Charlotte Magazine May 2020

Rent-a-Dog: Inside Animal Control’s Staycation Program p. 86

Charlotte’s Last Video Store Turns Nonprofit p. 25

Restaurants Go Curbside Amid COVID-19 Pandemic p. 107

4 00 Reasons

We Lov This Citye

Best of the Best MAY 2020

charlottemagazine.com

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CONTENTS CHARLOTTE / MAY 2020 / VOL. 25, NUMBER 5

Features 44

THE 2020 BOB AWARDS Our annual Best of the Best awards celebrate the restaurants, museums, breweries, salons, theaters, and other businesses and nonprofits that make this a city better place

BY MICHELLE BOUDIN, TAYLOR BOWLER, GREG LACOUR, JARED MISNER, MARGARET RAWLINGS, AND ANDY SMITH

86

ATLAS, HUGGED How long could you foster a shelter dog before you fell in love?

BY JEN MCGIVNEY

ON THE COVER: Our cover features a cocktail creation by Bardo’s Amanda Britton and a floral arrangement from Blossom Shop. Photograph by Adam Whitlow.

ON THIS PAGE: A dog, formerly known as #A1164940, finds a new home. Photograph by Rusty Williams.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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107

37

05 20 CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE 12 From the Editor 15

25

30

Connect

PETER TAYLOR(2); ANDY McMILLAN; EMBERGLOW OUTDOOR RESORT

112 You Are Here THE GUIDE 100 Arts + Culture What’s happening around town

THE BUZZ 19 Life Lessons Rocio Gonzalez guides Latino business owners to new opportunities

104 Restaurants The city’s savviest restaurant listings

22

107 Charlotte Goes Curbside Haberdish is one of many restaurants on our “50 Best” list offering curbside options amid the Coronavirus epidemic

Technology Broadband deserts limit access to the digital world

THE GOOD LIFE 25 Community Nonprofit VisArt Video has a vision for the future

28

Style Toska Husted is Charlotte’s skin care maven

30

Weekender Emberglow Outdoor Resort makes nature comfortable for everyone

32

Hot Listings Homes designed for backyard entertaining

34

Seen The city’s best party pics

FOOD & DRINK 37 Now Open Osteria LuCa fuels the city’s appetite for Italian food 39

Bite Sized News Foodie news on a small plate

40

On the Line Will Stephenson is Peppervine’s new chef de cuisine

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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F RO M T H E E D I TO R

PERSONAL BEST

Volume 25, Number 5

MAY 2020

morrismedianetwork.com

www.charlottemagazine.com

There’s no better time to recognize what we love about Charlotte I’M WRITING THIS NOTE in March, just a couple of weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s how monthly magazines work: We send a new issue to press a little more than a month before it hits your coffee table.

Typically, that schedule is strange only for those of us who make the magazine— like when my first daughter was born in November 2014 as I wrote about cultural outings best suited for Valentine’s Day, when my new reality would set in. (We did not partake in any of those fun outings three months later.) Or when we had to shoot June 2020’s summer-themed cover last year to get Andy Smith andrew.smith@charlottemagazine.com the lush backdrop we needed.

We have to work ahead, and our decisions each month assume future normalcy: Scheduled concerts usually take place. People congregate around large bodies of water during the summer. Restaurants and breweries in Charlotte are usually packed.

As I write this, they’re empty. Like every field, journalism was— and I’m sure, still is—rocked by the Coronavirus. The future is never completely clear, but as I write this, it’s never been murkier.

Working at a monthly magazine, in particular, meant new questions as we assembled the Best of the Best issue: “Will these BOB-winning businesses still be open in May?” “How much of this issue will be irrelevant or out-of-date?”

“Will a Best of the Best issue seem strange during a pandemic?”

During our discussions, it occurred to us that it’s more than appropriate to celebrate Charlotte’s Best of the Best: It’s needed.

Restaurants, museums, breweries, salons, farms, dive bars, theaters, cactus merchants, and exotic pet stores—these businesses and nonprofits are full of Charlotteans who have made this city better and will continue to, regardless of what the future looks like. If the idea they built or supported didn’t make it to the other side of this crisis, we hope this award encourages them to keep moving and building, and that they know we still need them.

Right now, it’s the afternoon of March 23. We’ll send the May edition to the printer in three days. States away, a team will print the pages, which will then be dried, folded, cut, bound, stacked, and bagged. In mid-April, the issues will occupy fuller-than-usual shelves in less-populated-than-usual markets. Maybe you waited until the aisle wasn’t so congested to grab one. Or maybe an issue arrived in your mailbox—if so, thank you for subscribing—and it now finds you on a particularly stressful afternoon during this bizarre period.

Now that we have you for a few minutes, a request: Don’t look at this issue as an escape from reality. The BOB Awards are more personal than that. They’re a chance to reflect on what we and our neighbors are capable of—and hope for what we can accomplish together in the future.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Smith SENIOR EDITOR Greg Lacour LIFESTYLE EDITOR Taylor Bowler ART DIRECTOR Jane Fields ASSOCIATE ART Melissa Stutts DIRECTOR CONTRIBUTING Allison Braden EDITORS Jen Tota McGivney COPYEDITORS/ Lillian Austin FACT-CHECKERS Carl Moritz Polly Paddock CONTRIBUTING Daniel Coston PHOTOGRAPHERS Logan Cyrus Chris Edwards Rick Hovis Andy McMillan Peter Taylor Adam Whitlow Rusty Williams CONTRIBUTING Rob Donnelly ILLUSTRATORS Shaw Nielsen CONTRIBUTING Cristina Bolling WRITERS Michelle Boudin Allison Braden Virginia Brown Jen McGivney Chuck McShane Tony Mecia Jared Misner

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Email editor@charlottemagazine.com for writer’s guidelines. Unsolicited photographs, illustrations, or articles are submitted at the risk of the photographer/artist/author. Charlotte magazine assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited materials and may use them at its discretion.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020 3/5/20 10:48 AM

William S. Morris III William S. Morris IV

Connect

ONLINE EXTRAS, EVENTS, AND CONVERSATIONS

REACT

Responses to the March issue of Charlotte magazine We got plenty of shares, likes, and general feedback on our cover story, “Nothing Short of Thankful: The Avett Brothers at 20.”

My absolute favorites ever!

I remember that first cover.

They’ve come a long way!!

And just keep getting better.

Instagram comment from @kerilhamilton So how is it possible that they look younger now #amazing Instagram comment from @sweetsimplebeauty

Bought my magazine today! Great choice for cover! They don’t get the coverage they (deserve)!

Instagram comment from @davisdonnaj The Avett Brothers are a blessing Facebook comment from Berkley Dickens

ON THE WEB Want more to read? Check out these popular stories on charlottemagazine.com.

1.

What You Can, Can’t Do Under Charlotte’s Stay-At-Home Order 2.

Opinion: Please Go Home, Charlotteans 3.

To and From Ireland as COVID-19 Hits Home

There was a dream and one day I could see it. Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it.

Tweet from @benmcneely

Is Everybody Ready to BOB? For more than two decades, this magazine has dedicated its May issue to the best of the best in Charlotte food, drink, entertainment, shopping, wellness, and more—more than 100 entries, selected by our editors, former staffers, and contributors. And then we’ve thrown a party to celebrate it. This year, COVID-19 derailed our plans for the 2020 Best of the Best (BOBs) Party, originally scheduled for May 28, but fret not—we have a makeup date: Thursday, October 1, at the Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. BOB winners should arrive at 6:30 p.m.; general admission begins at 7, and the party will go to 9:30.

Buy tickets at charlottemagazine.com/ bobsparty, and we’ll see you then.

Charlotte magazine’s tablet edition is available via the Apple Newsstand and at magzter.com.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA /charlottemagazine @charlottemag @charlottemag

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

15

INSIDE: LIFE LESSONS / TECHNOLOGY

BUZZ

THE

WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY

LI F E L E SS O N S

ROCIO GONZALEZ Latin American Chamber director guides Latino business owners—of all kinds—through opportunities, accents

RICK HOVIS

BY TONY MECIA

FEW PEOPLE IN CHARLOTTE have a work background as varied as Rocio Gonzalez’s. She’s been a social worker, child abuse investigator, group home manager, accounts payable manager, and real estate agent.

Today, in her role as executive director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, Gonzalez helps Latinoowned businesses thrive and connects them to the larger Charlotte business community. One of her main messages is that, contrary to the stereotype, Latinos in Charlotte are represented in just about every profession here—pursuing careers as diverse as hers, and more.

Gonzalez was born in New York City but grew up in Bogota, Colombia. After she earned a computer science degree in Germany, she returned to the United States and lived in Pennsylvania for a time. When her then-husband was offered a job in Matthews in 1999, she was excited to try something new.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

19

THE BUZZ She picks up the story from there in her own words, edited for clarity and brevity:

make a big face of surprise when they see a Latino heart surgeon.

how to utilize software packages to keep your employees’ schedules.

MY EX-HUSBAND was offered a job here, in the wood flooring industry, with the boom of construction back in 1999. The funny thing is, I thought he was being offered a job close to the beach. I was delighted that I was going to live by the beach! He said, “No, it’s Charlotte, not Charleston.” I didn’t know where Charlotte was.

THE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT WAY, they might have been correct between about 2000 and 2008. But today, we are seeing a lot of professional Latinos moving into the Charlotte region. Now we see a lot of dentists, a lot of chiropractors, a lot of attorneys. That’s another misconception: “Oh, it’s a Latino attorney. It has to be immigration.” No, we have a lot of real estate attorneys, people in civil and criminal courts, and all kinds of attorneys that are coming.

WE ALSO HAVE ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS that are more indepth. Cohorts of 25 to 30 people go through a journey of learning how to create a business plan. We also have leadership development programs. Many small businesses are unable to continue to grow because the owner of the organization started the business out of love, but they have never been taught to be a manager. They have never been taught communication skills or management skills, or hiring and firing, or how to manage a growing group of employees.

WE SPENT A LONG WEEKEND HERE, and I said, “Wow, this city has so much potential. You can be a homeowner.

There’s good education.” And we just fell in love with Charlotte, which at that time was a small city. It felt like an up-andcoming town. I loved the fact that there was so much greenery, so many trees, open spaces, and the fresh air.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, there were several occasions where I did not feel welcome because of being Latina and having a northern accent. I was living in Mint Hill. I would begin to speak, and people would look at me with a wondering face and say, “You sound funny. Where are you from?” Or, “Are you from Mexico or Puerto Rico?” And those were the only two options I would be given.

I WOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY to share information and educate them— that there are more than two Spanishspeaking countries, that yes, I sound funny, and everybody has an accent. And there is a Southern accent, which to me sounded funny.

SOMETIMES I’D ASK THEM to please repeat the same word, and they’d say it two or three times, and I could not understand what they were saying. For example, I started to hear the words, “I might could.” And I’m going, “Is this proper English? Should I copy this?” And I asked somebody, and they said, “No, no, no. This is wrong. Don’t copy that. It’s not proper English.”

TODAY, WE ARE MUCH BETTER than we were before (in Charlotte). We still have a lot of work to do. There is still hesitance in accepting that Latinos cover industries beyond roofing and construction and janitorial and gardening. People still

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

WHEN YOU START SEEING the challenges that small businesses have, it doesn’t matter where they are coming from or what language they are speaking.

They have the same challenges: access to capital, finding qualified employees and retaining them, understanding their competition, how to manage their finances.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE the Latino business owner has is, if they are foreignborn, sometimes they not only have to acculturate themselves to what we do here in the United States but also unlearn what they know from their countries. For example, in the United States, depending on where you are, you cannot purchase a house with a two-car garage and open the door and convert it into a small shop. In some countries, you can do that, because it is your property. You have to learn what is permitted and what is not.

THE LATIN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is a space for Latino business owners who have not really learned what a chamber is. In Latin American countries, sometimes the chambers are set up for large organizations. We serve the startups, the small businesses, and connect the small businesses with the big corporations. We have a big gap here.

There is a big need.

WE CREATE NETWORKING EVENTS to provide a space for the businesses to get to know each other, connect with each other, sell to one another. We provide short seminars that speak specifically on targeted topics that are important to small businesses: how to promote your business, how to manage your finances,

THE ICE RAIDS have never not been an issue. When you look historically, the first three months of the year, those things are happening. I don’t know if they have to meet a number or what. Within the organizations that support the Latino community, we have meetings and we talk about this and we say, “This is nothing new.” It just depends on how much visibility is being given to these activities by the media.

THAT WILL NEVER END. There is an agency that exists to go out there and question people and decide whether to take them or not. That’s their job. If that agency exists, those activities will continue to exist.

THE LATINO COMMUNITY should understand that this country is a country of opportunity and that they need to give themselves the opportunity to learn the country, to love the country, and to love the people, and to make the best of it. They should see this country as their home. If you’re here now, allow your heart to be here and treat it as your home.

MY MESSAGE to the community is to listen—to really listen with their heart.

When you listen to someone and you make an effort to understand what they are saying, then the accent is no longer important.

TONY MECIA is editor of the Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter on Charlotte business news.

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THE BUZZ

T EC H N O LO GY

LIFE WITH NO SIGNAL

‘Broadband deserts’ trap people thirsty for access to our digital world

BACK IN THE EARLY 1990s, J’Tanya Adams had worked plenty of jobs, often more than one at a time. Then a single mother in West Charlotte, Adams was looking for something more. “I was a grocery store clerk, worked in fast food, and then I was a cosmetologist after work,” Adams says. “Those lower-wage jobs, you kind of end up in the same place.”

That was before she entered a job training program and took a computer operations course at Central Piedmont Community College. “This was in the days of die-hard, mainframe computing,” she says, “but I loved being able to respond strategically to problems.” That one class led to a 21-year career at Hearst Corporation, where Adams rose to operations manager. More than that—it gave her access to the growing digital world and a stable career.

“Anything you desire to do today in life has a digital component,” says Adams, 56, a longtime West Side community leader who founded and works as a program director for Historic West End Partners, a business and community booster group.

“Everything from applying to a job to homeownership.”

So much so, in fact, that people who can’t access the internet—because they can’t afford it, live too far from access to it, or both—have a difficult time navigating a society increasingly dependent on not just the web browser but the app. It’s come to be taken for granted: Surely internet access is a given, isn’t it?

It isn’t. Poor, rural communities in North Carolina, including in the Charlotte region, suffer from gaps in access to the internet and wireless networks, which can hamper citizens’ ability to find jobs, schedule doctor’s appointments, manage money, do classwork, and accomplish

22

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

other daily tasks that more affluent people can complete with a few clicks. Policy discussions about technology usually focus on the potential for business growth, on gigabytes and download speeds. But stories like Adams’ reveal the human potential that goes undeveloped in “broadband deserts,” says Bruce Clark, executive director of Digital Charlotte. The organization, part of Queens University’s Knight School of Communication and founded in 2011, focuses on closing that gap through programs to improve digital literacy in Mecklenburg County.

“For a long time,” Clark says, “the conversation was, ‘Oh, yeah, Google Fiber’s coming to town. That’s so cool!’ Now we see that the gaps in digital adoption and social mobility are related.”

For starters, more than 70 percent of teachers now assign homework online.

GED exams are now strictly online. Eighty percent of job listings are posted exclusively online. In Charlotte, large swaths of the city’s “crescent”—the ethnically and economically diverse counterpart to the wealthy, mostly white south Charlotte

“wedge”—have access to internet download speeds of less than two megabits per second, far lower than the federal broadband standard of 25 mbps, according to data from Digital Charlotte. About 26,000 Mecklenburg County households have only mobile internet or dialup service.

About 56,000 Mecklenburg households, or 14 percent of them, don’t even have that. They lack any access to the web.

While most urban neighborhoods have the infrastructure in place to access at least one internet service provider, digital adoption—access to the internet through desktop or laptop—is more limited.

Mobile devices can fill some gaps, but that doesn’t help build the professional skills needed to start a career, Clark says: “A lot of people say, ‘Can’t people just get it on their phones?’ You can’t develop the next great software if you can’t use a keyboard.”

It’s also hard to build the next great business, particularly in rural areas that desperately need jobs. A 2019 study

by Amazon and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that rural businesses that took advantage of their full digital

ROB DONNELLY

BY CHUCK McSHANE

potential could add $47 billion to the U.S. economy and create 360,000 new jobs in rural counties, which continue to struggle with job and population loss.

Representatives from technology groups around the state made that urbanrural connection clear during a related conference in February at N.C. State University. Urban households within range of broadband access but whose occupants can’t afford it outnumber rural households that lack physical access by a ratio of four to one, Marc Hoit, the university’s vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer, said during his presentation.

“This, to me, is one of the most unifying urban and rural issues,” Clark says.

He recalls the story of another speaker at the N.C. State conference, John Mark Lavigne, a young Scotland County farmer who used data to analyze water management practices and increase crop yields to the astonishment of his skeptical grandfather. North Carolina farmers, Lavigne said, cannot compete without the internet.

To Adams, developing digital skills means not only building better careers but better lives. But some of the same economic forces that hinder internet access for the marginalized frustrate attempts to help them. For three years, Adams worked as a regional manager for EveryoneOn, a national nonprofit that connects people to affordable internet packages and teaches digital skills. But she says she and seven other employees were laid off in 2018 because of a funding crisis. Her Historic West End job helped, but she says it’s a reminder of how perilous professions can be in the digital age— and that was before a global pandemic made internet access even more critical for people who need services and routes to employment.

“Even this situation with the coronavirus,” Adams tells me in March. “If they’re asking you to work from home or if they close access to the building, some people can’t afford to miss two or three paychecks. Having those skills allows you to be more agile in a not-soempathetic world.”

CHUCK MCSHANE is a writer in Charlotte. Reach him at chuckmcshane@gmail.com or on Twitter: @chuckmcshane.

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FROM HOME Dreaming of your next trip, or dining out with your friends?

Discover the area’s best restaurants and bars, current topics, travel destinations, and inspiring stories about Charlotteans in our monthly publication. When it’s time to go, you’ll be ready.

E S S AY S / F O O D A N D W I N E / T R A V E L / S H O P P I N G & M O R E

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GOOD LIFE

INSIDE: COMMUNITY / STYLE / WEEKENDER / REAL ESTATE / SEEN

THE

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

Executive director Gina Stewart and manager Matt Christiansen at Eastway Crossing’s VisArt Video.

CO M M U N I T Y

Room for Rent

Now a nonprofit, VisArt Video has a vision for the future, available in VHS, DVD, and Blu-Ray

BY ANDY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDY McMILLAN

VISART EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gina Stewart thinks it’s time to update the website. When we chat one afternoon in March, I ask her about the 30,000 titles claimed on the video rental store’s page, and she laughs. “It’s closer to 50,000 with all the donations we’ve had lately,” she says. “We’re the largest collection of film and video on the East Coast, bar none. And we’re continuing to find all of these rare titles, some that we lost along the way—others we never even had in the past.”

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE Several new treasures have been bequeathed since VisArt announced a path toward nonprofithood in 2018. Its 501(c)(3) status became official this past January. Those tens of thousands of movies and TV shows are on display inside the Eastway Crossing storefront, a labyrinth of high shelves that carry new releases, slasher flicks, Hong Kong cinema staples, kids’ movies, and sections dedicated to influential filmmakers’ oeuvres. With the move to nonprofit, “we now take away the mission of making money,” Stewart says. “Not that we’re not going to make money, but the end goal is to be of service to our community, to serve Charlotte.”

In 1985, when VisArt opened a single store in Durham that would become a chain, the United States had 15,000 video rental stores. (That’s not counting grocery stores and drug stores that, as more seasoned readers may recall, also rented VHS tapes for a couple of decades.) This Charlotte location of VisArt is now the city’s only surviving video store and the only VisArt left, full stop. It endured, Stewart says, because of Charlotte lawyer Mickey Aberman taking co-ownership in 2010. In 2015, Aberman moved the store to the Eastway Crossing plaza and assumed full ownership the following year. As she waited for the buildout of her own co-owned business, the neighboring EastSide Local Eatery, Stewart began to run day-to-day operations of VisArt for Aberman. Two years later, she’s still here, moving between the two throughout the day.

Like its plazamate Tommy’s Pub, formerly in Plaza Midwood, VisArt was able to relocate the lived-in atmosphere of its former Elizabeth location. Tommy’s brought along its trove of NASCAR memorabilia and advertisements with men who wore Jim Croce mustaches. VisArt’s vibe is more of a nerd-topia than a dive: Vintage posters cover windows and walls.

Two arcade cabinets, borrowed from Abari Game Bar, facing the front window, stand feet away from a CryptKeeper doll guarding the register. “We’re not necessarily something people look for,” Stewart says, “but it’s wonderful to see people’s faces when they walk in here. There’s a nostalgia to it.”

VisArt isn’t the only video store in a major city to turn nonprofit. Portland’s beloved Movie Madness did so in 2017.

Vidiots, a Los Angeles staple that opened

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

Every weekend, staffers play Saturday morning cartoons for young visitors in the screening room.

“All of the things we’re doing now were once in the hopes-anddreams bucket.”

— MATT CHRISTIANSEN

in 1985, closed a storefront in 2017, but the Vidiots Foundation has since restored a vintage cinema. The finished project, with a 200-seat theater to host screenings and an adjacent store that’ll house its collection, opens this fall. Stewart says when VisArt prepared to convert, employees called West Coast stores and asked, “So, what are you doing?”

Like those venues, programming evolved as a primary focus. On Saturday mornings, VisArt uses its screening room to show cartoons for kids, which gives parents a chance to browse or go grab a coffee at ESL. The Charlotte Film Society regularly teams up with VisArt for events; indie filmmakers bring new projects to share with customers and take part in Q&As. Access to rare films has also wooed college instructors wanting to book a room to show a documentary that touches on curriculum. The tightknit fellow tenants of Eastway Crossing, many of them Plaza Midwood ex-pats, get in on the fun, too: Portofino’s provides pizza for screenings, Armada Skate Shop shows skateboarding films in the screening room. VisArt hopes to collaborate

with breweries for watch parties. This month, VisArt celebrates the Star Warsthemed holiday of May 4 (as in, “May the Fourth be with you”) with activities for sci-fi/fantasy fans.

Stewart points to the staff, many of them long-timers, as the primary reason people return to VisArt. Each has a speciality. Matt Christiansen, VisArt’s mohawked outreach director and an 11-year employee, knows anime, karate films, and broader Asian cinema. Others include a film buff who can recite the Criterion catalogue or the slasher experts who know the difference between Friday the 13th and Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood.

After Christiansen points a customer to a film he’s sure she’d love “since you like Guillermo del Toro,” I ask him what it’s like to see the business evolve.

“All of the things we’re doing now were once in the hopes-and-dreams bucket,” he says. “These are now things that are completely plausible in the future. We always wanted a theater in the store; we now have one. We always wanted community collaborations, we now do. We’re able to do so much more as a nonprofit.”

As they continue to cultivate a film-loving community in Charlotte, Visart’s also a destination for out-of-towners. Like all of the different subcultures represented on the shelves of VisArt, the store itself is hallowed ground for seekers of America’s last remaining video stores. It’s not just a rarity in Charlotte; it’s a global outlier.

As I leave, Stewart does remind me of one Charlotte-specific aspect of VisArt that’s rare: “My marketing person would be mad at me if I didn’t tell you this: Being here in this plaza, we have lots and lots of parking.”

ANDY SMITH is executive editor of this magazine.

Thoughtful Character. Timeless Beauty. Quality Building. www.jeffchance.com • 704.400.8854 • Instagram: @jc_builds

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Untitled-25 1

2/4/20 9:18 AM

THE GOOD LIFE

Toska Husted Charlotte’s skin care maven

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

SIX DAYS BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL in February, esthetician Toska Husted flew to Miami to give Jennifer Lopez her signature Toska Triple Lift Luxury Facial as the star prepared for her halftime performance. Husted, a native of Kosovo and owner of Toska European Spa in Dilworth, administered the beauty treatment in J. Lo’s bedroom as her daughter, Emme, and fiancé, Alex Rodriguez, traipsed in and out.

How exactly did Jennifer Lopez hear about Husted’s facial? “Through Kim Kardashian,” Husted says with a smile and a shrug. And how did Kim Kardashian get her name? “Probably through Jennifer Aniston,” she says. Her smile widens slightly.

The three-step process involves a deep cleanse of the skin, a custom cocktail of serums, and a remodeling machine that tones the facial muscles.

Clients pay $495 for one of Husted’s estheticians

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

to perform the Triple Lift Luxury Facial at the spa she’s owned on East Boulevard since 2016. (It’s $595 to book Husted for this service, and her waitlist is more than a year long.)

The 48-year-old mother of two daughters, ages 26 and 21, works with other celebrities, but she says nondisclosure agreements require her to keep details from many of those visits a secret. She’ll jet to New York or L.A. for an A-lister when her schedule allows, but she prioritizes her regular clientele, some of whom travel from Charleston and Atlanta for treatments.

