See you in September

Click here to start out with a song about SEPTEMBER, what else!

WHAT to do with leftovers...

I know I'm not the only one who can't figure out how to dispose of leftover and unused drug prescriptions. We are told NOT to flush medicines down the toilet because it affects our water supply and critters in the water systems. I have taken pills back to the drug store from which I bought them and that works although one does hope they don't reuse them. Once a year, we have a simple solution to destroy unused drugs.

September 29 is “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day." Click here for more info.

 Federal and local law enforcement agencies prevent pill abuse or theft and allow any medicine to be dropped off to be destroyed.

“Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in our country,” U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a news release. “Events like this give people the opportunity to safely remove prescription drugs from their homes and put them beyond the reach of those who may abuse them.”

Last year North Carolina collected over 7,500 pounds of prescription drugs according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.  

Drop off sites are open Saturday, September 29, 2012

Mecklenburg County

• Bi-Lo: 9101 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Pineville, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Harris Teeter (multiple sites): 959 Sam Furr Rd., 5810 Prosperity Church Rd., 6701 Morrison Blvd., 7852 Rea Rd., and 1811 Matthews Township Pkwy. Matthews. All open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except for Morrison Boulevard location, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Pike’s Pharmacy, 2133 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Walgreen’s, 9202 Lawyers Rd., Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Union County

• Food Lion, 3812 E. Hwy. 74, Wingate, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Stallings Police Department: 315 Stallings Rd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Wal-Mart: 2406 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Waxhaw Police Department, 703 E.W. South. Main St., Waxhaw, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Wesley Chapel Fire Department, 315 Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd, Waxhaw, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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               NOT LEFTOVER!

Here's a song for you...click here, sultry and sexy with the signature mirror shades! 

White haired and long flowing beard, he could pass for Santa coming a bit early to town, our town. The Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa, Charlotte is presenting an oldie but goody, septuagenarian and father of Delta Funk: Leon Russell. Many of us remember seeing and hearing Leon for the first time tickling the ivories with Joe Cocker's band, Mad Dogs and Englishmen on their live 1970 album. Yes I was alive then and old enough to rock and roll!  

In 2010 Elton John dug up Leon from his state of self exile and recorded some songs with him. Then in 2011, Russell was inducted into the R&R Hall of Famers, introduced by Elton himself. Hallelujah! Click here to view

Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. Charlotte

704-358-9298

www.neighborhoodtheatre.com.

$25-$40. Sept. 29, 8 p.m. 

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 You know and I know that rock and roll can NEVER die! 

Farm Aid video by Karen Cohen 2012

Neil Young said it best! I just caught my first Farm Aid concert on September 22 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Neil Young hosted a sold out show with fellow melody makers: Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, just to name a few. Willie Nelson finished the all day festival which ran from 4pm-11pm+. The guys shared a new song, called "Home Grown". 

Farm Aid has been raising funds for the farmers of America for the past 27 years since 1985. Here was the lineup for that premiere show: Alabama, Hoyt Axton, The Beach Boys, The Blasters, Bon Jovi, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, John Conlee, Charlie Daniels Band,John Denver, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Foreigner, Vince Gill, Arlo Guthrie,Sammy Hagar, Merle Haggard, Daryl Hall, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley,Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, George Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, B. B. King, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Huey Lewis, Loretta Lynn,John Mellencamp, Roger Miller, Joni Mitchell, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Charley Pride,Bonnie Raitt, Lou Reed, Kenny Rogers, Brian Setzer, Sissy Spacek, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Van Halen, Debra Winger, Neil Young, and Joe Ely. OMG!

 Now some of these dudes are in their 50's, 60's, 70's and are still rocking. "Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you are. "

                                   Click here! 

The money raised from the annual Farm Aid concerts provides food, legal, financial and psychological assistance to farmers who have lost their crops and belongings through natural disasters, such as victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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Tootlin' from North Carolina to Hershey PA took us about 8+ hours. To pass the time, I signed up with audible.com and we listened to a book read out loud through my smart phone. You can plug in earbuds and share them with your driving buddy and both listen, or play the phone on speaker. How cool is that! Each book is priced differently and you accrue points.  

      

                                          

                                

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Vote NOW: Yes, now! Click on this link to place your vote for Hickory Tavern, Charlotte, NC

                                  For The Second Year In A Row
                      HICKORY TAVERN
                                   Has Made The Finals In The
              ESPN Best Sports Bar In North America!

Show your Charlotte hometown pride and help keep this title in the Carolinas. The competitors are: Gator's Cafe and Saloon in Florida and Moose McGillycuddy's in Hawaii. Having not been to either of those establishments, I can personally testify for Hickory Tavern as being the best out of the lot. There's two within 5 miles of my home and I am there at least once a month! Good place to grab a late night meal, a quick bite for lunch or dinner and enough TV screens to spin your head! Click here to vote.

