Queen City Nerve - November 4, 2020

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 25; NOVEMBER 4 - NOVEMBER 17, 2020; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

g n i g n g i n s i i s s i i R R R a a a c c c n n n a a a y y CC Cy

BY LAMONT LILLY

News: New programs push back on rising violence pg. 6 Food: Fiamma braves the flames pg. 16

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS& OPINION

5 EDITOR’S NOTE BY RYAN PITKIN 6 THE ROAD AHEAD BY RYAN PITKIN

Two new programs could be critical in stemming a rise in violence

8 LIFEWAVE A dose of reality

ARTS

10 DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF THE MASK BY LEA BEKELE Laura Wopperer inspires safe pandemic practices with new photo series

MUSIC

14 CYANCA RISING BY LAMONT LILLY

Charlotte’s Queen of Neo-Soul shares new beginnings, new label, new EP

16 FIAMMA TURNS UP THE HEAT BY PAT MORAN Family-owned Italian restaurant touts tradition while embracing change

LIFESTYLE

FOOD& DRINK

18 PUZZLES 20 THE SEEKER BY KATIE GRANT 21 HOROSCOPE 22 SAVAGE LOVE THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS:

Pg. 2 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

PAT MORAN, LEA BEKELE, LAMONT LILLY, GRANT BALDWIN, g n g ng issiiin RR Riis a a a c nn ncc aa a y y CC y C

BY LAMONT LILLY

News: New programs push back on rising violence pg. 6 Food: Fiamma braves the flames pg. 16

COVER PHOTO BY: DARIAN CARLOS COVER DESIGN BY: JAYME JOHNSON

DARIAN CARLOS, LEE FLYTHE, LAURA WOPPERER, KATIE GRANT AND DAN SAVAGE.

Don’t Just Recycle,

RECYCLE RIGHT! PUBLISHER

JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS jl afra n co i s @ q cn er ve.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RYAN PITKIN rpi tk i n @ q cn e r ve. c om

ART DIRECTOR

PLASTIC BOTTLES & JUGS with Necks

CARDBOARD

CANS

CARTONS

PAPER

GLASS BOTTLES

JAYME JOHNSON jjo h n s o n @ q cn e r ve.com

STAFF WRITER

Please DO NOT place the following items in your curbside recycling bin.

PAT MORAN pm o ra n @ q cn er ve . com

DIGITAL EDITOR LEA BEKELE l be ke l e @ q cn er ve . com

AD SALES EXECUTIVE RENN WILSON r wi l s o n @ q cn e r ve . com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER JESSICA RAGLAND jragl a n d @ q cn e r ve.com

No plastic bags (return to retail)

No food or liquid No food containers

No batteries

Pg. 3 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT EMAIL INFO@QCNERVE.COM Q UE E N CIT Y N ERVE WELC O M E S SU BM I S SI ONS O F A LL K IN D S . PLE A S E S EN D SU BMI S SI ONS O R STO RY PITC H E S TO IN FO @ QC NE RV E .C OM .

Q UE E N CIT Y N ERVE IS PU B LI SH E D E V E RY OTHE R W ED N E S DAY BY N E RVE M ED IA PRO D U CTIO N S LLC .

QUE E N C I T Y N E RVE I S LO CAT E D I N A DV E N T C OWO RKI N G AT 93 3 LOUI SE AVE N U E , C H A RLOT T E , NC , 282 04 .

FI R ST I S SU E O F Q U E E N C I T Y N E RVE F RE E .

E AC H A D D I T I O NA L I S S U E $ 5.

@QUEENCIT Y N E RVE W W W.QCNERVE .C OM

Tips to Reycle Right: NO PLASTIC BAGS Empty and rinse bottles and containers Place lids and caps back on empty containers Keep all items loose, clean and dry Resist the urge to recycle improper items No tissues, paper towels, napkins or plastic utencils

No propane tanks

No tanglers (no hoses, wires, chains, hangers or electronics)

THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) MAY BE STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE. FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT A DISEASE CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND CAUSE STRONG EMOTIONS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN. COPING WITH STRESS WILL MAKE YOU, THE PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT, AND YOUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. EVERYONE REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE OUTBREAK CAN DEPEND ON YOUR BACKGROUND, THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN.

 -Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones -Changes in sleep or eating patterns -Difficulty sleeping or concentrating -Worsening of chronic health problems -Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

 �

­ €

Â?

Â? Â?

 � �

€

Â

  �€ € ‚

Â? Â?

Â? Â -Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.

Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

-Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.

-Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

-Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Â? Â?

� ƒ

�  � � � ƒ

ƒ �  ‚

ONLINE THERAPY OPTIONS

Â?

OPEN PATH COLLECTIVE

A nonprofit that connects people with private practice therapists that choose to participate.

Digital therapy is available for a $59 membership tinyurl.com/opcollective Pg. 4 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Â?

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

An interactive website where users can enter their zip code to find a counseling professional near them online with phone and video options available. tinyurl.com/psychtodayonline €€

€

� ƒ

� � €

Â?

� €

Â? Â

„ €�

‚

MORE RESOURCES

ƒ

… †‡‡…�ˆ‰…†�ŠŠ

€

Â?

� ƒ

€

Â?

… †‡‡…‹‹�…� ŒŽ‰Šˆ‘

Â? Â? Â?

Â? Â?

… Œ†‡‡‘ Ž��…ŽŽŠ‰

€

ƒ

Â?

… Œ†‡‡‘ ˆ’’…ˆ�‰‰

“ ­ “ “

 Œ ‘ … Œ†‡‡‘ ‹Š‹…�

Â?

Œ €� ‘ … Œ†‡‡‘ ’†Š…Š’’‡

Â?

… Œ†‡‡‘ ’‰�…��‰ˆ

 �

… †‡‡… …  �

… Œ†‡‡‘ ���…����

EDITOR’S NOTE

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Writing to you from a world before the election happened

Pg. 5 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

BY RYAN PITKIN

What a weird time for a print day.

As I’m writing this, it’s right around noontime on Election Day. In just a few hours, we will send Vol. 2, Issue 25 to print, and I have no idea what sort of landscape the paper will be dropped off in tomorrow morning.

Will we know who won the presidential election? Probably not … but maybe. Even if not, there are countless ways the night may have gone.

Did Trump announce victory prematurely so as to begin his war on the rightful counting of absentee ballots? Was there unrest in the streets of D.C.? New York City? Charlotte?

I have no idea what will come between now and this time tomorrow, but there is one thing I am certain of: Whoever wins the presidential election, they won’t fix the problems we have here locally.

I’m not going to be that person who says, “Both candidates are the same! It doesn’t matter who you vote for!”This presidential election is absolutely crucial to the future of our country for many reasons, and there’s nothing you can tell me to convince me otherwise.

However, one thing I’ve always been adamant about is the fact that nothing affects your day-today life more than local politics. The people you vote into city council, county commission, and state legislator seats will in the end pass policies, ordinances and laws that have a bigger effect on your quality of life than anything the president does.

Disclaimer: I understand I say this from a position of privilege, and even if Trump is voted into a second term, there’s a good chance my personal life as a white man won’t be nearly as affected as, say, an undocumented immigrant who feels hunted by an emboldened ICE agency or any person of color who has had to watch the return of normalized violent white supremacy under the Trump administration.

That being said, speaking in a broader sense about issues such as bringing resources to underserved communities, improving mass transit, bolstering affordable housing, passing a new

nondiscrimination ordinance for LGBTQ+ people and other similar efforts, all of these things happen at the local level.

The two most localized bodies of government, Charlotte City Council and the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, are either not on the ballot until next year or not seeing any contested races, respectively.

So yes, you should care about the presidential election and whatever the hell is going on by the time our new paper comes out, but I hope the new wave of political engagement that has led to the largest early-voting turnout in state history will inspire folks to keep their head down and get involved in their communities moving forward — both in the chambers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center and at a grassroots level.

In this week’s news feature, I take a look at efforts

by Charlotte City Council and community organizers to curb the rising gun violence in Charlotte.

Lucille Puckett, founder of anti-violence community organization Take Back Our H.O.O.D.S., has run for mayor in Charlotte multiple times. She’s only become more impassioned about her platform to end community violence since losing her son Shawn Harbin Jr. to gun violence in March 2016.

Though she’s yet to run a successful primary campaign, she hasn’t been discouraged. She just continues her work on the ground, showing up at homicide scenes to console family members and spending much of her free time in underserved neighborhoods connecting with at-risk youth.

For her, the work is not just done on a local level, it’s done on a personal level.

“The city council could spend millions and millions and millions of dollars, but if you don’t have people that’s out here in the community, that have a relationship with these young people or the people who are committing these crimes, we will never address it,” she told me. “We will never get to the root of what’s going on.”

Again, I can’t claim that this presidential election won’t have a huge impact on our country. But I do hope, regardless of the outcome, the folks doing the real work on a city level, on a neighborhood level, on a personal level, will keep their heads down and continue to do so — while being joined by even more folks who want to get involved.

I know it’s not a question for Puckett, who already plans to run for mayor again in 2021 despite the disappointments of the past. She let me know her plans in a text message followed by three simple words that will make for a fine campaign slogan: “Change is coming.”

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

Join Queen City Nerve in discussions about local news topics over cocktails with featured guests on the Queen City Podcast Network.

www.queencitypodcastnetwork.com/noozehounds

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

THE ROAD AHEAD

Pg. 6 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Two new programs could be critical in curbing gun violence in Charlotte

Violence to the city to assess how it might work with people on the ground to put a stop to the killing.

