Charlotte Magazine April 2021

Health Care Pros on Pandemic Lessons p. 13

Vegan Soul Food: On the Rise p. 38

Traversing the Carolina Thread Trail

p. 19

Lake Norman, In Depth

APRIL 2021

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Meets Going Out. Around every winding, two-lane turn youʼll find talented artists, historic charm, and gorgeous landscapes. WILKESBORO celebrateʼs lifeʼs simple things: friends and family, good music, warm days, cool nights, that bottle of wine, and camp fires under starlit skies. We invite you to celebrate with us.

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CONTENTS CHARLOTTE / APRIL 2021 / VOL. 26, NUMBER 4

Features 46 LAKE NORMAN, IN DEPTH 48 SHORE BETS

A guide to the pearls scattered throughout the Lake Norman area

BY TAYLOR BOWLER, GREG LACOUR, AND ANDY SMITH

56 HOT LISTINGS

Lake Norman real estate trends with an expanded roundup of listings

BY TAYLOR BOWLER AND GREG LACOUR

58

LUXURY AT THE LAKE A penthouse condo in Cornelius with custom touches at every turn

BY MICHELLE BOUDIN

66 ONE-TRACK MIND

A determined Mooresville resident crafts a 485-foot train track in his lakefront garden PHOTO ESSAY BY DANIEL COSTON

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WHERE THE LIVING IS EASY Designer Brenna Morgan updates a lakefront home in Mooresville for a couple of Texas transplants

BY TAYLOR BOWLER

ON THE COVER: Boating on Lake Norman near The Point in Mooresville. Photograph courtesy of Ride LKN Wake & Surf School.

ON THIS PAGE: A cortado made with Pure Intentions Coffee at 77 Grounds Coffee shop in Davidson.

Photograph by Logan Cyrus.

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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04 21 CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE 8 From the Editor 10

Connect

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You Are Here

COURTESY TOM HANCHETT; PETER TAYLOR (2); RUSTY WILLIAMS

THE GUIDE 88 Restaurants The city’s savviest restaurant listings

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19 THE BUZZ 13 Health Three health care professionals on hard lessons from the pandemic 16

Talk of the Crown News, gossip, and other buzzworthy bits

17

Knock It Off, Charlotte Things that must stop immediately (and one that can stay)

THE GOOD LIFE 19 Nature Will Ruark, manager of the Carolina Thread Trail

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Style Justine Wiggins crafts delicate jewelry inspired by tough times

FOOD + DRINK 35 Now Open Havana 33 serves authentic Cuban cuisine lakeside

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Room We Love Designer Shadie Copeland gives new life to an old Foxcroft living room

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Local Flavor Charlotteans embrace vegan soul food

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Building History The story of Black brick maker William Henry Houser

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On the Line Your Mom’s Bazaar’s general manager Kristi Martin

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Seen The city’s best party pics

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Bite-Sized News Foodie tidbits on a small plate

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Playlist The best things to do and see this month

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The Story Behind Chef Daniel Wheeler’s oatmeal cream pie

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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Volume 26, Number 4 F RO M T H E E D I TO R

THE NEW NORMAN The sea monster is (probably) a hoax, but a school of other things surfaces at the lake in 2021

APRIL 2021

morrismedianetwork.com

www.charlottemagazine.com PUBLISHER Allison Hollins ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Gail Dougherty ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jessica Santee

AN ANONYMOUS VISITOR first saw Normie in August 1980. That’s what LakeNormanMonster.com says, and the site certainly sounds like an authority on the topic.

A poster on its “Submit a Sighting” blog says what he or she saw was likely a catfish, 8 feet long and “3 feet across the mouth.” Normie’s species has long been debated. Witnesses have described him as an “oversized catfish,” a sturgeon, an alligator gar, a marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous. The creature is typically illustrated as the last of those.

I’ve loved stories like Normie’s since I was a kid. I still do, which is why I have a Andy Smith andrew.smith@charlottemagazine.com Loch Ness Monster tattoo on my left arm.

Cryptozoology, the study of species science hasn’t classified (and which may not exist), is a fun side road for an armchair paleontologist. As a boy in West Virginia, I stared at the Ohio River and tried to will a plesiosaur to unfurl its serpentine neck from the murky waters. Did I need more hobbies? Sure. I just love when nature surprises me, and I still feel like celebrating whenever science discovers new species in our few remaining wildernesses.

