This Just In

Sitcom star tops 'Most Desirable Women' list

2012-01-31T10:28:00.002-05:00

AskMen's 11th annual “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” list was revealed today, and "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara was on top of it.

“I am so honored to be AskMen's most desired woman this year," Vergara said in a statement. "A big thank you to all the men who desire me.”

Television actresses dominated the list, with 22 TV stars claiming spots. Last year's No. 1 vote went to "Gossip Girl's" Blake Lively, who held strong at No. 32 in 2012. Other TV stars include: Kim Kardashian ("Keeping Up with the Kardashians"; "Kourtney and Kim Take New York"); Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl"); Lea Michele and Dianna Agron ("Glee"); Nicole Scherzinger ("The X Factor"); Jennifer Lopez ("American Idol") and Kat Dennings ("2 Broke Girls").

This year's list also highlights a new generation of leading women, such as superstar vocalist Adele, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and George Clooney's girlfriend, Stacy Keibler. Also among the 39 newcomers on this year's list is Pippa Middleton, who just made the cut at No. 98. (AskMen readers much preferred her sister, Kate, who ranked No. 11.)

The “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” of 2012 also features women with an edge, voting a few notable stars that are known for their unconventional beauty, including newcomer Rooney Mara (No. 3) -- who transformed her look to become "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" -- and music icons Nicki Minaj (No. 5), Katy Perry (No. 16) and Lady Gaga (No. 18).

Also notable: 49-year-old Demi Moore (No. 80) made the list.

According to a press release, more than 1 million votes were cast internationally. To see the full list, visit www.askmen.com.

'America's Got Talent' holding Charlotte auditions

2012-01-17T11:15:00.004-05:00

"America's Got Talent" is holding open calls for its upcoming seventh season, and one of the stops is Charlotte on Feb. 3-4.

Singers, dancers, comedic performers and variety acts of all ages will have a chance to strut and perform in front of the show's producers, who will determine which acts will have a chance to appear on the show. Auditions will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 3 and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 4.

Producers have already been to Austin, New York, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Anaheim, and Tampa; Charlotte and San Francsico are the last two cities they will visit. The winner of "America's Got Talent" will receive a $1 million prize, and a show as the headliner on the Las Vegas Strip.

The talent search is open to any act of any age. You can now pre-register for your audition date, download the paperwork you will need, and read our FAQ to answer all of your questions and give you some valuable advice.

"America's Got Talent" is hosted by Nick Cannon and presided over by celebrity judges Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandell and -- this year -- new judge Howard Stern.

NASCAR fans can meet, greet Hall of Famers

2012-01-11T16:43:00.002-05:00

Ever met a NASCAR Hall of Famer? Your chance is coming ... next weekend.

NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees will meet with small groups before guided tours of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Saturday, Jan. 21, as part of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend -- which kicks off the night before with the official induction ceremony for the Class of 2012.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone to speak directly with the legends of our sport," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "They can talk about the moonshine days with Junior Johnson, ask Bobby Allison about the famous 1979 Daytona 500, debate the 1989 Winston finish with Darrell Waltrip, discover why the name Gentleman Ned is so applicable, ask Bud Moore about D-Day, or experience that famous Richard Petty smile in person."

Each group will be limited to the first 30 people in line at the Main Stage in the Exhibit Hall at the Charlotte Convention Center. Entry is free with a NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Preview 2012 ticket. After a brief on-stage interview, the inductee will guide the group on a walk through the Convention Center to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Once the meet-and-greet concludes, the group will be given a guided tour of the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The meet-and-greet and tour schedule -- subject to change -- is:

10 a.m. Junior Johnson, Class of 2010
11 a.m. Ned Jarrett, Class of 2011
Noon Richard Petty, Class of 2010
1 p.m. Tours will not be given at 1 p.m. due to a DuPont news conference with Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty. Guests are invited to watch the news conference live in the Great Hall inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
2 p.m. Bud Moore, Class of 2011
3 p.m. Bobby Allison, Class of 2011
4 p.m. Darrell Waltrip, Class of 2012

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend is highlighted by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2012 inductees -- Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough -- on Friday, Jan. 20. On Saturday, Jan. 21, NASCAR Preview 2012 will offer "a festival-like experience for fans that features driver autograph and question-and-answer sessions, show car appearances, simulators, games and more." The weekend activities will conclude with the unveiling of the Class of 2012 Inductee Tribute exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Combo tickets for NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Preview 2012 start at $20. NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony tickets start at $40 and include Hall admission. For more information or to purchase tickets: www.nascaracceleration2012.com or 1-800-745-3000.

Chili Peppers postpone Charlotte show

2012-01-11T11:42:00.004-05:00

Red Hot Chili Peppers this morning announced that they must postpone the start of their upcoming U.S. tour, which effectively will push back the date of its Charlotte concert (originally scheduled for Jan. 25).

Lead singer Anthony Kiedis has reportedly suffered "multiple foot injuries," and "recently underwent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached flexor tendon in his foot and is expected to make a full recovery," according to the band's press release.

The Charlotte show at Time Warner Cable Arena is now scheduled for April 6. New dates for other affected Carolinas dates are as follows: RBC Center in Raleigh, April 4; Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., April 7; Greensboro Coliseum, April 9.

Billboard.com reported today that Kiedis was spotted with a cast on his right foot at a Los Angeles Lakers game on Jan. 8. The cause of his injury isn't entirely clear.

Tickets to the postponed dates will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Tickets for the Charlotte concert are on sale now through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000.

The band is touring in support of the current Grammy-nominated album "I'm With You." For updated tour information, visit www.redhotchilipeppers.com.

'Dancing' star to teach classes in Charlotte

2012-01-06T11:23:00.006-05:00

World champion dancer and "Dancing With the Stars" celebrity Louis Van Amstel will be at Charlotte's Queen City Ballroom Tuesday and Wednesday to debut “LaBlast,” a partner-free dance fitness program combining elements from several different dance forms.

In a press release, Queen City Ballroom Latin dance specialist Felipe Gonzalez calls LaBlast “a mix of all the things dancers love. Cha Cha, Salsa, Lindy and more. It’s all about music and movement, with great rhythm.” The press release says that in Europe, Van Amstel has 45 certified instructors teaching “LaBlast” classes in several languages.

Van Amstel will be working in Queen City Ballroom (3920 Sharon Road in the Morrison Shopping Center in Southpark) for two days, teaching a Latin-style group class on Tuesday and his “LaBlast” method at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Private instruction with the three-time world champion is available for dancers who seek "more intense training."

Details: 704-541-5440 or click here. For more on Van Amstel and LaBlast, click here.

Van Halen plans return to Charlotte

2012-01-06T10:11:00.002-05:00

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Van Halen -- one of the most popular rock bands of all time -- are launching another tour, one that will eventually find its way to Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena on April 25.

The tour will begin on Feb. 18, coinciding with the Feb. 7 release of the group's new album, "A Different Kind of Truth." Van Halen is once again fronted by David Lee Roth, and based on what's in the press release, it seems unlikely that the set list will include anything from the Sammy Hagar era.

Roth also sang lead during the band's last visit to Charlotte, on Sept. 27, 2007. That show sold out in a matter of minutes, and pop and reggae-tinged R&B singer Kymani Marley was the opening act. For this tour, Kool & The Gang has been enlisted to kick things off -- although only for "select" tour dates, so it's unclear whether we'll see them here in Charlotte.

The on-sale date for tickets has not yet been announced. Van Halen's only other planned stop in the Carolinas is at the Greensboro Coliseum on April 21.

Black Keys add Charlotte to their U.S. tour

2011-12-06T10:18:00.003-05:00

The Black Keys will perform at Charlotte's Bojangles' Coliseum on Saturday, March 24, as part of the first leg of a U.S. tour that also includes stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Chicago’s United Center.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at LiveNation.com, the Bojangles’ Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000. Arctic Monkeys are scheduled to open.

The shows are in support of the Black Keys’ new album, "El Camino," which came out today. Five tracks from the CD are currently streaming on the band’s website.

Jackie Evancho to perform at TWC Arena

2011-12-05T18:34:00.002-05:00

"America’s Got Talent" alum Jackie Evancho will perform at Time Warner Cable Arena on June 6, with accompaniment from a symphony orchestra in an intimate, theater-style set-up.

The 11-year-old "classical crossover" singer was recently named to Billboard's "21 Under 21" list, its annual ranking of the most powerful minors in the music industry. Billboard said her spectacular successes in 2010 and 2011 – including placing second in the "America's Got Talent" competition, the releases of "O Holy Night" and "Dream With Me," and her "Dream With Me" concert appearances – set her apart from other young performers.

Tickets for the 2012 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12, through Ticketmaster.com, timewarnercablearena.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000.

South End Gallery Crawl is tonight

2011-12-02T10:54:00.002-05:00

The final South End Gallery Crawl of 2011, set for tonight, will feature unique paintings, sculptures, and jewelry, as well as music and refreshments at more than a host dozen galleries. And -- it being December -- you can expect a hefty helping of holiday cheer.

Event runs from 6-9 tonight. Here are a few highlights:

The artists, designers and galleries of Dilworth Artisan Station will host a Holiday Open House, with three floors of interior design studios, art galleries, artist studios and showrooms on display. More than two dozen studios will participate.

Atherton Mill will offer a one-night-only Holiday Market inside the Atherton Market; a special Champagne tasting at Vin Master; an art and interior design collaboration at Elder Art Gallery featuring the Carl Plansky collection; the newly opened Savory Spice Shop; and food and drink from Icehouse and Big Ben's British Pub.

Along Camden Road, you'll find:

Charlotte Art League hosting its annual "Small Works for the Holidays" December art sale, with more than 50 local artists offering works in a variety of styles and prices.
Blacksheep Skate Shop will host a special gallery featuring 20 years of skateboarding photography.
Lark and Key Gallery, the newly expanded Ciel Gallery, and Unexpected Finds, which will offer a special wine tasting and an eclectic mix of goods.

Also, two Christmas tree lots will be set up in South End. One is in the back of Atherton Mill next to the Market; the second is on a corner lot at Park Avenue and Camden Road.

More information: www.southendclt.com.

Red Hot Chili Peppers to play Charlotte

2011-11-28T17:00:00.002-05:00

Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch the North American leg of their "I’m With You World Tour" in January when they play Time Warner Cable Arena on Jan. 25. Santigold is scheduled to open the show.

The alternative rock band -- whose hits have ranged from 1991's "Under the Bridge" to 2006's "Dani California" -- last performed in Charlotte in January of 2007. Before that, the Chili Peppers hadn't made our city a tour stop since 2003.

"I'm With You" (released in August) is the 10th studio album for the group, which has won seven Grammy Awards over the course of almost three decades.

Tickets for the 2012 concert go on sale at 10 a.m. this Saturday through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the Time Warner Cable Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000. For more information, go to www.livenation.com.

From Charlotte, the Chili Peppers will continue through the Carolinas for shows at the RBC Center in Raleigh on Jan. 27; at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Jan. 28; and at Greensboro Coliseum on Jan. 31.

Leonard Bearstein Returns to Founders Hall

2011-11-28T10:56:00.003-05:00

One of Charlotte’s favorite traditions -- Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra -- is returning to Founders Hall in Bank of America Corporate Center (100 N. Tryon St.) throughout the month of December.

The 45-minute program features holiday favorites performed by Leonard Bearstein and his orchestra, including: “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Santa Baby,” “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late),” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bells,” “Feliz Navidad,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra will perform daily Dec. 1-31. Performance times are: 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1, 2, 5 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and hourly from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Performances are free and times are subject to change. For the latest information on performances, visit www.foundershall.com or call 704-716-8649.

Craft beer lovers, unite! In NoDa, in Feb.

2011-11-22T09:04:00.002-05:00

The inaugural Queen City Brewers Festival will be held at the Neighborhood Theatre (511 E. 36th St.), on Saturday, Feb. 4. The event will feature a diverse selection of beer styles and flavors to taste and learn about from representatives of Charlotte-area craft breweries.

“Charlotte’s craft beer market has exploded in recent years,” Nils Weldy, the festival organizer, said in a press release. “Charlotte is raising the bar of beer culture not only in North Carolina, but across the Southeast, and the purpose of this event is to spotlight our emerging craft breweries. At the same time, we are bringing awareness to a Charlotte-based nonprofit whose goal is to improve the quality of life for citizens within the Charlotte community.”

Expect at least seven breweries and some 30 beers. Each brewery will showcase its full lineup, and is also being encouraged to bring one "super" flavor or style of beer brewed especially for the festival -- which takes place the day before the Super Bowl.

There will be two tasting sessions: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Admission is $20 per session and tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit Partners for Parks, which seeks to promote and enhance parks, recreation and open space in neighborhoods throughout Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area.

Details: www.QCBrewFest.com.

See new trailer for 'The Hunger Games'

2011-11-14T09:56:00.005-05:00

The full trailer for the upcoming film "The Hunger Games" -- much of which was shot in North Carolina over the summer -- debuted today on ABC's "Good Morning America" and is now spreading like wildfire online.

Principal photography in North Carolina was completed in September; the 84-day shoot started on May 23 and included locations in Asheville, Barnardsville, Black Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Charlotte, Concord, Hildebran and Shelby.

The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley and Toby Jones. Lionsgate will release the first movie in the trilogy of adaptations from Suzanne Collins' novels on March 23, 2012.

Here's your first look:

In a press release, Lionsgate stated: "In an attempt to preserve the anticipation and mystery that fans are relishing, the trailer only shows footage from the first half of the film, chronicling events leading up to but not including the Games themselves. After giving fans their first look at all of the book's beloved characters brought to life, giving viewers who haven’t read the book vital information about the world of Panem, the trailer ends with an electrifying cliffhanger right as Katniss enters the arena."

