Queen City Nerve - April 17, 2024

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 10; APRIL 17 - APRIL 30, 2024; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

Plus: A guide to Charlotte’s dispensaries pg. 10

Music: Momophobia is stoner rock with power pg. 12

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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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STAFF WRITERS PAT MORAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS & OPINION

4 In a Fog by Ryan Pitkin

Local cannabis business owners left in limbo as AG calls for change in law

6 A League of Uronen by Sam Spencer

Charlotte FC fullback lands in the Queen City by way of Finland

ARTS & CULTURE

8 A to Z in THC by Rayne Antrim & Ryan Pitkin A guide to Charlotte dispensaries

10 Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks

MUSIC

12 What’s In a Name? by Pat Moran

Charlotte power-emo trio Momophobia blends finesse and ferocity 14 Soundwave

FOOD & DRINK

16 A Masterpiece in Three Acts by Timothy DePeugh Locally Charlotte but globally inspired, L’Ostrica rivals the best restaurants in the country

Thanks to our contributors: Aerin Spruill, Timothy DePeugh, Rico Marcelo, Sam Spencer, Rebekah Wilden, Jesse Boykin Kimmel, Owen Labate, Evan Dennis, Bastion Greshake, Christopher Dube, and Dan Savage.

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LIFESTYLE

18 Puzzles 20 Aerin It Out by Aerin Spruill 21 Horoscope 22 Savage Love

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

IN A FOG

Local cannabis business owners left in limbo as AG calls for change in law

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BY RYAN PITKIN

On March 20, when attorney Rod Kight learned Though blindsided by the letter, Kight, a that 22 state attorneys general, including North preeminent international cannabis attorney who Carolina Attorney General and Democratic represents hemp-related businesses around the gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, had just country, including nearly 100 such businesses in submitted a letter to Congress asking that North Carolina alone from his office in Asheville, lawmakers roll back many of the freedoms granted was not surprised. hemp producers and distributors in the 2018 Farm He has in recent years become accustomed to Bill, he felt blindsided. elected officials — persuaded by an odd lobbying As Congress prepares to embark on a five-year consortium made up of anti-marijuana activists, reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the letter asks that big marijuana corporations, and law enforcement committees “address the glaring vagueness created groups — have launched what he calls a “war on in the 2018 Farm Bill that has led to the proliferation hemp,” threatening what has become a $28-billion of intoxicating hemp products across the nation and industry, according to an October 2023 Whitney challenges to the ability for states and localities to Economics report. respond to the resulting health and safety crisis.”

He took to his popular Kight on Cannabis blog to The requested changes threaten an industry that decry and debunk the letter, calling the attempt to has seen tremendous growth in Charlotte and across define intoxication a “fool’s errand.” the state over the last five years, starting with CBD “It is impossible to define ‘intoxication,’ in a and evolving into Delta 8 then THCA products, all of way that is workable from a legal or regulatory which comply with state law limiting THC content to standpoint,” Kight wrote. “Attempting to eliminate or less than 0.3% for such products. control intoxication by redefining ‘hemp,’ prohibiting Anything over the .3% threshold is no longer an entire class of hemp products, and/or via capping considered hemp but defined as marijuana — and the allowed milligrams of THC and other compounds illegal. Yet hemp products can still administer a that are allowed in a product or package is totally varying range of effects that the state attorneys call unnecessary. This approach amounts to a ‘Nanny intoxication and your average consumer might call State’ method of addressing an issue that should getting stoned. instead be based on an adult’s personal preference.”

Blaming “bad actors” for “exploiting” the Farm As he has long advocated, Kight insisted that the Bill, the letter claims that a “wrongly perceived” right approach to the issue would be to restrict access federal pre-emption included in the bill — also by minors, require quality control for production called the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 and manufacturing of hemp and hemp products, — has undermined efforts to control the cannabis and require proper and informative labeling and market, especially in states such as North Carolina marketing of said products. where it is still illegal.

“This three-pronged approach allows adults to “Regardless of your Committees’ intentions, the make an informed decision about the products they reality is that this law has unleashed on our states a choose to purchase and consume while limiting flood of products that are nothing less than a more access to minors and sidestepping the impossible potent form of cannabis, often in candy form that task of defining and regulating products based on is made attractive to youth and children — with their potential to cause intoxication,” Kight wrote. staggering levels of potency, no regulation, no Speaking with Queen City Nerve a few weeks oversight, and a limited capability for our offices to following the issuance of the letter, Kight said he rein them in,” the letter reads. wished the AGs has consulted with experts in the

CROWNTOWN CANNABIS CLOSED ITS COLUMBIA SHOP IN MARCH.

field rather than follow the lead of lobbying groups with a hazy understanding of the industry and the plant it has grown from.

“I think we could have tried to, at a minimum, give them some bigger context and certainly some education about all the different ways in which they were wrong for signing this,” Kight told Queen City Nerve. “Particularly with AGs throughout the country, this sort of reactionary response to hemp products come out in various ways, from legal opinion letters to press reports to these letters that are uninformed and not done in consultation with anyone in the cannabis industry, hemp or otherwise. They just put these things out there without talking to people first.”

‘It would be an instant death’

For Michael Sims, co-founder and co-owner of Crowntown Cannabis, learning of the March 20 letter was like getting back on a ride that he desperately does not want to ride.

The same month the letter was issued, Sims and his team were forced to close their Columbia, South Carolina, location after dealing with unclear laws and questionable enforcement for over a year.

The shop was raided by Columbia police and the state’s South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in January 2023. Agents confiscated pounds of inventory from the shop that they “perceived to

COURTESY OF CC

be marijuana,” arresting the store manager and charging her with conspiracy to sell marijuana.

Sims and his team disputed the allegations, stating that all product in the store was hemp flower, which he believed to be legal in both North and South Carolina as long as it stayed below the .03% THC level stated in law. Sims and his team are still fighting the charges today.

Then in October, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office issued an unfavorable opinion regarding the legal status of delta-8 THC and other similar products in the state.

“It was a death by a thousand paper cuts,” Sims said of the long struggle with South Carolina authorities. “They tried to shut us down and fight us every way possible, and we came out victorious. We probably could have stayed down and survived, but that last letter, them getting rid of the last little bit of things we could legally sell in that store, was the last straw for us.”

Then, like a recurring nightmare, March 20 came along and Sims found his entire business model in jeopardy.

“It was just like, ‘Here we go again,’” Sims recalled.

“We were blindsided, but it’s almost become par for the course with this industry. From what we knew and understood, [we thought] Josh Stein was a supporter of this industry.”

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE Requests for an interview with or comment from Josh Stein’s office went unanswered for this article.

Like Kight, Sims has long been an advocate for strong age restrictions and clear labeling for all hemp products, enforcing such standards in all of his dispensary locations.

He points to multiple studies that show a decrease in opioid use in states where cannabis is legalized as proof that North Carolina is on the right track, and one reason why rolling back certain protections in the Farm Bill, which is set to be reauthorized by Congress in September, would be ill-advised.

A 2021 report from BMJ, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal, linked legal cannabis stores to fewer opioid deaths in the United States, while a Colorado University Boulder report in 2023 found that legalizing recreational cannabis at the state level not only didn’t increase substance use disorders or the use of other illicit drugs among adults but may have reduced alcohol-related problems.

“The issue we have with all of these decisions and things, and ultimately people trying to close us down, is they keep using the same propaganda, the same rhetoric, over and over again,” Sims told Queen City Nerve. “I’m talking about adolescent use, and there’s this public health crisis now on all these issues, but it’s really unfounded. It’s been proven in

legalized states that teen use and adolescent use is down, hard drug use is down, opioid use is down.

“Basically, all the fear tactics and fear mongering that was used in that letter and have been repeated over and over again have been proven to be the opposite of that, where we’ve seen nothing but improvement in these areas.”

Sims said that, over the last five years, his business has transitioned away from CBD, with THC products making up 90% of his business’ sales today.

He doesn’t believe going back to the CBD products alone, his focus when he launched Crowntown Cannabis as Charlotte CBD in 2018, could keep his business afloat today.

“It would be an instant death,” he said.

Unlikely opponents

Kight said that, while some of the opposition has been drummed up by the parties one would expect — parents’ groups and other anti-marijuana outfits alongside law enforcement lobbies that see all cannabis product as no better than any drug off the street — it’s been his experience that the growing marijuana lobby is one of the strongest opponents to the hemp industry.

The NC Compassionate Care Act, which has been stuck in committee in the North Carolina General Assembly [NCGA] since May 2023, aims to legalize medical marijuana in the state but would limit its production and distribution to 10 vertically

JOSH STEIN CAMPAIGN

in the industry, the barriers are low, and there are good and quality products out there that consumers already have access to.”

What the industry needs is more people to speak up in support, he said. Many who harbor the same concerns as Sims try to keep a low profile, carrying on with their work in hopes that they won’t find themselves in the crosshairs as he did in Columbia.

Queen City Nerve reached out to five different Charlotte dispensaries for comment on this story, but received no responses.

“I think a lot of people, their mindset is hear no evil, speak no evil,” Sims said. “A lot of people just want to lay low, but I don’t have that luxury. I learned that many years back, fighting for smokable hemp flower in North Carolina, that I had to become my own lobbyist. I realized that we have very few, if any, voices to support what we do at the state level … But as states around us legalize and bring other things to market, it’s going to become more and more of an issue for us in North Carolina and South Carolina … and for as many people who are trying to push this industry forward, there’s just as many trying to bring us back to the 1940s.”

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

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NC AG JOSH STEIN SIGNED A MARCH 20 LETTER THAT COULD IMPACT THE HEMP INDUSTRY GREATLY.

integrated companies. That would effectively push any aspiring small business owner out of North Carolina’s cannabis industry before widespread legalization even takes place.