Husted believes skin care is about well-being, not vanity. “It’s an organ—a shield that protects all of your internal organs,” she says. “The most important thing you can do is cleanse it properly and protect it from the sun.” And if you’re lucky enough to nab an appointment with this skin care maven, you, too, could have the J. Lo glow. —Taylor Bowler

Three things she can’t live without: BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE LOTION P50 It’s an exfoliating lotion that’s been around since 1970 and probably the best product ever made.

INSTACART I use it for groceries all the time.

DYSON AIRWRAP I waited two months for it. It dries my hair in half the time. Put it on your wish list.

CHRIS EDWARDS

ST YL E

TRADITION

IN AN

U R B A N S ET T I N G

Charlotte’s SouthPark area is at once posh and polished, urban and inviting. Into this unparalleled setting, we introduce The Barclay at SouthPark. As a resident, you’ll appreciate a finely appointed private apartment in a community of easy elegance.

You’ll dine on chef-prepared meals, luxuriate in resort-like amenities, and thrive through individualized programs that emphasize whole-person wellness.

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How You Want to Live... and Where

B A R C L AYAT S O U T H PA R K . C O M

© 2020 The Barclay at SouthPark

UPHOLDING

THE GOOD LIFE

OUTSIDE EMBERGLOW Emberglow is just minutes from Chimney Rock State Park and the sandy beaches of Lake Lure. Don’t miss these spots when you venture off site.

STAY

Community Around the Embers

Ex-Charlottean Tim Murphy’s resort makes nature comfortable for everyone

BY VIRGINIA BROWN

EMBERGLOW OUTDOOR RESORT allows anyone, from camping enthusiasts to novices, to explore nature in more comfort than traditional camping. (Most units have indoor bathrooms, in other words.) Near Lake Lure, Emberglow is roughly a two-hour drive from Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina, Asheville, and Charlotte—one reason owner Tim Murphy and his business partner committed to the spot. From Charlotte, take U.S. Highway 74 west and exit at Pea Ridge Road, right by the sprawling buffalo farm.

Murphy, a Cleveland native who moved to Charlotte in 2005, left the Queen City with his wife and four kids, ages 6 and under, in 2019 to commit fully to life in the Blue Ridge foothills. He wanted to offer families like his outdoor adventures with a sense of community: great conversations by the campfire, kids making friends with other campsite kids, and the freedom to explore.

Guests can choose from a range of lodging options: yurts, tiny homes, pods, treehouses, RV campers, shiny restored vintage campers, and no-frills tent sites equipped only with freestanding water hydrants—53 sites in all.

Glamping (“glamorous camping”) pods accommodate two and have heating and air conditioning, a bathrooms, and a kitchenettes. (Note: The glamping pods are quite small and not for the mildly claustrophobic.) The treehouses are like something out of Swiss Family Robinson, with off-kilter windows, a slide from the second floor to the ground, a wild oak that bursts through the elevated front deck, and cargo nets that connect lofted sleep spaces.

Murphy wants to appeal to multiple generations, too. That’s in part why he has purchased, refurbished, and pristinely outfitted seven vintage campers—like the “Canned Ham” camper, a classic of the 1950s; and Boles-Aero Trailers, with shiny aluminum exteriors and beautifully crafted birch interiors.

The primitive tent sites run $60 for a two-night stay, while the large, luxury vintage campers run from $204 to $282 for two nights. Campers can enjoy musical acts on the site’s stage and movies on the lawn, as well as the resort-quality pool, sand volleyball court, nature trails, a dog park, and stories at the community fire pit. “Sitting around a fire, those embers get really hot—that’s when the best conversations are had,” Murphy says. “But you don’t just light the fire and instantly have embers. It takes time to develop.”

For more information and to book a stay, visit emberglowoutdoorresort.com.

VIRGINIA BROWN is a native Charlottean and local writer whose work appears in Departures, AAA Go magazine, USA Today and BBC News Magazine, among others. Reach her at @virginiarbrown or vbwrites.com.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

DO

For a quick cup of joe, pop over to Carolina Moon Coffee to start the day and take a signature Lake Lure or Chimney Rock blend home to family or friends. Then head to Chimney Rock State Park and explore some of the state’s best hiking trails, vista views, and waterfalls. Or take a hike to the top of Chimney Rock for a 360-degree panorama of the Blue Ridge foothills.

EAT

Even if you didn’t snag a room at The Esmeralda, stop by for a quick lunch outside on the patio—The Chef’s Table restaurant offers great views of Chimney Rock from below—or elevate the experience with dinner and special wine pairings from the mind of Chef Keith Chinn inside.

(If you go on Wednesdays, wine is half off.) Traveling with a group? Cooking classes are available. Other options include waterfront Legends on the Lake and the popular The Veranda Restaurant at 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa.

EMBERGLOW OUTDOOR RESORT

WEEKENDER

Stay a night or two at The Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant, a historic lodge that’s hosted authors and movie stars, including Clark Gable. The Hickory Nut Gorge area became a popular spot to film silent movie stars, and several silent films were actually filmed on the site. For a Kellerman’s-style experience a la Dirty Dancing (which was filmed in the Lake Lure area), reserve a room or condo at the sprawling, family-friendly Rumbling Bald Resort.

4810 Ashley Park Charlotte, NC 28210 704.362.6005

THE GOOD LIFE R E AL E STAT E

Hot Listings

Covered patios, pools, and outdoor kitchens make backyard entertaining a major selling point this season. —Margaret Rawlings 1416 SCOTLAND AVE. $2,695,000 EASTOVER This DuBose custom home has a gourmet kitchen with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf appliances, and a sweeping center island. The backyard calls for more entertaining, with a pool and a spa directly off the patio. 5BD, 9BA, 6,610 sq. ft., HM Properties

1603 TARRINGTON WAY $535,000 INDIAN TRAIL This Anniston Grove home has an open floor plan and gourmet kitchen with a built-in double oven, five-burner gas stove, spacious pantry, granite countertops, and an island. Relax on the screened-in porch or the outdoor patio next to the koi pond. 5 BD, 4.5 BA, 3,745 sq. ft., Savvy + Co. Real Estate

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

2125 SUNDERLAND PLACE $1,195,000 MYERS PARK This mid-century modern gem has walnut hardwood flooring, two gas fireplaces, and a renovated kitchen with custom cabinets. Retreat to the master bedroom, open the French doors, and listen to the waterfall feature in the backyard pool. 3 BD, 3 BA, 2,582 sq. ft., Dickens Mitchener

Homes available as of March 25, 2020.

COURTESY

7041 GILEAD RD. $899,000 HUNTERSVILLE With wood detail, a stone fireplace, and hardwood floors, this home feels like a mountain retreat. A movie room in the basement and a saltwater pool in the backyard offer endless entertainment. 4BD, 3.5 BA, 5,880 sq. ft., Titan Realty

Special Finds

with The Blue Ridge Traveler

Charlotte residents are less than two hours from our Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills. Save these ideas for your next Blue Ridge get-away.

Set up base camp in Marion, Old Fort, or Little Switzerland. These Blue Ridge communities include over 67,000 acres in the Pisgah National Forest.

Explore hundreds of miles of hiking, biking, and waterfall trails cloaked by old-growth forests. Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, shop Marion’s 310 District with its cool retro vibe, and experience Old Fort, known as the birthplace of the Pisgah National Forest.

Call to request free maps, guides, trip ideas and more or visit us on-line.

A summer colony founded in 1909, Little Switzerland is a gem with stellar Blue Ridge views where they honor mountain traditions with weekly summer square dances, music, and the arts.

888. 233. 6111 | www.blu e r idge t r ave le r s . co m

THE GOOD LIFE

PART Y P I C S

Seen Lupus Mardi Gras Gala

1. Derick Thurman and Shelly Thurman 2. John Barber 3. Sam Habash and Iveta Swiam 4. Sonia Barber 5. Robert Griffin and Timeka Griffin

Mint Museum Classic Black Opening

1. Jennifer Sudul Edwards 2.Todd Herman 3. Joan Zimmerman 4. Brian Gallagher

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1. Leona Armato, Carl Armato, and Christi Armato 2. Ramona Holloway and Jason Lamoreaux 3. Michael Lamach 4. Karen (Kivelson) Kropp, Todd Albaum, Shirley Cress Dudley, and Bill Evans 5. Cheryl Emanuel

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

DANIEL COSTON

Heart Ball at NASCAR Hall of Fame

The Humane Society of Charlotte’s annual Women for Animal Welfare reception

Dress For Success Football Finale

1. Walter Rasby 2. Deems May and Kerry Barr O’Connor 3. Brent Fatticci 4. Eric Teal 5. Jim Szoke

1. Amy Blumenthal 2. Shelly Moore and Catherine Carter 3. Alexandra Horowitz 4. Stephanie Baumann and Andrew Blumenthal 5. Tommy Cantrell with his new puppy 6. Felipe Gonzalez Edmiston

6

DANIEL COSTON

Daughters Of Penelope

1. Irina Toshkova and Alexandra Naranjo 2. Irene Politis 3. Grazia Walker and Berhan Nebioglu 4. Pat Farmer 5. Luis Machicao, Colleen Richmond, and Jeff Wallin

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

35

2020 T H E B O Bs A N N U A L PA R T Y I S I N F U L L B L O O M !

NEW

DATE

!

T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 General Admission 7 - 9:30 p.m. | BOB Award Winners 6:30-9:30 p.m.

THE MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN

Sample fresh bites and festive cocktails from award-winning restaurants, enjoy live entertainment, and more, as we celebrate the B E S T OF THE B E S T of Charlotte in a beautiful garden paradise.

Floral and botanical-inspired attire encouraged.

T I C K E T S O N S A L E AT: CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM/BOBSPARTY

ClosetsbyDesign

®

SP ON SORED BY:

Closets byDesign

®

FOOD DRINK

INSIDE: LOCAL FLAVOR / BITE-SIZED NEWS / ON THE LINE

EXPLORE THE TASTES OF CHARLOTTE

Bucatini pasta with tomatoes, guanciale (pork cheeks), and pecorino cheese.

N OW O P E N

JUST ONE AMORE Charlotte’s infatuation with Italian food reaches Park Road Shopping Center

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

THE TEAM BEHIND TRUE CRAFTED PIZZA has added another name to Charlotte’s growing roster of Italian eateries. Osteria LuCa opened in January in the space previously occupied by Charlotte Café, and there’s still a wait for a table after 6 p.m. most nights, which proves we’re a city willing to stand in line for really good wood-fired pizza.

Continued on next page MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

37

FOOD+DRINK

OSTERIA LUCA 4127 Park Rd. 704-910-0142 osterialuca.com

MONDAY: Closed TUESDAY-THURSDAY, SUNDAY: 5-9 p.m.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY: 5-10 p.m.

(Above) Co-owners and spouses Tricia and Ken Martino added a wall-to-wall wine display in the dining area. The Meat Lovers pizza (left) is topped with bacon, Soppressata, and Fennel sausage. The bread pudding (right) with bourbon caramel sauce and vanilla gelato.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

BITE-SIZED STO R I E S

Foodie News on a Small Plate

TRUE Meatballs with marinara sauce and a side of grilled bread.

Co-owners and spouses Tricia and Ken Martino transformed the spot, once marked by black-and-white checkerboard flooring and tattered leather booths, into a modern osteria, the Italian word for a local, family-run restaurant. “LuCa” is a nod to their children, Lucas and Caroline.

The renovated space has an exposed brick wall behind the bar, a wall-to-wall wine display, industrial lighting, and artwork for sale from Anne Neilson Fine Art Gallery. The dining room has sleek wood-plank tables, booths with banquette seating along the walls, and, in the back, an eight-seat pizza bar from which guests can see into the oven.

Brendan Treyball, executive chef at TRUE Crafted Pizza, developed the menu with Chris McDade, who owns Popina, a popular Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. Osteria LuCa’s woodfired pizzas are the main attraction—rightly so—but if you come with a group, order a few other dishes to get the full experience.

Start with a hot appetizer like the TRUE meatballs with marinara sauce ($14) and ask for plenty of grilled bread for dipping. If you’ve come for the pizza, the classic cheese ($12)

Don’t leave without trying: The Whipped Ricotta ($12) appetizer, topped with roasted apples, rosemary, and balsamic drizzle and served with grilled bread.

gets everything right, with crispy edges, bubbling cheese, and smoky flavor. For something a little more complex, try the Prosciutto di Parma ($15) with arugula, shaved Parmesan, fig spread, and balsamic glaze. The pasta offerings are solid and predictable, with Italian standards like Pappardelle Bolognese ($19) and Bucatini Amatriciana ($16). But the portions aren’t enormous, so you might not want to share.

If you save room for dessert, order the Bread Pudding ($10) with bourbon caramel sauce. Osteria LuCa rotates seasonal desserts throughout the year, but the bread pudding has been such a hit, it’s earned a permanent spot on the menu.

Osteria LuCa is casual enough to bring your kids on a weeknight but fancy enough to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. While Charlotte certainly doesn’t lack Italian restaurants, Park Road Shopping Center did. So the Martinos landed in the right place.

Oak Steakhouse, part of the Indigo Road Restaurant Group, has named BOBBY HODGE its new executive chef. Hodge comes from the Oak Steakhouse in Nashville and plans to add more seafood dishes and local ingredients to the menu.

Thomas “Tommy” Vance has returned to CARPE DIEM as executive chef.

Vance served as sous chef at Carpe Diem from 2014 to 2017 and executive chef at Georges Brasserie before it closed in 2018.

LITTLE ALLEY, a new steakhouse from F&H Food Trading Group, will open in Hearst Tower by the end of the year. Look for Black Angus beef, a topnotch charcuterie program, seafood options, and more than 100 bourbon selections.

The iconic DAIRY QUEEN that closed its doors in Plaza Midwood last fall will reopen in the Eastway Crossing shopping center at Central Avenue and Eastway Drive. —Taylor Bowler

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

39

FOOD+DRINK

O N T H E LI N E W I T H

WILL STEPHENSON Peppervine’s new chef de cuisine comes from Artisanal, the Banner Elk farm-to-table restaurant owned by the same team

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

Age: 28 Relationship status: Girlfriend of six years Hometown: Brevard Currently lives: Plaza Midwood Currently reading: Bon Appétit Favorite sports team: Chelsea Football Club

What single ingredient do you always have on hand? Fresh thyme or sherry vinegar.

What’s one recipe you nail every time? I make a really nice bouillabaisse.

What’s one recipe you’d still like to master? A nice, sweet soufflé.

I haven’t really nailed that down yet.

THE TOUGH STUFF Chocolate or cheese?

Cheese Coffee or tea?

Tea Beer or wine?

Wine Ketchup or mustard?

Mustard Cheerios or Frosted Flakes?

Frosted Flakes

What shoes do you wear in the kitchen? Danskos.

Street eats or sit-down?

Sit-down

What do you think is an underappreciated flavor? Cardamom.

Lobster roll or egg roll?

Egg roll

What’s your favorite restaurant in Charlotte, other than your own? One of my hobbies is going out and trying new restaurants.

One of the nicest meals I’ve had here is at Bardo—they have great attention to detail. Futo Buta is always consistently good, too.

French fries or French onion soup?

French fries

What would be your last meal? Roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. It’s simple, but if it’s done really well, it’s always memorable.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

Spicy noodles or spaghetti & meatballs?

Spicy noodles

How did this opportunity at Peppervine come to you? I started working with Bill Greene (executive chef and owner) six years ago. I was executive sous chef at Artisanal for three years, and I came to Charlotte to get Peppervine up and running last year. Then I came back to work here full-time last November.

Tell me about your approach to cooking at Peppervine. I like to keep things really simple so the natural flavors are the highlight of any dish.

What makes an ideal dining experience for you? I like more relaxed service. If you’re in your element, it will put the customer in their element as well.

Any rules to live by in the kitchen?

Always say “behind.”

PETER TAYLOR

What’s the most surprising thing about you? I ride a unicycle. My dad used to do it, too. I have a 5-foot tall one and a mountain one I ride in Boone.

EXPRESS YOURSEL F AS NEVER BEFO RE.

Let your inner Picasso come out and play.

For years, work and family responsibilities took priority. Now that those are behind you, there’s never been a better time to nurture your talents and lifelong passions. Living in a beautiful setting that encourages creative expression and individuality can make this one of the most fulfilling chapters of your life.

Life with Purpose Find out more about Southminster, Charlotte’s ideal choice for retirement living.

704.551.6800 | southminster.org

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

AMELIA ISLAND

A

s generations of visitors have discovered, Amelia Island is a special place – a destination full of exciting activities to create memories that last a lifetime.

An enchanting barrier island off Florida’s northeastern coast, Amelia’s sunny shores, soft sea breezes and breathtaking scenery provide an ideal backdrop to relax and reconnect. The island’s irresistible mix of outdoor adventure, seaside serenity and luxurious lifestyle is effortlessly shared through stunning natural beauty, Southern elegance and hospitality, upscale accommodations, quaint inns, and exciting events and pastimes. Amelia Island offers a world of opportunity, just waiting to be discovered. Situated between Georgia’s Golden Isles and historic St. Augustine, Amelia Island is a treasured as a place to escape the rush and pandemonium of everyday life to enjoy the pristine beaches, marshes, rivers and ocean.

Those who are lucky enough to call Amelia Island home actively work to protect and preserve this eco-tourism paradise.

MEET OUR (ANIMAL) NEIGHBORS Amelia Island is home to four different species of nesting sea turtles that come back year after year to the beaches of Amelia Island to lay their eggs. Beach-goers might see sea turtles nests

marked and blocked off during the spring and summer months, an important task taken on by volunteers who work to protect the fragile eggs.

In the late summer months, volunteer groups lead visitors on nest excavations to help the baby turtles make their way back to the ocean.

The gateway to the Great Florida Birding Trail is in Amelia Island, with over 100 bird species passing through or calling the island home. In this birder’s paradise, seasoned birders and novices alike can spot Roseate Spoonbills all over the marsh, and Brown Pelicans, American Oystercatchers, Ruddy Turnstones and Willets flying over the beaches. Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island State Park and Egan’s Creek Greenway Trail are all excellent places to spot more feathered friends.

At Omni Amelia Island Resort Nature Center, families can get up close and personal with indigenous turtles, snakes and aquatic creatures, and a few not-so-native friends, too.

ACCOMMODATING SUSTAINABILITY Amelia Island offers an award-winning collection of luxury resorts, charming inns, favorite hotels and an assortment of condos and vacation homes, making it easy for visitors to find their perfect home away from home. Many of the island’s accommodations are committed to environmental stewardship and education.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Courtesy, Deremer Studios LLC Photography, Roger Kirby

a naturalist in a three-hour class where they learn about the three ecosystems of Amelia Island and assist with the Nature Center’s rescued animal residents. And the whole family can participate in everything from beach cleanups to ecology tours.

One of the island’s newest hotels, Hilton Home2 Suites, was built with the environment in mind. The hotel incorporates recycled materials such as crushed glass which is used in countertops, and features furniture made from recycled materials, as well. To help reduce waste, they exclusively use real dishes and bulk products, which reduces the number of plastic bottles, paper and plastic utensils.

Consistently recognized as one of the south’s finest beachfront resorts, The RitzCarlton, Amelia Island invites guests to discover the joys of AAA Five-Diamond luxury, directly on a stunning stretch of Amelia’s beautiful beaches. he Rit is certified by the state of Florida’s “Green Lodging Program,” with energy, electrical, and water conservation programs throughout the resort. The on-site, full service spa uses sustainable and organic products in their eco luxe services. The resort offers nature walks, bird excursions and other daily and weekly activities for adults, and a variety of fun nature activities through the Ritz Kids Program.

The Omni Amelia Island Resort is home to “The Sprouting Project,” which includes a state-of-the-art aquaponic greenhouse, expansive organic garden, a large collection of beehives, barrel room and resident chickens. The Sprouting Project provides fresh ingredients such as eggs, honey, organic micro-greens, herbs, jams and more, creating sustainable food sources on property. The youngest of guests can experience the life of

PEDDLE, PADDLE AND TOUR Countless visitors have stepped from Amelia’s shores to explore and enjoy the island’s liquid assets. During the summer months, hop aboard the Amelia River Cruise for the interactive Shrimp Eco Tour, catching local shrimp. The catch is displayed in an onboard aquarium and each of the creatures is identified and released back into the wild. The cruise takes you around through the wilderness, where you might spot local dolphins, manatees, shore birds and much more. Guided kayak and SUP (stand-up paddleboard) tours around the island’s surrounding waters give sightseers a chance to catch a bird, fish or other ild animals that call Amelia Island home. Or if you prefer to stay on land, hop on an Eco Bike and take a self-guided tour with the preprogrammed GPS to check out the local flora and fauna.

Visit AmeliaIsland.com today to start planning your unforgettable getaway to this natural treasure.

nAtuRe Through AR Discover Amelia Island in an ever so slightly augmented way, using a specially designed app to bring some of her enchantment to life on your phone.

Thanks to augmented reality (AR) technology, you can watch sea turtles hatch, uncover treasures, say hello to a historic shrimping vessel, and more!

Just point your phone at an Amelia Island visitor’s guide and an animated beachgoer comes to life to welcome you in a 3-D shoreline setting, complete with sun, sand, surf and local sea life.

Bring your phone with you to beach access 39 and experience the wonder of baby sea turtles emerging from their nest. AR activations can be found throughout the visitor’s guide and around the island to make everything from planning your trip, to visiting the beaches, a little bit more enchanting.

An arrangement from Voters’ Choice-winner The Blossom Shop, located on Park Road.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

Best of the Best BY

Michelle Boudin / Taylor Bowler / Greg Lacour / Jared Misner Margaret Rawlings / Andy Smith PHOTOGRAPHS BY

Logan Cyrus / Peter Taylor / Adam Whitlow

THIS YEAR’S BOB AWARDS arrive at a tumultuous time for Charlotte businesses and nonprofits. So let’s celebrate them.

Throughout these pages, you’ll find 400 reasons to raise a locally sourced drink to our city. These people, places, and bearded dragons are reminders that we live in a dynamic community, and even in the time of social distancing, we’re here together.

ADAM WHITLOW (2)

Cocktails by mixologist AMANDA BRITTON from Bardo: (Clockwise from top) the Spirit Free Salud mocktail, Making Me Blush strawberry mocktail; the Paloma, and the Cooling Effect. Cocktail kits sold online during the pandemic have included these drinks. Cupcakes

by SWIRL BAKERY; florals by THE BLOSSOM SHOP.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

45

LOGAN CYRUS

Tanner Morita, one of the founders of Hex Coffee, pours a to-go latte at Stable Hand, a recently opened South End concept.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

The Best of Food and Dining

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

47

The Best of Food and Dining

TREND ITALIAN FOOD

The openings of CICCHETTI, FORCHETTA, CAPISHE’S SOUTHPARK LOCATION, SENSI, OSTERIA LUCA, VOLO, NORTH ITALIA, and INDACO in the last year indicate Charlotte’s robust appetite for Italian. Enjoy carbonara like you’d eat it in Rome or order meatballs and breadsticks at a counter. Sip a glass of Chianti at a Venetianstyle wine bar or take a gelato to go. Any diner can find an experience at any price, and there’s even more to come: Look for ORTO, a new Italian concept from Paul Verica, this spring, and LITTLE MAMA’S, the kid-sister concept to Frank Scibelli’s Mama Ricotta’s,

Cicchetti is one of several new Italian spots to emerge in the Charlotte restaurant scene over the past year.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

PETER TAYLOR

later this year.

TKTKTTKTKTK

DESSERTS

The Batch House Cristina Rojas-Agurcia, a.k.a. The Batchmaker, switched from a home-based operation to a brickand-mortar shop connected to LaCa Projects last fall. Now, The Batch House regularly sells out her toothsome treats. The Snickers Cheesecake and Dirty Oreo Truffles are both notables, but we recommend starting with her take on an Oatmeal Creme Pie. Little Debbie who? 1429 Bryant St., thebatchmaker.com

NEW PIZZA

is wrong, we don’t want to be right. 1414 S. Tryon St., Ste. 140, northitalia.com

It may not have the cachet of New York or Chicago styles, but Detroit does have its own distinctive approach to pizza: rectangular slices, a thick and crisp crust, and sauce on top of the cheese. Room & Board’s owners were smart to fill that quadrilateral hole in Charlotte’s pizzascape. More good news: A less common style of ’za means there aren’t as many gatekeepers afoot with their NYC comparisons. 3228 N. Davidson St. rbnoda.com

BURGER

Room & Board’s Detroit-Style Pan Pizza

CHEESECAKE FACTORYOWNED RESTAURANT YOU’RE NOT ASHAMED TO SAY IS PHENOMENAL

North Italia

If you’re a highbrow foodie who avoids chains in favor of independent restaurants, you might be surprised to know that the RailYard’s newest Italian eatery is owned by The Cheesecake Factory. But we dare you to find something less than stellar on this menu. The meatballs and marinara are too delicious for their own good, and the white truffle garlic bread with three cheeses is a skillet of culinary rapture. If loving this chain

Ace No. 3’s The Ace The toasted bun, the evenly seasoned, grilled meat, and oh my, that comeback sauce—the hype behind Ace No. 3’s flagship burger is deserved. 1001 Belmont Ave., aceno3.com

SUNDAY FUNDAY WITH A SIDE OF PROFANITY

Moosehead Grill

Come to this Montford Drive mainstay for Bee Stings Wings and a pint of Allagash White—and don’t be offended when owner Chris Neilsen greets his regulars with some colorful words from behind the bar. Neilsen’s from Maine, and his decor is about as subtle as a baseball bat to the head. The walls are jammed with moose heads, bumper stickers, decals, and maps from his home state, and his stories are even better. 1807 Montford Dr., mooseheadgrillcharlotte.com

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ALTERNATIVE TO AVOCADO TOAST

Ricotta and Jam Toast at Eight + Sand Kitchen

We can all agree that avocado is still the trendiest toast topper, but if you’re looking for an alternative to this millennial favorite, try the ricotta and jam toast at Eight + Sand. The thickcut sourdough toast, slathered in house-made ricotta and jam and topped with lemon zest, is worth braving the weekend brunch line. 135 New Bern St., eightandsandkitchen.com

Eight + Sand’s Ricotta and jam toast has quickly become a South End favorite.

