]]> http://my927charlotte.com/my-qc/tjameson/lowes-pride-awards-2012-photos//feed 0 http://my927charlotte.com/my-viewpoint/tjameson/things-to-do-2012-travel-to-europe/ http://my927charlotte.com/my-viewpoint/tjameson/things-to-do-2012-travel-to-europe/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:35 +0000 Tonya Jameson http://my927charlotte.com/?p=2683312 We talk about it, dream about it but rarely do it - travel. I mean really travel. We take the occasional trips to the Caribbean with our girlfriends. We go to Las Vegas with our boys, and we hang the DMV all the time. But next year treat yourself to somethin... Read more..]]> We talk about it, dream about it but rarely do it – travel. I mean really travel. We take the occasional trips to the Caribbean with our girlfriends. We go to Las Vegas with our boys, and we hang the DMV all the time. But next year treat yourself to something different – a European vacation.

You can do it big with five-star hotels, reasonable with private vacation rentals or even more modest via hostels. Deals on Group On and Living Social make it even more affordable and easy to book a trip overseas. So, this year make a plan to go big!

]]> http://my927charlotte.com/my-viewpoint/tjameson/things-to-do-2012-travel-to-europe//feed 0 http://my927charlotte.com/my-qc/tjameson/first-night-festivities-uptown-2/ http://my927charlotte.com/my-qc/tjameson/first-night-festivities-uptown-2/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:16:20 +0000 Tonya Jameson http://my927charlotte.com/?p=2683812 Christmas is gone and New Year's is coming. Here's the line up for Charlotte's annual NYE celebration First Night. First Night consists of kids activities during the day and more family-friendly fun that evening. First Night Kids is 12 - 5 p.m. in the following locations: NASCAR Hall of Fame, Outdoor terrace of Charlotte Convention Center, Bechtler Museum, Mint Museum, The Green, G... Read more..]]> Christmas is gone and New Year’s is coming. Here’s the line up for Charlotte’s annual NYE celebration First Night. First Night consists of kids activities during the day and more family-friendly fun that evening.

First Night Kids is 12 – 5 p.m. in the following locations: NASCAR Hall of Fame, Outdoor terrace of Charlotte Convention Center, Bechtler Museum, Mint Museum, The Green, Gantt Center and the main stage at Levine Avenue of the Arts with a Kids countdown from 4 – 5 p.m. at the main stage.

Festivities resume at 8 p.m. at The Green with live music and other entertainment concluding with a finale by The Atlanta Party Band and hoop dancer Spiral.

Check out the full line-up below!

FIRST NIGHT KIDS LINE-UP:
12-12:30pm
Fireman Jim: NASCAR Hall of Fame
Chris Thompson & The Cultural Ensemble: The Green Lower Tier: Dance Tent

12-12:45pm
Percussion Petting Zoo: The Green: Upper Tier

12-4:00pm
Caricatures by Lena: Outdoor Terrace @ Convention Center
Cara Zara- Hoop: Outdoor Terrace @ Convention Center
Caroline Calouche-Aerial: Outdoor Terrace @ Convention Center
Ronald Shoe: Outdoor Terrace @ Convention Center
McDonald’s Apple Dippers: Outdoor Terrace @ Convention Center
The Sidewalk Juggler: MLK Street & Lower Plaza Strolling Performers
The Magic of Caleb Sigmon: MLK Street & Lower Plaza Strolling Performers
The Cloers: MLK Street & Lower Plaza Strolling Performers
Tom Phlegar- Strolling Banjo: MLK Street & Lower Plaza Strolling Performers
Blue Creations Balloon Artist: MLK Street & Lower Plaza Strolling Performers
CBS Activations- Red Carpet Photo & Mural: Mint Plaza

12-4:30pm
Thistledown Tinkers: Bechtler Lobby
Crown Town- Decorate a crown for the midnight countdown! NASCAR Hall of Fame Great Hall
Dana & Susan Robinson: NASCAR Hall of Fame Great Hall
Kay Shade Puppets: Gantt Center
Play Play: Wells Fargo Atrium
Percussion Petting Zoo: The Green: Upper Tier

12-11:00pm
WBT Ice Rink! FREE skate rental with First Night wristband!

