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Friday, January 15, 2016
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 12:57 PM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 15, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Home Comings & Goings at C3Lab
• Science on the Rocks: Speakeasy at Discovery Place
• 13th Annual Legacy of Black Women Film Showcase: Diamonds in the Rough at McGlohon Theater
• The Jazz Room at Stage Door Theater
• Bechtler by Night at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
• Home Comings & Goings at C3Lab
• Science on the Rocks: Speakeasy at Discovery Place
• 13th Annual Legacy of Black Women Film Showcase: Diamonds in the Rough at McGlohon Theater
• The Jazz Room at Stage Door Theater
• Bechtler by Night at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
News Lunch Break (1/15/16): Parking prices increase exponentially in lead-up to Panthers playoff game
Posted By Madeline Lemieux on Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Parking prices near Bank of America Stadium are set to skyrocket for fans attending the Panthers' playoff game on Sunday. Costing nearly as much as an extra (nosebleed) ticket to a regular season game, lots in the stadium area are pre-selling parking passes online for $60 to $114. The same spots would normally run $4 to $8. E-Z Parking sets prices based on demand, which has been increasing for Panthers games throughout the seasons. Officials suggest that fans use the light-rail, as even Uber will probably be implementing high "surge" prices. (Jason Stoogenke, WSOC)
Walmart announced this morning that it will be closing 269 stores around the country, including at least 16 in North Carolina and one in the Charlotte area, an Express store in Richland, 45 minutes north of Charlotte. The retail giant is shutting down its entire Express chain, which consisted of 102 small-format stores, along with 23 Neighborhood Markets and 12 Supercenters, among other closures. The closures are expected to result in the loss of 16,000 jobs. (Katie Peralta, Charlotte Observer)
A two-car crash shut down Independence Boulevard for nearly three hours this morning. Reports haven’t revealed what caused the crash, but images from the scene depict considerable damage to the vehicles. Both drivers were taken to the hospital — one with serious injuries. The roadway reopened at 5 AM, just in time for commuter traffic. (Christine Sperow, WBTV)
An unmarked police car was rear-ended on Bessemer City Road in Gastonia last night, sending Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger and Chief Deputy Kim Johnson to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The accident occurred when 53-year old Kuzundra Mance, driving a 2005 Nissan Altima, failed to slow down for the red light, crashing into the officers’ Dodge Charger. After receiving medical attention on the scene, Mance did not require a trip to the hospital, but was charged with a DWI and failure to reduce speed, and was taken into police custody. (Fox46 Staff)
Crime scene investigators spent over seven hours searching a Concord area home after a woman’s body was discovered in the wooded backyard yesterday afternoon. Neighbors, who didn’t recognize the woman as a resident of the home, observed investigators working late into the night taking several suspects into custody and removing evidence from the house — including a mattress. Investigators haven’t revealed how the woman’s body was discovered, and an official cause of death is pending an autopsy. (Joe Bruno & Trish Williford, WSOC)
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 11:44 PM
- Universal
- Ride Along 2
The Benefactor - Richard Gere, Dakota Fanning
Lamb - Ross Partridge, Oona Laurence
Mustang - Academy Award nominee: Best Foreign Language Film
Norm of the North - Animated; voices of Rob Schneider, Ken Jeong
Ride Along 2 - Ice Cube, Kevin Hart
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - John Krasinski, James Badge Dale
News Mayor Roberts, AvidXchange officials announce Music Factory name change
Posted By Madeline Lemieux on Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 5:14 PM
AvidXchange co-founder and CEO Michael Preager led a press conference at Bootlegger's Saloon Thursday to announce the rebranding of Creative Loafing’s longtime home the NC Music Factory to the AvidXchange Music Factory.
The new name symbolizes the software company's role as the music factory’s sole sponsor, and is just a step in a series of projects that will be a part of AvidXchange’s relocation to the Uptown area.
Preager shared his projections for the coming years — which include nearly doubling the current employee base of 250 people working in the company’s existing offices at the “Silver Hammer” facility in 2016 by leasing another 35,000 square feet there before finishing construction on a new 200,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the Music Factory, where Mattie's Diner had been formerly located, by April 2017. That will be the first of two facilities AvidXchange plans to build on the old Mattie’s Diner site.
