Queen City Nerve - March 20, 2024

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 8; MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

Elegance A LEGACY OF

Costume designer Margarette Joyner shifts the narrative with new exhibit

BY DEZANII LEWIS

Music:

Food:

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pg. 10

Alexa Jenson calls in backup

Charlotte’s most gluttonous food challenges

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@Q UEEN CI T Y N ERV E W W W.Q CN ERV E.COM PUBLISHER JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RYAN PITKIN

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DIGITAL MANAGER RAYNE ANTRIM

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STAFF WRITERS PAT MORAN

pmoran@qcnerve.com ANNIE KEOUGH

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ART DIRECTOR AIDEN SIOBHAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS & OPINION

4 Life, Part Two by Ryan Pitkin

Cat Williams advocates for organ donation following lung transplant 5 Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks

ARTS & CULTURE

6 A Legacy of Elegance by Dezanii Lewis

Costume designer Margarette Joyner shifts the narrative with new exhibit

MUSIC

8 Songs for Living by Pat Moran

Alexa Jenson’s indie rock cuts straight to the heart 9 Soundwave

FOOD & DRINK

10 Down the Hatch by Annie Keough

The Charlotte area’s most gluttonous food challenges

LIFESTYLE

12 Puzzles 13 Aerin It Out by Aerin Spruill 13 Horoscope 14 Savage Love Pg. 3 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

Thanks to our contributors: Grant Baldwin, Aerin Spruill, Dezanii Lewis, Alexa Viscius, Braydon Curry and Dan Savage

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

LIFE, PART TWO

Cat Williams advocates for organ donation following lung transplant

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BY RYAN PITKIN

Two things are immediately apparent upon Durham to be closer to the hospital as part of the viewing the video, a close-up shot of Cat Williams pre-operation process, so she was nearby when the speaking into the camera from her hospital room in call came in. Her mother, who had moved with her December 2020: she is struggling greatly, but she is as her primary caretaker, took her to the hospital but going to keep fighting. could not come in due to COVID-19.

In the video, shot shortly after Williams’ double Williams was alone. lung transplant, she fights through tears to get her They asked her what song she would like to short sentences out. hear as she went under. She picked Yo-Yo Ma. She “Hard day, tough day,” she says in something woke up the next day, heavily sedated, not fully between a whisper and a whimper. “I did walk six comprehending what had happened, but breathing laps today with a nurse … on a bad pain day. I’m through a new pair of lungs. shaking so much … But I progress. I’m gonna get At that time, of course, she still needed plenty of out of here, and I’m gonna go home, and I’m gonna help from machines, but over the next 51 days — do all the things that I came in here for.” twice the average hospital stay following a lung When Queen City Nerve spoke with Williams in transplant — she fought through the bad pain days March 2020 for an article titled “A Look at the Life of and relearning how to walk until she was discharged a Resident at Risk,” just being able to film that video in February 2021. was a dream that felt so far away. COVID-19 had just Tough days were still ahead — continued led to shutdowns across the country, and Williams pulmonary rehab, a rejection scare, depression was unsure how any of it would play out. and other obstacles — but Williams had received A lifelong cystic fibrosis patient, Williams’ her second chance. Her lungs currently function at condition was worsening. She needed a transplant, about 70% of their capacity compared to the 17% though at the time she was not quite sick enough to she experienced pre-transplant. be placed near the top of the waiting list. She found Now as she continues to clear some of those herself in an awkward limbo, not wanting to get outstanding obstacles, Williams is looking forward more sick in order to be prioritized, but desperately to the next chapter in her life and speaking out in need of the operation. about the benefits of organ donation.

In the months after our March 2020 interview, Williams would become sicker, which led to her ‘We’ve been abandoned’ being accepted as a potential transplant patient at Even before COVID, Williams has long been a Duke University Hospital — just the beginning of politically active person, though she didn’t speak an exhaustive months-long process. much about disability issues until one incident “I was basically just trying to survive. I was inspired her to start. dying,” Williams recalls now. “I was on a lot of pill As she remembers it, Williams was standing in line medication, tons of antibiotics, tons of side effects. for food in a public establishment with an oxygen I weighed, like, 92 pounds. I was on oxygen … tank in tow, something that had only recently You’d get tired halfway through a plate of food, or become a requirement for her as her condition just trying to do any kind of basic anything. Walking worsened. That’s when a stranger approached her the dog was hard, and I was living alone, and I was and told her, unsolicited, that she likely deserved trying to take care of myself. And so the only way out her condition because she was a smoker. Williams, a for me was this lung transplant.” cystic fibrosis (CF) patient since birth who has never On Dec. 17, 2020, Williams got the call: Duke had smoked a single cigarette, was dumbfounded. a pair of lungs for her. She had already moved to

CAT WILLIAMS VISITS REP. JEFF JACKSON POST-TRANSPLANT TO DISCUSS DISABILITY ISSUES.

COURTESY CAT WILLIAMS

With the virus still active, Williams has limited “It kind of radicalized me because I wasn’t really out about CF at all in my life,” she says. “And her trips mostly to the grocery store and pulmonary that’s when I became a sort of online activist, just rehab and doesn’t engage much with other people during those visits. She adds that, in recent months, deciding, ‘I’m not taking this bullshit.’”

The need for an oxygen tank had turned Williams’ pressure has built for those few remaining people invisible disability into a visible one, and she like herself who mask to unmask.

She points to a recent NPR article in which the immediately saw a difference in how people looked spouse of a man who had suffered from a severe case at and treated her.

When COVID clamped down on America, she of long COVID speaks about how much of a burden thought it would lead to a reckoning over disabled he is because he still takes precautions to protect people and other vulnerable populations. For a short himself from another bout of the debilitating illness.

“We’ve kind of been abandoned, but people time, it did. constantly say either, ‘Well, you should just live your “At the height of COVID when everyone accepted we were in the pandemic and most people were life, you’re just anxious,’ or they say, ‘Well, just live masking and people were isolating, it kind of felt at home. Don’t go out,’ and it’s like, but we have to like, ‘Okay, we’re all in this together. You’re now go to hospitals. We have to go to pharmacies. I’m seeing what a lot of disabled people go through, and lucky I don’t have to go on public transit. We should we’re all in this together and things are changing,’” still, as a community, mask in places where our most she says. “I really had hope that people were going vulnerable people still have to go.” to be more careful now.”

Visit qcnerve.com/cat-williams-transplant to Rather quickly, masking became a politicized issue, and as time went on, even those who had read the rest of the story, including how “inspiration originally been willing to make the smallest porn” negatively affected Williams’ recovery and her sacrifices began to refuse. In the years since her newfound passion for organ donation. transplant, Williams has run into health care workers who refuse to mask, including a personal physical RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM therapist who stopped working with her because Williams asked that she mask up.

ART AFTER DARK: SOUTHERN DIGITAL WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS, BAERD

FETCH TIGER Courtesy of Fetch Tiger

3/28

The Gantt Center celebrating one year of its digital arts studio, MODA — the Mecca of Digital Arts.

