Queen City Nerve Issue 10_2019

VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 10 - APRIL 10 - APRIL 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

FOOD:

Gardening in the urban jungle p. 22

TO INFINITY'S END AND BEYOND! Mom-and-pop head shop turns 50 on 4/20

by Courtney Mihocik

ARTS:

Shakespeare meets Tarantino p. 12

Pg. 2 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Charlotte’s Cultural Pulse STAFF

PUBLISHER • Justin LaFrancois jlafrancois@qcnerve.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Ryan Pitkin rpitkin@qcnerve.com

EDITORIAL

8 To Infinity’s End and Beyond Mom-and-pop head shop celebrates 50 years

By Courtney Mihocik 6 Get Fit with Britt by Brittney Pereda 10 The Seeker by Katie Grant 11 The Scanner by Ryan Pitkin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR • Courtney Mihocik cmihocik@qcnerve.com STAFF WRITER • Pat Moran pmoran@qcnerve.com

ARTS

ART/DESIGN

LIFELINE

ART DIRECTOR • Dana Vindigni dvindigni@qcnerve.com

ADVERTISING

SALES MANAGER Stephen Lane • slane@qcnerve.com To place an ad, please call 980-349-3029

MARKETING

MARKETING MANAGER • Jayme Johnson jjohnson@qcnerve.com Pg. 3 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23 , 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

NEWS & CULTURE

Queen City Nerve welcomes submissions of all kinds. Please send submissions or story pitches to rpitkin@qcnerve.com.

Queen City Nerve is published every other Wednesday by Nerve Media Productions LLC. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Queen City Nerve is located in Advent Coworking at 933 Louise Ave., Charlotte, NC, 28204. First Issue of Queen CIty Nerve free. Each additional issue $5.

12 Shakespeare, Meet Tarantino ‘Bard Fiction’ combines Elizabethan English lit with modern classic

By Pat Moran

14 How not to kill your social life

MUSIC

16 Banker Bruh Yung Blaza left the corporate world and didn’t look back

By Ryan Pitkin 18 Soundwave

FOOD & DRINK

22 Grown From Cement Bernard Singleton continues to cultivate Bennu Gardens

By Ryan Pitkin Cover Design by: Dana Vindigni 24 The Buzz

NIGHTLIFE

26 Tips From Last Night by Justin Zalewski 26 Sudoku 27 Crossword 28 Horoscope 30 Savage Love

FOOD:

Gardening in the urban jungle p. 22

TO INFINITY'S END AND BEYOND! Mom-and-pop head shop turns 50 on 4/20

by Courtney Mihocik

ARTS:

Shakespeare meets Tarantino p. 12

Make Your Movie Out of this world dentistry finally in your neighborhood!

-Offering Whole Family Dentistry & Oral Surgery specialty care on an extended schedule

-Locally owned

7am-7pm and select Saturdays

     

live, local classes snacks aplenty We offer hands-on workshops knowledge, skills, training & encouragement connections with likeminded people easy-to-use equipment for rent

CUFS brings together Charlotte’s best film professionals & the adults like you who wanna learn from ‘em.

No Insurance? No Problem! Ask about our in-house Dental Savings Plan

www.StellarDentalCLT.com

University

9010 Glenwater Drive 704-547-1199

Noda

2100 North Davidson 704-688-7120 presented by

media partner:

Pg. 4 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

APRIL 28-MAY 5, 2019 f 10 Packtos ticke Free Popcorn LOUNGE SEATING

All-Access Pass!

10 Pack of Tickets Free Popcorn West Elm Lounge Seating Available now! Only $40 !

Camp North End

1824 Statesville Ave., Charlotte

THE QUEEN CITY’S LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL A PROGRAM OF CHARLOTTE PRIDE

A full week of independent LGBTQ cinema!

Ten feature-length films.

Annual short films showcase and contest.

Free special events all week!

Film and events schedule, tickets, and All-Access Passes online at:

REELOUT.ORG

Pg. 5 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23 , 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

GET FIT WITH BRITT

GET YOUR HIIT TOGETHER

The best of both worlds

BY BRITTNEY PEREDA

YOUR HEART BEATS so fast you can feel it pulsing in your temples. Your legs burn from extreme exhaustion and you gasp for every breath of air you can get. Sweat pours down your forehead into your eyes. Your shirt looks like you’ve just jumped out of a pool. The timer says 30 seconds left until that merciful 20-second break, so you keep pushing because you’ll be damned if Tracy beats you through this workout.

Finally, the group instructor calls time and you fall to the floor smiling because this will be so worth it. Less than a half-minute later, you’re back at it.

Sound familiar?

That was the High Intensity Interval Training class you took at your local boutique fitness joint, and if it happened recently, I’m sure you still feel it. HIIT

workouts have grown in popularity in recent years, mainly because they’re advertised as the best way to lose weight in the least amount of time. It’s true.

Mutliple credible scientific studies have indicated that HIIT is a beneficial and efficient way to burn fat and improve sports performance without being in the gym for a drawn out amount of time.

And yet here I am, writing to tell you that it isn’t the “only” way or always the “best” way.

First, HIIT affects your metabolism in a completely different way than steady-state cardio. When you do endurance training, which activates your aerobic metabolism, your body will convert carbohydrates, amino acids and fats into energy by using oxygen. For instance, this happens when you cycle, walk or run over a longer period of time using sustained effort.

HIIT training or any short bursts of highly intense activity deals with anaerobic metabolism. Anaerobic means that your lungs simply can’t put enough oxygen into your bloodstream to keep up with the demands your muscles have in order to produce more

energy. Therefore, your body creates that muchneeded energy by using the combustion (or burning) of carbohydrates instead.

Studies have shown that the dual anaerobic and aerobic process that HIIT requires will not only burn fat, but will continue to do so well after the exercise is over, as your body works to restore its physiological and metabolic factors in the cell back to its norm.

HIIT training really is a wonderful addition to your workout regimen, but alas, there are drawbacks — as there are always consequences for taking things to the extreme. What tends to happen in HIIT groups is that over time participants will begin paying more attention to the clock running out than to the execution of their workouts.

Exercise, especially in this form, is considered a stressor. It can be difficult to remain motivated to push one’s self correctly, especially without a trainer on their tail, when their body is ready to quit.

That’s why I tend to think of HIIT as a wonderful “addition,” as you may have noticed above. It just isn’t the type of workout you should be doing seven days a week. If you are performing these workouts correctly, you will need at least 24 hours between sessions or you’re likely to run a much greater risk of overtraining, which leads to injury.

Don’t forget to spread it around by including some endurance training in your weekly workout plan. You can burn just as many calories in a session with a more steady approach, and you don’t have to deal with that crazy post-workout exhaustion. A day of hiking can burn more than 2,000 calories while you bask in the sun and enjoy your day without the burnout. Endurance training is also proven to reduce blood pressure and improve your resting heart rate, a huge win for cardiovascular health.

There are pros and cons to everything. A wellrounded plan of HIIT, endurance training, strength training and circuit training will keep you fit in all components of fitness while also helping you avoid burnout and boredom.

One isn’t really always better than the other (unless you are training for a competition or a particular sport).

Remember, context is everything. Together, these different ways of exercising can all come together to help the average individual thrive — whether that means to lose fat for a wedding later this summer or simply stay healthy for the long-term.

Brittney Pereda is the owner of eXtreme Body Benefits, a south Charlotte-based fitness and nutrition company.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

Pg. 6 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Thursday, May 23

Friday, May 24

Saturay, May 25

Pg. 7 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23 , 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

PHOTO BY COURTNEY MIHOCIK

(Left to right) Becky, Frank and Chris in front of the “Steal Your Face” Grateful Dead logo at the company’s South Boulevard location.

(Left to right) Frank Pietras Jr., Becky Pietras, Chris Edwards and John Pietras Jr., the four owners of Infinity’s End.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INFINITY’S END

TO INFINITY’S END AND BEYOND

Mom-and-pop head shop celebrates 50 years

Pg. 8 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

A

BY COURTNEY MIHOCIK

LOT HAS happened in the half-century that family-owned and -operated bohemian staple Infinity’s End has been serving Charlotte’s counterculture.

From moving locations to keep up with Charlotte’s ever-changing tides to dodging an overzealous driver who crashed through the South Boulevard location’s storefront in July 2018, the Pietras family — beginning with founders Frank Pietras Sr., his wife Patty and son John Pietras Sr. — has seen it all since opening in 1969. Now the Pietrases and the extended Infinity’s End family will be throwing a 50th birthday party on — when else?

— April 20, to coincide with the company’s annual 4/20 Festival.

So how did we get here? Many people remember the former East Independence Boulevard location in the now-demolished Coliseum Shopping Center as the first Infinity’s End, but the Pietras family

originally opened up shop on South Boulevard and Archdale Drive. After watching all the traffic — and therefore potential business — move toward East Independence Boulevard in the ’70s, the family followed that lead and moved the shop there in 1974. The original location held on for about a year but eventually closed.

Not to worry, however, the Infinity’s End presence has since expanded, despite competition opening up around the city seemingly every day.

The three current locations include stores on South, University City and East Independence boulevards, showing that even if they do close a location, it’s a safe bet they’ll be back. Not only that, but the team is now looking to expand further with a location near Uptown, but more on that later.

Currently, the business is owned and run

by Frank’s son, Frank Jr.; his wife, Becky Pietras; his nephew, John Jr.; and Chris Edwards, whose

mother-in-law married John Sr. Did you catch that?

All in all, what’s important is that Infinity’s End has remained a multi-generational, family-run business that has established itself as a staple of bohemian lifestyle and counterculture retail.

It began as Charlotte’s first head shop, and for the first few decades, there was barely anyone around to compete with.

“We had virtually no competition for 25, 30 years, because the North Carolina laws made everybody feel like head shops were prohibited,” Frank Jr. explained. “We’ve always operated as a tobacco shop and kept everything within the law so we’ve been here all this time.”

Nowadays, head shops, tobacco shops and newly arrived vape shops have spread across town and settled like a haze, which would normally pose a threat to a long-standing mom-and-pop shop like Infinity’s End. Instead, the owners have embraced

the competition by adapting to the ever-changing trends the store’s customers fall into.

“We’ve always looked at competition as bringing more awareness to our stores and to the culture,” Becky explained.

The counterculture and bohemian lifestyle to which the store caters has not always been acceptable to mainstream culture, especially in a financial and banking-centric city such as Charlotte.

It’s important to remember that before the city rebranded as the “New South,” it was just the South.

The Infinity’s End owners believe that the more head shops and stores like theirs that open up and become an everyday part of the city’s culture, the better it is for them.

“It helped people recognize that it’s OK, that lifestyle is OK. The counterculture lifestyle, the bohemian lifestyle, whatever you want to call it,” Frank Jr. said. “I think having competition helped build the market. It certainly didn’t hurt us, it helped us.”

With that ever-growing competition, however, it’s important that the inventory stays fresh and up-to-date with emerging trends. That’s the job of Edwards, who’s in charge of purchasing retail for the store.

With her help, for example, Infinity’s End has long been at the forefront of the burgeoning local disc golf scene. The store has sold equipment and a large variety of discs to serve the disc golf

PHOTO BY COURTNEY MIHOCIK

Infinity’s End caters to the niche community of disc golfers with a wide variety of discs.

