Today is the last day to cast your vote for the name of the new Charlotte Major League Lacrosse team. The “Name The Team” campaign, powered by OrthoCarolina, launched April 1st, lets fans choose the name of the new team through a democratic vote.

“We believe sports teams succeed because a community of passionate fans wants to be engaged on an emotional level with the team,” stated Team President Jim McPhilliamy. “We hope to foster that type of active engagement with our fans from the outset by involving them in the process.”

The naming and identification of the new team consisted of 4 stages. The final team name, logo and colors will be presented on June 21st.

Cast your vote on the Charlotte MLL Facebook Page. If you are not on Facebook, you can vote on this microsite.

Perhaps you’ve seen his sketches and paintings hanging in Black Sheep Skate Shop or on the underbelly of their custom skate decks, or perhaps you’ve come across one of his irreverent stickers on a bench around town. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Chalkboard’s mark in any of those non-traditional art viewing spaces, then you can check out his new collection at Gallery Twenty-Two this month. Open since November 2009, the bar slash lounge slash coffee house slash art gallery isn’t exactly traditional itself, but provides a unique and refreshing art experience for Charlotte.

The new show, “Simple Art for Simple People,” features works by local artists Chalkboard and Tyler Baum. Located in the heart of Plaza-Midwood and owned by Lise Barnett and Rodney Raines, Twenty-Two strives to bring new forms and ideas to the Charlotte art scene. Artists in their own right, Lise and Rodney felt that many of the galleries in Charlotte were too restricted with their exhibits. They’ve taken from experiences in other cities to create a place here for art beyond “Charleston beach scenes” that is also a cool place to hang out. Lise says, “We’re not like any other galleries around. Nothing is ever going to be taboo here.” In their latest exhibit they stay true to just that.

Chalkboard describes his work as “funny and sick.” He draws inspiration from old cartoons and adds offbeat and subtle humor to create color intensive pop art reflective of the skateboarding and music culture he lives in. He says, “I don’t consider myself an artist, artist, artist type person. I just like doing it and making something to laugh at.”

Don’t miss his signature screaming guys (life size for this show) shouting one-liner rifts on local places and be sure to check out the titles of each piece. The titles alone can elicit a laugh acting as a cartoon punch line and creating an entirely different perspective for the piece.

In the future, look for “balloons and bigger” from Chalkboard. In Twenty Two’s future, look for shows from … Jerry Russell and Robert Page (paintings) in April, comic art in conjunction with Heroes Convention in May, and Zachary Sessions (woodworking) in June. There are also plans in the works for a live graffiti show and patio opening in spring/summer 2010.

“Simple Art for Simple People” runs until March 28, 2010. Free. All pieces are for sale. Chalkboard’s run $60 to $200 and Tyler Baum’s run $35 to $1500.

Twenty-Two is open 12pm to 2am Wednesday through Sunday.

What: Artist Reception, Afterparty at Snug Harbor
When: March 6, 2010, 7:00 p.m. til late
Where: Gallery Twenty-Two
Cost: free and open to the public

More photos of Chalkboard prepping for show and Twenty-Two:

view these photos on Flickr

Richard Louv, bestselling author and the one responsible for the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder,” started an international movement with his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder (Algonquin). The book explores the mental and physical benefits of youth spending time in nature and the scary facts around what could happen if we lose that connection. He’s shared his message on the Today Show, the Diane Rehm Show, the CBS Evening News, and others have covered his message in the New York Times, Washington Post, People Magazine, Outdoor Magazine and much more. And now, he’s coming to Charlotte, to um, share his message (event is free and open to the public) and help kick off our own local efforts to get more kids outside. You can read a Q&A with Louv in today’s Charlotte Observer.

With our nation up in arms about the costs and inefficiencies of our health and education systems, it could do us all some good to listen to Louv tell us to, “Get outside!” and in turn, start some preventative medicine. As he’ll explain, a little time in natural areas can help learning disabilities, depression, obesity, focus, creativity, and character development. Plus, nature is fun!

So take your lunch break outside next Wednesday, in Charlotte’s great wide open, Freedom Park, and listen to Richard Louv speak. Grateful Growers Farm, a local farm committed to growing organic produce, will be on site to sell lunch from their Harvest Moon Grille mobile unit. After the talk, the Carolina Raptor Center will release a rehabilitated raptor back into the wild.

When: Wed., Oct. 14, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Park, the Band Shell
Cost: The event is free and open to the public.
More information, here.

Other Appearances:

When: Wed., Oct. 14, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Where: On your radio, WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks”

Pam Slim, noted blogger, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation and expert on the transition to entrepreneurship and self-employment is coming to Charlotte on August 12th and 13th for a series of events.

The Wednesday night event at Spirit Square, which is free and open to the public, is being cast as a dynamic, interactive, fun, grassroots and somewhat unpredictable session; something between a town meeting and a micro-TED conference, where various creatives get brief slots of airtime on the topic of Charlotte’s innovation/start-up scene.

