A way to help find homes
A Way Home is planning its fourth-annual Help the Homeless Awareness Walk on Nov. 22.
Veterans Day deals
Veterans Day: Creative Loafing says “thank you.” Other companies give you discounts.
BAR Charlotte, 11/7/08
BAR Charlotte held its wild and rowdy 2nd annual Mr. and Mrs. Rear of the Year contest last Friday. The winners received a $500 cash prize. Peer at these rears! Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh.
What’s better than a food-and-drink event?
Wine dinner at Max’s Ally on Nov. 20 will include 3 courses paired with 6 handcrafted wines from boutique wineries in Oregon and Washington.
Hate groups have no crush on Obama
Since President-elect Barack Obama began his run to be President of the United States, threats against him have trickled in like drops of rain.
Joe Jackson in Charlotte tonight
Take a look at some vintage video clips
Sweet cheeseburger
Donna’s Donuts, a donut shop in Massachusetts, is offering a “cheeseburger” donut. The burger has a bun of jelly donut, Bavarian cream “cheese,” and a patty made of chocolate honey-dipped donut.
Live Review: Nicole Atkins
A live review of Nicole Atkins at Neighborhood Theatre on Nov. 8, 2008.
Joe Jackson in Charlotte tonight
Take a look at some vintage video clips
Live Review: The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes play at Neighborhood Theatre on Friday, Nov. 7. Setlist, review and photos.
Today’s Top 5
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Nov. 10.
Snapshots for sale
Get your head shot by Creative Loafing photographer Jasiatic . For more, visit www.createtressphotography.blogspot.com
Bury reality TV
Who on earth watchings Dancing With the Stars?
Shocker! Obama says Constitution more important than he!
The Obama team has already made one huge change in terms of the way the administration proposes to do business. It’s called respecting the U.S. Constitution, unlike the outlook of the Bushies, in which the country’s founding document was treated as so much toilet paper. As pointed out today by TalkingPointsMemo, the Obama transition team’s…
What now for Pat McCrory?
Now that the elections are over, what will Pat McCrory do now?
Update on Deftones bassist
Chi Cheng was in a serious crash wreck on Mon., Nov. 3. Chino Moreno, vocalist of the Deftones posts blog update on the band’s myspace page.
What now for County Commissioner Dan Ramirez?
Ramirez was elected to the Board of County Commissioners twice in an at large seat, but in this election he lost.
Art show preview
Artist Antoine Williams, a member of the Charlotte-based art collective known as God City, is hosting an art show tonight at the Art House (3103 Cullman Ave. in NoDa) titled “Minority Report.” Here’s a sneak peak at some of the work that’s set to be on display: For more sneak peeks, check out Williams’ blog.…
McCain’s people speak
Once the cameras demanded to be there, it became, What can McCain say that we can circulate on the hour and embarrass the s___ out of him?–Mark Salter, John McCain’s aide
The day is here
America has a black president.
What now? Future for election losers
Mecklenburg County Democrats benefited from the excitement surrounding the election of President-Elect Barack Obama. The Board of County Commissioners now has six Democrats in seats and three Republicans. Charlotte Nayor Pat McCrory lost his bid for governor, even losing in Mecklenburg County, something that has never happened to the seven-term mayor. So what do the…
Live Setlist: Black Crowes 11/6/2008
A setlist from the Nov. 6, 2008 Black Crowes concert at Neighborhood Theatre.
10-in-10 CD Reviews
10 CD reviews done in 10 words each.
Black and White Gala, 11/06/08
Bevies of beauties and handsome men decked out in black and white attended the Black and White Gala at Forum Thursday night. The event hosted by the Young Affiliates of the Mint benefited The Mint Museum’s educational and outreach programs for children. The gala was a lavish affair with drinks, food by Cosmos, live entertainment…
What Just Happened: Not too much
What Just Happened: Not too much.
Happy-Go-Lucky brings good cheer
Happy-Go-Lucky brings good cheer.
Your weekly roundup
The 5 most popular CLog posts of the week.
Today’s Top 5
The five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 7.
Take those loser signs down
Since the Associated Press has put North Carolina in President-elect Barack Obama’s column, those McCain Palin signs really make you look like a loser.
Daily success
Too bad Creative Loafing is a weekly!