Chris Edwards says metaphysical products and spiritual items are popular purchases at Infinity’s End.

PHOTO BY COURTNEY MIHOCIK

“I THINK HAVING COMPETITION HELPED BUILD THE MARKET. IT CERTAINLY DIDN’T HURT US, IT HELPED US.”

Pg. 9 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Frank Pietras Jr., co-owner, Infinity’s End

community since before the area became a mecca for the sport. It’s another example of how Edwards and the store’s management has remained ahead of its time rather than falling into old habits.

Skateboarding equipment, smoke shop items, metaphysical crystals and even cuckoo clocks have found their way into Infinity’s End’s inventory. These seemingly random items don’t just find themselves in the store. Buyers like Edwards go through an impertinent decision-making process, sometimes traveling extensively to research products that will potentially showcased in the store.

“They travel the country in search of unique bohemian lifestyle products for our new and longtime loyal customers,” Frank Jr. stated. “And they’re very successful at it.”

For Edwards, the counterculture lifestyle has always been a part of her passions and interests, so when she came into the family and began working for Infinity’s End, it was a perfect match.

“I just have a passion for what I do. I really love it, I’ve been a counterculture person since I was a teenager,” she said. “It’s something that I’m passionate about.”

That passion extends to the employees who help the customers in the stores every day. Upon

walking in, customers are greeted with happy, well-paid employees ready to help. Queen City Nerve editor-in-chief Ryan Pitkin delivers to the South Boulevard location every two weeks, and he sometimes makes it a challenge to see if he can slip in and out without getting so much as a greeting from the store’s employees. He has been unsuccessful thus far.

Fortunately, however, the employees are careful not to aggressively upsell or pressure customers into buying what they don’t want.

“Our staff is friendly and we don’t pressure people,” Edwards said. “I don’t like the hard push, you know?”

Edwards remembered a Yelp review the store received recently, in which a customer was happy that they weren’t bombarded with sales tactics or urged by employees to purchase outside of their budgets.

“We try to have products for everybody’s budget,” Frank Jr. added. “[We’re] trying to fit into your budget, not make you extend your budget.”

Over the past 50 years, the loyal customers that Infinity’s End served have brought in generations of other customers — parents bring in their children, who in turn, bring in their children. It’s not just a

head shop, but a family-friendly retail store, which has helped it thrive as a well-rounded business.

Before people can get to the head shop in the back of the stores, they pass by jewelry, clothing, gifts, crystals, disc golf equipment and much more. That was no accident by the owners.

“We wanted to make it more widely accepted, like, ‘Hey it’s OK to go to Infinity’s End,’” Frank Jr. said.

“We don’t sell just pipes, there’s a lot more you can get there that enhances your lifestyle.”

They certainly don’t shy away from the head shop label, however. After all, the store’s annual 4/20 festival is still going strong, and this year it just happens to fall on its 50th anniversary celebration.

Hectorina, The Bloodworth Project and Hawthorne round out the 2019 musical lineup for the afternoon at the South Boulevard location, with on-site glass blowing and a raffle at 4:20 p.m. A donation to the SPCA gets complimentary beverages and local artists will be selling their wares.

“It’s like our Christmas, it’s our major holiday here,” Edwards exclaimed. “We just love celebrating with the community and having people come out and hang out, listen to music … ” The Christmas-in-April 4/20 party is also a chance for the family to open the doors to those who

420 FEST Feat. Hectorina, The Bloodworth Project, Hawthorne; April 20, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Free; Infinity’s End South, 5119A South Blvd.; infinitysend.com

have missed out for the last half-century. The party may be in South End, but the Infinity’s End family will be waiting with open arms (and 20% off) at all three locations. By next year, the crew might be celebrating 4/20 at four locations.

According to Frank Jr. and Becky, ownership is looking for options to establish another Infinity’s End location closer to Uptown that will open in the next year or two.

The growth of the family chain owes itself not only to the hard work of Edwards, Frank Jr., Becky and John Jr., but also to Charlotte and the hard work of Infinity’s End employees.

“I would love to recognize our amazing staff,” Edwards said. “We just have a great group of people working for us and without them, we couldn’t do it.”

To Infinity’s End and beyond.

CMIHOCIK@QCNERVE.COM

THE SEEKER UNFUCK YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

A lesson in loving yourself

Pg. 10 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

BY KATIE GRANT

IN ANCIENT INDIAN texts, yoga sutra 1.2 roughly translates to “the removing of the fluctuations of the mind.” At its core, this refers to our consciousness as human beings. That’s an easy enough concept to comprehend, right? In reality, you’ll begin to realize how painfully difficult it is to calm the mind when you fully understand its true nature: to respond to any and all stimuli. The mind’s job is to constantly be on high alert — always thinking, always aware. To shut it off is an impossible mission. This is part of the reason why it’s called yoga “practice” and not yoga “perfect.”

Gaining control over one’s own thoughts, feelings and actions becomes more accessible through practicing yoga. However, everyday life negates this personal growth; toiling away in front of a computer screen, dealing with work issues and sitting in traffic annoyed can make it difficult to embody those aforementioned ethos consistently.

That sense of not having control over my own thoughts, feelings and actions requires me to hit the refresh button constantly. That refresh recently presented itself as a weekend course administered by renowned international yoga teacher Eric Paskel.

Eager yet uncertain, I’m sure you can understand my apprehension over dedicating a whole Saturday afternoon to a course titled “UnF#cked Relationships that Rock,”facilitated by Enlighten Yoga in Blakeney. The name alone suggests a state of required introspection that has the potential to get heavy — something I would need to be mentally prepared to embrace.

To start, in order for one to become “unfucked” one must understand what it means to be fucked, and not in the way you’re thinking. According to Eric Paskel, to be “fucked” means to wish others would change to suit your personality, your needs or your views; getting bothered, anxious or depressed because others are bothered, anxious or depressed; believing others can make you or break you; or

not having complete control over your thoughts, feelings and actions. Not surprisingly, I identify with some of these traits. I’m fucked.

My short afternoon under Paskel’s tutelage was eye-opening to say the least. He provided forewarning that we might not like what he had to say.

When it comes to relationships, Paskel has four rules that he says will transform your relationships.

Relationship Rule No. 1: Attachment ruins relationships (this one’s more of an observation).

When we’re secure with ourselves and can take care of our own needs we can meet our significant other’s needs without asking for anything in return. That sense of expecting something and not receiving it is what causes suffering.

Relationship Rule No. 2: Properly assess the people you’re involved with. My biggest “wake up” moment of the weekend was learning how not assessing someone properly at the dawn of a relationship leads to unrealistic expectations. What is an unrealistic expectation, you ask? It’s asking or expecting someone to be anyone other than themselves. Further introspection on this forced me to reconsider past relationships that lived well past their shelf life.

Relationship Rule No. 3: Realize that relationships are based on duties, not rights. This concept is a little over my head. Basically, relationships thrive when we learn our roles and fulfill them to our best abilities.

Example: as a daughter I should be the best daughter I can be and work on viewing my mother as a fellow human, not just my mom. This is a challenge because my relationship with my mom is a special kind of fucked-up, but that’s a whole separate column.

Relationship Rule No. 4: Regulate and moderate contact. If you’ve ever struggled with codependence, this one’s for you. Traditionally, codependents seek external satisfaction in relationships, and if this resonates in any way, now may be the time to do some soul searching. It’s a life-changing realization to fully realize that our own happiness lies within ourselves, not in someone else.

My takeaway for you, dear reader, is to know that no one needs to change but yourself. Until we come to terms with that, all of our relationships will be forever fucked.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

SCANNER

BY RYAN PITKIN

Pg. 11 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

BUM A CIG Last issue we reported on a woman who had her car stolen while she slept inside it, but one man in Grier Heights didn’t heed our warning and also fell victim to a robbery while trying to catch some Zs in his whip. The man later told police that he was sleeping in his car at around 9 a.m. despite the fact that it was parked in front of the house that he lives in, when he was awoken by a man knocking on his window. The stranger asked for a cigarette, and when the sleepy man rolled down the window, another suspect came from out of nowhere and stuck a gun in his face. This new suspect apparently has a stronger nicotine addiction than his friend because he demanded all the cigarettes the victim had, plus the victim’s wallet. The victim said he gave them what they asked for and the two calmly walked away.

group according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, can often be found in Uptown spouting off about, well, extremely hateful shit, but one man recently decided he wasn’t going to listen to it anymore.

One 37-year-old member of the ISUPK filed a police report after a man tried to rob him in broad day while he stood preaching the gospel in a public square in Center City recently. The victim told police that a stranger approached him at 5:45 p.m. and pulled a knife on him, then came past the rope line that the ISUPK had set up. The suspect then tried to steal money from a cash box the group had out in the open. It’s unclear how long it took police to appear on the scene, but they were able to identify and arrest the man, charging him with assault with a deadly weapon and attempted larceny.

PERSON REPELLENT A 22-year-old man was just trying to go to work on one recent morning but three other men in his apartment complex were making things difficult for him. The victim told police that he went out to his work vehicle, which was parked in front of his apartment in the Oakhurst neighborhood, at about 6:25 a.m. and found that some vandals broke the passenger mirror off the vehicle and sprayed pepper spray on the driver’s side door handle. When he asked the three men standing nearby about the damage, one of them threatened to kick his ass, which is one hint that they were probably the ones responsible.

SAY WHAT? A report filed by management at Famous Toastery near Matthews in south Charlotte raises the question of whether it’s the server at the restaurant or the officer who filed the report that isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. The victim business filed a false pretenses/swindling report, meaning that somebody got scammed. According to the report, the suspect went into the restaurant and placed an order and then — pay close attention here — “presented different currency amounts from the currency presented.” It’s hard to say just what in the hell that means, but apparently this “scam tactic,” as it’s referred to in the report, worked to confuse the cashier into paying the suspect $94.30 in error. But did he tip, though?

BOOKISH THIEF One 77-year-old south Charlotte man has every reason to be reluctant to host his wife’s book club, as was apparent in a police report he filed recently. The man told police that his wife hosted her book club in one of the community rooms at The Cypress, a retirement home where the couple lives. His wife broke out the fancy tableware for the meeting, including the couple’s $300 pair of antique pastry tongs. This sparked jealousy among one of the book club members, apparently, because by the time everyone had left, the tongs were long gone.

PHONE GIVEAWAY Oftentimes reports pop up from people who went to the club, put their phone down for a second and never saw it again. One such man had the opposite problem on a recent weekend.

According to a report out of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were booking a man in the county jail after he was arrested for some unknown offense at the EpiCentre, and when they asked him why he had two phones in his pocket, he said he had no idea where the second one came from (sure) and asked that they turn it into found property.

GIVE IT UP Members of the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge, an extremist hate

All reports come from CMPD files. Suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Learn how to get a

Galaxy S8 FREE!

Ask an associate for details.

877-573-5302 SMARTPHONE BOGO: Limited Time Offer. Select locations. Must buy each iPhone 8 64 GB ($699.99) on 0% APR AT&T Next (30 mos. at $23.34/mo.) or AT&T Next Every Year (24 mos. at $29.17/mo.) with eligible service. Tax on full retail price of both due at sale. After all credits, get iPhone 8 64GB for free. Max credit may be applied towards other eligible iPhone 8/8 Plus models priced up to $950, which will be discounted but not free. iPhone X is not eligible.

