theCLog

Friday, August 29

Film
Elegy: Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz star as a professor and former student engaged in a May-December romance. CL’s own film critic Matt Brunson gave this film 3 and ½ stars … check it out for yourself and see if you agree! Local theaters. www.charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Film. Find more in Film.

Music
Elf rock: The Athens-based indie rockers Elf Power come out of the cave and into Charlotte for a performance that consists of an eclectic blend of psychedelic and folk rock genres. L.A. Tool & Die to open. $8-$10. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. Find more in Music.

Arts
Alive and kicking: Kick off Labor Day weekend at the Matthews Alive! Festival. The four-day family-oriented event features music, locally made arts and crafts, a parade, quilt shows, a Kiwanis race and lots of activities for children. Free admission. Tickets 75 cents or 20 for $12. Stumptown Park-Matthews Community Center. www.matthewsalive.org. Find more in Arts.

Food
The Press Box: With a pub-like interior, this meeting place is a Charlotte tradition for burgers, sandwiches and salads. 1627 Montford Dr. 704-523-4981. Find more in Food.
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Move over, there’s a new blog in town! Read reviews and gaze longingly at luscious photos of food from a diverse array of Charlotte restaurants at The Charlotte Spoon, a food blog written by one Charlotte girl named Julie “and sometimes her boyfriend.” Along with her reviews, she provides extremely helpful information like restaurant website links, price range per meal, and dress.

Most recently reviewed is the Salara Dessert Lounge & Bistro in Ballantyne. Instead of stars, The Charlotte Spoon rates with “spoons,” and it gives Salara 3.5 out of 5 spoons. Check out the review here. Other restaurants reviewed so far include Mama Ricotta’s, Addie’s, and Zada Jane’s.

The reviews are helpful and the pics are scrumptious. Try not to drool on your keyboard.

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I just got a notice about a Web site called: www.tbags4me.com.

Oh help me Lord, I hope it’s not what I think it is.

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Misogyny: Pronunciation \m?-?sä-j?-n?\ Function: noun Etymology: Greek misogynia, from misein to hate + gyn? woman. Date: circa 1656
: a hatred of women

Ick. What a way to ruin a perfectly good day. Another condescending asshole wrote a “book” — The Re-Education of the Female by Dante Moore — on how to belittle and bully women into dating selfish, misogynistic men who believe they possess the Golden Dick. (Sounds like a keeper, doesn’t he?) The book carries the title “Zane Presents” — disheartening, at first glance, to think that the author of female-driven erotica could promote such drivel. But Zane states she doesn’t endorse the “teachings” of The Re-Education of the Female. Her goal was to put forth a warning: “There are some men who feel exactly like he does. I feel like women should be forewarned and realize what’s out there.”

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What are you doing next Tuesday? Here’s an invitation from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, Hickory Grove division.

Please join Police Chief Rodney Monroe for a community conversation on issues, problems and solutions.

Chief Monroe has received numerous requests to meet with community groups and neighborhood associations.  In an effort to reach as many communities as possible, he has decided to hold multiple discussions throughout the city.

The Hickory Grove Division will host the meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Independence High School (1967 Patriot Drive; off Wilson Grove Road near Lawyers Road).

This will be an ideal opportunity for you to hear about Chief Monroe’s plans for moving forward and to ask any questions you may have directly.

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Al Tompkins, who is a regular columnist for Poynter.org, compiled some key words that speakers used when addressing the Democratic National Convention.

This week, Sen. Hillary Clinton leaned most heavily on “America,” “American,” “children” and “Obama”.

Michelle Obama used the words “Barack,” “families,” “people,” “dream,” “hope,” “jobs,” “work” and “world” multiple times.

To find out how he came up with this info, or to see what key words he finds in the speeches from President Bill Clinton and Sens. Joe Biden and Barack Obama, visit his page here.

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Gustav heads to Jamaica:
Tropical Storm Gustav is expected to strengthen to a hurricane late Thursday and pass close to Jamaica, reported the National Hurricane Center. Gustav’s wind is has now reached 70 miles per hour, killing at least 22 people along its path. CNN

Child killer sentenced to death:
Joseph Duncan III was sentenced to death Wednesday for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of 9-year-old Dylan Groene. Duncan represented himself throughout the trial and put on no defense for the sentencing phase. He also killed four other member of the Groene family and kidnapped the two children. Duncan smiled as the verdict was passed to the judge.AP via MSNBC

Traces of human remains may be missing Florida toddler:
Investigators have found chemical evidence of human decomposition in the trunk of a car driven by the mother of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony. My Fox

Officials may evacuate in New Orleans:
With forecasters warning that a strengthening Gustav could slam into the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane, some New Orleans officials are speaking of plans to evacuate. AP via Yahoo News

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Today, Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue made a good point when she said the Republican National Committee is acting illeg… HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! … Heavy rain is swelling creeks throughout Charlotte — see, here’s some footage of actual rain! … GOP candidate Pat McCrory says Perdue’s accusations are “just more of the same hogwa… HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! … The Disastrous Downpour of ‘08 continues! Surprisingly, houses built along creeks and in flood zones are flooded! Near Briar Creek, a BMW, a Chevy, two cats and a little red wagon, as you can see here, are floating down the street. Aaaaggghhh! … Former United Way honcho Gloria Pace King finally spoke publicly today about the controv… HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! … We switch to our severe weather specialist Jerry McClean, live from the dangerous, wet, slick, perilous, tricky, treacherous streets of central Charlotte. Jerry? Yeah, Mel, we’re in central Charlotte, and I can tell you one thing: I’m soaked! It’s pouring out here. It’s really wet! I couldn’t get much wetter if I tried. Back to you, Mel. Thanks, Jerry. Now let’s look at our Doppler radar splotches on a map — Oooh, wee! Look at all those big purple gobs! It’s unbelievable how much it’s raining! More severe weather coverage after this message …

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Presenting the fourth installment of our special Democratic National Convention photo gallery — as snapped by Creative Loafing camera god Joeff Davis. Peep this:

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Sen. Hillary Clinton brought down the house at the Democratic National Convention. Silencing naysayers, she threw her support behind Senator Barack Obama, challenging attendees to do the right thing and vote for the party. Senator Clinton restored her position as a dynamic, formidable and charismatic leader. She reminded us of what we were missing during the primary and what we will be missing this next presidency. Hats off to Hillary.

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