2016 Issue 44 Creative Loafing

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 VOL. 30, NO. 44

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NEWS&VIEWS BACK TO SQUARE ONE: Surprise vote to rescind non-discrimination ordinance leaves bitter taste among trans community.

BY RYAN PITKIN

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NEWS

FEATURE

BACK TO SQUARE ONE Surprise vote to rescind non-discrimination ordinance leaves bitter taste among trans community

BY RYAN PITKIN

T

HERE WAS A time when December was a slow news month locally. But as with many precedents and preconceived notions, that idea has been put to rest in North Carolina in 2016.

On the morning of Dec. 19, following a week in which the North Carolina General Assembly stripped the incoming governor of much of his power during last-minute special sessions using secretive legislative loopholes just because he’s not on their team, the Charlotte City Council showed it can be full of surprises, too.

During an unannounced move in a meeting that morning, the council voted unanimously (10-0 with District 1 representative Patsy Kinsey not present) to rescind the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which in February added gender identity and sexual orientation to a list of traits protected from discrimination in restaurants, taxis and public restrooms.

The original passing of the ordinance led to a special session in the state legislature, during which lawmakers passed the nowinfamous House Bill 2. HB2 has since cost the state millions of dollars in boycotts and lost opportunities for economic growth.

While a majority of the council has remained steadfast in their refusal to rescind the original non-discrimination ordinance, the surprise vote on Monday was done with the understanding that the state legislature would call yet another special session to repeal HB2 in full. In fact, a provision to Monday’s ordinance stated that if HB2 is not repealed by Dec. 31, the non-discrimination ordinance will go back into effect.

The agreement looks to have been brokered

by Governor-elect Roy Cooper, who released a statement shortly after the city council vote stating that he had been in discussions with Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, who assured him that a special session would be called for the next day. It was eventually called for Wednesday, Dec. 21.

After the council vote, Governor Pat McCrory’s office quickly responded with a statement pointing out that McCrory and other lawmakers had offered the same deal in previous months, only to be shot down by city leaders.

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“This sudden reversal with little notice after the gubernatorial election sadly proves the entire issue originated by the political left was all about politics and winning the governor’s race at the expense of Charlotte and our entire state,” Graham Wilson, McCrory’s press secretary, said in a statement.

The claims that Charlotte City Council had once rejected an identical offer just months earlier — claims also made by Berger and Moore following the council’s vote on Monday — were not true.

In an episode of “Capital Tonight” that aired in the Triangle area and was posted online on September 28, Moore admitted that in the most recent offer to repeal HB2, lawmakers would “make sure we kept in the bathroom piece,” meaning the provision in HB2 banning transgender people from using public restrooms that coincided with their gender identity would remain law.

Nevertheless, many in Charlotte’s transgender community — which spent more than two years fighting for the city to approve a non-discrimination ordinance that protected them — felt betrayed by the council’s surprise vote on Monday.

In an odd twist of political parallel, some who spoke with Creative Loafing agreed with McCrory’s implications that the city’s fight for transgender protections was a political ploy to help Cooper win the governorship.

Paige Dula, founder of transgender support group Genderlines, said she was dumbfounded at the news of Monday’s surprise vote.

“I feel like we were just used as a good political talking point,” she said. “HB2 gave something good for Roy Cooper to bust McCrory’s chops with. We outlived our usefulness in that respect.”

Ashley Williams, an organizer with the Trans and Queer People of Color Collective in Charlotte, said the act did not surprise them, but affirms their suspicions that protecting the transgender community was never a true priority.

“When I think about all the work that we’ve been doing this whole year and before this year, I’m really worried that trans people of color are going to continue to be the losers, if you will, in this deal — and I’m using this language like ‘deal’ to represent how this is all

RYAN PITKIN

Residents gather at the council’s meeting chamber in February before the non-discrimination ordinance was passed. a game and it’s been a game,” Williams said.

“It’s clear that that’s what it is, strategically. I think it’s really fucked up that they’re making deals about trans people’s lives without really considering what things mean for them.”

Erica Starling, a transgender woman in Charlotte who publicly addressed city council on numerous occasions while advocating for a non-discrimination ordinance during an unsuccessful attempt in 2015 and leading up to its passage in 2016, was angered when she heard the news.

“It is hugely depressing. The initial reaction is that we’ve done this twice already, and now we are beginning to cave to an illegitimate GOP general assembly,” Starling said. “I’m pissed. Because I think that there is no price on equality for people like myself who are transgender.”

DESPITE STARLING’S INITIAL dismay at news of the council’s vote, she — more than others whom CL spoke with — remains optimistic that the deal was made with an eye on building support for statewide LGBT protections under Cooper’s administration.

Starling sees this as the first step in yet another fight — one she hopes to be her final one — for a final non-discrimination ordinance in Charlotte, this time under a Cooper administration she says won’t trudge on city’s individual rights the way McCrory did.

“I think it’s more of a political move for something better going forward,” Starling

said. “So are we pissed? Yeah, we’re pissed.

But do we have much control with the way the general assembly has been? In my opinion, if we don’t take HB2 away then the city council will never have an opportunity to pass [a nondiscrimination ordinance] again.”

Matt Hirschy, director of advancement at Equality NC, has a similar feeling of cautious optimism, although he won’t be as specific with what he thinks will come of the situation when — or if — HB2 is repealed in the coming special session.

Hirschy said that, although Equality NC executive director Chris Sgro released a statement endorsing the council’s decision, he could not support nor endorse the council’s surprise vote. He added, however, that it’s too early to tell under what intentions the vote was carried out.

“The vote was unanimous, and so that leads me to think that they did so knowing that there is a path ahead somehow, that’s what I’m thinking,” Hirschy said on Monday afternoon. “This was never about Charlotte.

Charlotte never did the wrong thing. Charlotte never passed anything that was crazy. This was only about the general assembly doing really bad things all the time.”

Hirschy emphasized that, assuming the legislature does the right thing on Wednesday and repeals HB2, the focus will shift to re-implementing protections for LGBT residents statewide.

“Repealing HB2 is great; it’s the most anti-

LGBT law in the country,” he said. “We know that we’ve got to work really hard, because that’s not good enough if that only puts us back to a place where people are vulnerable to suffer more discrimination. This is a start to what will be even more work for all of us.”

REPRESENTATIVE

said that in the beginning.”

Despite differences in opinion on leadership and other issues, everyone in the trans community and in LGBT leadership roles agreed on Monday that, regardless of what happens during the legislature’s special session on Wednesday, the focus should remain on protections for LGBT people, especially transgender people, who are most impacted by anti-LGBT violence.

“When I look at the news today and I read the different perspectives, I’m like, ‘How did we get so far away from what I thought we intended to do, which is to protect trans folks?’” Williams said. “I’m confused. When I think about the NCAA and capitalism and the way in which money influenced a lot of these decisions around what was going to happen with HB2 and the ordinance, I think of how we got really far away from what we intended to do: to protect trans folks.”

While the optimism level is skewed among those most affected, perhaps Wednesday’s promised repeal will allow folks to focus together on getting back to that

RYAN PITKIN

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“As it stands, they’ve got a long way to go to lead us to believe that this is going to be a positive thing in the long run.”

In 2015, Mayor Jennifer Roberts ran on a platform that included passage of the non-discrimination ordinance as one of her priorities if voted into office. It’s too early to see how Monday’s vote will affect her chances at re-election, as 2017 is an election year.

Lara Americo, a transgender woman and CL contributor, said that, although Roberts enjoys overwhelming support in the LGBT community, she should have reached out to the transgender community before making a decision that so directly affects them.

“I do feel like Jennifer Roberts supports the LGBT community, but in some ways I think she’s out of touch with that community, especially the transgender community,” Americo said. “If she was more connected with our community, I don’t think she would have supported rescinding the ordinance.”

Starling said she still believes Roberts is Charlotte’s best hope for finalizing a more concrete non-discrimination ordinance.

“We need someone in charge like Jennifer, she is freaking firm when it comes to things. She doesn’t waver, she doesn’t bend and I love her for that,” she said.

Williams disagrees, and believes Monday’s vote only justifies what TQPOCC has been saying all year.

“Black people, we knew that Jennifer Roberts was out of touch, and now I wonder if other LGBT folks, if the white gay establishment will wake up and understand that she’s letting us down again and they should have believed black folks when they

Old States

5

John Autry is known as one of the more LGBT-friendly city council members.

Some members of the LGBT community have expressed surprise that he voted for rescinding the ordinance on Monday.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Autry said that it was a decision he originally opposed, but was convinced of through discussions that went late into Sunday night, including with his openly lesbian daughter.

He said he’s confident in Cooper’s leadership and believes he will be a champion for the LGBT community.

“I understand the frustration and distrust, the appearances that our actions led to, but without the full repeal of HB2, and without Governer-elect Cooper as the Governor come Jan. 1, there is no path forward for LGBT protections anywhere in North Carolina,” Autry said. “That’s what I’m focused on, that’s my goal for this state: to have full LGBT protections, to have assurances for all of our citizens ... to be able to realize their full potential.”

For some, however, regardless of what Monday’s decision leads to, the way in which the city council carried out the vote without informing anyone beforehand made for a bad decision no matter the outcome.

Jay Leach, senior minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, advocated tirelessly for the passage of a nondiscrimination ordinance. To him, regardless of any broader goal in mind in the council’s vote on Monday, the secretive nature of the vote is what’s most indicative of a disconnect between local government and its constituents.

“We’re in a time of deep distrust in the community, and distrust of our political leadership,” Leach said. “If there is a rationale for this decision, they owed it to us to be as transparent as possible, to give a very public explanation of the values of their vote, and to vote before us with their heads held high. To have taken this kind of action after months of saying, ‘There is no compromise, there is no compromise, there is no compromise,’ that just deepens the immense distrust we have for our political leaders right now.”

Dula agrees, and says she’s “not optimistic at all” that the vote will end up being the right decision for Charlotte.

“If there was something in the works, why would they have not talked to some of the other LGBT leaders to say, ‘Here’s what’s coming down,’ so we wouldn’t be blindsided and we could get behind them?” Dula said.