Req’d Wireless: Eligible postpaid wireless voice & data svc on both devices (min. $65/mo. for new svc with autopay and paperless bill discount. Pay $75/mo. until discount starts w/in 2 bills. Existing customers can add to elig. current plans If you cancel wireless svc on one, will owe that device balance of up to $950. Activation Fee: up to $45/each. Return: Return w/in 14 days. Restocking fee up to $45 each may apply. Add’l BOGO terms for customers w/consumer acct & Subscriber Paid User acct: Purchased device must be on Subscriber Paid User acct & free/discounted device must be on the consumer acct. Billing addresses for Subscriber Paid User & consumer accts must match. Req’s elig. postpaid wireless voice & data svc on both devices. Combined min. elig wireless svc is $73.50/mo. ($28.50/mo. on Subscriber Paid User acct + $45/mo. on consumer acct after autopay & paperless bill discount. Pay $83.50/mo. until discount starts on consumer acct w/in 2 bills.) Bill Credits: Applied in equal amounts to device over entire agmt term & will not exceed $700. Both wireless lines must be on same acct, be active & in good standing for 30 days to qualify. To get all credits, free wireless line must remain active, with eligible service, and on agmt for entire term. If you cancel service, upgrade or pay up/off agmt early your credits may cease. Limits: May not be combinable w/other offers, discounts or credits. Purchase, financing & other limits & restr’s apply. Participation in this offer may make your wireless account ineligible for select other offers (including select bill credit offers) for a 12 month period. See store or att.com/iphone8offer for offer details.

GEN. WIRELESS SVC: Subj. to Wireless Customer Agmt (att.com/wca). Credit approval required. Svcs not for resale. Deposit: May apply. Limits: Purch. & line limits apply. Prices may vary by location. Taxes, fees, monthly, other charges, usage, speed, coverage & other restr's apply per line. See att.com/additionalcharges for details on fees & charges. Promotions, terms & restr’s subject to change & may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. AT&T service is subject to AT&T network management policies. See att.com/broadbandinfo for details.

IV Technologies Inc. NRO PD T 0118 5327 E

‘BARD FICTION’ April 18-27, times vary; $20; Duke Energy Theater, 345 N. College St.; blumenthalarts.org

Tom Ollis as Vincenzio de la Vega (left) and Kel Williams as Julius Win-field PHOTO BY MAGGIE MONAHAN

SHAKESPEARE, MEET TARANTINO

Pg. 12 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

‘Bard Fiction’ combines Elizabethan English lit with a modern classic

C

BY PAT MORAN

HRIS O’NEILL likes to go headfirst down rabbit holes.

When the Shakespeare Carolina director discovered the Pulp Bard Wiki Project, a web page where people recast the plot of Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 hit film Pulp Fiction in William Shakespeare’s Elizabethan English, he knew he struck gold. The play resulting from this online collaboration, Bard Fiction, launches Shakespeare Carolina’s 22nd season when it goes up at Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square on April 18, in a production that promises honor, betrayal and foot-rub dialogue.

O’Neill is an outspoken proponent of popularizing Shakespeare for modern audiences.

“He is the greatest writer in the English

language,” O’Neill says. “People need to hear his words spoken and need to see his work performed.”

Naturally, a mash-up of the bard of Avon and the badass of Hollywood immediately made sense to him.

“I get grief for saying this, but Shakespeare was a successful entertainer,” O’Neill says. “He wrote comedies and tragedies [featuring] sex, violence and political intrigue. Now what does Tarantino write?”

Obviously, both writers display a penchant for bloody carnage, but the comparison goes deeper, O’Neill continues. Though separated by centuries, Shakespeare and Tarantino drew their plots from existing sources, and through a mastery of the English language, the two consummate showmen

made those stories their own, O’Neill explains.

While Shakespeare borrowed from classic mythology, or twisted history to suit his needs, Tarantino drew from B-movie genres influenced by the hard-hitting stories of writers like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler — the original pulp fiction. The genius of each artist lies in what they did, and in Tarantino’s case continue to do, with that source material.

Reimagining the classical canon by taking an innovative or risky approach to revered texts has been the working philosophy for Shakespeare Carolina since its inception. O’Neill, now 54, was bitten by the bard when he was cast at age 27 in the South Carolina Repertory Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Hilton Head.

“Something during that show clicked for me and I wanted to know more,” O’Neill remembers.

Learning more led doing more, and in 1997, O’Neill launched Shakespeare Carolina as a nonprofit organization and ensemble based in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Since then the company has presented 17 of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as works by Tennessee Williams, Bertolt Brecht and others.

Bard Fiction, which transposes the F-bombstrewn argot of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction to Shakespeare’s blank verse and iambic pentameter, first appeared on O’Neill’s radar close to 10 years ago, when he discovered the Wiki site. He kept up with the page, read it and downloaded files from it with the intention of writing a scene or two, but he hadn’t gotten around to it when the site shut down.

In the meantime, a short production of Bard Fiction — written by Aaron Greer, Ben Tallen and Brian Watson-Jones with additional contributions from members of the Pulp Bard Wiki Project — debuted at the University of Minnesota Rarig Center Thrust as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival in 2009. The show was restaged in longer form in 2011. By 2013, Shakespeare Carolina had just presented a three-person production of Frankenstein for the now-defunct Queen City Fringe Festival and were looking for a followup for 2014. O’Neill alighted on Bard Fiction, but delays and other shows intervened. When O’Neill was planning Shakespeare Carolina’s 2019 season, he knew the time was right for the show. The fact that Bard Fiction is going up just as publicity is building for Tarantino’s latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is just a happy accident of timing, O’Neill says.

As producer of the production, O’Neill approached longtime friend and frequent collaborator James R. Cartee to direct. Cartee is the founder and director of Citizens of the Universe, an iconoclastic theatre troupe responsible for left-field productions like Trainspotting at The Milestone Club or Fight Club in a Plaza Midwood parking lot. COTU even put on another Tarantino adaptation, Reservoir Dogs, in 2010. In 2016, Cartee pulled up stakes and left Charlotte for Austin, Texas. O’Neill, who has known Cartee for 25 years, says his friend and colleague recently

returned to Greenville, South Carolina, and is commuting to Charlotte to work on the current production. O’Neill also cautions us not to consider COTU shut down.

“Citizens of the Universe is on hiatus but it never goes away,” he says laughing. “It’s like herpes, but in a good way.”

There was never any doubt in O’Neill’s mind that Cartee was the right choice to direct the Shakespeare-Tarantino mash up.

“If the world was a comic book, [Cartee] would be a super villain,” O’Neill enthuses. “He’s crazy smart and crazy talented. Forget about thinking outside the box. He has no box.”

True to form, Cartee found the idea of putting a twist on a known show alluring. He promises that the fourth wall will come down — along with other barriers — in the bawdy and brutal variation on the Bard. Audience participation will be encouraged, with many entrances and exits passing through the crowd. Cartee also says that a fight will spill out into the seats.

“I decided to place the show into the world of Commedia dell’arte,” Cartee says, referencing the popular, improvisation-based Italian comic theater style of the 16th though the 18th centuries. “It’s important with a property such as this, which is at once familiar and unfamiliar, to bring the audience into these characters’ world.”

He realizes that fans of the film have a vested interest in the property, and he wants to appeal to them as well as people who have never seen Pulp Fiction.

The idea of pulling people into the world of the play while pulling the rug out from under them is so important to Cartee that he has written a three-

person pre-show scene that he hopes will entice audiences while upending their expectations.

So will the plot of Bard Fiction closely shadow its Hollywood inspiration? Yes and no, according to Cartee. The fact that the cast list includes unsavory characters like the Gimp suggests that the film’s disturbing pawn shop scene will appear onstage in some form. Audiences can take comfort that iconic characters like Vincent Vega, Jules Winnfield and Marsellus Wallace will be present in the Elizabethan guises of Vincenzio de la Vega, Julius Win-field and Lord Marsellus Wallace.

That said, some characters don’t make the transition from screen to stage. Captain Koons, the prisoner of war and watch bearer played by Christopher Walken in the film, has been replaced with a Hamlet-like ghost of Butch’s father, Cartee explains. O’Neill says that some characters have been combined and there will be gender reversals as well. To compensate for the lack of cell phones, even the brick-sized ones that appear in the 1994 film, the character of Sprint has been devised to take on the role of messenger between characters.

In all, several intertwining plotlines involving multiple characters will be essayed by a cast of 13 actors. It’s a stripped-down approach that dovetails with O’Neill’s philosophy of presenting theater with a diminished footprint.

“We’re trying to be as minimalist as we can,” O’Neill says. “If there are more than 15 people [in the cast], we’re doing something wrong.”

He feels that a story should tell itself onstage, unaided by bells and whistles like elaborate castle sets or ornate furniture.

“All an effective show needs is the right group of actors doing the right kind of work,” he continues.

Pg. 13 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

LEGACY OF LYNCHING Bonus: Get the first look at our new exhibition!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

PHOTO BY MAGGIE MONAHAN

Ollis as Vincenzio with Elisha Bryant as Lady Mia Wallace.

“[SHAKESPEARE] WROTE COMEDIES AND TRAGEDIES [FEATURING] SEX, VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL INTRIGUE. NOW WHAT DOES TARANTINO WRITE?” Chris O’Neill, director, Shakespeare Carolina

Cartee is also enthusiastic about encouraging effective performances from his hardworking cast, partly because he too sees Shakespeare and Tarantino as a perfect fit.

“Both are bloody writers with an eye for characters,” Cartee says. The vivid Pulp Fiction characters and their experiences translate well over

into Shakespeare country, he continues. “You get to see how each of the main characters progress through being avatars of life, death, redemption and change.”

Might we add to those themes reincarnation?

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

WEDNESDAY, APR. 10TH THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE

What: If it doesn’t happen on television, does it still count? Shit yeah, it does. The longest-running game show in television history comes to Charlotte, and while you won’t be on TV, you still have the chance to win cash, money and cars; play classic games like Plinko and Cliffhangers; and jump around on stage like an idiot.

More: $40-200; 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Ovens Auditorium, 2900 E. Independence Blvd.; ovensauditorium.com

THURSDAY, APR. 11TH

CHARLOTTE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

What: This year’s event includes “Birthing the Gifts,” a Digital Village Expo aimed to connect the city’s diverse community of authors, digital content producers, creatives, musicians, entertainment execs and vendors.

More: Prices vary; April 11-14, times vary; Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St.; charlotteblackfilmfestival.com

FRIDAY, APR. 12TH

LIFELINE

Pg. 14 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

APR. 10TH - APR. 16TH

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

What: Eight-time Grammy-nominated Death Cab For Cutie has been an iconic alternative band for the past decade, and while the release of their ninth studio album in August may have evolved from their earlier albums, this show will still have you feeling that all-too-familiar combination of nostalgia and angst circa early 2000s.

More: $45-75; 8 p.m.; Ovens Auditorium; 2700 E. Independence Blvd; ovensauditorium.com

SATURDAY, APR. 13TH THE CONGREGATION SHOW 2019

What: No, it’s not a church festival, it’s the third annual Congregation Vintage Bike & Car Festival, hosted by local motorcycle repair shop Prism Co. Supply outside of their Camp North End location. Folks are planning rides together from faraway states so be ready to check out a wide range of whips and bikes.

