Geeking Out Over CLT Airport's Planned Expansions (Video)

I don't know when, but at some point in recent years I developed a fascination with how cities and neighborhoods grow and, essentially, how they're built (or rebuilt). I know it has a lot to do with me having lived in Charlotte for almost a decade now, and the sizable growth I've witnessed here during that time.

So I enjoy reading the many news articles of announcements and updates on new condos, apartment buildings, office towers, hotels, shopping centers (and in many cases a combination of these things, commonly known as "mixed use") being planned and built around the city, that I come across on The Charlotte Observer and Charlotte Business Journal's websites. And, of course, that growth is mirrored (or should be mirrored) in the improvements in infrastructure, such as the final leg of Interstate 485 finally opening, the next phase of the light rail running to University City, and the continued renovations and expansions of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

And it's the CLT airport stuff that's caused me to geek out. Seriously, since the airport announced, a month ago, the next phase of its development master plan, I've been talking to friends and colleagues about it like it's the Apple Watch or something. The $2.5 billion investment will make the airport more modern, convenient, accessible, and keep up with its crazy growth. Consider this: the airport welcomed 25 million total passengers for the year in 2004; 10 years later, in 2014, the total was 44 million.

Renderings of the planned renovations and expansions at Charlotte's airport. Credit: CLT

You can read about the planned projects, including expanding the terminal and lobby and renovating the concourses. But you'll definitely want to watch the video below, which is what fascinated me. It uses computer generation to show how, most notably, the terminal curb and roadway will be expanded and elevated, with the addition of several new lanes for vehicles dropping off and picking up passengers. And keep in mind, all of this construction will take place while the airport is in full operation, with millions of passengers coming and going each month.

Fascinating. #BarbaraWaltersVoice.

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Gumball 3000 Rally In Charlotte -- Sights and Sounds

The Gumball 3000 Rally is currently making its way from "Miami 2 Ibiza," stopping in several major cities along the way and wowing audiences with its cars. If you're not familiar with Gumball 3000, it's a lifestyle brand, founded by British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper, highlighted by exotic car culture but also includes fashion and entertainment. The annual Gumball rally has grown in popularity over the last few years, and a lot of the participants, who are coming from all over the globe, are wealthy--they're driving some of the world's most expensive and rare cars--and a growing number of the drivers on the rally are celebrities.

After leaving Atlanta, Gumball stopped in Charlotte last Friday, spending a few hours with several of the cars on display in front of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the public to view (the drivers were given a private tour inside the HOF and ate lunch there). I actually received a media invite in advance to come out, meet the drivers, and even take a ride in a rare Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, but I had to decline because I was going to be out of town (I attended my nephew's high school graduation, so it was worth it). I was curious about what I missed--I knew it would be a great event--so I checked social media to see what kind of photos and videos had been shared.

Credit: @NASCARHall

Here's a two-and-a-half-minute video of the Atlanta and Charlotte stops, posted by Gumball's official YouTube channel.

Here's a seven-minute video by GTBoard.com that shows the display of cars in front of the HOF and includes a quick interview with the Gumball creator.

And there are a lot of great photos on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Among the celebrities spotted in Charlotte were DJ/producer deadmau5, rapper Bun B, acclaimed photographer Estevan Oriol, and rapper/actress Eve. Eve is engaged to Maximillion (they're getting married this Saturday).

Post by GMP Performance.

Post by Versiontwo Laboratory.

After leaving Charlotte, the Gumball drivers headed to New York City. Today, they're in London and Paris. The life! Follow all the action at gumball3000.com, and the official Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts (all are @gumball3000).

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Shows How He Really Does In 'This Is How We Dew' Commercial

I'm going to tell you something you already know: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a rock star in NASCAR.

But despite being the most popular and most endorsed/highly paid driver in the sport, Dale Jr. doesn't seem to publicly embrace his rock star status much. He's usually mild-mannered and soft spoken in pre- and post-race interviews. He doesn't do social media or go out of his way to get attention--you never read about him in tabloids or gossip websites. And even when I've seen him out and about around Charlotte, he's usually low-key and not rolling with a large entourage. Yet, he's always in your face because he doesn't shy away from lucrative product and brand endorsements, and launching his own ventures like potato chips, nightclubs (Whisky River is opening a location soon at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport), and Earnhardt Outdoors with his siblings (which is currently asking for your ideas for new outdoor products, like for hunting, fishing, camping, etc.).