So ... what do you think of the new trailer for "The Hunger Games"?

Waters to bring 'The Wall' to Charlotte

2011-11-01T08:28:00.003-04:00

Roger Waters, the co-founder and principal songwriter of Pink Floyd, has announced the return of the production of “The Wall” to North America in 2012.

Third-to-last stop on the 36-show tour? Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena, on July 10.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at LiveNation.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Wal-Mart stores), or by phone at 800-745-3000.

The reimagined live version of “The Wall” -- which features a full band and state-of-the-art production -- has played more than 120 shows around the world for more than 1.6 million fans, making it one of the most successful tours of 2010 and 2011.

“Thirty years ago when I wrote ‘The Wall,’ I was a frightened young man,” Waters said in a press release. “In the intervening years it occurred to me that maybe the story of my fear and loss with its concomitant inevitable residue of ridicule, shame and punishment, provides an allegory for broader concerns: Nationalism, racism, sexism, religion, whatever! All these issues and 'isms are driven by the same fears that drove my young life.”

The 1980 original production of the “The Wall” was performed live and in its entirety just 29 times during Pink Floyd’s 1980 tour in support of the album (and once in Berlin in celebration of the fall of the Berlin wall). The new, much-showier version debuted in Toronto in 2010.

In addition to Roger Waters (lead vocals, bass), “The Wall” live touring ensemble includes: Snowy White (guitar), Dave Kilminster (guitar), GE Smith (guitar and bass), Jon Carin (keyboards), Harry Waters (Hammond organ), Graham Broad (drums), and Robbie Wyckoff (vocals), with backing vocals by Jon Joyce, Pat Lennon, Mark Lennon and Kipp Lennon.

Prior to the Charlotte show on July 10, Roger Waters' "The Wall Live Tour" will stop at the RBC Center in Raleigh, on July 9.

Lady Cats to unveil new swimsuit calendar

2011-10-31T15:25:00.002-04:00

The lockout has put the freeze on the Charlotte Bobcats, but their cheerleaders? Still hot.

The Lady Cats -- two-time defending NBA.com Dance Team Contest Champions -- will unveil the 2011-12 Lady Cats Swimsuit Calendar during two free events at the uptown EpiCentre entertainment complex on Thursday night.

First, from 5:30-7 p.m., the women will be toasted at a cocktail reception at Mez, then from 8:30-11 p.m., they'll be the star attractions at a "runway-style" swimsuit fashion show at Whisky River, which also will screen a documentary about the making of the calendar produced by Fox Sports Carolinas.

The 14-month calendar, which spans November 2011-December 2012, will be available for sale at both Mez and Whisky River on Thursday for $15.

Jeff Foxworthy's Charlotte show canceled

2011-10-26T17:42:00.002-04:00

Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry The Cable Guy have canceled their comedy show that was scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11, at Time Warner Cable Arena. No explanation was provided.

Ticketholders: Refunds are available from the place you bought your ticket.

Dan Aykroyd coming to Fort Mill, Charlotte

2011-10-18T09:33:00.004-04:00

The actor and comedian who once chased spirits on-screen in "Ghostbusters" is now distilling them.

And this week, he's promoting them in the Carolinas. Dan Aykroyd will visit the Frugal MacDoogal in Fort Mill, S.C., on Thursday and a Mecklenburg County ABC Store in Charlotte on Friday. The former "Saturday Night Live" star will greet fans and autograph bottles of his vodka -- Crystal Head Vodka.

This isn't entirely new territory for Aykroyd; he's been involved with producing and distributing wine and spirits for more than seven years. He recently created Crystal Head Vodka "as a result of his fascination with the supernatural."

The super-premium vodka is made "with water from a deep aquifer in Newfoundland, Canada, blended with selected grains for a creamy and slightly sweet finish, and triple crystal filtered through Herkimer diamonds, which, according to New Age belief systems, embody positive energy and goodwill." It comes in a skull-shaped bottle that "celebrates the mystical legend of the 13 Crystal Heads possessed by tribal cultures such as the Aztec, the Mayan and the Navajo and recalls the celebration of the Mexican 'Day of The Dead' tradition."

Aykroyd will be at Frugal MacDoogal (3630 Festival Drive) from 1-3 p.m. Thursday. The Charlotte appearance, on Friday, is taking place from 1-3:30 p.m. at ABC Store # 4 (125 Cherry St.).

Want to see 'Paranormal Activity' 2 days early?

2011-10-17T17:56:00.005-04:00

The new horror movie lands in theaters on Friday, Oct. 21, but lucky readers of CharlotteObserver.com can snag a free pass (good for themselves plus a guest) to the advance screening in Charlotte at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. Act fast, though -- only 20 passes are available. Head to www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter RSVP code GFB2F5F. If it accepts it, you'll be able to download and print the complimentary movie passes using your computer. (Seating is not guaranteed and available only on a first-come, first-served basis. Details about the location of the theater will be provided if you win.) Good luck!

Want to rappel down an uptown skyscraper?

2011-10-13T10:39:00.007-04:00

There are two types of people in the world: Those whose eyes widen with excitement at the prospect of rappelling hundreds of feet down the side of a 51-story building … and those whose eyes widen with terror.

Which side are you on?

Well, if you're up for a little adventure -- OK, a big one -- on Saturday, Oct. 29, Special Olympics North Carolina is offering thrill-seekers an opportunity to rappel 35 stories down The VUE Charlotte, an uptown skyscraper that houses luxury condominium residences.

It's an experience that will take about 15 minutes. The price tag? $1,000. Sounds like a lot, and it is. But while you'll have to drop down the building by yourself, you won't have to come up with the money on your own if you don't want to. And better yet, all the dough goes to a good cause. Participants are asked to create an online fundraising page at Firstgiving.com; then family and friends can support you in helping to raise the minimum required donation of $1,000. The money ultimately will go to support the 38,000 Special Olympics athletes in North Carolina.

Assuming they don't chicken out, rapellers will start their descent from the 43rd floor of The VUE, at 404 W. Fifth St., and drop until they land on the eighth floor. Participants will wear a full-body industrial harness and use an industrial descender to go down; they can go as slowly as they like (or can go fast -- up to a point). No experience is necessary.

A similar event took place in Raleigh on Oct. 1 (read a story about the event here).

The minimum age requirement for the Charlotte event is 16, and anyone under 18 must have a waiver signed by a legal guardian. To rappel, you must weigh between 110 and 300 pounds.

So if you're feeling charitable and (very) brave, click over to the Over the Edge website for details. If you have additional questions, you can contact Susan Doggett at 704-358-1935, Ext. 4, at sdoggett@sonc.net.

Comedy Central star coming to Charlotte

2011-10-11T08:42:00.003-04:00

It's not showing up on the Ovens Auditorium website just yet, but Live Nation issued a bare-bones press release late Monday announcing news that will be sweet music to Comedy Central fans:

Daniel Tosh, host of the cable channel's popular video clip show "Tosh.0," will perform stand-up at the Independence Boulevard venue on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tickets are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday.

"Tosh.0" is currently in its third season; the series premiered on June 4, 2009, and is the most-watched and highest-rated series on the network. It features razor-sharp humor and biting commentary from Tosh, and delves into all aspects of the Internet -- from the absolutely absurd to the incredibly ingenious.

Get a deep discount on 'Weird Al' tickets

2011-10-06T15:38:00.002-04:00

"Weird Al" Yankovic, the singing comedian behind parodies like "Eat It" and "White & Nerdy," will bring his "Alpocalypse Tour" to Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium on Saturday night.

If you were on the fence about whether or not you wanted to spend the cash, consider this: Ovens announced this afternoon a "buy-one-get-one" offer for customers purchasing through Ticketmaster. Just use the offer code "WEIRD" when selecting the "2 for 1 Tickets" deal and pit, orchestra and mezzanine tickets are just $34.35 each, while balcony seats can be had for as little as $28.20 apiece.

Click here to shop.

Scotty McCreery to perform at World Series

2011-10-03T11:27:00.002-04:00

Scotty McCreery will perform the National Anthem prior to Game One of the 2011 World Series on Fox. The World Series begins on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

“This is absolutely incredible for me,” McCreery said in a statement. “I have had two loves in life -- music and baseball. The World Series is the biggest event in baseball, so to be there and be able to sing the National Anthem is like putting my two greatest loves together. I am looking forward to seeing which two teams will be playing."

McCreery, who won Season 10 of “American Idol” in May, became the youngest male winner and only country male winner in the show’s history with a record-breaking 122.4 million votes cast for the finale. McCreery will release his debut album, “Clear As Day,” on Tuesday.

Carowinds plans tall -- very tall -- new ride

2011-08-24T14:23:00.000-04:00

If you're afraid of heights, you'll probably want to stay far, far away from WindSeeker -- the 30-story "swing ride" announced today and set to open at Carowinds amusement park next spring.

WindSeeker will boast a 301-foot tower, making it 69 feet taller than Intimidator, the big red coaster that cuts an imposing figure on the park's skyline.

The three-minute thrill ride is designed to give riders "the sensation of flying," and is described in Carowinds press materials: "The ride's carriage, featuring 32 two-passenger swings, slowly rotates while climbing to the top of a 301-foot tower. Riders will experience a sense of weightlessness as the swings reach speeds of up to 30 mph, and the arms extend outward at a 45-degree angle."

"The sense of soaring 30 stories in the air will be both exhilarating and breathtaking at the same time," said Bart Kinzel, Carowinds' vice president and general manager. "This new addition will give guests an unparalleled view, making it a must-ride attraction for both families and thrill-seekers alike. The immense scale of this ride alone will be truly stunning."

WindSeeker will be located near the entrance of Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular. Construction will begin this fall, and is expected to continue through the winter. The $6.5 million ride will have a 52-inch minimum height requirement and is being designed and manufactured by Mondial, a Dutch-based amusement-ride company.

This will be the third new major thrill ride to be built at Carowinds since 2009. Carolina Cobra was added that year at a cost of $4 million; Intimidator, with a price tag of $23 million, opened in 2010.

Fantasia is pregnant with second child

2011-08-01T16:40:00.003-04:00

CNN.com is reporting that singer Fantasia Barrino has finally confirmed rumors that she is expecting a child. The news was revealed during a concert Sunday.

"God has given me this child and I don't have to hide it from none of y'all," CNN quoted Barrino as saying to fans at the outdoor show in Jacksonville, Fla.

According to the story, the 2004 "American Idol" winner did not give a due date or identify the father. Her manager did not immediately respond to CNN requests for information.

Fantasia's career has been both a fairy tale and a cautionary tale. She grew up in poverty in High Point, was raped as a teenager and dropped out of high school having never learned to read. Then -- on the strength of powerhouse vocals but also her hard-luck story as a teenage mom -- she won "American Idol's" third season in 2004.

Her debut album was a success, and she landed a starring role on Broadway in "The Color Purple." But Fantasia had financial troubles practically from the get-go -- credit delinquency involving a $240,000 Mercedes, liens on her first house, unpaid fees on back taxes on her second.

More than 3-1/2 years passed between her second and third albums. Then, weeks before the release of her long-awaited comeback album last summer, the story of her romantic involvement with a married Charlotte man came out. The 26-year-old singer landed in CMC-Pineville days later, on Aug. 9, 2010, due to an overdose of aspirin and sleeping pills.

For the full CNN.com story, click here.

Speedway to screen Avett Bros. show

2011-06-23T12:08:00.002-04:00

The Avett Brothers have gotten pretty big over the past couple of years.

Their 2009 CD “I and Love and You” peaked at No. 16 on Billboard’s album charts, and earlier this year, they performed with Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan at the Grammy Awards.
Next month, they’ll get even bigger. Enormous, in fact.

On July 9, the Concord folk-rock band will perform a sold-out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and that show will be broadcast live via satellite to the band’s hometown on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s new 80-foot-high, 200-foot-wide high-definition video board (the world’s largest such screen).

“The speedway has been a hometown landmark for us our whole lives and we’re proud to have an opportunity for our music to echo through that historical infield,” said Seth Avett, who fronts the band with his brother Scott. Both men grew up on a farm in Concord. “For us, performing at Red Rocks and airing live in Concord is about the most ideal situation for being in two amazing places at once.”

The superspeedway will pump the audio through “concert-grade speakers to turn the infield area in front of the video board into a one-of-a-kind concert venue,” according to a press release issued Thursday.

Promoters reportedly are expecting as many as 10,000 fans to pay $10 for tickets (or $15 in July, or $20 at the gate).

Another thing promoters are expecting – maybe hoping for is more accurate (and this wasn’t in the press release): The event might help NASCAR lure some younger, cooler new fans.

Perhaps with this in mind, Charlotte Motor Speedway president and general manager Marcus Smith said, in describing the simulcast: “It’s going to be awesome!”
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Tickets can purchased at the speedway ticket office or by calling 1-800-455-3267.

Britney coming to Charlotte in August

2011-06-17T07:52:00.009-04:00

Britney Spears kicked off her “Femme Fatale” tour in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday night, and it must have gone pretty well: On Friday morning, she announced she will bring the tour to Time Warner Cable Arena this summer.

The 29-year-old pop princess has set Aug. 25 as the concert date; tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, through Ticketmaster.

It’s likely to be a provocative, hit-filled show: According to an MTV report, Spears “took to the stage (in Sacramento) on Thursday night in a collection of revealing outfits, including fishnet stockings and a sexy silver hotpants and bra ensemble, sporting a more fuller-figure than usual. She opened her 22-song set with hit, ‘Hold It Against Me,’ powering through some of her most famous tunes and ending with ‘Toxic’ and ‘Till The World Ends.’ ”

No opening acts were announced for the Charlotte show, although rapper Nicki Minaj opened Thursday night.

