Charlotte Magazine November 2020

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CONTENTS CHARLOTTE / NOVEMBER 2020 / VOL. 25, NUMBER 11

Features

38

THE ANIMAL QUEENDOM A look inside a complicated and innovative year for critter-lovers outside the metropolitan mainstream

BY ANDY SMITH

48

CLOUD (CA)NINE A tour of Skiptown, South End’s newest palace for good boys

BY ANDY SMITH

56

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD COVID-19 represents a mental and behavioral health crisis of incalculable depth and severity

BY GREG LACOUR

Plus 63

TOP DENTISTS Your annual guide to the best in the region

ON THE COVER: Gregg Lockhart of Lockhart Performance, with his standardbred horse, Libby. Photograph by Rusty Williams.

ON THIS PAGE: A guest at Skiptown catches his breath during playtime. Photograph by Logan Cyrus.

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32

19

29

11 20 CONTENTS ANDY McMILLAN; PETER TAYLOR (2); BRYSON CITY / SWAIN COUNTY NC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

IN EVERY ISSUE 8 From the Editor 11

Connect

104 You Are Here THE GUIDE 94 Restaurants The city’s savviest restaurant listings

THE BUZZ 13 Community The city’s Citizen’s Review Board policing the police

THE GOOD LIFE 19 Travel How western North Carolina is faring in the shadow of COVID

16

24

Style Inside a virtual wedding

25

Real Estate Hot listings with custom touches

Life Lessons Former WCNC reporter Dianne Gallagher leads CNN’s first Charlotte office

26

Room We Love A classic white kitchen

FOOD + DRINK 29 Now Open Cloud Bar by David Burke serves a socially distanced night in uptown 32

Local Flavor Food hubs deliver local food to your doorstep

33

Bite-Sized News Foodie news on a small plate

34

On the Line Fine & Fettle’s lead barista Nori Schmidt

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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Volume 25, Number 11

NOVEMBER 2020

F RO M T H E E D I TO R

MAIZING GRACE

morrismedianetwork.com

www.charlottemagazine.com

Giving thanks for disorientation in a Huntersville cornfield

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO YEARS after Revolutionary War veteran Major John Davidson established his famous homestead, the Smiths were lost inside the property’s “Amazing Maize Maze.” Historic Rural Hill, the oldest and largest publicly owned historic site in Mecklenburg County, hosts a 7-acre corn maze every fall. (Last year’s was canceled, though, after soaring temperatures and no rain crippled the cornfield.)

After we thoroughly researched the site’s social distancing measures, my family and two friends tackled the maze in late September.

“The app says a dot should be marking our location,” I told the two other adults in our Andy Smith party 40 minutes into the winding paths. “But, andrew.smith@charlottemagazine.com uh, there is no dot.” After technology failed us, we took turns rotating and trying to decipher our paper map.

Our party’s three parents felt no urgency to escape the maze. Outings are scarce, even several months after COVID-19’s first recorded cases in Charlotte.

The three kids in our group felt differently. Months of remote learning and home confinement had diminished their endurance: They moaned and griped with each dead end, and tensions rose in their ranks. The 3-year-old demanded to be carried every few turns. The two elder explorers, ages 4 and 5, began to squabble. All three struggled to keep their masks in place.

Still, as we made granular progress in Amazing Maize Maze, I felt gratitude. In a year of constant discouragement, a family outing-turned-quagmire is quaint— and refreshingly normal. During the most restrictive periods of this pandemic, I longed for opportunities to show my girls something new. This challenging corn maze was the first that any member of my family had attempted, and it showed.

Family activities like these are similar to tattoos: After a while, you forget the pains of the experience, and the urge returns. After an arduous and brief Disney World trip in late 2019, it took us only months to long for another go at Magic Kingdom. Just minutes after we’d tried and failed the Amazing Maize Maze at Historic Rural Hill, as my family made its way back home, my wife and I longed for another opportunity to get lost for a couple of hours.

I’m trying harder than usual to be thankful ahead of November, National Gratitude Month. Many Charlotteans might find it difficult to feel that emotion right now. This month, the year’s hardships continue to pile up, and a potentially lonely holiday season begins. Senior editor Greg Lacour writes more about how COVID has damaged our mental health starting on page 56. Maybe in these pages, you’ll find a story that reminds you of something you’re thankful for, whether it’s your animal companions (page 38) or the healing power of a good meal like those we write about in our Food + Drink section (page 29).

At the very least, know that we’re thankful for you, for reading and subscribing. I know it can’t make up for all the paths you might not be able to take in this strange season. But I hope it can offer you a peek at them, for a while, at least.

8

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Smith SENIOR EDITOR Greg Lacour LIFESTYLE EDITOR Taylor Bowler ART DIRECTOR Jane Fields CONTRIBUTING Allison Braden EDITORS COPYEDITORS/ Allison Braden FACT-CHECKERS CONTRIBUTING Erin Comerford PHOTOGRAPHERS Logan Cyrus Andy McMillan Peter Taylor Adam Whitlow Rusty Williams CONTRIBUTING Shaw Nielsen ILLUSTRATORS Bob Scott CONTRIBUTING Cristina Bolling WRITERS Allison Braden Jen McGivney

Charlotte magazine 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 303 Charlotte, NC 28203

CONTRIBUTORS

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

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Connect

ONLINE EXTRAS, EVENTS, AND CONVERSATIONS

REACT

Responses to the September issue of Charlotte magazine

To: “ ‘Let’s Talk About That,’ ” p. 15 Sharing this article from my colleague @DrTraceyBenson. A must read!

Tweet from @TauheedahBaker

Anyone who has #704 in their company name knows what’s up Instagram comment by @704signs.com_charlotte_nc

To: “On the Line with Greg Williams and Jamie Barnes,” p. 46 Sounds good. When are you coming to my area Facebook comment by Jason Foster (Ed.: What the Fries, Williams’ and Barnes’ business, is a food truck.)

That shoe game tho …

Instagram comment by @sweatandsaltysaunastudio

To: “704 Shop’s Big Crown,” p. 26 Love the masks! I bought two and super comfortable!

Instagram comment by @kitty_soft_paws967

To: “Carbonation Nation,” p. 44 Yaaaaassssss Instagram comment by @laceycantrell Finally something different!

Instagram comment by @katiedfrear

ON THE WEB

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

1.

ANALYSIS: What Happened to Charlotte’s Bold New Breed on City Council?

2.

We Talked to the Owner of That Tesla Model 3 Honoring Dale Earnhardt 3.

GALLERY: NAACP’s Black Lives Matter March For Justice in Uptown

Plenty of readers wrote in to thank us for and comment on “The Preacher of Charlotte’s Hidden Gospel” (p. 66), about historian Willie Griffin’s research into Charlotte civil rights pioneer Trezzvant Anderson: I wanted to send you a note telling you how much I was impressed by your article in the most recent Charlotte magazine. I have been around Charlotte for a lot of years (50), and I had never heard of Trezzvant Anderson.

You introduced me to a very important person in Charlotte’s history, and you used that topic to introduce Willie Griffin to us also. I have known about him because of his work with the Levine Museum, but I had no clue about his doctoral thesis being about Anderson.

I have just finished reading Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste, which is the best nonfiction book that I have read this year. Having read that book heightened my interest in your article, and you certainly didn’t disappoint.

Excerpt of email from Bill McCoy to story author Emily Ethridge

The compelling story of a determined historian who uncovers the civil rights legacy of a courageous & crusading journalist. Heads up Hollywood!

Tweet from @joewfae

What an incredible story about CLT. I’m so grateful for the work of Will Griffin at the @LevineMuseum, and so excited to see that book when it comes out!

Tweet from @gregontuck

Such a great article in @CharlotteMag about some of the work of our very own historian, Dr. Willie Griffin.

Tweet from @LevineMuseum

History starts at home.

An excellent example of why local history matters to the national story. Plus Griffin & Trezzvant are inspiring … I want to be like either one of them whenever I grow up Tweet from @ScottHancockOT

amazing to me how many civil rights era stories there are still hidden in every southern town, just waiting to be uncovered Tweet from @deftlyinane

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INSIDE: COMMUNITY / LIFE LESSONS

BUZZ

THE

WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY

CO M M U N I T Y

POLICING THE POLICE

If they wanted, City Council members could add teeth to public oversight of CMPD. Will they?

La Becky Roe, a police officer in New York City for 12 years, is one of the newest members of Charlotte’s Citizens Review Board.

ANDY McMILLAN

BY JEN TOTA McGIVNEY

BLUE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED La Becky Roe’s rearview mirror. The two NYPD police officers who pulled her over in her Brooklyn neighborhood were white.

Roe is Black. She asked them why they stopped her, and they ignored her. When she asked again, they demanded her license, registration, and insurance card but offered no explanation for the stop.

Only later, after they told Roe she was free to go, did she tell them she was an NYPD officer, too.

“Why didn’t you just say you were a cop in the beginning?” one officer asked.

“Why do I have to say I’m a cop,” she shot back, “to get treated with respect?”

“This could’ve been my mother; this could’ve been my dad,” Roe explains two decades later. “They want respect, too.

I wanted to know what the response would be if I’m just Joe Citizen.”

Roe, who moved to Charlotte in 2002, is among the newest members of the city’s Citizens Review Board, the 11-member civilian body that reviews cases in which citizens have appealed a police ruling after an official complaint of police misconduct. Roe spent 12 years as an NYPD cop, and she wishes more people recognized officers as fellow humans. But as a Black woman and the mother of an autistic son, she wants more officers to see beyond race and abilities to recognize the humanity of the people they interact with.

Continued on next page NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

13

THE BUZZ “I’m retired law enforcement. I’m a Black woman with a dad, a brother, son, nephews, and godsons. I felt a calling to join the Citizens Review Board,” Roe says.

“I wanted to have a say in whether or not a police officer was right or wrong. It’s not all the time that one gets the opportunity to do that.”

Roe joined during a pivotal summer.

During protests after police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, CMPD deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets against demonstrators. On the night of June 2, officers restricted a group of about 200 to one block of Fourth Street uptown by blocking off both intersections—a controversial law enforcement practice called “kettling”—as they gassed and fired pepper balls near them. The tactics have drawn demands for more civilian oversight of the department.

“It’s pretty obvious we have the same goals in mind, to be able to provide some transparency and trust within the community,” says CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings. “The relationship is strong … and we’re going to continue to move forward and hopefully make our department better.”

Yet this year, when the CRB for the first time voted unanimously against the department’s decision in a complaint case, members fully appreciated how little power they have. Now, proposals to the City Council may give the group more authority to advocate for the public when officers step out of line.

OF 12,000 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies in the United States, about 200 have civilian review boards.

Their powers vary widely: Oakland’s has the authority to fire officers, even the chief; New York’s can subpoena witnesses; Raleigh’s, created just this year, can review police policy but does not respond to citizen complaints, investigate, or collect data.

Charlotte’s board, formed in 1997, merely advises CMPD and lacks subpoena power. When a citizen makes a formal complaint against a CMPD officer, the department investigates to determine whether the officer violated department policy. A citizen who disagrees with CMPD’s decision has 30 days to appeal to the CRB. The board reviews the case using documentation from the police

14

investigation, then makes its own decision and submits recommendations.

For its first 20 years, CRB upheld CMPD’s decisions every time. It began to break from the department in 2017: In August, the board deadlocked 4-4 on then-Chief Kerr Putney’s ruling that the officer who shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott in 2016 followed CMPD policy. (One of the 11 seats was vacant, and two members had work commitments.)

“I’m retired law enforcement. I’m a Black woman with a dad, a brother, son, nephews, and godsons.

I felt a calling to join the Citizens Review Board.”

—LA BECKY ROE

Later that year, in a 7-1 decision, the board determined that CMPD erred in not disciplining officer Jon Dunham for excessive force against James Yarborough in 2016; after a chase, Dunham pointed his gun at the unarmed man’s head and threatened to kill him. This February, the CRB decided unanimously that CMPD “clearly erred” in its finding that Officer Wende Kerl’s fatal shooting of Danquirs Franklin on March 25, 2019, was justified.

Wow, they did the right thing, Kinard Barnett, Franklin’s cousin, thought after the decision. As for his expectations about what would come next? “That CMPD would not change. And I left hope that the city manager might.”

CRB decisions advance to City Manager Marcus Jones, the unelected official who, as part of the day-to-day operations of the city, supervises the police department. Barnett knew what had happened after the CRB’s decision in the 2017 Yarborough case: Jones consulted Putney as his subject matter expert, then upheld the chief’s decision. But even as Jones rejected CRB’s ruling, he and Putney worked to implement several of the board’s recommendations.

Jones rejected CRB’s decision in the Franklin case, too. CMPD didn’t accept any of the seven recommendations that came with it. The first unanimous decision by the CRB against CMPD resulted in no policy changes by the city or police.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

THE CRB HAS CHANGED POLICING in Charlotte despite its limitations. Board recommendations have led CMPD to use dashboard and body-worn video cameras, train more on interactions with people in crisis or with mental illness, and add de-escalation standards to the department’s use-of-force policy.

But those policy changes required the approval of the police chief and city manager, which underscores one of CMPD critics’ longstanding complaints: What good is powerless citizen oversight?

“If (CRB members) sustain the case, then why send it back to the police department that erred in its judgment in the first place?” says Robert Dawkins, director of the police accountability organization SAFE Coalition NC, part of the progressive advocacy group Action NC. Dawkins, for years the most vocal critic of city policy and practice in policing, and his group want CRB decisions to have authority independent of the city government. They’ve offered three proposals, two of which the City Council could enact if it wanted.

The first two changes involve the Civil Service Board. Since 1929, it has evaluated the chief’s recommendations on promotions, demotions, and firings, and makes final decisions. If the chief decides to discipline an officer for misconduct, Civil Service investigates it. Unlike CRB, the Civil Service Board can subpoena witnesses and documents.

The first proposed change is to send cases in which the CRB upholds the citizen complaint to the Civil Service Board to investigate further and demote or fire officers when it decides they violated department policy. The second proposal is to require officers who don’t cooperate with CRB to appear before the Civil Service Board for a hearing; Kerl, the officer who shot Franklin, declined to appear before the CRB. Jennings says he’s curious to learn more about the proposals but worries they’d allow public outcry to overrule state law.

CMPD has more internal than external complaints against officers, he says, and officers hold each other accountable.

“My concern is no different than when someone’s arrested and they go through a trial by jury of their peers, and they’re found not guilty,” Jennings says.

Continued on page 16

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THE BUZZ “Just because we don’t like the outcome doesn’t mean that we can now go and search another (avenue) to get an outcome that we do like.”

Jennings is more receptive to Dawkins’ third proposal: petitioning the General Assembly to allow CRB to issue subpoenas, which would allow it to call witnesses and hear testimony. (SAFE Coalition has pursued this route several times without success.)

“There’s been a whole lot more cases where bringing in witnesses that we have in the cases for the Citizens Review Board would have been very helpful in allowing them to make their decision,” Jennings says. “If they have subpoena power for everyone, then I would support that. If it’s just subpoena power for officers, I would not support that.”

Both Jennings and the board’s chair, Tonya Jameson—an occasional contributor to this magazine—say the department and CRB overall enjoy a positive, productive relationship. To Jameson, that makes the city’s lack of response to the unanimous Franklin decision and recommendations frustrating.

JEN TOTA McGIVNEY is a writer in Charlotte.

Reach her at jennifer.mcgivney@gmail.com or on Twitter, @jen_mcgivney.

16

LI F E L E SS O N S

DIANNE GALLAGHER Ex-WCNC reporter returns ‘home’ to establish CNN’s first Charlotte office

BY GREG LACOUR

DIANNE GALLAGHER LEFT HER JOB as a reporter for WCNC-TV for CNN in August 2015, newly engaged to Alan Cavanna, who covers NASCAR for Fox Sports. Cavanna remained in Charlotte.

Gallagher hit the road and stayed there.

She lived in apartments in Washington, D.C., then Atlanta, even after the wedding in 2017, and connected with her husband when she could. But Gallagher spent most of her days jetting from story to story as a national correspondent.

This year, her bosses at CNN arranged for her to move back to Charlotte as the cable news giant’s first-ever permanent

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

presence in the Queen City. The daughter of an Army officer, Gallagher had grown up moving from town to town before she attended the University of Tennessee, earned a degree from UNC Charlotte, and, in 2008, began working for tiny CN2 News in Rock Hill. She went to work for WCNC in 2012 and quickly distinguished herself as a skilled and tenacious reporter, which drew CNN’s attention.

As a correspondent, Gallagher has covered major national news stories, from the Ninth Congressional District election fraud case in Bladen County to multiple appearances by President

COURTESY

AS OF EARLY SEPTEMBER, no appeals await CRB review—a surprise given the kettling incident and other clashes between protesters and police this summer. “If a protester feels that CMPD did something wrong in the June 2 incident or in any encounter with CMPD,” Jameson says, “then I hope they take advantage of the system created to file a complaint while there is still an opportunity.”

For Roe, serving on the board isn’t about being anti-police but restoring communication and trust between police and the community. While she agrees with Jennings that police officers hold each other accountable, she believes the public needs to have its say, too.

“I just pray we can give citizens what they need, that we can work in conjunction with the police department to help … officers realize that we’re not out to get (them),” Roe says. “But we want fairness.

We want accountability.”

Trump, during which the president and his fans have often directed their contempt toward journalists in general and CNN in particular. Recently, she’s reported on the effects of COVID on laborers in the meat-processing industry and on threats to election security, especially in North Carolina.

Although she maintains an apartment in Atlanta as of early September, she speaks to me from the NoDa home she’ll soon share with Cavanna; they’re looking to buy a house in the Charlotte area. Here she is in her own words, which have been edited for clarity and space.

TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY I woke up after 5 a.m., and will go to bed before 11 or midnight, in quite a while. Unfortunately, the President had a tele-rally last night to North Carolina voters, where he again encouraged people to vote twice. So I got to bed about 1 a.m., after writing another story on that last night.

I’M TIRED, BUT I’M GOOD. I’m always busy. But I’m also feeling really great because I’m getting to finally move back and live in the same house, city, state as my husband. There’s a complication that was always there in my life for the past five years that has been resolved, which will reduce a lot of stress in my own life.

THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS: I asked. But obviously they weren’t going to put somebody just anywhere in the country. I had been at CNN for almost five years, and I’d been trying to plant that seed for, I’d say, four years. I had been living in a bi-city, bi-state marriage for all three years we’ve been married. But I’ve always said, “Hey, I think I can live and work out of Charlotte.” Part of this is because we have learned a lot about remote work. We’re not really at our home base a lot, especially for us at CNN. I’m a national correspondent. I’m out on the road constantly.

BESIDES, NORTH CAROLINA has become part of this national narrative to a greater degree. And Charlotte, as it has grown, makes it easier for me to not just work here but travel out of here. Charlotte Douglas International Airport actually plays a huge role in this, because if I can’t get to stories in other parts of the country, then I’m useless.

I WAS ON THE ROAD A LOT my first year because I worked with something called CNN Newsource, which is the affiliate service for CNN—we do reports for all of the local affiliates all over the country and also internationally, and so I traveled to all the big stories. So I tried to plan a wedding during that. I do not recommend that to anybody, ever. That was a rookie mistake.

WE WOULD KIND OF TRY TO TRAVEL back and forth and, look, God bless my husband. He did 90 percent of that driving. I would try to fly back and forth, but that’s expensive. The Washington, D.C.to-Charlotte drive is not fun at all. Lucky for me, he works in NASCAR, so they have an offseason, and he would come up and live with me during that offseason, which is, what, two months? But we still had these whole separate lives.

IT IS WEIRD, because in some ways, I never left Charlotte, and in other ways, I do feel like a visitor in my own home, if that makes sense. The city has changed drastically over the past five years. When I was a local reporter and anchor here at WCNC, the city looked almost nothing like it does now. Then, we thought Charlotte was growing so fast. But the growth factor from the end of 2015 to now is astonishing. There are areas of town that I drive through, and I feel like I have to pull out Waze: “Am I where I think I am?” It looks like a completely different city.

I CAN’T PUT MY FINGER ON WHY I really loved living here. It was the longest I’d ever lived anywhere consecutively. I was a military brat and moved around from place to place, country to country, never anywhere more than, like, two years. So I had never really had what I would call “roots.” It’s going to be nice not to have all of the expenses that come with living in two different cities.

I’VE BEEN WORKING since the beginning of the year on voting integrity and election security and what that does to people’s confidence in elections. On top of covering that, I and a colleague of mine, Pamela Kirkland, are basically the North Carolina 2020 election people. So it is our responsibility to know everything about every major election in this state and what’s going on.

WE’RE DEFINITELY NOT THE ENEMY of the people, and we’re not fake news, either. It’s frustrating. Obviously, a mob of people turning around and shouting at you—nobody wants that. But I found often that when I talk to the people individually, even the people who may have just been shouting at me, their tone usually changes. They’ll express, “I’m just angry. I’m just frustrated. I don’t actually mean that about you.” A lot of times, I’ll ask them, “What have I done that you think is fake or bad?” And they usually don’t have anything to say.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE ANGRY at the, quote, “media” in general, they sort of just sub in CNN. Sometimes the President himself will do that. There are points in time where you do feel concerned for your safety. But I usually feel like I can discern whether or not a situation is good, and I’m not going to let somebody bully me out of doing my job. I’m just not.

OUR JOB ON THE ROAD has changed immensely because of COVID—where we travel, how we travel—and once we’re on the ground, every state has different restrictions. Understanding what those restrictions are is more challenging than I thought it was going to be. Every state looks different when it comes to what is open, what isn’t open, what you are allowed to do, the level of mask-wearing in different places. All of that is different across the entire country.

I HADN’T BEEN INTO CHARLOTTE in a little while, and I was a little surprised when I came in here. It just looked different. It was so empty—not in NoDa so much, but in uptown Charlotte, it was empty. It just felt very dystopian.

IT’S A WILD TIME TO BE A JOURNALIST. And to move.

THIS WILL ALLOW US to have a window into what’s happening in this region that so many people are moving to, and I’m just really excited to be one of those people as well. I hope to live and work out of Charlotte and grow a family here and be a part of this community.

GREG LACOUR is senior editor of this magazine.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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GOOD LIFE

INSIDE: TRAVEL / STYLE / REAL ESTATE / ROOM WE LOVE

THE

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

BRYSON CITY / SWAIN COUNTY NC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The view from the Oconaluftee River Overlook, the last scenic view before the Blue Ridge Parkway ends at U.S. Highway 441 and less than a mile from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where elk range.

T R AV E L

The Mountains Under Cover

In the shadow of COVID, western North Carolina dons masks and keeps distances (or doesn’t)

BY GREG LACOUR

THE TENTS LOOK LIKE OVERSIZED TOADSTOOLS. It’s as if they sprouted overnight after a heavy rain on the campus of Western Carolina University in the town of Cullowhee, about an hour’s drive southwest of Asheville. They’re the kind of white, peaked tents commonly used for outdoor gatherings, and the university has scattered six of them throughout the 589-acre campus, with plastic folding chairs spaced 6 feet apart beneath them.

Continued on next page

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR when the western mountains usually fill with tourists, who occupy resorts and Airbnbs and ply the Blue Ridge Parkway to marvel at

Kristiana Fuller, a 20-year-old Bryson City native shown here at work at her parents’ ice cream shop, says the initial lockdown nearly put them out of business.

the autumn foliage. As I write this, at the beginning of the season, it appears that some of those visitors will still make day and weekend treks from the Charlotte area; if you’re going to leave the house and minimize the risk of contracting COVID, you could do worse than hike mountain trails and take in multihued landscapes from your car.

But of course, the virus has cut into the number of visitors and the money that businesses and employees depend on. North Carolina tourism spending

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dropped 58 percent from March to the beginning of August, a reduction of $6.8 billion in spending and $871 million in related tax revenue, according to the U.S. Travel Association. (Visit North Carolina, the state’s travel and tourism agency, does not track those numbers by region.)

The timing could hardly have been worse in the mountains, where spring tourism season arrived with the virus.

