Charlotte Magazine August 2020

Can Local Republicans Rebound? p. 40

The Batchmaker’s Delicacies p. 38

The Protest Video That Went Worldwide p. 17

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AUGUST 2020

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CONTENTS CHARLOTTE / AUGUST 2020 / VOL. 25, NUMBER 8

40 OUTMANNED OLD PARTY

Features

Not long ago, the Republican Party was a political force in Charlotte. Those days have gone, and plans for the 2020 Republican convention collapsed. What happened—and what might make the pendulum swing back?

BY GREG LACOUR

46

THE 2020 BEER BRACKET Thirty-two beers. Twenty-one breweries.

Thousands weigh in

BY ANDY SMITH

ON THE COVER: The final four beers from our 2020 Beer Bracket: Legion Brewing’s Juicy Jay, Triple C Brewing’s Rainbow Sherbet, Wooden Robot Brewery’s Good Morning Vietnam, and NoDa Brewing’s Coco Loco.

ON THIS PAGE: Beer coasters and stickers representing our bracket’s 21 breweries.

Photographs by Adam Whitlow.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

7

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08 20 CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE 10 From the Editor 14

Connect

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You Are Here

JONATHAN COOPER; PETER TAYLOR (2); LOGAN CYRUS

THE GUIDE 88 Restaurants The city’s savviest restaurant listings

THE BUZZ 17 Perspectives The two men at the center of that viral exchange on I-277 20

20

Media A demonstration of strained social media engagement, in eight tweets By the Numbers BLM in Waxhaw; Charlotte’s No. 15

THE GOOD LIFE 23 Philanthropy The Joedance Film Festival 26

Community The Manor Theatre closes after 73 years

28

Arts Artist and Belmont native Juan Logan

29

Real Estate High-end homes designed for entertaining

30

Room We Love A playroom with sleepovers in mind

31

People Leslie Hooton publishes her first novel 61 years after a stroke at birth

FOOD & DRINK 33 Now Open Ilios Crafted Greek brings fast casual Mediterranean to South End 36

Local Flavor Fahrenheit’s new food truck serves Hawaiian-inspired street food

38

On the Line Cristina RojasAgurcia, a.k.a.

“The Batchmaker”

39

Breweries What happens to ‘quarantine beer’?

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

9

Volume 25, Number 8 F RO M T H E E D I TO R

BLESS THIS HOPPY HOME

AUGUST 2020

morrismedianetwork.com

www.charlottemagazine.com

A journey through bottled memories and the origins of Charlotte’s beer species

MY BEER JOURNEY began 16 years ago.

I was a college freshman at West Virginia University, a frequent top-fiver on Playboy’s annual “Party School” list. I’ve never lived up to my alma mater’s reputation: I drank Molson Canadians in my dorm room, ordered calzones, and surveyed films in the Criterion collection. My career in visual art criticism was mostly self-guided. I developed my palate by pulling on the threads that interested me.

But, inside that pigsty covered in Tarantino posters, I adopted another pattern that’s endured to this day: When it comes to beer, Andy Smith I’m a follower. I joined my fellow sophoandrew.smith@charlottemagazine.com mores on ventures across the state line into Pennsylvania to pick up kegs of Yuengling, seen as more refined than the barrels of Bud Light we found at less cosmopolitan ragers.

A couple of years later, I tagged along with a pal for my first bottle shop experience. Before you break into the Pabst Blue Ribbon reserves, he advised me, start off with a few Dogfish Head IPAs. “What’s an ‘IPA’?” I asked. After college, I learned the differences between pale ales, pilsners, lagers, goses, saisons, stouts, sours, and chocolate peanut butter porters from close friends who owned scraggly beards and kayaks.

This glacial building of my palate shifted when the Smiths moved to Charlotte seven years ago. It was like the Cambrian explosion 541 million years ago, when millions of diverse species emerged into the world and fossil record. Single-celled Coors Lights and Coronas gave way to a flowering of amber ales, vanilla stouts, West and East Coast IPAs, and Berliner-style Weisses in breweries and bottle shops that seemed to reproduce by fission every day.

I was lucky to have this very magazine as a guide. Journalists have always been great drinkers. Some of my first outings with local pros and Charlotte’s past editors were at NoDa Brewing, Birdsong, and among the rows and rows of craft brews at Common Market. (You can read about one of those guides and his recent medical hardships on page 67.)

Now it’s my turn to shake up local beer and spray it forward. Our 2020 Beer Bracket, which starts on page 46, serves as a friendly competition that celebrates the drinks that have gotten us through the pandemic— and will continue to. I now have thousands of Charlotteans with recommendations to pursue instead of a college sophomore who considers Yuengling high-end. Thanks for playing, and drinking.

10

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

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ONLINE EXTRAS, EVENTS, AND CONVERSATIONS

REACT

Responses to the June issue of Charlotte magazine

How fun is that cover!!

Instagram comment from @dna_real_estate That’s a great cover! AND no negative comments here. Yet ...

Instagram comment from @skysiteimages To: “The Cracker Kingdom’s New Ruler,” p. 30 I work for Campbell’s and couldn’t be more proud that these two great brands and companies have combined!

Facebook comment from Caroline Leonard When Lance hired my grandfather, he worked for years to get a position that would have paid him a commission on what the salesman in his territory earned.

But when the position became available, probably due to someone’s retirement, they gave him the job but ended the commissions. The leader of Lance during that change in policy was (Philip Lance

Our online coverage of the George Floyd protests in Charlotte, which began in late May, drew reader reaction as well.

To: “The Man at the Center of That Viral Exchange on I-277,” May 31: I want to thank you personally for using your platform to share my message. It is up to people like you, who are seen in the public eye, that can truly make change.

Please continue to support us individuals that is giving the message to the young brothers and sisters on the front line, that’s all I ask continue to support Black Man. Continue to spread our message to your people that’s up on that level with you so together we can both bring awareness and Change that is as a minority are tired. One Luv King. Much respect.

Instagram comment from @curtis_hayesnc

14

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

Van Every). Not a hero of mine. And he did that while the company was thriving for decades. Hope he enjoyed the extra coin.

Facebook comment from David Thornton To: “Grime, Meet Style,” p. 36 Our next house will have a dog washroom.

Think how that would have come in handy over these last couple of months?

Tweet from @centercity To: “Spencer Merriweather’s Challenge,” p. 60 Thoughtful, informative piece by Greg Lacour about Charlotte’s court system.

Facebook comment from Tom Hanchett

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

1.

The Man at the Center of That Viral Exchange on I-277 2.

Without Warning, Panthers Remove Jerry Richardson Statue 3.

GUIDE: 25 BlackOwned Restaurants and Dessert Shops in Charlotte

Bullsh--, it’s Democrat judges and law enforcement letting these f---ing thugs out of jail with their liberal ass bail reform initiatives Facebook comment from Christopher Toppino

My man @greglacour doing the work for @CharlotteMag on that viral and vital discussion among three protesters in CLT. And the great @logancyrus with the photo.

Tweet from @tommytomlinson Great work by @greglacour and @logancyrus cuts to the heart of this moment.

Tweet from @lisayrab (Follow) the work of @CharlotteMag + photographer @logancyrus in shining a light on the humanity of #CLT during the protests.

Tweet from @AChangeOfTune Well, this should stop the number of people moving to Charlotte. Thanks, @charlottemag!

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INSIDE: PERSPECTIVES / MEDIA / BY THE NUMBERS

BUZZ

THE

WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY

P E R S P EC T I V E S

LOGAN CYRUS

‘COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY’

During a May protest in Charlotte, Curtis Hayes Jr. passionately instructed a 16-year-old on the pain of generations of Black men. It was captured on video—and captured the minds of millions

BY GREG LACOUR

ON SATURDAY, May 30, a demonstration that began in uptown reached Interstate 277, where protesters briefly occupied the elevated highway. On the concrete, 31-year-old Curtis Hayes Jr., a Black man, encountered two other Black men, a furious 45-year-old and a 16-year-old. A two-and-a-half-minute video of their exchange went viral. Hayes’ impassioned plea to the younger man, Vance High School* student Raymon Curry, to “come up with a better way” won him a global platform that, over the next few days, included interviews with Good Morning America and the BBC and a feature story in The Washington Post.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

17

THE BUZZ Charlotte magazine spoke with Hayes the day after the protest and Curry two nights later. Below are excerpts from our conversations.

CURTIS HAYES JR.:

I WAS OUT THERE PROTESTING and trying to make sure that peace was kept on both ends and that neither party from either side was hurt. And I looked over, and I saw a young man, and I asked him, “How old are you?”

And he said, “I’m 16.” And then I look behind me and I see this older guy who is just, you know, angry and upset, and he’s a little irate because he’s been dealing with it for years. And then you have myself, who’s 31, who’s right in the middle of both of them, and I look at my elder and I see that he is angry. I look at the young brother who is under me, and I see that he is angry. And it just created that moment that was needed, that dialogue that was needed between every generation to talk, and for everybody to see it together so that they can understand: How many years and how many generations do we have to put up with this? How many individuals will continue to be angry and hurt behind the injustice that happens in America?

WE HAVE TO SET A BETTER EXAMPLE. (The older man is) my elder, and I have a mother and a father who are close to his age. And, again, I understand that he is angry. But the message that I wanted to get to him was, us in conflict with each other, or feeling like one of our brothers is betraying us because they’re trying to keep the peace, that is not what’s happening. And as an elder, I need you to lead our community to where it needs to be led. And I need you to be an example for not only myself as a 31-year-old Black man but for this 16-year-old Black man who is behind us, and he’s watching our actions, and he’s watching how we take movements in this—he’s watch-

ing us—so that we know that we are instilling a movement in him that he will go with his generation, and they will move strong and fierce, and they will move peacefully, but they will move with a purpose so that people understand them. And the way we were moving was not the way.

I NEED EVERYBODY to understand there’s not a fight to take, but only one side, and that is to fight for equality of people everywhere in the world. I think people think that it was something against them. It’s not even against CMPD. The movement and the message is much bigger than that.

What I think we are facing is a repetitive situation where action is taken— but not enough to sustain it. Does that make sense? It’s not to discredit anybody before me or anybody after me. It’s the simple fact that everybody should understand that action has been taken, right? Little changes have occurred, awareness has occurred. But the action that was taken to get that little bit of ground is never enough, constantly or repetitively, to sustain the change. We always resort back to what we know …

MY MESSAGE is for a lot of people, and I pray that it reaches everyone, right? But at the end of the day, the message that I really want to resonate in people’s hearts is, what can you do as a Black man, white man, Asian man, Hispanic, Latino, it doesn’t matter: What can you do in your community? So I challenge my white counterparts who I don’t know, who I do know, who I know and who I love dearly. I have friends who I give the same message to, because it starts in our communities as Black people, but it also starts with change in the white community. That’s what we’ve been missing for so many years, is that our counterparts do not have enough people who support the move-

*On June 17, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Chairman Elyse Dashew announced via Facebook: “It is time for a new name for Zebulon B. Vance High School. Beyond time, in fact.” At press time, the school board planned to start the renaming process at its June 23 meeting. Zebulon Vance was a Confederate officer during the Civil War and an N.C. governor and U.S. senator.

18

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

ment for not just Black Lives Matter, but everyone, because if everyone can come together in solidarity and as a unit, then we will move forward so much better as a people.

RAYMON CURRY:

MY MOM, she didn’t know that I went … The way she found out—it was crazy, because she got woken up from her sleep early Sunday morning because her phone kept buzzing, buzzing.

She was like, “Oh, my God,” and she came into my room, and she was like, “Son, you’re going viral?” And I was like, “What? What’s going on?” And my Instagram is, DeMar DeRozan, 50 Cent, D.L. Hughley, multiple celebrities reposting the video … The crazy thing about it was, when she sat down and had a conversation with me, the first thing she said was, “What happens in the dark always comes to the light.”

And I was like, “Man, that is so true.”

Because I felt like I wasn’t necessarily doing something bad in the dark. But I did kind of let her know where I was at that moment and what I was doing, and she understood that I was there for a cause and a reason. I was there to have my voice heard.

THE WAY IT STARTED OFF, we all started marching around downtown, the square, and the police kept trying to block us from going to the highway, and we were trying to find a way to get to the highway. Once we got to the highway … the man you see in the video, not Mr. Hayes, but the older guy, the guy who said he was 45, he was next to me. And we’re in the front of the police car. And we’re sitting there.

We’re like, we’re having a protest.

We’re being peaceful. I don’t know if he was touching the car or not … and Mr. Hayes, he’s right by me. Because he’s trying to stop the 45-year-old man.

He was, like, very close to the cop car.

He rushed through. And as (Hayes) rushed to stop him, I guess through his peripheral vision, he saw me. And he turned around, I was like, “Why are you stopping him?” He’s like, “How old are you?” And I let him know I’m 16.

He was like, “Sixteen, man? Stay right here.” So while he went to go stop the man again, (Hayes) stopped him, and that’s how the whole video started.

AT THAT MOMENT, I was still angry. I was feeling that rage that Malcolm X felt, to come back with the same aggression (police) came to us with. And Mr. Hayes came up to me, and he showed me a better way. There’s a better way of dealing with that pain that these officers have given us. Find a better way to cope with your anger. Find a better way to communicate with them. Let them know that you don’t like what they’re doing and that what they’re doing is hurting you to the point where you, at 16, had to come out here, and I’m in my head going, “Dang, there’s so many ways to go about this.” It was kind of like that point where you have the angel and the devil on your shoulder, and Mr. Hayes represents that angel. And I’ve got all this anger and built-up aggression towards almost every cop, because I don’t know if you’re racist or not …

So I’m sitting there like, “Mr. Hayes is really speaking to me. He’s right.” I want him to be my mentor. I want him to be somebody I can come to and let them know that I need guidance from them.

MY MINDSET is beyond most people my age. I snuck out to go to a protest to have my voice heard. Most kids my age would have snuck out to go to a party, go meet up with friends, do drugs, or anything else. But me, my whole plan was to go downtown, let the police hear what I have to say, how I feel, and let them know, “What you’re doing is wrong.” Me, at the age of 16, I’ve got so many things to worry about. I’ve got college, I’ve got life—my dream school is Duke University, and I’m sitting here, I’m at home, and I see police killing people of my skin color for absolutely no reason. And I’m sitting there at home going, “Dang, will I make it to even go to college? Will I make it to even walk across the stage to have that moment when I get my diploma? Or will I be profiled and killed in the middle of the street by a police officer all because of my skin color?”

For longer versions of these interviews, see the News + Opinion section of charlottemagazine.com.

GREG LACOUR is the senior editor of this magazine.

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AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

19

THE BUZZ Rob Tufano (background, in 2017) has been the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s primary spokesman since 2009.

MEDIA

WHEN TRANSPARENCY GOES SOUTH A demonstration of strained social media engagement, in eight tweets

PLACE: Twitter.

TIME: 4:06 p.m.

PARTIES: WCCB anchor/reporter Morgan Fogarty; Fox 46 reporter Brett Baldeck; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Public Affairs director Rob Tufano, tweeting from CMPD’s official account; N.C. Senator Jeff Jackson of Charlotte.

BY THE NUMBERS

20

FOGARTY: New: The Fraternal Order of Police in Charlotte posts on FB that it has a “word of advice” for city councilman Braxton Winston, and accuses him of only caring about himself.

The FOP also says the media is failing to cover the praise they say they are receiving right now.

BALDECK, 4:15 P.M.: In defense of “the media”, when we reach out to CMPD to do stories about officers doing great things in the community, engaging in civil conversations with people protesting, we are denied

by CMPD media relations. We can’t tell the story if they won’t allow us. @MorganFogarty CMPD, 9:33 P.M.: BTW we made two front line officers available to all media this afternoon.

300-400

The approximate size of a crowd in June that took part in a #BlackLivesMatter demonstration in downtown Waxhaw in Union County, which in 2016 voted for Donald Trump by a two-to-one margin.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

10

The percentage of Waxhaw residents who are Black, according to 2019 Census estimates.

9:35 P.M.: In fact, a crew from @FOX46News interviewed the officers.

FOGARTY, 9:38 P.M.: Let’s see a pattern of access and transparency, not one-offs here and there.

9:41 P.M.: Add: When it suits for PR CMPD, 9:46 P.M.: Get right on it @MorganFogarty after our officers are through keeping the community and your colleagues safe.

JACKSON, 10:02 P.M.: I need the person who runs this Twitter account for @CMPD to DM me immediately.

Aftermath: Jackson sent Tufano a direct message via Twitter, to which Tufano had not responded at press time. Tufano told Charlotte two days after the exchange: “We stand by every syllable.”

20.4

The percentage by which Charlotte’s population grew from 2010 to July 2019, according to a Census estimate released in May. The leap has made Charlotte the 15th-largest city by population in the United States.

37

Atlanta’s spot on the list of largest U.S. cities by population (although it grew by 18.7 percent over the same time).

LOGAN CYRUS

DATE: June 2.

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GOOD LIFE

INSIDE: PHILANTHROPY / COMMUNITY / ARTS / REAL ESTATE / ROOM WE LOVE / PEOPLE

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MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

The Joedance Film Festival, a multi-day event held at Charlotte Ballet headquarters in 2018 and 2019, will happen virtually this year due to COVID-19.

P H I L ANT H RO PY

What Joe Wanted

BRANDON SCOTT

A decade after he died of bone cancer, Joe Restaino lives on through a film festival and critical research

BY CRISTINA BOLLING

A QUESTION RUNS THROUGH DIANE RESTAINO’S MIND each time she makes a decision as the captain of a growing non profit for pediatric cancer research: What would Joe want?

Her son, Joe Restaino, died of bone cancer in 2010, at age 20. As he waged his 4-year battle with osteosarcoma, up until he could no longer talk, Joe gave his parents a specific list and made them promise they’d follow through.

