Enlarge (From left) Desiree Kane, Justin Ruckman and Matthew Tyndall of The PPL. (James Willamor)

Posted: April 6th, 2011 Greg Lacour

Some stories worth sharing this week:

Every once in a while, staid, conservative Charlotte has a week in which it doesn’t seem so staid and conservative. This past week has been one of them.

• Nine years ago, Rabbi Judy Schindler of Temple Beth El vowed that when a state legalized same-sex marriage, she’d help Charlotte-area couples go there and get married. On Sunday, Schindler and two other Charlotte clergywomen--one Christian, one Unitarian Universalist--married seven gay and lesbian couples in Washington, D.C. We know: It’d be really significant if North Carolina recognized same-sex marriage; legally, they’re still single in the eyes of the law in Charlotte. But three female clergy from three religions traveling to marry seven same-sex couples? Sounds like progress to us.


• A blow struck for art in Charlotte: Will Puckett and a team of artists got the city to relax its rules governing paint on city property for a mural the team plans for the underside of the Matheson Avenue bridge over North Davidson Street in NoDa. Puckett wants to paint the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence; some rules still apply, but it’s a rare case of accommodation by a city government that’s usually not so open to it--especially for artists.


• A trio of young social and independent media consultants (including our own Desiree Kane) has an idea for next year’s Democratic National Convention: Set up an Uptown location where independent media and bloggers can work, network, set up interviews, use WiFi, hobnob, maybe even catch a show or some art--like a press tent, but with hipster specs, consignment-store attire and cans of PBR. They call it The PPL, a play on the Democrats’ characterization of DNC 2012 as “The People’s Convention.” (They’re selling shirts with the slogan, “Run-DNC.”)

A couple of more serious, but equally positive, stories:

• For the third time, Charlotte’s beleaguered public school system is nonetheless a finalist for the nation’s largest education award--the Broad Prize for Urban Education.


• And even in a lingering recession, the CIAA Tournament last month drew more than 190,000 people, a record, and pumped $44.3 million into the local economy, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

Tweet

Previous Page