The PopCulteer
October 23, 2009,

The Pre-Halloween Rush

This weekend is filled to the brim with tons of cool things to do. Too many, in fact for one person to attend. So get your cloning machine cranked up, and check out the rampant niftiness.

The Big LeBOWLski

Saturday night, at the Dunbar Bowling Center, 1212 Ohio Avenue in Dunbar, you can experience the classic Coen Brothers film, “The Big Lebowski,” the way it was originally meant to be seen–in a bowling alley! Adults 21 and up can watch the neo-Noir classic, then follow up with some late-night bowling action.

If you haven’t seen this film, you should know that bowling looms large in its plot. The evening kicks off at 9 PM with some fine adult beverages served while perfectly appropriate tunes are spun. The movie starts around 10 PM, and following the flick, bowling hi-jinks will ensue. Ten bucks gets you in the door, and that includes the movie, bowling and shoe rental.

We are so lucky to have something this cool happening in the area. Some folks would cut off their toe to go to an event like this. You get a great movie, viewed in good company, with fun music and classy rented shoes. The bowling ties it all together. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite character from the movie. And please, do not request any Eagles tunes.


A Memorial Concert

Barbara Griffin and her husband Rick Griffin met in March 1973 and were married two weeks later. Barbera was well-known in the area for her talent at floral arrangement. She always had the dream of owning her own flower shop, which came true when Barbara and Rick opened Country Rose Flowers and Gifts in Nitro in 2003. Barbara was diagnosed with cancer early this year, and passed away on May 18, 2009. Their business suffered during those months. The flower shop has been able to stay operating since January with the help of some great friends.

Saturday night at The Empty Glass, more of Barbara and Rick’s friends will celebrate her life, and help to keep her dream alive with a benefit show featuring some of Charleston’s finest bands (many of them have been guests on Radio Free Charleston). At about 8 PM the night will start with an open set of acoustic music. At 9 PM The Kingfish 5, and at 10 PM Corporate Orange (both featuring T.J. King) will take the stage. Then,at 11 PM, The Diablo Blues Band will take over with their searing hot blues. Midnight sees Electric Super Dank on stage. Finally, at 1 AM, The Spurgie Hankins Band wraps up the evening. Throughout the night, a number of other great musicians, such as Mike Rutherford, Jim Hughes,and Tom Hamerick will be joining in. This is the “Barbara Griffin Memorial Fund Benefit Concert”. There will be a minimum of a $5.00 donation at the door. Once again, a great cause with great music. It’s a win-win, folks.

Stop Dragging My Heart Around

Another great cause is Covenant House. “Hollywood Comes to the Red Carpet,” a Covenant House benefit drag show, takes place at The Red Carpet, 318 Elizabeth Street, Charleston, at * PM. Check out this article for more details.

Rousting Rabble All Weekend

The Bluie Parrot hosts a weekend of diverse music, anchored by The Rabble Rousers, Charleston’s hip hop poet laureates. Friday night the Rousers mix it up with the Jazz Rock of The Rick Perdue Band and the Metal stylings of Strangled By Statues. Saturday night the Rabble Rousers are joined by RFC guests, the Horrror-Rap machine known as BRAIN TRAUMA, plus additional acts yet to be approved by the coolness police. Both shows kick out at 10 PM with a five-dollar cover.

Wrestling In Madison

South of Charleston, All Star Wrestling presents Halloween Mayhem. Bell time is 7 PM. Tickets are $12 to $18 at the door, at the Madison Civic Center. Below you see the promo clip

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z1-v6hhSsHg” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]

The full card is as follows:

ASW Tag Team Championship Match
The Cereal Killers, Mad Man Pondo and The Juggulator(c) vs NWA Legends The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette

Jim Cornette calls out Pondo and Juggz.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/jvuFO930f18" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

ASW Championship Match
Vance Desmond(c) vs Trik Nasty

WWE RAW Legend Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Stan Lee

ROH’s Rhett Titus vs Eric Darkstorm

ROH’s Grizzley Redwood vs Sam Hane

ROH’s The Bravado Bros vs The Day Bros

Man Scout Jake Manning vs Jason ‘The Gift’ Kincad

Midget Match Lil Pondo vs Chucky from’Child’s Play’

Cool Comic Of The Week

POWER GIRL

Power Girl from DC Comics is a fun, super-hero adventure comic that just happens to star an extremely well-endowed female hero, who wears a very appealing outfit. Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex) and drawn by Amanda Conner (Vampirella, , this comic follows the adventures of a character who is essentially the Supergirl from an alternate universe, transplanted to the current world that the DC Universe focuses on.

For the more comic book literate among you, Power Girl is the cousin of the Earth-Two Superman. So she has the same powers as Superman. The character was created in the 1970s for a revival of The Justice Society Of America (the 1940s version of The Justice League, seen at left), and she sported an outfit that was designed by legendary EC Comics artist, and connoisseur of the female form, Wally Wood. In one of the JSA tales drawn by Wood, Power Girl’s already ample bosom was drawn progressively larger as the comic book progressed.

But there’s more to this comic book that gigantic knockers. Palmiotti and Gray have given this character, who has been bounced around the DCU for years due to continuity burps and mythology reboots, and they’ve established a likable, confident, well-rounded personality, whose non-superhero life is as interesting as her super-powered exploits. Amanda Conner (Palmiotti’s significant other) provides some exquisite, expressive artwork.

Karen Starr (Power Girl’s alter ego) is starting up a tech business in Manhattan, and has to deal with hiding her other job from her employees while hunting for an affordable apartment. Palmiotti and Gray have given us a large supporting cast of believable characters, and Conner has brought them to life with grace and style.

Power Girl is not a dark, depressing comic book. It’s great, light-hearted super hero action. It’s merely coincidental that the leading character is a hot babe.

Hey, it never hurt Wonder Woman.

Next Week In PopCult

It’s Halloween Week! Look for Halloween0themed videos and art, and the epic Radio Free Charleston Halloween Show!Plus we’ll have plenty of news on HallowEast, and all the other cool Halloween happenings in town.