Although Spears brought her “Circus” tour to Greensboro Coliseum in September 2009, she hasn’t performed in Charlotte since the “Dream Within a Dream” tour came here (to the old Charlotte Coliseum) in 2002.

The press release issued by Live Nation and Time Warner Cable Arena notes that "Citi cardmembers will also have access to presale tickets through Citi's Private Pass Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com."

Spears will play the RBC Center in Raleigh the night before coming to Charlotte (on Aug. 24).

More details: www.livenation.com.

Bobcats to host draft party

2011-06-16T10:48:00.002-04:00

The Charlotte Bobcats will host an NBA Draft Party at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

This free, public event will feature appearances by former NBA stars David Thompson, Eric “Sleepy” Floyd and Dell Curry, as well as live analysis of the draft by team broadcasters Steve Martin and Scott Lauer.

The draft will air on the arena’s main scoreboard beginning at 7 p.m. The Bobcats have the ninth, 19th and 39th overall selections in this year’s draft; the ninth pick will be made at approximately 8:20 p.m.

In addition to live draft coverage, attendees can test their basketball skills in the Bobcats draft combine on the practice court and meet the new 2011-12 Lady Cats dance team. Kids activities will include balloon artists, face painters and magicians, and concession stands will be open.

If you're in the market for Bobcats gear, team-worn items will be on sale at a table on the concourse, with all proceeds benefitting Cats Care programming next season, and the Team Store (on the Trade Street Plaza entrance of the arena) will be hosting a store-wide 25-percent-off sale.

For more on the Bobcats and on the draft-night event: www.bobcats.com.

Lil Wayne to make lil stop in Charlotte

2011-06-10T11:16:00.002-04:00

Rap fans, rejoice: Live Nation announced this morning that Lil Wayne will play Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Sunday, Aug. 7, with special guests Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, The Far East Movement and Lloyd to open.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster and via charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

From the press release: "Due to popular demand, iconic rapper and label owner, Lil Wayne, in the midst of a high charting radio single '6 Foot 7 Foot' and the pending release of his hotly anticipated 10th studio album 'Tha Carter IV,' will extend his 2011 North American tour, the 'I Am Still Music tour,' heading back out on to the road in July and touring through September."

The multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning recording artist has sold more than 10 million records; his last tour, which ran 2008-2009, featured 78 headline shows in nine months and grossed more than $40 million, making him hip-hop's most profitable touring artist.

Martin Lawrence to perform in Charlotte

2011-06-06T09:38:00.003-04:00

Martin Lawrence will return to his stand-up roots with a comedy show at Time Warner Cable Arena Charlotte on Thursday, Aug. 18.

The 46-year-old funnyman -- who began his career doing stand-up on the Washington, D.C. circuit and parlayed his act into a 1983 appearance on “Star Search” -- has starred recently in the films "Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son," "College Road Trip," and "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins."

Tickets for Lawrence's show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster or via charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

'The Bachelor' wants YOU, single ladies

2011-06-01T13:34:00.007-04:00

Charlotte native Emily Maynard won the heart of Brad Womack on ABC’s “The Bachelor” earlier this year. Now representatives of the hit reality show are coming to the Queen City to see if any other Southern belles have what it takes.

Casting producers from “The Bachelor” will be at the EpiCentre (210 E. Trade St.) on Thursday, June 16, searching for prospective bachelorettes to appear on the next season. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and on-camera interviews will run through 10 p.m. at SUITE, adjacent to the rooftop Pavilion at the EpiCentre, which will be hosting its weekly Alive After Five party.

“The Bachelor” introduces one man to 25 women who are all vying for his affection. He spends time with each woman, sometimes as a group and sometimes one-on-one. Each episode culminates with a rose ceremony where the women who receive roses can stay; those who come up empty-handed are eliminated.

Additional information about “The Bachelor” is available at ABC.com. The current season of “The Bachelorette” airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on WSOC Channel 9.

blink-182, My Chemical Romance on the way

2011-05-31T17:30:00.002-04:00

The annual Honda Civic Tour is marking its 10th anniversary by bringing back blink-182 -- the inaugural artist from the first Honda Civic Tour in 2001 -- along with My Chemical Romance for a 40-plus date tour that will stop at Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Sept. 20.

Openers will include Manchester Orchestra, Rancid and Matt & Kim.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. Members of the blink-182 and My Chemical Romance fan clubs will have access to pre-sale tickets on Monday, June 6; “like” the Honda Civic Tour Facebook profile to gain access to presale tickets on Wednesday, June 8 (as well as tour updates).

Yo Gabba Gabba! coming back to play two

2011-05-27T10:26:00.004-04:00

Yo Gabba Gabba! -- which is to the current crop of preschoolers what "Sesame Street" was to many of us (i.e. red-hot) -- will return to Charlotte this fall.

On the heels of receiving two Daytime Emmy nominations and a Season 4 pickup from Nickelodeon, the TV stars announced a tour this week that will include more than 50 concerts, including two at Ovens Auditorium on Oct. 28-29.

Chicago, New Brunswick, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale are the only other cities in which Yo Gabba Gabba! will perform twice. The act sold out Ovens here last October.

Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for the U.S. shows beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, through Citi's "Private Pass" program at www.CitiPrivatePass.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public shortly after that. Visit www.YoGabbaGabbaLive.com for complete tour, ticket and VIP package information.

More Race Week celebrity appearances

2011-05-25T15:12:00.007-04:00

We've gotten info on all kinds of Race Week-related activities taking place over the next few days. Here are three noteworthy happenings that caught our eyes:

1. As part of Food Lion Speed Street, Matt Kenseth and his No. 17 Jeremiah Weed Ford will make an appearance at the festival at 4:30 p.m. Friday ... but the Sprint Cup Series Champion won't be using horsepower to get around. Instead, strongman Rendy DeLaCruz will attempt to pull Kenseth -- who will be sitting behind the wheel of his car -- 100 feet in 60 seconds or less. For every foot DeLaCruz successfully pulls the 3,500-pound stock car, Jeremiah Weed will distribute up to 500 $10 taxi vouchers redeemable throughout the weekend with Charlotte's Crown Cab (the idea being the company will get 21-and-older fans who are making a party out of the race home safely). Comedian Adam Carolla will emcee Friday's stock-car pull, which will begin midway between Stonewall Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and end at the corners of MLK and Brevard Street.

2. Race fans can meet Robby Gordon -- regarded as one of the best road course drivers in NASCAR -- and get a glimpse of what it's like to be a driver or a pit crew member from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the center court in Gastonia's Westfield Eastridge mall. The "Rev It Up" event will feature Gordon (who will bring his car, sign autographs and greet fans at about 4 p.m.), as well as NASCAR's development team from Revolution Racing, the stars of BET's "Changing Lanes." Meanwhile, kids and adults can get behind the wheel of a racing simulator or try the Pit Stop Challenge, loosening lugnuts with a spring-loaded air gun that's identical to what NASCAR teams use. Many of the mall's retailers will offer discounts during the event, up to $50 or 50 percent off. The first 100 customers who spend $150 at the mall will also receive a $10 Westfield Gift Card.

3. Grammy Award-winning artist Darius Rucker will perform the national anthem for the 52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Born in Charleston, S.C., Rucker first gained fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina. Hootie & the Blowfish received the Best New Artist award at the 1996 Grammy Awards. In 2008, Rucker announced that he would pursue a solo career as a country music performer; he received the Top New Artist title from the Country Music Association Awards in 2009. Tickets for Sunday's race can be purchased at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

Chris Tucker bringing standup act to town

2011-05-20T10:08:00.003-04:00

After a brief hiatus from the stage, Chris Tucker is returning with a live comedy tour scheduled to make a stop at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday, July 9.

Tucker -- who become a global movie star thanks to the three "Rush Hour" films -- is often regarded as one of the funniest comics in the industry, known for his unique voice, fast-paced humor, and animated facial expressions.

Tickets ($45.75-$59.75) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 27 at timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or via charge-by-phone (800-745-3000).

Julie Roberts’ video debuts at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend

2011-05-19T15:02:00.000-04:00

Country singer and Lancaster, S.C. native Julie Roberts is set to debut her "NASCAR Party" anthem at the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday, May 21.

Julie, known for hits "Break Down Here," "Men and Mascara," and "Wake Up Older,” has been working on this project closely with NASCAR, who also produced the video. The video, shot at both the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, will debut on the world’s largest screen – also being unveiled for the first time that day at the track. Julie’s “NASCAR Party” face will be seen in high-definition using 9 million LED bulbs across 200 feet wide by 80 feet tall.

"It's been so much fun working with NASCAR on the song and video for 'NASCAR Party'!" Julie shares her enthusiasm exclaiming, "I am so excited for NASCAR fans to see it on the big screen at the All-Star Race in Charlotte and I'm ready to share it with NASCAR fans all over the world!!!"

Julie will be on the judges’ panel for this year’s Penzoil Ultra Victory Challenge which has NASCAR’s top drivers competing in a smoky burnout contest. Taking part in this pre-race tradition is last year’s winner Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, and 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne – all set to duke it out to win $10,000 for their respective charities.

In addition to all this, Julie will be treating race-goers to a full concert along the speedway’s frontstretch following the completion of the race.

Dierks Bently will perform a pre-race concert in the infield.

Tickets for all May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

Pesky wabbit is music to conductor's ears

2011-05-19T10:38:00.005-04:00

Conductor George Daugherty and his right-hand rabbit, Bugs Bunny, are back in Charlotte this week with “Warner Bros. Presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony,” a concert with the Charlotte Symphony Pops that combines classic cartoons with classical music. It’s a sequel to his popular “Bugs Bunny on Broadway,” which was performed in Charlotte in 2009.

We caught up with him by phone Wednesday to discuss the sequel.

Q. So, what’s up with this show, Doc?

The sequel is about 50 or 60 percent new. It still has some of the old classics from the original, like “What’s Opera, Doc?” and “The Rabbit of Seville” and “Long Haired Hare,” but (now) Tweety’s in the concert (and we’ve added) “Tom & Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl,” which is great classic cartoon set to “Die Fledermaus” – along with the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo.

Q. Nice to change things up, huh?

Yeah, well, after 20 years of doing the same exact concert, it’s fun for me to have some new material.

Q. Any other animated characters you’d like to work with in the future?

I’ve always wanted to do Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” as a film and orchestra concert. … I am very happy with the Looney Tunes gang and Warner Bros., so I’m kind of sticking where I am. But that’s always been one of my favorites. It was based on Tchaikovsky’s ballet score, and I was a ballet conductor for a million years before I was a cartoon conductor.

Q. Did you ever imagine when you started out that cartoons would be your livelihood?

I do do other things, and I still conduct, quote, regular concerts, unquote. But thanks to (Bugs Bunny), I’ve conducted at the Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, on Broadway, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and for the Royal Family. I’ve conducted with arguably the greatest orchestras in the world. I’m not sure that would’ve happened in my career without this. …

It’s a project that is very, very near and dear to my heart in that we bring a lot of people into the symphony orchestra that don’t otherwise come. So I have no regrets. I’m very happy with what I’m doing. And Bugs is a very good colleague. He never changes tempos on me night after night like human soloists do.

Q. After Bugs, who’s your second-favorite character to work with?

You gotta love Elmer and you have to love Daffy. Both of them are such classic characters. And the Coyote. (Looney Tunes director) Chuck Jones always used to say to me, “We all go to bed looking in the mirror and thinking we’re Bugs Bunny, but we all wake up and look in the mirror and discover we’re either Daffy Duck or the Coyote.” The Coyote especially. How many of us keep doing the same thing over and over again? We get an anvil dropped on our head, but we do it again.

Q. Do you ever get tired of being associated with cartoons?

I really don’t. I don’t mean to be sounding all sugarcoated, but it really is so brilliantly done. I never would have been able to stick with this for all these years if this stuff was schlock. … I’ve done plenty of other things in my life where I just think I can’t stand it for another minute, and – I won’t say what those are but – but not this. “What’s up, Doc?” is music to my ears. Still.

Daugherty conducts the Charlotte Symphony Pops in “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” at 7 tonight and 8 p.m. Friday at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $26.50-$69.50. 704-372-1000.

Théoden Janes: tjanes@charlotteobserver.com.

Knights' mascot to attempt world record

2011-05-18T11:43:00.004-04:00

Charlotte Knights mascot Homer the Dragon will be attempting to set the world record for “Most Hugs Given in a 24-hour Span” this week. The current world record is 8,709.

The project, called “Homer’s Hugs for Hope,” will begin at 9 p.m. Thursday at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, during the Knights' game against the Toledo Mud Hens. Over the next 24 hours, Homer will hug his way through various places in Charlotte, including the EpiCentre, on the LYNX Light Rail, at Bank of America Plaza, and in local elementary schools. He will wrap up his journey at 8:59 p.m. Friday, during another Knights game.

The Knights are suggesting a $1 donation per hug, with all proceeds being distributed among the following charities: local schools, Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, and the Disaster Relief Initiative.

First pitch for the Thursday and Friday Knights games is 7:15 p.m. A portion of ticket sales on Friday will also go to the charities.

Here's the tentative schedule for "Homer's Hugs for Hope":

Thursday, May 19
9-10 p.m.: Knights Stadium
10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.: EpiCentre

Friday, May 20
6:30-8:45 a.m.: Local elementary schools
9:15-10 a.m.: LYNX Light Rail
10-11 a.m.: Visit Charlotte offices
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Bank of America Plaza
1:45-2:30 p.m.: Horizon Eye Care
3-4 p.m.: Local elementary schools
5:30-8:59 p.m.: Knights Stadium

For more info on the Knights, or to buy tickets: Click here.

New Discovery Place exhibit opens May 25

2011-05-17T10:45:00.004-04:00

"LIFE: A Journey Through Time" -- a new photography exhibition called set to open at Discovery Place Wednesday, May 25 -- will showcase "the transformation of Earth and its natural phenomena ... from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity."