Praeger emphasized that the rebranding was an effort to prove AvidXchange’s long-term commitment to Charlotte. Citing other tech companies that have relocated their campuses in the pursuit of innovation, he explained that the move was motivated by “access to talent, technology and a quality of life.” Millions of dollars in tax incentives from state and local government certainly sweeten the deal.
Joining Preager on stage was Mayor Jennifer Roberts, who emphasized the importance of welcoming new industries with open arms.
“Charlotte has been known for years as a banking town,” she said, “but with companies like AvidXchange, we are also starting to be rebranded as a place of innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Praeger acknowledged that the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, and that many of the million yearly visitors to the restaurants and entertainment venues will continue to simply call it “the Music Factory,” but said the branding – just as with the company’s upcoming state-of-the-art facilities – will help give AvidXchange a competitive edge with prospective hires, clients and partners.
Preager suggested shortening the name to AvidX Music Factory, and said that’s how many within the company already refer to it.
“I do like that, ‘AvidX,’” Mayor Roberts chimed in, “it sounds like a sports drink.”
Here at the offices, the name change was met with some furrowed brows, but doesn’t leave a bitter taste in our mouths comparable to losing Mattie’s (and the parking that came with it). We just ask that they keep the light-up, cursive sign in Fountain Plaza, please.
If not, we’ll take it.
News Lunch Break (1/14/16): Man shot and killed while breaking into occupied home in west Charlotte
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 11:30 AM
A man was killed after allegedly breaking into the west Charlotte home of someone he knew early this morning, according to a CMPD release. Police responded to a call on State Street just after midnight and found two males suffering from gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead on the scene and the other was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with a serious injury. Police believe that two suspects entered the occupied home and that's when a struggle ensued between an occupant and one of the suspects. One suspect was shot dead during the struggle. Police are still looking for the second suspect. They believe the parties involved all know each other and that this was not a random act of violence. (Ryan Pitkin) UPDATE: Police have identified the man killed this morning as 30-year-old Angelo Eugene Jackson.
Two people including a security guard were reportedly stabbed in the Uptown Greyhound bus terminal this morning by a man who was not allowed inside because he didn't have a ticket. Witnesses said the man lost his temper in the restaurant inside the terminal after being told he was not allowed to enter without a ticket. The attack happened at about 4 a.m. Police did not say whether anyone was arrested for the stabbing. (WSOC Staff)
Following a historic Powerball lottery drawing last night, there are believed to have been three winning tickets sold throughout the country, the closest being in Tennessee. There was reportedly a winning ticket sold in Munford, Tennessee, while the other two tickets were bought in Melbourne Beach, Florida and Chino Hills, California. The three winners, who have not yet been identified, will share the $1.6 billion jackpot. The winning numbers are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10. (Associated Press via Fox46)
Although no North Carolinians will take part in sharing the jackpot, there were still some big winners throughout the state last night. Two tickets worth $2 million each were said to have been bought in North Carolina, while three were worth $100,000 and 14 were worth $50,000. Less than half of the cost for each Powerball ticket goes toward North Carolina education, and the most recent Powerball craze reportedly generated $25 million for education ($65 million total). WBTV Web Staff
A coalition of advocacy groups filed suit against North Carolina yesterday in an effort to overturn an "Ag-Gag" law that came into effect on January 1. The suit, filed by groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Government Accountability Project and the Center for Food Safety, claims the law is too vague and unconstitutional on multiple grounds. (Craig Jarvis, News & Observer via Charlotte Observer) Pat McCrory vetoed the law when it was passed by the state legislature last summer, but the General Assembly overrode the veto. Creative Loafing wrote multiple articles about the law in June after it was vetoed and after it was then pushed through to be made law.