Many lakes—and lochs—have monster legends. Europe’s extend back to the sixth century, and serpents supposedly inhabit lakes in all of our country’s corners. There’s no proof for any of them, least of all Normie. It seems unlikely that an ancient leviathan suddenly appeared in a manmade lake that opened the same year as Goldfinger (1964).

Most of us know Normie isn’t real, even if we want to think he is. I would say the same for the creators of the Normie children’s storybook or the TV program Boogeymen on Destination America. (The show looked into it and didn’t find him.) These legends stick around because, simply, they’re fun. I hope my kids have the same curiosity about nature, even if it leads them down bizarre Wikipedia wormholes.

The good news: We’ve found plenty of real reasons to explore Lake Norman this month. The sustained explosion of restaurants, breweries, and entertainment continues. Our aim was to chart the best of it all, from the longstanding businesses to those that have opened in recent months. From pizza to paddleboarding to real estate, the region grows and diversifies more each day.

As for Normie? As William Goldman once said: “If you know the answer, don’t tell me.”

ADVERTISING SERVICE COORDINATOR Sharonda Howard EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Smith SENIOR EDITOR Greg Lacour LIFESTYLE EDITOR Taylor Bowler COPYEDITOR/FACT-CHECKER Allison Braden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michelle Boudin, Cristina Bolling, Lauren Corriher, Tom Hanchett, Cheryl Spainhour ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR Jane Fields CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Coston, Logan Cyrus, Chris Edwards, Peter Taylor, Rusty Williams CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Shaw Nielsen DIGITAL DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Alyssa Ruane CONTENT COORDINATOR Kendra Kuhar

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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ONLINE EXTRAS, EVENTS, AND CONVERSATIONS

REACT

Responses to the February issue of Charlotte magazine

Looks like a must read issue.

Instagram comment by @we.are.charlotte Is it just me or did anyone elses’ eyes immediately go to the horrendous truist signage Instagram comment by @carolweav To: “Warm Hearts,” p. 6 I am checking this out.

Tweet from @SDosier To: “Eastland’s Future, At Last,” p. 14 Why is no one talking about the city supporting affordable housing here?

Multiple millions for a trolley that few will use and the former Eastland Mall property still vacant?!? I really do not understand CLT’s priorities.

Facebook comment by Anna Richard Gacevich To: “A Tree Grows,” p. 17 A beautiful piece by @JesseSoloff.

Congratulations on finding each other, @katieperalta and Jesse. Fiona reminds me a bit of the schefflera we got when my mom had cancer at 40. We are lucky to be celebrating Mom’s 79th birthday today. The schefflera is doing well, too.

Tweet from @KathySheldon17 Lovely story. Thanks @JesseSoloff. Reset my attitude this morning. Please read and share.

Tweet from @SBHarden So happy for @JesseSoloff and @katieperalta, and Fiona.

Tweet from @tommytomlinson This is so beautiful. Like you and @katieperalta together Tweet from @JourdanRodrigue

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

To: “A Landmark in Black and White,” p. 24 So many CFTs there from my days @cfcrights working for young people. Love that spot. @kenharrisjunior @MMohammedNC Tweet from @dk

ON THE WEB

(In response) PREACH brother Tweet from @kenharrisjunior

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Or as the old timers here in #CLT call #PervertPlaza it’s [sic] name sake has a dark history. Name should be stripped!

Tweet from @SourMash44

2.

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

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To: “Eat, Stay, Love,” p. 34 This is really sweet!

Facebook comment by Michele Stec Neyer

A Coach in Twilight: Memories of Marty Schottenheimer Getting Into the Trading Card Boom?

Some Charlotte Resources Charlotte Council’s Longest-Tenured Member Resigns

To: “(Empty) Office Space,” p. 38 Really enjoyed this @ESPortillo! The hybrid approach can hopefully work well for a lot of companies—just hope we can still wear sweatpants.

Tweet from @ashkclt Will there be another article like this from the perspective of non-management employees who are now working from home?

Tweet from @Indivisible9NC To: “East Side Story,” p. 56 As Charlotte continues to build, community leaders are making sure residents don’t get left behind.

Tweet from @CityReads We’re proud of many of our CBI friends (including Tom Hanchett, Nimish Bhatt, @rocio_gz13, and Nancy Pierce) working toward an equitable future for Charlotte’s most diverse area.