The exhibition is an original multimedia presentation that blends art, science, and the imagery of acclaimed National Geographic wildlife photographer Frans Lanting, who for seven years (beginning in 2000) traveled the world "on a mission to spotlight new scientific insights and the history of life forms."

His destinations included some of the most desolate and rugged areas of the globe, including Siberia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and remote Western Australia, where life-forms 3 billion years old still dominate the landscape.

The exhibition organizes 64 large-format photographs in terms of five basic elements that Lanting says make up the universe: earth, water, fire, air and space. His images include giant tortoises, prehistoric trilobites, delicate jellies, spiny octopus trees, erupting volcanoes and shimmering coral reefs.

"The 'LIFE' exhibition is a gallery display that walks the line between science and art," said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place. "It is a beautiful celebration of the planet and its history that demonstrates the remarkable magnitude of our world's biodiversity."

"LIFE: A Journey Through Time" is on display at Discovery Place May 25 through Sept. 5, and is free with museum admission. Photography is not allowed. Details: Click here.

Charlotte Comedy Zone unveils first acts

2011-05-12T12:33:00.000-04:00

The new Comedy Zone at the N.C. Music Factory, which will open for business next month, has announced a summer lineup that includes "Jackass" star Steve-O and Public Enemy rapper-turned-reality TV star Flava Flav.

Rob Schneider, last seen in "Grown Ups" with Adam Sandler, will open the venue with a three-night stand June 23-25.

The planned venue is said to seat 400, and can accommodate a total of about 700. It will feature a dining room overlooking the "showroom."

The Charlotte Comedy Zone will be run by Heffron Talent International, which owns the Comedy Zone name and operates more than 60 locations in North America -- including one at Galway Hooker pub in Lake Norman and another at Madison's on the Corner in Fort Mill. Heffron Talent has its corporate headquarters in southwest Charlotte.

Here is the full lineup that was announced this week:

June 23-25: Rob Schneider
July 6-9: Grandma Lee
July 13-16: Jon Reep
July 21-23: John Witherspoon
July 28-30: Steve-O's "Entirely Too Much Information Tour"
Aug. 3-6: Todd Yohn
Aug. 19-20: Josh Wolf
Aug. 25-27: Flavor Flav's "Freaky Comedy Tour"

Details: Click here.
September 15-17: Broken Lizards - "Kevin Heffernan & Steve Lemme"

NASCAR Hall of Fame turns 1 year old

2011-05-10T09:26:00.000-04:00

Wednesday will mark one year since the $160 million facility opened its doors to auto racing fans.

How will it celebrate its first anniversary?

According to a NASCAR Hall of Fame press release, it "will focus on the local and regional community. Highlights include a visit from Metro School students, special one-day admission price of $5.11 and donations to the Red Cross for tornado victims."

That's a particularly good deal on the ticket price -- one-day general admission tickets are normally $19.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids. $1 from every $5.11 admission will go directly to the Red Cross to fund tornado relief efforts.

Also: Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, in the Great Hall, various executives and board members will serve birthday cake to students from neighboring Metro School, a Charlotte school that serves about 200 students whom are significantly disabled.

Several other special events are planned for the month of May at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Here are just a few:

Monday, May 16

NASCAR Performance Taping: See Chad Knaus, Larry McReynolds, Bootie Barker and a chance to be on SPEED. Approximately 2-5 p.m. in the Great Hall. Free with general admission or membership.

Wednesday, May 18

Induction Dinner: Featuring the 2011 Inductees. 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner in the Crown Ballroom. $500 per person; table packages also available (ticket sales end May 13).

Wednesday, May 18

NASCAR Rev’d Up: 4 p.m. festival begins, 7:15 p.m. Josh Kelley performs, 8:45 p.m. Gary Allan performs, all on the Outdoor Plaza. Free.

Thursday, May 19

Bobby Labonte Appearance: Q&A and autograph session with the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup champion. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Great Hall. Free with general admission or membership.

For a full list of events, click here.

Kings of Leon set Charlotte summer date

2011-05-09T16:50:00.002-04:00

Kings of Leon (of "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" fame) will play Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte on Friday, Aug. 5.

The band -- which is touring in support of its fifth album, "Come Around Sundown," and recently headlined the Coachella music festival -- will be supported by opening act Band of Horses.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at LiveNation.com, the Verizon box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Alive After Five returns to EpiCentre today

2011-05-05T13:02:00.003-04:00

Fresh off an opening month at Wells Fargo Plaza, Charlotte’s Alive After Five returns to Pavilion at EpiCentre for the remainder of the season beginning at 5 p.m. today.

Jesse’s Girl will perform on the Pavilion stage, while Alternate Take will play contemporary party music and jazz standards on the main level at EpiCentre. Alive After Five -- which is celebrating its 10th anniversary -- continues at EpiCentre every Thursday evening through September.

Today's Alive After Five will also serve as a fundraiser for tornado victims in the Southeast. The event has partnered with the Charlotte Junior Chamber, which will be at EpiCentre tonight collecting donations, 100 percent of which will go to those affected by the recent outbreak of tornadoes.

Also, each Thursday during the Alive After Five season, select restaurants at the EpiCentre will offer $20 prix fixe menus. Participating restaurants include BlackFinn, Enso, Kazba, Libretto’s, Mez, Mortimer’s, StrikeCity, Vida and Wild Wing Café. These restaurants will also offer complimentary hors d'oeuvres during Alive After Five the first Thursday of every month.

Also new for 2011: Alive After Five's "When it Rains, We Pour" promotion. Pavilion has purchased two tents to keep guests sheltered from rain; when the weather's wet, guests will be offered drink specials, including discounted beer prices any time there is inclement weather during AT&T Alive After Five.

Alive After Five will also present a Block Party from 7-11 p.m. Friday at Piedmont Town Center, featuring a performance by Party on the Moon. The Friday night Block Party also serves as the kickoff of Alive After Five’s Piedmont Town Center series, which runs every Wednesday from through June 15. Band line-ups for both EpiCentre and Piedmont Town Center are available at AliveAfterFives.com.

Speedway readies world's largest HDTV

2011-05-04T09:19:00.000-04:00

The final touches are being put on the world's largest HD video board as officials from Panasonic are in Charlotte this week testing the massive screen that will debut during Charlotte Motor Speedway's 2011 May race events.

The face of the approximately 200-foot-wide, 80-foot-tall screen is comprised of 158 panels and each is being tested graphically for color quality, contrast and light levels this week.

More than nine million light emitting diode, or LED, lamps will illuminate the video board during select NASCAR events at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

The 165,000-pound HD video board rises 110 feet above the track on a 500,000-pound steel frame. The screen is centered along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line.

Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals.

The two biggest weeks in all of sports begins this May in Charlotte with the NASCAR Rev'd Up Concert on May 18 with Gary Allan and Josh Kelley at 4:00 p.m., at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Additional events include:

May 19: NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge, 7 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena
May 20: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Qualifying/N.C. Education Lottery 200, 8 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 21: Dierks Bentley Pre-Race Concert presented by Budweiser, 2:30 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway Infield
May 21: Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, 6:20 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 21: Sprint Showdown, 7:30 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 21: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, 9 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 23: NASCAR Hall of Fame 2011 Induction Ceremony, 7 p.m., NASCAR Hall of Fame
May 26: Windstream Pole Night, 7:10 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 26-28: Food Lion SpeedStreet, Noon, Uptown Charlotte
May 27: Coca-Cola Family Cookout & Track Walk, 11 a.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway Infield
May 27: Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown, 7:30 p.m., The Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 28: Top Gear 300, 2:30 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 29: Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway

A full list of activities taking place in Charlotte during Charlotte Motor Speedway's May race weeks is available by clicking here.

Tickets for all May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the world's largest HD video board, debuting at the speedway in May, start at $49 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for $99 (and up) to the Coca-Cola 600.

Carolina Rebellion unveils schedule

2011-05-02T13:40:00.006-04:00

The inaugural Carolina Rebellion festival, which sold out its 30,000 tickets more than a month ago, finally hits the Metrolina Expo in Charlotte on Saturday.

Here's the lineup for the show:

Monster Energy Carolina Stage:
Cavo, 12:20 p.m.
Halestorm, 1:50 p.m.
Skillet, 3:30 p.m.
Bullet For My Valentine, 5:20 p.m.
Seether, 7:10 p.m.
Three Days Grace, 8:45 p.m.
Avenged Sevenfold, 10:45 p.m.

Monster Energy Rebellion Stage:
My Darkest Days, 11:50 a.m.
Saving Abel, 1:20 p.m.
Hinder, 2:50 p.m.
Alter Bridge, 4:40 p.m.
Theory of a Deadman, 6:30 p.m.
Stone Sour, 7:50 p.m.
Godsmack, 9:40 p.m.

Jagermeister Stage:
Drop D, 11:30 a.m.
Art of Dying, 12:50 p.m.
Pop Evil, 2:20 p.m.
Black Stone Cherry, 4:10 p.m.
Rev Theory, 6 p.m.

Artist set times are subject to change. Will call opens at 9:30 a.m., doors open at 11 a.m. Show ends at 11:50 p.m.

Click here for a downloadable schedule.

'American Idol' tour returning to Charlotte

2011-04-28T15:05:00.003-04:00

"American Idol Live!" will return to Time Warner Cable Arena on Thursday, July 28, when this season's top 11 finalists will perform a variety of medleys and solos that have been featured on the Fox show.

Those singers are: the six current finalists -- Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery -- along with recently eliminated contestants Naima Adedapo, Paul McDonald, Pia Toscano, Stefano Langone and Thia Megia.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 13, at www.ticketmaster.com.

The "American Idol" season finale will air on Thursday, May 26.

Coca-Cola 600 calls on the Cable Guy

2011-04-28T11:53:00.002-04:00

Larry the Cable Guy will serve as the honorary pace-car driver for the 52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In addition to leading the field of 43 NASCAR stars in the Coca-Cola 600, Larry the Cable Guy will take part in other activities during race weekend, including attending the pre-race drivers' meeting.

The blue-collar comedian voices Mater in the upcoming Disney-Pixar summer comedy "Cars 2"; during race weekend, the speedway will celebrate the film (scheduled for release on June 24) with a special display for fans featuring full-size replicas of movie stars Lightning McQueen and Mater. Lightning McQueen and Mater will also participate in the pre-race parade laps.

"I am excited to 'git r done' in the pace car at Charlotte Motor Speedway and lead the field to the start of NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600," said Larry the Cable Guy in a prepared statement. "It will be an honor to be a part of the most patriotic pre-race show in America."

Maroon 5, Train coming to Charlotte

2011-04-28T09:57:00.000-04:00

Rock bands Maroon 5 and Train have teamed up to co-headline a summer tour that will stop at Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Tuesday, Aug. 2, according to a press release issued this week by the band's publicists.

Gavin DeGraw will open the show.

Live Nation, which runs the amphitheatre, has not officially announced the concert, so no on-sale date has been set yet for tickets.

Maroon 5's biggest recent hit was 2010's "Misery," while Train landed in the Top 40 twice last year (with "If It's Love" and "Marry Me"). Both groups have won multiple Grammys.

Concert news: ZZ Top, Goo Goo Dolls, more

2011-04-25T18:19:00.004-04:00

The summer concert schedule for the N.C. Music Factory's Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre is taking shape. Three upcoming shows were announced this afternoon:

Rock legends ZZ Top will play the venue on June 2. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Goo Goo Dolls have been booked for Aug. 9, with special guests Michelle Branch and Parachute slated to open the show. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Then on Aug. 13, Chicago will hit the stage. Tickets for this concert also will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Purchase tickets at the Fillmore Charlotte box office (also in the N.C. Music Factory), Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone 800-745-3000. Details: LiveNation.com.

In other news: Multi-platinum recording artist Usher has added Dev and The Cataracs and Tinie Tempah as guest acts on his “OMG Tour,” which stops at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday. Akon also will open. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, at the arena box office, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Rascal Flatts set to return to Charlotte

2011-04-22T09:51:00.002-04:00

Country stars Rascal Flatts are bringing their brand-new "Flatts Fest" summer tour to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Friday, July 29.

The band has headlined a show at Verizon every summer since 2005; they were last here last June with Albemarle native Kellie Pickler. This time around, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore will open for Rascal Flatts.

According to a Live Nation press release, "The 'Flatts Fest' tour will include a new stage production design and set list" and "an interactive pre-show festival atmosphere and tailgating experience." Plans include a mobile karaoke vehicle, carnival games, photo booths, putt putt golf, food vendors, and contests.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

The night after the Charlotte show, Rascal Flatts will perform at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion Raleigh (on Saturday, July 30).

What's new at Museum of the New South?

2011-04-21T15:39:00.004-04:00

I was disappointed last month when I dropped in on the Levine Museum of the New South only to find my favorite part of its award-winning “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” exhibit was closed for renovation.

The other displays – ranging from a one-room tenant farmer’s house to a civil-rights-era lunch counter – are interesting enough, but the end section (closed since mid-January) is so much more urgent because it covers 1970 to 2010. It’s always fascinating to walk through knowing that these changes happened in Charlotte so recently.

The good news is that the uptown museum will reopen this expanded end section next Friday. Here are just a few of the many new highlights:

The 10-minute intro film has been completely revised, and now features narration by former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl, famed NASCAR promoter Humpy Wheeler, and radio personality Ramona Holloway.

A 1908 Union National Bank ledger displayed juxtaposed next to one of the first computer-linked ATMs.

A fire suit worn in 2009 by NASCAR driver and California native/now-New Southerner Jimmie Johnson.

The interactive “Picture Yourself in History,” which uses green-screen technology to allow visitors to superimpose themselves into a historic scene from the exhibit; they can then e-mail the image to themselves.