“What we see when these types of bills — and I say these types of bills because they’re all the same, particularly in the southeast — they’re promoted behind the scenes by the medical marijuana companies that are from Canada or wherever that want to come in and control the market here,” Kight told Queen City Nerve.

“They pitch these things, and what they do in conjunction with it is they will also then try to eliminate the hemp industry so that they control the monopoly,” he warned.

His hope is that elected officials, whether in US Congress or the NCGA, can recognize hemp as the nascent economy driver that it has become, just in need of stronger regulations around labeling and marketing.

“What we have in North Carolina is a very experienced, solid hemp industry that has been around for a long time and is currently selling good quality products to people throughout North Carolina,” Kight said. “So whether you’re a consumer or whether you’re someone who wants to participate

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

A LEAGUE OF URONEN Charlotte FC fullback lands in the Queen City by way of Finland

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BY SAM SPENCER

Jere Uronen was in a rush to get back to Charlotte. us Finland flies its first team in business class).

On Thursday, March 21, the defender was in “[Uronen] wanted to come back and be here Cardiff, Wales, as part of Finland’s national football for the [Columbus match] which shows me how team. Two days later, his current professional club committed he is to this football club as well, which — Charlotte FC — was set to face the Columbus can only be good news for us,” Smith told Queen City Crew at Bank of America Stadium.

Nerve in March. “He’s willing to listen, he’s willing to The Charlotte match would be critical, as the get better, he’s willing to work hard.”

Crown had gone winless during a brutal threeThough Uronen’s trip from Wales to Charlotte match road trip and Columbus was the defending was straightforward, the course of the Finnish champion. Despite entering their fifth match of the international’s life was a long journey from his season with one win, one draw, and three losses, native country through Sweden, Belgium, France, Charlotte looked better than they ever had, and the and Germany to eventually make it to Charlotte. strongest element was the back line of center backs, Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett, plus fullbacks Hockey or soccer Nathan Byrne and Uronen.

Born on July 13, 1994, Uronen is one of the However, at Charlotte FC’s weekly press conference veteran footballers on Charlotte FC’s first team. He that Thursday, head coach Dean Smith read Uronen’s is a native of Turku, Finland, the country’s oldest city name from a list of players who wouldn’t be and original capital. The city is bilingual (Finnish available for the match against Columbus. It looked and Swedish), and as an important commercial and like the successful back line would be broken for the cultural city, features a wide range of cultures. first time.

“Obviously the weather is quite different there Uronen had different plans. than in Charlotte,” Uronen told Queen City Nerve in Luckily for Charlotte, Uronen didn’t see play in a March interview. the international match, a qualifier for the UEFA Because of Turku’s sports culture, Uronen’s European Football Championship. Despite having interest in soccer wasn’t always assured.

67 caps (international appearances) for Finland, “I’m from a hockey city,” said Uronen. “Not a big Uronen spent the entire match on the bench for the football country.”

4-1 loss to Wales, meaning his legs would be healthy It’s no surprise the young Uronen played both for a match two days later. hockey, Finland’s most popular sport, and soccer The next day, Uronen hopped on an international growing up. As a center in hockey, Uronen told us he flight, arriving early Saturday morning in Charlotte, was a good passer, but “never the strongest, never making himself available for the Columbus match. the fastest,” and no good in a fight.

While João Pedro Reginaldo would get his first start “This frame is quite small, so I should just stay for Charlotte in Uronen’s usual slot at left fullback, away from that,” Uronen told us with a laugh.

Uronen was available for the closing minutes of the At age 14, Uronen’s coaches forced him to choose 2-0 Charlotte win. between the sports.

At the post-match press conference, Smith joked “I think I made the right choice,” said Uronen. that Uronen “flew back economy class late last night” He also made another important choice in to make the game (for the record, Uronen later told Finland, meeting his future wife Minttu in church 15

JERE URONEN (FAR RIGHT) DURING A MATCH AGAINST FC CINCINATTI.

years ago. They married in 2017.

He took his football career seriously, but growing up he didn’t think he would ever be a professional player.

“I never really thought my dreams could be anything more than dreams,” said Uronen. “Coming from a small football country, I knew the odds of making it were smaller than, for example, if you’re from England or Spain.”

Uronen loved the game and played soccer in his spare time with his friends. He didn’t engage in traditional training with cones and obstacles, instead opting for a fun, social experience. It was unstructured practice: shooting competitions, twoon-two scrimmages, and free kick contests.

Eventually, Uronen developed his talents to the point where his first club, Turun Palloseura (TPS), noticed. Uronen was modest about how he got his start, saying he got the opportunity at 16 years old due to injuries at the club.

“Out of the blue, I got a chance with my first team in Finland,” said Uronen. “I played well, and all of a sudden I was a starter … then all of a sudden I had offers from abroad.”

After 18 starts and one goal at TPS in 2011, Uronen made the move to Sweden on a €700,000 transfer fee, and would play in Helsingborg for four years before joining one of the top leagues in Europe in Belgium.

“It was just a dream for me, I never thought I could actually be a pro footballer,” said Uronen. “I feel really lucky obviously, and really proud of it.”

PHOTO BY REBEKAH WILDEN

Sparring with a future teammate

When Uronen’s career took him to Belgium in 2016, he joined Koninklijke Racing Club Genk (KRC Genk), where he would face future Charlotte FC teammate Brecht Dejaegere with Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent (KAA Gent), another team in Belgium’s top division, multiple times a year.

“I played several times against [Uronen],” Dejaegre told Nerve. “I think I had some good games against him … They were always close games between Gent, my team, and Genk, his team.”

During Uronen’s time at Genk, he not only faced Belgian teams but also gained experience in the international competitions, facing teams like RB Salzburg (with a young Erling Haaland), Liverpool, and SSC Napoli.

“It was the biggest dream for me,” Uronen said of his Champions League experience. “It’s just special, especially when you go to their stadiums because you’ve watched tens, maybe hundreds of games [on] TV from those stadiums.”

That experience makes Uronen relatively unique among Charlotte defenders, many of whom are young or haven’t had the opportunity to play in the top leagues where teams can qualify for European play.

“We both have some experience on the international level with Europa League games but also Champions League games,” said Dejaegere. “I think experience can always help a team and both of us have quite some experience on that side. It’s always beneficial for the team and for players.”

In 2017, Uronen and Dejaegere would face off

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE in the round of 16 in the Europa League, with Genk prevailing thanks in part to a Uronen goal. Then, in 2019, Genk won the Belgian championship, defeating Dejaegere’s Gent twice in the round-robin playoff.

“It was good to play against him,” said Dejaegere.

“He always said he liked talking to his opponents.”

Dejaegere would join Charlotte FC in July 2023, less than a month before Uronen.

Making the big move

“Eff it, let’s move to Charlotte,” sounds like a line from a certain Onion article about the Queen City, but it’s also how Uronen came to join Charlotte FC. After his successful time in Belgium, Uronen moved to French side Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) on a reported 1-million-euro transfer fee, but the move to France presented challenges on and off the pitch.

“After a while in France, we kind of all realized with my family that it’s not a good fit,” said Uronen.

“Football-wise, it’s not a good fit for the whole family living there. We were never really happy there, we never settled. Then, you just have to kind of accept that it was a mistake.”

As much as if not more than any Charlotte FC player we’ve spoken with, Uronen centers his wife and family in conversations. It’s clear their happiness is very important to Uronen — and to his quality of play. In France, Uronen felt he wasn’t performing at a high enough level due to the unhappy situation, stating that there were issues on both sides.

His former coach at Brest apparently felt the same;

PHOTO BY SAM SPENCER

URONEN FACES OFF AGAINST INTER MIAMI

PHOTO BY JESSE BOYKIN KIMMEL

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FANS PRESENT URONEN A FINNISH NATIONAL FLAG.

when Nerve reached out to Michel Der Zakarian, a there,” said Uronen. “So Charlotte came calling, and I front of them — just giving some help and advice spokesperson for his current club told us, “The coach think I had one day to decide if this is going to be the in those areas as well has been really helpful for us.” does not wish to respond favorably to this request.” next adventure for us or [not] because the transfer “I think we’ve built a really good base now during Uronen’s current coach, however, told us how window was closing … we ended up saying ‘You the offseason and the first games, and game by important a good fit is to a successful footballer. know, eff it, let’s go for an adventure across the big game it feels better, I think it looks better, and we’re “Massive difference. You want to feel wanted, sea.” on the right track,” said Uronen. “Just as a team, you want to be enjoying yourself,” said Smith. “I’ve I feel that we are really solid. I think Nate [Byrne], always said here I want the culture to be where Never satisfied Adil [Malanda], Drew [Privett] … they’ve played people come to work everyday wanting to come to Uronen has been a stalwart on defense since really well. I think [goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina] has work with a smile on their face … you can have a joining Charlotte FC last August. He’s appeared in 18 a lot less work to do than last year, which is always bit of a laugh and a joke but work hard to improve matches for the club, starting for the team when he’s a good sign.” ... What I’ve seen from Jere so far is that he wants not on international duty.

The introduction of Smith as coach has changed to do that.” a lot for Uronen — and his teammates — at At first, however, the August heat was a major Smith, following his own advice, couldn’t help change from Europe, especially while going though Charlotte this year. but add a joke to his comments. “Big difference from big changes with his family.

“Obviously, the philosophy is really different this Finland’s weather to North Carolina weather, that’s year.

