Queen City Nerve - March 10, 2021

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 8; MARCH 10 - MARCH 23, 2021; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

Arts: New city plan for arts funding raises concerns pg. 8 Music: The playful punks of Dollar Signs pg. 14

A Reserved Reopening What to do when you feel safe to do so

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS& OPINION 8 ARTS 10

4 EDITOR’S NOTE BY RYAN PITKIN 6 THE PATHWAY HOME BY RYAN PITKIN

Second-chance employment advocates are changing the narrative around criminal justice

WHERE THE MONEY RESIDES BY LIZ LOGAN City plan for arts funding raises discussion over the value of creativity

PUBLISHER

JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS jl afra n co i s @ q cn er ve.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RYAN PITKIN rpi tk i n @ q cn e r ve. c om

ART DIRECTOR

JAYME JOHNSON jjo h n s o n @ q cn e r ve.com

STAFF WRITER

PAT MORAN pm o ra n @ q cn er ve . com

DIGITAL EDITOR LEA BEKELE l be ke l e @ q cn er ve . com

AD SALES EXECUTIVE RENN WILSON r wi l s o n @ q cn e r ve . com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER JESSICA RAGLAND jragl a n d @ q cn e r ve.com

LIFEWAVE A dose of reality

12 SPRING GUIDE 2020: A RESERVED REOPENING What to do when you feel safe to do so

MUSIC 16 FOOD& DRINK LIFESTYLE

14 HUMOR AND HOPE IN ‘BAD NEWS’ BY PAT MORAN Prankster punks Dollar Signs have ‘Hearts of Gold’ A NEW AGE FOR VEGAN BURGERS BY JASIATIC ANDERSON Charlotte is experiencing a renassaince in what was a tired craft

18 PUZZLES 20 AERIN IT OUT BY AERIN SPRUILL 21 HOROSCOPE 22 SAVAGE LOVE

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Arts: New city plan for arts funding raises concerns pg. 8 Music: The playful punks of Dollar Signs pg. 12

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EDITOR’S NOTE

HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE Patrice Funderburg fights for those left out of the criminal justice conversation

BY RYAN PITKIN

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When I first met Patrice Funderburg in the summer of 2017, she was in the basement of a church in west Charlotte, leading a discussion group made up of 15 people that were analyzing Michelle Alexander’s best-selling book, The New Jim Crow.

Much of the talk at the church that night was around policing, but like Alexander’s book, Funderburg’s work is centered on what I would call “the other side” of the criminal justice spectrum: incarceration and those who have become caught up in the system.

In 2016, jolted into action by the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Funderburg left her 25-year career in corporate HR

to pursue her own path in the social justice field. She launched Educate to Engage, a consulting firm with a focus on criminal justice work.

In January 2020, she took over as executive director at Center for Community Transitions, a reentry organization that offers services to justice-involved people — those with histories of incarceration or criminal records — including a 30-person dorm for women participating in the state’s work-release program.

As Funderburg told me while I was reporting on this week’s news feature, on page 6, with all the talk of policing and law enforcement over the last year, there should be some attention paid to the other side as well.

“Media has done such a great job of directing all of our energy around criminal justice to law enforcement and policing, so how do you bring someone into another part of the same conversation?” she asked. “I think that is our biggest barrier right now is that everything that we know about criminal justice locally is about policing.”

She pointed out that 25,000 people will return home to Mecklenburg County after serving time this year.

“It’s not about addressing that population of folks through the lens of law enforcement, it’s about, ‘Welcome home, here are the opportunities, we recognize that these barriers exist,’” she said.

Funderburg is breaking down the stigma around

incarceration so that justice-involved people can get jobs. She wants to go beyond the Ban the Box movement to make employers understand the economic and societal value involved in purposefully hiring justiceinvolved folks, and therefore begin tearing away at the leading cause of recidivism: poverty.

At a New Pathways Home summit held by Center for Community Transitions on Feb. 25, Charlotte Works CEO and President Danielle Frazier cited a 2018 SHRM Foundation survey of employers who participated in second-chance employment programs. According to the survey, 82% of managers and 67% of HR professionals feel the quality of hire for workers with criminal records is as high or higher as those without.

“So we certainly have a narrative to change around second-chance employment, but it’s going to take a collective effort and collaborative partnerships to make it happen,” Frazier said.

Over the past year, progress has been made for second-chance employment, including the passage and implementation of the Second Chance Act, which allows certain charges and convictions to be expunged from someone’s record and sets up automatic expungements for people who are found not guilty or have charges against them dismissed.

But Funderburg won’t stop there. She wants to build on that momentum by doing what she does best: educating and engaging. That was the goal for the New Pathways Home summit, which included leaders

such as N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls and N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein and representatives with Atrium Health and Fifth Third Bank speaking in favor of second-chance employment.

“There’s a lot that’s been happening during the pandemic that makes the land really fertile for strategically disruptive conversation about secondchance employment,” Funderburg said. “The [summit] was really about moving the conversation forward to a very targeted population, those who hold positions of power, organizational power, and brand positioning.”

At the event, Atrium Health announced a new program that will employ 20 justice-involved people with in-demand jobs at their facilities per year, but it’s not always easy for Funderburg. In 2019, she left her spot on the influential Leading on Opportunity Council as it became clear her colleagues had no interest in centering criminal justice.

“People run the other way in corporate now when I show up,” she told me, laughing and impersonating one of those folks. “‘She used to be in HR but now she’s out there talking truth, we can’t deal with it.’”

But Funderburg has never been one to cater to people’s comfort level, and eventually employers will have to hear her out. They might be surprised at what they learn.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) MAY BE STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE. FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT A DISEASE CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND CAUSE STRONG EMOTIONS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN. COPING WITH STRESS WILL MAKE YOU, THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT, AND YOUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. EVERYONE REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE OUTBREAK CAN DEPEND ON YOUR BACKGROUND, THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN.

-Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones -Changes in sleep or eating patterns -Difficulty sleeping or concentrating -Worsening of chronic health problems -Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

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-Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.

Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

-Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

-Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

-Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

shows how the work they’ve been doing to connect settlement had been reached in a lawsuit filed they work jobs in the community and finish their employers and advocates is paying off. against the state by civil rights organizations, three sentences, was able to send its first resident home CCT announced updates on a partnership of its individual incarcerated people, and a spouse of an due to ELC last April, followed by a wave of releases own that day, taking a next step in its work with the incarcerated person that challenged the conditions that got its population at the north Charlotte facility SHRM Foundation, a national equity-hiring firm that of confinement in North Carolina’s state prisons as down to 16. is helping CCT launch a local initiative called Getting unconstitutional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All in all CCT saw 19 residents go home early due Talent Back to Work, which SHRM Foundation has The settlement will result in the early release of at to ELC. There are now 25 residents at the dorm, though Second-chance employment been implementing in communities across the least 3,500 people in state custody over six months, due to a year-long halt in the state’s work-release advocates are changing the country. making it one of the largest prison releases during program during COVID-19, the women staying at CCT narrative around criminal The initiative will help local employers “go the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. have been stuck inside without much to do. Some beyond Ban the Box” by implementing internal Additionally, the settlement will ensure the are completing virtual classes at Central Piedmont justice assessments of their HR practices to strategize on state takes measures to mitigate the ongoing threat Community College, and they’re able to take part in how to effectively and sustainably create second- of COVID-19 in North Carolina’s prisons, including CCT’s two-week LifeWorks employment readiness

BY RYAN PITKIN chance hiring programs. through vaccination and safe testing, cohorting, program, but otherwise everything has come to a halt.

For Patrice Funderburg, who in 2016 left her job transfer protocols, monitoring, and complaint Funderburg hopes the recent settlement will Hanging on the wall of Center for Community allow some residents to enter the community and Transitions executive director Patrice Funderburg’s after spending 25 years working in the corporate HR processes.

The 3,500 early releases required under the begin to make money, as is usually the purpose of office, she has a framed copy of the resolution field, the partnership is a dream come true. their stay at CCT. announced by Mayor Vi Lyles in late February “It’s a good thing particularly for our facility, declaring Feb. 25 as Ramona Brant Day in and we’re just sort of ramping up operations Charlotte. for when we get the word,” Funderburg said.

Brant, who emerged from two decades of “The good thing about the 180 days is that incarceration to become a leading advocate for it’s an accelerated timeline, and not that any people returning to their communities after of these transfers are easy or simple, there’s a spending time in prison, passed away on Feb. lot that goes into it. The volume will increase, 25, 2018. She was a hero to Funderburg. and for us and for me, getting folks home to In the years to come, Feb. 25, 2021, could their communities is a win. The administrative turn out to be a defining moment in the 47logistics of how it all works is a different story, year history of Center for Community Transitions but if folks can go home then I’m happy about (CCT), a Charlotte-based organization that hosts that.” a dorm for women leaving incarceration and offers job readiness training and other resources to folks reentering society after serving time in From trafficking to transportation prisons, among other services.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, The first Ramona Brant Day in Charlotte having a prior conviction reduces employer call history began with an event that was two back rates by 50% for white men, and 65% for years in the making. Greater Charlotte Pathways Black men. Poverty and lack of work are leading Home: An Executive Convening on Second PATRICE FUNDERBURG IN HER OFFICE AT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY TRANSITIONS. PHOTO BY RYAN PITKIN causes of recidivism, causing people to fall back Chance Employment gathered advocates, into criminal behavior as a way to make money.

“This is something that the HR side in me has settlement will be in addition to the approximately judges, elected officials and employers to speak As North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein about the opportunities and value added to a always wanted to do since I got into this work and 16% reduction already achieved since the lawsuit pointed out at the Feb. 25 New Pathways Home business and society as a whole by hiring justice- now it’s literally happening,” she said after the was filed less than a year ago. The current population summit, almost everyone currently in prison will be involved people, a term describing people with summit. “And we’re partnering with a national of 28,659 constitutes the lowest state prison returning at some point. organization that has both the reach, resources and population level since the enactment of Structured histories of incarceration or criminal records.