Jeff and Paula Fuller, who own BoxCar Café & Cones in Bryson City, barely hung on with takeout orders from midMarch to early May, says their daughter Kristiana, 20; she works as a server at BoxCar and at the front desk of the Swain County Heritage Museum downtown. “Right when it should have picked up,” Kristiana says, “is when everything had to shut down.”

The museum, housed in a former courthouse built in 1908, is closed under Phase 2 of the state’s COVID response plan, although the visitor center remains open. Kristiana speaks to me, masked, from behind clear plastic. She was born and bred in Bryson City, describing herself as “ninth-generation Swain County.”

Once the statewide shelter-in-place order lifted in May, she says, business picked up, and most people in the visitor center and the restaurant observe the indoor mask requirement—though not everyone.

THAT MATCHES MY EXPERIENCE. On a gray Sunday afternoon, I pull up to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where I’m mildly surprised to see the parking lot nearly full—not overflowing, as it’d ordinarily be, but close. Some visitors wear masks as they emerge from the main building and detached restroom

BRYSON CITY / SWAIN COUNTY NC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

They’ve been open for study, shelter, and relaxation since the first day of classes a week ago as a way to keep too many students from congregating indoors. Now, in late August, it’s about 10:30 on a Monday morning that threatens rain, and it doesn’t appear that anyone’s using them. It’s quiet on what normally is a campus alive with new-academic-year energy and preparation for football season. But Whitmire Stadium is silent, too. Across Catamount Road in the intramural fields rests a makeshift arrangement of free weights and exercise equipment on the wet grass, overseen by campus trainers.

A few people go through their paces. I walk by on the track that surrounds the fields. I introduce myself and ask one of the trainers about the setup. His supervisor advises me, adamantly, to consult university public affairs. I thank them and walk on.

BRYSON CITY / SWAIN COUNTY NC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

structure. Some don’t. A few wear them as chin straps. I estimate about 60 percent of the people I see bother to wear masks.

It starts to drizzle—these are the Smokies—and, under a small shelter that displays a trail map, I encounter Kelly and Michelle vanDellen, a 40-year-old husbandwife team fresh off a monthlong trek in their Subaru Forester to hike in an assortment of national parks out west: Badlands in South Dakota, Grand Teton in Wyoming, Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado.

Adherence to health restrictions and recommendations varied from state to state, park to park, and sometimes person to person, they tell me.

“In Grand Teton, people were paying more attention and wearing masks more often, like covering their faces when they were on trails,” says Michelle vanDellen, a psychology professor at the University of Georgia; she and Kelly drove up from Athens. “But what I saw was, the bigger the group people were in, the less seriously they took anything. You could tell, if it was a small family, people were being careful and respectful of other people’s space. But the more people weren’t with their families or in small groups, they would crowd us or not wear face coverings.”

A few minutes later, as if to drive home the point, two men separately walk ahead of me into the men’s room. Neither wears a mask.

COMPLIANCE SEEMS MORE CONSISTENT, or more enforceable, at Western Carolina.

I walk farther up the on-campus walking track, which runs parallel to Cullowhee Creek toward the main administrative building, and hear something I don’t expect, especially having just passed the open-air weight “room.” Is that … a tuba?

It’s not, says the student playing it at the edge of one of the multipurpose tents. It’s a euphonium. “It’s basically a tenor tuba,” he explains. It’s obviously impossible to play a brass instrument while masked, but his music teacher wears a covering and sits a safe distance away—at least 8 feet, by my mark.

I don’t want to cut into their tent time, so I head on. “Thanks for coming by,” the teacher says through his mask, as the moan of the tenor tuba drifts over the violets and black-eyed Susans that line the creek here in the Smokies.

The National Park Service, which runs the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, maintains a 30-acre meadow next to the center where elk can graze and congregate.

Big Boy Rules

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a safe space for about 200 elk, including a 1,000-pound bull who prefers his trailside naps undisturbed

BY GREG LACOUR

THE MAN WHOSE JOB IT IS to enforce safe distance between humans and elk offers advice: The best way for me and my dog to avoid the 1,000-pound bull elk that reclines peacefully in trailside brush some 100 feet ahead is to detour to the riverbank on my right, hug the river as we creep upstream, then cut through the brush beyond the elk and back to the trail.

“Or,” says Ted Rowe, “we could just hotfoot it right past him.”

“Let’s do that.”

I DID NOT EXPECT ELK. My goal here, near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the southeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is to see how people, businesses, and tourist destinations in the North Carolina mountains cope as we approach six months of life under COVID. I discover a decidedly mixed bag (see companion story). But the bag happens to contain a herd of elk and a nearly 20-year conservation project.

Until Europeans showed up, more than 10 million elk ranged through most of North America. But overhunting east of the Mississippi River killed millions—to the point, around 1900, at which conservationists feared their extinction; the last known elk in North Carolina until recently was shot and killed in the late 18th century. The current elk population is roughly one million, most of them in or near the Rockies. In 2001, the Montana-based Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contacted the National Park Service with a proposal: Can we reintroduce elk to the Smokies?

The Park Service released a herd of 25 that year and another 27 in 2002. The population now numbers 200 or so, maybe more, and the elk have thrived under a no-hunting order as they spread throughout the park and into the mountains and forests around it. Elk mainly eat grasses, and the Park Service has reserved a 30-acre meadow next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where the animals can graze and people can watch—from a mandatory 50-yard distance. That’s why Ted Rowe and his fellow elk-buffer volunteers, called “Luftee Rovers,” lend their services, which matter especially when fall breeding season begins.

Continued on next page

GREG LACOUR is the senior editor for this magazine.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE

“Especially during the rut, these bulls can get pretty aggressive,” Joe Yarkovich, the NPS wildlife biologist who’s monitored and tended the Great Smoky Mountains herd since 2006—he’s known informally as “the Elk Guy”—tells me later. “We’ve had a couple of cars get windows busted out. So you definitely want to keep your distance.”

I KNOW NONE OF THIS as I stroll past the meadow, where a pair of elk pick placidly at the grass a safe distance away. It’s about 5:30 on a Sunday afternoon in late August, around the time when the animals start to congregate before sundown. I figure I’ll walk my dog on a mile-and-a-half-long trail that runs along the Oconaluftee River, a clear, inches-deep mountain stream that babbles over rocks. After a half-mile or so, I see an inviting flat rock at the water’s edge and decide to have a seat and soak in the scenery on a 72-degree day.

About 300 yards upstream and on the opposite bank, something nut-brown catches my eye. It’s a bull elk, crowned with at least a four-point rack and looking as broad as a boxcar. He crosses the river slowly, stopping occasionally for a drink. Then, about halfway between the bull and me, a rustle across the water: an elk cow and calf. They ford the river quickly, not bothering to glance at me or my dog. I grin broadly—until I look directly across the river, perhaps 75 feet away, and take in the sight of three adolescent bulls near the bank. Two spar with each other. The third decides he wants to cross. He appears to aim for a spot very near me, in flagrant violation of the human-elk buffer requirement.

I freeze. The young bull approaches, stepping gingerly. My dog, a pit bull, rarely barks, but she’s a city canine who’s never seen anything like this. She strains at the leash and woofs, which startles the elk. He doesn’t charge, though, thank heavens; he just stops and gives us a WTF look. He reaches the bank roughly 25 feet from us. Then he’s on his way, and so are we.

We’re headed back when a Luftee Rover, facing me on the trail, yells, “Sir!” and begins waving her arms toward me in a “back up” motion. I figure they’re stopping walkers to let an elk, maybe the big bull I saw earlier, cross to the meadow. But I don’t see an elk. A group of about 10 adults and children, in the brush and trees to my right, near the river, tiptoes onto the trail. They’re clearly avoiding something. I still don’t see anything.

My dog and I wait for about 15 minutes. I take a few steps toward Ted, who’s made his way toward me. “Hey, Ted,” I call. “What should I do? What’s going on, exactly?”

“Well,” he says, pointing ahead and to the right, “there’s a ...” And I see him.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

HE’S ON HIS BELLY, in a sphinx posture maybe 15 feet from the trail, amid vegetation in waning light on an overcast day and partially concealed by a tulip poplar: a bull. A big bull. Bigger than the one I saw before. Ted knows him. The staff and volunteers at the center have dubbed him “Big Boy.” He’s at least a decade old, and he was once the stud of the herd; many of the elk I see today are probably his progeny. He’s getting old, Ted explains, but he still commands respect—the patriarch in winter. “He’s been lord of the roost here for a long time,” Ted tells me. “A little bit ago, before he laid down, he urinated all over himself. He’s perfuming up to go visit the ladies in the meadow.”

Big Boy is nothing I want to disturb, especially with my pit bull. But some of my fellow walkers—imitating, or reflecting, the indifference so many these days exhibit toward another potentially mortal threat—seem determined to pretend Big Boy is a nonentity or just another installation to enhance their experience. An older gentleman power-walks by us. “Sir. Sir!” yells the woman volunteer.

The man doesn’t break stride. A woman in pink tie-dye asks Ted what’s up. He tells her, advising her to wait or, if she has to go, to walk quickly. She creeps past Big Boy. “Ma’am,” Ted calls, “you’re going to have to walk faster.” She does—after she’s pulled out her smartphone and snapped a photo of the massive elk, which remains motionless.

I’m not that obtuse. But it occurs to me that Big Boy might hang out here for a while, and I need to get going. I ask Ted for counsel, and he offers the river-or-hotfoot deal. Hotfoot it is, and he accompanies us. As we stalk past the old bull, Ted discovers why he hasn’t moved. “Ah, he’s just taking a nap,” Ted remarks. “His eyes are closed.” Still walking, I turn to glance at Big Boy, who barely lifts an eyelid and regards us with fully justified irritation. He is, after all, an old man trying to take a nap.

“He’s watching you,” the other Luftee Rover says as we hustle toward the parking lot. This is Big Boy’s turf. I won’t forget it.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is at 1194 Newfound Gap Rd. (U.S. Highway 441), near the town of Cherokee. For information on the park’s elk, see nps.gov/grsm/learn/ nature/elk.

GREG LACOUR is the senior editor for this magazine.

BRYSON CITY / SWAIN COUNTY NC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Walkers along the Oconaluftee River Trail can often see elk crossing the river toward the meadow, especially in early morning and just before sundown during fall rutting season—so often and so many that rangers sometimes have to close the trail to protect people.

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THE GOOD LIFE

ST YL E

Virtual Nuptials

Samie and Ryan Roberts’ LoveStream platform adds social distancing to the wedding party

MARK BENNO proposed to Catherine Poling at the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day 2018. Once the couple returned home to Cornelius, they began brainstorming wedding locations. They weren’t in any big rush; it would be the second marriage for both, and each had children and careers that kept them busy.

They considered a European wedding in the Alps and explored a schooner wedding in Charleston. “We had all of these great destination wedding ideas, then we shifted to Lake Norman to be more accessible to our families,” Catherine says. They ultimately decided on the Peninsula Club on Lake Norman and set the date for September 12, 2020.

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By late 2019, they had a guest list of 90 and their honeymoon booked. They’d planned a 12-day Mediterranean cruise that would take them from Spain to Italy, but as they heard about multiple COVID19 outbreaks associated with cruise ships, they knew they had to cancel their trip.

In May, it was clear they’d need to change their wedding plans, too. “We were anxiously waiting for the governor to give us an update on Phase 3,” Mark says. “Or would we go back to Phase 1?”

Dilemmas like theirs inspired husband-and-wife team Samie and Ryan Roberts to launch LoveStream, a livestream platform that allows couples like Catherine and Mark to say their vows

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

with their friends and family watching from their own homes. “When Ryan and I got married, it was the middle of Hurricane Irene in New York City,” Samie says. “It’s not quite the same as what these couples are dealing with, but we lost a third of our guest list. So we’re passionate about finding a way to make it happen.”

Before the pandemic, the Robertses coordinated as many as 35 weddings a year through their wedding planning company and created Bustld, a Charlottebased online wedding platform that connects vendors with wedding planners.

But by March, they started to see a decline in bookings. “Couples would postpone

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Mark Benno and Catherine Poling used LoveStream, a livestream platform that allowed friends and family to enjoy the couple’s wedding from viewers’ homes.

to May or June, thinking we’d get back to normal by then,” Samie says. “But by the end of April and early May, people realized this would last.”

They launched LoveStream in midApril and booked their first virtual wedding less than a week later. “We did many hours of research in that month we sent our team to work from home,” Ryan says. “We learned every piece of video production and quickly became experts.” Ryan’s tech background helped, too, and he had contacts at NASCAR and ESPN to talk his team through some of the hurdles.

Couples can opt for one of three packages that range from $350 to $1,350.

LoveStream builds a custom website for the couple, and guests can watch the wedding on any device by clicking one link. “There’s no downloading or registration—none of that,” Samie says.

“This isn’t like a Zoom meeting; it’s more like a TV production.” And unlike Zoom, couples can have unlimited guests.

It’s also significantly cheaper than a traditional wedding, which averages $29,500 in North Carolina. Catherine and Mark chose the $850 package, which includes a 60-minute stream, a virtual guestbook, and a live chat where guests can chime in to say congratulations. They had 24 in-person guests (a trend Samie calls a “micro-wedding”) and a ceremony on the lake at the Peninsula Yacht Club.

Catherine and Mark said their vows on an antique boat, and their guests watched from additional boats. The bride and groom even wore masks that coordinated with their wedding attire.

Catherine’s mother gave a virtual toast, but there was no first dance (“our 10th-grader wouldn’t let us,” Mark says) or a traditional wedding cake. Instead, they opted for peach cobbler, Mark’s favorite, and hired Bakery 28 to make and ship mini peach cobblers to close family members—including some not in attendance for a virtually shared dessert.

“It’s not an ideal situation for anybody, but having this option to include your loved ones is a great alternative,” Samie says. As of early August, she and Ryan had already booked 60 weddings for fall, and it’s a trend they believe will be around for a while. “There’s always a grandma who can’t make it or a friend about to give birth,” she says. “Micro-weddings were becoming popular before COVID19, and now they’re popular by default.”

As for Catherine and Mark’s honeymoon, they’ll have what Mark calls a “familymoon” at Oak Island. “We’ll have our daughter and the dog with us,” Mark says, laughing. “We’ll do a real honeymoon later.”

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor for this magazine.

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THE GOOD LIFE

Pretty in White A kitchen that lets brass fixtures shine

DANIELLE BURGER, owner of Kitchen Vitality Design, transformed the kitchen of her client’s two-story Sharon Woods home as part of a first-floor renovation. The homeowner already had plenty of colorful artwork, wallpaper, and décor throughout the house, so Burger opted for a classic white kitchen. It allows polished nickel and brass hardware to stand out and provides a simple, clean backdrop for the room’s showpiece, a La Cornue range with heavy brass accents. “It’s like an outfit,” Burger says. “You want all of that jewelry to sparkle.” —Taylor Bowler

AN OVERDUE UPGRADE Burger worked alongside builder Mike Goubran of Carolina Custom Homes to update the 42-yearold home. “The kitchen was a basic U-shape with white laminate countertops and hinges that were falling off the cabinets,” she says. So they stripped it down to the studs, replaced a load-bearing wall with a structural I-beam to open up the space, and added a pocket door between the dining room and kitchen. They also replaced the white tile flooring with oak to match the front of the house and installed linen white cabinets, a white porcelain backsplash, and white Carrara marble countertops.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

SHIMMER AND SHINE The homeowner wanted more storage, a farmhouse sink, and a big island with plenty of seating for her family of five.

Burger worked with Tim Brun of Brun Millworks to create a custom wood countertop for the island and install a custom pendant light from Lantern & Scroll. The soft gray Serena & Lily barstools and brass and nickel hardware break up the sea of white. “The warmth of the brass can overpower a space if it’s all brass, so I like to mix it with polished nickel for a cooler finish,” Burger says.

THE WOW FACTOR The La Cornue oven with cooking range was one of the last pieces of the transformation. The homeowner chose a custom color for the imported, $15,000 French model, which took 12 weeks to arrive. Polished brass trim and knobs make the professional-quality chef range a visual showstopper. “It’s not something a client does every day,” Burger says. “But she really wanted that colorful range, and we wanted those elements and embellishments to be what stood out.”

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We invite you to call 980-224-8540 to book a tour soon. Let us show you how e iting retirement living an be he Bar la at Southpark. It’s how you want to live…and where.

The Barclay at Southpark

6010 Fairview Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210 980-224-8540, TheBarclayatSouthPark.com 9/29/20 3:47 PM

FIVE STAR

PROFESSIONAL

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Go to www.fivestarprofessional.com/homesurvey or call 651-259-1865.

FOOD DRINK

INSIDE: NOW OPEN / LOCAL FLAVOR / BITE-SIZED STORIES / ON THE LINE

EXPLORE THE TASTES OF CHARLOTTE

N OW O P E N

LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE SKY Head to Cloud Bar by David Burke for a socially distanced night out in uptown

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

MERCHANT & TRADE, Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo, and Fahrenheit all host plenty of date nights and happy hours in uptown, but there’s always room for another rooftop bar in Charlotte.

The setup is remarkably conducive to COVID-era dining, too, so Cloud Bar landed in the right place when it opened in August.

Cloud Bar by David Burke is the first of two restaurants the celebrity chef opened in uptown’s Le Méridien Hotel this year. (Burke’s second venture, Red Salt, opened in mid-September in the space formerly occupied by Evoke.)

Enter through the Sheraton, which connects to Le Méridien’s lobby, then take the elevator to the 18th floor. From there, climb a flight of stairs to the rooftop. The bar is in a glass-enclosed area with high top tables if you prefer indoor seating. If you came for the skyline views, keep walking toward the outdoor patio.

Chef David Burke’s avant-garde approach to food presentation includes the maple-glazed bacon clothesline.

Continued on next page NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

29

FOOD+DRINK

(Right) Chilled shrimp and mozzarella skewers; (Below) Chef David Burke enjoys a Firebird cocktail on the rooftop.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

(Clockwise from top) The French macarons and mochi dessert; chicken wing and shishito skewers; sweeping views of uptown from the rooftop terrace.

Oversized planters brim with greenery, and canvas canopies keep you shaded as the sun goes down. Once it gets dark, white string lights illuminate the terrace.

Have a seat on one of the cushioned love seats or club chairs, or grab a table and order a drink. Start with a cold glass of prosecco or try the Firebird cocktail ($14), a refreshing mix of tequila, ginger syrup, lime, and pomegranate soda. There’s a full wine list, too, and local brews from OMB, Triple C, and NoDa Brewing.

CLOUD BAR BY DAVID BURKE

555 S. McDowell St. 980-237-5356 cloudbarbydb.com

Hours: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. daily

Burke’s avant-garde approach to food presentation is on full display with the DB Bites menu. The maple-glazed bacon clothesline ($21) is exactly as it sounds: long strips of bacon that clothespins fasten to a string. The crispy Brussels ($11) is a heaping bowl of fried Brussels sprouts topped with bits of pancetta, shaved parmesan, and drizzled balsamic. Feel free to pop them in your mouth with the toothpicks provided; utensils are optional here.

If you’re a fan of food on a stick, order the chilled shrimp and mozzarella skewers ($16), which stand upright on a red wood block. Each skewer holds a jumbo shrimp, mozzarella ball, prosciutto slice, and a hunk of watermelon. The chicken wings and shishito ($15) also come on standing skewers, with seasoned wings, not-too-spicy shishito peppers, radish, cucumber, carrots, and a side of blue cheese-chipotle ranch.

The vertical display carries over to the dessert menu, too. The French macarons and mochi ($12) are three stacks of

meringue sandwich cookies, strawberries, and bite-sized balls of sticky rice filled with ice cream. The cheesecake lollipops ($19) arrive on a silver display stand in chocolate, hazelnut, and strawberry flavors, which make a traditionally heavy dessert feel light and delicate.

Cloud Bar checks all the boxes for a safe night out in the year of coronavirus.

There’s plenty of space between tables, the waitstaff is properly masked, and you’re outside in the fresh air. So go ahead. Treat yourself to a flashy cocktail and some skyline views. This is still Charlotte, after all.

Don’t leave without trying: The French macarons and mochi ($12) come with three skewers of meringue sandwich cookies, giant strawberries, and bite-sized balls of sticky rice filled with ice cream.

Save room for this dessert.

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

31

FOOD+DRINK

A Harvest box from Freshlist includes seasonal produce from local farmers.

LO C AL F L AVO R

Hub for Grub Mother Earth Food’s local grocery delivery has been wildly successful in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Can Freshlist find the same success in Charlotte?

BY ALLISON BRADEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

32

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN MEAL travels 1,500 miles before it lands on your plate.

“Garden-fresh” salads are sourced from as far away as Chile, and your appetizer probably has more passport stamps than a graduate on a gap year. This has unsavory implications for food freshness and our carbon footprints. But it also severs our connection with our neighbors and the land we share. Local food hubs offer an alternative.

Despite decades of activism, the local food movement’s success stalls in distribution. Mother Earth Food, founded in Asheville in 2012, is what’s known as a food hub: The company complements farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture programs by aggregating local products and delivering to doorsteps in the Asheville and GreenvilleSpartanburg areas. Customers log on each week to order not only produce but local

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

bread, chocolate, cheese, meat, and more.

“It’s about people really trying to support each other,” says CEO Janelle Tatum. “It’s a broad network of many people and a lot of products that cross over in these beautiful concentric circles of holding each other’s hands.”

In 2018, the company expanded into Charlotte—but ceased operations here last fall. “We didn’t get the response we were looking for in Charlotte at the time,” Tatum explains. “Who knows what the difference would be now?” COVID has exposed shortcomings in global food distribution, and demand for delivery services has exploded.

Freshlist co-founder Jesse Leadbetter believes Charlotte is ready. He and childhood friend Brad Chapman launched the digital platform in 2013 to connect farmers with chefs here. It soon evolved into a wholesale distributor that pro-

BITE-SIZED STO R I E S

Foodie News on a Small Plate Bruce Moffett, owner of the Moffett Restaurant Group, has named BRITTANY COCHRAN executive chef of Stagioni.

Cochran was previously sous chef at Mimosa Grill.

Jesse Leadbetter with a handful of Chinese winged beans from his home garden.

vides local food to breweries and restaurants across town. After years of experience in the Charlotte foodshed, they planned to gradually expand to offer delivery direct to consumers—until COVID. In mid-March, Leadbetter was at a food conference in New Orleans. “I was with a bunch of food systems people from all over the country, and they’re getting calls from back home and kind of saw the writing on the wall,” Leadbetter says. “So I skipped the rest of the conference and just stayed in the Airbnb and worked on getting the new marketplace up and running.” Freshlist scrambled to launch direct-to-consumer sales in just two weeks. As of now, their delivery area is mostly limited to the Myers Park, Sedgefield, and Dilworth neighborhoods and a few drop-off locations, but they plan to expand in the coming months.

“I would love to see Charlotte have more curiosity about what’s on their plate and

what it took to bring that food to their plate,” says Tatum, who lived in Charlotte in the early ’90s. “In a city environment, there’s too many steps between that carrot that’s growing in the dirt and the plate of the consumer on the other end.”

A 2018 study commissioned by the city found that farmers in the Charlotte area don’t enjoy a strong direct-to-consumer market, and that similar metropolitan areas consistently outperform Charlotte in farmers’ market and CSA sales. But Leadbetter says that’s beginning to change. “There’s been a huge influx of chefs who are really hanging their hat on local,” he says. “People want to know where the food is coming from, and for us, local has always been about supporting the people in your community.”

ALLISON BRADEN is a writer, Spanish translator, and contributing editor to this magazine.

COURTNEY BUCKLEY, owner of Your Mom’s Donuts, opened Your Mom’s Bazaar in the building formerly occupied

by Bonjour Y’all Bakery in Davidson. Look for local meat, produce, dry goods, and Buckley’s signature square donuts.

The Ballantyne Hotel has named MORGAN LARSSON executive pastry chef. Larsson brings more than 30 years of experience from some of New York City’s most iconic hotels, including The Four Seasons, Essex House, and The St. Regis.