Southern Digital is a collection of experiences that highlight Southern digital content, influencers, music, and other areas that reflect the future of Southern Black culture. Catch a screening of Carolina Noise, Nigel Malone’s exploration of the unique hiphop contributions coming from NC, and a slew of other installations, activations and exhibitions like Kalin Renee Devone’s “Everyday Items” installation, which turns the grocery shopping experience into a visually stunning vibe.

More: Free; March 22, 6-10 p.m.; Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.; tinyurl.com/SouthernDigital

With his quietly passionate vocals and deeply personal lyrics, William Fitzsimmons evokes the shade of intimate and somber English singersongwriter Nick Drake. Fitzsimmons guards the meaning of his songs, and his delicate, dynamic finger-picked guitar figures bolster Fitzsimmons’ mysterious intensity. On “It’s All Happening Now,” Boston progressive-folk band BAERD weave meditative guitars, world music beats and hushed husky vocals into a skein of folk, Americana, R&B and the acoustic melancholia of Led Zeppelin.

More: $25-28; March 26, 7:30 p.m.; Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St.; eveningmuse.com

RATBOYS Photo by Alexa Viscius

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FETCH TIGER, WILLINGDON, LEONARDO SOLIS/DINGZUI

MEDIA LITERACY MATTERS: CURRENT IF ONLY YOU KNEW: THE EXPERIENCE QUEERLY: A VARIETY SHOW LANDSCAPE, STUDENT ACTIONS, AND This celebration of the local queer creative scene will On “Fighter,” which kicks off Fetch Tiger’s debut OF BEING AN IMMIGRANT TEACHER FUTURE DIRECTIONS include drag performances, stand-up comedy and live LP Walking to Camera, the Brooklyn/London duo Astrid “Emily” Francis found herself as the head of

In a world where misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes abound while a political movement paints the press as a hostile enemy, media literacy is as important as ever. Join faculty, students and researchers from UNC Charlotte for a half-day conference on how to use critical thinking and rhetorical reasoning to find, evaluate and create information in online environments. Queen City Nerve editor-in-chief Ryan Pitkin will kick things off as the keynote speaker, followed by a student showcase, a panel featuring members of the Niner Times managerial board, and faculty “lightning talks.”

More: Free; March 21, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.; UNC Charlotte’s J. Murrey Atkins Library, 9201 University City Blvd.; tinyurl.com/MediaLiteracyMatters

YOUNG DEATH GOD, MC HOMELESS, MIKAL KHILL, B-VILLAINOUS, RED JESSE

OPEN WIDE THE DOOR EXHIBIT OPENING

Charlotte Museum of History is set to unveil the firstever museum exhibit about Mary Cardwell Dawson, a North Carolina native who founded the nation’s first successful Black opera company in 1941. Born two hours north of Charlotte in Madison, Dawson was a trailblazer in the world of classical music, launching the National Negro Opera Company in 1941. The exhibit includes rarely seen photographs of the company and historical documents as well as original costumes from the company’s productions. Through videos and audio stations, the exhibit also provides viewers with a broader look at the world of opera and the contributions of people of color to the art form.

More: Free with admission; March 26, ongoing; Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive; charlottemuseum.org

weaves crooning vocals, subliminal synths and household in Guatemala at age 13, supporting and guitars ranging from plangent to fuzzed-out to craft raising her siblings after her mother migrated to the a melancholy indie-pop gem. Charlotte’s Willingdon United States. Eventually she guided her siblings tills a similar emotional furrow on “It’s Not Over,” through the arduous journey north, arriving as an indie prog-rock epic featuring a spoken-word unaccompanied and undocumented minors who collage, heavenly synths, emotive vocals, chugging spoke no English. At the time, Francis had a 6thguitars and a coda of mysterious, majestic noise. grade education. Now, she is a dual alumna of UNC Leonardo Solis is best known for crafting ethereal Charlotte and a nationally-recognized teacher who soundscapes for wife Kellie’s sensual pop songs in speaks at venues nationwide to raise awareness of Solis. Here he unleashes his sonic wizardry in solo the challenges faced by many children who are new to the United States. guise.

More: Free; April 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m.; UNC Charlotte’s More: $7; March 28, 9 p.m.; Petra’s, Fretwell Building, Room 113, 9203 Mary Alexander 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com Road; tinyurl.com/WitnessInResidence

RATBOYS, DUCKS LTD.

THE FLAMINGO REVUE PRESENTS:

On “It’s Alive,” Chicago indie-rockers Ratboys spin a wary guitar jangle that recalls Tanya Donnelly and GREATEST HITS Belly. With a voice like pealing bells, Julia Steiner As reported in our Spring Guide issue in early March, wistfully sings about witnessing and accepting The Flamingo Revue started as a way for friends to change. “I feel it all, frozen in my house/ All around, have fun together back in April 2019, but has since it’s in the stars/ It’s speeding toward the sign…” turned into a post-pandemic catalyst for the revival Meanwhile, Dave Sagan’s fiery guitar fills are laced of burlesque in Charlotte. The Greatest Hits show will with decaying reverb. Toronto indie-rock duo Ducks feature some of the Flock’s most beloved acts from the Ltd. craft frenetic guitar-driven indie rock that’s last several years — from classic to gritty, dinosaurs both anxious and breezy. Sounding similar to 1980s to pizza, and everything in between. Look for English indie outfit The Housemartins, the duo sings performances from Anita Tool, Bettie Bupkiss, Boomabout coping while everything collapses around Boom Bathory, Danger Angel, Dark N’ Stormy, Delilah d’Isceaux, Dravyn, Ducky Delight, Ebony Delight, Edie them.

Edison, Ellie Cerceaux, Jayne Bangs and more.

More: $17.50; April 1, 8 p.m.; Snug Harbor, More: $20-$25; April 6, 9 p.m.; Visulite Theatre, 1228 Gordon St.; snugrock.com 1615 Elizabeth Ave.; flamingorevue.com

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Young Death God spits righteous venom over chainsaw grindcore on manifestos like “Pissin Me Off.” Rapper MC Homeless’ tracks range from indie funk to dystopian musique concrete. On his vHanity IV EP, Mikal kHill turns from his golden age hip-hop work with The TroubleShooters to evocative internalsoundtrack instrumentals. Multitudinous voices escape from the prismatic mind of B-Villainous on creepy-funny EP Cartoon Tracks. As Red Jesse, Charlotte MC Jesse Boykin Kimmel pivots to personal acoustic indie pop on EP Blue Green: Love Me Still.

More: $12; March 21, 8 p.m.; The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road; themilestone.club

music in the heart of Plaza Midwood. Featured comic Shane O’Laine is a local trans man who has helped uplift his peers through the launch of AQRONYM Entertainment, which helps find work for LGBTQ+, female-identifying and BIPOC artists. Formed from the ashes of four-piece Dust & Ashes, Americana duo Carolina Down Boys dropped their 5011 EP last August, featuring solemn songs that reminisce on growing up queer in the rural Bible Belt.

More: $7; March 23, 9 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

ARTS FEATURE

A LEGACY OF ELEGANCE Costume designer Margarette Joyner shifts the narrative with new exhibit

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BY DEZANII LEWIS

When people think of Black history, African history, or the like, they tend to gravitate to the horrors of said history.

While learning about the atrocities that occurred during past time periods remains important, other stories exist. In fact, it’s just as critical to spread those narratives that depict Black people as more than being enslaved.