Gone Country…again
Every once in a while, I get caught up in a ridiculous music-based reality show. I never watch CMT, but somehow got sucked into “Gone Country” — celebrities who want to be country singers. The winner of the first season was Julio Iglesias Jr. and last season was Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame. The…
NC goes blue in the face
Better late than never, North Carolina joined the blue states
New Oasis video
Watch Oasis’ new music video for “I’m Outta Time.”
Pirate Pics
If you read my most recent column in CL: Waving your Freak Flag Proudly at Snug Harbor’s Shiprocked, then you know about the pirate ship of Plaza-Midwood — Snug Harbor and its Thursday Shiprocked. Well, since it’s one of those, “you have to see it” kind of events, I have provided the visuals to go…
Today’s Top 5
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Nov. 6.
Where were you when history was made?
Where were you when history was made last night? … I was at the Generation Engage “Best Damn Election Party” at ALIVE in NoDa where MSNBC national news was reporting live. The party had drinks for the different parties: Republican and Democrat. The Democratic cocktail consisted of Rum, Blue Curacao and Triple Sec (blue) while…
God reads my blogs!
I’m happy to say that in the end, the people didn’t fall for Liddy Dole’s attack ads.
Dinner deal of the day
Go to Ed’s Tavern today for their $5.95 cheeseburger, chips, and 10 oz. Coor’s Light deal. I’m listing this as a “dinner” deal of the day because it’s probably not a good practice to go back to work tipsy after a beer over lunch hour. Ed’s is located in Dilworth at 2200 Park Road (near…
Election reactions
Charlotte’s best and brightest react to Obama’s big win
Karl: WTH?
Really? The Cosby Show was America’s first black family? Wow.
Election wrap-up: More than Obama
Winners and losers of the 2008 general election
In case you hadn’t heard …
Obama won! Yay!
Best D*mn Election Party @ Alive, 11/4/08
You probably know that Sen. Barack Obama was elected to be our next president last night. You might not know that the “The Best D*mn Election Party,” presented by GenerationEngage and The Sol Kitchen, went down last night at ALIVE in NoDa.
Todays’ Top 5
The five best events going down in Charlotte today, Nov. 5.
More tales from the polls
Writer Cheris Hodges talks to more voters about their experiences.
More election-watch parties tonight
In addition to the ones listed on Today’s Top 5, here are some more spots you can hit up to watch the results come in tonight. Good luck to your favorite candidate! • Election Party at Tempo. Doors open at 7 p.m. • Connect with other professionals and support your candidate at Fox and the…
Sarah Palin gets pranked
Two radio DJs from Montreal got Sarah Palin on the phone and pranked her by posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy. And she fell for it! Palin’s people confirm that the call did occur. Read about it here. Palin probably shot whoever screens her calls.
Rachel Getting Married
Read the review here.
Happy-Go-Lucky
Read the review here.
What Just Happened
Read the review here.
Changeling
Read the review here.
Tales from the polls
Writer Cheris Hodges talks to Charlotte-Mecklenburg voters
Screw the Observer, get Doonesbury online
The Observer‘s decision not to run Wednesday’s Doonesbury cartoon is one small example of the soulless, milquetoast corporate mindsets that rule the roost at the rapidly shrinking daily.
What the right-wingers are watching
A live-blog of Fox News and the endless election coverage.
Tenacious D trailer
Check out the trailer for Tenacious D: Complete Masterworks Vol. 2, which comes out today (Nov. 4) … it’s funny:
?uestlove and Nikki Jean say vote
?uestlove of the mighty Roots crew and singer Nikki Jean (aka my soon-to-be baby mama) voted and say you should, too.
Turn that can into a beer stein
I am always one to complain about having cold hands from clutching onto a can of ice cold beer. This Can Grip could solve my problems. This little device clips onto any standard 12 oz. can of beer, soda, or whatever and gives your drink a stein-like quality. It also adds a touch of class.…
Lunch deal of the day
If you are still looking for lunch eats after your fill of free election day food, head to Green’s Lunch uptown. With this coupon, you can get a free side item with purchase of a hot dog and drink! Here’s a menu for you to peruse.
This week’s new releases (11/4/2008)
A quick list of some of the big names releasing albums this week.
