Sep 8-15, 2009

Sep 8-15, 2009 / Vol. 23 / No. 28

N.C. develops a case of terminal groins

Thanks soooo very much to the N.C. Division of Coastal Management. As reported in the Wilmington Star News, the DCM was supposed to create an impartial study to make recommendations on whether to use terminal groins (now there’s an unfortunate term) to manage erosion around inlets on the coast. The state currently has a ban…

John Grooms

Beethoven and Boilermakers

OK, so my musical follow-up to last week’s review of the New York theater has been backed up to next week. But as the new musical season revs up at Charlotte Symphony, there are a few programming ideas I can pass along, gleaned from my three-week sojourn in the Big Apple. Think outside the box,…

Perry Tannenbaum

Upcoming: ‘Transition Into Fall’ fashion show

The girls at The Boulevard are hosting an event this Sunday, Sept. 13, you’ll definitely want to check out. At what they’ve dubbed their “Transition Into Fall” fashion show, they’ll be showing women how they can still use their summer pieces by incorporating a sweater or pair of jeans, helping women to get a fresh…

Kimberly Lawson

Old Yeller voted against veterans’ health care

Alternet today has an article of interest for anyone who wants to know more about Rep. Joe “Old Yeller” Wilson, who achieved world renown for showing his ass during Pres. Obama’s health care reform speech Wednesday. The article lists “14 things you should know about Joe Wilson,” and it gives some needed background on Old…

John Grooms

Video tour of Cottage Chic

Cottage Chic is a cute little boutique in the heart of Dilworth, located at 1232 East Blvd. In it you’ll find … well, pretty much everything: furniture, baby items, pajamas, skin care items, curtains, linens, jewelry … I could go on and on. And the way owner Julie Page Smith has the place organized ……

Kimberly Lawson

Another MJ Tribute…

In honor of my alma mater, North Carolina A&T, getting a big 19-10 win over Winston-Salem State last weekend, I thought I’d share a Michael Jackson tribute our band, the Blue & Gold Marching Machine, performed almost a year before his death. Hey, its a reason the movie Drumline was based on our school. Enjoy!

Mike McCray

Is your mouth costing you money?

I’m not a man of few words. I never have been, nor will I ever be. But when I speak, I try to make sure that I speak with a purpose, and I substantiate my facts. Doing otherwise is just blabber, and I really don’t have the time to indulge in that. Don’t get me…

William Wilson

Charlotte Catholic school officials chose to skip Obama’s speech

For a moment, let’s get back to President Obama’s first speech of the week, the one on Tuesday to schoolchildren, encouraging them to study hard and take responsibility for their own lives. I couldn’t understand all the fuss, I wrote in a column for PoliticsDaily.com. And indeed, in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, most students listened without incident as…

Mary C. Curtis

Can a white guy really sing the blues?

I went out to Find Your Muse Open Mic on Monday night and checked out a good number of talented musicians. One of them was a young white guy — maybe 17 or 18 years old — who wore something of a suit, a black leather hat and a pair of bright red converse shoes.…

Eric Mullis

Tonight: Fashion’s Night Out at Neiman Marcus

What exactly is Fashion’s Night Out? Well, according to the web site FashionsNightOut.com… In a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals. Here in Charlotte, you can partake in some of those festivities at SouthPark’s…

Kimberly Lawson

Census data shows 1 in 6 in N.C. without health coverage

With much of today’s news attention going to Rep. Joe “Old Yeller” Wilson of South Carolina, it would be easy to forget what health care reform is all about. As the Prez said last night, “In just a two-year period, one in every three Americans goes without health care coverage at some point. And every…

John Grooms

Donnie

Inspiration: “To live in a shack on the beach, with my family, have a garden, cook from it every night, make just enough to get by, and spend 8 hours a day in the water”

Jasiatic

A crude politician from S.C.? I’m shocked!