More: Free; 1-8 p.m.; Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave.; tinyurl.com/CongregationBikeFest

SUNDAY, APR. 14TH ZAC BROWN BAND

What: You can pin down Zac Brown’s sound at the crossroads of country and jam band, but don’t cut him short.

Brown casts his net wider to include funk and ’70s soft rock. As with most crossroads, Zac’s intersections include roots music. The devil’s in the details.

More: $28 and up; 7 p.m.; PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.; pncmusicpav.com

MONDAY, APR. 15TH

FIND YOUR MUSE WITH LIAM ALONE

What: Whether you’re stepping up to the open mic or not, funk/soul singer and occasional beatboxer Liam Alone will be headlining whatever mix of local talent signs up. Alone, a Syracuse, New York, native may even inspire you to find your musical muse.

More: $3; 8 p.m.; The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St.; eveningmuse.com

TUESDAY, APR. 16TH A BRONX TALE

What: What do you do when you’re stuck between the father you love and the mob boss you’d love to be? When Bobby Deniro’s involved, that should be an easy decision, but he’s not starring in this version of a timeless tale.

More: $25 and up; Runs through April 21, times vary; Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

Social Calendar a little light?

Check out

QCNERVE’S LIFELINE

for cool events happening in the queen city!

WEDNESDAY, APR. 17TH

CHARLIE HUNTER & LUCY WOODWARD

What: After bonding over the blues, vocalist Woodward and guitarist Hunter explored their unique chemistry.

Featuring radical takes on Nina Simone, Terence Trent D’Arby, Bessie Smith and more, the duo’s 2018 collection Music! Music! Music! is a blast of soul and spontaneity.

More: $20; 7 p.m.; Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St.; neighborhoodtheatre.com

THURSDAY, APR. 18TH

MODERNISM IN THE MOUNTAINS

What: What do Albert Einstein, John Cage and a Bauhaus double-wide trailer on steroids have in common? Black Mountain College, an experimental institution in Asheville that once flourished where the LEAF Festival now takes place. A panel discussion at Knight will be followed by a reception at Bechtler Museum at Modern Art. More: $25; 6:30 p.m.; Knight Theater, 420 S. Tryon St.; bechtler.org

FRIDAY, APR. 19TH

LIFELINE

Pg. 15 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

APR. 17TH- APR. 23RD

DIGITAL GARDENS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

What: Can’t make it to Electric Daisy Carnival? No worries, Charlotte is home to the second annual Digital Gardens Music and Arts Festival in NoDa, complete with a killer lineup of EDM artists, trippy installments and vendors.

More: $55-165; 2:45 p.m., through April 20th; The Shed Amphitheater at Station House; 4100 Raleigh St.; tinyurl.com/DigitalGardens19

SATURDAY, APR. 20TH WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL

What: What better time than 4/20 to blaze one before you stroll around Symphony Park and look at the beautiful glowing lanterns floating in the water. Sure, this is a family event, but it’s weed we’re talking about here, not meth for God’s sake.

More: $35-40; 5-10:30 p.m.; Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road; waterlanternfestival.com

SUNDAY, APR. 21ST LESS THAN JAKE

What: Chris DeMakes, cofrontman of Florida-based ska-punkers Less Than Jake, recently referred to his band as “the cockroaches of the music industry,” as they’ve outlived all their musical peers that began in the late ’90s. We see a ska renassaince brewing on the horizon, so who better to ring that in?

More: $23.50; 7 p.m.; Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St.; amossouthend.com

MONDAY, APR. 22ND

LINCKA, EMILY SAGE, SIDENOTE

What: For a night at Petra’s, experience the music of a woman who grew up in Portugal, a creative Charlotte rapper-poet-singer-dancer and the bilingual lyrics of Mexican-American musician Lincka. You’d be hard pressed to find a show in the Queen City with this much musical and cultural diversity.

More: $7; 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

TUESDAY, APR. 23RD MISERY LOVES COMPANY

What: Bushels of pollen are falling from the trees and half the people we know are befuddled by inflamed sinus agony. What better time for New Jersey emo band Misery Loves Company to come blowing into town? It’s empathy at maximum volume.

More: $7; 8 p.m.; The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd.; themilestone.club

Social Calendar a little light?

Check out

QCNERVE’S LIFELINE

for cool events happening in the queen city!

Yung Blaza

PHOTO BY WAYNE BROWN/ONE TAKE PRO

BANKER BRUH

Pg. 16 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Yung Blaza left the corporate world behind and didn’t look back

T

BY RYAN PITKIN

HE BANKING WORLD brought Marsiase Brinson to Charlotte, but that was all that industry could do for him.

After graduating from University of North Carolina Pembroke with a degree in political science in 2012, Brinson was still living in the sleepy college town of about 3,000 people, where he worked at Sam’s Club. When he received an offer to join the mortgage department at Bank of America at their Charlotte offices, he jumped at the chance.

Ever since his childhood in Rocky Mount, Brinson had been cultivating his talent as a rapper, performing as Yung Blaza, playing open mics and

joining cyphers here and there, but he had never pursued it passionately.

Charlotte gave him the chance to finally do that.

“It was a good opportunity to get out of Sam’s Club and then get into a bigger market, also,” said Brinson of his Bank of America gig. “I knew that from there, more opportunity would come being in a bigger market. So that was just really why I took that position initially.”

It didn’t take long for Brinson to realize that the banker bro life wasn’t for him. He was good at his job, but climbing the corporate ladder at one

of America’s largest institutions meant doing more than being good at your job.

Brinson balked at the ass-kissing nature of networking in the corporate world, so he left Bank of America and began splitting his hustles between selling life and health insurance for a company that gave him more freedom and rapping on the side.

“I’m a pretty good salesman, it’s just one of those things that come naturally,” Brinson said.

“If you can sell me on it, I’m like ‘OK, I can sell everybody else on it.’”

It didn’t take him long to realize that if he put the same effort into selling himself that he had put

into mortgages and insurance, he could chase his dream.

He knew he had the talent, all he had to was put his name out there. After all, in today’s media and entertainment landscape, everyone is their own brand.

“At that time I was saying, ‘Hey, I know how to sell here, I can just sell myself,’” Brinson said.

“I put it in a perspective where it’s all about who you know, making those connections. The only way you’re going to rise past a certain point [in the corporate world] is who you know, who gave you that opportunity, and it’s the same thing in music.

Pg. 17 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

It’s really hard for creatives, period — whether you’re an actor, singer, dancer, in the industry — it’s all about taking that right opportunity and who you know. It’s the same thing, so I’d rather take all that effort and use it in terms of music.”

Brinson had gotten great reactions to his raps in Rocky Mount and in Pembroke, so why not in the state’s largest market? He left his insurance side hustle and took up rap full-time.

Since then, Yung Blaza has been organizing shows, touring the east coast, co-hosting a local public access television show, landing sponsorship deals with sunglasses companies and he’s got plenty more to come.

On April 13, Blaza will headline the Hip-Hop Rodeo Night Show at Common Market in Plaza Midwood with six other area rappers. He’ll follow that up with a more-stripped down performance, bringing on Lovecraft for the Lyrical Miracle Highladay Day Show at The Evening Muse in celebration of 4/20.

The title of the 4/20 show is a reference to Yung Blaza’s newest album, Lyrical Miracle, a concept album of sorts that dropped in February.

The record, which consists of biblically titled songs like “Holy Ghost,” “Rapture” and “Runnin’ On Water,” takes listeners for a ride through dark, spooky beats contrasted by Blaza’s high-energy lyrics.

According to Blaza, he went into the studio with two songs — “Soulful” and “Lyrical Miracle” — and got to work with Raleigh-based producer MG the Future. It quickly became apparent that what he had in mind for the songs wasn’t going to happen.

Blaza was aiming for playful, but MG wasn’t playing around.

“He’s a very serious dude all the time,” Blaza said. “I was giving him the hook [for ‘Lyrical Miracle’] and I’m just being like, ‘This is playful, we’re going to play around on this song a little bit,’ and then he produced this beat that starts out hard and then transitions to very musical. The instrumentation on it is next level, so that’s when I decided, OK, maybe I’m going to make a full concept based on this one song.”

And that’s what he did. Blaza put together 12 songs to run in front of “Lyrical Miracle,” using that instrumental transition within the song to lighten the mood as the album wraps, in a move that not only represents an escape from the down-trodden hellscape of dark beats that push the album along, but the potential for a Lyrical Miracle afterlife.

“The album starts dark and then ends light, so I wanted to have a little transition in there, leaving the door open for another Lyrical Miracle, maybe turning

LYRICAL MIRACLE HIGHLADAY DAY PARTY

Feat. Yung Blaza, Lovecraft; April 20, 1:30 p.m.; $10-$12; The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St.; eveningmuse.com YUNG BLAZA’S HIP-HOP RODEO April 13, 9 p.m.-Midnight; Free; Common Market Plaza Midwood, 2007 Commonwealth Ave.; commonmarketisgood.com

“I wanted to still give that hard production that you can ride to, that you can hear anywhere, but at the same time spit something that you actually want to hear,” Blaza said. “So when you’re done listening to the song you have some quotables, some things you can take away.”

Since the album’s release, Blaza has been putting his marketing skills to work to try to push it to the people. He recently disembarked from a regional tour that took him to Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia.

He also continues to co-host Next Up TV, a show about hip-hop culture that comes on Access 21 in Charlotte on Monday nights at 11 p.m.

After his two upcoming local shows, he’ll get started on his most ambitious project yet: a tour of breweries throughout the Carolinas.

When we last spoke with Blaza he only had the first brewery booked — located in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 21 — but he was optimistic that he could fill out a tour with locations in Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh, Wilmington and the likes, despite the fact that it’s hard enough to book hip-hop shows PHOTO BY WAYNE BROWN/ONE TAKE PRO at legit music venues.

Blaza will be perfoming with a live band at each brewery, and plans to bring along a diverse range of acts in each city. When asked if the well-known lack of diversity within the brewery scene worries him, he said it was all the more reason to move forward.

“That’s exactly why we’re doing it to be honest,” he said. “We love beer, we love to go to breweries and drink, and that [lack of diversity] is something that we see, but we know at the same time, everyone likes hip-hop music. Everybody has some kind of interest in hip-hop culture, and if not, the Yung Blaza lineup that we’re bringing out there is so various, there’s so many different types of artists, so many that into a series,” he said, implying he would start Within the album itself, Yung Blaza takes after styles, we know we can get people’s attention, and a new process like that of his No Pressure mixtape his more contemporary inspirations like Future and people will be entertained.” series, before walking it back just a bit.

Migos with catchy hooks and a Dirty South vibe, We’re sold.

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM “I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do, because but with lyrical content more more like that of the the focus is still on Lyrical Miracle right now, but musical heroes he grew up listening to like Nas, Wuthat’s what I was going for with that,” he continued. Tang Clan and Outkast.

“I’M A PRETTY GOOD SALESMAN ... IF YOU CAN SELL ME ON IT, I’M LIKE ‘OK, I CAN SELL EVERYBODY ELSE ON IT.’”