“Ninety-five percent of people in state prisons Sentencing in October 1994.

To wrap up the summit, a representative the capacity to hold space for that. will get out — tens of thousands of people. The “My favorite thing is strategic disruption,” In a release on Feb. 25, the Department of Public question is, what happens when they do?” Stein with Atrium Health, the area’s largest employer, announced its own commitment to begin hiring she continued. “This is a strategically disruptive Safety, which runs the prisons, stated that, over the said. “Because if they come out and find that door justice-involved people through a new Reentry next step to the way that we look at employment, last year, the department has been “transitioning after door after door after door is closed to them, it Entrepreneurship Program in which the health-care from courting businesses that look to move their a select group of people who have nonviolent makes it substantially more likely that they will just giant will hire 20 justice-involved people for in- businesses here from the whole economic outlook crimes through the Extended Limits of Confinement pursue the path that led them to their involvement demand jobs at their facilities, help them develop a conversation that the Charlotte Regional Business (ELC) initiative to complete their sentence in the with the criminal justice system in the first place.

Alliance is looking at, to ensure that we’re looking at community in order to reduce the prison population.” And that is in none of our interests.” career plan and follow through with it.

More than 1,000 people have already been The new program, formed in a partnership all labor pools. That conversation hasn’t happened The movement around second-chance transitioned to ELC. with Charlotte-based business accelerator City and it was seeded at the event.” employment has gained ground statewide as of late.

Later that Thursday, news broke that a CCT, which houses up to 30 women at a time as In June 2020, the Second Chance Act was signed into Startup Labs, did not directly involve CCT, though it

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A PATHWAY HOME

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

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law, though it didn’t take effect until December. The law allows certain charges and convictions to be expunged from someone’s record, and also sets up automatic expungements for people who are found not guilty or have charges against them dismissed.

Also sitting in committee in the North Carolina General Assembly is the Freedom to Work Act, filed in May 2020, which would prohibit licensors from denying someone a professional license or needed credential — such as a cosmetology license or barber’s license — due to a criminal conviction.

For Funderburg, who left the Leading on Opportunity Council in 2019 because of her fellow members’ refusal to prioritize criminal justice as a focal point, seeing so many in the community now come together around this issue has driven her to take the work further.

“It’s about changing the narrative. Our conversation around air-quote ‘criminal justice’ is about policing and it’s about officer-friendly relations and law enforcement and violence prevention,” she told Queen City Nerve. “All of those things are part of the larger umbrella, but what we have been spoon-fed in terms of criminal justice

here in Mecklenburg County has been about the policing and law enforcement side, not the reentry and transition and reducing recidivism side. In the bigger picture, those things connect. If we didn’t have all these issues with police, we wouldn’t end up in situations of incarceration. That’s the pathway.”

For Ebony Thomas Yakout, her pathway home came through CCT in 2017 after she had served eight years of a 10-year sentence on a trafficking conspiracy charge for being caught with 20 pounds of marijuana. As she neared the end of her sentence, she moved to the CCT dorm on Old Concord Road and began going through the organization’s heralded LifeWorks program.

In the program, she learned how to write a resume, and was told how she could get her cosmetology license renewed, as it had expired during her incarceration. She took classes at CPCC, got a job working at a local hotel and lined up an apartment for when she would be released.

Starting in housekeeping at the hotel, Yakout was then promoted to the front desk, where she worked through the rest of her sentence. Eventually she began driving guests to and from events, acting as the hotel’s shuttle service, which inspired her to start her own business, V.M. Transportation Service.

During the pandemic, she’s pivoted to transporting

freight rather than people in her two sprinter vans.

Yakout credits CCT with not only helping with tangible resources but allowing her to look differently at her whole experience.

“They taught me how to embrace my criminal background, and when I say embrace it, I mean don’t be ashamed of it, learn how to work around it.

Explain, ‘This is what it was. That was then and this is now. That has no bearing on where I’m trying to go today,’” she told Queen City Nerve. “A lot of people be embarrassed. You have to explain your criminal background. That’s embarrassing. They taught me how to embrace that and don’t be ashamed. That was my past. Make a bigger future, that’s what it taught me.”

Yakout said she spent $800 in application fees for apartments before finally getting accepted. The constant need to explain her record to people to receive the most mundane services has inspired her to get more involved in reentry advocacy.

“When I came home my felony was exactly 10 years old, and still I have to explain it, and that’s the worst part of it, when you’re trying to get your life together, it’s hard,” Yakout said. “If I wouldn’t have had CCT, I can definitely tell you, I would have went back selling drugs. This is the thing, what I tried to get the prison system to understand, think about all the

other women who don’t get to come to that halfway house, that don’t get the privileges of finding a job.

Ten years is a long time. When you come home from 10 years you have absolutely nothing. What do you have? They just let you out into society. When you’re released from prison, you’re just released. So what are those women supposed to do?”

Now, as Funderburg and her staff prepare for an influx of reentries, some of whom will come through her facility and many won’t, she’ll continue her work to answer Yakout’s question, all the while changing the narrative as it exists in Mecklenburg County.

“We lower recidivism when we change the narrative, and the expectation about people who are justice-involved,” Funderburg said. “We can put the math around that, and there’s math that is already out there, but this is how we reduce recidivism and improve employee outcomes, public safety, and savings to the community. Our cost per graduate of our employment program, if they get a living-wage job, which this is intended to open up the employer pool of available jobs, is a savings to the community, and that changes the statistic around poverty being the strongest indicator of recidivism. If employers want to be down for that, we’re here for it.”

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

ARTS FEATURE

Goh was hired by the organization in 2019 to to Blumenthal Arts, The Mint Museum and other larger organizations, though in 2019, ASC leaders host a series of podcasts lobbying for a Yes vote on announced they would be shifting more resources the sales tax increase.

Included in the recommendations from to smaller grassroots organizations.

In February 2021, ASC published a Cultural Charlotte’s ad hoc arts committee was the Equity Report in which the organization suggestion that the city increase its arts funding acknowledged it had invested only 3.4% of total from $3.2 million to $4 million, with hopes that giving to minority artists since 1991. This, council the private sector will match that yearly amount, member Winston said during a Feb. 24 ad hoc arts making a total of $8 million in annual funding for City plan for arts funding committee meeting, makes the city complicit in its local artists and arts organizations. raises discussion over the This private sector funding, made up primarily allocation of funds, perpetuating inequality and value of creativity inequity in the arts and leading to a general distrust of workplace donations, is a funding model that has of the organization while further making the arts become antiquated, Goh says, as organizations are

BY LIZ LOGAN seeing consistently decreasing workplace giving. inaccessible to minority communities.

A former employee of both McColl Center and In January, following the resignation of R. Jeep Recent weeks have seen arts funding back at the Bryant, who led ASC through “the most challenging Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Goh has worked forefront of people’s minds for the first time since time in its 63-year history,” the organization named intimately with the arts community and saw the the failure of the so-called “arts tax” increase on the Krista Terrell, a 19-year veteran with the organization Bechtler receive consistent ASC funding in an county ballot in 2019.

A newly-formed ad hoc arts committee led

by Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt has suggested the city begin directly controlling how it funds the arts in Charlotte rather than funneling money through the Arts & Science Council (ASC), leading to concerns from some that the city may forego smaller organizations for large institutions that bring in more tax revenue.

Following the recommendations, ASC representatives and committee members have each pleaded their cases regarding how Charlotte should be funding and prioritizing the arts while acknowledging the inequity in Charlotte’s Euro-centric funding trends.

Putting an end to the city’s yearly $3.2 million allocation to ASC could be a death knell for the already struggling organization, which has seen a sharp decrease in workplace giving in recent years THE THEATRE SCENE HAS BEEN DEVESTATED BY COVID-19. while missing out on a large funding opportunity PHOTO BY DARNELL VERNIE/CPCC with the failure of the arts tax two years ago.

Made up of Charlotte City Council members and Black woman, as acting president. Some believe amount that he said increased yearly while other Malcolm Graham, Edmund Driggs, Braxton Winston that, though temporary, this was a step in the right artists and organizations scrambled to self-support. and Tariq Bokhari, the city’s ad hoc arts committee direction, allowing for more inclusive leadership to The reason given by city officials for potentially wants to work toward establishing an Arts and better represent the city as a whole. reallocating its funding is not due to any mistrust of Culture Commissioner who will then distribute While the decision makes way for equitable ASC, however, but because the city wants to focus on funds based on the city’s yet-to-be-determined representation within the organization, the city — economic development. policies regarding arts funding, with the help of a for a variety of reasons — continues to explore the So how are the issues with mistrust and the panel of local experts who work in the creative field. idea of pulling funding altogether. insatiable need for quantifiable return on investment Historically, ASC has acted as an intermediary In the meantime, ASC has been looking for new connected? In an op-ed printed shortly after the between the city and artists/arts organizations as funding avenues. In November 2019, a quarter- recommendations were made, Charlotte Magazine the city’s “designated Office of Cultural Resources.” cent sales tax increase was proposed to provide editor Andy Smith wrote, “Economic development as The ASC is funded by both the public and private consistent funding to the ASC, but was voted down the top priority leads to the same issues of exclusion sector, including the yearly $3.2 million allotment in part, Gohjo Studios owner Andy Goh says, because that the ASC just apologized for.” from the city with the understanding that the ASC of a lack of trust in ASC, leaving the organization in Goh said he has concerns about who will ultimately will allocate these funds to provide an equitable arts a precarious situation as it works to secure resources serve on whatever committee is put together to decide experience through grants and fundraising efforts. to support the community. on how much money goes to whom. The current ad hoc These grants have traditionally provided funding

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WHERE THE MONEY RESIDES

committee has stated that the head of this Arts and Culture Commission will be appointed by the public and private sector funders, meaning the choice will likely be made to meet the agenda of the stakeholders, putting the arts community in a potentially precarious situation.

Artists applying for grants would have to prove how their art will financially strengthen the sector overall in this model proposed by the committee, which at its core is in opposition to the intrinsic value of the arts and a stated belief coming from the ASC’s Cultural Equity Statement that “everyone has cultural traditions that are inherently valuable.”