Finally, of all the television commercials Dale Jr. has appeared in, his new one for Mountain Dew showcases his rock star lifestyle.

The "Living Portrait of Dale Earnhardt Jr." commercial started airing on TV at the beginning of the month, and I saw it repeatedly over the weekend. It's the latest promotion in Mountain Dew's "This Is How We Dew" campaign, which this installment features moving "portraits" of three of the soda brand's celebrity endorsers. The other two guys featured are snowboarder Danny Davis and skateboarder Paul Rodriguez. You can see all three commercials at mountaindew.com/portraits.

Dale Jr.'s living portrait shows him sitting in victory lane on a throne made of engine parts, surrounded by members of his pit crew (not sure if those are the actual pit guys) who are spraying Mountain Dew in the air in celebration, along with hot chicks waving checkered flags and country music star Brantley Gilbert jamming away on his guitar (though that's not his music you hear playing). In the background, you'll also notice his No. 88 car, the Whisky River logo, lights and seating from a racetrack, and two people doing stunts on four-wheelers (not sure of the tie-in with that part).

It's an all-around cool, 30-second ad, including the use of the song "Hot Fire" by Crash Kings. But as several commenters on the YouTube video have pointed out, and I certainly agree with, the concept of the commercial looks a lot like the visual techniques used in Kanye West's 2010 video for "Power" (See, another reason why Ye is the greatest of all-time. #KanyeVoice).

Unfortunately, the commercial strays a little from Dale Jr.'s reputation, by virtue of facts. The visual is set in victory lane at a racetrack, as I pointed out. But if you follow NASCAR, then you know that Junior has won only one NASCAR Sprint Cup series race in the last five years, and that victory came more than a year ago in June 2012 (that's one win in about 200 races). By comparison, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson has won four races this season alone. In terms of the standings, Dale Jr.'s had a pretty good season, currently ranked seventh and with five top-five finishes. With only two races remaining in the regular season schedule, he's almost a shoe-in to make the Chase, NASCAR's playoffs.

Win or lose, he's still a rock star.

In other Dale Jr. news, he'll appear on the next episode of Fast N' Loud on Discovery. The show is about a couple of car experts who go around the country searching for rare classic cars to restore. Dale Jr. is a known car buff, so I assume in the episode, which airs on Monday, September 2, at 9 p.m., that we'll see the show's crew coming to Dale Jr.'s Mooresville home and/or race shop to get one of his cars.

1 week until an all new #FastNLoud with #DaleJr. Don't miss it! @JRMotorsports #NASCAR @GasMonkeyGarage pic.twitter.com/t8gCOmIWvm
— Discovery US (@Discovery) August 26, 2013

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Read About It: Hot Cars On the Lake

I wrote a feature for the July 2013 issue of Lake Norman Magazine, "Get Your Motor Running," that focuses on car dealers and shops in the lake area that sell/build exotic, luxury, and classic cars. We're talking everything from vintage cars from the 1930s to late-model sports cars.

While conducting interviews and doing research for this story, I learned that selling cars on consignment is big business, and that people search all over the world for specific cars. Because of the Internet, car dealers like the ones on Lake Norman are able to sell and ship cars to buyers from anywhere. Yes, a couple of the dealers told me they have people--from the West Coast to the Middle East--buy cars from them online without ever setting foot on the car lot or seeing the cars in person. That's why many of the dealers place detailed info, multiple photos, and sometimes even video of each of these exotic and luxury cars, to give potential buyers a good idea of the quality and appeal of the vehicle.

One of the Lake Norman dealers told me he sold two of the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition SUVs to a single buyer for $250,000 each. Rolling in it!

The July issue of Lake Norman Magazine is online and on newsstands now.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The Dark Knight Rises

Dale Earnhardt Jr. as The Dark Knight? Nah, he's too nice of a guy. But that won't stop him from driving his No. 88 Chevrolet in a special paint scheme this weekend, inspired by The Dark Knight Rises, the third and final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy (in theaters July 20). NASCAR is the king of sports marketing, and Dale Jr. is its prince, continuing to be one of the most sponsored and endorsed drivers, just as he has been for more than a decade in NASCAR's top series.

One of Dale Jr.'s top sponsors is Diet Mountain Dew (www.dewcrew.com), which shares naming rights on his car with the U.S. National Guard. Mountain Dew has a large partnership with The Dark Knight Rises--beginning Monday you'll be able to purchase Mountain Dew Dark Berry, a limited-time-only flavor, as well as special 16-ounce cans of Mountain Dew that feature the bat symbol (dewgothamcity.com). The day before, this Sunday, Dale Jr. will drive The Dark Knight Rises-themed car at the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway (noon on TNT).

