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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Tuesday

Posted By on Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 4:19 PM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 26, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Tool, Primus, 3Teeth at Bojangles' Coliseum
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• Karaoke at Petra's

• Tech Tuesday at Hackerspace

• Night of 500 Laughs at The Comedy Zone Charlotte

• Bingo at Hattie's Tap & Tavern

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News Quick Facts: Charlotte’s proposed LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance explained

Posted By on Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 1:11 PM

Residents packed the city council meeting in March 2015 during which residents spoke both in support and opposition to a new nondiscrimination ordinance. - PHOTO BY KIMBERLY LAWSON
  • Photo by Kimberly Lawson
  • Residents packed the city council meeting in March 2015 during which residents spoke both in support and opposition to a new nondiscrimination ordinance.

Charlotte City Council is due to debate a package of LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances next month. The move comes nearly a year after city council defeated the same proposal in a 6-5 vote last March.

The defeat last year came in part because councilmembers LaWana Mayfield and John Autry voted against what advocates called a weakened version of the ordinance which stripped out protections for transgender residents in restrooms and other facilities.

Protections for transgender residents quickly became the hot topic in debate last year. The focus has similarly returned to transgender people and their use of restrooms this year, with opponents using the slogan, “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms,” and proponents pushing back against what they say are scare tactics based in myth and fear.

The pending vote — thought to come as early as Feb. 8, though that’s not been confirmed by city leaders — has already brought a flurry of online conversation, advocacy and media attention.

Here are four quick points you need to know as the debate continues to pick up…

1. What the ordinances cover: The slate of ordinances would add sexual orientation and gender identity, along with familial status and marital status, to four city ordinances: public accommodations, which would protect against discrimination in places like hotels, restaurants and bars; passenger vehicles for hire; the city’s commercial contracting ordinance; and rules governing the Community Relations Committee, empowering them to collect, investigate and mediate complaints of anti-LGBT discrimination, as they similarly do now for a wide range of other characteristics. The pre-existing ordinances would be amended to add the new characteristics. Similar measures were passed last year by Greensboro’s city council. Most major cities in the U.S. have similar local non-discrimination laws, as well as smaller cities like Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The proposed ordinance changes this year are expected to be the same as those proposed last year. A memo from the city attorney to council and the mayor sent before last February's meeting presents an interesting summary of the ordinance and history of similar ordinances along with the original proposal. 

2. What proponents say: Those in favor of the ordinances say LGBT residents have no official recourse when they experience discrimination in restaurants, hotels, bars and other public spaces. They also say incidents of discrimination aren’t being tracked. Local LGBT advocates say they’ve recorded some 140 incidents of discrimination, but those aren’t officially counted or collected by the city’s Community Relations Committee. They want to change that, and allow city officials to mediate incidents of discrimination.

Opposition rallied outside of last year's meeting. - PHOTO BY KIMBERLY LAWSON
  • Photo by Kimberly Lawson
  • Opposition rallied outside of last year's meeting.
3. What opponents say: Led largely by faith leaders in Charlotte and across the state, opponents have focused almost solely on the use of bathrooms by transgender people. They say the new changes would place women and children in danger when they use public restrooms, despite research by the Center for American Progress showing no such threat exists in any of the major cities where similar laws are already in place. Similarly, experts and law enforcement officials in several states across the country have also said non-discrimination laws do not increase incidents of harassment. They’ve also made a religious freedom argument against the measures, saying new non-discrimination laws would force Christian business owners to violate their conscience.

4. What citizens and residents can do: The city wants citizens and residents to join in a conversation about the impact of the proposed ordinances. To enable that conversation, the Community Relations Committee and Community Building Initiative have joined together to present a community forum on the ordinances this Monday, Feb. 1. The forum will consist of story telling and small-group breakouts, where participants can share their stories on how they will be impacted by the change. The event is scheduled for Feb. 1, 6:15 p.m., at the Palmer Building, 2601 E. 7th St. Space is limited and those interested in attending must RSVP to Renee Thompson by emailing rthompson@charlottenc.gov or by calling 704-336-2424. A vote date hasn’t yet been confirmed and it’s not quite clear how or when the public will be able to sign up to speak during a public comment period before the vote.