12:15-12:45pm
Dynamo: The Green: Middle Tier-Kids Performance Stage
The Story Ship: Mint Museum

12:30-1:00pm
Fettucini Brothers: Convention Center Stage-MLK Street
Caroline Calouche- Aerial: Convention Center Stage-MLK

12:45-1:15pm
Ronald Show: NASCAR Hall of Fame
Triple Toe Cloggers: The Green: Lower Tier- Dance Tent

1-1:30pm
Magic by Glen: Convention Center Stage- MLK
Jump Rope: The Green: Middle Tier- Kids Performance Stage
Tarradiddle Players: Mint Museum Theatre

1-4:00pm
Kids Dance Party- Jami Masters & Drex: Main Stage @ Levine Avenue of the Arts

1:15-2:00pm
Percussion Petting Zoo: The Green: Upper Tier

1:30-2:00pm
Fireman Jim: NASCAR Hall of Fame Theatre
Strength & Elegance: Convention Center Stage- MLK
Caroline Calouche- Aerial: Convention Center Stage-MLK
Hung GAR Academy The Green: Lower Tier

1:45-2:15pm
Sweetbriar Jam: The Green: Middle Tier- Kids Performance Stage
The Story Ship: Mint Museum Theatre

2-2:30pm
Hardin Minor: Convention Center Stage- MLK

2:15-2:45pm
Ronald Show: NASCAR Hall of Fame Theatre
Chris Thompson & The Cultural Ensemble: The Green: Lower Tier

2:30-3:00pm
Fettucini Brothers: Convention Center Stage- MLK
Dynamo: The Green: Middle Tier- Kids Performance Stage
Tarradiddle Players: Mint Museum Theatre
Caroline Calouche- Aerial: Convention Center Stage-MLK

2:30-3:15pm
Percussion Petting Zoo: The Green: Upper Tier

3-3:30pm
Fireman Jim: NASCAR Hall of Fame Theatre
Magic by Glen: Convention Center Stage- MLK
Triple Toe Cloggers: The Green: Lower Tier

3:15-3:45pm
Jump Rope: The Green: Middle Tier- Kids Performance Stage
The Story Ship: Mint Museum Theatre

3:30-4:00pm
Strength and Elegance: Convention Center Stage- MLK
Caroline Calouche- Aerial: Convention Center Stage-MLK

3:45-4:15pm
Ronald Show: NASCAR Hall of Fame Theatre
Hung GAR Academy The Green: Lower Tier

3:45-4:30pm
Percussion Petting Zoo: The Green: Upper Tier

4-4:30pm
Sweetbriar Jam: The Green: Middle Tier- Kids Performance Stage
Tarradiddle Players Mint Museum Theatre

4-5:00pm
Hyundai Sonata Car Giveaway and KIDS COUNTDOWN! Main Stage- Levine Avenue of the Arts
8-11pm EVENING ACTIVITIES

First Night Evening Activities will take place at The Green from 8-11:00pm! Colombian classical guitarist extraordinaire, Ari Quiroga Nieto ensnares his listeners in a wonderful world chock full of melody & infectious vibes. With performances around the globe & a national presence in Spain & Colombia, he has slowly become one of the elite performers within the classical guitar circuit. Come to The Green: Lower Tier Dance Tent and check him out! Aris will perform from 8-8:30pm, 9-9:30pm and 10-10:30pm.

Are you ready to dance and have fun? Come to the novelty tent at The Green: Middle Tier! Dance with your friends and family as we celebrate the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. For those wanting to look festive for the midnight countdown we will have crowns for everyone to decorate! Remember the night by getting your picture taken in a photo booth, a flip book of silly pictures taken or sing with friends with our Dance Heads area!

Also performing with 3 30 minute shows from 8:30-11:00pm is Steve Gryb, an internationally recognized and innovative award-winning guitarist, multi-percussionist, jazz and contemporary music performer with over 30 years experience entertaining audiences of all ages. Steve will be performing at The Green: Upper Tier. There will be games, fun and more!