If you’d like a sneak peek at the updated exhibit – and have some disposable income to spend on a nice night out – the museum is hosting a 20th anniversary party called “Taste of Time” next Thursday evening. ($125 per person, or $100 for museum members.) Otherwise, make plans to visit on or after the grand reopening next Friday.

Details: www.museumofthenewsouth.org.

Also, read more about this great museum in the online version of SouthPark Magazine by clicking here.

The Wiggles are returning to Charlotte

2011-04-19T14:25:00.003-04:00

One of the hottest Australian imports in the entertainment biz is coming to Charlotte this summer.

No, it's not Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton-John or Russell Crowe. It's The Wiggles, the four guys from Sydney who are rock stars among the 2- to 6-year-old set. The musical group will perform at Time Warner Cable Arena at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13.

The band -- originally formed in 1991 and currently featuring Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Sam Moran -- has become one of the most successful children's group of all-time. It last visited Charlotte in August of 2008.

The Wiggles' Big Birthday Tour" will feature songs like "Sound Your Funky Horn," "Clap Your Hands With Dorothy" and "Hot Potato." Also slated to appear: Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and all the Wiggly Dancers.

Tickets go on sale Monday, April 25 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

The Wiggles recently announced that the U.S. school readiness initiative Reach Out and Read will be the official charity partner of their 2011 American tour. Reach Out and Read "prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to 'prescribe' books and encourage families to read together." In North Carolina, 88 hospitals and clinics participate in Reach Out and Read, serving 98,000 children annually. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will be used to support Reach Out and Read Programs in North Carolina and across the United States.

For more on the Wiggles' tour: Click here.

Carowinds is dyeing for this world record

2011-04-18T12:35:00.002-04:00

Carowinds is best-known for giant roller coasters like the Intimidator and Nighthawk, but the theme park is hoping to earn some Guinness-sized recognition this weekend for its massive Easter egg hunt.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, during the ninth annual "Easter Egg-stravaganza," the park is attempting to set a world record for the most amount of people dyeing Easter eggs at one time. Related activities at Carowinds this weekend will include appearances by Snoopy the Easter "Beagle" and the Easter Bunny; a Coloring Station; a DJ-hosted party for kids; and "Bunny Hop" lessons.

For details on the event, click here.

Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow book Charlotte show

2011-04-01T16:48:00.002-04:00

Kid Rock will bring his "Born Free" tour to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Saturday, Aug. 27, with special guest Sheryl Crow.

The announcement comes on the heels of Rock's new single "Collide," which features Crow. The two also teamed in 2001 on the hit single "Picture."

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster or by calling charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Before coming to Charlotte, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow also will play Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion in Raleigh on Aug. 25.

Knights Fest set for Saturday

2011-04-01T16:03:00.002-04:00

It's baseball season again, and in Charlotte, that means the annual Knights Fest will be held at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday -- followed by a scrimmage between the Charlotte Knights and the Winston-Salem Dash.

Knights Fest and the exhibition game both are free and open to the public. (The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.)

Event highlights include:

National anthem auditions from 10-11 a.m.
Fans can take batting practice on the field from 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Free hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be served at the Picnic Grill (on the third-base side) from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Knights players will sign autographs at 1:30 p.m.
Stadium tours will be available throughout the day.

For ticket or event information, call (704) 357-8071 or (803) 548-8050, or click here.

Yo, Gleeks: Mr. Schue to play Greensboro

2011-04-01T14:07:00.003-04:00

"Glee" star Matthew Morrison will bring his summer tour to Greensboro's War Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, July 7, when he will perform songs from his forthcoming album -- along with many fan favorites from "Glee."

Morrison is best known as eternally optimistic high school teacher (and de facto glee club director) Will Schuester on the Fox comedy series.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at www.aeglive.com, www.ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and the Greensboro Coliseum box office.

In conjunction with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, the tour is offering regional glee clubs the chance to compete to be Morrison's opening act. For details, click here.

Fantasia to sing on 'Idol' tonight

2011-03-31T10:01:00.003-04:00

Charlotte's Fantasia Barrino will perform during "American Idol's" live results show tonight on Fox, her first appearance on the show's stage since a scandal last year linked her romantically to a married man.

The Season 3 winner will sing "Collard Greens & Cornbread," the latest release from her 2010 album "Back to Me," following previous singles "Bittersweet" and "I'm Doin' Me."

In "Collard Greens & Cornbread," Fantasia sings about a dysfunctional relationship:

I never put up with b.s. from anyone But I take it from you (Ain't that some love) I never had no one put me through what you do But as long as it's you (That's some real love)

Jamie Foxx and will.i.am of the Black Eyes Peas also will perform on "Idol" tonight, when two finalists will be eliminated.

Discovery Channel star to visit Charlotte

2011-03-30T10:12:00.002-04:00

Sean Casey, the large-format filmmaker best known as the star of the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" series, will visit Discovery Place on Thursday to host a screening of his new IMAX film "Tornado Alley."

The IMAX movie follows Casey, his researchers, and their fleet of special vehicles and cutting-edge weather instruments as they travel into the heart of a tornado.

The screening of "Tornado Alley" will take place at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at The Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theatre at Discovery Place. Casey, who will introduce the film, will lead a post-show question-and-answer session with audience members. Admission is $10. Details: 704-372-6261, Ext. 300.

Casey's Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) will be parked outside the museum's Sixth Street entrance at 6 p.m. for photo opportunities prior to the screening; doors to the IMAX Dome Theatre will open at 6:15 p.m. In addition, the TIV will be parked in front of the museum on North Tryon Street from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 1.

For more information on "Tornado Alley," click here.

Hey, kids: Selena Gomez is coming

2011-03-29T11:06:00.002-04:00

Selena Gomez & The Scene will bring their summer tour to Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte (in the N.C. Music Factory) on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

It'll be a big summer for Gomez: In addition to the tour, she'll release her third album with The Scene in June, and will star in the Nicole Kidman-produced romantic comedy "Monte Carlo," in theaters this July. She also is currently in production of her hit Disney Channel original series "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Allstar Weekend will open for Selena Gomez & The Scene at the Uptown Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com, the Fillmore Charlotte box office, Ticketmaster, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Cirque du Soleil returning in August

2011-03-28T11:19:00.003-04:00

A day after closing night for the run of its show "Totem" at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Cirque du Soleil has announced that its critically-acclaimed touring production "Alegría" will present eight performances at uptown's Time Warner Cable Arena this summer.

"Alegría" is a Cirque du Soleil classic (created in 1994) that has been seen by more than 10 million people worldwide. It features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acts including the Synchro Trapeze and the Aerial High Bars, in which aerialists swing more than 40 feet above the stage.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

Tickets are $35-$79 for adults and $28-$64 for children 12 and younger. Discounts for military, seniors and students. A limited number of "premium" tickets are also available for all performances.

For show and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/alegria.

Coming: Sade, Kevin Hart, Warped tour

2011-03-28T10:03:00.002-04:00

A few recent concert announcements from Live Nation:

Sade ("Smooth Operator," "The Sweetest Taboo") will play Time Warner Cable Arena on Sunday, July 31, as part of the second leg of the English R&B band's first tour in 10 years. John Legend will open the show; in February, he won Grammy Awards for best R&B album ("Wake Up!"), best R&B song ("Shine") and best traditional R&B vocal performance (“Hang On In There”). Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Comedian Kevin Hart -- who has played goofballs in more than a dozen films, including last year's "Little Fockers" and "Death at a Funeral" -- will perform stand-up at Time Warner Cable Arena on Sunday, May 15. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

The 2011 Vans Warped Tour will return to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte on Thursday, July 28. This year's main stage acts will include such varied acts as Gym Class Heroes, Less Than Jake, Relient K, the Ready Set, and the Devil Wears Prada. For a full list of bands playing the Charlotte show, click here. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Tickets can be purchased from LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster, the venue box offices, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Raise your glass: New beer fest on horizon

2011-03-22T11:38:00.003-04:00

Our state's craft breweries will be in the spotlight this spring at the inaugural North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival, set for May 14 at Rural Hill in Huntersville.

Brewers will include Highland Brewing Company of Asheville and Carolina Beer & Beverage of Mooresville. Musical acts slated to perform are headliners Chatham County Line and Eric Lindell, along with Charlotte's own New Familiars, Moonshine Racers, Sol Driven Train, The Mantras, and Do It To Julia. The Saturday event will run 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Advance tickets are $45 per person and "Under 21" or Designated Driver tickets are $30 per person. (On May 4, prices increase to the "at the gate rate" of $60 and $40.) To buy or for more details: www.NCBrewsMusic.com. Tickets include an exclusive sampling glass. On-site camping is available by reservation; food and merchandise vendors will be on hand.

Proceeds support the preservation of Historic Rural Hill.

Cirque du Soleil slashes prices on 'Totem'

2011-03-21T11:22:00.004-04:00

Cirque du Soleil has been getting rave reviews for its latest production, which is nearing the end of a run at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Between now and Sunday, eight opportunities remain to see "Totem" ... and they'll be far more affordable than previous ones: Cirque is offering a 50 percent discount on most seats. Adult tickets now range from $27.50 to $45 using the promotional rate, while kids get in for $19.25 to $31.50.

Service fees still will add up to $13 per ticket, but this is a great deal and makes the show even more worth the money than it was before. Remember, Cirque du Soleil only visits Charlotte once every few years, and the Grand Chapiteau shows (like "Totem") -- I think -- are superior to the arena productions.

Click here to take advantage of the discount.

Clinton Kelly coming to Macy's at SouthPark

2011-03-15T11:47:00.000-04:00

Charlotte’s fashionistas and fashion-fearful are invited to meet Macy’s style expert and host of TLC’s What Not To Wear! In honor of the “Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover with Clinton Kelly” contest going on now, Macy’s shoppers will have a chance to have their own Clinton Kelly makeover through a brief one-on-one consultation with the fit and style guru on Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Customers will take a commemorative photo with Clinton, and he’ll even give a little gift to help you put his advice into action!

Plus, shoppers who purchase $75 in women’s apparel or cosmetics from Estee Lauder the day of the event will take home a copy of Clinton’s recently released book, Oh No She Didn’t: Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them!*

Clinton’s time will be limited, so shoppers will be received on a first come, first serve basis. To RSVP, call 305-577-1818 or visit www.macys.com/events.

iPad 2 creates geek frenzy on launch day

2011-03-11T20:01:00.002-05:00

Gadget nerds like to line up to be among the first to get their hands on new electronic toys, and the gadget nerds were out in force today for the launch of Apple's new iPad 2.

They lined up days in advance in some cases, and a woman in New York City got entrepreneurial, selling her spot at the head of the line for $900.

The second-generation tablet -- which is thinner, lighter and faster than the original iPad, but doesn't bring much else to the table except front- and rear-facing cameras -- went on sale at The Apple Store, and at Best Buys, Targets and Wal-Marts in the Charlotte area at 5 p.m. today.

Area customers also could order the iPad 2 online directly from Apple beginning at 4 a.m. this morning, but those shipments won't be fulfilled for several days, according to the company's website.

Me, I'm a gadget geek, so I was up at 4 placing an order for a new white iPad. But when I realized it wouldn't arrive at my doorstep for at least a week, I began plotting to be in one of the many lines that would be forming.

Anyway, I told my boss I was going to leave work early and go iPad 2 hunting, making a promise to write a quick blog entry about it. My story isn't very interesting: I got to the uptown Best Buy (at Metropolitan) right around 4, jumped into a longish but not terrible-looking line, and was informed within seconds by a roving store employee that I was No. 60.

I was hoping for one of the new white ones, but by the time the person handing out tickets got to me shortly before the doors opened at 5, the only white model left was the $700 64GB model. Too rich for me. So I opted for the black 16GB ($500).

An hour and a half later, I walked out with my new toy -- and a plan to sell the white one for a profit, assuming that the new color continues to be in short supply for at least a little while (if not, I'll just to return it to Apple).

If you're still reading by this point, you are either really bored or you have some interest in the new iPad as well. Assuming the latter is true ... did you get your hands on one today? Or are you happy with your iPad 1? Or are you waiting for the iPad 3? Or none of the above?

Music royalty coming soon to Charlotte

2011-03-11T06:54:00.005-05:00

Prince hasn't had a new Top 40 hit in 15 years, yet it still feels like an enormous deal that the iconic pop musician who cranked out hits like "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss" during the 1980s and '90s has announced he will play six shows in the Carolinas over a 10-night period.

And how's this for instant gratification? The Charlotte concert -- at Time Warner Cable Arena -- is less than two weeks away.

The 52-year-old "Purple Rain" star's "Welcome 2 America" tour will follow this schedule:

Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., on March 21.
RBC Center in Raleigh on March 23.
Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte on March 24.
Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro on March 26
Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., on March 28
North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., on March 30.

Tickets go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com, except for the Columbia date (those seats will be sold at twctix.com).

Today's announcement comes on the heels of three Oakland, Calif., shows and six shows in the New York area. The Carolinas shows will mark a homecoming for two members of "The New Power Generation" -- drummer John Blackwell and vocalist/tambourine player Shelby Johnson are both from South Carolina.

Charlotte family hatches global relief plan

2011-03-09T14:15:00.004-05:00

J.D. Lewis, a noted Charlotte-based acting coach (and a single dad), has created a unique project called "Twelve In Twelve" that have him and his two sons doing humanitarian work on all seven continents over the next year.

The seed for the idea was planted when Lewis' older son, Jackson, 13, who "came to me and asked if we could do something to make a difference in the world," says Lewis, who moved his company -- The Actors Lab -- from L.A. to Charlotte nearly four years ago.

After much soul-searching, Lewis hatched a plan: "Pack up the house, set out with little or no resources, and find out what was truly needed in the world and what we could do to make a real difference."

