Nov 25 – Dec 2, 2014

Nov 25 - Dec 2, 2014 / Vol. 28 / No. 40

Cover Story

Weekly horoscope (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)

For All Signs: Mars, the red planet, was known in ancient times as the god of war. Within ourselves this planet represents our need for psychological and physical boundaries. We draw on our Mars energy when we feel angry and want to “protect” our territory. Sometimes this goes too far. We also access Mars energy…

Bizarre crime from Charlotte police files (Nov. 27)

Oh, You’re Going To Hell: Sometime between the afternoon of Nov. 12 and morning of Nov. 14, someone broke into a northeast Charlotte church. After smashing a window with a wooden stake and gaining entry into the church sanctuary, the suspect removed a cross valued at $400 from the altar. While on the grounds, the…

Maiden Voyage: To Take the Hubby’s Name or Not

At my friend’s wedding, my boyfriend asked me if the bride was taking her new husband’s name. She was, and I had mixed feelings about it. I scoffed and made a comment about ownership and Puritanical customs. Tony, my boyfriend, said, “Maybe when we get married, I can take your name.” My heart soared, and…

Horrible Bosses 2 deserves a pink slip

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 *1/2 DIRECTED BY Sean Anders STARS Jason Bateman, Charlie Day Arriving just in time to soil the holiday season, Horrible Bosses 2 feels less like a sequel to the fairly engaging 2011 original and more like a companion piece to the current Dumb and Dumber To. It’s no surprise, then, to learn…

In Brief: The Theory of Everything and Whiplash

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING *** DIRECTED BY James Marsh STARS Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones WHIPLASH *** DIRECTED BY Damien Chazelle STARS Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons Tremendous performances are at the center of both The Theory of Everything and Whiplash, two whip-smart movies that come up just a bit short in vying for Best of 2014…

Rediscovering the ancient roots of wild ales

Lately, craft beer has been epitomizing the idiom “what’s old is new again.” The truest example of this can be found with the red-hot wild ale movement. Making wild ales is not a modern invention; the concept stretches back thousands of years and uses traditional, near-archaic methods. Right now, this niche beer style is experiencing…

How to Izakaya

It seems like only yesterday every new place wanted to be a tapas bar, I mean, a gastropub, I mean, a craft brewery. Now chefs are channeling their creative forces into bar bites for an izakaya, a Japanese tavern of sorts. Not a sushi bar, or a restaurant, izakayas are more like Cheers, the fictional…

Five local hip-hop artists on the rise

We’re rapidly approaching the end of 2014 and you know what that means — you’re about to be bombarded with holiday music, commercial jingles and your drunk Uncle rambling about Obama beside you at your family dinner. Great news — you can skip all that with a simple pair of earbuds, and instead, listen to…

Gantt exhibit pays tribute to iconic figures

While singer/actress Lena Horne blends in with the stars and stripes of Robert Mars’ “Out of Style” work, the cartoon character Olive Oyl — an addition painted by Jay West — stands out like a sore thumb. She pops up from a wave of blue brush strokes and casts a smirk in Horne’s direction while…

Shop micro local on Small Business Saturday

The Brawl at the Mall. That’s how detractors refer to Black Friday, the retailers’ prom that makes headlines every year as shoppers line up to throw ‘bows for bargains. There’s a kinder, gentler way to get away from the family and get your shopping done this Thanksgiving weekend, and it comes with a lower instance…


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