Some community organizers like Puckett fear the efforts will be more of the same — more money wasted by out-of-touch officials.

“The city council could spend millions and millions and millions of dollars, but if you don’t have people that are out here in the community, that have a relationship with these young people or the people who are committing these crimes, we will never address it,” she said. “We will never get to the root of what’s going on.”

Her son, 26-year-old Shawn Harbin Jr., returned home from work just before 9 p.m. on March 22, 2016, to find that someone had been waiting for him. The man exited his car where he had been parked across the street and approached Harbin, then shot him five times — once in the back, once in the shoulder and three times in the head, execution-style.

“A lot of people don’t ever feel like that sort of tragedy will come knocking at their door,” she said.

“When that tragedy literally came knocking at my door — my son was murdered in our front yard, so you couldn’t get any closer — I was just really like,

documenting the tragic stories on Facebook Live.

“Ever since [Shawn died] I’ve been out here trying to make a change, trying to make a difference, trying to be a support for families and also trying to do something as far as prevention,” she said.

A critical look at JumpStart

On Oct. 26, Charlotte City Council unanimously passed the Safe Charlotte plan, which consists of six recommendations that aim to fuse city council’s goals of “reimagining” the police with its goal to

BY RYAN PITKIN curb gun violence in Charlotte.

The first recommendation in the plan is to Lucille Puckett had already provide $1 million from the lost one son to gun violence in city’s current budget to help Charlotte, she wasn’t about to Charlotte-based nonprofits lose another. address violence in the In September, her teenage community. son was jumped by a group It’s unclear just how the of boys on the west side of money will be doled out, but Charlotte near their home, it’s expected to look similar to where her 26-year-old son was the city’s JumpStart microgrant shot and killed in the front yard program, which has invested in 2016. hundreds of thousands of Puckett went to find the dollars into start-up crimeboys, not to attack them or even prevention organizations since scold them, but to speak to them 2017. on their level about what had Over the next two months, just happened. the city manager’s office will As she approached, one of work with CMPD Deputy Chief them reached under his shirt, Sherie Pearsall to create a going for a gun. plan for all six Safe Charlotte She convinced them she had recommendations. come in peace, then they sat and Puckett said she has talked. concerns that the money will “One of them had a gun. go to the wrong places, as she Instead of fighting my son, they believes has been the case with could have pulled the trigger JumpStart over the past three and took another one of my sons’ LUCILLE PUCKETT (SECOND FROM RIGHT) RALLIES WITH SUPPORTERS OF TAKE BACK OUR H.O.O.D.S. COURTESY OF LUCILLE PUCKETT years. lives,” she recalls. “But I stood “I would say [JumpStart] there and I talked to those boys literally, ‘What the fuck?’ to be honest. I just could has no effect in the community at all because they for almost two hours. Them boys told me, ‘Our gun not believe it. I had done everything in my power as give this money to these various organizations Tragedy inspires a new life path is not to take no one’s life, but to protect our own.’

Lucille Puckett has always been drawn to a mother to prevent those kinds of things. without any kind of data to back up where they’re When you talking about a group of teenagers, they “When people never think that it can happen to benefiting the community,” Puckett told Queen City community work. She had been active in her shouldn’t have to walk around Charlotte with that community in all of her previous homes, from them, the message is, trust and believe, no one is Nerve. mentality.”

Detroit to Georgia to South Carolina. Then she exempt from these homicides that are occurring ...

“From what I can see and what can be seen by Going into November, Charlotte had already moved to Charlotte in late 2004. She ran for school not only in Charlotte but across the nation.” the numbers of homicides, whoever they’re giving surpassed 100 homicides in the city, well on the Two weeks after her son’s murder, she joined this money to, it’s not helping with the homicides or board in 2005, then mayor in 2013. way to passing the total of 107 that made 2019 the CMPD’s Homicide Support Group, and eventually with the community at all. They need to reevaluate By 2015, she had begun working with crime deadliest year for murders since 1993. founded Take Back Our H.O.O.D.S (TBOH). She can who they are giving this money to, and if the data prevention organizations and homicide support Now as another violent year comes to a close, services, but it was the tragedy that befell her often be seen at the scenes of murders, easy to does not show that they’re actually doing anything the city is launching multiple efforts to curb gun family in spring 2016 that changed her path forever spot with her red TBOH hoodie and her red hair, in the community, then they need not give these violence in Charlotte, including investing $1 million and convinced her to dedicate her life to violence supporting family and friends through what is same organizations this money.” in local anti-violence nonprofits and inviting the many times the worst night of their lives, while also prevention.

Chicago-based violence interruption program Cure

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

Charlotte together, though their concerns mostly hinged on how it would be implemented.

After speaking to media outside the government center, Ottley and Mack addressed city council virtually. Ottley voiced her concerns about the timeline for Safe Charlotte to get started.

“I’m happy with the recommendations we came up with, but my concerns are, how are they going to be implemented long-term?” Ottley said. “I’m also worried about the timeline. While we’re talking about safety, we’re up to homicide number 99. The more time we take, the more of our citizens are dying. I’m extremely concerned about that.”

She said she wants to make sure funding from Safe Charlotte goes to organizations that have been proven effective in their work on the ground, despite often going overlooked by city officials.

“Every day we’re having more and more homicides and the people [involved] are getting younger and AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON OCT. 26, LT. ANDY ROYSTON SAID MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IN CHARLOTTE SPILLS OVER FROM BEEFS THAT BEGIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA. younger,” Ottley urged. “We have to PHOTO BY RYAN PITKIN do something at this point. This is an opportunity for this community off the ground and lobbying for more funding. philanthropic communities to stop gun violence, to feel like city council is really hearing them and Dawkins defended the microgrant program, saying similar to how the city has come together to provide wants to work on doing something for the most it’s designed to fund start-up organizations to funding for affordable housing, as both JumpStart marginalized and most ignored communities in the encourage more grassroots work in the city. and Safe Charlotte still won’t be enough to fund city where most of these crimes are taking place.”

JumpStart began with an annual budget of all the community groups that have committed to Council member Larken Egleston, who chaired $50,000, with organizations receiving small grants building safer communities. doled out in a tiered system ranging from $500 to $2,500. It has since been increased to $500,000, but ‘We have to do Dawkins believes the amount of each grant should something at this be increased.

“What we have seen is that the amount of point’ Outside the Oct. 26 grants that groups can receive in each tier needs to meeting, Puckett joined fellow be increased and more help given to these groups to plan effective capacity-building plans, and community organizers Kass report back on how they spent their funding and Ottley with Seeking Justice CLT what impact it actually had on the community the and Rev. Corine Mack of the local NAACP chapter in front organization served,” he said.

Dawkins emphasized that the $1 million set aside of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg for Safe Charlotte is separate from the JumpStart Government Center to address funding, and should be given to more experienced their concerns with Safe groups that have proven themselves in the community. Charlotte.

Ottley and Mack both “We believed that there should be another pot served on a community of money for groups working on violence that are already in the community, have established track input group that helped records of doing violence-prevention work and are direct the Safe Communities LUCILLE PUCKETT AT A PROTEST THIS SUMMER. already passed the experience level of the JumpStart Committee that put Safe

Pg. 7 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

recipients,” he said.

Dawkins said he hopes to see Safe Charlotte recipients entered into a similar tiered system, Only so much money to go around though one that distributes larger grants ranging Robert Dawkins, an organizer with community from $10,000 to $50,000. He added he’d like violence and police accountability group Safe to see more investment from the business and Coalition NC, has spent years getting JumpStart

the Safe Communities Committee and spearheaded efforts to create the plan, addressed Ottley’s worried that the plan would sit inactive after it was approved. “[Safe Charlotte] is not optional,” Egleston said.

“This is not a resolution we’re adopting saying we believe in this. This is a policy item … When we adopt a policy like this, it is not just a statement, it is a change that is written and codified and it will be implemented.”

How exactly it’s implemented, of course, will be the deciding factor in whether this investment can put a dent in the rising violence.

Cure Violence comes to town

At the Oct 26 meeting, City Manager Marcus Jones said the Chicago-based Cure Violence organization is currently working on an assessment of needs for violence interruption in Charlotte.

Jones said his office will have an update on that assessment ready by the Nov. 9 council meeting.

A visit to the Cure Violence website shows how the organization’s goals sync up with Charlotte City Council’s approach to violence as a public health crisis, which came out of the group’s January retreat.

According to the Cure Violence website, the organization treats violence like a contagious disease. “It is transmitted through exposure, acquired through contagious brain mechanisms and social processes, and can be effectively treated and prevented using health methods,” the site reads.

“To date, the health sector and health professionals have been highly underutilized for the prevention, treatment, and control of violence. Now is the time to mobilize our nation’s healthcare and public health

PHOTO BY LEE FLYTHE

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

“Corine Mack had put together this whole Cure young folks and telling them what they’re going to because we’re not giving them what they need, Violence plan of our own here in Charlotte, right give them instead of asking them what they need, we’re giving them what we want them to have.” in line with what Cure Violence is doing,” she said. the homicide rate is going to continue to increase systems and methods to work with communities “They presented this information to the city INFO@QCNERVE.COM and other sectors to stop this epidemic.” council, and there has been no mention The organization uses a four-pronged approach: of even implementing it. Then you go and training violence interrupters to prevent shootings want to have an outside organization come by identifying and mediating potentially deadly in and do the same thing that we’re doing.” conflicts, training culturally appropriate outreach She fears the Cure Violence team won’t workers to educate high-risk residents about the know what’s best for a city that its members consequences of violence and help them access are not from. services, mobilizing community leaders against gun “That’s really one of the big sticklers, violence, and following up with victims of violence when we’re talking about curing violence at the hospital to prevent retaliation. and decreasing violence; we could have had a handle on some of this quite a few Local organizers feel ignored years ago if the city council would really Puckett, Ottley, Mack and other local leaders listen to these grassroots organizations and met with members of the Cure Violence team on have these true grassroots organizations in Beatties Ford Road on Oct. 30. After that meeting, the room.”

