tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852510571548545922011-04-21T19:43:43.425-04:00Adventures and observations from inside Charlotte's loopMike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-63299709143116202982008-07-10T12:28:00.003-04:002008-07-10T12:41:33.044-04:00

You may already know him as the Ballantyne Big Dog, who has previously posted on Chris Rock and Kanye West and demanded that you come party in the burbs. Starting next week, he will be lifting up his left leg and claiming this blog all for himself. But since he's a Southern gentleman, he decided to introduce himself first.Salutations.Get ready for the Yup-Town invasion from the South. Ballantyne,

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-18815691315741747152008-07-10T12:25:00.002-04:002008-07-10T12:28:43.910-04:00

From one who recently jetted away for a very sunny and sandy extended weekend:"You have to go far away (so your blackberry doesn't work) and take expensive ones (so they are less likely to cancel them because then they have to reimburse you)."These guys never cease to impress me.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-84698490034294350862008-07-07T23:39:00.003-04:002008-07-07T23:49:29.707-04:00

Yup-Town will be changing hands next week, because I'm heading out of the country. More on that over the next few days.To fill the void, make your way over to the annual festival held in my honor. That's right: The Giglio Feast. The feast will feature, as always, the majestic Dance of the Giglio, which should not be missed. Here's a brief, but very accurate, description:Why is a Giglio danced?

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-6510670011664019412008-06-30T15:57:00.004-04:002008-06-30T20:56:40.441-04:00

In April, my friend Dick informed me of the amusing hiring practices at Whisky River when we dropped by for one of the bar's many grand openings. He had been creepily observing the tryouts from a window at work (the post):They would show up in groups of "two to seven," all good looking and lacquered with makeup. Dick claimed to have overheard the following conversation outside his place of

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-59445080265839899132008-06-27T21:32:00.009-04:002008-07-01T08:17:26.033-04:00

I just noticed a sign on the door behind my perch at a picnic table outside the Caribou Coffee on East Blvd. "Tonight outside at 7pm :)" reads the hand-written note on a piece of paper taped to the glass. The letterhead: the Charlotte Paranormal Meetup Group (a combination of believers and investigators).Sure enough, just in front of me, about 15 people are finishing up what must have been an

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-39378713577971276672008-06-27T14:00:00.003-04:002008-06-27T14:13:01.868-04:00

Another guest review from the Ballantyne Big Dog (read his last posts here and here).In 1996, Chris Rock became a comedic icon when he premiered "Bring the Pain." The special, in which he riffed on subjects from media to racism, propelled him to superstardom.And although he's made millions in movies and TV, stand-up is where his roots are at. Twelve years after "Bring the Pain," Rock showed he's

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-69622122250059691522008-06-27T09:14:00.003-04:002008-06-27T09:17:15.306-04:00

From the cover story of today's Observer.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-42061376568939550212008-06-26T09:28:00.005-04:002008-06-26T09:33:24.985-04:00

My latest article for the magazine discusses how the financial crisis has affected the rich, cocky young professionals who might be the standard-bearers for Yup-Town.Here it is.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-31554334214187062492008-06-25T17:13:00.001-04:002008-06-25T17:17:55.753-04:00

According to this story in today's New York Times, energy prices are pushing people from suburbs to cities across the country:"Across the nation, the realization is taking hold that rising energy prices are less a momentary blip than a change with lasting consequences. The shift to costlier fuel is threatening to slow the decades-old migration away from cities, while exacerbating the housing

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-68485224469545779752008-06-24T15:27:00.004-04:002008-06-24T17:01:08.317-04:00

When the buttoned-up bars and clubs of Yup-Town are getting me down, I make for the Breakfast Club. A couple of blocks and a world (or at least a few decades) away from Trade and Tryon, it's a square and cement-walled oasis of debauchery smack dab in the center of a parking lot.The $7 cover is often negotiable. On Friday nights, bottles of domestic beer are $1. The chairs downstairs are shaped