He actually unveiled the car two and a half weeks ago at the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest, which took place during Charlotte's race weeks. The blacked-out racecar features the Bat Shield on the hood, and Batman and Bane, Gotham City’s newest villain, on either side. In this video below, you can watch how the car was wrapped at Hendrick.

Points-wise, Dale Jr. is having a great season, currently in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, thanks to five top-five finishes and 11 top-10s this season. At this rate, he's a shoe-in to make the Chase this fall, but he continues to drive under a dark cloud, having not won a race in four years. In fact, the last time he took home the checkered flag in a Sprint Cup race was June 15, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway, the same track he's competing at this weekend. Sunday is not only race day, it's also Father's Day, and since he'll forever be known as his father's son, this would be the perfect time for him to end his 143-race winless streak. The late, great Dale Sr., of course, was known as The Intimidator and drove his black No. 3 Chevrolet for several years. With Dale Jr. driving a black Chevy on Father's Day, perhaps he can channel the spirit of his dad's winning ways--and The Dark Knight Rises to victory.

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Truck Hop?

Apparently there was a "Truck Hop" event recently in Charlotte. This truck has better dance moves than I do. LOL.

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Read About It: Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway

I plan to put my Christmas tree up this weekend, which will be a week earlier than I did last year (*pats self on back*). So in my house, it'll begin to feel like Christmas. Where it already feels--and looks--like the holiday, however, is at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The second annual Carolina Christmas display, featuring more than 3 million lights, a Bethlehem Village with a live nativity scene, pony rides for kids and a petting zoo, local food vendors, and more, is open at the speedway through December 31. Click here to read my review at CharlotteMagazine.com, which I wrote after visiting Carolina Christmas during its opening weekend.

Credit: Charlotte Motor Speedway

This Friday night, December 9, Carolina Christmas will feature an old-fashioned drive-in movie with a modern twist when it shows Polar Express on the world’s largest high-definition television screen at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The movie will begin at 8 p.m. and is included with regular admission to Carolina Christmas that night. Click here for more details on the movie night.

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C-SPAN's Spending the Week In Charlotte

Details below are edited from press release.

C-SPAN is visiting Charlotte for a week starting today, as it chronicles the history and literary life of the city for the cable network’s non-fiction book channel (BookTV on C-SPAN2) and history channel (American History TV on C-SPAN3). Charlotte is one of eight cities being featured in a special series called the LCV Cities Tour. The tour is given this name because C-SPAN producers are travelling in specially designed Ford Transit Connect vehicles, which they're calling Local Content Vehicles (LCVs), that are equipped with digital cameras, editing and other recording technologies, and each member of the LCV team is able to shoot and edit video on location as well as make presentations to the community about the work they do for the network.

C-SPAN Team: Mark Farkas, Tiffany Rocque, Adrienne Hoar, and Deborah Lamb. [Source]

During the week, C-SPAN producers will visit various literary and historic sites, interviewing local historians, authors and civic leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan. The C-SPAN team will also visit area schools, including Central Piedmont Community College, Providence Day School, and McClintock Middle School. C-SPAN is partnering with Time Warner Cable, the network’s local affiliate, which is helping to organize the week’s many logistics.

A Tuesday, August 30 public kick-off event will be held at Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive, with opening remarks at 6:30 p.m. from Time Warner Cable, C-SPAN, and representatives of Charlotte Museum of History. The event keynote speaker is local author and Levine Museum of the New South historian, Dr. Tom Hanchett. He'll discuss Charlotte’s unique history and other topics included in his book Sorting Out the New South City and his most recent work, Salad Bowl Suburbs: A History of Charlotte's East Side and South Boulevard Immigrant Corridors.

The kick-off event will air along with C-SPAN’s other productions during a special Charlotte feature the weekend of September 24-25 on BookTV and American History TV. For more details, visit www.c-span.org/LocalContent.

In the video below, Mark Farkas, C-SPAN executive producer and LCV project manager, explains why they're visiting cities like Charlotte.