Can the Queen City, formerly known as Banktown, pull it off?

When: Wed., Aug. 12, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Spirit Square
Cost: The event is free and open to the public.
Sign up here.

Other Appearances:

When: Wed., Aug. 12, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Where: On your radio, WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks”

What: Escape from Cubicle Nation:
Workshop for Entrepreneurs
When: Thurs., Aug. 13, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

To learn more and to register,
visit Pam Slim’s Web site.

photo: Liz Barrett; view this photo on Flickr

Update: New slideshow from Saturday afternoon has been posted below.

Continue to check back here for more photos as the 24 Hours of Booty event gets underway. See the slideshow below for pictures of the Friday afternoon set-up on the route and at Bootyville.

More pictures after the break.

photos: Liz Barrett; view these photos on Flickr

photos: Liz Barrett; view these photos on Flickr

photos: James Willamor; view these photos on Flickr

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

So what is it about this 2.8 mile loop in the heart of the Myers Park neighborhood that attracts cyclists, runners, walkers, strollers, and rollerbladers (yes, apparently inline skating wasn’t just a fad) from all over? Maybe it’s the beautiful tree lined streets, maybe it’s the fact that you can continually loop around with no left turns or busy intersections, maybe people feel safe with others around, or maybe it’s all the fit eye candy. Whatever it is, this route is a magnet for outdoor exercisers. The Booty Loop is Charlotte’s Boardwalk, where the active go to be amongst their own kind, but instead of ocean vistas, it has tree-lined streets with branches arched across the road creating a cathedral-style oak canopy.

In the morning, at lunch, and during evening rush hour, cyclists take over an entire lane for their daily exercise routine, slowing traffic and eliciting exclamations from drivers who don’t want to share the road. But this coming weekend, the cyclists will officially get a a lane of their own as it is blocked off from 7pm on Friday until 7pm on Saturday for the annual 24 Hours of Booty event to raise awareness and funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and local cancer organizations.

Wanting to capture the view and hoping to discover a little more about what makes this loop so popular, James Willamor and I took to the street to video the Boot, including an entire loop around the route. Video after the break:

photo: James Willamor; view this video on Vimeo

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Having previously covered the Kings Drive Farmers Market and the South End Tailgate Farmers Market, we couldn’t forget about the Center City Green Market (and they hope you don’t either!). Having moved from their 7th Street location after ten seasons in the same lot, they are anxious that people might not know they’ve moved or think parking is now too difficult. We’re here to set the record straight and let you know that they are now located in the heart of Uptown at the intersection of Trade and Tryon and that there is plenty of street side free parking on Saturdays. They’re also open during the week, serving uptown workings.

I visited the market the other Saturday and was delighted to find a great selection of produce (some local, some not), fresh flowers, jams & sauces, candles and clothing, and even a bluegrass band amidst a sea of skyscrapers. For more information on vendors and schedule, you can visit their website.

Market hours:

Tuesday through Friday 10am – 3pm
Saturday, 8am – 1pm

100 South Tryon St
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 332-2227
Google Map

More pictures from my visit in the slideshow below the fold.

photos: Liz Barrett; view these photos on Flickr

video: Liz Barrett & Justin Ruckman; watch this video on Vimeo

Dammit Janet, Charlotte’s newest dance club, opens this weekend on North Davidson Street, eight blocks north from the center of NoDa.

Jeff Lowery, the man behind this project, is also the one responsible for the legendary Pterodactyl Club and Jeff’s Bucket Shop on Montford Dr., which is still in operation and churning out late night karaoke tunes in a smoky basement much to the delight of the 20-something regulars.

Touting “70’s music … 70’s prices,” Jeff envisions Dammit Janet as a place where anyone can come for a good time without worrying about high prices and dress codes. With performance pieces, the streaming of 70’s movies, and 70’s magazine clippings as decoration for the tabletops and walls, Jeff is looking to embrace the “arty” feel of the nearby Noda neighborhood. The DJ, housed in a booth that’s been transformed into the submarine from the Beatles’ The Yellow Submarine, will mix mostly songs from the 70′s, as well as some from the 80′s. However, do not be mislead, in his words, “This is not The Partridge Family. Imagine David Bowie, not Cassidy.”

I went to visit the location last weekend to interview Jeff and his crew. Watch the video interview above to hear them describe their plans for Dammit Janet, (and try not to be distracted by Blazing Saddles steaming in the background).

If you’re wondering where he got the name, listen to this song from the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

VIP Party: Thursday, June 4th @ 8pm
Grand Opening: Friday, June 5th

$1.50 domestic beers and $2.00 imports, all day, everyday

Dammit Janet!
3746 North Davidson Street (8 blocks north from center of NODA)
Charlotte, NC 28205
Google Map

The Tailgate Farmers Market, located on the corner of West Park Ave. and Camden in South End, has been open every Tuesday and Saturday for just over a month now. This urban market is committed to local food and artisans, and farmers who grow organically and sustainably, without chemicals and pesticides. This means, don’t show up on Saturday and expect to find delicious heirloom tomatoes just yet, these vendors sell produce as it grows naturally in our area without shipping it in from warmer climates. In the meantime, visit the Tailgate to find fresh herbs, free-range eggs and meats (including ostrich), pickled vegetables, pre-made vegan dishes, organic pasta sauces, locally made chocolates, herbal teas, fresh flowers and more.