Old States ville Rd

DISTRICT

Protesters gathered in front of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center after House Bill 2 was passed in March.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 11

VIEWS

KIDDING AROUND

RETHINK YOUR PARENTING free of consequences and boundaries; the spare the rod, spoil the child mentality still I’VE BEEN A parent for a little over weighing heavily here in the South. But nine years now. My oldest, a girl, brought these naysayers could not be more off base. me into the realm of parenting when I was right around the age of 22, arguably still in Peaceful Parenting is how you engage and need of parenting myself. Since then, I have invest in your child — you know, the one had a son — now 6 — and expect another you beamed over at birth or waited anxiously girl in a few short-yet-grueling weeks. If I’ve for as adoption papers were finalized. This learned one thing throughout this endeavor child, who brought you so much excited of attempting to raise good human beings, anticipation in the pre-birth stages is still it’s that parenting is hard. capable of being a source of joy when you as Anyone who has had a parent, been a a parent are capable of making a few slight parent or is considering being a parent can back me up on this one. No matter how adjustments. much you’ve planned on kicking parenting’s For starters, check yourself. For real. Is ass or being a parent leagues better than it really that big of a deal that you’ve asked your own, parenting has probably kicked Jr. to put away his toys but he keeps getting your ass a time or two. distracted by the cat? Sure, you want the From tiny babies who won’t sleep Legos away because stepping on them hurts to prepubescents whose only form of like a mother, but c’mon. Is it worth communication is the eye roll, parenting is hard. And being a losing your cool over? I doubt it. A human being parenting other, great place to start is checking much smaller human beings your expectations of your only further complicates child, making them more the matter, making us realistic. Maybe Jr. needs frequently aware of some music to help him our shortcomings and tidy up. Maybe his task is failures.

Sounds ominous, overwhelming and he needs no? With the inevitable a little help. Be realistic in failures seemingly at every what you are asking them to turn, how the hell can we be do and then meet them where LIZ LOGAN expected to be excited about they are. parenting? It’s a job on top of Another segue into parenting our other jobs, a responsibility that peacefully is to be peaceful yourself. Of will follow us to our dying days, if we’re course you feel like you’re gonna lose it — lucky. But if we’re honest, we’re probably well overdue for a change. you’re human. So find a way to be centered.

The New Year is a great time for a clean Take some cleansing breaths. Take a timeslate, a fresh start. We vow to halt our out. Get to the root of your own issues — are carb intake, read a book a month, call our you reacting this way because your parents grandparents. We take a sigh of relief that reacted this way? What in your adult life has the holidays are over. We find time to reboot you stressed? Commit to regulating your and re-center in most every area of our own emotions before trying to fix others’. lives. So why not this year extend that lifechanging energy to parenting?

A great way into this mindset is As our generation becomes parents accountablity. Join a parenting collective, one by one, we are beginning to see the begin attending a yoga class, read some inadequacies and flaws through which we books. Being mindful allows you the space were raised. We are seeking out ways to to re-center and find your own peace, even if hear and be heard, ways to drop that oldyour tiny babe is losing hers. school mentality and embrace something You’re not alone. This upcoming year, new and vibrant, something life-giving. It’s time for us to mark a shift in our paradigm. rethink your parenting. Choose to slow Though (I hope) none of us became parents down, to find joy in your task. Find some to be trendy — I became one by accident — ways to take care of yourself. Make an there is a huge trend towards transformation agreement with yourself to strive toward taking place within the Peaceful Parenting peace and then give yourself some grace movement. for the times you mess it up. Parenting is a Lots of folks, ignorant though it may journey and if you’re doing it right, learning be, assume peaceful parenting is raising up from the bumps is just par for the course. a generation of coddled twits, a generation 12 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

NEWS

BLOTTER

BY RYAN PITKIN

RETURN TO RECEIVER A 62-year-old woman filed a police report after someone stole a package from her south Charlotte porch then had a change of heart. The woman told officers that the suspect made off with an unopened package, which contained a Pokémon book and a breast cancer awareness calendar, or the worst type of calendar focused on breasts that one could think of. The thief must have agreed, because the package was recovered two days later in a bush in front of a nearby house. It had been opened, but the unwanted contents were still inside the box.

TAKE IT BACK Another stolen item was

returned last week when a shoplifter became embarrassed after being caught in the act, but the transaction did not go as peacefully as the one reported above. An employee at 7-Eleven on Eastway Drive told police she confronted a man after watching him attempt to conceal a bag of Sour Patch Kids in his waistline. He quickly returned the item to its rightful place before leaving the store, but just for god measure, he threatened to return later and hit the woman with a stick.

FOOD FIGHT (KINDA) Police responded

to an assault call near the Johnston & Wales University campus and found two teenage girls playing a game of catch. According to the report, police spoke with both suspects — two women, 18 and 19 years old — who confirmed that one of the women had thrown a plastic cup at the other. The second woman “retaliated by throwing the cup back at the initial assailant.” And this is what it looks like when police have to do an official write up on something that wouldn’t even make the cut in an episode of Real Housewives.

THE MIGHTY FALL On perhaps an even

more anti-climactic call, police responded to a yard in southwest Charlotte after a 54-year-old man reported being assaulted by one of his neighbors. The man, who lived in the Renaissance Gardens neighborhood, told officers he sustained minor scratches to his right eye after his neighbor threw leaves into his face.

DON’T SHOOT A 31-year-old woman in north Charlotte was just trying to protect herself last week, believing that her home was being broken into, but ended up doing something that will surely haunt her conscience for some time. The woman told police that she saw a man trying to enter her apartment, so she opened the door and sprayed the suspect with mace, citing his unusual and aggressive behavior. As it turns out, the suspect was no threat at all, but a neighbor in the apartment complex who suffers from mental disabilities and had

just run off from his caretaker. Nobody was charged in the incident, as no crime was committed.

JACKPOT Someone in east Charlotte found an interesting stash in the trash last week, and it’s hard to say what’s more odd about the report: the fact that someone put the item in the trash or that someone went into the trash and found it. Without much detail, the report simply states that on a Thursday afternoon, a bag of MDMA ecstasy pills was found in the trash. That could have made for a good day for the average dumpster diver.

SHUT IT DOWN Employees at Christenbury

Eye Center in southeast Charlotte got an unexpected break last week after a moocher unknowingly shut down their business for the afternoon. Management told police that an unknown suspect gained access to the optometrist office’s water supply and began to siphon it for their own use. The theft apparently caused a sudden drop in the water pressure, which in turn activated the fire alarm and forced patients and doctors alike to evacuate the office.

WOLF! It’s been said that the danger of fake news is not in the fake story itself but in the fact that it makes readers distrustful of all stories. In that sense, a Charlotte couple fell victim to fake news last week at the hands of a hacker. Police responded to the couple’s northeast Charlotte home after receiving a call about a home alarm going off. It was later found that the suspect was able to set the alarm off through an app on their phone, leaving the couple to wonder any time the alarm goes off whether they should actually be alarmed.

TAKE THE BANK A burglar in east

Charlotte made sure to steal from both the adult and child during a break-in one night last week. The 42-year-old woman who lives in the home told officers that someone broke into the house just before 6 p.m. and made off with her handgun, but also grabbed a piggy bank that belongs to her son that held just $3 in change.

THE CHIPS ARE DOWN Potato chips

were the real victim in east Charlotte last week when two men got into a knockdown, drag-out fight in the middle of a gas station.

Officers responded to the scene and found that during the fight the men had knocked down a glass display case holding potato chips, doing $200 in damage to the case and merchandise.

START ‘EM YOUNG Police responded to

South Charlotte Middle School last week after the coolest student in the school was found to be in possession of an alcoholic beverage while walking around campus as if nothing was wrong.

NEWS

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

BY CHUCK SHEPHERD

PERVERT, OR NOT? (1) When police in

display in November in London’s Science Gallery, where installations offered “artscience collaborations” — including Taiwan artist Kuang-Yi Ku’s “Fellatio Modification Project.” Former dentist Ku, complaining that textbooks on mouths tragically under-regard their value in sex, created (the ordinary way) a custom retainer for the client’s mouth but then added rubber “bumps” and “cones” and “ribs” and “ripples” that might be pleasing to a partner.

Port Orange, Florida, arrested Anthony Coiro, 76, in November, he admitted that he had a stash of “crazy” pornography, some featuring children. However, he adamantly insisted, “I’m not a pedophile. I’m just a pervert,” adding, “a law-abiding pervert.” Maybe not so much, however, as he now faces 52 charges related to the stash. (2) In November in Osaka, Japan, an unnamed arrestee apparently had his sexual molestation charge against a woman on a crowded train dramatically downgraded.

“Actually,” the man indignantly told the judge, he is not a pervert — but just a pickpocket.

COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS Texas

HARDLY NEED A BREATHALYZER (1)

LEAD STORY Radical dentistry was on

is among the most enthusiastic states for jailing low-income arrestees who cannot pay a money bail, especially during devastating family hardships, and the four Houston bail magistrates are particularly harsh, according to a recent report of the Texas Organizing Project. After hearing one financially overwhelmed woman beg sarcastically that $1,000 bail is “nothing” next to her other bills, unsympathetic magistrate Joe Licata shrugged, “It’s nothing to me, either. It’s job security.”

Michelle Keys, 35, among those joyously caught up in Iowa’s upset win over highly ranked Michigan in football in November and celebrating that night in Iowa City, was slurring and incoherent and told police she was certain she was standing in Ames, Iowa (120 miles away), and had just watched the “Iowa State - Arizona” game, a matchup not played since 1968. She registered .225 blood-alcohol level. (2) A 38-year-old woman was arrested in Springwood, Australia, in November when police stopped her car at 3 a.m. at an intersection with a children’s swing

set wedged onto the roof of her SUV. She had shortly before mistakenly driven through someone’s back yard and through the swing set. Her magic number was .188.

PERSPECTIVE “Sexually-based offenses,”

a certain popular TV show intones, are “particularly heinous,” but to the small Delaware liberal arts Wesley College, according to the U.S. Department of Education, even an accusation of sexual misconduct is so heinous that there was no need even to interview the alleged wrongdoer before expelling him. An informal meeting did occur, but only after the investigation was completed. The expulsion occurred even though the victim herself had not originally accused that particular student.

The expelled student’s offense was to have helped set up video for a consensual sex encounter that was without consent livestreamed without consent. The Department of Education accepted a settlement in which Wesley agreed to revamp its code of student rights.

LEAST COMPETENT ARTISTS (1)

Apparently the plan by a 33-year-old unlicensed, unregistered driver in Perth, Australia, in November to keep from being

stopped by police was to print “POLICE” in large, “official”-looking letters on the sides of her white Hyundai, using a blue dry-erase board marker. She was, of course, quickly stopped by police. (2) A woman in a quiet north Minneapolis neighborhood told reporters she became fearful after seeing a large swastika spraypainted on a garage door down a nearby alley just after election day!.

