If only Warhol could visit the QC during his exhibit's run at the Mint, we'd have a chance to show him that we've got our own quirky brand of pop culture. What would Warhol do? He certainly wouldn't die of boredom this October – and he might even find a muse or two …
Plaza Midwood
Especially Central and Thomas avenues
BOHO CHIC: Warhol wouldn't just love Plaza Midwood, he'd live there. Chock full of Bohemian eccentrics, artistic avant gardes and assorted motley characters – PM is the poster child of dichotomy. It's straight and gay, full of families and singles, alive with professionals and local entrepreneurs. It's a punk-rock yuppie-infested rockabilly hippy-fied drag show of a neighborhood. It's so Warhol.
DAY IN THE LIFE: A typical Warholian day in PM goes like this: breakfast at Zada Jane's (he has his own table), sketchin' on the corner of Pecan and Central, digging through goodies at Century Vintage, a very French bistro lunch at Lulu, browsing at Lunchbox Records, massage at Breathe Bodywork, kibitzing with Hope while accessory shopping at Boris & Natasha, dinner with friends in the big booth at The Penguin, Thursday nights at Snug Harbor, Friday nights at Petra's and Saturdays with the boys and drag queens of Central Station.
‘Die Mommie Die!'
Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St.
Oct. 9-26
CULT-URED: Warhol not only adored the kitschy allure of cult culture – he helped create it. He'd be in the front row for the Queen City Theatre Company's latest twisted romp, “Die Mommie Die!” Freaky film-lovers have already shared their DVD with likeminded friends – they'll know the quotes that count. The uninitiated should prepare for pure, unadulterated camp.
HARDLY A DRAG:Hank West channels Hollywood divas Bette Davis, Lana Turner and Joan Crawford to create faded pop singer, Angela Arden, an adulteress hoping to escape her corrosive marriage.
DETAILS: Tickets are $16-$24 at carolinatix.org or 704-372-1000. Tickets for the Oct. 15 performance are $10. queencitytheatre.com.
Titans of the Graphic Novel: Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel
Novello Festival of Reading
Oct. 17
GRAPHIC STUFF: Pekar has published his slice-of-life comic book series, “ American Splendor,” since 1976, so there's a chance Warhol could have encountered the downtrodden details of Pekar's Cleveland existence. Would he be surprised to find Harvey Pekar speaking alongside Bechdel, creator of the comic strip “ Dykes to Watch Out For,” in the heart of Charlotte? Aren't we all?
PEN NAMES: Are you paying attention to the wealth of diversity and talent that Novello is bringing to Charlotte this year? Eighteen years strong and Novello continues to deliver the big guns of literature – from the stars of the best-seller shelves to the denizens of the niche sub-genres. Warhol would approve.
DETAILS: Show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at ctcharlotte.org, 704-973-2828 or the ImaginOn box office. plcmc.org/novello.
Chrome/Helios Creed
The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road
Oct. 5
UNDERGROUND SOUND: Did Warhol dig San Francisco-based Chrome in the late 1970s? Could be. Their proto-industrial acid-punk Stooges-inspired sound could have captured Warhol's Velvet Underground-fueled attention. But Chrome's popularity really peaked in the early '90s, when bands like Butthole Surfers, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and Prong cited guitarist Helios Creed as an influence.
PUNK'D: Dig up your leather motorcycle jacket and your Docs if you want to blend in with the '80s industrial-lovers. Yeah, that's your college boyfriend with the eyeliner and the black nail polish – nothing's changed. Except now you can order a Grey Goose cocktail at the bar – so civilized!
DETAILS: Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. themilestoneclub.com.
The Center of Hope
Salvation Army's Women and Children's Homeless Shelter, 534 Spratt St.
NON-TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Warhol regularly volunteered at homeless shelters in New York. What about you? The Salvation Army's Center of Hope is the largest women and children's shelter in the Southeast.
WWWD: Decide what's right for you – donate money, items or your time. The needs are great in these difficult times, so everything helps. The center needs baby changing tables, small cribs, diapers, ironing boards, twin sheets, towels and wash cloths, flat irons, toiletries and feminine products.
GET BUSY: Contact Brenda Alexander at 704-348-2560 ext. 241 to get more info on volunteering. Complete the application and background check information online and bring them to the volunteer orientation at 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.
DETAILS: salvationarmycharlotte.org; 704-348-2560.
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