Everyone knows that every single football “It was scary going to a different continent with for sure. He’ll probably get through as much [SPF 50 two little kids, but I know I have the best wife coach has their own way of playing and it’s always sunscreen] as I do.” with me who will be there for me and for the kids,” different,” said Uronen. “There’s quite a big contrast Because he and his family wanted a change, said Uronen. “It’s been great so far. This city’s just between our coach now and Lattanzio last year in Uronen asked Brest for a new opportunity and went fantastic, the club is amazing, and all four of us have their way of thinking. For me, there’s never [a] right on loan to Schalke in Germany to help them in a really enjoyed our time here.” or wrong way of playing football; it’s just whenever relegation battle, where he is fondly remembered as When I ask Jere Uronen how his season has been you have a coach who wants to play in a certain way a “great guy” by the communications staff. so far, he gives a reasonable answer: “Lot of good, then as a player you do everything you can to play at Uronen’s family had a much better experience as lot of things to be better at obviously, like every your highest level.” well.

While Uronen has accomplished a lot in his career, season you never really feel satisfied as a player or “Fantastic experience. Just incredible for me,” as a team, no matter the results.”

Finland has never made the World Cup. Uronen is Uronen said of Schalke. “Unfortunately, [while] we Again, it was a modest response: Charlotte’s back ready as soon as it happens. had a really good six months there when I was there, line has been seen as one of the highlights of the “I’ve been really, really lucky with my career. [and] we got a lot of new players in January, it just team this season, conceding only eight goals in There’s only one thing I haven’t checked off my wasn’t enough.” list, which is playing in the World Cup with my eight matches as of this writing.

Schalke missed their target by one win and the “Both the fullbacks have been leaders in that back country,” said Uronen. “For me, I just go with the team was relegated to Germany’s second league, four … so they’ve got the experience of playing a mentality, let’s go show how good I am, let’s enjoy meaning Uronen’s loan contract was void and he lot of games and they can give really good advice to this moment, because you never know if you’ll get was on his way back to France. His family stayed in Adi [Malanda] and [Andrew Privett] who have been anything like that again.”

Finland as he looked for somewhere else to go. playing there so far,” said Smith. “Likewise in front of INFO@QCNERVE.COM “The club saw it on my face that I wasn’t happy them as well — they’ve had some young players in

SAT 4/20

THE TOASTERS, CORPORATE FANDANGO, SOUTH SIDE PUNX, THE UNSUSTAINABLES

INFINITY’S END 4/20 FESTIVAL

4/20

Celebrating its 55th birthday serving Charlotte as a family-run head shop, Infinity’s End will hold 20-percent-off sales at all four of its locations on Upstroke guitar, walking bass and offbeat drums 4/20, but the real party’s on the west side. Partnering define second-wave ska’s sonic palette, exemplified with neighbors Rhino Market and Town Brewing, this

by The Toasters, formed by Brit expat Rob Hingley block party will include food, beer, live music, local in the 1980s. Forty years on, the NYC ska pioneers vendors, local artists and, of course, cannabis. Food remain undaunted and undimmed. Antic horns options include Cutting Board CLT, Don’s Jamaican and smart-ass attitudes inform the third-wave ska Kitchen, and Katsu Kart, plus an equally impressive punk of Greensboro’s Corporate Fandango. The nonlocal music lineup: Modern Moxie, Cosmic Collective, ska outlier on the bill, South Side Punx, provides Tecoby Hines, The Bleus, Woody and more. Also a soundtrack for the apocalypse with martial check for giveaways (including a PlayStation 5), a manifestos like “All Quiet on the Eastern Front.”

Super Abari arcade, raffles and more.

Melodic lovers rock and traditional reggae power the More: Free; April 20, noon-8 p.m.; 800 Grandin rocksteady grooves of Carrboro’s The Unsustainables.

Road, infinitysend.com More: $15-$17; April 17, 8 p.m.; The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road; themilestone.club

SAT 4/20

SUN 4/21

SUN 4/21

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, OKAN

BEAUTY & BARBERS ICON AWARDS THE THING, THE SIMPLICITY Are all retro rock bands producing crime scene music GALA

DOCUMENTARY SUPERSTAR TALK: CLAIRE AVE’LALLEMANT Courtesy of Claire Ave’Lallement

DOCUMENTARY SUPERSTAR TALK: CLAIRE AVE’LALLEMANT

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WED 4/17

Deciding to forgo the traditional college education path, Charlotte-based film editor Claire Ave’Lallemant took the hands-on approach, working in the editorial department for projects such as the AHC series Gunslingers. It was her role as assistant editor on Cecilia Aldarondo’s award-winning feature documentary, Memories of a Penitent Heart, released in 2016, that introduced her to the “sheer power”of the documentary medium. She’s gone on to work as lead editor on projects like Choir, Netflix’s The Pharmacist, and Dogs.

Claire’s projects aim to bring more compassion into a tumultuous world, keenly interested in stories that center LGBTQIA+ folks, women, generational trauma, mental health and memory.

More: Free; April 20, 3-5 p.m.; The Photo Outfitters: 4732 Monroe Road, Suite 130; instagram.com/ unconventionalfilmschool

Heavy metal-inspired instrumental guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela draws on classical music, bluesbased rock and flamenco. After meeting in Mexico City’s vibrant heavy metal underground, the duo joined Ireland’s bustling busking scene before finding international acclaim with performances that fuse pointillist arpeggios, rasping blues riffs and percussive rhythms. Taking its name from the word for heart in the Afro Cuban folk religion Santeria, OKAN is Cuban-born violinist Elizabeth Rodriguez and percussionist Magdelys Savigne. With the propulsive “Eshu Nigüe (Eleggua),” the pair fuses their vocals in a powerful mantra that recalls Finnish folk juggernaut Värttinä.

More: $49.50; April 21, 8 p.m.; Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

For more than two decades, The Dooby Shop School of Cosmetology has offered more than just hair and beauty services but also scholarships for low-income students through its adjoining Skill Builders Institute.

Founded by Terese Swan Hutchison, the shop is NC’s sole Black female-owned NAACAS-accredited school of cosmetology, serving as a symbol of opportunity and empowerment. The Beauty and Barber Icon Awards Gala serves as a fundraiser for students who may not qualify for other scholarships due to various barriers while recognizing excellence in the local beauty and barber industry. Lyfe Jennings will perform.

More: $100-$2,500; April 21; 6-10 p.m.; Luxe Event Venue, 10213 John Adams Road, tinyurl.com/ BeautyBarbersGala

RODRIGO Y GABRIEL Photo by Christopher Dube

4/21

WED 4/24 videos now? As good as The Thing’s louche and sneering fuzz guitar swagger “Neptune” was, the NYC psych-garage four-piece’s follow-up single is better. With urgent buzzing guitars and a disaffected Arctic Monkeys-on-methadone drawl, “Midnight” pairs a churning surf-rock maelstrom of distortion, decadence and bad attitude with a grainy blackand-white crime caper video. On “Pain Reliever Fever Reducer,” Charleston’s The Simplicity unleash waves of blistering psych-blues biker-rock guitar licks played on blown-out speakers, accompanying it with an oversaturated color crime caper video.

More: $17.50; April 24, 9 p.m.; Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.; snugrock.com

THUR 4/25

Ongoing 4/26-4/28

TALKING POLICY IN THE QUEEN CITY BRIGHTFIRE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

THE TOASTERS Photo by Bastian Greshake

4/17

UNC Charlotte’s Public Policy Ph.D. program hosts the sixth annual discussion panel on public policy featuring community members who bring unique perspectives to a comprehensive dialogue that aims to deepen our understanding of the complex issues surrounding homelessness and housing policy. The panel, moderated by former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Watson Roberts, will feature Stephanie Southworth, assistant professor in Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Sociology; Lori Thomas, executive director of UNC Charlotte’ Urban Institute; Warren Wooten, Housing Services manager with the city of Charlotte; and Sharmaiye Haynes, codirector at QC Family Tree.

More: Free; April 25; 7 p.m.; The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th St.; tinyurl. com/TalkingPolicyUNCC

Traditionally, fire was used for agricultural, land management and other practical purposes. BrightFire Music and Arts Festival celebrates these critical uses by early societies as well as what flame has come to symbolize today: new beginnings, growth and emergence. The two-day genre-bending festival will include live rock, funk, jazz, blues, world/folk, hip-hop and other performances as well as fire performances, a comprehensive arts market, food trucks, storytelling and poetry, yoga and more. Kick things off on Friday with an ethereal fire-lighting ceremony that will progressively build over the weekend, culminating with dancing and drumming.

More: Free-$200; April 26-28; times vary; 281 Odell School Road, Concord; charlottenewmusic.org

SAT 4/27

SAT 4/27

INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS & DANCE CELEBRATION

4/27

4/26-4/28

WOODY, GOOD DEAL, ZACH KING

Guitarist/songwriter John Carstarphen and drummer Jacob Palladino are alumni of The New Creatures, a defunct McAdenville combo that drew inspiration from surf, country and classic rock. The pair is joined by bassist Cohen Malz and pedal-steel player David Finch for Woody, a band that crafts similarly fresh yet familiar music, but this time with more songwriting dynamics and brio. Woody takes a great thing and makes it better. Raleigh’s Good Deal trades in rollicking folk rock with a touch of Tame Impala-style spaciness. Accomplished flat-picking guitarist and folk singer Zach King fills the bill.

More: $7; April 27, 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

THE THING Photo by Owen Labate

4/24

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INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS & DANCE CELEBRATION Courtesy of Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center

The Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center hosts this diverse event featuring a wide range of eccentric dance and circus workshops to participate in along with live performances and activities. Hop across cultures in workshops like hula dancing from Hawaii, juggling from Latin America, belly dancing from the Middle East, and the Chinese scarf dance. Don’t forget garba (India), trapeze (France) and capoeira (Brazil). Enjoy Hawaiian pupus by L&L Hawaiian Grill alongside sweet and savory Indian snacks.