SOUNDWAVE RECORD STORE DAY IS COMING…

Pg. 18 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

over 500 limited edition vinyl titles on sale on april 13TH open at 9am giveaways & free prizes storewide sale

voted creating loafing “best RECORD STORE” 2012-2018

lunchboxrecords.com 825 CENTRAL AVE. CHARLOTTE, NC 704-331-0788

APRIL 10 ROCK/PUNK/METAL POP Outshyne (Mac’s Speed Shop, Lake Norman) Martin Denny’s 108th Birthday Bash: Don Forsaken Profits, The Hooliganz, Smelly Felly Telling’s Island Mysteries (Tip Top Daily Market) (Skylark Social Club) Mose Jones (Comet Grill) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Open Mic Night (Tommy’s Pub) Michael Flynn, Kris Gruen (Evening Muse) Suthpin, Asbestos Boys, Joules, Izar Estelle Black Mass, Nemesis, Old Scratch (The (The Milestone) Milestone) Bob Fleming & The Cambria Iron Company, DJ/ELECTRONIC Ennie Arden, Sammy Kay & Mike Vidal (Skylark Le Bang (Snug Harbor) Social Club) Gibbz (Neighborhood Theatre) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ April Residency: Pleather w/ Pink Mexico, Lil R&B Skritt, Mariah Van Kleef (Snug Harbor) Kid Trunks x Craig Xen (Underground) Max Williams (Hattie’s) Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (Free Range APRIL 12 Brewing) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Jason Lee Mckinney Band (Thomas Street COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Tavern) Open Mic with Leebo (Comet Grill) Cody Hare, Longchild + Don4ld (Crown Station) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ Tweed, Darren and the Buttered Toast (Evening R&B Muse) Kodak Black, Roddy Ricch, Calboy, Sniper Manic Focus, Russ Liquid (Visulite) Gang, 22Gz (Fillmore) Steel Standing Returns, Fear until Fury, Swamp 78 (Amos’ Southend) ROOTS/BLUES/ The Subdudes (McGlohon Theater) INTERNATIONAL Death Cab for Cutie (Ovens Auditorium) ONDAS do Brasil (Petra’s) The Living Deads, Anchor Detail, Black Powder, Moderneverything (The Milestone) APRIL 11 Children of Bodom, Swallow the Sun, COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Wolfheart (Underground) Adam Hood, The Sea The Sea (Evening Muse) Dark Star Orchestra (Fillmore) Robert Earle Keen, Darrin Bradbury Nominee, Home For The Day, MKNLY, Come (Neighborhood Theatre) Clean (Skylark Social Club) Shana Blake & Friends (Smokey Joe’s) EZ Shakes, Bert Wray Blues, Wes Hamilton Haley Mae Campbell (Tin Roof) (Tommy’s Pub)

Electronic Park, Sunset Cassette, The Roman Spring (Petra’s) Revelry Soul (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) Cardfall (Tin Roof) Heroes at Last (RiRa) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Tab Benoit, Eric McFadden (Neighborhood Theatre) Charlie Mars (Evening Muse) Will Easter Solo (Primal Brewery) Pierce Edens, Sam Burchfield (Free Range Brewing) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Player Made (Snug Harbor) APRIL 13 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Death of August, Neverfall, The Body Bags, Queen City Rejects (The Milestone) Carbon Leaf (Neighborhood Theatre) Opposite Box, Daryl Hance Powermuse (Evening Muse) Lobsters of Rock – B-52’s Tribute (Visulite) Matt Nathanson, Whitney Woerz, OBB (Amos’ Southend) Little Raine Band (Thomas Street Tavern) Turkuaz (Underground) Kel Ill, Boom Chld, The Bleus (Petra’s) Weedeater Deluxe, Greevace, Skynocerous (Tommy’s Pub) Lebo & Friends Fundraiser for Tom Williams (Comet Grill) Swansgate (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) Blue Monday (Tin Roof)

SOUNDWAVE COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Ruen Brothers, The National Reserve (Evening Muse) Jamey Johnson, Kelsey Waldon (Fillmore) APRIL 14 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Leith K. Ali, No Rope, Bince, I and the Lad (The Milestone) Rock to a Cure (Comet Grill) Lisa De Novo (Divine Barrel) Conor Donohue, Lindsay Holler, Ryan Mckusick (Petra’s) Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Zac Brown Band, Moon Taxi (PNC Music Pavilion) Shawn Colvin (McGlohon Theater)

Pg. 19 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Bone Snugs-N-Harmony (Snug Harbor) ROOTS/BLUES/ INTERNATIONAL Bluegrass Open Jam w/ Greg M Clarke & Friends (Tommy’s Pub) DJ/ELECTRONIC DJSPK, DJ Ron Stylez, LongChild (Petra’s) APRIL 15 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Open Mic with Lisa De Novo (Legion Brewing) The Big Lonesome, Ila Minori, Lions in Space, An Archaic Agenda (The Milestone) Find Your Muse: Liam Alone (Evening Muse)

Veil of Maya, Intervals, Strawberry Girls, Cryptodira (Amos’ Southend) Cito Jamorah and Friends (Smokey Joe’s) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Jazz Jam Hosted by Occie Davids, Troy Conin, Ron Brendle (Crown Station) Knocturnal (Snug Harbor) APRIL 16 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Open Jam with the Smokin’ Js (Smokey Joe’s) Jesse Lamar Willimas & The Menastree Jazz Jam (Evening Muse) The Raineers w/ Crenshaw Pentecostal, Mitchel Evans & The Saboteurs (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Lauren Alaina, Dylan Scott, Morgan Evans, Jon Langston, Matt Stell (Underground) Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Soulful Tuesdays (Crown Station) APRIL 17 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Daddy’s Beemer, Tom Angst, The Remarks (The Milestone) Charlie Hunter & Lucy Woodward (Neighborhood Theatre) Outshyne (Mac’s Speed Shop, South End) The Accidentals (Evening Muse) Hatebreed, Obituary, Terror, Cro-Mags, Fit for an Autopsy (Underground) April Residency: Pleather w/ The Golden

SOUNDWAVE Pelicans (Snug Harbor) The Worst Of Us, S’Efforcer (Skylark Social Club)

Thursday, May 23

Pg. 20 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Friday, May 24

Saturay, May 25

Tomorrows Bad Seeds (Neighborhood Theatre) Leone w/ Dot.s (Snug Harbor) Morganton, Hale Bopp Astronauts, Alert The COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Media, Short Division (Skylark Social Club) Open Mic with Leebo (Comet Grill) Matthew Paul Butler, Brandon Berg, Forest Bailey (Petra’s) APRIL 18 The Long View, Emma Law (Hattie’s Tap & ROCK/PUNK/METAL Tavern) Outshyne (Mac’s Speed Shop, Steel Creek) The Armory (Tin Roof) Pursey Kerns (Mac’s Speed Shop, Lake Norman) Lil Skritt, Cheesus Crust, The Infamous Sugar Stevie Tombstone, Drunken Prayer (Evening (Tommy’s Pub) Muse) Shana Blake & Friends (Smokey Joe’s Café) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Tribute to Prince (Fillmore) The Bones of J.R. Jones, Charlie Parr (Evening The Parlor Mob (Underground) Muse) Open Mic Night (Tommy’s Pub) Cassadee Pope, Clare Dunn, Hannah Ellis Crystal Fountains (Comet Grill) (Underground) Liam Alone (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Appalachian Monk (Primal Brewery) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Music Open Mic (Crown Station) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL DJ/ELECTRONIC Hiroshima (Knight Theater) Le Bang (Snug Harbor) DJ/ELECTRONIC COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA DJs Skinner, Rob Knight, Mikael Fritts (Crown The Powell Brothers. (Tin Roof) Station) APRIL 19 ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Band of Heathens, The Artisanals (Visulite) SeepeopleS (Evening Muse) Ride the Lightning: Metallica Tribute (Amos’ Southend) Dr. Bacon w/ El Dub (Thomas Street Tavern) The Fill Ins, Warboys, Bless the Dead, The Walbournes (The Milestone)

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Lil Baby, Blueface, Jordan Hollywood (Fillmore) APRIL 20 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Ghost Light (Visulite) The Brevet, The Unlikely Candidates (Neighborhood Theatre)

SOUNDWAVE Lisa De Novo Band (Legion Brewing) Tosco Music Party (Knight Theater) ISH, Invictus, Faithful Annie, Blackwater Drowning, Drown The Mob (Amos’ Southend) Cuzco Album Release w/ Pullover, Catholics, Things Amazing (Snug Harbor) Castle Black, Bad Karol, Amity Pointe, Swansgate (Tommy’s Pub) Shaka Brah, Yours, Ultra Deluxe, Lil Skritt, Pet Bug, Jordan McSwain, Yt Bronco (Petra’s) Mike Strauss Band (Comet Grill) Flip Cup All Stars. (Tin Roof) 420 Fiasco: Hipgnostic, Trismalux, Justin Aswell (Heist Brewery) Tony Eltora Band (Primal Brewery) Ready 4 More (RiRa) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Shealee CD Release (Evening Muse)

Pg. 21 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

DJ/ELECTRONIC Electrohex with DJ Price (The Milestone) DJ Justice (Crown Station) Glow Party! (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Yung Blaza, Lovecraft (Evening Muse) APRIL 21 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Bergenline, Pool League, Groove Skeleton, Elevator Chat, Shutterings (The Milestone) Kenny Curio (Crown Station) Less Than Jake, Mest, Punchline, Kali Masi (Amos’ Southend) Patois Counselors, Horizontal Hold, Taxing

(Petra’s) Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Bone Snugs-N-Harmony (Snug Harbor) Jack & Jack (Underground) ROOTS/BLUES/ INTERNATIONAL Bluegrass Open Jam w/ Greg M Clarke & Friends (Tommy’s Pub) DJ/ELECTRONIC Hazy Sunday (Petra’s) APRIL 22 ROCK/PUNK/METAL October, Reflex Machine, The Russells, Dumpster Service (The Milestone) Dream Theater (Ovens Auditorium) Open Mic with Lisa De Novo (Legion Brewing) Find Your Muse Open Mic: David Taylor & the Tallboys (Evening Muse) Cito Jamorah and Friends (Smokey Joe’s) Lincka, Emily Sage, Sidenote (Petra’s)

(Evening Muse) No Anger Control, Antiqueens, Mutant Stain (Tommy’s Pub) Misery Loves Company, Softspoken, Skylight Heights, Angry Earth (The Milestone Club) Open Jam with the Smokin’ Js (Smokey Joe’s) Guys on a Bus, Kaska Sun, Janet Flights (Skylark Social Club) Uptown Unplugged with Josh Tenery (Tin Roof)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Folkfaces w/ Wes and The Railroaders (Snug Harbor) Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Soulful Tuesdays (Crown Station)

VOICE OVER CASTING MIX SOUND DESIGN MUSIC WHISKEY

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/ R&B Jazz Jam hosted by Occie Davids, Troy Conin, & Ron Brendle (Crown Station) Knocturnal (Snug Harbor) APRIL 23 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Si Kahn 75th Birthday Celebration: The Looping Brothers, Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer

GROUNDCREWSTUDIOS.COM

Brandon Ruiz shows off some food he helped grow at Bennu Gardens’ Tuckaseegee location.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDON RUIZ

GROWN FROM CEMENT

Bernard Singleton continues to cultivate Bennu Gardens

Pg. 22 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

A

BY RYAN PITKIN

S BERNARD SINGLETON stood in his garden in the parking lot of Savona Mill in west Charlotte on one of the first days of spring, he looked around at the growth happening all around him.

