Best Of Charlotte

Charlotte Critic has been going without updates and not getting alot of love this past 3 weeks. All the staff and contributors have ben off on other projects, vacation or jhust plain busy.

As the premier blog in Charlotte for food, and things that men agree on, we will not be going extinct anytime soon. We have lost our main Chef on Staff David Scott to family related obligations and just building his own website and his own personal cooking projects. We will get back up to date on this soon.

Our webmaster has been actively helping a local friend Mike Kraft as they develope their own blog and news site for Charlotte and US politics at www.Charlotteconservative.com. Mr. Kraft has a good base of writers and has experience as a GOP blogger. We hope our readers head over and check out his common sense views.

And lastly our main editor has a second child and has ben overrun with the fun and obligations of being a father for the second time.

They have returned out of loyalty or just a good solid welcome feeling. I had the honor to get to see the band Los Amigos Invisibles last night Sunday, April 1st, 2007 in Charlotte at the Neighborhood Theater.

Los Amigos Invisibles is a one of a kind funk band from Venezuela, one of the most famous acts of the last 10 years from Venezuela and originally from Caracas. Los Amigos may be hard to describe but can be best put in the same genres as Sould Coughing, Beck or maybe 311. The band plays mellow psych-a-funk with alot of drums and rythem as would be expected form a South American band. The videos and shows have always come with true originality and personality that has made them a one of a kind act to see in person.

This is the second visit for Los Amigos Invisibles to Charlotte in the last 3 years, and I have been able to attend both shows.

The turnout in Charlotte is truly light as compared to the fan base they deserve. The Venezuela music is hugely popular the world over but not really the flavor enjoyed by Charlotte’s largely Mexican latino community.

The turnout of this band has become largely a Venezuela “meet-up” as I saw many of the same faces as my first show 2 years ago at this same theater. The crowd is generally comprised of the Venezuelan fans in Charlotte, and the many “gringos” (white folks) that have been turned on to this music that crosses language barriers with ease.

I am an old fan of Bosstones, 311, Beck, Soul Coughing, Rusted Root and about 10 other good funk or rythem style bands that makes it easy to translate over to the same styles en Espanol.

While Los Amigos may be somewhat a new item for the Americans lucky enough to stumble on them they are old hat in Venezuelan circles.

If you look at the leading CD’s for the country of Venezuela you will see 3 of the top 5 are all by Los Amigos Invisibles. They hold 3 top spots with current past cd’s still selling off shelves on Amazon.com.

Or if you are into reviews as we are here, check out the Amazon page for the Band here where after thousands of reviews they are between 4.5 and 5 stars on all of their CD’s. You will see many or even most of these happy customers are US resident gringos that found a gem of a foreign band with a style far off the BS that comes out of California these days.

Amazon Review.

So You Want To Be Down?
OK start at Wikipedia here, and learn a bit about the bands travels from 1991 to today as a leading act in South America and more recently in the US.

The band consists of:
Julio Briceño (a.k.a. “Chulius”, vocals, percussion)
José Luis Pardo (a.k.a. “Cheo” or “DJ Afro”, guitar, songwriting)
Armando Figueredo (a.k.a. “Odnam”, keyboards)
Mauricio Arcas (a.k.a “Maurimix”, congas, percussion)
José Rafael Torres (a.k.a “Catire”, bass)
Juan Manuel Roura (a.k.a. “Mamelo”, drums, percussion)

You can expect a crowd that knows every song as not many a fan leaves the concert circuit once they are a fan. I am in for life and can only hope Los Amigos come back over and over despite the weak Charlotte turnout.

You can learn what you missed on youtube with my live videos from the concert last night.

We dont generally get away from the normal food and good times on the weekends but we feel it is called for this time.

I admit that www.crimeincharlotte.com, good friends of ours on the web, put this story into the best detail and inspired us to break the normal genre of topics here at Charlottecritic.

“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers & Sergeants who have been on the force for over ten years have not received a raise in 9 years! CMPD Officers are paid 8% below national average even though they assume more risk than other cities. However, year after year, the City Manager and City Council members deny the police and firefighters’ request for a raise.”

If you look here you can get a better idea of just how bad it has gotten with Charlotte ranking at 175th out of 200 cities nationwide.

I am not an expert on 200 seperate cities, but I would wager a safe guess that Charlotte is much riskier than many of them for the poilce.

If for no other reason but simple risk assessment this should warrant a higher paycheck to those willing to do this job.

But more than this reason, Charlotte wants to pretend it is a “world-class” city, then it needs to make its mark and attract the best police to help run it with high pay scales and higher standards of living for them.

We need to offer the best off duty standard of living to draw in the brightest cops from the US. We are willing to pay big bucks to bring tech companies to the Carolinas, so why do we neglect a much more important role of the police officer.