It’s no big surprise that it was a Congressman from South Carolina who, to use a term popular in that state, “showed his ass” during President Obama’s speech last night. Acting like a drooling, knuckle-dragging brute is a pre-existing condition for many politicians in my lovely home state. Just because yelling at the President during…

John Grooms

Go Greek

The Yiasou Greek Festival starts today and runs through Sept. 13 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Anita Overcash

Takeover Friday does furniture

If you’re familiar with Takeover Friday, you know anywhere Takeover Dan (also known as Dan from Step By Sloan) and his people go, it’s going to be a party. (If you’re not familiar with Takeover Friday, I highly recommend you check it out). Furniture Connector owner Rodney Hines, one of Takeover Friday’s original founders, is…

Kimberly Lawson

Baucus sends bill to lobbyists, not White House

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of how political corruption works in Washington than something that was revealed at a White House press conference today. Quick background: Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) heads a Senate committee that has been stalling, er, rather, has taken its time while Baucus tried to reach a compromise health…

John Grooms

Stephanie

plug: “Helping my sisters embrace their hair the way God made it — one nappy head at a time !”

Jasiatic

Commies foiled again by alert conservatives

Comrades: Obama tried, but it was a disaster. Only 24 hours after the President’s valiant attempt to indoctrinate kids about the joys of communism, the heroic effort seems to have failed. We’ve received disturbing reports all morning from schools across the county that children are showing up for class with clear eyes, a cooperative attitude…

John Grooms

Go Greek

It’s time — Sept. 10-13 — for the 32nd annual Yiasou Greek Festival, and I’m excited. When I visited the fest for the first time last year, I realized that I have really been missing out. The festival offers a variety of Greek cultural exhibits, tours and lectures of the impressive cathedral, a variety of…

Anita Overcash

Lance, Inc. to purchase Stella D’oro brand

Snack and cracker company Lance, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, announced that it will purchase Stella D’oro brand as well as certain manufacturing equipment and inventory. Stella D’oro is a leading brand in the specialty cookie segment. “We are excited about the opportunity to add the Stella D’oro brand to our growing portfolio of niche snack…

Priscilla Tsai

Dr. Death Panel to rebut Obama

Republicans have announced that Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana — a cardiothoracic surgeon — will deliver the party’s rebuttal to Pres. Obama’s health care address to Congress tomorrow. A couple of things are very interesting about that choice. First, Boustany was an original co-sponsor of a health care plan to allow Medicare to pay for…

John Grooms

Live review: Lil Wayne w/ Young Jeezy & Soulja Boy

Lil Wayne w/ Young Jeezy & Soulja Boy Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre Sept. 4, 2009 The Deal: “America’s Most Wanted” tour slides into Charlotte obviously referring to the teenage girls that want them, not their criminal records. The Good: Probably the most time-conscious rap concert I’ve ever been to. The opening acts kept it brief, even…

Mike McCray

Schoolkids of the damned

Today’s the day President Obama gave a brief speech to America’s schoolkids. Sources said he would urge them to join his newly formed Lil’ Commies Club, turn in their parents for watching FoxNews, and generally help him wipe out America faster. Oops, sorry, wrong sources — that was a paranoid fantasy version of Obama’s speech,…

John Grooms

Concert announcement: Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz will perform at the Fillmore Charlotte on Oct. 27 as part of a 15-city club tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of Let Love Rule. Tickets go on sale on Sept. 8.

Jeff Hahne

Upcoming: Halloween Fashion Show

Ladies, the holiday to slut it up is coming up, and Crave Dessert Bar, Morris Costumes and E Modeling Agency are teaming up for an event to get you ready for it. Head out to Crave tomorrow night (9/9/09) for an exclusive Halloween Fashion Show presented by Morris Costumes with models from E Modeling. Come…

Kimberly Lawson

Sale of the day: Gifty Gifts

Take 25 to 40 percent off summer items like garden items, summer flags, and more at Gifty Gifts in the University area. 5806 Prosperity Church Road 704-875-7979 www.giftygifts.com

Kimberly Lawson

Lovo

alias: Lovotrane inspiration: “Light.” passion: “Capturing my light.” favorite thing to touch: “My camera.” current city: Charlotte plug: Lovofoto.com, Concretegeneration.org To see more photos by Jasiatic, visit www.createtressphotography.blogspot.com.