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News Lunch Break (1/26/16): Ice patches still causing problems for Charlotte drivers

Posted By on Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 11:30 AM


Patches of ice continue to cause problems in Charlotte, with enough problem areas throughout the city to close schools for another day. In southwest Charlotte, a woman was pinned in her car this morning after hitting a patch of ice and slamming into a tree on Arrowood Road. She was taken to Carolinas Medical Center with minor injuries. (Jennifer Miller, WBTV) 

Authorities are searching for an inmate who they say walked away from a minimum-security facility in Rock Hill last night and is now on the loose. Police are looking for Zachary Lee Reeves, 26, after he walked away from the Catawba Pre-release Center on Milling Road at around 9 p.m. last night. He was last seen wearing a tan Department of Corrections uniform. (WCNC Staff) 

An elderly man was brought to the hospital with life-threatening injuries this morning after his wife accidentally ran him over with her car. Police said the man may have been opening a gate in the driveway for his wife when she lost track of where he was. The accident happened near the intersection of Tuckaseegee Road and Freedom Drive in northwest Charlotte. (Joe Bruno, WSOC) 

The Better Business Bureau is still warning fans about counterfeit tickets in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, an issue that Creative Loafing reported on two weeks ago, but are also now suggesting tips for avoiding getting ripped off by shady travel agencies. Tom Bartholomy, president of BBB of the Southern Piedmont, suggests that fans use a reputable travel agency; read the fine print, terms and conditions on any travel package; make sure the package includes a game ticket, hotel, transportation, airfare, and meal expenses; and pay by credit card, which offer buyer protection. (Fox46 Staff) 

Developers have announced plans to rebrand the building that was home to Cosmo's Cafe since 1977. The building at North College and 6th streets will be re-opened as NorthEnd Station. Cosmo's Cafe closed in early January after being at the location for 38 years. Phoenix and Republic nightclubs also closed, but BAR Charlotte will reportedly stay open. (Ely Portillo, Charlotte Observer)

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Monday, January 25, 2016

sports Cam Newton celebrates Panthers' win at Label

Posted By on Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 1:18 PM

TMZ is reporting that quarterback Cam Newton and defensive end Charles Johnson hit Label after the NFC Championship Game to celebrate the Carolina Panthers' victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night. While Juvenile and DJ Holiday were performing, an Instagram post by Label states Johnson bought shots — for everyone in the club! 



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News Lunch Break (1/25/16): Panthers headed to the Super Bowl

Posted By on Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 1:06 PM


The Carolina Panthers will be playing in their second Super Bowl ever in two weeks after beating the Arizona Cardinals relatively easily last night, 41-17. We are dedicating this Lunch Break to our boys for finishing that one off and not giving us another reason to call them Cardiac Cats. Here are some of our favorite tweets from last night's game…(The Krispy Kreme deal is nothing new we just really, really like doughnuts here)









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Sunday, January 24, 2016

Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Sunday

Posted By on Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 7:00 AM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 24, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Dance Theatre of Harlem at Knight Theater
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• Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium

• 180 Seconds Comedy Show at The Comedy Zone

• Antigone at UpStage

• PostSecret The Show at Booth Playhouse

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Saturday

Posted By on Sat, Jan 23, 2016 at 7:00 AM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 23, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

• Ernie at Snug Harbor
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• The Importance of Being Earnest at Theatre Charlotte

• Geek Fiction: A Tarantino Themed Event at The Rabbit Hole

• The Chuckleheads at Dilworth Neighborhood Grill

• Ancient Cities at Neighborhood Theatre

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Friday, January 22, 2016

News Lunch Break, Snow Day Edition (1/22/16)

Posted By on Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 12:10 PM

The Creative Loafing staff is working from home today, and we thought we could bring you some tips on what's going on around the city from a press conference held at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center this morning at 11 a.m. The following are just some highlights from the presser, that may help with some questions you have about how the winter weather has affected local government departments and what they're doing to fix it.