It’s those untold stories that Margarette Joyner seeks to explore in her exhibit, A Legacy of Elegance, currently showing at the Projective Eye Gallery at UNC Charlotte’s Dubois Center in Uptown.

“A lot of people think that African American history began with slavery,” Joyner said. “It did not.

We are a royal people — always have been, still are, always will be.”

Joyner’s exhibit showcases 12 articles of clothing that she designed alongside archival photos from the 19th century. The pieces are meant to highlight the ways in which Black people have lived a life of elegance over the years.

Joyner, a professor who teaches costume design at UNC Charlotte, combines historical designs with African fabrics to illustrate a story that differs from those shared in many schools.

“My idea was to take our past and merge it with the present,” she explained. “That’s why I used African fabrics and merged them with contemporary fabric to show that we come from royalty. Then I embellished all the costumes with cowry shells because that’s very important in our culture. It’s a sign of wealth and prestige.”

Historically, cowry shells were used as currency in various countries throughout Africa. Though they are no longer used as such, their significance remains an important facet of Black and African history.

The 12 pieces showcased in A Legacy of Elegance took about a month each for Joyner to make, with the exhibit coming together over the course of a

year. Some pieces took longer than others — the cowry shells alone took a month to sew on to the costumes.

Joyner said she got her inspiration for the costumes from lesser known history stories such as that of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a French-Caribbean musician and composer, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a formerly enslaved African girl who was brought to Queen Victoria’s court and became her goddaughter.

“When I saw [Bonetta] and she was dressed in beautiful, regal garments, I was like, ‘That’s what I want to see. That’s what I want to display,’” she said.

“Then I saw the movie about [Chevalier de SaintGeorges]. I was like, ‘That’s part of who we are.’”

The symbolism afforded by the carefully curated blends of cowry shells, fabric, and design elements come together to serve as the basis for a deeper dive, informing attendees of a history they may not have otherwise known.

Elegance defined

The vintage Victorian styles in Joyner’s costumes are coupled with vibrant African prints — splashes of reds, yellows, blues, pinks, and purples adorn each piece, creating a moving combination.

Much like her creations, the stories that have inspired them are powerful, such as the story of an enslaved man named Nat who would walk a full day from his plantation to see his wife and children, then a day back.

“That’s some powerful love, you know what I mean?” Joyner said. “I like to tap into the beauty of us, the humanity of us. And that’s part of the reason for this exhibit: to show that we’re an elegant, royal, beautiful people. Folks focus in on the horrors and the tragedy of enslavement, which it was, it was disgusting. It was one of the most horrendous things that was ever invented.

MARGARETTE JOYNER

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

“However, we also, even in the midst of all that Now that it’s all come together, Joyner said she oppression and all that hate and all that pain, we hopes that her exhibit will be successful in telling still loved, we still cared about each other,” she the story she wants to tell. continued. “We still had dignity, and we found ways “I hope when anybody, little boys and little girls or to deal with all of that by loving on one another, by anybody comes to see this, they can see themselves embracing our culture.” as part of that royal heritage,” she said.

While the vision is clear now, Joyner said she didn’t know why she started making the pieces in An educational role takes its toll the first place.

Though Joyner, currently a visiting assistant “I am a strong believer in gifts from the universe,” professor of Costume Design in UNC Charlotte’s she said. “When I first started this, I had no idea why Theatre department, resides in Gastonia and said I was doing it or what it was for, but I felt a calling to she has “fallen in love” with Charlotte, like so many be able to do this and then it evolved.” others in the city, she was not born here.

The vision came into focus when Joyner learned Joyner hails from Richmond, Virginia, where she about Bonetta and Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Her gained a wealth of knowledge from her previous inspiration to use African fabrics came from the experiences. She taught at Virginia Union University, knowledge that both of her muses would often an HBCU in Richmond, as an assistant professor of revisit Africa whenever they were sick in order to be Theatre, working as a “department of one,” as she nursed back to health. put it.

Joyner sources most of her fabrics from Richmond, “That meant that I taught the classes, I produced though plenty came from her own personal the shows, I directed, I wrote, I designed; I did collection, accumulated over the years from various everything,” she said. sources.

After six years at Virginia Union, the school Once she selects the fabrics, she’s no longer in underwent organizational changes that didn’t work charge, she explained of her process. for Joyner, so she decided to leave. She wasn’t sure “Once I have the fabrics and patterns I let them of her next direction initially, but she quickly got her speak to me, letting me know what they want to be,” answer after she put out several applications and she said. got a reply from Colonial Williamsburg.

ARTS FEATURE There, she portrayed an enslaved Black woman named Mama Succordia. The experience had a profound effect on Joyner, who said she found both good and bad in it.

“It was beautiful and horrible,” she said. “It was beautiful because I got to give voice to people who didn’t have one, even though I was censored as to what I could say because I was literally portraying an enslaved person. Whenever I wrote a program for a solo performance as Mama Succordia, I could say what Mama Succordia could have said and then people had to listen.”

Joyner took what she learned through her lived experience at Colonial Williamsburg to put toward other projects. In Charlotte, she worked with the Historic Rosedale plantation in November 2023, designing costumes for folks performing African American Ring Shout, a tradition historically rooted in Africa and created by enslaved people in the Carolinas and Georgia.

There were, of course, more troubling aspects to portraying an enslaved woman day in and day out, made worse by the ignorance of some patrons.

“One of the most common questions was, ‘Did you have a good master?’” she said. “And can you imagine representing this enslaved person and I have to explain to these people that you cannot put the word ‘good’ and ‘master’ in the same sentence?”

She would often have to debate guests, as they

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

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PIECES FROM JOYNER’S UNC CHARLOTTE EXHIBIT

would feel that, because the people who enslaved Mama Succordia clothed her and may not have physically abused her, they weren’t necessarily bad people.

“I would have to explain, I’m dressed this way not because I choose to, but because I’m representing his wealth,” she said. “No, they don’t beat me, but I cannot leave when I want to. No, I can’t speak out in public unless I get their permission. So that’s not a good person. A good person would not own another person. A good person would not deem me property, put a price tag on me, buy and sell my children at will, even if they’re being nice about it.

That’s not a good person. So that was the hard part, is folks wanting us to make them feel better about history.”

After three and a half years reenacting the life of the enslaved, Joyner had enough. She left Colonial Williamsburg and applied for a job at UNC Charlotte.

Today, Joyner still struggles with just how little she knew about Mama Succordia beyond her apparent value to white traders: 10 pounds. Aside from that, all Joyner knew was her name, her owners’ names and that she was an elder.

“That’s it; there was nothing else,” Joyner said.

Because our stories were not important. But they are important — they weren’t important to [enslavers].

So I want to show in probably all of the work that I do that there’s more to us than slavery, there’s more to us than oppression, even though we deal with it daily. There’s far more to us than just that.”

MUSIC FEATURE

hazy memory where only Jenson’s vocal seems interest, Jenson withdrew from school activities and immediate. She is powerful yet controlled, emotive started playing solo at open mics. yet coo; Jenson’s performance feels poised on the In the process, she’s befriended and received cusp between revelation and meltdown, recalling immeasurable help from Joe Kuhlman, Don and country music’s high priestess of heartbreak and Laurie Koster, owners of Evening Muse, where picking yourself back up, Patsy Cline.