Two people including a security guard were reportedly stabbed in the Uptown Greyhound bus terminal this morning by a man who was not allowed inside because he didn't have a ticket. Witnesses said the man lost his temper in the restaurant inside the terminal after being told he was not allowed to enter without a ticket. The attack happened at about 4 a.m. Police did not say whether anyone was arrested for the stabbing. (WSOC Staff)
Following a historic Powerball lottery drawing last night, there are believed to have been three winning tickets sold throughout the country, the closest being in Tennessee. There was reportedly a winning ticket sold in Munford, Tennessee, while the other two tickets were bought in Melbourne Beach, Florida and Chino Hills, California. The three winners, who have not yet been identified, will share the $1.6 billion jackpot. The winning numbers are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10. (Associated Press via Fox46)
Although no North Carolinians will take part in sharing the jackpot, there were still some big winners throughout the state last night. Two tickets worth $2 million each were said to have been bought in North Carolina, while three were worth $100,000 and 14 were worth $50,000. Less than half of the cost for each Powerball ticket goes toward North Carolina education, and the most recent Powerball craze reportedly generated $25 million for education ($65 million total). WBTV Web Staff
A coalition of advocacy groups filed suit against North Carolina yesterday in an effort to overturn an "Ag-Gag" law that came into effect on January 1. The suit, filed by groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Government Accountability Project and the Center for Food Safety, claims the law is too vague and unconstitutional on multiple grounds. (Craig Jarvis, News & Observer via Charlotte Observer) Pat McCrory vetoed the law when it was passed by the state legislature last summer, but the General Assembly overrode the veto. Creative Loafing wrote multiple articles about the law in June after it was vetoed and after it was then pushed through to be made law.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 14, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Opening reception for Carlos Estévez: Soulcatcher exhibit at LaCa Projects
• Tai Chi presented by Enrique P. Sanchez at Myers Park Library
• Skyline Artists Showcase - Tyler Baum at Former Goodyear Service Center
• Charlotte Comedy Awards w/ Carlos Valencia at Crown Station Coffeehouse & Pub
• Modernism + Film: Fully Awake: Black Mountain College at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
• Opening reception for Carlos Estévez: Soulcatcher exhibit at LaCa Projects
• Tai Chi presented by Enrique P. Sanchez at Myers Park Library
• Skyline Artists Showcase - Tyler Baum at Former Goodyear Service Center
• Charlotte Comedy Awards w/ Carlos Valencia at Crown Station Coffeehouse & Pub
• Modernism + Film: Fully Awake: Black Mountain College at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 13, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones at Milestone
• Phoenix at Upstage
• Parallel Visions at Free Range Brewing Company
• Open Mic Night at The Dirty Hippie
• Public Figure Drawing at The North Carolina Academy of Art
• Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones at Milestone
• Phoenix at Upstage
• Parallel Visions at Free Range Brewing Company
• Open Mic Night at The Dirty Hippie
• Public Figure Drawing at The North Carolina Academy of Art
News Lunch Break (1/13/16): Pedestrian struck by car near Uptown
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 12:00 AM
A pedestrian was reportedly struck by a car on Charlottetowne Avenue just before 10 a.m. today. The victim was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, but police haven't released any other details about the accident. (WBTV Web Staff)
Officers in Lancaster County are reportedly treating the case of a dead body found in a car near the North Carolina border as a homicide investigation. Police have not released many details besides saying that the car and body were found on John Everall Road. (WSOC Staff)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has been named Coach of the Year by Sporting News in a landslide selection by his fellow coaches. Twenty three of the other 31 coaches in the league voted for Rivera, who led the Panthers to a near-perfect 15-1 in the regular season. He's lead the Panthers to three straight divisional titles in the last three years. After a bye week in the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers are now preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks, who took them out of last year's playoffs, in a divisional round game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. (WCNC Staff)
.@sportingnews names Cam Newton Offensive Player of the Year, Ron Rivera Coach of the Year » https://t.co/rOM742yBYL pic.twitter.com/SFLaOYyXSy
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 12, 2016Developers and local officials will hold a "sky-breaking" to mark the beginning of construction on a 22-story, 300-room tower hotel above the EpiCentre this evening. Crews expect to finish construction on the hotel, which will house 116 Residence Inn rooms and 184 AC Hotel by Marriot rooms, by the end of 2017. The building was originally planned as a condo tower. (Ely Portillo, Charlotte Observer)
Development: 'Sky breaking' planned for EpiCentre hotel Wednesday https://t.co/1Z3Rjz4vw2
— Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) January 13, 2016President Obama delivered the final State of the Union address of his tenure as president last night, painting a hopeful picture for the United States by defending his economic record and downplaying threats from groups like ISIS that have fueled fear-mongering rhetoric from many of his critics on the right. Obama did seem regretful of his failure to bring more unity between the United States' two prevalent political parties during his tenure thus far. (Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear, New York Times) A full transcript of the speech can be found here. (Medium)
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
News Lunch Break (1/12/16): City council officially supports toll lanes with 7-4 vote
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:30 AM
Charlotte City Council, which carries the most weight in an upcoming vote on whether to continue with the construction of toll lanes on I-77 and elsewhere, voted 7-4 to direct their representative on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization to support the lanes and continue as planned. Claire Fallon, Al Austin, LaWana Mayfield and Kenny Smith all voted against the toll lanes. More than 40 residents addressed the council, many of whom live in north Mecklenburg outside of Charlotte, which is the area to be most effected by the lanes. The CRTPO vote is scheduled for Jan. 20, and will most likely pass with the support of Charlotte City Council. (Steve Harrison, Charlotte Observer)
A student was reportedly struck by a car in front of Garinger High School this morning. Witnesses says the female student was grazed by a car at around 7 a.m. and CMS officials said the accident broke her arm. According to CMPD, the driver was later arrested for hit-and-run after saying he panicked and left the scene. (WSOC Staff) Four years ago, Creative Loafing covered the danger students face in front of the school on a daily basis following the death of senior Brittany Palmer.