PROTAGONIST will open its second location in the former Broken Spoke space in Lower South End this fall. The 21,000-square-foot taproom will have three separate bars, a covered patio, room for private events, and an oven to prepare pizza by the slice. The Broken Spoke and Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. moved to a new location in NoDa. —Taylor Bowler

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK

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

NORI SCHMIDT

Fine & Fettle’s lead barista creates chocolaty citrus mochas and fruity herbal tea lattes for guests and locals at Canopy by Hilton Charlotte SouthPark

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

Age: 30 Relationship status: Married to David Schmidt, lead mixologist at Fine & Fettle; mom to a 4-year-old pit bull named Gracie Jones Hometown: Miami Currently lives: Quail Hollow Favorite sports team: Miami Heat Currently reading: Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

How did the opportunity at Fine & Fettle come to you? It was quite a surprise, actually. I have a background in mixology, and I’m an avid baker. I love food profiles and creating things, so when the beverage director reached out about leading the coffee program, I thought it would be a great fit.

How much coffee do you drink?

Too much (laughs). Probably two or three lattes throughout the day. I make a latte with Oatly, an oat milk.

It’s just nice and classic.

What’s one ingredient you always have on hand? Brown sugar. It’s amazing in coffee.

What do you think is an underappreciated flavor?

Mochas. Any kind of mocha, or a white chocolate or dark chocolate latte. People think they’re super syrupy, but mine aren’t overly sweet.

Where do you find inspiration for your specialty lattes? I have

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a great love for my Food Bible, and I love mixing fruits, spices, and veggies to get different flavor profiles. Sometimes I’ll look at the ingredients in the coffee beans when I’m at the store and see what would pair well with it, like mango or citrus—things I know will mesh really well with coffee.

Is there one drink you’d still like to master? I’d really like to master the dalgona, which is like a whipped coffee. So instead of whipping the dairy, you actually whip the coffee itself. I’m trying to find the best additives that won’t compromise the integrity of the coffee. I have to get the right ratio of hot water and the bean to the right grind so it’s not too gritty. It’s really hard.

THE TOUGH STUFF Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

Pasta or pizza?

Coffee.

Beer or wine? Wine.

Cake or pie? Pie. Crunchy topping or sweet drizzle?

Sweet drizzle.

Ice cream or hot chocolate? Ice cream.

Baked or fried? Fried.

Street eats or sitdown? Street eats.

Facebook or Instagram?

Instagram.

Any coffee trends you’re following? There’s a cool trend called golden milk, which is milk with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. It’s got lots of antioxidants that help with metabolism. We have a golden latte on our menu.

grinder before I came here. It was coming out like terrible L.A. water.

Everyone would lie to me and tell me it was good (laughs).

What’s been your biggest coffee mishap? It’s been more with the grind itself. I’d never calibrated a

What shoes do you wear behind the counter? Chuck Taylors or Doc Martens.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

What’s your favorite thing to bake? I make chocolate éclairs.

They’re pretty bomb.

What’s your favorite coffee to drink? A latte. I make a spicy Aztec latte with Swiss chocolate, chipotle, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. It’s like a velvety chocolate milk with a little heat on the end.

What do you like to do outside the kitchen? I’m an avid disc golf player.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Charlotte, other than your own? Dot Dot Dot. They have a great food menu, and their bartenders are really talented.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Crime dramas.

Would we ever spot you at a Starbucks? Not very often, but I do have a soft spot for their iced caramel macchiato.

Pumpkin spice: love it, or over it? Over it.

Any rules to live by in the kitchen? Keep your fingers away from the hot water.

COURTESY

Where does your love of coffee come from? I was born and raised in a diner that my parents owned. I had coffee in my sippy cup.

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CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE

2020’s

FAVORITE PETS

With more than 185 entries spanning dogs, rabbits, cats, birds, and—yes, even a squirrel—the Pet of the Year competition was ruff! See featured entrants to the right and all participating pets at Charlottemagazine.com/Pets.

Garnering 280 votes, winning pet Delilah WINNER (right) has quite the fan base. In January 2019, as an 11-month-old puppy, she got lost in the Blowing Rock wilderness while on a hike with her family. Delilah lived off the land for two months, enduring 150 mph winds, snowstorms, and single-digit temperatures as she crossed over Grandfather Mountain.

She was rescued in Banner Elk after 62 days thanks to the efforts of thousands of people and EPIC Animal Recovery.

Owners Michael and Paige Twer of Charlotte were able to bring Delilah back home in March 2019 with a broken leg.

Today, Delilah is healthy, safe, and grounded for life!

ADAM WHITLOW

Name: Delilah Twer Breed: Lab/Retriever Mix Age: 2-1/2 years Favorite spot? Laying on the couch, snuggling with her family, or on her Delilah Home towels.

CHARLOT T E MAGA ZINE

2020’s

FAVORITE PETS

RUNNER-UP

Name: Buzz McCaskill Breed: Bernedoodle

Age: 7 months Favorite spot? On his cot

Buddy Williams

Charlie Raulerson

Ellie Page

Fuzz Deffinbaugh

Georgie Woodward

Irma “Girlfriend” Thomas

Hamilton Clanton

Knox Carroll

Maximus Hudgens

Olive Davis

Oliver Viner

Penny Morgan

Taser Cox

COURTESY

Cali Dissibbio

Canis familiaris (dogs) and Felis catus (cats) are just two of the thousands of species that Charlotteans call pets. Here’s a look inside a complicated—and innovative—year for critter-lovers outside of the metropolitan mainstream, including cold-blooded-pet purveyors, an urban horseman, and a family of alpaca ranchers

A meet-and-greet with furry alpacas is part of the tour at Good Karma Ranch in Iron Station.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

By

Andy Smith Photographs By

AN IM A L

Rusty Williams

QUE EN D OM NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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Soaring pet adoptions is one of the few positive storylines from 2020.

In September, the national nonprofit Shelter Animals Count announced that shelter euthanasia was down 46 percent. That factoid is particularly relevant to a growing metropolis like Charlotte, where new landmarks cater to millennials and their canines. Breweries boast spacious patios with water bowls, upscale apartment complexes advertise on-site dog parks, and co-working spaces teem with entrepreneurs and their furry co-conspirators.

In this city, you could conceivably go to work, dine out, and grab a beer with friends and meet a different goldendoodle at each location.

Even before COVID-19, a majority of homes had animal occupants, too. As of January, 67 percent

of U.S. households had pets. That’s 85 million mixed-species families that spent 2020 navigating a pandemic in close proximity, a number that’ll shoot even higher by the end of the year. For many families (including our publisher’s), a stay-at-home order was that last nudge toward a new puppy.

It’s not just canines and felines finding new homes. Yet discussions about pet adoptions and being an “animal-friendly city” focus on those two species out of the millions on Earth—and the thousands legally ownable in North Carolina. As the owner of two dogs, I admit holding that same bias until this summer, when I visited three sites that altered my perspective on animal ownership in Charlotte.

Turns out, 2020 was a year of several storylines for our unexpected creatures. And their purveyors and caretakers tell tales of surprise and innovation in a city that doesn’t cater to them.

LOCKHART PERFORMANCE

Residential and retail construction hug University City Boulevard, in a district booming after the light rail’s 2018 extension north to UNC Charlotte.

Gregg Lockhart (top) owns Lockhart Performance stables and has been riding horses since he was 10 years old. Marquez Kelly (above) grooms his horse, Stinger, before riding with friends.

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In certain pockets, you’ll find signs of University City’s rural history. The name of one new development, The Farms At Backcreek, pays homage to the structures that once lined the winding Back Creek Church Road. Here, at one of the few surviving barns off this road, Gregg Lockhart has promised me a history lesson.

“For me, it all started at Mr. Martin’s farm,” the 22-year-old Charlotte native says.

“He’s been operating that place for more than 50 years. I’ve been riding since I was 10—and started teaching at 15. But it’s all because of Big M.” Lockhart, owner of Lockhart Performance, is part of a tradition of Black horsemen in the Carolinas. His path, like thousands of others, leads back to Big M Stables in Druid Hills. The urban horse farm near Camp North End is owned by legendary trainer Bobby Martin—or Mr. Martin, as Lockhart and others address him. Lockhart’s mother also learned from Martin. I’ve asked him to help me understand the scope of Black ridership in Charlotte; he’s one of several Martin protégés who have started their own riding instruction and event-based businesses.

Many Black horsemen in Charlotte belong to a riding group, Lockhart says. He rattles off several: There’s TrailBred Riderz and Rich Game Riders; 704 Horsemen, one of the most popular in the area, was founded by Lockhart’s uncle, Bingo. These riders, and thousands more, attend the Ebony Horsemen Trail Ride in Shelby each year (though this year’s event was canceled). Members of those groups surprised crowds this summer during the George Floyd protests, when they trotted alongside demonstrators.

“People are surprised to find out that these are city horses. They’re different,” Lockhart says. “The riders and the horses, we’re not country. I grew up off of North Graham Street. I’m all city. … The main thing we have to do to ride here is clean up after

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

TKTKTKTTK

(Above, left to right) Gregg Lockhart, Jarrell Brown, Elijah McCoy, Marquise Kelly, Marquez Kelly, and Justin Martin in the ring.

New riders learn responsibilities that come with the care of horses. Matt Harris (left) grooms Princess, while Jarell Brown (bottom left) and Justin Martin (below) prepare to saddle up.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

41

ourselves. When we ride in parades, we have a guy that follows us, and he cleans up the poop after everyone.

“There are other rules, like you can’t always ride them on the sidewalk. We respect that rule, and then the cars: We’ll tell them to go around, or they’ll slow up for us. But as far as we’re concerned, this is still a mode of transportation.”

Lockhart Performance is one of several Black-owned businesses in Charlotte that offer riding lessons, party appearances, and barn tours. Lockhart says two major entertainers recently boosted Black interest in his services: “Old Town Road” cross-genre rapper Lil Nas X and charttopping performer Megan Thee Stallion, which led to a windfall of photo shoots at the barn.

Surprisingly, COVID helped his business, too. “Everything spiked,” Lockhart says. “More people wanted to do outdoor activities. ... I guess that happens when you’re stuck inside. It arrived at a strange time, too, because Libby, my baby, the star of the show, was pregnant, so I had to use other horses here.”

Lockhart acquired Libby, an underweight standardbred, two years ago.

Lockhart nursed her to health, which, he says, “created a bond that’ll last forever.”

People come to see her for her kind temperament and the novelty of her breed, known for harness racing. She appears in the logo on his hat and on his company’s Instagram, often adorned with custom Supreme-style gear and braids.

Her foal, which Lockhart named Luxury, died after a premature birth. It was the first time Lockhart brought in a vet for on-site guidance.

“I’m from the ’hood, where we had to fix our horses ourselves,” he says.

Lockhart’s family visited professionals for regular veterinary checkups and vaccinations but otherwise had to manage minor wounds and ailments on their own. “For the first time, I did not know what needed to be done here,” he says. “I needed IV.” Libby’s now on the mend. When we talk in September, Lockhart says he’s going to give her a few extra weeks before he lets others ride her again. “It’s hard,” Lockhart says. “She’s my baby. But it’s what you have to do. Some people look at this as a hobby. But for me and my boys, this is a lifestyle.”

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

Elijah McCoy is one of the young riders that frequent the stables (above).

(Below) Marquise Kelly rides Shekeida, a Palomino quarter horse, in the arena, while Matt Harris follows behind on Princess, a black-and-white pinto.

Breanna Anderson (left) washes down Mona Lisa, an Appaloosa. Anderson brings her 18-month-old daughter, Ava (above), along.

(Below) Owner Gregg Lockhart offers riding lessons to Sydney Anderson on his standardbred, Libby.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

43

COLD BLOODED & BIZARRE

When I arrive at Cold Blooded & Bizarre

CALIFORNIA RED-SIDED GARTER SNAKE (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis)

on an August morning, co-owner Michael Edelen tells me there’s a snake on the loose.

I freeze at the entrance of the Plaza Midwood store—the most I could do to help out. He explains that Patrick Kamberos, one of the other two owners of the shop, just needs a minute to get the slithering creature back into its enclosure.

I ask the obvious question: Does this happen often?

Once in a while. But it shouldn’t happen again after the exotic animal shop upgraded its plastic encasements to glass in the coming months. The previous screens warped over time, with occasional crevices just big enough to squeeze through if you don’t have limbs. It’s why staff regularly take inventory, and it’s another lesson Edelen has learned since he opened Cold Blooded & Bizarre last year with his wife, Shay, and Kamberos.

The trio moved from Chicago, where Michael Edelen met Kamberos at DePaul University and graduated in 2012. Edelen and Kamberos are lifelong collectors of amphibians, insects, and invertebrates— three groups Edelen insists have as much personality as humans and dogs. The bearded dragons in the corner love to be petted. (Most of their neighbors in the lizard section don’t.)

But I’m not here to talk about escapees.

I want to know more about the exotic animal community—and what effect, if any, the pandemic’s had on it.

“First, things really slowed down.

People were just buying the necessities, like food and other supplies, and then moving on,” Edelen says. “Then, after a couple of months, it’s finally returning to pre-COVID business.”

Cold Blooded and Bizarre didn’t have issues with feed supply this year, unlike big-box pet stores like PetSmart and Petco. Pet reptiles mainly eat crickets, and staffing shortages for national suppliers meant supply delays. Thankfully, the trio behind the Plaza Midwood store uses a

44

local, smaller farm that’s remained unaffected. That’s helped bring the business back to health.

The big numbers for dogs and cat adoptions haven’t carried over to the shop’s inhabitants, Kamberos says. If anything, under COVID, more people have relinquished them. Pet owners lose their homes, can’t afford pricey feed, or move to cheaper rentals that prohibit creatures like emerald tree boa constrictors. Exotic animals are sometimes known for their ease of care: Some snakes may only eat once a month, and certain reptiles need only bugs and the right kind of light.

Still, pet ownership isn’t for everyone.

All three owners actually spend much of their time talking customers out of it. People in small apartments shouldn’t have reticulated pythons, for instance, because, well, they’re the longest snakes in the world. “I can tell you, you don’t need it as a pet in Charlotte, North Carolina,” Edelen says. “It’s eventually going to get to the size that it takes two to three to four people to safely even move it. It’ll get 20-plus feet at 200-plus pounds, and I can tell you that a 200-plus-pound snake is all muscle and feels more like 500 pounds.”

Cold Blooded and Bizarre does offer rehabilitation and rehoming, a big need for people who own lizards, snakes, and insects. The business works with the North Carolina Herpetological Society and exotic animal and native wildlife rehabilitation programs. “So if people bring us box turtles, which they do a lot, we have one of our associates pick it up the same day or very early the next morning,” Kamberos says, “and the injured ones are in surgery within an hour.”

Kids, who represent much of the store’s customer base, sometimes lose interest as they grow up. Not Edelen and Kamberos. Edelen’s neighborhood pet

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

store forged him into a reptile obsessive, while Kamberos’ love of the environment, which he later studied in college, led to his enduring fondness for the coldblooded and bizarre.

The shop has become something of a free neighborhood zoo for Facebook parenting groups in the area. They love window-shoppers, Edelen says, because they were once those kids. As business returns to normal and local partnerships set them apart from the big brands, Cold Blooded and Bizarre’s staff come up with new ways to educate the community.

The first idea is to expand the shop.

The next step, Kamberos says, will be even bigger: “Ever heard of the Raptor Center (in Huntersville)? Something to that effect.”

Just make sure the enclosures are made of glass, OK?

(Top to bottom) INDIAN STAR TORTOISE (Geochelone elegans) LEOPARD TORTOISE (Geochelone pardalis babcocki) AFRICAN SPUR THIGH TORTOISE (Centrochelys sulcata)

PANCAKE TORTOISE (malacochersus tornieri)

GREEN TREE IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

MOSSY LEAFTAIL GECKO (Uroplatus sikorae)

CRESTED GECKO (Correlophus ciliatus)

BORNEO SHORT TAILED PYTHON (Python breitensteini)

CRESTED GECKO (Correlophus ciliatus)

COLOMBIAN RED TAIL BOA (Boa imperator)

BEARDED DRAGON (Pogona vitticeps)

AMBILOBE PANTHER CHAMELEON (Furcifer pardalis)

GREEN BOTTLE BLUE TARANTULA (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

PUEBLAN MILK SNAKE (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli) NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

45

(Above) Good Karma Ranch co-owner Shelly Walsh describes the creatures as having a signature, “bobblehead” look after they are shorn. Leighton, a visitor at the ranch (right), gives an alpaca a hug.

GOOD KARMA RANCH

Though it may sound strange,

Shelly Walsh says alpacas are her “coffee and paper in the morning.”

Each day, she enters her family’s field Iron Station to be with these seemingly daffy, 3-foot-tall creatures—even before her son and husband rise. Walsh says the tranquil nature of the animals sets the tone for her day. “Even if they are especially goofy right now,” she says. “They were just shorn in April, so they have this bobblehead kind of look. But there’s just a peacefulness about them.”

That peace is much-needed in 2020. The family-run farm, which opened to the public four years ago, closed for several months as the stay-at-home order went into effect this spring.

Shelly’s husband, Mike, had just left a job to work full-time at the

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

farm, and until March, business was thriving. The farm makes money from three sources: tours and events; sought-after alpacawool products; and breeding, a side of the business the public never sees. Mike focused on general maintenance and breeding and selling alpacas while the farm was closed.

Meanwhile, “we used that time to totally revamp, completely from scratch, our website,” Shelly says, “and try to drive traffic online with our online store. We just had to completely refocus, as most small businesses were doing. We had to get everything online as quickly as we could. We also tried to keep our audience engaged on social media while they couldn’t visit us.” The family belongs to a co-op in New England that takes care of fiber production.

Shelly and Mike also used that time to figure out how they’d reintroduce the public to the farm. In September, the farm

The ranch offers tours (above), educational opportunities for local students, and alpaca-assisted yoga throughout the year.

Products made from the alpaca fur (left) include yarn, gloves, and socks. Local home goods such, as an Alpacalypse sage and lavender candle made

by Lumen in Charlotte, can be purchased at the farm and online.

reopened with extended farm tours on weekdays, alpacaaccompanied yoga, and classes for students in local school districts. While her family doesn’t consider their 27 alpacas (and one llama) pets, they know that hundreds of weekly visitors at Good Karma Ranch assume they have that relationship for 45 minutes at a time.

The educational part of the tour helps the Walshes explain how alpacas differ from our cats and dogs. “They’re really cute, right?” Shelly says. “But they don’t love us like that. They don’t care that it’s me feeding them; they just want any human being to give them hay or grain. They don’t like their heads touched, and we have to pick certain animals for our agritourism events that just have a more agreeable nature in being touched. Then, we explain to people how we actually view them and why they’re special. That comes down to education.”

“Education” is the word that tethers all of the locals in this story. During a difficult year, community is what saved them, and they used those relationships to explain what makes their animals special.

“What we’ve learned is that you just have to adapt and adjust if you want to keep growing as a business right now,” Shelly says. “For us, we’re just really trying to find unique ways to get people interested in alpacas. We know that whenever kids go back to school, our weekday farm is just going to die. So how do we keep up that interest and revenue then? That’s what we’re working on as a small business. In the meantime, we’re going to keep up opportunities for kids to get outside. I know parents are desperately looking. I know I am.”

ANDY SMITH is executive editor of this magazine.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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CLOUD (CA)NINE

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

A tour of Meggie Williams’ South End palace for good boys

BY ANDY

SMITH

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LOGAN

CYRUS

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

49

The 25-tap bar includes a bone broth beer just for dogs.

bout 5,000 apartments—and about 2,500 dogs—reside within a 15-minute walk of 222 Rampart St. in South End, says Meggie Williams. This is partly why she chose this former industrial site— with a climate-controlled 24,000-square-foot indoor space and a 15,000-square-foot outdoor area—for the first Skiptown, an enormous dog park, kennel, and bar that Williams calls “the Whitewater Center for dogs.”

Apartment dogs represent a big chunk of the clientele at Skiptown, which opened in August. Williams knew many of them from another business of hers: a dog-walking service and app called Skipper, now absorbed into the Skiptown brand. Meggie, 32, and her husband, co-founder Sebastian, started their business as The Waggle Company in 2016. She began walking dogs when the pair lived in New York City, before they moved to Charlotte in 2014. The “oasis” they’ve created in South End is meant to meet the needs of busy Charlotteans, “to just tie into people’s routines or lifestyles in a way that gives them this

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

peace of mind, where they can have fun and relax together with their dog or leave town for a few days,” Williams tells me in August, when I visit just hours before a VIP opening. “That’s the vision. That’s what we want to achieve here.”

The engine behind both Skipper and Skiptown is an unusually robust smartphone app. Williams used to work as a strategy and transformation consultant for IBM, and she employed her tech skills when she founded Skiptown. The company has in-house developers and support specialists, which it needs: The app controls every aspect of boarding, day care, and the bar. Members upload their pups’ veterinary records and schedule visits and dog walks. Staff use it for check-in, meal and playtime alerts, and specific instructions for each furry visitor. Does Sadie the goldendoodle not like neck scratches? Did Cooper the bulldog come in with a red leash that needs to be returned when he checks out tomorrow? It’s all in the app.

Through her experience with Skipper clients, Williams learned what Charlotte kennels lacked.

Skiptown has 24-hour staff supervision and curates

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

51

Skiptown offers 24-hour staff supervision (left), along with an app that controls every aspect of day care, from feedings to playtime alerts (below).

playtime sessions based on personality assessments of visiting dogs.

The amenities sound like they belong in a luxury hotel: valet drop-off, an odor-controlled environment, Tempur-Pedic beds, and an irrigation system that keeps the outdoor turf urine-free.

(OK. Maybe not that last one.) “Some people prefer to not have their dogs crated, but that’s never been an option,” Williams says. Half of Skiptown’s rooms are kennel-free, with living room-style environments that include couches and cots. Those temperament assessments for dog pairings also extend to the crate-free rooms, which keeps those spaces safe.

Skipper’s existing ties also produce community partnerships. Babe & Butcher, a local business (and Charlotte magazine Best of the Best honoree) known for stunning charcuterie boards, crafted “custom human- and dog-friendly bark-uterie picnic packs.” The 25-tap bar serves mostly local beverages, including selections from NoDa Brewing, Skiptown’s neighbors at Sycamore Brewing, Triple C Brewing, and Hex Coffee—and there’s even one tap for dogs only: Calvin’s Craft Cookies made proprietary bone-broth beer for dogs. It’s available

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

at both the bar and in take-home packs. “When I came to Calvin (of Calvin’s Craft Cookies) and say, ‘We need a dog beer. That’s all I know. What do you think?’ ” Williams says, “his immediate answer is, ‘We can figure it out.’ It’s that kind of mentality that has made this such a fertile ground to have this concept work. It’s taken so many people to make this successful.”

Details like these continue to build the brand, which makes most of its money from memberships.

A $350 annual membership gets you unlimited entry to the park and bar with your dog; four free services a year in the day care and boarding facility; access to members-only events; and more. You can also buy a day pass for you and your dog for $15 or a monthly pass for $40. If you’re dogless, you can come in for free.

Even during a pandemic, hundreds of socially distanced dog lovers have visited during Skiptown’s first few events. The response has encouraged Williams to forge ahead on her planned 2021 openings in Nashville, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. The brand will always focus on the little things, she says: “It’s when you come in here and actually experience them that you see it as one big picture. Every detail has been taken into account to really make this a place where dogs are going to have the time of their lives—and so are their people.”

ANDY SMITH is executive editor of this magazine.

PUPPER PAMPER

Skiptown’s not the only advanced boarding game in town. Here are four other options SOCIAL PET CHARLOTTE 3814 MONROE RD. (with another location in Pineville) This “hotel and day care” offers spa treatments, obstacle courses, individual cuddle time, and curbside pickup. Activity programs focus on all-important skills like hide-and-seek with treats, Kong puzzles, and “indoor digging.”