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Free, did I say Free? Free Museum Day all over this country-

          Click here to get two free tickets Saturday Sept. 29, 2012  

Enter your information to get an email reply with free tickets for 

                                           two.

                                          

Carolina's Aviation Museum

4672 First Flight Dr

Charlotte , NC 28208   

AND                           

Mint Museum Randolph

2730 Randolph Road

Charlotte, NC 28207

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Another oldie but goodie, I found this vehicle in a car lot upstate New York.           Now I want one! Click here

       Do you know what make and model this is? Email me if you do:              kbshoots55@gmail.com

Summertime (click on it!) September 2012

Almost a decade ago we took our niece and nephew into New York to the B.B. King Blues Club to see the School of Rock live show. None of us had ever been there before. They were  9 and 12 years old and it was their first live concert/show experience. The best part was that they were watching kids their own age onstage performing like grown ups. It was a great show and for me a bit amusing to watch little kids wailing, really wailing on the guitar. Young girls ranted and jumped up and down onstage playing a WHO song! All of us were amazed at the talent these young souls possessed. Later that year, my nephew signed up for drum lessons and got a kick a__ set of drums. Oh yeah! Put another dime in the jukebox, baby! (Tell it Joan!) Click here for a tune!  I loved that his parents didn't give a hoot that this kid was upstairs in his room pounding away on his drums! Hey, better than running around on the streets getting in trouble! We were thrilled when we visited them months later and walked into their house, the walls were thumping. It sounded GREAT and being a devoted rock and roller who can't get enough of that funky stuff, I bounded up the stairs to find my nephew serving it up like Buddy Miles!

I wasn't surprised to find that Charlotte has it's own School of Rock. With all the musical talent here, it only makes sense that some of the boomers are sending their kids and their grandkids to school to learn how to ROCK. Catch any of the School of Rock Allstars shows coming up at the Visualite Theater in Charlotte.  Here's a peek of what went down at the last one. Click here. Did you know about the Charlotte School of Rock? They hold ongoing music lessons for future rock stars! Kids go there to learn not only how to get the led out but also how to focus, work as a group, perform on stage and get their groove on, all at the same time!

Go to: http://charlotte.schoolofrock.com for more info and support some local rock. Here's where I got my R & R education, click here.

Upcoming shows: Tribute to the RED HOT Chili Peppers (click here)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Sunday, September 9, 2012

1:30pm - 3:00pm

AND TWO of my current favs on my iPod: Tribute to BLACK KEYS (click) VS.White STRIPES (click for tunes)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Sunday, September 9, 2012

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Location: The Visulite Theater, click on link for map.

And while I'm talking about the yoots. (What's a yout?) Click here. I did some serious truckin' around Charlotte town with my 15 + yr old niece who was visiting from N. J. Where do you take a teen?

Sushi was big on her wish list and we hit 3 of my fav places for the rice encrusted morsels. BEST of BEST is Nikko's on South Blvd. If you are lucky, (and we were!), Joanna, the owner and hostess with the mostess and SUPERSTAH! will come over and say hello. If you are old enough, she will share some saki bombs with you and dance and yes, bang her tamborine loudly if you encourage her. This lady is a die hard rock and roller and likes to pump up the jam after 10pm weekends while serving up some of the best sushi in Charlotte. Do go if you have a girls' or guys' night out, show up around ten p.m.  for trays of crazy good sushi, jamming music and a glimspe at the superstar demonstrating sushi LOVE! Click here to see sushi love in action! http://www.nikkosushibar.net/nikko-restaurant-patrons

Let's stay on the subject of sushi for one more moment, ok? Some of you say you "don't eat sushi" and make a squished up face like this:  You really don't have to be so dramatic about it!

I have had the privilege of turning many folks on to sushi! Most recent was my 80+ year old aunt who has never been inclined to try sushi. Now she loves it!

Most of you sushi haters just haven't tried the right stuff. You vomit at the thought of globs of raw fish, live octopus, or slimey squid. All misconceptions, my friend. Go to a really good sushi restaurant and order the cooked versions. Write down my suggestions and I guarantee that you WILL LOVE SUSHI. 