Problem: The base “X” of the correct design has “hooks” that should always extend to the right, clockwise; three of the Minneapolis “artist’s” awkwardly hook left.

THE PASSING PARADE (1) In November,

a court in Christchurch, New Zealand, ordered the local police to “undo” the 493 bottles’ worth of liquor they had recently poured down the city’s drain after raiding an unlicensed bar. The court said the police must pay a pumping company to recall the hooch because of environmental regulations.

(2) In November, the Littleton, Colorado, city government, faced with the need to “blot” sticky tar on 120 streets whose potholes it was filling, bypassed expensive “detackifiers” in favor of stuffing toilet paper over the tar, causing the streets to have a trick-or-treat look.

THIS IS OUR CITY. THIS IS OUR CITY’S ART.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 13

14 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

VIEWS

TQ IN THE WORKPLACE

In our August 4th issue, we introduced CL contributor Lara Americo’s new Trans and Queer in the Workplace photo series. Check online for our interview with Americo about why she began photographing trans and queer Charlotteans in their work environment, as well as a slideshow of all the photos shared thus far. The series will be shown in full as part of the Chrysalis exhibit planned to run at C3 Lab in South End between January 6 - 20, 2016. This week’s photo features Sam Poler, a local field organizer. Sam uses they/them/theirs pronouns.

“We live in a society that doesn’t value trans and queer lives, especially when those folks are brown and black. That’s not stopping all of the amazing queer poc leaders in Charlotte that are working to dismantle this system that oppresses all of us. I am not a leader in this movement, I’m a white accomplice organizer. My organizing focus is to bring more white, trans, bisexual ashkenazi jews into the movement for black lives. Together we will destroy white supremacy and this capitalist society.” - Sam Poler

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 15

FOOD

FEATURE

A PATIO SEAT IN WINTER

VIVACE 1100 Metropolitan Ave., Suite 100.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 704370-7755. vivacecharlotte.com.

It’s hard to go wrong no matter where you sit at Vivace

BY CHRISSIE NELSON ROTKO

lunch and dinner are also really good options with a full Italian menu. I actually really adore their bar bites menu, with items like bruschetta and aranci, which pair perfectly with a glass of wine for a little after-work happy hour action. It’s a great place to take your parents or cozy up for on date night while enjoying classic Italian dishes like veal saltimboca, chicken caccitore, pizza, paparadelle, or gnocchi.

I highly recommend topping it all off with dessert; because you’ve come this far, and who can say no to house-made tiramisu?

T

HERE ARE MANY benefits to living in Charlotte; the booming brewery scene, being in between the beach and the mountains for easy access road trips, Bojangles’.

But maybe one of my favorite Charlotte perks is brunching on a patio in late November. While it sometimes seems that we have practically skipped fall at this point and headed straight to winter, as Charlotteans, we often get the benefit of temperate, downright warm days from November to January. The best way to spend those warm days, whether in June or November, is on Vivace’s patio, enjoying brunch.

Vivace has arguably the best patio in Charlotte. The deck is perched at the back of the Metropolitan, overlooking the Little Sugar Creek Greenway; giving diners expansive views of not only the greenway but also the skyline. This prime location provides diners not only with scenic and picturesque views but is also excellent for people-watching down on all of the runners, walkers and cyclists — which offers up the opportunity for a guilt trip free with any brunch (ironic trivia fact: vivace is Italian for brisk and lively).

Plus, Vivace’s patio is a perfect size, has umbrellas for maximum shade when needed, and is first come, first served — all benefits that only add to the prime patio location. The combination of a decent-sized and reservationless patio means that if you come to brunch between 11:30 and 11:45 on a Sunday — in the short window before alcohol service which we will discuss below — it’s likely you’ll score stellar seating.

In addition to maybe having the best patio in the Queen City, one could also argue that Vivace has the best brunch in Charlotte. On weekends, they serve brunch “the Vivace way;” for twenty-five dollars you get two courses and full access to bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. They also offer their brunch menu items a la carte with single orders of mimosas and Bloody Marys, but I can’t think of a reason on Earth why one would turn down such a deal.

16 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

Open tuesday- sunday CHRISSIE NELSON ROTKO

Vivace’s Eggs in Purgatory

Bloody Marys at Vivace

CHRISSIE NELSON ROTKO

I love Vivace’s brunch for a lot of reasons, but the primary one definitely has to be the cocktails. As a Bloody Mary fan, I do enjoy one on the spicy side to accompany my eggs, but usually cannot have more than one of the tomato juice concoctions, so bottomless Bloody Mary bars do not always meet my brunch needs. Similarly, while I am a fan of bottomless mimosas, sometimes I would

prefer to start with a Bloody Mary and then make the switch during the meal. Several restaurants offer one or the other, but do not let you switch back and forth at will. Not, Vivace; their bottomless cocktail option is totally switchable. Plus, they offer a Bloody Mary bar where you can build your own, which is not only the best way to get your preferable spice-to-horseradish ratio, but it’s also fun.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, that’s ok, Vivace’s brunch can still win you over.

They offer a wide variety of brunch options ranging from traditional breakfast like French toast, Eggs Benedict and quiche, to more lunchy items like salads, mussels, calamari and several pasta selections. The menu will absolutely appease everyone in your group; those who still prefer eggs after noon and those who detest breakfast (like my sister, whom I still think of as blasphemous for this reason). My favorites are the Brussels sprouts with potatoes; bacon and an over easy egg; the mussels with extra bread for sauce dipping; Eggs in Purgatory; the Benedict Vivace, which features grilled mortadella and a tomato hollandaise; and any of their house-made pastas (it’s hard for me to say no to really good, Italian pasta).

If you can’t make it to Vivace for brunch,

and for lunch on Saturdays Giftcards and Catering Available!

Come visit us at 1520 South Blvd #130 (980)207-2211 railaythai.com

FOOD

THREE COURSE SPIEL

NOT JUST A POP UP Popbar franchisees have been patiently waiting for the right spot, and they’ve got it

Prix-Fixe Christmas Menu

BY RYAN PITKIN

AFTER THE FIRST three hours of Popbar’s soft opening on Dec. 15, during which employees handed out free gelato and sorbet pops to as many as 30 or 40 people at a time who were flooding their tiny shop for frozen treats on the cold winter day, franchisee Kia Lyons needed to regroup. She hung a sign on the shop’s door that read, “Give us 10 minutes,” to give her staff some breathing time after those first three hours.

Despite the sometimes chaotic feel of that first rush, Lyons described that first day of running a business as more of “a calm feel,” compared to everything her and her husband Clarence had been through in trying to open up Popbar, the franchise’s first North Carolina location, over the past two years.

On the day following the soft opening, Creative Loafing sat down with Lyons to discuss why it was worth the wait.

Creative Loafing: How did you and Clarence decide to get involved with Popbar?

Kia Lyons: We talked about starting a business together while we were dating. Then two years ago we got married and I moved here. We wanted to do something that was outside of the box. We always thought about maybe doing ice cream. Instead of looking at your typical things that are already out there, I did some research and Popbar came up. I said, “Oh, I’ve never heard of that before.”

We contacted the franchise and scheduled a time for us to go up there [to New York]. We went in January 2015 and we tried a bunch of different flavors and fell in love and we’re like, “We gotta do this.”

Opening a frozen treat store in December is a bold move. Was there any concern about demand?

I’m not concerned. If we had it our way, we would have been open last summer, but having the right location is way more important than just being open. So, it was worth the nine months we spent looking to have this space.

To me, and to a lot of people, NoDa is a destination area. You may live across town but you’re going to come to NoDa to go to Cabo Fish Taco or Neighborhood Theatre and that is one of the things that is appealing to anybody who wants to open up a business, a

RYAN PITKIN

Kia Lyons at the recently opened Popbar.

restaurant or a specialty shop. When we first got started, there wasn’t anything available here. When it popped up, I was like, “Oh my God.” I filled out the application in a day.

I already am seeing some people all the time. I know people’s dogs. I’m learning names. I know the people upstairs. That relationship with the community is important to my husband and I, too. Even though we’re a franchise, we still like the idea of having a mom and pop feeling.

One slogan painted on the wall here says “Don’t call it a popsicle.” What makes your product different?

All of our products are all natural.

Sorbets have 70-80 percent fruit in them.

We don’t use any artificial ingredients. With our toppings, you’re never going to see Oreo or gummy bears or any of that stuff.

You’ll see hazelnut, pistachio, coconut, even our all natural chocolate sprinkles. If we do something crazy it would probably be peppermint.

We have options for people who are vegan, which is the sorbet. We provide service for people who have nut allergies and dairy allergies. It sets us a part a little bit.

The consistency of the pops are different because gelatos are creamier, the sorbets are fruitier. The customization sets us apart.

We already have over 40 recipes that we can put out, and then when you customize it the possibilities are endless with that.

RPITKIN@CLCLT.COM

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THURSDAY

22

UPTOWN CRAWL What: Art, art and more art.

During this crawl you can hit up participating Charlotte museums (Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, Mint Museum Uptown and more), galleries (New Gallery of Modern Art, Sozo Gallery and more), and other arts spaces (Goodyear Arts, McColl Center for Art + Innovation and more) for free. Take advantage of the complimentary trolley rides, which will be stopping at all the locations.

When: 6-9 p.m.

Where: Held in Uptown.

More: Free. charlottecentercity.org.

— ANITA OVERCASH

18 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

THURSDAY

THINGS TO DO

TOP TEN

THURSDAY

22

22

MILESTONE CHRISTMAS KARAOKE PARTY What: The folks at The Milestone are ready and willing to hear you and your friends sing “All I Want for Christmas is You.” But of course, it’s always better if you mix things up.

This karaoke party with Battleship and Dale & Wyley B is free, but do bring some cash to spend at the bar where there will be $5 “fire nog,” $4 well drinks, $3 tallboys and $2 cans.

When: 9 p.m.

Where: The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road.

More: Free admission.

— OVERCASH

DANIEL COSTON

Matrimony MONDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

22

23

HOLY GHOST TENT REVIVAL

AMERICA IS A MISTAKE

ELF ON THE ROOFTOP

What: I fell in love with this band’s folksy, banjo-led sound in college when I saw them play at The Evening Muse then covered their embrassingly non-attended show on campus for my college paper.