Lewis, Jackson, and his youngest son, Buck (age 8) leave July 1 to travel to 12 countries in 12 months to do humanitarian work. They will spend one month each in Russia, India, China, Cambodia, Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Australia, South Georgia Island, Paraguay, Peru and Haiti. They will be living and working in orphanages, hospitals, hospices, schools and in townships; a documentary film crew will be present to record their experiences.

"The goal of the trip is to inspire others to make similar efforts abroad," Lewis says.

For more information, and to (eventually) follow their travels through photos, videos, and blogs, visit: TwelveInTwelve.org.

You can also support the family's efforts by participating in a fundraiser called 12K for Twelve in Twelve at the U.S. National Whitewater Center on April 23, the day before Easter. Activities include a 12K trail race, a 1.2-mile "Bunny Hop" and a huge Easter Egg Hunt. For details on that, click here.

What does one N.C. truck driver earn?

2011-03-08T10:33:00.003-05:00

"What People Earn," PARADE's yearly salary report featuring Americans' salaries from coast to coast, will be packaged in this Sunday's Observer ... and it'll have a bit of local flavor: Sean Nelson, a 43-year-old truck driver from Charlotte who earns $61,000 annually, is in this year's report.

In addition to Nelson, the issue will feature a glassblower from Waterbury Center, Vt., who earns $59,700; a NYC celebrity stylist who earns $150,000; a blogger from Vancouver, Wash., who earns $24,600; a tattoo artist from New Orleans, who earns $40,000, and a dance studio owner from Richmond, Tex., who earns $100,000; and many more.

Beginning later this week, visit Parade.com/realpeople for more real people and their salaries.

Outdoor concert season taking shape

2011-03-07T11:44:00.003-05:00

Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre added two concerts to its summer slate over the weekend:

First, Phish will bring its 2011 tour to the venue on Friday, June 17, before heading to Raleigh for a show the next evening. Fans who purchase a ticket to this concert will be able to download a free MP3 of the entire show (a fully mixed soundboard recording) from www.LivePhish.com, shortly after the band steps off stage. Phish's 2010 outing was named by SPIN as one of "25 Must-See Summer Tours."

And then on Sunday, Aug. 21, Journey and Foreigner will perform on the Verizon stage (with special guests Night Ranger).

Tickets for Journey and Foreigner will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12, while Phish ticket sales open at 11 that same morning. Where to buy: LiveNation.com, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Big-time 'Bachelor' spoilers -- you've been warned

2011-03-02T11:00:00.002-05:00

This post contributed by CharlotteObserver.com online producer Deirdre McGruder.

I used to be a fan of the "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" franchise, but tired of the predictability, the cookie-cutter contestant "types" (the Drunk, the Crier, the Ho, the Psycho, the Needy One) and most of all, the manipulative editing. And, you know, the forcing of near-strangers to declare their love and enter into engagements that last 15 minutes.

Even though I no longer watch, I do still read episode recaps (including Television Without Pity's and Brooke Cain's with The Raleigh News & Observer). Also, before the seasons even start, I visit Reality Steve. I don't know who this dude's sources are, but the last few seasons he's gotten some reliable scoop on what's going to happen. This season of "The Bachelor," Steve broke it down episode by episode early on, and for the most part, what he's said would occur has.

This is where it gets interesting. All season long Steve has said Chantal O'Brien, the rich chick with the dad who used to play pro football, would be Brad's final choice. On Monday, though, he posted that his sources found out they were wrong, and that Brad actually chose Emily Maynard (pictured), the single mom from Charlotte who's very popular with the viewers. And that they're engaged. Steve wrote a mea culpa of sorts, in particular apologizing to Chantal for making folks think she was engaged when in fact Brad had chosen someone else. He also shared interesting little tidbits, like Emily's house in Charlotte is supposedly on the market. Yesterday he posted more info from the finale, including:

Brad had Emily's dad fly to South Africa so he could ask permission to marry his daughter. Footage of this won't be part of the finale, however.

There is a rose ceremony, unlike the first time, when Brad dumped both chicks because he wasn't into either one of them (the sanest act ever performed on this show, if you ask me).

Ricki, Emily's 5-year-old daughter, won't be there in South Africa when Brad proposes and Emily says yes.

Filming ended Friday, Nov. 19. Brad and Emily stayed in South Africa a few extra days, and Emily was back in Charlotte the day before Thanksgiving.

BTW, Steve also has details on the "Women Tell All" episode that airs Monday. According to him, Ashley -- dumped in this past Monday's episode -- will be the next "Bachelorette."

Now, Steve's sources have occasionally been wrong, most notably when they said Ali, the last "Bachelorette," wouldn't choose Roberto, the hottie from Charleston, S.C. (As far as I know they're still together, but God, I can't keep up.) So take the knowledge about Brad and Emily with as much skepticism as you'd like. We'll all know for sure when the finale airs March 14.

Josh Groban to sing for Charlotte this June

2011-03-01T10:20:00.003-05:00

Time Warner Cable Arena continues to piece together a powerhouse lineup of concerts for the middle part of 2011: This week, the venue announced it will welcome Josh Groban and his "Straight to You" world tour on Friday, June 10.

According to a press release, the operatic pop star's show "will bring the feel of a theater experience to an arena setting through stage design, lighting, and projection, as well as through (Groban's) spontaneity and interactivity."

Groban, 30, recently performed the National Anthem at the 60th annual NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. He also will be a guest host on "Live with Regis & Kelly" on March 4. His last concert in Charlotte was in September 2007, also at TWC Arena.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 4, through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Gallagher coming to town, sans hammer

2011-02-28T11:00:00.007-05:00

I know, I know -- these shows have been on the calendar for awhile now, so this isn't "Just In" ... but Gallagher's upcoming performances in the Charlotte area inadvertently fell off my radar after I first learned about them, so now I'm making amends.

First, the legendary comedian will perform standup at McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by clicking here. ... Then at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, fans will have the opportunity to laugh at/with the funnyman again, when he takes the stage at Lake Norman Comedy Zone, which is located in the Galway Hooker Pub (17044 Kenton Drive in Cornelius). General admission tickets are $25 and available at lkncomedyzone.com.

The now-64-year-old prop comic became a household name in the 1980s smashing produce and other items with his trademark “Sledge-O-Matic.” However, both of next week's shows are listed as "no sledgehammer shows" -- so you can leave your raincoats at home.

Gallagher was last seen in the Charlotte area during a 2002 show at Ovens Auditorium.

Def Leppard returns to Charlotte

2011-02-25T10:33:00.002-05:00

Hair metal returns to Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on June 22 in the form of British band Def Leppard, famed for '80s hits like "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Armageddon It."

Def Leppard's last visit to town was in August 2009, when it performed at Verizon with Poison and Cheap Trick. This time, Heart will open.

Tickets for the tour will go on sale on March 4 at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Your CIAA Week Survival Guide

2011-02-23T10:44:00.002-05:00

Beginning Monday, the CIAA Tournament once again takes over uptown for a week of basketball games, parties, history lessons, parties, family reunions, and parties. And more parties.

This is the sixth straight year the CIAA has helped bring everything from rap shows to step shows to dance-till-you-drop gatherings for the “grown and sexy.” But even if you’ve done it before, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to see and do.

Here are five tips for making the most of your tournament week experience, courtesy of Kendrick Adams, who runs www.cltcentral.com (the most comprehensive list of CIAA parties we know of):

1. Go to a day party. The best experience of the tournament week is going to a day party while everyone else is at work. There are plenty to choose from between next Thursday and Saturday, and some are free.

2. Plan your partying. Buy your tickets early for the best events. Paying at the door can be expensive.

3. Stick with well-known promoters and venues. Events advertised as “3rd annual,” “4th annual,” or “5th annual” are good bets. These promoters are most likely experienced with the tournament week and are going to have professional events. New promoters may advertise big-name celebrities or guests that may not show up. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

4. EpiCentre. The EpiCentre will be the party mecca throughout the tournament week. There are tons of events planned at its various bars, restaurants and clubs. Details: http://epicentrenc.com.

5. Take the train. If you weren’t able to get a room uptown, just hop on the light rail to get to the Convention Center, or Time Warner Cable Arena from South Charlotte. An all-day pass is $5.25, or a weekly pass is $17.50. Details: www.lynxcharlotte.com.

6. Go to a game. It’s easy to forget the real purpose of the tournament week. Buy a ticket and go see one of the games. The tournament is what makes everything else possible. Details: www.ciaatournament.org.

Are you ready for some serious bulls?

2011-02-21T10:21:00.003-05:00

The Professional Bull Riders' Built Ford Tough Series returns to Time Warner Cable Arena for the Troy-Bilt Invitational presented by Lowe's Home Improvement on Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1.

Cut through all the corporate-sponsor name-dropping and here's what you have, according to a TWC Arena press release: "The world’s toughest athletes," competing in an event that delivers "edge-of-your-seat thrills and spills, rock and roll music, and pyrotechnics."

Tickets start at $15 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25 through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

The Professional Bull Riders organization was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Twenty riders have earned more than $1 million in prize money, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million -- the most of any western-sports athlete in history.

For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com.

Rihanna, Cee Lo to play Greensboro

2011-02-18T16:47:00.005-05:00

Charlotte failed to nab one of the summer's biggest tours, but if you don't have to drive too far to see Rihanna in concert this July.

The R&B superstar -- star of two show-stopping performances on Sunday night's Grammy Awards telecast -- will bring her "LOUD" tour to Greensboro Coliseum Saturday, July 16. Cee Lo Green of "Forget You" fame will open.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at LiveNation.com, the coliseum box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Rihanna and Cee Lo both won Grammy Awards on Sunday; her “Only Girl in the World” was named best dance record and he won best urban/alternative performance for “Forget You.”

5 tips for surviving Bartender's Ball

2011-02-16T09:34:00.007-05:00

It takes a certain type of person to appreciate Bartender’s Ball, and that person appreciates alcoholic beverages. A lot.

But the popular boozefest – now in its 10th year – can be more than a little bit overwhelming to even the most seasoned bar-hopper: five DJs spinning, 30-plus bars, 40 types of beer, 100 different flavors of liquor, with 1,500-2,000 partiers expected to take over 22,000 square feet at The Blake Hotel (555 S. McDowell St. near uptown) on Sunday.

Here are five tips for making the most of Bartender’s Ball, courtesy of Steve Caldwell of Elevate Lifestyle and Rich Saner of Rock House Events:

1. Dress to impress. It’s not the Grammys by any means, but judging by some of the dresses women have worn in the past few years, you wouldn’t know it. The “optional” in “black tie optional” has been the guys’ choice of late; expect more suits (with or without ties) than anything else on men.

2. Get a base before you start drinking. It wouldn’t hurt to eat before arriving at the event, but if you’re hungry, make a beeline to the Men’s Club area, where food will be provided by Chef Frank Van Den Bosch.

3. Make sure you stop by all the bars. One of the highlights of the event is seeing each bar’s decorations. This year, bars are celebrating the past decade of themes, competing with each other and choosing from motifs such as Hollywood, America and Holidays.

4. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Don’t be the drunk uncle or aunt you make fun of at weddings. Take your time, and enjoy the night responsibly. The organizers won’t run out of booze.

5. Don’t drink and drive. There will be plenty of cabs standing by, or if you drove, the Zingo transportation company will be available to get you and your car home safely. Or, you can stay at The Blake for just $99 that night.

Tickets can be still purchased online at www.CharlotteBartendersBall.com or at one of the 30 participating establishments listed on the website.

Click HERE to view a huge collection of Lazyday.com photos from last year's party.

Noted photographer to visit Gantt Center

2011-02-15T10:17:00.003-05:00

Photographer Jim Alexander will return to Charlotte on Thursday to discuss the subjects – primarily jazz musicians – of his celebrated photographs.

A photojournalist, teacher, activist, and media consultant, Alexander has witnessed and documented many historic events – festivals, concerts, rallies, demonstrations, meetings and marches.

In "Conversations @ Gantt - A Jazzy Journey with Jim Alexander," the photographer will lead participants through his life’s work, featuring images from more than four decades of photographing African-American musicians and vocalists. The main focus will be jazz, although the conversation also will examine the environments that spawned both the music and the performers.

The free discussion, which starts at 6 p.m., is presented in conjunction with the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture exhibition, "Black Music After 1968: The Photography of Jim Alexander," on display through June 19. Reservations are required; RSVP at www.ganttcenter.org.

This is the third in a series of free, public lectures launched in 2009. Future "Conversations @ Gantt" speakers include Thomas Chatterton Williams on March 17 and Yale University art historian Robert Farris Thompson on April 14.

OMG! Usher to perform here in April

2011-02-14T16:33:00.003-05:00

A few hours after AEG Live announced that Taylor Swift's tour will stop in Charlotte this summer, the promoter spilled what's arguably even bigger news: Usher is set to stop at Time Warner Cable Arena just 2-1/2 months from now -- on Saturday, April 30, with special guest Akon.

Usher has been in the spotlight quite a bit lately. On Super Bowl Sunday, the R&B star behind recent hits like "More" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" appeared during the Black Eyed Peas' halftime performance, and then this past Sunday, he performed with Justin Bieber at the Grammy Awards ceremony.

The 32-year-old R&B superstar was last here on Sept. 30, 2004, at the old Charlotte Coliseum.

Tickets for Usher's April show will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Taylor Swift returning to Charlotte

2011-02-14T10:05:00.003-05:00

Time Warner Cable Arena has booked its second big show of Summer 2011, and it's from another country-music superstar: Taylor Swift will bring her "Speak Now World Tour" to the venue on Friday, July 8.

