Sunset Club, 11/27/10
Pics from the Post-Thanksgiving party at the Sunset Club on Saturday night.
Suite, 11/27/10
Photos from Saturday night partying at Suite.
WikiLeaks does us all a favor
WikiLeaks’ release of a quarter-million State Dept. cables is a welcome, up-close look inside the foreign policy bubble. You want “transparency in government”? You got it. The leaks will probably be the center of media reporting for the rest of the week — accompanied by the usual Chicken Little-style panic and anger from the right…
Upcoming: Family Night at Paper Skyscraper
The folks at Takeover Friday have put out an invite to Paper Skyscraper’s Family Night, going down Nov. 30.
Coyote Joe’s, 11/24/10
There was a pre-Thanksgiving party and ladies night at Coyote Joe’s on Nov. 24. Photos by Rhiannon Bowman
Celebs to ‘die’ electronically for World AIDS Day
… but not actually give up anything while begging you for money.
Senate to vote on Food Safety Modernization Act today
The more I learn about America’s food industry the more I’m inclined to meet my local farmers.
N.C. student Fredd Reyes detained in Georgia for-profit prison
Free Fredd Reyes!
Angels oust bakers at CPCC
I didn’t quite drag my wife to the CPCC Opera Theatre production of Hansel and Gretel last weekend, but after our experience last season with the new Metropolitan Opera version, I can tell you that Sue was less than eager for second helpings. But guess what? Sue and I enjoyed the CPCC version far more…
Today’s Top 5: Monday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Live review: The New Familiars
Charlotte quartet rocks The Visulite for two-hour set on Nov. 26, 2010.
Edwin McCain for New Year’s
The Saloon announces a
Street Style: Warm & fuzzy inside
“I love fall fashion and I tend to get excited and break out all sorts of pieces and pair them together when it gets chilly outside.”
Today’s Top(less) 5: Monday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Friday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
Burlesque: Cher and share alike
Two pop stars put on a show.
New route for Thanksgiving parade
In its 63rd year, The 2010 Belk Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade returns to the streets of Uptown Charlotte on Thanksgiving.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
Symphony reprises Haydn’s big bang
Charlotte Symphony performs every weekend this month in four distinctively different programs.
Jordanos’ Pre-Thanksgiving Sale
Take 25 to 60 percent off now.
Don’t ignore K-9 Corps’ inhumane ‘training’
And on that happy note, here’s hoping you have a great Thanksgiving!
127 Hours: Rock solid
Real-life drama benefits from fluid filmmaking.
Tangled has its roots in old-school Disney
Toon factory has a hit wrapped around Rapunzel fairy tale.
Bigger, stronger, Faster
Despite some flaws, action flick mostly gets the job done.
Love & Other Drugs: Addictive
A few boneheaded mistakes can’t erase stronger aspects of film.
Dharma Lounge, 11/23/10
Music and art came together during the Culture Initiative’s Epic Proportions, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Dharma Lounge.
Happy Thanksgiving, from the disco turkey
Gobble gobble.
Doughnut delivery? This is a ‘NO,’ people.
Who’s fat? America.
Conservatives argue with Pope about condoms. Seriously.
Don’t listen to the antiquated white guys: Protect yourself. Use condoms.
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Pink Saturday at Cottage Chic
The folks at Cottage Chic have decided to go a more peaceful route to the big sales weekend. Instead of the madness associated with Black Friday (I can just imagine the traffic jam sure to choke up East Boulevard — where the shop is located), head out to Cottage Chic the following day for Pink…
Whisky River, 11/23/10
Whisky River hosted the final round of Boots & Bikinis competition Tuesday night.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date.
Best bets in Charlotte comedy, Nov. 23-27
Here are a few of the best places to find comedy events in Charlotte this week.
Sweet potato muffins
If you end up with some leftover sweet potato casserole after Thanksgiving, turn it into muffins.
Thanksgiving Eve parties
If you’re not going to be traveling Wednesday night (unlike me), check out one of these hot spots for Thanksgiving Eve partying.
PHOTOS: Harvest Moon Grille
Harvest Moon Grille, the restaurant, not the food cart, is now open in the Dunhill Hotel Uptown, where Monticello used to be.
Upcoming: Lore Emelio trunk show
While in the midst of holiday shopping craziness, please remember to support our local designers.
Pre-Black Friday sales at Petal
Petal has some goodies for you shoppers pre-Thanksgiving.