Puckett said the concerns she had Puckett told Queen City Nerve she had reservations about the process. She pointed out that the local following their meeting energized her NAACP, for which she also serves as political action to revamp efforts to get more volunteers chair, had already developed a similar violence working with TBOH. She held a Zoom meeting with about a LOCATIONS OF THE 101 MURDERS THAT OCCURRED IN CHARLOTTE THROUGH OCTOBER. VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE INTERACTIVE MAP. dozen people on the following day to recruit more folks to work with young people, whom she’s concerned about being on the streets more often due to virtual schooling.

She hopes to launch a “spin-off”of the work she’s already doing with TBOH, -Offering Whole Family Dentistry & Oral Surgery specialty care on an extended schedule with more proactive -Locally owned 7am-7pm and select Saturdays engagement focused on young people like the ones she confronted in her own neighborhood after they fought her son. She said those boys call out to her when they see her now, and it all comes back to meeting them where they’re at.

CORINE MACK (FAR LEFT), KASS OTTLEY (THIRD FROM LEFT) “They need adults No Insurance? No Problem! Ask about our in-house Dental Savings Plan AND LUCILLE PUCKETT (MIDDLE) AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON OCT. 26. to actually engage with PHOTO BY RYAN PITKIN www.StellarDentalCLT.com them, to listen to them, interruption plan earlier in the year and tried to and to understand where they’re coming from and University Noda present it to Charlotte City Council, which she said what they want,” Puckett said. “When you have city 9010 Glenwater Drive 2100 North Davidson ignored it. council and some organizations coming to these

Pg. 8 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Out of this world dentistry finally in your neighborhood!

704-547-1199

704-688-7120

We’re kind of opening, kind of not, so not all of these are virtual events as we were highlighting at the beginning of the lockdown, but plenty are. COVID is still going strong, so party at your own risk.

SATARAH PRESENTS: SHADOWS

What: Satarah, a fire, movement, and aerial arts troupe from Charlotte anchored by Satya Jvala (Katie Rothweiler) and Sarah Hahn, presents a digital show Shadows. The event features dancers, aerialists, fire performers and more in a visually astounding encore performance to their 2019 event. The performance will be live-streamed from Satarah’s performance arts training studio Bloom Movement Artistry.

More: $10; Nov. 6, 8 p.m.; satarahpresents.com/

length. The legendary Frederico Fellini directs his wife Giulietta Masina in his masterpiece La Strada.

Gelsoma (Masina) is sold into the employ of brutal circus strongman Zampano (Anthony Quinn). When Zampano encounters an old rival, highwire artist the Fool (Richard Basehart), his fury is roused past the breaking point. La Strada is a poetic fable of love and cruelty, evoking brilliant performances and winning the hearts of audiences worldwide.

More: $10-12 for 72 hours; charlottefilmsociety.com

DAWN OF THE YARD

ENVISIONING YOUR DREAMS COLLAGE

What: The Music Yard presents a Dia De Los Muertosthemed drive in electronic music show. Let’s hope they don’t go overboard with Day of the Dead-style face paint and problematic cultural appropriation.

The bill is solid with Maddy O’Neal, a pioneer for women in electronic music, headlining. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, O’Neal has carved out her niche in the ever-changing and diverse electronic genre.

Her grounding in rock n’ roll plus a growing appetite for old-school hip-hop imbues her sound with an organic unpredictability. O’Neal’s productions and original sets boast melodic overtones, driven basslines, and jazzy hip-hop. O’Neal has supported such touring artists as Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, The Floozies, Cherub, SunSquabi, Manic Focus and Russ Liquid.

More: $80-220; Nov. 7, 6 p.m.; The Music Yard, 2433 South Blvd.; eatsouthbound.com/the-music-yard

Pg. 9 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

CHARLOTTE FILM SOCIETY’S VIRTUAL SCREENING ROOM

What: Directed by William Greaves, the documentary Nationtime is a report on the National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Indiana, in 1972. The historic event gathered Black voices from across the political spectrum, among them Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory, Coretta Scott King, Isaac Hayes, Richard Roundtree and Amiri Baraka.

Narrated by Sydney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, the film was considered too militant for broadcast TV and pulled from circulation. Until now, it’s only been seen in a shortened 58-minute version. This new 4K restoration, funded in part by Jane Fonda and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, returns the explosive film to its original 80-minute

What: The Harvey B. Gantt Center presents this Family First workshop. Have you ever wanted your dreams to become a reality, or create a visual narrative that represents who you really are? In this workshop, participants will source images from magazines to illustrate a variety of personal goals they want to see come true. This workshop will go beyond classic vision board activities by introducing tools to support the act of collaging. It’s more than just paper and glue.

It’s your personal visual narrative come to life. The workshop is open to ages 5 and up More: Free, Nov. 7, 12 p.m.; ganttcenter.org

TAJ MAHAL

What: “I just want to be able to make the music that I’m hearing come to me – and that’s what I did,” says composer, multi-instrumentalist and Grammywinner Taj Mahal. He’s a staunch proponent of revitalizing and preserving traditional acoustic blues. But that never stopped him from branching out and exploring various genres, which he adapted and tethered to the blues. In the 1960s, he formed The Rising Sons with guitarist Ry Cooder. The group anticipated roots rock fusions that decades later became the Americana genre. Mahal experimented with Caribbean rhythms and the swing of New Orleans brass bands in the ’70s. His explorations flew further off the charts in the late 1990s when he teamed with classical Indian musicians, explored Hawaiian music and played in a duo with a Malian kora player. He plays live from the UC Theatre in Berkeley, California. Portions of the proceeds will go to help save the Neighborhood Theatre.

More: $20-150; Nov. 17, 9 p.m.; neighborhoodtheatre.com

SUBTRONICS

What: Philadelphia dubstep and riddim DJ Jesse Kardon, better known as Subtronics, will forever be identified with “Griztronics”, a collaboration with Michigan-based electronic music artist GRiz that peaked at no. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs in late 2019. In October 2019, the song also became popular on TikTok, becoming the top trending song on the platform with over 259 million views. The electronic dance bill at Hounds Drive-in is filled out by Dirt Monkey, Level Up and Ace Aura.

More: $35-50; November 13, 6 p.m.; Hounds DriveIn, 114 Raven Circle, Kings Mountain; houndsdrivein. com/; wl.seetickets.us/event/NPOTDF-SubtronicsDirt-Monkey-North-Carolina/415062?afflky=Disco Donnie

VAUGHAN & THE CHILLCATS

What: Vaughan’s smoky-alto and songwriter chops are influenced by Etta James, Tina Turner and Stevie Nicks. Two of her original jazz songs, “Miss You Most” and “Don’t Make Me Wait,” have been featured on NBC’s Go-On and E-Channel’s The Arrangement. The North Carolina singer/songwriter, producer and recording artist’s original music has been featured in over 155 television shows and movies including Grey’s Anatomy, L-Word, Californication, MTV’s The Hills, Laguna Beach and the Oscar-winning film The Big Short. Vaughan has recorded 10 albums. She’s opened and headlined for national artists like Darius Rucker, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge, Amy Mann and others. Vaughan’s captivating stage presence dovetails neatly with The ChillCat’s inspired interpretations of jazz, rock and blues. The ChillCats are pianist Dave Fox, horn player Neill Clegg, bassist Matt Kendrick and drummer Jim Brock.

More: $28, Nov. 12; $32, Nov. 13; November 12; 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m.; Middle C Jazz, 300 S. Brevard St.; middlecjazz.com

LIVE AT THE MINT

What: Live at the Mint Uptown presents a live performance by Youth Orchestras of Charlotte in the Robert Haywood Morrison Atrium against the backdrop of Summer Wheat’s Foragers, a four-story myriad of vibrant panels that give the illusion of stained glass. The performance will be held in two 30-minute intervals: one at 6:30 p.m. and the other

at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited to 50 people guests must preregister. The Youth Orchestras of Charlotte Chamber Ensembles will perform Beethoven String Quartet, Op. 95, 1st movement; Ravel – Introduction and Allegro and Mendelssohn Octet in Eb Majr, Op. 20, 1st movement.

More: Free; Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; mintmuseum.org

THE COMMON GOOD

What: Guitar duo The Common Good, comprised of Taylor Wood and Michael Tutas, make their live debut at Pinhouse in Plaza Midwood, playing a mix of rock and soul. “We’re playing music from a time when you couldn’t just get to online stream whatever you want to, you had to drive to the box office and wait in line to buy tickets, so that [when] you were there, you were fully present and really feeling the music. [It’s about] the soul of the music, rather than just singing along on the radio,” Wood says. “I want to get back to that feeling of excitement and anticipation for live music.”

More: Free; Nov. 7, 3-6 p.m.; Pinhouse, 2306 Central Ave.; instagram.com/thecommongood_clt

BLOCK PARTY AT ABOLITION PARK

What: Charlotte Uprising and a gathering of other community groups invite people to envision and celebrate a future without prisons and police oppression as they transform Marshall Park into Abolition Park. There will be dinner, a free clothing closet, music, games, a free store and political education. By creating mutual aid and community care in the present, the activists hope to secure the future they envision. “When we share resources and support each other, we help inch the world we know possible closer to our reality,” the organizers write.

