This Too Shall Pass. (Yep, the Weekend’s Almost Over.) PHOTO CREDIT: Heather Liebler Putting the impact of COVID-19 on the world, let alone the people and neighborhoods of Charlotte, into perspective is nearly impossible. While they can’t tell the whole story, photographs and pictures help. To that end, we are partnering with The Charlotte Ledger to cultivate a new weekly series, “Visions of the Not Normal.” Each week, this series will share a cultivated collection of original images revealing glimpses of Charlotte in the time of COVID-19 through the eyes (and lenses) of a local photographer. Today, photographer Heather Liebler, shares a gallery of photographs she’s taken over the last few weeks. Next week will feature a different photographer and a different part of the Queen City. 
You May Have Seen (or Heard) Brian Lafontaine ……in fact, we’re certain of it. From Charlotte stages to movie theatres, TV screens and radio commercials, Brian Lafontaine has done it all. He may not always get to be the leading man, but he’s ALWAYS working. We recently shared a photo of Brian on the set of Ozark with actress Laura Linney. He’s also the host of the “You May Have Seen…” podcast about actors living in Charlotte. Today, he’s interviewed by Matt Olin, Biscuit co-publisher, with whom he just performed in Theatre Charlotte’s production of The Odd Couple.
Live from the Double Door Inn Doubles Down on COVID-19 Aid
The producers of Live From The Double Door Inn, a documentary about the 40+ year history of this Queen City’s blues music venue, are donating 100% of the film’s DVDs and Blu-Ray sales to two local nonprofits — Arts+ and VisArt. Sample its sights and sounds here. The documentary tells the story of the people who established the Double Door and the blues and rock legends who graced its stage. It also features music from The Spongetones, The Nighthawks, Monday Night All-Stars, Lenny Federal, Gigi Dover, The Blue Dogs, The Belmont Playboys and more. The film is currently available on Amazon for $28.99.
Fall in “Like” with Romeo & Juliet: A Millennial’s Tale
During his time at film school, Charlotte filmmaker, Steven Lamar, wrote and directed a version of Romeo & Juliet updated for the modern age. The comedic short film warns us that love at first sight may be powerful, but not always … compatible. And, there isn’t always an adapter that’ll bridge the gap. Steve made this 6-minute film available for public viewing over the weekend. You can watch it here. Parents should note that this film has a small amount of explicit language.
We’re collecting links to creative events and resources popping up all over the Queen City. If you’re ready to press “pause” on Netflix, check out our calendar of creative online events. Here are a few we’re really excited about.
Music Everywhere Announced COVID-19 Relief Fund
Virtual Town Hall Meeting on April 29
To provide financial support to the local music community who have lost income during the current corona outbreak, Music Everywhere CLT is working with FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative to manage the Charlotte Music Community COVID-19 Relief Fund. According to Music Everywhere, even in a strong financial environment, local musicians they surveyed report they earn less than $10,000 per year through their music. To learn more about the fund, who is eligible and how to apply, Charlotte-area musicians are invited to participate in a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 29 at 7pm. Access to this meeting is available here. The above is not sponsored, but The Biscuit does partners with Charlotte Center City Partners on Charlotte SHOUT! related sponsored content.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Ardor Creations Treat Yourself While Supporting Small Local BusinessesNot that it was ever a party, it’s fair to say that stay-at-home is getting old. To help you pamper yourself while supporting small local businesses, Esther and Elsa, has compiled a collection of local goods you can purchase while self-isolating. Read about nine things that’ll help you focus on de-stressing while at home.
Charlotte Musician Greg Cox Gets a Special Delivery“Soooo … it felt like Christmas in April, but if Santa wore a facemask 😷 … and worked for FedEx.” That was local musician Greg Cox’s answer when we asked him what it felt like to get the above recognition from The Recording Academy this week. Greg was a vocalist on “Strong God,” a song on Kirk Franklin’s 2019 album Long Live Love, which won a Grammy for “Best Gospel Album” this year. Hear more of Greg’s music. For a quick pick-me-up, we recommend one of his newest songs, “Good Day.”
The local media community is working incredibly hard to provide accurate, uplifting and actionable information to assist with the new realities we face. Here are some stories from this week we think are worth your time. WFAE reports Governor Roy Cooper’s decision to keep students in the virtual classroom as he calls for NC schools to stay closed through the remainder of the academic year. Queen City Nerve connects with Charlotte’s homeless community, who have been greatly impacted as supportive services are less available due to COVID-19. QCityMetro reports on Charlotte’s “Open for Business” initiative that aims to support small businesses in the Queen City. WBTV shares the story of a local Charlottean who held a marathon-for-one on the day she was supposed to run in the canceled Boston Marathon. Charlotte Magazine announces the winners of their annual Best of the Best Awards to honor local businesses who rocked it in Crown Town over the past year.
Cat Photos Get Us Every TimeHow do you celebrate the 7,895th day of stay-at-home? We’re not exactly sure … but Jackson seems pretty excited about it.
Okay, so technically, this isn’t a recipe. But, we asked the brewmasters at Divine Barrel Brewing to give us an idea of which of their beers (available for curbside to-go) would pair well with typical “quarantine cuisine” and they were happy to oblige with the list below. The Feelin’ I Forgot (7.2%, ABV 86 IBUs)
West Coast IPA – DDH West Coast IPA with Citra, Simcoe & Idaho 7
Pairs well with: A nice frozen pizza. We definitely recommend one with pepperoni. Bourbon Barrel Aged Defensive Pancake (6.8% ABV)
Breakfast Porter – Porter brewed with maple syrup and vanilla then aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.
Pairs well with: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (Not sure of your crunchy vs. smooth feelings, but we recommend a nice crunch!) Petite Brett (5% ABV)
Brett Saison – Crisp and spritzy saison fermented with brettanomyces
Pairs well with: Spaghetti. It’s all you really need. The Big Lubelski (3.9% ABV)
Gratzer – Brewed with 100% oak-smoked wheat malt and Polish Lubelski hops
Pairs well with: Hot dogs … any style. Cherry Connick Jr. (4.6% ABV)
Pastry Berliner – Brewed with Montmorency and sweet cherries, vanilla, and lactose.
Pairs well with: Vanilla ice cream … heavenly.
Queen City artists Nick Napoletano and Sydney Duarte have been flexing their creative muscles at Devil’s Logic Brewing recently. The brewery opened last year in late December in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood. It’s hard out there for many small businesses, restaurants and breweries at the moment, and it’s especially hard for the new kid on the block. But, Devil’s Logic is handling the situation graciously. They’re keeping up their initial momentum by offering curbside pick up for their beer and food while supporting the creation of new artwork at the brewery to brighten their customer’s days when they stop by. Nick is painting the mural above and Syndey is working on a cosmic piece in the same space. They hope that the pieces help lift the spirits of the brewery’s patrons. “We’re working on an inspirational project that shows the brighter side of this time in isolation,” said Sydney. “We are creating artwork during this window so everybody that’s stopping by can get a little pick me up and inspiration.” We guess you could say it’s a pick me up for your pick up! Props to Devil’s Logic for spreading a little joy and showing their support for the CLT creative community at the same time. And props to Syndey and Nick for their neverending creative spirits! They’re still working on their projects and we can’t wait to see the final results. This Queen City exploration is powered by OrthoCarolina. Directions: 1426 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28204 Explore other “Where Are We in CLT?” destinations here.
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