08:38 AM EST on Friday, March 3, 2006

By TONYA JAMESON / The Charlotte Observer

The Charlotte Observer

"American Idol" winner Fantasia.

One minute Fantasia's testifying about love, the next minute she's crunk like she's in the club. At the Convention Center, fans lapped up whatever she gave them.

The "American Idol" winner's half-hour set was part of the opening day activities of the inaugural CIAA Fan Experience. This morning, comedian Steve Harvey will broadcast his national radio show inside the center from 6 to 10 a.m. It airs on V101.9 (WBAV). Chef Marvin Woods, who has a show on Turner South, will be doing a cooking demonstration this afternoon.

On Wednesday, however, the stage belonged to Fantasia. She worked it with her combination of Southern charm and around-the-way girl attitude.

Wearing knee-high black boots -- which prevented her from doing a split -- she strutted, stalked and stomped across the stage in that Holy Spirit way that makes her one of R&B's most dynamic performers.

Also online

15-Photos from Fantasia's show 

VIDEO: Unedited video of Fantasia

Inside the CIAA Fan Experience

Zipping my Mustang through traffic on Charlotte's highways, I always fancy myself a potential NASCAR driver.

Inside the CIAA Fan Experience, I got my feelings hurt. I slid into the seat of the Marine recruiter's NASCAR simulation car, thinking I would tear up the track.

I hit the wall too many times to count, crashed, flipped and finally blew up my engine. You would have thought I was playing bumper cars.

At the Fan Experience, make sure you stop by the Bank of America booth and check out a sofa that would even make Shaq look small.

Catching up with Tay-tay

After her Thursday performance, Fantasia told the Observer's Insider, Jeff Elder, that she first thought about playing the CIAA while on an airplane. She flipped through a magazine, came across information on the tournament and thought, "That is going to be hot." Organizers called her soon after.

The "American Idol" star, who has a home in southeast Charlotte, played with her old band. "It was like the old days, before `Idol,' " she said.

Twilight Zone uptown

The Forum's College night was the best party I went to on Wednesday. The dance floor was a mass of bodies, the bar area was full and girls danced on platforms. Bobcat Sean May soaked it in.

I started my night at the Omega party off Cedar Street in a place called Room With a View about 11 p.m. I was too early and there were only a handful of people.

So I stopped by Fire and Ice, the launching place where everyone dispersed after a few cocktails and hugs, and then rolled over to the Breakfast Club to catch Big Daddy Kane. I finished about 3 a.m. at Athens, which had a handful of people and still the slowest service ever.

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