Socialpethotel.com

CLUB FETCH 2426 DUNAVANT ST. Don’t worry: Your dog will not miss that showing of Air Bud. The “suites” here have tempered glass fronts that offer views of a 50-inch TV for evening film screenings. Private water bowl access helps prevent the spread of illness.

Clubfetch.com

LUCKY DOG BARK & BREW 2220 THRIFT RD. (with other locations in Steele Creek and Cornelius)

Pups enjoy some time in the spray zone. An irrigation system ensures that the turf stays (relatively) clean.

For those who like to imbibe with their pups by their sides, Lucky Dog is a longtime favorite sports bar-slashboarder in Charlotte. The on-site “boutique” advances your dog’s wardrobe with Panthers gear, toys, and custom leashes and collars.

Luckydogbarkandbrew.com

PUPTOWN CHARLOTTE 8702 STATESVILLE RD., STE. A This one gets pun points for the name, even though it’s not in uptown. The boarder and day care has the city’s only water park for dogs, which includes a misting archway, 7-foot waterfall, five in-ground nozzles, play puddles, and more.

Puptowncharlotte.com

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

53

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

Beyond its physical threat, COVID-19 represents a mental and behavioral health crisis of incalculable depth and severity.

Charlotte’s mental health professionals are trying to grasp how bad it could get—and how to help people who need it

BY GREG

LACOUR

ILLUSTRATION BY BOB PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDY

SCOTT

McMILLAN

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

57

ven before the virus, Julia Prentice felt as if the world would end. She’d suffered from severe depression for years—a product, she says, of a “complicated family situation” as she grew up.

She had managed it, though, even through her crosscountry move with her husband, Edward, from the San Francisco Bay Area to Charlotte in March 2019. She’d found a new therapist as well, and it was after one especially intense session in December when an anxiety attack landed on her like a judgment.

As Prentice walked toward her car in the clinic parking lot, she suddenly began to cry and couldn’t stop. She couldn’t catch her breath and felt certain she would die.

Prentice calmed herself enough to drive the short distance to her home in Ballantyne, but more anxiety attacks followed in the next few days, and her therapist was booked for the next two weeks.

Through online research, Prentice discovered HopeWay, a nonprofit mental and behavioral health center in south Charlotte that opened in 2016. She stayed there as a patient for 10 days, then visited every day as an outpatient through February. By early March, she felt better. Her anxiety attacks largely ceased—just in time for the disruption and fear that COVID-19 ushered in.

Prentice worried about herself, as an asthmatic and, at 65, a member of a high-risk age group. She had planned to visit her 89-year-old mother—in assisted living in St. Petersburg, Florida, and suffering from dementia—on March 16. Now that was canceled, and Prentice worried about her, too. “There was an increase in anxiety, not to be unexpected,” she says. “I was more anxious and more depressed because I was cut off from my normal routine.”

Given her age and asthma, plus the general uncertainty about COVID, Prentice didn’t want to risk trips to the grocery store. Like most of us in late March, she stayed in her house, and the less she could leave the house, the less she wanted to. “There was very little structure at home,” she says. “I was doing pretty much nothing.” Depression crept back, coupled with anxiety about the present and future—an understandable response to a lethal pandemic but nothing Prentice wanted to test.

She got back in touch with HopeWay and learned that the center had set up a virtual connection to its Intensive Outpatient Program to accommodate patients under lockdown. She began a new round of therapy April 3, this time with a more clearly defined reason for her symptoms.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

COVID, A POTENTIALLY LETHAL PHYSICAL THREAT, hammers at mental and behavioral health in ways that amplify and compound each other. People fear contracting the virus. They isolate themselves to reduce those odds, which worsens the depression and anxiety they already feel or, over time, induces it in people who’ve never felt it before. Isolation deprives people of companionship, a basic human need and one of the traditional and most effective ways to combat depression and anxiety.

The COVID lockdown led to job losses that deepen the mental strain and rob people of the means to get help.

Even in families with no loss of income, members are in closer quarters than they’re used to, which elevates the likelihood of family squabbles and domestic violence, which add to the stress. To relieve it, some people retreat into alcohol and drug abuse, which also contributes to stress. The United States fractures along social, political, and racial lines as it approaches a monumental presidential election. Some Americans take health precautions in public; some don’t. No one knows when a COVID vaccine will be available, or at what cost, or how effective it might be. No one knows when, or whether, life will return to anything that resembles the lives we led before March.

In late June, the Centers for Disease Control conducted a nationwide survey of adults to determine the effects of COVID on mental health. Forty-one percent reported at least one condition, like depression or anxiety, created by the virus. More than 25 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 reported having “seriously considered suicide” in the 30 days before the survey.

“The human psyche is just not built for stress over this long a period of time,” says Dr. James Rachal, the academic chair of the psychiatry department at Atrium Health in Charlotte. “I think what we’re going to see, the longer this illness goes on, is more and more cases coming in.”

As of September, physicians and public health officials in Charlotte and statewide were still trying to grasp how many people suffered from COVID-related mental health issues and, besides treating them as well as they could, what to do about it. It’s a difficult, perhaps impossible, task. State and county officials know only what hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and in some cases law enforcement report to them, and they believe long months of lockdown have prevented or dissuaded people from seeking help. “I would love it—and people think we have it—if we had some sort of master data set that tells me everything that’s going on in Mecklenburg County,” says Dr. Raynard Washington, the county’s deputy health director.

“We are seeing some impacts, but this could just be the tip of the iceberg. It could be the whole thing. I don’t know.”

Under COVID lockdown in spring, 65-year-old Julia Prentice lost her desire to even try to leave the house: “I was doing pretty much nothing.”

W HAT THEY KNOW is alarming enough. In late July, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced that reports of depression and anxiety symptoms statewide had tripled, and that hospital emergency departments had reported a 15-percent rise in visits for opioid overdoses. That increase has wiped out many of the state’s gains over the years in combating opioid addictions, said Victor Armstrong, who directs the DHHS division that oversees mental health and substance abuse.

Moreover, he said, the effects of the pandemic have “highlighted preexisting health disparities” among North

Carolinians—meaning that the poor and racial minorities, who struggled to gain access to limited resources before, struggle even more under COVID, in part because mental and behavioral health services tend to locate in affluent areas. The state and county maintain contracts with organizations that provide limited services to Medicaid patients and those with limited or no health insurance. They’re not enough.

“What we have always known is that behavioral health was under-resourced, and it was an under-resourced space before the pandemic,” Armstrong tells me in August.

“We don’t have nearly enough funding in the behavioral NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

59

health space. So to say that those organizations have all the resources they need, I would say absolutely not.”

The crisis has yielded a few unexpected benefits. As of early September, Mecklenburg County planned to use nearly $2 million in federal CARES Act funds to make behavioral health services available to the public regardless of ability to pay; the county will extend the services only until the end of 2020, but the program could serve as a blue“The human psyche is just not built for stress over this long a period print for a similar county of time,” says Dr. James Rachal of program in the future. Also, Atrium Health (above). hospitals and private clinJaren Doby, a therapist at Novant ics have reported surprising Health Psychiatric Associates (right, results from an expanded with his daughter), maintains a use of virtual platforms as a strict exercise routine to preserve substitute for in-person vishis own mental health. its. Atrium’s no-show rate for mental and behavioral health services has dropped from close to 20 percent to that,” she says. “We will continue to see a tsunami of menabout 5 percent, Rachal says. Mental health professionals tal health effects from this. It’s overwhelming.” still have backlogs, but in some cases, they’re seeing more patients under COVID than before.

JAREN DOBY has kept his psyche and body in shape by Overall, though, the picture is bleak, and doctors and setting up a makeshift gym in his garage and sticking to therapists can only guess at the long-term ramifications. a strict exercise regimen, which includes regular walks And they have themselves to worry about: The number of with his fiancée and their 8-year-old daughter. At 35, he’s Atrium employees who have sought mental health servicbeen a therapist at Novant Health Psychiatric Associates es through the company’s Employee Assistance Program, in Huntersville for a little more than a year, long enough Rachal says, has more than doubled since spring. to register the difference between clients’ pre- and postDr. Alyson Kuroski-Mazzei, HopeWay’s CEO and chief COVID emotional states. “Folks are afraid,” Doby tells medical officer and the North Carolina Psychiatric Associme in August. “This is something they have never seen or ation’s president-elect, tells me she recently received a text experienced before.” from her 71-year-old father, who told her he’d never imagExercise helps, he knows; so does time spent with loved ined anything like this. The holidays will be particularly ones. He’s found a way to combine the two. The Greenshard on people, Kuroski-Mazzei says, “especially if they boro native has also reached out more than usual to his can’t be with family. Even my family was like, ‘Should we Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers from UNC Greensdrive to Chicago to see our parents?’ My husband has an boro, just to check in with them and see how they’re elderly mom, and he’s worried he might not see her again. doing. Taking time to care for his own body and spirit “is “The mental health system has been fragmented and everything to me,” he says. “It really is, and it keeps me in challenged for so, so long, and now this is just on top of the position to continue to serve people.”

IF YOU NEED HELP

NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) CHARLOTTE: namicharlotte.org 704-333-8218

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HOPEWAY: hopeway.org 844-HOPEWAY

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

CARDINAL INNOVATIONS (for Medicaid and indigent patients): 704-939-7700; 800-939-5911 (crisis line)

ATRIUM HEALTH 24-hour help line: 704-444-2400

NOVANT HEALTH nurse care line: 800-718-3550

COURTESY; ANDY McMILLAN

Charlotte-area organizations that can provide direct mental health services or referrals:

“I don’t think any of us went into this pandemic thinking that we would be where we are today. I know when I came into this role four or five months ago, I thought I would be, you know, probably in social isolation for 30 days, maybe six weeks. Who knew that five months later, we’d be where we are now? I do think that we’ll come out on the other side of this as a better behavioral health system. It’s just that there’ll be a lot of growing pains in getting there.”

COURTESY

Doby is part of a team Dr. Alyson Kuroski-Mazzei (above), the CEO and of 45 mental health providchief medical officer at ers divided among six NovHopeWay, says she and ant outpatient clinics in the other mental health professionals “will Charlotte area. Like Atrium, continue to see a tsunami Novant has leaned heavily of mental health effects” on virtual services, which from the pandemic. have helped them see more patients. But the hospital system caps therapists’ sessions at 40 per week, and Doby says everyone’s schedule is full—with established patients whose symptoms have returned and with new patients who struggle with symptoms for the first time.

The mental and emotional pressure cascades and touches everyone. “This is something that I’ve told anybody who’ll listen: We are so much better together,” he says. “Talk to each other. Utilize your supports. It is imperative—imperative—that we understand that it is only through togetherness and looking out for our fellow man and woman that we are able to get through this. We must stick together and support one another.”

A HALF-YEAR OF COVID has forced another realization for mental health professionals: The minimal, disjointed “system” doesn’t come close to meeting the need in a crisis this profound, and administrators and public officials have to make services more accessible and affordable. “When you’re going through a crisis,” Kuroski-Mazzei says, “you don’t want to wait three weeks to three months to see a psychiatrist.”

It’s far from clear what those changes might be. Doctors and administrators are still trying to manage the immediate crisis. It could be months before they have more reliable data. But in general, they expect a fresh wave of mental and behavioral health cases as people continue to live with heightened stress and isolation. Emergency doctors, nurses, and other front-line health care workers will need help managing the long-term strain and risk to themselves and their families. “And on top of that, we’re going to see a new crop of uninsured and underinsured folks because of the job market and the economy,” says Armstrong, a former Atrium vice president who began work at DHHS in March.

THE HOPEWAY VIRTUAL THERAPY, though welcome, limited what Julia Prentice and her fellow patients could do. On-site, they could realize the therapeutic benefits of exploring the 12-acre property; at home, Prentice had to adjust. HopeWay makes use of horticultural therapy, which gets patients outdoors to identify nearby plants and trees, a type of nature immersion. Under virtual therapy, HopeWay had patients explore at and near their homes. “That’s how they got us to be back in the mode of thinking about our lives,” she tells me.

Over the next 21 days, Prentice gradually felt like a healthier version of herself. She’s an artist and poet, but she’d never thought of art exclusively as a form of therapy.

She began to paint in oil pastels, supplementing it with yoga and more therapy through a pair of online support groups. Structure helped; she no longer felt as if she was floating in the blackness of space. Her depression has eased, and she’s had only a couple of “very small” anxiety attacks since spring.

“I think my mental state is as good as it normally is,” Prentice tells me. “It’s just being impacted by the pandemic, in the situations that we’re in as a result of that. But I feel I’m in a very good space right now, and I do attribute a large part of that to the treatment at HopeWay.” On April 27, three days after she stopped treatment, Prentice posted a poem, “Enter April,” to her WordPress site. Its concluding lines: when will you exit, will i exit you? a doozy of a month, this April seems as long as a year—why? there’s a pandemic, don’t you know— and it’s not done yet …

She explains that in spring, time felt elongated, endless.

“It was also a sense of, ‘Man, I could be ending myself,’ not necessarily in the sense of suicide, but in a sense of, ‘I’m just going to give up at this point; I don’t want to do anything because of the way this is all going.’ That was the sense then. It’s not so much the sense now.”

What is? “The sense now is that I have activities that I like to do. I have my connections with people, family and friends, and peer support, and I am enjoying the activities that I normally enjoy,” she says. “So this is a good thing.

And I’m smiling right now.”

GREG LACOUR is the senior editor of this magazine.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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DENTISTS Your guide to the top dentists in the Charlotte area PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USA TOPDENTISTS™

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

63

SELECTION PROCESS

“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”

This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists™ should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results.

The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees.

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area.

Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received as well as status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decision.

Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.

Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

This list is excerpted from the 2020 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for more than 290 dentists and specialists in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The Charlotte area list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at www.usatopdentists.com. For more information call 706-364-0853; write PO Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email info@usatopdentists.com or visit www. usatopdentists.com.

Dental Anesthesiology CHARLES F. CANGEMI, JR.

NC Pediatric Dentistry 202 Williamson Rd., Ste. 200, Mooresville 704-360-8670 ncpediatricdentistry.com

Endodontics NATHAN BEAM

Beam Endodontics 1030 Riverwalk Pkwy., Ste. 201 Rock Hill, S.C. 803-980-3333 beamendo.com

A. J. (TOM) KLEITCHES

510 W. John St., Matthews 704-846-4516

RACHEL E. MATTHEWS

Carolina Periodontics & Endodontics 1033 Bayshore Dr., Ste. A, Rock Hill 803-327-4444 carolinaperioendo.com

EVAN N. MILLER

141 Providence Rd., Ste. 100 704-377-1444 charlotteendodontics.com

ROBERT S. NANCE

EDWIN C. BRYSON III

Comprehensive Endodontics 1701 Davie Ave., Statesville 704-924-7650 rootcanals-nc.com

TERRY E. CALLISON

Matthews Endodontic Center 10550 Independence Pointe Pkwy., Ste. 202, Matthews 704-841-2227 matthewsendo.com

Gastonia Endodontics 1601 E. Garrison Blvd., Ste. A, Gastonia 704-864-6701 gastoniaendodontics.com

19410 Jetton Rd., Ste. 210, Cornelius 704-237-9022 drcallison.com

PAUL CARRUTH

Carruth Endodontics 4525 Park Rd., Ste. B-104 704-527-4895 carruthendo.com

LUIS A. CHAMORRO

11535 Carmel Commons Blvd., Ste. 205 704-341-3636 chamorroendo.com

SONIA CHOPRA

ANISH N. PATEL

GEORGE B. SHUPING

438 Williamson Rd., Ste. A, Mooresville 704-664-3636 lakenormanendo.com

MARK K. TADRISSI

Ballantyne Endodontics 14135 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste. 215 704-541-7017 ballantyneendo.com

ERIC B. VAN HUSS

Ballantyne Endodontics 14135 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste. 215 704-541-7017 ballantyneendo.com

6842 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 200 704-362-4095 ericvanhussdmd.com

ROBERT R. HAGLUND

Gaston Endodontics 10960 Winds Crossing Dr., Ste. 300 704-583-2809 gastonendodontics.com

Lake Norman Endodontics 150 Professional Park Dr., Ste. 100, Mooresville 704-799-6979 lknendo.com

JEFFREY D. HUTCHESON

8430 University Executive Park Dr., Ste. 600 704-548-1100 hutchesondmd.com

IHOR VOLOSHYN

JOHN D. WELLS

Lake Endo 16600 Birkdale Commons Pkwy., Ste. B, Huntersville 704-987-9888 lakeendo.com

2020 TOP DENTISTS STEPHEN C. WHEELER

YELENA BRIKINA

Gastonia Endodontics 1601 E. Garrison Blvd., Ste. A, Gastonia 704-864-6701 gastoniaendodontics.com

Cedar Walk Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 16615 Riverstone Way, Ste. 200 704-542-9923 cedarwalkdentistry.com

HENRY M. WRIGHT, JR.

PATRICK J. BROOME

3121 Springbank Ln., Ste. H 704-542-2202 wrightendodonticsofcharlotte.com

General Dentistry NANCY M. ACAMPADO

Tranquil Family Dentistry 2820 Selwyn Ave., Ste. 280 980-219-7078 tranquilfamilydentistry.com

PATRICIA AGUIRRE

University Dental Associates 8305 University Executive Park, Ste. 300 704-547-1279 udadentistry.com

DEBORAH J. ATEN

Aten & Garofalo Dentistry 3420 Toringdon Way, Ste. 310 704-540-4252 atengarofalodental.com

DARRAGH M. BAILEY

Cotswold Family Dentistry 135 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 204 704-365-2765 cotswoldfamilydentistry.com

RAYMOND A. BARONE

Barone & Ford Family Dentistry 452 Matthews Mint Hill Rd., Matthews 704-847-9858 familydentistryofmatthews.com

Charlotte Center for Cosmetic Dentistry 6849 Fairview Rd., Ste. 200 704-364-4711 destinationsmile.com

HEATHER J. BROWN

7825 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 200 704-544-2141 hbrowndds.com

RICHARD K. CALDWELL

DARIN W. FORD

Barone & Ford Family Dentistry 452 Matthews Mint Hill Rd., Matthews 704-847-9858 familydentistryofmatthews.com

Charlotte Progressive Dentistry 7615 Colony Rd., Ste. 205 704-542-7552 charlotteprogressivedentistry.com

LUIS L. DANCAUSSE

McNulty & Dancausse 3014 Baucom Rd., Ste. 200 704-469-4287 cgdds.com

Aten & Garofalo Dentistry 3420 Toringdon Way, Ste. 310 704-246-5424 atengarofalodental.com

COLLEEN CARTER

C. SCOTT DAVENPORT

8912 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 400 704-935-2700 drstevenghim.com

GINA R. DAVIS

201 E. Matthews St., Matthews 704-849-0404 gianakopoulosdentistry.com

C2 Dentistry 8035 Providence Rd., Ste. 310 704-544-1402 c2dentistry.com

MARTI L. CHERRY

2620 W. Arrowood Rd., Ste. 100 704-831-6349 marticherrydds.com

BRIAN CLARKE

ANN B. COAMBS

Imagine Dentistry 3025 Springbank Ln., Ste. 250 704-540-7600 imaginedentistry.com

DENNIS J. COLEMAN

360 Exchange St. Northwest, Ste. 101, Concord 704-788-1717 drgregdds.com

460 S. Main St., Ste. 101, Davidson 704-946-7951 drdenniscoleman.com

Caldwell, Bills & Petrilli Dentistry 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 205 704-543-7001 arboretumdentist.com

BRADLEY R. BILLS

Coombs & Ross Family Dentistry 1144 India Hook Rd., Ste. C, Rock Hill, S.C. 803-675-7179 crsmile.com

JESSE C. BRADFORD

CAROLYN C. CORRELL

319 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 100 704-364-8685 bradforddentistry.com

JOSHUA DAMESEK

THOMAS G. FISHER

Dilworth Family Dentistry 1110 Harding Place 704-333-1859 dilworthdentistry.com

GREGORY CAMP

GEORGE A. BETANCOURT

GREGORY P. BIALEK

ELIZABETH C. DAMESEK

Damesek & Damesek 1618 E. Morehead St. 704-377-6493

MICHAEL C. FARMER

Plaza Midwood Dentistry 1308 The Plaza, Ste. F 704-837-8480 pmdent.com

Damesek & Damesek 1618 E. Morehead St. 704-377-8677

8025 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 100 704-543-7800 bellamydds.com

Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney 8918 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 100 704-275-2219 blakeneysmiles.com

WILLIAM D. CRANFORD, JR.

Cranford Dental 1721 Ebenezer Rd., Ste. 135 Rock Hill, S. C. 803-324-7670 cranforddental.com

THOMAS W. FARLEY IV

118 South Colonial Ave. 704-332-6200 drtomfarley.com

Caldwell, Bills & Petrilli Dentistry 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 205 704-543-7001 arboretumdentist.com

Matthews Dental Care 2345 Plantation Center Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews 704-847-7426 matthewsdentalcare.com

J. MICHAEL BELLAMY

TIMOTHY L. COX

Carolina Dental Arts of Ballantyne Village 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, Ste. 280 704-369-5200 ballantynesmiles.com

PAUL S. COOMBS

Carmel Professional Dentistry 6400 Carmel Rd., Ste. 104 704-341-2345 carmelprofessionaldentistry.com

10710 Sikes Pl., Ste. 325 704-708-4201 davenportdentistry.com

Artistic Family Dentistry 2325 W. Arbors Dr., Ste. 105 704-547-8734 gdavisdds.com

ROBERT F. DIXON

1720 Abbey Pl., Ste. 3 704-525-2211 robertdixondds.com

MARVIN R. DOMONDON

201 Providence Rd. 704-899-5320 charlottedentistry.com

HEATHER R. DOWLIN

201 Providence Rd. 704-271-1595 charlottedentistry.com

HOANG H. DROUIN

Lake Norman Smiles 452 Williamson Rd., Ste. F, Mooresville 704-664-7774 lakenormansmiles.com

JONATHAN D. ESHLEMAN

Charlotte Dentistry 201 Providence Rd. 704-899-5320 charlottedentistry.com

CHRISTOPHER R. FAHRNEY

Merlo & Fahrney Dentistry 1927 Brunswick Ave. 704-372-5411 mf-dentistry.com

ANTHONY M. GAROFALO

STEVEN H. GHIM

C. GUS GIANAKOPOULOS

DAVID M. GLASSCOCK

Glasscock Family Dentistry 8430 University Executive Park, Ste. 610 704-510-1150 glasscockdental.com

KRISTINA S. GLIDEWELL

Kalons & Glidewell General and Cosmetic Dentistry 201 South College St., Ste. 1465 704-378-6591 kalonsandglidewell.com

SHEILA GORDON-HOLT

Holt Family Dentistry 12105 Copper Way, Ste. 200 704-542-2325 holtfamilydentistry.com

SCOTT P. GUICE

Lake Norman Dentistry 9615 Northcross Center Court, Ste. A, Huntersville 704-895-3858 lakenormandentistry.com

MELISSA M. GUSTAFSON

Mallard Creek Family Dentistry 3010 Baucom Rd., Ste. 200 704-596-0021 mallardcreekdentistry.com

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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SEAN R. HAIR

Markham & Hair 6415 Bannington Rd. 704-541-1193 markhamandhairdentistry.com

ROBERT L. HARRELL

Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne 7820 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 102 704-541-9888 adultdentistryofballantyne.com

ROBERT E. HECK

Dentistry of Uptown Charlotte 112 S. Tryon St., Ste. 650 704-375-0050 uptowncharlottedentistry.com

JAMES A. HERRON

JOHANNA S. KALONS

AMANDA H. LINCH

Kalons & Glidewell General and Cosmetic Dentistry 201 S. College St., Ste. 1465 704-378-6591 kalonsandglidewell.com

Solace Dentistry 10512 Park Rd., Ste. 100 704-544-3363 solacedentistry.com

VIVEK KASHYAP

Lineberger Dentistry 347 N. Caswell Rd., Ste. 201 704-928-6295 linebergerdentistry.com

Matthews Family Dentistry 1340 Matthews Township Pkwy., Ste. 101, Matthews 704-708-9185 matthewsfamilydentistry.com