Continued on next page AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

23

“He never asked me to find a cure. It was always about finding a better way to treat cancer,” Diane says, talking by phone from her home during the height of the coronavirus lockdown. “He said, ‘I want you to fund a clinical trial. I want you to create an internship program. I want you to find better ways to treat kids, and I want you to be a part of research every day.’ ” The phone line goes quiet for a moment.

“That’s a big list.”

But she and Mike Restaino, her husband and Joe’s father, have powered through it over the last 10 years. In 2010, just a few months after Joe’s death, the family channeled their love of movies into a minifilm festival, hooking up a DVD player to a neighbor’s porch and projecting Sundance movies in the courtyard of their Fourth Ward townhome community.

The Joedance Film Festival eventually turned into a multi-day event and Joe Restaino moved to the Charlotte Ballet headquar(above) died ters on North Tryon Street in 2018 and of bone cancer in 2010. His 2019. Instead of showing Sundance movmother, Diane, ies, they now host three nights of short continues to raise features by filmmakers connected to the money for cancer research through Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia. her Joedance This year, the festival will happen vircommunity. tually from August 6-8 due to COVID-19.

Organizers have received a record number of film submissions and as of early June were working on a livestreaming platform that will make viewers feel they’re at the event and not at home. At press time, the festivals had raised more than $205,000 for cancer research at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.

It’s not money that Diane and her board hands over blindly with a prop check and a “see you next year” mentality. A few times each year, she sits down with Dr. Javier Oesterheld, the specialty medical director for pediatric hematology, oncology, bone marrow transplantation, and palliative these trials,” he says, “because unfortunately, most of the fundcare at Levine Children’s Hospital, to talk about how to put the ing in this country goes to adult cancers.” Trials for childhood Joedance donations to work. cancers work like this, Oesterheld explains: Once a new drug has been tried on cells, animal models, and adults, it is given to JOE’S LIST SITS SQUARELY in her mind: Clinical trials. Intern- 12 to 15 pediatric patients to determine if it’s safe. If it is, dozens ship program. Research. For clinical trials, Joedance funds are of patients enroll to see if it works on specific types of tumors. combined with donations from two larger Charlotte-based Dozens of children have been treated in the pediatric sarcoma pediatric cancer nonprofits, the Isabella Santos Foundation and trial at 13 institutions nationwide where the study chair is at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, to fund a trial created Levine Children’s Hospital, he says.

by Oesterheld to treat sarcomas in children. Sarcomas are a Conducting the trial in Charlotte is a big deal for local famibroad group of cancers that begin in the bones and soft tissues. lies, who usually have to spend time and money on travel to Donations from philanthropic groups are critical to trials, far-flung states. “That was a huge part of my mission statement which typically cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take for our team here,” Oesterheld says. “I don’t want people to three to seven years. “It’s incredibly difficult to get funding for have to leave Charlotte.” He believes Diane helps donors grasp

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

JUDY OWEN; RON DESHAIES

THE GOOD LIFE

that concept. Other fundraising groups may And that research component Joe so badly raise more money, but Restaino breaks it down wanted? Joedance will fund a research techniWANT TO GO? through her Joedance community in a way cian’s salary for three years in Levine’s newly The Joedance people can understand. opened basic science lab. “Joe gave me a pretty Virtual Film Festival runs “One thing she doesn’t give herself enough clear road map, which I am very fortunate for,” August 6-8. Tickets credit for is that they bring awareness more Diane says. “I always say to people, ‘Let’s keep range from $10 than lots of people in town,” he says. “That in mind that he is 20 years old. These are his for students to $70 for film festival gets people to really talk about wishes, not mine.’ ” all-access passes pediatric cancer. Why are we sending patients Oesterheld wasn’t Joe Restaino’s primary and can be to wherever for treatment? Why can’t they just oncologist, but he got to know Joe as he went purchased at stay here?” through treatment. He’s still amazed at the joedance.org/ tickets.

When doctors approached Joe and Diane thought of a pediatric cancer patient able to about a clinical trial, Joe responded with an express what he wanted his parents to do after emphatic yes. “Joe wanted to do it,” she says, he died, and for them to do it. “because he wanted to see if somebody else could benefit from “Her take on raising awareness—to do a film festival that what he was going through.”

Charlotte didn’t know it needed, and the fact that her son told her, ‘I need you to do x, y and z’—there’s so much power to JOEDANCE FUNDS also pay for a pediatric oncology summer that,” Oesterheld says. “She was such an advocate for her son, internship program each year at Levine Children’s Hospital. and her son was such a beautiful human, and it’s just amazing The focus of the internship changes by the year, and this sum- to see what she has done in his memory. I say to her, ‘Joe would mer’s intern will assist in the study of brain tumors. Past interns be so proud of you right now.’” have worked on projects ranging from a mouthwash called Healios to combat sores in chemotherapy patients—now a standard protocol for pediatric cancer patients—to the study of integrative oncology, the use of mind-body practices like art CRISTINA BOLLING, a Charlotte writer, has reported on Charlotte’s immigratherapy and massage. tion, arts, and popular culture scene since 2000.

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This annual fundraising event is a competitive, fun, boot-camp style workout occurring on September 19 benefiting two local non-profits (Dream on 3 and The Changing Lives Together Foundation) who focus on creating life changing experiences for special needs kids and kids with life altering medical circumstances in the Charlotte area. By bringing together the Charlotte Fitness Community and local businesses, this year the 10th annual event has a goal to raise $200,000! Our event includes a kids Brownies division and an Adaptive Athlete division as well. From being a 6-time winner of “Charlotte’s Best Charity Event”, to getting our own branded beer by Sugar Creek Brewing, to partnering with 80+ gyms across the area - Beers & Burpees has become a brand ingrained into the fabric of Charlotte. If you or your company are interested in partnering with us, email beersandburpees@gmail.com for more info.

www.beersandburpees.com AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

25

THE GOOD LIFE

CO M M U N I T Y

The Manor Theatre Has Closed. Is This Our First Last Goodbye?

What other signature spaces will the virus steal from us?

THE CLOSING of the Manor Theatre crushes. A business that’s been in the same spot for 73 years, a millennium in Charlotte time, is gone. An art house theater that supported local filmmakers, that took a chance on quirky movies that usually don’t escape bigger cities, has closed for good.

Could this be our first last goodbye? Is this the first in a series of COVID-related closings of places we can’t imagine Charlotte without? We read foreboding predictions about the fate of small businesses, and it’s impossible not to think about our favorite Charlotte shops, restaurants, theaters. At a time when we want nothing more than to be together again, how many of these places will we have to return to? How many will survive partial re-openings and lower demand? We’re still in a disorienting limbo: We don’t know whether reopenings will initiate a gradual welcome back to our old lives or reveal themselves as the opening days of a dreaded, dreadful alternate reality. What if, as Conan O’Brien posited in a recent tweet, these are the good old days?

Of course, a pandemic causes far greater grief and fear, and losing a movie theater hardly registers on the scale of loss these days. But we can’t deny our hundred little griefs and sadnesses; they’ll show up, somehow, whether we invite them or fight

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

them off. We miss our friends and The Manor Theatre, family. We miss our places. We miss formerly the oldest our old normal. movie theater in Charlotte, opened During a recent virtual happy hour in April 1947 on with friends, our conversation turned Providence Road. to the things we look forward to, a wistful subject that often follows the second drink. One friend said he can’t wait to hear, “Do you want me to start a tab for you?” For me, it’s, “You want butter on your popcorn?” (And yes, I do.)

I love a night in a movie theater. To sit in a big room of people who laugh at the same jokes together. To sniffle (or all-out cry) beside strangers. There we are, in the same room and going nowhere, but after a couple of hours, we leave feeling like we’ve been somewhere together. Who doesn’t feel more warmly toward the people in the theater when you walk out versus when you walked in?

Indie movie theaters like the Manor unite us with our people.

A movie by Yorgos Lanthimos or Darren Aronofsky draws a different crowd than a summer blockbuster, and those of us who like indie films usually like each other, too. For the documentary Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am at the Manor last summer, there

COURTESY

BY JEN TOTA McGIVNEY

they were: all the other people whose idea of an ideal Friday night was to sit in the company of one of the greatest American novelists and her words. We smiled at each other as we took our seats. How could we not? Toni!

Grumpy people insist that no one watches movies in theaters anymore. These people say no one goes to libraries, either. I think of them and laugh each time I circle the parking lot at the Morrison Library waiting for a spot to open, or when the best seats in the movie theater (center, two-thirds back) are taken on a Tuesday evening. Plenty of us love theaters and libraries. I suspect that not going to either might explain the grumpiness of those who claim otherwise.

But, like many, I didn’t fully realize how important those spaces were until I couldn’t go. They’re fun, they’re entertaining, but they also allow us to be the social creatures we are. Even for an introvert like me, stay-at-home orders have shown how much I need time with people. We lose something of ourselves when we don’t share ourselves. I miss working, even solo, in coffee shops and libraries. Netflix can’t compete with a theater.

My deck has nothing on a restaurant patio. It has less to do with amenities and more to do with the people and the energy around me. I miss my city.

The last movie I saw at the Manor was JoJo Rabbit, back in February, twice. Few theaters took a chance on a satiric comedy about a goofy, imaginary Hitler that was also a treatise on racism and anti-Semitism. My husband and I brought his father, who had moved to Charlotte a few years ago, and I told him: You’re

not a true Charlottean until you’ve seen a movie at the Manor.

It’s one of those few unique experiences left in town. (I gave him a list of other such places and experiences, which I won’t share out of superstitious fear that I’ll write about them next.)

Before the final credits of JoJo Rabbit, part of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke appears on screen. During that second viewing, I committed it to memory: Let everything happen to you.

Beauty and terror.

Just keep going.

No feeling is final.

A month later, I wrote that poem in Scrabble letters on my dining room table as the potential of the pandemic became clearer. It connected me to my father-in-law, whom I couldn’t see for a while; it connected me to a favorite place, which I couldn’t visit. It connected me to a day that felt utterly normal when it happened but seemed almost surreal a month later.

Back then, I said JoJo Rabbit was the last movie I saw at the Manor, but back then, “last” meant “most recent.” I think back now on my great meals, concerts, and shopping trips in Charlotte, and I hate that I wonder which were my most recent, and which were my last.

JEN TOTA MCGIVNEY is a writer in Charlotte. Reach her at jennifer.mcgivney @gmail.com or on Twitter at @jen_mcgivney.

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27

THE GOOD LIFE

ART S

Something His Own

Inside the practice of Belmont native and artist Juan Logan

BY LAUREN PIEMONT PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN COOPER Juan Logan (above) flanked between “Elegy LXVIII” and “Elegy LXIX” on his right, and in his studio below, opening a sculpture titled “Doubt.”

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JUAN LOGAN carved his first artwork from white pine in 1960, when he was a student at Reid High School in Belmont. It was a sculpture of an eagle with a 5-foot wingspan, created in art class. “My then-instructor told me the most important thing about it was it didn’t have to look like anyone else’s,” Logan says by phone.

“It could just be mine. And that sort of changed everything for me.”

Today, at 73, Logan works daily at his sprawling studio back in Belmont, though his work has taken him across the world. Visual art is his profession and passion, as it is for his wife, curator Jonell Logan. Logan’s also one of countless artists who this year have had to endure the immovable foe of coronavirus: Since January, the Hickory Museum of Art has displayed a broad selection of Logan’s work in an exhibition titled Creating & Collecting, originally scheduled to last until May 10. The exhibition also incorporates works from Logan’s inspirations, like Jasper Johns, Elizabeth Catlett, and Robert Motherwell, some of whom are and were his friends. But the virus forced the

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

museum to close in March and wasn’t reopened as of presstime—although it offered a catalogue of his works for purchase, with an essay by Dr. Jennifer Sudul Edwards, the Mint Museum’s chief curator. (You can still view a virtual version of the exhibition on the museum’s site.)

Logan’s work often poses questions about race, class, and religion. These social queries are the foundation of his practice. He admits that his early work too often answered the questions instead of asking them. As he’s matured, he says, he’s taken a more open-ended approach and shirked the label of “social issues artist.”

“It’s not just race that I’m talking about,” he says. “It’s more of a state of being and what we are doing with it. When I talk about memory, it’s not a racialized memory that I’m talking about. It’s sort of the same for all of us. In my artist statement, I talk about looking at the material and mental landscapes we live in because it impacts all of us on a daily basis.

“These days, the paintings deal with memory, both collective and otherwise. And realizing the things we hold on to—or at least try

R E AL E STAT E

COURTESY

to hold on to—are really just these tiny little bits and pieces of something that we’ve experienced that we felt, at the moment, was so important, we never wanted to forget it. And we struggle sometimes to retain that.”

Logan’s own path led him from Nashville to Howard University, the historic black university in Washington, D.C., where he studied biology. But he left Howard to study art at Clark College (which would become Clark Atlanta University) and, after he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1967, enlisted in the Air Force and served as a jet engine mechanic during the Vietnam War. Upon his return from duty, Logan established himself as a major American artist long before earning his MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1998. His work appeared in solo and group exhibitions throughout the 1970s and ’80s, from Charlotte’s Jerald Melberg Gallery and Mint Museum Randolph to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and New York’s Parrish Art Musum. A retired professor of studio art at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, he’s also lectured at institutions including Kent State University, San Francisco Art Institue, and Howard, the school he departed for art.

Today, as he produced new work in Belmont, his pieces appear in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art, the New York Public Library and several other worldclass institutions. Public works appear as far from Charlotte as a massive mural in Lubbock, Texas, but locally, his commissions have also adorned spaces like Charlotte Transportation Center, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, and elsewhere.

Logan’s work has both evolved and returned to past explorations. It’s largely abstract, but it employs symbols—clouds, boats, human heads— that he repeats as motifs throughout his mixedmedia work. “I did my first head in 1967,” he says.

“I’ve always felt our imaginings take place there first; it has little to do with the rest of our bodies.

It’s always about how we perceive things.” Clouds represent our longings, and boats act as symbols of the vehicles that carry our hopes and dreams.

Logan combines and arranges items from his bank of symbols, through varied media, to communicate with viewers.

“I arrived at that place (in my practice) where I simply wanted to create good work and be able to explore something in depth,” Logan says. “I wanted to arrive in a place where I stopped being in a hurry. It’s really about giving it as much as it needs for as long as it needs it.”

LAUREN PIEMONT is a freelance art consultant living in Charlotte.

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AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

29

THE GOOD LIFE

Sleep, Play, Repeat

Designer Katie Emmons creates a playroom with sleepovers in mind

MAKE ROOM “I couldn’t make the ceiling higher, but those niches were the perfect place to create bunk beds,” Emmons says. “It’s a T-shaped space, and there’s not much to do with those little nooks, so we had to incorporate small, comfortable furniture.”

She created a seating area by the window with an apartment-sized sofa, two accent chairs, and round ottoman poufs that leave plenty of floor space.

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OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, Katie Emmons, owner of Katie Emmons Design, transformed her client’s Myers Park home room by room. All that was left was a third-floor space that had become a dumping ground for toys and old furniture. The homeowners wanted their two children to have a place for sleepovers, but the quirky room full of nooks and sloped ceilings didn’t leave much space for traditional beds. Emmons worked with the irregular dimensions and built bunk beds into the niches to create a room where the kids could sleep and play. —Taylor Bowler

LIGHTEN UP Emmons lightened the dingy, khaki walls with Simply White by Benjamin Moore and upholstered the chairs in a bright cobalt blue fabric for a pop of color. The white coverlets on the bunk beds came from West Elm, the black and white gingham sheets are Serena & Lily, and all lighting is courtesy of Visual Comfort. She installed an overhead light fixture, two sconces on each side of the beds, lamps on either side of the sofa, and wallmounted lights inside each bed for reading. “Layers of lighting add a lot of personality,” she says, “and you can decide what mood you want to create.”

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

TIMELESS BLUE Her client’s 10-year-old daughter wanted a playroom filled with bold color, but Emmons worked with a more neutral palette that would age with both kids.

“Bright cobalt blue is so livable, and black and white is just timeless,” she says. “Using both of those colors gave it a lot of energy, which it was really lacking before. Plus, I find blue to be the color people like for the longest amount of time.”

BRIE WILLIAMS AND KENDRA SURFACE

RO O M W E LOV E

P EO P L E

Salvation Through Dictation

Charlotte attorney—who can’t type—has first novel published 61 years after stroke at birth

COURTESY

BY MICHELLE BOUDIN

LESLIE HOOTON often jokes that some people have a stroke of luck. “I had one at birth,” the 61-year-old Alabama native says with a laugh.

She’s not kidding. Her disability was a mystery to her until age 50, when her doctor diagnosed it as complications from perinatal stroke, the term for a stroke that attacks children within the first seven days after birth. It left her right side atrophied; she has very little feeling in her arm and leg. She can walk but doesn’t have the strength to keep a flip-flop on her foot or ride a bike. “I didn’t want to be ‘poor little Leslie,’” she says in a thick Southern drawl. “I wanted people to talk about what I could do, not what I couldn’t do. If there is a heaven, I’ll wear Jack Rogers flip-flops and ride a pink bike with a bell to announce I made it into heaven.”

When she turned 50, Hooton’s left hand and arm began to weaken from overuse of its muscles and nerves, and after a couple of surgeries, she could no longer wash her hair or type.

So the author of the recently published Before Anyone Else had to dictate her books. “My ‘dragon,’ which is my dictation device, had to learn to understand my Southern English,” she says.

Hooton’s frothy beach read grew out of a dark time in her life five years ago. She spent mornings with her mother in a dementia center and afternoons at her divorce attorney’s office as she dissolved her 25-year marriage. “Everything about this book is happy,” she says. “I needed happy at that point in my life.”

The fourth-generation attorney met her husband in law school and followed him to Charlotte. But when she struggled to find a job and have children, she says, they had little to talk about. “I always assumed I would be a career woman, but I knew having children would be dicey,” she says. “I was left with the question: What now? What do women in their thirties talk about? Babies and careers. I had neither.”

So she turned to writing, something that had helped her survive her teenage years, when she endured more than 24 surgeries as doctors tried to improve function on the right side of her body. She wrote her first book at 16, but Before Anyone Else is the first she’s published.