Attendees can also make their own lei or head outside to try out the German wheel and Polynesian dancing by local group Siva Tasi Ho’okahi Autahi Nui. More: $5-$15; April 27; 2-6 p.m.; Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center; 9315 E Monroe Road; cltcirquedancecenter.org

BRIGHTFIRE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Courtesy of Charlotte New Music

ARTS & CULTURE FEATURE

A TO Z IN THC A guide to Charlotte dispensaries

BY RAYNE ANTRIM & RYAN PITKIN

It was just five years ago that folks looking for CBD only had a few options for storefronts in the Charlotte area. Fast forward just a half-decade — as we’ve seen the evolution of the hemp industry capitalizing on the popularity of Delta 8, Delta 9, THCA and other similar products — and the city has seen a proliferation of businesses that have jumped into this fledgling market, each with their own offerings and atmosphere to set them apart.

We picked out 20 shops that are worth checking out on this 4/20 holiday.

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APOTHECA CANNABIS DISPENSARY

the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in late 2018, Blue CAROLINA HEMP CABINET COURTESY OF CHC Flowers has since expanded to six locations — Five locations in Charlotte, one in Cornelius; three in Charlotte and three in the High Country. CALI VAPORS ELITE SMOKE SHOP apotheca.org With a mission to deliver a safe and reliable Their highly educational website will answer Four locations around Charlotte; calivapors.com GREENLIFE REMEDIES product while maintaining its reputation through questions ranging from an in-depth look at the Though they focus more on vapes and glass 501 Penman St.; 8700 Pineville-Matthews Road, transparency and sustainability, Apotheca opened endocannabinoid system to “Will I pass a drug test?” pieces, Cali Vapors also partners with cbdMD, which Suite 340, Pineville; greenlifeclt.com in 2019 as “a trustworthy source of reliable and makes health-focused CBD products.

The two “cannabis-loving Midwesterners” who sustainable cannabis, kratom and microdosing BUDDHA’S BAZAAR brought Greenlife Remedies to the NC hemp market magic mushroom products.” The dispensary carries 9124 South Tryon St., Suite F; four other locations in CAROLINA HEMP CABINET in 2018 did so after having worked for decades in CBD and THC gummies, chocolates, delta-9 seltzers, greater Charlotte area; buddhasbazaar.com 3625 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, #407; various parts of the cannabis industry elsewhere. taffy, caramels, pot brownies, cookies and more, This modern head shop largely focuses on thehempcabinet.com They offer a unique feature for shopping by browsing including microdosing psychedelic mushrooms glassware like water pipes, hookahs, bubblers and Described as an herbal medicine store, Hemp different benefit categories: calming, euphoria, and kratom supplements like concentrated shots, others, as well as “gardening goods” including CBD, Cabinet carries TCHA and CBD products in the form powders and easy-to-dose capsules. hemp, Delta-8 products and more. They’ve got of flower, edibles, capsules, vapes, live hash rosin, focus, recovery, relaxation and sleep. “zengineers” — their version of the Geek Squad — BLUE FLOWERS CANNABIS DISPENSARY to help anyone new to the alphabet soup that is the and topicals. The shop proudly states that its THCA THE HAPPY CAMPER LOUNGE & flower is grown indoors with organic nutrients, 4717 Sharon Road, 2B; 3020-C Prosperity Church THC and CBD scene. guaranteeing clean flowers with no threats of DISPENSARY Road; 601 S. Kings Drive, Suite FF; blueflowersnc.com Dispensary, 2017 N. Davidson St.; Lounge and harmful chemicals present in the buds.

Owners Joslyn and husband Colby opened one of dispensary, 3100 N. Davidson St.; the first dispensaries in Charlotte shortly following beahappycamper.com CROWNTOWN CANNABIS The Happy Camper offers quality above all else in 2419 Central Ave.; 3201 N Davidson St.; cltcbd.com its vapes, edibles, smokeables and even Staff Picks One of the first dispensary-style storefronts to in case you’re feeling indecisive. The dispensary open in Charlotte back in 2018 as Charlotte CBD, is community-focused with regularly scheduled Crowntown Cannabis has two Charlotte locations events like jazz and chess nights for an all-around and a third in Concord that all offer a huge selection inclusive experience. of products ranging from vapes and honey to tea and topical creams. The dispensary also has a CannaBUS, taking their store on the road, and can be booked to HEMP HOP CANNABIS DELIVERY 227 Old Hebron Road; hemphop.co show up at a party, bar or event.

After witnessing the benefits of hemp products with a family member, the owners of Hemp Hop DELTA BEVERAGES were on a mission to deliver the same benefits Various locations; drinkdelta.com to others … literally. The dispensary delivery More of a distributor than a dispensary, these service provides same-day delivery for Charlotte, drinks are made with hemp-derived THC and Huntersville, Mint Hill, Belmont, Cornelius and other prioritize the cannabis effect above all else. They’re cities in the greater Charlotte area. available at dozens of retail locations around COURTESY OF BFCD Charlotte, just check the website for a store locator.

BLUE FLOWERS CANNABIS DISPENSARY

ARTS & CULTURE FEATURE

MITTY’S CANNABIS CAFE

216 Iverson Way, B2; mittyscannabiscafe.com The first of its kind in Charlotte, Mitty’s offers CBD-infused coffees and teas alongside products INFINITY’S END like baked goods, tinctures and flower. The website Four locations around Charlotte Charlotte’s original smoke shop since 1969, helpfully breaks down all the different compounds Infinity’s End has everything from disc golf bags they put to use so you know what the difference to tarot decks … from incense to flower. They’ve between Delta-10, THC-11 and CBG is. stayed alive for 55 years by keeping up with what’s new, and that means staying up on the evolving PREMEZ cannabis industry in North Carolina. They currently 9211 North Tryon St., Suite 10B; 709 Louise Ave.; serve drinks, edibles, flower, mushrooms, tinctures, thepremez.com topicals, vapes, wax and more.

Noted for their customer service, Premez offers an array of CBD products including some we haven’t seen elsewhere like CBD coffee or bath and beauty KANNA CBD products such as bath bombs and massage butter.

209 W. Worthington Ave.; 440 E McCullough Drive, Get a closer look at the product with their Smokus Suite A-130; kannacbd.org Kanna CBD is a family-owned business Fokus carrying case. comprising an indoor hydroponic hemp grow and two storefronts in South End and the University PRIME SUNSHINE CBD area. The dispensary offers an in-store rewards 121 Greenwich Road; primesunshine.com Founded as an online business in 2014 by Ellen program and daily discount codes. The shop offers beverages like the cannabis-infused Pretty High for Tacher, Prime Sunshine CBD was one of the first to open a CBD storefront in 2018. The dispensary offers a Dry Guy mocktail. wellness products like supplements and nutritional products like blood pressure support.

QUEEN HEMP COMPANY’S NICOLE BURNETTE (LEFT) AND GAIL SYFERT.

COURTESY OF QHC

THE WELLINGTON SHOP

QUEEN HEMP COMPANY

201 S. College St., Suite 150; thewellington.shop Woman-owned and founded, The Wellington Shop’s Linsey Beford partners with yoga instructors, chiropractors and other wellness experts who align with their mission of providing holistic medicine to others with CBD products. The Wellington on Wheels also allows Beford’s team to bring their experienced staff and unique CBD products straight to the customer.

SEED TO SOUL

10416 E. Independence Blvd., Suite 610, Matthews; yourcbdsourcenc.com This family-owned business was opened after the owners experienced the benefits that CBD had on their own lives. The shop offers oils, edibles, vapes, topicals, and even CBD treatments for your pet’s health. “More people are becoming aware of the life-changing effects that CBD can have within their wellness journeys and we want to help guide them,” the owners wrote on their website. “We are passionate about this industry and are committed to understanding the studies done on the benefits CBD can have.”

Various locations; queenhempcompany.com A woman-owned-and-operated business, hence the name, Queen Hemp Company is a vertically integrated indoor grower and wholesale/retail distributor of hemp products. You can buy their products online, or at spots around town like Berrybrook Farms, Common Market, Rhino Market and more.

624 Tyvola Rd Ste 105-A; seedtosouldispensary.com This dispensary believes in a holistic approach with natural remedies for healing through their natural products including THCA flower, Delta-9 edibles, cartridges, disposables, tinctures, baked goods and more. “Our mission revolves around enhancing the accessibility of natural healing with cannabis and other plant-based products,” the shop’s website reads. “We firmly advocate for the decriminalization and destigmatization of these incredible natural remedies, recognizing their potential to transform lives.”

VAST CANNABIS

YOUR CBD SOURCE

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

SEED TO SOUL DISPENSARY

COURTESY OF STS

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8424 Old Statesville Road, Suite 400; vastcannabis. com If you’re feeling foggy about what exactly is in the products you’re buying, just hop on Vast’s website and click on “Lab Results” right there on top, where you’ll find the documentation that breaks down each product sold in the shop.

MUSIC FEATURE

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Charlotte power-emo trio Momophobia blends finesse and ferocity

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BY PAT MORAN

Just because Sam Howard and Santiago Morales named their muscular, grooving, grinding emo-core trio Momophobia doesn’t mean the two musicians and songwriters fear their moms.

“There’s a running joke I always tell people that I’m scared of my mom,” Morales says, referencing the band’s thought-provoking, sometimes headscratching name.

“We don’t go for one show without [someone asking] how to pronounce Momophobia,” says Howard, who half-jokingly considers launching a Mother’s Day themed line of merch to capitalize on misconceptions about the meaning of the band’s moniker.

According to the esoterically titled Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, momophobia means “the fear of speaking off the cuff or from the heart; the terror of saying the wrong thing and having to watch someone’s smile fade as they realize you’re not who they thought you were.”

Though both Howard and Morales agree in doubting that momophobia’s pensive and poetic meaning has any impact on the group’s songwriting, they say so with a hint of second guessing. Certainly, a sense of mistaken identities and fast-changing opinions infuses the band’s debut single “Orchid Skies.”

As Howard’s grainy bass-led riff propels the groove forward like a rusted gigantic gear grinding, his vocal rips free from the song’s cocoon of layered thrash to unleash a soaring pop lyric laced with the uncertainty and heartbreak of an averted gaze.

