lavish Salon & Boutique along with Ethan & Zoey will be hosting a beauty event on Saturday, May 21, and are currently combing through the many e-mails coming in for a chance to win a free makeover.
This weekend’s nightlife events
What are you doing this weekend?
Mac Miller, Neko Case, Coversfest tonight (5/19/11)
Hip-hop prodigy at Amos’ Southend; critically renowned vocalist at Knight Theatre; a night of local acts doing great covers at Snug Harbor.
Get ready for ‘Don’t Fry Day’
Your skin, not your food.
Today’s Top 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Bike commuters fare better in air pollution study
One more reason to ditch your car.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
McCain aide: ‘For pure, blind stupidity, nobody beats Rick Santorum’
Former U.S. Senator Rick “Frothy” Santorum has long been known for letting his ambition outrun his smarts, but his latest gaffe is so absurd, it could damage his already none-too-rousing presidential campaign.
Pistachio Cake
The nutty flavor from roasted pistachios is accented by a dash of cardamom spice, giving the cake an Indian flair.
Raise my taxes more to pay for teachers
I’m willing to pay for the sake of the schools, and plenty of others in the county are, too.
Matrimony’s “Last Love”
Charlotte band releases new music video.
Final art night at Our Place (not your place)
Our Place Boutique is hosting its last art night and cocktail party this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring artist Arthur Brouthers accompanied with music by Jason Herring.
Coming soon: Eco-friendly Frock Shop trunk show
FROCK shop is making their mark in the green movement by having their May TRUNK show at Charlotte Energy Solutions this Saturday, May 21st.
One more nail in U.S. nuke industry’s coffin
The ongoing Japanese nuclear disasters have been a gut punch to the nuclear energy industry.
Sexual assault and college athletes
There’s nothing bigger when it comes to colleges than the athletes. They’re the stars you attend class with, especially if you attend a college like Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
Faster Pussycat, Lana Rebel, Memphis Mayfire, Jon Lindsay tonight (5/18/11)
Glam hair metal at Tremont; Dusty country music at Snug Harbor; Hard alterna-rock at Amos’ Southend; Charlotte singer-songwriter at The Evening Muse.
Red Velvet Pancakes from Bluprint
If you’re looking for a breakfast that can pass as dessert, look no further.
Live review: The Flaming Lips
Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger opens the May 17, 2011, concert at the Fillmore in Charlotte.
Tonight’s Top 5, 5/18/11
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, May 18, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
Coming soon: Cottage Chic’s 8th Annual Tent Sale
Cottage Chic is hosting their 8th annual Tent Sale on June 4th with 50 to 75 percent off merchandise.
EPA decides to ‘steer a more business-friendly course’
It’s be great if we could get some breather-friendly policies, wouldn’t it?
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission waives enforcement of fire rules at nuclear plants
From ProPublica, who wants you to inform its investigations: Do you have information or expertise relevant to this story?
Today’s Top(less) 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date going.
HUD audit: Bank of America, Wells Fargo defrauded taxpayers
Huffington Post today revealed the results of federal investigations of the country’s five largest mortgage companies.
IRS: Richest Americans pay 1/3 what they did 50 years ago
That’s what the IRS revealed in a report last week …
Best bets in Charlotte comedy, May 17-21
Here are a few of the best places to find comedy events in Charlotte this week.
Who sings your love song?
I’m not gonna write you a love song.
Growler’s Pourhouse, 5/16/11
Solid Gold Mondays continued at Growler’s Pourhouse on May, 16.
This week’s new releases (5/17/2011)
A quick rundown of what’s new this week.
Tonight’s Top 5, 5/17/11
The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, May 17, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing.
Dawes, The Flaming Lips tonight (5/17/11)
L.A. quartet at The Visulite. Psychedelic space rockers at The Fillmore.
CNN’s take on why the Democratic National Convention is good for Charlotte
Are you ready for the DNC’s convention?