Subscribe to The Tailgate’s bi-weekly e-newsletter and twitter feed to stay current on produce that will be available at the market each Tuesday and Saturday, as it is prone to change frequently. On opening day of the season, I took some photos and have provided details about the vendors, which are viewable via my flickr photo stream. Find out more about the vendors on their website as well as 10 reasons to eat local food.

Market Hours:

Tuesday, 4pm – 7pm Saturday, 9am – 1pm
100 W. Park Ave. Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 335-0777
Google Map

Check out this slideshow of pictures I took from a recent visit:

photos: Liz Barrett; view these photos on Flickr

video: Justin Ruckman; watch this video on Vimeo

It was the first warm weather Gallery Crawl of the year and the streets of NoDa were alive with people streaming in and out of galleries, bars and shops. Yet, it wasn’t until I got to Dugg Dugg, a new gallery, opening that very night, where I found the most energy and excitement. Entering into what seems to be an old mill, I walked up the stairwell, into a sprawling warehouse and immediately thought: this is the space all other galleries in NoDa wish they were.

In just two weeks, Andrea Brown and Iris Williamson, young twenty-somethings, transformed this neglected warehouse space, overcoming an inch of dust on the ground, rust-covered toilets and gaping holes in the floor that looked into the laundry mat below. The end result was an unpolished, edgy art space crawling with art-lovers and hipsters sipping wine and enjoying art and conversation on Dugg Dugg’s opening night.

As written on their blog, Dugg Dugg is:

“(…) committed to promoting contemporary art in Charlotte by featuring both emerging local artists and respected visiting artists. We aim to be a strong catalyst in bringing Charlotte communities together through diversity, innovation, and experimentation. Through Dugg Dugg, we hope ideas will sprout up, minds will open, and Charlotte will become a stronger presence within the contemporary art world.”

It is the presence of the local emerging artists that gives this space an air of excitement. From photography, to sculpture, oil paintings, performance pieces and video art, most of the young artists are making bold statements without fear. Andrea, co-owner with Iris, has very little self-interest in this venture, instead wanting to create a platform for her contemporaries to showcase their work under a structure that allows the artists to keep most proceeds from a sale. This in turn, means they are very happy to accept donations.

Opening night was their trial run and it wasn’t until a few days later that they signed a full year lease. We’re thrilled to see what they do over the next year, because we’re sure it’ll be something you can’t easily find in Charlotte. So, visit Dugg Dugg and support the local arts.

Location & contact information:

410 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
info.duggdugg@gmail.com

Hours are not consistently set, so be sure to check their blog and Twitter account (@duggdugg) for the most up to date information and special events.

Tons more photos by James Willamor:

photos: James Willamor; view these photos on Flickr

video: Justin Ruckman; watch this video on Vimeo

After days of rain and gloom, Charlotte awoke to bright sunny skies this morning. With spring fever in the air (and pollen on our cars), it couldn’t be a better day for Kings Drive Farmers Market to kick off its season.

The market is located just outside uptown at the intersection where Kings, Morehead and Queens all come together. A family business started by Willie Simpson, I chatted with the grandkids and their long time best friend about where the food comes from and what they do in the winter (nothing).

The market is able to get a jump-start on the season by trucking in fresh produce from Florida, but they tell me as soon as vegetables and fruit start sprouting up at area farms, they’ll sell as much local and organic as they can. But even then, to meet the amount of customers coming through their market they claim there’s no way they could sell all organic, but they try their best. Not all of it is marked, so if you’re looking for local be sure to ask and they’re happy to help.

As far as prices go, Mr. Simpson’s grandson said their prices are always lower than what you’ll find in chain grocery store’s by on average 50 cents and in some cases a few dollars. I left with one onion, a bunch of radishes, two tomatoes, three squash, one zucchini, and a red and green pepper all for a grand total of $5.71.

In addition to fruits and veggies, they sell plants, fresh local flowers (the best bouquets for the price in Charlotte), fresh bread products from The Bread Basket on Monroe Road, and in a month or so a fisherman will appear with fresh catches from the coast.

Market hours:

Tuesday and Friday, open all day
Saturday, 7am – 3pm

926 S Kings Dr
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 332-6366
Google Map

Opening Soon:

Two other center city green markets open soon and we’ll be there to give you the details.

April 26th: The Tailgate at South End (Camden & Park Ave)
May 9th: The Center City Green Market at The Square on Trade and Tryon

Here’s a slideshow of pictures I took at today’s market:

photos: Liz Barrett; view these photos on Flickr