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-23753812958912468782008-06-18T21:46:00.002-04:002008-06-18T21:48:07.365-04:00

A reader writes:"I live in Eastover Ridge for a few reasons. First, they have very affordable housing and very spacious rooms. My apartment is a 900 sf single at a very good price. Second, they have great amenities. There are two pools, a good workout facility, and garbage pick-up at your door. Third, most of the residents are rather young and in their 20s. This makes it a fun place to live.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-87221432192776140472008-06-18T21:31:00.003-04:002008-06-18T21:34:39.772-04:00

Late breaking development: They're not allowed at Suite, either. What's a casually stylish man to do?

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-9899738810072090522008-06-17T17:00:00.010-04:002008-06-18T21:42:51.907-04:00

With several friends among the recent post-graduation migration to Charlotte, I've been doling out plenty of housing advice these days. With that in mind, here's a very condensed guide of my very limited knowledge on finding a suitable place to rent in Yup-Town.1) Use craigslist. It's the most comprehensive collection of properties around, and also strangely addicting. First figure out what

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-17874559746685538762008-06-13T10:45:00.002-04:002008-06-13T11:01:45.540-04:00

First, it was HOM. On Saturday night, they wouldn't let me in. The guy in front of me with a t-shirt and chain? No problem. My two friends before me wearing shorts and sandals? Go on in. But then the bouncer, who actually had a European accent, stopped me at the door. He told me, in that filthy accent, that my New Balance sneakers didn't make the cut.I began pointing at all the people in line

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-56989391350634741512008-06-06T13:57:00.003-04:002008-06-06T14:02:49.815-04:00

Jurassic J hates many things. But he loves the Teeter (for good reason). Another guest post from the last of his kind.Yesterday I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so I went down to the Harris Teeter and wandered around like someone that was stalking the wine-tasting lady until I realized I had free sub points. I haven't had a sub in a while, and I never tried the chicken, so this was a

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-32974500011121080612008-06-05T21:48:00.002-04:002008-06-05T22:38:29.381-04:00

When trying to figure out what will be going on at any uptown event, you need only to check for one detail. What type of currency will be accepted?At Speed Street, for instance, it was straight cash, all combinations of pocket change encouraged. And we all know what happened there. Alive After Five, meanwhile, makes you stand in one line to purchase tickets, then get in another to purchase

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-72260820540918040862008-05-30T10:56:00.009-04:002008-05-30T12:40:43.992-04:00

So you'll appreciate the relative sanity this weekend.I don't know about you, but I pretty much stayed away from all the madness. Breakfast Club Friday night, HOM Saturday night, and both were pretty free of riff-raff considering what was going on in the rest of the city. I did venture out to Dixie's for a bit one night, and this is what I found. (It might look like that girl is trying to dance

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-75683279181250137232008-05-23T16:16:00.005-04:002008-05-23T16:37:53.669-04:00

The normally docile block on Sixth Street between Pine and Church contained a frightening number of men wearing wife-beaters and chin-beards last night. When I looked a little closer to make sure that those were really chin-beards, they immediately snapped into "What the heck is that guy lookin' at" mode.I can only imagine that the rest of the city was much worse; the people I saw looked

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-63958434259355409292008-05-22T21:41:00.004-04:002008-05-23T16:14:03.575-04:00

A public service courtesy of Yup-Town. Because, as the previous post details, you just might need it during the debacle that is Speed Street. (People were drunk on Tryon street by lunch this afternoon. Head out of the office for fried turkey legs at your own risk.)1) When he (or she) is in the process of being arrested, do not interfere. Even if you're 100 percent sure of his innocence, there is

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-43039646258855067942008-05-21T22:24:00.006-04:002008-05-21T22:59:55.572-04:00