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Rick Hendrick Is a Hero

Great news today from an announcement by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In recent months, I'd talked to several community leaders and educators who were concerned about how Charlotte youth would be negatively impacted if middle school sports were eliminated due to budget cuts. "Kids in well-to-do families will make up for it by playing in rec leagues. But kids in working class or low-income families can't afford that or their parents, many of them single parents, won't be able to shuttle them around to practices," a school representative told me one day a couple of months ago. I also had a conversation about how after-school sports help keep kids off the street. Now, thanks to the generosity of Charlotte businessman and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, CMS' middle school sports will not be cut this school year.

Read an excerpt of the CMS news release below.

A $250,000 sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Automotive Group will allow Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to offer a complete program of middle school sports for the 2011-12 academic year.

Due to budget cuts, CMS had expected to reduce the number of middle school sports offered in previous years. The Hendrick sponsorship, combined with a contribution from an unidentified donor, provides the remaining amount necessary to fund the full lineup of 13 sports at all 32 middle schools for more than 6,500 students participating in athletics across the district.

The agreement gives the company naming rights of statistics announced during breaks at high school athletic events; recognition as a title partner in announcements at the end of high school events; and signage that will be displayed at middle and high school athletic events.

CMS will use the sponsorship money to help pay coaching stipends, fees for officials and transportation costs for middle school athletics. Students must still pay some sports-participation fees, introduced by CMS for all middle and high school student-athletes last year.

“As someone who participated in sports growing up and has kids who played, I understand the impact those experiences can have on young people,” said Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group.

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What I Knew About the Dale Earnhardt Roller Coaster

Around this time last year I was working on a Charlotte magazine article on Max Siegel, who at the time was president of Dale Earnhardt Inc. My series of interviews with Siegel were some of the best I've experienced during my career as a journalist. The reason I say this is because of the access he granted me. I asked if I could "shadow" him for a couple of days, follow him around DEI's offices and race shops in Mooresville, sit in on his meetings, and experience what his typical day is like (it moved at a hectic pace).

At certain times during some of the meetings I attended, Siegel would ask me to turn off my recorder or say "this is off the record," basically letting me know what I was about to hear shouldn't be included in the article. It wasn't one of those situations in which he was trying to control the interview--he was instead very candid and forthcoming--but some of the discussions in the meetings were private business matters or included details that hadn't been finalized.

One of those meetings was about Carowinds' interest to build a roller coaster dedicated to the late, great Dale Earnhardt. One of Siegel's primary responsibilities was to oversee this type of business venture--companies frequently approach DEI with propositions to attach themselves to Earnhardt's lucrative brand (he's like the Elvis of NASCAR). Carowinds' proposal to build an Earnhardt roller coaster was in its early stages at the time. Well, it appears that DEI liked it because they've signed off on the licensing, paving the way for The Intimidator roller coaster, set to debut next spring as was announced by Carowinds yesterday.


The Intimidator will be the Southeast's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, standing 232 feet (23 stories) tall at its highest peak and reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The 5,316 feet of track will feature high-speed twists and turns including seven steep drops--one for each of Earnhardt's NASCAR championships--and it's intended to replicate the speed and intensity of a NASCAR race. The trains on The Intimidator will be designed to mirror Earnhardt's 1998 Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The roller coaster is projected to cost $23 million to build.

Below is a video simulation of The Intimidator roller coaster. For more details, visit www.intimidator.carowinds.com.



As for Siegel, he left DEI after the company merged its racing operations with Chip Ganassi Racing late last year. He's since started a marketing firm called The 909 Group, based in Huntersville, and continues to work with NASCAR along with other major sports and entertainment clients.

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Carolina Panthers Player Pimped His Ride Then It Was Stolen

The pimped-out, souped-up 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Classic owned by Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was stolen over the weekend from in front of his southeast Charlotte home. With the many customizations Davis had done to the car, the two-door convertible is valued at more than $135,000.

Owning expensive cars is something of a requirement for professional athletes. But I must also note that Davis isn't your typical, frivolous big baller. He also runs a great charity, of which I blogged about a couple of months ago ("Carolina Panther Hosting Events for Charity").

Also noteworthy is what I think has now become an unfortunate pattern for Carolina Panthers players. This is the third summer in a row in which something bad has happened to a Panther player's car (I previously blogged about the first two last year: "Panthers Rookies' Bad Luck With Cars"). In summer 2007, then-rookie Dwayne Jarrett had his BMW 645 coupe totaled when he was hit by a reckless driver on I-77. In summer 2008, then-rookie Jeff Otah's Cadillac Escalade was carjacked while his brother was driving it in Uptown. And this summer this has happened to Davis.