Pasta & Provisions’ 16-Layer Lasagna

When a friend has a baby or a new neighbor moves in down the street, the 16-layer lasagna from Pasta & Provisions is the easiest way to say, “I’ve got your dinner covered tonight.” A large order feeds nine to 12 people, and it’s flash frozen so they can pop it in the oven whenever they’re ready. It’s not homemade, but it certainly tastes like it. Multiple locations, pastaprovisions.com

NEW BRUNCH SPOT

Easy Like Sunday The fried chicken and cornmeal pancakes are worth standing in line for, but if you’d rather skip the weekend rush, go in the evening (they stay open until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday) and have a boozy brunch after dark.

Order an old fashioned with maple syrup and feast on shrimp and grits and ricotta-stuffed French toast. With its mismatched upholstered chairs, hanging plants, and vines crawling up the bar, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into an English garden. 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd., Ste. 100, easylikesundayclt.com

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ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

McNinch House

The upscale restaurant in Fourth Ward has a longstanding reputation for its five-course tasting menu and award-winning wine pairings, but it’s also the most popular place for marriage proposals in Charlotte. Maybe it’s the antique silver and fine china on each table, or it’s the edible flowers that adorn your poached pear salad. Whatever the reason, this restored Victorian-era house sees someone on bended knee 40 to 50 times a year. 511 N. Church St., mcninchhouserestaurant.com

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Babe & Butcher

Lindsay Anvik and Rob Henricks have capitalized on the charcuterie craze with boards that look more like edible works of art. Order breakfast boards with mini-croissants and

mini-scones, dessert boards with meringues and chocolates, or 30-foot grazing tables for a holiday party. Everything is carefully sourced (locally and internationally) and even more carefully crafted into a gorgeous custom design. babeandbutcher.com

REBRAND

Stable Hand The South End space formerly split between Good Bottle Co. and Hex Coffee is now the neighborhood spot Stable Hand. Anchored by Dakotah Aiyanna’s murals that run throughout the shop—and repeat the phrase “Don’t be a stranger”—Stable Hand brightens the space with a new vibe and approach: The coffees come from the BOB Award-winning Hex brand, accompanied by hyper-curated beer and food selections (with three types of tasty porridge on the latter menu). 125 Remount Rd., stablehandclt.com

PETER TAYLOR

HOMEMADE STORE-BOUGHT DINNER

LOGAN CYRUS

Stable Hand’s interior murals were crafted by Dakotah Aiyanna.

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The Best of Food and Dining

CLASSIC STEAKHOUSE

Beef ’N Bottle

CHILI

Lupie’s Cafe

CHICKEN SANDWICH

What a steakhouse ought to be: low ceilings, dim lights, dark wood, Naugahyde, thick slabs of tender beef, and the look and vibe of a place where meat and deals are cut. 4538 South Blvd., beefandbottle.net

Lupie’s doesn’t mess around. Texas is the hottest, Southern style the mildest, Cincinnati all Skyline and cinnamon-infused, vegetarian the veggiest. All come with pintos, cheese, onions, and cornbread. Get it in a cup, bowl, atop spaghetti, or with mac and cheese. When the weather is cold and the sky overcast, you want nothing else. (Lupie’s also serves burgers, sandwiches, “nanner pudding,” and other delicacies we can discuss in another list.)

2718 Monroe Rd., lupiescafe.net

Step up to the counter of this 1,200-squarefoot former gas station and order the sandwich named for owner Jim Noble’s Great Aunt Beulah. You’ll get the Noble family’s buttermilk fried chicken on a toasted potato bun with house-made pickles and Duke’s mayo. You can have your sammie bunless or add Swiss cheese, but that’s it. This menu’s as straightforward as they come, because there’s no need to reinvent a classic. 2200 Freedom Dr., bossybeulahs.com

VEGETARIAN MEATLOAF

Dish

Vegetarian meatloaf might sound like an oxymoron, and, mostly, it is. But the competition for who makes the best loaf of “meat” in Charlotte is surprisingly stiff. We give a slight edge to Dish for its Cajun-seasoned veggie loaf, which comes in three forms: sliders, sandwich, and regular loaf. Crafted from lentils, the spicy loaf comes with mashed potatoes and gravy and another side. Go with the vegan slaw or collard greens to complete the improper Southern meal. 1220 Thomas Ave., eatatdish.com (Ed.: The meat meatloaf is also wonderful.)

Bossy Beulah’s

LATE-NIGHT DINING SCENE

The Diamond Restaurant

USE OF A SALTINE CRACKER

Chef Chris Coleman’s Marinated East Coast Shrimp

Order this plate off the “Bites” menu at The Goodyear House, and you’ll wonder why someone didn’t think of this sooner. Top a saltine cracker with a dollop of mignonette butter and a marinated shrimp, and you have a bite-sized flavor bomb. For that, chef Coleman, we thank you. 3032 N. Davidson St., thegoodyearhouse.com

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LOGAN CYRUS; PETER TAYLOR

Open until 4 a.m. on Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning, this cozy brick comfort-food eatery in Plaza Midwood draws colorful characters after midnight. Great burgers, too. 1901 Commonwealth Ave., diamondcharlotte.com

Cherished memories await discovery on Amelia island.

Take time with family and create treasured memories at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island with our Stay Longer Package.

Savor luxurious overnight ocean view accommodations and enjoy a $50 daily resort credit good for dining, Spa or other adventures.

For reservations, visit ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.

Offer valid through December 28, 2020, subject to availability. Rate is per room/per night, based on single or double occupancy, exclusive of taxes, gratuities, fees and other charges; does not apply to groups; cannot be combined with any other offer and is not applicable for Marriott Bonvoy redemption. Advance reservations are required. No refund or credit for unused portion. ©2020 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

The Best of Health, Wellness, Kids, and Family

LOGAN CYRUS

The Charlotte Rail Trail has many sitespecific artworks to take in.

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The Best of Health, Wellness, Kids, and Family

PLACE TO SWEAT AND SEE PUBLIC ART

The Charlotte Rail Trail

Take a jog with your pup or put your tyke in a stroller and get your sweat on as you explore this 3.5-mile trail along the Blue Line in South End. Skip over a magic carpet mural, traipse through a forest of 100 colorful steel poles, or leave a message on the Rail Trail chalkboard.

You’ll wonder how that workout went by so fast. charlotterailtrail.org

Kur Health Spa

Lie down in a unit that looks like a tanning bed and let the infrared heat hit your body from all sides. Your core temperature rises gradually, so after about 45 minutes, sweat will run down your body. It’s a nice alternative to hot yoga, and you’ll get a similar calorie burn as you rest and relax. Once you rehydrate, any weight you lost will come back, of course. But a little detox never hurt anyone. 3928 Park Rd., kurhealthspa.com.

PLACE TO GET HIGH FIVES

Burn Boot Camp

For this writer, the HIIT-esque 45-minute workout here burns up to 700 calories. You’ll run, jump, squat, and bench press, but instead of firing orders, trainers high-five you for finishing a set of burpees and applaud you for completing a plank. You’ll feel the burn—and you might crawl out the door when you’re done— but don’t worry. There’s a high five for that, too. Multiple locations, burnbootcamp.com

MEN’S GROOMING

Caliber Men’s Grooming When it’s time to get dapper, Caliber is a one-stop shop: haircuts, beard sculpts and

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trims, custom clothing, and facial treatments are on the menu. Want to go even more Mad Men? Get a straight razor shave and a shoeshine. 235 W. Tremont Ave., Ste. 102, calibermensgrooming.com.

MOTIVATION TO KEEP RUNNING

Run for Your Life’s Six Pack Series

It’s tough to lace up your running shoes and hit the pavement first thing in the morning, but when you’ve already registered for that race, it’s harder to back out. Run For Your Life’s Six Pack series lets you register for six Charlotte road races at a discounted price, so you’re already committed before you begin.

Races include the Yiasou Greek Festival 5K and the Novant Health Lake Norman 15K, and each one offers live entertainment, snacks, drinks, and a T-shirt. runforyourlife.com

PLACE TO SPLASH WITH THE FAMILY

Ray’s Splash Planet Ray’s is the largest water park in Charlotte, with a three-story slide, a small, lazy river, tumble buckets, interactive water stations, lap lanes, and more. The county-run haven for water lovers thankfully doesn’t depend on warm weather. 215 N. Sycamore St., mecknc. gov/parkandrec

COURTESY

PLACE TO SWEAT OFF FIVE POUNDS IN 45 MINUTES

TREND MEAL PREP SERVICES

Do you know what you’re making for dinner tonight?

Neither do we. Fortunately, meal prep services tap into the indecision. Local businesses like NOURISH CHARLOTTE, FIT KITCHEN MEAL PREP, CLEAN EATZ, THE BLOSSOMING KITCHEN, and THE GREEN BUNNY save you trips to the supermarket and take the guesswork out of eating clean. Some allow you to order a weekly meal plan online, pick it up yourself, or have it delivered. Others offer plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, or Whole30-approved options.

Many offer subscription services, too. It can be pricier than shopping and cooking for yourself, but it’s cheaper—and healthier—than eating out when you’re short on time.

The Blossoming Kitchen’s Pulled Pork Enchilada Bowl.

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The Best of Health, Wellness, Kids, and Family

and other notables. Also: Page and Jake are genuinely funny and know how to talk on a mic, bringing a polish too rare in this form. jakeandpage.com

mostly flat, too, a boon for the young, old, and out of shape. From Interstate 77, get off at exit 23 (Gilead Road), head west, and turn left onto Bradford Hill Lane for on-street parking. mecknc.gov/parkandrec

DANCE FITNESS CLASS

THE JAM: CLT

HAIR RESCUE

Kerastase Conditioning Treatment at the Denise Antonacci Salon When your damaged, straw-like strands need some first aid, get yourself to the Denise Antonacci Salon for a Kerastase conditioning treatment. Sit in a massage chair and relax with a glass of pink champagne and a chocolatecovered strawberry as your stylist applies the magic potion. Splurge on a blowout afterward, and you’ll have soft, bouncy tresses (sort of) like Kate Middleton’s. 4810 Ashley Park Lane, antonaccisalon.com

LOOK CUTE WORKING OUT

Fit Atelier

In the age of athleisure, you can wear gym clothes all day—but your boyfriend’s hoodie doesn’t count. If your leggings are looking a bit tattered for yoga class or an afternoon of errands, stop by this Design Center fitness boutique. Find high-end sports bras, tank tops, and yoga pants from brands like Aviator Nation, Girlfriend Collective, and more. Once you find your perfect fit, a staffer can reserve a spot for you in one of the studio’s group classes, which include HIIT and dance cardio.

1930 Camden Rd., Ste. 100, fitatelier.com

Get your groove on while getting a workout in—then grab a beer. THE JAM: CLT offers fitness classes like The Jam (60 minutes of hip-hop), The Mixtape (an actual mix of music genres), and The Beatbox (a combination conditioning and dance class) five days a week at area breweries. The routines are easy to pick up and just plain fun. Don’t miss Bey Day every May when they pay homage to the queen. thejamclt.com

SMALL TOWN TO VISIT NEAR CHARLOTTE

Kings Mountain

This small city of almost 11,000 has the kind of charm Cracker Barrels have long attempted to imitate. Pastoral murals cover original buildings that still contain local businesses, and a drive-in restaurant and drive-in movie theater add to the nostalgic atmosphere. cityofkm.com

PARTY DECORATIONS

Confetti Castle

AIRBNB NEAR CHARLOTTE

Tiny House Gypsy Zen Retreat Two blocks away from the Parkwood light rail station, this 208-square-foot, pet-friendly gem comes packed with everything you need for a short stay. This spot has a distinctively bohemian vibe (it’s a tiny home, after all), and staying here gives you access to a “Zen room” at the larger (separate) house on the property. airbnb.com

BEST GREENWAY LESS TRAVELED

Torrence Creek Greenway in Huntersville

At this greenway, which runs for 2.36 miles off Gilead Road, travel a surprisingly varied landscape, from creekside woods to a nest of huge boulders at its eastern end to wetlands you traverse on a wooden boardwalk. It’s

This event-styling business teaches us that all you need to make magic is a couple of dozen balloons of varying sizes and hues.

The company creates party installations for events such as kids’ parties, business openings, bridal showers, and tea parties. theconfetticastle.com

LOW-IMPACT SPORTS LEAGUE

Major League Bocce Charlotte Staged at an elite sports venue, Town Brewing in Wesley Heights, Major League Bocce Charlotte organizers say it’s “the most social of the social sports leagues in Charlotte.” This is a great way to say it welcomes those of us who don’t run unless we’re being chased. charlotte. majorleaguebocce.com

PODCAST

Date Night with Jake and Page Now, for your running soundtrack: Each month, the husband-and-wife duo of Jake and Page Fehling (Page co-hosts FOX 46’s Good Day Charlotte) talk with a guest (or often, a couple) about marriage, parenting, their professional lives, and more. The format feels fresh because of the range of industries and backgrounds, from prominent local restaurateurs to ex-Panthers players

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FACIAL

The Hydrafacial at The Spa at Ballantyne This facial is like a steam cleaning for your face. The esthetician moves a wand across your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin that suctions off oil, dirt, and dead skin. It doesn’t include a neck-and-shoulder massage like a traditional facial—and the lights remain on during the 50-minute treatment—but it’s not uncomfortable at all. Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying when you can see the gunk they pull off your face collect in a clear jar. 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., theballantynehotel.com

COURTESY, THE BALLANTYNE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, CHARLOTTE

A Hydrafacial at the Spa at Ballantyne is 50 minutes of bliss.

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COURTESY

The Best of Style and Shopping The Cactus Club is known for a variety of succulents—and the gorgeous pots that contain them.

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The Best of Style and Shopping

PLANT SHOP

The Cactus Club The Cactus Club began as a mobile plant shop housed in a short, green bus, “Mason,” that traveled to pop-up markets across the region. It built a reputation for both a wide array of cactus species and for the stunning pots that contain each one. This month, the owners plan to open a brick-andmortar location at Centro RailYard in South End. itsthecactusclub.com

SPOT FOR DESIGN INSPIRATION

Society Social

Atherton Mill’s cutest retail tenant will make you want to add pops of color to every room in your house. Browse sorbet-colored accent chairs, grasscloth dressers, herringbone throws, leopard print pillows, floral wallpaper, rattan mirrors, and more. It’s like Palm Beach came to Charlotte and made a designer baby. 2000 South Blvd., Ste. 195, shopsocietysocial.com

Leland Decker at Best Tile Charlotte

When you’ve browsed row after row of tile and can’t decide on a kitchen backsplash or fireplace surround, go talk to Leland. Tell him the age and style of your home, your price range, and how much wear and tear you expect. He’ll tell you exactly what you want and nail it every time. 2311 S. Tryon St., besttile.com

SNEAKER MECCA

Social Status

With every major shoe release, hundreds line up outside of this Central Avenue locale that’s become Charlotte’s go-to for sneakerheads.

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The culture emerged in the 1980s with the emergence of the Air Jordan. The brand still dominates, and if you want to find the newest and rarest editions of the line locally, all feet are heading toward the same direction. 1519 Central Ave., socialstatuspgh.com

PLACE TO GET IT PERSONALIZED

Poppies at Birkdale Village

Poppies started more than 15 years ago as Kate Kazmer’s homebased business. She now has a Lake Norman storefront and thousands of monograms traversing Charlotte, from jewelry and homewares to bookbags and purses. 16815 Cranlyn Rd., Huntersville, poppiesgifts.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

COURTESY

EYE FOR TILE

Society Social opened in Atherton Mill in late 2019.

TREND SUSTAINABLE FASHION

The world’s most famous red carpet went green this year as sustainable fashion stole the spotlight at the Oscars.

Celebrities wore gowns made of eco-friendly materials, and some even (gasp!) donned dresses from years past. In Charlotte, the sustainable trend has local fashionistas going green, too. RECOVER BRANDS, an apparel company headquartered in Charlotte, has a full line of clothing and accessories made from recycled plastic bottles and upcycled cotton. CLT FASHION FUND is a fledgling brand that repurposes denim. AK WEARS THINGS is a local fashion blogger and stylist who shares thrift store finds and all things secondhand fashion. For gently used (and sometimes brandnew) designer clothing, shoes, and accessories, head to consignment stores like J.T. POSH in Dilworth and NOUVEAUX in Plaza Midwood.

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AFFORDABLE ORIGINAL ARTWORK

OUTDOOR SHOPPING CENTER

Waverly

At this walkable South Charlotte shopping destination, you can catch a cycling class, get a facial, or pick up your dry cleaning. Find a new romper at fab’rik or a pair of jeans at Scout & Molly’s. Swing by Whole Foods to pick up something for dinner—or grab a table at Foxcroft Wine Co. and stay for a drink. Providence and Ardrey Kell roads, waverlyclt.com

SATURDAY MORNING MARKET

Morning Markets at Camp North End

The popular event is now every Saturday (9 a.m.-noon) through November at this adaptive reuse site just north of Fourth Ward near AvidXchange Music Factory. Get your caffeine fix at Hex Coffee and pick up a breakfast favorite from a food vendor, then take a yoga class and join the “Family Hour” activity. It’s the best time to check out this artsy community hub that’s nearly impossible to get to during rush hour. 1824 Statesville Ave., camp.nc

HOME ACCESSORIES

Cotswold Marketplace Launched by a mother-daughter duo 10 years ago, Cotswold Marketplace is a collection of everything you need (and plenty of stuff you just want) to decorate your home. More than 60 merchants sell original art, lamps, bedding, furniture, and accessories in this winding, 8,000-squarefoot space. On-hand designers will even help you custom order whatever you need to spruce up your place. 200 N. Sharon Amity Rd. cotswoldmarketplace.com

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Art House Charlotte

Four Dogs Pet Supplies

When you have an empty wall to fill but you’re not into mass-produced artwork— and you can’t afford Christie’s or Sotheby’s prices—check out Judith Zehmke’s home space (Art House Charlotte) in SouthPark.

Make an appointment to drop by and browse rooms filled with abstracts, landscapes, florals, portraits, and more from mostly local artists.

See what speaks to you, and if you don’t trust your instincts, Judith can help you visualize your room and find a piece that works. arthousecharlotte.com

If you and your pooch are disenchanted with big box pet supply stores, head to this colorful, energetic spot with a whole lot of NoDa quirk.

Find holistic, organic food for your dogs, cats, and even chickens. Hang out and chat with the staff about your fur babies, or head into the Animal Gallery and peruse original animalinspired works by local artists. Just don’t expect a wealth of parking spaces. 2630 N. Davidson St., fourdogspetsupplies.com

EDIBLE GIFT IN A BOX

Twenty Degrees Chocolates If life is like a box of chocolates, then this is the box you want. Head to the boutique in South End’s Design Center for handcrafted chocolates, caramels, and bonbons that are bite-sized bliss. Snag their bestseller—a sleeve of fleur de sel caramels—and bring it for the hostess at your next party. Or create a customized box of your favorite flavors to take home for yourself. 1930 Camden Rd., Ste. 135, 20degreeschocolates.com

PLACE TO HIDE AT OPTIMIST HALL

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill

Optimist Hall, with its trendy vendors and revitalized mill architecture, is very “seen or be seen.” But what if you want to go alone, work on your next novel, and sit in peace?

As of this writing, this was the answer: Head around the corner, near Archer Paper Goods, to the not-yet-opened Mezeh. You’ll find wooden furniture, plants, and ambience—and no one will bother you. 1115 N Brevard St., optimisthall.com

WHERE TO GET AN EXOTIC PET

Cold Blooded & Bizarre

Golden retrievers, King Charles spaniels, bearded dragons: They all deserve love, but only one of these pet breeds is difficult to find in Charlotte. This Plaza Midwood shop gives a warm embrace to the cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians that can be owned in Mecklenburg County. The mission, owners say, is to educate and cultivate love for the animals often avoided. 3000 Central Ave., Ste. 8, coldbloodedandbizarre.com

Patrick Kamberos, co-owner of Cold Blooded and Bizarre, shines a UV flashlight on a scorpion, illuminating its exoskeleton.

LOGAN CYRUS

The Best of Style and Shopping

PET SUPPLIES

BEST NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Selenite Beauty

If you’re all about a toxin-free lifestyle—or you just want to dial back the amount of chemicals you put in your body—this natural beauty store in South End has everything you never knew you needed. The shelves are lined with non-toxic makeup, skincare, and hair products, but you’ll also find all-natural deodorant, CBD body balm, and other specialty items. Selenite Beauty will at least convince you to toss that expired lipstick or mascara you got at the drug store and treat yourself to a new product—or five. 1800 Camden Rd., Ste. 104, selenitebeauty.com KYO NAM

Selenite Beauty opened in South End in February.

additions renovations signature homes

Charlotte and Boone

andrewroby.com 704.334.5477

making it home since 1950 proud to be recognized as Charlotte’s Best of the Best Residential Remodeler A T O

LEBR

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YEARS D ING I L CE EN

1

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G SEVEN I N H OME B T F X C EL L U E

5 O 2 – 2O

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G E N E R A L C O N T R AC TO R

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VOTED BEST BARBERSHOP by the readers of Charlotte Magazine in 2020!

4 locations: Dilworth Ballantyne Huntersville SouthPark

We offer complimentary beer, bourbon and bloody mary’s with all our services.

We specialize in men’s haircuts as well as offer straight razor shaves, beard facials.

704.900.6219 • www.shearexcellence.com

LOGAN CYRUS

The Best of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

When Luke Kuechly announced retirement, Matt Moore and Matt Hooker quickly went to work on a massive tribute.

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NEW MUSIC VENUE

GALLERY CONCEPT

Bank of America Stadium

Wheeling Art Dealing

Hear us out: When David Tepper purchased the Panthers in 2018, Bank of America Stadium had hosted only two concerts in its 22 years. Tepper has more than doubled that admittedly low bar with dates for Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, and Motley Crue and Def Leppard, and says we can expect many more in the coming years. Here’s hoping part of the plan is to get big names outside of classic rock radio. 800 S Mint St., panthers. com/stadium

That Penske truck you saw parked at Free Range Brewing? There’s a gallery inside. The project, headed by Rebecca Henderson and Grace Stott, displays the work of dozens of artists on a rotating basis. It’s a reminder that all you need to showcase art are a few walls— even if one of them also functions as a roll-up door. wheelingartdealing.com

U.S. National Whitewater Center

INVESTMENT IN LOCAL ART

Going stir-crazy in your gray cubicle? Of course you are. Mix up the weekday monotony with an outdoor adventure at the best playground in Charlotte. Choose from over 30 activities that include whitewater rafting, flatwater kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, ziplining, and mountain biking. Explore more than 35 miles of developed trails or grab a beer at the Pump House Biergarten or River’s Edge and watch the paddlers go by. usnwc.org

Over the past couple of years, the Mint Museum has increased efforts to highlight the work of Charlotte artists. The Constellation CLT project showcases visual art from locals at four locations in the Mint Museum Uptown, including the entrance and atrium. The museum has also teamed up with Southern Tiger Collective in its Battle Walls competitions of public art. And recently, exhibition designers invited local mural artist Owl to craft the backdrop for the exhibition, Classic Black: The Basalt Sculpture of Wedgwood and His Contemporaries, at Mint Museum Randolph.

Multiple locations, mintmuseum.org

Nagano’s striking sculptures and mixedmedia works recontextualize the space each inhabits. The one-time Goodyear Arts resident uses space in a way that is as much about the unseen as the forms she creates. seirinnagano.com

The Best of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND

THEATER COMPANY

Three Bone Theatre Charlotteans seldom get to see respected theatrical productions outside the mainstream.