Black Friday sales in Charlotte
Our random compilation of local stores in Charlotte who are joining the Black Friday fun with sales, events and giveaways.
Feel me up, please.
Shut the fuck up about getting groped at the airport.
Elonzo in need of support
Local (Charlotte/Rock Hill) band Elonzo is getting ready to record their sophomore album, but are seeking a little help from their friends to get it done. They’ve signed up for a Kickstarter page where they have 30 days to raise $1,000. While every donation gets a thank you in the album’s liner notes, there are…
Pre-Black Friday sale from Pura Vida Worldly Art
30 percent off all purchases!
Hold on, how old do you think I am?
Aaliyah’s song “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” is a constant theme in my nightlife experience, one that can make for some brutally awkward moments.
Street Style: Creatively casual
Her street style is casual yet creative.
For the Love of Rock, here are some free tickets to Bret Michaels
Win tickets to see Bret Michaels at Whisky River!
City should revisit its funding of Uptown boosters
Yesterday, City Council questioned NASCAR officials and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority about the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s attendance and financial problems. During that meeting, CRVA CEO Tim Newman admitted that his group’s attendance projections for the Hall were inflated in order to compete with other cities vying for the Hall. Late in the meeting,…
‘The green rush’ — managing marijuana
Come out of the closet, you WASPY pot heads.
Food Rules author wants your family’s rules
If your food has a marketing budget, don’t eat it.
Opening Wednesday
What’s new in theaters this week.
This week’s new releases (11/23/2010)
A few big names releasing albums on the holiday week.
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top(less) 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events to get you hot and bothered with or without a date going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today November 23, 2010 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Red Hot Turkey Bash at The Blake Hotel • Boots and Bikinis at Whisky River •…
Harry Potter 7.1: Hallows be thy name
We won’t know until July 15, 2011, whether or not the final book in J.K. Rowling’s franchise really needed to be divided into two motion pictures. But until the release of Part 2 on that forthcoming summer day, the evidence based on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (*** out of four) leads…
THEATER: Home
Life can seem unbearable when hardships are plentiful and the future seems unknown. In On Q Productions’ Home, a 1980 Tony Award-nominated play by North Carolina native Samm-Art Williams, the feeling of hopelessness will penetrate you to the core. In the production — directed by Brian Daye — a small-town farmer named Cephus loses everything…
127 Hours worth catching right away
Let’s be honest with one another. I’d be dead. You’d be dead. Almost everyone we’ve ever known would be dead. But not Aron Ralston. When this young man found himself trapped, as the saying goes (and as Ralston named his own memoir), between a rock and a hard place, he did the unthinkable. After five…
Gifting the arts fiend
If you’re hooked on the arts and the lure of live performance — or you know someone special who is — then you’re acquainted with a person whose appetites are insatiable. In the waning weeks before the holidays*, you’re already spreading hints family-wide, on the prowl for bargains to reciprocate with, and salivating over the…
Fair Game: The Plame truth
By now, it’s accepted by all but the most deluded Tea Party zealots that the insidious Bush administration took this country to war under false pretenses. There was a point when the vessel of justice could have been righted and a course for a better tomorrow could have been charted, but instead, lies were upheld,…
Gift books for giving
The economy may be circling the bowl, but gift books are a great way to lead your giftees away from the news. This time of year, bookstore shelves offer a strong selection of smart, often beautiful doorstops, um, gift books. Here are some we found particularly creative or gorgeous. Remember, too, most bookstores also have…
MUSIC: Find Your Muse open mic at The Evening Muse
It’s Find Your Muse open mic night at The Evening Muse this and every Monday. Musicians, grab up your music gear and head over to perform one of your own creations in front of a crowd. No one can guarantee they’ll be liked, but constructive criticism is always helpful! Get there early to snag a…
Tangled has its roots in old-school Disney
Pixar came into power circa the same time that Disney lost its hold on the toon crown, and while the former animation giant may never reclaim its title, its acquisition of John Lasseter’s trendsetting outfit suggests that it at least might be able to ascend from its status as court jester to a more regal…
Gifts for the comic fans on your list
As you get geared up for a month or so of holiday shopping, don’t forget the geeks in your life. To that end, below you’ll find my picks for great stuff to buy all your beloved comic book lovers. • Icons: The DC Comics and Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee: Artist Jim Lee (who currently…