“Writing quenched my loneliness,” she says. “My characters kept me company.”

Hooton came up with the premise for Before Anyone Else after she’d spent countless nights eating out and being over-served in restaurants during her divorce. “I didn’t even know if restaurant

designing was a job,” she says.

“I had to do a lot of research, but I discovered that it was and that there were no novels written on the topic. This was my chance.”

The title came to her after a 17-year-old Myers Park neighbor called her BAE. “I had to Google it and found out it meant, ‘Before Anyone Else,’” she says. “My heart stopped.

I knew I had the title for my Hooton came up with the title book.” of her book after a 17-yearBefore Anyone Else is the old neighbor called her BAE, which stands for Before story of 30-year-old Bailey Anyone Else.

Anne Edgeworth (BAE), who transforms restaurants—and her own life along the way. “It’s just a fun read about friends and food and family and a little romance,” Hooton says. “I went with a small press, and I had an uber-agent in New York.

She just didn’t know what to do with me. I told her I didn’t want to win a Pulitzer, I wanted to be a Target pick. That’s my ambition—to be picked by the Target people.”

Hooton is already at work on another book about friendship, funeral casseroles, and lucky dust, and says writing it has gotten her through COVID-19. “I write to take myself to places I can’t go and to meet people I wouldn’t necessarily meet,” she says.

“Reading and writing has saved my life, and if I can make someone else feel not so alone in the world, that’s the Pulitzer Prize to me.”

MICHELLE BOUDIN is a reporter for NBC Charlotte and a frequent contributor to this magazine.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

31

FOOD DRINK

INSIDE:

NOW OPEN / LOCAL FLAVOR / ON THE LINE / BREWERIES

+

EXPLORE THE TASTES OF CHARLOTTE

Ilios Crafted Greek’s lamb gyro, served with fries.

N OW O P E N

YIASOU!

Fast casual Mediterranean is ready for pickup at Ilios Crafted Greek

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

AFTER NEARLY 18 MONTHS of construction delays, Ilios Crafted Greek is finally open for business in South End. Stratos Lambos and Angelo and Frank Kaltsounis, the team behind Ilios Noche, transformed the 2,000-squarefoot former bike store at Church Street and West Summit Avenue into a fast casual Greek eatery, which they’d originally planned to open in December 2018. By the time they were finally ready to open this spring, the city was locked down.

Continued on next page â AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

33

FOOD+DRINK

When Ilios Crafted Greek opens at normal capacity, the dining room will accommodate about 40.

ILIOS CRAFTED GREEK

1514 S. Church St. 980-237-1949 ilioscraftedgreek.com

In-store and curbside pickup 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Ed.: The prices above reflect those on the online ordering menu.

34

But they decided they’d waited long enough. The longtime restaurateurs, firstgeneration Greek brothers and friends, come from a restaurant dynasty that includes the Landmark Diner and Big View Diner. They had always planned to target the grab-and-go crowd in this youth-driven neighborhood, and in this season of the Great American Takeout, they knew their concept would work. At press time, Ilios Crafted Greek had entered Phase 2 of the state’s reopening with limited dine-in service, but the bulk of their orders were carry-out. When they open at normal capacity, the dining room will accommodate about 40, and the patio will seat 15 to 20.

Expect a few signature items from Ilios Noche, like the spinach and feta pie ($11.95) and falafel plate ($11.45), but in a fast-casual setting: Order at the counter (or online) and build your dish. Start with your choice of roasted chicken, lamb, or pork, and cus-

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

tomize a salad, sandwich, or entrée plate.

Behind the counter, you’ll see a 60-inch horizontal flat rotisserie grill, a “souvla,” where meat cooks on a long skewer over charcoal.

Pita sandwiches like the lamb gyro ($8.95) and pork souvlaki ($8.45) come in three styles: traditional (with tomatoes, red onions, and tzatziki spread), Ilios-style (with greens, pickled radish and onions, and red pepper feta spread), or in a wrap with fries (for an additional 75 cents).

Craft your salad ($7.95) and add on a protein (chicken, pork, and falafel $3.95; gyro $4.45), or feast on an entrée plate like the Greek chicken rotisserie ($12.95), which comes with two sides. Side dishes like chickpea salad, Aegean slaw, and zucchini fritters rotate throughout the year.

If you have a crowd at home, try the family meal ($26.95), which feeds four to six people and includes two sides and a salad. The limited menu also includes bak-

Ilios Crafted Greek also sells favorites from sister restaurant Ilios Noche, like (clockwise from top left) spinach and feta pie; Ilios-style lamb cooked on the souvla; loukoumades, fried doughnut holes; and a falafel plate with sides.

lava ($3.75); the regular dessert menu will have loukoumades—fried doughnut holes tossed with honey and walnuts and made to order. (Rumor has it they’ll unroll frozen yogurt baklava sundaes as well.)

Look for a rotation of local brews from Sycamore Brewing, Unknown Brewing, and Wooden Robot, or sip on Greek soda ($2.50), Kombucha ($5), or fountain drinks and tea ($2.75). It’s an easy, accessible spot to pick up lunch

or have a casual weeknight dinner.

Come as you are, enjoy some souvlaki on the patio, or grab some falafel to go.

Just don’t forget the baklava.

Don’t leave without trying: The lamb gyro ($8.95), Ilios-style, with plenty of red pepper feta spread.

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK

Chef Dave Feimster learned to make authentic poke bowls during his seven years in Hawaii.

LO C AL F L AVO R

From the Rooftop to Ground Level Fahrenheit’s new food truck serves up Hawaiian street food in parking lots across Charlotte

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

ROOF.TOP21

Follow @roof.top21 on Instagram for the weekly food truck schedule.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

AT 21 STORIES, Fahrenheit is one of Charlotte’s most popular places to dine on a rooftop. When COVID-19 invaded the city this spring, Executive Chef and Director of Operations Dave Feimster and his team made the difficult decision to temporarily close their restaurant on South Caldwell Street in Second Ward. But instead of a complete shutdown, they put their operation on wheels and brought Hawaiian street fare to customers in a little red food truck they call roof.top21.

“It was actually built in late December, pre-pandemic,” Feimster says. “We were going to keep it a surprise and use it for catering and special events, but then the pandemic happened, so we thought, ‘Let’s get it out on the streets and start feeding people now.’” roof.top21 hit the pavement in April with a limited menu of handheld, Hawaiianinspired street food. “We’ve been taking it to a lot of apartment complexes because it’s a great way for residents to stay safe and still get restaurant food,” Feimster says.

The Fahrenheit team also joined the “Feed the Soul” initiative to help feed frontline health care workers during COVID-19. On Thursdays in April and May, members delivered 300 meals to Novant Health and Atrium Health’s main hospitals.

The food truck menu includes Kalua (Hawaiian barbecue) pork, a poke bowl, a spicy chicken katsu sandwich, and Kalua pork crinkle fries. “Hawaiian food is so trendy right now,” Feimster says. “Everyone loves chicken katsu; turn that into a sandwich, and you’ve got the Hawaiian version of the Nashville hot chicken sandwich.

Kailua pork is barbecue, but Hawaiian-style. All of this is a play on ‘local’ Hawaiian.”

Feimster, who has earned the nickname “Sushi Dave,” lived in Hawaii for seven years and owned the restaurant Sushi En Fuego. In 2012, he got a call from his old friend Rocco Whalen, who was about to open Charlotte’s first open-air rooftop restaurant. Feimster came on as executive chef and crafted a menu that emphasizes seafood with Asian flair. “Japanese food and Hawaiian food go hand in hand,” he says. “It’s a big melting pot over there. I learned from my Filipino cooks and friends, so when I came back over here I had a real heavy hand with Asian food. I’ve been doing poke bowls before they were even cool.”

Fahrenheit reopened for dine-in service in late May, but Sushi Dave has no plans to abandon roof.top21—or let the food truck menu get stale. “That’s just where we started, but I don’t want to be pigeonholed to Hawaiian street food,” he says. When he offered lobster grilled cheese—with gruyere, brie, and Maine lobster—as a special, it sold out immediately. Now it’s on the daily menu.

B I T E - S I Z E D STO R I E S

Foodie News on a Small Plate LA CASETA (pronounced la-kah-SEH-tah), a food stall from the group behind Sabor Latin Street Grill, has opened in Camp North End. Feast on tacos with traditional trompo-style pork, pupusas revueltas, and arepas.

Charlotte’s first seltzery, SUMMIT SELTZERY, opens this month in Wesley Heights. The taproom will serve 14 hard and nonalcoholic seltzers, all crafted on site.

Kalua pork with mac salad and pickled cucumbers (top) and a spicy chicken katsu sandwich (left). (Below) Chef Dave’s creative take on Japanese and Hawaiian food earned him the nickname “Sushi Dave.”

Rob Masone, the chef behind Wooden Robot Brewery’s gastropub, will open a new restaurant called KOUNTER in downtown Rock Hill this fall.

STIR, a Chattanooga-based oyster and cocktail bar, is open in South End’s RailYard. Look for made-to-order cocktails, a raw bar, and entrees like seared scallops, spicy tuna burgers, and steak frites.

The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration by Chris Smith won a James Beard award in May. PETER TAYLOR, a longtime contributor to Charlotte magazine, took the photographs.

ROOFTOP RESTAURANT, a year-round garden and atrium on the roof of RH Charlotte, The Gallery at Phillips Place, is open in SouthPark. Look for shareable boards, salads, and classic entrees like burgers, steaks, and truffled grilled cheese. —Taylor Bowler

Sisters Close Carpe Diem, Reimagine Earl’s Grocery

“I came up with it because one of our most popular dishes at Fahrenheit is the lobster mac & cheese,” he says.

“With roof.top21, you’re getting Fahrenheit food, just on the ground level. Not everyone can make it up here to this high-end place, but everyone can get to a food truck.”

CARPE DIEM RESTAURANT, a mainstay that COVID-19 forced to close in March, won’t reopen. A perennial favorite on Charlotte magazine’s best restaurant lists, Carpe Diem’s signature dish was the buttermilk fried chicken breast. Sisters Bonnie Warford and Tricia Maddrey opened Carpe Diem on South Tryon Street in 1989 and moved it to East Trade Street in 2000, then relocated again to 1609 Elizabeth Avenue in 2003 and opened EARL’S GROCERY, one block away, in 2014.

Earl’s will remain open but switch to takeout-only. They removed the grill and coffee counter so the business could operate even under health restrictions, Warford says, but kept the outside seating. Customers can still find Carpe Diem’s buttermilk fried chicken on the menu, along with themed weekly takeout and grab-and-go options. Look for a mix of local favorites like Chef Alyssa’s Spreads, Cannizzaro sauces, and Pure Intentions Coffee on the store’s shelves, or place grocery orders online and pick them up curbside. The to-go menu is available Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m. Place orders by phone only after 2:30 p.m. each day at 704-333-2757.

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK

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

CRISTINA ROJASAGURCIA “The Batchmaker,” still sells out of her signature treats since she expanded from home to brick and mortar alongside LaCa Projects

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

Age: 33 Family Status: Married for 8 years to husband, Pablo, mother to Josefina, 4, and Joaquin, 2 Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Cristina RojasAgurcia opened The Batch House in October 2019.

Currently reading: Untamed and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Where does your love of baking come from? Everything that’s on the menu is because I’ve craved it and thought it through while I was running. My love for baking comes from my love of food, and I’m so lucky it makes sense in my head what ingredients work together.

When did you realize you had a gift for baking desserts?

I’m still waiting for the “I’m good at this!” moment (laughs).

The community I’ve found is probably my favorite part of it all. I realized how special they are when people showed up with cream cheese because I mentioned I couldn’t find any.

Things like that happen so often.

How long was The Batch House a dream for you? I was baking from home, and it was becoming too popular for me to keep doing it from my house. I started looking for places and stumbled upon the opportunity to take over a coffee shop that had closed. It’s located in a gallery building that showcases a ton of Hispanic artists, and it’s kind of cool being a part of that as well.

THE BATCH HOUSE

1429 Bryant St. thebatchmaker.com

38

What’s your favorite thing to bake? Brownies or apple crumble. The second the air outside starts to feel and smell like fall, I hit the oven for an apple crumble and top it with ice cream.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

THE TOUGH STUFF Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate Coffee or tea?

Coffee! I’ve been drinking it since I was 2 years old, no joke.

It’s a Hispanic belief in some countries that it toughens your immune system!

And I never get sick, sooooo ...

Cake or pie?

Cake! I don’t like eating or making pies Crunchy topping or sweet drizzle?

Sweet drizzle Ice cream or hot chocolate? Ice cream all day, every day Baked or fried?

Fried Street eats or sit-down?

Street eats Facebook or Instagram? Instagram

What’s one recipe you’d still like to master?

Pound cake. My mother-in-law makes the best pound cake, and back home in Honduras there’s a bakery with the moistest, most amazing pound cake, too (it might be Honduran butter and eggs). Mine are OK, but never like theirs.

What’s your kids’ favorite treat you make?

Josefina loves strawberry cake (because it’s pink) or Pop-Tarts. Joaquin loves anything with chocolate—that boy has his mama’s love of chocolate down pat.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Charlotte?

Soul Gastrolounge is up there. I love The Cellar at Duckworth, Dot Dot Dot, Barcelona Wine Bar, and Dilworth Tasting Room, too.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure? I don’t watch much TV, but I do love cheesy rom-coms, and I’m obsessed with Kevin Hart and The Rock. I’ll want to go to the movie theater to watch all their movies as soon as they come out.

What’s next for The Batch House? Hiring more help in the kitchen and possibly finding a second kitchen off-site to rent and keep up with production.

AMBER DENAE PHOTOGRAPHY

Currently lives: Highland Creek area

BREWERIES

What Happens to the Quarantine Beer?

Sycamore Brewing repurposes stale brew into hand sanitizer and small batch spirits

CHRIS RODARTE

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

WHEN CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS AND BARS halted service during the government-mandated shutdown in late March, beer kegs sat in walk-in coolers and grew stale. As the city entered Phase 2 of reopening, Sycamore Brewing launched a “Freshness” campaign, delivering new kegs to their distributor partners and reclaiming the less-than-fresh ones at no charge.

The move came at a five-figure expense to Sycamore, but owners Justin and Sarah Brigham did this for a few reasons. “We’ve always promised our drinkers that Sycamore beer is super fresh, and we damn sure intend to keep that promise now,” Justin says. “Beer has a longer shelf life than dairy, but the exciting fruity notes start to dull over time. There’s a muting of the flavors we work so hard to put together.”

Now they plan to work with local distilleries to repurpose the unused beer. “Our beer is a great base to turn into hand sanitizer, and it’s viable as a spirit,” Justin explains. “We’re working with Unknown Brewing, and our hope is they can take some of this beer and turn it into sanitizer and distribute it to local fire departments and medical services.” (Depending on the alcohol content, it takes roughly 100 gallons of beer to produce five gallons of hand sanitizer.)

They’ve also reached out to a few local distilleries including Doc Porter’s to convert the unused beer into a small batch spirit, which they’ll barrel age and release in a few years.

As they reopen their South End taproom, Justin says construction is still a go on Sycamore’s new 16-story tower next door, and they haven’t furloughed any of their 36 full time employees. He estimates the online delivery service they launched in April helped recoup 25 percent of their losses. “As a distribution brewery, we’re doing well,” he says. “It’s the first time we’ve faced stale beers, but we’re doubling down. If we’ve got the means to do a campaign like this, it’s something we have to do.”

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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Not long ago, the Republican Party was a political force in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, exerting influence on budgets and policies even when they lacked majorities on the City Council and county commission. Those days have gone, and plans for the 2020 Republican convention collapsed.

What happened—and what might make the pendulum swing back?

BY

SHUTTERSTOCK

GREG LACOUR

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

41

trending more and more progressive,” Bokhari tells me in late May. National GOP leaders, he adds, “are not thinking about these progressive strongholds, and we need to maybe not adjust our principles but adjust our messaging to say how conservative principles can help upward mobility and equity and affordable housing, right? Because that’s what people around here want to talk about.”

The city’s acceptance of the RNC in 2018 was less a contradiction than an accommodation, one that thousands of Charlotteans didn’t want city leaders to make. Throughout the United States, and especially in the last decade, cities generally have grown increasingly multicultural, left-leaning, young, and Democratic as their outlying suburbs and rural areas have turned ever whiter, older, and more Republican. Nationally, the election of Barack Obama in 2008 helped widen the existing partisan divide between the two; the election of Donald Trump in 2016 threatens to turn the divide into a lasting rupture. In Charlotte, job opportunities have drawn young people from other cities also dominated by Democrats. Their presence; the city’s continuing transformation from a mid-sized industrial city into a major metropolis; the dwindling availability of land; the higher taxes and fees that pay for urban public services; and other factors have driven Republican voters into rural areas and what demographers call “outer-ring” suburbs.

Charlotte’s growth has forced the outer ring into the counties that surround Mecklenburg, from the “inner ring,” the city’s fringe a generation ago. State voter registration data show that Republicans far outnumber Democrats in all five growing North Carolina counties that border Mecklenburg: Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, and Gaston. That’s been the case for years. But in Mecklenburg, where the total number of registered voters grew 48 percent from 2006 to 2020, the number of registered Republicans actually fell 5 percent. (York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina are booming with former Mecklenburg County residents, too, but it’s hard to calculate the partisan effect; unlike the N.C. State Board of Elections, the S.C. Election Commission doesn’t track party affiliation.)

The most recent twist, of course, came in early June, when Charlotte’s convention plans crumbled. The city and state governments and the national Republican Party had negotiated in apparent good faith over an altered convention under coronavirus-related health restrictions.

Then Trump, via Twitter on Memorial Day, demanded that Governor Roy Cooper guarantee a capacity crowd in the 19,000-seat Spectrum Center for the convention in late August. After a series of exchanges over the next eight days—including the Republican National Committee’s formal demand that Cooper guarantee not only a full arena but at-capacity hotels, restaurants, and bars—Cooper responded that he couldn’t. “Neither public health officials nor I,” the governor wrote, “will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantee you seek.”