Apologies for the week-long break. Graduation season hit me right in the face. I can only listen to so many insurance executives and social workers give their honorary-degree acceptance speeches before my nose starts to bleed all over my loafers...Speaking of bloody noses, Speed Street will be shutting down the city this weekend. In case you're unaware of my arrest history, this is the weekend I

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-50400093089514251982008-05-13T09:11:00.004-04:002008-05-21T22:57:27.150-04:00

Every once in a while, I stop and talk with one of the bums that populate the benches in Fourth Ward Park. I usually learn something interesting. For instance, some live in makeshift tents in the wooded patches scattered around the area. Others have let me know that a good number of them sleep in the Elmwood Cemetery, which I can only hope has led to schoolchildren declaring it haunted. But I

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-8829880218183025962008-05-11T20:10:00.006-04:002008-05-12T11:01:42.360-04:00

One of Ramblin' Willie's tales from the road. Read his last post here.I was ramblin' up 77 when I made an emergency weightroom stop in Podunk North Carolina: population = tooth count. Eventually, I found the local gym and began tossing so many weights around, I was afraid I'd run out.Of course, Redneck Randy rolled in and struck up a conversation about how he's going into cage fighting. The bad

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-61056979107460757312008-05-09T11:08:00.008-04:002008-05-09T11:29:41.955-04:00

Another guest post from the Ballantyne Big Dog (read his last post here).Kanye West has been called many things since arriving on the music scene nearly five years ago. He's turned some people off with his antics and comments, even though many are the ones dancing to his music out in the clubs or bobbing their heads in the car.And boy, can the man put on a show.West and three other acts brought

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-1043849378034728182008-05-08T10:57:00.003-04:002008-05-08T11:18:24.370-04:00

You can check out how your precinct voted in Tuesday's presidential and gubernatorial (aka, for governor) primaries with this map.It's confusing if you don't know your precinct number, though. You can look that up by entering your address here.To be a little creepy and find out whether or not people you know voted, use the "show me my voter information" option on this search engine. Not everyone

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-52982924733865001422008-05-06T22:19:00.004-04:002008-05-06T23:29:49.888-04:00

With all the weird people that hang out in the park--hippies on blankets by day, bums on benches by night, and everyone in between--I've been wondering if I'd ever catch someone doing drugs.I catch people, including myself, drinking alcohol from time to time. As I've mentioned before, a gun has been pulled. Crazy vagrants accost dog-walkers on occasion. I've even seen someone pull up in a car,

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-32737242198283020082008-05-02T09:22:00.007-04:002008-05-02T09:31:26.703-04:00

Courtesy of Ramblin' Willie. Who's friend was ... shot in this very stairwell. This is how the people in charge at Fourth Ward Square handled the threat. As many of us know, people who live in buildings like this with a significant portion of renters tend to get screwed.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-4881944432542524362008-04-30T15:22:00.003-04:002008-04-30T15:27:04.592-04:00

His nomination for the Worst of the Worst awards, which actually covers a few categories: Worst Sports Owner, Worst Sports Arena Name, Worst Sports Team, Worst Potential Draft Pick. (Read Jurassic J's last post here.)In case you have not heard, the Bobcats finally sold the naming rights to their arena.After four years of terrible basketball, half-hearted promotions, questionable front office

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-34475742484985887592008-04-28T23:00:00.002-04:002008-04-28T23:37:37.910-04:00

I'm sure I missed the big showing, and these had to be the leftovers from Hillary Clinton's visit to Church Street this afternoon. But at around 6pm, after receiving a text from a friend advising me to come "check out the pathetic Hillary supporters at the corner of Trade and Tryon," I drove by to see four young women standing glumly behind a blue HRC banner at the aforementioned location.As I

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-61640969317903922252008-04-28T08:45:00.003-04:002008-04-28T09:15:59.914-04:00

Over the first three months of this year, there's been a thirty-eight percent increase in applications for handguns (according to a story in today's Observer). That's following a ten percent increase all of last year.Also, concealed handguns are perfectly legal with the right permit. In other words, be careful who you bump into around here.Increases in gun applications are usually seen as a