Jenson has built up her craft since those long nights In a way, “Fool in Love” acts as a culmination of at Find Your Muse when she was still in high school.

Jenson’s childhood dreams and ambitions while Jenson also gives shout outs to singer-songwriter Alexa Jenson’s indie rock cuts straight to the heart pointing the way forward to the next stage in her Dane Page, pianist/tattoo artist Elisa Sanchez, and

BY PAT MORAN life and career. Jenson was always singing as a child. Dollar Signs’ Erik Button and Dylan Wachman for A swell of gospel organ breaks against a crag “I was like, ‘I’m too cool for school. I don’t need to be She fell in love with pop music at age 5 when her their friendship, help and inspiration. mother took her to see a performance of the ABBA of jangly guitars, just as Alexa Jenson’s gale-force here. This isn’t real life.’” vocals wheel in like a storm front.

She also didn’t resonate with what teachers and musical Mamma Mia. They bought the soundtrack Becoming a band leader on the way out of the show and Jenson sang the After remixing Jenson’s “Fool in Love,” Fasano “I know you think I’m a mystery tonight/ But students deemed important. entire score in the minivan on the way home. convinced her to record and release her five-song tomorrow you’ll be gone / At the slightest peek of “Once kids in high school got their cars, they “I thought, ‘Wow, this is what life sounds like,’”’ self-titled EP in 2018. The disc, produced by Fasano daylight...” were touring colleges, applying [to universities] and Brandon Berg, features Jenson on guitar Jenson’s 2018 single “Daylight” cradles your and getting ready for the SATs,” Jenson says. “I got Jenson says.

Singing became her creative focus, with the full and vocals, Fasano on drums, and Berg on bass, emotions and commands your attention. Amid a my license, and I was driving to open mics in the city support from her parents. keyboards and backing vocals. The project pairs danceable pop melody, a rocking groove and boldly every night.”

“Fool in Love” and “Daylight” with three other tunes, vulnerable lyrics, Jenson’s supple voice ranges from the ethereal “Unrequited,” the plaintive yet restless powerful declaration to free-falling alt-country lilt.

“Mr. Curiosity,” and the deceptively jaunty-sounding “I can let you go leave you on the shelf/ No you country-punk tune “Roses,” which Jenson says was won’t fuck with my mental health/ You’re only doing sparked by a nostalgic, bittersweet and brief reunion this to yourself...” with an ex-boyfriend.

Despite its origins in a teenage romance that “And in July you moved away/ There was nothing crashed and burned, “Daylight” isn’t a heartbreak that I could do to make you stay/ It doesn’t help that song, Jenson insists. your parents don’t like me/ So I watched your U-Haul “It’s kind of a ‘Fuck you’ song,” the 24 year old drive away...” singer-songwriter says. “I would like to feel that way Right now, Jenson seems poised for another stage all the time, justified in my feelings, and not caring in her career. Although she appreciates the Queen what someone else has done to me ... It’s not always City’s music scene and her place in it, she’s excited that way, so I write in a wishful way. It’s the way I by her band’s first out-of-town gig in Richmond, want to feel.”

Virginia this spring. She hopes to play more shows Jenson performs her vulnerable yet empowering outside Charlotte in the coming year. songs on April 4 at Petra’s. Though she launched her Jenson says she still plays solo gigs with her career at age 16 as a solo performer, the vocalist and acoustic guitar, but prefers to rock out with the band guitarist will be joined onstage by drummer Matt PHOTO BY BRAYDON CURRY these days.

ALEXA JENSON PERFORMS WITH HER NEW BACKING BAND Conte and bassist/synth player Josh Rosales.

“I have always loved a classic rock band,” she says.

Jenson, who has not dropped new music since “Growing up, becoming a young adult, and just “Being on stage sometimes is so scary. It’s nice to 2018, says the set will contain some new songs She recalls staying out until 2 a.m. at the Evening including a “fun and energetic” tune entitled “Just You Muse’s Find Your Muse open mic then driving to dealing with life, [music] became an incredible have someone up there with you who knows exactly outlet for me,” Jenson says. how you’re feeling.”

Wait,” scheduled to be released as a single in May. school at 7 a.m. the next day.

Jenson first picked up a guitar when she was 12.

How her audience reacts and feels is important to “It’s one we’ve been playing for several years as High school was also where Jenson started a band,” Jenson says “It’s my teenage late ’90s/early pursuing songwriting in earnest. She had dabbled After a few lessons, she struck out on her own, using Jenson too.

“The one thing that I love about pop music …

2000s indie pop band dream. It’s my favorite.” with writing songs at age 12, but when her virtual the guitar as a tool to facilitate her songwriting.

“I realized, ‘I can sing.

I can write my own thing, is that you can [reveal] your truest emotions, and music production class required an original song as and I can put a melody to it and play it on guitar. This if you put a nice melody to it and give it a good an assignment, she recorded her debut single “Fool What life sounds like in Love” on her iPhone and put a rough GarageBand is magical,” Jenson says. “I consider myself a lyricist beat, people will love it, even though they have no “High school is objectively hell,” Jenson says. first, a singer second and guitarist last.” idea what it’s about,” Jenson says. “Then, one day She’s not talking about any unending torment mix of it up on SoundCloud.

She participated in talent shows, sang in middle someone will listen to the lyrics and [think], ‘Oh Jenson remembers someone stopping her in a she experienced attending Cox Mill High School in school choir and did some theatre in high school. wow, that … actually makes me feel less alone.’ I Concord. Instead, Jenson’s high school hell was more Harris Teeter parking lot to compliment her for the Along the way, her tastes turned from ABBA to Billy hope that my music makes people feel not alone.” like an endless waiting room, an antechamber that song.

In a version remixed by drummer/producer Joel, then again to British pop group The 1975, after didn’t seem to connect to adulthood.

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM exhausting all the musical electives that sparked her “I had a bad attitude about it,” Jenson remembers. Timmy Fasano, “Fool in Love” is rendered as a gauzy,

Pg. 8 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

SONGS FOR LIVING

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Ed Schrader’s Music Beat w/ Telepathetics, DRMOFO (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights @ Canteen (Camp North End) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Drifting Roots w/ Two Burnt (Evening Muse) Kristy & Friends (Goldie’s) OPEN MIC Singer/Songwriter Open Mic (The Rooster) Variety Open Mic & Songwriters Circle (Starlight on 22nd)

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

ROCK/PUNK/METAL I Hate Dave w/ Squirt Vile, SpaceDaddy & The Galactic Gogos (Petra’s) Cherubs w/ Bog Loaf, Nerve Endings (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Josh Morningstar (Visulite Theatre) Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays w/ Justin Clyde Williams (Evening Muse) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Party 101 w/ Matt Bennett (The Underground) TimaLikesMusic: That’s 90s Love (Neighborhood Theatre) FUNK/JAM BANDS Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Ledisi (Ovens Auditorium) The DOAP Concert: Women’s Edition (Crown Station) Young Death God & MC Homeless w/ Mikal Hill, B-Villainous, Red Jesse (The Milestone) OPEN MIC The Potluck: An Open Mic and Safe Space for Creatives (Heist Brewery NoDa)