“Social events don’t feel the same/ I’m always coming to an afterthought/ Showing your true colors/ Hoping you’d fall for me/ You’d never look at me now...”

A chugging bass-and-guitar combo burrows through rippling slashes of Morales’ decaying rhythm guitar before he launches a beautiful yet brutal lead. His guitar chimes, rings and rages, swiftly dovetailing into a shouted, distorted chorus “Why can’t you/ Just see me alive/ So I can see your eyes/ In these orchid skies...”

“I’ve had that feeling of disappointing someone by saying the wrong thing, and I can relate to it,” Howard says. “That’s why I like the [band’s] name.”

Howard, Morales and drummer Grayson Gulley bring Momophobia’s mix of spiraling melodies, multi-edged meanings and shape-shifting hard rock to The Milestone on April 21 for a show that celebrates the release of the band’s debut five-track EP Duality of Dreams, which drops April 20.

Forging influences into a sound

Far from fearing his mom, Howard credits her SANTIAGO MORALES (RIGHT) AND SAM HOWARD OF MOMOPHOBIA. with instilling in him a love of music.

In the meantime, Morales never joined a band, name that didn’t already exist,” Howard says. At “My mom is a classically trained concert pianist,” though he played guitar in his church and continued the time, Howard was taking bass lessons from he says. “I still get to hear her play sometimes, and to hone his skills. On New Years’ Eve, just as 2021 musician Karl Gunther, who also local managed it’s absolutely the best.” turned into 2022, Morales texted Howard and bands. Howard pitched his two favorite imaginary He started guitar lessons at age 9 and absolutely proposed that the two of them launch a band. band names to Gunther: The Evil I Collective and hated them until he discovered pop-punk bands like “Santiago came over to my house and we jammed Momophobia. The latter won the day.

Green Day and 21 Pilots.

The band is young; Howard and Morales are 19 once,” Howard says. “He was the best guitar player I “It went from there,” he recalls. “I’ve been in and had ever met.” while Gulley is 18. From the start, Momophobia’s out of bands since 2019, but I’ve been playing since Morales remembers that their single jam session members were faced with a challenge that has I was a kid.” stymied far more experienced players, as all sparked “a fire in his heart.”

In contrast, Morales didn’t pick up a guitar until he In January 2022, Momophobia officially launched. three are striving to blend their disparate musical was 13. A self-taught player, he took inspiration from Drummer Duncan Brown joined the fold for a year inspirations into a satisfying whole.

Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King.

“It’s interesting trying to find ways to apply all before Seth Brown stepped in, playing off-and-on A blues kid growing up, as he got older Morales with the band for the latter half of 2023. Howard of our influences together, because we come from was drawn to the harder rocking sounds of bands notes that Gulley, who joined the band in January, different backgrounds in music,” Howard says. The like Smashing Pumpkins, then onto heavier stuff like is the band’s first drummer that doesn’t share a last result of that process, Morales says, is a marvelous Slipknot. “I’ve always [resonated] with post-rock.” name with Momophobia’s previous drummers. mishmash.

Howard and Santiago met at Mint Hill Middle “He doesn’t have to change [his name] to Brown,” “With my guitar playing, my inspirations School, where they immediately bonded. The pair, says Morales deadpanning. “We threw away that have always been melodic,” says Morales, whose however, never got the chance to make music initiation a long time ago.” preferences run from intricate players like Guthrie together. Life intervened, sending them to separate Since Momophobia’s launch, Howard has also Govan to equally tuneful yet softer guitarists like high schools — Independence for Howard and played bass with a few other Charlotte bands, John Mayer. “I’m not into just noodling [and] Butler for Morales. including impassioned punk outfit Dead Senate. technique. I want to make my guitar sing.”

Howard played in several cover bands in high From August to November 2023, he also played with Gulley grew up listening to his parents’ emo and school, including one called Renegade that included sludge punk crew Wastoid. rock albums — bands like Chiodos and Hawthorne future Modern Alibi guitar player Sloane Letourneau.

Years before launching Momophobia, Howard Heights.

After helping to launch The Sand Dolls, his first had longed to be in a band. Whenever he came After beginning drum lessons at 9, he continued band that played original songs, Howard had a falling across a word or phrase he thought would make a for eight years, and now works as a drum instructor out with that group’s lead singer. Resolving never to cool band name, Howard would write it down. himself at Learn Music in Cornelius. When Gulley have that experience again, Howard determined to “My only criteria was that it had to be a band came to Momophobia, he was used to playing the form his own band where he would sing. harder, faster grooves of bands like Silverstein. He PHOTO BY EVAN DENNIS

MUSIC FEATURE

might hear in other songs,” Gulley says. “It’s an a badass bass riff that Howard brought to the band.

“It was something we jammed on, and we all ambient, ‘go-with-the-flow’ groove.” wrote the lyrics together,” Howard says. “We played currently also plays in a cover band that specializes Conjoined music about conflicted this house show the same week that we wrote the in hard rock bordering on scream, an aggressive and song, and we finished it before that show.” willfully experimental and dissonant subgenre of feelings It all clicked quite well, Morales remembers. The Just as there has been give-and-take between emo. band came up with the instrumental track in one Howard’s and Morales’ shared love for Queen of band members in devising the band’s sound, day, and then took another day to write lyrics. the Stone Age raises questions about Momophobia’s songwriting has also been a collaborative processes, “It was a very short process,” Howard says. “Later, genre and classification, especially with a 4/20 so integrated that’s it’s often hard for individual when we were writing songs for the EP, I was release show on the books. Can a power trio that Momophobia members to know when individual thinking to myself, ‘Why can’t we have ideas coming threads layers of soaring pop-rock melodies through contributions begin and end. out as quickly as they did then?’”

That quality is exemplified by Momophobia’s thickets of thrash while entwining knotty grooves “Orchid Skies” was cut at Knothole Recording with yearning vocals be considered a stoner band? vocals. How the band members view each song, Studio where it was produced by audio alchemist is what determines whether Howard or Morales Howard emphatically says yes.

Boo English.

“At the beginning of the band I was into stoner- sings the lead. The ideal vocal allocation is a 50/50 Howard credits Chloe James, frontwoman for rock bands like Kyuss,” Howard says. “The bluesy side split, Howard says. If there’s one song that demands psychedelic goth-rock combo True Lilith, with of the music spectrum influenced a lot of my writing.” Morales’ voice as lead, Howard will sing back up, or introducing the band to English and his Knothole vice versa.

Morales also accepts the stoner designation. facility.

“I find [that approach] interesting and a lot more “It’s because [our music] is very airy,” Morales “Boo’s awesome,” Morales says. “We love him.” says of the band’s more ethereal and impressionist refreshing,” Morales says.

English also produced Momophobia’s follow-up The songwriting partners will even write for each excursions. “It’s like looking up at the sky or flying.” single “Maybe I’m Crazy.” Opening with a recorded Gulley cites “Mariposa,” one of five tunes on the other’s voices on occasion. phone message and delicate whirlpooling guitar, “Sam gives me a different palette to work with,” Duality of Dreams EP, as a stoner (or at least stonerthe sophomore single may be Momophobia’s most Morales says.

“Each time we write songs, it’s never adjacent) song. spacious song to date. The production puts distance “There is a bridge and a build that are definitely the same vibe.” between Morales’ grimy and guttural guitar and The band’s debut single, “Orchid Skies,” began as long compared to other builds and bridges you Howard’s questioning vocal, which drifts like

PHOTO BY EVAN DENNIS

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

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GRAYSON GULLEY OF MOMOPHOBIA

woodsmoke above a blasted landscape.

“Maybe I’m crazy, definitely lazy/ And I can’t seem to find myself/ I lost my heart on/ The way down the drain/ and I can’t find the end...”

While Momophobia’s latest single “Prosthetics” was also recorded at Knothole, the melodic, prowling and growling track was produced by Atticus Lane, and not English. Howard met Lane while Howard was working with Dead Senate. Howard and Lane subsequently worked closely on several tracks for Wastoid.

When Momophobia played S.O.S. Fest at The Milestone in November 2023, Lane caught the band’s set. After the show he asked Howard if he could produce Momophobia’s music. The trio jumped at the chance, as they count themselves fans of Lane’s work with Wastoid, Subvertigo and Cosmic Twynk.

“We picked Atticus because of how happy we were with other projects he had been a part of, and we knew he could do our sound well,” Howard says.

“Prosthetics” is the sound of full metal alchemy.

Abrasive bass undergirds wailing, warning-siren guitar, which sounds like somebody punched a hole in Morales’ amp. His guitar pivots and curls like a snake charmer’s melody as Howard’s vocals shimmer like heat waves on a highway.

“You forgot about me/ and thats all I’ll know/ I never wanted to be your zero/ The night rides/ The evening sun/ Go cry about it/ You’ll have no one...”

As a foretaste of the Duality of Dreams EP, “Prosthetic” deepens and broadens Momophobia’s palette. Howard hopes that the single and the rest of Momophobia’s music have a deep impact on listeners. Good music helps him through hard times, Howard says.

“I like music where I see themes that I can relate to,” he says. “I hope that’s something people can take away from our EP and any of our songs.”

“With a lot of [Momophobia’s] songs there are themes where people can be like, ‘Yeah, I understand that,’” Gulley says.

“The title Duality of Dreams fits the EP because two of the songs are very happy, and then there are other songs where you’re going through things,” Morales adds.

He says he treasures music that makes him feel exactly how he imagines the songwriter feels.

Morales hopes Momophobia’s music can replicate that feeling and capture complex, sometimes antithetical feelings.

“I want [listeners] to say, ‘I know how that feels.’”

