It's Race Week

The Bank of America 500 is this Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway and there's a lot going on in Charlotte this week surrounding the race. Many activities start today. If you're a NASCAR fan, you'll have several opportunities to see drivers up close. If you're not a fan or don't know much about racing, here's your chance to see what all the fuss is about.

ThatsRacin.com has compiled a great list of race week events and driver appearances. Click here.

Lowe's Motor Speedway's website has the official fan guide. (Jessica Simpson will perform a 40-minute pre-race concert.) Click here.

And finally, the October issue of Charlotte magazine, on newsstands now, features a great photo essay by Chris Edwards that is made up of photos from last year's Bank of America 500. Click here.

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Nicole Atkins On 'The 101' Tonight

Catch singer Nicole Atkins performing tonight as part of the DirecTV Concert Series. That means you have to have DirecTV to see it. The one-hour concert airs at 7 p.m. on the satellite-only channel called The 101 (which is channel 101). The 101 has been showing some great concerts. I saw Katy Perry and Ferras over the weekend and I was surprised that I enjoyed it. If you can't catch Atkins tonight, the concert will be re-airing.

Atkins is a New Jersey native who spent several years here as a student at UNC Charlotte and lived here a while after graduating. She was writing songs the whole time and performed with other local artists, including the Avett Brothers. She landed a record deal with Columbia Records in 2006 and released her debut album, Neptune City, almost a year ago. She was last in Charlotte in the spring for a couple of shows.

Read more about Atkins in an article I wrote for Charlotte magazine earlier this year. Click here.

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Events for the Week: October 6-12

Note: If I learn of more events, I’ll update this post throughout the week.

Tuesday, October 7

Tone X and Friends (weekly event)
Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy, live skits, improv, and music, along with a performance by the Hunnie Dipz Dancers. 8 p.m. $15. Skandalos, 5317 E. Independence Blvd. 704-890-0771.

Touch One Tuesdays (weekly event)
See Charlotte’s gifted poets perform—and if you have the courage, join them onstage—during this open mic event. Presented by Touch One Productions. Hosted by Filmore and music by DJ Flemingo. 9 p.m. $10. Wine-Up. 3306 N. Davidson St. (NoDa). www.wine-up.com.

$3 Tuesdays (NEW weekly event)
It's a $3 cover, $3 drink specials, and $3 chicken and waffles each Tuesday night. Also enjoy old school hip-hop and R&B spun by DJ Supreme. Ladies free before 10 p.m. Stir Nightclub, 3500 E. Independence Blvd. www.stirnc.com.

Wednesday, October 8

Pop Life (weekly event)
After taking a month off to change venues, the popular Wednesday social networking event hasn’t missed a step. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. (South End). www.thesolkitchen.com.

Mary J. Blige with Robin Thicke
CANCELLED...Again.

Thursday, October 9

Taste of the World
This annual guided tour through East Charlotte's International District includes opening and closing receptions at the Charlotte Museum of History and the VanLandingham Estate, and samplings of cuisine at authentic international restaurants. Buy a ticket and bring a friend for free. 5 p.m. Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Dr. www.charlotteeast.com/TasteofWorldnext.htm.

Premiere Party for GoodWorks with Rahman Khan
It promises to be a swanky party to introduce a great new TV show that will showcase the best Charlotte has to offer. 6-8:30 p.m. $35. Ballantyne Village Theatre, 14814 John J. Delaney Dr. www.goodworkstv.net.

Friday, October 10

Wine Day Fridays (weekly event)
This event recently moved from Wednesdays to Fridays so you can roll right into the weekend. Enjoy some new wines while listening to music. 5 p.m. Free. Village at SouthPark, corner of Sharon Road and Morrison Boulevard (in front of M5). www.elevatecharlotte.com.

Friday Afterwork Rendezvous (weekly event)
End your workweek on a high note at this networking event, held at a different venue each week. Enjoy live music and drink and appetizer specials. Presented by Talk of the Town. To learn this week’s location, text “rendezvous” to 58714. 6-9 p.m. Free.

SCarowinds
The Carolinas’ popular theme park is transformed into a place of fright for the Halloween season. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $34 and up. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. www.scarowinds.com.

Fresh Fest
If you love ol’ school hip-hop, you’re going to love this. See Naughty By Nature, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, and The Force MD’s perform your favorites from the 1980s and ‘90s. 8 p.m. $35.50-$42.50. Cricket Arena, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. www.cricketarenacharlotte.com.