JAMES H. KELLY

1725 South New Hope Rd., Ste. A, Gastonia 704-867-4321 welikesmiles.com

ADRIAN S. LINEBERGER IV

JEFFREY W. LINEBERRY

WILLIAM V. LINGER

Ayrsley Family Dentistry 2135 Ayrsley Town Blvd., Ste. F 980-297-7071 ayrsleyfamilydentistry.com

J. CHRISTOPHER KIBLER

435 N. Wendover Rd. 704-364-2510 drlinger.com

SUSAN A. HOCKADAY

JESSICA R. KIRK

3121 Springbank Ln., Ste. J 704-540-5076 drrobertlloyd.com

TARA HOWELL

MARK KLOPENSTINE

ROBERT H. LLOYD

PATRICIA A. LONDON

Charlotte Dentistry 201 Providence Rd. Charlotte 704-899-5320 charlottedentistry.com

JOSEPH A. HUFANDA

DAVID H. KWON

213 Church St. NE, Concord 704-782-1012 brightinspired.com

KEITH A. KYE

Center City Dental 400 S. Tryon St., Ste. M-4 704-376-5950 centercitydental.com

EDWARD C. HULL

425 N. Wendover Rd. 704-366-6744 hulldentistrycharlotte.com

MARK W. ICARD

Icard and Strein Family Dentistry 5500 Highway 49 South, Ste. 500, Harrisburg 704-659-5003 iIcardandstreinfamilydentistry.com

MICHELE M. JASPER

Jasper Dentistry 2752 Pleasant Rd., Ste. 106, Fort Mill, S.C. 803-548-4353 jasperdentistry.com

STEVEN H. JAYNES

Kye Dental 8936 Northpointe Executive Park, Ste. 120, Huntersville 704-896-0515 kyedentistry.com

KARI H. LANGLEY

8814 Rachel Freeman Way, Ste. 104 704-583-0966 langleydentalnc.com

THOMAS S. LAYTON

Layton Dentistry 225 N. Torrence St. 704-333-1620 laytondentistrync.com

CARMEN L. LEARY

Charlotte Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 6725 Fairview Rd., Ste. B 704-365-6650 charlottefamilyandcosmeticdentistry.com

Leary Family Dentistry 10214 Couloak Dr. 704-422-4797 learyfamilydentistry.com

HAYDN G. JONES II

Family Dentistry at CIC 1525 West W T Harris Blvd., Ste. D-1108-01A 704-427-0277 wfcicdental.com

1816 E. Blvd.

704-333-6714 haydnjonesdds.com

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A. DAVIS LIGON

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

BRIAN P. MCNULTY

JASON T. LOKER

Bellasera Family Dentistry 3041 Senna Dr., Ste. A, Matthews 704-321-7929 bellaserafamilydentistry.com

Shiland Dentistry 2460 India Hook Rd., Ste. 207, Rock Hill, S.C. 803-328-8004 shilanddentistry.com

Phillippi and Kwon Family Dentistry 2770 East W.T. Harris Blvd., Ste. 102 704-509-4513 universitydentist.com

ELAINE MCNEIGHT-VOWELL

McNulty and Dancausse General Dentistry 3014 Baucom Rd., Ste. 200 704-271-5879 cgdds.com

Carolina Dental 15830 Ballantyne Medical Place, Ste. 120 704-814-6006 thecarolinadental.com

Ballantyne Center for Dentistry 15105 John J. Delaney Dr., Ste. K 704-275-2196 ballantynedentistry.com

BRIAN MCNEELY

McNeely Family Dentistry 9550 Rocky River Rd., Ste. 202 704-496-9001 mcneelyfamilydentistry.com

135 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 200 704-364-5575 kiblerdental.com

Pappert and Kirk Family Dentistry 4525 Park Rd., Ste. B-102 704-523-4515 General Dentistry dentalcarecharlotte.com

BRIAN A. MCMURTRY

Charlotte Laser Dentist 10816 Black Dog Ln., Ste. 100 704-392-3883 charlottelaserdentist.com

Carolina Center for Comprehensive Dentistry 128 East Plaza Dr., Ste. 2 , Mooresville 704-799-2703 cccdds.com

Herron and Smith Dentisty 135 Perrin Place, Ste. 100 704-332-1211 herronandsmithdentistry.com

Hockaday & Baucom 1433 Emerywood Dr., Ste. E 704-553-2348 hockadayandbaucomdds.com

DAVID W. MARKHAM

Markham & Hair 6415 Bannington Rd. 704-541-1193 markhamandhairdentistry.com

JOSEPH S. LOPARO II

JAMES P. LOTAKIS

Dentistry of the Carolinas 5970 Fairview Rd., Ste. 120 704-523-1462 dentistryofthecarolinas.com

ROBERT A. LOWE

6836 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 202 704-450-3321 robertlowedds.com

J. WADE McPHAUL

STEVEN J. MELONAKOS

Plantation Dental 130 Plantation Ridge Dr., Ste. 201, Mooresville 704-660-5800 plantationdentaloffice.com

SCOTT A. MENAKER

Smile Charlotte 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 205 704-377-2503 smilecharlotte.com

WILLIAM H. MERLO

Merlo & Fahrney Dentistry 1927 Brunswick Ave. 704-372-5411 mf-dentistry.com

JOHN A. MERRILL

ANDREW D. LYONS II

NorthStar Dentistry for Adults 9735 Kincey Ave., Ste. 206, Huntersville 704-450-6500 General Dentistry northstardentistryforadults.com

JOYA LYONS

Reimels Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 13605 Reese Blvd. West, Huntersville 704-948-1111 reimelsdentistry.com

Smily Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry 5818 Highland Shoppes Dr., Ste. C-1 704-233-3327 smilesavvydentistry.com

Smile Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry 5818 Highland Shoppes Dr., Ste. C-1 704-233-3327 smilesavvydentistry.com

ARNOLD M. MA

Dilworth Family Dentistry 1110 Harding Place 704-333-1859 dilworthdentistry.com

MATTHEW R. MILLER

BARRETT G. MOORE

Uptown Charlotte Smiles 128 South Tryon St., Ste. 860 704-342-3213 uptowncharlottesmiles.com

2020 TOP DENTISTS M. KATHERINE MOORE

BRADFORD PICOT

ALEXANDER ROSSITCH

Dentistry on Carmel 6219 Carmel Rd. 704-900-5045 dentistryoncarmel.com

SouthEnd Dentistry 1520 South Blvd., Ste. 110 704-335-8266 southendsmiles.com

1901 Brunswick Ave., Ste. 250 704-372-0290 rossitchdentistry.com

LYNNE C. MURCHISON

SouthPark Dental & Oral Care 2915 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 100 704-365-6505 southparkdentistcharlotte.com

JOHN M. PINNIX IV

Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney 8918 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 100 704-257-6859 blakeneysmiles.com

Mint Hill Dentistry 5833 Phyliss Ln., Mint Hill 704-568-8010 minthilldentistry.com

ROSS W. NASH

CHARLES A. PORTER III

Ballantyne Center for Dentistry 15105 John J. Delaney Dr., Ste. K 704-275-2196 ballantynedentistry.com

Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas 403 Gilead Rd., Ste. E, Huntersville 704-895-7660 cosmeticdentistofcharlotte.com

CURTIS W. NEWSOME

4845 Johnston-Oehler Rd., Ste. 100 704-875-8033 curtisnewsomedds.com

FORREST A. NORMAN III

Queens Rd. Dentistry 200 Queens Rd., Ste. 310 704-334-5306 queensroaddentistry.com

KATHERINE S. PAK

Ayrsley Family Dentistry 2135 Ayrsley Town Blvd., Ste. F 980-297-7071 ayrsleyfamilydentistry.com

V. PAUL PALERMO

Matthews Dental Care 2435 Plantation Center Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews 704-847-7426 matthewsdentalcare.com

LORI J. PAPPERT

Pappert & Kirk Family Dentistry 4525 Park Rd., Ste. 102 704-523-4515 dentalcarecharlotte.com

JESSICA K. PATEL

Cotswold Family Dentistry 135 South Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 204 704-365-2765 cotswoldfamilydentistry.com

SEAN E. PATRICK

2522 Plantation Center Dr., Ste. A, Matthews 704-845-9399 patrickdentistry.com

DAVID PETRILLI

Caldwell, Bills & Petrilli Dentistry 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 205 704-543-7001 arboretumdentist.com

P. JEFFREY PHILLIPPI

Phillippi and Kwon Dentistry 2770 East W.T. Harris Blvd., Ste. 102 704-509-4513 universitydentist.com

Porter Dental Group 135 South Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 200 704-931-3739 charlottedentalcare.com

EDWIN S. PORTER

Charlotte Dental Arts 3135 Springbank Ln., Ste. 150 704-544-5330 charlottedentalarts.com

KRISTA G. RANKIN

Mallard Creek Family Dentistry 3010 Baucom Rd., Ste. 200 704-596-0021 mallardcreekdentistry.com

KENNETH J. RASBORNIK

TASO J. ROUPAS

ERIC SATTERLEE

BARRY SAUTTER

Sautter Family Dentistry 7725 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 201 704-247-9900 sautterfamilydentistry.com

GRACE H. SAVAGE

Tranquil Family Dentistry 2820 Selwyn Ave., Ste. 280 980-219-7078 tranquilfamilydentistry.com

KATHRYN D. SAVITSKY

Third Creek Dentistry 11707 Statesville Blvd., Cleveland 704-278-1118 thirdcreekdentistry.com

15825 Ballantyne Medical Place, Ste. 150 704-540-2800 kjsdental.net

GREG S. REECE

Schramm Dentistry 12311 Copper Way, Ste. 101 704-215-4516 schrammdentistry.com

Dentistry of the Queen City 3014 Baucom Rd., Ste. 100 704-596-6767 dentistryofthequeencity.com

CATHERINE G. REIMELS

Reimels Miller Paterra Dentistry 13605 Reese Blvd. West, Huntersville 704-948-1111 reimelsdentistry.com

MICHAEL O. REIMELS

Reimels Miller Paterra Dentistry 13605 Reese Blvd. West, Huntersville 704-948-1111 reimelsdentistry.com

ELIZABETH CRANFORD ROBINSON

Cranford Dental 1721 Ebenezer Rd., Ste. 135, Rock Hill, S.C. 803-324-7670 cranforddental.com

DAVID W. STROUP

330 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 208 704-364-9901

JAMES M. STUART

10718 Carmel Commons Blvd., Ste. 240 704-541-5888 jamesstuartdentistry.com

DOUGLAS A. STUCKEY

South Park Dentistry 6865 Fairview Rd., Ste. A 704-364-9686 southparkdentistry.com

WARREN W. STURM

Park Cedar Dentistry 10027 Park Cedar Dr., Ste. 100 704-752-0500 carolinashealthcare.org/body.cfm?id=80 61&action=detail&ref=3687

HAROLD STURNER

Sturner Dentistry 6406 Carmel Rd., Ste. 306 704-542-9126 sturnerdentistry.com

JOHN S. SELDEN

iDental Dilworth 1315 East Blvd., Ste. 260 704-413-3688 identaldilworth.com

EVAN K. SMITH

Mint Hill Dentistry 5833 Phyliss Ln., Mint Hill 704-568-8010 minthilldentistry.com

EMILY SNAPP

Chestnut Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 1013 Chestnut Ln., Ste. 230, Matthews 704-684-0447 chestnutdentistry.com

PERRY T. SOWELL, JR.

Matthews Dental Care 2435 Plantation Center Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews 704-847-7426 matthewsdentalcare.com

Inspired Dentistry of Charlotte 2315 West Arbors Dr., Ste. 220 704-597-3493 inspireddoc.com

Herron and Smith Dentistry 135 Perrin Place, Ste. 100 704-332-1211 herronandsmithdentistry.com

Park Cedar Dentistry 10027 Park Cedar Dr., Ste. 100 704-752-0500 parkcedardentistry.com

PATRICIA RODNEY

WILLIAM F. ROSS III

Stewart Dental Group 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 309 704-376-2404 stewartdentalgroupcharlotte.com

Coombs & Ross Family Dentistry 1144 India Hook Rd., Ste. C, Rock Hill 803-324-5301 crsmile.com

CHARLES STRAUGHAN

Alliance Dental Group 747 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville 704-663-3001 alliancedentalgroupnc.com

ARTHUR R. SCHRAMM

Myers Park Dental Partners 1000 Queens Rd. 704-332-2532 myersparkdentalpartners.com

Smile Charlotte 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 205 704-371-2503 smilecharlotte.com

MICHAEL L. STOUT

Eastover Medical Park 2612 E. 7th St. 704-332-7737 michaelstoutdentistry.com

MELISSA J. STEWART

KATHRYN J. SUDIKOFF

J. EARLE SULLIVAN

BENJAMIN SUMLIN

WARREN D. SURFACE

TIKY K. SWAIN

Dasling Dentistry 8420 University Executive Park Dr., Ste. 805 704-594-9250 daslingdentistry.com

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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MARK P. TOMPKINS

19109 W. Catawba Ave., Ste. 108, Cornelius 704-895-3833 lakenormansmile.com

MARK A. TRIPP

Landmark Dentistry 300 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 202 704-347-2557 thelandmarksmile.com

HEIDI G. TZIOROS

Divine Dental 1704 Harris Houston Rd., Ste. 3 704-548-0870 divinedentaldrt.com

RICHARD W. VAN GURP

Van Gurp Dentistry 3111 Springbank Ln., Ste. F 704-542-2884 vangurpdentistry.com

G. BRYAN WALL

6813 Fairview Rd., Ste. B 704-366-6237

R. CHRISTOPHER WATSON

Charlotte Dentistry 201 Providence Rd. Charlotte 704-209-7573 charlottedentistry.com

ROBERT H. WATSON, JR.

1720 Abbey Place, Ste. 2 704-523-7221 drrobertwatson.com

NEIL WELBORNE

Welborne, White & Schmidt Dentistry 9700 Caldwell Commons Circle, Cornelius 704-896-7955 welborneandwhite.com

DARREN WELLENREITER

Wellenreiter Dentistry 8832 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 201 704-341-5770 darrenwellenreiterdentistry.com

SUSAN C. WHITE

Susan White Dentistry 5507 Monroe Rd. 704-535-0782 susanwhitedentistry.com

KELLY R. WILSON

Southview Dentistry 2201 South Blvd., Ste. 210 704-781-8166 southviewdentistrycharlotte.com/

MICHAEL WILSON

Southview Dentistry 2201 South Blvd., Ste. 210 704-781-8166 southviewdentistrycharlotte.com

DOUGLAS A. WOLFE

Drs. Coleman & Foran 19910 N. Cove Rd., Ste. 101, Cornelius 704-892-1198 charlotte-oms.com

ERIC P. WOLFINGER

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 7482 Waterside Crossing Blvd., Ste. 101, Denver 704-820-2982 mycenters.com

Charlotte Dentistry 201 Providence Rd. 704-271-1595 charlottedentistry.com

TARA S. WOODROOF

Charlotte Dentistry 201 Providence Rd. 704-271-1595 charlottedentistry.com

CHRISTIAN T. YASTE

Ballantyne Center for Dentistry 15105 John J. Delane.y Dr., Ste. K 704-275-2195 ballantynedentistry.com

SCOTT A. YOUNG

7810 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 105 704-541-5900 youngsmile.com

JON A. YURA

Southlake Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 9625 Northcross Center Court, Ste. 301, Huntersville 704-987-0505 dentistryatsouthlake.com

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery EDWARD S. ALESSANDRINI

Atlantic Oral Implant and Facial Surgery 9335 Blakeney Centre Dr., Ste. 130 704-541-7761 atlanticomfs.com

MARK T. BILLMAN

The Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 372 South Herlong Ave., Rock Hill 803-324-1160 thecenterforoms.com

KEVIN BOND

Southpark Oral Surgery 2701 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 104 704-366-8707 southparkoralsurgery.com

JAMES M. BUCHANAN, JR.

North Charlotte Center for Oral Surgery and Dental Implants 10210 Prosperity Park Dr., Ste. 100 980-216-8383 northcharlotteoralsurgery.com

RHONDA G. CARTER

The Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 372 South Herlong Ave., Rock Hill, S.C. 803-324-1160 oralsurgerycarolina.com

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MICHAEL COLEMAN

New Town Dentistry 1532 Providence Rd. South, Ste. 220, Waxhaw 704-373-6040 newtowndds.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

DANIEL R. COOK

WAHEED V. MOHAMED

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 411 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 105 704-347-3900 mycenters.com

KENT E. MOORE

Charlotte Oral Surgery 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 510 704-358-8898 charlotteoralsurgery.com

JOHN C. NALE

BART C. FARRELL

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 8840 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 300 704-716-9840 mycenters.com

BRIAN B. FARRELL

Lakeside Implant & Oral Surgery 9615 Kincey Ave., Ste. 110, Huntersville 704-659-6765 lakesideoralsurgerync.com

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 411 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 105 704-347-3900 mycenters.com

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 411 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 105 704-347-3900 mycenters.com

PETER FRANCO

Carolinas Center For Oral & Facial Surgery 8738 University City Blvd.

704-547-0837 mycenters.com

RAYMOND J. HAIGNEY II

Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery 9727 Northcross Center Court, Huntersville 704-987-3132 lakenormanofs.com

PHILIP L. JAMISON

Gaston Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 571 Cox Rd. Gastonia 704-865-7603 gastonoms.com

PETER J. PANGILINAN

RAMON D. PELEAUX

Oral Surgeons of Charlotte 3541 Randolph Rd., Ste. 302 980-224-7737 oralsurgeonsofcharlotte.com

ERIK REITTER

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 8738 University City Blvd.

704-547-0837 mycenters.com

PRIVEER D. SHARMA

Sharma Oral Surgery 12312 Copper Way, Ste. 100 704-877-2274 drpsharma.com

THOMAS H. SIMPSON

J. ANTHONY JOHNSON

The Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 372 South Herlong Ave., Rock Hill 803-324-1160 oralsurgerycarolina.com

RICHARD A. KAPITAN

Southeast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 3111 Springbank Ln., Ste. A 704-541-3603 omsnc.com

J. D. KISELLA

Southeast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 3111 Springbank Ln., Ste. A 704-541-3603 oralsurgeoncharlottenc.com

Mooresville Oral Surgery 858 Brawley School Rd., Ste. C, Mooresville 704-799-3555 mooresvilleoralsurgery.com

Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery 8840 Blakeney Professional Dr., Ste. 300 704-716-9840 mycenters.com

Kisella Surgery Center 1208 Mann Dr., Ste. 100, Matthews 704-846-1166 kisellasurgery.com

AMIR H. MARASHI

Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery 10935 Winds Crossing Dr., Ste. 400 980-939-1400 greatercharlotteoralsurgery.com

ROBERT D. SWANN

BRIAN W. TALLENT

2020 TOP DENTISTS

Oral Medicine MICHAEL T. BRENNAN

Carolinas Center for Oral Health 1601 Abbey Place 704-512-2110 atriumhealth.org/provider-profile/ michael-brennan-1558441576/ ?phonenumber=844-235-6997

JOEL J. NAPENAS

Carolinas Center for Oral Health 1601 Abbey Place, Ste. 220 704-512-2110 carolinasoralhealth.org

Orthodontics MARC E. ALLEN

Marc Allen Orthodontics 223 Gilead Rd., Huntersville 704-875-7999 marcallenortho.com

VICTOR BOND

Bond Orthodontics 11030 Golf Links Dr., Ste. 202 704-790-6203 bondorthodontics.com

S. JACK BURROW III

J. SPENCER DIXON

Sellers Orthodontics 6331 Carmel Rd., Ste. 100 704-542-9995 sellersorthodontics.com

AMY J. DOVER

Dover Orthodontics 11030 South Tyron St., Ste. 303 704-587-1234 doversmiles.com

LAUREN R. LOCKHART

Dual Image Orthodontics 2620 Arrowood Rd., Ste. 102 704-269-8495 dualimageortho.com

Smart Orthodontics 8220 University Executive Park, Ste. 105 704-549-8878 smartorthodontics.com

ROBERT H. FOUSHEE

SONNY LONG

Valeriano Orthodontics 7812 Fairview Rd. 704-364-6544 valerianoorthodontics.com

Foushee Orthodontics 10320 Mallard Creek Rd., Ste. 140 704-593-1900

CHRISTOPHER T. HARRIS

Harris Orthodontics 9350 Benfield Rd., Ste. 100 704-597-5555 smilesbyharris.com

BRETT J. HILL

SPENCER S. HODNETT

DAVID E. PAQUETTE

132 Welton Way, Mooresville 704-660-3266 wilhiteortho.com

Hull & Coleman Orthodontics 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 201 704-334-7203 hullandcoleman.com

JAMES C. HULL

Hull & Coleman Orthodontics 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 201 704-334-7203 hullandcoleman.com

GRANT G. COLEMAN

ALFRED JACKSON

Hull & Coleman Orthodontics 7800 Providence Rd., Ste. 201 704-334-7203 hullandcoleman.com

Jackson Orthodontics 13527 Steelecroft Pkwy., Ste. C 704-464-0696 drjacksonsmiles.com

KELLY A. COLLINS

J. CHAD JOHNSON

STEVEN DICKENS

Starr & Dickens Orthodontics 1326 Matthews Township Pkwy., Ste. 101, Matthews 704-845-0600 starrdickensortho.com

BRITNEY WELCHEL

Miller & Dixon Orthodontics 1564 Constitution Blvd., Rock Hill, S.C. 803-327-1144 carolinaorthodontics.com

Koerich & Case Orthodontics 7922 Rea Rd., Ste. A 704-334-7204 charlottesorthodontist.com

FORD S. COOPER

COLIN M. WEBB

Webb Orthodontics 2915 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 102 704-364-7343 webb-orthodontics.com

Burrow & Welchel Orthodontics 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 600 704-259-4241 charlotteorthodontists.com

J. TURNER HULL

OrthoCare Orthodontics 9320 Center Lake Dr., Ste. 100 704-509-4999 drcooperortho.com

JAMES B. MACOMSON

1601 East Garrison Blvd., Ste. B, Gastonia 704-215-4430 macomsondds.com

GREGORY F. VALERIANO

KEVIN B. MILLER

SAMUEL “SAM” J. BURROW IV

Quimby and Collins Orthodontics 8125 Ardrey Kell Rd. 704-443-0006 quimbyandcollins.com

Laxer, Long, & Savage 7820 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 200 704-759-0000 laxerlongandsavage.com

DANETTE SMART

Hill Orthodontics 9615 Caldwell Commons Circle, Ste. A, Cornelius 704-896-8452 hillortho.com

Hodnett Orthodontics 16143 Lancaster Highway, Ste. 103 704-543-5000

JACK “CHIP” CASE

KEITH T. SELLERS

Lineberger Orthodontics 9625 Northcross Center Court, Ste. 303, Huntersville 704-892-3300 linebergerorthodontics.com

Burrow & Welchel Orthodontics 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 600 704-259-4222 charlotteorthodontists.com

Burrow & Welchel Orthodontics 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 600 704-259-4222 charlotteorthodontists.com

MATT LINEBERGER

Miller & Dixon Orthodontics 1564 Constitution Blvd., Rock Hill, S.C. 803-327-1144 millerdixonortho.com

Chad Johnson Orthodontics 4200 Main St., Ste. 107, Harrisburg 704-454-5500 chadjohnsonortho.com

LINDSEY D. KOERICH

Koerich & Case Orthodontics 7922 Rea Rd., Ste. A 704-334-7204 charlottesorthodontist.com

JAMES D. “TRIPP” LEITNER III

Smile Doctors Braces 1577 Ebenezer Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 803-324-5396 tlortho.com

Paquette Orthodontics 452 Williamson Rd., Ste. A, Mooresville 704-799-3777 paquetteortho.com

CHASE T. PRETTYMAN

Prettyman Orthodontics 5970 Fairview Rd., Ste. 150 704-247-9150 prettymanorthodontics.com

MEREDITH L. QUIMBY

Quimby and Collins Orthodontics 8125 Ardrey Kell Rd. 704-443-0006 quimbyandcollins.com