The conundrum lies in the determination of how the arts should be valued (financially or inherently), and this puts strain on the financial allocation decision-making process as these ideals are ultimately at odds with one another, though not mutually exclusive.

At what point can the arts exist simply for the intrinsic benefit of the arts themselves?

Winston, though agreeing with the concept that this reallocation should be fueled with economic development in mind, said during the meeting, “Investment in arts is the actual economic development,” placing value on the artists themselves as opposed to how a city booming in the banking, health-care and hospitality industries can secure revenue from abstract concepts like mural creation and ArtPop billboards.

There’s a prevalent narrative among the council that in order for Charlotte to compete with other cities, we must value the arts. In this case, however, we are not valuing the arts for the sake of art itself but for what an investor might see as having a return versus a donation to intangible benefits like, say, creating a “vibrant culture of life for all” as is the mission of the ASC. At present, no funding or committee decisions have been made. In an email to Goh, Eiselt wrote, “One of the City’s key Focus Areas is Economic Development. This is an opportunity to reframe the discussion of arts and culture not just as a philanthropy, but also as an economic driver that attracts visitors to the region and creates jobs through building our tourism industry. The Council’s proposed plan envisions the Arts and Science Council having a voice and a role in this process. Their technical expertise and experience is invaluable. However we believe there needs to be different voices and seats at the table to reimagine how we invest in our arts and culture assets and use our resources more equitably and inclusively.”

Goh said he’s concerned about who these currently undisclosed voices and seats may be. While

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ARTS FEATURE there is value in holding an institution accountable and ensuring funds are spent wisely, the lack of disclosure of who these individuals may be have Goh’s “bullshit alarms firing,” he said, adding that he would feel more confident in the city’s process if we knew who those people were.

Tim Miner, co-founder of Charlotte is Creative, added that, “There is a wealth of diverse creative talent in our community and all need equity in access to funding and support.”

Last year, Charlotte Is Creative worked with ASC, Hue House and Foundation for the Carolinas to establish the Arts, Culture and Creativity Fund with $1.2 million of CARES Act dollars supplied by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

“Working together and rethinking what was possible, we were able to provide financial help to small cultural organizations and individual creatives that were not eligible for other COVID support grants,” Miner told Queen City Nerve. “We’re collaborating with others to make that model — public, private, corporate and nonprofits working together to support creatives equitably — the norm in the Charlotte region moving forward.”

When financial stability is threatened, the creative community is at risk. When the funding provided pours into primarily white organizations, the arts are not “for all” but only for a select few. Funding can provide artists with income and venues with resources. When venues have sufficient resources, there’s the ability to offer sliding scale ticket prices so all of our city’s residents can attend theatre productions and gallery openings, not just those willing and able to dole out thousands for season tickets.

Goh wonders whether this is by design to keep certain demographics out of the high-dollar art scene.

“When we limit funding, we limit people’s access. We limit their potential,” Goh says. “A child may have an ability lying dormant that could be ignited through exposure, leading to a life as an artist. But what happens when our community denies its members access? This prohibits equal access.”

Losing funding and the autonomy of allocation reaches deeply into the soul of the arts, cutting off what is and preventing what might have been. The past’s lack of disclosure provides a cautionary tale for what can happen when the arts are viewed as transactional.

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EXTRA EXTRA read all about it.

March is Paper & Cardboard recycling month!

Learn more at

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ONGOING

‘THE MIRACLE WORKER’

What: Concord’s Old Courthouse Theatre presents The Miracle Worker with socially distanced seating, sanitation stations and masks required. In addition, cast and crew have socially distanced during rehearsals with masks being worn at all times. The actors will be performing in special clear face shields during all productions to keep themselves and theater patrons safe. Winner of the 1960 Tony Award and immortalized onstage and screen by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, this classic tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, blind and mute Helen Keller.

More: $16-$21.40; March 11-21, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Old Courthouse Theatre, 49 Spring St. NW, Concord; octconcord.com/the-miracle-worker

SKYLINE DRIVE-IN: ‘WEST SIDE STORY’

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE FOOD DRIVE

3/11

THURS03_11

SAT03_13

What: “West Side Story is a beautifully mounted, impressive, emotion-ridden and violent musical,” wrote Variety when this game-changing production debuted in movie theaters way back in 1961. Producer/Director Robert Wise’s epic urban updating of Romeo and Juliet cost a mindboggling $6,000,000 back then. Save for Natalie Wood portraying a Puerto Rican, the film remains remarkable undated, and to be fair, the Puerto Rican Rita Moreno steals the show from her.

More: $30 per car, March 11, 7 p.m.; Camp North End; 400 Camp Road; tinyurl.com/SkylineWestside

What: Maker’s Market CLT and Tommy’s Pub cohost back-to-back weekends of St. Paddy’s Day celebrations, featuring live music, traditional drinks and hot food.

Vendors include Grey Mouse Bakery, Best Life Bath Care, Kam’s Kitchen, Delgado’s Fuego, Pita Girl Boutique, KJ Bags, Greeneman Farms, Carlos’ Dogs and much more.

The hosts of the event are donating part of their vendor fee to The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, and are also accepting donations. Sláinte!

More: Free; March 13, 2 p.m., March 20, 2 p.m.; Tommy’s Pub, 3124 Eastway Drive; tinyurl.com/MakersMarketTommy

SKYLINE DRIVE-IN: ‘WEST SIDE STORY’

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MAKER’S MARKET CLT & TOMMY’S PUB ST. PADDY’S DAY WEEKENDS

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one of Charlotte’s many homeless encampments shutting down, it’s hard to believe that anyone is unaware of the city’s homelessness crisis, and while COVID relief checks are on the way, no thanks to America’s seditionist party, a $15 minimum wage for workers has been torpedoed, thanks in part to Arizona’s grandstanding Marie Antoinette. What we’re saying is, now more than ever, a food drive is needed to support our less fortunate neighbors.

International House is accepting canned food and non-perishable items for East Charlotte Families More: Free; March 13, 11 a.m.; International House, 1817 Central Ave.; ihclt.com

What: The Church Circuit is a monthly series that explores the history, role and legacy of church music.

Moderated by Emmy-winning poet Boris “Bluz” Rogers, episode two of the virtual series features a panel of veteran musicians including Danielle Gudah, musician at the Greater Works Center in Fort Mill, Carl Parris, pastor/musician at Free Deliverance Church in Rochester, New York, and more sharing their church experiences, their successes, defeats and everything in between.

More: Free; March 18, 7 p.m.; online; blumenthalarts.org

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE FOOD DRIVE THE CHURCH CIRCUIT: CHURCH What: With widespread media coverage of just GIGGIN’

THE CHURCH CIRCUIT: CHURCH GIGGIN’

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What: Rainbows, moonbeams and magic make for a wonderful surprise birthday party, but friendships are questioned when comments about skin color slip out. By sharing experiences, the children learn important lessons that pave the way to forgiveness.

My Wonderful Birthday Suit is told with music, puppets and the wonder of a magical Thinking Tree.

After the colorful 60-minute Children’s Theatre of Charlotte performance, actors from the show will read a short children’s book celebrating diversity.

More: Free; March 20, 2 p.m.; online; bit.ly/ctc-culture-blocks

What: The DD in this burlesque review’s title stands for Dungeons & Dragons, the granddaddy of roleplaying games (it was even played before computers ruled the realm!). As you’d expect, the show ramps the geekery up to 11 as Dungeon Master Franky Dynamite guides four legendary adventurers as they embark on an epic quest to recover a mystical artifact that threatens the fate of the world, or something like that.

Anyway, the stakes are high, although clothing might be limited. Performers include Lefty LeBlue, Sassy Frass and Robyn Banx. Each ticket provides unlimited viewing for two weeks.

More: $10; March 20, 9 p.m.; online; tinyurl.com/FlamingoRevue

What: The Fader described Deniro Farrar’s voice as “an eerily calm rasp that never leaves the emotional range of fuming mad.” His taut lyrical execution and honest true-life storytelling imbue his songs with gravity and self-awareness in line with his Cult Rap philosophy, encouraging balance of body and soul. Debuting in 2010 with the sprawling mixtape Feel This, in 2020 Farrar delivered Sole Food, which Indy Week called “the hip hop album the world needs.” With soulful melodies and trenchant observations, Farrar suggests an amalgam of Kendrick Lamar and Angela Davis.

More: $10; March 20, 7 p.m.; online; neighborhoodtheatre.com

What: The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation brings authors to you with “Final Draught: Home Edition.” Parents and podcasters Page and Jake Fehling discuss their book Holy Crap, We’re Pregnant, in which the two each write their own accounts of major pregnancy milestones, then react to the other’s recollections. Fox 46 news anchor Page and marketing vice president Jack are threetime parents and first-time authors. This discussion is moderated by Ailen Arreaza.

More: $10-25; March 23, 7 p.m.; online; tinyurl.com/HolyCrapJakePage

‘MY WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY SUIT’ WATCH PARTY

DD20: A TABLETOPLESS ADVENTURE DENIRO FARRAR

‘MY WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY SUIT’ WATCH PARTY

FINAL DRAUGHT: AT HOME WITH PAGE & JAKE FEHLING

DENIRO FARRAR

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‘SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS’

What: The UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture theater department presents the contemporary road trip musical See Rock City and Other Destinations in recorded performances streamed via Zoom.

Winner of a slew of accolades including the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book for a Musical, See Rock City follows tourists on travels across America as they confront their histories, overcome anxieties, and embrace new futures. “The show, with music by Brad Alexander and lyrics and book by Adam Mathias, has one of the greatest contemporary-rock soundtracks since Jonathan Larson’s Rent,” raved BroadwayWorld.

More: $8; March 17-21, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; online; coaa.uncc.edu/theatre/productions

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3/23

A reserved and reluctant reopening Nothing signifies the end of winter and the beginning of spring more than hearing the words, “Play ball.” Minor-league baseball towns around the country never experienced that spring transition in 2020, as the Charlotte Knights and other teams saw their season end before it could begin.