The McKenzie Brothers
To coincide with with this week’s cover story, “Canuck in the Queen City,” we present some classic sketch comedy from the Great White North
Tenacious D trailer
Cleveland Steamers
?uestlove and Nikki Jean say vote
?uestlove of the mighty Roots crew and singer Nikki Jean (aka my soon-to-be baby mama) voted and say you should, too.
Oh Liddy, just stop
Sen. Elizabeth Dole has already smeared herself by releasing that infamous “Godless” Kay Hagan attack ad, but now she’s digging herself into an even deeper hole by continuing that dumb-ass argument. Check out her latest ad:
Not So Acoustic Xmas announced
Information on 106.5 The End’s Not So Acoustic Xmas.
Oh Liddy, just stop
Yet another pathetic
Election parties you don’t want to attend
Make sure you don’t end up at one of these types of parties tonight.
Today’s Top 5
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 4, 2008 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • It’s Election Day. Please get off your butt and vote. • The Best Damn Election Party hosted by GenerationEngage, The Sol Kitchen and Friends Who Want a…
Rachel Getting Married is engaging
Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) may be getting married, but to her irritation, all eyes are on her car crash of a sister (Anne Hathaway), who’s been temporarily released from a drug treatment facility to attend the nuptials. Their sibling rivalry is only the tip of the iceberg, and as the weekend progresses, the waters recede to…
Quickie Comic Reviews
Here are some quick thoughts about a bunch of recent comics I’ve read: The Good: Hellboy: In The Chapel of Moloch — This one-shot does nothing to forward any longstanding Hellboy mythology, but it’s entertaining as, er, hell. And all of the art is by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Thor No. 11 — I used…
Probiotics are the new daily fix
Move over apple
What’s the deal with so many abandoned babies in cartoons?
Having grown up on Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry and similar cartoons, I can’t tell you how many I’ve watched involving a baby left on a doorstep. Did people really do this back when these cartoons were made? Was there a rash of baby abandonment somewhere back in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s that cartoonists…
Tricia Maddrey and Bonnie Warford
Running a business in Charlotte has not been easy for Tricia Maddrey and Bonnie Warford, proprietors of Carpe Diem Restaurant. Since starting the business in 1989, they have been forced to move twice, finally settling, hopefully for good, at their present location on Elizabeth Avenue. They both agree that working together as sisters has been…
THEATER: Monster
It’s alive! Carolina Actors Studio Theatre has concocted an evening of entertainment via the horror of an unworthy creature with Monster. Based on Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel Frankenstein, the production — which was adapted by Neal Bell — aims to bring light to the stunning creation made by the mad scientist. Is that possible?…
Waving your freak flag proudly at Snug Harbor’s ‘Shiprocked’
Come out of the closet … wave your freak flag loud and proud for everyone to see. We all have a little freak or fetish in us. I admit, I’m a freak: I don’t watch T.V. or take Western medicines, I mix Ranch and ketchup and dip just about everything in it, and I have…
THEATER: The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Remember the movie Driving Miss Daisy? Well, The Last Night of Ballyhoo is by Alfred Uhry, the author of the hit comedy/drama. But the latter production is a little less-known. It’s about when Gone With The Wind premiered, just as Hitler was invading Poland. Of course, in the play Atlanta’s elitist German Jews are more…
Is good and cheap wine too much to ask for?
