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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Arts / Culture A Comic Love Letter: A look back at HeroesCon 2013
Posted By Natalie Howard on Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 8:29 AM
Once upon a time, in the vast dial-up wasteland of the 1990s, wee Natalie was a gangly teenager whose mom dropped her off at a strip mall to visit a shop tucked into the space that is now Book Buyers. That shop was Heroes Aren't Hard To Find - prior to its early 2000s move to its present location on 7th Street - and the attentive and kind comic sellers provided teenage-me with a subscription box filled with my comics of choice. That was my first foray into comics and Heroes worship.
Patrons of our fair city have had more than 30 years to explore and read the exploits of superheroes, thanks not only to the venerable comic-book shop (the brainchild of Shelton Drum) but also to its annual Heroes Convention (ditto). This year's event, held this past weekend at the Charlotte Convention Center, once again played host to a fleet of comic-loving visitors and some of the largest names and vendors in the industry. Missed out on all the action? Don't worry: It's HeroesCon reminiscence time.
- All photos by Natalie Howard
- What tangled webs they weave...
This year claimed the largest floor space ever in the con's 31-year history. Looking out over the floor space was daunting. It just. Kept. Going. Did you see everything? Because I didn't. I needed three more days and another pair of feet. The only con behind any con is that there's so much to look at - so many boxes of comics to scour through, so many cosplayers to snap photos of, so many artists to shyly smile at and ask for a commission or give a compliment. It could have lasted a week, and we'd still be there looking. My husband (full disclosure: CL film critic/senior editor Matt Brunson) could have spent the entire weekend bartering for back issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland. And for our tiny Charlotte, all this? A truly heroic feat.
Friday, June 7, 2013
News / Culture Gastonia will soon feature (mostly) publicly funded live/work space for artists
Posted By Ana McKenzie on Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 10:55 AM
A real estate developer for the arts and a private philanthropic donor have penned a deal to create space for artists to live and work in downtown Gastonia.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Gastonia Artspace, the nation's leading real estate developer for the arts, and the Community Foundation of Gaston County signed a predevelopment contract May 22 to create 35 to 40 studios, which artists can use as apartments or workspace, and some adjoining commercial space in downtown Gastonia. State and federal tax credits would mostly fund the $11 million project.
Per the Observer:
Culture Question the Queen City: The story of a riverboat named Robert E. Lee
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@gmail.com.
When I was a kid there was an old-style riverboat named the Robert E. Lee that offered rides on Lake Norman. Do you know what became of it? - Michael McCrory, Charlotte
Launched in April 1964, the 84-foot side-wheeler riverboat Robert E. Lee burned in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 5, 1966, where it was docked off Alcove Road near Interstate 77. Because of the time the incident occurred, no one was injured. The financial loss, however, was estimated to be $100,000 - roughly $700,000 in today's dollars. The cause of the fire was never determined.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Culture This week's SketchCrowd cartoon (June 5)
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 2:36 PM
SketchCrowd is the world's first crowd-sourced comic strip - that is, one created using submission by anyone and everyone. It runs weekly in Charlotte Creative Loafing, The Chattanooga Pulse and Augusta Metro Spirit. Artists can submit their own ideas and review others at www.sketchcrowd.com.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Culture Question the Queen City: The oldest buildings in Uptown
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 31, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@post.com.
I love Charlotte, but it hasn't done such a good job preserving much of its architectural history. In fact, most of Uptown looks like a set from some futuristic sci-fi flic. Are there any skyscrapers left that were built during or before the early 20th century? Kelly McMillan, Charlotte
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Culture This week's SketchCrowd cartoon (May 29)
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, May 29, 2013 at 8:20 AM
SketchCrowd is the world's first crowd-sourced comic strip - that is, one created using submission by anyone and everyone. It runs weekly in Charlotte Creative Loafing, The Chattanooga Pulse and Augusta Metro Spirit. Artists can submit their own ideas and review others at www.sketchcrowd.com.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Culture Question the Queen City: Remembering Mercy Hospital
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 24, 2013 at 1:10 PM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@.gmail.com.
I was born at the old Mercy Hospital - now CMC-Mercy - in Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood back in the 1960s. The hospital has changed so much in recent years it's barely recognizable, but I still feel a connection to the site. Do you know much about its history? - Nancy Mills O'Brien, Charlotte
- Courtesy Carolinas Health Care
- Postcards depict Mercy's evolution over the years
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Culture This week's SketchCrowd cartoon (May 22)
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, May 22, 2013 at 1:15 PM
SketchCrowd is the world's first crowd-sourced comic strip - that is, one created using submission by anyone and everyone. It runs weekly in Charlotte Creative Loafing, The Chattanooga Pulse and Augusta Metro Spirit. Artists can submit their own ideas and review others at www.sketchcrowd.com.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Music / Culture This is Charlotte: An interview with R&B singer Karen Ann Marie
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 8:31 AM
ABlackTV returns for another episode of This Is Charlotte. This time, filmmaker ABlack gets to know local R&B/reggae singer Karen Ann Marie a little better.
This is Charlotte is a documentary styled mini-series that highlights cultural happenings in the city in addition to reuniting viewers with past Charlotte innovators and celebrating hometown accomplishments. For the full interview - or to see other installments of the series - visit www.ablacktv.com.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Culture Question the Queen City: Something scary on Highway 16
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@gmail.com.
I work in Charlotte and recently moved to Denver, N.C. My daily trip home takes me past what appears to be a very old factory by the river, with giant metal smokestacks. Do you know what it is? - Kimberly Owens, Denver
- David Aaron Moore
- Scary, dark and old: The Riverbend Steam Station was built in 1929.
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5 Reasons To Buy Home Insurance Policy
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Question the Queen City: The unsolved death of Delette Nycum 2
The trial that followed was nothing short of a Charlotte version of the O.J. Simpson spectacle.
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Question the Queen City: Pianist and singer Chris Kelly 2
The longtime local lounge singer is 83 and lives in Greensboro.