On Feb. 18 of this year, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that Minor League Baseball will be returning, and almost immediately, the Charlotte Knights released their upcoming schedule.

The team was scheduled to start its season on April 6 in Jacksonville before hosting the Durham Bulls for their home opener on Tuesday, April 13,

SPORTS

May 29: 2021 ALSCO UNIFORMS 300

open at 30% capacity, which will mean letting in right around 3,000 fans per game.

Visit qcnerve.com for an interview with Knights COO Dan Rajkowski about what that will look like and other changes this season, and stay tuned to our social media and website for updates on the new Knights schedule.

In the meantime, here are some spring events that have already been announced. We’ll admit the selections are lacking at the moment, but keep your eye on our Lifewave in upcoming issues as folks begin to poke their heads out and see what’s safe.

ARTS, CULTURE & RETAIL

April 10-11: Front Porch Sundays Front Porch Sundays is hosting a new socially 5555 Concord Pkwy. S, charlottemotorspeedway.com, distanced event called Front Porch Weekends in 1-800-455-FANS music, all to benefit the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. which the popular market will operate over the course of two days with 25 local vendors rather Saturday, March 20, 2-6 p.m.; Tommy’s Pub, 3124 May 14-16: NGK NTK NHRA FOUR-WIDE May 30: Coca-Cola 600 than the pre-COVID 70.

NATIONALS The historic 62nd running of the Coca-Cola 600, billed as Eastway Drive; tinyurl.com/MakersMarketTommys Sat.-Sun., April 10-11; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sycamore Stars of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series NASCAR’s toughest test of man and machine, whatever Brewing; 2161 Hawkins St.; March & April: Virtual Music and Museum: turn zMAX Dragway into a 44,000-horsepower festival of that means. $49 and up. estherandelsaretail.com/front-porch-sundays Twentieth-Century Women nitro. $20 and up.

Both of these concerts will be in conjunction with Queen’s Cup Steeplechase Livestream May 8: Charlotte Water Lantern Festival the new Bechtler exhibition, Twentieth Century May 28: NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION This year’s race will be held without an audience for The most chill festival in town includes DIY water Women, and feature women composers. the first time ever, but you can hook up a projector in LOTTERY 200 lanterns made (by you) to reflect messages of love, Part 1: March 21, 6 p.m.; Part 2: April 25, 6 p.m.; your garage and treat it like a traditional tailgating lot, The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series kicks off hope, and happiness, as well as food trucks and live fancy hats and all (and no need for a DD). Learn more at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St.; Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway music. Tickets increase to $36 on March 10. queenscup.org. with 200 miles of racin’. bechtler.org Saturday, May 8, 5:30-10 p.m.; Symphony Park, SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road; April 4: Metropolitan Market waterlanternfestival.com/charlotte.php The Metropolitan Market will operate in

Charlotte Motor Speedway

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at Truist Field, but alas, on March 3, the Charlotte Knights announced they had been informed by MLB that the season for Triple-A East baseball, in which the Knights play in the Southeast division, will be delayed until May 6.

A statement from the team read: “We will have more details soon on how that will impact our 2021 schedule and what that will mean for our fans and partners. We appreciate the community’s support and look forward to welcoming Knights fans back to the ballpark in the near future.”

According to Gov. Cooper’s latest orders at the time of publication, Truist Field will be allowed to

March 20: Maker’s Market CLT & St. Paddy’s

NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars will take on NASCAR Cup Tommy’s Pub hosts the folks from MMCLT for a day Series superstars in the Alsco Uniforms 300, an afternoon of outdoor shopping with 20 local vendors and live showcase of speed. $32 and up.

partnership with the Starving Artist Market at the Metropolitan in Midtown. Expect handmade goodies from 30 local artists and businesses that have yet to be announced.

Saturday, April 4; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Metropolitan; 1111 Metropolitan Ave.; tinyurl.com/MetropolitanMarket NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

May 8: Spring Pottery Festival Carolina Clay Matters, Inc. holds two pottery festivals each year featuring work from over 50 of their talented members. Attendance is free.

Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Carolina Clay Matters, 8300 Monroe Road; carolinaclaymatters.org

FOOD & DRINK March 19: University City Food Truck Friday

Getting a head start by kicking off on the day before spring starts, U City Food Truck Friday returns. Visitors can expect a new rotation of food trucks, live music, craft vendors and drinks from the brewery.

Every Friday beginning on March 19, 5-9 p.m.; Armored Cow Brewing Co., 8821 JW Clay Blvd.; facebook.com/UnivCityCLT/events

Seven Spring Restaurant Openings Orto

NoDa’s newest craft-cocktail venture by James Beardnominated chef Paul Verica with an Italian-cuisine focus.

Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market

Locally owned market coming to Pineville with St. Louis-style pizza, hundreds of specialty food items and fully prepared meals

Vaulted Oak Brewing

Inside of a former bank on Monroe Road, Vaulted Oak

April 14-18: 5th Annual University City Wine will be the newest addition to the east-side brewery Festival scene Four events in five days include Wine Wednesday; the Royal Wine and Dine Experience; Taste, Sip, and Stroll, and the weekend-long festival, featuring staggered sessions for safety reasons.

Times vary; Shoppes at University Place, 8929 JM Keynes Drive; universitycitywinefest.org

What the Fries

The popular food truck will offer their fry iterations in a brick-and-mortar in south Charlotte and collaborate to sell local art in the former CiCi’s Pizza space.

Xiao Bao Biscuit

April 19-25: Charlotte Taco Week

Southeast-Asian inspired food coming to Optimist Hall Visit 18 participating restaurants, including hidden gems that began in Charleston and has been mentioned by of Charlotte’s taco scene and a few local all-time favorites, Bon Appetit and The New York Times. Sounds familiar. throughout the upcoming Taco Week to get a go at each eatery’s $3 specialty offering.

Babe & Butcher Locations vary; clttacoweek.com Another newcomer to Camp North End, Babe & Butcher will bring a custom charcuterie board experience to the June 11-13: Taste of Charlotte area and allow customers to build a board to-go from a ToC is back with over 100 samples from area restaurants display case. and various performances and activities for festival-goers.

Attendance is free, with tokens available for purchase if you’re hungry. (Why would you go if you’re not hungry?) Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor Fri.-Sun., June 11 & 12, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; June 13, 11 Officially the most popular new pop-up concept in a.m.-6 p.m.; North Tryon Street, Uptown Charlotte; Charlotte. Customers often order their food one week in advance. Cheat’s will be setting up shop in the Plaza tasteofcharlotte.com Midwood/Commonwealth neighborhood.

THE KNIGHTS HAVEN’T PLAYED AT TRUIST FIELD SINCE 2019.

MUSIC Neighborhood Theatre

511 E. 36th St.; neighborhoodtheatre.com; 704-942-7997 *Virtual March 20: Deniro Farrar* March 24: Modern Moxie* March 31: Doneta Dawson* April 14: Vadim Kolpakov* April 15: Tom Russell April 16: Stephen Marley Acoustic Soul April 21: Natalie Carr* April 21: Lost Dog Street Band April 23: Josh Wolf April 28: Emily Sage* April 30: John Mark McMillan May 26: Satsang June 8: Brian Fallon and the Howling Weather

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3000 S. Tryon St.; tinyurl.com/LennyBoyLive; 980-585-1728 March 19: The Vegabonds with WOMZ from Futurebirds March 26: Swim in the Wild with Whitehall April 2: Pip the Pansy with Emanuel Wynter April 9: The 502s with Virginia Man April 16: Little Stranger with Human Resources April 23: Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers with Próxima Parada April 30: Flipturn with Arson Dailiy MT. JOY

PHOTO BY LAURA WOLFF

Rural Hill

4431 Neck Road, Huntersville; ruralhill.com; 704-875-3113 Live cruise-in concerts April 9: Tab Benoit & Samantha Fish April 14: Robert Earl Keen April 28: Allman Betts Band May 11: Mt. Joy with Briston Maroney May 25: St. Paul & the Broken Bones

Other live music shows:

The fine folks at The Evening Muse are planning a big 20th anniversary celebration for sometime in April, so stay tuned to Queen City Nerve for more info on that and visit tinyurl.com/MuseTurns20 to help the venue after the toughest year of its existence, along with a chance at winning Lori Love’s vinyl Keith Richards piece that currently graces the wall at The Muse.

The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St.; 704-376-3737

April 10: GLITTERYARD

A Studio 54 disco night featuring DOMii, Kate Garvey, DJ Trife and Alan Ospina.

The Music Yard, 2433 South Blvd.; eatsouthbound.com; 704-912-1889

April 23: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

With their electrifying, magnetic energy, JHTRS have captivated audiences across the nation from Bonnaroo to Electric Forest to Summer Camp and beyond.

MUSIC FEATURE

HUMOR AND HOPE IN ‘BAD NEWS’

Prankster punks Dollar Signs have ‘Hearts of Gold’

about terrible or humiliating things is a way for him to process his feelings about them. That process, in all its socially self-conscious and surreal glory, is on hand in “Bad News,” the second single and first video off Hearts of Gold, the band’s third full-length album, recorded at Legitimate Business in Greensboro.

skeleton has replaced Gunn at the keyboard, leaving Button frozen in terror.

As the tune gallops to a raucous crescendo, the band — Gunn, McPhail, Dylan Wachman on a loping bass and Arion Chamberlain on crisp drums — are replaced with creepy mannequins, and the chorus delivers the song’s ironic message, “Bad news goes down better with a beer,” Better With a Beer The viewer is left with an unsettling fusion of an As Gunn’s piano pings incessantly, the camera inebriated Twilight Zone episode and a Roadrunner pans past a spinning beer bottle on a barroom table cartoon in which Wile E. Coyote clambers out from

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BY PAT MORAN

Erik Button insists he’s not the victim of a hit and run although he sings about it in the song “Negative Blood.”