Jasiatic

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, September 8, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing. • Tenderloin Tuesday at The Men’s Club. • Play trivia with Roxy at Petra’s Piano Bar. •…

Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town

Should we celebrate California Wine Month?

In case you’ve missed the underwhelming publicity, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared September “California Wine Month.” You might consider it a ploy to redirect the beleaguered state’s economic woes away from the public eye, but this is the fifth year of the event so my cynical side can’t blame it on that. Legit, maybe, but echoes…

Taylor Eason

The popularity of tea continues to climb

The Bridgewater Commons Mall in central New Jersey buzzes with shoppers. Some take a break by ducking into Starbucks. Others, many drawn by the free samples by the entrance, cross the threshold of a store called Teavana, passing sales displays of teapots and tea cups, before arriving at the ordering counter. There’s no menu board…

John Grossmann

FASHION: Charlotte North Carolina Fashion Week

The Queen City may be known for its conservative suits and banker types, but if you hit up the right spots, you’ll definitely stumble upon some classy fashionistas and stylish studs. Don’t believe Charlotte has fashion in its belly? Then you should check out Charlotte North Carolina Fashion Week, an event for emerging designers, boutiques,…

The worst kind of hangover

There’s a kind of hangover that even a greasy breakfast washed down with Pepto can’t cure… the moral hangover. A feeling of intense regret and personal worthlessness after a night of alcohol-induced moral turpitude. It’s when your pride is hurting in addition to your liver. And personally, I’d take a tummy ache and dehydration headache,…

FESTIVAL: Blues, Brews and BBQ

This is the South, so how can you not expect a festival that celebrates barbeque? Throw in some sides of blues music — from entertainers like Michael Wolf and The Voodoo Brothers, Sweet Potato Pie, Bill Noonan, Contagious Blues Band and more — as well as beer, and you’ll have the Blues, Brews and BBQ.…

Anita Overcash

Reverend Horton Heat fired up after 24 years

For nearly 25 years, Reverend Horton Heat has been bringing its brand of punked up rockabilly to the masses around the world. With bits of humor tossed into the mix from time to time, singer Jim Heath felt it was time to focus on that side of the group and explore more of the country…

Jeff Hahne

FESTIVAL: Yiasou Greek Festival

It’s time for the 32nd annual Yiasou Greek Festival, and I’m excited. When I visited the fest for the first time last year, I realized that I have really been missing out. The festival offers a variety of Greek cultural exhibits, tours and lectures of the impressive cathedral, a variety of entertainment and costumes, an…

Anita Overcash

Share your thoughts, shows with the Twitterverse

When the Jason Mraz concert was rained out earlier this summer, most people were unaware that he was going to play an acoustic show inside the Fillmore. When Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford came out to play the encore with Chickenfoot, a good number of those in attendance probably didn’t know he was in attendance. You probably…

Jeff Hahne

MUSIC: The Derek Trucks Band

The Derek Trucks Band is known for its groovin’ versatility. Blues, roots rock and soul elements make frequent stops in the group’s music creations. So, you can expect to hear a good mix when the band performs at Belk Theater tonight. Currently on tour in support of its sixth album, titled Already Free, the group…

Anita Overcash

CL previews upcoming concerts (Sept. 10-15)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10 The Wiggle Wagons Tipping hats to Buck Owens, The Hanks and The Outlaws, The Wiggle Wagons honed their country chops out west in Cali and now call the Queen City home. Their country and Southern rock is tinged with heady tales of rough times as well as liquor-soaked good times. They are…

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 musical 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…

Anita Overcash

CD Review: Mutemath’s Armistice

The Deal: Energetic follow-up to 2006’s self-titled debut. The Good: From the first notes of “The Nerve,” you realize not much has changed in the MuteMath sound. Singer Paul Meany’s vocals still sound a bit like Sting and the band’s music is fueled by the frenzied drumming of Darren King. That’s not to say they…

Jeff Hahne

MUSIC: Enter The Haggis at The Evening Muse

Do you know what haggis is? Although most modern versions are cooked inside an artificial casing, traditional haggis is boiled in a sheep’s stomach and contains the animal’s heart, liver and lungs along with onion, oatmeal, suet and spices. What does that have to do with Enter The Haggis, the band, other than their name?…