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-10415605420118726742008-04-23T22:16:00.005-04:002008-04-23T22:27:25.733-04:00

An Alternative to UptownDown in Ballantyne, when the weather warms up, it means two things:1. More stay-at-home moms/trophy wives clog up the roads in their gas-guzzling SUVs.2. The nightlife gets much better.If you've grown tired of the uptown crowds (also known as DudeFest '08), it might be time to mosey on over to Ballantyne one weekend night. Forget what you hear about it being the wine and

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-71525140002048519892008-04-22T23:41:00.002-04:002008-04-23T00:10:50.786-04:00

For the month of May, Charlotte magazine will be celebrating all that is best in the Queen City with its annual Best of the Best (BOB) issue. But what about everything that sucks around here?Yup-Town is pleased to announce its own awards: the Worst of the Worst (WOW). The winners will be announced on Friday, May 9, the day after the BOB Banquet (or Kanye West concert).Send in your nominations now

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-68519121851052549532008-04-22T23:37:00.003-04:002008-04-22T23:41:37.762-04:00

My story in the May issue, which is about middle-school kids playing chess.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-50734066669529138982008-04-20T23:20:00.005-04:002008-04-21T00:13:21.820-04:00

So screamed one of the six people experiencing Renelvis in the backyard of the NoDa's Rat's Nest late Friday night. For those who haven't had the pleasure, Renelvis is Charlotte's resident Philippino Elvis impersonator, and he is truly a master.I'm not just saying that to be funny. He might miss notes or words from time to time, or laugh to himself during a particularly ridiculous segment of a

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-69099469586087319932008-04-17T10:22:00.003-04:002008-04-20T17:25:32.853-04:00

A guest post from the man you might know as the Cougar Hunter, whose homey actually did get clapped in uptown Charlotte. Yup-Town takes no responsibility for his views and language.Another Halloween, another excuse for me to dress up like a professional wrestler.Last Halloween I wasn't feeling very creative, so I recycled the previous year’s costume: Stone Cold Steve Austin. I was thrilled to yet

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-14735693358455933122008-04-15T22:24:00.007-04:002008-04-16T13:30:28.815-04:00

Apparently the new location at the EpiCentre (note the annoying British spelling) on Trade has been open since the weekend, but tonight was media night, or something like that. Lots of reporters and other sycophants showed up for free booze and all-you-can Dale Jr. Television cameras followed him around the bar for at least a couple of hours, getting in all the blandest shots imaginable:(pardon

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-14126581380603018422008-04-15T13:22:00.003-04:002008-04-20T21:01:43.467-04:00

And onto SNL.Here's my "Cougar Hunting" story from the singles issue, from which the SNL writers obviously took their cue.Support the cause.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-30977637607234602802008-04-13T21:14:00.005-04:002008-04-13T22:04:09.542-04:00

I was picking up dinner during the after-work rush at the uptown Harris Teeter one evening last week--minding my own business, groping fruit--when I witnessed a shoplifting in progress. But first, let me set the scene.Teeter is at its busiest from about 5 to 7 pm on weekdays, along with Sundays right before the 1 pm football games. (Yes, I will say Teeter from now on, at the risk of sounding like

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-76937600402414844552008-04-11T10:58:00.003-04:002008-04-11T12:10:08.737-04:00

Yup-Town's signature event returned in full force to Wachovia Plaza yesterday.For anyone not in the know, every Thursday evening from now until it gets too cold there will be a free concert in the plaza, usually some type of cover band. Tents will sell overpriced bottles of domestic beer. The plaza will be packed with well-dressed people showing off and avoiding those they don't want to have to

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-31751059195135947372008-04-08T21:02:00.008-04:002008-04-30T15:27:48.153-04:00