The longtime politician, a man who for

years practically defined what it meant

to be a Republican in Charlotte, ponders

a question: If you ran again today, what do you think the result would be?

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “It’d be a …”

He chuckles. “Ah …,” he says, still thinking. “I could make it close. But it would be a very difficult race, and the only reason it’d be close is that the mayor’s elections are off-year elections.”

Pat McCrory would know. In another era, he won seven of them.

t seems contradictory: Charlotte agreed to host the 2020 Republican National Convention in an era when the Democratic Party dominates local politics as it hasn’t since the mid-1960s, when the ideologies of the two national parties began to realign during, and largely because of, the civil rights movement.

Democrats have held a 9-2 majority on the Charlotte City Council since 2011, through five election cycles. The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, which last had a Republican majority in 2004, in 2018 went all-Democrat, 9-0, for the first time in 54 years. (Some members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education are Republicans, but school board races in Mecklenburg County are, like most nationwide and in North Carolina, nonpartisan.)

The county’s legislative delegation consists of 12 representatives and five senators. Of the 17, 16 are Democrats.

For now, the only electoral seats in Mecklenburg County you could accurately describe as “reliably Republican” are for City Council districts 6 and 7 in south Charlotte, represented by Tariq Scott Bokhari and Ed Driggs. Last year, Bokhari had to fend off a respectable challenge from Democrat Gina Navarrete, a neuropsychologist and Latina immigrant who won 41 percent of the vote. (Bokhari’s 2017 Democratic opponent had won 32 percent.) The unusually strong performance by a Democrat in a traditional Republican stronghold—the wealthy, mostly white area that fans out from SouthPark—didn’t shock the second-term councilman.

“In top-25 cities like Charlotte, the data is showing it’s

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

Not long ago,

Republicans were a

genuine political force

in Charlotte—less than

dominant, and with their own brand of businessoriented politics that usually distinguished

COURTESY; LOGAN CYRUS ; JONATHAN COOPER

Only two Republicans hold seats on the City Council or county commission: council members Tariq Scott Bokhari (top left) in District 6 and Ed Driggs (left) in District 7.

Edwin Peacock III (above, in 2013) is the most recent Republican to win a citywide election—in 2009.

Trump announced that the GOP would look for another host city. On June 11, the party announced it would hold the bulk of the convention in Jacksonville, Florida, one of the few large American cities with a Republican mayor and Republican-majority city council.

It was a shambles unlike any in modern American history—the famously chaotic 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago at least happened where it was supposed to— and a blow to a local business community desperate for an estimated $200 million in economic impact, especially after months of lockdown from the virus. Charlotte-area Republicans, who had looked forward to showcasing their marginalized party, had to absorb their own disappointment. “On behalf of the 10,000 volunteers that were excited to share Charlotte with the world and prove that we could offer diversity of thoughts, opinions, and ideals while showcasing our hospitality, we are saddened,” the Mecklenburg County GOP said in a release. “For those of our volunteers that gave so much of their time and treasure, we are truly crushed.”

Not long ago, Republicans were a genuine political force in Charlotte—less than dominant, and with their own brand of business-oriented politics that usually distinguished them from their culture-war GOP compatriots, but competitive. For now, that force has evaporated to almost nothing, at least in terms of winning local elections. In a city and county of a deepening shade of blue, are they doomed to stay in that shadow forever?

them from their culturewar GOP compatriots, but competitive.

dwin Peacock III, though he’s hardly an old man, is reminiscing. “I’m just thinking of some of those women who were part of my childhood,” he tells me in late May. The women were officeholders in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County soon after his father, Edwin “Ed” Peacock Jr., served for three terms on the county Board of Commissioners. The younger Peacock mentions former commissioner Carla DuPuy and former City Council member Lynn Wheeler, both Republicans.

Then Peacock mentions another woman, a Democrat— Liz Hair, the first woman to chair the county board, who died in 2014. Ed Peacock and Hair served on the board together; Hair chaired it from 1974 to 1977, Ed Peacock from 1978 to 1980. “My dad loved serving with Liz Hair.

He became a lifelong friend of Liz Hair’s,” says Edwin Peacock, 50, the president of his family’s financial services firm. “It was just a different environment.” Not that it’s impossible for elected officials from different parties to form friendships today, Peacock says. But at the time, local political issues tended to remain local; national partisan enmity seldom bled into the discussions.

The fabric had altered by the time Edwin Peacock ran for office. He’s the most recent Republican in Charlotte to win a citywide election—11 years ago. His bid for a third term in 2011 failed when he came in fifth in a race for the council’s four at-large seats. Then, like his father, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor. Ed Peacock lost his elec-

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

43

tion in 1983, in the momentous mayoral election won

by Harvey Gantt, the first Black person to hold the office.

Edwin Peacock lost to Patrick Cannon in 2013 and Jennifer Roberts in 2015. Still, the younger Peacock’s name recognition had helped him win two at-large elections to the City Council, in 2007 and 2009. He doesn’t think he could pull it off now without a healthy slate of qualified Republicans running with him.

“Locally, 2018 was obviously a whitewash,” he says.

“Here we are in 2020, and I think the numbers could balance themselves out, and you could see some resurgence back in the local Mecklenburg (GOP), either in the state delegation or maybe even on the county commission.

There is a path out of the wilderness, let’s put it that way. I think there is. It’s just going to take time.”

What changed in Charlotte politics between Ed and Edwin Peacock was in part a local mirror of national polarization that, in an internet and social media-driven age, soaked into cities and counties throughout the country.

In Ed Peacock’s time, local political issues typically began and ended within city and county boundaries. By Edwin Peacock’s, the neon-lit local issue was a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance on the rights of gay and transgender citizens, a potential third rail in cities nationwide.

Ed Peacock, who also served a City Council term in the early ’80s, ran for office and won during a grand reshuffling of the partisan deck in the United States. Starting in the mid-’60s, national Democrats’ increasing embrace of civil rights alienated what had been the segregated, Democratic “solid South.” Those voters began to migrate to the Republican Party, drawn by Richard Nixon’s promise of “law and order” in 1968 and Ronald Reagan’s conservatism and massive popularity in the early ’80s. In Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, from then well into the 2000s, the partisan composition of local boards shifted from election to election, and Republicans influenced policy even when they were in the minority. Starting in 1977, Republicans occupied the Charlotte mayor’s office for 28 of the next 32 years—the last 14 by Pat McCrory.

“It was something I bragged about when I used to recruit companies to Charlotte, the political diversity that we have, which really didn’t start until the late ’70s, early ’80s,” says McCrory, now the host of a morning radio show on WBT, who emphasizes that he doesn’t intend to run for mayor again. “Because it always was a Democratic city, and then we had a 20-to-30-year span where Republicans started gradually getting influential.” He points to Sue Myrick’s 1987 upset victory in the mayor’s race over Gantt, a twoterm incumbent: “That was the beginning of the real peak of Republicans having at least a balance of power on the City Council, school board, and county commission, and I ran for City Council two years after that.” Myrick eventually served 18 years in the U.S. House, and her son Dan Forest is North Carolina’s lieutenant governor and Cooper’s opponent in this year’s gubernatorial race.

The period McCrory refers to ended abruptly in 2008, when he decided to run for governor. McCrory lost that

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

race to Bev Perdue, then won in 2012 and lost to Cooper in 2016. In the 2009 Charlotte mayoral race, Democratic council member Anthony Foxx defeated longtime Republican council member John Lassiter. That year, the council shifted from a 7-4 to an 8-3 Democratic majority. Two years later, Edwin Peacock lost his council seat, and the balance went to 9-2. There it’s remained, and no Republican candidate for mayor has won since.

A transforming Charlotte’s enthusiasm for the newly elected Obama was probably the main factor that kicked the balance so strongly Democratic. The suburban and rural backlash against Obama in 2010 helped secure Republican control of both houses of the N.C. General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction, and the GOP’s legislative majorities have held for a decade, swelling to a veto-proof supermajority from 2012 to 2018. Both have contributed to Charlotte Republicans’ difficulties in finding and developing candidates who might appeal to urban voters.

“We’ve gotten into a cycle in the Mecklenburg GOP,” Peacock says, “where the people who are choosing to run, for one reason or another—and this is not specifically directed at anybody—but we’ve moved away from some of the traditional candidates in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, early 2000s, when they were coming with a specific professional résumé of an attorney, a doctor, a banker, a lawyer, a CPA. What we’re finding now is people who are just more partisan.”

hen again, attempts at more measured conservatism tend to falter when the party’s standard-bearer is Trump. As I write this, the nation enters Day 11 of the convulsions that have followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and months of an outbreak of disease, exacerbated by a president who traffics in turmoil.

One result has been some of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency. Even if Charlotte Republicans forcefully condemned Trump—and they haven’t—it’s hard to imagine it swaying non-Republicans, and it would infuriate the president’s followers.

Trump’s presidency is, in part, the product of an already right-wing party’s rightward lurch, which picked up momentum during the Obama era. Republicans like McCrory, considered a moderate as Charlotte’s mayor, quickly realized as governor that the post-2010 GOP in North Carolina was a more aggressive version of the party he was used to, says Dr. Michael Bitzer, a politics and history professor at Catawba College in Salisbury—McCrory’s alma mater—and an expert on Southern political history.

Trump has only accelerated that ferocity. Bitzer tells me it’s led to this prevailing attitude in the national party: “If you don’t play nice with Trump, you’re not a Republican.

Well, you know, it doesn’t matter what your governing philosophy is anymore. It’s beholden to one person who embodies a kind of stark conservatism that has been asym-

Republican Richard Vinroot (left, in 2018) was Charlotte’s mayor from 1991 to 1995. Pat McCrory succeeded Vinroot as mayor in 1995 and held the office for a record 14 years.

DANIEL COSTON; KATY WARNER, NC DOT

McCrory (below, with wife Ann) was inaugurated as North Carolina’s 74th governor in 2013. He lost to Democrat Roy Cooper in 2016.

metrical in terms of how far the Republican Party has moved to the right versus how the Democratic Party has moved to the left.”

McCrory’s Republican predecessor as Charlotte mayor, Richard Vinroot, says he “can’t remember any real partisan decisions to speak of” when he was in office from 1991 to 1995. “I mean, the Republicans on the council were always more concerned about financial matters: ‘Let’s not spend too much, let’s not waste money,’ and the Democrats were more traditionally, ‘Let’s see how much we can do.’ In various areas they were, in my view, more prospending than we were. But we otherwise pretty much saw things the same way.”

Vinroot, 79, is a lifelong Republican and attorney who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1996, 2000, and 2004. In recent years, Vinroot has called on Republicans and Democrats to cooperate on efforts to curb or end partisan gerrymandering, an extreme version of which Republicans enacted after they won control of the General Assembly.

His and others’ efforts haven’t gone far. Though he says he agrees with some of the Trump Administration’s stances on matters like American attachment to global entities— like the World Health Organization, from which Trump

has announced American withdrawal—Vinroot thinks the president violates more fundamental standards. “It’s somewhat disappointing that there’s not more substance to what is a Republican,” he tells me. “I mean, it’s Trumpism. It’s shouting, it’s berating—it’s just not the way I thought we were supposed to behave.”

Yet even with his criticism, Vinroot admits he sometimes wants to defend Trump against his political opponents. He mentions Democrats’ continuing criticism of Trump for his alleged collusion with Russia, which Vinroot believes is unfounded. “He’s right about a lot of things,” Vinroot says. “I just wish he would say it in a more diplomatic, measured fashion. I wish he’d say it in a way that would make people like me more attracted to it. Why does he have to say it in the bullying fashion that he does?

Why does he have to be a jerk?”

epublicans have two distinct choices in any attempt to reestablish themselves in Charlotte and other cities: Change their tactics and positions on urban matters or cede the cities to progressives and concentrate on their base outside them. For the time being, the national party has placed its bet on the latter.

A route back to relevance in Charlotte might be to hang back and let time do its work. The political pendulum swings, and in recent years, it’s swung wildly. Backlashes breed backlashes in American politics. Political parties that achieve dominance assume its permanence. Again and again, they’re eventually proven wrong.

During our conversation, I ask McCrory if his political principles, at least for local government in Charlotte, have changed since 2008. “No,” he replies, “not at all.” When he was mayor, he says, he concentrated on public safety, transportation, and government efficiency, “and to me those issues are still bedrock issues of Republicans, no matter where you are in North Carolina or in our country.” If Republicans want a prominent voice again in local politics, he says, they should drive stakes into that ground and recognize the possibility that local Democrats will overplay the hand voters have dealt them. Sooner or later, he tells me, the public pushes back against established orders that go too far.

I’m about to offer a response, something along the lines of: Dominant political parties overplay their hands, you say?

You’d know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t you? To my surprise, McCrory beats me to it.

“That’s true with both sides. That happened with me as governor with my Republican supermajority legislature,” he says. “If the Republicans come back, it’s because the Democrats got drunk with power.” The voting public can at times appear predictable, even docile. But it has a habit of confounding anyone’s efforts to tame it.

GREG LACOUR is the senior editor for this magazine.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE 2020 CHARLOTTE

Thirty-two beers.

Twenty-one breweries.

Thousands weigh in ANDY SMITH

BRITTANY LITTLE; PETER TAYLOR; COURTESY

BY

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AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

47

Legion Brewing Legion Brewing Company Company

Juicy Jay Juicy Jay

NoDa Brewing NoDa Brewing Company Company

Legion Brewing Legion Brewing Company Company

Juicy Jay Juicy Jay

Hop Drop n Roll Hop Drop n Roll

Legion Brewing Legion Brewing Company Company

Juicy Jay Juicy Jay

Resident Culture ResidentCompany Culture Brewing Brewing Company

God Complex God Complex

Birdsong Brewing Co. Birdsong Brewing Co.

Birdsong Brewing Co. Birdsong Brewing Co.

Higher Ground Higher Ground

Higher Ground Higher Ground

Legion Brewing Legion Brewing Company Company

Juicy Jay Juicy Jay

Heist Brewery Heist Brewery

Citraquench’l Citraquench’l

Triple C Brewing Co. Triple C Brewing Co.

Heist Brewery Heist Brewery

Citraquench’l Citraquench’l

3C IPA 3C IPA

Heist Brewery Heist Brewery

Citraquench’l Citraquench’l

Lenny Boy Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Brewing Co.

Citraphilia Citraphilia

Divine Barrel Brewing Divine Barrel Brewing

Forty Dollar Bill Forty Dollar Bill

Lenny Boy Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Brewing Co.

THE FINAL

Citraphilia Citraphilia

brac

Sugar Creek SugarCompany Creek Brewing Brewing Company

Dubbel Dubbel

Birdsong Brewing Co. Birdsong Brewing Co.

Birdsong Brewing Co. Birdsong Brewing Co.

MexiCali Stout MexiCali Stout

MexiCali Stout MexiCali Stout

NoDa Brewing NoDa Brewing Company Company

Coco Loco Coco Loco

NoDa Brewing NoDa Brewing Company Company

Coco Loco Coco Loco

Lenny Boy Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Brewing Co.

NoDa Brewing NoDa Brewing Company Company

Coco Loco Coco Loco

Burn Down Brown Burn Down Brown

NoDa Brewing NoDa Brewing Company Company

Coco Loco Coco Loco

Town Brewing Co. Town Brewing Co.

Blue Blaze Brewing Co. Blue Blaze Brewing Co.

Black Blaze Black Blaze Milk Stout Milk Stout

Blue Blaze Brewing Co. Blue Blaze Brewing Co.

Black Blaze Black Blaze Milk Stout Milk Stout

Blue Blaze Brewing Co. Blue Blaze Brewing Co.

Black Blaze Black Blaze Milk Stout Milk Stout

Pilot Brewing Co. Pilot Brewing Co.

Dunkel Bock Dunkel Bock

Armored Cow Armored Brewing Cow Co. Brewing Co.

Pilot Brewing Co. Pilot Brewing Co.

Dunkel Bock Dunkel Bock

Porter of the Phoenix Porter of the Phoenix

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

ADAM WHITLOW (2)

Flutter Tongue Flutter Tongue

Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Good Morning

Vietnam Good Morning Vietnam Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Good Morning

Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Good Morning

Vietnam Good Morning Vietnam The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery The Olde Mecklenburg CopperBrewery

Copper

Vietnam Good Morning Vietnam Sugar Creek Brewing SugarCompany Creek Brewing PaleCompany Ale

Pale Ale

Sugar Creek Brewing SugarCompany Creek Brewing PaleCompany Ale

Pale Ale

Divine Barrel Brewing Divine Barrel Brewing The Lightest Thing

The Lightest We HaveThing We Have

Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Good Morning

Good Morning Vietnam Vietnam

Sycamore Brewing Sycamore Brewing Southern Girl Sycamore Brewing Sycamore Brewing Southern Girl

Southern Girl

Free Range Brewing Free Range Brewing Cream of the Crop

Cream of the Crop

Sycamore Brewing Sycamore Brewing Southern Girl

Southern Girl

The Unknown Brewing Co. The Unknown BrewingSession Co. Pre-Game

cket

Southern Girl

Pre-Game Session

Resident Culture Brewing ResidentCompany Culture Brewing IllegalCompany Smile

Illegal Smile

The Unknown Brewing Co. The Unknown BrewingSession Co. Pre-Game

Pre-Game Session Protagonist Beer

Protagonist Beer Over the Rainbow Over the Rainbow

Resident Culture Brewing ResidentCompany Culture Brewing IllegalCompany Smile

Illegal Smile

The Suffolk Punch The Suffolk Punch Daydream Sour

Daydream SessionsSour Sessions

Resident Culture Brewing ResidentCompany Culture Brewing IllegalCompany Smile

Illegal Smile

Salud

Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Raspberry Swirl It

Raspberry Swirl It Triple C Brewing Company Triple C Brewing Company Rainbow Sherbet

FunkySalud Drummer Funky Drummer Wooden Robot Brewery Wooden Robot Brewery Raspberry Swirl It

Raspberry Swirl It

Rainbow Sherbet The Unknown Brewing Co. The Unknown Brewing Co. Top Bright Ass Tank

Bright Ass Tank Top Triple C Brewing Company Triple C Brewing

Legion Brewing Company Legion Brewing Company Entmoot

Entmoot

The Unknown Brewing Co. The Unknown Brewing Co. Top Bright Ass Tank

Bright Ass Tank Top

Company Rainbow Sherbet Rainbow Sherbet Triple C Brewing Company Triple C Brewing Company Rainbow Sherbet

Rainbow Sherbet

Free Range Brewing Free Range Brewing Burn Barrel

Burn Barrel Triple C Brewing Company Triple C Brewing Company Rainbow Sherbet

Rainbow Sherbet AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

49

ABOUT THE

It began as a short exchange in a Slack thread: People miss sports during this pandemic. Can we create a friendly-yetcompetitive tournament-style bracket out of something else?