Try shrimp that is noted on the menu as "crunchy" ; that usually means it will be batter dipped in panko flakes for super crunch. Yum.  While cooked eel may make you gag, I swear that it is sweet and melts in your mouth. The new sushi's have cream cheese added and though die hards say that's not real sushi, I say, "try it, you'll like it". What you don't want to order is the bland California rolls. It is for sissy's who claim they eat sushi but don't really get a kick from it. Sushi should have a kick, usually in the form of heat from wasabi. This stuff is green dyn-no-mite! Click here for the explanation of dynOmite. Get spicy tuna sushi and if you are brave, anything that is called Volcano roll will light your fire and make you come back for more, promise. The peachy pink pile of ginger lumped on each entree is to help put out any fires. One sliver at a time with each bite will assure flavor and coolness. And use chop sticks; they slow you down and allow one WHOLE bite at a time. You don't use knives and forks with sushi, you shovel in a bite size piece and chew and chew. For demo, click here. Cover your mouth if you feel embarrassed by the wad in your mouth but don't stop eating and never try to dissect your servings. The sushi chef has been trained carefully on how to prepare each bite to explode in your mouth. Trust him, trust me!

                                               
                                                How to prepare sushi video - Click here

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Summer has flown by, hasn't it!? I paused my blog to pursue fav past times likes swimming, boating, gardening, traveling, shopping and visiting family and friends. Rather than feel guilty about not keeping y'all informed about Charlotte happenings, I have decided to move into a realm I enjoy more, which is blabbing about tootling around with no attempt to fill your calendar! Here's highlights from my summer tootles and PLEASE send some of your fun-nest photos to me at: kbshoots55@gmail.com

Philadelphia- click here

Spiderman song- click here

Click here for website

Doormen are there to open the doors for you at 10 Arts Bistro and Lounge. Pretend you're rich and act like you belong! Don't gawk but do take a peek around-drop dead gorgeous setting for a cool afternoon cocktail. Try: 

Rocky's Left Hook-

Absolut Citron, White Crème de Cocoa, Orange, Soda, Egg, Bitters

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Readers: you better write and send some photos of your summer highlights!! I gotta see the best places to go, the mixmasters' choices, shopping paradise spots, etc. etc. Send to: kbshoots55@gmail.com

             Okay, take a break! Last shot from my summer cities shakedown.

Hint: listen to this song and one line states where it is-yankees will get it! Talk about, TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT!(click)