I don’t feel so well/ Got hit by a car in front of Taco Bell/ Then they drove away The song then relates how the cops arrived and gave Button a lollipop as a kind of consolation for experiencing vehicular assault, but that didn’t actually happen to the frontman and primary songwriter for prankster punk band Dollar Signs either.

Instead, it happened to the band’s guitarist Tommy McPhail. Well, all of it except for the lollipop.

“A lot of the stories in our songs are things that happened to me, but every once in a while, something will happen to someone else in our band and I’ll write about it,” Button says. As for the bit about the police dispensing lollipops: “It’s a metaphor for how the cop who talked to Tommy didn’t really care.” It’s all part of Button’s job to draw on life’s disappointments and embarrassments as grist for Dollar Signs’ lyrical mill, Dollar Signs trades in rowdy punk rock tunes with roaring guitars, triumphant horns and rollicking shout-along choruses, all coalescing around a warm and cuddly heart. This last attribute is acknowledged in the title of the band’s latest album, Hearts of Gold, which drops March 12.

Dollar Signs, which launched 11 years ago as a folk-punk duo comprised of Button and Luke Gunn in Burlington, North Carolina, has always cocooned a coping mechanism amid its peppy pop rock and melancholy emo undertow, says Button.

“The band is about taking these bad experiences in your life and trying to see some catharsis or something funny, to give yourself closure through art,” Button offers. The effect is like listening to a close friend tell a riotously funny story about navigating a painful predicament. You laugh, but you also suspect that the incident was probably a living hell to slog through at the time.

Button says writing and performing songs

DYLAN AND ERIK (LEFT TO RIGHT) OF DOLLAR SIGNS GO HARD ONSTAGE.

to a stage where Button hides behind a cardboard cutout of himself. Button tosses the cutout aside and sings in his everyman bellow as McPhail’s buzzsaw guitar swoops and soars. It soon becomes clear that not all is well in this boozy party paradise.

The people I drink with don’t really know me/ They’re like the waitstaff on your birthday at Chili’s/ They’re forced to sing happy birthday/ They’re forced to cheer and clap/When they leave, you’re all alone Button goes from dancing awkwardly to carousing amid a sea of cutouts, the only other “people” in the bar. The tune downshifts to a shuffling bridge with McPhail’s guitar mimicking a kazoo. Gunn, in a glitzy Vegas entertainer’s suit, tickles the ivories at a grand piano as the camera pans to Button singing his heart out onstage. When the camera pans back to the piano, a grinning

PHOTO BY JAKE CUNNINGHAM

under a boulder to dust himself off and soldier on.

“Bad News” fits into the grand rock ‘n’ roll tradition of boozing and partying songs that are actually dire warnings against the “drink your problems away” mindset, songs like Fishbone’s “Alcoholic,” Fountains of Wayne’s “Bright Future in Sales” and The Kink’s “Have Another Drink.”

Button sees partying as a double-edged sword.

Drinking should relax you and make you feel better, but it can germinate a whole new set of problems.

“Drinking songs are a great way to express this general feeling I have [that] even when I’m trying to have a good time, I’m always worrying about something.”

Button notes that despite the video’s boozy demeanor, Wachman quit drinking at age 21 after

being diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and Chamberlain has abstained from imbibing ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who’s cutout for video work?

Aware that they couldn’t tour their new record in the midst of a pandemic, the band decided to push the artistic envelope with high-quality videos like “Bad News.” The challenge was how to avoid shooting endless footage of people standing around wearing masks, Button says. The band hit upon the expedient of stand-in people.

“We thought, ‘What if we made a standard music video about having a show at a bar, but instead of having humans there, we’ll all get cardboard cut-outs of all our friends?’” The band reached out to their contacts hoping to get 10 cutouts. They wound up with 36.

During the planning stage, the first shot that popped into Button’s head was the pan from Gunn at the piano to Button onstage then back to the skeleton. Button knew the only place that could be the “Bad News” bar was Petra’s in Plaza Midwood, as they have a beautiful grand piano onstage.

As the early November shoot date approached, Dollar Signs turned to Button’s day job at video production company Priceless Misc. for production gear. Button has won two Emmy awards working as an editor for the company, though he self-deprecatingly claims that he garnered his first award simply because he filled in for another video editor who fell ill.

Button is quick to praise the contributions of cinematographer Tricia Coyne and lighting director Kiernan McMahon to the music video. The only problems Button recalls is struggling to find a mannequin for each band member and locating a skeleton so soon after Halloween.

“It’s not impossible but it was trickier than I expected,” he says.

Button says he’s delighted that Gunn also acted in the video. It turns out that Gunn studied acting and made short films with Button when the two friends were in high school. Like Gunn, other Dollar Signs members make contributions to the band beyond their musicianship.

Chamberlain has a background in acting and pursued a performing career in Los Angeles for two years. McPhail works in social media and marketing, so he takes the lead in those efforts for the band.

Wachman was booking shows before there was a Dollar Signs, so he manages the band, while also producing t-shirts and flyers.

“We take what we have and use it to the best of our abilities,” says Button.

MUSIC FEATURE A fistful of Dollar Signs

Button’s love of music began at age 14 when he discovered bands on internet forums. Burlington didn’t have a booming music scene, so when he turned 16, he started catching shows in Greensboro and Chapel Hill.

“That’s when I truly fell in love with music, punk rock in particular,” he remembers. In 2008 Button moved to Charlotte and learned to play guitar. In 2009 he started writing and recording songs with his friend Gunn. The pair put their efforts up on the internet under the name Dollar Signs.

“It was a funny name for a punk rock band,” Says Button. “The idea that making acoustic punk music for the internet would be our ticket to success just seemed preposterous to me.” Today, Button feels that the moniker appropriately reflects the band’s playful side.

In 2013, after Button graduated from UNC Charlotte with a degree in English, he and Gunn decided to move past the acoustic duo lineup. They recruited Chamberlain and Wachman and began concentrating on playing live as well as recording.

McPhail joined in 2017.

As the lineup expanded, the band’s songwriting

process changed. Originally Button wrote songs solo and played them at open mics at clubs around town like The Evening Muse to get feedback from audiences. Then for a while, Button would write the bare bones of a tune and bring it to the band, who helped flesh it out into a full, functioning song.

For Hearts of Gold, songwriting became even more collaborative. For the first time, everyone in the band was living in Charlotte. Chamberlain was back from L.A., and McPhail had moved to the Queen City from Richmond, Virginia. Everyone was able to write everything together, Button says, with Gunn and McPhail giving Button melodies to pair his lyrics to.

“It’s a much more fun way to make music,” Button says.

From ‘Negative Blood’ to ‘Hearts of Gold’

In the process of making music, Button and the band have perfected their use of humor, a skill that Button says is the result of his English major. He cites authors like Mark Twain, who inspired Button to ground humor in his reality.

“I know that my problems are not the biggest in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important or they’re invalid,” he says. “I try to write

in a way that feels true to me.”

He’s also constantly trying to make his bandmates laugh.

“A lot of the jokes I put into the songs aren’t really for anyone except for [the band]. There are things that I’ll reference that only they know about.”

As important as humor is to Dollar Sign’s songs, the band’s music is also grounded in Button’s sharpened sense of social anxiety.

“I’m a pretty anxious person,”he says. “The hardest part of doing the band thing is having people talk to me after a show because I always feel awkward.”

Button confesses he feels most comfortable when he’s onstage presenting a heightened version of himself. “Creating art gives me the control to say things the way I want them to be said.”

In December, Dollar Signs released “Negative Blood,” the first video from Hearts of Gold. The song that recounted McPhail’s run in with a reckless driver and cops who couldn’t be bothered was accompanied by a sort of anti-video. For the duration of the three-minute song, the only visual is a still photo of Button carrying pizza boxes and an empty milk jug while looking utterly miserable.

“That’s an old photo of me after a poker night,” Button offers. “I lost money and I was having a bad time. It’s not a rock-bottom picture, but it’s a picture

of me in distress.”

For Button, “Negative Blood” states the theme that runs through all of Dollar Sign’s records: It’s important to make the effort to turn all the bad pieces of yourself into good pieces. When looking at bad things that happened to you, try to see the optimistic side.

Button, who has started seeing a therapist, says it’s time to go beyond getting through the rough spots and struggling to be upbeat.

“This record is the first time I’m starting to see beyond that,” he says. “After you feel better through catharsis, what then? What do you do with this feeling of peace you get after you’ve yelled about it?”

Hearts of Gold is primarily about how difficult it is to change, Button maintains, how tough it is to get the ball rolling to make yourself a better person.

How can you insure that bad situations that happened before won’t do so again, he asks. If you’ve made mistakes, how can you avoid repeating those mistakes in the future?

“Now that I’m not constantly in survival mode, I’m trying to figure out the kind of person I want to be going into the future,” Button says.

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

76 Acres of Outdoor Space 50+ Murals

300 Camp Rd Pg. 15 MAR 10 - MAR 23, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM

www.camp.nc

@CampNorthEnd

13 Food & Drink Spots 11 Shops & Art Collectives 3 Resident Goats

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

time he became vegan, Beyond Meat and Impossible Burgers were making their debuts. Having experienced black bean exhaustion I can tell you, these companies made all the difference in my personal burger desire.

This is not to knock brands like Amy’s or Boca, the original contenders, but both Beyond and Impossible were game changers. Finally there was a burger that tasted like ... a burger. Not only did these Charlotte is experiencing a burgers revolutionize taste for plant-based eaters, they also presented meat-eating burger lovers with renassaince in what was a a viable and delicious alternative. tired craft In 2016, both Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods hit the market with slight differences.

BY JASIATIC ANDERSON Impossible is a soy-based burger while Beyond uses pea protein isolate. Initially it seemed that Disclaimer: Health fanatics, this article is not for Impossible was slow to allow consumer availability. you. Burger lovers: welcome.

Even now, Beyond Meat’s consumer product options If you’re like me, the mention of a veggie burger far surpass Impossible Food’s variety. doesn’t necessarily excite your senses. The word Only recently have I been able to find patties or itself is an oxymoron; it makes me think about vegetables, not a burger. As a person that hasn’t had an animal (beef, turkey, what am I missing?) burger in a solid 25 years, I must admit I hadn’t craved any burger until recently.