Charlotte Uprising will be providing as many direct services as possible, helping people find temporary housing and paying people’s bails to get out of jail. Participants are asked to donate if they can to mutual aid efforts to alleviate hardships during this pandemic.

More: Free; Nov. 7, 4 p.m.; Marshall Park, 800 East Third St.; tinyurl.com/AbolitionPark

ARTS FEATURE

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF THE MASK

Laura Wopperer inspires safe pandemic practices with new photo series

Who’s behind the mask?

The concept behind the photo series is simple enough; the subject is shown photographed against a plain, black background while wearing their mask, with a caption from each subject discussing why they’ve pledged to wear a mask. They’re then shot without the mask as well.

Mask With Me is Wopperer’s way of letting people in Charlotte know they are not alone, their voices can be heard and their willingness to mask up is powerful.

She began by reaching out to some of the

Pg. 10 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

BY LEA BEKELE

Wear a mask. It’s a simple request, one that involves the most minor inconvenience and can save countless lives.

Seems easy enough, right? Not so much.

The mask itself has become the center of political debates across the country, the focal point of hundreds of videos showing people throwing temper tantrums in public and claiming their rights are being infringed upon.

Many on the right have even implied that wearing a mask signals a lack of masculinity or independence.

It would be comical if it wasn’t so dangerous.

A new photo series from Charlotte artist Laura Wopperer titled Mask With Me consists of portraits showing notable Charlotte business owners, students, and children in all their masked and unmasked glory, in an attempt to push back against the incomprehensible narratives promoted by right-wingers and all-around trolls on the internet.

Like other entrepreneurs in Charlotte, her business came to a halt upon the arrival of COVID-19 in March, and she longed for a creative outlet during the stay-at-home order.

“The idea for the masking project truly came to me out of the blue after several months of quarantining, social distancing and the realization that this was our new normal for a potentially very long time,” says Wopperer.

She utilized local connections built over a 10year career in Charlotte to kick off the Mask With Me project.

The photo series was the perfect opportunity to challenge her creatively while also serving a greater purpose.

“I was very deliberate in creating a work of art that was diverse. I wanted to show that people from a variety of backgrounds, occupations, ages, races and beliefs could come together to send a unified message,” Wopperer says. “I wanted to show that this message is for and from everyone.”

In the span of a couple of weeks, the photo series showcased over two dozen subjects of different races, ages and occupations. Mask With Me features familiar faces like WCCB anchor Morgan Fogarty; Liz Hilliard, owner of Hilliard Studio Method; James Yoder, co-owner of Not Just Coffee; and Sarah Hayes Harkins of Charlotte Ballet.

experiences with COVID-19.

Without any knowledge of her or her work, people continue to express their interest in getting involved for the same reason Wopperer started the project.

“I want to take the debate out of masking,” Wopperer shares. “For me, masking was never a debatable or political issue. If a mask potentially helps protect my family or yours, why wouldn’t I do it? And why do others not see it the same way?”

That line of thinking is what triggered Wopperer’s idea to create art that advocates for the cause. The series features some of Charlotte’s most recognizable and influential faces in hopes that it will motivate others to follow suit. At the time she started, the concept of masking was still up for reasonable debate, as the science around it hadn’t been solidly proven yet.

Since then, the more evidence that comes to light proving the value of masking up in public, the more vitriolic the opposition becomes.

Finding community

JASON ATKINS, AKA GREAZY KEYZ PHOTO BY LAURA WOPPERER

Charlotteans she considered to be leaders in the community, choosing participants that believed in her message. Some were past clients and colleagues and others were complete strangers.

Her intentions were clear: She thought people would be more willing to stand up and pledge to wear a mask if the people they know and respect were doing it too, creating a chain reaction. One person pledging has the chance to inspire others to join in and mask up.

For people that were already masking but afraid to say it, she hoped this project would reduce any negative stigma associated with wearing a face mask.

Along with business owners and community leaders, Wopperer invited children like Ella Canty to join in. Canty is an 8th grader at Piedmont IB Middle School and a leader to her peers. The inclusion of everyday people brings a level of authenticity that is hard to find in organization-funded ad campaigns that tend to exclusively partner with local celebrities.

Despite some people’s opposition to wearing masks, Wopperer says she can count the number of times her project received negative feedback on one hand. Instead, the community has shown an outpouring of support. Admirers of the project give thanks though the Mask With Me Instagram page and others reach out to share their personal

comfort

in

The message behind Mask With Me is what Wopperer describes as, “from everyone to everyone.” What began as a creative outlet for a mother on a work hiatus and spending more time with her children turned into a social movement.

“Some people may not realize the power they have to initiate change and I thought as a larger group we could easily make masking a part of our new normal as a community and nation,” says Wopperer.

Believing that one person can trigger an entire movement of progress and acceptance, Wopperer wants communities in other cities to see how Charlotteans have used their voice and influence to come together.

Mask With Me is a platform for people to share that they believe in masking and aren’t afraid to say it, influencers in the most literal sense of the word.

She also hopes the project inspires others to use their unique skills to make a difference in the world, as she aims to do with her photography.

“My biggest goal is to get everyone, near and far, political affiliations aside, to agree that masking is a simple, effective act each person can take to help one another,” Wopperer shares.

By the time this story goes to print, Wopperer will have scheduled two dozen more subjects to be included in the project. As a self-taught photographer who has slowly taken on new

ARTS FEATURE

“The art of molding brand new babies into these complicated positions that showcased their features while they were brand new was so intriguing to challenges throughout her career, she has now set me,” Wopperer shares. “Newborns are some of the her sights on creating change through portraiture. hardest subjects to work with in terms of posing,

safety, lighting and the technical skill required.”

After newborn portraiture, she challenged herself to capture entire families, working on location without her familiar lighting set up. She continued to switch up the subject and format of

Laura’s photographic come-up

Pg. 11 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Wopperer began her journey as a photographer in 2009 right after the birth of her twins. She had just left her corporate communications job to raise them full-time. A few months into her stint as a stay-at-home mom, she itched for a creative outlet.

Instead of returning to her previous career, she purchased a professional camera on a whim and taught herself photography, something she had always had an interest in.

Her first subjects were her own children. She spent the first year or so taking photos of the twins and, in the process, learned the ins and the outs of her camera. Working with her newborn children ignited a desire to practice photography professionally.

With no formal education or training in photography, she slowly built her portfolio, teaching herself new skills along the way. Eventually, Wopperer began working in hospitals, capturing intimate photos of newborns and their families.

LAVINIA KUCK PHOTO BY LAURA WOPPERER

Charlotte’s Favorite Gift Shop for Over 30 Years!

330 East Boulevard, Charlotte NC 704-333-7130

@paperskyscrapergifts

her work over the years. Later came commercial photography where, she shared, there are greater limitations when it comes to fitting each space to the specific needs of each client.

Over the past decade, Wopperer has captured around 200 clients a year, with subjects ranging from newborns to commercial photography to private photography for a NASCAR driver. She grew to love all the different aspects of photography, and generally enjoys working with people and creating art for them.

In 2020, community-based social change has a new face in Charlotte as we look to leaders and influencers to use their platforms to advocate and educate. Now more than ever, as COVID-19 cases increase yet again and more businesses are caught not enforcing safety precautions, the act of wearing a mask is larger than any single person.

People wear a mask to protect one another from a pandemic unlike anything they’d seen before.

Without solidarity on that front, we fail the most vulnerable people in our community — the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Wearing masks and keeping a safe distance is our only armor in the face of the global pandemic.

LBEKELE@QCNERVE.COM

MUSIC FEATURE

CYANCA RISING

Charlotte’s Queen of Neo-Soul shares new beginnings, new label, new EP

BY LAMONT LILLY

Pg. 14 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Save for DaBaby, one would be hard-pressed to find a Charlotte musician with more momentum than Cyanca in this moment. Building on the strength of songs like “Patti Mayonnaise,” the 2019 summer jam with a deep message that earned her “Best Song” in Queen City Nerve’s inaugural Best in the Nest issue, the neo-soul singer has carved a lane for herself since moving to Charlotte in 2016.

As much of a standalone talent as Cyanca is, she’s also shined in collaborative efforts with local hip-hop artists such as Elevator Jay, Erick Lottary and Deniro Farrar.

We expect next year to be the one in which the world learns about Cyanca. Before that occurs, Queen City Nerve contributor Lamont Lilly recently sat with Cyanca at Mert’s Heart & Soul in Uptown to discuss her roots, her recent signing with Infinite Companion, a new upcoming project and more.

Lamont Lilly: Your original beginnings are from a small town just outside of Raleigh called Smithfield. What was growing up in Smithfield like for you?

Cyanca: Smithfield was country living. My grandparents raised me alongside my father. I was in Smithfield up until 18 [years old] and it’s definitely a small town, so as teenagers we hung out in Southside Raleigh.

It was a different kind of upbringing for someone my age. My dad is 50 but my grandparents were born in the 1930s. They lived the civil rights movement. They lived segregation.

Then there’s things like us having a clothesline growing up. We hung our clothes outside. If a storm came or it rained, we hung our clothes in the CYANCA PHOTO BY DARIAN CARLOS basement. So I grew up knowing how to survive. On the weekends I was with my dad. He had this little [Volkswagen] Beetle. He was always bumping some Can you share a little about your musical The drum set my dad bought me prepared me for hip-hop — a lot of A Tribe Called Quest. I also went background? You’re a vocalist, but you’re also playing at church, which my grandmother was really to Princeton High School. I graduated with like 80 a musician. big on. We were at church three to five times a week. other seniors. That was Smithfield. Simple, but good My dad bought me a drum set at the age of There was Sunday service but there were also church living.