For the past eight years, Three Bone Theatre has put on shows geared toward adults and stirring conversation as it navigates an arts scene that isn’t exactly friendly toward such efforts. It’s a vital role in any theater scene, and Three Bone plays it with excellence. threebonetheatre.com

PLACE TO SPEND A LAYOVER IN CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AIRPORT

Centurion Lounge

The words “relaxing” and “airport” don’t often go together, but that’s not the case at the new 13,000-square-foot luxury American Express Centurion Lounge. Platinum cardholders can enjoy local art, comfy chairs, food from Kindred (they have the famous milk bread, in French toast form!), Bespoke cocktails, skyline views, and even shower suites. Find the lounge at CLT in the new “Plaza” section between Concourses D and E.

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Mint Museum

ARTIST TO WATCH

Seirin Nagano

EMAIL TO LAND INSIDE YOUR INBOX

Charlotte Ledger

In a little more than a year, Tony Mecia, a former writer and editor at The Charlotte Observer, built a trusted e-newsletter that covers business news in Charlotte. Subscriptions are on the rise, and this one-man operation continues to scoop all of us. cltledger.com

PUBLIC ART

“Luke Kuechly” by MattMoore and Matt Hooker Luuukke! The retirement of the beloved Panthers linebacker garnered many tributes, but none stands taller (literally) than the South End mural by Matt Moore and Matt Hooker. The Matts are behind some of the city’s most prominent murals; after Kuechly’s announcement, they quickly got to work at The Brickyard to immortalize the player. 1411 S. Tryon St.

WEARABLE ART

Needles & Pins Blaine Hurdle is the son of a jeweler and studied under masters of the craft. His business, Needles & Pins, takes equal influence from that experience and the history of fine art. His playful consideration of light and shadow recalls Modernist sculptors, while his broader sensibility echoes Bauhaus designers. The approach gives each of his handmade pieces a life of its own. needlesandpinsjewelry.com

LOGAN CYRUS (3)

Blaine Hurdle from Needles & Pins with a couple of his jewelry pieces: the “Hand Collar” (above left) and a “Picassoinspired” piece on his jacket (right).

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TREND HOME TOURS

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Architectural voyeurism is a widespread obsession, particularly in the South, where homes are showpieces. We love to step inside the homes of friends and neighbors to admire their new renovations or holiday décor, and each year, Charlotte hosts a growing number of home tours so we can do just that. The MAD ABOUT MODERN HOME

The Best of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

INSTAGRAMMABLE BACKDROP

The Doughnut Wall

Last year, it was the Confetti Hearts Wall.

Now another South End mural is blowing up Instagram feeds. On the side of Krispy Kreme’s corporate office on Hawkins Street, artist Gina Elizabeth Franco has painted row upon row of multi-colored doughnuts on the white brick.

Some have rainbow sprinkles or icing drizzle, while others have messages like “Good Vibes,” “You’re Dope,” and “Treat Yo Self.” It’s sure to boost your mood—and guaranteed to give you a sugar craving. 2116 Hawkins St.

LOOK INTO THE PAST

Charlotte Museum of History’s Diorama

LOGAN CYRUS

Knowing that uptown’s Revolutionary days were far more rustic isn’t enough. You have to see Charlotte Museum of History’s stirring diorama to appreciate the difference a couple of hundred years can make. Spoiler: Trade and Tryon had more horses than scooters. 3500 Shamrock Dr., charlottemuseum.org

TOUR, DILWORTH HOME TOUR, PARADE OF HOMES, FOURTH WARD HOLIDAY HOME TOUR, and many others allow us to step onto the manicured lawns of catalog-worthy homes and see their private gardens, art collections, and chef’s kitchens. Think of it as a socially acceptable way to be nosy in other people’s homes.

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FAC I A L S • M A S S AG E S • S K I N C A R E Clean Beauty and Wellness Boutique

715 Providence Rd, Ste G4 | Charlotte, NC 28207 www.toccaredayspa.com | Instagram: @toccaredayspa

704.562.1912 CLTCM_200500_Toccare_Day_Spa.indd 1

3/10/20 11:56 AM

4521 Sharon Road | Charlotte, NC 28211 www.diamondsdirect.com CLTCM_200500_Diamonds Direct_Half-Horiz.indd 1

2/28/20 4:21 PM

COURTESY / CHRISTINA HUSSEY

The Best of Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Nightlife, and Going Out

After a glass of rosé at Rosie’s Wine Garden, enjoy a stroll through the urban sanctuary at McGill Rose Garden.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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LOGAN CYRUS

From Tikiinspired creations to the complex Cooling Effect, Amanda Britton crafts cocktails for every mood.

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COZY SPOT FOR A DRINK

Rosie’s Wine Garden at McGill Rose Garden

The uptown-adjacent McGill Rose Garden recently added a wine-beer concept that makes its 1.5-acre gardens even more inviting. With 20 wines and 11 beers available, Rosie’s serves as an escape after viewing the garden Christmas lights during the winter or a summer haven with a glass of rosé. 940 N. Davidson St., rosieswinegarden.com

The Best of Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Nightlife, and Going Out

MIXOLOGIST

Amanda Britton The Tiki-themed drink Stranded With Ginger is just one example of the Bardo mixologist’s care for detail. The drink consists of (takes breath) Ron Zacapa 23 rum, Licor 43, Krupnikas, ginger, galangal, mint, molasses, cinnamon, coconut milk, and lime. It’s not about the number or octane rating of ingredients, though. It’s about the distinct flavor crafted by Britton, who sees potential in unexpected places. 1508 S. Mint St, bardorestaurant.com

TREND GAMING VENUES A bar with a few flat screens doesn’t ring everyone’s chimes anymore; now, we crave

DIVE BAR

Smokey Joe’s Café Ample space, a ping-pong table on sand, an outdoor firepit, an indoor waterfall, a roster of regulars, cheap beer, bar stools apparently made from railroad ties, and tenure (since 1984, which in Charlotte might as well be the Triassic). Good dives are rare in this town. Cherish them. 510 Briar Creek Rd., smokeyjoescharlotte.com

BOOZY BREAKFAST MENU

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery Sipping mimosas and Bloody Marys at brunch is nice. Downing a watermelon margarita is better. At Snooze, you can choose from nearly two dozen early morning libations, including a Bloody Mary made with bourbon and a chai latte with coffee liqueur. How about a Moscow Mule with your eggs? You got it. It’s 10 a.m. somewhere, right? 1331-A Central Ave., snoozeeatery.com

BEER LABELS

Resident Culture Resident Culture debuted in 2017 as a fully formed force in Charlotte beer, in part due to the eccentric and electric branding from in-house illustrator Maryssa “GLUMP” Pickett. Her work appears around the

taproom, including a prominent mural; she designed merchandise with her wild characters and distinct visual language.

Resident Culture’s beer labels follow suit, an example of how great taste extends beyond the liquid inside the can. 2101 Central Ave., residentculturebrewing.com

even more entertainment and interaction to go with our drinks. At gaming venues like EL THRIFTY SOCIAL CLUB, PINHOUSE, PINS MECHANICAL CO., and QUEEN PARK SOCIAL, you’re not confined to a barstool

UNDERRATED BREWERY

Town Brewing

Town Brewing is not a Sycamore Brewing. It does not have an annual pumpkin festival or spring festival that draws hundreds or thousands. It does not brag and try to be the biggest and best brewery in Charlotte.

Town Brewing is a simple, superior brewery on Charlotte’s west side that serves exquisite beers in a no-frills space. It’s simple, and that’s what we love about it. 800 Grandin Rd., townbrewing.com

with mediocre wings and nachos. Order a craft cocktail or a fish taco, then go explore the pinball machines, foosball tables, vintage arcade games, and duckpin bowling. Inventive food and drinks are always a good start—but a fun night out has to come with a memorable experience, too.

SPOT FOR A SURPRISE COCKTAIL

Idlewild

Just give the apothecaries behind the bar a flavor profile or your favorite liquor, and they’ll create a unique potion that each time is exactly what you asked for. They’re creative concoctions, liquid art, and delicious. Of course, this is a bar, so you can also order a beer or wine, but why ruin the surprise? 424 E. 36th St., Unit 2, idlewildbar.com MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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SECOND LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Buff Faye’s Sunday Drag Show is a popular affair at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille.

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TRIVIA NIGHT

Taproom Trivia at Sugar Creek Brewing

Alex Smith is an engineer by day, but on Tuesday nights he hosts Taproom Trivia at the Lower South End brewery. He recently took over for beloved host Mike Dries, who moved on after five years. Each tournament includes a music round, a picture round, and a final Jeopardy question. Smith says one of the most popular categories is “Movie Mashup.” Clue: A woman tries to break up her friend’s wedding, where two best buds are trying to pick up women. Answer: My Best Friend’s Wedding Crashers. 215 Southside Dr., sugarcreekbrewing.com

WINE SPOT

The Bohemian: A Wine Bar

Plaza Midwood isn’t a wine desert, but beer and cocktails have previously ruled the highly trafficked neighborhood. The funky yet intimate Bohemian, with a custom 12-tap Cruvinet wine dispensing system, is a vino celebration that opened last year. The team behind the Bohemian also created the nearby, beer-focused Hop Shop; each concept lacks the pretension of its peers. 1319 Pecan Ave., thebohemianclt.com

GAY DANCE PARTY

Twirl to the World This dance party, which caters mostly to a male crowd, has become so popular that it now offers four: in the spring, at Charlotte Pride, at Halloween, and for Christmas. The thematic

costumes are always incredibly extravagant and wonderfully elaborate. The Christmas edition, in fact, included an army of toy soldiers and a herd of reindeer. It’s the kind of unifying community event that Charlotte needs more of. Also: all proceeds from the events go to a charity. twirltotheworld.org

PAIRING OF ANIMALS AND BEER

Mac Tabby Cat Cafe

Sure, The Dog Bar is nice, and mingling with pups at breweries is fun. But cat cafes are wild—and all for a good cause. Order a coffee or a beer at the bar at this upstairs spot in NoDa and for a fee, lock yourself in a room filled with laser pointers (upon request), feather wands, and a dozen or so kitties. If you just can’t say goodbye to one, you’re in luck. All the cats are up for adoption here. 3204 N. Davidson St., mactabby.com

BEST PLACE TO GET DRUNK ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOURSELF YOU’RE AT CBGB IN 1976

The Milestone Club

Charlotte’s a town for the built-last-week and vibeless, you say? Here’s the city’s rejoinder: a ramshackle hut at 3400 Tuckaseegee Road on the west side, established in 1969 and set atop a sagging floor (which served as an impromptu sleeping surface for R.E.M. circa 1981). Nirvana played here a year before “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit. The Go-Go’s (!) played here when they were still considered sort of edgy. Fiftyone years in, it’s still punk AF, and it smells like exactly that. themilestone.club

DRAG SHOW BRUNCH

Buff Faye’s Sunday Drag Show Upstairs, Dilworth Neighborhood Grille is the place to take your family for a burger and wings on game day. But two Sundays a month, head downstairs for an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet and Queen Buff Faye’s drag show. See big hair, high heels, gaudy jewels, and fabulous makeup as these queens put on shows like “Diznee Princess,” “The Golden Gurls,” and “PussyCats MeWOW.” And remember Buff Faye’s three simple rules: drink the magic water (mimosas), scream and holler (because the drag queens need to hear you yell), and share your dollar bills (because these queens need tips and appreciation). 911 E. Morehead St.

The Best of Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Nightlife, and Going Out

COCKTAIL SCENE NEWCOMER

Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

Stubborn beerheads and cocktail aficionados need not settle for the others’ preference for an after-work drink. The owners of Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop, a locale near uptown known for its curatorial eye, opened a cocktail bar and restaurant that takes equal care in being a dependable joint for mixed drinks and small plates. A sliding door connects the two. 1320 S. Church St., Ste. 400, lincolnstreetkitchen.com

BREWERY EXPANSION

The Chamber by Wooden Robot

The Chamber is the “wood-aging facility” for Wooden Robot. The vibe is notably more adult than its contemporaries across the city but not stuffy: a walk-up window from the patio is a fun and approachable feature, while the Instagram-worthy rooftop seating added a new “NoDa” sign to announce the neighborhood from the nearby light rail station. 416 E. 36th St., Ste. 100, woodenrobotbrewery.com

SELF-POUR

The Studio in South End Self-pour concepts are growing in Charlotte, and Hoppin’ Brands is responsible for three: South End’s Hoppin’, Plaza Midwood’s Pinhouse, and this project in South End. The Studio is notable for its focus on performance, with live music, magicians, comedians, and open mic nights.

The ability to pour your own means you don’t have to skip a song to beg for the bartender’s attention. 2501 South Blvd. thestudioclt.com

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WINNERS

The Great Wagon Road Distillery was Charlotte’s first craft distillery.

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LOGAN CYRUS

Results from online polls from January - March 2020

FOOD CHEF JAMIE LYNCH 5Church 5churchcharlotte.com (Runner-Up) DREW WARD Brewers at 4001 Yancey brewersat4001yancey.com PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT 5CHURCH 5churchcharlotte.com (Runner-Up) DOT DOT DOT dotdotdotcharlotte.com GIRLS NIGHT OUT SOPHIA’S LOUNGE sophiaslounge.com (Runner-Up) FOXCROFT WINE CO. foxcroftwine.com FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT EDDIE’S PLACE eddiesplacerestaurant.com (Runner-Up) PIZZA PEEL tapandpeel.com

BRUNCH CAFE MONTE FRENCH BAKERY AND BISTRO cafemonte.net (Runner-Up) LITTLESPOON EATERY littlespooneatery.com BAGEL POPPY’S BAGELS poppysbagelsandmore.com (Runner-Up) POPPYSEEDS BAGELS poppyseedsbagels.com

(Runner-Up) THE DUMPLING LADY thedumplinglady.com

(Runner-Up) LA BELLE HELENE labellehelenerestaurant.com

(Runner-Up)

SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR CLEAN JUICE cleanjuice.com

FRIED CHICKEN PRICE’S CHICKEN COOP priceschickencoop.com

JAPANESE

(Runner-Up) GREEN BROTHERS JUICE greenbrothersjuice.com

(Runner-Up) HABERDISH haberdish.com

(Runner-Up)

BBQ MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE midwoodsmokehouse.com

GREEK LITTLE VILLAGE GRILL facebook.com/littlevillagegrill

LATIN

(Runner-Up) SWEET LEW’S sweetlewsbbq.com

BAKERY THE BATCH HOUSE thebatchmaker.com

BURGERS BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR baddaddysburgerbar.com

(Runner-Up) AMÉLIE’S FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ ameliesfrenchbakery.com

(Runner-Up) BANG BANG BURGER bangbangburgersclt.com

DELI/MARKET

CHINESE BAODING RESTAURANT baodingsouthpark.com

RHINO MARKET & DELI rhinomarket.com (Runner-Up) COMMON MARKET commonmarketisgood.com FOOD TRUCK PAPI QUESO papiquesoclt.com

(Runner-Up) TAIPEI EXPRESS taipei-express-charlotte.com FRENCH CAFE MONTE FRENCH BAKERY AND BISTRO cafemonte.net

(Runner-Up) YAFO KITCHEN yafokitchen.com INDIAN COPPER copperrestaurant.com (Runner-Up) MAHARANI maharaniindiancuisine.com IRISH PUB RI RA rira.com (Runner-Up) WORKMAN’S FRIEND theworkmansfriend.com ITALIAN MAMA RICOTTA’S mamaricottas.com ®

ClosetsbyDesign

PORTOFINO’S portofinos-us.com

O-KU o-kusushiclt.com FUTO BUTA futobuta.com

SABOR LATIN STREET GRILL saborcharlotte.com (Runner-Up) PIO PIO piopiocharlotte.com MEXICAN THREE AMIGOS threeamigoscharlotte.com (Runner-Up) PACOS TACOS & TEQUILA pacostacosandtequila.com PIZZA INIZIO iniziopizza.com (Runner-Up) HOUSE OF PIZZA SUSHI O-KU o-kusushiclt.com

Closets byDesign

®

Imagine your home,

B E A U T I F U L LY O R G A N I Z E D.

V O T E D B E S T O F H O M E O R G A N I Z AT I O N

by the readers of Charlotte Magazine in 2020!

704-741-8013 | closetsbydesign.com

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE CLTCM_200500_Closets_HalfH.indd 1

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(Runner-Up) NEW ZEALAND CAFE nzcafe.com SEAFOOD SEA LEVEL sealevelnc.com (Runner-Up) FIN & FINO finandfino.com SPANISH BARCELONA WINE BAR barcelonawinebar.com (Tie) BULLA GASTROBAR bullagastrobar.com (Tie) MIRO SPANISH GRILL mirospanishgrille.com STEAKHOUSE BEEF ’N BOTTLE beefandbottle.net

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN FERN, FLAVORS FROM THE GARDEN fernflavors.com (Runner-Up) LUNA’S LIVING KITCHEN livingkitchen.com VIETNAMESE LANG VAN (Runner-Up) VIETNAM GRILLE NEW RESTAURANT (LESS THAN A YEAR OLD) PEPPERVINE peppervine.com (Runner-Up) KIKI BISTRONOME kikibistro.com

(Runner-Up) OAK STEAKHOUSE oaksteakhousecharlotte.com

DRINKS

THAI THAI TASTE thaitasteuniversity.com

LOCAL BREWERY OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY oldemeckbrew.com

(Runner-Up) DEEJAI NOODLE BAR deejainoda.com

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(Runner-Up) WOODEN ROBOT woodenrobotbrewery.com SPORTS BAR QC POUR HOUSE qcpourhouse.com (Runner-Up) ED’S TAVERN edstavern.com

CRAFT COCKTAILS DOT DOT DOT dotdotdotcharlotte.com (Runner-Up) THE CRUNKLETON thecrunkleton.com NIGHTCLUB ROXBURY roxburynightclub.com

LOCAL DISTILLERY DOC PORTER’S DISTILLERY docporters.com

(Tie) SOUL GASTROLOUNGE soulgastrolounge.com

(Runner-Up) GREAT WAGON ROAD DISTILLING COMPANY gwrdistilling.com

(Tie) LOST & FOUND instagram.com/lostandfoundclt

ROOFTOP BAR MERCHANT & TRADE merchantandtrade.com

BARTENDER ANDREW F. URIARTE Dot Dot Dot dotdotdotcharlotte.com

(Runner-Up) FAHRENHEIT chefroccowhalen.com/fahrenheitcharlotte/

(Runner-Up) BRITTANY KELLUM Fin & Fino finandfino.com

WINE LIST FOXCROFT WINE CO. foxcroftwine.com

HAPPY HOUR BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY brewersat4001yancey.com

(Runner-Up) DILWORTH TASTING ROOM dilworthtr.com

(Runner-Up) HEF’S BAR AND GRILL hefsbarandgrill.com

SWEETS & COFFEE COFFEE SHOP NOT JUST COFFEE notjust.coffee (Runner-Up) CENTRAL COFFEE centralcoffeeco.com DONUT YOUR MOM’S DONUTS yourmomsdonutsnc.com (Runner-Up) PEPPERBOX DOUGHNUTS pepperbox.co COOKIE BATCH HOUSE thebatchmaker.com (Runner-Up) SWIRL BAKERY swirlclt.com CUPCAKE SWIRL BAKERY swirlclt.com (Runner-Up) GIGI’S BAKERY OF CHARLOTTE gigiscupcakesusa.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

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CUSTOM CAKE CELESTIAL CAKERY celestialcakery.com (Runner-Up) SUAREZ BAKERY suarezbakery.com DESSERT MENU CRAVE DESSERT BAR cravedessertbar.com (Runner-Up) 300 EAST 300east.net ICE CREAM JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS jenis.com (Runner-Up) TWO SCOOPS CREAMERY twoscoopscreamery.com FROZEN YOGURT SWEET FROG sweetfrog.com (Runner-Up) MENCHIE’S menchies.com CHOCOLATE SHOP THE SECRET CHOCOLATIER thesecretchocolatier.com (Runner-Up) TWENTY DEGREES CHOCOLATES 20degreeschocolates.info

BEAUTY + WELLNESS YOGA STUDIO NODA YOGA nodayoga.com (Runner-Up) CHARLOTTE YOGA charlotteyoga.com PILATES/BARRE STUDIO HILLIARD STUDIO METHOD hilliardstudiomethod.com (Runner-Up) PURE BARRE purebarre.com CARDIO WORKOUT CLASS WEST KEPT SECRET @ FIT ATELIER fitatelier.com (Runner-Up) BURN BOOT CAMP burnbootcamp.com BOUTIQUE GYM FUNCTIONAL FIT functionalfitcharlotte.com

LOGAN CYRUS

(Runner-Up) MADABOLIC madabolic.com BARBERSHOP SHEAR EXCELLENCE shearexcellence.com

(Runner-Up) THE CUTTING LOUNGE AT THE SALON LOFTS STONEWALL salonlofts.com

WINNERS

WOMEN’S HAIR SALON SEAN ROCCO seanroccosalon.com

Results from online polls from January - March 2020

(Runner-Up) DENISE ANTONACCI SALON antonaccisalon.com MANICURE/PEDICURE ALOHA NAILS alohanailsblakeney.com (Runner-Up) MIMOSAS NAIL BAR themimosasnailbar.com LASHES & BROWS LE PETITE SPA lepetitspacharlotte.com (Runner-Up) MIMOSAS NAIL BAR themimosasnailbar.com BLOWOUT DRYBAR thedrybar.com Runner-Up BLO BLOW DRY BAR blomedry.com HAIR REMOVAL/WAX LE PETITE SPA lepetitspacharlotte.com Runner-Up SATIN MED SPA satinmedspa.com PLACE TO GET YOUR MAKEUP DONE WOO SKINCARE AND COSMETICS wooskincareandcosmetics.com Runner-Up BE PRETTY - LINDSEY REGAN THORNE lindseyreganthorne.com MED SPA SATIN MED SPA satinmedspa.com (Runner-Up) RE SALON AND MED SPA resalonandmedspa.com DAY SPA THE SPA AT BALLANTYNE, CHARLOTTE theballantynehotel.com (Runner-Up) TOCCARE DAY SPA toccaredayspa.com PLASTIC SURGERY PRACTICE CHARLOTTE PLASTIC SURGERY charlotteplasticsurgery.com (Runner-Up) DILWORTH PLASTIC SURGERY facialplasticsurgerycharlotte.com

FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON CAROLINA FACIAL PLASTICS carolinafacialplasticsurgery.com (Runner-Up) DILWORTH PLASTIC SURGERY facialplasticsurgerycharlotte.com ACUPUNCTURIST WENDY SWANSON wendyswanson.com (Runner-Up) TWO TREES ACUPUNCTURE twotreesacupuncture.com CHIROPRACTOR CAROLINA SPORTS CLINIC carolinasportsclinic.com (Runner-Up) GREENAPPLE SPORTS & WELLNESS greenapplesports.com PHYSICAL THERAPIST CAROLINA SPORTS CLINIC carolinasportsclinic.com (Runner-Up) IVY REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY ivyrehab.com

SHOPPING

(Runner-Up) BRUCE JULIAN brucejulian.com

(Runner-Up) WINESTORE winestore-online.com

STORE FOR CHARLOTTE APPAREL 704 SHOP 704shop.com

HOME FURNISHINGS + DECOR TRADITIONS traditionsofcharlotte.com

(Runner-Up) GLORY DAYS APPAREL glorydaysapparel.com

(Runner-Up) ISABELLA isabellastyle.com

FINE JEWELRY DIAMONDS DIRECT diamondsdirect.com

CHARLOTTE SHOPPING DESTINATION/AREA SOUTHPARK MALL simon.com/mall/southpark

(Runner-Up) REEDS JEWELERS reeds.com LOCAL JEWELRY DESIGNER PERRY’S DIAMONDS & ESTATE JEWELRY perrysjewelry.com (Runner-Up) SKATELLS MANUFACTURING JEWELERS skatellsnc.com LOCAL GIFT SHOP PAPER SKYSCRAPER paperskyscraper.com (Runner-Up) CASUAL ELEGANCE casualelegance-nc.com

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE THE PINK HANGER pinkhangeronline.com

PET SUPPLIES PET PEOPLE petpeoplestores.com

(Runner-Up) SLOAN BOUTIQUE sloanboutique.com

(Runner-Up) PET SUPPLIES PLUS petsuppliesplus.com

MEN’S CLOTHING STORE TAYLOR RICHARDS CONGER trcstyle.com

CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOP BRAWLEY’S BEVERAGE brawleysbeverage.com

(Runner-Up) JILSON’S MEN’S CONSIGNMENT jilsonsconsignment.com

(Runner-Up) SALUD CERVECERIA saludcerveceria.com

CUSTOM SUITS WILLIAM WILSON williamwilsonclothing.com

WINE STORE FOXCROFT WINE CO. foxcroftwine.com

(Runner-Up) PARK ROAD SHOPPING CENTER parkroadshoppingcenter.com AUTO DEALER HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP hendrickauto.com (Runner-Up) SCOTT CLARK AUTO GROUP scottclark.com BRIDAL BOUTIQUE HAYDEN OLIVIA haydenolivia.com (Runner-Up) NEW YORK BRIDE & GROOM nybride.com CHARLOTTE-MADE PRODUCTS 704 SHOP 704shop.com (Runner-Up) CLT FIND cltfind.com INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE PARK ROAD BOOKS parkroadbooks.com (Runner-Up) PAPER SKYSCRAPER paperskyscraper.com

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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WINNERS Results from online polls from January - March 2020

(Runner-Up) BLUE FLOWERS CBD

Duke Mansion, Voters’ Choice runner-up for Best Wedding and/or Special Event venue.