Plants that would eventually become onions, cabbages, spring peas and cauliflower peaked through the dirt in one bed, built by neighborhood kids who were court-ordered to help Singleton with his garden — though many of them stayed well after their community service was over. In another bed, oregano, parsley and sage began to sprout.

A few feet over, empty vines awaited the annual return of blackberries. Blueberries and raspberries would soon appear on the nearby bushes.

Later, the conversation turned to a different type of growth that’s been happening all around Singleton and the properties where he runs Bennu Gardens, an urban gardening project he launched in 2014 and has since expanded into three locations.

Just over the fence from Savona Mill, Blue Blaze Brewing has been in operation since 2016. Enderly Coffee Co. opened last year just a short walk down the street.

Singleton isn’t upset about either business showing up in his neighborhood, but he knows what they signify: gentrification.

“You know when you get a brewery and coffee shop, it’s over,” Singleton said, laughing at my question about the ongoing change.

Savona Mill itself — once a paper mill that served as the beating heart of the Seversville neighborhood — may currently look abandoned, but it will eventually be renovated into a mixed-use district consisting of retail, office and residential space.

But Singleton isn’t interested in playing the victim or giving in to displacement. He sees the coming change as another opportunity to adapt.

“We know the community is changing, but

we’re working to educate people to be a part of the change,” Singleton said. “If you can become a stakeholder in the community, you can be part of the change. Change is not always a bad thing. There’s not a level playing field, we all don’t get the same opportunities, but if you be creative and utilize some of those niches, we’ve been able to survive, and as this project developed, what we brought to the project, we will be here when this is developed.”

Over the last year, Singleton has been focused on developing Bennu Gardens’ new 11-acre Nebedaye Farms in Indian Trail, a property he leases from the Carolina Farm Trust. There he plans to build a processing plant and other infrastructure to help create jobs and turn Bennu Gardens into a profitable business by harvesting moringa, a superfood grown in Africa and Asia that Singleton has been learning to grow successfully in Charlotte over the last two years.

The Nebedaye Farms Moringa Project is just the latest example of Singleton’s resilience and

adaptability in the face of tragedy, displacement and unforeseen change.

Singleton launched Bennu Gardens as a nonprofit four years after the unexpected passing of his son, Caesar Singleton. Caesar had already been enrolled in college, developing programs for at-risk youth and working on projects about how to grow food on Mars when he passed away at 15 years old.

According to Bernard, Caesar died of a freak accident called “dry drowning,” which was more than likely a delayed drowning, in which water gets into a person’s lungs but does not affect them until hours or even days later.

Bernard told a story about how his son had suddenly become very interested in meeting his ancestors before his passing. He took Caesar to the cemetery to meet them.

“He went and introduced himself to everyone in the cemetery and he was like, ‘Dad, this is where I want to be,’ and two weeks later his ass was there. He just thought the power of his ancestors was so intriguing and so great that he laid down and he didn’t wake up.”

Bernard, whose family hails from Senegal, does not view his son’s passing as a death but as a transition.

“It’s almost like it was a spiritual calling, like in Africa,” Bernard said. “He comes here to start something and he’s only destined to be here for a short time. He was way ahead of his time. He knew physics, mathematics and science and growing and life. He was a powerful being. He’s even a more powerful ancestor right now, truly helping us out.”

Bernard learned everything he knew about gardening from Caesar, and said it was his son that eventually guided him to start Bennu Gardens. But it didn’t happen overnight.

After moving to Charlotte in 2011 with his daughter, Singleton struggled to find a home.

After one potential apartment fell through, the two turned a unit at NoDa Storage into a studio apartment and lived there until they were able to find more appropriate housing. They eventually found themselves on the West End, where Singleton began to spread his knowledge of urban gardening. He started with two raised beds at the Carole Hoefner Center in Uptown, planted with seeds Singleton purchased with food stamps.

Later, Greg Jarrell at the Queen City Family Tree offered him a lot to use on Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte, which eventually led to acquiring a larger garden a few blocks down at Tuckaseegee and Glenwood Drive, which Singleton still runs

“WE’RE TRYING TO USE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO FOOD INSECURITY; WE TEACH FOOD SOVEREIGNTY. YOU CAN GROW ANYWHERE.” Bernard Singleton, Bennu Gardens

Pg. 23 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Brandon Ruiz

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDON RUIZ

along with the Savona Mill location.

Singleton and his team of volunteers plant yearround as the weather permits, and during the spring and summer host farmers markets for the community to pick food for themselves free of charge.

For Singleton, Bennu helps push back against the myth of food deserts, which he sees as a false narrative based on victimhood.

“We’re trying to use a different approach to food insecurity; we teach food sovereignty. You can grow anywhere. We never live in a food desert. We live in food forests if we learn how to grow food.

You can grow food anywhere,” Singleton said, motioning to the mill parking lot he was standing in. “This was concrete and weeds. Does it look like concrete and weeds anymore? No. We create food forests. We don’t worry about the negative. We look at ways of seeing how we can turn it into a positive.”

Now Singleton has his eyes on growing an actual forest of moringa. The African-Asian plant known for its healing properties and countless culinary uses is usually farmed in more tropical climates. Singleton researched and experimented with moringa in Charlotte for two years. Last year, he was able to grow 25-foot-long moringa trees in just five months at his Savona location. He plans to make it the centerpiece of Nebedaye Farms.

Singleton, who has funded Bennu Gardens himself for five years, hopes moringa will be a turning point for the project.

“The thing about the Moringa Project is it’s a high-value, in-demand crop and it grew out of the west side of Charlotte,” Singleton said. “We’ve been able to grow here and create an industry around it

Bernard Singleton at Bennu Gardens in Savona Mill

at two levels; born, bred, researched and created from people in the community. It’s a multi-milliondollar-a-year business, so we plan to do very well with it this year. But this is a grassroots operation that came out of a so-called food desert.”

Moringa serves a larger purpose than sustenance and potential profit, as Singleton has learned. With its roots in countries that are homelands to countless Charlotte-area immigrants, moringa has brought a newfound diversity to Bennu Gardens markets.

“It’s such a powerful plant, how it brings so many cultures and people together. That’s one of the most important and most beautiful things out of it. That’s something that you don’t see where we live on Tuckaseegee; you don’t have this diverse population coming to the so-called ‘hood to shop,” Singleton said, laughing. “People come and they haven’t seen their country for years, they get all emotional. Just with that one crop alone, it tells such a story, diversity-wise, economic empowerment-wise, health and wellness-wise.”

Bennu Gardens’ dedication to health and wellness doesn’t stop at with food. While Singleton will be focused on building up Nebedaye Farms in the coming year, a young partner of his named Brandon Ruiz will be implementing his own project at Bennu’s Tuckaseegee Road garden: an herbal pharmacy aimed at helping community members treat and prevent maladies through alternative, natural medicine.

Ruiz, now 21, became interested in gardening through one of his teachers at Mallard Creek High School who grew wheatgrass in the classroom. He began growing his own food, which eventually led

PHOTO BY RYAN PITKIN

him to herbalism.

While Singleton works on the farm in Indian Trail, Ruiz will be cultivating an Afro-Caribbean garden on Tuckaseegee Road that includes traditional plants from those regions and some from Latin America, with a focus on plants that offer herbal remedies.

For Ruiz, you can’t talk about urban gardening and health and wellness without including herbal medicine and alternative healthcare.

“I think that there’s a very fine line, if any, between providing preventative healthcare and having knowledge of how to do more of an acute sort of thing,” Ruiz said, “like you have food and vegetables but in the situation of, ‘Oh I have a cough, I have a fever, a cold,’ you can learn about treating those specifically.’”

Ruiz said he hopes Singleton’s work with moringa, which is known both for its culinary and medicinal properties, will help bridge the gap between diet and healthcare.

“To see the connection with how food and urban gardening has been for such a while, I think that the connection to herbal medicine is inevitable,” he said.

“Moringa is literally that. It’s medicine, it’s used for specific medicinal remedies, and it’s food as well, it’s providing sustenance for people. So to be able to do what I’m doing and and educate alongside him is really special. I’m really excited for all the different stuff that’s going on and is going to happen.”

Singleton can also rest easy knowing that his Savona Mill location will be in the capable hands of Chantel Johnson, founder and owner of local health and wellness self-sufficiency organization Off Grid

In Color, while he works on Nebedaye Farms.

The future plans for Savona Mill are still far off, but Singleton isn’t going to let them sneak up on him. He’s currently in talks with Argos Real Estate Advisors, which owns the Savona Mill property and gave him the original space in the parking lot he uses now, about leasing out a separate building with offices, classrooms and garden space for an educational concept partnership between Singleton and Scott Harris of Viva Raw. Those plans are still in the preliminary stages, so in the meantime Singleton is focused on building up Nebedaye Farms. When we last spoke, Singleton had spent the day in discussions with companies interested in packaging and marketing his moringa products once the farm gets moving.

The namesake of Bennu Gardens, the Egyptian Bennu Bird, is a symbol of resurrection, renewal and rebirth, all themes that Singleton wanted to reinforce in the West End. Considering he launched Bennu Gardens with food stamps and never asked for a dime back, the potential to bring serious money back to his community would seem like a happy surprise, although one would be hard pressed to surprise Singleton.

“From where we came from and getting it to that point, and to bring as many people as we can along with us, that’s important,” Singleton said.

“We’ve got a very good team of dedicated workers, and we just do it. Money wasn’t what was driving us, but if that’s what came out of it, nothing’s ever wrong with that.”

You know what that’s called? Growth.

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

DILWORTH

DILWORTH NEIGHBORHOOD GRILLE

BAKERSFIELD

Monday: $3 Jack Daniels Tuesday: $3 Tres Generaciones, $10 Don Julio 1942 Wednesday: $3 Bulleit Bourbon Thursday: $3 Espolon Friday: $3 George Dickel No. 8 Saturday: $3 Lunazul Sunday: $3 Larceny Bourbon

Monday: $4 Crown & Down Tuesday: $4 drafts, $12 pitchers, $5 flights of North Carolina drafts Wednesday: 1/2 off wine bottles and martinis Thursday: $12 domestic buckets, $18 import buckets Friday: $3 craft drafts, $5 flavored vodka Saturday: $5 mason jar cocktails Sunday: $4 bloody marys

300EAST

SUMMIT ROOM

Monday: 1/2 off wines by the glass Tuesday: 1/2 off beer cans and glasses of Italian reds Thursday: $3.50 local drafts, $8.50 Matilda Wong cocktails Sunday: 1/2 off wine bottles, $5 mimosas & bloody marys, $6 Bellinis BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR

Pg. 24 Apr. 10 -Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Monday: 20-oz. draft for 16-oz. price Tuesday: $5 specialty cocktails Wednesday: $3.50 local drafts Saturday-Sunday: $5 bloody marys and mimosas

Tuesday: $4 drafts Wednesday: 1/2 off glasses of wine Thursday: $7 Summit cocktails

SOUTH END COMMON MARKET SOUTH END

Monday: 1/2 off select pints Tuesday: Free beer tasting 5-7 p.m.