6. I used to take my grandmother’s shoe boxes meetings, choir rehearsal, fundraisers. I was playing and make a drum set with those old wire hangers. the drums, keys, and organ at a very early age.

My grandmother and the Baptist church are definitely my beginnings, but the car rides with my dad were like training school. He was schooling me at a very young age. We would even watch videos together. I don’t even think he knew how much he was really investing in me. When I went to college, I majored in music at UNC Greensboro. So I’m also formally trained.

This is why in the song “Badu,” you can hear the tambourine in the background ever so gently.

On the song “Eat,” that 808 bass line is old school.

It’s a tempo count from jazz, that kind of old school influence I picked up learning about folks like Chuck Berry. Musicianship is definitely at my core. I’m actually a musician first.

Charlotte’s hip-hop scene has really been buzzing the last few years. How has this community of hip-hop creatives assisted in your development as a musical artist?

The Charlotte hip-hop scene has been so supportive. I moved here in 2016 for a job promotion. I didn’t come here for music. I came here to better myself. But Lute West was one of the first people I met and he showed so much love. Elevator Jay is another Charlotte artist who just welcomed me in. Jay showed me around the city. I look up to folks like Jay and Lute. I pay attention to how they move. I take notes from them to add to what I do.

Even people like singer and musician Greg Cox. All of these folks are amazing! They really embraced me. They didn’t have to do that because I’m actually an outsider. I’m originally from the 919 and there’s always been this unspoken competitive beef between the two areas. That’s how I know that God has me covered. No matter where I am, I always find good people and trust my gifts. I love the community here.

You mentioned your song “Badu,” which pays tribute to neo-soul pioneer Erykah Badu.

Who are some of your other musical influences?

I love me some Brandy. I’m actually a huge Brandy fan! Also Lauryn Hill, The Clark Sisters, Hezekiah Walker. I grew up on quartet music, so The Winans and The Canton Spirituals were cornerstones. On the R&B side, it was Sade and Jodeci.

Q-Tip and Missy Elliot are probably the two people I hold onto most, though. They’re the blueprint of what I would like to grow into one day.

Eventually, I would love to help develop other artists like Missy did with Aaliyah and folks like Tweet.

Tweet was a groove, too.

MUSIC FEATURE

Pg. 15 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Your style reflects such a full range. There’s a dose of Southern-trap-bounce with a bit of tomboy sex appeal. There’s also the Black church with a little Jill Scott and juke-joint soul from Stax Records. How did you bring all of these influences together in one voice, in one style?

I don’t really know how to explain it but a lot of these influences are just bleeding out of my spirit, organically.

I’ve been through so much growing up in life, I just let it flow out of me. I take all of those experiences and just wrap it into one package. I’m also a perfectionist and very particular about a lot of things, especially my music.

I need all the ingredients to be there, in a certain way, in a certain spot. The tambourine has to hit right here, the organ in this spot because this is what I want to convey through the music, through the sound itself. Sound is a form of my self-expression.

You recently just signed to a record label.

Can you tell us about the label and how all of that happened for you?

The label I recently signed with is called Infinite Companion. IC Records is based out of Portland, Oregon. To be transparent, I had several labels reach out to me. I’ve certainly been in my share of label meetings and conversations with record executives.

At the end of the day, though, it’s about what’s best for Cyanca.

What I really wanted was to own [the rights to] my masters. What’s big for me is ownership.

With Infinite Companion, I just loved how they were moving. They not only said the right things, they showed real love. They also extended genuine freedom. They were like, “Never mind the boxes, Cyanca. Just fly.”

They’re ready to push me forward and they’re investing in me. It’s a great start to a beautiful relationship, but it’s more like a partnership. Shout out as well to Nipsey Hussle. I’m just trying to make smart moves and be an example for someone else.

Sure, we all marvel at the big labels, but there’s more than one way to break into the industry. Some of these smaller labels have just as much clout and resources.

It’s not all about the glitz and glamour. Glitz and glamour look good until they put you on a shelf. I wanted freedom, ownership, and genuine support.

I’m just excited about what’s to come.

You’ve laid a serious foundation over the last few years. What’s next?

We’re actually about to put out a new EP through Infinite Companion. That’s the main focus right now. It’s coming out next year with all fresh material. That’s going to be four to five new songs.

We’re going to put out new visuals for it and really push it.

We’re also working on creating merchandise and vinyl, all types of cool stuff. IC also specializes in sync licensing, or synchronization rights, which means getting your music placed on TV shows, films, commercials, even video games.

Live shows and touring may be canceled right now, but to all the rappers and musicians out there, there are definitely other ways to create a livelihood.

I’m just going to keep working, Lamont, and making good decisions. I’ll actually be heading up to Asheville pretty soon to start working on the new project. I’ll be staying in the mountains for a few weeks just writing and recording. That’s coming from the label.

Right now it’s about building this new relationship. They’re good people over there and we’re already on the same page. It’s been a blessing.

Transforming negative energy and experiences is definitely a gift I’ve had to work on.

I’m also not ashamed to tell people I go to therapy, Lamont. It’s therapy and my family that keeps me grounded. I’m so thankful for them.

I’m also thankful for the Charlotte community, especially the artists here, and the fans. These are things that keep my spirit fed.

In return, what comes out feeds others. Besides, I kind of like being happy. Feels good! Those lonely nights crying in the dark are no fun. I’d rather create light, love and joy.

space to interpret the message on their own. That way, they can receive whatever they need to from it. Whatever folks take from it, I want the music and message to feel timeless. I want people to feel good on the inside, not only about the music but about themselves. If I can do that, I’ve accomplished my purpose.

What are the keystones of your music and message? What are listeners holding on to when the dope beat fades away, when the rhythm is long gone?

I want my music to be soul food just like Mert’s.

I want it to be nourishment to the mind and soul. I try to lay my spirit out and put my all in whatever I release. But I also try to leave my music open so listeners can interpret the message however they want. Sometimes the message is very obvious.

Other times, it’s there but it’s soft. With “New Phone, Who Dis?” there’s actually not a whole lot of lyrics there. That element was very intentional.

You’ve been through a lot in life, Cyanca.

Sometimes it’s important to give people the The passing of your mother as a small child is just one example. Your music feels like you’ve found a way to use pain as a source of inspiration. That inspiration has brought joy to others. That’s a powerful transformation.

Do you ever step back to process the impact of that?

Yes, all the time. It’s kind of still mind-boggling for me though because it took me a while to accept my calling. Despite the many storms in my life, I had to understand that I can’t just remain a victim.

Fuck throwing a pity party. I have to use everything I’ve been through as a testimony for others.

I started to understand that as an artist, what you put out in the world can save someone’s life. One of my listeners may have gone through some of the same things I’ve been through.

I just truly believe in the power of releasing your trauma. I have to let that stuff go so I can fully grow into who I’m supposed to be and achieve the things I was born to do.

That’s the only way I’ve been able to put the music out. “Patti Mayonnaise” talks about the death of my mother and what it’s like to grow up without a mom. I have to share those experiences because there are others who live that same situation.

Cyanca’s music can be found on streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Audiomack, Amazon Music, and Google Play. She also has a presence on YouTube and Twitter. The Infinite Companion website (icrecords.com) has Cyanca’s full back catalog. For performances, promos, or features her management can be contacted at bookcyanca@ gmail.com. For the full version of the interview, visit qcnerve.com.

Any last words?

I’m just proud of the whole city. There are so many dope artists here. Charlotte, let’s keep opening doors for each other. North Carolina, I love y’all!

Lamont Lilly is an independent journalist, activist and community organizer.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

Connect with free virtual arts, science, and history experiences for all ages.

CULTURE

BLOCKS

Find upcoming events at ArtsAndScience.org/CultureBlocks

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

FIAMMA TURNS UP THE HEAT Family-owned Italian restaurant touts tradition while embracing change

Pg. 16 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

BY PAT MORAN

Candor is on the menu when Luiggi Campoverde, manager of Fiamma, an Italian restaurant in the Park Square Shopping Center in south Charlotte, opens his Queen City Nerve interview with a bombshell. We came to talk about a year of transition between management at the family-owned Italian restaurant, but Campoverde throws everything off when he announces matterof-factly that Fiamma is temporarily shutting down due to COVID-19.

When a customer reported she had been exposed to the virus on Oct. 24, Luiggi and his father Fernando, who founded the Dilworth neighborhood fixture in 2006, acted quickly.

“Because we’re locally owned and … operated by a single family – my family, we don’t have the luxury of being as slack about [COVID-19] as other restaurants,” Luiggi says.

He and his father closed Fiamma’s doors and had everyone on staff tested for the virus. When all the tests came back negative the following Tuesday, they sanitized the dining room and kitchen and prepped for a reopening on Halloween.

Campoverde never found out if the customer was positive or not.

“At this point it doesn’t really matter,” Campoverde says. Just the possibility was enough for the family to do what it had to do. They focused on making sure all the people handling their customers’ food were healthy. They felt they owed it to their patrons to shut down. As this story goes to print, Campoverdi tells Queen City Nerve that the reopening went smoothly, with slightly fewer customers than usual.

“Was it the most profitable decision? Obviously not, because we missed Saturday dinner services,” Campoverde says answering his own question.

He maintains that Fiamma has bucked the trend followed by some bigger and better-funded establishments in Charlotte by being obsessively strict about staff and customer safety.