Tweet from @CBICharlotte

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

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA /charlottemagazine @charlottemag @charlottemag

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INSIDE: HEALTH / COMMUNITY / FAUX PAS

BUZZ

THE

WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY

H E ALT H

‘DON’T FORGET’

Prominent health care professionals share hard lessons from the pandemic

BY GREG LACOUR

HEALTH CARE professionals have had time to reflect and absorb how a year of COVID enhanced their strengths, exposed their shortcomings, and forced them to accelerate or invent ways to treat patients. What have they learned?

SHUTTERSTOCK

WHO: DR. DALE OWEN, CEO, Tryon Medical Partners DR. KATIE PASSARETTI, medical director of infection prevention, Atrium Health SAAD EHTISHAM, president, Novant Health Greater Charlotte Market and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center What are the most important lessons you and your team have learned in the past year?

OWEN: A historical perspective of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was critical. I have had a keen interest in infectious disease since residency and have read dissertations on the pandemic. We still have trouble listening now to what they said then: “Wear your masks and don’t open your schools.” What happened here with COVID-19 was very predictable based on our country’s response to the 1918 Spanish flu.

We made the same mistakes and didn’t learn from history.

PASSARETTI: I remember listening to an audiobook by Glennon Doyle where she uses the phrase, “You can do hard things,” multiple times.

That phrase has popped in my head a zillion times over the past year. We (health care workers, health care systems, communities) are facing one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime yet have shown time and again that we are more resilient than we ever thought possible. We’ve learned a ton about the importance of flexibility/ APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE MARCH

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THE BUZZ potential next pandemic and having an action plan in place so when it does hit, we can modify it and move on and address it in a systematic fashion.

DR. DALE OWEN

Where do you think you and your team’s response was strongest? Where do you think it’s most in need of adjustment? Why? OWEN: Our team was nimble and pivoted quickly before the pandemic. Well before the national emergency was declared, Tryon Medical Partners’ Coronavirus Task Force had a plan in place for everything from ramping up virtual visits to setting up satellite COVID testing clinics. This strategy was accomplished and put into place in five days. We didn’t have to form 16 committees to discuss and decide. We just did it. Establishing our practice in 2018 taught us how to move from strategy to operation very quickly. Tryon Medical Partners’ whole response to COVID-19 has been strong, and this practice will remain ready because history has taught us that a similar crisis is going to happen again.

EHTISHAM: It seemed like on a daily basis, sometimes within hours, that the direction of how best to protect yourself changed from the CDC. So a crisis like this shines a spotlight on the existing health equity gaps. That’s where I think Novant Health really, really accelerated its work. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that our integrity and ethical commitment to our communities for years to come will be judged by how well we achieve health equity in all forms.

To what extent did you either not realize those lessons before or not appreciate their importance?

PASSARETTI: None of the lessons above are truly new.

This year just acted as an amplifier and overcomer of obstacles (some self-induced) that may have been DR. KATIE PASSARETTI in the way in the past. The biggest reminder to me is the tremendous confusion and distrust that can result when our communities get mixed messages and we fail to care about each other—it’s just on display way more. Also, the impact of communities (scientific, health care, health care/private combos) all working together during this pandemic can’t be overemphasized.

EHTISHAM: What we didn’t appreciate and didn’t realize perhaps was how much the community cared about their health care workers. When restaurants What advice would you have now for local, state, and SAAD EHTISHAM were closed and really struggling to keep afloat, they federal public health agencies that would help in a response to another epidemic? all opened their hearts. Every day, they were delivering food for our team members to make sure they were fed and OWEN: I was asked to consult with the Biden Administration taken care of because they were fighting the battle for COVID. transition team on this issue. Here’s what I said: We got amazing, heartfelt letters from kids, from families, as far 1. We have to have a coordinated national plan, and I personally as from Arizona thanking us for all that our physicians and nurses believe it should not be left up to interpretation by 50 different states and their counties. and respiratory therapists were doing.

2. We need to be able to source all testing material components How differently would you approach an outbreak of lethal disease from inside the United States, which guarantees supply chain.

This is how, throughout the pandemic, Tryon Medical Partners based on what you’ve learned since March 2020?