Wednesday: $2 off select pints, wine tasting 5-7 p.m.

BIG BEN PUB

Monday: $5.50 20-oz. NoDa craft beer

Wednesday: $5.25 20-oz. Spaten, 1/2 price wine bottles Friday: $5.50 20-oz. Crispin and Guinness, $5 Dale’s Fireball shot Saturday: $5.50 20-oz. seasonal beers, $5 mimosas and bloody marys Sunday: $5.25 20-oz. Boddington, $5 mimosas and bloody marys MAC’S SPEED SHOP

Monday: $3 pints, $5 Titos Tuesday: 1/2 price wine, $3 mystery draft Wednesday: $4 tall boys, $5 Lunazul Blanco Thursday: $3 mystery cans and bottles, $4 Jim Beam Friday: $1 off brewery of the month (Stone), $5 Fireball Saturday: $1 off North Carolina pints, $6.50 vodka Red Bull Sunday: $4 bloody marys and mimosas GIN MILL

Monday: $5 Titos and New Amsterdam, Tuesday: 1/2 price wine Wednesday: $4 draft beer Thursday: $2.50 PBR, $5 Jack Daniels and Titos

UPTOWN THE LOCAL

Monday: $7 Casamigos, $2 Natty Boh and Miller High Life, $5 Jager Tuesday: $3 Modelo, $5 house margaritas, $5 Don Julio Wednesday: $5 Crown & Down, $3 Southern Tier Thursday: $5 Captain Morgan, $7 craft mules, $16 Bud Light buckets Friday: $3 Jell-O shots, $4 drafts, $5 wells Saturday: $3 PBR, $5 Jager Sunday: $7 loaded mimosa, $7 Grey Goose bloody mary, $16 Bud Light buckets THE DAILY TAVERN

Wednesday: $5 whiskey Thursday: $4 pint night Sunday: $4 Miller Lite, $6 bloody marys DANDELION MARKET

Monday: $3 select drafts Tuesday: $15 select bottles of wines Saturday-Sunday: Bloody mary bar

WORLD OF BEER

Monday: $2 off North Carolina drafts and spirits Tuesday: 25 percent off bottles and cans, $5 mules Wednesday: 1/2-priced wine, wheats and sangrias Thursday: $4 old school, $4 well, $4 signature shots Friday-Saturday: $3 shot of the week Sunday: $2 mimosas, $3 bloody mary and beermosas PROHIBITION

Tuesday: 1/2 off everything Wednesday: $3 drafts Thursday: $2 PBR, $4.50 wells, $6 vodka Red Bull Friday-Saturday: $4 call-its

Thursday: $1 off neighborhood beers on draft Friday-Saturday: $8 margarita special Sunday: $5 mimosas, $6 Absolut Peppar bloody mary, $7 Absolut Lime Moscow mule JACKBEAGLE’S

Monday: $5 Cuervo margaritas Tuesday: $3 drafts, $5 vodka Red Bull Wednesday: $1 off whiskey Thursday: $6 Deep Eddy’s vodka Red Bull Friday: $5 Fun-Dip shots, $5 Crown Black Saturday: $5 Gummy Bear shots, $5 big mimosa, $6.50 double bloody mary Sunday: $5 big mimosa, $6.50 double bloody mary SANCTUARY PUB

NODA 101

Monday: $4 Ketel One Lemon Drop, $4 well liquor, $5 Camerena Tuesday: $6 seasonal cocktails, $6 Jameson, $4 Grape Gatorade Wednesday: $5 Green Tea Shot, $6 Blue Balls Thursday: $5 Jagermeister, $6 vodka Redbull, $6 Oxley Gin Cocktail Friday: $5 Fireball, $6 vodka Red Bull, $6 Jameson Saturday: $5 Fireball, $6 vodka Red Bull Sunday: $5 Deep Eddy Flavors, $1 off tequila, $5 White Gummy Bear shots $4 Draft special every day!

BILLY JACK’S SHACK

Pg. 25 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Monday: $1 off moonshine and moonshine Monday: $7 Bulleit and Bulleit Rye, $3 cocktails, $3 domestics Yuengling and PBR APA Tuesday: $1 off all drafts, $7 Jameson Tuesday: $6 Tuaca, $6 Tullamore Dew Wednesday: $1 off bottles and cans NODA Wednesday: $3 Birdsong beers, $5 Sauza, $6 Thursday: $4.50 wells Espolon Friday: $5 Fireball, $1 off local bottles and cans CABO FISH TACO Thursday: $2 Bartender Bottles, $6 Crown Royal Saturday: $4 mimosas $5 Brunch Punch, Monday: $5 El Cheapo margarita Sunday: $3 Birdsong, $3 Tall or Call Sunday: $4 mimosas, $5 Brunch Punch, $5 Tuesday: $3.50 Tecate and Tecate Light, $5 Altos Fireball, $10 champagne bottles silver tequila Wednesday: $7 Absolut Lime Moscow mule

PLAZA MIDWOOD HATTIE’S TAP & TAVERN

Monday: $6 Pabst & Paddy’s Tuesday: $5 Fireball Wednesday: $3 mystery craft beers Thursday: $6 margaritas Friday-Saturday: $5 well drinks Sunday: $10 domestic buckets THE WORKMAN’S FRIEND

Thursday: $5 drafts, $4 Irish whiskey INTERMEZZO

Monday: $4 Makers Mark, $2 domestic bottles Tuesday: $4 margaritas, $7 Titos mules, $3 Blanche de Bruxelles, $3 OMB Copper Wednesday: 1/2 price wine bottles, $2 off bourbon of the week Thursday: $6.50 Ketel One Botanical Series, $4 Stoli Friday: $4 20-oz. Birdsong LazyBird Brown Ale and Birdsong Jalapeño Ale Saturday: 1/2 price martinis Sunday: $3 drafts

AN APRIL FOOL IN CHICAGO

Learn from my mistakes, oh reader

Pg. 26 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

JUSTIN ZALEWSKI

The RECENT PASSING of April Fool’s Day passed has me thinking about the foolish things I’ve done in my life under the influence of alcohol. It’s time to sit around the campfire and have a little story time from Z. One of the not-so-memorable moments of my life occurred about five years ago in my favorite city: Chicago. The story that’s about to unfold is the drunkest day of my life. Mistakes were made, my friends, but more importantly, lessons were learned.

Several of my closest friends live in Chicago and I make a pilgrimage there several times a year to kick back and have a good time. For this fateful trip I flew out on a Sunday morning after working my shift at the bar. So I’m flying on no sleep on my way to partake in a booze-filled three-day trip. To make things worse, I’m a horribly anxious flyer — I am talking gorilla-who-lost-its-baby panic. I am prescribed Xanax to calm such anxiety, so I took my recommended dosage as a tranquilizer to get through the flight. (Mistake No. 1).

Once we landed in Chicago, my friend and I took the train to meet a group of friends for lunch. At this point, I’m excited but also a little sleepy. To counter this feeling, I did what any irresponsible adult would do and took one of my prescribed Adderalls. (Mistake No. 2).

Feeling somewhat balanced and needing a bite to eat, we met at my favorite burger-and-heavy-metal bar to fill the gut with the necessary fuel for a proper day of tomfoolery. It was at lunch when things took a quick turn towards Shitsville. A few beers turned into a wave of Jameson. (Mistake No. 3).

After food and enough Jameson to put an elephant down I realized I had to use the bathroom. As I stood up for the first time in hours, I looked like a baby giraffe on roller skates. My equilibrium was in an intense battle with prescription drugs, egged on by hours of drinking,

and I had a battle of my own going on as I tried to gather myself to make it to the bathroom.

Upon my return, I learned there had been some planning in my absence. The group had decided to go to a rooftop day party that Lil Jon was DJing (Mistake No. 4). When we arrived to the club I was still feeling the effects of the Jameson, but I was just getting started. The place was packed assesto-elbows, and the GM had us jumping between unsold tables until he could sell them. We started off with a bottle of Ketel One to share between the four of us. (Mistake No. 5).

Drinks began to flow again, and things began to escalate. The BAC was rising and the levy was getting ready to break. Things started to get a little foggy for me as we continued to move from table to table. That’s when nature called and I had to use the bathroom again. I should have used the buddy system. (Mistake No. 6).

When I arrived back to the table my friends were gone. Now I was left alone to navigate this rooftop club in search of friends. At this point I am pretty hamboned, walking around the club like Frankenstein with a blindfold on (Mistake No. 7.) and that’s how I walked right into a massive bouncer. He took one look at me and told me to kick rocks. So I was put into the elevator and taken to the lobby and showed the exit.

This is where I should have cut my losses and called it a night, but of course I didn’t (Mistake No. 8). I called my friends, who talked to their friend, the GM, and he brought me right back into the fray. I didn’t find the guys immediately, however, and found the bar instead, ordering a few more shots. (Mistake No. 9).

As I tabbed out and began stumbling around the bar, it was like déjà vu. That feeling only intensified when I ran into my old friend — no, not the ones I came with, but the bouncer who had shoved me on an elevator earlier in the day with hopes to never see me again. He grabbed me up with the quickness and escorted me out for a second time. This time, I decided I wasn’t going to go easy, and that’s when I opened my smartass mouth (Mistake No. 10). Little did I know that management had already called Chicago’s finest.

When the elevator doors opened, three officers greeted me. As I attempted to walk away from the officers they tried to arrest me for trespassing. I explained that I had already left the bar and would be going on my way before walking off at a brisk pace (Mistake No. 11). I remember being whacked over the head at one point, then several hours later I awoke in Cook County Jail.

My biggest takeaway? Vacation or not, never get so hammered you cannot function. Also, never secondguess the bouncer. And as always, tip your bartender!

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

LILLY SPA 704-392-8099 MON-SUN 9AM-11PM EXIT 37 OFF I-85

WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

SOUTH ON BEATTIES FORD THEN FIRST RIGHT ON MONTANA DRIVE (LOCATED 1/2 MILE ON THE LEFT 714-G MONTANA DRIVE

HALF WIT

Pg. 27 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

ACROSS

1 Busy bugs 5 As a matter of routine 13 Take for granted 20 Snoozefest 21 Mogadishu native 22 Replaced the inner layer of 23 Lego bit, e.g.

25 Witty adage 26 -- -Saxon 27 Coral reef 29 -- acids 30 Single-named male model 35 Totally tidy 38 Lamb serving 44 Russian autocrat 45 Lentil, e.g.