MICHAEL D. RIORDAN

Riordan Orthodontics 1741 Gold Hill Rd., Ste. 200, Fort Mill, S.C. 803-802-2580 mrortho.com

WESLEY L. ROBINSON

Robinson Orthodontics 5831 Phyliss Ln., Mint Hill 704-573-3331 robinsonsmiles.com

DAWN S. WILHITE

Pediatric Dentistry SUZANNE BIRD

Bird Pediatric Dentistry 16607 Riverstone Way, Ste. 300 704-544-5000 birddentistry.com

STEPHANIE C. CHEN

2813 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 100 704-365-0888

JASON D. CLARK

Clark Pediatric Dentistry 7810 Providence Rd., Ste. 100 704-543-3766 clarkpediatricdentistry.com

ELIZABETH COOK

Pediatric Dentistry of South Charlotte 7741 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 101 704-845-0955 pediatricdentistryofsouthcharlotte.com

CHARLES T. COOKE

STEPHEN T. SAKS

South Park Pediatric Dentistry 2700 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 204 704-749-5700 southparkpediatricdentistry.com

ROBERT M. SELDEN III

University Pediatric Dentistry 2325 West Arbors Dr., Ste. 104 704-688-1664 funnydds.com

Saks Orthodontics 130 Argus Ln., Ste. A, Mooresville 704-799-0399 saksortho.com

Selden Orthodontics 10125 Hickorywood Hill Ave., Huntersville 704-452-4199 seldensmiles.com

M. DANIELLE FUNNY

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

69

2020 TOP DENTISTS SCOTT D. GOODMAN

CHARLES W. ROBERTS IV

MEHUL GADHIA

KENNETH P. RASENBERGER

Pediatric Dentistry 1340 Matthews Township Pkwy., Ste. 201, Matthews 704-847-4717 pediatricdentistryofmatthews.com

Roberts Pediatric Dentistry 142 Professional Park Dr., Ste. 200, Mooresville 704-664-5437 robertspediatricdentistry.com

Periocare 14135 Ballantyne Corporate Pl., Ste. 175 704-541-8090 periocarecarolinas.com

MICHAEL T. HOLT

MATTHEW F. SAVAGE

North State Periodontics 2315 West Arbors Dr., Ste. 100 704-549-4991 northstateperio.com

309 South Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 306 704-366-2001 drstephenrouse.com

PAUL R. GIBBS

Charlotte Perio 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 103-R 704-365-0123 charlotteperio.com

Brookdale Pediatric Dentistry 9601 Brookdale Dr., Ste. 400 704-599-3901 brookdalepediatricdentistry.com

CECILIA HWANG

Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry 10320 Mallard Creek Rd., Ste. 150 704-377-3687 cltpediatricdentistry.com

Laxer, Long, & Savage 7820 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 200 704-759-0000 laxerlongandsavage.com

JASON D. SPERATI

STEPHANIE L. JACKSON

Pediatric Dentistry 1340 Matthews Township Pkwy., Ste. 201, Matthews 704-847-4717 pediatricdentistryhome.com

P. MATTHEW JAMISON

Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry 411 Billingsley Rd., Ste. 106 704-377-3687 cltpediatricdentistry.com

Jackson Pediatric Dentistry 1236 Ebenezer Rd., Ste. 110, Rock Hill 803-324-7540 drstephanie4kids.com

Eastover Pediatric Dentistry 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 201 704-372-0432 eastoverpediatricdentistry.com

CHELITA N. KELLEY

Brookdale Pediatric Dentistry 9601 Brookdale Dr., Ste. 400 704-599-3901 brookdalepediatricdentistry.com

JUDY S. LAXER

Laxer, Long, & Savage 7820 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 200 704-759-0000 Pediatric Dentistry laxerlongandsavage.com

MARGARET E. LOCHARY

Pediatric Dentistry 13521 Steelecroft Pkwy., Ste. 100 704-714-5380 pediatricdentistryhome.com

MONIQUE D. MCEACHERN

Smile Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics 9916 Couloak Dr., Ste. 100 704-971-7272 mykidsmile.com

MARCELA R. MUJICA

All Kids Pediatric Dentistry 2630 West Arrowood Rd., Ste. C 980-263-2330 akasmiles.com

OSCAR N. MVULA

South Park Pediatric Dentistry 2700 Coltsgate Rd., Ste. 204 704-749-5700 southparkpediatricdentistry.com

LORETTE M. POLITE

Young & Polite Children’s Dentistry 11010 South Tryon St., Ste. 101 704-587-7336 youngandpolite.com

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GEORGE I. GETZ

STEPHEN J. ROUSE

PAUL N. TOLMIE

460 South Main St., Ste. 300, Davidson 704-892-0644 theperioplace.com

ERIC N. KERR

CHRISTOPHER J. VAN KESTEREN

LOGAN E. WEBB

CharlottePerio 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 103-R 704-365-0123 charlotteperio.com

ROBERT L. YOUNG, JR.

Gaston Perio 1601 East Garrison Blvd., Ste. D, Gastonia 704-866-8281 gastonperio.com

Young & Polite Children’s Dentistry 11010 South Tryon St., Ste. 101 704-587-7336 youngandpolite.com

Periodontics TRIPP COCKERHAM

Southpark Periodontics & Implant Dentistry 6719 Fairview Rd. 704-366-2774 southparkperio.com

KENNETH T. CORSIG

CharlottePerio 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 103-R 704-365-0123 charlotteperio.com

CALEB L. CORWIN

Charlotte Perio 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 103-R 704-365-0123 charlotteperio.com

North State Perio 2315 West Arbors Dr., Ste. 100 704-549-4991 northstateperio.com

North State Perio 2315 West Arbors Dr., Ste. 100 704-549-4991 northstateperio.com

JOHN C. LANZ

Prosthodontics MOLLIE E. GRISWOLD

CHAD MATTHEWS

3315 Springbank Ln., Ste. 104 704-247-1500 megdds.com

RONALD H. NASON, JR.

Prosthodontics of the Carolinas 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 100 704-364-3770 poc-charlotte.com

RICHARD E. OFFUTT

Charlotte Prosthodontics 3535 Randolph Rd., Ste. 107 704-364-3717 charlotteprosthodontics.com

SHANNON G. PARSONS

Carolina Prosthodontics 2711 Randolph Rd., Ste. 208 704-442-1330 discoverdentistry.com

Carolina Periodontics & Endodontics 1033 Bayshore Dr., Ste. A, Rock Hill, S.C. 803-327-4444 carolinaperioendo.com

Gaston Perio 1601 East Garrison Blvd., Ste. D, Gastonia 704-866-8281 gastonperio.com

South Park Periodontics 6719 Fairview Rd. 704-366-2774 southparkperio.com

Carolina Periodontics 7751 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 101 704-544-7033 carolinaperio.com

RALPH M. HOFFMANN

R. BRUCE MILLER

ROBERT L. ROSENHEIMER

H. NELSON EDDY

Periocare 1144 India Hook Rd., Ste. D, Rock Hill, S.C. 803-324-8141 periocarecarolinas.com

MATTHEW D. FICCA

Metrolina Periodontics & Dental Implants 3325 Springbank Ln., Ste. 140 704-544-2224 metrolinaperio.com

DONALD D. FRANKLIN

Franklin Periodontics 1408 Orchard Lake Dr., Ste. A 704-841-2802 franklinperio.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

DISCLAIMER This list is excerpted from the 2020 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 290 dentists and specialists in the Charlotte metropolitan area. For more information call: 706-364-0853 or email: info@usatopdentists.com or visit: www. usatopdentists.com topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2008-2020 by topDentists, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

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DENTISTS AND ORAL SPECIALISTS

Webb Orthodontics Dr. Colin Webb, DDS, MS Dr. Nicolette Chahin, DMD, MS Dr. Jamie Martin, DDS, MS 2915 Coltsgate Road Ste. 102 Charlotte, NC 28211 704-364-7343 webb-orthodontics.com

Webb Orthodontics is a second-generation, family-owned business tailored to treating Charlotte families with the highest level of care in the most patient-friendly environment. The doctors and their entire staff take great pride in treating patients like family members and providing a patient experience second to none.

“Our entire team loves what we do, and I think you notice that from the moment you walk in,” Dr. Colin Webb says.

Established in 1981 by Dr. Webb’s father, Webb Orthodontics has maintained an impeccable reputation for nearly 40 years!

Dr. Colin Webb joined his father seven years ago and together they grew Webb Ortho into the premier orthodontic office in Charlotte. Dr. Nicolette Chahin and Dr. Jamie Martin have joined the practice and bring a wealth of knowledge of the newest technologies and high-efficiency treatment protocols.

From the new patient consultation to the celebration of braces removal, Webb Orthodontics wants its patients to be wowed by the entire process and actually enjoy their smile journey.

“This practice is one of the most efficient,

professional, and well-run offices I have ever seen,” Erin D. says in a patient review. “The staff is so friendly, and all of the doctors are amazing!”

Every piece of equipment at the practice’s beautiful, convenient office in SouthPark is on the leading edge of orthodontic technology, which translates to the most effective and comfortable treatment. The practice offers the most advanced 3D digital imaging machine, which provides exceptional information for the doctors to use in diagnosis and treatment planning while also significantly reducing radiation exposure. The practice offers the full array of orthodontic services, including expanders, traditional braces, clear braces, and, of course, Invisalign.

Invisalign has been a complete game changer for orthodontics. This system allows patients to discreetly straighten their teeth while not missing out on the joys of life.

“They bend over backwards to provide an outstanding experience,” Evelyn O. says in another patient review. “Best part is that the final outcome is a perfect smile!”

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KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Clearsmile Orthodontics is the first and only orthodontic office in the Charlotte area that is completely dedicated to using Invisalign, the top-rated teeth straightening system that uses a series of clear, removable aligners. The Clearsmile doctors have been designated as Top 1% Diamond Plus Invisalign Providers in the world! This is the highest distinction attainable.

In Clearsmile’s ultra-modern, all-digital offices in South End and Blakeney/Ballantyne, the orthodontists—Dr. Colin Webb, Dr. Nicolette Chahin, and Dr. Jamie Martin— provide high-quality and comfortable care using the most advanced equipment and technology.

Invisalign has been a giant technological leap forward in orthodontics. Initially thought to be an adult-only treatment, it has become increasingly popular among active teens who prefer the flexibility of removing their aligners for meals, sporting events, or those big-life moments.

The Clearsmile doctors take a very patientcentered and efficient approach to care, while maintaining the quality standards of the orthodontic specialists they are. Combining their extensive experience with a practice tailored specifically to the Invisalign patient, they have become highly efficient with the

Invisalign system. The average treatment time for their patients is just 8-10 months, with simple cases finishing in just 4-6 months!

The practice uses digital X-rays and an advanced digital impression machine, the iTero. This machine creates digital models of teeth that integrate into highly sophisticated software, which allows the doctors to engineer a custom series of clear aligners that are then manufactured using 3D printing technology.

Say goodbye to gooey impressions!

As Charlotte’s sole Invisalign-only practice, Clearsmile offers scheduling, appointments, and treatment plans specifically designed to serve Invisalign patients—reducing inefficiencies and, most importantly, the cost for patients while providing a seamless experience by the top Invisalign doctors in the country!

“Love this office!” Nikki H. says in a patient review. “Staff is always so friendly and welcoming. I was told by other orthodontists that a certain gap between my teeth couldn’t be fixed, but they fixed it! Would recommend this practice 100 percent!”

Clearsmile Orthodontics

Dr. Colin Webb, DDS, MS Dr. Nicolette Chahin, DMD, MS Dr. Jamie Martin, DDS, MS

South End Office 2222 South Boulevard Ste. H Charlotte, NC 28203 980-299-3451 Blakeney/Ballantyne Office 9848 Rea Road Ste. D Charlotte NC 28277 980-999-6388 clearsmilecharlotte.com

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DENT ISTS SPECI RAL ALIST S

Carmel Professional Dentistry Carolyn Crowley Correll, DDS 6400 Carmel Road Ste. 104 Charlotte, NC 28226 704-341-2345 carmelprofessionaldentistry.com

Patients are assured of receiving the highest level of care at Carmel Professional Dentistry.

Dr. Carolyn Crowley Correll is one of the most respected dentists in the region. She has a unique set of advanced skills that includes dentistry with the Zeiss microscope, which results in more precise and higher quality care for patients.

Dr. Crowley Correll has impeccable credentials, having completed her Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the Medical College of Virginia, and spends countless hours completing continuing education courses to enable her to stay on the leading edge of dentistry. Her level of excellence is recognized by her peers, who have named her a Top Dentist via Charlotte magazine for 13 consecutive years.

Every patient matters deeply to Dr. Crowley Correll, She works exceptionally hard to get to know them and their dental goals— and she always acts in their best interest. In patient reviews, she is praised for her excellent dental skills, caring nature, and listening and analytical skills. Her goal is to always provide the best options and care after learning what matters most to her patients.

Her team members love working with

patients and each other, and it shows. Patients rave about the kindhearted attitude of staff members and the focused, professional service.

Practice services include complex restorative dentistry (including implants), cosmetic dentistry (including veneers and Invisalign), and comprehensive family dentistry.

Patient well-being is of the utmost importance to the practice, which offers nitrous oxide to ensure patients are comfortable and relaxed during appointments. The practice also provides digital X-rays, greatly reducing exposure to radiation. To help patients navigate busy schedules, convenient morning hours (7 a.m. Monday-Thursday) are available.

Committed to providing the safest, cleanest environment, the office follows COVID Protocol to protect patients and employees.

“Absolutely love this office!” one patient review says. “The entire team is amazing, and they treat me like I am part of their family. Dr. Crowley Correll is patient and understanding but doesn’t jump straight to treatment. She does a thorough evaluation prior to discussing options with me, and this approach works so well.”

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The tagline for Lineberger Orthodontics is “Smile On”—and that’s precisely what their patients do with confidence. It’s the mission of Drs. Matt and Megan Lineberger, Dr. Claire Fedore and their team to provide stunning smiles while offering the most advanced and caring orthodontic experience.

The Linebergers practice innovative treatment in three state-of-the-art facilities— the Huntersville, Elizabeth and Mooresville SmileShops. Their goal for all three locations is to guarantee that their patients battle against “crooked” is as pleasant and efficient as possible.

The practice offers the advantage of a boardcertified husband-and-wife team, Drs. Matt and Meg, along with Dr. Claire, who provide three experienced sets of eyes and minds to come up with a careful and thoughtful customized treatment plan.

The Linebergers’ cutting-edge care includes multiple digital scanners in each office that capture teeth in three dimensions. This technology not only makes Lineberger Orthodontics an “impressionless” practice, but also allows patients to see their enhanced smile before treatment even begins.

Treatment plans are digitally customized to your specific facial characteristics and smile.

Invisalign aligners or Damon braces, chosen by you, are used to execute the smile enhancement.

The doctors are proud that Lineberger Orthodontics has been the leading orthodontic Invisalign practice in Charlotte the past three years and has been given the distinguished designation as a Top 1% Elite Diamond Plus practice.

A comfortable, interactive waiting room— complete with massage chairs, iPads, a Starbucks coffee machine, 5-foot Jenga, the Smile Slide (a more efficient option than taking the stairs, it can hold up to 450 pounds), personal Apple TVs above every patient chair, and, most important, fresh baked cookies—is another example of the practice’s commitment to stellar patient service.

The Linebergers—a family of six (Mason, 9, Mia, 7, Millie, 4, and McCoy, 1), plus their English bulldog, Steak—continue to strive to be community- and philanthropy-centered while making orthodontics a possibility for all.

Whether it’s a good day or a bad day,” Dr. Megan says, “we want to give our patients that spectacular grin that allows them to pick their head up and ‘Smile On’—no matter what life throws at them.”

Lineberger Orthodontics Matt Lineberger, DDS, MS Megan Lineberger, DDS, MS Claire Fedore, DDS, MS Huntersville 9625 Northcross Center Court Suite 303 Huntersville, NC 28078

Elizabeth 347 N. Caswell Rd. Charlotte, NC 28204

Mooresville 181 N. Main St. Mooresville, NC 28115 704-892-3300 LinebergerOrthodontics.com

Dual Image Orthodontics Bryan Allen Lockhart, DDS Lauren Rennick Lockhart, DDS, MS Steele Creek 2620 W. Arrowood Rd. Ste. 102 Charlotte, NC 28273 704-269-8495 Plaza Midwood/NoDa 1315 Matheson Ave. Charlotte, NC 28205 704-269-8495 dualimageortho.com Instagram: @dual_image_orthodontics

Led by the husband-and-wife team of Drs. Bryan Lockhart and Lauren Rennick Lockhart, Dual Image Orthodontics delivers the highest quality and most advanced orthodontic care in the Charlotte region. The Dual Image team treats patients like family in an uplifting and clean environment, where the goal is to always exceed expectations.

At the practice’s comfortable and cozy office, patients are embraced by a friendly, cohesive team that loves working together and delivering confident smiles. Dr. Lauren and Dr. Bryan offer the advantage of two stellar board-certified orthodontists who have passed stringent examination that qualifies them to treat even the most challenging orthodontic cases. As business and marital partners, they share dental ideas and design treatment plans together, providing optimum aesthetic results for all patients.

The practice is committed to providing the best patient experience, which is evidenced by its investment in state-ofthe-art and the most patient-friendly equipment. Dual Image is one of the few practices in the nation to offer the

Inbrace lingual/hidden braces system (braces behind the teeth) as well as the Lightforce custom 3D printed brackets.

The practice also provides Invisalign clear aligners and its own in-house clear aligner system called Dualine, which delivers cost savings and more efficient treatment with faster turnaround times. Additionally, the iTero intraoral scanner, 3D printer, iCat 3D X-Rays, and laser technology provide enhanced accuracy and efficiency.

With the practice’s commitment to treating patients like family members, customer service is truly the top priority.

Patients always come first at Dual Image, where they’ll be treated in a hygienic, professional and caring environment.

“Whether you want to fix dental crowding or close large gaps between your teeth, or may have even had treatment before and need simple realignment, we are here for you,” Dr. Lauren said. “You will not find another office that offers such a wide range of customized treatment options to get the beautiful smile you deserve in no time. Don’t just take our word for it; check out our awesome reviews online and schedule a complimentary consultation!”

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Dual Image Dentistry & Orthodontics is a true family practice, delivering extraordinary care and a unique patient experience at a cozy office that will make you feel right at home. Led by three exceptional dentists and orthodontists, Dual Image covers all of your dental and orthodontic needs at one convenient location.

Dr. Lindsey Rennick Salone (general dentist) and Dr. Lauren Rennick Lockhart (orthodontist) are identical twin sisters who received their dental training alongside Dr. Lauren’s husband, Dr. Bryan Lockhart (orthodontist), at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. The trio unified to deliver a caring, family-oriented approach to treatment. This allows them to share dental ideas and design treatment plans together, providing optimum aesthetic results for all patients.

The practice offers a wide range of procedures, including orthodontics (clear aligners and braces), restorative (implants, crowns and bridges, partials, and dentures), cosmetic (whitening, veneers, and bonding), as well as cleanings and checkups. The office is equipped with the latest iTero Element 5D imaging system,

which helps to maximize patient care and enhances your entire experience. As part of its orthodontic services, Dual Image is one of the few offices in the nation to offer custom braces and hidden braces (behind the teeth), along with its own clear aligner system called Dualine.

As three of the most respected and dedicated leaders in their professions, Dr. Salone and Drs. Lockhart are committed to delivering the most advanced and highestlevel care to their patients and therefore regularly participate in continuing education. Patients always come first for the Dual Image team, and you can rest assured you’ll be treated in a hygienic, professional, and friendly environment.

Dual Image is always exceeding expectations, as evidenced by the numerous five-star reviews it receives. “I love this place!” one patient says. “The doctors are the best of the best! Each one is very thorough and attentive to all your needs and concerns. Staff is always pleasant and accommodating. If you’re in need of dentistry or orthodontic care, Dual Image is the way to go!”

Dual Image Dentistry & Orthodontics Lindsey Rennick Salone, DDS Lauren Rennick Lockhart, DDS, MS Bryan Allen Lockhart, DDS Plaza Midwood/NoDa 1315 Matheson Ave. Charlotte, NC 28205 704-334-6907 dualimagesmiles.com Instagram: @dual_image_smiles

Adult General and Cosmetic Dentistry Steven H. Ghim, DMD 8912 Blakeney Professional Drive Ste. 400 Charlotte, NC 28277 704-935-2700 drstevenghim.com

For Dr. Steven Ghim and his professional, caring staff, your smile is their passion. With a practice founded on world-class care, leading-edge techniques, and the highest standards, Dr. Ghim has served the Charlotte region by providing confidencebuilding smiles to his patients for more than 15 years. As one of the most respected dental clinicians in the area, he has been chosen by peers as a Top Dentist year after year in Charlotte magazine.

An adult comprehensive, implant, and esthetic dentist whose cosmetic dentistry works have been published worldwide, Dr. Ghim delivers detailed and exquisite results with conservative cosmetic dentistry. With his ability and underlying passion, Dr. Ghim provides natural-looking veneers and crowns with intimate detail. He and his team are adept at correcting color mismatches and unnatural-looking crowns and veneers.

The dentist’s commitment to the best patient experience is reflected in the most advanced interactive treatment planning tool in dentistry.

Cosmetic and comprehensive care patients take advantage of interacting with treatment planning picture software to help them understand and chart their course of treatment.

“No one else in dentistry can offer this product for patients,” Dr. Ghim says.

“We are proud to have the first of its kind in dentistry.”

Another key advantage is the practice’s emphasis on team dentistry.

Dr. Ghim believes there are certain procedures and treatments that should always be reserved for dental specialists who are experts in their specific field.

He collaborates with some of the world’s most renowned specialists and technicians, ensuring the standard of care for his patients is met or exceeded.

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Deborah Triplett

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

For the Charlotte Dentistry team, the daily mission is to make every patient feel like an honored guest.

The practice’s standard of care starts with applying the scripture Matthew 7:12—“Treat others the way you want to be treated”—and the team is deeply committed to the values of integrity, quality care, teamwork, and hospitality.

As the Charlotte area’s premier family dental practice since 1977, Charlotte Dentistry offers the best possible comprehensive family care in the most pleasant and comfortable environment. The team of 15 exceptional dentists and a talented, highly trained staff is dedicated to taking care of all your family’s dental needs at one convenient location near uptown.

Patients always come first at Charlotte Dentistry. From their convenient Saturday hours to sameday emergency care to the on-site lab, Charlotte Dentistry has the most patient-friendly practice in the region. No matter your dental needs, the practice has the experience, expertise, and technology to provide affordable custom solutions for your entire family.

Services offered range from routine cleanings to cosmetics and orthodontics, including Invisalign for both adults and teens. The practice is among the top one percent of all Invisalign providers in North America, and has completed the largest number of Invisalign cases in Charlotte and the Carolinas. Other services include crowns, bridges, root canals, dentures, partials, and implant restorations. The practice’s commitment to the greatest patientfriendly service is also reflected in its participation in most insurance plans and other flexible payment options.

In reviews, patient after patient describes the team as professional, caring, and friendly, citing excellent and beautiful dental results. More than 97 percent of patients say they would refer family and friends to Charlotte Dentistry.

“This practice could serve as a model for any medical office,” patient Nancy F. says. “Staff is fantastic, friendly, efficient, professional, and make you leave with a smile.

Will recommend anyone looking for a dentist to go here.”

Charlotte Dentistry Jonathan D. Eshleman, DDS R. Christopher Watson, DDS Eric P. Wolfinger, DDS J. Wade McPhaul, DDS Marvin R. Domondon, DMD Tara S. Woodroof, DMD Elliott Burns, DDS Heather R. Dowlin, DMD 201 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28207 704-376-6470 charlottedentistry.com

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1720 Abbey Place Charlotte, NC 28209 704-525-2211 robertdixondds.com

Dr. Dixon is highly valued by his patients, who don’t hesitate to recommend him to others. “I’ve seen my share of dentists, and Dr. Dixon and his staff are the best I’ve ever had,” says a busy mom. “Dr. Dixon takes great care of my entire family, even my sensitive 7-year-old.