Morales says. “I want them to feel at home.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

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ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Toasters w/ Corporate Fandango, South Side Punx, The Unsustainables (The Milestone) The Young Dubliners w/ Tom Eure, Amelia Osbourne (Neighborhood Theatre) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights at Canteen (Camp North End) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Cowboy Junkies (Booth Playhouse) Grace Pettis w/ Robby Hecht, Al Olender (Evening Muse) The 502s w/ Daniel Nunnelee (The Fillmore) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Giant Rooks (The Underground) CD Ghost w/ Drook, Deion Reverie (Snug Harbor) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Annie Haden (Goldie’s) Songwriter’s Circle (Starlight on 2nd) COVER BANDS Still Crazy (Paul Simon tribute) (Middle C Jazz) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night (Starlight on 22nd)

COVER BANDS RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles (Belk Theater) House of Funk Celebrates Prince (Middle C Jazz) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage w/ Grasping Straws, Roman Candles (Petra’s) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Jade Bird (Evening Muse) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Satsang w/ Tim Snider (Neighborhood Theatre) Yo Momma’s Big Fat Booty Band w/ Electro Dust (Visulite Theatre) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Opera Carolina: Turandot (Belk Theater) COVER BANDS Ride the Lightning (Metallica tribute) (Amos’ Southend)

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Tremont (Amos’ Southend) Featherpocket (Birdsong Brewing) THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Safari Room w/ Swansgate (Evening Muse) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Blind Guardian (The Underground) JJ Grey & Mofro (The Amp Ballantyne) The Eyebrows w/ Flame Tides, Rabbit Fighter JAZZ/BLUES (Petra’s) E Dub w/ Amaree, BLE DLO, DJ J Glove (Snug Harbor) 4/20 Festival: Shake the Dust, Council Ring, The COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Donner Deads (Starlight on 22nd) Dailey & Vincent (Booth Playhouse) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Ryan Trotti Band w/ Jake Haldenvang (Goldie’s) Tosco Music Party (Knight Theater) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Wild Love w/ Nolen Durham (Evening Muse) Rainbow Rave (Blackbox Theater) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Digital Noir w/ DJ Spider, Sanityana (The Milestone) Opera Carolina: Turandot (Belk Theater) Sinetology presents Social Media feat. Baby Cousin Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (Petra’s) Tay Tay, Lon Lon, FZXXX (Snug Harbor) ChemLab presents Rogue Interia w/ Hexxus COVER BANDS (Tommy’s Pub) Jazmine Hinton & Gena Chambers sing Alicia Keys & FAMILY Toni Braxton (Middle C Jazz) The Jolly Lollies (Camp North End) JAZZ/BLUES FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Emmet Cohen Trio (Stage Door Theater)\ ROCK/PUNK/METAL Rick Braun (Middle C Jazz) Secret Monkey Weekend (3102 VisArt) Bucher Brown w/ Son Little (Neighborhood Theatre) The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) IAMDYNAMITE w/ Family Video (Evening Muse) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B The Driver Era (The Fillmore) Mariah the Scientist (The Fillmore) Filth w/ Heavy//Hitter, Coma Waves, Abyssal Frost, CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Blaakhol (The Milestone) Opera Carolina: Turandot (Belk Theater) Mutant Strain w/ Motocrossed, Tombstone Poetry, FUNK/JAM BANDS Gluetrap (Snug Harbor) Caleb Davis & the 4/20 Jam w/ Jonahan Birchfield POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ (Goldie’s) Zingara (Blackbox Theater) COVER BANDS JAZZ/BLUES Don’t Blink (Primal Brewery) Emmet Cohen Trio (Stage Door Theater) Trial by Fire (Journey tribute) (Visulite Theatre) The Hi-Jivers w/ RC Roadshow Duo (Goldie’s) Rick Braun (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Tyler Braden (Coyote Joe’s)

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Momophobia w/ Young Death God, Jamus, SWAE, The Clearcoats (The Milestone) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Hazy Sunday (Petra’s) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Frxsh: Charlotte Artist Discovery Showcase (Neighborhood Theatre) Soul Sundays feat. Guy Nowchild, Jeremy Saxe (Starlight on 22nd) JAZZ/BLUES Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) Eric Mintel Quartet (Middle C Jazz) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Peter & Brendan Mayer (Evening Muse) Allison & Jake w/ Brent Cates (Goldie’s) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Rodrigo y Gabriela w/ OKAN (Knight Theater) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Opera Carolina: Turandot (Belk Theater)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Attila w/ Born of Osiris, Traitors, Extortionist, Not Enough Space (The Underground) Emperor X w/ Tourneforte, Moderneverything., The Whiskey Predicament (The Milestone) The Thing w/ The Simplicity (Snug Harbor) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Dave Killian (3102 VisArt) Josh Daniel w/ Jim Brock, Kerry Daniels (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights at Canteen (Camp North End) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ TOTO (Ovens Auditorium) FUNK/JAM BANDS The Free Label w/ Dysfunktone (Evening Muse) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night (Starlight on 22nd)

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Deadharrie w/ Flannelmouth, Mariah Van Kleef, ROCK/PUNK/METAL Jackson Fig (The Milestone) Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol w/ Flagman (Snug NEEDTOBREATHE (PNC Music Pavilion) Harbor) A24 Night: Cuzco (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) Hans Williams w/ Wilfred (Evening Muse) OPEN MIC Ellie Morgan w/ Lindsey Schroeder, Nehemiah Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Young-Chhaylee Khat Lawson, Bart Copeland (Visulite Theatre) (Evening Muse) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Bombadil (Neighborhood Theatre) TUESDAY, APRIL 23 POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ ROCK/PUNK/METAL Matteo Bocelli (Knight Theater) Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill) FUNK/JAM BANDS Beach Fossils w/ Nation of Language (The Joseph Gallo Band w/ Square Roots Duo (Goldie’s) Underground) Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe Ridgeway w/ Navtec, Coma Therapy, Feeling Format & Bar) (The Milestone) COVER BANDS Soft Blue Shimmer w/ Keep, Trembler, Clearbody Tony Tatum Experience (Babyface tribute) (Middle (Snug Harbor) C Jazz) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Kadey Ballard Trio (3102 VisArt) FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Sam on Someday (Evening Muse) ROCK/PUNK/METAL JAZZ/BLUES The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) UNC Charlotte Jazz Ensemble feat. John Love: Traxx Trio (3102 VisArt) Uptown Sinatra (Booth Playhouse) Killakoi w/ Dovecage, Forever May Fall, American POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Theory (Amos’ Southend) George Clanton w/ Full Body 2 (Neighborhood Theatre) We Three (The Underground) Hozier (PNC Music Pavilion) Jake Haldenvang w/ Bald Brothers (Goldie’s) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Kaska Sun w/ Charlotte Culture Party, Benton The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight (The Fillmore) (Petra’s)

MONDAY, APRIL 22

Private Hell w/ Pretty Baby, Pollute, Junk (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES Carol Albert (Middle C Jazz) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC BJ Barham (Evening Muse) MIXED GENRE/EXPERIMENTAL/FESTIVAL Blood Sugar Fest Magic (The Milestone) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Taylor Swift Dance Party (The Fillmore) Get Sad Y’all’s Emo Prom (Neighborhood Theatre) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Charlotte Symphony: Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony (Belk Theater) The Piano Guys (Ovens Auditorium) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash (Booth Playhouse) FUNK/JAM BANDS Celestial Co. (Birdsong Brewing) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Lamar Atkins (Starlight on 22nd) COVER BANDS Red Hot Chili Dogs w/ Funkwondo (Visulite Theatre)

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mike Strauss Band (Free Range Brewing) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Soul Sundays feat. Guy Nowchild, Jeremy Saxe (Starlight on 22nd) JAZZ/BLUES Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) J-Rod Sullivan Band (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Hayes & Heathens w/ Daniel Rodriguez (Neighborhood Theatre) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Kat & Craig w/ Matt Stratford (Goldie’s) David Gillespie w/ Saint Logic, Joe McGovern, Silver Bay (The Milestone)

MONDAY, APRIL 29

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Meatbodies w/ Impending Joy, Peach Candy Nut Boys (Snug Harbor) 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. LVDY (Evening Muse)

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Night Club w/ Rosegarden Funeral Party, Feyleux, JPEG (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Matt Woods w/ Chip McGee (Petra’s) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL SOUNDWAVE LISTING.

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ROCK/PUNK/METAL Twinz w/ Rod Fiske (Goldie’s) Sir Chloe w/ Daffo (Neighborhood Theatre) Woody w/ Good Deal, Zach King (Petra’s) Pylon Reenactment Society w/ It’s Snakes, Pink Eye (Snug Harbor) Roman Candles w/ Jay Moore, Dazy Bea (Starlight on 22nd) 77 Lies w/ Anchor Detail, The Donner Deads (Tommy’s Pub) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Got Soul: Savor the Culture (The Amp Ballantyne) Black Kray (The Underground) JAZZ/BLUES Kelli Baker & Melissa McKinney w/ Mama & The Ruckus (Evening Muse) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Blanke w/ Aeon:Mode (Blackbox Theater) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Charlotte Symphony: Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony (Belk Theater) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Grupo Barak (Ovens Auditorium) MIXED GENRE/EXPERIMENTAL/FESTIVAL Blood Sugar Fest Magic (The Milestone)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Peter Bradley Adams (Evening Muse) COVER BANDS The Rush Experience (Amos’ Southend) Robyn Springer & Brandon Stevens Celebrate Donnie Hathaway & Roberta Flack (Middle C Jazz) The Recall Band (Primal Brewery) The Dirty Doors (Visulite Theatre)

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

A MASTERPIECE IN THREE ACTS Locally Charlotte but globally inspired, L’Ostrica rivals the best restaurants in the country

BY TIMOTHY DEPEUGH

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At some point amidst my multiple visits to L’Ostrica — which opened just south of the iconic Park Road Shopping Center in November 2023 and is already among the very best restaurants in Charlotte — I was struck by a sense of the theatrical, as though it were the inspiration for a three-act play.