Happy Old Year's Highs

Happy OLD Year by Karen Cohen  Eight Miles Highlights of 2011                   Live Shows: Anthony Bordain and Eric Ripart: Good vs. Evil tour So who was the evil one? Eric is patient and calm. When he talks, I can hardly understand a word he says due to his French accent. Mon dieu!  Is that considered good? Tony, completely the opposite, fidgets with his fingers, reads off note cards, and paces back and forth. Profanity is his trademark. Is that considered bad? Both are amusing and entertaining but I paid the extra bucks to meet and greet the two gents post show. I narrowed down one "Tony" question as I waited on line at the restaurant where the two hosted book signings and photo opts. "Who is your favorite Ramone?"  When I asked, Tony answered, "Well Marky, I guess, cause the rest of them are dead. " No joke, really. "But I'd say Johnny was my favorite." Ah, just  the answer I wanted to hear. Why? In 2007 I visited the gravesite of John William Cummings, aka Johnny Ramone, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA.  I took an awesome photo of the bronze life-size statue of Johnny with his guitar and I will now mail it to Tony.  Who was my favorite? Johnny packed  the most action on stage. Joey hardly moved. Dee Dee stared blankly into space most of the time and the various drummers, well, drummed. I'd have to say Johnny, also, though I  read he was a bit of a snot.  The Good vs Evil tour continues into Feb. 2012 in Indiana and Michigan, check ticketmaster for more information. Live Concerts: Ray Davies Did I know I would be singing out loud all the words to all the songs that Ray Davies sang? No. I don't normally sing in public!  But I had listened to the Kinks since their inception in 1964 (when I was just a tadpole!), yes, I knew and loved their music. "You really got me", of course, was a radio sensation and nothing like it had been heard before. Maybe "Love that dirty water" by the Standells or "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen but come on, what a rocking beat! http://youtu.be/dvyDWGF290M In concert, 65 + year old Ray was perky, jubillant, and animated. He was genuinely happy to have the audience sing along to all the old time favs, "L-O-L-A-lola"! "Well respected man"," Superman". I bet some of you know the words too! Scraps: You all know Ray fathered a child with Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, right, RIGHT? Well, did you know the song, "Stop your Sobbing", was penned and sung by Davies and the Kinks on their 1965 album? Holy Sh__! Yeah, the Pretenders put that song on the map. What I didn't know was that last year, Chrissie and her X-amore, Ray, recorded a song and shot a video called "Postcards from London". Ray Davies says his new duet with former lover Chrissie Hynde, 'Postcards From London,' was the work of their 26-year-old daughter, Natalie Ray Hynde. The Kinks frontman says his relationship with the Pretenders singer is still estranged -- they recorded their studio parts and evidently shot their appearances for the song's video separately. Hey, whatever works! http://youtu.be/oqa_jiSW7tA QUICKIE (Charlotte): For pre-concert quick bites try Growlers Pourhouse in NODA-great oysters and Draft Magazine voted this place as  America's 100 Best  Beer Bars in 2011. Wow. Cool dark atmosphere inside, check it out. AND if you love raw oysters like I do, go to this site to order yours fresh from the oyster farm/waters of Cape Cod: www.DennisOysters.com If you are in uptown Charlotte for lunch, check out this WOO-HOO $18.00 winter three course lunch special at the Capital Grille; you can go online to reserve your spot. I dined there the other day and the food is MAH-ve-las! Yum. Try the crab/lobster salad sandwich or the three course special: roasted pepper soup, Wagyu cheeseburger (Kobe beef), with a fried egg and crisp onions on top with a side of truffle fries. Heaven=truffle oil! The Capital Grille Lunch | TheCapitalGrille.com www.thecapitalgrille.com/Lunch A Salad, Sandwich & Side For $18 At The Capital Grille in Charlotte. Rea-tail HIGH: Missoni comes to Target Sept. 13, 2011 I had this slated on my desk calendar as a MUST DO event. I got there the day after and found some picked over goods but came out with Missoni rubber striped boots, zig zag slip on flats, sweater and socks for my man and a very cool, Missoni-lined trenchy type of coat for moi! Gotta love it. When I entered the store, women were already exiting with large packed bags in hand, smiling. I quickly dashed up to the first salesperson and asked where the Missoni was! He said in a slow drawl, "Miss who?" I don't know where that lady is." Nevermind! I have a nose for tracking so I just hit all the end isles and found the Missoni displays and threw whatever was left in my size in the shopping cart. Paying for my booty, the check-out woman said, "What is this Missas-sony stuff? I heard it's real big." Ummmm...has been since before she was born but that's okay! The less people down in my neck of the woods know about Missoni, the better my chances are of scoring. When I got home, I laid out my stash on the floor and took a picture of it. On TV that morning the Today show featured all the sold out stores in NYC where people had waited overnight in line to buy the designer line. Hey folks, these things only come around once and no, they don't restock or reorder. When the headlines read:  Retailer's largest limited time designer collection spans more than 400 items, you better get your butt in gear friend. Checking online today, many Missoni items are sold out completely and a few left, mostly in little girls' sizes. Do you have your sneakers on right now? Good, remember how I advised you a few sentences ago that you better get your butt in gear? WOO-HOO: Run down to Target and get some cool p.j.'s or bras before they sell out. Ok, if you live around me, you don't really have to run but your size could sell out, especially the smaller sizes though  I do find that TARGET runs small, very small (go up a size or TWO!). The newest designer collection is by Josie Natori. She's an Asian designer from the Phillipines who creates loungewear and innerwear (fancy word for underwear!). On the Target website she says, "I am honored to be the first limited edition lingerie and loungewear  designer at Taget." Her collection came out last year in December and now again until Feb. 23, 2012. Go on Target and see her stuff. Very feminine without the frills.  LOVE IT! Especially the Captivate ME robe! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josie_Natori ON THE ROAD AGAIN: New Orleans  I practically live in my car ( pronounced in the this neck of the woods "VEE-HEE-COAL"). Digging exploration and a smooth ride,  I tootle around. My niece and I shared our first road trip together in 2011.  She picked the destination: NAWLINS. Oh yeah, how cool is that? Been there, done that but a redux is absolutely on order for many years to come. If I could have a vacation condo share, it would be there.  If you haven't been to New Orleans, GO! It is relaxed yet high energy! There's the jazz fest coming up and wouldn't that be the place to be! Jazz & Heritage Festival runs April 27-May 6, for info and band lineups:Jazz& Heritage Festival // April 27 - May 6, 2012 www.nojazzfest.com Po'boys, Cafe du Monde, street performers, tattoo parlors, Tipitinas, fresh oysters, House of Blues, Jackson Square, French Quarters,  Meyers Hat Company (get a very cool hat there!), Antoines for Sunday brunch, Commander's Palace for dinner. OMG. What else is needed in life? I could live and die here.     Meyers Hat Company, New Orleans smART: Ending soon-Jan. 22 at the Knight Gallery sponsored by the Light Factory of Charlotte, NC is the last day to see this stunning black and white photography  exhibit that features the true master photographers of the 60's: Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, Bruce Davidson and others. Understand more about that time in history  and go see  this exhibit at the Light Factory. "Streetwise: Masters of 60's Photography", organized by the Museum of Photographic Arts, Sand Diego, CA. www.lightfactory.org/streetwise. MORE *WOO-HOO's coming next time...now get out and sample your world! *Woo-Hoo's are events that come and go in the blink of an eye! STAY TUNED for more about: http://www.jasonwustudio.com/news/