OWEN: The worst thing we can do is assume it’s over when this was able to maintain a one- to two-day turnaround on COVID-19 particular pandemic is under better control. The mechanisms we testing results. have put in place to fight coronavirus cannot become extinct; oth- 3. Federal and state systems need to stop relying on outdated erwise, we will continue to make the same mistakes again. That means to deliver health care. Relying solely on hospitals and level of preparedness has to always be there. We should never health departments to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine is taking have to build from scratch again. too long. Smaller, more nimble organizations like ours don’t rely PASSARETTI: This year has highlighted the importance of early on the status quo. We need to get these vaccines out sooner to and aggressive containment, so I think/hope earlier recognition prevent mutations that will render these vaccines ineffective. The and action would occur. Hopefully, our public health infrastruc- phased rollout has been too slow to accomplish this goal. ture will be more supported moving forward so we have the tools PASSARETTI: This isn’t the first and won’t be the last infectious disease that will impact our societies—and trust science! to better respond quickly.

EHTISHAM: We need to make it part of our mission to prepare for the unknown and respond quickly and with transparency, Anything else you’d like to add? information, and level-headedness to make sure we’re making OWEN: We’ve been here before. Don’t forget. informed decisions grounded on the facts of what’s going on out there. … To me, it’s just coming together and working on the GREG LACOUR is senior editor of this magazine.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

COURTESY (2); LOGAN CYRUS

adaptability, compassion/empathy for others, and the importance of calm/clear/concise and honest communication even when you don’t have all the answers.

EHTISHAM: You can’t underestimate the value of anticipation and preparation. Those two things saved lives. Being prepared allowed us to move quickly and remain nimble, which was very important—our ability to deeply integrate, innovate, and collaborate more so than ever before with our clinical teams and physicians within the health system and the community. The other thing we also realized during COVID is that we needed to establish a command center, which we did in January (2020) after we were watching what was happening in Wuhan, China, in December. So we were able to then quickly have our preparation underway.

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THE BUZZ CO M M U N I T Y

TALK OF THE CROWN ‘Let’s get back to real’

—Krissy Oechslin in response to a CharlotteFive social media prompt: “Tell us you’re from Charlotte without saying you’re from Charlotte.”

“To the countless teammates, coaches, and staff members in Chicago, Seattle, and especially Carolina, I thank you.

You molded and shaped me into the player and person I am today.”

—Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, announcing his retirement from the NFL on Jan. 24. Olsen played for 14 seasons, nine of them (from 2011-19) with the Panthers.

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“Every election, we lower our expectations.

We settle for less honesty, less decency, less actual information.

So now people assume that everything is fake.

And that level of distrust is the garden where conspiracy theories and propaganda love to grow.

Let’s get back to real.”

—N.C. Senator Jeff Jackson of Mecklenburg County via Twitter, Jan. 22. Four days later, Jackson announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

“@JeffJacksonNC would be a disaster for North Carolina if elected to the @USSenate. Jackson is an unaccomplished Twitter troll with no significant legislative accomplishments.”

“(W)hat I’m most proud of is that Johnson C. Smith University, through the hard work of a lot of folks here, is really getting integrated into the fabric of Charlotte in a way that I think it hasn’t been in a little while. …

I knew I was coming to a great city; I just didn’t know how great a city it was.”

“Without a goal, nothing will get done, and we’ll see the encampment continue to increase in size over the winter months.

The folks at the encampment need help now. And we need to work together to make sure they get the help they need.”

—JCSU President Dr. Clarence Armbrister to QCityMetro, interviewing him to mark three years as the historically Black university’s leader.

—Charlotte City Council member Malcolm Graham in a Jan. 25 Charlotte Observer op-ed piece that proposes steps to clear the tent city just north of uptown near Interstate 277.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

—The N.C. Republican Party via Twitter, Jan. 26.

LOGAN CYRUS (2); COURTESY

“I’m at the corner of Queens and Queens.”

K C O FF, N K T O TTE I LO R A CH

F

X AU

PA

S

p to t s ne us d o m n at (a ) th tely stay s ing dia an Th me at c th m i

You mean… we’re coming, too?

SIGNAGE UPROAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Regarding the Truist sign, supposedly a mustache on the Mona Lisa of Charlotte’s skyline: One, it doesn’t look that bad. Two, boy, y’all could find more important stuff to fret over. Three, the bile expended over a sign on a bank building makes us think George Washington is, on occasion, still right about Charlotte being “a trifling place.”