Curtains rise.

pollen and fresh cracked black pepper. The shrimp?

Don’t worry. They’re next. Placed on top and finished with dill fronds and fresh greens.

But then comes the plot-twist of Act One. If only the audience in the dining room could see this coming, they would gasp.

Chef Ferguson, not in any threatening fashion but as a man with great talent does when the lesser mortals around him see might consider his Act One: Carrots The carrots arrive at the restaurant from Barbee next move an act of magic, pulls out a robin-eggFarms in Concord. They arrive as carrots do, so colored vaporizer and gives the bowl a few spritzes humble they’re dowdy; they need a good wash and of cardamom bitters.

This achieves certain objectives. One, it shows peel. Unbeknownst to them (or to anyone in the there is no line dividing the kitchen from the front dining room), they are poised to become legend.

Chef Eric Ferguson sees to their proper ablutions. of the house at L’Ostrica. The bitters were the He runs them through a grinder — yes, a meat bar manager’s idea, an otherwise left-of-center grinder. This is far from a joke. This is the method to addition to the mix but one firmly rooted in the his madness. Risotto is notoriously fussy, and even traditions of mixology: between sweet and salty, more so when it isn’t made with rice. Running the licorice and herbal and a final whiff of spring, the carrots through the grinder, you see, gives them an bitters provide balance.

But even more than that, the bitters are a Arborio-like texture, or at the very least, gets them throwdown. Technique at the cutting board or stove ready for what’s to come.

Meanwhile, the shrimp are smoking. “Old school,” is one thing. Any good restaurant can achieve that. as he calls it. He does it right on the stove with wood A great restaurant will take those techniques even chips, the Florida rock shrimp in a perforated pan. further, and maybe even show the most experienced Focus is essential. Any longer than a quick two diners something new. Some might dismiss those as minutes and the flavor of the final dish (just wait gimmicks, but at least to this lesser mortal here, the bitters are magic. Queen City chefs are hereby until you see it!) will be overpowered.

Then back to the carrots, primed as they are for put on notice. What do you get with shrimp, carrots transformation in a pan, with butter and then water and cardamom bitters? Is that bacon I taste? Or a to sweat them down. Risotto with rice takes about gloriously smoked ham?

Yes, exactly those, but also so much more. Just 30 minutes; this will take barely eight. He cooks look at the final dish! “Carrot risotto,” for lack of a them, stirring constantly to build up friction and better name, is the very best thing currently on any more texture; this is what writers mean when they marvel at a chef’s “technique.” The carrots, finished menu at any restaurant in Charlotte. with more butter and a handful of Parmesan, are now ready for their moment.

Act Two: Pickled Raisins They go into a bowl, and then Chef Ferguson tops The food at L’Ostrica is many things, but singlethem with wee dollops of creme fraiche, fennel word descriptors fail no matter how fitting, even

CHEF ERIC FERGUSON AT L’OSTRICA

for a writer like me. And lest the name fool you into thinking the food here is Italian — “l’ostrica,” in Italian, means “oyster” — going in with high hopes of pasta and red sauce would be unfair, both to you and to the kitchen.

It would be fair, however, to expect oysters.

On the current spring tasting menu (but not for much longer, as the tasting menus here are seasonal to the millisecond), the oyster is baked. It is covered in pancetta bread crumbs and topped with Korean gochugaru aioli. As any good amuse bouche should do, it does what words cannot, announcing immediately on the palate L’Ostrica’s global perspective, distilled down not into one word, but five: “Stop trying to define us.”

Consider the oyster, then, since it has a point.

That confidently conceived opening salvo is salt, sugar, alkali and acid; hot, cold, plump but with crunch; unknown, but by god, familiar. How can one word capture all that comes to mind, when each new word cancels out the one that came before?

Nature and Charlotte diners abhor a vacuum — the cuisine here is not nothing, and it is also far from “Italian” — and subtleties hardly satiate the hungry, so where on the Queen City stage does that leave chef Ferguson?

Wherever the hell he wants to be.

Enter stage left: white asparagus, which Chef has

PHOTO BY RICO MARCELO

cast in the role of “Spring.” That season may be the one and only thing that all parts of this dish have in common. From Belgium, white asparagus, sweet at the peak of its short time on any tasting menu worth the price of admission. A savory stripe of nori there to temper sweetness, by way of East Asia. A plating aesthetic of two muted colors; of foam and aioli, dotted with fresh flowers — that is straight from Scandinavia.

This is no more Italian than North Carolina cannabis laws are still relevant in 2024. It is a thought exercise, offered to a chef who reaches for the stars and can practically touch them: how to make a diner taste one of the best vegetable preparations in town while also offering up on a plate, at 8 p.m. dinner service, the greatest sunny spring day of their lives?

This theorist is also a general. Entering triumphantly from upstage center: an army, led by Chef, but one of Sunday dinners. These dinners are from the south of Greece and from a British pub; they feature anything from spring greens to prime ribs. I even ate at a French bistro.

Diners who seek solace within the confines of a seasonal tasting menu, beware. Sunday dinners at L’Ostrica are up to the whims of the whimsical.

At the bistro, I started with a French 75, the classic gin and champagne cocktail, made by someone that day with lemon drops on their mind, albeit ones

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE dressed in their Sunday best, fresh from learning they had just come into an inheritance. This was from the same bar that brought me cardamom bitters, which told me that the bar team are masters at setting the mood, whatever that may be.

On that Easter Sunday, the mood was a picnic lunch on a grassy hill, or somewhere sunny, stage right, in Freedom Park.

Porcini mushroom tartlet (delicate, heady), white asparagus “parfait” with soft-boiled egg (Sweet Oblivion, take my arm and guide me to Thomas Keller) and a most exciting preparation of chicken ballotine, which chef whispered he had deep-fried gently to add a few extra sensations on the palate (this is what writers mean when they marvel at a chef’s “technique”). On a day like that, with a menu like that, where does anyone see anything remotely Italian?

For those solace-seeking diners downstage, however, never fear. On these special Sundays, occasionally things can be unmistakably Italian.

There was even one dinner called “All That Pasta.”

But nuance, in the right hands, can be even more filling. One recent menu — called “Primavera” — CARROT RISOTTO AT L’OSTRICA sought to evoke springtime in Italy. But then that demonstrandum, as they say — the curtain thus would have been too easy. closes on Act Two, while all notion of being able to Cobia on that day’s menu was dusted in flour and distill everything about L’Ostrica into a single word briefly seared then covered in onions, fresh laurel (up to and including its food, which is peerless in and pine nuts. There was something else there, Charlotte) exits, pursued by a bear. though, something akin to a splash of ice wine, or maybe not — I was confident I knew what it was, but it also tasted so new to me, in the context of a Act Three: Comedy Tonight This play — performed daily on Mockingbird cooked fish dish, that I thought for sure I was being Lane along the outer edges of Montford — shall gaslit.

“Are these … pickled raisins?” I asked. “Where end with comic relief.

If you look closely at the hanging art, for example, exactly have you taken me?” you might find satire before dessert.

“You’re either gonna love it, or you won’t,” chef L’Ostrica is located in, of all places, the first floor Ferguson smiled. “It’s kind of how we roll.” of a luxury apartment building. The crew, however, And not solely because of, but due in no have made the best with the space, turning it into a small part to, those pickled raisins — quod erat gallery of sorts.

PHOTO BY RICO MARCELO

The building’s giant, structural concrete pillars that jut into the dining room are thus less intrusive than they are, in this context, Guggenheim-ian.

The open kitchen is its own exhibition, organic in its design and seamlessly coexisting with and in the dining room.

But look closer at the art. It is fiendishly clever, created by a Korean-American female artist with searing wit. Just what is going on with that geisha, and how many social media app icons can you spot in flagrante delicto?

Or: the French 75 cocktail on Easter Sunday. It came with a yellow Peeps marshmallow, impaled by a straw. I was mortified. Pulling the thing off was a whole sticky ordeal — but then again, anything for The Risen One, right?

Or: Cat Carter, chef Ferguson’s wife and L’Ostrica’s other half. On my first visit, I was seated next to an entire wall of wine, where I spotted and immediately ordered a J.J. Prum Riesling. Cat, also a J.J. Prum fan, asked me later why I picked this one over the other J.J. Prum she had. The other?

Sure enough, the bottles were identical, but for a few words on the labels. “I would have ordered the other one had I known!” We laughed, we cried; I planned my next visit.

(There’s a certain amount of privilege buried in that last sentence, which I acknowledge, but for

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INSIDE L’OSTRICA

PHOTO BY RICO MARCELO

even more laughs, isn’t schadenfreude funnier when at the expense of someone who spends so carelessly on something to which other diners might apply more caution?)

Or: Cat Carter again. Lamb, on the current Spring tasting menu, is unlike any lamb you’ve ever had in Charlotte. This has nothing to do with the flavor, which is aromatic to a degree approaching infinity and is referential to the entire Indian subcontinent, or at the very least, to Gaggan Anand.

It has to do with the texture, which in my meals at L’Ostrica has been the single most controversial proposition so far. Don’t get me wrong. I loved it. So tender I could cut it with a sigh, but I did say halfway jokingly to Cat, “The lamb is so raw that it’s still screaming, Clarise.” She could pass for Clarise. We laughed, we cried; I planned my next visit.

On one of those next visits, I brought a photographer. He asked chef Ferguson to pose, arms crossed, “like a chef.” The thing is, but for the red hair, he looks very much like Marco Pierre White. Temperamentally, he is the exact opposite.

Wholesome, calm, brilliant — you would do well not to try and find a single word to define him.

“Is this chef-ing?” He balks at being photographed in that pose.