In the years since, I’ve moved away from that overdone folkish backwoods sound, but luckily, HGTR has adapted with me. Their new, melodic blues-rock style adds maturity while keeping the same high energy level. They now put on a different but still great show.

What: In these uncertain political times, there’s a lot of folks expressing different emotions about the government. That’s why it’s intriguing to read the genre description for this upcoming show, in which the Boone- and-Charlottebased band America is a Mistake is described as “emo for commies” and fellow Charlotte-based band Group Text is described as “political party emo.” Gerogia-based Fuiste (“math rock”) will be there, too.

What: This is one of the only chances you’ll have to watch Elf — the holiday flick starring Will Farrell — on a roof. Though it’s starting to get cold outside, the folks at Le Meridien have you covered with faux fur blankets and alcoholic beverages, like the All Spice Toddy and Peppermint Forest Hard Cocoa on the menu. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Elf makes for a cheerful drinking game. If your glass is empty, you’re the naughty one.

When: 7:45 p.m.

Where: Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. More: $12-15, visulite.com.

— RYAN PITKIN

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Lunchbox Records, 825 Central Ave. More: $3-$5 donation. lunchboxrecords.com.

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Le Meridien, 555 South McDowell St. More: citylightsrooftop.com.

— PITKIN

— OVERCASH

A Benji Hughes Christmas SATURDAY NEWS

Holy Ghost Tent Revival THURSDAY

ARTS FOOD MUSIC ODDS

SATURDAY

24

SATURDAY

MONDAY

24

WELCOME HOME XMAS PARTY

What: It’s Christmas Eve. You’re not in the mood to get tanked on egg nog and you’ve had enough of family bonding for the evening. All you want is an escape ­— an escape that’s filled with some slow jams.

Head on over to Snug Harbor for Benji Hughes’ annual Christmas shindig. It even starts later so that Aunt Martha won’t be upset when you bail on the fruit cake.

Alternative Champs, Fat Face Band and Moses Nesh are also on the bill.

What: Like parents of a college student on Christmas break, Petra’s is opening its doors to those who have moved on to different cities but will return for this show. Each of the performers playing this Christmas Eve — Jennifer Millis, Jon Lindsay, Evan Stepp and Rolfe Neigenfind — got their start in Charlotte but have since moved on.

We’ll help welcome them home, but we won’t do their laundry.

When: 10 p.m.

Where: Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. More: $10. snugrock.com.

When: 9 p.m.

Where: Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. More: $6. petraspianobar.com — PITKIN

WEDNESDAY

28

26

A BENJI HUGHES CHRISTMAS

— JEFF HAHNE

WEDNESDAY

MATRIMONY What: With the band on hiatus as two members tour the region as Bassh, a Matrimony gig didn’t seem likely. Perhaps someone got their Christmas wish? They’re headlining the Not So Silent Music Festival along with Take the Fall, American Murder, Bear Light Symphony, Clever Measure and The Hand Off. Fans of Matrimony should enjoy this show ­— there’s no telling when the next one will be.

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. More: $18-$20. 704-377-6874. amossouthend.com.

— HAHNE

28

MARK KANO AND MIKE GARRIGAN

WOMEN’S NIGHT AT DOUBLE DOOR INN

What: Greensboro-based alternative pop-rock band Athenaeum was a regional favorite in the 1990s. Once signed to Atlantic Records, the band never quite grabbed the footing it needed to make it nationally, due in part to a record release scheduled just after 9/11. Regardless, two former members find the time to perform here and there, and this is one of those nights.

What: Less than a week before Double Door Inn closes those two doors for good, the females will have run of the place, as Gigi Dover and The Big Love lead a bill full of equally awesome women. That includes the Charlotte-based singer/ songwriter Reeve Coobs, who’s been crafting songs for 16 years, and the young Mary Beth Atkins, who was only just born 16 years ago when Coobs got her start.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. More: $8-$10. 704-376-3737. eveningmuse.com.

When: 9 p.m.

Where: Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetowne Ave. More: $10-12, doubledoorinn.com.

— HAHNE

— PITKIN

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 19

ARTS

FILM

STAR WARS Smith, Stone and others battle for box office dollars

BY MATT BRUNSON

A

S EFFERVESCENT AS

the finest bottle of champagne, La La Land (**** out of four) is an intoxicating motion picture that should particularly please anyone whose heart skips a beat whenever Fred dances on the late show or Judy sings on TCM. More than just a godsend to film fans, though, the picture also has the power to capture the spirits of viewers who don’t even particularly care for musicals.

A large reason for that all-inclusive embrace is the casting, as director Damien Chazelle has selected two stars who could enchant audience members of any age.

Chazelle’s past pictures as writer-director were 2009’s jazz-infused Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, so named after characters in Jacques Demy’s musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (a heavy influence here as well), and 2014’s Whiplash, which won Oscars for film editing, sound mixing and supporting actor J.K. Simmons. Clearly, Chazelle harbors a musical affinity, and that’s nowhere more apparent than in this latest effort, the sort of old-fashioned entertainment where ordinary folks suddenly break out into song and dance.

Initially, it appears that neither protagonist has much reason to tap their toes. Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress whose auditions invariably end in “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” declarations, while Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a talented pianist whose insistence on playing experimental jazz gets him frequently bounced by club owners who only want him to perform covers of soothing standards.

Mia and Sebastian first encounter each other in heavy traffic, and it’s antagonism at first sight. Subsequent meetings, however, lead to an eventual thawing and then a starry romance.

If there’s one area in which La La Land doesn’t take its cues from Old Hollywood, it’s in the ferocity of the character conflicts.

When, for instance, Mia and Sebastian inevitably fight, it feels raw and real, forcefully removed from the make-believe of the film’s 20 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

DISNEY

Rogue One artifice. And yet that dichotomy proves to be a smart choice on Chazelle’s part, as it allows every victory to be more savory, every defeat to be more painful, every compromise to be more bittersweet.

The songs are a uniformly strong lot, with Justin Hurwitz providing the music and the team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul supplying the lyrics (John Legend, who appears in a supporting role, also contributes one tune).

In fact, the technical merits are basically a laundry list of award-worthy contributions, from Linus Sandgren’s cinematography to the production design by David Wasco. Yet it’s the dynamic duo in front of the cameras that really sells this package, with Gosling and especially Stone marvelous as two kids poised to take on the world with that proverbial spring in their step and that archetypal song in their heart.

EQUIPPED WITH THE subtitle A Star Wars Story, Rogue One (*** out of four) isn’t your father’s Star Wars, your mother’s Star Wars, or even your own Star Wars. It’s a different strain of space opera insofar as it

lacks the light touch and breezy action of the previous seven pictures in the franchise (I refuse to count that awful Clone Wars cartoon flick).

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. While Rogue One never comes close to matching the heights of the series at its most dazzling (basically, Episodes IV and V, with honorable mention to Episode VII), it’s still a worthy addition to the canon, neatly circling back on the story to right before A New Hope opens.

It follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as she’s tasked to snatch the plans for the planetdestroyer — the Death Star, of course — that the evil Empire is building. Jyn has a personal stake in the matter — her father (Mads Mikkelsen) had a hand in its creation — and she bands with a steely Rebellion operative (Diego Luna), a blind Force follower with Zatoichi-like skills (Donnie Yen) and other assorted heroes to fulfill a mission that’s imperative to the survival of the resistance.

The employment of CGI to bring back younger versions of characters remains extremely creepy and unconvincing (see also Jeff Bridges in Tron: Legacy and Robert

Downey Jr. in Captain America: Civil War), and there’s probably one seat-shaking battle too many. In most other respects, from the addition of engaging new characters to the answering of lingering questions from 39 years ago, Rogue One will keep the faithful satisfied until the next adventure hits the multiplex.

DECEMBER IS A breeding ground for Oscar-bait movies, but Collateral Beauty (* out of four) takes an even greater lunge at the gold than similar films. I daresay it’s not gonna happen: The closest this train wreck will get to Oscar is if some guy with that name makes the poor choice to go see it during its theatrical run.

Boasting a premise that could only conceivably work with better scripting and the sort of honest sentimentality that a director like Frank Capra could have pulled off, this wince-worthy drama centers on Howard Inlet (Will Smith), a company head whose 6-yearold daughter died two years earlier. His gloom is threatening the future of the company, so his three best friends, who also happen

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Natalie Portman in Jackie. to be his three best co-workers, try to find a way to shake him out of his stupor (as one compassionately complains, it’s been two whole years, so why is he still grieving?!). Whit (Edward Norton), Claire (Kate Winslet) and Simon (Michael Peña) come up with an icky plan: Knowing that Howard has been blaming the concepts of Love, Time and Death for his misery, why not hire three actors to play those abstractions as physical manifestations? And why not film those thespians pretending to be Love (Keira Knightley), Time (Jacob Latimore) and Death (Helen Mirren) interacting with Howard, digitally remove them from the footage, and then have Howard declared mentally incompetent since it will look like he’s merely a crazy guy talking to himself?

Wow. That’s supposed to be the tactic that will make audiences line up behind Whit, Claire and Simon? Even Wall Street’s Gordon Gecko would find such a grotesque maneuver beneath him, but in the script by Allan Loeb (whose credits include two Jennifer Aniston stinkers, The Switch with Jason Bateman and Just Go With It with Adam Sandler), nothing anybody does is ever considered out of line (that extends to another “good” character

breaking into a mailbox in order to steal some letters). Worse, all three friends have problems that coincidentally can be aided by the three performers (Simon has an incurable disease and is facing Death; Whit wants his little girl to Love him; Claire wants a baby but Time is running out), but the resolutions to all three plot threads are insipid and uninspired.

Mirren has a few amusing moments as an actress so conceited that she thinks she should play all three abstractions, but everyone else is hamstrung by the odious, idiotic or irrational characters they’re playing.

As for Smith, earning an Academy Award nomination for The Pursuit of Happyness was the worst thing that could have happened to his career. Since then, he’s been obsessed with snagging an Oscar and has largely been wasting his talents on humorless roles that suppress his natural buoyancy and charisma.

But after Seven Pounds and now Collateral Beauty, even a Wild Wild West sequel is starting to sound good.

THAT NATALIE PORTMAN delivers a tremendous performance as Jacqueline

Kennedy in Jackie (*** out of four) is to be expected. What’s less certain is if the movie surrounding her will be a tediously respectful biopic, a factually challenged piece of fiction, or a movie that moves to its own beat without ever taking its eye off the ball.