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL TUESDAY, MARCH 26 Charlotte Symphony: Wagner & Strauss (Knight Theater) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill) Encre Noire w/ Cadaver Delende, Chill Panic, Lo & SATURDAY, MARCH 23 Yung Burg (The Milestone) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Nicki Minaj (Spectrum Center) Cody Parks & The Dirty South w/ Lil Skritt, The Loose POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Lugnuts (Snug Harbor) Read-Only Time Travel w/ Ashley Virginia, Groove Julian Lage (The Underground) Skeletons (Starlight on 22nd) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA William Fitzsimmons w/ BÆRD (Evening Muse) Driftwood w/ Fox and Bones (Evening Muse) EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL Liam Purcell w/ Cane Mill Road (Heist Brewery NoDa) Channeling Granny: Literally Music (3102 VisArt) Haley Heynderickx w/ Sheers (Neighborhood Theatre) FUNK/JAM BANDS POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Futch Brothers (Goldie’s) Waterparks (The Fillmore) Jenn Ford w/ An Archaic Agenda, Aaron Chance Be Our Guest: Spinning ’90s & ’00s Disney (The Underground) Wilson (Tommy’s Pub) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B OPEN MIC Tamia & Joe (Bojangles Coliseum) Open Mic Night feat.The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) JAZZ/BLUES Sy Smith (Middle C Jazz) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 Last Minute Blues Band (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) ROCK/PUNK/METAL LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Otoboke Beaver (The Underground) Vadim Kolpakov Group w/ Sincopao Flamenco Litter Kitten w/ Girl Brutal, Solemn Shapes, Bleak, DJ (Canteen, Camp North End) NPC ( The Milestone) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Restless Spirit w/ Temple of the Fuzz Witch, Cosmic Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert Reaper (Snug Harbor) (Knight Theater) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Charlotte Symphony: Wagner & Strauss (Knight Ellie Morgan (Goldie’s) Theater) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights at Canteen (Camp North End) SUNDAY, MARCH 24 POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ ROCK/PUNK/METAL Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing) Noahfinnce (The Underground) OPEN MIC Blankstate. w/ Jay Hoff, Rosary, Big the Cat (The Milestone) Singer/Songwriter Open Mic (The Rooster) The Red Mountain w/ And I Become Death, Skulls & Variety Open Mic (Starlight on 22nd) Whiskey, Lo (The Rooster) Betty White Bronco (Tommy’s Pub) THURSDAY, MARCH 28 POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ ROCK/PUNK/METAL Soul Sunday feat. Guy Nowchild (Starlight on 22nd) Between You & Me (Amos’ Southend) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Discoveries w/ Snake Father, Divisive, Violent End, Allison & Jake w/ Tommy Keys (Goldie’s) Refelct//Refine (The Milestone) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Fetch Tiger w/ Willingdon, Dingzui (Petra’s) The FRXSH Experience (Neighborhood Theatre) Tyrant w/ Dysplacer, Night Attack, Neverfall (Skylark A CAPPELLA Social Club) Kings Return (Booth Playhouse) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

MONDAY, MARCH 25

JAZZ/BLUES The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Charlotte Bluegrass Mondays (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) OPEN MIC Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Ryan Lockhart (Evening Muse)

Garrett Huffman Band w/ Bourbon Sons Duo (Goldie’s) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Sound Makers Social Vol. 2 (Crown Station) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Arin Ray (The Underground) FUNK/JAM BANDS Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Sam Fribush w/ Sonny Miles (Snug Harbor)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Tourneforte w/ Riley!, Summerbruise, Nervouse Surface (The Milestone) GWAR (The Underground) Patois Counselors w/ Public Circuit, sayurblaires (Petra’s) JAZZ/BLUES Keiko Matsui (Booth Playhouse) Pat Metheny (Knight Theater) Lee Ritenour (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA David Graham & The Eskimo Brothers (Evening Muse) Wayne Hancock w/ Adam Lawrence (Neighborhood Theatre) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Inzo (Blackbox Theater) Deep Fried Disco (Snug Harbor)

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Milestone Prom: Petrov, Peach Rings & more (The Milestone) The Bleeps w/ Saluda, Skewer Rat (Tommy’s Pub) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Celestial Company (Birdsong Brewing) Clay Johnson & the Hard Promises (Primal Brewery) David Gillespie w/ Landon Byrd (Starlight on 22nd) JAZZ/BLUES Peter Karp & Bob Margolin (Evening Muse) Lee Ritenour (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Dirty Loops (The Underground) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Alan Charmer w/ Shows, Boy A/C (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Sam Barber (Amos’ Southend) Wheeler Walker Jr. (The Fillmore) Palmyra w/ Elonzo Wesley, Low Groves (Petra’s) FAMILY The Jolly Lollies (Camp North End)

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Nascar Aloe (The Underground) JAZZ/BLUES Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Jack Bird w/ Rowland Taylor, Kelby Clark (Tommy’s Pub) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Matt Hansen (Neighborhood Theatre) Hazy Sunday (Petra’s) Soul Sunday feat. Guy Nowchild (Starlight on 22nd)

VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL SOUNDWAVE LISTING.

Pg. 9 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Stigmata Flex w/ Digital Dolls, Auroras Hope, Caldera, Cigarettes at Sunset (The Rooster) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Jon Batiste (The Fillmore) Sidequest w/ DJ B3DH3AD, DJ RPG, Summy, FZXXX (The Milestone) Global Grooves feat. See Bird Go, Domii, DJ Extraa, Zzzzaappp (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES Sy Smith (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Aaron Lewis (Ovens Auditorium) Cody Webb w/ Matt Tucker Band, Out of the Blue (Coyote Joe’s) Eliot Bronson w/ Mando Saenz (Evening Muse) Kendell Marvel (Evening Muse) FUNK/JAM BANDS Ben Gatlin Band (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

DOWN THE HATCH

nacho cheese, beer-battered onion rings, crinkle-cut fries, a mix of bell-peppers and jalapenos, chicken strips and shaved-steak on a bread bun.

PRIZE: Winners receive a $50 gift certificate to put toward the $40 meal.

LOCATION: 5801 W. Highway 74, Indian Trail

of ice cream with a maximum of eight flavors, which equals right around 5 pounds of ice cream.

Contestants must also choose five different toppings.

PRIZE: Winners get the $49.99 meal for free.

LOCATION: 194 E. Dallas Road, Stanley (Gaston County)

The Charlotte area’s most gluttonous food challenges

Pg. 10 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

BY ANNIE KEOUGH

All the way back to 1867, when a reporter in Illinois documented Dr. Henry Harmes’ disturbing feat of ingesting five dozen raw eggs in one 30-minute sitting, Americans have been consumed with food challenges.

OK, that may be a little extreme, but there has for many years been a certain subset of overzealous restaurant patrons who take pride in completing food challenges, egged on only by the restaurants that supply them and maybe a few troublesome friends. Amateaur and competitive eaters alike seek the specialized glory earned by finishing several pounds of food within a predetermined time limit for prizes and/or bragging rights.