Here are photos of Davis's car that was stolen (photos courtesy of Fourtitude Forums). The thieves better keep it out of sight because it certainly wouldn't be hard to spot, particularly because of the large mural of Davis and a Panther that's painted on the trunk.

Click on photos for larger view.

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NASCAR's Most Valuable Teams

As it does each year, Forbes released its list of NASCAR's most valuable teams yesterday. It comes as no surprise that each of the top ten teams is based in the Charlotte area, but if you've never seen this annual list before you might be surprised to see how much these teams are worth. Actually, it's really all about the top two.

Hendrick Motorsports--home to Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr., and Martin--is ranked number one for the umpteenth consecutive year, with an estimated value of $350 million (a 4 percent increase from last year). Roush Fenway Racing is valued at $270 million, but that's a 14 percent decrease. Beyond them, no other team is even close to $200 million.


Even though the article points out NASCAR's declining TV ratings and what has become obvious--the negative effect this economic recession is having on the sport, largely because of lost sponsorships--it reveals that the rich (teams) keep getting richer: "Fighting for a bigger slice of a shrinking pie have been the sport's most valuable teams, which continue to consolidate power at the top of the Sprint Cup Series standings. To date, all 13 races have been won by five of the sport's most valuable teams."

Click here to read the full article.

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Driving While Texting—We Know Better

Most of us have a bad habit of sending text messages on our phones while driving even though (as our parents would say) we know better. I've actually gotten better about it and I now try to wait until I get to a stoplight to send a text or sometimes I'll pull into a parking lot for a minute to do it. Or in some cases, after I receive a text I'll just call the person who sent it. After seeing all of the recent news coverage on DWT—driving while texting—and the accidents that occur, I've been scared straight. Getting into an accident that could've easily been avoided is no LOL matter.

In this WCNC video below, you'll see just how impaired your driving becomes when you're placing your eyes and thumbs on your phone instead of on the road and steering wheel.

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Scenes From CIAA Week

The CIAA basketball tournament has packed up and left Charlotte, leaving behind Johnson C. Smith University as winners of the men's and women's championships, and thousands of locals and visitors resting up from several days of partying. (I'm sure today's snow day was welcomed by many who got the day off from work.) I didn't manage to make it to any basketball games (shame on me), but below is a glimpse of what I experienced throughout the week.



You can see more photos on Charlotte magazine's Spotted site.

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Events for the Week: Feb. 23-Mar. 1

This is not your typical week for events because the CIAA basketball tournament comes to town Feb-24-28, and with it comes more parties and events than you can count. To help you decipher among the massive list of more than 150, below are GPT-recommended events that I think you’ll enjoy—but you can’t sue me if you don't! Pay attention to times become some of them are day parties. Prices are subject to change (a.k.a. increase at the door).

Monday, February 23

Media Mixer and Welcome Reception
Inviting professionals working in media, communications, marketing, and public relations to mingle and network to kick off the start of CIAA Week. Free hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great music will be playing all night. Presented by the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ). 6-9 p.m. Free. Tutto Mondo, 1820 South Blvd. RSVP at info@caabj.com if you plan to attend. www.caabj.com.

Tuesday, February 24

CIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Begins
See women’s teams compete from the 10 CIAA schools: Bowie State, Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, Johnson C. Smith, Livingstone, Saint Augustine’s, Saint Paul’s, Shaw, Virginia State, and Virginia Union. Tournament runs through Saturday, culminating with the championship game. Visit website for times and ticket prices. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. www.ciaatournament.org.

A Peace of Jazz Concert Series Part I
Featuring live music by Kim Waters and a complimentary buffet. Ages 30 and up preferred. Presented by Food Lion, the CIAA, and Jaye and Monica Delai. 6 p.m. $30 and up. Kiss Lounge, 204 W. Woodlawn Road. www.jayeandmonica.com.

Wednesday, February 25

CIAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Begins
See men’s teams compete from the 10 CIAA schools: Bowie State, Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, Johnson C. Smith, Livingstone, Saint Augustine’s, Saint Paul’s, Shaw, Virginia State, and Virginia Union. Tournament runs through Saturday, culminating with the championship game. Visit website for times and ticket prices. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. www.ciaatournament.org.

Pop Life: CI Edition Part 2
The popular weekly social networking event is expanding this week into two rooms and featuring two DJs. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.apostrophelounge.com.