SERVICES RESIDENTIAL REMODELING ANDREW ROBY andrewroby.com (Runner-Up) DETAILED INTERIORS detailedinteriors.com HOME BUILDER JEFF CHANCE CUSTOM HOMES jeffchance.com (Runner-Up) ANDREW ROBY andrewroby.com INTERIOR DESIGN BARRIE BENSON barriebenson.com (Runner-Up) BRIGHT HOUSE INTERIORS brighthousedesigns.com HOME ORGANIZATION CLOSETS BY DESIGN closetsbydesign.com (Runner-Up) CW HOME cwhome-charlotte.com LANDSCAPING PIKE NURSERIES pikenursery.com (Runner-Up) ARBORSCAPES arborscapes.net KITCHEN AND BATHROOM RESOURCES FERGUSON ferguson.com (Runner-Up) LOWE’S lowes.com

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REALTOR SARAH RUTKOWSKI RE/ MAX remax.com (Runner-Up) SARAH ROSE RE/MAX remax.com PLUMBING SERVICE ALL HOURS allhoursplumbinginc.com (Runner-Up) JULIAN’S juliansplumbing.com WINDOW RESOURCES WINDOW NATION windownation.com (Runner-Up) KAREN SAKS karensaks.com HEATING AND COOLING PARKS HEATING & COOLING parkshvac.com (Runner-Up) ARCE HEATING & COOLING arceheatingandac.com HOUSEKEEPING/ CLEANING SERVICE MOLLY MAIDS mollymaid.com STAYCATION HOTEL THE BALLANTYNE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL theballantynehotel.com (Runner-Up) THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHARLOTTE ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ charlotte FINANCIAL ADVISOR/ WEALTH MANAGEMENT MICHAEL PHILLIPS AMERIPRISE ameripriseadvisors.com/ michael.p.phillips/ (Runner-Up) BROWN & SHANE WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/ brown-shane

LOGAN CYRUS

PLACE TO SHOP FOR CBD CHARLOTTE CBD cltcbd.com

LAW FIRM RECH LAW, P.C. rechlaw.com

CATERER WAITER’S CHOICE waiterschoice.com

(Tie) LAW OFFICES OF LORI KEETON lorikeetonlaw.com

(Runner-Up) PLATE PERFECT plateperfectcatering.com

ASSISTED LIVING/ RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BROOKDALE CARRIAGE CLUB brookdale.com/en/communities/brookdale-carriageclub-providence.html (Runner-Up) SOUTHMINSTER southminster.org TAX PREPARATION SCOTT BOYER CPA sboyarcpa.com

PHOTOGRAPHER MARK BORJA markborja.me (Runner-Up) WESLIE WOODLEY wesliewoodleyphoto.com EVENT RENTALS PARTY REFLECTIONS partyreflections.com (Runner-Up) CE RENTALS cerental.com

(Runner-Up) FISHER, P.A. fisheraccountants.com

PARTY/EVENT PLANNER KATRINA HUTCHINS EVENTS katrinahutchins.com

TATTOO PARLOR MADE TO LAST madetolasttattoo.com

(Runner-Up) SCOUT AND GRACE scoutandgrace.com

(Runner-Up) PARIS TATTOO paristattoos.com

VIDEOGRAPHER HOWARD PHOTO + FILM howardphotoandfilm.com

AUTO REPAIR WOODIE’S AUTO SERVICE woodiesautoservice.com (Runner-Up) CMD AUTOMOTIVE cmdautorepair.com GRAPHIC DESIGN/ WEB DESIGN FIRM WELL-RUN MEDIA+MARKETING well-runmedia.com (Runner-Up) MADE OUTSIDE madeoutside.com PR FIRM DK COMMUNICATIONS dk-communications.com (Runner-Up) CHERNOFF NEWMAN chernoffnewman.com AD AGENCY ASHLAND ADVERTISING ashlandadvertising.com (Runner-Up) ARTHUR ELLIOT MARKETING GROUP arthurelliott.com DJ SPLIT SECOND SOUND splitsecondsound.com (Runner-Up) CAROLINA DJ PROFESSIONALS carolinadjprofessionals.com

Charlotte’s Original Home for Power Yoga since 2002

(Runner-Up) INDIGO PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO indigocharlotte.com

New Student Special Unlimited Yoga

2 weeks for $29 • 4 weeks for $49 1730 E Woodlawn Rd. Ste E • Charlotte, NC 28209 704-665-9003 • www.charlotteyoga.com

WEDDING/SPECIAL CLTCM_200500_Charlotte Yoga.indd 1 EVENT VENUE ALEXANDER HOMESTEAD WEDDINGS alexanderhomesteadweddings.com

Congratulations to all

(Runner-Up) DUKE MANSION dukemansion.com FLORIST BLOSSOM SHOP blossomshopflorist.com (Runner-Up) MIDWOOD FLOWER SHOP midwoodflowershop.com DRY CLEANERS LONG’S DRY CLEANING (Runner-Up) ELITE CLEANERS elite-clean.com

3/13/20 3:54 PM

BOB Awards Winners!

Celebrate your recognition with a commemorative plaque, available in two sizes and ready to display.

Learn more at: charlottemagazine.com/bobwinner

TAILOR/ALTERATIONS ANNA’S ALTERATIONS annasalterationscharlotte.com (Runner-Up) SOUTH PARK CLEANERS AND ALTERATIONS E S S AY S / F O O D A N D W I N E / T R A V E L / S H O P P I N G & M O R E

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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WINNERS Results from online polls from January - March 2020

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

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 @cwhome_charlotte | info@cwhome-charlotte.com MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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He was emaciated and abandoned before a police officer found him in garbage off Interstate 85 near Freedom Drive. He was initially just given a number: A1164940.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

Atlas, Hugged Staycations are Animal Care & Control’s most successful dog adoption program, a powerful tool in its mission to become a no-kill shelter. But staycations come with a dare: How long can you borrow a shelter dog before you fall in love?

BY

Jen Tota McGivney PHOTOGRAPHS BY

Rusty Williams

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE DOG LAY NEAR THE INTERSTATE 85 ENTRANCE RAMP just off Freedom Drive, curled on the grass where people dump trash. Three people had called the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department about the brown-andwhite pit bull, so Officer David Woody went to retrieve the dog, which someone had likely dumped with the garbage.

In his 16 years on the job, he hadn’t seen many dogs in such bad shape. A gaunt body revealed outlines of ribs, spine, and hip bones. Woody gave a friendly whistle, but the dog backed away. He acted with caution to keep the frightened dog from running into highway traffic. With patience and three cans of dog food, Woody earned the dog’s trust and lured him closer. He leashed the dog, now calm, who jumped right into the Animal Care & Control van.

After three days in the stray ward in February, dog #A1164940 remained unclaimed.

A vet exam revealed heartworms and hookworms, both lethal if untreated. The dog had abrasions on his front legs and scratches across his face, and the tip of one ear was missing. But a temperament test revealed his good manners and social nature. A dog the world hadn’t loved somehow loved it back.

It would be understandable for a crowded municipal shelter to euthanize a dog in this condition. Adult pit mixes aren’t exactly the goldendoodles of the dog market, much less one with heartworms, hookworms, and protruding ribs. But the shelter had hope for dog #A1164940. AC&C microchipped, vaccinated, and dewormed him, began flea treatments, and moved him to the adoptable kennels.

His run displayed his new name, Atlas, and another label: Staycation Approved.

THE PREMISE OF AN AC&C STAYCATION IS SIMPLE. Borrow a shelter dog for up to five days. Give it a break from stressful shelter life. Give it cuddles and treats. Give it walks and love.

Then, the hard part: Give it back.

Last year, the program’s first, 671 dogs took staycations through AC&C. These dogs were the long shots, overlooked by most adopters—senior dogs, big dogs, and pit mixes, mostly. Yet 384 of them never returned. More often than not, staycation hosts did what’s nearly inevitable—they fell in love—and asked to keep their guests forever.

“When we started this program, we hung our hat on the idea that we wanted dogs to get a break from the shelter, get some marketing, and come back with more information so we can find the best homes for them,” says AC&C spokesperson Melissa Knicely. “That so many staycations turned into adoptions was almost a miracle.”

Staycations began in January 2019, which kicked off the shelter’s recordbreaking dog adoption year. Inspired by a similar program in Washington, D.C., the program allows people to borrow often-overlooked dogs for mini-getaways.

Staycations came at a crucial time for AC&C. Renovations that began last year and continued into the spring required the temporary closing of kennel sections and limited AC&C’s capacity for stray and surrendered dogs. Staycations opened spaces in private homes. Some people host a staycation dog to test how it does with their kids or with other dogs—a rent-to-own tactic. Others merely want a fun weekend playmate and find something more.

Knicely’s worked at AC&C for 13 years. When she arrived, 34 percent of dogs here had live releases—they were adopted, transferred to a rescue group, or reunited with owners. In other words, not euthanized. In 2019, the live release rate for dogs was 79 percent.

AC&C hopes to qualify as a no-kill shelter, which requires a 90 percent live release rate for all animals, according to the No Kill Advocacy Center. It’s close. In January and February 2020, the shelter maintained 89 percent. For a municipal shelter with limited space that’s required to accept all stray and surrendered animals—even aggressive and ill ones, even pet snakes and chickens—that’s a feat.

(Above) Dog #A1164940, renamed “Atlas,” at the author’s home. (This photo) The Animal Care & Control Division hopes it can win qualification as a no-kill shelter, which requires a 90 percent live release rate.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

AC&C began its staycation program in January 2019. It contributed to a record year for dog adoptions. (From left) Shannon Harkey, the agency’s community outreach manager; Officer David Woody, who found the emaciated pit bull off Interstate 85; and agency spokeswoman Melissa Knicely.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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Crystal Chappell adopted Faye (right and below right), a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/boxer/husky mix, from AC&C in 2018 after her husband’s cancer diagnosis. She adopted Diamond (below), a pit bull, last year after her first AC&C staycation.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

“I SHOULD TRY A STAYCATION—FOR JOURNALISM,” I told my husband, Jimmy, as I reported this story. He gave me the look I deserved. He’s heard this before. Four years ago, I wrote about AC&C for this magazine and fostered a dog—for journalism—and that dog snores beside me as I write this. As much as we love our two dogs, we don’t want a third. As much as we don’t want a third, we know what suckers we are for a dog with a sad story.

We found a compromise: a daycation. Not even an overnighter, not even time enough to fall in love. The dog would be back in its kennel by evening. I went to AC&C to find my daycation buddy.

A brown-and-white dog with a giant noggin and upright, polka-dot rabbit ears looked like my kind of dog.

Other dogs barked and jumped for my attention, but he looked up at me quietly. Aha—a fellow introvert. Then I saw his skinny body. His head looked big only because his body was horribly thin. He had scratches that came within an inch of his big, soulful eyes. When he got up, he walked gingerly while his skinny tail swayed downward, as if it tried to sweep up behind him. I had found my daycation buddy, Atlas.

The woman at the front desk explained I could take Atlas for a staycation for up to five days. No, no, no, I told her. I’ll have this dog back today. Really.

Atlas and I took a walk, his snoot in the wind, inhaling the world. He started to cough, so we went home. I gave him treats and noggin scratches, then left him to nap in a quiet room while I finished work down the hall. When it was time to return him, Atlas wasn’t alone. His front legs draped over Jimmy’s lap as the two gazed at each other.

My husband, who shares my commitment to canine emotional distance, gave me a look that conveyed both “I love him” and “Oh, no.” I called the shelter to ask if I could transition Atlas from daycation to staycation. Just one night, I said. I’ll have this dog back tomorrow. Really.

“SNEAKY? US? SNEAKY? We have no trickery here!”

Shannon Harkey, the shelter’s community outreach manager, laughs. She’s busted and knows it.

The bet of a staycation, of course, is that people fall in love. The trickery can be forgiven for such an earnest wager. We need more bets like this. Cynicism is high.

Trust is low. Open-hearted people might be the bravest souls out there. But there’s something about a dog. Even in this wary world, it’s so easy to love a dog. For a certain kind of person, a wet nose and wagging tail can break through any barrier we build.

That kind of person won’t play it cool during a staycation.

Crystal Chappell didn’t. Last Thanksgiving, she decided her dog, Faye, needed a buddy. She adopted Faye from AC&C in 2018, after her husband’s cancer diagnosis. I can’t do anything about the cancer, she thought, but I can save a dog’s life.

For their next dog, she would do a series of staycations until she found the perfect one. For her first staycation,

she hosted a pit bull named Diamond.

Chappell with her granddaughter On the second day of her visit, Diamond Bailey Miller, Faye approached her husband (“She knew (left dog), and he was sick,” Chappell says), gently Diamond, renamed Dida (right dog). lifted his hand with her head, then lay down and nestled her head in his lap.

Diamond was home.

A dog who returns to the shelter from staycation is not a failure, Harkey insists. Staycationing pups return with postcards of their getaways, full of information that offers shelter employees details they’d never learn in the kennels. Are they housebroken and leash trained?

Wild and in need of obedience training? Are they good running partners or fellow Netflix bingers? “The animals here are stressed. Even the most chill dogs we have.

They’re not at 100 percent,” Harkey says. “Staycations get them out of the kennel and give people a chance to see their true colors.”

Shelter dogs like Atlas don’t come with backstories or pedigrees. Adopting one requires faith and a little risk. But staycation hosts become shelter dog biographers, capturing stories and removing the mystery. “People always ask us, ‘Are (the dogs) going to be sad when they get back to the shelter?’” Harkey says. “No, their stress is down. They return calmer. We know more about them. They get adopted faster.”

The program creates a volunteer marketing team, too.

Staycation hosts tell friends, family, and coworkers about their temporary guests, which builds a network of potential adopters. They often post fun pictures of staycation dogs on social media (#ACCstaycation), which AC&C shares, giving shelter dogs their own social media campaigns. Sometimes, when Harkey approves a long-timer for the staycation program, she smiles and thinks, “Let’s get someone taking cute pictures of you wearing sunglasses at a brewery.”

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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The good boy formerly known as #A1164940 takes a walk with Lily, his new owner’s daughter.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

ATLAS’ COUGH WORSENED. He could during my March staycation with Atlas, walk only a few steps before hacking. the shelter opened it to all adoptable dogs.

AC&C’s vet told me it was a bad case of “Before, the long-timer dogs would sit kennel cough, and Atlas would begin 10 here and I’d see them, and it’d be very days of antibiotics after I returned him. depressing. You get to know them. It’s like Return him?

I have 100 personal dogs,” Harkey says.

Jimmy and I decided that Atlas should “Now, it’s uncommon for a dog to sit here recuperate with us, so we extended his without any interest … The happiest part overnight staycation into a 10-day foster. of my day is when these dogs get out of (After staycations began last year, the their kennels.” shelter’s foster rate jumped 35 percent.

I get it.) We turned my home office into Spa Atlas. For his kennel cough, we gave DOG GOODBYES ARE HARD. Jimmy and him medicine, provided by AC&C, and a I knew that Atlas’ happy ending meant a humidifier. For his weight, he ate canine sad day for us. The day Atlas left us for his casserole—chicken, rice, and sweet next staycation, his big noggin caught a potato—along with his kibble, three lot of our kisses and a few of our tears. So times a day. For his wounds, Neosporin. attached after just 10 days. There’s someTo warm him against shivers, a fleece thing about a dog. sweater. He slept in a new dog bed when We met his new hosts at AC&C to transhe wasn’t lounging across throw pillows fer Atlas from our home to theirs. As his on the couch. new staycation family walked him out of Two and a half weeks earlier, this dog, the shelter and into his next adventure, malnourished and frightened, had slept someone in line called out to Atlas, “Have amid trash near a highway on-ramp. a good life, buddy!”

The author and Atlas in mid-snug.

Now, he slept in a bolstered dog bed, strutted in his sweater, and ate canine casserole with all the grace of Cookie Monster. The highSPRING MEANS FULL KENNELS AT AC&C. It’s puppy light of his days came when we’d sit together on a blanket season, although the puppies will be fine. Their pink-padin the yard; I’d write with one hand and rub his belly with ded paws will barely hit the kennel floor before they’re the other, and he’d sunbathe on his back. scooped up by adopters and rescue groups. But between An email arrived with “Atlas” as the subject. A potential runs of puppies will be the long-timers: the seniors, big adopter hoped to meet him. I told her everything: about dogs, and pit mixes. Dogs, like Atlas, who wait to tell their how calm and sweet he was, but also about his health stories, even for just five days at a time. challenges. She was all-in on Atlas, heartworms and all. A As the runs at the shelter fill in March, Otto, a lucky good sign. She wanted to host Atlas on a staycation, hopstaycationer, settles into his new forever home. Martha ing he’d stay forever. We scheduled an introduction.

Severson and her daughter Lily have chosen a staycation dog with a quiet reputation. Their beloved dog, Henry, died six weeks ago. Henry wasn’t just any dog. He was CONVERSATIONS WITH AC&C STAFF are lessons in unusually calm, an expert lounger. Even when he was compassionate fatigue. The job requires impossible 15, they called him their “pillow puppy.” They felt lonely math—thousands of animals to save each year with limfor a dog, but it’d be nearly impossible to find another ited resources and high expectations. Away from work, Henry. they’re experts for friends and neighbors who call about Within four days, they decided to keep Otto, who stray cats or injured birds to say, “Save this.” They’re never proves a pillow puppy himself. He makes nests of blanoff-duty. Even so, they fight the reputation that they’re kets, insists on a spot in Lily’s bed, and snuggles with their dogcatchers, not dog rescuers. cat, Walter. The Seversons have big plans for Otto this “We have a hard time changing perceptions. You lose summer: walks, dog parks, drives through the country. sleep over it,” Knicely says. “I’ve learned not to read social But first, Otto needs heartworm treatments. He could use media comments ... I’ll see lost-dog posts, and everyone a few extra pounds. Lily, a veterinary science student at chimes in, ‘Don’t take it to Animal Control, they’ll just kill Gaston College, feeds him coconut oil to moisturize his it.’ That’s not true at all. It does hurt a lot.” skin and coat.

Staycations have boosted this team’s morale. They show As Lily tells me about her new dog, I can’t help but call the public what the staff already knows: Gems await in him by his old name, Atlas. His staycation never ended. those kennels, if only you meet them. Serial staycation Dog #A1164940, once abandoned amid trash, is now Otto hosts are on a first-name basis with staff, and they wait the pillow puppy. Have a good life, buddy. in increasingly long lines of people who wait for canine guests. The staff scurries to identify new staycation dogs to JEN TOTA MCGIVNEY is a writer in Charlotte. Contact her at jennifer. mcgivney@gmail.com or on Twitter, @jen_mcgivney. replace outgoing ones. The program has such demand that

Jimmy and I knew that Atlas’ happy ending meant a sad day for us.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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INSIDE:

ARTS AND CULTURE / RESTAURANTS

GUIDE

THE

WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO EAT

Darion Fleming has also crafted murals on The Pizza Peel in Plaza Midwood and a massive parking deck in Ballantyne.

ART S

ANDY SMITH

Wash Me A new mural pops up during the pandemic

DARION FLEMING, also known as “DaFlemingo,” is the artist behind this Villa Heights mural, a reaction to the spread of Coronavirus across the globe. The piece, adorning the side of Machine Shop of Charlotte, is titled “Pure’ll Gold,” and it went up in March. “I hope this piece can offer some comedic relief in what is a very serious and trying time for humanity,” the artist wrote in an Instagram post. “Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay creating.”

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GUIDE

Arts and Culture WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH

These events were still planned as of press time but are subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Music: Classical, Jazz, & Opera JAZZ AT THE BECHTLER: MARTIN BEJERANO

Music: Popular

TYCHO MAY 27

BRANDY CLARK

There was a time when one man was responsible

Each ticket purchased online comes with a CD or digital

music—and, in turn, its live incarnation—has gained

Miami-born jazz pianist Martin Bejerano comes to the

version of Clark’s newest LP, Your Life Is a Record. Her

new life with a full band. $29.50, 8 p.m. The Fillmore

museum for this month’s Jazz at the Bechtler program.

previous record, Big Day in a Small Town (2016), gar-

Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St., 704-916-8970,

Bejerano’s influences include Chick Corea, Herbie

nered a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album.

livenation.com.

Hancock, and other pianists who can move between

$26.25-$36.25, 8 p.m. McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College

classical and progressive strains of jazz. $10 for museum

St. 704-372-1000, carolinatix.org.

SAM HUNT

JACOB COLLIER

On April 3, the country pop singer released his second

The London-raised wunderkind is known for his distinct

“Body Like a Back Road.” His Southside Summer Tour

sense of harmony and bold arrangements. Several of

opens at the PNC Music Pavilion. $39-$109, 7 p.m.

his YouTube videos have gone viral—including his take

PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd. 704-549-5555,

on the Stevie Wonder standard “Don’t You Worry ’Bout

livenation.com.

MAY 1

members, $16 for nonmembers, 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St. 704353-9200, bechtler.org.

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY: BRAHMS DOUBLE CONCERTO MAY 1-2

MAY 2

MAY 7

for the ambient sounds of Tycho. Now, Scott Hansen’s

MAY 28

studio album, Southside, which includes the single

The titular composer’s “Concerto for Violin and Cello”

a Thing.” $29.50, 8 p.m. The Underground, 820 Hamilton

is accompanied by Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 4”

St., 704-916-8970, livenation.com.

THE LUMINEERS

MILKY CHANCE

The folk rock act is known for helping trigger the previ-

Radio station 106.5 The End presents this Music Factory

Sons and Concord’s The Avett Brothers. $29-$309, 7

show. The German group blends alt-rock, reggae, folk,

p.m. PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd. 704-549-

and other genres. $32.50, 8 p.m. The Fillmore Charlotte,

5555, livenation.com.

and Gabriella Smith’s “Field Guide.” Simone Porter and Joshua Roman are featured on violin and cello, respectively. $20-$145, Fri-Sat, 7:30 p.m. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., 704-372-1000, carolinatix.org.

KEIKO MATSUI MAY 8-9

Matsui works primarily within the smooth jazz genre.

Since her 1987 debut solo album, A Drop of Water, the acclaimed pianist and composer has released more

MAY 11

820 Hamilton St., 704-916-8970, livenation.com.

THE WEIGHT BAND MAY 14

MAY 29

ous decade’s folk resurgence, alongside Mumford &

KING BUZZO FEATURING TREVOR DUNN MAY 30

Buzz Osborne, a founding member of the Melvins,

than two dozen records. $48.50-$57.50, Fri-Sat, 7 p.m.

The Weight Band performs tunes by and features

uses his King Buzzo stage name when he’s on a solo

and 9:30 p.m. Middle C Jazz, 300 S. Brevard St. 704-595-

members of the seminal rock group The Band. Mem-

tour. He’s joined by composer and bassist Trevor Dunn,

3311, middlecjazz.com.

bers have also played in the Levon Helm Band and

who’s played with the Melvins and Tomahawk and has

with Rick Danko and Jason Mraz. $25-$39.50, 7:30 p.m.

his own jazz ensemble (Trevor Dunn’s Trio-Convulsant).

McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000,

$18, 8:30 p.m. Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., 704-

carolinatix.org.

358-9200, visulite.com.

CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY: BROADWAY FAVORITES MAY 8-9

See the CSO perform renditions of famous Broadway tunes from shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Evita,

AMERICAN AQUARIUM MAY 16

The Music Man, Wicked, Les Misérables, and more. The

Are you ready for raw roots rock? Sorry. The allitera-

vocalists are Broadway performers Dee Roscioli, Hugh

tion was too tempting. Based in Raleigh, American

Panaro, and Anne Runolfsson. $21-$145, Fri-Sat, 7:30

Aquarium is a favorite in the region. $20-$100, 8 p.m.

p.m. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., 704-372-1000,

Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. 704-942-7997,

carolinatix.org.

neighborhoodtheatre.com.

BEETHOVEN MEETS ’90S VIBE: A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY FEATURING ORCHESTRA NOIR

JOSH RITTER The singer-songwriter, who works within the folk and

MAY 15

MAY 27

alt-country genres, was inspired to take up music after

Theater, Dance, & Comedy ANASTASIA

APRIL 28-MAY 3

Based on the animated retelling of the Anastasia legend, the show premiered on Broadway three years ago. $25-$124.50, Tue-Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sun, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-372-1000, carolinatix.org.

THE CROWN - LIVE!

The Charlotte Symphony is joined by Atlanta’s Orches-

hearing the duet version of “Girl from the North Coun-

tra Noir for this blend of classical and ’90s R&B vibes.

try” by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. $29.50-$39.50, 7:30

The program includes classics from Beethoven paired

p.m. McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St. 704-372-

This two-actor show is a parody of the Netflix series of

with music from LL Cool J, Usher, TLC, and more. $59-

1000, carolinatix.org.

the same name. If you enjoyed Potted Potter, a similar

APRIL 29-MAY 3

$79, 8 p.m. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., 704-372-

take on the Harry Potter series, you’ll surely dig this

1000, carolinatix.org.

send-up. $34.50-$54.50; Wed-Sat, 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m.