The recent Stay-at-Home order had placed “uh, beer” at the top of the short list of our common pastimes.

And the timing was right: We hadn’t ranked Charlotte brews since 2017, a lifetime in “local beer years.” So, in the absence of a 2020 March Madness, we appointed ourselves members of a “selection committee”—hey, it’s our magazine—and scanned the field.

THE METHODOLOGY:

» The four “regions” couldn’t be geographic, as breweries

aren’t equally distributed throughout Charlotte. Instead, we opted for types: India Pale Ales, Darks, Lights, and Sours.

» For this first edition, our 32 would be selected only from breweries native to Charlotte and within city limits. To keep it diverse, a single brewery couldn’t have more than two products in the bracket and no more than one per type.

»

SEEDING: Strictly speaking, there’s no formal powerranking system for Charlotte beers based on strength of schedule or the learned assessment of Jay Bilas (an attorney with the Charlotte law firm of Moore & Van Allen in addition to his ESPN analyst gig). We considered other factors for matchups, like breweries’ opening dates and BeerAdvocate and Untappd grades.

Michael Brawley (right), founder of Brawley’s Beverage, chats with a guest at his Park Road bottle shop.

For an outside perspective, our editors asked Michael Brawley of Brawley’s Beverage to join the selection committee.

His Park Road bottle shop opened in 2007, two years before Charlotte’s first brewery opened. Michael added invaluable insights throughout.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

ADAM WHITLOW

OUR GUEST COMMITTEE MEMBER

MARIBETH KISER

LEGEND

For this first edition of the bracket, we kept our selections within Charlotte proper

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Legion Brewing Company (Plaza Midwood) Legion Brewing Company (SouthPark) NoDa Brewing Company (The OG) NoDa Brewing Company (NorthEnd) NoDa Brewing Company (Airport) Triple C Brewing Company Wooden Robot Brewery (The Brewery) Wooden Robot Brewery (The Chamber) Blue Blaze Brewing Co. Heist Brewery Resident Culture Brewing Company Sycamore Brewing Birdsong Brewing Co.

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Pilot Brewing Co. Sugar Creek Brewing Company The Unknown Brewing Co. Town Brewing Co. The Suffolk Punch Free Range Brewing Protagonist Beer Divine Barrel Brewing Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) Salud Cerveceria Armored Cow Brewing Co.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

51

MEET THE

Legion Brewing Company’s Juicy Jay is the new king of Charlotte beers

“Juicy Jay over Hop Drop?!

Never.”

LEGION BREWING COMPANY

JUICY JAY

LEGION BREWING offered a drop of hope during the early, uncertain days of spring. On April 2, an announcement hit social media: Juicy Jay cans are here. It seemed serendipitous that the beloved IPA, which has made best-of lists since Legion’s first location opened in Plaza Midwood in 2015, hit grocery stores as taprooms closed. The real story was one of quick decisions and sleepless nights.

Legion Brewing Company co-owner Phil Buchy says the company had always planned to

52

sell Juicy Jay and other beers in cans. “We were always so busy just trying to keep up with our draft sales that we never had the capacity to sell cans,” he says by phone in June. “We were selling every drop we could make.”

That reality came to a halt in March, when COVID-19 forced a statewide Stay-at-Home order.

Legion’s sales dropped to zero overnight, from its own taprooms to the 400 Charlotte-area restaurants that sell its beer.

But grocery stores remained open. Legion already had the branding finalized, retail connections in place, and Juicy Jay in the tanks. In just a week

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

and a half, they pulled off the rest: cans, labels, coordination, filling, packaging, and distribution of thousands of Juicy Jays to stores across the region. Buchy’s team finally had time to can their beers.

The brewery’s survival depended on it.

“The moment was absolutely life-changing for us,” Buchy says.

“It was a great surprise to us just how popular our cans have been and how embraced our packaging has been.”

As of June, Legion Brewing sells more Juicy Jay in cans in a day than they had sold on tap in a week. Legion has added other beers to the canning list: dry Irish

ADAM WHITLOW

@garrettdroege on Instagram

THE OTHER THREE IN THE

The dark, sour, and light that rose to the top of their “regions”

NODA BREWING COMPANY

COCO LOCO

COCO LOCO wouldn’t exist if Maui Brewing Company sold beer in North Carolina in 2007.

Todd and Suzie Ford vacationed in Hawaii that year and loved the brewery’s Coconut Hiwa Porter. At the time, Todd was an airline pilot who had just returned to his homebrewing hobby after a break when his kids were younger. (Just after he and Suzie married in the mid-2000s, she ventured downstairs and asked, “What are all of those pots and pans you have in the basement?”)

When they returned to Charlotte, they were dismayed to find that the Maui Brewing porter wasn’t available locally. So Todd set out to reverse-engineer it. The future brewery owner made one change: Some cacao nibs were “laying around,” and he added them to the concoction. Coco Loco was born, and the Fords kept making it in their house. Todd brewed; Suzie “became the official coconut toaster.”

Four years later, Todd and Suzie, a former banker, left their careers and founded NoDa

Brewing Company. Before they opened their first site in Optimist Park, Maui Brewing Company’s founder, Garrett Marrero, gave them a tour of his facility and was delighted to learn about Coconut Hiwa Porter’s influence on their new careers.

Coco Loco was one of three original beers at NoDa Brewing, along with Ramble on Red ale and NoDaRized, an IPA. Eleven months later, it was one of four beers Todd and Suzie entered at the Great American Beer Festival. The porter won the silver medal in its category, and the first table the Fords visited after they won was Marrero’s. (He wasn’t there yet, but they talked to his mom and found Garrett later that day.)

“This beer is inspirational to us because of the good times we had in Hawaii, plus the collaborative nature of brewers and how they help each other out,” Ford says. When we talk by phone in June, Ford briefly mentions that he just changed his vacation plans due to COVID-19 and was headed to the North Carolina coast instead.

Where had the Fords planned to go? Back to Hawaii, of course. They’ll return when they can.

ADAM WHITLOW

stout Sláinte, hibiscus pale ale Mind Ya ’Biscus, the lager Penguin Pils, American wheat ale Flicker Daze, the Berliner Weisse Carolina Sparkle Party, and, most recently, the East Coast IPA Next Chapter.

As restaurants and taprooms reopen, head brewer Scott Griffin and his crew are making “as much beer as we possibly can,” he says. They’ll need the expanded production facility they plan to open early next year on Morehead Street on the west side. It’ll be Legion’s third site, the company having opened a taproom in SouthPark in 2018.

Legion plans to open a brewery and restaurant at Atherton’s Trolley Barn in South End around the same time.

In 2015, Griffin was an assistant to Alexa Long, Legion’s former head brewer and the creator of Juicy Jay. At the time, Legion produced 1,000 barrels a year. In 2019, it made 7,000.

“She did an incredible job with that recipe,” Griffin says. He’s had to tweak it over the years as production expanded and new hops became available, but the essence remains: an easy drinker with a tropical tinge and a “distinct, dry finish.”

Juicy Jay’s name reflects the familial, in-jokey culture that grows inside small breweries.

Juicy J is a founding member of the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, which the Legion crew was listening to “a lot during those days,” Griffin says.

Legion’s flagship IPA might not have kept the name if its owners had realized the connection and glanced at his lyrics. “But by the time Phil found out,” Griffin says with a laugh, “we were kind of married to it.” The happy, hoppy marriage endures.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

53

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM “Gonna call it now... Good Morning Vietnam vs Juicy” Round 2 comment from @max_collin on Instagram

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CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE commenters are smart folks. A few beer enthusiasts prophesized in Round 2 that Good Morning Vietnam would face Juicy Jay in the final. They were right.

This “coffee vanilla blonde ale” breezed by every competitor until the championship round. Its placement proves it’s more than a novelty, but coffee in a light beer still surprises. “Brewers have been combining beer and coffee for a while now, typically by adding it to a stout or porter-style beer,” writes Dan Wade, co-founder and head brewer at Wooden Robot, via email.

“I was doing more research on this process and started reading how different roasts affect the coffee taste. I had the idea to brew a blonde beer by using blonde roast coffee. I thought this would be a great way to let the brighter coffee notes shine through in a beer.”

Wooden Robot opened in 2015, and Good Morning Vietnam was one of its first beers. The name comes from the 1987 film that stars Robin Williams as an Air Force radio deejay who opens his shifts with the trademark wail: “Gooooood morning, VietNAM!” When you think of morning, Wade notes, you think of coffee.

At first, Wooden Robot acquired the coffee beans from its thenneighbors at Common Market.

But as the beer became popular, and CM relocated, “(we) knew we needed to go directly to the source.” The brewery turned to Enderly Coffee on the west side, which already sells a light Ethiopian coffee to match the blonde beer.

Wade regards the combined team as ideal partners, both parties being “flavor architects.” “The fermented beer rests on the Ethiopian-grown coffee overnight, and the cold extraction creates a smooth, full character,” Wade says.

The result is a light beer that stands above its peers, with just a bit more perk.

ADAM WHITLOW

WOODEN ROBOT BREWERY

“Divine Barrel and Lenny Boy have the best sours in town, yet neither place has a spot in the sour bracket?” @trav3234 on instagram

TRIPLE C BREWING COMPANY

ADAM WHITLOW

RAINBOW SHERBET

YOU KNOW RAINBOW SHERBET when you see it. The sour streams bright red from the tap, as enticing as the frozen treat that inspired its name. “When people say you eat with your eyes as much as anything else—drinking’s like that, too,” head brewer John Rankin tells me in May. Rankin was only a couple of months into the job when Triple C released his new sherbet-inspired fruited sour as a small batch last summer. The response was so ecstatic that the company re-released it in cans last March. Rankin says Rainbow Sherbet succeeded here in part because the market hadn’t seen much like it. Tampa, where he was head production brewer at Tampa Bay Brewing Co. before working at Triple C, was rife with fruited sours. (Before his stint in Florida, Rankin worked for Thomas Creek Brewing in Greenville, S.C.) Rainbow Sherbet gets its reddish hue primarily when brewers add raspberries to the tart Berliner Weisse

base, Rankin says. The sherbet flavor comes from pineapple, lime, vanilla, and being brewed with lactose.

It’s a reminder of what drew Ranking to work at Triple C: a spirit of experimentation. “The Barrel Room,” a new space across the street that Triple C added in 2017, added possibilities, Rankin told Brewer Magazine last year: Its “pilot system, along with (its) barrel storage capacity and a couple foeders.”

“And really, it takes a whole team to make great beer,” Rankin tells me in May, “so I’m just part of a bigger, great team.”

Triple C’s founder, Chris Harker, tells us that the entire team was excited to see Rainbow Sherbet in the Final Four alongside three year-round Charlotte mainstays. Don’t worry if you missed it in March: They’re bringing it back this month for their 8th anniversary and might add new fruits to the mix.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

55

MEET THE OTHERS IN THE

The road to the Final Four went through these heavy hitters

HEIST BREWERY

CITRAQUENCH’L THE STORY: In 2017, writer Matt McKenzie ranked Charlotte’s 50 Best Craft Beers and put this New England IPA at the top. It has the rare rating of 100 on BeerAdvocate, which labels it “World-Class.” It’s also the platform’s number-one beer for North Carolina. Surprisingly, Juicy Jay trounced Hop Drop in the first round of our bracket.

Citraquench’l was its closest competitor, and the Legion brew won by only a few dozen votes out of hundreds.

Heist, which opened in 2012 as the city’s first brewpub, is known mainly for fruited sours and stouts, a shift from the German- and Belgian-style beers it sold under another head brewer in its early days.

But Citraquench’l is a perennial, beloved and traded among enthusiasts to this day.

BEHIND THE NAME: Citraquench’l contains only one type of hop, Citra. Heist had named it “Citraquential,” but it was hard to resist an alternate spelling when the “quench” pun was … av-ALE-able. (This shame is a terrible burden.)

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON UNTAPPD: One user’s review: “Oh yeah! Tasty!”

SOUTHERN GIRL

THE STORY: Sycamore has poured the blonde ale Southern Girl from the tap since it opened in 2014, and it’s also part of the brewery’s core lineup of popular cans. Sycamore’s distribution continues to expand: Cans, including Southern Girl, recently made it to Virginia stores from its

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

31,000-square-foot production brewery and cannery in the North End of Charlotte.

Sycamore had previously expanded to South Carolina and was headed to Georgia prior to COVID-19.

Owners still plan to move to a new, larger space in the 250-foot tower that Atlantabased Portman Holdings is building next to its original South End location. Expect Southern Girl to make the journey, too.

BEHIND THE NAME: With its biscuit-like aroma and flavors—along with honeydew melon and strawberry—the beer fits its moniker. But Southern Girl is actually named for Sycamore’s “American-made brewhouse,” owners say.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON UNTAPPD: “Nothing better than a good southern girl.”

ADAM WHITLOW

SYCAMORE BREWING

“Props to anyone who has tried ALL of these! @matt_winter on instagram

BLUE BLAZE BREWING CO.

BLACK BLAZE MILK STOUT

THE STORY: Blue Blaze is a West End mainstay, the first tenant of the century-old Savona Mill project. Its Black Blaze Milk Stout belongs in the “elite” category: For a stout, it’s a surprisingly smooth, creamy brew. The blend of espresso and chocolate is welcome at any time of day (including, we’ve found, weekend mornings). Black Blaze Milk Stout is one of the brewery’s yearrounders, but its brewers traffic in dark ales, too, including Double Blaze Black IPA, Muddy Waters Brown Ale, and Ripped Corduroy Imperial Stout.

BEHIND THE NAME: It’s a play on the name of the brewery, explained across its branding and website: “Paint stripes—called blazes—of different colors are used on the Appalachian Trail to serve as waypoints and indicate points of interest. Side trails that lead to water, relaxation, and camaraderie are identified by a blue blaze.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON UNTAPPD: “A perfectly made milk stout. Rich and creamy in every sip. Subtle chocolate notes, but I didn’t taste the espresso. That would have sent it to the top!”

RESIDENT CULTURE BREWING COMPANY

ILLEGAL SMILE

THE STORY: From its fully formed, wild branding to across-the-board quality in any style, you would never know Resident Culture is only three years old. Illegal Smile is the best of its sours: The kettle sour ale carries the fruitiness of blackcurrant and the tartness of key lime.

The pour is a rich red, and as you can see

in the Final Four of this competition, red was a motif in the sours category. This was another tough Elite Eight battle, which Triple C’s Rainbow Sherbet won by 30 votes.

BEHIND THE NAME: “Illegal Smile” acquired its name from a 1971 tune by the late, great John Prine. It’s the opening track on his self-titled debut and includes the lines, “And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile/It don’t cost very much, but it lasts a

long while.” The brewery name has drawn questions, too: Co-founder and head brewer Chris Tropeano says it refers to the Plaza Midwood community it inhabits and the regional yeast it uses to brew the beer.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON UNTAPPD: “Interesting. Almost a cinnamon-like, Rhubarb taste.”

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

57

“I’m just thinking about those seniors on the squad” MEET THE OTHERS IN THE

@TheTrolleyWalk on Twitter, on Hop Drop’s elimination

BIRDSONG BREWING

HIGHER GROUND This West Coast IPA is Birdsong’s best seller.

ABV: IBU:

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

88%

(VERY GOOD)

ROOKIE YEAR: 2011

FUN FACT

They made it past the first round but got bounced in the second.

Picked one of these for the championship, did you?

Tough.

7% 65

Birdsong’s Squirrels on Geese is a Chardonnay barrel-aged version of Higher Ground.

LENNY BOY BREWING CO.

CITRAPHILIA

The flagship IPA for the South End spot.

ABV: IBU:

6.4% 65

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

87%

(VERY GOOD)

IBU= International Bitterness Units

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

Citra, Amarillo, and Ekuanot hops are used to craft this Lenny Boy staple.

COURTESY

ABV= Alcohol By Volume

FUN FACT

ROOKIE YEAR: 2016

SUGAR CREEK BREWING COMPANY

PALE ALE Balances pine, grapefruit, and citrus flavors.

ABV: IBU:

5.2% 40

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

87%

(VERY GOOD)

FUN FACT

ROOKIE YEAR: 2014 Despite its plain-Jane name, it won the silver medal at the national Alltech Commonwealth Cup in Lexington, Kentucky.

THE UNKNOWN BREWING CO.

PRE-GAME SESSION

It’s light. Very light. But that’s helpful when the game hasn’t even started.

ABV: IBU:

4.5%

None

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

81% (GOOD)

FUN FACT

COURTESY

ROOKIE YEAR: 2014 Technically an American pale ale, a style represented most famously

by Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, often credited with kicking off the American craft beer phenomenon.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

59

BIRDSONG BREWING

MEXICALI STOUT Habaneros give this cold-weather beer a touch of heat to complement its chocolate and coffee tones.