Swift -- the 21-year-old four-time Grammy Award winner behind chart-topping hits like "Mine," "Love Story," "You Belong With Me," "Our Song," and "Fifteen" -- last played Charlotte in September 2009, when Albemarle's Kellie Pickler opened. This time, rock band Needtobreathe (from Seneca, S.C.) will open for Swift.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Keith Urban kicks off the summer concert season at TWC Arena on June 24.

The Weirdest Craigslist ads of 2010

2011-02-11T11:07:00.004-05:00

The headline says it all. Enjoy.

1. I hear messages from God through the fillings in my teeth - w4m - 25 (Portland)

Resourceful tall chick with a lot of time on her hands looking for a friend first. Loves: diner food, documentaries on Netflix, and Dwight Schrute. Dislikes: Neo-cons, low credit scores, and bad grammar. I’m a writer and an avid blogger so be warned that photos of your ----, your motorcycle, or your boat may be subject to merciless online mockery.

2. You were dressed as a chair! - w4m (berkeley)

You were at the Missouri Lounge on Halloween dressed as a chair! Are you serious?

You might have had the best costume i've ever seen, at least my friends and I thought so (and every other person who was there, lol). Its refreshing to see awesome people who aren't Zombies, Lady Gaga or a Giants player. Anyway, you were super cute. You had a cool name, but I forgot it..... (Sorry I was kinda drunk, LOL). I hope you see this!!!!!!!1

3. You slept in my bed last night - m4w (Atlanta)

ME: A guy coming home to find you asleep in my bed.
YOU: Stunningly attractive blonde slightly undressed.
ME: Strangely bemused, but too tired and distracted by other women in my head to care.
YOU: Gone this morning when I woke up.
ME: Trying to determine from roommates who you were, but they have no clue (they really aren't too conscious right now and think I am lying).

If you attended what must have been a great party last night (I can tell from the mess) and slept in some guys bed then please poke me back, I have some things here that might be yours. Also, let me know if you will be back tonight and I will change the sheets.

Finally, thank you for not taking my side of the bed, THAT would have been awkward.

4. I'm the Girl that Ripped the Picasso Painting At The Met - w4m (New York)

This was on Friday at the Met. I remember you from the elevator when we were going from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor. You were the guy wearing the red sweater...

I held the door open for you and you smiled at me. I saw you again in the Cubism section. I was standing in front of The Actor painting by Picasso. You were looking at Matisse's "View of Collioure and the Sea". You were standing there for a while, sketching in a brown notebook. I was about to approach you, but froze up and ended up tripping and falling into the painting leaving a small tear.

I think you left before the security got there.

If you read about this in the news the next day, I'm the girl from the elevator.

5. Outter Carrot Eater … To Eat Outter Part Of Baby Carrots (Vancouver)

Alright, So I need somebody to come over once a week & eat the outter part of baby carrots so that I can enjoy the sweet succulent center of the carrot.

You will also need to throughly wash each center carrot, for the prevention of germs is necessary.

Please do not have herpes or any STDS.

I am very serious about this, I really only enjoy the center of the carrots.
You must be good at taking little bites.

I'm hoping to get a large bowl full once per week.
Will pay 50 Cents per carrot.
So 100 Carrots Semi-Eaten = 50 bucks cash in your pocket.

It's really simple enough.
Serious inquires only please!

6. Tell Me If My Breath Smells for $600 Per Hour (Chicago)

I’d like to be able to occasionally meet someone and have them tell me if my breath smells. I would pay $5 for each breath that you evaluate. At a given meeting, I might only ask you to evaluate one or two breaths. I would pay for each breath evaluated. For example, if you evaluated my breath twice at one meeting, I’d pay you $10.

If your evaluation of one breath takes 30 seconds, that would mean that your compensation would be at a rate of $600 per hour, since $5 in 30 seconds = $10 in 1 minute = $600 in 60 minutes. Thus, the compensation that you’d be getting in this arrangement would be very high compared to the time you’d be spending to get it.

Here are aspects of the arrangement that I’d like to set up:

- You could discontinue the arrangement at any time.
- You would never have to travel. I could come to you.
- If we met at your home, I wouldn’t need to step inside your home, since we would just have a brief interaction and then exchange money.

Please respond only if you meet the following requirements:

- You must not have any habits or physical conditions that could impair your sense of smell. For example, you must not be a smoker or have any nasal/sinus condition.
- You must be willing to be completely honest in your evaluations of my breath. Please don’t respond to this post unless you’d be truthful in telling me your perception of my breath.

So basically, I’m asking for honesty and a good sense of smell. If you meet those requirements and you’re interested, please email me with a description of your location, so I can estimate how long I would have to travel to meet you. Telling me your neighborhood or major cross streets would suffice.

7. To the Policeman who confiscated my roach - w4m - 23 (22nd skytrain station)

Thanks a lot man, even though I told you I have insomnia and will not be able to be present for my little sisters christmas without that small little roach, you still chose to confiscate it.

Making little girls cry on christmas is the Grinch's job isn't it, not the cops?

Well, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, may it be filled with tons of joy and family, 'cause I know mine sure as hell won't be ;]

8. $850 Looking for new Roommate… (Must Keep Record of Bowel Movements). (Capitol Hill)

I have a bedroom (12 x 14ft) available starting on June 1st (1 year lease) for a male or female roommate. My previous roommate just moved out since his work (for the federal government) took him to another city. We'll be sharing a bathroom, kitchen, and living room. The apartment is spacious and well lit by natural light.

… One more thing, please read this so we don't waste each others' time! On our bathroom door is a checklist. I like to keep a record of my bowel movements and I expect you to do the same. It's a just a simple checklist with each day of the month, simply place a check on the day if you have a bowel movement. It's no big deal and you needn't worry about replacing the list, I'll take care of everything. Hope to hear from you!

9. Spacious Studio Igloo: $200 A Month OBO … (Ann Arbor)

Looking for a renter for a 70 square foot igloo (4' x 5' entrance tunnel, 4' radius living area.) An excellent choice for EMU art students as it is located right next to the Ford Building on Eastern's campus. Quiet neighborhood consisting mostly of squirrels. Heat, plumbing and electric not provided.

Water included (must be melted by occupant.)
Includes hole in roof for bonfires to prevent asphyxiation.
Neighborhood security provided free by campus police.

$200 a month OBO.

*Landlord not responsible for property melting.

10. House Burning Party (Washington, Vermont)

After three years of doom and gloom due to losing our house and most all of our belongings to black toxic mold, we've decided that it's time to have a little fun and party our troubles away. As such, we're hosting a house burning on Saturday, September 25th.

According to most everyone we've ever interacted with--lawyers, judge, insurance company, mortgage company, town office that doesn't understand why we want our house value reassessed, et. al--our situation is "unique" which means we're looking for a unique party. Here's where you come in: let us know what you can contribute to the festivities in an email, along with pricing information. (Please keep in mind that we we lost all of our stuff, are kind people that volunteer our time in third world countries from time to time, are the sort that turn off lights when we leave a room to save the world for your children's future, and would never, ever make our friends bring their own beer to a party that we're hosting!) A partial list of ideas is included below, but any and all suggestions will be considered.

YES to play The Fillmore Charlotte

2011-02-09T10:33:00.002-05:00

YES -- the English progressive rock band best known for '70s-/'80s-era hits like "Roundabout" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" -- has announced "a mini-tour of very special intimate performances" that will hit The Fillmore Charlotte on Friday, March 25.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday at LiveNation.com, the Fillmore Charlotte box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

YES will feature the lineup of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White, as well as Oliver Wakeman (son of original YES member Rick Wakeman) on keyboards and lead singer Benoit David.

The band has sold more than 30 million albums over the course of more than four decades. For more information about what YES is up to, click here.

Keith Urban tickets on sale Friday

2011-02-07T12:01:00.004-05:00

Friendly reminder: Tickets to see country music star Keith Urban perform at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte on June 24 go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday (Feb. 11) at LiveNation.com, the arena box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

On Friday afternoon, RCA Nashville recording artist Jake Owen was announced as the opening act for Urban's "Get Closer 2011 World Tour," "an all-new stage production featuring Urban's uniquely hard-charging, captivating live performances."

Urban's sixth studio CD, "Get Closer," was released in November. For more on the musician's upcoming tour: www.keithurban.net.

N.C. biggest 'Idols': Where are they now?

2011-02-04T10:25:00.003-05:00

The answer is: on an "American Idol" 10th anniversary compilation album set to be released March 15.

"American Idol 10th Anniversary - The Hits" features songs from winners and finalists including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Charlotte's Fantasia Barrino, Greensboro's Daughtry and Raleigh's Clay Aiken.

Among the tracks on the CD, announced this week, are Aiken's "Invisible," Barrino's "When I See U" and Daughtry's "Home," a single that went platinum in 2006.

Daughtry -- who finished fourth in Season 5 -- last performed here in June 2010, while Barrino's most recent Charlotte concert was in November (read the review of the Season 3 winner's show here). Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken will perform at the Belk Theater in Charlotte on Feb. 23.

"Idol" recently launched its 10th season, with new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez joining Randy Jackson at the table. It'll be awhile before we find out whether anyone with Carolina ties makes the finals, but there are certainly hopefuls, including N.C. teens Scotty McCreery and Victoria Huggins. McCreery, of Garner, and Huggins, of St. Pauls, are both 16 and have both advanced to the Hollywood rounds.

Oh, and here's the full track list for "American Idol 10th Anniversary - The Hits":

1. Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
2. Ruben Studdard - "Superstar"
3. Clay Aiken - "Invisible"
4. Fantasia - "When I See U"
5. Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
6. Taylor Hicks - "Takin' It To The Streets"
7. Daughtry - "Home"
8. Jordin Sparks (duet with Chris Brown) - "No Air"
9. David Cook - "Light On"
10. Kris Allen - "Live Like We're Dying"
11. Adam Lambert - "Whataya Want From Me"
12. Lee DeWyze - "Sweet Serendipity"

Nofx concert for tonight canceled

2011-02-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

The Nofx concert scheduled for tonight at the Fillmore has been canceled as singer at Mike has laryngitis.

The concert has been rescheduled for Oct. 21.

Win an all-expenses paid 'ballpark wedding'

2011-02-02T10:23:00.002-05:00

Hoping to tie the knot with your sweetheart this spring but a little behind on the planning?

If you're both baseball lovers -- or are willing to pretend to love it for the sake of a free wedding -- the Charlotte Knights' "Baseballs & Bouquets" contest might be the solution to your problem.

Here's what's at stake: a "Ballpark Wedding," which will take place on Saturday, June 4, at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill. In addition to the wedding reception, the winning couple gets wedding bands from Allison Love’s Fine Jewelry; a wedding dress from New York Bride and Groom; tuxedo rentals from Simply Elegant/A Lasting Impression; transportation from Rose Limousine; wedding planning services from Marsha Pruitt; along with $5,000 in other services. There will also be a fireworks display.

Here's what you as a couple need to do to enter: Complete an essay that describes your relationship and states your reason for wanting to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Submit the essays at www.charlotteknights.com/wedding by Tuesday, March 1. Finalists will be interviewed before a winner is selected.

Questions? Contact Knights promotions coordinator Matt Millward at 704-357-8071, Ext. 2114, or mattm@charlotteknights.com.

Will winter keep biting? Ask Queen

2011-01-31T10:35:00.004-05:00

Will she or won't she?

Or, to be more specific: Will the Charlotte Nature Museum's resident groundhog, Queen Charlotte, see her shadow on Wednesday afternoon, or won't she? According to folklore, if she does, it means we're in for six more weeks of winter; if she doesn't, winter will (we can only hope) end soon.

"Charlotte's only live groundhog shadow check" is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the museum, 1658 Sterling Road (adjacent to Freedom Park in the Myers Park/Dilworth area). Queen Charlotte will check for her shadow at 4:30 p.m.

Learn more about the groundhog (Marmota monax), the Groundhog Day legend and other fun facts; kids can also enjoy "The Shadow Knows" Puppet Show and groundhog-themed story time and crafts.

Admission: $6 for ages 2 and older (kids younger than 2 and members are free).

The Avett Brothers book Charlotte show

2011-01-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

The Avett Brothers are coming back to Charlotte for a show at Bojangles’ Coliseum on April 9.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. next Friday (Feb. 4) through Ticketmaster. Prices range from $25 to $45. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will open.

It’s the first full Charlotte show for the Concord-based band since they played Bojangles’ in August 2009. They played a set at Manifest Discs this past October to promote the “Live, Volume 3” CD and DVD, which was taken from the Bojangles’ show.

The band – brothers Scott and Seth Avett, plus Bob Crawford and Joe Kwon – has been touring all over the United States and Canada, including a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall in New York. They also toured in Europe and Australia.

The band formed in 2001 and put out 10 CDs before their first major-label release, “I and Love and You,” came out on Columbia Records in September ’09. Dolph Ramseur, the band’s manager, said it has sold 310,000 copies worldwide, including 272,000 copies in the U.S.

Ramseur said the Avetts have started working on a new record with Rick Rubin, who also produced “I and Love and You.” Rubin is co-chairman of the Columbia label and has produced hit records for artists including Jay-Z, Johnny Cash and Metallica.

-- Tommy Tomlinson

Who's on the 2011 Miss Sprint Cup roster?

2011-01-26T10:56:00.003-05:00

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fans and motorsports media will get their first look at this year's Miss Sprint Cup three-woman roster tonight at Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Whisky River nightclub in uptown Charlotte.

Last week, Sprint announced that South Carolina native Paige Duke will return to the Miss Sprint Cup program for a second season. The identities of the other two selections will be revealed at tonight's event.

Formed in 2007, Miss Sprint Cup is the "NASCAR fans' friend on the inside" and represents Sprint at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events throughout the season. The Miss Sprint Cup roster takes part in the Sprint Experience at each series event, interviewing drivers and greeting fans throughout the race weekend. The women also are featured in the video section of NASCAR.com, interviewing drivers, celebrities and personalities at tracks around the circuit.