46 Free speech org.

47 Tiny neighbor of France 49 -- as it is 51 Son of Poseidon 53 Totally evil 59 -- Bubba (bubble gum brand) 60 Stadium cheers 63 “-- gratia artis” (MGM motto) 64 Comic actor Seth 65 Melodic, musically 67 -- -Caps (candy) 68 Won gold or silver 70 Jacuzzi sites 73 New England soup 76 Crimson or ruby 77 Gas station fill-up amount 79 Water, to Yvette 80 Little chore 82 Mink relative 83 -- gestae (deeds) 84 With 120-Down, like Siamese cats or Frank Sinatra 85 Nasty whales 89 Like a scary ride in a vehicle 93 Moe, for one 94 Tesla CEO Musk 95 African plain

99 Cajun cooking pod 100 Delighted 104 Lustful god 106 Not-quite-identifiable cafeteria food 108 Quality of 2% milk, say 111 Agitate 112 Athenian marketplace 113 Air traveler 116 Singer Cleo 121 Dodge SUV 124 Apt occasion for this puzzle’s theme 129 Touched up, as text 130 Home of St. Louis 131 Give up, as territory 132 Give a new look to 133 Essential 134 Word that can follow the ends of 23-, 35-, 38-, 53-, 73-, 89-, 106- and 108-Across

39 Light beige 40 Insincerely eloquent 41 Desk tray for to-be-sent documents 42 Space balls 43 Pro-gun gp.

48 “A Bell for --” (1944 novel) 50 Ranch group 52 Rowing tool 54 Garden tool 55 Where a company’s leaders meet 56 Eye lustfully 57 Essential 58 Winds down 60 Bialy, e.g.

61 Actor Butterfield 62 Class whose students might cook 66 Post-op site 67 Mu -- beef 68 Paltry 69 Mesozoic -70 Put in a hold 71 Maze route 72 “Nay” sayer 74 Wine holders 75 Joanne of “Red River” 78 On the house 81 Part of n/a 83 Flee hastily 84 Quail flock 86 Pepsi rival

DOWN

1 “Waterloo” pop group 2 Gerund, e.g.

3 Calc prereq 4 Hawk 5 It follows chi 6 Actor Glass 7 “No way!,” in a text 8 Marvy 9 Cantina pot 10 Major melee 11 Georgia city 12 Kind of sock 13 Lead-in to fix 14 D.C. VIP 15 Inventor Howe 16 They follow rhos 17 Like green bananas 18 Bully 19 “D.O.A.” star O’Brien 24 Tip, as a hat 28 Range ropes 31 “-- for All Seasons” 32 Frank holder 33 “-- be a real shame if ...”

34 Siouan speaker 36 Drawn tight 37 Brow shape 38 Trellis strip

SOLUTION ON PAGE 30

87 Taj Mahal’s city 88 Pew or sofa 90 Artist Paul 91 Direction opposite sud 92 Flee hastily 93 Cutty -- (clipper ship) 96 Equine beast of burden 97 High degree 98 School org.

100 Test-marking teacher, e.g.

101 Lentil, e.g.

102 Holds dear 103 NBAer Kevin 105 Hoagie ingredient 107 Holler 109 Sweet treats 110 Easy two-pointer 114 Word before while 115 Go upward 117 Writer Sholem 118 Notion, to Pierre 119 Zip 120 See 84-Across 122 Styling goo 123 Shelley work 125 Ship’s record 126 Canine coat 127 “... Mac -- PC?” 128 Iraq export

APRIL 10 - APRIL 16

APRIL 17 - APRIL 23

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A suggestion from a colleague on how to work out a problem might not sit too well with you. But before you suspect his or her motives, why not just accept it as a friendly gesture?

your recent stand on a workplace situation, you ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Professional also raised the envy quotient among others. Tread relationships grow stronger. But you might still need to ease some problems with someone in your carefully for now. personal life. One way could be to try to be less rigid SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You feel in your views.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) An associate might seek your counsel on a workplace dispute with another co-worker. Listen to what she or he has to say, but withhold advice until you’ve heard the other side of the story.

more positive about that delayed project, and you’re ready to pick it up on a moment’s notice. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might be too However, you might need to re-motivate those who close to that perplexing personal situation to even attempt to make a rational decision about it right have since lost interest. now. Stepping back could help you gain a wider SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Some perspective.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Use your Twin gifts for creativity and practicality to score points in landing an opportunity that could open doors to a new career. Someone returns after a long absence.

Pg. 28 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Although things are pretty hectic through much of the week, some quiet time with loved ones helps restore balance.

An unexpected visitor brings welcome news about a mutual friend.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Getting used to change isn’t always easy for the Big Cat. But make the adjustments gradually, and soon you’ll hardly remember when things were any different from how they are now.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Continue to stay the course you’ve chosen, and avoid distractions that could throw you off track. Some knowledgeable folks are happy to provide guidance if you need it.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Although you earned plaudits from most co-workers for

welcome news should be coming your way. In the meantime, use that Sagittarius charm to convince GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Being asked to choose some still-reluctant colleagues that your ideas have between the positions of two friends is an unfair imposition on you. It’s best to reject the “demands” merit. and insist they try harder to work things out on CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t wait their own. for a misunderstanding to work itself out. Instead, ask for a chance to explain the circumstances before CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A change of mind those bruised feelings lead to an irreversible break. about a workplace decision might be called for once you hear more arguments, pro and con.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A physical problem should be checked out in order to avoid it going from just being a nuisance to something more serious. Your social life takes an unexpected but not unwelcome turn.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Yours might be the wisest sign in the Zodiac. But you still could benefit from the wisdom of a close friend who has suggestions on how to handle a perplexing personal problem.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Romance once again looms large for single Leos and Leonas, with Cupid favoring Taurus and Libra to inspire those warm and fuzzy Leonine feelings. Expect another workplace change.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A surprise gift — and, happily, with no strings attached — could come just when you need it to avoid a delay in getting your project done. Expect education to dominate the week.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your passion for doing the right thing inspires others to follow your well-trodden LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Someone close to you might ask for your support as she or he faces path toward justice. a demanding personal challenge. Offer it, by all

means. But be careful you don’t neglect your own needs at this time.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An unexpected development could put your relationship with a partner or spouse to an emotionally demanding test. But your determination to get to the truth should save the day.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A recent agreement appears to be coming apart over the surfacing of unexpected complications. You might need to have expert advice on how to resolve the situation.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your keen business sense helps you get to the truth about a suspicious business deal. Expect to have many colleagues rally to support your efforts in this important matter.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Someone who once moved in and out of your life through the years might now want to come back in on a more permanent basis. Give yourself a lot of time to weigh your decision.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Showing frustration over a delayed workplace decision might get someone’s attention, but not necessarily make him or her move any sooner. Best advice would be to be patient and wait it out.

BORN THIS WEEK: You are drawn to excitement and enjoy fast-tempo music, with the more brass, the better.

2019 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

Pg. 29 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

OVERFISHED

Coming to terms with being an asshole

Pg. 30 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

DAN SAVAGE

I’m a heteroflexible married cis woman in my 40s. I’m also a POS cheater and a catfish.

I really fucked up. One year ago, I met an older man in an online fetish forum. He sent me an unsolicited PM, and we have talked for hours every day since then. My husband, whom I’ve been married to for more than 20 years, does not know that I am having an emotional affair. I have no intention of telling my husband what I’ve done.

I have been honest with my online boyfriend about everything except my name, my age and the fact that I have a husband (I know those are all really big things to lie about). My boyfriend lied to me early on about his name, age, and relationship status, but came clean out of guilt.

So I had the opportunity to say that I lied too, but I didn’t take it. I know what I’m doing is wrong.

My husband would be very hurt if he knew. And my boyfriend, who wants to make a life together, would be very hurt as well. I’m in love with both men, but I’m not leaving my husband.

I know the only right thing to do is break things off with my boyfriend. I’ve tried multiple times: I’ve told him that he is better off without me, that I’m a bad person, and that he shouldn’t trust me. Each time, he convinces me to stay. We have not been physical. We have never even been in the same room, much to his dismay. I have thought about telling him the truth, but I am worried about my safety, and I do not want to hurt him any worse than I already have. Plus, I’m a fucking coward. I am in treatment for PTSD. My therapist believes that my actions are a coping mechanism, i.e., it is easier to pretend to be someone else than

it is to be me. I don’t think she’s wrong, but I also don’t think it excuses what I’ve done.

How do I end this relationship without doing any more damage to my two partners?

CONNING AND TRICKING FOR INTENSELY SELFISH HAVEN

Far be it from me to question your therapist’s assessment — she’s spoken with you on multiple occasions, and her insights are doubtless more informed — but I think her framing falls short.

She describes your actions as a coping mechanism: You told a stranger lies and abused your husband’s trust to escape your miserable life. If you weren’t so fucking miserable — if other people and/or circumstances hadn’t conspired to make you so fucking miserable — you wouldn’t have done this. You wouldn’t be doing this still. But despite your therapist’s efforts to help you down off that hook, CATFISH, you seem determined to hang there.

She’s offering you absolution, in whole or in part, while you stand around flagellating yourself.

Personally, I think you’re entitled to your feelings. Go ahead and feel terrible. You did a bad thing. It’s not the worst thing someone’s ever done online, and most people know not to take what a stranger tells them on the internet at face value.

But if feeling terrible doesn’t motivate you to make changes ... well, it’s not for me to question your sincerity. But some people think it’s okay to do terrible things so long as they have the decency to feel terrible about having done them. If you’re not one of those people — if you actually feel bad — doing something about it and learning something from it will alleviate your misery.

Here’s what you need to do: End things with your boyfriend. Write him an e-mail, tell him the truth about

your age, marital status and unavailability. Don’t share your real name with him; you’re under no obligation to do so, and if he turns out to be the vindictive type, CATFISH, you don’t want him to have your real identity.

Apologize for not coming clean when he did — he lied to you too, at the start — and thank him for the pleasure of his virtual company and the joy he brought to your life. Then block him.

Here’s what you need to learn: You didn’t do this because you’re miserable — or you didn’t do it just because you’re miserable. You did this because it was fun. We call it “play” when children pretend to be someone or something they’re not; child’s play is also, yes, a coping mechanism. Vulnerable children pretend to be big and powerful superheroes and/ or monsters to cope with and momentarily escape their relative powerlessness. And nothing makes a child’s playful fantasy feel more real than a good friend who plays along. Most adults don’t make time for play — most of us aren’t LARPers or kinksters — but even adults need play, and some adults need

play more than others. You found a space where you could play (that online fetish forum), and you found a playmate who helped make your fantasies feel real (a guy you’ve never actually met and who could still be lying to you about all sorts of things). It got out of hand when arousal, orgasms, oxytocin and promises you couldn’t keep got stirred into the mix. The play made you feel better at first, but the dishonesty and stress of deceiving two people eventually wiped out the benefits you were getting.

You need to find a way to build some play into your life, sexual and/or nonsexual, that doesn’t require you to lie or hide. It would be great if you could do that with your husband, CATFISH, but if he’s not willing or able to play with you, get his okay to play on your own.

On the Lovecast, science says, weed = better orgasms: savagelovecast.com; mail@savagelove.net; Follow Dan on Twitter @fakedansavage; ITMFA.org

Pg. 31 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Saturday

20 19

presents

Vodka

masters

april 27,

2019

T he

thevodkamasters.eventbrite.com

Sample drinks from local bars and restaurants as they compete for the title of Queen City Nerve’s 2019 “Vodka Master.”

Each participant will craft a vodka-based cocktail to be enjoyed in both quantity and qu quality while earning the love of everyone’s taste buds!

How do we pick the “Vodka Master?”

Well, we don’t.

You do!

Tickets on sale now!

Samples included with ticket purchase

VIP 12-1 / GA 1-6

Pg. 32 Apr. 10 - Apr. 23, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

tinyurl.com/thevodkamasters