These days almost any chain restaurant has a vegetarian option on their menu — the veggie burger holding the number one spot. Over the years I’ve eaten way too many black bean burgers.

Graduations, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anything.

“Oh they have a veggie burger on the menu.” It’s the default — the extended omnivore family peacemaker, coming second only to salad.

The obvious go-to, veggie burgers have in the past been tired and boring in my opinion. Most of them are dry, the house-made ones crumbled at first bite and there’s never any suitable condiments that are actually vegan. Then there’s the obligatory GM ROB GREGORY OF MIKE’S VEGAN COOKOUT. burger ingredient vetting which almost always leads to milk or egg products (if not in the burger ground Impossible “meat.” Essentially if you wanted then definitely in the bun). an Impossible burger you had to find a restaurant This overgeneralized veggie burger has been that served them or dishes made with the ground a staple of Charlotte’s dull vegan past. For years I’ve “meat.” Honorable mention to the late People’s carried my own homemade vegan condiments in my Market, which did an amazing job with their purse to sauce up the options around town. Black bean Impossible burgers and even crafted an Impossible patties have been a trend among chains in particular. breakfast sausage from them.

So why write an article on the best veggie Initially I found that those who were used to eating burgers in town? Simple: I believe in them. I have beef burgers preferred the Impossible, however, I’ll hope in the future of the new veggie burger and leave it up to the carnivores to tell that tale. the restaurants that are sprouting up to satisfy the One of the pros of both companies’ burgers is that people’s desire. These new burgers are good and the the texture really mirrors the way a meat product eateries that serve them, even better, be they on both comes together and breaks down. This allows for wheels or in brick-and-mortar spaces. restaurants and the home cook to do whatever they When I met my love, Els, he was all about a veggie want in the way of seasonings and ingredients. After all, burger (still is). Having only been vegan for a couple what is a good burger without seasonings and texture? of years, burgers were his transitional go-to. By the

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A NEW AGE FOR VEGAN BURGERS

Els and I began going on “Best Burger” quests throughout the country. At the time, the only solid burger made with a Beyond patty in Charlotte was Pinky’s Westside Grill. And to be fair, their burger always does the job.

Traveling and eating our way through the country, restaurants in Chicago and Los Angeles landed at the top of our lists. Over the last year it’s been amazing to watch vegan burger joints popping up throughout Charlotte. A bright light among chains that offer “options.” So again we set out to find our favorite burger, but this time at home.

One of the biggest wins for an all-vegan burger spot is that there are no ingredient worries. I don’t have to pack my homemade special sauce, no need to hold the mayo and cheese. It’s allll vegan. It’s like ... you get me (((heart))) and you get BURGERS! I listened to the people and sought out two of the best new vegan burger spots in Charlotte.

bursting with juices and flavor.

What I loved: The diversity of the menu! There’s a burger for everyone. I had the El Classico and the Columbiana.

My suggestion: Columbiana (it’s the pineapples for me). Next time I’m trying the “What the Cluck” sandwich though, which is one of their best sellers.

You can follow to find their location via IG and Facebook: instagram.com/mikesvegancookout; facebook.com/mikesvegancookout

Boss of Vegan

Boss of Vegan owner Demetrius Liverpool is not new to the restaurant industry. He is the owner of Top Dog, a hot dog restaurant in The Streets at Southpoint in Durham. While his Durham space offers vegan options, Liverpool knew he needed more when he shifted to veganism himself a year and a half ago.

“I wanted to provide products that would help people, like [they] helped me make the transition easier by trying meat alternatives,” he says. “I believe more businesses will create more options and make it easier for people to transition.”

The burger: They fooled us. They also use a Beyond burger but it’s a thinner patty. It feels more like a fast food burger. The taste is specifically theirs, the flavors did not disappoint.

What I loved: Everything! The chips and the chocolate chip cookies were perfect. The burger was amazing. The sauce comes on the side, and if you’re a sauceaholic like me, that’s a win!

My suggestion: Boss burger deluxe, a Beyond patty with vegan cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes and Boss sauce on a Hawaiian PHOTO BY JASIATIC ANDERSON bun.

Boss of Vegan is located at 4431 Brookshire Blvd. just northwest of Uptown. The brick-and-mortar space is dedicated specifically to curbside pickup. The Mike’s Vegan Cookout Mike Roach of Mike’s Vegan Cookout says he’s online-ordering system is easy. Find their menu on IG at been a vegan for about four years. “Because I missed instagram.com/bossofvegannc or at bossofvegan.com. burgers so much, I needed to create the best one in Whether you enjoy an occasional plant-based the vegan world,” he says. burger or fall in the veganism box, it’s undeniable that Though now rolling around as a food truck, Mike’s goal is to expand MVC throughout the nation. He says the future is plant-based. You don’t have to watch sci-fi his dream is to see it at every intersection like you see movies or be attuned to the obvious planetary impacts McDonalds or other fast food chains. The (Panamanian) to notice the trends. As Mike Roach said when asked Burlington native started Mike’s Vegan Hotdogs in 2018, about the future of meat “Leave the animals alone! I see the meat industry crashing, like it already is!” but MVC opened a little under a year ago.

We both agreed, my love and I, that these I found the MVC team parked off Central Avenue and I was in and out with surprisingly prompt service. are very different burgers. It’s a testament to the The burger: They use a Beyond patty. It’s a creativity of a new era of veganism. Go try them thick, well-seasoned burger, and I could really tell both! You won’t be disappointed. they put a lot of work into specializing it. It was INFO@QCNERVE.COM

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22 Street Kitchen @22streetkitchen_foodtruck Calie-Creole fusion A Little Taste of Chicago @alittletasteofchicago704 Chicago dogs and more Ace of Spuds @aceofspudstruck Gourmet potatoes Another Food Truck @anotherfoodtruck American favorites Baes Burgers @baesburgers Smashburgers with a twist Bayou Betty @bayoubettycajunexpress Southern Louisana style Bleu Barn Bistro @bleubarnbistro Farm to truck/table

Caribbean Fusion @caribbeanfusionfoodtruck Caribbean cuisine Carolina Smash Truck @carolinasmashtruck Grilled cheese Chili Man @the_chili_man Popular hot dogs Cibi! Cibi! @cibicibifoodtruck Smashburchers and cheesesteaks Cousins Maine Lobster @cousinsmainelobster Sustainably harvested Maine lobster Cuzzo’s Cuisine @cuzzoscuisine Southern-style deliciousness

Detour Coffee Bar @detourcoffeebar Mobile coffee and beverage truck Donut I Love You @donutiloveu Gluten-free doughnuts Dumpling Girls @dumplingirlsclt From-scratch dumplings Eurogrill @eurogrillfoodtruck Bosnian flavor Fresh Med @freshmedclt Mediterranean fusion Halal Gyro Man @halalgyroman Uptown halal staple Hillbilly Philly @hillbilly_philly Approachable American favorites Hiya Food Truck @hiyafoodtruck Korean street-style fusion Hot Tamale @hottamalefoodtruck Authentic Mexican food Jive Turkey Legs @jiveturkeylegs Prepared meals

ORDER ONLINE

K&N BBQ @knbbq Slow-cooked, flavor-packed BBQ Mike’s Vegan Cookout @mikesvegancookout Vegan comfort food Momo Truck @momotruckclt Food from the top of the world Ms Didi’s Caribbean Kitchen @msdidiskitchen Authentic Haitian cuisine Nacho Average Truck @nachoaveragetruck Nachos Nana’s Porch @nanasporch_clt Southern comfort No Forks Given @noforksgiven_clt A taste of Cuba Nor’East Treats and Eats @noreasttreats New England ice cream experience Potbelly BBQ @potbellybbq “Caution this BBQ is highly addicting!”

Rico’s Acai @ricosacai Acai bowls

Romeo’s Vegan Burgers @romeosveganburgers Burgers, fries and desserts Salute Chew @salutechewllc Lowcountry and Southern cuisines Soul Miner’s Garden @soulminersgardenfoodtruck Vegan everything Strudelteig @strudelteig Traditional European Sugar Daddy’s Food Truck @sugardaddysfoodtruck Comfort food Sugar Shack Sweets @sugarshacksweets704 Little bit of everything Taco Green-Go @tacogreengo Taco truck Tacos Rick-O @tacosricko Taco truck The Atomic Dog @theatomicdog704 Kick-ass hot dogs The Garbage Truck @thegarbagetruck New York-inspired comfort food

@MomoTruckCLT

Tin Kitchen @tinkitchen Wide variety of tacos and quesadillas Two Chicks and a Truck @twochicksandatruck Like a mobile family diner Vito’s Pizza Truck @vitospizzaclt New York style pizza truck What The Fries @whatthefriesclt Fresh cut laoded fries

@CaribbeanFusionFoodTruck

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pg. 19 MAR 10 - MAR 23, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM

PG.18 PUZZLE ANSWERS

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. LITERATURE: Which 19thcentury novel begins with the sentence, “There was no possibility of taking a walk that day”?

2. CHEMISTRY: Which element’s Latin name is hydragyrum and goes by the symbol Hg? 3. HISTORY: Who was the first female detective in the United States, hired by the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1856?

4. ADVERTISINGS SLOGANS: What product’s 1970s advertising slogan was, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing”?

5. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Only two Catholics have served as president of the United States.

Who are they?

6. MOVIES: The “Star Wars” movie series was partly filmed in which African country?

7. LANGUAGE: What does the name Boca Raton (Florida) mean in Spanish?

8. U.S. STATES: The highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States can be found in which state?

9. ENTERTAINERS: Which American actor and comedian was born Eric Marlon Bishop?

10. TELEVISION: Which 1950s Western series featured the theme song “Happy Trails”?

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Veg-o- -- (Ronco product) 6 Cesar who played the Joker 12 Stocking material 16 Counterpart of a column 19 Neighbor of Minneapolis 20 Hybrid ride 21 Falco of “Outside In” 22 Dramatist Levin 23 Start of a riddle 26 Engage in, as a trade 27 Chilling Chaney 28 English actress Diana 29 Astronaut Grissom 30 Charisma 32 Like a triangle with three unequal sides 34 Respected 38 Fashion’s Wintour 39 Riddle, part 2 43 Emotes, e.g.