A guest post from the esteemed and sometimes ferocious roommate. As it happens, he came somewhat close to getting clapped, or at least jacked, one night on a visit to the mart.So I've finished off the Harris Teeter sub special of the day (which rarely leaves you completely satisfied) and I start planning a night around HBO On Demand and Season 4 of the Wire. I sit down and realize I don't have

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-78233665239747285122008-04-08T14:57:00.004-04:002008-04-08T15:30:51.236-04:00

Yup-Town is beginning a brand new exercise in bad taste.Have you, or someone you know, had a memorable experience with a firearm inside the seemingly safe confines of Uptown Charlotte?If so, send in your account. If I don't deem it entirely fabricated, you'll win a free posting of your story on this very blog.Here's one to get us started:My homey was walking through Fourth Ward Park one sunny

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-21622908141960340582008-04-07T08:53:00.004-04:002008-04-08T15:29:50.551-04:00

Following the recent debut of a Bojangles commercial featuring happy picnickers in a lush, green Fourth Ward Park (obviously filmed many months ago), white moving trucks and grungy hacks wearing cargoes and t-shirts and carrying things like sound booms filled Pine Street near the park last week.One night I pulled up around 11 to find the entire park lit up with fluorescent lights. Later, what

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-6674139325846635322008-04-03T12:54:00.004-04:002008-04-03T21:39:04.838-04:00

Obama's HQ in Elizabeth opened recently, a week after he made an appearance at the Grady Cole Center. Hillary's office in SouthPark started up last night. And Bill Clinton is speaking at Halton Arena today.North Carolina is a big deal this time around.Look for events uptown over the next few weeks.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-84727300309207524962008-04-03T00:01:00.004-04:002008-04-03T09:28:55.462-04:00

Big Brother is watching.I walked by my window as I was getting ready for work yesterday morning and noticed this ominous structure staring right into my apartment. It hadn't been there the day before, and must have been erected under cover of darkness.Later in the day, I asked a police officer strolling through the park what was going on. He didn't really know, except that the thing had

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-12367738743090076172008-04-01T15:44:00.006-04:002008-04-01T16:42:58.923-04:00

Courtesy of, naturally, the Breakfast Club.Another winner:Best use of a Fake IDSend in your own favorites. This site has a bunch.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-65297426907833762502008-03-31T22:59:00.006-04:002008-03-31T23:32:04.461-04:00

I live in Fourth Ward, on the park, right next to the Harris Teeter. A nice part of town. But,Cars in the building's outdoor parking lot (where my truck resides) are always getting broken into. Mostly, it's crackheads scrounging for change. I know this because a friend stayed over once, and a crackhead took all the change from her car.A car was even stolen.Also at issue:Someone put his Christmas

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-64496892396312634612008-03-31T13:28:00.012-04:002008-03-31T13:44:55.293-04:00

Thirteen steps for a last-ditch hook-up attemptOn a recent Saturday night around 1 am, I am sitting with some friends in a booth at Stool Pigeon's. To the left of us are two tables, about the only ones left with any people.One has a group of four drunk girls--not bad looking, but nothing overwhelming--and a small, wiry guy in a red polo shirt. His eyes dart around frantically, and every time

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-4189393090806247082008-03-27T23:41:00.013-04:002008-03-28T01:01:27.291-04:00

This is not a political blog in any way. As whatever readers it has so far can probably already tell, the basic format normally goes along the lines of Hey, something unusual happened to me (or someone I know) today. Here's a witty take on it.But politics are important, to use the blandest statement possible, especially with the state primary a little more than a month away. When something big

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-22933497779046555332008-03-26T08:34:00.005-04:002008-03-26T16:23:36.127-04:00

Every apartment building has three distinct castes.At the top are those with their own wireless Internet connection, protected by a password. They can afford to shell out the big bucks, and they're wise and competent enough to keep intruders out.Next come the people who open up their laptops on their first day in the new place, discover an unprotected connection, and exploit it for free service.