Or: quantum physics, always funny, says that the mere act of observation changes the thing that is being observed. Perhaps that explains Chef’s aversion to pose for pics. Or maybe it has more to do with the label “chef.”

In my mind, chef Ferguson is from that line of great chefs, like José Andrés, who are important social fixtures more than they are mere cooks.

There’s also a market at L’Ostrica that sells the best sandwiches in town, thanks to executive sous chef Jason Newman, chef Ferguson’s secret weapon in the kitchen.

He is also a mentor, bringing out the best in everyone at the restaurant, from the back of the house to the front, all to the benefit of the local community that he is there everyday to feed.

For the purposes of this play, though, he is deus ex machina.

Before the curtain closes on this final Act — after the carrots are eaten and the next Sunday dinners are planned; after the wine is rearranged on the shelves in an order that makes sense to a food writer who loses all sense of decorum, or ability to read, when enraptured by a restaurant that rivals the best in our country from coast to coast — chef Ferguson descends onto the stage at L’Ostrica, in media res, the entire Charlotte food scene in mad disarray, ready to save the day.

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. MOVIES: Which dramatic film features the character “V”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Luzon belongs to which island nation?

3. LANGUAGE: What is the Latin phrase for “before the war”?

4. U.S. STATES: Which state has the most national parks?

5. LITERATURE: Which 1950s novel includes the line, “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”

6. CHEMISTRY: What kind of gas makes a drink bubbly?

7. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a mom named Debra Barone?

8. MUSIC: What was the former name of the English band Muse?

9. SCIENCE: What are the gaps between nerve cells called?

10. THEATER: Who wrote the play “The Crucible”?

CROSSWORD

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

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APPLICATION PROCESS

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

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

ARIN IT OUT

VERMOUTH OF THE SOUTH Visiting Optimist Park’s newest bar, Substrate

BY AERIN SPRUILL

In chemistry, a substrate refers to the substance an enzyme or microorganism acts on to produce a specific reaction. At Substrate, a brand-spanking-new wine and vermouth bar in Optimist Park, it’s clear the patrons are the catalysts and the reaction is … we’ll get to that.

“What do you think about trying this new wine and vermouth spot near Bird tonight?”

Vermouth? Am I the only one who orders extra dirty martinis and yet has no idea what vermouth actually is? I perked up but was unsure whether or not I felt like acting sadiddy (read: bougie) for date night, especially on the bar’s grand opening night.

Skeptical, I took a quick scroll on Instagram. Only six posts from January to April, 700-ish followers and four bullet-point style highlights in the bio painted an approachable picture:

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• Blue-collar enoteca now pouring in Optimist Park (Later I learned “enoteca” means wine spot, but “blue collar” had me at Hello) • Thoughtful wine, vermouth, & amaro (At this point, I think I’ll stick with what I know: dry white wine) • Tiny fish, free saltines (If it’s free, it’s for me) • Outside food always welcome (Word to za Bird) I couldn’t decide if their IG was giving “Too cool for school,” “We don’t have to be thirsty, we know we’ve got your attention,” or “You just gotta see it for yourself.”

Whatever the case, Substrate’s humble profile and a supes cute stop-motion video had already piqued my interest.

Located behind Bird Pizzeria on East 15th Street, Substrate breathes new life into the corner/commune formerly known as Area 15. Two asymmetrical patios lined by stairs and buzzing with first-timers are oddly stacked beside each other, hinting at a curious interior. It inspires a feeling like you’ve entered a matrix of Tetris and Jenga from the moment you ascend the set of worn stairs to enter the main door.

Moody lighting, dark ceilings, and beaded curtains conceal the plethora of stairways to nooks and crannies filled with community seating and cozy conversation begging for exploration. But my interrogation of Substrate’s innards was interrupted by a mad dash for prime real estate at the bar.

It was only after hoarding three menus thinking each one unique that I realized the patrons seemingly taking it all in were just as stumped as I was on what the hell to order.

When it comes to restaurants, best believe I’ve meticulously studied the menu for hours prior, locating backups for my backups. “They’re all the same, babe,” boo said as he watched me awkwardly flipping through menus like I was playing Uno. I reached the wine selection and read the first option: “PIETRAMORE PÉT NAT.” I was staring blankly THE WINE SELECTION AT SUBSTRATE. like someone just hit me with a +4. Shit, I should’ve ChatGPTed everything.

Panic ensued as the bartender returned and asked us what we were having. My studious, non-wine-drinking man already had “$paghett” on his tongue (a High Life with aperol and lemon juice), but alas, “Aw man, we’re out of Miller High Life,” was the response. (On the bright side, High Life is just $2.50, gasp!). With both of us reeling, the panic set in.

I began to stutter a version of, “So um, the vermouth ‘cocktails’ listed on the black menu…” as I squinted to glean the letterboard menu in the far corner. The moment I thought, “You need air quotes, Aerin” I blurted out, “Oh, what about the red wine and Coke drink?”The bartender’s look of confusion at my short-circuit faded into a smile as he said, “First one of the day!” *deep breath* For those who don’t know, this cocktail with equal parts red wine and Coca-Cola over ice is the elusive Spanish “KALIMOTXO” ($8), found on the “Every Day Value” menu. It’s definitely a lighter alternative to a GLASS OF GOOD WINE ($7), especially if it happens to be a hot afternoon in the sun while patio drinking at noon on a weekend.

I overheard the owner, Matt Green, saying with a rhyme that they also have “dines and tines,” AKA sardines & Saltines (um, my new fave phrase?!) as boo turned and said, “You really forget you’re in Charlotte.”

He wasn’t wrong; no matter where you stand in the 1,400-square-foot wine playground, the medley of eclectic seating, art pieces, pops of color, and a ready-toplay vinyl queue installation will make you feel like you’ve missed something you’ve never known.

After studying the faces of patrons sipping vermouths on the rocks sans grimace, I ChatGPTed “WTF is Vermouth” only to discover it’s just fortified wine! The average ABV of wine is 9%-16% while vermouth ranges between 16%18%. But by that point, we were two Ferrari shots ($8 for ½ Campari and ½ Fernet) too late to diversify our palates.

But we’ll whINE about that next time.

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PHOTO BY AERIN SPRUILL

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE 2024 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

APRIL 17 - 23

APRIL 24 - 30

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Rumors of a change in the workplace could make you a mite uneasy about going ahead with implementing your ideas. Best advice: Ignore the talk and proceed as planned.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A little wool-gathering is OK, but don’t let that dreamy state linger beyond midweek, when you’ll want to be ready to take on new workplace responsibilities.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Everyone has an opinion on how to handle a recent business suggestion. Thank them for their advice, then go ahead and follow your own fine instincts.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Love rules the week for single Bovines seeking romance. Attached pairs also find new joy in their relationships. The 29th should bring news about a business opportunity.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) While home is your main focus this week, new issues in the workplace need your attention as well. Take things step by step. Pressures will ease in time for weekend fun.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Home becomes the center of a new social whirl, as you show off your talent for hosting great parties. You can expect to impress a lot of people who’ve never seen this side of you.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be less rigid when handling a relationship problem. You might believe you’re in the right, but try to open your mind up to the possibilities of facts that you’re currently unaware of.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The Moon Child might have to raise those powers of persuasion up a notch to get a still-wary colleague to agree to go along with your plans.

Finding more facts to back up your position helps.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Leos and Leonas run at a hectic pace throughout much of the week. But by the 22nd, the Lions’ dens become a “purrfect” place for you Fine Felines to relax in over the weekend.

LEO (July 23 to August 22)Hold off trying to fix the blame for an apparent mishandling of a work situation. A full investigation could reveal surprising facts on how and why it really happened.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Change is favored early in the week. This should make it easier for you to reassess your plans for handling a troubling professional relationship. Good luck!

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your ability to see the details that others might overlook gives you an advantage in assessing an offer that possibly seems too good to be true. A trusted colleague has advice.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A suggestion from a colleague could give your professional project a longneeded boost. Meanwhile, someone close to you still needs your emotional support.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Expect to be called on once again to act as the peacemaker in a longsimmering dispute that suddenly flares up. Offer advice, but be careful to stay out of the fray.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your social life is on the upswing, and the only problem is deciding which invitations to accept. Enjoy yourself before settling down for some serious work next week.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) New ventures are favored, but don’t launch yours before rechecking all the facts and sources. Also, be sure that you can rely on support from certain people.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) With your creative aspects on high, you might want to restart your work on a project that you put aside. Your efforts will bring a surge in your self-esteem.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t be pushed into renegotiating an agreement, even though it might help avoid a potential impasse. Get legal advice before you sign or agree to anything.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) While you’re generous with others, be sure that you’re not overlooking your own needs. Take time to assess your situation and make adjustments where necessary.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Helping others is what Aquarians do so well. But this time, someone wants to help you. Expect to hear some news that will both surprise and delight you.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Being applauded for your achievements is great, but watch out that you don’t start acting like a star. It could lose you valuable support with your next project.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Things go so swimmingly by mid-week that you’re tempted to take on more tasks. Best advice: Finish what you have now, then enjoy a well-earned relaxing weekend.

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PUZZLE ANSWERS

SUBSCRIBE SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Before complying SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your TO OUR with a colleague’s request, check to see that the action organizational skills help you line up your priorities so benefits all, not just one person’s agenda. Continue that you get things done without added pressure. The NEWSLETTER firming up any travel plans. weekend could hold a special surprise.

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1. “V for Vendetta” (2005).

2. The Philippines.

3. Antebellum.

4. California, with nine.

5. “On the Road” by Jack

Trivia Answers

Kerouac.

6. Carbon dioxide.

7. “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

8. Rocket Baby Dolls.

9. Synapses.

10. Arthur Miller.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your strong belief in justice along BORN THIS WEEK: Your understanding of human nature with your leadership qualities help you protect the rights helps you make wise decisions that are appreciated by all. of others.

You would make a fine judge.

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