100

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

American Aquarium will perform May 16 at Neighborhood Theatre.

World Tour, which included several sellouts. $39-$59,

MAY 2-3

7 p.m. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.,

carolinatix.org.

704-335-3100, ticketmaster.com.

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

DADA WOOF PAPA HOT

The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte presents this 2011

Peter Parnell’s tale follows two New York City-based

a.m.-5 p.m. Little Sugar Creek Greenway at 600 S. Kings

Richard Bean play, which is an adaption of the 1743

gay couples as they navigate parenthood and find

Dr. 704-338-1060, festivalinthepark.org.

comedy The Servant of Two Masters. The narrative

common ground. The tone of the play has been

follows Francis Henshall, who is employed by two

described as “dramedy.” $22-$28, Thu-Sat, 8 p.m.

men who are unaware Henshall works for the other.

Duke Energy Theater, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000,

$28-$50, times vary. Hadley Theatre, 2132 Radcliffe

carolinatix.org.

APRIL 30-MAY 23

Ave. 704-342-2251, atcharlotte.org.

THE SECOND CITY: SHE THE PEOPLE MAY 6-9

MAY 28-JUNE 6

DREAMGIRLS

MAY 29-JUNE 14

This arts and crafts event has been around since 1964.

See a collection of canvases, listen to music, and check out other entertainment offerings on the scenic greenway. Free admission. Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun, 11

Museums, Galleries, & Fine Arts BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

This uptown venue, part of the Levine Center for the

The original Broadway incarnation of this show was

Arts, presents the works of 20th-century modern art-

Chicago’s famed Second City troupe returns to

well-decorated: It won six Tonys in 1982, including the

ists in a new context for today’s audiences. Curators

Charlotte with She the People. The sketch show is

awards for leading actor and actress in a musical. The

assemble shows that pull from the famous Bechtler

entirely constructed and performed by women from

2006 film version was nominated for eight Academy

family’s collection and other community collections.

the group. $22-$42, Wed-Thu, 7:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 8 p.m.

Awards and won two. $28, times vary. Theatre Char-

Ten, THROUGH MAY 3, features a selection of works

McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000,

lotte, 501 Queens Rd., 704-372-1000, carolinatix.org.

from 16 past exhibits to commemorate the Bechtler’s 10th anniversary. Multiplied: Edition Mat and the Trans-

carolinatix.org.

CHRISTINA P MAY 7-9

Christina Pazsitzky is the co-host of the popular podcast Your Mom’s House, with husband/fellow comic Tom Segura. She has released two specials on Netflix:

CAMERON GOTT

KINGS DRIVE ART WALK

Stage Door Theater, 155 N. College St., 704-372-1000,

formable Work of Art 1959-1965, MAY 22-SEPT. 13,

Festivals RIVER JAM

MAY 7-SEPTEMBER 26

examines the rise of interest in kinetic art in the postWorld War II era. Free for members, $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, college students, and educators, $5 for kids 11-18, and free for kids under 11 and military. Mon, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m.

Mother Inferior and The Degenerates. $20-$50, Thu, 8

From May through September, River Jam offers free

p.m.; Fri-Sat, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Charlotte Comedy

outdoor music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Zone, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. 980-321-4702,

nights at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Other

cltcomedyzone.com.

activities include a free yoga class, which is offered 30

The city’s history is put under a microscope at this

minutes before each concert. Check out the center’s

east Charlotte museum. The continuing exhibition,

selection of food and beer and kick back. Free admis-

Solving the Rock House Mysteries, explores the con-

sion ($6 parking fee), 7 p.m. U.S. National Whitewater

cept of preservation through the example of the

The comedian, known for performing his stand-up

Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. 704-391-3900,

5,000-square-foot Hezekiah Alexander House, built

act shirtless, hits the road with The Berty Boy Tour. It

usnwc.org.

in 1774. The ongoing exhibit Charlotte Neighbor-

BERT KREISCHER MAY 17

follows his successful run last year with the Body Shots

420 S. Tryon St. 704-353-9200, bechtler.org.

CHARLOTTE MUSEUM OF HISTORY

hoods uses maps, photos, text, and other informaMAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

101

THE GUIDE tion to show how neighborhoods across the city were

the meaning and feelings of home and place. The ex-

ics, jewelry, and paper goods from local, regional, and

formed. Unforgettable Music Venues of Charlotte dis-

hibit includes pieces from Charlotte-based artists Dave

national artists. Whether you’re searching for functional

plays photos of and artifacts from iconic local music

Butler, Crista Cammaroto, and J. Stacy Utley. Free ad-

art or browsing for a painting, this Dilworth gallery is an

venues that have closed, including the Double Door

mission. Tue-Fri, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 1520

ideal spot for the art lover. Wildflower, MAY 6-JUNE 26,

Inn and Tremont Music Hall. Free for members, $10 for

S. Tryon St. 704-370-6337, eldergalleryclt.com.

is a group exhibition with works by Annie Fain, Kim Fer-

adults, $7 for seniors and children 6-17, $5 for military, and free for kids under 6. Tue-Sat, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774, charlottemuseum.org.

HIDELL BROOKS GALLERY

reira, Diane Hoeptner, Huynh, Eleanor Miller, and Jen Stefanek. Jennifer Mecca is the exhibit’s featured ceram-

Owned by Katharine Hidell Thomas and Rebecca

ic artist. Free admission. Wed-Fri, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; open

Brooks, the South End gallery has highlighted local and

house on the second Saturday (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Sun-

regional artists for more than 20 years. Exhibits here

day (noon-3 p.m.) of every month. 700 East Blvd., Ste. 1.

Built alongside a 100-year-old forest between Dilworth

rotate every six to eight weeks. The gallery represents

704-334-4616, larkandkey.com.

and Myers Park, Discovery Place Nature combines

notable names like Sarah Helser, Sally King Benedict,

learning and fun through indoor and outdoor activi-

Jacob Cooley, David Kroll, and more. Free admission.

ties. The Fort Wild outdoor exhibit includes activities

Tue-Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 1910 South

For more than two decades, the museum has provided

that allow kids to get their hands dirty, and the Butter-

Blvd., Ste. 130. 704-334-7302, hidellbrooks.com.

groundbreaking exhibits and context for some of the

DISCOVERY PLACE NATURE

fly Pavilion gives visitors a chance to walk among freeflying butterflies. Explore the moon and stars in the digital planetarium, which offers a mix of multimedia

HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICANAMERICAN ARTS + CULTURE

LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH

South’s most significant events. One of the museum’s core values is “using history to build community.” Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers, an award-winning exhibit

shows and seasonal star shows. On the fourth Satur-

Part of uptown’s Levine Center for the Arts campus, the

that spans 8,000 square feet, uses Charlotte and its 13

day of each month, the museum offers a guided nature

Gantt Center focuses on works by Africans and African-

surrounding counties as a case study to explore the

walk along the Paw Paw Nature Trail. Free for members,

Americans. The museum’s permanent exhibition, the

“profound changes in the South since the Civil War.”

$8 for nonmembers, $6 for military, and free for kids

John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American

#HomeCLT: People. Places. Promises. tells the stories

under 2. Tue, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wed-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat,

Art, showcases 58 works from 20 artists, including Ro-

of Charlotte’s neighborhoods through the words of its

9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. 1658 Sterling Rd. 704-

mare Bearden. Free for members, $9 for adults, $7 for

residents. Brooklyn: Once a City within a City explores the

372-6261, nature.discoveryplace.org.

kids 6-17, seniors, military, and college students, and

rise and demise of the Brooklyn neighborhood, once a

free for kids under 6. Tue, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed, 10 a.m.-8

thriving African-American community in Charlotte. Free

p.m. (museum entry is free Wed, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.); Thu-Sat,

for members, $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, military, and

This uptown landmark educates and entertains visi-

10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 551 S. Tryon St. 704-

college students, $6 for children 6-18, and free for kids

tors of all ages in the STEM areas (science, technology,

547-3700, ganttcenter.org.

under 6. Admission is half price on Sundays. Mon-Fri, 10

DISCOVERY PLACE SCIENCE

engineering, and mathematics). The museum has experiments, interactive exhibits, an aquarium, and even

HODGES TAYLOR ART CONSULTANCY

a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887, museumofthenewsouth.org.

an on-site rainforest. KidScience, the center’s early edu-

After opening as an uptown gallery in 1980, Hodges

cation exhibition for children up to 7, offers kids the

Taylor became a consulting firm in 2011 and moved

chance to build and race cars, explore colors and light

to South End. Hodges Taylor hosts exhibitions in its

With this free self-guided walking tour, you can learn

at the Light Table, and experience a gust of wind at the

office and gallery. Free admission. Wed-Fri, 11 a.m.-

about the development of Charlotte and how its citizens

Wind Wall. The Being Me exhibit explores the human

4 p.m., 118 E. Kingston Ave., Ste. 16. 704-608-2016,

were involved in the American Revolution. To get infor-

body and celebrates the unique characteristics of hu-

hodgestaylor.com.

mation about the 19 markers along the walk, down-

man beings. Antarctic Dinosaurs, THROUGH MAY 25, explores four new dinosaur species that were discov-

JERALD MELBERG GALLERY

LIBERTY WALK

load a brochure at charlottelibertywalk.com or pick up a brochure at the Levine Museum of the New South or

ered in Antarctic ice over the past 30 years (exhibition

Founded in 1983, Melberg’s gallery carries works from a

the Visitor Info Center at 501 S. College St. (in the Char-

admission: $3, plus regular admission fee). On the third

wide range of acclaimed artists such as Romare Bearden

lotte Convention Center, 800-231-4636). A “Charlotte

Friday of every month, the museum hosts themed

and Wolf Kahn. Over the years, the gallery has worked

Liberty Walk” app is available at handheldhistory.com

events that invite adults to get in on the fun without

with prestigious institutions like New York’s Museum

to help you along. Guided tours can be arranged by

the little ones (Science on the Rocks, $12-$14, 5 p.m.-

of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Art in Wash-

contacting the Mecklenburg Historical Association at

9 p.m.). Regular admission: Free for members, $19 for

ington. Kim Keever, MAY 2-JUNE 20, features abstract

contact@meckdec.org.

adults, $17 for seniors and military, $15 for kids 2-13,

photographs by the New York-based artist, who creates

and free for kids under 2. Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 9

his works by pouring pigments into a 200-gallon tank of

a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-

water. Free admission. Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat, 10

A creative home for photographers and filmmakers

6261, science.discoveryplace.org.

a.m.-4 p.m. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000, jer-

in Charlotte, The Light Factory has workshops, classes,

aldmelberg.com.

school programs, and exhibits. You can sign up for

ELDER GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

This South End gallery changed ownership in 2017,

LACA PROJECTS

THE LIGHT FACTORY

classes on subjects such as black-and-white film photography, digital photography, and photographic light-

with attorney and former journalist Sonya Pfeiffer tak-

LaCa opened in 2013 as the first arts venue in the South-

ing techniques. The 12th Annuale: A Juried Portfolio

ing over as owner and creative director. Pfeiffer’s expe-

east dedicated entirely to Latin American contemporary

Showcase, THROUGH JULY 31, displays works from

rience as a civil rights lawyer translates to socially con-

art. The gallery works to connect Latin American artists

The Light Factory’s annual photography competition.

scious programming. In (or for) perpetuity, THROUGH

with the city’s art scene while promoting Latin American

Free admission. Wed-Sat, noon-6 p.m. 1817 Central Ave.

MAY 9, displays mixed-media paintings, drawings, and

art in Charlotte and the Southeast region. Free admis-

704-333-9755, lightfactory.org.

sculptural works by Carmen Neely and a video art in-

sion. Tue-Fri, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1429 Bry-

stallation by Paul Travis Phillips. Jeong and Choon Yun,

ant St. 704-837-1688, lacaprojects.com.

THROUGH MAY 9, presents works by this husband and wife from South Korea, who use ancient Asian pa-

LARK & KEY

MCCOLL CENTER FOR ART + INNOVATION

The biggest difference between the McColl Center and

other arts institutions is that it offers visitors the chance

permaking techniques to create contemporary pieces.

Artists and married couple Sandy Snead and Duy Huynh,

to observe the artistic process. In the center’s nine stu-

Home, MAY 14-AUG. 15, shows works that explore

who opened their gallery in 2008, offer artwork, ceram-

dios, visitors can watch artists develop and execute new

102

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

elements of racing with a new topic and interactive activity each month. This month, Celebrate the Tracks (MAY 9, free with regular admission, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) examines race tracks and track traditions. Free for members, $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $18 for military and children 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under. Mon, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays are open for group reservations only. 400 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 704-654-4400, nascarhall.com.

REED GOLD MINE

In 1799, the nation’s first documented gold find occurred at the site that became Reed Gold Mine.

After the discovery in Cabarrus County, gold mining spread to nearby counties and eventually to other Southern states. Now, more than 220 years later, visitors can tour the mine and find a treasure themselves. Carolina Heritage Gold Rush Heritage Event (MAY 2, $5.35 for adults, $4.28 for children 3-12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) highlights gold mining of the 1850s with demonstrations of surface and underground mining, hands-on mining activities, and other demonstrations. Regular admission and tours of the mine are free. Gold panning is available for $3 between April and October. TueSat, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 9621 Reed Mine Rd., Midland, 704-721-4653, historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/reedgold-mine.

SOCO GALLERY

Paul Travis Phillip’s video art installations are on display at Elder Gallery.

Chandra Johnson, named one of the 2017 Charlotteans of the Year by Charlotte magazine for her work in the cultural sector, opened this gallery in a Myers Park bungalow in 2015. Liz Nielsen, Lyle Owerko, and Ken Van Sickle are a few of the accomplished artists whose works appear at the

ideas. At the Seams, MAY 28-JULY 11, shows the works

gallery. Nielsen (Triangle Moon) and Holly Keogh (Towards Another Picture) have solo exhibitions

of McColl alumni artists Lauren DiCioccio and Andrea Vail.

The Mint Uptown has a renowned craft and design exhibit

THROUGH JUNE 20. Free admission. Mon-Sat,

The exhibition, curated by visiting curator Lauren Harkey,

that showcases works in a variety of materials, as well as

10 a.m.-6 p.m. 421 Providence Rd. 980-498-2881,

explores textiles to discuss boundaries of the body and

collections of American, contemporary, and European art.

soco-gallery.com.

between bodies. Free admission. Thu, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.;

W|ALLS: Defend, Divide, and the Divine, MAY 13-SEPT. 6,

Fri-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535,

examines the historic use and artistic treatment of walls

mccollcenter.org.

over the centuries. The museum’s chief curator, Jen Sudul

Located in the Hearst Tower uptown, Sozo is a

Edwards, curated the show. Free for members, $15 for

contemporary gallery that presents original art-

adults, $10 for seniors and college students, $6 for chil-

work from local, national, and international art-

As the state’s first art museum, Mint Museum Randolph

dren 5-17, and free for kids under 5. Tue, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.;

ists. On its website, the gallery references multiple

opened in an original branch of the U.S. Mint in 1936.

Wed, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (museum entry is free Wed, 5 p.m.-9

meanings of “sozo.” In Greek, the word means to

Galleries continue to engage visitors with the art of the

p.m.); Thu, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat, 11 a.m.-

“be healed by God,” and in Japanese, it means “to

ancient Americas, decorative arts, and European and Af-

6 p.m.; Sun, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. 500 S. Tryon St. 704-337-2000,

create, to imagine.” Wed, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tue, Thu,

rican art. Resources include a reference library with more

mintmuseum.org.

Fri, Sat: by appointment only. 214 N. Tryon St. 704-

MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH

than 18,000 volumes. Classic Black: The Basalt Sculpture of Wedgwood and His Contemporaries, THROUGH

PAUL TRAVIS PHILLIP

MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN

NASCAR HALL OF FAME

AUG. 30, features black basalt sculptures, including life-

This uptown complex provides a variety of attractions for

size portrait busts, statues, and vases, by Josiah Wedg-

racing fans, including hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art

wood and other Staffordshire potters in late 18th-century

theater, and the Hall of Honor, where racing greats are

England. Free for members, $15 for adults, $10 for seniors

enshrined. The new version of the Hall’s signature Glory

and college students, $6 for children 5-17, and free for

Road exhibit—Dale Jr.: Glory Road Champions—was un-

kids under 5. Tue, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (mu-

veiled in January and features 18 championship cars

seum entry is free Wed, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.); Thu-Sat, 11 a.m.-6

selected by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Haulin’: 25 Years of NAS-

p.m.; Sun, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. 2730 Randolph Rd., 704-337-2000,

CAR Trucks, THROUGH JULY 13, looks at the history of

mintmuseum.org.

the NASCAR Truck Series and displays eight of the Series’ most iconic trucks. The 2nd Saturday program explores

SOZO GALLERY

575-6777, sozogallery.net.

Compiled by Charlotte magazine staff. These listings are a reader service and are not connected to advertising in any way. Events, dates, and times are subject to change. Please call ahead. To have your event considered, email us at agenda@charlottemagazine.com.

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

103

THE GUIDE

Restaurants YOUR GUIDE TO CHARLOTTE’S DINING SCENE KID CASHEW

Dilworth ❤ 300 EAST

$-$$

NEW AMERICAN The interior of this old house-turnedrestaurant is welcoming, as is the menu of familiar and surprising sandwiches, salads, and entrées. Save room for dessert by pastry chef Laney Jahkel-Parrish. 300 East Blvd. (704-332-6507) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ BONTERRA

$$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Its setting may be a historic Southern church, but Bonterra serves up modern Southern flavors with top-notch service. Wine lovers will be impressed by the more than 200 wines by the glass. 1829 Cleveland Ave. (704-333-9463) D, BAR ✸☎

CAPISHE

$-$$

ITALIAN The pasta dishes and pizza prepared by Chef David Cavalier, previously of Kindred, are impressive for a fast-casual restaurant. Arrive early for lunch to beat the long lines. 500 E. Morehead St., Ste. 100. (980-8199494) L, D, BAR

❤ COPPER

$$$

INDIAN Ease into Indian cuisine with standard dishes like chicken tikka masala, or be more adventurous with the spicy seafood medley "anjeeri." 311 East Blvd. (704333-0063) L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

DOLCE OSTERIA

$$

ITALIAN This classic, cozy, family-run neighborhood trattoria serves a mix of fresh, regional Italian cuisine and a tidy, all-Italian wine list. 1710 Kenilworth Ave. (704-332-7525) L (weekdays), D, B/W ✸☎

FERN, FLAVORS FROM THE GARDEN

$$

VEGETARIAN Fern moved from Plaza Midwood to Dilworth in mid-2016. It still has ferns on the wall, and the menu is still full of flavorful vegetarian cuisine. 1419 East Blvd., Ste. A. (704-377-1825) L, BR, D, V, BAR ✸

FIAMMA RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

ITALIAN The open layout lends an air of conviviality to this slick eatery, which has house-made pastas, thincrust pizzas, note-perfect risotto, and daring meat entrées. 2418 Park Rd. (704-333-3062) L, D, BAR ✸☎

FRAN’S FILLING STATION

$$-$$$

PIZZA Two words: pistachio pizza. Seriously, try it. Then grab a spot on the patio beneath the bistro lights and enjoy a bottle of wine with friends. There's a second location in Providence Commons, too. 2230 Park Rd., (704-900-0929) L, D, BAR ✸

104

LEBOWSKI’S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL

$$

AMERICAN Dishes at this neighborhood favorite include burgers, brats, and the popular “Beef on Weck.”

1524 East Blvd. (704-370-1177) L, D, BAR ✸

THE MAYOBIRD

$$

$$$

CAJUN Nightly live jazz complements New Orleans creole favorites like shrimp étouffée and crawfish Diane in this century-old house. 1800 E. 7th St. (704-377-9017) BR, D, BAR ✸☎

$$$-$$$$

NEW AMERICAN A beautiful interior and a no-fuss vibe create a stress-free fine dining experience, with dishes ranging from buttermilk-fried chicken over spinach with black pepper shallot gravy to local seafood specials.

1535 Elizabeth Ave. (704-377-7976) D, BAR ☎

❤ CUSTOMSHOP

$$$$

PIZZA Among a sea of by-the-slice joints, owner Daniel Siragusa sticks by his Italian roots with personal pizzas.

Some think they can’t possibly eat the whole pie, but they do. And then they order dessert. 1055 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 130. (704-370-0777) L, D, BAR ✸☎

Elizabeth/Cherry

❤ CARPE DIEM

❤ THE FIG TREE RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

FUSION Here, fusion means a sampling of dishes from the Far East and Spain. 1716 Kenilworth Ave. (704-3589688) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

CAJUN QUEEN

$

NEW AMERICAN The No. 2 restaurant on our 2018 Best Restaurants list, the Fig Tree specializes in fresh and flavorful cuisine with an emphasis on wine pairing in a 1913 bungalow. 1601 E. 7th St. (704-332-3322) D, BAR ✸☎

NEW SOUTHERN Southern classics take on a new form—and global influence—at this easygoing spot.

1531 East Blvd. (980-237-2227) D, BAR ✸☎

ZEN FUSION

EARL’S GROCERY

AMERICAN This upscale marketplace, with sandwiches, salads, and daily specials from chef Obie Chisolm, is a welcome afternoon spot for a grab-and-go meal or a bite and people-watching. 1609 Elizabeth Ave. (704333-2757) B, BR, L, D, V ✸

$

AMERICAN The daytime partner to The Summit Room focuses on specialty coffees, quiches, and pastries, and, of course, chicken salad sandwiches. 1531 East Blvd.

(980-237-2543) B, L, B/W ✸

THE SUMMIT ROOM

takes on American cuisine in a hip, rustic atmosphere.

1601 Elizabeth Ave. (704-333-3396) D, BAR ✸☎

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Owner and executive chef Trey Wilson uses top-notch, seasonal ingredients to create fresh

❤ PIZZERIA OMAGGIO

$$

❤ THE STANLEY

$$$

SUNFLOUR BAKING CO.

$-$$

NEW SOUTHERN Chef Paul Verica's menu reflects a respect of seasonal produce, with playful dishes such as "Asparagus—as many ways as we could think of," and a more robust cocktail program. 1961 E. 7th St. (980-2992741) D, BR (Sun), BAR ✸☎

BAKERY With locations in Dilworth, Harrisburg, and Ballantyne, Sunflour serves croissants, cinnamon buns, sandwiches, and soups. Regulars spend mornings here with a cup of coffee, letting them fade into afternoons.

2001 E. 7th St. (704-900-5268) B, L, D, V ✸

Huntersville/Lake Norman ALIÑO PIZZERIA

$$

PIZZA Enjoy your Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pizza at a community table with paper towels on hand to catch the drips from crust dipped in herbs and olive oil. A second location is at Concord Mills. 500 S. Main St., Ste. 401, Mooresville. (704-663-0010) L, D, B/W ✸

$$-$$$

AMERICAN This small Dilworth restaurant has soups, salads, and delicious, oversized sandwiches made with fresh, thick bread filled with innovative combinations.

2410 Park Rd. (704-372-2009) L, D, BAR ✸

INIZIO PIZZA NAPOLETANA

$$

MEDITERRANEAN This bright and rustic restaurant from the owner of Georges Brasserie serves meat family-style from a wood-fired grill and a selection of small plates. 1608 East Blvd. (704-208-4148) L, D, BAR ✸

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

$ $$ $$$ $$$$

❤

Most entrées under $10 Most entrées $10-$17 Most entrées $18-$25 Most entrées $26 & up Best Restaurants

B BR L D V

Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

B/W Beer and wine only BAR Full-service bar ✸ Patio seating available Reservations suggested

☎

REVIEW POLICIES—The restaurants on these pages are recommendations of the editors of Charlotte magazine.

They are not related to advertising in any way. Restaurant visits are anonymous, and all expenses are paid by the magazine. Reviews are written by members of the editorial staff. We regularly update these listings. New additions are denoted by “new listing” and revised reviews are indicated by “update.”

❤ DRESSLER’S

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Part steak house, part upscale American cuisine, dishes are delivered with consistency and a smile, both here and at the Metropolitan Avenue location. 8630-1A Lindholm Dr. (704-987-1779) D, BAR

✸☎

FLATIRON KITCHEN + TAPHOUSE

$$$

STEAK HOUSE High-quality steaks are a given here, but the seafood and vegetables are treated with the same respect. 215 S. Main St., Davidson. (704-237-3246) BR, L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ HELLO, SAILOR

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Davidson's sweethearts, Joe and Katy Kindred, opened this lakefront spot. Expect Carolina classics like fried catfish and seafood platters, as well as tiki drinks. 20210 Henderson Rd., Cornelius. (704997-5365) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

❤ KINDRED

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Chef Joe Kindred, a James Beard Award semifinalist, serves homemade pasta dishes and creative small plates in historic downtown Davidson. 131 N. Main St., Davidson. (980-231-5000) BR, L, D, BAR ✸☎

SABI ASIAN BISTRO

$$

ASIAN Find Asian-inspired dishes, from sushi to stir fry to sweet-and-sour chicken, in a sleek interior. 130 Harbor Place Dr., Davidson. (704-895-5707) L, D, BAR ✸

Matthews/Mint Hill KABAB-JE ROTISSERIE & GRILLE

$$

MIDDLE EASTERN With a second location in Stonecrest, this Mediterranean and Lebanese spot serves dishes like hummus shawarma and lamb kabobs.