They make her feel brave and good about her dental visits. We love Dr. Dixon and his staff and frequently recommend him to our friends and family.”

Another patient commented: “Always friendly, professional, clean, and just a pleasant experience. Dr. Dixon and his staff have been our family’s dentist for more than 20 years.

I’ve recommended Dr. Dixon to countless friends, family and on Nextdoor for his professionalism, competence, and compassion.

He’s the best!”

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Robert F. Dixon, DDS

Dr. Robert Dixon and his expert team provide unmatched dental care with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. Dr. Dixon is driven by his concern for his patients’ total wellbeing, not just their oral health. He balances state-of-the-art dentistry providing beauty and function with his patients’ individual needs and priorities.

Dr. Dixon’s patients appreciate his thoughtful, conservative approach to dentistry.

They also enjoy the highly personalized service and soothing, upbeat atmosphere in the stateof-the-art office in south Charlotte. Dr. Dixon and his team enjoy working together and making patients feel welcome and comfortable.

Their exceptional care built on evidence, experience, and pertinent technology lays a solid foundation for patients to approach dental treatments with confidence.

Dr. Dixon’s practice sets the standard for general dentistry, providing comprehensive care while building a remarkable rapport with patients of all ages. Practice services include cosmetic and restorative dentistry, implant dentures and restorations, invisible braces, smile makeovers, dental treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as root canal treatment.

KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Dr. Harold Sturner and his team provide a warm, friendly atmosphere and refreshingly excellent care. He knows your children’s names and the crown you had done last year. You are a person, not just a patient, from the moment you walk in the door.

Respected, trusted, and highly skilled, Dr. Sturner has been voted a “Top Dentist” by his peers via Charlotte magazine for 10 consecutive years. Attaining this level of consistent excellence reflects the goal of Sturner Dentistry—to exceed expectations through personalized care.

Dr. Sturner builds relationships with patients founded on trust and respect.

That trust is built through consistent, superb dentistry and individualized service. Dr. Sturner’s dedication to his patients is reflected in his personalized, concierge level of treatment, which includes making himself available to his patients 24/7. As a husband and dad, he understands that a tooth chipped on Saturday can’t always wait until Monday.

Using a holistic, comprehensive approach, Dr. Sturner focuses on his patients’ complete health.

The practice offers the most advanced equipment at its state-of the-art office in south Charlotte. Not only does Sturner Dentistry deliver the highest quality care, the practice provides the greatest comfort and convenience.

The entire family is welcome in one visit, saving time for busy lives. As a bonus, you are likely to get a good laugh during your visit. Everyone at the office has a sense of humor, which complements their dedication to your comfort and health.

Dr. Sturner combines his advanced dental techniques with exceptional artistic skill and craftsmanship. He’s adept at delivering beautiful results in the most complicated cosmetic cases.

“Dr. Sturner’s impeccable work makes me proud to finally show off my smile,” a patient review says.

With Sturner Dentistry, you will laugh, look great, and have the healthiest smile in town.

Sturner Dentistry Harold Sturner, DDS 6406 Carmel Road Ste. 306 Charlotte, NC 28226 704-542-9126 sturnerdentistry.com

Ballantyne Endodontics Sonia Chopra, DDS; Diplomate, American Board of Endodontists Mark Tadrissi, DDS Tanya Reiter, DDS 14135 Ballantyne Corporate Place Ste. 215 Charlotte, NC 28277 704-541-7017 ballantyneendo.com

“Ballantyne Endodontics performs the modern-day root canal with love and excellence.”

With three exceptional dentists and an experienced, caring staff, Ballantyne Endodontics offers the highest level of compassion, modern technology, and technical skills, translating to superior endodontic service for patients.

Endodontics is the specialty of dentistry focused on saving teeth through root canal treatment, and the Ballantyne Endodontics team cares deeply about their patients’ overall experience. Not only does the practice deliver unmatched personalized and professional care, but with three specialists and a caring staff, they can quickly see patients and relieve their pain.

Dr. Sonia Chopra, Dr. Mark Tadrissi and Dr. Tanya Reiter are passionate about empowering patients to become informed about their own dental care. They take the time to truly listen to each patient. As expert diagnosticians, they recommend the right treatment plan for each case. They compassionately explain to each patient their options and what they can expect every step of the way, from before they arrive to once

they’re back at home. They also maintain their own high standard of care through ongoing continuing education to ensure they’re always at the top of their clinical game.

Ballantyne Endodontics puts great emphasis on technology, offering patients the newest and best improvements in endodontic therapy. The practice provides high-quality apical microsurgery and nonsurgical root canal therapy, using state-ofthe-art 3D CBCT technology to better aid in diagnosis and treatment. They have invested in top-of-the-line surgical operating microscopes for better visualization, and Gentlewave technology, an irrigation system that thoroughly disinfects and cleans the canal systems during treatment. With the practice’s technological advantages, most procedures can be completed in one visit.

Patient after patient praises the three endodontists and the team for their technical excellence, compassion, and dedication.

“My visits were the best I’ve ever had at any dentist or endodontist’s office!” one patient review says. “The care was outstanding in every way!”

KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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The mission of the Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery team, comprised of two exceptional and experienced oral surgeons and a welltrained, caring staff, is to provide the ultimate care in oral surgery. That commitment includes delivering the highest level of technical care and treating patients with respect, courtesy, and compassion.

Both surgeons—Dr. Michael J.Coleman and Dr. Michael J. Foran—are diplomates of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, highly trained in all aspects of oral surgery and implant dentistry, and devoted to providing the safest and most comfortable experience for their patients.

They are committed to annual education and training, with courses related to anesthesia, dental implants, soft tissue, and bone grafting techniques.

The practice offers a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with expertise ranging from corrective jaw surgery to wisdom tooth removal. The surgeons diagnose and treat facial pain and facial injuries, as well as perform a full range of dental implant and bone grafting procedures.

At its state-of-the-art office, the practice offers computer guided dental implants with 3D implant planning technology, which translates to exceptional surgical and restorative results and expedites recovery.

The practice also has an in-house Cone Beam CT, which provides a quality CT image with minimal radiation.

Patients always come first with the Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery team. Not only does the practice provide kind and gentle care, but it offers a highly comfortable, relaxed environment. The practice works tirelessly with both in and out of network insurance carriers to accommodate all patients.

In reviews, patients describe the doctors and staff as patient, understanding, helpful, and compassionate.

“What a great staff, group of surgeons, and facility,” B.L. says in a patient review. “We moved 30+ miles away and will continue to use their services for the duration. I strongly recommend this very professional oral surgeon team.”

Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery Michael J. Coleman, DDS Michael J. Foran, DMD 19910 North Cove Road Cornelius, NC 28031 704-892-1198 carolinaoms.com

Burrow & Welchel Orthodontics

Samuel J. Burrow III, DDS, MS Samuel J. Burrow IV, DMD, MS Britney Bare Welchel, DMD, MS Alexander J. Culp, DMD, MS Eastover Medical Park 2711 Randolph Rd. Ste. 600 Charlotte, NC 28207 Rock Hill 1033 Bayshore Dr. Rock Hill, SC 29732 Huntersville 13605 Reese Blvd. W Huntersville, NC 28078 Mountain Island 10214 Couloak Dr. Ste. 101 Charlotte, NC 28216 704-334-7202 charlotteorthodontists.com

At Burrow and Welchel Orthodontics, your smile is their specialty! The team of highly trained and award-winning doctors have over 50 years of combined experience working with children, teens, and adults to create one-of-akind smiles in a comfortable and supportive environment. Recognized as the “Best in Charlotte,” Dr. Samuel “Jack” Burrow III, Dr. Samuel “Sam” Burrow IV, Dr. Britney Bare Welchel, and the newest team member, Dr. Alex Culp, are uniquely positioned to provide excellent, personalized care and unrivaled services for each patient.

As a professor at UNC School of Dentistry for more than 20 years, Dr. Jack Burrow continues to stay up to date with the most current improvements and treatment options within the profession. In addition, each doctor has lectured at top universities, including UNC Chapel Hill, Harvard University, and Baylor University. All four doctors are board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, an accomplishment achieved by only a small percentage of orthodontists practicing nationally.

Burrow and Welchel Orthodontics differs from other practices by leveraging a “team” approach, integrating the expertise of all four

highly respected orthodontists into custom treatment plans for every patient. After initial patient evaluations, the orthodontists come together to offer their perspective in treatment planning sessions, then collaborate on a team plan that provides the highest level of care for patients. The practice also stands apart because of the guarantees it offers. Each treatment comes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee as well as a Lifetime guarantee, which means if teeth shift for any reason (including not wearing your retainer!), the practice will fix it, no questions asked. This alone can double or even triple the value received.

The practice also offers complimentary consultations, interest free payment plans, and flexible appointment hours (7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Monday-Saturday) to accommodate busy work, school, and family schedules.

High-quality service, patient convenience, and kindness are top priorities for the entire team at the practice. When patients visit Burrow and Welchel Orthodontics, they will walk away with a beautiful, confident smile and clearly understand why the practice was voted “Best Orthodontist” again!

KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Led by three of the most dedicated and skilled dentists in the Charlotte region, Myers Park Dental Partners offers personalized family care using the latest technology in a warm, relaxing environment. The practice provides comprehensive dentistry for children and adults. Services offered include preventive care, fillings, crowns, dental implants, and cosmetic dentistry.

Drs. Perry Sowell, Banks Allen and Crystal Allen believe in a conservative treatment philosophy, building trust with patients by recommending only necessary care. They work with patients to address their dental needs at a pace they’re comfortable with. The providers put great emphasis on continuing education to stay on the leading edge of dental technology and treatment.

When visiting the practice, the use of imaging technology will be evident. The imaging systems used allow the dentists to see teeth in 3-Dimensions, improving upon previous 2-Dimensional equipment. The latest imaging technology aids the dentists to better diagnose dental issues, precisely place implants, as well as create same-day crowns and design smiles with clear aligners.

The practice is located in what was once a residential home on Queens Road. Since opening more than 60 years ago, its patient base has grown through building trust and providing high-quality, personalized care. Patients enjoy the cozy atmosphere and convenient location just south of uptown. The dentists and their experienced, personable staff pride themselves on running on schedule to accommodate patients’ busy lives. The practice also provides care to all patients at a reasonable fee, regardless of whether they have dental insurance.

“This group deserves its reputation as the premier dental practice in Charlotte,” one patient review says.

The Myers Park Dental Partners team makes all attempts to make your experience positive, comfortable, and pain-free. “Absolutely the best care, period,” another patient review says. “I’ve been a customer for over 30 years and wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else. Give them a try and you will see why!”

Myers Park Dental Partners Perry T. Sowell, DDS W. Banks Allen, DMD Crystal C. Allen, DDS 1000 Queens Road Charlotte, NC 28207 704-332-2532 myersparkdentalpartners.com

Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas General, Comprehensive, and Cosmetic Dentistry

Ross W. Nash, DDS Huntersville 403 Gilead Road Ste. E Huntersville, NC 28078 704-895-7660 cosmeticdentistofcharlotte.com

“Your mouth in its entirety is an important and even wondrous part of your anatomy, your emotion, your life; it is the site of your very being, the point at which your body receives its nourishment necessary for life; it is the means of speaking, of expressing love, happiness and joy, anger or sorrow. Your mouth deserves the greatest care it can receive.”

From whitening procedures to minimal teeth alignment to cosmetic and esthetic bonding and porcelain restorative solutions, Dr. Ross Nash is a master at improving or restoring patients’ smiles. “I truly love what I do—it’s my passion,” Dr. Nash says. “To change a person’s life by providing them a beautiful smile really makes our day.” The practice provides general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and smile rejuvenation and rehabilitation.

A general dentist who focuses on cosmetic and esthetic treatment, Dr. Nash has achieved Accredited Fellowship status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is the only dentist in the Carolinas to achieve this recognition, which is the highest level that can be attained in this esteemed academy.

When he’s not serving patients, he’s teaching other dentists and dental professionals all over the world on cosmetic and esthetic

dental techniques.

Before he entered dental school at UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Nash was a chemical engineer who worked with dyes, colors, and plastics in the textile industry. That experience has served him well in dentistry, working with dental materials and color matching.

The meticulous attention to detail and outstanding patient care provided by Dr. Nash and his staff set the practice apart. “By far the BEST dental office I have used!” one patient said. “Dr. Nash has done extensive work on my teeth as well as my sons’. He does a beautiful job. They are always so nice and professional.

They always make me feel like I’m part of their family.”

In the comfort of their homes, many patients have appreciated the opportunity to engage in a virtual smile consultation with Dr. Nash. By visiting the office website, a personal consultation may be scheduled.

KIM HUMMEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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COLLEGE GUIDE Highlighting these N.C. Schools: CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTH PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SHUTTERSTOCK

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Central Piedmont Community College 1141 ELIZABETH AVE. CHARLOTTE, NC 28204 | 704-330-2722 | WWW.CPCC.EDU

At Central Piedmont Community College, we help students see beyond what is to what could be by providing them with a real-world, affordable, hands-on education that will transform them, change their lives, and impact this community.

Possibility hasn’t even begun to dream up all the things it could be.

The world is changing, and college needs to change with it. With tuition costs on the rise, it’s important to be smarter about education.

That’s why Central Piedmont offers real-world direction toward a variety of futures. No matter a student’s interests, there’s a program here that can help lead them to post-graduation success. Whether they work toward a four-year degree, earn a two-year degree, or take a direct path to employment, education is accessible and affordable at Central Piedmont.

Student loans are a significant burden that can follow your family long after graduation. If you’re looking for a way to pay for education without breaking the bank, Central Piedmont is a smart choice.

Tuition is less expensive and campus is close to home, meaning lower travel and room/board expenses. Plus, we offer more than $1 million in scholarships each year, and course credits transfer to public universities throughout North Carolina.

Possibility doesn’t think outside the box. It aims to build a better one.

Better starts with a college education that costs less. By attending Central Piedmont for two years, our students can save an average of $38,000.

JUST THE FACTS

43,000

Students enrolled annually in collegecredit programs

$1.2 billion Contributes $1.2 billion annually to Mecklenburg County economy

12,500 enrolled in continuing education programs

70

More than 70 student clubs and organizations

$1 million

More than $1 million in scholarships provided each year

DID YOU KNOW?

Central Piedmont Community College was the first college in the nation to establish training programs with Cummins and Tesla

NOW AND ALWAYS, COMMUNITY IS WHO WE ARE. No matter the challenge, together we’ll conquer possibility. At Central Piedmont, our community is built to help you navigate what’s next. Our affordable tuition, online classes, and guaranteed placement in the UNC System ensure you get the most out of your college experience.

Learn more at ConquerPossibility.com.

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South Piedmont Community College Student Success at South Piedmont.

MONROE, POLKTON, WADESBORO | 704-290-5100 | WWW.SPCC.EDU Tai Huynh’s parents relocated to Indian Trail as refugees from Vietnam in search of new opportunities for their family in America. Huynh has made the most of this opportunity.

When Huynh entered high school, he was already planning his college career. That’s when he learned about South Piedmont Community College and its dual enrollment program for high school students. He started at South Piedmont through the Early College program and graduated high school as a super senior with an associate degree and a real estate license.

Today, Huynh can be found in class at UNC Chapel Hill where his college credits from SPCC seamlessly transferred.

“The leadership, academic, and professional skills I learned through my time at SPCC laid the foundation for where I am today,” said Huynh.

That foundation includes leading his start-up business, Acta Solutions, and taking on challenges in heated debate serving as the first Vietnamese-American to hold office in North Carolina as a Town Council Member of Chapel Hill. ““SPCC faculty and staff generously gave their time and energy to support me at every step of my journey and I can never thank them enough. They always went above and beyond to support me.”

Huynh is one of thousands of students who are jointly enrolled at SPCC while still in high school, and its dual enrollment program is just one of many unique and individualized ways South Piedmont Community College helps students get ahead and fulfill their college and career dreams sooner while at a tremendous cost savings.

DID YOU KNOW?

Get Ahead with the South Piedmont AA in a Year Program.

For high school graduates of any age, South Piedmont recently began a program to enable students to earn their Associate in Arts degree in one year for a maximum tuition of $1,500. Students in the AA in a Year Program receive personalized academic instruction while working in a tightly-knit group led by highly experienced faculty.

“The program is designed to enable college-bound students to continue their studies through a unique and flexible educational experience that makes a degree possible in just one year,” said Dr. Diane Paige, dean of arts and sciences.

Credits earned through this program at SPCC are 100% transferable to any UNC University.

Attend Private University at a Fraction of the Cost with SPCC’s Road2Wingate.

Start off in SPCC’s AA in a Year Program and by maintaining a 2.5 GPA, students automatically become eligible to enter Wingate University as a junior. As part of the Road2Wingate program, tuition to earn a bachelor’s is capped at a total of $6,500 from start to finish. That means SPCC graduates are able to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a private university in three years at a tuition cost savings of more than $100,000.

Students enrolled in the program receive quality advising, career counseling, and financial aid assistance from both SPCC and Wingate and have access to all of WinJUST THE gate’s online resources, library, campus facilities,and athletic events.

FACTS South Piedmont has even more to offer.

In addition to these three unique programs, South Piedmont offers numerous personalized and flexible ways to help its students get ahead through quality education and lifetime career fulfillment.

South Piedmont offers 8-12 week semesters, career-in-a-year programs, and personal interest courses focused on the needs of the community and students who desire to pursue their degree or new career with the support of educational experts that keep them on track and moving forward. If you start at South Piedmont, you truly can go anywhere. To learn more visit www.spcc.edu.

90-93% of graduates transfer to a 4-year university

9,7260

Annual Enrollment

3,961

Curriculum Students

35

Curriculum Programs

$1,216

Tuition per year

$3.8 million grant aid received

53%

of first-time, full-time students received financial aid

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Western Carolina University 1 UNIVERSITY WAY, CULLOWHEE, NC 28723 | 828-227-7211 | WCU.EDU

As the westernmost institution in the University of North Carolina system, WCU attracts students from around the globe to explore the region’s vast natural diversity. Founded in 1889 as a teaching college, Western Carolina University provides comprehensive educational opportunities to over 12,000 students in undergraduate, graduate and online programs.

Our main campus sits in Cullowhee, near the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge mountains, fifty-two miles west of Asheville. We also operate an instructional site in Asheville, with degree programs in nursing and engineering as well as graduate programs in accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship, and education.

We are committed to academic excellence with over 120 undergraduate majors and concentrations and more than 40 graduate programs with a focus on high-demand degrees including a variety of programs in engineering, science, healthcare, education, humanities, business and the arts We provide a high-quality, affordable education for anyone who wishes to pursue a degree. As an NC Promise campus, undergraduate students receive the same high-quality education experience for an even greater value. Funded by the state of North Carolina, tuition for all undergraduate students at WCU is $500 per fall and spring semesters for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students.

We value the importance of a diversity of experiences. Our community thrives on engagement, service, teamwork, and innovation.

With a multitude of clubs and organizations that will help you pursue your passions, we know you’ll find a supportive community that will challenge you to learn, grow, and lead.

Get outside. WCU has been named the #1 Adventure College by an outdoor magazine poll. Get involved with Base Camp Cullowhee for rafting, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, caving, or skiing, or just check out the vistas on the Blue Ridge Parkway or fish the Tuck on the weekends.

Get creative. Take to the stage in a Broadway theater production at the Bardo Arts Center, or join one of dozens of performing arts

groups on campus. From music, to dance, to improv, we’ve got you covered.

Build your community. Attend activities hosted by the Black Student Union, join the Latino Appreciation Student Organization, or participate in International Affairs events.

Lead through service. Find opportunities through the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning to serve as a community volunteer, participate in Alternative Spring Break or join the Student Service Corps.

Get involved in Greek life. Join one of 20 sorority or fraternity groups on campus.

Cultivate a global perspective.

Get involved with International JUST THE Programs and Services by studying abroad and discovering the world.

FACTS studyabroad.wcu.edu Get out and play. Sign up for one of WCU’s intramural or club teams More than 12,000 through Campus Recreation, comStudents pete as a student-athlete on one of 16 NCAA Division I sports teams, or cheer on the Catamounts from Student-Faculty the stands. catamountsports.com Ratio Meet the Marching Band. Join the national award-winning Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.

16 Division | WCU offers an exceptional edNCAA Sports ucation at an affordable price. Our graduates are creative, innovative, and engaged in their community.

Average GPA Your future is bright. We can’t wait to meet you.

12,000 17:1 16

3.90

DID YOU KNOW?

There are 120 Undergraduate Programs

WELCOME TO CATAMOUNT COUNTRY

Students who attend Western Carolina University join a cohort of supportive and accomplished teachers, mentors and peers in one of the most beautiful and naturally diverse regions of the world. They leave with the skills and experiences needed to be leaders and innovators in their communities.

INCREDIBLE VALUE

QUALITY ACADEMICS

As one of just three NC Promise campuses within the UNC System, WCU provides reduced tuition to all undergraduate students. The reduction is offset by additional funding from the state of North Carolina, ensuring the same high-quality educational experience for an even greater value.

Our academic programs and courses are designed to provide classroom study and applied experiences that prepare students for lifelong success. Small class sizes provide daily access to experienced faculty who are dedicated to student mentorship.

DISCOVER MORE AT WCU.EDU

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

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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

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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

THE MAYOBIRD

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

Elizabeth/Cherry CAJUN QUEEN

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$$

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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

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EARL’S GROCERY

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❤ THE FIG TREE RESTAURANT

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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

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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

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SUNFLOUR BAKING CO.

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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

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❤ DRESSLER’S

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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

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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 ✸☎

$$-$$$

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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 ✸

94

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

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

$

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

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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

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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 // NOVEMBER 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

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❤ KINDRED

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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. (704-845-0707) 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

$-$$

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 ✸

SANTÉ

$$$ - $$$$

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

❤ YUME BISTRO

$$

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

Myers Park/Cotswold DEEJAI THAI

$$

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

FENWICK’S

$$

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

LEROY FOX

$$

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

MAMA RICOTTA’S

$$

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

$-$$

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

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

❤ STAGIONI

$$$

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

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

$-$$

THE DUMPLING LADY

$-$$

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

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,

Best Bites Our favorite dish this month, chosen

by Charlotte magazine staff

COURTESY, LUNAHZON

DOUBLE HAMBURGER + CHEESE, $11.95 HARRIET’S HAMBURGERS YOU KNOW THOSE DAYS where you just need a good cheeseburger? Not the greasy drivethru variety, but nothing fancy with gourmet toppings you can’t pronounce. Just a solid, no-frills burger. Well, here she is: an exquisite blend of Black Angus short rib, brisket, and chuck charred and double-stacked with white American cheese, house-made pickles, ribboned red onions, and Harriet’s signature sauce on a buttery brioche bun. Each bite of mouthful of meaty, cheesy goodness satisfies that urgent burger craving. The teams behind Papi Queso and The Plaid Penguin are behind this masterpiece, and they sold their first 100 burgers in less than two minutes at a preview event this summer. Order one at their walk-up window at Optimist Hall, and you’ll understand why. —Taylor Bowler

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GUIDE and dim sum, and brace for spice. 1115 N. Brevard St. (980-595-6174) L, D, V

EL THRIFTY

$-$$

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

THE GOODYEAR HOUSE

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Grab a table in the botanist room or the open patio on a warm night, and enjoy elevated comfort food like smoked cashew mac and cheese and guinea hen stew. 3032 N. Davidson St. (704-9100132) 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 ✸

HARRIET’S HAMBURGERS

$

AMERICAN The burger joint with a pick-up window at Optimist Hall has a simple menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries, but they get everything right.