According to Benny Pennello’s, an amateaur eater is considered anyone who has not entered into a competitive eating contest nor won a cash prize for a food challenge and is not training for a competitive eating event, while a professional eater is a competitive eater (sponsored or non-sponsored), an aspiring COURTESY HWY 55 competitive eater or anyone who has won a food challenge with a cash prize.

THE HWY 55 BURGER Most challenges follow the same general rules: no bathroom breaks, no vomiting on the premises during or after the competition, no sharing the food with another person and no leaving the table area.

Hwy 55’s “Hwy 55 Burger With that in mind, we have compiled a list of Charlotte-area food challenges ranked from the quickest, Challenge” meaning patrons are given the least amount of time to finish, to the longest.

TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes JackBeagles “Wicked Challenge” challenge and pay a $35 entry fee before competing. CRITERIA: Contestants must finish around three There are no dietary substitutions. Contestants must and a half pounds of meat on a burger bun with at TIME LIMIT: 15 minutes least four toppings, a side of fries and a 24 oz. soft CRITERIA: Contestants must finish 1 pound of eat an entire 28-inch pizza within the time limit. If drink. mac & cheese, 1 pound of waffle fries, 1 pound of you’ve never been to Benny’s before, you may want PRIZE: Winners get the $34.99 meal on the house. pulled pork, and 1 pound of coleslaw all topped with to take a gander at what a 28-inch pizza actually looks like before you make any big commitments; LOCATIONS: 4859 Old York Road, #104, Rock Hill, JackBeagles’ Wicked hot sauce.

SC; 683 SC-9 Bypass, Lancaster, SC PRIZE: Winners get the meal free, a T-shirt and a these things barely fit in most cars.

PRIZE: Competitive eaters are eligible to win $100. spot on the Wall of Fame.

Amateur eaters are eligible to win $280. Winners LOCATIONS: 3213 N. Davidson St.; 1404 W. will also receive a “Benny’s Challenge” T-shirt, have Morehead St.; 125 S Main St., Mt Holly their photo posted on Benny’s social media pages and have bragging rights.

NOTE: Benny Pennello’s told Queen City Nerve that between its two Charlotte restaurants (Benny Pennello’s in NoDa and Benny Ferrovia’s in South End) only four or five people have successfully completed the Benny’s Challenge. The record to beat is 11.5 slices in 10 minutes, set at Benny’s 2022 Invitational Pizza Eating Competition in Virginia.

LOCATIONS: Benny Pennello’s, 2909 N. Davidson St., Suite 100; Benny Ferrovia’s, 340 W. Tremont Ave., COURTESY MORGAN’S DAIRY BAR THE COW PILE Suite 120

BENNY’S PIZZA

TWO MONSTER BURRITOS

COURTESY GO BURRITO

Go Burrito’s “Monster Burrito Longboard Challenge”

TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes CRITERIA: Contestants must schedule this challenge 24 hours in advance. Contestants must finish five burrito tortillas filled with two scoops of four different meats (steak, chicken, shredded beef, marinated pork) on top of two scoops each of white rice, brown rice, pinto beans and black beans. The burrito is filled with lettuce, pico de gallo, a spicy habanero salsa, sour cream and topped with queso cheese sauce and red enchilada sauce, all weighing in at around 6 pounds.

PRIZE: Winners get the $30 meal free, a T-shirt and a spot on the Wall of Fame. Losers get a spot on the Wall of Shame. The challenge is offered at most Go Burrito locations.

LOCATION: 115 W Fisher St., Salisbury (Rowan County)

COURTESY BENNY’S

Jukebox Pub Deli Grill’s “Fat Biatch”

Morgan’s Dairy Bar’s “Cow Pile” Ice

MONSTER STACK TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes Cream Sundae Challenge TIME LIMIT: 28 minutes CRITERIA: Contestants must eat three Fat Biatch TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes CRITERIA: Contestants must sign up for the sandwiches within the time limit. The Fat Biatch has CRITERIA: Contestants must finish 25 scoops

Benny’s “The Benny’s Challenge”

COURTESY CINNAHOLIC

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE Cinnaholic’s “Monster Stack Vegan Cinnamon Roll”

TIME LIMIT: 1 hour CRITERIA: Contestants must eat 6 pounds of vegan cinnamon rolls topped with six big scoops and two smaller scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough.

PRIZE: Winners get the $95 meal free, a t-shirt and a spot on the restaurant’s Wall of Fame.

LOCATIONS: 6461 Old Monroe Road, Suite F, Indian Trail; 915 South Point Road, Suite F, Belmont; 3050 Derita Road, Suite 20,Concord

MAC’S FATBOY

Mac’s Speed Shop’s “Fatboy Challenge”

This challenge is offered at all Mac’s Speed Shop locations.

LOCATIONS: 2414 Sandy Porter Road; 2511 South TIME LIMIT: 1 hour Blvd.; Concord Mills, 8021 Concord Mills Blvd., CRITERIA: Contestants must finish a 5-pound Concord; 142 E John St., Matthews sandwich of red slaw, fried pickles, pulled pork, beef brisket, burger patties, applewood-smoked bacon, Bad Daddy’s “Fat Daddy Burger pimento cheese, queso blanco and 3 ounces of their spicy Mac’s Burnout Sauce all inside a 1-pound Challenge” sourdough bun and served with a half-pound side of TIME LIMIT: 1 hour macaroni and cheese.

CRITERIA: Contestants must eat 7 pounds worth PRIZE: A winning contestants’ $77 meal is free and of burgers, comprising five stacked 10-ounce they receive a shirt and a place in the restaurant’s burger patties layered with nine different types of Hall of Fame. cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onions, three NOTE: Popular UK YouTuber BeardMeatsFood, types of bacon (eight jalapeno, eight Applewood also ranked as the 15th best competitive eater smoked, eight breaded and fried) and topped with in the world, completed the challenge at a Mac’s a 3-ounce slider. The burger also comes with seven in Greensboro, finishing in just over 22 minutes. sides including regular fries, sweet potato fries, fried Don’t let his impressive time fool you, though; the challenge has also been failed 76 times, with each loser commemorated on the Wall of Shame.

pickles, onion rings, tater tots, fried deviled eggs and Bad Daddy’s fried homemade chips.

PRIZE: Winners receive the $75 meal free, a T-shirt and a photo on the Wall of Fame.

NOTE: Randy Santel, another popular YouTuber and competitive eater, filmed his successful attempt at the challenge, finishing just over 58 minutes. Only select Bad Daddy’s locations participate in this challenge.

NEAREST PARTICIPATING LOCATION: 2211 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia Whether you think the price of devouring a considerable amount of food is worth a T-shirt and a free meal or not, these challenges are in and around Charlotte, waiting to be conquered. Good luck and happy eating.

AKEOUGH@QCNERVE.COM

COURTESY MAC’S SPEED SHOP

FAT DADDY BURGER

COURTESY BAD DADDY’S

Pg. 11 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

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LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AREIN’ IT OUT

OMG, OMAKASE A fake birthday double date to remember

Pg. 12 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

BY AERIN SPRUILL

“We’ve got a birthday tonight, is that right?”

I could feel the embarrassment rushing to my cheeks as I lifted my head and realized the question was directed at me. I’d forgotten that my girlfriend thought it would be funny to say we were celebrating my birthday when she secured our resy for an omakase experience. And of course, me and the boo were the first to arrive.