I found an online petition here.
Online petition to get our CMPD a pay raise.

Please take the time to help this site above out and get the police the standard of living that shows our appreciation to them. Also send the message that Charlotte puts our police as a front priority in becoming a “world class” place to call home.

This is not about Jeff, this is not only about Sean Clark and Jeffrey Shelton, this is about letting your respect and feelings be know toward people who wake up everyday willing to make your neighborhod better and family safer.

This is about being thankful for officers and their families for having the highest character on our behalf.

It matters, and it is not much to ask for the service we receive.

Jeff honored CMPD and all folks that work in law enforcement and for low wages and high risks give to us the safety that is uniquely American. This weekend two CMPD police officers where killed in the line of duty in a cowardly act of ignorant violence.

The two brave officers were husbands and a Father of 2, both described as family men who’s goal was to better the City.

Police officers leave the house everydayto be away from their families and enter some uncertainity.

Uncertainty is one of the scariest feeling a person must confront, and they put themselves, and those they love most, through these feelings every day to better the community.

A sad side note to this story is that the CMPD is 8% below the average in pay for city police nationwide. Read more here at crimeincharlotte.com.

My sister serves as a Deputy serving the jail system in NY, she has wanted to move to Charlotte and transfer to the CMPD, but the drop in pay would be around 14,000 per year.

In light of the increased danger in our growing city I hope this incident serves to better thank the CMPD with a better salary for their families.

“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers & Sergeants who have been on the force for over ten years have not received a raise in 9 years! CMPD Officers are paid 8% below national average even though they assume more risk than most other cities. However, year after year, the City Manager and City Council members deny the police and firefighters’ request for a raise.”

I Learned Early
Since I was a teenager I have always wished safety to every police officer I have passed. “Be safe” I have said to every cop grabbing a drink at a gas station or walking on the street and being friendly.

I have 2 Siblings in the Sheriff’s department, and both have become better people from the atmosphere of reverence and respect for people that police are taught.

While no human is perfect, and no police department completely void of being human, ours here in the US as a whole is on the highest level of honesty and determination for a better neighborhood. Even more so than teachers, which is often a topic of conversation for raises, police are deserving of a good standard of living when off duty, I hope this comes to light with the tragic news.

Last night from 3pm to 6pm Jeff Katz put the show and AM airwaves on lock down to pay homage to the CMPD, and to a profession that we not always see, but we always reap the rewards from.

Jeff called for the city to come together on the one fact that our men in uniform deserve respect. We need to recognize these men and women work for our safety above all else, and often make a sacrifice that should be honored every time you walk past or see an officer in the street.

While all other issues and politics set us ablaze and apart, this is an issue that we need to not discuss, we must make it a matter of our everyday consideration.

Thank you to the police, thank you for being as good as you are, thank you to your families for allowing them to leave the house every morning for the betterment of our city.

Also, a thanks to Jeff Katz for seeming whole-heartedly sincere and almost at breaking down in his sentiment for the families and officers.

In all fields and lifestyles there is an inside knowledge that can only be obtained through experience. There is a brotherhood that cannot be truly commented on without living it for a time. (Jeff served on the Philadelphia Housing Police Force)

In my first face to face meeting with Jeff it was truly a hard way to shake hands for the first time, but it was truly a human moment. I am glad such a strong message and honest sentiment was being delivered by a messenger that gets it.

Jeff has done his part to call the city to attention. Please find blue ribbon string and anything else you can tie, and tie it to every branch, antenna and pole in the city.

Let the police know you agree they are the highest form of American. Let the CMDP know you respect them and thank them for their service.

The two officers were shot late Saturday during a struggle outside an apartment complex where they had gone to investigate a domestic disturbance report and died early Sunday.

Police Chief Darrel Stephens said the two officers were responding to a disturbance call around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night at the apartment complex in east Charlotte. They were shot around 11:15 p.m. in the parking lot during a struggle. Neither fired their weapon, Stephens said.

See the photos from this event here.

Such a sad story and in truth a loss that was in the line of duty in another sense.

“Ray was walking to a convenience story to pick up a snack a few hours before UNC’s Sweet 16 game with USC in East Rutherford, NJ when he was struck by an SUV. The driver of the car tried to help Ray and called 911. So far, no charges have been filed in the accident.

He was to graduate this may with a major in Business Administration and a minor in religion. All of Tar Heel nation sends their condolances to Jason’s family. If you AOLers would like to send your own condolances, please go to this AOL Message Board. Donations can be sent here:”

Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Fund
Concord Christian Church
3101 Davidson Highway
Concord, NC 28027

Now this is too sad a story as he died traveling with the team and the fact that he was a element of the UNC family that flew under the radar and followed his school with passion that went unseen. Doing what he does with a mask and no face to go with his enthusiasm may sound poetic to the point of corny, but in the end he was an athelete that gave what he could in a way that was available to him. He was a member of the team that has no face to go with his efforts. This is one of the great parts of sports, the element that doesnt desire notoriety, just loves to be a part of something bigger.