TODAY: EPA Webinar on drinking water safety
Learn how to use the agency’s drinking water and compliance databases.
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
FILM: Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story
In case you missed (or just can’t get enough of) the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival back in March, Levine JCC is offering a special encore screening of the previously shown and well-received documentary, Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story. So, it must be good, but exactly who the hell is this Hank Greenspun anyway?…
Summer Guide 2011: Sure-fire summer comic picks
For comic book fans, the summer means two things: Convention season is officially upon us (more on Charlotte’s big convention, HeroesCon, in future issues) and tons of titles are about to hit the stands. But what books will be worth your dime this season? Here’s what I think: Loose Ends: This “Southern crime romance”…
CL previews upcoming concerts (May 18-22)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 FASTER PUSSYCAT L.A. rockers Faster Pussycat didn’t quite achieve the stardom of contemporaries Guns ‘n’ Roses, but they had a run with good-time party hits from the late ’80s through the early ’90s. Founder/singer Taime Downe remains the only original member, but the blokes still rock and, aside from some industrial rock…
In a Better World needs improvement
Director Susanne Bier’s In a Better World recently won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, which means this Danish drama places a distant second to Melissa Leo’s scenery-chewing in The Fighter as the least deserving recipient at this year’s ceremony. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie, but it’s hardly satisfying to…
FILM: Cult Movie Monday, screening Waiting for Guffman
Tonight’s Cult Movie Monday — presented by The Light Factory and Theatre 650 — will be screening the 1997 mockumentary, Waiting for Guffman. Set in the fictional town of Blaine, Missouri, the film chronicles a community theater production — Red, White and Blaine, in celebration of the town’s 150th anniversary — led by kooky director…
Save a prayer for Priest
The horror-action flick Priest begins with some juicy exposition related through trippy anime (not surprising, considering the source material was a Korean graphic novel) before plunging into its story about a “Warrior Priest” (Paul Bettany) who sets out after the vampires who kidnapped his niece (Lily Collins). And for a while, the picture looks as…
THEATER: Cats at Belk Theater
There’s no letting the cat out of the bag about the latest in Blumenthal’s Broadway Extra series. Cats, a long-timer and Tony Award-winning musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber — adapted from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats — claws its way into Belk Theater for a six-day run. The stage transforms into a…
Summer Guide 2011: Film series offers an affectionate tribute to the Bard
“The play’s the thing.” “If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.” “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Given William Shakespeare’s ability to work variations of “play” into his classic works, one can only wonder what sort of mileage he…
Sue Myrick and the bin Laden photos
Sen. Kay Hagan and Rep. Larry Kissell sat across the conference table from Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Sue Myrick. At the end of the table stood White House liaison Fatih Johnston, who was there to show the lawmakers photos of Osama bin Laden’s corpse. Johnston described the Navy SEAL mission in some detail, then…
Summer Guide 2011: Summer movie preview
The summer movie season unofficially got under way with the April 29 release of Fast Five and officially commenced with the May 6 debut of Thor. Clearly, Hollywood doesn’t have the patience to wait until the Memorial Day weekend, which the rest of the country pretty much considers the opening salvo of the hot-weather season.…
Summer Guide 2011: A green, green, Warren-Green summer
Outdoor entertainment has long been a Charlotte staple during those magic days between the end of the school year and the torrid season that traditionally smacks us on the Fourth of July. A few new wrinkles are on tap in 2011 for arts lovers who like their symphony and theater by the light of the…
Wage-theft cases smack Charlotte’s Latino population
It’s the summer of 2010, and brothers David and Raul Origel are excited. A Charlotte contractor has hired them as subcontractors for a big painting project. The pair, middle-aged Mexican immigrants who have made the Queen City their home for eight years, considers themselves lucky to have secured a steady gig in such a…
How do I drill for oil in my back yard?