Happily, it’s the third option, with director Pablo Larraín and writer Noah Oppenheim employing a choppy structure that actually benefits the film. With an interview with a reporter (Billy Crudup) serving as anchor scenes, the rest largely recalls that awful period when the First Lady lost her husband — and the nation lost its leader — on that fateful November day in Dallas. The picture synchronizes with her dazed rhythm, and we catch glimpses of Bobby Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard) sharing in the grief, Lyndon B. Johnson (John Carroll Lynch) maneuvering in the background, and the pre-MPAA Jack Valenti (Max Casella) being typically weaselly.

Jackie makes no pretense at being a comprehensive biography — instead, it’s more like a few carefully selected pages from a bestselling tome, enough to whet the appetite without completely satisfying it.

NOW HIRING INTERNS. THE BRIGHTER, THE BETTER. EMAIL BACKTALK@CLCLT.COM

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 21

Things to do as 2017 approaches

BY ANITA OVERCASH

EVERY NEW YEAR’S Eve people rush to figure out what they want to do. Usually the choice is between doing it big out on the town or staying indoors — preferably at a house party. No matter what you choose, just remember to drink responsibly (if you do at all). It’s ok to go into 2017 with a hangover, but you don’t want to go into the New Year with a record. We’ve put together a list of some New Year’s Eve parties happening in the Charlotte area.

Scan the list for what appeals to you the most — whether it’s the usual drinking intensive shenanigans or something new — because as we all know, new things are always popping up in Charlotte.

22 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

New Year’s Eve at Howl at the Moon: Home to dueling pianos and mixed drink buckets, Howl at the Moon is offering several packages. The “All About the Bass” package is $60 per person and includes guaranteed entry, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight, food and an open bar from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. There’s also the “Just Dance” package that’s just $40 per person and includes guaranteed entry, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight, food and two house drinks (up to $8) for the folks who want to wake up to 2017 without a hangover. Howl at the Moon Charlotte, 210 E. Trade St. howlatthemoon.com/nye-cha/.

Black New Year’s Eve Go-Go Explosion at King of Spicy: The party features go-go band, Uptown Swagga. There’s also music

by DJ Jay Quest, party favors, balloons, hookahs and a champagne toast at midnight.

Chicken and waffles will be on the menu and bottle service will be available. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-4 a.m. King of Spicy, 5546 Albemarle Road.

New Year’s Eve at The Imperial: One of the newest editions to Uptown’s newly dubbed “Northend Station Corridor,” is The Imperial. The lounge will be offering a ‘50s themed black tie party with live jazz and a DJ on the roof. $25 in advance and $40 at the door gets you light hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. VIP tickets also available. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The Imperial, 300 N. College St. imperialclt.com.

Rio De Carnival New Year’s Eve at BlackFinn Ameripub: This seeming Brazilian spin on NYE sounds like fun. Ticket price includes a champagne toast at midnight, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, giveaways and

party favors. VIP package options available, too. Tickets at eventbrite.com, search “Rio De Carnival NYE!” Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.Blackfinn Ameripub, 210 East Trade St. Amos’ Final New Year’s Eve Show: As you’ve probably already heard, Amos’ is closing its doors next year. This will be the final chance you have to spend NYE in the concert space that opened back in 2000.

The night kicks off with Cassette Rewind, a Charlotte-based ‘80s cover band, and continues with Gump Fiction, a local ‘90s cover band. Nostalgia at its finest, right? $15-$20 at the door. Dec. 31, 8 p.m.www. amosfinalnye.com.

4th Annual Southern Skyline Grand Ball at Le Meridien: 2016 was a good year for Le Meridien. They opened City Lights Rooftop and were even named Charlotte’s “Best Rooftop Bar” by CL in our Best of Charlotte issue. The all-inclusive celebration is a classy option and damn it, we know the craft cocktails will be delish. Book a room and do it big with the comfort of a nearby bed. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Le Meridien, 555 S McDowell St. southern-skyline.com.

New Year’s Eve Carnivale at Slate: Shake it at this NYE shindig with party favors, a photo booth, a balloon drop, multiple DJs, plenty of beer, wine, liquor options and the obligatory champagne toast at midnight. VIP tickets available, too. Go to eventbrite.com and search CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 23

“New Year’s Eve Carnivale 2016.” $80 and up. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. Slate Billiards, 200 East Bland St. New Year’s Eve at Tilt on Tryon: The $60 all-inclusive party package includes party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.

That’s not to forget a dance floor and a bar stocked with plenty of alcoholic bevs. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tilt on Trade, 127 W Trade St. NYE Cocktails & Confetti at Ink N Ivy: This new Uptown spot has chic, funky décor.

General admission tickets include: RadioJacks will be performing, in addition to DJs. There will also be an appetizers buffet, plenty of beer, wine, cocktails & spirits, a champagne toast at midnight, a late breakfast buffet and party favors. VIP and dinner packages available. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. Ink N Ivy, 222 S. Church St. sportslinkus.com/events/event/newyears-eve-2017/.

New Year’s Eve Fiesta at Strike City: Why not spend your NYE on the lanes?

Bowling is fun, even if you can’t seem to knock down any pins. Maney from KISS 95.1’s morning show will be the host of the party. $10 admission, VIP bowling lanes available, and champagne toast at midnight. Tickets at eventbrite.com. $10 and up. Dec. 31, 11 p.m.- 2 a.m. Strike City, 210 East Trade St. New Year’s Eve at Snug Harbor: Why not roll in the new year supporting a local music venue and live music from local bands.

Andy the Doorbum, Jaggermouth, and Sinners & Saints will be performing. This is going to be good and admission is only $10.

Dec. 31, 10 p.m. Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. 704-561-1781. snugrock.com.

5Church Charlotte New Year’s Eve Late Night: This chic Uptown spot will have an open bar and buffet from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. There’s also a live DJ and the usual suspects – a champagne toast at midnight, a live countdown of the ball drop and party favors. Advance tickets at www.TicketLeap.com (keywords: 5Church Charlotte). Dec. 31, 10 p.m.

5Church, 127 N Tryon St. Suite 8. 704-9191322. 5ChurchCharlotte.com.

New Years Eve at Triple C Brewing Company: The brewery will be open regular hours (12 p.m.-9 p.m.). A food truck, Go Go 24 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

KU will be onsite. If you can’t make it out to the brewery on New Year’s Eve, try hitting up the brewery in 2017 (although they’ll be closed on New Year’s Day). Bigger and better things are in store for the brewery in 2017.

There’s slated to be a new event space and a new seven barrel brew house that will help them to expand beer selections and batches.

Dec. 31, 12 p.m.- 9 p.m. Triple C Brewing Co., 2900 Griffith St. triplecbrewing.com.

Chicago: A NYE Affair at Barreled at The Lift: Ring in the New Year in flapper dresses and/or zoot suits. The ‘20s themed party will feature hand crafted cocktails, a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, party favors, hookah and beer, wine and craft cocktails.

Music by DJ Amalgam and DJ Nurotik.

Tickets at eventbrite.com. $45-$75. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Barreled at The Lift, m1600 East Woodlawn Road, Suite 130. barreledcharlotte. com.

New Year’s Eve at Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub: All-inclusive party includes topshelf liquor, beer, wine and champagne, a breakfast buffet, music from a DJ, party favors, a champagne toast at midnight and free parking at the Wake Forest Parking Garage between 5 p.m. 3 a.m. with validation.

Though you shouldn’t be driving if you’re hitting up the bar. Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub, 201 E 5th St. fitzgeraldscharlotte.com.

New Year’s Eve at The Wine Loft: Clink your wine glasses together for the coming New Year. There are live samba dancers and a DJ for the night’s entertainment and a champagne toast at midnight. $25 (includes a champagne toast at midnight). VIP options available. The Wine Loft, 2201 South Blvd. 704919.-0222. wineloftcharlotte.com.

New Year’s Eve Bash at Southside: Allinclusive tickets starting at $45 and include drinks, music from DJs, a champagne toast at midnight, passed hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a heated patio. Tickets at eventbrite.com, search “Southside All Inclusive New Years Eve Bash.” Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Southside, 1600 Montford Drive.

New Year’s Eve at Stache House Bar & Lounge: This NYE shindig, presented by the SOL Kitchen, features music by DJ DR. There will be hookahs, free parking, and best of all, entry is free with RSVP before 10 p.m. VIP/ tables available. Tickets at eventbrite.com, search “Stachehouse New Year’s Eve.” Dec. 31, 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Stache House, 1520 South Blvd.

Angry Ale’s New Year’s Eve House Party: This anti-outrageous NYE prices party includes party favors, a champagne toast, music from a DJ and it’s only $10 to get in. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Angry Ale’s, 1518 Montford Drive. angryales.com.

The Avett Brothers at Bojangles’ Coliseum: Last year the popular Americana band played in Greensboro, but this year they’re closer to home. $58 and up. Dec. 31, 8 p.m. Bojangles’ Coliseum, 2700 East Independence Blvd. bojangles.coliseumcharlotte. com.

New Year’s Eve on the Rooftop at The Pump House: This new Rock Hill restaurant is probably going to put on one hell of a party.

Not a crazy party, but a classy one with wines, craft beers and specialty cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres (including a raw bar), party favors, a champagne toast and live music all night long. $79 – $129. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. -1a.m. Pump House, 575 Herrons Ferry Road, Rock Hill. 803329-8888. rockhillpumphouse.com.

New Year’s Eve at Kennedy’s: This longtime Elizabeth establishment is throwing a NYE party that includes all the usual suspects…there will be drinks, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $45.

Kennedy’s, 366 N Caswell Road.

The NYE Great Gatsby Gala at Kandy Bar: This ‘roaring ‘20s themed party features music from DJ Yona, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. $25 and up. Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Kandy Bar, 210 E. Trade St., Ste. 342. 980-585-4337. kandybarcharlotte.com.

New Year’s Eve at Visulite Theatre: Celebrate the coming of the New Year with live music. Futurebirds headlines with opening acts, The High Divers and Amigo

(see this week’s music feature for more on this Charlotte-based trio). $15-$20. Dec. 31, 8:45 p.m. 704-358-9200. visulite.com.

New Years Eve at Rooftop 210: Call this your party with a view. The space is covered and heated. It will feature DJs, a buffet, passed appetizers and unlimited drinks. $70. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. https:// rooftop210nye2017.eventbrite.com.