The Alabama Crimson Tide completed a fourth quarter comeback last night to beat the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoffs championship. The final score was 45-40. The championship is the fourth in seven years for Alabama and head coach Nick Saban. Clemson will still have star quarterback Deshaun Watson on the team next year, as they look to return to the playoffs and finish the deal. (Tom Ensey, Regional News Network via WBTV)
A note from Pure Pizza owner Juli Ghazi that hangs above the unisex restroom is garnering an overwhelmingly positive response on social media, as she confronts the misconceptions about unisex restrooms with multiple examples of why they are logical and necessary. The note, which was photographed at Pure Pizza's new location on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood list examples of the customers who will be helped by a unisex restroom, such as parents with disabled children or single parents with opposite sex children, among other uses, including for those in the LGBTQ community. The unisex restroom issue became a controversial in 2015 during the city council debate around a non-discrimination ordinance that would let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice. (Elizabeth Thomas, WCNC) Last July, Creative Loafing spoke with Ghazi in the lead up to the new location's opening about some of the other ways her business does things differently.
A student was reportedly struck by a car in front of Garinger High School this morning. Witnesses says the female student was grazed by a car at around 7 a.m. and CMS officials said the accident broke her arm. According to CMPD, the driver was later arrested for hit-and-run after saying he panicked and left the scene. (WSOC Staff) Four years ago, Creative Loafing covered the danger students face in front of the school on a daily basis following the death of senior Brittany Palmer.
The Alabama Crimson Tide completed a fourth quarter comeback last night to beat the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoffs championship. The final score was 45-40. The championship is the fourth in seven years for Alabama and head coach Nick Saban. Clemson will still have star quarterback Deshaun Watson on the team next year, as they look to return to the playoffs and finish the deal. (Tom Ensey, Regional News Network via WBTV)
A note from Pure Pizza owner Juli Ghazi that hangs above the unisex restroom is garnering an overwhelmingly positive response on social media, as she confronts the misconceptions about unisex restrooms with multiple examples of why they are logical and necessary. The note, which was photographed at Pure Pizza's new location on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood list examples of the customers who will be helped by a unisex restroom, such as parents with disabled children or single parents with opposite sex children, among other uses, including for those in the LGBTQ community. The unisex restroom issue became a controversial in 2015 during the city council debate around a non-discrimination ordinance that would let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice. (Elizabeth Thomas, WCNC) Last July, Creative Loafing spoke with Ghazi in the lead up to the new location's opening about some of the other ways her business does things differently.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Tuesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Jan. 12, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Sean Patton at The Comedy Zone
• Stout Pull 2016 f. Parmalee, Eli Young Band, A Thousand Horses at Coyote Joe's
• Trivia at Big Ben British Pub & Restaurant
• Tech Tuesday at Hackerspace
• Bingo at Killington's
• Sean Patton at The Comedy Zone
• Stout Pull 2016 f. Parmalee, Eli Young Band, A Thousand Horses at Coyote Joe's
• Trivia at Big Ben British Pub & Restaurant
• Tech Tuesday at Hackerspace
• Bingo at Killington's
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Question the Queen City: An unsolved double murder 5
Did they ever catch the killer from the Mulberry Church Road murders?
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Question the Queen City: Who set fire to the nightlife? 3
From 1971 to 1976, 17 nightclubs in Charlotte burned to the ground. Who did it?
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Question the Queen City: The Richard Wearn House is saved 5
For years, the house has seemingly been on the chopping block.