Whisky River -- located at the EpiCentre at 210 E. Trade St. -- will open its doors to guests at 8 p.m.; the first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free gift from Sprint. There also will be other prizes and giveaways, and anyone with a Sprint cellphone will receive drink specials.

NASCAR fans can connect with Miss Sprint Cup on Facebook or Twitter.

Get a sneak peek at the circus

2011-01-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

UPDATE at 4 p.m. Tuesday: Ringling animals are now scheduled to walk between 8 and 8:30.

"The Greatest Show On Earth" is in Charlotte this week, and tonight, circus fans can celebrate the performers' arrival during the traditional "Grand Animal Walk."

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will unload its animals from the mile-long train at Third and Graham streets. The elephants -- and other exotic creatures -- are scheduled to make their way down Third, turn left onto Poplar Street, turn right onto Trade Street, head down to Time Warner Cable Arena, turn left just beyond it onto Caldwell Street, then make a final left into the back loading dock of the arena. (Note: Times and routes are subject to change without notice.)

The 140th edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey offers nine performances at TWC Arena this week: 7 p.m. Wednesday, 7 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are on sale at timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000. For details on the show, click here.

Noteworthy nightclub opening uptown

2011-01-24T11:31:00.003-05:00

The first of a number of concepts planned for the so-called "District 300" block of Center City opens its doors this week.

RE:PUBLIC, at 314 N. College St., is described as "a stylish yet un-hoity haven for everyone from habitual celebrators to casual clubbers who are looking for a little extra oomph in their nightlife and a whole lot more creativity in the contents of their cocktail glasses."

Designed by Scott Weaver, RE: PUBLIC "combines the aesthetic of a swank mid-'70s ski lodge with the appeal of a modern Manhattan hideaway." Artisan tequila and cerveza cocktails created by mixologist Stefan Huebner will feature exotic ingredients -- egg whites, jalapeno, and cherry
bitters, to name a few.

Counter Culture roadside kitchen will serve "Route 66-inspired" fare during RE:PUBLIC's operating hours beginning in March, with a menu conceived by partner Andy Kastanas and chef Jason Pound of Soul Gastropub and Cosmos Café.

RE:PUBLIC will host an invite-only "friends and family" event on Wednesday, while Miami-based progressive house DJ Robbie Rivera will play Friday. Saturday's official grand opening party will feature San Franciscan DJs UR Friends and The Les.

Tickets for Friday's event are available at www.sugarsociety.com and invitations for Saturday's party are available at www.republicofcharlotte.com.

The so-called "District 300" block sits on College Street between 6th and 7th. Other "new entertainment concepts" are expected to open around RE:PUBLIC over the next few months.

Wanted: Romantic love stories, with a twist

2011-01-21T09:59:00.005-05:00

It's less than four weeks until the one day a year we dedicate to love: Valentine's Day.

The Observer would like to hear from/about Charlotte-area residents with truly unique stories of romance. For example, two people who divorced each other, then later on made amends and remarried. An elementary schooler with a novel take on love. Someone who still knocks on doors and does singing telegrams. Tales like this.

People associated with the selected story will be contacted for an interview and photographed in the next three weeks, with their story featured in the newspaper around Valentine's Day.

If you know of an extraordinary couple, or an extraordinarily romantic individual, e-mail tjanes@charlotteobserver.com with a summary of your story (not more than 100 words) along with names and phone numbers.

Is it Showtime for Charlotte?

2011-01-19T12:05:00.001-05:00

As you may have heard, the city of Charlotte is getting its close-up this month thanks to 20th Century Fox -- which has a film crew in the area shooting a pilot for the Showtime cable network.

Reporter Caroline McMillan provided details about the production of "Homeland" in a recent Observer story; on Tuesday, one of the series' executive producers gave us a few more pieces of info.

Howard Gordon, who was executive producer and showrunner for "24" during its eight-season run, said North Carolina was an easy sell for his team.

"It matched the location we wanted, the tax credits were great, and Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin, who are two of our lead actors, are based in New York (so) it was a commutable distance for them," he said. "We scouted Wilmington as well, but the architecture and everything worked better here."

Charlotte is standing in for the Virginia-D.C. area, Gordon says.

In addition to south Charlotte's Mountainbrook neighborhood -- where two homes are being used as the primary domestic settings -- filming is taking place at locations including the Ritz-Carlton in uptown, the Carolinas Aviation Museum adjacent to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and the shuttered Philip Morris USA plant in Concord (which is doubling as the CIA headquarters, Gordon says).

Shooting originally was to start on Jan. 10, but the recent snowstorm hit the area that morning, and production was shut down for two days. Otherwise, Gordon says, "It’s been a wonderful experience. ... It's great and it's a terrific crew and it's interesting in a non-Hollywood town to see a film crew."

Gordon says filming of the pilot is scheduled to wrap here on Feb. 2. Production then moves to Washington, D.C., for a day, then everyone flies to Israel for two days of shooting (Israel will stand in for Baghdad).

As McMillan reported, once they've finished filming and editing the pilot, Fox will show it to the executives at Showtime. The network would probably make their decision in mid-March.

If they order a series, pre-production would start in April and the crew would likely film June to October. The first episodes would begin airing on Showtime around the end of August, while they're still in production.

Gordon says the plan is to continue shooting in Charlotte if the show gets picked up. "I'm protecting myself by lowering expectations. But we're optimistic."

The show stars British actor Damian Lewis as a U.S. Marine sergeant who comes home a war hero after having been held as a prisoner of war in Baghdad for eight years, during which time he was presumed dead. Danes, who won a Golden Globe on Sunday night for the HBO movie "Temple Grandin," plays a CIA agent who suspects that he's plotting an attack on America.

Interested in working as an extra in the Showtime pilot? Submit your photo and information to homelandcasting@gmail.com. You also can keep up with casting news and needs on the Homeland Casting Facebook page. As of Wednesday night, the production was "still in need of Professional/CIA/Government types and folks with newer American made cars."

Jimmy Buffett to return to Charlotte

2011-01-14T16:47:00.003-05:00

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre will once again transform into Margaritaville this spring.

Live Nation announced this afternoon that Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will perform at the Charlotte venue at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 21, as part of the singer's "Welcome to Fin Land" Tour.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Nature Museum plans to do chicken right

2011-01-14T09:43:00.003-05:00

Feel like chicken this weekend?

The Charlotte Nature Museum will highlight the diversity and popularity of this feathered friend during its montly "Creature Feature" event, set for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.

Scheduled highlights include: live chickens on display, from the Rhode Island red (America's best-known breed, which lays brown eggs), araucana (which lays blue eggs and has feather tufts near their eyes), and dominique (popular for both their eggs and their meat); museum birds Nellie, a barred owl, and recently born button quails; and presentations from naturalists who will teach guests about habitats, behaviors of local birdlife, and raising chickens in your own backyard. There will also be a "story time" session and a puppet show for kids.

"Creature Feature" activities are free with museum admission ($6 for ages two and older, free for anyone younger and museum members).

Charlotte Nature Museum is at 1658 Sterling Road, adjacent to Freedom Park in the Dilworth/Myers Park area. Click here for the website.

9 short films, all made in Charlotte

2011-01-12T12:05:00.001-05:00

Movies aren't often made in Charlotte, but nine short films were shot here recently using local talent, and they're now available to view online.

Each is less than 10 minutes in length, and each will be vying for 11 awards -- including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture -- at an event set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Whisky River nightclub in uptown.

At least 75 percent of each film had to be shot within 60 miles of Charlotte, and all had to incorporate a queen of spades playing card in a key way. Eight judges voted on the "Made in Charlotte" awards, including Matt Harris and Ramona Holloway of 107.9 The Link.

Admission to the "Made in Charlotte" event is $10 in the door, and light hors d'oeuvres will be served. The EpiCentre (where Whisky River is located) is at 210 E. Trade St., near Time Warner Cable Arena.

The event -- presented by the non-profit Charlotte Film Community -- was originally scheduled for this past Monday, but was postponed due to the winter storm.

For details on the "Made in Charlotte" project and to check out the films, click here.

Hey, ladies: Wanna play some roller derby?

2011-01-11T13:39:00.001-05:00

Race City Roller Derby (RCRD), a Charlotte-based women’s flat track roller derby organization founded last summer, has launched a player-recruiting drive.

To be eligible to participate, interested women must be at least 19, have health insurance, and be in "reasonable" physical condition. Skating experience is "helpful," but not necessary.

The organization currently fields the Charlotte Speed Demons, which will be competing on the national level; it will launch a second team late this year that will compete regionally. The Speed Demons kick off its 2011 season on Feb. 26, when it takes on the Columbia, S.C.-based Bad Co. at First Ward Recreation Center (610 E. 7th St.). Tickets are $10 in advance here, or $14 at the door.

To express your interest in participating, e-mail your name and phone number to info@racecityrollerderby.com. Details: Click here.

More than 40,000 women currently are competing in roller derby in the U.S., according to RCRD.

Can you sing like Justin Bieber?

2011-01-10T10:13:00.000-05:00

Yo, Justin Bieber fans: Stop singing the pop star's hits while staring at yourself in the mirror -- or posting videos of yourself singing them on YouTube -- and make plans to be at Northlake Mall this Saturday afternoon.

That's when a competition takes place among teens ages 13-17, who'll sing versions of "Baby," "U Smile" or "Never Say Never" for a chance to fly to Los Angeles to attend the premiere of Bieber's new movie. ("Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" opens in theaters Feb. 21.)

Registration begins at 1 p.m. in the Grand Court on Northlake's lower level; the contest starts at 2. Contestants may pre-register by e-mailing their legal name and age to BieberCharlotte@gmail.com.

One of the contestants will wind up going to L.A. -- this isn't some regional qualifier where the winner moves on to another round. No, the Charlotte winner gets a trip for FOUR to the premiere on Feb. 9, including airfare and a two-night hotel stay. One national grand-prize winner also will win a brief meet-and-greet with Bieber at the premiere.

For contest details, click here.

The wait for Lauryn Hill is over. Or is it?

2011-01-05T12:41:00.002-05:00

Lauryn Hill, who made one of the greatest albums of the ’90s, is scheduled to take the stage at Amos’ Southend on Saturday night.

Doors open at 9. The hip-hop diva actually will go on at … 9:30? 10? 11? Midnight?

If it’s 1 a.m. by the time she breaks into her first song, don’t be surprised. At a recent comeback concert in New York, she kept fans (including soul superstar Prince) waiting for almost four hours. When she finally took the stage, she responded to some boos by saying, “Don’t do that. That’s disrespectful. I spent my entire 20s sacrificing my life to give you love. … I personally know I’m worth the wait.”

The 35-year-old Hill has long been an enigma.

A member of the acclaimed rap group the Fugees from 1992-97, the New Jersey native released a debut solo album in 1998 titled “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” that yielded the No. 1 smash “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and garnered 10 Grammy nominations. It went on to win Album of the Year, beating Madonna’s “Ray of Light.”

And then … she went off the grid, so to speak.

She dabbled in several other art forms, got pregnant, fired her management team, absorbed herself in Bible study, took on a spiritual advisor, and stopped listening to music. She resurfaced briefly for a 2001 MTV Unplugged concert, and then again in the mid-2000s as the Fugees got together for a short-lived reunion.

Which brings us to Saturday night’s concert.

Tickets are $67.76 each including fees, which makes it the most expensive Amos’ show in recent memory. (Average price to see the other upcoming acts on the venue’s schedule: $16.22.)

Will Hill be worth it? Depends, I guess, on just how long we have to wait.

New Kids, Backstreet Boys plan NC show

2011-01-04T13:18:00.003-05:00

New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys -- which collaborated on a show-stealing performance for "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" last weekend -- won't make a visit to Charlotte in 2011.

But the two iconic groups will perform just up I-85 at Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, July 23, one of 16 new dates added to their "NKOTBSB Tour."

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Jan. 15 at LiveNation.com, the Greensboro Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

AOL: The best of Charlotte winners are...

2010-12-14T16:52:00.002-05:00

We all love “best-of” lists, and this week, AOL has unveiled a new list of bars, restaurants and hotspots that it is touting as the “best” in Charlotte.

Charlotte is among 25 U.S. cities that are a part of AOL’s “City’s Best” program, which used editors and writers to select their favorite food, entertainment and lifestyle venues; users of the site were then asked to vote for their favorites, from the editors’ and writers’ lists.

The voting was held at www.citysbest.com between Oct. 13 and Nov. 30, and an AOL spokesperson said “thousands” of people participated in the selection process. Here are the winners:

Best After-Work Bar: Rí Rá Irish Pub, 208 N. Tryon St.

Best Burgers: Penguin Drive-In, 1921 Commonwealth Ave.

Best Cheap Eats: Amélie’s French Bakery & Café, 2424 N. Davidson St.

Best Chinese Food: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, multiple locations.

Best Desserts: Tasty Yo, multiple locations.

Best Dive Bar: Thomas Street Tavern, 1218 Thomas Ave.

Best Family-Friendly Restaurant: Skyland Family Restaurant, 4544 South Blvd.

Best Fashion Boutique: J.T. Posh, 2400 Park Road.

Best Hotel: Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons.

Best Live Music: Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave.

Best Movie Theater: Ayrsley Grand Cinema 14, 9110 Kings Parade Blvd.

Best Pizza: Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 1730 Abbey Place.

Best Places to Break Up: Freedom Park, 1900 East Blvd.

Best Romantic Restaurants: The Fig Tree Restaurant, 1601 E. 7th St., and The Melting Pot, multiple locations.

Best Salon: Lockstar Salon, 2132 McClintock Road.

Best Seafood: Bonefish Grill, multiple locations.

Best Sports Bar: Hickory Tavern, multiple locations.