Saturday, October 11

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Travel back centuries and enjoy outdoor theater, circus entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, and a feast fit for royalty. This annual festival runs for consecutive weekends October 4-November 16. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville (go to website for directions instead of using Mapquest or Google Maps). www.royalfaires.com/carolina.

The Ciao, Italia! Festival
This annual one-day festival displays Italy's rich culture, traditions, arts, wine, and cuisine. The day features entertainment such as performances by the Opera Carolina Chorus, mandolin players, Italian singing sensation Franco Corso from San Remo, Italy, and the International Pizza Toss Champion Siler Chapman. There will also be Italian language lessons, wine tasting, and a variety of children's activities. And, of course, there's the food. The Club's famous sausage and pepper sandwiches top the menu, along with eggplant parmigiana sandwiches, pasta, pizza, Italian ice, and an array of Italian pastries and cookies. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $3. Wachovia Atrium, 301 S. Tryon St.

South End JazztoberFest
Enjoy an all-day free jazz concert featuring performances by The Timo Vollbrecht Band, John Alexander Group, Ziad Group, Uncommon Jazz, and Noel Freidline Group. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free.
Atherton Mill Parking Lot, Tremont Avenue and South Boulevard. www.historicsouthend.com.

Bank of America 500
It's the fifth race in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Gates open 2 p.m., race starts 7:25 p.m. You'll want to get there early to catch all of the pre-race festivities, including a concert by Jessica Simpson. Visit website for ticket prices. Lowe's Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord. www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

SCarowinds
The Carolinas’ popular theme park is transformed into a place of fright for the Halloween season. 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $34 and up. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. www.scarowinds.com.

Fresh and Magnificent
Break out your '80s attire and enjoy '80s hip-hop, '80s dancing, and even '80s drinks. 9 p.m. $10. Ladies free before 10 p.m. Presented by Pink Diamond. Prevue, 2909 N. Davidson St. www.dothewop.com.

Sunday, October 12

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Travel back centuries and enjoy outdoor theater, circus entertainment, an arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, and a feast fit for royalty. This annual festival runs for consecutive weekends October 4-November 16. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville (go to website for directions instead of using Mapquest or Google Maps). www.royalfaires.com/carolina.

Latin American Festival
This annual one-day festival has grown so large that it's moved to a new venue this year. About 25,000 people are expected to come for a variety of entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and activities rooted in Latin American culture. The live music includes performances from Richmond's fusion salsa octet Bio Ritmo; Atlanta's 10-member Mariachis De Pepe Lopez; and Miami's multicultural Bachaco. 12-7 p.m. $5. Symphony Park at South Park, 4400 Sharon Rd. www.festivallatinoamericano.org.

An Evening with Eric Benet
Even though he broke Halle Berry’s heart, his music is still good. Presented by The Sol Kitchen. 8 p.m. $25 in advance. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. www.thesolkitchen.com.

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Wachovia Employees: Have a Drink

Things are still unfolding regarding who will buy or merge with Wachovia and a legal battle has ensued. If you work at the Charlotte-based bank, it has to be stressing you out, worrying about the future of your job. On CharlotteMagazine.com, I've listed the top-five bars for our fellow bankers to drink away their worries. Click here.

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New York Times Article Captures Charlotte's Banking Culture

The New York Times is publishing an article in tomorrow's paper (available online today) titled "For Two Longtime Bank Rivals in Charlotte, Competition Turns to Concern." If you live here, the article likely doesn't offer much you didn't already know. But the writer did an excellent job of recapitulating what the culture has been like in Charlotte for the last several years as home to both Bank of America and Wachovia's headquarters, and tells our story on a world stage.

Here's an excerpt:

No sooner had construction begun in the late 1980s on the 42-story bank headquarters — the tallest building in North Carolina — than its biggest rival announced it would build a taller building right up the street.

If one bank gave $50,000 to the Chamber of Commerce, the other wrote a check for the same amount. When one built a performing arts center, the other built a museum. For decades here, it has been thus: the two banks, homegrown Wachovia and the larger Bank of America, gleefully one-upping each other, and Charlotte coming out the winner.

With Wachovia dominating the south end of Tryon Street, uptown’s main thoroughfare, and Bank of America dominating the north end, Charlotte became the nation’s second-largest banking center behind New York.

But last week, as Wachovia, which employs 20,000 people here, became the latest financial institution to succumb to the credit crisis, the long spirit of competition between the two banks swiftly turned to concern.

Click here for the full article.

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