I took a geology class not long ago and read about a guy that had massive amounts of coal underneath his ranch. The dude sold the ranch, made millions, and moved into a penthouse. Granted, I live in suburbia and don’t have enough room for an open-pit mine, but if I have oil I can…
Where to find it: Italian meats and subs
Several readers have written in looking for Italian meats — including mortadella, submarine sandwiches and crusty breads. Mortadella is finely ground pork shoulder seasoned with pepper and coriander, sometimes studded with pork fat and pistachios. Italian mortadella was banned from the U.S. from 1967 to 2008. The ban began with an Italian swine flu outbreak…
A closer look at the North American Imams Federation
Last week, four imams headed to a conference in Charlotte were denied the ability to fly by two separate airlines, presumably because of their religion and dress. That’s their claim, and so far the airlines involved haven’t denied it. At a press conference last week, they asked people to look beyond how they dress and…
Latest MST3K set, MGM classics among new home entertainment titles
BIG BUSINESS (1988) / MY FATHER THE HERO (1994). For approximately a 10-year span from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, Disney’s live-action arms produced an astonishing number of films, so many that the impression was given that the cash flow was allowing even the studio errand boys to light their cigars with one-dollar bills. Some…
3 questions with Tessia Harman, baking and pastry arts instructor
The saying, “Those who can’t do, teach,” holds no weight when talking about Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) baking and pastry arts instructor Tessia Harman. Harman, once the private chef to the Irish ambassador of the European Union, came to Charlotte to visit a friend — and never went back to Europe. As much as…
MUSIC: Alive After Five at Piedmont Row
Now that you’re halfway through the work week, there’s cause to celebrate. Those looking to socialize, drink cold brews and be entertained should head over to Alive After Five. This evenings live music will be provided by The Boomers. For more information, visit www.aliveafterfives.com. Free entry. 5 p.m. Piedmont Town Center, 4625 Piedmont Row Drive,…
Book reviews: Disco & Gen. Custer
You know how disappointing it is when your favorite books don’t pick up awards at the end of the year? That’s what happened to me with the two non-fiction volumes reviewed below. The Custer book was particularly deserving, I feel, as it took a subject that has been written about a zillion times and found…
Bridesmaids: Kristen Wiig’s coming-out party
The most perfectly realized scene in Bridesmaids is an early one. Annie (Kristen Wiig) and Lillian (Maya Rudolph) have been best friends since early childhood, so when Lillian announces her engagement, it’s no surprise that she chooses Annie as her maid of honor. But in more recent times, Lillian has acquired another close friend, the…
CD REVIEW: Bunky Moon’s Schtuff We Like
THE DEAL: Charlotte trio Bunky Moon — Ron Brendle, Troy Conn, Chris Garges — offers some covers mixed in with originals. THE GOOD: Without going into the album with any preconceived notions, I pressed play and gave it a listen. The first track sounded a bit like ZZ Top at times, but something closer to…
Summer Guide 2011: Part I of III — Film and Arts
Welcome to Part One of Creative Loafing’s three-part Summer Guide. Yes, you read that right. Since it’s a daunting task to capture the splendor of this glorious season and all its offerings in one single issue, we’ve elected to spread the goodness out over three consecutive weeks. This issue, we’re focusing our energies on Film…
ART: Social T-shirt Invitational
T-shirts are a dime a dozen, but every now and then one comes along that leaves a lasting impression. During Gallery Up’s Social T-shirt Invitational you’ll find a collection of limited edition, original T-shirts. Ten artists — including Drew Heffron of New York, JT Helms of Chicago, Brandon Oxendine of Charleston, Katie Lloyd of Clemson,…
CD REVIEW: Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection
The Deal: Rootin’ around in the blues. THE GOOD: “Genuine Houserockin’ Music” has been Alligator Records’ motto since its inception in 1971. For its 40th anniversary, the label lives up to that declaration with a two-CD set that rattles the windows and shakes the rafters. Some artists check in with their signature songs: Fess’ “Red…
New sounds at the old barn: A review of Rent