In my opinion I hope the university retires the mascot. Jayson Ray died on a team function, he was there to support the UNC team which he was a part of. I hope the school stops and names an event or memorial in his name instead of naming it after the largest money contributor.

Retire Rameses forever, hang his jersey in the Dean Smith Center move on and let it be an honor to the hundreds that contribute to this great team that dont go on to the NBA or get carried off.

A home stadium is supposed to focus the power and tradition of all the banners and retired jerseys to intimidate the opponant and remind the current team what it means to be a member of UNC, so for that reason Rameses needs to hang over the players forever.

I am an avid WBT listener, fan of the personalities and supporter of much of the same stances, causes and local needs.

Some things are miles ahead of politics and sides, and generally those things are people. Keith Larson has enlightened us to a close friend of his named Marshall Giles, that is a 28 year old guitar player and landscape architect that is battling against cancer.

Local churches have arranged an executive meal to benefit and aid Marshal in his fight. For $15 and a reservation you can get a seat and help a cause for a local 28yr old man in need.

“Marshall Giles is a 28 year-old worship leader and member of Well of Hope Lutheran Church (The Well) in Charlotte/Pineville. Marshall was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Monocytic Leukemia (AML) on September 29, 2006. For the past five months he has been receiving ongoing chemotherapy treatments as he awaits news of a transplant. As with most individuals who suffer from leukemia, Marshall’s body and immune system have been weakened, making it impossible for him to return to work at this time. We are hoping that this will be an opportunity for us to come together and be a blessing for him and for one another, as we journey together in Christ, by grace through faith. Please share this invitation with people whom you know, and thank you in advance for your prayers, as well as your gracious and generous support. “

The dinners will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Myers Park) and Christ the King Lutheran Church (Southwest Charlotte). Thrivent Financial will be matching each $1 that is donated with $.33 (with a maximum grant of $3000).

Read more here and pass the word of mouth to get more people interested in helping out a true local and personal cause.

Read more here

Ok so I just got done editing and adding to this post about how Winthrop got it right, and settled the score with lady luck from last year by beating Notre Dame.

I was completely disgusted having seen that the only NCAA clips I could get for that post was garbage CBS sports puts on youtube as a “service” to us but they then ruin the fact by stamping it as the Pontiac Sponsored Clips.

I know that “a user” can mean anyone but we really didn’t need to see corporate garbage like this sneaking onto Youtube.

Youtube is the counter culture to the MTV crap like this that is force-fed to us daily from every other source of media owned by the same 1%. I had thought Youtube, not immune, but resistant to this sort of encroachment, but I was wrong.

While digging for something more tasteful and a “product of the people” to share on our “real people” news and blog, I did find alot of true Winthrop content like the video used in the post I referred to above about the Notre Dame win.

I figured while Im here and have found another video I would make another post of it.

This post will reflect on the “non-spamvertising” side of the NCAA, a sporting realm I was once a part of myself.

I imagine the same things still go on like heading down at your hotel to get that crappy continental breakfast of begals and mini cereal boxes. I imagine the hierarchy of who gets the back seats on the bus still holds true.

At whatever level of skill, its still college kids at the absolute best time of their life, jumping with fresh knees and doing keg stands nights after victories. Its still about styrofoam cups of hotel coffee, bananas and bagels in your sports bag, congregating in the stands to bad mouth opposing teams and laugh when they muff something during warmups.

Because sports doesn’t need to have a UPC code on everything at every moment, and because the NCAA was, I thought, one of the last sacred grounds of competition, here above is a video that I found that says it alot better than Pontiac can. (at the top)

I would also like to make this post an open invite to any of the current Winthrop players to do a Q/A session by email about the time at the NCAA’s. If your gonna give your time or insight, best you give it to someone writing without the intention to stamp “sponsored by Coke” on your jersey with a watermark. (critic(at)charlottecritic.com)

How cool is BBQ web series of videos. A great series of cooking on the grill recipes and videos with great redneck background music and liberal use of beer as an ingredient. All cooking done on a natural burning grill of course. This is an exceptional looking recipe and the end result is clearly better than what your cooking.

In this recipe im using as a sample to introduce our readers to thei very cool and useful series of cooking videos, the chicken dance is the name of the process.

Our narrator, which may just be “Curly from the movie City Slickers”, shows us how to use onions and beer to make the chicken dance on the grill. The chicken are actually stuffed with the beer cans to set them up in a dancing pose while they get golden on the grill.