THEATER: My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m Home For The Holidays
Steve Solomon has reason to fear this time of the year. After all, the holidays go hand in hand with family gatherings. His debut performances of My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy put a comedic spin on his upbringing, so it should come as no surprise that his latest show My…
Love & Other Drugs: Addictive
For all the pleasure it reportedly provides, Viagra does flirt with potential side effects, including headache, upset stomach and blurred vision. Similarly, while Love & Other Drugs offers its own pleasures, this adaptation of Jamie Reidy’s Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman results in such possible side effects as irritation, frustration and disgust.…
Reel deals for the holiday season
So your retired uncle is counting on you to give him the $289.98 James Bond Ultimate Collector’s Set for Christmas. Does the imbecile not realize that times are still tough? But fret not: Here are several noteworthy film- and TV-related gift ideas available at local stores and/or online, all for under $25. Yes, ideas for…
THEATER: Every Christmas Story Ever Told
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte decided to spread its holiday cheer with a new production titled Every Christmas Story Ever Told. Three actors and a very tipsy Santa reminisce on classic holiday stories, carols and TV specials. The audience is also free to chime in throughout the show. There’s no naughty list to worry about. $24-$31;…
Unstoppable jumps the tracks
The inspired-by-true-events Unstoppable isn’t unwatchable like far too many movies helmed by Tony Scott, but viewers hoping that their hearts will be racing as fast as the film’s runaway train may find themselves disappointed by how frequently the picture brakes for tedium. Denzel Washington, who should have steered clear of trains after the ill-advised remake…
Gift ideas for the kitchen
With over 300 pasta shapes available to cooks, choosing the right one for a sauce or a dish can be daunting. The basic rule of thumb is if you know the region of a pasta shape, chances are the regional sauce is a safe bet. To make pasta fun, though, chef and British restaurateur Jacob…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Sleepover Prep: Police were called to a local Walmart after employees caught a man shoplifting. They told officers they witnessed the man take a few items and place them in his silver purse so they detained him. Police found that he had attempted to steal some pajamas, pants, condoms and a bottle of lubricant. It’s…
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest often misses target
The European equivalent of The Matrix Revolutions, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest finds a once-vibrant saga largely coasting on the fumes of its well-regarded predecessors. The raging “girl power” aesthetic so dominant in the first two chapters in the late Stieg Larsson’s “Millenium trilogy,” The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl…
MUSIC: A rough guide to holiday present ideas
The holidays are upon us and questions will arise about what to get the music lover in your life. There are plenty of options outside of the obvious, if you give it a bit of thought. Here are a few ideas: TOOLS OF THE TRADE — If the person you’re buying for is a performer…
What’s the deal with Japanese tentacle porn?
Sorry if this question is too graphic, but I’m baffled by Japanese tentacle porn. Why are there so many rapist octopuses living in the Land of the Rising Sun? — Michael Don’t be such a wuss, Michael. Have you looked at much tentacle porn? If you can get past the gang rape and violent death…
The Mantras’ musical mantra fuses styles
Getting to the essence of The Mantras’ mantra is a real head scratcher. Although the term is generally used to describe a sound or verbal formula that creates spiritual transformation, these Mantras aren’t so easily classified. “We don’t stick to any one particular style of music,” says Keith Allen, who contributes half of the band’s…
Charlotte newsmakers offer their wish lists for the city
It’s time to eat stuffing and pie and celebrate the season of love, sharing and consumerism. But let’s face facts: Charlotte is dealing with a lot of issues that Santa Claus can’t fix with a stocking stuffer or the latest iPhone. From the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board shutting down 10 schools to double-digit unemployment, our…
Where to find it: Holiday Desserts
During the holidays, we often seek those desserts remembered from a grandmother’s table. Some of these dishes cannot be found in local bakeries. I have had many requests, for example, for mandelbrot, an almond (mandel) bread (brot) that’s a traditional Jewish sweet similar to an Italian biscotti. That’s not available locally; however, some ethnic desserts…
CL previews upcoming concerts (Nov. 24-30)
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 24 CHUBB ROCK The rapper who walked away from his pre-med life at an Ivy League school to launch his rap career in the late-1980s is probably still looking back on dropping out as a great decision. Nearly 20 years removed from his peak, the man who gave us “Treat ‘Em Right” and…
3 questions with Tia Bazzelle, Mert’s kitchen manager
