Oct 25-31, 2011

Oct 25-31, 2011 / Vol. 25 / No. 35

Cover Story

State senator, Jim Forrester, dead at age 74

The Gaston Gazette is reporting that conservative state senator Jim Forrester died today at age 74. Forrester represented Gaston and Iredell counties for nearly two decades, but the Republican was more recently known for his opposition to same-sex marriage. Forrester earned a legislative victory in September when the Legislature approved a statewide constitutional referendum on…

Cheris Hodges

Latinos in Social Media comes to Charlotte

In discussing social-media websites like Facebook and Twitter, some are guilty of looking the gift horse in the mouth, complaining that ever-expanding online communities are huge time-sucks that take people away from physical interaction. Others, however, believe social media can be a catalyst for social change, an important tool in uniting and empowering like-minded people.…

Laura Camilo

Opening Friday

Paramount/DreamWorks Puss In Boots In Time – Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Margin Call – Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci Puss In Boots – Animated; voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek The Rum Diary – Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart

Matt Brunson

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Remodeling Charlotte, one contract at a time

When the Democratic National Convention Committee pointed businesses to www.charlottein2012.com, Robyn Hamilton, host committee director of business relations, called it the “go-to mechanism” for anyone who wanted to get involved or sign into its vendor directory. Now that Democratic National Convention Committee officials have awarded $7 million in convention-related contracts, that site is where local…

Mary C. Curtis

N.C. should ban dangerous wildlife ownership

It was a sickening scene last week in Ohio, where police were forced to kill dozens of exotic animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers. It’s equally sickening to realize that the same thing could easily happen in North Carolina. The Ohio slaughter, which reportedly left some of the officers involved distraught, became necessary after Terry…

John Grooms

For sale: One house on Cemetery Street, complete with graveyard

The address — 1335 Cemetery Street ­— comes straight out of a cheesy horror movie. It’s a pretty home — three bedrooms, two baths, a nice view of the Uptown skyline — and it’s currently for sale. Oh, but there’s one little issue: It’s right next to West Pinewood Cemetery. The city-owned graveyard is well-manicured…

Cheris Hodges

Enemy To Fashion and Niche partner up

When creative people put their heads together, the sky’s the limit. Caleb Clark of Enemy To Fashion and Stephanie and Adam Cook, owners of Niche (1510 Camden Road, Suite 100) are partnering up to expand their brands. For starters, Clark will help redo Niche’s online store, to “help them expand business beyond the streets of…

Kimberly Lawson

Jordanos presents charity fashion event ReOver

Fashion lovers’ favorite time of year is the fall season. Why? We get to bust out our coats, sweaters and boots, of course. And what better way to enjoy fashion than to do so while supporting a very worthy charity. Jordanos’ fall fashion charity event, Project ReOver, is a perfect way to spend your Saturday…

T. Strong

Item of the Week: Rapt By Elizathyst

For those of you ladies who think diamonds are overrated (we won’t call you crazy), check this out. Showcased at the eclectic Ruby’s Gifts in NoDa, Elizabeth Scott’s line of jewelry, Rapt By Elizathyst, emphasizes the colorful, the bold and the beaded, inspired by aspects such as color, geometry, music and movement. Beads and gemstones…

Kadee Blakely

Bizarre crimes From Charlotte police files

Caddy Sack: Police were called to Sunset Hills Golf Course last week after an employee arrived early one morning to find that someone had plundered the property, stealing all of the ropes, flags and cups from the driving range and chipping greens. The guy must have lost one too many balls in the water and…

Ryan Pitkin

Weekly horoscope (Oct. 26-Nov. 1)

Scorpio The Phoenix (Oct. 23-Nov. 20) Activities involving education or teaching are favored. Short distance travel will go well. There are positive exchanges between you and your neighbors, siblings or those nearby your vicinity. There are challenges in romance and in relationship(s) to children. For All Signs: Venus, goddess of love, beauty and harmony, continues…

Vivian Carol

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Oct. 26

ABDUCTION Sure, it’s easy to pick on the Twilight guy. Because who’s gonna rush to his defense other than smitten Team Jacob fans? Make no mistake about it: Abduction, in which Taylor Lautner is handed his first starring role in a motion picture, will never, ever, ever be mistaken for a good movie. But the…

Matt Brunson

Margin Call: Capable drama occupies Wall Street

The absorbing drama Margin Call (*** out of four) focuses on the first rumblings of the 2008 financial crisis, but unlike many movies based in the historical past, it doesn’t go overboard in grand declarations or broad indictments or anything that trumpets a smug sense of 20/20 hindsight. Instead, debuting writer-director J.C. Chandor plays much…

Matt Brunson

Attack the Block, The Conversation among new home entertainment titles

ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011). Writer-director Joe Cornish’s film opens with a gang of South London thugs robbing a woman before having a run-in with a nasty critter from outer space. Those of us empathic to the plights of victims (and, I’m guessing, those still reeling from the recent London riots) will hope the malevolent e.t.…

Matt Brunson

3 questions with Patrick Creech, burger blogger

Call it a passionate quest or addiction: Patrick Creech and Giovanni Gutierrez have an adventure in eating on their hands. In November 2010, the two formed the Charlotte Burger Blog (www.charlotteburgerblog.com) and penned the manifesto, “eat as many as possible.” Short of cardiac arrest and sheer insanity, there’s little the two haven’t seen. From the…

Tommy Werner

Eric Bachmann stabilizes life between bands

A few years ago, Eric Bachmann traveled to Taiwan to visit a friend and figured it could be an escape from music for a while. When a teaching job didn’t pan out — “I was terrible at it” — the former Archers of Loaf/current Crooked Fingers frontman found solace in a cheap guitar. Upon returning…

Jeff Hahne

Where to find it: Low Country Brunswick Stew; plus, Ghoulish Treats

On Thursday, Oct. 27, the “granddaddy” of all fund-raising barbecues, the 82nd Annual Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Barbecue (11400 Mallard Creek Road), will begin at 10 a.m. This year, the volunteers expect 20,000 hungry visitors — and politicians. Church members will cook 13,000 pounds of pork barbecue and 2,500 gallons of Brunswick stew. Although many…

Tricia Childress

Alberta Cross finds EPs are easiest way to stay focused

After releasing their full-length album, Broken Side of Time, in 2009, Brooklyn-based rock band Alberta Cross spent much of the next two years on the road touring in support of it. While they’re busy wrapping up the follow-up, the band decided it would be best to get some new music in the hands of fans…

Jeff Hahne

Oso Grande benefit planned for local musician Rodney Lanier

Since Rodney Lanier was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in September, the Sea of Cortez leader has learned he’s much more than a songwriter and gifted multi-instrumentalist to an awful lot of people. It’s too bad the extent of that appreciation comes with such shitty news, but such is human nature; our better angels like a…

John Schacht

The arc of the moral universe from Memphis to Wall Street

The national memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. was dedicated last Sunday. President Barack Obama said of Dr. King, “If he were alive today, I believe he would remind us that the unemployed worker can rightly challenge the excesses of Wall Street without demonizing all who work there.” The dedication occurred amidst the increasingly popular…

Amy Goodman

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