Jeff Hahne

CD Review: The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Edition)

The Deal: Bad-ass debut from Manchester lads The Stone Roses gets re-mastering, extras treatment. The Good: You knew The Stone Roses was special from the moment “I Wanna Be Adored” emerged from its intro haze into sinister focus and Ian Brown began insisting upon your worship. The cock-sure solipsism of that opening and the rest…

John Schacht

Sprawl wins by KO, plus sexed-up Republicans

Last week, WFAE-FM’s Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins hosted a public forum, the theme of which was Charlotte’s growth, city planning, and different visions for the city’s future. Much of the discussion focused on whether Charlotte could be saved from growing into a big, sprawling mess. Listening to the discussion was like déjà vu, a…

Dave Eggers’s Zeitoun delivers a Katrina story for the ages

Dave Eggers can apparently do it all. He blew away critics in 2000 with his big, bells-whistles-and-kitchen-sink memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, after which he founded McSweeney’s, a publishing house that produces a literary quarterly, a magazine, and quarterly DVDs of short films. In 2006, his “fictionalized memoir,” What Is The What, was…

PETA should shut its fat mouth

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — aka PETA — has done it again. Yes, the self-righteous, protector of all living things, has managed to ruin a great idea by following what must be a successful strategy: objectifying women. The last time the organization did something so foolish was when PETA ran advertisements during…

Nsenga Burton

Strange Tales No. 1 is a top-notch product

Strange Tales No. 1 Published by Marvel Comics. Writing and art by various. The Deal: After talking about this project for years, the folks at Marvel Comics finally release Strange Tales No. 1 — the first part of a three-issue, anthology-style limited series that features the industry’s best and brightest indie creators working on Marvel-owned…

Carlton Hargro

Searching for the cost of health care reform

You wouldn’t buy an auto insurance policy without asking what it cost. But that’s what the American public is about to do with health care. Incredibly, the cost to average Americans of buying soon-to-be mandated health insurance hasn’t come up at all. Because much of the public takes the insurance they get through their employer…

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Take It All: In the most ridiculous robbery I’ve ever read about, the following things were taken: a box of clothes, a child’s bow-and-arrow set, a screw driver set, tape measure, umbrella, two ceramic pigs, a ceramic fruit bowl, a sewing machine, two saws, a shoe shine kit, a tackle box, a metal cannon (???),…

Ryan Pitkin

Many charities say ‘no’ to The Men’s Club

It’s no secret that The Men’s Club is one of Charlotte’s most renowned strip clubs. But what’s not as known is the fact that the club’s staff and management want to do more than just provide a place to watch women take it off — they want to help make the Queen City a better…

Cheris Hodges

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Sept. 9

Current Releases ADAM Arriving on the scene just in time to feast on (500) Days of Summer’s sloppy seconds, Adam is another indie effort about a love affair that may or may not survive until the final reel. Here, it’s Hugh Dancy as the dashing lad, unsure in the ways of love, and Rose Byrne…

Matt Brunson

Horoscope for Sept. 9-Sept. 15, 2009

Virgo The Virgin (Aug. 22-Sept. 22): You have been in a battle of “old” versus “new” for quite some time now. Perhaps this is an argument with yourself. It could also be a challenge that comes from a special friend. The message is to lighten up and be open to experiment. For All Signs: For…

Vivian Carol

Summer of cinema: A checklist of the season’s hits and misses

Best Cameo: Harrison Ford. Bet you didn’t know Ford appeared in two movies this summer. Bet even Ford doesn’t know he appeared in two movies this summer. Yet his split-second appearances in Bruno (ambushed on the street by the title character) and (500) Days of Summer (appearing in a Star Wars clip) resulted in two…

Matt Brunson

Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg: First Lady of TV

YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG *** (out of four) DIRECTED BY Aviva Kempner STARS Norman Lear, Ruth Bader Ginsburg The poster for the documentary Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg states that the film is about “The Most Famous Woman In America You’ve Never Heard Of,” and that assertion doubtless applies to many learned Americans, even those well-schooled in pop…

Matt Brunson

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