0017 James Bond New Years Eve Celebration at Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark: The hotel is offering overnight package for $425. It may sound like a lot, but it also includes a lot. Overnight accommodation, two tickets to the party cocktail hour, a fourcourse dinner, live music, a photo booth, a champagne toast at midnight and breakfast for two the next morning. Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark, 5501 Carnegie Blvd. renaissancecharlottesouthpark. com.

St. Sylvester’s Eve NYE Party at Sugar Creek Brewing Co.: The brewery is planning to unveil some new brews, including Apricot Tripel. They’ll also be pulling out two kegs of Sugar Creek XV from the cellar.

Live music from Caleb Davis. Free admission.

Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Sugar Creek Brewing Co., 215 Southside Drive. 704-521-3333. sugarcreekbrewing.com.

New Year’s Eve at VBGB: This annual party takes over VBGB and the tented patio turns into a dance floor. DJ Overcash will be spinning all night. The all inclusive package includes beer, wine, liquor, a buffet from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. $70. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. VBGB, 920 Hamilton St. 704-333-4111. vbgbuptown. com/tickets/.

Su Casa New Year’s Eve Party at Petra’s: The folks that host this regular nightlife event are taking things up a notch for the NYE shenanigans. There will be DJs spinning music all night and more is slated to be announced soon. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. 704-3326608. petraspianobar.com.

Or stay in on New Year’s Eve and hit up these spots on New Year’s Day New Year’s Day Celebration at Birdsong: If you don’t want to go out on New Year’s Eve, spend a low-key night at home. Then you’ll have the energy to go big on Jan. 1, 2017 at Birdsong Brewing Company. The brewery doesn’t have anything special going on on New Year’s Eve, but they sure do on New Year’s Day. There will be special beer releases, including a bottle release of Puppies on Penguins (the brewery’s Pride Belgian-style Abbey ale aged in red wine barrels), Devil Makes Three, a Bloody Mary inspired beer, Jalapeño Pale bloody beers and more. A complimentary bagel bar, food trucks and live music are also slated to be part of the mix. Jan. 1. Birdsong Brewing Company,1016 N Davidson St. birdsongbrewing.

com.

First Footin’ at Rural Hill: The traditional Scottish New Year celebration, often referred to as Hogmanay, includes a walk around the farm grounds (11 a.m.) and a stone soup blessing and gathering (12 p.m.). As for that soup, don’t come empty handed. Fresh veggies of canned veggies, bread or dessert are some items to bring. You don’t want to start off 2017 by being a moocher. Free. Jan. 1. Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. ruralhillfarm.org/

FirstFootin.asp.

New Years Day Slow Flow Class at Be Yoga: Start the New Year off with yoga. Good, bad, new, experienced doesn’t matter for thos slow flow class. It’s $16 to drop in or a class off anyone holding a regular pass. Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Be Yoga, 1247 East Blvd. 704-372-

7665. beyogaandwellness.com.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 25

26 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

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CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 27

MUSIC

FEATURE

DANIEL COSTON

Amigo with Brent Campbell(who co-wrote “Kristmas in the Kremlin”) at Sioux Sioux Studio.

JOY TO AMIGO New Christmas track, album in the works

BY ANITA OVERCASH

C

HARLOT TE-BASED TRIO Amigo — comprised

of Slade Baird (vocals, guitar), Adam Phillips (drums) and Thomas Alverson (bass) — always has a “wish list.” But the group’s list is filled with North Carolina-based musicians.

Following the release of the band’s upcoming album, they can cross some of 28 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

those names off the list. The album, slated for release in 2017, features special appearances

by Jay Shirley (organ/piano), Nick Golub on pedal steel and John Teer (Chatham County Line) on mandolin/fiddle.

“We meet a lot of people playing around the Carolinas and we definitely wanted to have a N.C. connection, so we picked our top choices and both of them were luckily

available,” says Baird.

“In the studio we have a chance to flush out our songs in a way that’s just not economically possible to sustain live.

So to be able to make our Pet Sounds or, you know, highly orchestrated baroque pop masterpiece, we want to bring in the best players we can find and we look to our local/ state community of musicians.”

The 2017 album will be a follow up to the band’s debut album, Might Could, released in 2014. For the new album, the trio ventured over to Kernersville to record with Mitch Easter at his studio, Fidelitorium Recordings. Local act Temperance League has also recorded albums there.

Amigo previously recorded “I Wanna Live (‘Cause I Don’t Wanna Die),” a surprisingly

AMIGO W/ FUTUREBIRDS AND THE HIGH DIVERS $15-$20. Dec. 31, 8:45 p.m. Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. 704-3589200. visulite.com.

upbeat, gospel-tinged track, at Fidelitorium.

Baird describes it as being a sad song on the album, while adding that it’s also pretty uplifting.

“It’s about the stuff that’s always a cosmic bummer. It’s about life challenges — loss of friends, grown up relationships — and some pretty dark stuff, but we took a ‘60s pop approach to make it more fun and orchestrated,” says Baird.

This track is on key with the band’s positive musical vibe despite lyrics that tend to deal with darker subject matter.

“It’s just my natural way of processing the world,” says Baird. “I tend to try to lighten up the darkness a little bit or take a little bit of a sarcastic/ironic approach to things that are reality, whether it’s good things or bad things. It’s kind of like personal therapy.”

Amigo will be hitting the studio to finalize mixing and mastering for the new album in the coming weeks. Unlike the first album, for which they went into the studio with all songs completed, the new album will feature some tracks that were created spontaneously.

“They were just beamed out of the cosmos,” Baird says.

Meanwhile, others tracks like “Underground Medicine” were a long time coming. Baird said it took him three years to pen the lyrics and, finally, the track materialized during the latest recording process. It was inspired by a Rolling Stone interview, conducted in the ‘70s, with country musician Doug Sahm. During the interview, Sahm says “I’m Scorpio with Capricorn risin’, Gemini moon,” a line that Baird has nestled into the bridge of the song.

“I’m not 100 percent, but I’m thinking about giving him a songwriting credit if I don’t have to give any money to the estate,” says Baird.

Another song on the album is “You’re On Your Own Trip Now.” “It’s directly influenced by psychedelic, highly illegal mushrooms but not in as bonehead a way as that would imply,” says Baird. “It’s got the groovy music but it’s a fictionalized breakup song in the form of a lullaby.”

Though Baird feels there’s no overall theme to the album, he does believe that loss and the wisdom that comes with maturity are reoccurring trends on the album.

Amigo performs at Visulite Theatre on Dec. 31.

“Then again, there’s also that arrested development, butt-headed, rock and roll that is definitely a part of everything we do to,” says Baird, 39.

At Amigo’s upcoming show at Visulite Theatre on New Year’s Eve, fans can get a taste of the band’s new tracks. But for those who just can’t wait, the band is also planning a Christmas Eve surprise. They recently hit up the Sioux Sioux Studio to record “Kristmas in the Kremlin,” a Christmas song that Baird wrote in the ‘90s with his friend Brent

JEFF HOWLETT

Campbell. The song is slated for release on Dec. 24 and will be available for download on the band’s Bandcamp page where there will be a “pay what you can” option with proceeds going to Charlotte’s Time Out Youth.

“It was one of these songs that every Christmas we ended up playing at Christmas parties or at Christmas shows. It’s always got such a great reaction that it was a shame it hadn’t been properly recorded,” says Baird, “It’s our Christmas gift to fans.”

AOVERCASH@CLCLT.COM

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 29

MUSIC

REVIEW

CHARLES LATHAM LITTLE ME TIME SELF-RELEASED;RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER, WORLD-WIDE JAN. 13, 2017 Durham-based singer/songwriter has penned a new album upon his return to North Carolina, following years of travel both in the U.S. and across the pond (England). His music, which falls into antifolk territory, is a mix of alt-country, folk-fused melodies. For Little Me Time, he’s teamed up with other Triangle-area musicians, including Catherine Edgerton who provides backing vocals and Omar Ruiz-Lopez, whose striking string arrangements grace the disc.

Kicking off the album is “American Traditional,” a blaring critique of this country’s backwoods mentalities, apocalyptic sentiments and blind ignorance. There are rabid fiddles amidst steady acoustics to back and lyrics ring “Don’t go out when the sun goes down. Stay inside if you’re able…

Jail’s full of guilty men and all the politicians are honest...There’s a dawn coming like no dawn before.

It’s a dawn, that’s no dawn at all.”

Other tracks like “Come Up Short” and “Like A Sister,” come alive via roaring horns and “Next To Nothing Blues” with its rambling guitar pickin’ have a touch of pop-folk tinged acoustics — akin to singer/songwriter Matt Costa. Tracks like “Dressed Up For Nothin’” and “Take You For Granted” are filled with wallowing twang via pedal steel and an overall honky-tonk vibe.

Another track, “The Letter/Blank Pages” takes a rootsy acoustic approach with strings that warm the lonely lyrics. The disc concludes with “The Living Wage” an anthem about the blue-collar delusions that hard work leads to happiness. “For the living wage, you’re told you should be thankful. You should learn to follow rules, learn to listen to superiors…” The track was recorded with the Durham Living Wage Project in mind and proceeds go to support the non-profit.

A 12-song disc, Little Me Time is personal and relatable. Comprised of well-crafted tracks that crisscross musical genres, the album’s cover even features Latham posed in front of a “Self” inscribed tombstone. We dig it.

— ANITA OVERCASH 30 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

MUSIC

REVIEW

MIKE STRAUSS BAND LONE SWEET HEART SELF-RELEASED; RELEASE DATE: There’s a reason why Mike Strauss Band had garnered wins in categories like “Best Local Band” and “Best Local Songwriter” in past CL Best Of Charlotte editions. The band is made up of strong musicianship that lends to fun, rollicking tunes. For the band’s latest album, they’ve also got a stellar lineup of local musician’s guest starring on the majority of the nine-track disc.

The album kicks off with “No Telling” a rockabilly, funk-fused track with jangly guitars, electric bass, steady drum arrangments and spastic horn sections that bombard with striking solos. Front man Mike Strauss is joined on vocals with Benji Hughes. The second track on the album, “Worried, Waitin, & Wonderin” shifts into a country twang vibe with vocals and sweeping harmonica from David Childers.

The album’s slow, but bouncy love song, “Lone Sweetheart” features trombone via band member Molly Jay and special guest, Pat Waters on ukulele. It’s sweet down to it’s lyrical simplicity: “You’ve got me smiling…you make my heart go “oomph.” Other more bluesy tracks like “Mercy, Mercy,” featuring a trio of backup ladies (band member Molly Jay is joined by Casey Cunningham and Lindsey Horne), and “Down Deep Down” with its bellowing electric guitar and heavy pickin’ sets a different tone. For the latter, Hughes also provides chorus vocals alongside Strauss.