2233 Matthews Township Pkwy., Ste. E. (704-8450707) L, D ✸

LOYALIST MARKET

$-$$

AMERICAN This charming eatery is a sandwich shop by day and a cheese shop by night. Choose from over 60 artisan cheeses and cured meats from the U.S. and

abroad, along with gourmet food products, wine, and local beer. 435 N. Trade St., Ste. 102. (704-814-9866) L, D, BAR ✸

NEW ZEALAND CAFÉ

$-$$

with stylish twists in a spot fit for couples, families, and everyone else. 601 S. Kings Dr. (704-343-0148) L, D, BAR ✸☎

PROVIDENCE ROAD SUNDRIES

$-$$

❤ STAGIONI

$$$

VOLO RISTORANTE

$$$

FUSION A wooden latticework ceiling and indoor trellis add charm to this neighborhood favorite, where sushi is fresh and affordable. 1717 Sardis Rd. N., Ste. 6A. (704708-9888) L, D, B/W ✸

AMERICAN Classic bar food and friendly service have made this a neighborhood hangout for generations.

1522 Providence Rd. (704-366-4467) L, D, BAR

SANTÉ

ITALIAN Meaning “seasons,” this concept from Bruce Moffett serves Italian standards. A must-visit for Chef Eric Ferguson's delicious, handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and slow-roasted meats. 715 Providence Rd. (704-372-8110) D, BAR ☎

$$$ - $$$$

FRENCH The food is far from colloquial here, and the exposed brickwork and antiqued tin roof lend credence to the French name. 165 N. Trade St., Matthews. (704845-1899) D, BAR

❤ YUME BISTRO

$$

JAPANESE The flavorful ramen and other Japanese classics here defy the restaurant’s plain interior. They also opened a new location in Wilmore last year. 1369 Chestnut Ln., Matthews. (704-821-0676) L, D

Myers Park/Cotswold DEEJAI THAI

$$

THAI This family-owned eatery offers takeout, but with its modern dining room and bright patio, you’ll want to settle into a table. 613 Providence Rd. (704-333-7884) L, (weekdays), D, BAR ✸

FENWICK’S

$$

AMERICAN A Myers Park mainstay since the 1980s, Fenwick’s is a go-to for a comforting meal made with fresh ingredients, delivered with warm service. 511 Providence Rd. (704-333-2750) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

LEROY FOX

$$

SOUTHERN A casual eatery known for its fried chicken, Leroy Fox serves Southern classics and upscale pub grub, with an additional location in South End. 705 S. Sharon Amity Rd. (704-366-3232) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

MAMA RICOTTA’S

$$

ITALIAN Frank Scibelli’s (Midwood Smokehouse, Yafo, Paco’s) first restaurant does simple Italian dishes

ITALIAN Volo translates to "flight," which is the Italian answer to a tasting menu. Let the chef choose a meat, vegetable, or seafood flight for you, or order off the dinner menu and enjoy a plate of gnocchi, risotto, or tortellini paired with a glass of chianti. 1039 Providence Rd. (704-919-1020) D, BAR ☎

NoDa/North Charlotte AMÉLIE’S FRENCH BAKERY

$

FRENCH Enjoy a flaky croissant on the outdoor patio or order from the café menu of soups and sandwiches any time of day—or night. Amélie's now has two additional locations in uptown and Park Road Shopping Center.

2424 N. Davidson St. (704-376-1781) B, L, D

BAO + BROTH

$-$$

ASIAN Follow the smell of ramen and steamed pork belly buns to this food stall, the fifth restaurant from chef Bruce Moffett, and have a seat among the other diners in Optimist Hall. 1115 N. Brevard St. (704-6252269) L, D

BENNY PENNELLO’S

$

PIZZA A full Benny P’s pie is 28 inches, almost double the standard—but if you divide it into eight slices, one is the ideal-sized meal for one person. 2909 N. Davidson St., Ste. 100. (980-949-8398) L, D, B/W

Best Bites Our favorite dish this month, chosen by Charlotte magazine staff

COURTESY

VEGAN GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE GELATO, $3.95 HONEYSUCKLE GELATO ICE CREAM’S ITALIAN COUSIN gets a vegan spin at this Optimist Hall spot. Swirled with nuts, this seductively sweet and velvety smooth nondairy dessert hits all the right notes. It’s divinely chocolaty, sporadically crunchy with the infusion of walnuts, and sticky enough to remind you of childhood when the cone (and you should obviously get the cone) succumbs to the gelato’s melt.

The vegan version is made with water instead of milk, so maybe, just maybe, you can leave full of gelato and have a few less regrets. Stop in to Honeysuckle first when you arrive at Optimist Hall. Order the cone and take it with you as you peruse the other stalls and find your second course. Because dessert should always come first. —Jared Misner

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

105

THE GUIDE CABO FISH TACO

$-$$

SEAFOOD This NoDa “Baja seagrill” serves up the title dish as well as quesadillas, burritos, and salads in a fun, surf-themed atmosphere. 3201 N. Davidson St. (704332-8868) L, D, BAR ✸

CRÊPE CELLAR KITCHEN & PUB

$-$$

FRENCH The crêpes—both sweet and savory—are delicious, but the restaurant’s fare goes beyond its French roots with flavorful salads, entrées, and craft cocktails.

3116 N. Davidson St. (704-910-6543) BR, L, D, BAR

THE DUMPLING LADY

$-$$

ASIAN One of Charlotte’s most popular food trucks has a brick-and-mortar space in Optimist Hall. Order Zhang Qian’s authentic Sichuan dumplings, noodles, and dim sum, and brace for spice. 1115 N. Brevard St. (980-5956174) L, D, V

EL THRIFTY

$-$$

MEXICAN The Mexican cantina and gaming venue in Optimist Hall serves creative tacos and cocktails with a side of duckpin bowling. 1115 N. Brevard St. (980-9497837) L, D, BAR ✸

THE GOODYEAR HOUSE

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Grab a table in the botanist room or the open patio on a warm night, and enjoy elevated comfort food like smoked cashew mac and cheese and guinea hen stew. 3032 N. Davidson St. (704-910-0132) L, D, BAR ✸

❤ HABERDISH

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Southern appetizers, fried chicken, and apothecary cocktails from Colleen Hughes draw a hip crowd to this mill town southern kitchen. 3106 N. Davidson St. (704-817-1084) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

HEIST BREWERY

$-$$

AMERICAN This is bar food to the extreme. Beer is incorporated into several dishes at this brewpub. The beer cheese is made with Heist’s own beer and served alongside pretzels made with leftover mash. 2909 N. Davidson St., Ste. 200. (704-375-8260) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

JACKBEAGLE’S

$

AMERICAN A mainstay for the locals, this place serves unconventional bar bites like mac-and-blue-cheese with bacon. 3213 N. Davidson St. (704-334-5140) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

$ Most entrées under $10 $$ Most entrées $10-$17 $$$ Most entrées $18-$25 $$$$ Most entrées $26 & up

❤ B BR L D V

106

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

B/W Beer and wine only BAR Full-service bar ✸ Patio seating available Reservations suggested

☎

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

NEW LISTING

LEAH & LOUISE

$$

SOUTHERN A James Beard-nominated chef and Soul Food Sessions co-founder Greg Collier serves the dishes he grew up on, like hot fried quail and dirty grits, in a space modeled after a Memphis-style juke joint. 301 Camp Rd., Ste. 101 (980-309-0690) D, BAR ✸ ☎

PAPI QUESO

$-$$

AMERICAN Expect all the staples from the popular food truck, along with new grilled cheeses, mac and cheese, and melts from the brick-and-mortar location in Optimist Hall. 1115 N. Brevard St. (704-5791779) L, D, V

ROOM AND BOARD

$-$$

AMERICAN Inside a two-story Victorian home and former boarding house, have your choice of sandwiches, burgers, and wings, or come for Sunday brunch and get a "hangover pizza." 3228 N. Davidson St. (980-4303136) BR (Sun) L, D, BAR

Plaza Midwood/East Charlotte ACE NO. 3

$

AMERICAN The new counter-service burger joint from the team behind Sea Level and the Waterman offers a straightforward menu of burgers, fries, and shakes.

1001 Belmont Ave. (704-910-2200) L, D, ✸

CILANTRO NOODLE

$-$$

VIETNAMESE Even if you think cilantro tastes like soap, don't let the name of this fast casual restaurant fool you—the herb add-on is optional. Structured like Chipotle, build-your-own meals include a base starch (banh mi, vermicelli noodles, white rice, fried rice), one protein, and five toppings. 2001 Commonwealth Ave. (704-345-9490) L, D, V, B/W ✸

COALTRANE’S

$-$$

AMERICAN Rotisserie chicken with South Americaninspired sides makes for a healthy and fast lunch or dinner. 1518 Central Ave. (980-265-1290) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

COMMON MARKET

$

DELI A neighborhood hangout with additional locations in South End and Oakwold, this market and deli serves quick and delicious sandwiches, local craft beers, snacks, sweets, and more. 2007 Commonwealth Ave. (704-334-6209) B, L, D, B/W ✸

DIAMOND RESTAURANT

$-$$

DISH

$-$$

❤ INTERMEZZO PIZZERIA & CAFÉ

$-$$

AMERICAN This 1950s-style diner features retro teal booths, a jukebox, and classic dishes like burgers, fried pork chops, and fried chicken. 1901 Commonwealth Ave. (704-375-8959) L, D, BAR ✸

SOUTHERN A neighborhood joint with an eclectic clientele, good, down-home Southern food, and a funky wait staff. 1220 Thomas Ave. (704-344-0343) B, L, D, BAR ✸

FUSION Even the pickiest eater can find something to order here, with menu options ranging from burgers and pizzas to cabbage rolls and stuffed peppers. 1427 E. 10th St. (704-347-2626) L, D, V, BAR ✸

LANG VAN

$

LUPIE'S CAFE

$

VIETNAMESE Regulars love this no-fuss spot for its authentic cuisine, with loads of flavor and fresh ingredients. 3019 Shamrock Dr. (704-531-9525) BR, L, D, V, B/W

AMERICAN The building, interior, and menu have barely changed since owner Lupie Duran opened in 1987.

It’s an ideal spot for cold days, specializing in handmade burgers, four kinds of chili, meatloaf, and "chicken n dumplins." 2718 Monroe Rd., (704-374-1232) L, D, B/W

❤ MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

$$

MOO & BREW

$$

❤ NC RED

$$

SAL'S PIZZA FACTORY

$$

❤ SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

$$

SNOOZE: AN A.M. EATERY

$$

THREE AMIGOS

$$

BARBECUE With North Carolina pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, and dry or sauced ribs, there’s a ’cue for everyone—and traditional sides to pair. The restaurant has a number of Charlotte locations including Ballantyne and Park Road Shopping Center, but the Plaza Midwood spot is its flagship post. 1401 Central Ave. (704-295-4227) L, D, BAR ✸

AMERICAN A playful list of burgers, craft beers, and friendly servers make this spot an easy choice for a casual dinner out. The patio is packed on nice nights. 1300 Central Ave. (980-585-4148) L, D, BAR ✸

SEAFOOD/SOUTHERN The fourth restaurant from Bruce Moffett serves a mix of Rhode Island shore food, like oysters and stuffed clams, and southern comforts, like fried chicken and mac and cheese. 1205 Thomas Ave. (704-321-4716) D, BAR ✸

PIZZA The New York slices at this east Charlotte joint have thick cheese and generous toppings—the classic style of pizza that fuels nostalgia and harkens back to a time when you didn’t know what calories or gluten were. 3723 Monroe Rd. (980-219-7108) L, D, BAR

NEW AMERICAN Expect to wait a while at this no-reservations spot, known for small plates like pork belly tacos with compressed watermelon, and a rotating list of craft cocktails. 1500-B Central Ave. (704-348-1848) D, BAR ✸

AMERICAN The Denver-based breakfast spot has a huge menu, but you're free to mix and match. Choose any two benedicts with the Benny Duo, or get the Pancake Flight with three different flavors. There's also a morning cocktail menu with mimosas, mojitos, and a dirty drunken chai. 1331-A Central Ave. (704-243-5070) B, BR, L, BAR ✸

MEXICAN Three Amigos remains a constant on Central Avenue, specializing in enchiladas and other Mexican staples like tinga de pollo and carne asada tacos. It's always fresh, too—they'll never save rice, beans, or meat for use the next day. 2917A Central Ave., 704-536-1851.

L, D, BAR ✸

THE WORKMAN’S FRIEND

$$-$$$

IRISH Enjoy Irish classics like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie in this rustic dining room, or grab a pint at the

Charlotte’s Top Spots Go Curbside Amid the Coronavirus epidemic, many restaurants on our “50 Best” list started offering curbside options. As of late March, these spots were doing just that:

Uptown THE ASBURY

235 N. Tryon St. 704-342-1193 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. To-go menu on its site (linked above).

Chef Mike Long’s inventive menu mixes countryside favorites like biscuits and deviled eggs with bold flavors and contemporary techniques.

STOKE

100 W. Trade St. 704-353-6005 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. To-go menu on its site (linked above).

Hotel dining gets an upgrade with this wood-fired grill, family-style concept in Marriott City Center.

ANGELINE’S

303 S. Church St. 704-445-2540 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, Sun-Thur, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Fri, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Currently, they’re offering 20% off on all of these orders.)

The Italian-inspired entreés at this uptown spot are all excellent, and the whipped ricotta with sourdough, lavender honey, and pistachio is the most imaginative appetizer on the menu.

South End/Dilworth BARDO

1508 S. Mint St. 980-585-2433 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, Mon-Sat, 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (They’re also offering to-go cocktail kits for $8 that make two cocktails and include instructions.)

This foodie destination serves seasonal small plates and creative cocktails. The dining room looks into a big, open kitchen where diners can watch the chefs at work.

COPPER

311 East Blvd.

704-333-0063 OPTIONS: Take out and curbside pickup during regular hours. The restaurant also has free delivery with a minimum order of $40 within a 5-mile radius.

Ease into Indian cuisine with standard dishes like chicken tikka masala, or be more adventurous with the seafood medley “anjeeri” and dial up the spice.

300 EAST

300 East Blvd.

704-332-6507 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, with regular menu options and new family-style options. Owners say hours vary based on demands, but typically, the business is open 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. right now.

The interior of this old house-turned-restaurant is welcoming, as is the menu of familiar and surprising sandwiches, salads, and entrées. Save room for dessert by pastry chef Laney Jahkel-Parrish.

BONTERRA

1829 Cleveland Ave. 704-333-9463 OPTIONS: Takeout, curbside pick-up, and delivery (within 3 miles) are available. Hours are 4 p.m-8 p.m. right now.

Its setting may be a historic Southern church, but Bonterra serves up modern Southern flavors with top-notch service. Wine lovers will be impressed by the more than 200 wines by the glass.

FUTO BUTA

222 E. Bland St. 704-376-8400 OPTIONS: Takeout and curbside pick-up daily until 9 p.m.

This ramen house promises authenticity, irreverence, and delightful, salty bowls of the hot noodle soup.

NoDa/North of Charlotte HABERDISH

3106 N. Davidson St. 704-817-1084 OPTIONS: Order online and pick up to-go orders on the patio or curbside 4-8 p.m.

Southern appetizers, fried chicken, and apothecary cocktails from Colleen Hughes draw a hip crowd to this mill town southern kitchen.

KINDRED

Plaza Midwood/Elizabeth MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

1401 Central Ave. 704-295-4227 OPTIONS: Curbside pick-up for online orders. (Service temporarily discontinued at Cross Hill and Birkdale locations) With North Carolina pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, and dry or sauced ribs, there’s a ’cue for everyone—and traditional sides to pair. The restaurant has a number of Charlotte locations including Ballantyne and Park Road Shopping Center, but the Plaza Midwood spot is its flagship post.

SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

1500 Central Ave. 704-348-1848 OPTIONS: Takeout or curbside pickup 5-10 p.m. daily, or limited delivery to 28202, 28203, 28204 and 28205 zip codes.

Expect to wait a while at this no-reservations spot, known for small plates like pork belly tacos with compressed watermelon, and a rotating list of craft cocktails.

SWEET LEW’S BBQ

923 Belmont Ave. 980-224-7584 OPTIONS: Limited menu items available for curbside pick-up at Dish, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Demand for Lewis Donald’s barbecue hasn’t wavered since the “shack” opened last year; it’s not uncommon for Sweet Lew’s to sell out of its brisket and chopped pork shoulder.

PIZZERIA OMAGGIO

131 N. Main St. 980-231-5000 OPTIONS: Curbside pick-up or delivery. (The $5 delivery fee and any gratuity goes to the hourly team whose income has been eliminated.)

Every meal at the Davidson restaurant starts the same way: with cloud-like milk bread, an appetizer with such a following, Kindred made T-shirts. The subsequent dishes are just as beautiful, and they’ve earned chef and co-owner Joe Kindred a James Beard nod for the past four years.

1055 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 130 704-370-0777 OPTIONS: Takeout and curbside pick-up until 9 p.m.

Among a sea of by-the-slice joints, owner Daniel Siragusa sticks by his Italian roots with personal pizzas.

Some think they can’t possibly eat the whole pie, but they do. And then they order dessert.

HELLO, SAILOR

6601 Morrison Blvd.

704-366-8688 OPTIONS: Orders can be placed online from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Guests can park in one of the designated Rooster’s To-Go parking spaces outside of the restaurant and pick up at the hostess stand.

Chef Jim Noble’s menu features gussied-up, Southern-tinged American and European peasant fare, like hand-tossed pizzas and roasted chicken. A second location is in uptown.

20210 Henderson Rd. 704-997-5365 OPTIONS: Hello, Sailor has closed and shifted to curbside pick-up and delivery services at Kindred restaurant.

Davidson’s sweethearts, Joe and Katy Kindred, opened this lakefront spot. Expect Carolina classics like fried catfish and seafood platters, as well as tiki drinks.

South Charlotte ROOSTER’S WOOD-FIRED KITCHEN

MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

107

THE GUIDE custom-built walnut bar. 1531 Central Ave. (980-2248234) BR, L (Fri-Sun), D, BAR ✸

YAMA IZAKAYA

$$

JAPANESE Enjoy true, labor-intensive ramen, complete with add-ons like corn and pork belly, as well as traditional Japanese small plates and a sushi menu. 1324 Central Ave. (704-910-6387) D, V, BAR ✸

ZADA JANE’S CORNER CAFE

$-$$

SOUTHERN This funky neighborhood restaurant with shuffleboard courts, a large patio, and colorful walls serves breakfast and brunch all day. 1601 Central Ave. (704-332-3663) B, BR, L, BAR ✸

salad, and the option of three sauces, tastes more expensive than its $25 fixed price. 2322 Dunavant St., Ste. 200. (980-335-0125) BR, D, BAR ✸

EIGHT + SAND KITCHEN

❤ FUTO BUTA

BARCELONA WINE BAR

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Nosh on Spanish and Mediterraneaninspired tapas or customize a charcuterie board with meats from different regions in Europe. Choose from more than 400 wines, and don't miss the olive oil cake.

101 W. Worthington Ave., Ste. 110. (704-741-0300) D, BAR ✸☎

❤ BARDO

$$$

BILL SPOON’S BARBECUE

$

BARBECUE Stop by for true eastern-style barbecue, mustard-based slaw, homemade banana pudding, and Mr. Spoon’s special sauce. 5524 South Blvd. (704-5258865) L (Mon-Sat)

BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY

$$

AMERICAN In addition to craft beers, this LoSo brewery has Southern-inspired bar food like fries topped with jalapeño gravy and bacon crumbles. 4001-A Yancey Rd. (704-452-4001) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸☎

THE DUNAVANT

$$$

STEAK HOUSE The signature steak and bottomless fries dinner, which includes bread, a choice of soup or

MAC’S SPEED SHOP

$$

$ -$$

BARBECUE Solid barbecue and cold beer (150 choices) in a bike-themed space draw fun-loving crowds, with additional locations in Matthews and Lake Norman.

2511 South Blvd. (704-522-6227) L, D, BAR ✸

MIDNIGHT DINER

$

AMERICAN This 24-hour classic diner has everything you’d expect, including an all-day breakfast, onion rings, milkshakes, burgers, and hand-cut fries, along with Southern fare. 115 E. Carson Blvd. (980-207-3641) B, L, D, B/W ✸

MOCCO BISTRO

RAI LAY THAI CUISINE

$$

SEOUL FOOD MEAT CO.

$$

$$$$

VEGETARIAN This vegan gem is known for its raw version of lasagna, made with zucchini noodles, sundried tomato sauce, mushrooms, and a cashew-basil cheese.

Its juice bar is also a popular draw. 2000 South Blvd., Ste. 300. (704-333-0008) B, L, D, B/W, V ✸

STEAK HOUSE An old favorite, this steak house is just what you’d expect, serving up thick and juicy cuts in a dark interior. 4538 South Blvd. (704-523-9977) D, BAR

$

FUSION This hip spot fuses traditional American barbecue with Korean flavors all the way to the sides, which include ramen mac-and-cheese. 1400 S. Church St., Ste. A. (980-299-5143) L (weekends), D, BAR ✸

$$$

LUNA’S LIVING KITCHEN

PRICE’S CHICKEN COOP

SOUTHERN Expect to eat your meal standing up—or sitting in your car—but rest assured it's the best damn fried chicken in the country. 1614 Camden Rd. (704333-9866) L, D (until 6 p.m.), Cash only. No seating.

$$-$$$

ITALIAN Atherton Mill's rustic Italian restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas and hand-crafted pastas, proving certain dishes are classics for a reason. 2046 South Blvd.

(704-741-9004) L, D, BAR

LET'S MEAT KBBQ

$$-$$$

THAI Upscale Thai food in a sleek interior with attentive service makes this a fitting spot for South End. 1520 South Blvd., Ste. 130. (980-207-0991) L (Mon-Sat), D, BAR ☎

KOREAN BBQ Marinated meats at this all-you-caneat hangout come with Korean sides like steamed egg soufflé. 1400 S. Church St., Ste. B. (980-299-4389) L, D, (Mon-Fri) BAR

NEW AMERICAN This foodie destination serves seasonal small plates and creative cocktails. The dining room looks into a big, open kitchen where diners can watch the chefs at work. 1508 S. Mint St., Ste. B. (980585-2433) D, BAR ☎

❤ BEEF ’N BOTTLE

$$

JAPANESE This ramen house promises authenticity, irreverence, and delightful, salty bowls of the hot noodle soup. 222 E. Bland St. (704-376-8400) L, D, B/W ✸

INDACO

South End

$

AMERICAN Come here for breakfast, brunch, lunch, an afternoon snack, or an evening out. The made-fromscratch bakery has sandwiches, salads, and artisan breads, and the café serves drinks all day. 135 New Bern St. B, BR, L, B/W

O-KU

SUSHI This second location of the Charleston-based Indigo Road restaurant group’s Japanese spot has great service, a beautiful interior, and dishes full of flavor.

2000 South Blvd., Ste. 510. (704-594-1922) D, BAR ☎

$

GREEK Despite the sounds of South Boulevard, the Greek pastries and coffees here can transport you to the Aegean Sea in just one taste. 4004 South Blvd., Ste. E. (980-207-0508) B, L, D, B/W ✸

SOUTHBOUND

$-$$

BAJA The breezy vibes and bright flavors at this taco joint call for a Pacifico or a margarita. 2433 South Blvd.

