A Rant Deferred and Stuff To Do

The PopCulteer
December 13, 2013

Originally today’s PopCulteer was going to be a long one-sided rant against Suddenlink and their recent “upgrade” of their HD set-top cable boxes. I, along with many other customers, was shocked to see that the recent firmware upgrade eliminated the “VCR timer” function, which is one of the most basic and often-used features of any cable or satellite device.

That’s the feature that allows you to program your cable box to change channels so that you can record something while you’re not there. Losing it was quite frustrating and being told multiple contradictory stories about whether or not it would return by Suddenlink’s service reps had me worked up something fierce.

However, later in the day I reached out to Suddenlink, found cooler and more authoritative heads, and they seemed to honestly be trying to find a solution to this problem. So for now, my rant is on hold while I’m awaiting further information. In the meantime, here’s a big ol’ list of stuff to do this weekend…

First, if you want something fun that the whole family can enjoy, head down to the Alban Arts Center for “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.” The show starts this Friday and Saturday and runs through next week at 8 PM, with a 2 PM matinee on Sundays. If you want more information about it, watch this…

Also this weekend, The Haunted Barn reopens for The Christmas Haunted House.

This and next Saturday, from 7 PM to 11 PM, this Haunted house is for ALL ages. It follows the stories of your favorite Christmas tales like Scrooge, Nightmare before Christmas and many more.

The cost is eleven bucks at The Haunted Barn on Beauregard Street on Charelston’s Historic East End.

Friday

Free music tonight includes Marshall Petty and The Groove with Clay Norris and Warren Pope from 6 PM to 8 PM at The Empty Glass. Starting at 7:30 PM at Taylor Books, Holy Cow brings the folk. At 9 PM, the ambient stylings of The Barko Loungers waift through the air at Bruno’s on Leon Sullivan Way. Also at 9 PM, Renegade Mary Lite performs at Rallows Place in Dunbar.

Ron Sowell’s open mic happens at Unity of Kanawha Valley at 7:30 PM. Admission for adults is $5, performers, seniors and children get in for $2. There is no word on special discounts for performing seniors or children.

Kanawha Players Theater Presents A VERY MERRY NIGHTMARE, a dinner theater tribute to “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” It’s an evening of songs from the cult classic film as well as some favorite scenes brought to life, tonight at 7 PM. Tickets are eight dollars for adults, five dollars for Senior Citizens, Students with ID and children under 18. Dinner includes Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, dessert and a drink.

At 10 PM, StychNtyme has their last show of the year with Tommy’s Triple Threat Blues Revue and Ouralias at The Blue Parrot, with a five-dollar cover.

Rick Perdue Tribe sets up camp at The Boulevard Tavern at 10 PM, with a $5 cover.

Across town at 10 PM, Time and Distance and their friends The Company Stores and needful Things take the stage at The Empty Glass, with a $7 cover.

Saturday

The free music starts at 4PM Saturday as the Charleston Metro Band brings Christmas music to Macy’s Court at Charleston Town Center.

Comedy fans take note: 4 Brothers Coffee and Tea House, in Saint Albans, welcomes Twitter giant Angela Davis to their stage at 8 PM for their last cover-free comedy show of 2013. Angie Davis is a local favorite at shows all over the West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. Davis has been featured on 2 Funny Or Die top 10 lists and has been keeping her 14,000+ twitter followers in stitches for years. Also featured are Lee and Bobby Jo Mays from Ironton, plus Patrick Felton and all of your local favorites and lots of surprises. The night is hosted by the stoically affable Thomas Mac.

More free music includes Sean Richardson and Spencer Elliott starting at 7:30 PM at Taylor Books, Renegade Mary Lite, back at Rallows Place at 9 PM and an open mic at Crumbpecker’s Bar in St. Albans, also at 9 PM.

Two choral concerts compete for your attention at 7:30 PM, asking for donations of non-perishable foods, but requiring nothing for admission. Charleston’s Gay Men’s Chorale brings their holiday spirit to Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, while WomanSong Chorale, with the Con Brio Children’s Choir, holds their winter concert at Christ Church United Methodist.

The Heart of Applachia Roller Derby fundraiser happens at 10 PM at The Boulevard Tavern, where $7  gets you through the door to hear QiET, The Red Lights, and Trojan Whores.

It’s an ECMC show at The Blue Parrot at 10 PM, with Relative Obscurity, HarraH, Fall Before Your Creator and Elysium. Five bucks gets you in the door.

At 11 PM you may find yourself Dead Face Down at The Empty Glass. Hillbilly Deathride and Solar Burns are also along for the ride. The metal bands take the stage with a $7 cover charge.

That’s it for this week in PopCult. It all starts again tomorrow with the RFC Flashback, and all our regular features return next week, including a special Christmas episode of Radio Free Charleston with music from Frenchy and The Punk and The Bob Thompson Unit.