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Monday, September 7, 2009
News Today's Top 5: Monday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Sept. 7, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Find Your Muse open mic at The Evening Muse
• Charlotte Labor Day Parade Uptown
• Speak A Latte at PJ's Coffee & Lounge
• The Monday Nite All-Stars at Double Door Inn
• Karaoke at Dixie's Tavern
Friday, September 4, 2009
Arts / News Robot Johnson's gig at CAST
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:36 PM
By now, you’ve probably heard about the closing of The Nook (formerly The Graduate) in Plaza Midwood. It’s left the sketch comedy troupe Robot Johnson without a permanent home for shows, since it used to host regular performances inside the venue. So, what’s next? Robot Johnson is hitting the road, taking its show to some other cities. Now, don’t go getting cranky Charlotte ... sometimes you gotta share. But before they hop on the road, get out and support the troupe’s upcoming gig, “The Greatest of All Time Show," on Sat., Sept. 5 at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. At the show, the troupe is also giving out a special CD with two parody songs recorded for cast member David Golden’s upcoming album (but not included on the album) Here’s What I Really Think of You. Tickets are $10. Show starts at 10 p.m. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre is located at 1118 Clement Ave.
Arts / News New exhibit at Lark & Key
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Lark & Key Gallery’s newest exhibit, titled New Works from Angie Renfro and featured potter Amy Sanders, will have its opening reception tonight from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Renfro’s works include oil paintings that capture everyday sights – like power lines - and landscapes. The exhibition continues through Sept. 27.
Boomer with Attitude / News Run for the hills – it’s SuperObama!
Posted By John Grooms on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Welcome to the Stupid Thing of the Week. This week’s winners are the shrill rightwingers who are foaming at the mouth about Pres. Obama’s scheduled short speech on the importance of education, next week via TV, to schoolkids all over America. “Socialist indoctrination!” “Commie propaganda!” “It’s just like Hitler!” All actual quotes from actual GOP state officials. Never mind that Republican President George Bush I spoke to American schoolkids via TV during his term. And, more to the point, never mind that the kids aren’t going to give a rip about what some old guy is talking to them about anyway. No president has magical powers that threaten to turn our children into socialist drones overnight, like some kind of reverse superhero. I can hear the intro to this new, dangerous superhero’s TV series now (with apologies to the producers of the 1950s TV show:
Faster than a Blitzkrieg! More powerful than Joseph Stalin! Able to wreck Republican dreams in a single year! Look – up in the sky! It’s a Nazi Fokker combat plane! It’s a Soviet MIG! No, it’s SuperOmaba!
That’s right, it’s SuperObama, strange interloper from another continent, who came to America with powers and abilities far beyond those of previous presidents! SuperObama – who can wreck the course of U.S. history, bend children to his will with a simple speech, and who, disguised as a mild-mannered president with a professorial bent , fights a never-ending battle for fascism, communism, and death for granny!
Film / Film Reviews / News Summer movie wrap
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 11:45 AM
By Matt Brunson
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 of the season's most hilarious moments. Runner-up: Arnold Schwarzenegger (sort of) in Terminator Salvation.
Worst Cameo: Will Ferrell in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. The Idiotic Man-Child strikes again. Runner-up: Mike Tyson in The Hangover.
Best Musical Accompaniment: David Bowie. The rock legend made his presence known at the multiplexes this summer. His theme from the Cat People remake, "Putting Out Fire," was employed in its entirety in an imaginatively filmed sequence in Inglourious Basterds, while his song "Heroes" functioned as a call to arms during the closing credits of the environmental documentary The Cove. He also served as the musical inspiration to one of the teen protagonists in Bandslam and even appeared in a climactic cameo. And making Papa Bowie proud during this period was his son Duncan Jones, who earned critical kudos for his directorial debut with the art-house film Moon.
Breakthrough Male Star of the Summer: Ryan Reynolds. Not only did Reynolds co-star with Sandra Bullock in the smash rom-com The Proposal, but his supporting turn as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (another box office hit, despite the negative buzz) has led to the starring role in the proposed follow-up, Deadpool. Also on tap: the title role in another superhero adaptation, Green Lantern (like Deadpool, it's due in 2011).