Other gems include “New Conditions,” a surf rock style track with the band alone, “Dead Giveaway,” featuring Jack Lawrence leading on acoustic guitar alongside of a proud horns section, “Wonder” a slower more contemplative track with Jack Lawrence on mandolin and Pat Walters on grand piano.

“Plain View” was my personal favorite on the album. Lyrics reminisce on long lines, traffic jams, holding hands and making plans. Strauss switches up between guitars — 6 and 12 string — and the songs lyrics are transparent: “Nothing to hide, nothing to do. You see me, I see you.”

The Mike Strauss band performs at Double Door Inn on Dec. 22.

— ANITA OVERCASH

Winter is coming!

Be ready to snuggle up in style in one of our beautiful vintage coats.

Treat Yourself Our Location 6157 E. Independence Blvd. Charlotte NC 28212 704/567-9531 CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 31

MUSIC

SOUNDBOARD

WED 12/21

A CAROLINA CHRISTMAS Jaggermouth, Numbo and The Business People THU 12/22

WED 12/28

FRI 12/30

YARN NEW YEARS EVE FRI 1/13 SAT 1/14

MIKE DOUGHTY

DEC. 22

DEC. 26

COUNTRY/FOLK

ELECTRONIC/DJ

*Holy Ghost Tent Revival (Visulite Theatre) Andy Hall (Tin Roof)

Knocturnal (Snug Harbor)

POP/ROCK

Monday Night All Stars (Double Door Inn) *Matrimony w/ Take the Fall, American Murder, Bear Light Symphony, Clever Measure, The Hand Off (Amos’ Southend)

*Shiprocked (Snug Harbor) Toleman Randall, Mike Strauss Band, The Eyebrows (Double Door Inn) The Wild Domestic w/ Overwash (The Evening Muse) Ezra Root (Comet Grill) *Leanna Eden and the Garden Of, Blu House, Monty Mak (Petra’s)

DEC. 23 COUNTRY/FOLK Bill Noonan Band, The Loose Lugnuts (Double Door Inn) Karla Davis (The Evening Muse)

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B *Player Made (Snug Harbor) Jason Jet, Pragmaddix, Gifted Musik, Darian La Sparrow, Phaze Gawd (Petra’s)

POP/ROCK

RECYCLE ME, PLEASE (Only after you’re done reading me)

Mic Larry (Tin Roof) Old Scratch, Avalon Steel, Kairos., Dark Sun Kult (The Milestone) Moose Kick w/ Boy Named Banjo, Little Bird (Visulite Theatre) The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) S.O. Stereo w/ Fear Until Fury, A Graceful Regret, The Reason You Stayed, Beyond The Broken (Amos’ Southend)

DEC. 24 POP/ROCK *A Benji Hughes Christmas w/ Alternative Champs, Fat Face Champs, Moses Nesh (Snug Harbor) Mic Larry (Tin Roof) *Welcome Home Xmas Party w/ Jennifer Millis, Jon Lindsay, Evan Stepp, Rolfe Neigenfind (Petra’s)

DEC. 25 POP/ROCK Omari and the Hellraisers (Comet Grill)

32 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

POP/ROCK

DEC. 27 CLASSICAL/JAZZ/SMOOTH Bill Hanna Jazz Jam (Double Door Inn)

POP/ROCK Jason Atkins Duo (Tin Roof) Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill)

DEC. 28 POP/ROCK Gigi Dover & The Big Love, Reeve Coobs, Maya Beth Atkins (Double Door Inn) Cuzco vinyl release w/ Knowne Ghost, Creature Comfort (Snug Harbor) *Yo Momma’s Big Fat Booty Band w/ The Fritz (Visulite Theatre) *Mark Kano and Mike Garrigan (The Evening Muse) Cutting Teeth, Aloha Broha, Mercury Dimes, Morrowville (The Milestone)

COMING SOON Andy The Doorbum w/ Sinners & Saints (Dec. 31, Snug Harbor) The Avett Brothers (Dec. 31, Bojangles’ Coliseum) Steep Canyon Rangers (Jan. 7, Knight Theater) Cracker w/ Camper Van Beethoven (Jan. 11, Neighborhood Theatre) Pop Evil w/ Red Sun Rising and Bad Flower (Jan. 11, The Underground) Aaron Lewis (Jan. 13, Coyote Joe’s) Mike Doughty w/ Wheatus and The Ragbirds (Jan. 14, Visulite Theatre) Dweezil Zappa (Jan. 20, Neighborhood Theatre) Breaking Benjamin (Jan. 21, The Fillmore) Circa Survive w/ Mewithoutyou and Turnover (Jan. 25, Amos’ Southend) Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Jan. 26, McGlohon Theater) Parquet Courts w/ Mary Lattimore (Feb. 2, Neighborhood Theatre)

Legends of Southern Hip Hop w/ Scarface, 8Ball & MJG, Mystikal, Bun B, Trick Daddy, Juvenile, Pastor Troy (Feb. 3, Bojangles’ Coliseum) Welshly Arms (Feb. 8, The Underground) Hiss Golden Messenger (Feb. 12, Neighborhood Theatre) Juicy J w/ Belly and Project Pat (Feb. 25, The Fillmore) Cold War Kids w/ Special Guest Middle Kids (March 5, The Fillmore) St. Paul & The Broken Bones (March 11, The Fillmore) Son Volt (March 12, Visulite Theatre) Bad Suns (March 12, The Underground)

LOVES

Black Violin (March 21-22, Knight Theater) The Flaming Lips w/ Clipping (March 30, The Fillmore)

CHILDREN

Dark Star Orchestra (April 15, The Fillmore) Red Hot Chilli Peppers (April 17, Spectrum

&OTHER PETS...

Center)

FOR DINNER

Steve Martin, Martin Short, Steep Canyon Rangers (April 22, Ovens Auditorium) Lauryn Hill (April 28, CMCU Amphitheater) Neil Diamond (April 28, Spectrum Center) Carolina Rebellion (May 5-7, Charlotte Motor Speedway) Bastille (May 6, CMCU Amphitheater) * - CL Recommends

NEED DIRECTIONS? Check out our website at clclt.

com. CL online provides addresses, maps and directions from your location. Send us your concert listings: E-mail us at aovercash@clclt. com or fax it to 704-522-8088. We need the date, venue, band name and contact name and number. The deadline is each Wednesday, one week before publication.

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CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 33

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NIGHTLIFE

WHAT’S BETTER THAN FREE 99?

Discover fun in the Q.C. without diving deep into your pockets idea. It doesn’t appear they’re offering that IF YOU CONSUME social media event right now, but venues like BluNotes of regularly you’ve probably come across your fair share of memes with a caption along the Charlotte are. Every Thursday on Live Latin lines of, “When you check your bank account night, you can take a free salsa or bachata on Sunday after partying all weekend...” And lesson. Not to mention, there’s a Meetup if you’re anything like me you chuckle and group, “Charlotte Loves to Dance,” where repost as you reflect on your most recent you can connect with others in the area who ‘how-much-did-I-spend-last-night’ anxiety enjoy dancing and find lessons for free or attack. cheap.

I had one of those this past Friday when Support local voices at an open mic my boyfriend and I decided to hit up one of Do you love spoken word? Think night: our usual spots. I thought we’d only ordered you have what it takes to be a comedian? a hookah and three cocktails a piece. It wasn’t There are plenty of open mic nights to be until I grabbed the tab that I realized one of discovered in the Queen City. Whether you’re us had actually ordered the “group shots” searching for spoken word or opportunities we’d taken — a Royal Flush that I regretted to belt out your fave karaoke song, a simple immediately, by the way. A hundred dollars later, I wondered if the short-lived night search will unveil a range of venues with was worth it. The next morning, I little to no cover. Find Your Muse woke up to the drunken Google Open Mic Night on Mondays at search: “free things to do on The Evening Muse, Grannae’s the weekends in Charlotte, Boyz presents Say Word NC.” Tuesdays and beyond.

Blame it on a drained bank account after Find your zen: If shopping for Christmas you’ve spent some time or preparation for New in Charlotte, you’ve Year’s Eve resolutions, heard and pictured Greg but it was obvious, even Olsen doing yoga at Olde in my drunken state, that Mecklenburg Brewery. Well, saving money was the name AERIN SPRUILL OMB isn’t the only spot in of the game. The dilemma?

Finding unique things to do for Charlotte to host free yoga. A “free 99” and limiting the amount lot of local breweries and bars are of money spent on alcohol. (Side note: hopping on the bandwagon offering yoga “free 99,” a slang term for something that’s for the low low. Check out Hattie’s Tap and free.)

Tavern, Free Range Brewing or Google for So I began searching for free events, the latest yogi events in Charlotte. activities and the like around Charlotte.

Fortunately, they weren’t too hard to find.

Gain knowledge and culture: I’ve never been a museum or art fan until I Relive your childhood at Coco: A happened upon an HB2 art installation at month ago one of my co-workers and I the McColl Center for Art + Innovation decided to stray away from the norm and earlier this year. Since then, I’ve been giving head to Coco and the Director for Wine & museums more of a chance to impress me.

Color Wednesdays. Once a month, you can relive the glory of your childhood by coloring On certain days of the week or month, you until your heart’s content. Adult coloring can check out Mint Museum of Art, Harvey books are all the rave if you haven’t noticed, B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts but maybe you want to try it out for free? + Culture, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Stop by Coco, take in the relaxed ambiance, and other Uptown faves for free. If you’re grab a couple pages from a coloring book learning to appreciate museums like myself, and all the coloring utensils that your heart you can do it for free if you’re strategic. Hit desires. (I know I said no alcohol, but select up museum’s websites for free days/nights wines are only $5 a pop!) and look for Uptown Crawls (like the one in this week’s Top 10 section).

Take twerking to another level: Not too long ago, a friend of mine dropped a What fun have you discovered in the Q.C. bug in my ear that she and her hubby had for cheap? Share it with me at backtalk@clclt. taken swing dancing classes at 7th Street com.