PODCASTERS WINGIN’ IT: The podcast boom can’t be stopped, especially in a city with professionals in countless niches. All we ask is that you hire a producer, or at least consider recording with an outline. Charlotte especially is flush with economy-themed shows that aren’t economical with words.

GOLDENDOODLES: We understand their majesty. (Our editor has one.)

But they’re so ubiquitous that we may end up with wild ’doodles roaming Ballantyne’s outskirts. We’d like to see the dog scene diversify, especially in our office’s South End neighborhood.

Can we get some Neapolitan mastiffs over here? Maybe some Australian stumpy tail cattle dogs?

IT CAN STAY: After they caught on in New York City, “dining igloos” arrived at Charlotte restaurants late last year. Let’s keep those around for a while, as a safe space for those of us relearning our public table manners.

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GOOD LIFE

INSIDE: NATURE / STYLE / ROOM WE LOVE / HISTORY / SEEN / PLAYLIST

THE

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

NAT U R E

The Trail Less Taken

Land stewardship is a family legacy for Will Ruark, who helps maintain the Carolina Thread Trail. Here, he shares insight into his role and the future for the network of trails he oversees

BY CHERYL SPAINHOUR | PHOTOGRAPHS BY RUSTY WILLIAMS

WILL RUARK—with a colleague, a couple of college interns, and a chainsaw in tow—set out at dawn last summer to tend to the South Fork River Trail, 15 miles west of uptown Charlotte.

Two more hardwood trees had fallen across the trail he jokingly describes as his “bane” of the 300 miles of trails he helps manage across 15 counties

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE in the Carolinas. Once he’d cleared the trees, we had our first conversation about his work for the Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) and the Carolina Thread Trail (CTT).

Ruark spent much of his childhood exploring the mountains of western Maryland with his father, a park ranger.

“I never thought I was going to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” he tells me. But after he graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., with a history degree in 2012, he spent a year in AmeriCorps and had a change of heart. He spent the next five years as a park ranger in North Carolina, including at Lake Norman State Park, before he joined CLC and CTT as trail and stewardship coordinator in February 2020. The energetic 31-yearold, who says he’s always loved “getting down and dirty,” enjoys maintaining the trails and expanding the regional network of trails, blueways, and conservation corridors that connects nearly three million people. He and his wife, Stuart Yochem, live in Charlotte with their dogs, Jasper and Ziggy. (Yochem and her mother, Jeannie DeMarco, co-own Amina Rubinacci Charlotte, a women’s boutique in SouthPark.)

Will and I met a second time on the McAdenville Greenway in November to talk more about his livelihood. Towering sycamores hem the town’s paved trail, which runs along the banks of the South Fork River. He spotted a bright blue and orange kingfisher as it flew across the river, and he explained that they sometimes hover like hummingbirds above the water before they dive for fish. Our conversation, edited for clarity: What were your career plans when you came south for college?

I was thinking I would go into education, but right after college, I got a job with the parks and AmeriCorps with the Maryland conservation team.

I was based out of Gunpowder Falls State Park, east of Baltimore, and I got to live in an old hunting shack on the Chesapeake Bay. That’s when I realized I don’t like talking

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about it, I like doing it. I love doing the hard work and the positive impacts you can have on the environment. And I realized one of my ways of getting into that world was being a park ranger.

So why did you move to North Carolina to be a park ranger?

I had a lot of acquaintances in the Carolinas from college, and I’ve always loved the Carolinas. I grew up coming down in the summers to Montreat. I worked as a ranger there and built and rebuilt some of the trails.

What drew you to the CLC and CTT job?

My dad’s love for conservation and the environment is something he instilled

in me, and my grandparents were real involved in that kind of work, so it’s always been something I was into. As a park ranger, I was protecting those preserved areas, but my main focus was on trying to make sure people were being safe recreating, and I didn’t get to do as much of the management or the trail development that I envisioned.

My real passion was always doing the natural resource management aspect of the job, like coming up with a resource plan. For example, when I see a forest, I look at how I can make it better. That might mean I’m going to implement fire—I’m certified to start controlled fires within the state of North Carolina—so I look at those aspects. When I see a field

Will Ruark and his wife, Stuart Yochem, and their dogs, Jasper and Ziggy, on the Seven Oaks Preserve Trail, part of the Carolina Thread Trail. Seven Oaks hugs the shore of Lake Wylie near the town of Belmont.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

of fescue that’s growing up tall, I look at how I can turn that into a pollinator garden or native grasses for bird species.