After about an hour the narrator brushes down two golden brown “dancing chickens” with garlic and soy sauce during the 2.5 hours on a grill at 350 degrees.

An amazing expert look at some sure fire winners for your grill this summer. I look forward to many more updates and recipe ideas for myself and my readers here at Charlottecritic.com.

“Oh Man!” Head over to barbecueweb.com and see more amazing professional grilling ideas for this summer. The featured series A Coupla Fat Guys Cooking Show will show you what you wish you knew last summer when you made those boring hot dogs for your friends.

Co I stumbled across a winner’s and loser’s list of inspection reports. I must say it’s refreshing to see a aomewhat efficient accountability system involved in government in some way. If only public officials had inspections into their daily lives, tax returns, private dealings, back records and the result of what was found made it to the web.

Did you know you can go here and search for any restaurant that operates in this area and see what they received in the last three inspections?

You get details of any problems, which may be more than you asked for.

Here’s a few guys taking care of their business listed below, and add to this the big fat 100 score i saw on recent trip to Five Guys Concord.
http://www.charlottecritic.com/five-guys-concord/

Bentley’s On 27 = 100
5201 S. College St. (Feb. 21)

Firehouse Subs = 100
4732 South Blvd. (Feb. 21)

Harris Teeter, Seafood = 99
13000 York Road. (Feb. 21)

Smooth Smoothies = 99
2136-B Ayrsley Town Road. (Feb. 21)

Harris Teeter, Deli = 98.5
13000 York Road. (Feb. 21)

Just watched Niagra College beat a pretty pathetic Florida A&M team in the play in game of the NCAA.

I can safely say that Kansas need not worry, and perhaps need not even dress their starters. Unless of course Niagra uses the strategy that the Florida A & M player used, which was an apparent “stomp on the manhood”. I know it was an accident but that didnt look very comfortable.

I am from Rochester, NY, most my college sports were against UB, Buff State, Niagra, Oswego and other state teams. Niagra’s purple people eaters are like my backyard and I have alot of love for my home area and teams like this.

I was pulling for Niagra last week to make it this far, and was pulling hard tonight, But, this Florida A&M team was bad, and still the game was close.

Niagra shot great from the field and looked OK, not bad at best, but Kansas is my pick to win it all right now. Kansas just downed Texas on a Neutral court and Kansas has 11 straight wins which have been in the Big 12 conference and tournament.

Niagra has 12 straight wins right now which is a worthy accomplishment, but not in the same league. I can safely pull for Niagra but know they can be valiant losers only with a chance of reducing the garbage time in this game.

Here’s to hoping and praying that the entire Kansas team pulls a Thurman Thomas and forgets their sneakers. I would say in their street clothes this would be a close game coming up.

Now for some issues I have about tonights game.

It is not fair that the “play-in” game be comprised of league champions. If you get the honor of winning your spot by being champion of your conference you should not be in this game.

This “ghetto-game” just to get in the tournament needs to be comprised of two at large bids.

I know the at large bids ae much better than these two teams, and I know Kansas wouldn’t want to have to start against an at large team, but at-large is the charity spot.

At large teams are getting the handouts, and conference tournament winners have earned a legit spot in the tournament, and not this play in game.

This will not be a year of the 16 beats a one, nor a 15 over a 2. I do see 14’s and 13’s that can win a game this year, but the top seeds are stronger than usual.

In my Bracket I have UNC losing in the round of 16, but the rest making it to at least the 8. This is clearly not the year of the 16 and Niagra reminded me that tonight as I watched undersized power forwards chasing rebounds against guards. I will throw in that Niagra had some great agressive rebounders getting put backs (props).

The irony is that the true fanfare tonight began when the NIT tourney coverage came on. The NIT is clearly the “Not In Tournament” tournament. Normally the NIT is one step above the Women’s tournament, which is one shade above infomercials.

This year has been the year of the snub, and the NIT is actually the best game in town tonight. With teams like Drexel, Syracuse, West Virginia, Florida State and surging NC state playing tonight in the NIT, the consisted of the best teams on TV, and likely the best teams that will play until someone seded above a 9 or 10 plays. I am shocked that Cuse got left out, sad that West Virginia did and baffled how Drexel drew NC State in the very first game.

This years snubs realy are making a case for expansion to a field of 96 in the future, which I am for. I think 96 may be too many but a few more deserve it when 34+ spots are lost to conference champions and locks.

I belive the NIT champion should be uatenteed a spot in the next year’s NCAA event despite the next years outcome. Perhaps a stipulation like they must be above .500, but that seems obviously likely to happen anyhow. This would equate to the “all star game gets home field” strategy which puts a little bit of value into a sporting event which lacks value, like the NIT.