Thursday, February 26

Kickin’ It On the Northside
Mix and mingle with young professionals after work. Featuring live jazz music and a DJ. Presented by Digital Divas. 5-9 p.m. Free. Utopia Restaurant, 10210 Berkeley Place Dr. www.digitaldivasevents.com.

T.I. and Young Jeezy
See two of the top rappers in the game live in concert. 7:30 p.m. $45-$75. Bojangles' Coliseum (formerly Cricket Arena), 2700 E. Independence Blvd. www.cricketarenacharlotte.com.

The World Tour Party Part 1
Enjoy a chic party over dinner. Hosted by Consuella with music by DJ Johnny Davis and DJ Daddy D. Ages 25 and up preferred. Sponsored by RushmoreDrive.com. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $25-$75. VIP tickets include all-you-can-eat dinner. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 139 S. Tryon Street. www.rushmoredrive.com/nightlife.

Pink Groove 4
This party draws a beautiful crowd each year. Presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Rho Psi Omega Chapter. A portion of proceeds will benefit its scholarship fund. Music by DJ Stacey Blackman. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $30-$60 in advance. The Forum, 300 N. College St. www.rhopsiomega.org.

Friday, February 27

Steve Harvey Morning Show/CIAA Ford Fan Experience
The nationally syndicated radio show is broadcasting live from the Ford Fan Experience, followed by a full day of events for fans. 6 a.m. Free. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St. www.ciaatournament.org/page/ciaa-ford-fan-experience

CI Day Party Headquarters: Double Day Party Part 1
Party while the sun’s out and enjoy four DJs, more than forty TVs, 10 pool tables, card games, food, and drinks. Presented by Talk of the Town of Charlotte. 12-7 p.m. $15. Fox and Hound, 330 N. Tryon St. www.talkofthetownent.com.

The Crown Royal Affair
Your favorite liquor that comes wrapped in a purple bag is throwing a party at Charlotte’s newest hotel. Presented by UPTOWN magazine. 6-9 p.m. You must RSVP to get on the guest list. Aloft Charlotte, inside the EpiCentre, 210 E. www.uptownlife.net/royalaffair.

Anthony Hamilton’s Grammy Award Party
Celebrate with the R&B singer and Charlotte native. Presented by Dynasty5, The Sol Kitchen, and Firm Events. 10 p.m. $25-$40 in advance. Cans Bar and Canteen, 500 W. Fifth St. www.dynasty5.com.

Saturday, February 28

CIAA Ford Fan Experience
A full day of events for fans, including live performances by Anthony Hamilton and Robin Thicke, choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, and the Funkmaster Flex Car Show. 12 p.m. Free. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St. www.ciaatournament.org/page/ciaa-ford-fan-experience.

Uptown Saturday Part III
It’s one of the most popular day parties, so get there early. Music from DJ Polo. Presented by Digital Divas and Alizé. 12:30-5 p.m. $16 in advance. Blue Restaurant and Bar, 214 N. Tryon St. (corner of 5th and College streets). www.digitaldivasevents.com.

CIAA Women’s and Men’s Championships
Ten teams are pared down to two in each competition. The men’s game will be televised by ESPN Classic. Women’s 5 p.m., men’s 8 p.m. Visit website for ticket prices. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. www.ciaatournament.org.

L.O.V.E.
It stands for Lavish, Opulent, Vibrant, Elite—and sounds like the right kind of party. Ages 28 and older preferred. Presented by Talk of the Town of Charlotte, Urban Professionals of Atlanta, and LK Productions and R&R Productions of the Triad. 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. $20-$40. LaVecchia’s Restaurant, 225 E. Sixth St. www.talkofthetownent.com.

The Green Lounge Afterparty
Party inside this swank restaurant and bar, with music by DJ Jazzy Jeff. Presented by The Sol Kitchen and Simmons Media Group. 9 p.m. $30-$50 in advance. Mez, inside the EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. www.thesolkitchen.com.

Sunday, March 1

Panache—The 3rd Annual Farewell Jazz Brunch
Celebrate the end of a long week of partying over brunch. Featuring live jazz. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $20. Utopia Restaurant, 10210 Berkeley Place Dr. www.digitaldivasevents.com.

2009 CIAA Basketball Tournament CIAA Parties 2009 Charlotte Uptown Downtown Celebrities Concerts Nightclubs CIAA Weekend 2009 Light Rail 2009 CIAA Events

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The Future of Dale Jr.'s Camaro?