(704-912-1889) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

SUPERICA

$$-$$$

THE WATERMAN FISH BAR

$$-$$$

❤ ZEPPELIN

$$-$$$

TEX-MEX Atlanta chef Ford Fry brings the newest location of his Tex-Mex concept, with tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas, to the Design Center. 101 W. Worthington Ave., Ste. 100 (980-321-9914) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

SEAFOOD This oyster bar has all the staples: lobster rolls, clam chowder, and oysters four ways. At sunset, head to the rooftop terrace for a cocktail and views of uptown. 2729 South Blvd., Ste. D. (704-275-5558) L, D, BAR ✸

NEW SOUTHERN A seasonal menu includes small plates like Korean-inspired calamari and barbecueroasted octopus. The cocktail program focuses on innovative interpretations of classic drinks. 235 W. Tremont Ave. (980-209-0008) BR (Sun), D (Tues-Sat), BAR ✸

South Charlotte (Arboretum, Ballantyne, Pineville, Fort Mill)

NIKKO

$$-$$$

$ Most entrées under $10 $$ Most entrées $10-$17 $$$ Most entrées $18-$25 $$$$ Most entrées $26 & up

JAPANESE Artistic sushi, a moody interior, and thumping sound system bring in dinner and late-night crowds, but quick service makes it a great lunch spot. 325 Arlington Ave., Ste. 108. (704-370-0100) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

AMERICAN This spot serves up hearty portions of diner staples, such as meatloaf and fresh-roasted turkey clubs, all made in-house. 16637 Lancaster Hwy. (704544-0313) B, L, D, BAR ✸

❤

NORTH ITALIA

$$-$$$

ITALIAN This eatery in StoneCrest at Piper Glen has Italian-American dishes like snapper picatta, penne alla Civetta, and scallops risotto. Save room for a lasagnasized slice of tiramisu for dessert. 7828-E Rea Rd. (980335-2758) BR (Sun), L, D, V, BAR ✸

B BR L D V

108

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

B/W Beer and wine only BAR Full-service bar ✸ Patio seating available Reservations suggested

☎

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

ITALIAN Head to the ground floor of the RailYard for a dressed-up entree like squid ink mafaldine, or get the basic spaghetti and meatballs, which is good every time. 1414 S Tryon St., Ste. 140 (980-279-8900) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

BIG VIEW DINER

$$

CIVETTA ITALIAN KITCHEN + BAR

$$-$$$

THE BLUE TAJ

$$-$$$

INDIAN The sister restaurant of Copper has contempo-

rary decor and a sharply dressed wait staff delivering Indian dishes to each table. 14815 Ballantyne Village Way., Ste. 170. (704-369-5777) L, D, V, BAR ✸

THE FLIPSIDE CAFÉ

$$-$$

NEW SOUTHERN Chefs Jon and Amy Fortes’ first restaurant makes you feel right at home, but the food lets you know it ain’t your mama in the kitchen. 3150 Hwy. 21 N., Fort Mill. (803-802-1711) B, BR, L, D, B/W, ☎

FLIPSIDE RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This sister restaurant of Flipside Café has a more formal and spacious dining room, which fits with its elevated menu. 129 Caldwell St., Rock Hill. (803324-3547) BR, L, D, V, BAR ☎

GALLERY RESTAURANT

$$$-$$$$

NEW AMERICAN Inside the Ballantyne hotel, you’ll find Southern-inspired, white-tablecloth dining with dishes sourced from local farmers. 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. (704-248-4100) B, BR, L, D, BAR

THE PORTER’S HOUSE

$$$-$$$$

STEAK HOUSE The newest member of the Rare Roots Hospitality Group (Dressler’s, Dogwood) is known for thick-cut steaks, modern sides, and craft cocktails. 7417 Waverly Walk Ave. (704-930-7878) D, BAR ✸☎

RED ROCKS CAFÉ

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Consistently good pasta,rock seafood, and steak make this restaurant a mainstay in the Strawberry Hill shopping center. Additional locations are in Indian Land and Birkdale Village. 4223 Providence Rd., Ste. 8 (704-364-0402) BR (Sun), L, D, V, BAR ✸

SPICE ASIAN KITCHEN

$$-$$$

ASIAN The dumplings and Pad Thai are consistently good, but the bibimap, bossam, and curry dishes are great for adventurous palates. During patio season, enjoy a cocktail or dessert at the rooftop terrace bar. 251 Textile Way, Fort Mill. (803-548-6868) L, D, V, BAR ✸

WALDHORN

$$

GERMAN Family-friendly Waldhorn offers authentic German dishes in a Bavarian setting. 12101 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. (704-540-7047) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸

SouthPark/Park Road ❤ BAR MARCEL

$$-$$$

FUSION The menu features shareable plates of beef carpaccio or truffle and herb frittes—but order a flatbread pizza for yourself. 3920 Sharon Road, Ste. 160.

(980-237-1919) L, D, BAR ✸☎

BAKU

$$-$$$

JAPANESE Black and red decor, delicious sushi, techno beats, and a large pair of geisha eyes staring out at the crowd make for a dramatic setting in this shared plates restaurant. 4515 Sharon Rd. (704-817-7173) D, BAR ☎

PETER TAYLOR

❤ BARRINGTON’S

$$$-$$$$

NEW AMERICAN Bruce Moffett’s first restaurant is one of the best in town, with a classic menu and stellar service. 7822 Fairview Rd. (704-364-5755) D (MonSat), BAR ☎

CAFÉ MONTE

$$-$$$

FRENCH Monte Smith has done a bang-up job re-creating a classic French restaurant, and diners react enthusiastically at brunch, lunch, and dinner. 6700 Fairview Rd. (704-552-1116) B, L, D, BAR ✸☎

CANTINA 1511

$$

❤ CORKBUZZ

$$-$$$

MEXICAN This easy, casual spot draws crowds for its fresh takes on Mexican cuisine and fine margarita list.

4271 Park Rd. (704-331-9222) L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

NEW AMERICAN This place focuses on food that pairs well with wine—all 200-plus by the bottle and nearly 40 by the glass. 4905 Ashley Park Ln., Ste. J. (704-6251328) BR, L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

❤ DOGWOOD SOUTHERN TABLE + BAR

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Ingredients are fresh and cocktails are innovative at this spot, a sister to Dressler’s. 4905 Ashley Park Ln., Ste. D. (704-910-4919) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ☎

❤ DOT DOT DOT

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Stefan Huebner's creative cocktails may be the main attraction at this members-only speakeasy, but chef Daniel Wheeler's sweet potato gnocchi with bourbon glaze will convince you to stay for dinner. 4237 Park Rd., Ste. B. (704-817-3710) D, BAR

❤ FLOUR SHOP

$$$

ITALIAN Watch your pasta get prepared in the open kitchen. Chef Trey Wilson's shared plates are great for larger groups, but if you don't want to share, get the lamb Bolognese. 530 Brandywine Rd. (980-299-3754) D, BAR ☎

❤ GOOD FOOD ON MONTFORD

REID’S FINE FOODS

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Stellar service and a reliable menu have earned this market and restaurant a loyal following. 4331 Barclay Downs Dr. (704-377-7686) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

ROASTING COMPANY

$

AMERICAN Since adding a full bar, Roasting Company fits in more comfortably with the Montford Drive scene, but still sets the standard for rotisserie chicken. 1521 Montford Dr. (704-521-8188) L, D, BAR ✸

ROCKSALT

$$$-$$$$

SEAFOOD Head to RockSalt for the spacious patio and fresh seafood—from the raw bar, with several varieties of oysters on the half shell, or the daily catch. 512 Brandywine Rd. (704-503-9945) BR, L (weekends), D, BAR ✸☎

❤ ROOSTER’S WOOD-FIRED KITCHEN

$$-$$$

$$

$-$$

ITALIAN An authentic northern Italian menu is paired with an extensive wine list, while courtyard dining adds to the experience on a nice night. 6401 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 6B. (704-367-1808) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Unlike its flagship location in Plaza Midwood, the SouthPark brewery serves more than typical bar snacks. Chef Gene Briggs cooks pork belly gyros, duck fat chicken wings, and a full Sunday brunch. 5610 Carnegie Blvd. (980-256-4167) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

OAK STEAKHOUSE

$$$$

AMERICAN This pub, named for the astronomer and mathematician, serves its entire menu until closing at 2 a.m. 4151 Park Rd., Ste. A. (704-525-7775) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸

ASIAN Roger and Robert Kongham, the sons of Thai Taste’s owners, serve creamy curries, Thai classics, and sushi in a more formal dining room. 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd., Ste. 150. (980-256-4380) L, D, BAR

LEGION BREWING

❤ PEPPERVINE

FUSION Chef Bill Greene serves a rotation of artistic small plates with unexpected pairings like lamb belly with kimchi porridge, or smoked butternut squash with miso. 4620 Piedmont Row Dr., Ste. 170B. (980-2832333) D, V, BAR ✸☎

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Jazzed-up American cuisine makes Harper’s a place to take out-of-town guests with varying palates. 6518 Fairview Rd. (704-366-6688) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸

HIBISCUS

$$

NEW SOUTHERN Chef Jim Noble’s menu features gussied-up, Southern-tinged American and European peasant fare, like hand-tossed pizzas and roasted chicken. A second location is in uptown. 6601 Morrison Blvd.

(704-366-8688) L, D, V, BAR ☎

NEW AMERICAN Bruce Moffett’s small-plates bistro unites a variety of influences and flavors onto one menu, and each dish is worth ordering. 1701 Montford Dr. (704-525-0881) D, BAR ☎

HARPER’S RESTAURANT

PACO’S TACOS & TEQUILA

MEXICAN Although you’ll find plenty of options on the menu, there are 10 varieties of tacos and more than 60 kinds of tequila. 6401 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 8A. (704-7168226) L, D, V, BAR ✸

$$$$

STEAK HOUSE Chef Tyler Honeycutt aces steakhouse classics like ribeye or filet, and be sure to save room for some lemon olive oil cake for dessert. 4477 Sharon Rd., Ste 125. (704-954-8900) D, BAR ☎

SIR EDMOND HALLEY’S

$$

TOSCANA

$$$

❤ UPSTREAM

$$$-$$$$

YAFO KITCHEN

$$

YAMA ASIAN FUSION

$$

SEAFOOD The 20-year-old SouthPark mainstay is known for upscale seafood, but executive chef Sam Diminich's sushi menu adds Pacific Rim flavors to the mix. 6902 Phillips Place Ct. (704-556-7730) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸☎

MEDITERRANEAN With additional locations in Dilworth and Plaza Midwood, this fast-casual concept serves Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired fare in a wrap, salad, or grain bowl. 720 Governor Morrison St., Ste. 120. (704-365-7130) L, D, B/W ✸

FUSION This upscale Japanese restaurant has sushi, hibachi, and Asian-inspired entrées. A second location MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

109

opened in Waverly last year. 720 Governor Morrison St., Ste. 130. (70s4-295-0905) L (Mon-Sat), D,BAR ✸☎

University Area AMALFI PASTA ’N PIZZA

$$

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This uptown spot with modern Southern food is best for cocktails and conversation at the bar. 204 N. Tryon St. (704-333-3747) BR, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ 5CHURCH

$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Executive chef Whitney Thomas's innovative, seasonal menu includes yellowfin tuna sushi tots and mint crusted lamb loin. 127 N. Tryon St., Ste. 8.

(704-919-1322) BR, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ ALEXANDER MICHAEL’S

$$ -$$$

AMERICAN The blackened catfish is cooked just right, the Cajun pasta is piping hot, and chatter fills the no-reservations dining room. 401 W. 9th St. (704-332-6789) L, D, BAR

❤ ANGELINE'S

$$$

ITALIAN The Italian-inspired entreés at this uptown spot are all excellent, and the whipped ricotta with sourdough, lavender honey, and pistachio is the most imaginative appetizer on the menu. 303 S. Church St. (704-445-2540) B, BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

$ Most entrées under $10 $$ Most entrées $10-$17 $$$ Most entrées $18-$25 $$$$ Most entrées $26 & up

L D V

110

❤ HALCYON, FLAVORS FROM THE EARTH $$$-$$$$

BASIL THAI

THE CELLAR AT DUCKWORTH’S

B/W Beer and wine only BAR Full-service bar ✸ Patio seating available Reservations suggested

☎

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN With views from the Mint Museum Uptown, this restaurant's local menu is popular for lunch and pre-theater dinners. 500 S. Tryon St. (704-910-0865) BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Enjoy locally and seasonally inspired dishes from North Carolina chef William Dissen in this bright, stylish space next to Romare Bearden Park. 225 S. Poplar St. (704-626-6116) BR,D,BAR ✸☎

NEW AMERICAN The focus is on small plates, craft beer served in its proper glassware at proper temperature, and craft cocktails. 330 N. Tryon St. (980-349-4078) D, BAR ☎

COCO + THE DIRECTOR

204 NORTH

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

$$$

THAI Thai lovers can sate their cravings with tasty pad Thai, while the more daring can try dishes like crispy red curry duck, a rich, deep-fried half duck in a spicy red curry sauce. 210 N. Church St. (704-332-7212) L (weekdays), D, V, BAR ☎

Uptown

❤

❤ THE ASBURY

$$-$$$

MEXICAN Expect typical Mexican fare in a high-energy dining room, with an additional location in Ballantyne.

8927 J.M. Keynes Dr., in University Place shopping center. (704-503-1979) L, D, BAR

B BR

er Brittany Kellum's drinks. Then splurge on a slice of cheesecake. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Ste. 100. (704-800-5680) L, D, BAR ✸☎

NEW SOUTHERN Chef Mike Long's inventive menu mixes countryside favorites like biscuits and deviled eggs with bold flavors and contemporary techniques.

235 N. Tryon St. (704-342-1193) B, BR, L, D, BAR ☎

AMERICAN The food here is primarily American bistrostyle, but the owner’s family tuna business makes apps like the tuna tartare standouts. 8708 J. W. Clay Blvd.

(704-549-0050) L (weekends), D, BAR ✸

ZAPATA’S CANTINA

$$$

$$

ITALIAN The only other places where Italian food is this real, this good, and this cheap are called trattorias, and you have to take a plane to get to them. 8542 University City Blvd. (704-547-8651) L, D, B/W ✸

FIREWATER

❤ ARIA TUSCAN GRILL

ITALIAN This restaurant serves up an extensive Italian menu in an elegant, modern space. 100 N. Tryon St. (704-376-8880) L (weekdays), D, BAR ☎

$

AMERICAN Marriott introduced this coffee and sandwich shop for locals and hotel guests alike to have a comfortable, casual dining option. 100 W. Trade St. (704353-6003) B, L, D, B/W

COWBELL BURGER & BAR

$$

AMERICAN This sister restaurant to Leroy Fox has a trendy, pop-culture vibe—and a roster of fancy burgers (including a foie gras-topped offering for $20). 201 N. Tryon St., Ste. 1010. (980-224-8674) L, D, BAR

DANDELION MARKET

$$-$$$

ESSEX BAR & BISTRO

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN On weekends, this Irish pub turns into one of uptown’s hottest nightlife spots. But during the day, come for a cozy meal with flickering candles and shared plates. 118 W. 5th St. (704-333-7989) BR, L, D, BAR

❤ HAYMAKER

$$$ - $$$$

THE KING’S KITCHEN

$$-$$$

❤ LA BELLE HELENE

$$$ - $$$$

SOUTHERN Chef Jim Noble's restaurant, which serves traditional Southern fare, donates profits to faith-based feeding centers and employs troubled youth and people who have just come out of rehab or prison.

129 W. Trade St. (704-375-1990) L (weekdays) D, B/W, ✸☎

FRENCH The Parisian menu offers rotisserie chicken and a mix of pour commencer and plats, plus decadent desserts and specialty cocktails. 300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 100. (704-9692550) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ☎

LUCE

$$$

ITALIAN Luce is a beautiful, intimate, luxurious restaurant with simple but innovative northern Italian cuisine. 214 N. Tryon St., Ste. J, in Hearst Plaza. (704-344-9222) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

MALABAR SPANISH CUISINE

$$

GLOBAL Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences run through this menu. Order a few tapas and a bottle of wine, head out to the patio, and watch the activity at Trade and Tryon. 101 S. Tryon St., Ste. 14. (980-406-3857) L, D, BAR ✸☎

SPANISH This sister restaurant to Luce serves authentic regional cuisine from Spain for lunch and dinner. 214 N. Tryon St. (704344-8878) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

EVOKE

$$$-$$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Guests order from a daily prix fixe menu (ranging from five courses to nine courses), choose their wine and entrées, and the staff takes care of the rest. 511 N. Church St. (704-332-6159) D, BAR ☎

FAHRENHEIT

$$$-$$$$

STEAK HOUSE In this modern space off the lobby of Le Méridien, the beautifully seared steaks and seafood crudos are among the must-try menu items. 555 S. McDowell St. (980-237-5354) B, L, D, BAR ☎

NEW AMERICAN Located on the 21st floor of Skye Condos, chef Rocco Whalen’s restaurant is the place in Charlotte to eat a meal and see the city twinkle. 222 S. Caldwell St. (980-237-6718) BR, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ FORCHETTA

$$-$$$

ITALIAN Chef Luca Annunziata serves lasagna just like his mom made it and carbonara as it's served in Rome.

230 North College St. (704-602-2750) B, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ FIN & FINO

$$$

SEAFOOD Come for the raw bar, but stay for bartend-

❤ McNINCH HOUSE

$$$$

MERT’S HEART AND SOUL

$-$$

MIMOSA GRILL

$$$

SOUTHERN James Bazzelle’s pride and joy serves down-home Southern cooking, with a dash of Lowcountry, in a downtown-feeling place. 214 N. College St. (704-342-4222) BR, L, D,B/W ✸

NEW SOUTHERN This popular after-work spot has a seasonal menu, friendly service, tasty seafood dishes, and interesting grits 327 S. Tryon St. (704-343-0700) BR, L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

Charlotte magazine (ISSN 1083-1444) is published monthly by Morris Communications at 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302, Charlotte NC 28203-5161. Entire contents Copyright © 2020 by Morris Communications. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Periodicals postage paid in Charlotte, NC and additional offices. To subscribe, renew, or change address, go to www.charlottemagazine.com or write to: Charlotte magazine, 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302, Charlotte NC 28203-5161. Subscription rate $19.95 for one year (twelve issues). For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Charlotte, P.O. Box 433237, Palm Coast, FL 32143-9616. Unsolicited photographs, illustrations, or articles are submitted at the risk of the photographer/artist/author. Charlotte magazine assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited materials and may use them at its discretion.

THE GUIDE

MURPHY’S KITCHEN & TAP

$$

IRISH Pies, tarts, meats, potatoes—everything you’d expect, you’ll find at this Irish pub with a large range of alcoholic beverage options. 445 W. Trade St. (704-3320557) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

QUEEN CITY Q

$

BARBECUE Here, the barbecue slow-cooks every day in wood-fired smokers and comes served with classic sides like peppery green bean casserole and slaw. 225 E. 6th St., Ste. A. (980-272-6341) L, D, BAR

❤ SEA LEVEL NC

$$-$$$

SEAFOOD Concrete beams and rustic brick give an industrial feel to this seafood restaurant, which serves up dishes that are accessible, inventive, and sustainably sourced. 129 E. 5th St. (704-412-2616) L, D, BAR ✸☎

SOHO BISTRO

custom plaques for Southern barbecue icons. 2216 Freedom Dr. (704-703-5252) L, D, BAR ✸☎

BOSSY BEULAH'S

$

AMERICAN Think of Bossy Beulah’s as the kid sister— or sidekick—to Noble Smoke. Order your fried chicken sammie bunless or add American cheese, and pair it with a sweet tea or Cheerwine. 2200 Freedom Dr. (980737-1400) L, D, ✸

PINKY’S WESTSIDE GRILL

$

AMERICAN Housed in an old auto shop, this funky spot

serves great burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and salads, as well as tasty sides like waffle fries. 1600 W. Morehead St. (704-332-0402) L, D, BAR ✸

TOUCAN LOUIE'S

CROSSWORD OF THE MONTH

By Andy Smith

$

CARIBBEAN With state-sourced meats smoked inhouse and strictly N.C. cheese, this new cafe's commitment to local ingredients is notable, but it's their food's Caribbean flair that elevates their grab-and-go sandwiches. 2753 Rozzelles Ferry Rd. (980-209-9791) B, L, D, B/W ✸

ANSWERS can be found online at charlottemagazine. com/crossword.

$$

ASIAN Lightning-fast, friendly service complements hot, savory Chinese favorites such as Sha Cha Shrimp and Mongolian Chicken. 214 N. Tryon St., Ste. 110. (704333-5189) L, D, B/W

❤ STOKE

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Hotel dining gets an upgrade with this wood-fired grill, family-style concept in Marriott City Center. 100 W. Trade St. (704-353-6005) B, BR, L, D, BAR

SUKOSHI

$$

SUSHI Think high-quality sushi in a fast-casual setting.

Chef Michael Chanthavong brings favorites from his menu at O-Ku, like tuna wrap-it-up and salmon citrus rolls. 101 S. Tryon St., Ste. 120. (980-495-3800) L, D, V

THE YOLK

$-$$

AMERICAN Greg and Subrina Collier's breakfastfocused concept in 7th Street Public Market is open for breakfast and lunch, but shrimp and grits topped with Gouda cheese, jerk seasoning, and scallion pesto is delicious any time of day. 224 E. 7th St. (704-2304346) B, L

West/Northwest Charlotte COMMUNITY TABLE BISTRO

$

SOUTHERN At the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, a small, cafeteria-style restaurant sears, bakes, and fries comfort food on a daily rotation for an affordable price. 5301 Wilkinson Blvd. (980-636-1000) B, L (weekdays), V ✸

ESTIA'S KOUZINA

$$-$$$

❤ HEIRLOOM RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

GREEK This upscale Mediterranean restaurant offers healthy and delicious dishes like gyro pitas, lamb burgers, and hearty salads. 609 N. Main St., Belmont. (704825-7005) BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

NEW AMERICAN Ingredients are sourced almost exclusively from North Carolina, and the tasting menu includes options like fried chicken and pork and beans.

8470 Bellhaven Rd. (704-595-7710) D, V, BAR ☎

❤ NOBLE SMOKE

$-$$

BARBECUE Feast on Carolina-style pork and Texas-style brisket, and grab a drink at the “Legends Counter” with MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE

111

YOU ARE HERE Each month, we’ll throw a dart at a map and write about where it lands.

LOCATION: Ashbrook-Clawson Village

E ER LAN HEATH

Kickin’ It With the Heatherwood Gang THE BIRDS SING HIGH IN THE TREES on this sunny Sunday on Heather Lane, and the humans settle into their favorite weekend afternoon routines: A pack of parents kicks back in lawn chairs on Chris and Anna O’Neal’s driveway as a gaggle of kids plays board games and rides scooters in the cul-de-sac.

It’s exactly a one-mile walk from this spot to the entrance of bustling Park Road Shopping Center. But this spot is as quiet and peaceful as some place in the country.

It’s been a decade since the O’Neals bought their two-story colonial with blue siding, and about three years ago, as they planned for a second child, they found

112

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // MAY 2020

themselves in a quandary right out of HGTV’s Love It or List It. They needed more square footage but hated to leave the neighborhood and their 15-minute commutes to their uptown jobs.

“It was not a very hard decision,” Anna says. They tacked on a two-story addition and soon welcomed a baby girl, who now toddles along with the rest of the “Heatherwood Gang.” That’s what parents affectionately call their preschool and school-age kids, who roam Heather Lane together on weekends and summer days.

People don’t often move away from Heather Lane, and the “underground rumblings” about the rare homes for sale

are constant, says Dabney Estile, who lives in another blue house across from the O’Neals: “People are always saying, ‘If you hear of anything, let us know, and we’ll take it before it goes on the market.’”

And homes on their end of Heather Lane aren’t cheap. Lately, they’ve sold for as much as the mid-$600,000s.

But for now, the Heatherwood Gang is staying put. On this Sunday afternoon, the kids pack up their board games, tie on Rollerblades, and take a few final spins on their bicycles before it’s time to go in for dinner. —Cristina Bolling

SHAW NIELSEN; CRISTINA BOLLING

Parents and kids play in their oasis a mile from Park Road Shopping Center

Modern townhomes near Uptown Charlotte from the high $300’s - $500’s

Towns on Central at Plaza Midwood

36th & Holt at NoDa

Synergy at Midwood

Sales begin this May; from the low $400’s

3 & 4-story townhomes near Uptown Charlotte located in Plaza Midwood & NoDa, from the high $300’s - $500’s SheaUrban.com 36th & Holt and Towns on Central:

1,614 - 2,529 sq ft; 2 - 3 Beds; Flex rooms Large Owner’s Suites in all 3 plans 9’ ceilings throughout; modern, on-trend finishes Covered Terrace, attached 2-car Garage

Quick Move-in Homes available Open House Every Weekend!

Synergy at Midwood

1,389 - 1,751 sq ft; 2 Beds; 2.5+ Baths 15 total 3 & 4-story townhomes 9’ ceilings throughout Deck or Rooftop Terrace, attached 2-car Garage; SheaConnect™ included

Quick Move-in Homes available

Sales conducted from our Shea Urban sales office Towns on Central: 2329 Central Ave Charlotte, 28205 | 36th & Holt: 1168 E 36th St Charlotte, 28205 Synergy at Midwood: 2909 Simpson Dr. Charlotte, 28205 Shea Urban sales office: 601 S. Kings Dr Suite EE Charlotte 28204 | Sun/Mon: 1 - 6: Tue - Sat: 11 - 6 sheaurban.com | 980.293.5886 Sales: Shea Group Services, LLC DBA Shea Realty (NC: C21630), (SC: 10424). Construction: Shea Builders, LLC, NC: 68875, SC: G116074. This is not an offer of real estate for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos depict furniture and accessories not available from Seller, and designer features, optional items and other upgrades that may be available from Seller at additional cost. Renderings are artist’s conception based on preliminary information, not to scale and subject to change.

4521 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

(704) 532-9041

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