Cover Story
The secret origin of rising comic star Jason Latour
One of the coolest things about shopping at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find — the acclaimed Elizabeth-area comic book store — is that you’ll often find yourself buying comics side by side with the folks who create them. Charlotte is, after all, a well-known comic book town, and Heroes (organizers of the annual HeroesCon, coming…
Help fund the penis cap?
Imagine a world where you won’t have to sacrifice pleasure for safety.
Raleigh Round-up: A week of heavy blows to the environment, press
Fracking’s closer to becoming a thing in North Carolina, but so is medical marijuana.
Comic Afterthoughts FAQ: Who is Apocalypse?
Get the lowdown on this X-Men adversary.
First notes (5/27/2014): Mike Patton is the greatest singer?
Plus, Kanye West married some girl in Italy.
First Drip (5/27/14): Charlotte reaches out to immigrants, shootings at Myrtle Beach, more
The news you need to know today.
#hashtaghungry: Vin Master’s monthly food truck wine dinner, e2’s last crawfish boil
A handful of filter-friendly, tweetable, social media-shareable foodie events in and around the city this week.
Protesters picket EDM event ‘Pow Wow’
Event goes off as planned, in a positive atmosphere.
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files (May 22)
Dirty Money: A 26-year-old woman called police after a house guest tried to stuff his drawers with her belongings. The woman told officers that $1,000 in cash went missing from her bathroom counter right after the man had used the restroom. He denied taking the money but officers searched him when they arrived on the…
Charleston, Ho!
Previewing this year’s Spoleto bash.
X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Future is wow
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST ***1/2 DIRECTED BY Bryan Singer STARS Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy Far be it for me to commit the cardinal sin of dropping any spoilers — particularly in the first act of a review — so let’s just say that X-Men: Days of Future Past lets slip a couple of bombshells…
Combat artist Robert Bates ventures into enemy territory
Bates is hosting his first solo exhibition, The Art of War, with a reception tonight.
Avett Brothers on Front and Center this weekend
Show will air on UNC-TV at 2 a.m. Sunday.
God Save the Queen City announces 2014 lineup
Day-long event will be held on Aug. 9 at the Chop Shop.
N.C. lawmakers criminalize disclosure of fracking chemicals
Supporters of the bill are mere puppets of energy companies.
Question the Queen City: The historic Wearn House can still be saved
Though it’s been on the chopping block for years, there’s still hope for the historic structure.
Theater review: The Big Lebowski
Messing with The Dude.
First Drip (5/23/14): FBI investigates cab/airport saga, major food recalls issued, more
The news you need to know today.
Recipe: Quick Mac & Cheese
Cheese, weapons-grade heroin, and family-friendly fun, all on this week’s Fresh Beats, Fresh Eats.
War and centerpiece
After sending the sixth batch of emails with the subject line “Centerpieces” to my design-savvy girlfriends, I suddenly realized what I had become. I had promised my fiancé that I wouldn’t be the type of girl who gets all consumed by the nitty-gritty details of planning a wedding, but centerpieces don’t just walk up onto…
Three questions with Geoff Broomhead, owner of Ozpresso
In 1956, a man named Jeff Broomhead left Australia for Papua, New Guinea, with the dream of starting his own coffee plantation. During World War II, while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, he had fallen in love with the small country and its people. After acquiring land in the Wahgi Valley, he cleared…
This week’s BNR Weekly (5/22/14): Charlotte Hornets are officially back
Plus, host Neiko Debarge hits the streets to talk to folks about holograms, movies and more.
Opening Friday
What’s new in theaters this weekend.
Where to find ramps while they’re still available
A unique if pungent plant, ramps only show up in area restaurants and farmers markets from about March to May.
First Drip (5/22/14): Charlotte 16th most populous city, 10th worst for pedestrians; more
The news you need to know today.
Misappropriating Native American culture is not entertainment
Imagine hitting up one of your favorite Charlotte nightspots. The cover at the door and the backdrop of mbira, a traditional African thumb piano, suggests they’ve got something different going on, but you’re game. After a few drinks, the lights dim and performers take the stage. You squint your eyes. The female dancers — all…
LGBT Christians pummeled in recent months
Editor’s note: After a religious coalition in North Carolina joined a lawsuit against Amendment One, we decided to explore the intersections of faith and homosexuality. Last week we published a guest column by a Charlotte rabbi and minister involved in the suit, and this week, Ailen looks into recent events that have challenged inclusive-minded Christians.…
Wine on a dime
Food is where I spend my money and do my fussing. I know a good wine when I taste it, but I’ll drink mediocre wine if it’s in front of me, next to some lusty, fatty, protein-rich meal. While decent wine is preferable, I don’t allocate much brain space to keeping track of wine labels,…
Weekly horoscope (May 22-28)
For All Signs: Jupiter makes a favorable aspect to Saturn. This is the last of three. The first aspect was in July 2013, and the second aspect was exact in December. For the majority, this cycle is visible in the career or outer world’s work. Jupiter represents hope and optimism while Saturn represents pessimism and…
New lease on life at Artspace 525
There is a certain kind of quiet in the North Tryon corridor, between 7th Street and the 277 loop. Compared to the bustling intersections nearby, the area feels devoid of action, particularly with its many empty storefronts and parking lots. Apart from the Charlotte Ballet and the McColl Center, there’s not much of a draw.…
Theater review: Hair
When it first became popular in 1967, as an off-Broadway phenomenon and an LP, Hair wasn’t embraced by teenagers or their stoner elders as representing them. Too commercial — products, after all. So the subsequent Top 40 hits covered by the 5th Dimension, the Cowsills and Oliver only multiplied the musical’s mercenary taint. No, we…
The Pull List (5/21/14): Darth Maul returns
Star Wars villain remains a fan favorite.
Get your portrait taken for a good cause
Happening in, oh, about an hour, is a pretty cool event to benefit a woman who contracted malaria while abroad.
First Drip (5/21/14): Bill would force N.C. cities to raise taxes or cut services, Duke Energy will move coal ash at Riverbend, more
The news you need to know today.
CMPD using body cameras to protect and observe
Charlotte’s police department says it’s taking steps to prevent excessive police brutality after several high-profile incidents led to the deaths of unarmed citizens. But not only does the technology it’s requesting come with mixed reviews — it’s essentially trying to fight firepower with more firepower. In April, City Council allowed the department to use more…