General Motors recently announced that it would be delaying the start of production of the 2010 Chevy Camaro by one month. The start date is now scheduled for March 16 and GM expects the first cars to be ready by late spring. The completely redesigned Camaro was a big hit at auto shows last year, and it's been reported that more than 10,000 people are on the waiting list to purchase them once they begin arriving at dealerships. It's presumable that the terrible state the U.S. car companies are in, in this case GM, is what's caused the delay.

But GM needs to get the Camaro out as soon as possible. This is a car they have that people actually want to buy, and a Chevy at that. I'm sure it'll debut eventually, but I'm now wondering what will come of the Chevrolet Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept car that premiered at the SEMA Show last fall. The popular NASCAR driver, who is known for driving his own 1972 Camaro around Kannapolis and Mooresville, partnered with GM on the design and tricked out the new Camaro by lowering it, putting on bigger tires and custom rims (21 inches), flipping the paint scheme, and customizing the interior including upgrading the sound system. And under the hood there's added horsepower.

If Dale Jr. is nothing else, he's an iconic brand. I bet GM would sell thousands of this model just off his name. They need to put one on display outside Whisky River and let the young guys get a look at it.

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Events for the Week: December 8-14

Your best list for parties, nightlife, social, and cultural events in Charlotte. If I learn of more events, I’ll update this post throughout the week.

Tuesday, December 9

A Peace of Jazz (weekly event)
Radio personality Jaye Delai and his wife Monica are presenting this new weekly jazz series. It promises to be a classy event. 7 p.m. $10. Kiss Lounge, 204 W. Woodlawn Rd. www.jayeandmonica.com.

Wednesday, December 10

A Warm Winter Mingle
The Charlotte Chamber's Black Professionals Network (BPN) is presenting this annual evening of networking and fun. Free hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served along with entertainment by Buff Dillard and Uniq'blend. Guests are asked to bring new or gently used winter coats to be donated to Crisis Assistance Ministry. 6-8:30 p.m. $10 to $15. Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 JM Keynes Dr. Click here to buy tickets in advance.

Pop Life (weekly event)
It’s the most popular social networking event on a Wednesday night. Starts after work but ends late. Music by select DJs. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. (South End). www.thesolkitchen.com.

Thursday, December 11

VAULT Assault Street Racing Challenge
Here’s your chance to race your vehicle on a professional track. It’s like a real-life 2 Fast 2 Furious. No race tires, nitrous bottles, or convertibles will be allowed. Registration 3 p.m., racing begins 5 p.m. $25 to enter your vehicle; admission for spectators is $5 or free with five canned food items. zMAX Dragway, Concord. www.zmaxdragway.com.

Cufflinks and Cocktails (monthly event)
Presented by Charlotte’s Kappas, this event is held at a different bar each month. And this month’s at the bar of the city’s newest upscale restaurant. Come mingle with a group of well-dressed professionals, from 20- to 40-somethings. Drink specials and free appetizers will be served. Free. 6 p.m. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 139 S. Tryon St. www.cltkappas.com/cufflinks-cocktails.

Palate to Palette
Offering a twist on the popular wine and food pairing, the Contemporaries will lead guests on a visual and tasting journey of wine and art. 6:30-9 p.m. $20. McColl Center for Visual Art, 721 N. Tryon St. www.mccollcenter.org.

Friday, December 12

EpiCentre Theaters Grand Opening
Be one of the first to experience movies returning to uptown. And this new theater is said to be offering a complete nightlife experience (bars that serve alcohol, VIP). The adjoining restaurant, Mez, is opening too. Visit website for details. EpiCentre Theaters, 210 E. Trade St. www.epicentretheaters.com.

Evolver World Tour
It’s John Legend and Raphael Saadiq. Enough said. 8 p.m. $61. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. www.ovensauditorium.com.

John Legend Concert After-Party
Club 935, which opened last week, is keeping with its slogan that this is "Where the Stars Party." John Legend will be hosting this party after his concert. This is also a birthday celebration for Richard Marshall of the Carolina Panthers. 10 p.m. Cost varies; everybody free before 11 p.m. with membership. Visit website for membership. Club 935, 935 South Summit Ave. www.club935.com.

Sexy Southern Model Search and Celebrity Extravaganza
The editors from KING magazine, along with celebrity guests, will be in town searching for models to grace their pages. 10 p.m. Cost varies. Stir, 3500 E. Independence Blvd. www.stirnc.com.

