Arts & Culture
-
‘Scrooge in Rouge’ Nicely Rewards the Naughty
Up in Cornelius, Bob Cratchit still can’t afford new clothes for Tiny Tim and his kiddies as the holiday season approaches. But Ebenezer Scrooge’s downtrodden clerk can take comfort in knowing that the local butcher has been suffering even more. As he reports to his goodwife Martha, the butcher accidentally…
Read More » -
New Mark Peres Novel ‘The Accord’ Engages the Question of AI’s Role in Life and Art
As an English graduate and lifelong reader, speaking to local/regional authors about books I’ve enjoyed is one of my favorite perks that comes with running a publication that covers arts and culture in Charlotte. Considering that I did sincerely enjoy The Accord, a new novel from local professor Mark Peres,…
Read More » -
Coffey & Thompson Closure Leaves Artists Reeling, Unable to Retrieve Work
In Adam Cooley’s 30 years as an international exhibiting artist, he said he’s never experienced anything like what’s occurred following the closure of Charlotte’s oldest art gallery, Coffey & Thompson. “Horrible; it’s been horrible,” Cooley said over the phone from his home in Durham on Wednesday. “I didn’t think it…
Read More » -
Meet Mike Jones, the Charlotte Creative Redefining Sports Design
Mike Jones is a transformative figure in the Charlotte arts scene, but he won’t tell you as much. The designer who has created Black Excellence jerseys for three professional sports teams in the Carolinas over the last three years will instead demur, telling you that as a Raleigh native, he’s…
Read More » -
‘Small Vices’ Depicts a Dystopian Mental Health Epidemic
“In 2035, everything is going to continue to get worse and the national crisis there is just like a suicide epidemic because things are so bad.” Musician, digital marketing specialist and filmmaker Joshiah Blevins is not forecasting the future with this statement, though it seems plausible, but encapsulating the premise…
Read More » -
Steve Hofstetter Makes a New Home in Charlotte’s Comedy Scene
There’s an old adage in stand-up comedy that claims aspiring comics must have 10 years of experience performing in front of crowds to be any good. Steve Hofstetter, a veteran comic who moved to Charlotte earlier this year, has a more specific, tiered timeline: 7, 10, 15. “Seven [years] until…
Read More » -
Local Holiday Gift Guide for Charlotte 2025: Shopping, Markets & Pop-Ups
Skip the online shipping delays and support local this holiday season. We’ve rounded up Charlotte’s best locally owned shops, pop-ups, and holiday markets — from South End to Matthews to NoDa — to help you find unique, handmade gifts while keeping your dollars in the community. Online shopping, while convenient,…
Read More » -
Black Charlotte Is a Poetic Love Letter to the City, Flaws Included
A 15-year-old girl strides purposefully through a jeering, screaming white mob. Despite the maelstrom of malice that surrounds her, her eyes are fixed on what’s ahead of her. Many have seen the photo of Dorothy Counts becoming the first Black student to integrate Harding High School in 1957, but Jah…
Read More » -
‘Eureka Day’ and ‘Vanya…’ Disagree Agreeably in Separate Productions
Although conflict and chaos onstage oftentimes shock and alarm us, they can also be the springboards to comedy and satire. On balance, that is likely how you will experience the two new productions that opened last weekend: one at The Arts Factory on the Johnson C. Smith University campus and…
Read More » -
704 Shop Launches (En)Vision Line in Partnership with Lions Services
Charlotte-based lifestyle brand 704 Shop today launches a new partnership with local nonprofit Lions Services, which provides employment opportunities to blind and visually impaired folks, providing them with meaningful training and independence. The new (En)Vision upcycling initiative will transform donated and thrifted apparel into unique pieces handcrafted by employees of…
Read More » -
Stormy Daniels Tells Her Side During Duckworth’s Show
Former adult film star and memoirist Stormy Daniels, a tireless thorn in the side of President Donald Trump, wrapped up her tour in Charlotte on Sunday night at The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s in Uptown with a mix of stand-up comedy, sensational storytelling and a short Q&A session. Daniels, who…
Read More » -
Theatre Charlotte’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ Is a Clue-ful Poirot Treat
We can thank the Brits for the notion that passenger trains should run with absolute timeliness and precision. Now that Ken Ludwig’s meticulous adaptation has opened at the Queens Road Barn, we can also thank Agatha Christie, Britain’s most avidly read mystery writer, for Murder on the Orient Express. Layer…
Read More » -
The Best in Charlotte: Best in the Nest 2025
Support our work by becoming a Nerve Member Winners: Download your award graphics here The Seventh Wonder We made it this far thanks to community As we prepare to send out our 7th annual Best in the Nest issue and look back on seven years in business coming up in December, this…
Read More » -
Arts & Music Readers’ Pick Winners: Best in the Nest 2025
***Best in the Nest Readers’ Picks are chosen exclusively by readers through a one-month nomination process followed by a one-month voting process. The nominations were not tampered with by Queen City Nerve staff at all. In other words, if you disagree with these ones, that’s on your fellow reader, not…
Read More » -
Arts & Entertainment Critics’ Pick Winners: Best in the Nest 2025
Creatives continue to act as the heart and soul of our city, and therefore the heart and soul of Queen City Nerve. Back to all categories Winners: Download your award graphics here Support our work by becoming a Nerve Member LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Morris Costumes Morris Costumes launched 60 years ago, but the…
Read More » -
The Long Room Approaches Artistic Diversity With a Purpose
The Long Room opened in the fall of 2023 with lots of fanfare and a slate of performances from established names in Charlotte’s underground scene; early shows included work by modern dance troupe Baran Dance, freak folk royalty Andy the Doorbum, and local musical theatre juggernaut QC Concerts. Located at…
Read More »