Dear California winemaker, I’ve been kinda broke lately, and since (insert name here) has won the White House, who knows what’s going to happen with my bank account? I wondered if you might be able to produce some tasty wine I can afford? Most in my price range ($10 and under) are mega fruit bombs…
FESTIVAL: ScanFest of the Carolinas
Throw ye runestones down, put on your Viking helmet or dress-up as favorite characters inspired by Scandinavian authors — like Pippi Longstocking or some big-nosed troll — and head over to ScanFest of the Carolinas for a celebration of Scandinavia. For those of you who flunked geography and don’t know what I’m talking about, that’s…
The Immortal Iron Fist in good hands
The Immortal Iron Fist Published by Marvel Comics. Written by Duane Swierczynski. Art by Travel Foreman. The Deal: It’s the latest issue of The Immortal Iron Fist by the comic’s new creative team. In this story arc, Iron Fist is on the run from some ugly monster/man who has a habit of killing Iron Fists…
Keeping it Simplified
Local band enjoying local, growing success
MUSIC: Duncan Sheik
What you might not know about chamber pop artist Duncan Sheik (Think: “Barely Breathing”) is that he’s also a Tony award-winning singer-songwriter and composer. After setting the scores to the musical Spring Awakening, Sheik experienced major success. Now he’s delving into more music/theater related projects, but he’s taking some time to tour too. On Nov.…
Innovative Works a fabulous triumph
The latest installment from NCDT
Duncan Sheik: Weaving narratives
These days, acoustic and chamber-pop singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik isn’t having any trouble breathing. In fact, with almost every breath he takes he’s delving into some new and mysterious musical waters — deeper than what he’s used to and more exciting as each wave passes. After his 1996 self-titled release, which contained his biggest hit “Barely…
MUSIC: Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys, an Irish-American band known for brewing concoctions of traditional Celtic folk melodies and fit-pumping spirited punk rock, will hit up the stage of Amos’ Southend tonight. They’re sure to shout about never forgetting your roots — a zipping theme from the band’s most recent album The Meanest of Times. $23-$25. 7 p.m. Amos’…
CAST’s Monster madness
Toward midnight on Halloween, the late show at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre concluded with a stage appearance of an Abominable Snow Woman, a creature inspired by the GOP’s horrifically unqualified vice presidential candidate. While Cirque de Morte is not scheduled for a reprise this weekend, and the governor of Alaska will likely return to her…
Something old, something new on Vibes
If you head over to our music blog Vibes (www.qcvibes.com), you’ll notice the usual news items and live reviews, but we’re also going to put some CD reviews on there as well, including the Friday feature “10-in-10” — 10 CD reviews in 10 words each. For example: • Michelle Williams Unexpected — One-third of Destiny’s…
THEATER: Chicago
Sometimes I randomly burst out the chorus line “And alllll that jazzzzz!” — lyrics from “All That Jazz” (You know, from the six-time Tony award-winning musical Chicago). So, of course I can’t wait to experience the feel of hearing it in person when Chicago hits the Q.C. for a series of performances at Belk Theater.…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Nov. 5
Current Releases BODY OF LIES Despite Russell Crowe’s shared marquee billing, this is really Leonardo DiCaprio’s film, as the young thespian handles the part of Roger Ferris, a compassionate CIA point man working in the Middle East under the jaded eye of his ruthless superior (Crowe) back in the U.S. Hoping to track down a…
CL previews upcoming shows
THURSDAY, NOV. 6 Graham Parker Parker was billed – and is too often remembered – as the next Elvis Costello, even though his recording career predates Costello’s by over a year. And unlike the latter’s steady migration toward, well, everything else, Parker has remained pretty true to the Angry Young Men tag – whip-smart, class-conscious…
DANCE: So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2008
As one of the most watched television shows in the country, So You Think You Can Dance has just ended its fourth season and left fans with a bang. But, that just wasn’t enough. Now the show’s top 10 finalists have hit the road with the So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2008, and…
A Christmas Story, Missing, Sanford and Son set among new home entertainment titles
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983). In America, it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas, which helps explain why a new DVD edition of this Yuletide favorite is hitting the streets even as the Halloween pumpkins are still being thrown away. Then again, a great movie is welcome any time of year, and this often…
So what did you think of that crazy TV attack ad by Liddy Dole, claiming that Kay Hagan hangs out with atheists?
A: By the time this current issue sees the light of day, the controversy surrounding Dole’s attack ad will probably be settled. Everyone has already chimed in on this, so I’m not saying anything new when I say that the ad was dumb and pathetic. One thing folks aren’t really asking is: What’s so bad…
CD Review: The Secret Machines’ Secret Machines
The Deal: Band’s third full-length disc is first with new guitarist Phil Karnats. The Good: The band may have a new guitar player, but its sound remains intact. I caught them at last year’s Echo Project and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. That same energy and vibe is present throughout the…
Time again for the Asheville Film Festival
Head for the mountains for annual fest
Can we get back to something besides elections?