Film / Film Reviews / News Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg: First Lady of TV
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 10:57 AM
By Matt Brunson
YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG
***
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 while that's probably not the case for everyone in the country (I'm willing to bet, for instance, that the historically challenged tea baggers and health care protesters have never heard of the likes of Betsy Ross, Harriet Beecher Stowe or Amelia Earhart in their sheltered, FOX-fed lives), that assertion doubtless applies to many learned Americans, even those well-schooled in pop culture.
Arts / Today's Top Five / News Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Sept. 4, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Opening reception for Contemporary Mosaic Art exhibition at Ciel Gallery
• Sea of Cortez at Neighborhood Theatre
• Comedians Matt Davis and DT Owens at Alive
• Ozric Tentacles at Visulite Theatre
• Ssshh Fridays at Happy Hour
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Arts / See & Do: The Weekender The Weekender
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Ciel Gallery
Ciel Gallery's newest exhibition Contemporary Mosaic Art opens tonight. It’s juried by mosaic master Giulio Menossi of Udine, Italy.
• Food Can’t wait for the Yiasou Greek Festival next weekend? Go to The Mad Greek Restaurant for some savory Greek cuisine, including spanakopitas and gyros. more...
• Music The instrumental ensemble Sea of Cortez will perform a free show tonight with Chapel Hill act Lost In The Trees at Neighborhood Theatre. more...
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
The Charlotte Literary Festival
Corner of 36th Street and Davidson Street
The Charlotte Literary Festival offers a variety of workshops, panels, and guest speakers. Christopher Gardner, author of The Pursuit of Happyness, will speak this year.
• Comedy Robot Johnson is taking its act on the road. Catch the sketch comedy troupe perform a special show at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre tonight. more...
• Festival Festival of India at Belk Theater features arts and crafts, music and dancing, cultural exhibits and authentic cuisine. It’s the perfect way to spice up your weekend. more...
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
The Breakfast Club
If you are one of the lucky ones, you don’t have work or school tomorrow. That’s where Who Got Served?, a party and break dancing competition at The Breakfast Club comes in. Expect to see some serious dance moves, as cash prizes are in the mix.
• Food Lee Garden Chinese Cuisine presents tasty Americanized Chinese dishes, served in large portions. Prices are good too. more...
• Theater Today is your last chance to catch a performance of the hilarious murder mystery, Shear Madness. Make your way to Stage Door Theater to decide who-dun-it. more...
Film / Film News / News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 3:47 PM
All About Steve - Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper
Carriers - Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine
Extract - Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis
Gamer - Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall
Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg - Documentary
Boomer with Attitude Grouchy asshole of the year
Posted By John Grooms on Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 2:23 PM
We have a winner! Roger Stephens, a 61-year-old white grump from Stone Mountain, Georgia, must have been having a bad day yesterday. It got worse. Stephens went to WalMart and found himself near Sonya Matthews of Grayson, GA, a young black woman, when Ms. Matthews’ 2-year-old girl started crying. Most people would have ignored the child or walked away, but Stephens, seeing a chance to win our Grouchy Asshole of the Year Award, told the mother, "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you." Stephens then grabbed the 2-year-old and slapped her several times. Then, in his coup de grace that cinched the award for him, Stephens turned to Ms. Matthews and said, "See, I told you I would shut her up." Police have charged Stephens with being an assh. . . . no, actually, they charged him with felony cruelty to children. So, congratulations, Roger Stephens of 3036 Deshong Drive in Stone Mountain (at least that’s what his arrest sheet says) – you’re our Grouchy Asshole of the Year!
Quick Beck Update: Glenn Beck has reacted to the successful boycott campaign against him by claiming that shadowy, unspecified forces are out to destroy him. Well, Glenn, there are now 11 more “forces,” i.e., companies who don’t want their products associated with you. This brings the grand total of companies that have ditched Beck’s show to 57.
Deliver Us From Weasels, a collection of 50 of John Grooms' best columns and articles, will be published in November by Main Street Rag Press. The book will cost $14.95, but can be purchased in advance through Oct. 26 for $10 including shipping at www.mainstreetrag.com/store
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Meghan McCain's dating woes revealed
The girl is hard up and in need of help. Volunteers?
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One-night-only art show at Hart Witzen
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Question the Queen City: What lurks in the woods of Camp Greene? 1
The World War 1 training facility's tragic past lingers even today