Having forgotten her prank in the most critical of moments, I short-circuited. Stumbling over my words, I finally mustered the courage to say, “Um yes, me, it’s my birthday.”

I flashed a glance over my shoulder to take mental note of the unimpressed look on my boyfriend’s face. The awkwardness was made all the more sweet by a stranger lifting their glass in a toast: “Happy birthday!”

I turned to my giggling bestie, only 16 courses and roughly two and a half more hours left to keep up this charade. Whoever said double dating wasn’t fun?!

Did you know that tucked inside Menya Daruma, a quaint ramen spot in Elizabeth, there’s another restaurant concept called Kappo En? Behind an unsuspecting door at the rear of Menya, a 10-seat speakeasy-style omakase experience delivers a sophisticated juxtaposition to the casual comfort and humility of ramen.

Chefs Tsuyoshi Ono and Yasuhiro Tabita stand behind the counter at the ready with a quiet confidence that reinforces omakase’s English translation: “Chef’s choice.”

Their silent poise and reverent nature give “Get ready to go to sushi church!” vibes.

The moody, minimalist, and modern ambiance provides the perfect backdrop for the bright pops of amuse-bouche color and flesh slices of fish to come.

I never thought I’d be the double-dating type. As an introverted only child, the thought of having to entertain not just one but three other people in an intimate setting always seemed like what nightmares were made of.

And yet, at that moment, I realized that double dates are really just an excuse for the ladies to get more face time while also hanging out with our boyfriends. Two birds, one stone? I kid, but strategically placing the guys on the outside, did create the perfect space for uninterrupted gabbing.

Shortly after everyone settled, the synchronized dance of slicing, garnishing and plating began. Wagyu tartare paired with yuzu and honey served on the smallest of taro chips — love at first bite. Nasu nibitashi; I don’t even like eggplant, surely this one won’t be for me? Wrong — love

at second bite.

That’s the thing about omakase: Even the tiniest of bites have the power to change your mind. Each course is a progressive challenge in texture, simplicity and balance.

Four courses in, I leaned over to whisper the question that many frown upon but everyone’s thinking into my bestie’s ear, “Is it bad that I’m already thinking about what I’m going to eat later?”

“Nope, we barely ate anything today.”

Her boyfriend leaned forward, “I’m already planning.”

See babe? That’s the kind of support I like to see.

By the time we reached course 13, anago, I realized my eyes were bigger than my stomach as I looked at a healthy chunk of grilled salt-water eel set over more perfectly cooked rice.

Every time boo and I go to dinner, he jokes about my inability to finish a good-sized meal, to which I stubbornly respond, “I’m super hungry today though.” My eyes caught his eyes, “Don’t force it,” he said with a smirk.

I may have relinquished a good portion of rice on that round, but force it I did, as I claimed the last bite of A5 Wagyu on course 15. I let out a sigh that would rival the physical act of undoing the button of your pants, instantly wishing I’d listened to boo when he suggested bringing a couple of Tums from home.

I’ve never been a fan of dessert, so waving my white flag, throwing the towel in and sticking a fork in me didn’t feel like giving up until the matcha monaka was placed in front of me. Matcha ice cream, red bean paste and strawberry sandwiched between two delicate wafers created the ultimate Japanese ice cream sammy.

Tasting menus rarely nail dessert for the sweet tooth averse. But this one, a rare work of art, was too tempting to forfeit a bite.

“Okay, now which is your favorite?” I probed our omakase-loving partners in crime one last time. For three, it was the intricately sliced simplicity of the hotate (scallop) nigiri topped with seaweed-infused salt (course four) while one remained firm on course 10: shima aji (striped jack) nigiri.

I think it goes without saying that it was one of the best fake-birthday double-date meals I’ve ever had from the roota to the toota. *No freebies were gained under false birthday pretenses.

But in our defense, my birthday is in a month!

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE 2024 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

MARCH 20 - 26

MAR. 27 - APR. 2

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You’re correct to want to help someone who seems to need assistance. But be careful that they aren’t pulling the wool over those gorgeous Sheep’s eyes. You need more facts.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The last lingering days of winter leave the rambunctious Ram more restless than usual. Put all of the extra energy into strengthening a long-neglected relationship.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The Bovine’s optimism will soon dispel the gloom cast by those naysayers and pessimists who still hover close by. Also, the good news you recently received is part of a fuller message that is yet to come.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The clever Bull will ignore outward appearances and dig a little deeper to find important hidden facts before making a decision.

Meanwhile, a friend needs you.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Feeling jealous over a colleague’s success drains the energy that you need to meet your own challenges. Wish them well and focus on what you need to do. Results start to show up in midMarch.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s a good time to reorganize around your home and on the job. Missing items will seem to magically reappear once you discard the clutter.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Tame that skeptical nature of yours. Be open to well-intended advice from a family member. A co-worker also has a suggestion that can be CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You’re likely to feel somewhat beneficial to the both of you. crabby these days. So, watch what you say, or you could find yourself making lots of apologies. Your mood starts LEO (July 23 to August 22) A so-called bargain could turn to brighten by the weekend. out to be a mite more risky than you thought. Keep your purse closed for now. A better deal is just down the line.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your pride might still be hurting from those unflattering remarks someone made VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A sudden romantic about you. But cheer up — you’re about to prove once overture emerges out of the past and catches you off again why you’re the Top Cat in whatever you do. guard. Respond with your usual honesty. This is not the time for coyness.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A misunderstanding with a co-worker could become a real problem unless it’s LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Romantic aspects resolved soon. Allow a third party to come in and assess are especially favorable this week. A career move also the situation without pressure or prejudice. holds positive potential. Check out possible drawbacks before making a final decision.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Call a family meeting to discuss the care of a loved one at this difficult SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You dislike time. Don’t let yourself get pushed into shouldering the changing plans, but it could be a wise move to be a full burden on your own. little more flexible than usual. The reason will become apparent very soon.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An upcoming decision could open up a path to an exciting venture. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A loved However, there are some risks that you should know one may feel left out of your life as you pursue your about. Ask more questions before making a commitment. objectives this week. Take time to offer reassurances that your priorities haven’t changed.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Personal matters need your attention during the earlier part of the CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) This is a good week. You can start to shift your focus to your workaday time to stop nursing your wounded pride and start world by midweek. Friday brings news. repairing a strained friendship. Take the first step now and let the healing process begin.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) You’ve been going at a hectic pace for quite a while. It’s time now for AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Expect good some much-needed rest and recreation to recharge those news about a particular health problem. Then go out hardworking batteries. and celebrate with friends and family. There’s good news about your financial health as well.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) This is a good time to upgrade your current skills or consider getting PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A state of confusion into an entirely different training program so that you can marks the early part of this week, but explanations will be prepared for new career opportunities. come in time to clear things up for you. Be cautious about making promises.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Keep a low profile in order to avoid being lured away from the job at hand. BORN THIS WEEK: You love being with people, whether Focus on what has to be done and do it. There’ll be time it’s a crowd or the company of just a few friends. You have later to enjoy fun with family and friends. strong family loyalties and can be counted on in crisis situations.