To prove his point, blue tape markers on the

“After being a cog at [other restaurants] and seeing how their managers run things, it gave me some ideas of my own on what to do at Fiamma,” he says.

Campoverde suggests the father/son division of labor is complicated.

“It’s not like a traditional restaurant because we are family” he offers. “We are both guilty of being control freaks.”

Generally, Campoverde handles most of the front-of-house operations, allowing his father to focus on the kitchen. As owner, Fernando has the right to veto Luiggi’s decisions. Differences of opinion appear, even in slight matters like the restaurant’s name, Fiamma, which means flame in Italian.

When Fernando shared the reason why he gave the eatery its fiery moniker with his son, Luiggi says he found the answer unsatisfactory.

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN “It’s something along the lines of he brings FIAMMA OPENED IN PARK SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER IN 2006. passion to his cooking, and it’s a fire,” he offers.

In his twenties, floor of the dining room indicate that each table is “To be honest with you, I think it just sounded cool placed 6 feet apart, Campoverde says. A sign at the Campoverde decided his journey at Fiamma had and he really liked it.” front door notes that Fiamma is stricter about face- gone as far as it could go. He set out for greener When Fernando first moved to New York from mask regulations than other places. Inside, patrons pastures, waiting tables at other Charlotte Ecuador in 1987, he was 22. He started off as a are politely reminded to keep their masks on when restaurants. Early this year, at 25, he came back to busboy in local restaurants. He did not speak any Fiamma determined to step into a managerial role. they walk to and from English. tables.

“If you’re an “COVID definitely immigrant and threw us for a loop,” you’re trying to make Campoverde admits. a good honest living, Fiamma’s strict you probably at one mask rules, which point or another in predated Gov. Cooper’s your life worked in a statewide face-mask kitchen,” Luiggi says. mandate, even rubbed He points to some longtime patrons the late celebrity the wrong way. chef and journalist “In the current Anthony Bourdain, political climate, some who used his people weren’t happy platform to call about it.” Campoverde attention to the says, “We lost some hard-working ethnic people because they groups who worked were bitter about that the back of house in for some reason or many of America’s PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN restaurants. another.”

STUFFED VEAL CHOP Campoverde and his One of the two younger brothers minorities Bourdain mentioned most were He says he felt there was too much going on for have been involved in the family business since the Ecuadorians, Luiggi emphasizes. his 55-year-old father to handle all at once. Luiggi traditional northern Italian restaurant opened 14 years The elder Campoverde never went to a formal feared that Fernando was working himself into an ago. culinary school, but eventually managed people At age 11, he was scrubbing pots and pans on early grave. who were culinarily trained. He worked his way Throughout the year, Luiggi has begun to relieve weekends. By the time he was 16, Luiggi was a up to being executive chef at New York restaurants his father of many of his day-to-day duties. dishwasher. He then went on to wait tables.

Pg. 17 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

Also of northern origin is black linguini, which gets its color from squid ink, and pasta with Livornese sauce, made from tomatoes, black olives, like Mezzaluna, Mezzogiorno, and the restaurant capers and anchovies. at the Maritime Hotel in the Meatpacking District.

Fiamma’s specialties are not all from northern But working in the city was taxing, and in 2006, Italian regions like Lombardy. There are also tradional dishes from other parts of the country. Campoverde cites pasta alla bisanzio, which is tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese. Piatto di burratta, with prosciutto and arugula, is popular as well.

“We have a traditional Bolognese, or what some people in the states call a ragu,” Luiggi says. “It’s a meat sauce.”

Best sellers on the menu include traditional Bolognese with homemade pappardelle pasta and tagliolini ai gamberi made with a creamy cognac sauce, shimp and trevisano, which is like Italian radicchio. A Chilean sea bass special, panseared and baked with asparagus and artichokes and sauteed spaghetti squash, gets a lot of customer love as well.

Campoverde reckons the sea bass and the ossobuco get the most requests from patrons.

“People really love our PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN PAPPARDELLE AI BOLOGNESE gnocchi as well,” Campoverde says “A lot of our pastas are made from scratch in the kitchen.”

Fernando decamped to Charlotte to open Fiamma.

Fiamma boasts homemade pesto too, which He was 41.

Luiggi wants to stretch into more recipes in the “At the time the food scene in Charlotte future. was completely different than what it is now,” “I think we under-utilize our pesto sauce,” he Campoverde says. “[My father was] a big fish in a offers. “We just have it in one pasta, and it’s good small pond.” but I think we could be adding different ingredients Fiamma drew a loyal neighborhood clientele to make it better. Not to toot my horn, but pesto gets with its emphasis on northern Italian food. a lot of love from our regulars.”

“Authentic Italian food isn’t just spaghetti and As much as the restaurant relies on meatballs or chicken Parmigiana,” Campoverde says. neighborhood regulars, Campoverde would like to He explains that northern Italian cuisine uses broaden Fiamma’s appeal. more black olives and olive oil than its southern “There is a brand new Charlotte demographic,” counterparts. he says. “It’s still businessmen and women, but To this day, Fernando prepares authentic and they’re closer to their college years than they are to traditional dishes from the northern part of the their retirement age.” peninsula, dishes such as ossobuco with veal shanks Despite the new crowd, the restaurant has had and a side of saffron risotto; or gnocchi con salsiccia, the same ambiance since 2006. That’s something a dumpling-shaped pasta with sausage, green peas Campoverde is trying to change. He’d like to keep and tomato sauce.

the regulars but get more of the new crowd coming in.

Pesto figures in one of many changes Campoverde would like to bring to Fiamma: pizza.

He would like to launch pizza options in the near future, starting with three styles: four-cheese bianco; Neapolitan margherita with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil; and pesto.

“We’re trying to bring out those elevated bar food options that this new demographic is looking for,” Campoverde says.

Another step forward for Fiamma is a new gelato machine, which will allow the restaurant to make homemade gelato and sorbet.

“I’ve just been playing with it,” he offers, “seeing how much egg yolk [or] vanilla extract I can add, [also] how much Dutch processed cocoa I can add before it just gets way too bitter.”

But experiments and innovative plans for Fiamma’s future are tempered with Campoverde’s respect for tradition, exemplified by the restaurant’s bread service. It’s a dying practice; anytime a patron puts their order in, staff brings them bread. Typically, Fiamma serves pesto along with their homemade foccacia and breadsticks.

Campoverde says many restaurants don’t offer bread service. He believes that’s because they don’t

want to give the customer something for free.

“You can kind of starve them and get them to order an appetizer,” he says. “Granted, we may lose 15 bucks, but we would much rather keep bread service because we think it’s a nice touch. Not many places still do it.”

Bread service or brand new pizza, tradition or innovation, Fiamma is still struggling to keep the flame burning amid uncertainty about COVID-19.

Campoverde says staff has been drastically reduced due to the pandemic and precautions against spreading the virus.

In the kitchen there are typically two to three staff members at work. Employee total for front of house ranges from two on weekdays to four or five on the weekend.

Despite the challenges posed by a curtailed staff, Campoverde hopes that more people will give the restaurant another look, and see it as something beyond a cozy neighborhood spot.

“Don’t write off Fiamma ... a place that is underrated,” he says. “For some reason we don’t have the spotlight shining on us [that] other places do, but we’ve been here 14 years now and the food shows [why] that is.”

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

Pg. 18 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which of the Great Lakes is the largest in surface area?

2. LITERATURE: Which 20thcentury novel’s working title was “Tomorrow Is Another Day”?

3. MEASUREMENTS: What does an anemometer measure?

4. TELEVISION: Which 1980s sitcom featured the characters Mrs. Garrett, Tootie and Jo? 5. ENTERTAINERS: Which singer was born with the name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta?

6. ADVERTISING: Who is the mascot of the snack brand Cheetos?

7. ANATOMY: How much blood does the average human have?

8. MOVIES: What was the name of the 1993 movie in which actor Tom Hanks plays a lawyer with HIV? 9. U.S. STATES: What is the official state bird of Minnesota?

10. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system has the largest moon?

10. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system has the largest moon?

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Rigs out 7 Beer holder 10 IRS worker 13 Not passive 19 India’s largest city 20 Made embarrassed 22 Jumped ship 23 Affixing, as gift wrap 24 Marionette doing some undercover police work?

26 Billy of “The Phantom” 28 London botanic gardens site 29 Fine distinction 30 YouTube upload on how to cook clams and rice?

36 Use a beam on in surgery 37 “La Cage -- Folles” 38 Of Peruvian peaks 39 Pickle option 41 Buddha statue, e.g.

45 Elated 47 Lodgings for wayfarers 48 Schnozz or Motor ender 49 MGM Grand, e.g.

51 “Scarface” inspirer 54 Discoloration on the biceps or triceps?

56 Meshwork 57 Razor cut 59 Closet rackful 60 Journal 61 Fashion designer Anna 62 Ionizable gas 63 Vast period 64 It may zoom 65 Simply being declared?

70 Gradually stop nursing 72 Back rub response 73 Paper unit

74 TV camera movement 75 CIO partner 76 “Make -- what you will” 78 Hobbyists’ buys 79 When to call it a night 83 Deluge’s waters subsiding?

86 Successfully mimics 87 Struck lightly 88 Chapel vow 89 Go by boat 91 Convent residents 92 Eyelid affliction 93 Make slanted 94 Italian public square 97 Scrabble 10-pointer 98 Staff symbol 101 One of the Little Rascals goes on a rant?

104 Many a charger for an e-device 108 Feed on 109 Peaceful 110 Beef cut that brings misfortune?

114 Marked with bands 118 Hand out cards to 119 Object of fear 120 Is beaming 121 Former British prime minister Clement 122 Detroit-to-Miami dir.