Public Market and I fell in love with the 34 | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | CLCLT.COM

ENDS

CROSSWORD

FALLING RAIN ACROSS

1 Runs in 8 Swiss skyline sight 11 Open a tad 15 Since 19 Pork in a pastry case, perhaps 20 Copa’s city 21 McEntire of Nashville 22 Sorvino of “WiseGirls” 23 Rod used by a bartender 24 Meted out 26 Apple line 27 Itchy skin problem 28 Ski resort near L.A. 30 Set fire to 32 Suffix with Mideast 33 Horror-film lab assistant 35 Runner-turned-lord Sebastian 36 Swab brand 38 Hack off 39 Treasury secretary Jack 40 Pops’ moms 42 Give credit where credit -44 Growl like a mad dog 46 Unlucky day for Caesar 48 “Mass -- Minor” (Bach work) 50 Dirties 52 Opera piece 53 Did very little 55 Growl like a mad dog 56 “Speed up,” in mus.

57 Oceans 58 Puccini title role 59 San Jose, Costa -60 Show people to seats, informally 61 Approach boldly 63 Sing softly 64 Straighten, as a twisted hose 66 Prevent, in court 68 -- Solo (sci-fi role) 69 Simian “King” 71 Oslo loc.

72 -- guilt trip on 73 -- -cone (cold treat) 76 Heelless shoes 77 12-step support group 79 Detox center 81 Skier’s hut 84 C times III 86 Modest response to

praise 87 Skier’s locale 88 “Whatever -- Wants” 89 Cymbal pair in a drum kit 91 Cruel Roman emperor 92 Broncos great John 93 Tell- -- (exposes) 94 Vodka brand, briefly 95 That, to Juanita 96 “A Death in the Family” novelist James 97 Hunts for 99 Decode 101 East -- (country of Asia) 103 LP letters 106 “Dear” man 107 Girasol, e.g.

109 Lyricist Gershwin 111 “The Lion King” lioness 112 Female hare 113 Metal bars 115 More hammy 117 Actor Elba 119 Like both-sex colleges 120 Examination 123 Early Greeks 125 Writer Bronte 126 Sultry singer Horne 127 Actor Wallach 128 Recluse 129 Not including 130 Castle trench 131 Notes before mis 132 Placed a burden on

DOWN

1 Lager brand 2 Go to sleep 3 “The Office” actor 4 To be, to Brigitte 5 Often-iced injury 6 Rail holder 7 Message from a pulpit 8 Meccan, e.g.

9 Spring bloom 10 Hoi -11 Chichi 12 767, e.g.

13 ‘60s prez 14 Pizza cut edges, e.g.

15 Exiled Idi 16 Much like 17 Many Handel works 18 Fall right onto one’s mug 25 Port on the Black Sea 29 Vocational college

31 Driver’s rte. displayer 34 Propane, e.g.

36 Pielike cheese-and-bacon dish 37 Prefix with conference 41 Light meal 43 Scrip writers 45 Racial equality org.

47 1920s-’30s art style 49 An EEG records it 51 Bluish gray 53 Craving 54 “Explorer” of kiddie TV 55 Hog’s sound 62 Rough in texture 65 Old Cambodian leader Lon -67 Zenith rival 70 Swearwords 73 Bathroom stall outlet 74 California wine area 75 Do as bid 76 Cruet cousin 78 A-bomb trial 80 Fashion mag since 1945 81 Like Mozart music 82 Golfer’s ace 83 Dander and dust, often 85 Dial up 90 “-- shame” 96 ISP choice 98 Bar fixture?

100 Pencil topper 102 Actress Hemingway 104 Grosse --, Michigan 105 Bollixed (up) 108 Chapel song 110 Like acrobats 114 Extolling poems 115 Louver strip 116 Osiris’ wife 118 Light coin 121 Prefix with 81-Down 122 California’s Santa -- River 124 “... good witch -- bad witch?”

SOLUTION FOUND ON P. 38.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 35

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I’ve heard so many horror stories and seen countless X-rays online — any tips for making sure I don’t lose any objects in my ass?

You know what you never see in those X-rays? Butt plugs and other toys designed for butt play. Stick to butt plugs with flared bases, dildos with bases that look like balls, orange traffic cones, etc., and you’ll be fine.

isn’t going to decouple you. You’ll still be “just a couple,” it’s just that one of you is trans. Since you’re not going to be able to hide which one of you is pregnant — not in the Twitter/Instagram/Facebook era — the sooner you tell them, the sooner they’ll have their freak-outs, and the sooner they’ll return to seeing you as the couple you are.

My partner/husband of 40 years says I still embarrass him. Is this unusual?

If he says it affectionately and occasionally, it’s not a problem and it’s not unusual. If he says it to degrade/ humiliate/control you, it’s a problem and it’s unacceptable.

How do white people talk to black people about Donald Trump?

Fifty-eight percent of white people voted for Trump, and 8 percent of black people voted for Trump. So yeah, maybe instead of talking to black people about Trump, white people should shut up and listen to black people instead?

How common is it really for women to squirt? I get conflicting reports.

This answer, courtesy of the Kinsey Institute, “Hall passes” don’t DAN SAVAGE isn’t likely to satisfy you: work for many women “Somewhere from 10 to 54 because they can’t orgasm percent of women experience when having random sex some type of fluid expulsion in once with a random guy. What tandem with sexual arousal and orgasm.” alternative would you recommend?

Maybe the incoming Trump administration Where is it written on your hall pass — can put the scientists they’re pulling off or anyone else’s — that it can be used only climate change onto female ejaculation and with complete strangers? Nowhere, that’s we’ll have better numbers before the 2018 where. midterm elections.

How do you propose a foursome with How do I get my partner — who says your longtime friends without freaking he’s into it — to top me “properly,” i.e., them out or ruining the friendship? work me into a sub space instead of him Not proposing the foursome is the just melting into an ooey-gooey love only way to avoid potentially freaking your ball? friends out and ruining the friendship.

There are lots of terrific pro doms in Portland, Oregon. Hire one who’s up for All straight guys want to put it in showing your partner what proper topping your butt, but when you suggest eating looks like. it first, they run for the hills. How can I bridge this gap and get my ass eaten?

Trans man and cis female, happily Date gay guys. married, planning to get pregnant in the next five months. How do we break My wife goes on long runs with her it to my wife’s family? Half of them don’t girlfriend. I’m sure they are having sex know I’m trans and will be carrying, and in the woods. I’m jealous because I’m we don’t want to lie, but also we don’t not getting enough. What should I do? want them to see us as anything other Get your own “running” partner. than just a couple.

To contact Dan Savage, email him at mail@ Telling your partner’s family you’re trans savagelove.net.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 37

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FOR ALL SIGNS: Today we have the winter solstice as the Sun appears to enter Capricorn.

This is the point of deepest darkness in the northern hemisphere. Ancients celebrated the “return” of the Sun within a few days following the solstice, when it became apparent that it would, indeed, return.

This is a stellar week which includes three holidays. Both Christmas and Hanukkah will occur on Dec. 25 with Kwanzaa to follow on Dec. 26. On Hanukkah and Christmas we celebrate the light that never quite goes out inside, no matter how dark it may seem in the world. We rejoice in the ongoing rebirth of hope for new life within our psyche’s and on the planet. Kwanzaa is a holiday meant to remind us of the African philosophy of community. These seven principles serve as a guide to reinforcing connectedness from the individual to the globe.

ARIES: This is absolutely not a time to take the offensive, attacking position. If you feel angered by another, think the situation through from the very beginning. Look for your contribution to the problem. On the other hand, if someone else takes a swing at you, whether literal or metaphorical, you may defend yourself as you need.

TAURUS: This is a highly favorable week

for the Bulls. You are front and center and people appreciate what you bring to the table. Relationships flow well, especially among those with whom you work. You bring out the best in people around you now.

For a self-Christmas present, add a layer of music or high tech art to your life.

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SCORPIO: This is a period in which you

may encounter someone from your past, possibly a former lover. Someone is being pig-headed here. Is it you or the other? Take whatever opportunity arises now to settle old pain. This is a good time to give up grievances and move on with your life.

SAGITTARIUS: Cosmic energies favor

new design of outmoded business or organizational systems. Financial or business pressures may be the motivator. It is time to update and modernize, especially if you are working with a method out of old habit.

If you are working on a major project it is best to brainstorm now but save the final decisions until after Jan. 8 when Mercury will be direct.

CAPRICORN: The sun returns “home” to

CANCER: You are in the flow of things

AQUARIUS: You are likely to be playing

LEO: This is the time of year in which you

Clay Room* Salt Room* Steam Room Dry Sauna* Cold Room* Shower Room

coming and going for you this year. There may be a surprise or two in the making. You may be the host or hostess to a celebration, involving many. Romance and all kinds of relationships are favored. If you are an introvert, this may sound exhausting.

However, you can take it all in stride and enjoy the activities if you set the inner critic aside and just enjoy.

think with who you are. There are those who will disagree with you this week. Just don’t let it become a battle to the death. Your identity is not at stake in this situation. You may not like what is happening, but you can choose a better time later to argue the point. now. There are few who would stand in your way. Friendships, partnerships and other social relationships are cooperative and even helpful to your goals if you need that. You will likely find yourself a leader of one or more groups of peers. If you prefer not, then head it off at the beginning.

NOW OPENED!

LIBRA: The holidays are loaded with people

your sign this week. You likely will find it to be energizing. Now is the time to focus on new plans for this next year of your life. Take a fresh look at where you want to direct your energy. It is appropriate that your attention be directed toward yourself right now. However, take the needs of others into account.

GEMINI: You occasionally confuse what you

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opportunity to learn how to better control your mind. Shift your attention to something less dramatic, such as whatever is happening this moment, rather than worrying over what might happen in the future.

try to do too much, take care of everyone, and often forget to include yourself in the equation. Now is the time to check with your internal sensors. Is it truly necessary to handle every last detail? If your energy level is low, give yourself a break from the usual routine. Your body will reward you for the sacrifice of your ego.

VIRGO: This is a week in which you will

tend to be thinking obsessively. It is an

host/hostess to several this season. It appears yours is the party house. This serves as a good distraction from the many life concerns floating about you. Filling your mind with the desire to be of help to others is often a salvation from the blues.

PISCES: Don’t overdo on the food and

libations this holiday. You could find yourself feeling the pain afterward. Give yourself time to be still, read inspirational prose, and gaze into the fireplace. Meditate. A quiet holiday may be just the right experience to give you peace.

Are you interested in a personal horoscope? Vivian Carol may be reached at 704-366-3777 for private psychotherapy or astrology appointments. Website: www.horoscopesbyvivian.com.

CLCLT.COM | DEC. 22 - DEC. 28, 2016 | 39

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