– According to the Charlotte Transportation Director, there are 36 salt trucks (with plows if needed) currently spreading brine and salt around the streets of Charlotte on 12-hour shifts.

– City Manager Ron Carlee encouraged all residents to check schedules if they've made plans. We're not sure what this means, but we always think you should do this, whether it's snowing or not. If you're schedule is empty, check out our event listings, call a friend and make plans. Just probably not today.

– Solid Waste Services will be suspending all trash collection until Monday. They will then be operating on a one-day delay for all of next week. Thursday and Friday customers will be collected on Monday, and all customers will have their trash picked up on a one-day delay for the remainder of next week. (For example, if your trash is usually picked up on Tuesday, it will be picked up on Wednesday.)

– There are several updates to CATS-related schedules throughout the city, so officials ask that you visit the CATS website and check the inclement weather alerts throughout the day. You can also call 704-336-RIDE.

– Charlotte Department of Transportation asked that residents only drive if it is absolutely necessary, but if you do find yourself in a situation that you have turned from a resident to a motorist, officials ask that all motorists keep a safe distance from other vehicles, especially those treating the roads.

– CMPD officials said "Great job so far." Thank you, CMPD. Mecklenburg EMS, better known as Medic, said that at the time of the press conference, there had been 110 calls for service. Officials urged folks to check on nearby elderly and disabled people.

– Duke Energy asked that if your power goes off, call 1-800-POWERON. Then stare anxiously at your cellphone's battery level and wonder what on Earth you'll do when it dies. (OK, we added that last part)

– Charlotte Fire Department said to be aware of danger around trees and power lines due to ice build-up.

This press conference was "covered" by your trusty CL staff through Twitter. Specifically, by yanking the above suggestions straight off the @CLTgov Twitter feed. For those not concerned with all this bureaucracy, I can tell you some other breaking news of more import. This heroic reporter has visited two ABC Stores today and both said they will be open at 1 p.m. I cannot speak for all ABC Stores, but there seems to be a pattern emerging. Creative Loafing: on your side. Stay safe out there. 

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Arts Lincoln Center does the holidays

Posted By on Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 11:15 AM

The three square blocks where the Metropolitan Opera House presides is actually the hub of Lincoln Center, with five different indoor performance venues, a film center and a handy park that hosts open-air concerts in summertime and tented events in winter. So while parts of the place are turned over to holiday events when December rolls in, other parts can go on with culture as usual. Across West 65th Street, there are frequent concerts at Alice Tully Hall, and down at 59th Street, overlooking Columbus Circle, there’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, another hub of activity at multiple venues.

The four musical presentations in this year’s roundup represent less than half of what was available around the main plaza during our 16-day stay. Four other operas were in rep at the Met, one other Philharmonic program, the Big Apple Circus pitched its tent in the park, the acclaimed King and I revival continued its run at the Vivian Beaumont, and the New York City Ballet presented something called The Nutcracker at the David H. Koch Theater. Ample choices whether or not you wished to revel in the holiday spirit.

Here’s what we saw:
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Lulu (***3/4) – Germanic expressionism, Parisian wantonness, and London squalor all take their turns in fleshing out the decadence of Alban Berg’s last unfinished opera, based on two Frank Wedekind plays. With the soon-to-close revival of Spring Awakening drawing accolades on Broadway, musical adaptations of Wedekind works written more than a century ago are making the playwright newly notorious in New York.

Continue reading »

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Film / Film News Opening Friday

Posted By on Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 12:08 AM

The 5th Wave

Anomalisa - Animated; voices of David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh

The Boy - Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans

Dirty Grandpa - Robert De Niro, Zac Efron

The 5th Wave - Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson

Ip Man 3 - Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung

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