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-71990759714140031932008-03-25T10:50:00.002-04:002008-03-25T15:19:19.077-04:00

This morning, I was sweating it out in the steam room. I have a routine: I sit on the bench in my towel and stare at the clock until I can't take it anymore. That's exactly what I was doing when an older man walked in wearing a bright teal bathing suit.He spread his towel out on a bench near the side, then stood about three feet in front of me, facing the opposite wall. There's was a hose at his

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-516901000054818262008-03-25T10:01:00.008-04:002008-03-25T14:51:20.610-04:00

The Magazine tricked me into posting for an entire week with no way for anyone to find the blog. It's finally been advertised on the main page, though without the bells and whistles I was promised. So here goes a (second) quick introduction to what's going on.The name: cleverly suggests that uptown Charlotte is populated mainly by yuppiesMe: I live uptown, write for Charlotte magazine, and will

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-67410727576574215982008-03-23T21:42:00.006-04:002008-03-25T14:53:22.265-04:00

I noticed this blog has yet to be placed on the Charlotte mag site, meaning that I am still writing for an audience of one. With that in mind:Go Cats.I made it up to Raleigh for the first session on Friday. The atmosphere was great, especially once all the Carolina fans filed in during the second half and started pulling loudly for Davidson. I heard it was the same today. We owe them for

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-42826097642811295302008-03-20T19:33:00.005-04:002008-03-25T11:02:40.122-04:00

I've lived in my apartment for about seven months now. I recognize very few of my neighbors. So when I'm in the small lobby and someone knocks on the door, I usually let him in. The lobby is the size of a living room, and the doors are made of glass, so it would be pretty uncomfortable to refuse a knock and run out the other door or into the elevator, especially if I then had to worry about

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-38518177075670907592008-03-20T14:41:00.008-04:002008-03-20T14:46:15.321-04:00

Concord's Dr. Michael Brown (see Leap of Faith) weighs in on the new CMS anti-bullying policy in the opinion page of yesterday's Observer:CMS Opens Pandora's Box

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-38637761167324586652008-03-20T13:30:00.002-04:002008-03-20T13:42:10.552-04:00

Here's how the Observer spent three of its eight questions in last night's interview with Obama:Q: Have you done your bracket yet? Obama: I'm doing it right now.Q: Who's going to win? Obama: Well I'm in North Carolina right now ... Q: Come on, don't just be politically correct! Obama: Well, I have to say, uh, Hansbrough's looking tough. That's a big boy, there. So I've got to fill it out, I've

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-13226158211454959432008-03-20T09:58:00.001-04:002008-03-20T09:58:24.639-04:00

She was standing outside the Harris Teeter on Sunday afternoon, with her dog. Some background: the store has an annoying new policy where its karts lock up once they get a few feet from the door. The story ...A guy comes out of the front entrance with a kart full of groceries; his kart locks up. He curses and runs inside to grab a manager."I just need to get it to my car right there," he says,

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-2114996029910621622008-03-19T15:46:00.006-04:002008-03-19T16:41:59.632-04:00

"The First Family" is how this guy described the shirt in his hand (of Barack, Michelle and kids). Obama's face was also plastered on buttons and burlap sacks for sale. Primary season is officially upon us.The line outside the Grady Cole center was pretty long and full of excited people, as might be expected when tickets sell out in two hours.If you find yourself struggling to properly describe

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385251057154854592.post-75900892952984103972008-03-19T15:22:00.006-04:002008-03-19T16:25:52.781-04:00

Charlotte Magazine has decided it needs a blog about what it's like to be young and living in the city. I am young. I also live in the city. So I came to an arrangement with the editor: I'll post a few times a day on whatever I see fit in exchange for invitations to the magazine's monthly Preview Parties.It's going to be a work in progress, and feedback good and bad will be appreciated. The

Mike Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12082251038986726171noreply@blogger.com0