46 Pupil locale 47 Young tiger 48 Tijuana “two” 49 Riddle, part 3 57 Earthy hue 58 Chaperones, typically 59 Hot dog roll 60 Part of SWAK 64 Work unit 65 It often follows “Co.” 66 Use a kayak 68 Like snakes 69 Untidy type 71 Riddle, part 4 76 Parallel (with) 77 Cake layers 79 “To clarify ...”

80 Suffix with Taiwan 82 TV’s Longoria 83 Calm 85 Backwoods denial 86 Inventive Edison 89 Male sheep 90 Riddle, part 5 94 Toothpaste box org.

97 Memento of Molokai 98 Haughtiness 99 Spots 100 End of the riddle 108 Roll-call call 109 “30 Rock” star 110 Seasons of falling leaves 114 Sneakers brand 117 Hwy. offense 118 Part of SWAK 119 Roll-call call 120 Fellow 121 Riddle’s answer 127 LGA info 128 German Mr. 129 Join a class 130 Rebound on a pool table 131 Comfy room 132 Female sheep 133 Entertainer Charles Nelson -134 Revival shouts

7 Phil of protest songs 8 Bon -- (witticism) 9 Outer: Prefix 10 Match cheer 11 Salem locale 12 Teacher of martial arts 13 Boise locale: Abbr.

14 Peruvian capital 15 Maintain 16 Matured 17 City near Epcot 18 Attacks from ambush 24 Skye of the screen 25 Mongolian tent 31 Shriver of tennis 33 Final 34 Actor Buchholz 35 Overlooks 36 Humorist Ogden 37 Cato’s 750 40 Small brook 41 Actors’ aids 42 Melancholy instruments 43 Certifies (to) 44 Actor Sheen 45 Did a slowish ballroom dance 50 -- chi ch’uan 51 Novelist O’Brien 52 Emmy winner Susan 53 Internet auction site DOWN 54 StarKist fish 1 Whimpers 55 In a little bit 2 Specially formed, as a committee 56 Confront 3 Disney princess from “The 61 Shirley’s TV roommate Princess and the Frog” 62 Give a lift to 4 Bank acct. accrual 63 Balls of fire 5 -- Yards (Orioles’ stadium) 66 Hoodwink 6 Got long again, as a mown lawn 67 Pathological plant swelling

RIDING ON EMPTY ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

70 Bric-a- -72 Prefix with potent 73 Tire (out) 74 Cry buckets 75 “Pronto” 78 Swiped 81 Special ability, for short 84 Fancy pourer 86 Yours, in the King James Bible 87 Equine, in tot-speak 88 Really, really 91 Special ability 92 Street stray 93 Biblical brother of Jacob 94 Humiliated 95 When delivery is expected 96 Nigerian, e.g.

101 Nurtured 102 Bill tack-ons 103 “Movin’ --” (“The Jeffersons” theme song) 104 Shipping container 105 Chiefly 106 Cashews and pecans 107 Cornell’s city 111 Mother, in Spain 112 Stocking material 113 Appears 115 Tennis star Arthur 116 Whole bunch 118 Actor Ferrell 122 Sooner than, to bards 123 Ending for butyl 124 -- Lanka 125 Fa-la linkup 126 Water flow stopper

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AERIN IT OUT IT WAS ALL GOOD JUST A YEAR AGO

Venturing out after spending some time inside

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BY AERIN SPRUILL

“A year ago this was our last normal week and nobody knew it.” One of the most surreal statements that spilled onto my timeline intermittently throughout the first week of March. Sure, COVID memes have become our new norm, but this shocked me back into the reality that we’ve been trapped in this pandemic for a full year.

Saturday, March 13, marks the one-year anniversary of me sitting on a crowded patio at Tyber Creek Pub in lieu of the canceled Rich & Bennett’s annual Patty’s Day crawl. I peered through the haze of booze and green resigned that this would probably be the last sad display of drunken shenanigans that I’d see before the city shut down just a couple of days later. Of course, at the time, I had no idea that a year would go by before I experienced that kind of environment again.

Fast-forward to the end of February and Governor Cooper announced that the modified Stay at Home order was lifted, alcohol sales were extended to 11 p.m., and some of our indoor nightlife staples were able to reopen at a reduced capacity. Six months ago, I may have rejoiced. But as the pandemic churns on there’s one thing many of us have realized: we ain’t about the late-night life anymore.

As soon as I stepped onto Fifth Street after exiting my Uber this past Saturday I remember thinking, “Uptown is a WHOLE mood tonight.” I grabbed my boyfriend’s hand as we approached the corner to cross North Tryon Street. The stop-and-go traffic, the reverberation of music and the crowded sidewalks depicted a post-apocalyptic commercial that I didn’t expect to ever see.

It was eerie waiting ever so anxiously for the pedestrian signal to light up and release me from the temporary moment of social panic. After all,

we haven’t seen this Queen City in a very long time.

“About a year ago, year ago,” in Bobby Shmurda’s voice started playing in my head.

A car with the top down passed slowly in front of us blasting music. I couldn’t help but release my attention from the stoplight countdown to rest my eyes on the individuals inside to find the backseat passenger brandishing a skeleton on a stick bouncing it up and down to the beat of the music.

I turned to my boyfriend and confirmed he, too, was silently observing the same oddity.

I awkwardly laughed and said, “Yep, I’m not ready for this,” as the car passed, and left behind the patrons inside SIP and on the patio of The Local in our view. After escaping to the safety of a corner chair on the edge of the Connolly’s patio, I took it all in.

The breeze was fairly strong, which made it difficult to discern where the aroma of Uptown

cuisine that hung in the air was coming from, but the familiar scent of booze mixed with cigarettes were certainly not.

The music being played at The Local muffled all sound sans the cars and motorcycles that attempted to obnoxiously rev their engines as they made their way toward North College Street and a lone vehicle brandishing an open gull-wing door whose sound system gave The Local a run for its money.

Scooters darted back and forth along the sidewalks and I laughed to myself remembering all of the falls that I’ve witnessed or fallen victim to as they sped through at surprisingly brave paces. The patrons scattered along the patios sported wide grins and their laughter (and drinks) spilled into the not-so-carefully constructed walkway that now dominates this section of Fifth Street.

It was a strange collection of smells, sounds, and visuals that were once so common they would fade into the background as I tried to engage in a somewhat audible conversation. And yet, there I was, an extra in Denzel Washington’s Déjà Vu wondering how the pieces of the puzzle fit together even though I was here just a year ago.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

Connect with free virtual arts, science, and history experiences for all ages.

CULTURE

BLOCKS

Find upcoming events at ArtsAndScience.org/CultureBlocks

By Lucie Winborne • Attention, “Lord of the Rings” fans: the dark region on the north pole of Pluto’s moon, Charon, is called Mordor.

• A common issue with blood donation — along with other types of charitable contributions — is that if donors don’t know the recipient, it’s harder to convince them that donating is beneficial. Therefore, in an effort to encourage more young people to give blood, Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, sends a text when their donation has been dispensed to someone in need, providing proof that it’s going to good use.

• The Twitter bird actually has a name — Larry, after Hall of Fame basketball player Larry Bird.

• In the 18th century, Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin were both defeated at chess by a machine called the Mechanical Turk — or at least they thought they were. It was later revealed to be quite the elaborate hoax, with a highly skilled chess master hiding inside the “machine” and moving the pieces against the opponent.

• In a move to keep disease-wary Nazis away, Polish doctor Eugene Lazowski faked a typhus outbreak, saving over 8,000 people from slave labor camps and death.

• The longest song title ever is Hoagy Carmichael’s 1943 “I’m a Cranky Old Yank in a Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Mama Doin’ Those Beat-o, Beat-o Flat-On-My-Seat-o, Hirohito Blues.”

• Duncan Hines was a real person — a popular restaurant critic who also wrote a book of hotel recommendations.

• Eight of the 10 largest statues in the world are of Buddhas.

• Pittsburgh is the only city where all the major sports teams (MLB, NHL, NFL) have the same colors: black and gold. *** Thought for the Day: “Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.” — Friedrich Nietzsche © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE MARCH 10 - MARCH 16

MARCH 17 - MARCH 23

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You might feel more LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You have ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Consider moving LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Planning for

encouraged about changes in your personal and/ or professional life. However, it might be best not to rush things but rather work with them as they evolve.

a strong sense of the needs of others. This week, turn some of that sensitivity into an honest selfappraisal, and let it find places where you can help yourself.

beyond the usual methods to find a more creative means of handling a difficult on-the-job situation.

Avoid confrontation and, instead, aim for cooperation.

the future is fine, especially if you include the roles that family members may be asked to play. Don’t be surprised if some hidden emotions are revealed in the process.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Bovine’s business sense is especially keen this week. But remember that it’s always best to investigate before investing.

Make sure there are no hidden factors that can rise up later on.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Creating an emotional comfort zone to handle a personal problem helps at first. But by midweek, you’ll realize you need to deal with it directly or it could linger for too long.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Seasonal change creates a new look for the outdoors. It also inspires Taureans to redo their own environments, and this is a good week to start redoing both your home and workplace. Enjoy.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Making choices highlights much of the week, and you have a head start here, thanks to your ability to grasp the facts of a situation and interpret them in a clear-cut manner.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Working on a family project could create tension between and among those concerned. Your good sense and your patience can help reduce bad attitudes and raise positive feelings.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A misunderstanding SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Turning the page on a mistake to start fresh might not be the thing to do. Better to go over each step that led up to the decision you made and see which one misled you.

needs to be straightened out so the wrong impression isn’t allowed to stand. If necessary, offer to support the use of a third party to act as an impartial arbitrator.