With the election finally over (isn’t it? I hope no 2000-style dramatics are going on by the time you read this … damned weekly deadlines). So where were we? Oh, yeah. With the election finally over, we could actually begin to hear about other issues besides who’s running for what office. Who knows? The media…
CD Review: Nikka Costa’s Pebble to a Pearl
The Deal: Funky, rockin’ soulstress releases her third U.S. album. The Good: She first hit American radio/MTV with the single “Like a Feather,” which conjured up images of a female Lenny Kravitz – through both sound and visuals. Costa’s sound on this latest effort ranges from soul to rock – having an Amy Winehouse-esque vibe…
Eastwood changes genres with Changeling
Like Mystic River and Flags of Our Fathers, Changeling is good, not great, Clint Eastwood, although as far as emotional resonance is concerned, the latest from the consummate director certainly reverberates more strongly than either of those other features. Based on a true story and brought to the screen via an ambitious screenplay by J.…
Canuck in the Queen City
A Canadian transplant looks back at her first year as a Charlotte resident
CD Review: Porter Batiste Stoltz’s Moodoo
The Deal: High-stepping funk with a big bottom. The Good: Porter/Batiste/Stoltz bassist George Porter Jr. calls this outfit the ultimate jam band. But this jam comes without noodles and a heavy helping of funk. At first glance, it might appear to be the funky Meters without Art Neville. But while it has roots in that…
What Just Happened: Not too much
From Sullivan’s Travels and Sunset Boulevard to S.O.B. and The Player, I’ve always been a sucker for movies about the movie business, since the inside-Hollywood info at the filmmakers’ disposal tends to reach the silver screen in a raw, uncut form that allows every blemish to be tantalizingly exposed and even magnified. What Just Happened,…
Could Anthony Foxx be Charlotte’s next mayor?
Early out of the gate
News from the food industry in Charlotte
Now Open • Now open is the The Wine Shop at RiverGate in the RiverGate Shopping Center in the Lake Wylie/Steele Creek area, 14142 RiverGate Parkway, a retail wine store, wine bar and café with a menu of small plates and tapas. Lunch is served daily. 704-831-9000. Quick bites • A fundraising event for The…
Happy-Go-Lucky offers good cheer
Any movie character who bears even the slightest resemblance to Robin Williams’ insufferable Patch Adams deserves no less a fate than being simultaneously electrocuted and beheaded at film’s end, yet here’s writer-director Mike Leigh bucking some formidable odds by bringing us such a person yet somehow keeping our collective wrath in check. Poppy (played by…
Sad lessons from the Hudson case
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about the Jennifer Hudson tragedy. Her family has been murdered. Her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were shot to death. All signs point to the involvement of William Balfour, Hudson’s brother-in-law, a young man with a history of violent behavior. He spent seven years…
Election protection
Election Day approaches, and with it a test of our election system’s integrity. Who will be allowed to vote; who will be barred? Who will get paper ballots; who will use electronic voting machines? Will polls be open long enough to accommodate what is expected to be a historic turnout? Veteran activist Harvey Wasserman has…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
Condiment Crook: A man was confronted at a grocery store after store surveillance watched him remove items from the shelves and conceal them in his coat pockets. When he tried to leave the store without paying, he was asked to empty his pockets. It was then revealed that the suspect had stolen cheese, butter, fig…
African-American population growth will drive local politics
The election was Tuesday, but Wednesday was the first day of the rest of Anthony Foxx’s political career. Foxx, a Democrat and at-large Charlotte City Council member, says he’s running for mayor of Charlotte regardless of who else files to run. If Foxx makes it out of the Democratic primary, odds are high he’ll be…
Horoscope for Nov. 5-11, 2008
Scorpio the Phoenix: (Oct. 23-Nov. 20) You have been making significant decisions since last summer. You know you are creating a new design and stage for yourself but it isn’t altogether clear what it will look like yet. Currently you are finishing small details that will help you clear the decks for the future. For…
Thierry Fischer and Symphonique Fantastique at Belk Theater
Musicians of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra were lavishly wrapped in quality last Friday night. A couple of surefire classics were on their music stands for Halloween, Gabriel Faure’s super-mellow Requiem and Hector Berlioz’ greatest hit, Symphonie Fantastique. Behind them, on newly designed scaffolding, stood the mighty Oratorio Singers of Charlotte and the earth-shattering Belk Theater…