ABV: IBU:

5.8% 35

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

87%

(VERY GOOD)

FUN FACT

ROOKIE YEAR: 2013 Habaneros fall between 100,000 and 350,000 on the Scoville spiciness scale. The Carolina Reaper and police pepper spray? Those would be 1,500,000 to 3,000,000.

PILOT BREWING CO.

DUNKEL BOCK This Plaza Midwood original is inspired by dark German lagers.

ABV: IBU:

6.3%

24

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

None

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

Won the bronze in the “Bock” category at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival.

COURTESY

FUN FACT

ROOKIE YEAR: 2018

WOODEN ROBOT BREWERY

RASPBERRY SWIRL IT This sour ale, inspired by raspberry-vanilla swirl ice cream, was made in collaboration with North Street Beer Station in Raleigh and spun off of Wooden Robot’s Swirl It! series.

ABV: IBU:

6%

None

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

None

FUN FACT

ROOKIE YEAR: 2019 Raspberry Swirl It! is brewed with 500 pounds of raspberries.

THE UNKNOWN BREWING CO.

BRIGHT ASS TANK TOP Unknown describes this sour as a “rum-barreled key lime gose.”

ABV: IBU:

4.1%

None

BEERADVOCATE SCORE:

88%

(VERY GOOD)

FUN FACT

COURTESY

ROOKIE YEAR: 2016 Unknown used 15-year-old Nicaraguan rum barrels to store this gose.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

61

NODA BREWING COMPANY

HOP DROP ’N ROLL

It was a tough draw for one of Charlotte’s most decorated and wellknown IPAs. Regardless, the legacy of this hometown hero is cemented— and will be canned for years to come.

TRIPLE C BREWING COMPANY

3C IPA MEET THE OTHERS IN THE

3C’s name comes from the three hops used in the West Coast-style IPA: Citra, Chinook, and Centennial. It took gold at the NC Brewers Cup in 2019 but was the second decorated league veteran to fall in our bracket.

DIVINE BARREL BREWING

FORTY DOLLAR BILL

These brews didn’t make it past the first round, but they’re still Charlotte staples

The only beer on this list to pay homage to Frank Zappa. We can’t print the full lyric—Google “DinahMoe Humm” if you dare—but we can recommend this old-school West Coast IPA for its boldness and orange-y edge.

RESIDENT CULTURE BREWING COMPANY

In contrast to its West Coast counterparts, this New England IPA is creamy, smooth, and, most notably, not bitter. The DIPA (Double IPA) reigns as the Plaza Midwood brewery’s juiciest and hoppiest take on the style.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

BRITTANY LITTLE; COURTESY (3)

GOD COMPLEX

OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY

COPPER

The flagship beer from the city’s oldest and largest brewery. OMB stores the ale, technically a “Düsseldorf-style Altbier,” for several weeks at freezing temperatures after its primary fermentation to give Copper its lager-like crispness.

“Copper out in Round 1?

Huuuuggeee upset.” @gpetersclt on Instagram

DIVINE BARREL BREWING

THE LIGHTEST THING WE HAVE

A common question at any brewery: “What’s the lightest thing you have?”

Divine Barrel responded with this lager’s name. The most common descriptors on the Untappd beer platform: “crisp” and “easy drinker.”

On this list, it’s also … you know.

FREE RANGE BREWING

CREAM OF THE CROP

This cream ale has the consistency of a glass of milk. (It doesn’t taste like milk, though; that’d be weird.) This style is underrepresented in Charlotte, but Free Range’s version stands up against the nationally known Creole Cream Ale at Abita Brewing Company or the smooth Session Cream Ale from Full Sail Brewing.

PROTAGONIST BEER

OVER THE RAINBOW

COURTESY (4)

This blonde ale was made for summer. The citrus peel notes are expected, but the brewery’s selfdescribed “laboratory” also injected flavors of Hawaiian Punch (!) and peach candy flavors (!!).

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

63

SUGAR CREEK BREWING COMPANY

DUBBEL

This rich Belgian dubbel is surprisingly easy to drink considering its kitchen-sink roster of flavors: banana, clove, raisin, brown sugar, cherry, chocolate, plum, and spice. It’s the brewery’s most expensive beer to make, and you can taste the production costs.

LENNY BOY BREWING CO.

BURN DOWN BROWN

This creamy brown ale with chocolate and toffee tones lends itself to other uses: Lenny Boy uses it in the cheese dip that comes with an order of pretzels.

TOWN BREWING

FLUTTER TONGUE

This “region” needed a robust stout.

It’s strong but playful, as the flavors of blueberries and Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans dance on the palate.

ARMORED COW BREWING CO.

PORTER OF THE PHOENIX

COURTESY (4)

Harry Potter fans will float on air to this porter, whose name plays on the title of the fifth installment of the series. It’s the kind of beer that gets too heavy after one or two. But if you’re in the right mood, it’s magical.

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SALUD CERVECERIA

FUNKY DRUMMER

Now, here’s a versatile Foeder-aged sour: Salud Cerveceria makes different versions of Funky Drummer with different fruits.

Past versions have included raspberry, paw paw, elderberry, plum, peach, sumac, and more.

LEGION BREWING COMPANY

ENTMOOT

Part of its Cellar Series, Entmoot is Legion’s prestige farmhouse ale, with notes of oak and toasted pineapple. The oak flavors explain the name, inspired by the tree-like Ent creatures in Lord of the Rings and their gatherings.

FREE RANGE BREWING

BURN BARREL

The peachiness and smokiness of this beer form a dynamic team. Free Range describes Burn Barrel as a “Carolina smoked wild ale,” and this tribute to peach farmers reflects the Villa Heights brewery’s rusticity.

THE SUFFOLK PUNCH

COURTESY (4)

DAYDREAM SOUR SESSIONS

The ingredients scream enlightenment: “soursop fruit, khorasan (Egyptian Wheat), lime peel, coriander, pink Himalayan salt, and small amounts of turmeric root, long pepper, and fenugreek.” Daydream is ideal for a serene Saturday afternoon on the patio.

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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The Tap List A directory of breweries to visit across the Charlotte area

Amor Artis Brewing opened in Fort Mill in 2018.

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CHARLOTTE NODA/OPTIMIST PARK/NORTH CHARLOTTE BIRDSONG BREWING COMPANY 1016 N. Davidson St. 704-332-1810 birdsongbrewing.com DIVINE BARREL BREWING 3701 N. Davidson St., Ste. 203 980-237-1803 divinebarrel.com FONTA FLORA - OPTIMIST HALL 1115 N. Brevard St., Ste. D 980-207-2470 fontaflora.com FREE RANGE BREWING 2320 N. Davidson St. 980-201-9096 freerangebrewing.com HEIST BREWERY 2909 N. Davidson St. #200 704-375-8260 heistbrewery.com Other location in Druid Hills

NODA BREWING COMPANY 2921 N. Tryon St. 704-900-6851 nodabrewing.com Other locations in Optimist Park and Charlotte Douglas International Airport PROTAGONIST CLUBHOUSE 3123 N. Davidson St., Ste. 104 980-938-0671 Protagonistbeer.com SALUD CERVECERIA 3306-C N. Davidson St. 980-495-6612 saludcerveceria.com ELIZABETH/PLAZA MIDWOOD CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY CHARLOTTE 933 Louise Ave., Ste. 105 980-498-6145 catawbabrewing.com DEVIL’S LOGIC BREWING 1426 E. 4th St. 704-666-1001 devilslogic.com

LOGAN CYRUS; COURTESY

A Raised Stein for Matt MATT McKENZIE has covered Charlotte’s beer scene for this magazine and other publications for several years. It was Matt who did our last comprehensive beer ranking a little more than three years ago.

Comparing the products of the Queen City’s emerging culture of craft beer and the people who enjoy it is, he wrote, “where the fun begins.”

Matt McKenzie with his wife, (He selected Citraquench’l from Heist Brewery as his top choice, of 50.) Allison, at the magazine’s Matt’s had a tough time of it since then. In September 2018, two days BOB Awards in 2014. before the birth of his second daughter, he was diagnosed with sinus cancer. Over the next 18 months, he underwent three surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment as he endured two recurrences. “I’m currently undergoing immunotherapy,” Matt tweeted May 1, “in hopes it’ll do possibly something different and maybe avoid another surgery (continuously getting operated on your face is ... not ideal).”

The immunotherapy didn’t work. On June 18, as we wrapped up this issue, Matt, 43, underwent a third, especially invasive surgery that would require 10 days’ hospitalization and six weeks’ recovery. His close friend Jonathan Inman organized a GoFundMe drive to help Matt’s wife, Allison, and their two young daughters, 3-year-old Morgan and 1-year-old Claire, with expenses. In its first two days, the fundraiser had raised more than $32,000 of its $40,000 goal. We pitched in, too, as we raised our glasses to the health of our friend Matt and to the opportunity to raise them with him again, and soon. —Greg Lacour AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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UNIVERSITY ARMORED COW BREWING CO. 8821 JW Clay Blvd., Ste. 1 704-277-6641 instagram.com/ armoredcowbrewing

LEGION BREWING COMPANY 1906 Commonwealth Ave. 844-467-5683 legionbrewing.com Other location in SouthPark PILOT BREWING CO. 1331 Central Ave., Ste. 104 704-802-9260 pilotbrewing.us RESIDENT CULTURE BREWING COMPANY 2101 Central Ave. 704-333-1862 residentculturebrewing.com SOUTH END/SOUTH CHARLOTTE/MORA BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY 4001-A, Yancey Rd. 704-452-4001 visit.brewersat4001yancey.com EDGE CITY BREWERY 6209 Old Post Rd., Ste. 109 980-949-6199 instagram.com/edgecitybrewery LENNY BOY BREWING CO. 3000 S. Tryon St. 980-585-1728 discoverlennyboy.com THE OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY 4150 Yancey Rd. 704-525-5655 oldemeckbrew.com

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THE SUFFOLK PUNCH 2911 Griffith St., Ste. A 704-319-8650 thesuffolkpunch.com SUGAR CREEK BREWING COMPANY 215 Southside Dr. 704-521-3333 sugarcreekbrewing.com

BLUE BLAZE BREWING CO. 528 S. Turner Ave. 980-859-2586 blueblazebrewing.com

BELMONT PRIMAL BREWERY 16432 Old Statesville Rd. 704-947-2920 primalbrewery.com Other location in Huntersville

CONCORD

SUNSTEAD BREWING 1200 S. Graham St. 980-949-6200 sunsteadbrewing.com

CABARRUS BREWING COMPANY 329 McGill Ave. NW 704-490-4487 cabarrusbrewing.com

SYCAMORE BREWING 2161 Hawkins St. 704-910-3821 sycamorebrew.com

COMMONER’S BREWING COMPANY 1048 Copperfield Blvd. NE, Ste. 101 704-886-6002 commonersbrewingcompany.com

TRIPLE C BREWING COMPANY + THE BARREL ROOM 2900 Griffith St. 704-372-3212 triplecbrewing.com THE UNKNOWN BREWING CO. 1327 S. Mint St. 980-237-2628 unknownbrewing.com WOODEN ROBOT BREWERY 1440 S. Tryon St., Ste. 110 980-819-7875 woodenrobotbrewery.com Other location in NoDa

HIGH BRANCH BREWING CO. 325 McGill Ave. NW, Ste. 148 704-706-3807 highbranchbrewing.com RED HILL BREWING COMPANY 21 Union St. S., Ste. 3511 704-784-2337 redhillbrewing.com TWENTY-SIX ACRES BREWING COMPANY 7285 W. Winds Blvd. NW 980-277-2337 26acres.com

PETER TAYLOR

Resident Culture was the first local brewery to employ a coolship, which is a large, open-air vessel used for spontaneous fermentation of beer.

WEST CHARLOTTE TOWN BREWING CO. 800 Grandin Rd. 980-237-8628 townbrewing.com

SOUTHERN STRAIN BREWING CO. 65 Brumley Ave NE, Ste. 3001 704-218-9106 southernstrainbrewing.com

CORNELIUS ASS CLOWN BREWING COMPANY 10620 Bailey Rd. E 704-997-8490 assclownbrewing.com D9 BREWING COMPANY 11138 Treynorth Dr. 704-247-7200 d9brewing.com ELEVEN LAKES BREWING COMPANY 10228 Bailey Rd., Ste. 201 704-998-9017 elevenlakesbrewing.com LOST WORLDS BREWING 19700-D, One Norman Dr. 980-689-2467 lostworldsbeer.com

DENVER ROYAL BLISS BREWING 7532 Royal Bliss Ct. 704-951-8388 royalblissbrewing.com

FORT MILL, S.C. AMOR ARTIS BREWING 204 Main St., Ste. 101 803-547-6464 amorartisbrewing.com

HARRISBURG

PHARR MILL BREWING 105 Oakley Dr. 704-456-7657 pharrmillbrewing.com PERCENT TAP HOUSE 4250 Main St., Ste. 109 980-258-8651 percenttaphouse.com

INDIAN LAND, S.C.

KING CANARY BREWING CO. 562 Williamson Rd. 704-967-8472 kingcanarybrewing.com JOLLY ROGER BREWERY 236 Raceway Dr., Ste. 12 704-769-0305 jollyrogerbrewery.com

PINEVILLE

LORE BREWING CO. 1218 Rosemont Dr., Ste. 100 lorebrewing.com

MIDDLE JAMES BREWING 400 N. Polk St., Unit B 704-889-6522 middlejamesbrewing.com

INDIAN TRAIL

ROCK HILL, S.C.

SWEET UNION BREWING COMPANY 13717 E Independence Blvd.

704-628-5211 s weetunionbrewing.com

LEGAL REMEDY BREWING 129 Oakland Ave. 803-324-2337 legalremedybrewing.com

KANNAPOLIS

SLOW PLAY BREWING 274 Columbia Ave. slowplaybrewing.com

OLD ARMOR BEER CO. 211 West Ave. 704-933-9203 oldarmor.com

MATTHEWS SEABOARD BREWING, TAPROOM, & WINE BAR 213 N. Trade St. 704-246-6575 seaboardbrewing.com

MONROE

LAKE WYLIE BREWING CO. 1741 Gold Hill Rd., Ste. 100 803-802-0001 lakewyliebrewingcofortmill.com

SOUTHERN RANGE BREWING CO. 151 S. Stewart St. 704-706-2978 getsrb.com

GASTONIA

MOORESVILLE

CAVENDISH BREWERY 207 N. Chester St., Ste. 2234 704-830-0435 cavendishbrewing.com

GHOSTFACE BREWING BREWERY & PIZZERIA 427 E. Statesville Ave. 704-799-7433 ghostfacebrewing.com

ROCK HILL BREWING COMPANY 121 Caldwell St., Ste. 101 803-366-7266 rockhillbrewingcompany.com DUST OFF BREWING 130 W. White St. 803-324-4610 dustoffbrewing.com

WAXHAW THE DREAMCHASER’S BREWERY 115 E. North Main St. 704-843-7326 dreamchasersbrewery.com

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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SPECIAL SPECIAL ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SECTION

CRAFT

GUIDE Hear what the following breweries say is their best brew, and why you should try it

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ARMORED COW BREWING COMPANY LOCATION: University BREWED SINCE: Established in 2017, Grand Opening in May 2019.

VARIETY OF BEERS: We have 12 traditional beers on tap and a variety of styles such as Light Lagers, Sours, IPAs, Dunkelbocks, Porters, and Stouts. Along with the traditional beers, we have at least three fully gluten-free beers in different styles that we brew in our separate gluten-free brewery. We also have ciders and ginger beer on tap, along with an extensive wine list.

BEST SELLER: Bang-Bang TYPE: Hazy IPA (7.3%) MEMORABLE BECAUSE: Perfect beer for those obsessed with the Haze Craze.

This Hazy IPA is SUPER juicy and creamy. It has a lot of flavor and is a great easy drinking IPA. BREWERY HIGHLIGHTS: At Armored Cow we have an expansive parking lot and event space. Indoor and outdoor seating is available with Scratch Kitchen as our permanent food truck. We are both dog and family friendly!

LEARN MORE: facebook.com/armoredcowbrewing

TOWN BREWING COMPANY LOCATION: Wesley Heights/FreeMoreWest BREWED SINCE: 2018 VARIETY OF BEERS: In less than two years, Town has brewed over 50 different beers that range from classic styles to modern trends, from lagers and pilsners to stouts and IPAs. BEST SELLER: Escape Plan TYPE: West Coast style IPA MEMORABLE BECAUSE: Bursting with citrus and tropical aromas, this double dry-hopped IPA with notes of grapefruit and pineapple has a pleasant bitterness that lingers on the palate creating a crisp, refreshing finish.

BREWERY HIGHLIGHTS: Beer turns strangers into neighbors.

Trade joys, woes, life over it. Town Brewing is that connected camaraderie--varied people and endless stories. Beer brings us together. Community keeps us together.

LEARN MORE: townbrewing.com

SOUTHERN STRAIN BREWING COMPANY LOCATION: Downtown Concord, NC BREWED SINCE: Fall 2019 VARIETY OF BEERS: 10-15 small batch beers on draft with a focus on consistency, clarity, clean fermentation and freshness. Considered a lager house that also offers dank West Coast IPA’s, fruited sours and smooth stouts.

BEST SELLER: O.K. Lunch TYPE: American Light Lager MEMORABLE BECAUSE: A crystal clear, 100% NC malt lager, delicately balanced with Crystal hops, patty grown rice and our favorite German lager strain to insure a crushable and sessionable experience anytime of the day. Fruited variants available seasonally.

BREWERY HIGHLIGHTS: Concord’s downtown neighborhood brewpub located inside a beautifully renovated historic textile mill and home to Hot Box Next Level Kitchen offering a full food menu. Outdoor seating available.

LEARN MORE: SouthernStrainBrewing.com

2020 TOP DOCTORS

WINNERS

BUY YOUR KEEPSAKE PLAQUE TODAY!

NEW! NOW TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

Show off your Top Doctors Award with our high-quality, modern, keepsake plaque. It ships to you ready to hang, no framing necessary.