BORN THIS WEEK: You can be a dreamer and a realist.

You dream of what you would like to do, and then you face the reality of how to do it.

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. LITERATURE: What is the name of the kingdom in “The Princess SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE Bride”?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: In British royalty, what is King Charles’ family name?

3. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom features Sheldon’s catchphrase “Bazinga!”?

4. U.S. STATES: Which U.S. state is home to the Awatovi Ruins, a national historic landmark?

5. HISTORY: According to a WWII government slogan, what sinks ships?

6. GEOGRAPHY: What is the name of the small principality that lies between Spain and France?

7. ANATOMY: Which part of the brain controls hunger?

8. LANGUAGE: The Latin word “caput” refers to what part of the human anatomy?

9. SCIENCE: Which color has the PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW longest wavelength in the visible ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS spectrum?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is the ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. primary alcohol used in margaritas? ©2024 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

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PHONY-BALONEY

©2024 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Pg. 14 MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2024 - QCNERVE.COM

POWER MOVES

Got problems? Yes, you do. Send your question to mailbox@savage.love! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Trivia Answers

SAVAGE LOVE

room/question/gym: You’re worried your boyfriend is only making this gesture because he wants to fuck her. I can confidently assure you that your boyfriend absolutely, positively, without a doubt wants to fuck his personal trainer. Because no one in the long, sordid history of personal trainers has ever hired a personal trainer they didn’t wanna fuck. But just because someone wants to fuck their personal trainer doesn’t mean they would fuck their personal trainer. Your boyfriend can wanna fuck his personal trainer and give her a gift that essentially says, “I would if I could,” and still wanna honor the monogamous commitment he’s (presumably) made to you. While legitimately concerning, these two things — your boyfriend signaling to someone else that he would fuck them if he could and your boyfriend remaining faithful to you — are not mutually exclusive.

6. Andorra.

7. Hypothalamus.

8. The head.

9. Red. 10. Tequila.

here, at least not yet. Most of what you have is hope; you like this guy and you’re hoping you continue to like him as you get to know him better and you’re hoping he likes you too. But if it doesn’t go anywhere — if you have that DTR convo a month or two from now and you learn he’s not as into you as you are him — you may wind up with a broken heart. But getting your heart broken is proof you have one. Whatever happens, NAA, don’t return to your old, shitty, and heartless modus operandi. It wasn’t good for the men you dated, and it Out of control wasn’t good for you either. Being open to love means being open to pain. You’re open now. Stay open. It’s

BY DAN SAVAGE I have a history of dating men I’m not got around to challenging you on it. So, I’m going to better this way. You’re better this way. attracted to physically or emotionally. I challenge you.

My boyfriend, who is a 72-year-old man, always found it weirdly comforting to know I don’t think you have self-confidence issues, my boyfriend was obsessed with me while I NAA, I think you have control issues. You only dated wants to gift our personal trainer, who is had minimal feelings for him. I have explored men you didn’t care about — you only dated men younger and hotter than me, an expensive this in therapy and chalk it up to lack of self- you weren’t attracted to physically or emotionally piece of jewelry. I felt jealous and insecure confidence. But a month ago I started hanging — because you wanted to have “the upper hand.” when he brought this up and I voiced my out with this guy and it’s the first relationship You wanted all the power, all the leverage, and all concerns to her. She told me that she sees I’ve been that isn’t one-sided. It’s also the the control. You not only dated only men you could the gift as a token of friendship and nothing first relationship I’ve been in where the guy take or leave, NAA, you seemed to go out of your more, then added that, as her friend, I should wasn’t pushing me to “define the relationship” way to find men who couldn’t leave you. That is want what’s best for her. My boyfriend is a after a month. This has led to me feeling quite not the weak-ass move of a person who lacks self- multimillionaire many times over and maybe vulnerable and afraid. For the first time in a confidence, NAA, that’s a cold-hearted power play I don’t understand how rich people give gifts, long time, I’m dating a guy that I not only like executed by a control freak. I’m glad you got into as I’m not “from” money, but it seems strange. but find very attractive and now I’m terrified therapy and it seems to have done you some good My boyfriend told me to think of it as a bequest it will end. This fear has led me to keep my — you’re currently dating someone you’re attracted — he’s making bequests in his will to 50 or feelings to myself. In previous relationships to and for the first time experiencing feelings most so people after he dies — but the thought where I was the one with the upper hand, I human experience when we meet someone we like of him asking for her permission to give this found it easier to speak up because I felt in — and if that shallow pseudo-epiphany you had in gift to her without first asking me makes me control and didn’t really care if it ended. I am therapy (“I lack self-confidence!”) helped you make uncomfortable. It makes me wonder how long now in a place where I’m afraid to speak for fear different and better choices, NAA, then it did you he was fantasizing about giving her this gift of saying the wrong thing. I want to know what some good. But I think you have more to unpack, and why exactly he wants to give it to her so badly. I need a second opinion here. his intentions are, but I don’t want to place perhaps with a different therapist. undue pressure him either. I’m craving more Zooming out for a second: Lots of us have been GIRLFRIENDLY INSTINCT FLAGGING THIS validation than I’m getting from him because I there. We were dating someone we could take or This man is not your husband, he’s your boyfriend; got used to being smothered with validation in leave and realized that person was falling in love all my previous relationships, but I don’t know with us. When that happens — when someone his millions are not your millions, they’re his millions. how to bring this up without making it seem we could take or leave is a lot more invested in the I can certainly see why thinking about this gift makes like I am trying to DTR. Any advice? relationship and wants to have those DTR convos — you uncomfortable, GIFT, but I don’t see an upside NAKED AND AFRAID we need to ends things as quickly and considerately for you in trying to talk your boyfriend out of giving as possible. But if we only date people we could his personal trainer a gift he’s already promised her.

I wouldn’t chalk up the choices you’ve made in the take or leave, one after another, then we’re leading The only leverage you have over him is the threat of past — only dating men you weren’t attracted to, only people on and, even worse, we’re stealing from a breakup, GIFT, but where will issuing that threat dating men you could take or leave, only dating men them; we’re stealing time and energy they could’ve get you? Best-case scenario: Your boyfriend rescinds you held in what sounds like contempt — to a lack invested in finding a person who cared about them the offer but resents you and your personal trainer, of self-confidence. Frankly, I’m a little mystified that and wanted to take them. A good person doesn’t do whom you consider a friend, feels jerked around your therapist endorsed that interpretation. You either that sort of shit — not to people they care about, by both of you and distances herself. Worst-case had one of those therapists who thinks it’s their job not to people they don’t care about, not to anyone. scenario: You wind up single and written out of the to help clients construct self-serving rationalizations Alright, NAA, what’s going to happen with this new will — assuming you’re among the fortunate 50 or for their shitty behavior — explanations that center guy? It’s only been a month, so you don’t know him so — and your personal trainer gets that expensive their client as victims — or you came up with that that well, and most new relationships peter out after a piece of jewelry and possibly more.

If I may, GIFT, I’d like to address the elephant in the rationalization on your own and your therapist never month or two. So, there actually isn’t that much at stake

1. Florin.

2. Mountbatten-Windsor.

3. “The Big Bang Theory.”

4. Arizona.

5. Loose lips.

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