1115 N. Brevard St., Ste. 6 L, D

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

$

tion 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

ROY’S KITCHEN & PATIO

$$

CARIBBEAN Come for a fruity cocktail, but don’t expect a trip to Margaritaville—this is a relaxed neighborhood hangout with cornhole, ping-pong, and rotisserie chicken you can smell cooking down the street. 3112 N. Davidson St. (704-910-2031) BR (Sun), D, BAR, ✸

Plaza Midwood/East Charlotte ACE NO. 3

$

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

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

CILANTRO NOODLE

$-$$

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

COALTRANE’S

$-$$

AMERICAN 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 ✸

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 ✸

LEAH & LOUISE

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 ✸

$$

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 loca-

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

❤ B BR L D V

96

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

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

☎

COMMON MARKET

$

DIAMOND RESTAURANT

$-$$

DISH

$-$$

❤ INTERMEZZO PIZZERIA & CAFÉ

$-$$

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

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

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

LANG VAN

$

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

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

LUPIE’S CAFE

$

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

❤ MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

$$

MOO & BREW

$$

❤ NC RED

$$

SAL’S PIZZA FACTORY

$$

❤ SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

$$

SNOOZE: AN A.M. EATERY

$$

THREE AMIGOS

$$

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

AMERICAN A playful list of burgers, craft beers, and friendly servers make this spot an easy choice for a casual dinner out. The patio is packed on nice nights.

1300 Central Ave. (980-585-4148) L, D, BAR ✸

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

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

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

AMERICAN The Denver-based breakfast spot has a huge menu, but you’re free to mix and match. Choose any two benedicts with the Benny Duo, or get the Pancake Flight with three different flavors. There’s also a morning cocktail menu with mimosas, mojitos, and a dirty drunken chai. 1331-A Central Ave. (704-2435070) 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

$$-$$$

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 ✸

YAMA IZAKAYA

$$

JAPANESE Enjoy true, labor-intensive ramen, com-

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

Uptown THE ASBURY

235 N. Tryon St. 704-342-1193 OPTIONS: Curbside pickup, Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. and Sat-Sun, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. To-go menu on its site.

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.

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-Thurs, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., and Fri, 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

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, Tues-Thurs, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., and Fri-Sat, 5 p.m.-11 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: Takeout 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.

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 5:30 p.m-9 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 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

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

KINDRED

131 N. Main St. 980-231-5000 OPTIONS: Curbside pick-up, Tues-Sat, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

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.

HELLO, SAILOR

20210 Henderson Rd. 704-997-5365 OPTIONS: Takeout, Wed-Sun, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

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.

Plaza Midwood/Elizabeth MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

1401 Central Ave. 704-295-4227 OPTIONS: Curbside pick-up for online orders, with hours varying between 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 5-11 p.m. daily 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: Curbside pickup, Wed-Thurs, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sun, 11 a.m.-6 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

1055 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 130 704-370-0777 OPTIONS: Sun, 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Mon-Wed, 10:30 a.m.9 p.m., Thurs-Fri, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sat, 11 a.m.10 p.m.

In a sea of by-the-slice joints, owner Daniel Sira-gusa 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.

South Charlotte ROOSTER’S WOOD-FIRED KITCHEN

6601 Morrison Blvd.

704-366-8688 OPTIONS: Orders can be placed online and hours vary by location 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 lo-cation is in uptown.

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GUIDE

Night Life Our city, which once banned cocktail sales, offers plenty of opportunities to imbibe. Try one of these after-dark spots THE QUEEN & GLASS

$$-$$$

COCKTAIL BAR / LOUNGE This intimate Dilworth lounge has creative cocktails and a small plates menu of shareable spreads, salads, and flatbreads. 1315 E. Blvd., Ste. 115 (980-299-0816)

THE CRUNKLETON

$$$

COCKTAIL BAR The region's best bartenders applied to work at Gary Crunkleton's Elizabeth bar and restaurant.

Known for his impeccable classic cocktails, the mixologist and restaurateur opened the first Crunkleton in Chapel Hill. 1957 E. 7th St. (704-919-0104)

IDLEWILD

$$

COCKTAIL BAR You can't go wrong with a classic Manhattan, but if you’re feeling adventurous, Idlewild's bartenders will create a cocktail based on your drink preferences. 424 E. 36th St., Ste. 2 (704-572-8678)

CICCHETTI

$$-$$$

WINE BAR / RETAIL At this wine bar, restaurant, and retail shop, it’s drinks first, food second. Shop the shelves for a bottle of wine, and savor it over a small plate of meatballs or bruschetta. 100 N. Tryon St. (980299-0039)

SOPHIA'S LOUNGE

$$$

COCKTAIL BAR If the ornate armchairs or the velvet sofas on which you could pose like a French girl don’t make you feel like royalty, the custom-designed chandeliers and regal artwork should do it. The cocktails here, rightfully, are fit for a queen. 127 N. Tryon St., Ste. D (704) 503-9322)

NUVOLE ROOFTOP TWENTY-TWO

$$-$$$

BAR / LOUNGE Sip a cocktail and take in sweeping views of uptown from this sleek rooftop lounge on the 22nd floor of the AC Hotel & Residence Inn. Bring a few friends and order shareable plates like lobster club sliders and the bison tartare. 220 E. Trade St., Ste. 2200.

(980-960-9800)

MERCHANT + TRADE

$$

BAR / LOUNGE This 19th floor rooftop lounge overlooking Romare Bearden Park is a great place to visit before dinner, or to cap off the night. Just remember to dress to impress, because access to sweeping views of the city requires some style. 303 S. Church St. (704445-2550)

FOXCROFT WINE CO.

$-$$

WINE BAR The wine bar, restaurant, and retail hybrid has a relaxed atmosphere, wines from every region

of the world, and deliciously simple food. Dilworth is Foxcroft's flagship post, with additional locations in SouthPark and Waverly. 1235 East Blvd., Ste. 1 (704602-2133)

DILWORTH TASTING ROOM

$$

WINE BAR On a warm summer night, there’s no better place to savor a glass of chardonnay. Grab a table on the patio under the trees and relish the little white lights when the sun goes down. 300 E. Tremont Ave. (704-595-3337)

PETITE PHILIPPE

$-$$

WINE BAR / RETAIL Wine bottles are on display in cabinets resembling bookcases, and chocolates are clustered under glass on a marble slab at this Myers Park tasting room. Milling around, asking questions, and sampling are encouraged. 2820 Selwyn Ave., Ste. 160. (704-332-9910)

LINCOLN STREET KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

$$

COCKTAIL BAR Grab a spot in the main dining room, step outside to the ground floor patio, or head upstairs to the rooftop patio and take in views of uptown as you sip on a signature cocktail—they're all $13 here.

1320 S. Church St., Ste. 400, (704-595-3337)

Breweries Here’s a directory of local breweries, where you can enjoy award-winning beers—and the latest libations Charlotte NODA/OPTIMIST PARK/ NORTH CHARLOTTE BIRDSONG BREWING COMPANY

1016 N. Davidson St. 704-332-1810 birdsongbrewing.com

HEIST BREWERY

2909 N. Davidson St. #200 704-375-8260 heistbrewery.com Other location in Druid Hills

NODA BREWING COMPANY

3701 N. Davidson St., Ste. 203 980-237-1803 divinebarrel.com

2921 N. Tryon St. 704-900-6851 nodabrewing.com Other locations in Optimist Park and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport

FONTA FLORA OPTIMIST HALL

PROTAGONIST CLUBHOUSE

DIVINE BARREL

1115 N. Brevard St., Ste. D 980-207-2470 fontaflora.com

FREE RANGE BREWING

2320 N. Davidson St. 980-201-9096 freerangebrewing.com

98

3123 N. Davidson St., Ste. 104 980-938-0671 protagonistbeer.com

SALUD CERVECERIA

3306-C N. Davidson St. 980-495-6612 saludcerveceria.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

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

LEGION BREWING

1906 Commonwealth Ave. 844-467-5683 legionbrewing.com Other location in SouthPark

PILOT BREWING COMPANY

1331 Central Ave., Ste. 104 704-802-9260 pilotbrewing.us

RESIDENT CULTURE BREWING COMPANY

LOWER LEFT BREWING CO.

2101 Central Ave. 704-333-1862 residentculturebrewing.com

4528 Nations Crossing Rd. 704-469-9861 llbrewco.com

SOUTH END/SOUTH CHARLOTTE/MORA BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY

OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY

4001-A Yancey Rd. 704-452-4001 visit.brewersat4001yancey.com

EDGE CITY BREWING

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

4150 Yancey Rd. 704-525-5655 oldemeckbrew.com

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

Best Sips

SUNSTEAD BREWING

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

Our favorite brews this month, chosen by Charlotte magazine staff

SYCAMORE BREWING

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

Oat With the Flocc, $16.99 (4-pack), Divine Barrel Brewing OAT’S A GO-TO FLAVOR for espresso drinks and desserts right now, yet this “Cream India Pale Ale” surprised me. From the NoDabased brewery Divine Barrel, this IPA’s creaminess comes from malted oats and lactose. It’s not overly rich like a milkshake IPA or as bold as a New England IPA: That middle ground is unusual and may take a couple of sips before you embrace it. The brewery’s official description advertises “notes of papaya, peach, lemon, and lingering sticky pine.” I can confirm the last two, yet the novelty of oats trumps all.—Andy Smith

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

UNIVERSITY ARMORED COW BREWING

8821 JW Clay Blvd., Ste. 1 704-277-6641 instagram.com/ armoredcowbrewing

WEST CHARLOTTE TOWN BREWING CO.

800 Grandin Rd. 980-237-8628 townbrewing.com

BLUE BLAZE BREWING

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 CABARRUS BREWING COMPANY

COURTESY

329 McGill Ave. NW 704-490-4487 cabarrusbrewing.com

COMMONER’S BREWING COMPANY

1048 Copperfield Blvd. NE, Ste. 101

704-886-6002 commonersbrewingcompany. com

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

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

LAKE WYLIE BREWING CO.

1741 Gold Hill Rd., Ste. 100 803-802-0001 lakewyliebrewingcofortmill.com

Gastonia CAVENDISH BREWERY

207 N. Chester St. 704-830-0435 cavendishbrewing.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. LORE BREWING CO.

1218 Rosemont Dr., Ste. 100 lorebrewing.com

Indian Trail

Pineville

SWEET UNION BREWING COMPANY

13717 E. Independence Blvd.

704-628-5211 sweetunionbrewing.com

Kannapolis

MIDDLE JAMES BREWING

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

Rock Hill, S.C.

OLD ARMOR BEER CO.

LEGAL REMEDY BREWING

211 West Ave. 704-933-9203 oldarmor.com

129 Oakland Ave. 803-324-2337 legalremedybrewing.com

Matthews SEABOARD BREWING, TAPROOM, & WINE BAR

213 N. Trade St. 704-246-6575 seaboardbrewing.com

SLOW PLAY BREWING

274 Columbia Ave. slowplaybrewing.com

ROCK HILL BREWING COMPANY

121 Caldwell St., Ste. 101 803-366-7266 rockhillbrewingcompany.com

Monroe SOUTHERN RANGE BREWING CO.

DUST OFF BREWING

151 S. Stewart St. 704-706-2978 getsrb.com

130 W. White St. 803-324-4610 dustoffbrewing.com

Mooresville

Waxhaw

GHOSTFACE BREWING BREWERY & PIZZERIA

427 E. Statesville Ave. 704-799-7433 ghostfacebrewing.com

THE DREAMCHASER’S BREWERY

115 E. North Main St. 704-843-7326 dreamchasersbrewery.com

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

NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

99

THE GUIDE plete with add-ons like corn and pork belly, as well as traditional Japanese small plates and a sushi menu.

1324 Central Ave. (704-910-6387) D, V, BAR ✸

ZADA JANE’S CORNER CAFE

$-$$

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

South End BARCELONA WINE BAR

$$$

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

$$$

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

$$$

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

BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY

L D V

100

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

$$-$$$

LET’S MEAT KBBQ

$$$$

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

$$

service, a beautiful interior, and dishes full of flavor.

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

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.

RAI LAY THAI CUISINE

$$

SEOUL FOOD MEAT CO.

$$

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

$-$$

BAJA The breezy vibes and bright flavors at this taco joint call for a Pacifico or a margarita. 2433 South Blvd.

(704-912-1889) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

SUPERICA

$$-$$$

THE WATERMAN FISH BAR

$$-$$$

❤ ZEPPELIN

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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 ✸

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 ✸

$-$$

$

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 ✸

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

☎

INDACO

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

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

❤

$-$$

$$$

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

$$

$$

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

$

MOCCO BISTRO

$

NIKKO

$$-$$$

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 ✸☎

NORTH ITALIA

$$-$$$

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 ✸

O-KU

$$-$$$

SUSHI This second location of the Charleston-based Indigo Road restaurant group’s Japanese spot has great

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

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) BIG VIEW DINER

$$

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 ✸

CIVETTA ITALIAN KITCHEN + BAR

$$-$$$

THE BLUE TAJ

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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 ✸

THE FLIPSIDE CAFÉ

$$-$$

NEW SOUTHERN Chefs Jon and Amy Fortes’ first restaurant makes you feel right at home, but the food lets you know it ain’t your mama in the kitchen.

3150 Hwy. 21 N., Fort Mill. (803-802-1711) B, BR, L, D, B/W, ☎

FLIPSIDE RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This sister restaurant of Flipside Café has a more formal and spacious dining room, which fits with its elevated menu. 129 Caldwell St., Rock Hill. (803324-3547) BR, L, D, V, BAR ☎

GALLERY RESTAURANT

$$$-$$$$

NEW AMERICAN Inside the Ballantyne hotel, you’ll find Southern-inspired, white-tablecloth dining with dishes sourced from local farmers. 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. (704-248-4100) B, BR, L, D, BAR

THE PORTER’S HOUSE

$$$-$$$$

STEAK HOUSE The newest member of the Rare Roots Hospitality Group (Dressler’s, Dogwood) is known for thick-cut steaks, modern sides, and craft cocktails. 7417 Waverly Walk Ave. (704-930-7878) D, BAR ✸☎

RED ROCKS CAFÉ

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Consistently good pasta,rock seafood, and steak make this restaurant a mainstay in the Strawberry Hill shopping center. Additional locations are in Indian Land and Birkdale Village. 4223 Providence Rd., Ste. 8 (704-364-0402) BR (Sun), L, D, V, BAR ✸

SPICE ASIAN KITCHEN

$$-$$$

ASIAN The dumplings and Pad Thai are consistently good, but the bibimap, bossam, and curry dishes are great for adventurous palates. During patio season, enjoy a cocktail or dessert at the rooftop terrace bar. 251 Textile Way, Fort Mill. (803-548-6868) L, D, V, BAR ✸

WALDHORN

$$

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

SouthPark/Park Road ❤ BAR MARCEL

$$-$$$

FUSION The menu features shareable plates of beef carpaccio or truffle and herb frittes—but order a flatbread pizza for yourself. 3920 Sharon Rd., Ste. 160.

(980-237-1919) L, D, BAR ✸☎

BAKU

$$-$$$

JAPANESE Black and red decor, delicious sushi, techno beats, and a large pair of geisha eyes staring out at the crowd make for a dramatic setting in this shared plates restaurant. 4515 Sharon Rd. (704-817-7173) D, BAR ☎

❤ BARRINGTON’S

$$$-$$$$

NEW AMERICAN Bruce Moffett’s first restaurant is one of the best in town, with a classic menu and stellar service. 7822 Fairview Rd. (704-364-5755) D (MonSat), BAR ☎

CAFÉ MONTE

$$-$$$

FRENCH Monte Smith has done a bang-up job re-creating a classic French restaurant, and diners react enthusi-

astically at brunch, lunch, and dinner. 6700 Fairview Rd. (704-552-1116) B, L, D, BAR ✸☎

CANTINA 1511

$$

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 ✸☎

❤ DOGWOOD SOUTHERN TABLE + BAR

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Ingredients are fresh and cocktails are innovative at this spot, a sister to Dressler’s. 4905 Ashley Park Ln., Ste. D. (704-910-4919) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ☎

❤ DOT DOT DOT

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Stefan Huebner’s creative cocktails may be the main attraction at this 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

EASY LIKE SUNDAY

$$-$$$

$$

$-$$

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

$$-$$$

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

$$$$

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 ✸☎

REID’S FINE FOODS

$$-$$$

$$$

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

$$

AMERICAN The dining room has retractable glass walls, Japanese boxwood hedging, and a fountain in the center. The menu is standard (but upscale) American fare like lobster rolls, truffled grilled cheese, and ribeye steak.

6903 Phillips Place Ct. (704-790-4970) BR, L, D, V ☎

NEW AMERICAN Bruce Moffett’s small-plates bistro unites a variety of influences and flavors onto one menu, and each dish is worth ordering. 1701 Montford Dr. (704-525-0881) D, BAR ☎

HARPER’S RESTAURANT

PACO’S TACOS & TEQUILA

MEXICAN Although you’ll find plenty of options on the menu, there are 10 varieties of tacos and more than 60 kinds of tequila. 6401 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 8A. (704-7168226) L, D, V, BAR ✸

$$

ITALIAN Watch your pasta get prepared in the open kitchen. Chef Trey Wilson’s shared plates are great for larger groups, but if you don’t want to share, get the lamb Bolognese. 530 Brandywine Rd. (980-299-3754) D, BAR ☎

❤ GOOD FOOD ON MONTFORD

$$$$

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 ✸

AMERICAN The fried chicken and cornmeal pancakes are worth standing in line for, but if you’d rather skip the weekend rush, go in the evening and have a boozy brunch after dark. 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd., Ste. 100.

(980-335-2428) B, BR, L, D, BAR ✸

❤ FLOUR SHOP

OAK STEAKHOUSE

STEAK HOUSE Chef Tyler Honeycutt aces steakhouse classics like ribeye or filet, and be sure to save room for some lemon olive oil cake for dessert. 4477 Sharon Rd., Ste 125. (704-954-8900) D, BAR ☎

$$-$$$

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

RH ROOFTOP RESTAURANT

$$$-$$$$

ROASTING COMPANY

$

AMERICAN Since adding a full bar, Roasting Company fits in more comfortably with the Montford Drive scene, but still sets the standard for rotisserie chicken.

1521 Montford Dr. (704-521-8188) L, D, BAR ✸

ROCKSALT

$$$-$$$$

SEAFOOD Head to RockSalt for the spacious patio and fresh seafood—from the raw bar, with several varieties of oysters on the half shell, or the daily catch.

512 Brandywine Rd. (704-503-9945) BR, L (weekends), D, BAR ✸☎

❤ ROOSTER’S WOOD-FIRED KITCHEN

$$-$$$

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

$$

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 ✸

TOSCANA

$$$

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 ✸☎

YAFO KITCHEN

$$

MEDITERRANEAN With additional locations in Dilworth and Plaza Midwood, this fast-casual concept serves Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired NOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

101

fare in a wrap, salad, or grain bowl. 720 Governor Morrison St., Ste. 120. (704-365-7130) L, D, B/W ✸

YAMA ASIAN FUSION

$$

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

$$

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

$$

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

Uptown 204 NORTH

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This uptown spot with modern Southern food is best for cocktails and conversation at the bar. 204 N. Tryon St. (704-333-3747) BR, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ 5CHURCH

$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN 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

$$ -$$$

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

$$$

ITALIAN The Italian-inspired entreés at this uptown spot are all excellent, and the whipped ricotta with

sourdough, lavender honey, and pistachio is the most imaginative appetizer on the menu. 303 S. Church St. (704-445-2540) B, BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

❤ ARIA TUSCAN GRILL

$$$

❤ THE ASBURY

$$$

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 ☎

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

NEW LISTING

❤ B BR L D V

102

Best Restaurants Breakfast Weekend brunch Lunch Dinner Vegetarian friendly

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

☎

$$

$

$$

AMERICAN This sister restaurant to Leroy Fox has a trendy, pop-culture vibe—and a roster of fancy burgers (including a foie gras-topped offering for $20). 201 N. Tryon St., Ste. 1010. (980-224-8674) L, D, BAR

DANDELION MARKET

$$-$$$

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

ESSEX BAR & BISTRO

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

$$-$$$

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

COWBELL BURGER & 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 ✸☎

FAHRENHEIT

$$$-$$$$

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

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // NOVEMBER 2020

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

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 ✸☎

AMERICAN Grab a seat on the rooftop patio, sip on a Queen City cocktail, and order the maple glazed bacon clothesline. The presentation is exactly as it sounds.

555 S. McDowell St. (980-237-5356) D, BAR ✸

COCO + THE DIRECTOR

$$$

$$-$$$

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 ☎

CLOUD BAR BY DAVID BURKE

❤ 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 ✸☎

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 ✸☎

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

like his mom made it and carbonara as it’s served in Rome. 230 North College St. (704602-2750) B, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ HAYMAKER

$$$ - $$$$

THE KING’S KITCHEN

$$-$$$

❤ LA BELLE HELENE

$$$ - $$$$

SOUTHERN Chef Jim Noble’s restaurant, which serves traditional Southern fare, donates profits to faith-based feeding centers and employs troubled youth and people who have just come out of rehab or prison.

129 W. Trade St. (704-375-1990) L (weekdays) D, B/W, ✸☎

FRENCH The Parisian menu offers rotisserie chicken and a mix of pour commencer and plats, plus decadent desserts and specialty cocktails. 300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 100.

(704-969-2550) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ☎

LUCE

$$$

ITALIAN Luce is a beautiful, intimate, luxurious restaurant with simple but innovative northern Italian cuisine. 214 N. Tryon St., Ste. J, in Hearst Plaza. (704-344-9222) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

MALABAR SPANISH CUISINE

$$

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 ✸☎

❤ 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 ✸

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

MIMOSA GRILL

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This popular after-work spot has a seasonal menu, friendly service, tasty seafood dishes, and interesting grits. 327 S. Tryon St. (704-343-0700) BR, L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎ NEW LISTING

MOA KOREAN BBQ

$-$$

$$-$$$

$$

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, ✸

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

❤ 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 ✸☎

KOREAN BBQ You can order Korean tacos and kimchi bulgogi nachos a la carte, but the tabletop barbecue is the main attraction. Watch your server cook beef brisket and pork belly as you sip a craft cocktail. 128 S. Tryon St. (704-503-9412) L, D, V, BAR ✸

MURPHY’S KITCHEN & TAP

cludes options like fried chicken and pork and beans.

8470 Bellhaven Rd. (704-595-7710) D, V, BAR ☎

$$-$$$

BOSSY BEULAH’S

$

PINKY’S WESTSIDE GRILL

$

TOUCAN LOUIE’S

$

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 ✸

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 ✸

CROSSWORD OF THE MONTH

By Andy Smith

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

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

$$$

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 inNOVEMBER 2020 // CHARLOTTE

103

YOU ARE HERE

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

LOCATION: PINEVILLE LAKE PARK 909 Lakeview Rd., Pineville

PARK PINEVILLE LAKE

Townhomes and Turtles SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A PLACE where nature provides the entertainment, and around noontime on a humid late-summer day, Pineville Lake Park is that place.

The playground, which normally teems with young kids and their moms or babysitters out for a picnic or playtime, is draped in yellow caution tape and canvas barriers due to COVID. But there’s another game to play: Spot the turtles. Dozens live at the lake. They pop their heads from the surface and sun themselves on the rocks at the shore. Nearby, plump geese peck at the grass and waddle toward visitors.

You can’t tell from here, but Pineville, a small town of just more than 9,000 people, is having a growth spurt.

Less than a mile away, construction workers finish rows of

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townhomes, and nearby lots, clear-cut and carpeted with red clay, tell of more houses to come. But the streets that ring the park haven’t changed much. Most homes here were built in the 1950s or a few years later, and the people who live in them tend tidy flower beds in front and hang wash on clotheslines out back.

Nearly every Monday, rain or shine, Pat Donlevy and her son, James, bring their lunches here, walk a loop around the lake, eat under a picnic shelter, and walk the loop again. On this day, they spread out a white lace tablecloth and shuffle an oversized deck of playing cards.

“Being here,” Donlevy says, “it just helps you stay positive and look at what God gave us—the beauty of the Earth.” —Cristina Bolling

SHAW NIELSEN; CRISTINA BOLLING

In Pineville, a natural oasis in the shadow of a building boom

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