Carrying a torch can be a two-way situation: It can either keep you tied to the past or help light your way to the future. The choice, as always, has to be yours.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You should be seeing CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Goats CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A career change CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your more progress in the development of your plans enjoy a varied diet, but eating crow isn’t on the offering what you want in money and responsibilities and more supporters joining in. News from the past menu -- at least not this week. An embarrassing could involve moving to a new location. Discuss this could help change someone’s long-held position. situation might have gone wrong before you got with family members before making a decision. into it. Check it out.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) With personal aspects

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Feeling miffed over how

VIRGO

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Showing

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strong this week, Leos and Leonas might want to AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Your spend more time with family and others who are sense of honesty might impel you to speak up about especially close to them. Also expect news of a a situation you disapprove of. That’s fine. But do so possible career change. without sounding accusatory. You might not know all the facts behind it.

(August 23 to September 22) Taking a strong stand can be helpful this week. But be careful PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Being asked to you don’t cross the line into obstinacy. Best to take a create a reassuring attitude in the middle of chaos position on facts as they are, not as you want them isn’t easy, but you can do it. Support for your efforts to be. comes slowly, but it does come. Enjoy an arts-filled weekend.

watchwords this week are: “Focus.” “Focus.” “Focus.”

Don’t let yourself be distracted from what you set out to do. There’ll be time later to look over other possibilities.

you believe you were treated is understandable. But AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A before you decide to “set things straight,” make sure workplace opportunity might require changes the whole thing wasn’t just a misinterpretation of you’re not keen on making. Discuss the plusses and the facts. minuses with someone familiar with the situation before you make a decision.

you care makes it easier to build trust and gain an PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Love and advantage in handling a delicate situation. What romance are strong in your aspect this week. If you learn from this experience also will help you you’ve already met the right person, expect your understand yourself better. relationship to grow. And if you’re still looking, odds are you’ll soon be finding it.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your honesty about people

BORN THIS WEEK: You approach life in a wise and measured manner, which gives you an edge in many areas.

and issues is expressed in a positive, not painful, way.

2020 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

PG.19 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SAVAGE LOVE CUTTING REMARKS

Assholes don’t have epiphanies

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BY DAN SAVAGE

I’m having a problem advising a friend. She’s been through a divorce and now the breaking off of an engagement. To put it simply, both relationships ended because she was cheated on and she has a zero-tolerance policy around infidelity. To complicate matters, in each relationship we — her friends — have witnessed her being very cutting to the point of being downright insulting to her former partners. She has a tendency to tease her partners about their deepest insecurities in public and to express her extreme disdain for their family members openly. I had a chance to speak to each of her former partners after the breakup and they expressed to me that they felt emasculated by her and that their self-esteem was shot and they had essentially “had enough.” However, neither have given her this feedback directly.

My friends and I have hinted to her about this pattern in the hopes of helping her see what her role might be in these breakups. But she takes extreme offense to any criticism and insists she’s the victim. I’m sympathetic to her plight but her unwillingness to accept any responsibility makes it difficult to offer her any useful advice.

I’ve been there for her, calling her daily, and stopping by when I could in a COVID-safe way. But every conversation turns into a three-hour-long rehashing of these relationships with all blame assigned to her exes. I’ve let a few weeks go by without reaching out because I don’t want to have another one of these conversations. I’m curious what you would do here. Our entire friend group is now debating whether we should share our actual opinions with her at the risk her being angry with us. The other option is to leave it alone and hope she comes to her own conclusions. I wish her exes had the courage to tell her their true feelings.

NO BRAINPOWER FOR CLEVER SIGNOFF

Your friend must be one scary asshole — I mean, that would explain why her former romantic partners won’t tell her she’s an asshole and why her friends won’t tell her that her assholery has consequences. Like getting

dumped. And while her exes should’ve broken up with her before cheating on her, NBFCS, it sounds like both opted to slam their hands down on the self-destruct button instead. And who can blame them? Maybe they thought cheating would help them masc back up after enduring your friend’s emasculating abuse — and that would be pretty fucked up if they thought that — or maybe they wanted to punish your asshole friend by engineering breakups every bit as painful for her as these relationships had been for them.

But why they cheated isn’t the question. You’re wondering what, if anything, you should say to your friend about this pattern, i.e. that she’s an asshole who emotionally abuses her romantic partners and it makes you and the rest of her friends uncomfortable.

If you want your friend to know she’s an asshole and needs help, NBFCS, you’re going to have to say something.

Assholes rarely have epiphanies. If you can’t bring yourself to say what you need to say to her asshole face, put it in a letter, ask your mutual friends to cosign, and email it to her.

You might never hear from her again, NBFCS, but would that really be so terrible? Do you wanna be friends with someone who expects you to sit there silently while she verbally abuses her romantic partners and then expects you to sit and listen while she complains about her exes for hours? We both know the answer to that question, NBFCS, and it’s fuck no. You’ve already started to cut this woman out of your life — you’re in the process of breaking up with your friend — because her good qualities, whatever they might be, don’t compensate for her assholery. You’ve got nothing to lose by leveling with this woman except for her company, which you do not enjoy. You can’t condemn her exes for not having the courage to share their true feelings with her if you don’t have the courage to do the same.

How do I know if a guy is a player or if he has feelings for me? This guy goes to my university and we had our eyes on each other for more than year. I made a move and sent him a friend request on FB and we started spending a lot time with each other.

The problem is, I am constantly finding him with other girls. He got to know my female friends and started talking them up too and he says the same things to them that he says to me. This made me really upset and I told him I wanted some space and asked him to stop contacting me but I couldn’t tell him the real reason. Instead I told him he was suffocating me with his attention (partly true) but he kept reaching out to tell me how much he misses me. He even told me he has feelings for me but he isn’t sure what they are and so can’t put a label on them and says I’m special to him and he gets

TRIVIA ANSWERS: 5. John Kennedy and Joe Biden 1. “Jane Eyre” 6. Tunisia 2. Mercury 7. Rat’s mouth (named for sharp 3. Kate Warne rocks where ships docked) 4. Alka-Seltzer

8. California: Mount Whitney and Death Valley 9. Jamie Foxx 10. “The Roy Rogers Show”

insanely jealous whenever he sees me with other was the first time I’d seen breastfeeding in person? guys. Feel free to ask about for more details about Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that our story if you’re interested. it was my boyfriend’s sister? I don’t know! I don’t PARSING LOVE AND YEARNING know why, but for whatever reason, seeing nipples in a different light has left me repulsed by the No more details. Please. While I’m sure every last idea of using mine in a sexual way. If I’m close to detail is fascinating, PLAY, what you need to do here is orgasm, I can stand a little bit of nipple attention obvious — it’s so obvious you’ve already tried to do it. but nowhere near the amount I used to like. I want Zooming out for a second: “He’s a player,” is just to enjoy nipple play again, Dan! Any advice for another way of saying, “He’s a liar.” A player is a guy who getting my nipples back? It’s been months! tells someone what he thinks she wants to hear (“You’re so BREASTS OUT OF BUSINESS SUDDENLY special to me”) to get into her pants. If a little play is all a P.S. I don’t mean any offense whatsoever to person wants — if some sexual attention and whole bunch those who breastfeed. It’s not the breastfeeding of compliments you know to be bullshit are what you want that I find squicky.

— then it doesn’t matter if the guy is a player. His lies can go in one ear and out the other at the same time his dick I don’t wanna ruin dick for you, BOOBS, but you goes in and out of you. But if you want something serious do know men don’t just ejaculate out of those things, with this guy and you know you’re being played, that’s right? Dicks serve more than one purpose. Dicks and going to be painful. And if you want something serious nipples both have specific nonsexual purposes (peeing with someone and you’re hanging around with or fucking and breastfeeding) as well as specific sexual functions a player, that’s a waste of your time. (ejaculating and, um, erogenous zoning). There are a So, PLAY, do that thing again, that thing you already lot of sensitive nerve endings and erectile tissues in and did, but stick to it this time. Tell this guy to stop contacting around our nipples, both the male and female varieties, you, unfollow him on FB, and block his number and and our nipples — like our assholes and our throats — encourage your friends to do the same. don’t just have a sexual use, they have a sexual purpose.

Considering that we have more sex than we do children, Heterosexual, 30-something, female here. For BOOBS, you could argue that their sexual use is their all of my sexual life, until recently, I really enjoyed highest and best use. Which means you aren’t misusing having my nipples played with by my partners — your nipples when you derive pleasure from having them during sex, as part of foreplay, fingers, clamps, licked, sucked, clamped, etc., BOOBS, you are enjoying lips, tongue, just about anything touching of my your nipples just as nature — natural selection and nipples was a turn-on and an orgasm enhancer. spontaneous mutation — intended them to be enjoyed.

But something changed after witnessing my And if thinking about breastfeeding squicks you out, boyfriend’s sister breastfeeding her child. don’t think about it — just like you don’t think about Something about seeing nipples being used for, piss when you suck your boyfriend’s dick and I don’t think well, what they’re meant to be used for, has really about shit when I eat my boyfriend’s ass. squicked me out. Now, when my boyfriend touches mail@savagelove.net; Follow Dan on Twitter @ my nipples in the slightest way, I find it irritating, a little gross, and a huge turn-off. I think maybe this FakeDanSavage; savagelovecast.com

THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) MAY BE STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE. FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT A DISEASE CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND CAUSE STRONG EMOTIONS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN. COPING WITH STRESS WILL MAKE YOU, THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT, AND YOUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. EVERYONE REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE OUTBREAK CAN DEPEND ON YOUR BACKGROUND, THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN.

-Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones -Changes in sleep or eating patterns -Difficulty sleeping or concentrating -Worsening of chronic health problems -Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

­

-Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.

Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

-Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

-Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

-Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

ONLINE THERAPY OPTIONS

OPEN PATH COLLECTIVE

Pg. 23 MAR 10 - MAR 23, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM

A nonprofit that connects people with private practice therapists that choose to participate.

Digital therapy is available for a $59 membership tinyurl.com/opcollective

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

An interactive website where users can enter their zip code to find a counseling professional near them online with phone and video options available. tinyurl.com/psychtodayonline

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