For pricing and order details, visit

charlottemagazine.com/topdoctors

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Retirement

LIVING

Charlotte is a popular retirement destination.

The area’s options are abundant, including some excellent active adult communities.

The following pages are your guide to some of the better options, as well as where to get great advice.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

M

ost people who choose to move to Southminster have enjoyed lives filled with joy, learning and purpose. Even though they’ve retired from fulfilling careers and raising families, they have no intention of retiring from life.

Conveniently located on Park Road in south Charlotte, Southminster is a charitable, non-profit life plan community offering a full continuum of care where you’ll discover beautiful homes, gardens and social settings with choice dining, the highest quality of care and life enriching opportunities.

Southminster offers spacious, well-appointed cottages and apartments, including the new Southminster Terraces - providing all the charm, privacy and convenience of a private home. The awardwinning culinary team prepares meals with fresh, locally sourced ingredients to enhance overall health and wellness. Residents enjoy two dining experiences, the Promenade Room and the more casual Oak Leaf Grille, as well as a neighborhood pub.

With activities ranging from painting classes and woodworking to a stadium-seat movie theater, trips to regional attractions, lifelong learning and volunteering opportunities, you’ll find plenty of ways to stay busy and involved.

Our Embrace Wellness lifestyle helps you remain strong and fit at any age. With easy access to our modern wellness center and impressive indoor pool, you’ll find new ways to remain active, energetic and healthy.

As a life plan community, you get precisely the right assistance if your health circumstances change. Care can be delivered in the comfort of your home through Embrace Care, our fully-licensed home care agency Or in our soon to open, E m br ac e H ealth at S o uth m in s ter , an architecturally vibrant new community designed to meet the needs of residents facing significant health challenges. Home to assisted and skilled living, the new Center will offer a person-centered approach to care in a home-like setting.

Please contact us to learn more about our extraordinary vision for senior living.

SOUTHMINSTER

8919 Park Road Charlotte, NC 28210

704-554-0141 Southminster.org

T

he Right Place for Rightsizing Life.

In a time of social distancing, one Charlotte non-profit Life Plan community gives those aged 62+ room to move on 231 acres of nature.

While Charlotte residents have quarantined in place for months at home, Aldersgate residents enjoyed 231 acres, complete with nature trails and its own lake. After all—if you have to quarantine—at least do it in style!

Residents can safely walk, play outdoors with their dogs, ride a bike or hike while having distant social interactions. Plus, everything is delivered to their doors, including meals, groceries and prescriptions. Residents even have virtual happy hours with margaritas!

Moving into Aldersgate has never been easier. Its newly built Gateway Apartments & Villas offers 1- or 2-bedrooms and baths— plus a terrace or balcony. Get $5,000 in credit towards moving and furniture expenses with a 10% deposit by Aug. 31.

FREE WEB SEMINARS + GIFTS FOR ATTENDEES JULY 30 Right-size Your Life + Free Rightsizing Booklet & Kit ($75 value) AUGUST 6 Sipping & Single: Mixology & psychology combine to help older adults increase their social network + Free Cocktail Kit ($20 value) AUGUST 13 Hear Better with audiologist and neuroscientist Dr. Tremblay, PhD: Enhance your hearing with high tech or low-cost solutions. Hosted by an expert contributor to The World Health Organization’s World Report on Ageing and Health.

ALDERSGATE

3800 Shamrock Drive Charlotte, NC 28215

704-246-3236 AldersgateCharlotte.com

PHASE II OPENING

New Residences Designed for Sophisticated Living

Southminster is pleased to announce the Phase II opening of Southminster Terraces, representing the finest in residential living for senior adults in the Charlotte area. Large, open transitional floor plans, high ceilings, exquisite finishes and trim, expansive windows with multiple views highlight every home… each opening to a covered and spacious terrace for relaxing or entertaining. Discover the newest residential designs in senior living!

Life with Purpose For more information on living at Southminster, contact 704.551.6800 | southminster.org

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

I

“

had no idea how beautiful it was here.” Those, or something similar, are the words first-time visitors usually exclaim after they pass by The Cypress gatehouse and set eyes on our stately clubhouse, lush grounds, and private lakes. But the beauty here is far more than skin deep. What also separates The Cypress from other Charlotte retirement communities is a combination of services and amenities that simply aren’t available elsewhere.

With all home maintenance and housekeeping covered, you’re free to indulge in the lifestyle and activities of a worldclass resort. Enjoy meandering bike rides through our campus, Tai chi classes in our Sports & Fitness center, exciting cuisine prepared by top chefs, a night on the town with your friends, or simply relaxing at home in your pajamas.

There’s also the liberating convenience of exceptional, onsite healthcare. And a rarity among senior living communities, at The Cypress you receive the financial

advantages of true home ownership without any of the burdens of upkeep—making a Cypress home a wise investment for you and your family.

But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of living at The Cypress is our endless social opportunities. The Cypress is more

CYPRESS

than a friendly community; it’s a community of friends. To learn more about The Cypress difference, schedule a visit to come see it all in person. Chances are you’ll want to join us by making The Cypress your new home.

3442 Cypress Club Drive Charlotte NC, 28210

704-714-5500 TheCypressOfCharlotte.com

L

ittle things are a big deal. Recent events have taught us that the value of peace of mind is hard to overstate. or over years, Sharon Towers has set the standard for senior living in Charlotte by providing a community that allows our residents to thrive while providing support. And despite today’s challenges, we’re excited about tomorrow.

We think it’s important that you have the exibility to live the life you want. That’s why we offer a wide range of accommodations including in the laidback style of the villas, the independence of cottages, a variety of apartments or the urban stylishness of The Deerwood, coming in 2 21. As your needs change, we offer everything from independent living to assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care. Even short-term rehab and a wellness center.

There’s easy access to exceptional dining experiences right on the campus. On-site professional healthcare. And people focused

SHARON TOWERS

on you – aging successfully on your terms. It’s a little certainty in an uncertain world.

We’re breaking ground in more ways than one. See our artist’s rendering of Sharon Towers Planned Development, above.

Building senior living for a new future one that’s vibrant and exciting. And we’d love to have you along for the journey.

5100 Sharon Road Charlotte, NC 28210

704-556-3231 SharonTowers.org

From solitude to social.

231 acres of nature and an active social circle to call your own.

JOIN US!

Attend a FREE web seminar and receive a gift.

July 30 | 10am

August 6 | 4pm

August 13 | 10am

RIGHTSIZE YOUR LIFE

SIPPING & SINGLE

HEAR BETTER:

FREE Rightsizing Kit ($75 value)

Learn how to create a living space that fits your life and priorities. Get tools to plan ahead and get organized.

FOR THE 62+

FREE Cocktail Kit ($25 value)

TIPS, TRICKS & TECH TO IMPROVE HEARING

Mixology & psychology meet to show you how to increase your social network. RSVP by July 25 to receive your kit.

Dr. Tremblay, PhD, audiologist and neuroscientist, offers both high-tech and low-cost tips to improve everyday hearing.

Register at AldersgateClasses.com or call (704) 246-3236.

Or schedule a virtual tour of our beautiful campus.

The right time and right place to rightsize your life.

Voted“Best Senior Living Community”by the Charlotte Observer in 2019, Aldersgate offers all the living options and amenities you could wish for: a pool and spa, gardening, wood shop, six dining venues (plus your own kitchen), dog park, acres of trails and a picturesque lake. Plus, you can rest easy with special services during COVID-19, including grocery and dining delivery, as well as ample “distant socializing”opportunities.

3800 Shamrock Drive Charlotte, NC 28215 AldersgateClasses.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

L

ocated in charming Matthews, NC, Plantation Estates, an Acts Retirement-Life Community, is one of the Charlotte area’s premier senior living destinations. ts park-like campus offers a variety of luxury villas and apartments for active adults seeking their very best retirement.

Plantation Estates’ exquisitely appointed residences are situated around a newly-renovated clubhouse, featuring a bistro, chapel, and performing arts center.

A second resort-style clubhouse offers casual and fine dining, a pub and a host of amenities. Residents enjoy top ight on-campus recreational options including thrilling entertainment, two pools, a game room, billiards, a woodworking studio, arts and crafts and a library.

Free from worries about upkeep, residents enjoy book clubs, barbecues, cocktails, and fantastic conversations with new friends and neighbors. Our tailored fitness programs promote an active and independent lifestyle and include a wide variety of exercise opportunities from water volleyball to Tai Chi to long walks on the nearby Four Mile Creek Greenway.

Peace of mind is part of a healthy lifestyle. At Plantation Estates, residents enjoy the security of Acts Life Care®, which

provides a full continuum of care on campus, including assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. Best of all, Acts Life Care protects your nest egg with a predictable monthly fee, even if needs change.

Acts is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. Since 1972, Acts has set the standard in active retirement living and currently serves over 10,000 residents in 26 campuses, across 9 states.

To learn more about spending your retirement at Plantation Estates, please call today.

PLANTATION ESTATES

866-584-0172 733 Plantation Estates Drive AboutActs.com/CharlotteLiving Matthews, NC 28105

S

enior L iving C ommunities Offer Safety and C onnection in Uncertain Times The past few months have taught us that we’re stronger when we come together as a community. This is certainly true of the people who live at Windsor Run, a vibrant senior living community in Matthews, North Carolina. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, residents remained comfortable, secure, and socially connected.

Meals, medications, and more— delivered Located on a 60-acre campus in Mecklenburg County, Windsor Run is managed by Erickson Living, a national leader in senior living. Backed by the resources of the Erickson Living network, Windsor Run was able to act early and quickly to implement safety measures and provide extra services, including the delivery of meals, medications, and more.

Telehealth ap p ointments and house calls One extraordinary benefit to life at Windsor Run is the onsite medical center staffed by our very own full-time doctor.

During the pandemic, our community members never went without needed care. Our doctor provided telehealth appointments and even old-fashioned house calls.

WINDSOR RUN

Staying social and connected, ap art Even while social distancing, residents of Windsor Run enjoyed a wealth of opportunities to stay active and engaged.

The community organized virtual activities to keep spirits high while also providing exercise and mental stimulation.

Community members could attend virtual faith services, fitness classes, entertainment programs, and more.

Learn more about senior living at Windsor Run. Call 1-800989-9449 for your free brochure or to schedule a visit. The sales team can safely meet with you in person or virtually.

2030 Windsor Run Lane Matthews, NC 28105

1-800-989-9449 WindsorRunCommunity.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

O

pened in June 2019, The Charlotte Assisted Living and Memory Care is an upscale retirement community offering a refreshing lifestyle, resort style amenities and caring professionals dedicated to providing quality services. Locally owned and operated, The Charlotte has made an immediate impact with its national award-winning programming in Wellness, Family and Resident Engagement, Alzheimer’s Programming and Workforce Development. ocated in the heart of Pineville, embers of The Charlotte reside in newly remodeled, private Assisted Living or Memory Care villa apartments. The community’s vision is for embers to live longer, healthier, happier lives. To achieve this goal, they embrace a wellness philosophy in all facets of their community through award-winning wellness programs, restaurantstyle dining and never-ending social calendars. or family members and members alike, peace of mind comes with living at The Charlotte. All living options provide maintenance free living which includes full maintenance and repair, housekeeping and deep cleaning, security, transportation services and a ex-

THE CHARLOTTE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

ible dining program. With 2 -hour security, concierge and staff, there is never a worry about safety. The entire community, including all villa apartments, are e uipped with best in class security measures, to assure that you and your loved ones are safe and secure no matter what.

At The Charlotte, a restaurant approach to full-service dining emphasizes variety and uality. Daily specials and seemingly endless menu options are freshly crafted by the Executive Chef. Carefully selected beer, wine and spirits from the fully stocked clubhouse bar, complete the refreshing culinary celebration.

Times have changed, but the mission has not. With additional care and preventative measures becoming a part of life, embers’ safety remains a priority as The Charlotte continues to provide embers with The Weller ife. ew experiences abound, a vibrant community to call home. A lifestyle that embraces freedom, friendships, culinary celebrations and the safety of community. t’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.

9120 Willow Ridge Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210

704-710-6968 Charlotte-Living.com

Times have changed, our mission has not.

Caring professionals dedicated to quality services in a community where our Members live longer, healthier and happier lives.

The Weller Life.

9120 Willow Ridge Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210 Charlotte-Living.com

Call Us Today (704) 710-6968 ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

A

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

t

Cresswind Charlotte by K OL TERHO ES, you’ll find an exciting lifestyle specifically designed for those . Cresswind Charlotte’s location puts you at the center of everything—less than 30 minutes from ptown’s fine dining, entertainment and culture and just a short drive to the mountains, lakes and great recreation. It’s also walking distance to Novant Health int Hill edical Center.

Within this masterfully planned community, residents enjoy a new clubhouse with resort-style amenities and endless

activities, all coordinated by a full-time lifestyle director. The award-winning lifestyle at Cresswind Charlotte centers around living better, longer, with a focus on Cresswind’s pillars of itness, utrition and Relationships. Cresswind delivers opportunities for fulfillment that simply can’t be found elsewhere – including outdoor and indoor pools, sports courts, a full fitness center, yoga aerobics room, a demonstration kitchen, arts and crafts room and clubs for every hobby.

The ranch-style homes at Cresswind Charlotte are designed specifically for

CRESSWIND CHARLOTTE

W

estminster Towers Senior Living is one of the area’s best kept secrets. Sitting on a 20 acre campus in the heart of Rock Hill, Westminster Towers has provided senior living options for over 30 years. Westminster Towers is proud to be the first Continuing Care Retirement Community in South Carolina to receive National Accreditation and Person Centered Care. Offering a continuum of care as well as HomeBridge, the nonprofit, independently-operated community is just a short drive from Charlotte. ndependent living oor plans consist

8913 Silver Springs Court Charlotte, NC 28215

of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and two bedroom deluxe apartments.

Each offers full kitchens with granite countertops and stainless appliances.

Residents can dine with friends in our newly renovated lounge or elegantly casual dining room. The Life enrichment calendar is filled with social engagements, outings and lifelong learning opportunities. Partnering with Winthrop University, there are performances, plays and concerts to attend. Wellness classes are offered daily and the newly renovated Wellness Center is home to fitness e uipment designed especially for seniors.

WESTMINSTER TOWERS

active adult living, and the on-site Design allery offers unmatched personalization options. Nine designer model homes are open daily or enjoy virtual home tours via cresswindcharlotte.com. Homes are priced from the upper $200s to $500s.

866-950-8227 CresswindCharlotte.com

Westminster Towers offers refundable residency and non-residency fee options. onthly fees are very affordable and include housekeeping, transportation, wellness classes, breakfast plus lunch or dinner, utilities, personal response system and on-site storage among other services.

Assisted iving, ong-Term Care and edicare-Certified Rehab are also available, all under one roof.

Call today to schedule a visit of our ife Plan Community and see why so many people refer to Westminster Towers as “A Community of riends

1330 India Hook Road Rock Hill, SC 29732

803-328-5587 WestminsterTowers.org

community matters.

Now more than ever,

There’s comfort in being part of a strong community like Windsor Run in Mecklenburg County. We’re managed by Erickson Living,® a leader in senior living and health care. Despite social distancing, our residents never lacked care and connection.

• Meals, medications, personal items, and more—delivered!

• Telehealth appointments and house calls from our on-site doctors.

• Virtual faith services, fitness classes, entertainment, and more.

“We were well cared for during this crisis with meals, mail, and essentials delivered right to our doors.”

–Mike B., a community resident

14193593

Learn more. Call 1-800-989-9449 or visit WindsorRunCommunity.com for your free brochure.