Saturday, December 13

Urban Street Soccer Fest
Celebrate the “world’s game” at this day of community, culture, and creative expression. The event will feature a soccer clinic, street soccer four-on-four matches, freestyle exhibitions, live art, music, and prizes. Presented by Concrete2Green and Street Soccer USA. 11 a.m. Free. Eastland Mall, 5471 Central Ave. www.concrete2green.com.

EPMD
The legendary rap duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith (Smith now lives in Charlotte) will perform some of their greatest hits. 10 p.m. $10. Alive in NoDa, 2909 N. Davidson St. www.myspace.com/alivenoda

Red and Black Affair
It'll be one of the most stylish holiday parties of the season. Hosted by Power 98’s Tone-X and Ifé Moore. Presented by Six Figure Entertainment and CharlotteVibe. 10 p.m. $15 in advance. Mimosa Grill, 327 S. Tryon St. www.sixfigureentertainment.com.

Sunday, December 14

Sunday Seductive (weekly event)
It's a party strictly for the 30-and-older crowd. Hosted by Q92.7's Stacey Blackman. 9 p.m. Free. The Cafe Room, 1250 S. Lucky Penny Dr. www.carolina30.com.

Ssshh: Sensual Seduction Sundays at Happy Hour (weekly event)
Enjoy an infusion of open-mic poetry and jazz over candlelight. After-party and dancing follows. Presented by Pink Diamond. 9 p.m. $10. Happy Hour Bar and Lounge, 3603 S. Tryon St. www.pinkdiamondpromo.com.

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Jeff Gordon Shows Off New Colors

This morning on the Today Show, Jeff Gordon unveiled the new paint scheme for his No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet. He'll be driving it for the 2009 season and it's only the third time in 16 years he's changed his paint scheme. It's a pretty major change--he added black and ditched the blue and now the car looks a little more badass. He'll need a new nickname now, though, because Rainbow Warrior doesn't quite fit anymore. Plus, the sound of Rainbow Warrior was never very intimidating. Speaking of, I bet some fans of the late Dale Earnhardt are going to say that Gordon's trying to be more like The Intimidator (black Chevy No. 3).



Gordon, like many NASCAR drivers, lives in Charlotte. When I attended Hendrick Motorsports' Media Day at the start of the season, one of the reporters asked him about the new house he's building here. He already has a mansion on Lake Norman. Plus, a hot wife. All NASCAR drivers have hot wives. It's like it's a rule or something. (Man Law?) I guess they really love trophies.

His teammate, Jimmie Johnson, can currently be seen on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO for about two more weeks (each episode runs for a month). The segment on Johnson was taped in Charlotte at his home and at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Gordon and Johnson are a lot alike. Both aren't like your typical drivers. They're more metropolitan than mechanic. But Johnson has been the better driver over the last three years. With his win last weekend, he moved to the top spot in the Chase, trying to make it three consecutive championships. Gordon is currently sixth; but his wife is hotter.

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Panthers Rookies' Bad Luck With Cars

While reading a news story just now about "One of Charlotte's Most Wanted," I learned that Carolina Panthers rookie Jeff Otah recently had his Cadillac Escalade stolen. Otah's brother was driving his SUV and was carjacked in uptown.

First of all, have you noticed that there seems to be a large number of carjackings happening in Charlotte lately?

And secondly, it seems like it is now bad luck to be a Panthers rookie and own a nice, new car. Last summer, then-Panthers rookie wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett had his BMW 645 totaled when he was hit while driving on the interstate.

Note to Panthers rookies, and to Charlotte Bobcats rookies for that matter: I know one of the first things you buy with your big, new paycheck is a fancy whip, but be aware of your surroundings. Charlotte isn't as small and slow as you may think. And don't forget, nearly three years ago, as a player for the Bobcats, Melvin Ely was robbed of $30,000 worth of jewelry while leaving a local strip club.

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Bank of America's Ridin' Big

I don't have to say much about this. The pictures speak for themselves. But for anyone who's not familiar with the scene, summertime is car show season in the South, particularly along the East Coast. Car guys look forward to showing off their whips. A popular trend for the last few years has been to come up with a paint scheme for your car that people will marvel at. Candy bars, sports teams, and cartoon characters are popular, and apparently so are banks. This guy should park his car in uptown in front of the Bank of America tower. I would love to see what kind of reaction it gets from the stuffy suits coming in and out.

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