123 “Send help!”

124 Like the letter R in this puzzle’s entire solution DOWN 1 Triage pro 2 In the function of 3 Ball caller 4 Spanish island known for its nightlife

5 Country west of Colombia 6 Record one’s arrival 7 Fez, for one 8 -- Dhabi 9 Spill catchers 10 Berated 11 Kitty cat, e.g.

12 Hoo-has 13 Addis --, Ethiopia 14 Puts in a role 15 Golf ball brand 16 Tennis great Nastase 17 A/C opening 18 Uptight 21 Hotfooted it 25 Of no value 27 Last section 30 “Cosmos” host Carl 31 Veil fabric 32 Dead-on 33 Trait carrier 34 U-Haul unit 35 Adds lube to 40 Sugar in milk 42 Gave a ring 43 Leek relative 44 Yearns (for) 46 Nissan, once 49 Middle grade 50 Biblical beast 52 12-time papal name 53 Tending to the situation 54 Relatively small oinker, for short 55 Dryer debris 57 “Steve Jobs” star Rogen 58 Whole bunch 62 Really tidy type 63 Roe, e.g.

64 Pre-Easter

Pg. 19 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

PG.18 PUZZLE ANSWERS

ARE NOT! ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

65 Shoddy car 66 Earth personified as a goddess 67 Rebel Turner 68 Mimics 69 Wee bits 70 Floats in the air 71 D sharp sound-alike 76 Lyric verse 77 “Skip ahead” abbr. on a music player 78 Result of education 79 Novelist Honore de -80 Tokyo-based truck maker 81 French artist Edouard 82 Letters with curves 84 Audition not closed to anyone 85 Brain product 86 Cabaret singer Edith 89 Jacuzzis and whirlpools 90 Feel poorly 93 -- -confidence 95 Gabor who lived to be 99 96 Confidence 99 “Little Men” actor Jack 100 Loin cut 102 FDR’s Scottie 103 Some hotels and old cars 104 Fed. food safety org.

105 Dele undoer 106 Really tired 107 Flows back 111 Its cap. is Vienna 112 Dove noise 113 Boxing stats 115 Malted quaff 116 Diver’s goal 117 NYC hrs.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

THE SEEKER A NEW WAY TO FASHION Roam & Dwell looks to change the way we look at retail

Pg. 20 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

BY KATIE GRANT

Good news for the eco-conscious or eco-curious: Roam and Dwell, a new brick-and-mortar concept offering sustainable, affordable and ethicallysourced fashion and beauty products for both men and women will open its doors in the old Salon 1226 space in Plaza Midwood this fall.

“The DNA of the store is sustainability,” says coowner Tracy Sanchez, whose goal is to understand the supply chain of the products and private label Roam and Dwell will offer locals.

Conceptualized on the belief that wellness isn’t limited to what you put in your body, but also encompasses what you put on your body, Sanchez and business partner Aimee Shlussel’s casual luxury and planet-friendly boutique has sprung forth.

Taking an ethical approach, the duo maintain a working relationship with the individuals that help bring their products to life, including organic denims, cottons, and vegan leather produced from cactus.

Never heard of it? It is 100% organic, sustainable and more importantly, biodegradable.

The boutique shares a wall with Established Hair Studio — a recently opened hair salon co-owned by hairstylist Emily Warner and barber Ian Counts.

Warner has styled Sanchez’s hair for years, so the adjoined spaces feel like a natural fit. The communal space co-creates a true experience for both salon visitors and clothing shoppers alike.

About the brand name itself, Sanchez reveals Roam and Dwell is the contrivance of quarantine.

“How desperately all we want to roam but all we can do is dwell,” Sanchez explains. “It’s the integrative concept of wherever you go, there you are.”

But with phase three potentially nearing the end of its term, perhaps the opportunity to consume consciously will make people feel whole again. With fast-fashion trends quickly fading (we’re looking at

you, Forever 21), Roam and Dwell builds upon a new set of lifestyle values emerging in retail: community, quality, transparency and consumer control.

“No waste fashion” was listed as a 2020 top trend by Trendhunter, which means wearing the same outfit twice is no longer considered faux pas.

Consumers still want to shop but also feel good about their purchase, like fashion with a purpose.

With this in mind, Roam and Dwell is certainly set to exceed shopper’s expectations.

Upon stepping into Roam and Dwell, a familiar feeling washes over me — the minimalist decor is bright, relaxed and welcoming. The lengthy frontfacing windows capture the eco-friendly theme perfectly, taking advantage of the natural sunlight beaming inward and set the shop aglow.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Roam and Dwell: It will also feature a wellness bar! Menu options will include locally sourced coffee with hemp-infused options. I can easily picture myself sitting at the window-facing countertop, sipping a latte, and chatting with a girlfriend on a lazy weekend afternoon, people-watching for what’s happening at Thirsty Beaver across the street.

One of the wellness bar goals is to make healthcentric, organic products accessible and enjoyable to all. Sanchez discloses her reverie of expanding seating to the outdoor patio once cool weather subsides and spring approaches — a vision which will surely add to the allure of the neighborhood.

The list of services and products extends beyond apparel and wellness bar items. Roam and Dwell will also feature their own organic skincare line, including a face mask scrub and serum.

Think all-natural products that can be ingested without causing harm: hemp-derived with Tremella mushroom extract.

The hemp plant contains natural antiinflammatory, antioxidant and other healing compounds that can help improve the health and appearance of skin. Tremella mushroom extract is considered one of the top beauty superfoods — a moisturizer that brightens skin and improves elasticity.

According to EarthDay.org, “How we shop and care for our clothing is one of many ways we can reduce our carbon footprints and protect our water

sources, the earth, and the public health.

Some tips to go green and clean up our wardrobe include shopping locally, buying organic products, seeking clothing made of natural fibers, and supporting sustainable brands.

By doing so we can support our local economy, reduce the use of pesticides and microplastics to keep our water sources clean, and curtail support for econegligent companies.

Until Charlotte adopts mandatory recycling and composting laws like San Francisco’s ultraprogressive Zero Waste by 2020 goal, it’s thoughtful and eco-friendly concepts like Roam and Dwell that will help pave the way toward future change.

Their grand opening will take place Small Business Saturday, November 28 - the perfect opportunity to shop smart and discover locallysourced gifts this holiday season.

Roam and Dwell is located at 1226 Central Avenue, Unit B. Their hours of operation are MondayFriday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. You can follow Roam and Dwell on Instagram @roamdwell and like them on Facebook @roamdwell.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS OUR ADVERTISING REVENUE HAS DISAPPEARED HELP US KEEP OUR CONTENT FREE

By Lucie Winborne • In March 1980, multiple female students at Southern California universities complained that someone had surreptitiously painted their toenails while they studied in the library.

The perp, dubbed “Leonardo da Toenail,” was caught but released, since police hadn’t discovered him in the act. Apprehended again a year later, he was ordered to a hearing at the city attorney’s office but didn’t show up and was never seen again.

• There are 12 times more trees on earth than there are stars in the Milky Way. • Academically gifted actress Sharon Stone skipped both kindergarten and first grade, entering second grade at age 5.

• In the early ‘90s, Pepsi owned 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate and a destroyer, due to a deal with the Soviet Union in which they exchanged soda for military equipment.

• The oldest known pet cat existed 9,500 years ago.

• Ever find yourself nodding off in a boring meeting? You might want to invest in a box of “Sleep Safe Tape,” a half-inch roll of transparent tape with pictures of eyes along its length that, as one source put it, allows users to “get the shuteye they need while appearing to be wide awake.” Of course, the game is up if you start to snore ... .

• Abraham Lincoln was a skilled wrestler and was honored with an award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992.

• At least six ravens are kept at the Tower of London at all times, due to an old superstition that says: “If the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fall.” The birds even have part of a wing clipped so if they do decide to fly around, they won’t get very far. *** Thought for the Day: “The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.” — Thomas Jefferson © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

SUPPORT US BY DONATING TO PAYPAL.ME/QUEENCITYNERVE

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE NOVEMBER 4 - NOVEMBER 10

NOVEMBER 11 - NOVEMBER 17

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Deciding to work out LIBRA

ARIES

(September 23 to October 22) Don’t be that pesky problem (even though you might have surprised if you suddenly hear from someone from been bored, bored, bored with it) should be paying your past who wants to contact you about the off right about now. Expect to hear some very possibility of renewing a long-dormant (if not dead) welcome news very soon. relationship.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Unexpected news might cause you to rethink a previous conclusion.

Don’t be bullheaded and try to bluff it out. Make the needed change, and then take a bow for your objectivity.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time to check over what went right and what went wrong with recent efforts. This can provide valuable lessons for projects that will be coming up soon.

GEMINI

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Dealing with people who feel they’re always right about everything might be a problem for some.

But the savvy Archer should be able to deflate their oversize egos.