Matthews WindsorRunCommunity.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

RETIREMENT LIVING RESOURCE GUIDE Name

Purchase

ALDERSGATE

3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28215 704-532-7000 aldersgateccrc.com ATRIA LAKE NORMAN

140 Carriage Club Dr., Mooresville, N.C. 28117 980-444-2551, atriaseniorliving.com THE BARCLAY AT SOUTHPARK

6010 Fairview Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28210 980-224-8540, barclayatsouthpark.com THE BLAKE AT BAXTER VILLAGE

522 Sixth Baxter Crossing, Fort Mill, S.C. 29708 803-339-0592, blakeliving.com THE BLAKE AT EDGEWATER

1099 Edgewater Corporate Pkwy., Indian Land, S.C. 29707 803-310-4242, blakeliving.com BRIGHTMORE OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE

10225 Old Ardrey Kell Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28277 704-557-0511, brightmoreofsouthcharlotte.com BRIGHTON GARDENS

6000 Park South Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28210 704-643-1400, sunriseseniorliving.com BROOKDALE CARRIAGE CLUB PROVIDENCE

5800 Old Providence Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28226 704-495-6112, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE CHARLOTTE EAST

6053 Wilora Lake Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28212 704-498-4580, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE CONCORD PARKWAY

2452 Rock Hill Church Rd., Concord, N.C. 28027 704-323-5146, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE EBENEZER ROAD

1920 Ebenezer Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732 803-220-0174, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE MONROE SQUARE

918 Fitzgerald St., Monroe, N.C. 28112 704-452-7076, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE ROBINWOOD

1750 Robinwood Rd., Gastonia, N.C. 28054 704-326-0480, brookdaleliving.com BROOKDALE SALISBURY

2201 Statesville Blvd., Salisbury, N.C. 28147 704-452-7308, brookdaleliving.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

RETIREMENT LIVING RESOURCE GUIDE Name

Purchase

BROOKDALE SOUTH CHARLOTTE

5515 Rea Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28226 704-452-7924, brookdaleliving.com

NonPurchase

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BROOKDALE WEDDINGTON PARK

2404 Plantation Center Dr., Matthews, N.C. 28105 704-452-7645, brookdaleliving.com

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5512 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28226 704-703-8192, holidaytouch.com

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5820 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28226 866-282-7188, capitalsenior.com

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CHARLOTTE SENIOR LIVING AT CARMEL PLACE CHARLOTTE SQUARE

THE CHARLOTTE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

9120 Willow Ridge Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28210 704-710-6968, senior-living-communities.com

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CONCORD SENIOR LIVING AT CRESCENT HEIGHTS

240 Branchview Dr. N.E., Concord, N.C. 28025 704-703-8179, holidaytouch.com CRESSWIND CHARLOTTE

8913 Silver Springs Ct., Charlotte, N.C. 28215 866-950-8227, cresswindcharlotte.com THE CYPRESS OF CHARLOTTE

3442 Cypress Club Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28210 704-714-5500, thecypressofcharlotte.com THE DORCHESTER

12920 Dorman Rd., Pineville, N.C. 28134 844-772-1381, dorchestercharlotte.com ELMCROFT OF LITTLE AVENUE

7745 Little Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28226 704-705-8037, elmcroft.com THE GARDENS OF TAYLOR GLEN

3700 Taylor Glen Ln., Concord, N.C. 28027 704-788-6510, taylorglencommunity.org GRACE RIDGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

500 Lenoir Rd., Morganton, N.C. 28655 828-392-8635, graceridge.org THE LAURELS AND THE HAVEN IN HIGHLAND CREEK

6101 Clarke Creek Pkwy., Charlotte, N.C. 28269 704-947-8050, fivestarseniorliving.com KING’S GRANT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

410 Kings Grant Ct., Statesville, N.C. 28625 704-872-8390

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8700 Lawyers Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28227 704-545-7005, premierseniorliving.com

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12920 Dorman Rd., Pineville, N.C. 28134 844-772-1381, manorcharlotte.com

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THE LAURELS AND THE HAVEN IN THE VILLAGE AT CAROLINA PLACE

13180 Dorman Rd., Pineville, N.C. 28134 704-540-8007, fivestarseniorliving.com LEGACY HEIGHTS SENIOR LIVING CENTER

11230 Ballantyne Trace Ct., Charlotte, N.C. 28277 704-544-7220, fivestarseniorliving.com THE LITTLE FLOWER ASSISTED LIVING THE MANOR

MERRYWOOD ON PARK

3600 Park Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28209 980-322-0625, seniorlifestyle.com PARK POINTE VILLAGE

3025 Chesbrough Blvd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732 803-630-3321, actsretirement.com

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THE PINES AT DAVIDSON

400 Avinger Ln., Davidson, N.C. 28036 877-675-5413, thepinesatdavidson.org PLANTATION ESTATES, ACTS RETIREMENT

733 Plantation Estates Dr., Matthews, N.C. 28105 866-584-0172, aboutacts.com/charlotteliving

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4123 Kuykendall Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28270 980-245-8234, seniorlivinginstyle.com 7219 Folger Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28270 704-654-9488, seniorretreat.com SENIOR RETREAT AT PARK CROSSING

10408 Avondale Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28210

704-654-9488, seniorretreat.com SHADS LANDING

9131 Benfield Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28269 704-703-8234, holidaytouch.com SHARON TOWERS, THE PRESBYTERIAN HOME

5100 Sharon Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28210 704-556-3231, sharontowers.org

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SENIOR RETREAT AT LANSDOWNE

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RETIREMENT LIVING RESOURCE GUIDE Name

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THE SOCIAL AT COTSWOLD

3610 Randolph Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28211 704-366-2550, thesocialsl.com SOUTHMINSTER

8919 Park Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28210 704-554-0141, southminster.org SUMMIT PLACE OF SOUTH PARK

2101 Runnymede Ln., Charlotte, N.C. 28209 704-525-5508, fivestarseniorliving.com SUNRISE ON PROVIDENCE

5114 Providence Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28226 704-343-6545, sunriseseniorliving.com

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TRINITY OAKS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

728 Klumac Rd., Salisbury, N.C. 28144 704-633-1002, trinityoaks.net WALTONWOOD COTSWOLD

5215 Randolph Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28211 980-288-5916, waltonwood.com WALTONWOOD PROVIDENCE

11945 Providence Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28277 704-234-6062, waltonwood.com WELLMORE OF TEGA CAY

111 Wellmore Dr., Tega Cay, S.C. 29708 803-674-8173, well-more.com WESTMINSTER TOWERS

1330 India Hook Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732 803-328-5587, westminstertowers.org WILLOW GROVE

10043 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, N.C. 28105 704-981-4221, willowgroveretirement.com WILLOW RIDGE ASSISTED LIVING

2140 Milton Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28215-3319 704-405-0730, meridiansenior.com WINDSOR RUN

2010 McKee Rd., Matthews, N.C., 28105 1-800-989-9449, windsorruncommunity.com

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*Not intended as a comprehensive resource. To be included in the Spring 2021 Retirement Living Resource, please email advertising@charlottemagazine.com.

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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

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 ✸

ZEN FUSION

$$

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

Elizabeth/Cherry CAJUN QUEEN

$$$

$$-$$$

AMERICAN This upscale marketplace, with sandwiches, salads, and daily specials, is a welcome afternoon spot for a grab-and-go meal or a bite and people-watching.

1609 Elizabeth Ave. (704-333-2757) B, BR, L, D, V ✸

❤ CUSTOMSHOP

$$-$$$

EARL’S GROCERY

$

❤ THE FIG TREE RESTAURANT

$$$$

NEW AMERICAN The No. 2 restaurant on our 2018 Best Restaurants list, the Fig Tree specializes in fresh and fla-

vorful cuisine with an emphasis on wine pairing in a 1913 bungalow. 1601 E. 7th St. (704-332-3322) D, BAR ✸☎

❤ PIZZERIA OMAGGIO

$$

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 ✸☎

❤ 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

$$

❤ DRESSLER’S

$$$

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 ✸

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 ✸☎

$$-$$$

$$-$$$

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 ✸

88

$

$$

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

THE MAYOBIRD

NEW AMERICAN Owner and executive chef Trey Wilson uses top-notch, seasonal ingredients to create fresh takes on American cuisine in a hip, rustic atmosphere.

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

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

$$

$$

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

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 ✸

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 ✸☎

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

$$

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 // AUGUST 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.”

❤ 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

$-$$

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 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

$-$$

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

$$$ - $$$$

FRENCH The food is far from colloquial here, and the exposed brickwork and antiqued tin roof lend credence

❤ STAGIONI

$$$

pizzas, and slow-roasted meats. 715 Providence Rd. (704-372-8110) D, BAR ☎

VOLO RISTORANTE

$$$

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

CABO FISH TACO

$-$$

CRÊPE CELLAR KITCHEN & PUB

$-$$

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 ✸

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

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

TAYLOR BOWLER

DULCE DE LECHE CRUFFIN, $4.95 EIGHT + SAND KITCHEN PROCURING A CRUFFIN — a croissant and muffin hybrid—at Eight + Sand requires forethought. The glittering pastries are only available on weekends, so place your order on Thursday or Friday to guarantee one of these beauties will be yours.

They’re croissants baked like muffins, bursting with flavored pastry cream like brownie batter, funfetti, and dulce de leche. It’s flaky on the outside and utterly magical on the inside. You know that wallop of buttery sweetness at the center of the cinnamon roll? It’s like that all the way down. And when you eat dessert for breakfast, it’s hard to have a bad day.—Taylor Bowler

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

89

THE GUIDE THE DUMPLING LADY

$-$$

EL THRIFTY

$-$$

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. (980-595-6174) L, D, V

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. (704-9100132) 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 ✸

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

❤ NC RED

$$

SAL’S PIZZA FACTORY

$$

❤ SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

$$

SNOOZE: AN A.M. EATERY

$$

THREE AMIGOS

$$

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 ✸

$-$$

$

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

$-$$

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 ✸

❤ INTERMEZZO PIZZERIA & CAFÉ

$$

$-$$

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

MOO & BREW

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 ✸

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 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

❤ MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

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 ✸

$-$$

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 ✸

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. (704-2435070) 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., 704536-1851. L, D, BAR ✸

THE WORKMAN’S FRIEND

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

LANG VAN

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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

IRISH Enjoy Irish classics like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie in this rustic dining room, or grab a pint at the custom-built walnut bar. 1531 Central Ave. (980224-8234) BR, L (Fri-Sun), D, BAR ✸

❤

LUPIE’S CAFE

$

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 ✸

B BR L D V

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Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

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

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

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., (704-3741232) L, D, B/W

YAMA IZAKAYA

ZADA JANE’S CORNER CAFE

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SOUTHERN This funky neighborhood restaurant with shuffleboard courts, a large patio, and colorful walls

Charlotte’s Top Spots Go Curbside Amid the coronavirus epidemic, many restaurants on our “50 Best” list started offering curbside options. As of late June, 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. Donald co-owns Dish in Plaza Midwood, and he’s currently selling his Sweet Lew’s to-go items there.

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

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GUIDE serves breakfast and brunch all day. 1601 Central Ave. (704-332-3663) B, BR, L, BAR ✸

South End BARCELONA WINE BAR

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NEW AMERICAN Nosh on Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired 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. (704-7410300) D, BAR ✸☎

❤ BARDO

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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

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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. (704-5239977) D, BAR

BILL SPOON’S BARBECUE

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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

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Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

INDACO

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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

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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

LUNA’S LIVING KITCHEN

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

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RAI LAY THAI CUISINE

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SEOUL FOOD MEAT CO.

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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 (MonSat), 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 ✸

SOUTHBOUND

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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

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THE WATERMAN FISH BAR

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❤ ZEPPELIN

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MAC’S SPEED SHOP

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 ✸

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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 ✸

☎

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.

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 ✸

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

2000 South Blvd., Ste. 510. (704-594-1922) D, BAR ☎

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 ✸

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 ✸

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

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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

B BR

ILIOS CRAFTED GREEK

MEDITERRANEAN Get authentic Greek fare from the team behind Ilios Noche in a fast casual setting. Build a dish with your choice of roasted chicken, lamb, or pork, and chose from a rotation of sides like chickpea salad, Aegean slaw, and zucchini fritters. 1514 S. Church St., (980-237-1949) L, D, ✸

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 ✸

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

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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

❤ FUTO BUTA

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 ✸

MIDNIGHT DINER

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MOCCO BISTRO

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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)

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 ✸☎

NIKKO

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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

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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 ✸

O-KU

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INDIAN The sister restaurant of Copper has contemporary 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 ✸

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 ✸

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.

BIG VIEW DINER

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CIVETTA ITALIAN KITCHEN + BAR

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THE BLUE TAJ

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THE FLIPSIDE CAFÉ

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CANTINA 1511

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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 ☎

❤ CORKBUZZ

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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 ✸

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, ☎

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 ✸☎

FLIPSIDE RESTAURANT

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 ✸☎

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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

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THE PORTER’S HOUSE

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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

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

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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 ✸☎

$$-$$$

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 ☎

❤ BARRINGTON’S

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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 (Mon-Sat), BAR ☎

CAFÉ MONTE

$$$

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SouthPark/Park Road

BAKU

❤ DOT DOT DOT

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 ☎

GERMAN Family-friendly Waldhorn offers authentic German dishes in a Bavarian setting. 12101 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. (704-540-7047) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸

❤ BAR MARCEL

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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

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 ☎

NEW AMERICAN Stefan Huebner’s creative cocktails may be the main attraction at this membersonly speakeasy, but chef Daniel Wheeler’s sweet potato gnocchi with bourbon glaze will convince you to stay for dinner. 4237 Park Rd., Ste. B. (704817-3710) D, BAR

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

❤ DOGWOOD SOUTHERN

$$-$$$

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 ✸☎

❤ FLOUR SHOP

❤ GOOD FOOD ON MONTFORD

$$$

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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

$$

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 LISTING

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

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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

$$-$$$

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 ☎

SIR EDMOND HALLEY’S

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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 ✸☎

$$-$$$

ITALIAN Think of this eatery as the prequel to Mama Ricotta’s, with family recipes and scratch made pastas and mozzarella. Settle into one of the dining rooms with a plate of pappardelle or cozy up at the “Mozz Bar” and watch the chefs at work. 4521 Sharon Rd. (980209-0323) D, BAR

OAK STEAKHOUSE

$$$$

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. (980283-2333) D, V, BAR ✸☎

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 ✸

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 ✸

LITTLE MAMA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

❤ PEPPERVINE

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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

PACO’S TACOS & TEQUILA

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STEAK HOUSE Chef Tyler Honeycutt aces steakhouse

TOSCANA

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❤ UPSTREAM

$$$-$$$$

YAFO KITCHEN

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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 ✸ AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

93

YAMA ASIAN FUSION

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FUSION This upscale Japanese restaurant has sushi, hibachi, and Asian-inspired entrées. A second location 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

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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

$$-$$$

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

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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

$$ -$$$

$$$

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

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

❤ B BR L D V

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Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

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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 ☎

BASIL THAI

$$-$$$

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 ☎

THE CELLAR AT DUCKWORTH’S

$$-$$$

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. (980-3494078) D, BAR ☎

COCO + THE DIRECTOR

$

$-$$$

AMERICAN The blackened catfish is cooked just right, the Cajun pasta is piping hot, and chatter fills the noreservations dining room. 401 W. 9th St. (704-3326789) L, D, BAR

❤ ANGELINE’S

❤ THE ASBURY

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

NEW AMERICAN Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch’s innovative, seasonal menu includes morel mushroom flatbread and mint crusted lamb loin. 127 N. Tryon St., Ste. 8. (704-919-1322) BR, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ ALEXANDER MICHAEL’S

$$$

$$$

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

❤ 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. (704-353-6003) B, L, D, B/W

Uptown 204 NORTH

imaginative appetizer on the menu. 303 S. Church St. (704-445-2540) B, BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

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

☎

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

COWBELL BURGER & BAR

$$

❤ FIN & FINO

$$$

SEAFOOD Come for the raw bar, but stay for bartender Brittany Kellum’s drinks. Then splurge on a slice of cheesecake. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Ste. 100. (704-8005680) L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ HALCYON, FLAVORS FROM THE EARTH $$$-$$$$

NEW SOUTHERN With views from the Mint Museum Uptown, this restaurant’s local menu is popular for lunch and pretheater dinners. 500 S. Tryon St. (704-9100865) BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

❤ HAYMAKER

$$$ - $$$$

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 ✸☎

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.

(704-969-2550) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ☎

LUCE

$$$

DANDELION MARKET

$$-$$$

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 ✸☎

ESSEX BAR & BISTRO

$$-$$$

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 ✸☎

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

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 ✸☎

EVOKE

$$$-$$$$

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 ☎

MALABAR SPANISH CUISINE

❤ McNINCH HOUSE

$$

$$$$

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 ☎

MERT’S HEART AND SOUL

$-$$

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 ✸

MIMOSA GRILL

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This popular after-work spot has a seasonal menu, friendly service, tasty seafood dishes, and interesting grits.

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

327 S. Tryon St. (704-343-0700) BR, L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

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 ✸

❤ 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

$$

ASIAN Lightning-fast, friendly service complements hot, savory Chinese favorites such as Sha Cha Shrimp and Mongolian Chicken. 214 N. Tryon St., Ste. 110.

(704-333-5189) L, D, B/W

❤ STOKE

BOSSY BEULAH’S

$

PINKY’S WESTSIDE GRILL

$

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. (980-737-1400) L, D, ✸

TOUCAN LOUIE’S

$

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 ✸

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 ✸

CROSSWORD OF THE MONTH

By Andy Smith

ANSWERS can be found online at charlottemagazine.com/ crossword.

$$$

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 breakfast-focused 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. (704-230-4346) 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 Texasstyle brisket, and grab a drink at the “Legends Counter” with custom plaques for Southern barbecue icons.

2216 Freedom Dr. (704-703-5252) L, D, BAR ✸☎

AUGUST 2020 // CHARLOTTE

95

YOU ARE HERE Each month, we’ll throw a dart at a map and write about where it lands.

LOCATION: The Tradition Golf Club 3800 Prosperity Church Rd.

ub olf Cl G n o i t adi the Tr

THWACK

RESONANT “THWACK” SOUNDS pierce the quiet on a warm Sunday morning at The Tradition Golf Club in northeast Charlotte. A father and son double over with laughter at the driving range when Dad’s drive sends a large chunk of earth flying.

The Tradition is a municipal course, part of the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, and the vibe is more relaxed than what you’d find at

96

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // AUGUST 2020

private clubs around town. Kia sedans and Nissan trucks fill the parking lot.

Collared shirts are optional.

Golf courses were one of the few types of recreational area that the state allowed to operate during its coronavirus restrictions, and Chris Eichstaedt, the club’s general manager, has been hustling since March. “Every day is like a Saturday right now,” he says.

The Tradition opened in 1996, and

it’s one of the few courses in Charlotte not bordered by homes on every hole.

Eichstaedt starts his days early, when he can easily spot deer, raccoons, and other wildlife as they roam the woods around the course. On this Sunday, birds circle overhead as golfers focus on the 18 challenges before them, able to forget the realities that await them once they get in their cars and drive away. —Cristina Bolling

SHAW NIELSEN; CRISTINA BOLLING

Good morning from The Tradition Golf Club.

Swing away. Mind the deer. Don’t mind the divots

Find Your Joy The area’s best restaurants welcome you to rediscover fine dining

Summer 2020

Dig into the details:

CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com

T

here’s nowhere else quite like the Billy Graham Library. The interactive Journey of Faith tour is a trip through history for the whole family. See how God’s love changed millions as you experience inspiring videos, photo galleries, and memorabilia. Explore Billy Graham’s childhood home, stroll the peaceful Memorial Prayer Garden, relax over lunch and specialty coffees, or shop the Christian bookstore. An extraordinary journey starts here.

GRAHAM FAMILY HOMEPLACE

EXHIBITS & MEMORABILIA

“#1 thing to do in Charlotte”

R THE ACTIVITIES FO MI WHOLE FA LY

“They were all amazed at the majesty of God.”

—LUKE 9:43, NKJV

Monday to Saturday, 9:30–5:00 • BillyGrahamLibrary.org • 704-401-3200 • Reservations required for groups of 10 or more; email LibraryTours@bgea.org or call 704-401-3270. • 4330 Westmont Drive • Charlotte, North Carolina A ministry of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham, President

©2019 BGEA