10pm-12:30am COUNTDOWN TO MIDNIGHT, HEADLINE BAND THE ATLANTA PARTY BAND PLUS HOOP DANCER SPIRAL!

Midnight Finale Countdown
It’s time to party like it’s 2012!! Headline Atlanta Party Band will perform from 10pm-12:30am on the main stage at Levine Avenue of the Arts! This is a dynamic eight piece band. Four singers out front- two girls and two guys plus a four-piece band: keyboards, guitar, drums and saxophone.

The two beautiful ladies on the front-line are excellent vocalists with dance moves to match! The two guys are professional and experienced with incredible singing abilities. They have performed extensively overseas in Asia and Europe as well as touring with Sweet Sinsation, Tommy Paige, The Time, Stevie Wonder, Cameo, Jodece, KC&Jo-Jo and P-Diddy. Their music features all the decades from the swing era to today’s hottest hits, with a special emphasis on the great party music of Motown, the seventies and eighties party rock.

Also performing on the main stage from 10pm-12:30am is contemporary hoop dancer, Spiral Part whirling dervish, acrobat, modern dancer, object manipulator, yogi and ninja, Spiral has been on the cutting edge of this emerging movement practice for almost a decade, transforming a child’s toy and fitness tool into an art form. Spiral will be performing at the Mint Plaza!

“We had a great turn out of men on July 4th,” said Ron Leeper, one of the co-founders of Men Who Care Global (MWCG). “Everyone went home safe. That continues to be our goal.”

While Men Who Care Global will be out to keep an eye on young people, the group emphasizes that it’s parent’s responsibility to make sure kids ages 16 and young observe the curfew.

“Men Who Care will be engaging our young people, letting them know we care and modeling the kind of behavior we want them to exhibit”, continues Leeper. “We want to thank all of our partners, particularly Chief Monroe and Center City Partners. We can make Charlotte a safe and special place for all of our children.”

On July 4, more than 200 men volunteered and primarily patrolled uptown streets wearing brightly colored t-shirts and talked with youth and each other. For NYE, the organizations will have tables, tents set up at specified areas throughout the Uptown area. They will hand out information about mentoring, job training, GED’s as well as give-aways to engage the young men and women.

MWCG held a Leadership Symposium for youth on August 6 of this year to follow up with the young men with whom they engages on July 4. They organizations said education, jobs and mentoring continue to be some of the most critical needs of this group of young people in our community.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Ron Leeper at Men Who Care Global. ronl@leeperconstruction.com or 704-334-3223.

]]> http://my927charlotte.com/community/tjameson/men-who-care-global-to-patrol-nye//feed 0 http://my927charlotte.com/national/tjameson/we-remember-teena-marie/ http://my927charlotte.com/national/tjameson/we-remember-teena-marie/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:21:38 +0000 Tonya Jameson http://my927charlotte.com/?p=2677332 We're still lamenting the loss of Teena Marie, who died suddenly on Dec. 26 last year. Marie's death stunned the R&B world which will forever remember her as Lady Tee was Rick James' protege. The two gave us slow jam hits such as "Fire and Desire." Her other hits include "Portuguese Love" and "Lovergirl." Related articles Read more..]]>
We’re still lamenting the loss of Teena Marie, who died suddenly on Dec. 26 last year. Marie’s death stunned the R&B world which will forever remember her as Lady Tee was Rick James’ protege. The two gave us slow jam hits such as “Fire and Desire.” Her other hits include “Portuguese Love” and “Lovergirl.”

Related articles
Teena Marie’s Greatest hits
Marsha Ambrosius Covers Teena Marie

On Twitter, Hannibal describes his new pilot as half “Breaking Bad” and half “Storage Wars.” Although Hannibal only wrote for “SNL” briefly, he said the experience helped him focus his stand-up routines.

“Working on a show like that, it’s a high profile show,” he said. It’s a very different form of stand-up.”

He has a dry delivery of his observations on life, but strung together those observerations make great punchlines. His comedy has landed him on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Lopez Tonight, the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Find his clips on YouTube, but warning some contain inappropriate language.