(May 21 to June 20) Money matters should be considered as you continue to work out your holiday plans. This is a good time to scout out discounts before demand for them outstrips their availability.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A calm period early CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) This

in the week helps you complete most, if not all, of week favors a balance between the demands of your your unfinished tasks. A new project appears by work and your need for fun timeouts. Taking breaks midweek, and this one could carry some big career helps restore and keep your energy levels high. potential.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) There could be an occasional setback in what you’re recent ventures continue to pump up those self- working on. But look at them as lessons on how to esteem levels, making you Fabulous Felines feel you do better as you move along. More supporters turn can tackle any challenge anyone wants to throw at up to cheer you on. you.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Positive results from

Pg. 21 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

PISCES

(February 19 to March 20) Although a more positive aspect influences this week’s course, friends might feel neglected because of your almost you still need to be sure that those who will work total focus on a project. Try to rework your schedule with you have no reason to work against you. Good so you can have time for both your loved ones and luck. your work.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Family and

(March 21 to April 19) Your honesty LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) While you’re continues to impress everyone who needs to be admired for how you handled recent workplace reassurance about a project. But be careful you don’t problems, be careful not to react the same way to a lose patience with those who are still not ready to new situation until all the facts are in. act.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Rely on TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Pushing others too your keen instincts as well as the facts at hand when hard to do things your way could cause resentment dealing with a troubling situation. Be patient. Take and raise more doubts. Instead, take more time to things one step at a time as you work through it. explain why your methods will work.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be more considerate Your curiosity leads you to ask questions. However, of those close to you before making a decision that the answers might not be what you hoped to hear. could have a serious effect on their lives. Explain Don’t reject them without checking them out. your intentions and ask for their advice.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Be CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might have to careful not to tackle a problem without sufficient defend a workplace decision you plan to make. facts. Even sure-footed Goats need to know where Colleagues might back you up on this, but it’s the they’ll land before leaping off a mountain path. facts that will ultimately win the day for you. Good luck.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Appearances can be deceiving. You need to do more LEO (July 23 to August 22) The Big Cat’s co-workers investigating before investing your time, let alone might not be doing enough to help get that project your money, in something that might have some finished. Your roars might stir things up, but gentle hidden flaws. purrr-suasion will prove to be more effective.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your recent VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Someone you stand on an issue could make you the focus of more care for needs help with a problem. Give it lovingly attention than you would like. But you’ll regain your and without judging the situation. Whatever you privacy, as well as more time with loved ones, by feel you should know will be revealed later. week’s end.

BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in keeping your promises. It’s not always easy to do, but somehow you do it.

BORN THIS WEEK: You’re a good friend and

a trusted confidante. You would be a wonderful teacher and a respected member of the clergy.

2020 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

PG.19 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SAVAGE LOVE

Pg. 22 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

OLD TIMES

“As he sees it, his problem is that the women he desires ‘aren’t interested,’” said Price. “As I see it, his problem is that he’s not actively seeking out women who are.”

The second coming Your days of picking up women on the street may be behind you, GERIATRIC, but they’re supposed to be beBY DAN SAVAGE hind us all. Instead of making women feel unsafe when they’re out in public by assuming a smile is a signal of I’m a nearly-80 straight male with undimininterest, Price suggests looking for connections online. ished libido. I have no problem with it, just a “GERIATRIC needs to polish his seduction skills and persistent curiosity. Like, why now? And why so get on the dating sites,” said Price. “He needs to show a various? And is it common among us old geezers? potential bedmate what he has to offer — and I don’t Male and female? I’m more sex-obsessed than mean a dick pic. He needs to woo a woman with his ever before, including adolescence. Until my words — at least to begin with — and, most imporsixties, tits were my sexual focus, and other body tantly, he needs to show interest in who she is as a full parts were strictly subsidiary, whether I was person, not just the body parts that turn him on.” looking, fantasizing, masturbating, or fucking.

But don’t get on dating sites if your bullshit detecNow butts, bellies, assholes, cunts, legs, arms, tors were removed with your gallbladder. If someone shoulders are equal turn-ons. Well, I do have one seems too good to be true — if someone seems too problem: Women aren’t interested in me “that young and too hot to be interested in a guy your age — way” anymore. The secret smiles in public are no they’re almost certainly a scammer.

And if a flirtatious longer complimentary or inviting or challenging. exchange becomes a sob story becomes a money beg, hit They’re just fond, polite smiles for a nice-looking the block button.

I’m a firm believer in intergenerational old man. The availability of porn plays a big part romance, GERIATRIC, but for safety’s sake you should in my obsessions. It primes the pump visually, stay in your generational lane. That means getting on mentally and physically, by showing more body Our Time and/or Silver Singles instead of Tinder and/or parts and what can be done with them. Lack Plenty of Fish. For while there might be a small handful of a steady sex partner may also explain my of hot twenty-something gerontophiles in your area, the obsession — but I was sometimes without a sex partner when I was younger and I wasn’t similarly odds that you’ll find one are too slim to bother trying. obsessed. So is this the usual pattern? Does being And you’ll have better luck going after women closer to relieved of the stress and distractions of work free your own age.

“Libidinous older women are out there, I can assure all retired men — and women — to be perpetuhim,” said Price. But you’ll have to do the work, GERIATally horny or what?

GEEZER ENERGY ROCKS ID AND TITILLATES RETIRED RIC, “since most will want to feel safe and appreciated as ISOLATED CHAP well as desired before they invite him into their beds.”

Finally, GERIATRIC, seeing as the horny old man has been a cliché for as long as men have existed, I don’t “I don’t have statistics for GERIATRIC, but I can tell him that wherever his libido falls on the ‘none’ to ‘yowza’ think you should blame online porn for your predicament. Some people’s libidos ramp up as they age, like scale, he’s normal,” said Joan Price, author of Naked at Price said, and it sounds like you’re one of those people.

Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex. “While it’s Maybe instead of seeing porn as the cause of all your true that most seniors see their libidos decrease or at problems, GERIATRIC, you could see porn as your friend. least mellow, I hear from people like GERIATRIC all the Solo sex can be good sex and porn is there to help you time — older folks who feel exuberantly sexy.” enjoy it.

What explains the sudden surge in libido experiFollow Joan Price on Twitter @Joan Price. You can find enced by some seniors?

Price’s books and the educational film she made about “There’s a freedom to sex in our older years,” said senior sex with porn star and sex educator Jessica Drake at Price. “We may still get those ‘at your age’ restrictive, shaming messages, but we’re happiest and most fulfilled her website joanprice.com. when we ignore them. So I would advise GERIATRIC to enjoy his charged libido and not to worry about whether Pre-COVID I was in the whirlpool at a hotel spa it’s a ‘usual pattern.’ Who cares? It’s your pattern. You do when an elderly gentleman asked if I wanted a you!’” foot massage. There’s only one reason a guy offers And Price says there are women who’d be down to another guy a foot massage: He was gay and into do you too.

TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1. Lake Superior 2. “Gone With the Wind” 3. Wind speed and pressure

4. “The Facts of Life” 5. Lady Gaga 6. Chester Cheetah 7. 1.2 to 1.5 gallons

feet. I’m straight and not into feet but I said, “You can rub my feet — but just my feet, no higher.”

My wife insists this means I had a “gay encounter.”

I say it was gay for the other guy but not for me.

What say you?

FIGHTING OVER OUR TERMS

P.S. We’re not really fighting.

8. “Philadelphia” 9. Common loon 10. Jupiter, with the moon Ganymede

exactly how I feel! Are Susan’s feelings more of a priority to him than mine? I’ve hung out with him and Susan three times. I have asked if we can get together again, as a group, so I would feel less insecure about the times they get together without me, but there’s always some excuse for why it’s not possible. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a relationship and I’ve invested a year in this man. He is a decent guy otherwise, Dan, but this nags at me.

Not all encounters with gays count as “gay encounters,” FOOT, but seeing as this was clearly an erotic BOYFRIEND’S LONG-AGO BLOWJOB experience for the elderly guy and you knew it — you weren’t being secretly perved on — I’m going to side with your wife. Even if you didn’t get off on it, even if you Your boyfriend was either playing head games — were just enjoying the massage, you knew the other guy meaning he was fucking with you on purpose — or was getting off on it. he lacked the emotional intelligence and/or impulse control to realize why sharing something like that, at a moment like that, was a bad idea. If he’s the kind of guy I’m a 45-year-old straight woman in a who enjoys tormenting the women he dates, BLAB, he monogamous relationship with a 48-year-old would’ve done similar or worse things by now. (And a straight man. One thing that keeps playing over woman he dated a quarter of a century ago probably and over in my mind is something he said to me wouldn’t be on speaking terms with him, much less one three months into our relationship. He spent of his closest friends.) Assuming he hasn’t done similar the night for the first time at my place. We were or worse — I’m guessing you would’ve included other laying in my bed the next morning, just talking examples in your letter if he had — perhaps he deserves and enjoying each other’s company, when his phone beeped. He read a text and then said, “That the benefit of the doubt here: He said something stupid was my friend Susan. I can’t wait for you to meet and thoughtless, he couldn’t come up with a good her. I think you’re really gonna like her — oh, and explanation for why he said it, and doesn’t like to be reminded of it. As for Susan … he’s known her for 25 she sucked my dick 25 years ago at a rest stop in New Jersey.” It turns out “Susan” is his best friend. years. If he wanted to be with her, he’d be with her. And I had not met her yet and this was the first thing he may be reluctant to get together as a group because he worries — perhaps not without cause — that you I knew about her. When I asked why he told me this, his response was that he was half asleep. He might bring it up. If he’s given you no other reason to suspect he might be cheating on you, cram this ancient wasn’t. When I pressed further he told me it was blowjob down the memory hole. something that happened a long time ago and that they laugh about it now but then told me it mail@savagelove.net; Follow Dan on Twitter @ was none of my business! I agree! It’s none of my FakeDanSavage; On the Savage Lovecast, Dan chats with business! So why did he feel the need to tell me?

Adam Sass, author of Surrender Your Sons — an escape Then he told me Susan can never know I know from conversion camp thriller, at savagelovecast.com. because she would feel humiliated. But that’s

Pg. 23 NOV 4 - NOV 17, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

BESTINTHENEST.COM

Call your local Midwood to place an order