The first hints that the times were a-changin’ at Theatre Charlotte came a couple of years ago when the season ended with The Full Monty. Until that final flash of light – with perhaps three milliseconds of nudity before the stage went dark – the decadence of Nine or Cabaret was about as far as…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Learnin’ Sideways: Police responded to a call at local middle school last week after a student was found to be drinking a mixture of wine and vodka in a green bottle while he was in class. I’m going to start ordering that when I go out. I will call it “The Grading Curve.” Wearing The…
Everything Must Go: Drop everything and go
Inside every comedian known for vulgarity, there apparently resides a master thespian hoping to break away from the gags that initially defined his career. Jim Carrey has The Truman Show and The Man on the Moon, Adam Sandler has Punch-Drunk Love and Spanglish, and Will Ferrell has Stranger Than Fiction and now Everything Must Go…
Summer Guide 2011: Artistic events for the summer heat
In the summer, the visual arts scene in Charlotte is a lot like a fescue lawn — both go dormant. But here are some events to help slake your cultural thirst in this hot season. Open Studio Saturdays at McColl Center for Visual Art At Open Studio Saturday, you can meet McColl artists-in-residence and see…
Nightlife profile: Kimya Dew
On Monday nights, hip-hop lovers all over the city head to the open mic at Wine Up to get their fix of deep bass, lyrical word play and hot local talent. The crowd there, known for being brutal to ill-prepared artists, is definitely not for the faint of heart. Yet week after week, one New…
FemmeFest turns four
Now in its fourth year, FemmeFest continues to not only be a showcase for women in music, but a showcase for local musicians as much as nationally touring artists. You might as well get any granola folk images out of your head as well because the genres are just as diverse as you’d expect to…
Weekly horoscope (May 18-24)
Gemini The Twins (May 21-June 20) It is time to dig deeply into yourself so you can be as fully honest as possible within important relationships, including the self. Speak from your heart and do not allow your ego, which wants only to look good, to take your words or thoughts hostage. For All Signs:…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of May 18
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU One person’s religious beliefs is often another person’s existentialist theories, and The Adjustment Bureau offers plenty of theological fodder to go around. Because it tinkers with notions involving God and chance and destiny and all that other stuff that’s fun to discuss, it might turn off those types of folks who misunderstood…
Summer Guide 2011: Arts events
Film CHARLOTTE FILM SOCIETY SCREENING THE HEADLESS WOMAN (LA MUJER SIN CABEZA) Discussion after the film led by Lawrence Toppman, arts writer for The Charlotte Observer. For more information, visit www.charlottefilmsociety.com. June 11, 7:30 p.m. $5 for members; $8 for non-members. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. 704-376-3777. www.theatrecharlotte.org. CULT MOVIE MONDAYs May 23: Waiting for…
THEATER: Queen City Theatre’s Chess
Queen City Theatre Company has enough intuitive to calculate smooth moves in its staging of the cult rock musical Chess. Director Glenn T. Griffin will star as Soviet chess master Anatoly Sergievsky who battles the American Freddie Trumper in a world championship set during the height of the Cold War. But it’s not all about…
Tony Kushner and the angles of dissent
Tony Kushner will be receiving an honorary degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. This shouldn’t be big news. Kushner is a renowned playwright who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, along with an Emmy Award and two Tonys. The degree became big news when it was abruptly shelved by…
MUSIC: Chris Botti with the Charlotte Symphony at Belk Theater
Acclaimed instrumentalist Chris Botti joins the Charlotte Symphony (with Albert-George Schram conducting) in jazzing up Belk Theater by the means of smooth sounds. Botti — whose award-winning successes include multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards — is a true master at the mouthpiece. He transforms the trumpet into what seems to be an entity of…
More than a chippy, Big Ben fires up the pub classics
The mega reality show of Will and Kate’s wedding showed the world once again that the Brits know how to orchestrate a grand event. But for an equally long time, those same people have suffered the slings and arrows of food writers, including the homegrown variety. British writer Peter Mayle wrote that his British boarding…