If you’ve ever been to Mert’s Heart and Soul restaurant in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, chances are you’ve seen her. Tia Bazzelle is the daughter of Mert’s owner James Bazzelle and has helped her father in the popular Southern eatery since she was 15 years old. Now, as kitchen manager, the Johnson and Wales…
Nightlife profile: Kevin Marcuse
Up until two months ago, Kevin Marcuse held a lucrative position at Bar Management Group — which he gave up in order to turn his full attention to a new project that opened recently in the Elizabeth neighborhood, Kennedy’s Premium Bar & Grill. From a young age, Marcuse (who also owns Town Tavern in…
Weekly horoscope (Nov. 24-30)
Sagittarius The Archer (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Communications with family and friends is a large part of your weekend. You have a lot of energy to share and likely will be involved in activities that help you burn up some of that excess. Mental types will be interested in working on the computer or other high…
TSA makes flying creepier, not safer
Across the country, people are being sexually assaulted in the name of airline safety. At Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, WBTV reports, one father blogged that he watched helplessly as his 6-year-old son was felt up by Transportation Security Administration agents. “He was pleading for me to help him, and I was admonished for trying to comfort…
A cry from Argentina: Close Guantanamo
“Gitmo is going to remain open for the foreseeable future,” said an unnamed White House official to The Washington Post this week. For guidance on the notorious U.S. Navy base in Cuba, President Barack Obama should look to an old naval facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When Ana Maria Careaga was 16 years old and…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Nov. 24
CONVICTION This relates the true-life tale of Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank), who spends close to two decades trying to prove the innocence of her brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell). Charged with murder, Kenny’s serving a life sentence thanks in no small part to the efforts of a humorless police officer (Melissa Leo) and the testimonies…
McCrory’s no racist, he’s a dorkist
It was almost funny to hear former Mayor Pat McCrory weigh in on the chanting that rocked recent school board meetings. But just “almost.” These days, McCrory is doing all he can to keep his name in the press until the next gubernatorial election in 2012. It must have been in that self-interested spirit that…
The Expendables, The Kids Are All Right among new DVDs
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009). Officially, the title is Disney’s A Christmas Carol, which is acceptable since it sure as hell isn’t Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. While it might be true that this animated version retains more of the literary classic than might reasonably be expected, it’s also accurate to state that a key ingredient…
Four Loko’s reckless creators, consumers
Parents around the world have let out a collective sigh. Alcoholic beverages that also contain copious amounts of caffeine have come under fire by the Food and Drug Administration. Federal officials began a crackdown last week, warning companies that market the increasingly popular but apparently dangerous drinks to college students that the products are illegal.…
HOLIDAY: The 2010 Belk Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade
In its 63rd year, The 2010 Belk Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade returns — with a new route that wraps up at the Levine Center for the Arts at South Tryon Street — to the streets of Uptown Charlotte on Thanksgiving. Dress warm and hit the pavement for some early morning entertainment, before whatever feast you may…
Exhibit: Mosaic Vision
Ciel Gallery and Mosaic Studio is currently displaying a “collection of messages in square format” in its newest showcase. The exhibit emphasizes the creativity and detail of decorative art in mosaic form. It also features works of various styles by a number of different artists — including the pictured piece “Progression,” by San Diego-based artist…
SPECIAL EVENT: Fall Twist
Silver Rain Productions is looking to add a little zest to the season during its Fall Twist shindig at the Neighborhood Theatre. The event will feature a wide variety of entertainment, including music (from Spaceboy, Archnemesis, Big Daddy Doug, Anonymous Jones & Monster Piece), spoken word (from Concrete Generation), visuals (from Silver Rain, Wonderworld, Theoretical…
Exhibit: It’s a Strange World
Be sure to check out Culture Initiative’s latest exhibit — which continues until the end of the month — at Baku Gallery (located inside of Fu’s Custom Tattoos in NoDa). The exhibit is described as being “based on the oddities within art” and features art by Scott Debus, Jessica Schuler, Scott Partridge, James Robert Page…
NIGHTLIFE: The Great Southern Exposure
Described as a “burlesque, boylesque and variety arts pageant,” The Great Southern Exposure unveils a talented range of performers — from local to international — in a two-hour-long competition for various titles. Stick around for the after-party hosted by DJ Spider and Big Mamma D. $15. 9 p.m. Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. 704-377-6874.…