What are your main goals?

We currently have 300 miles of trails that are on the ground, and we’re proposing 1,300 more miles. It’s a huge spiderweb of interconnecting greenways and natural surface trails and rail trails, which is unique from the other large metropolitan trail systems like, for example, the Atlanta BeltLine, which is one big greenway that circles the city.

One of my main priorities is to maintain the trails that the CTT and the CLC own. I work in four counties (Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, and Lincoln) on about 15 miles of the entire system. Our goal—and one of my other priorities—is to partner up with local towns, municipalities, and developers to get them to build the trails.

We help them, whether that’s through grant implementation or helping them promote it. They create it and maintain it, and we sort of adopt it with our logo

on it. Currently, one of our highest priorities is the South Fork River corridor, mostly because the towns in Gaston County are super-enthusiastic about their greenways. Hopefully, by the end of my lifetime, you will be able to walk from there to Charlotte, and then from Charlotte to Statesville.

of users on our trails because everybody wants to hike. We try to remind people how awesome the connection to nature is. They forget how this is a holistic approach to health, getting outdoors, hiking, thinking—this is a perfect time to work on your mental and physical health.

How has COVID affected your first year?

It was challenging. We survive with volunteers. A lot of the major companies in Charlotte volunteer with us—Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Duke Energy. That’s normally my workforce.

Unfortunately, we did not have our volunteers (through much of 2020) because of COVID. Meetings are often held online with volunteers, but now we have the opportunity to sometimes meet in the outdoors. We have a program on trail-building where some of them come out in the woods and work with me on trails.

We’re still getting trail development done. And we’re seeing a huge influx

What do you like best about your job?

I love that I’ve had the chance to get back in the field, reconnect with Mother Nature. I really like the boots on the ground, hands-on work, especially with trail work. I can actually see the physical labor and time I spent, so I love going home feeling accomplished. I love meeting wonderful people on the trails that you just don’t meet anywhere else, people who adore the outdoors and the trails as much as I do. It’s such a rewarding experience.

CHERYL SPAINHOUR is a senior journalism lecturer in the communication studies department at UNC Charlotte. Reach her at caspainh@uncc.edu

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APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE 21 2/26/21 2:38 PM

THE GOOD LIFE

ST YL E

A Worthy Statement

Justine Wiggins crafts delicate jewelry inspired by tough times

BY LAUREN LEVINE CORRIHER | PHOTOGRAPHS BY LOGAN CYRUS

JUSTINE WIGGINS CREATES delicate, hand-stamped jewelry under her worthy + badass brand. But there’s a tough, “badass” side to the 29-year-old designer, too. In addition to founding her jewelry company nine years ago, Wiggins serves as a military police officer in the Army Reserve. She met her husband, Michael, at a motorcycle education class. Though she failed the class, which Michael still teases her about, the couple got matching motorcycle tattoos to commemorate it.

The “worthy” part is a nod to her childhood abuse before her aunt adopted her when she was 8. “Because of the things I went through, I didn’t believe I was worthy of a lot,” she says. “But I believe in turning your monsters into your ministry.” She says she hopes worthy + badass serves as “a reminder that all women carry worth innately.”

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Wiggins discovered a passion for jewelry as a student at East Carolina University, where she crafted beaded bracelets for her friends. (“They were true atrocities,” she says with a laugh.)

Wiggins taught herself the hand-stamping technique that’s become her brand’s signature: She uses a hammer and steel stamp to engrave metals like rose gold fill, gold fill, and sterling silver with letters, numbers, and designs.

The collection’s minimalist pieces are in dainty contrast to the chunky “bubble” necklace trend of the 2010s. Wiggins stamps small discs or bars with subtle engravings that hang on thin chains.

Each makes a statement of its own, but the pieces are designed to layer, too.

Some of her best-selling items, which range from $25 to $50, include the handstamped worthy + badass disc necklace,

hand-stamped cuff bracelets, and customizable initial necklaces. Last year, Wiggins expanded her product line to include coasters, ornaments, and engraved cheese boards, all priced under $100.

Wiggins often finds inspiration on Instagram or Pinterest. “I’m not there to steal someone’s idea, but I get inspired,” she says. “My best friend calls it a ‘bee in my bonnet’ moment. I’ll run to my laptop because I have to design something or cut it on the engraver.”

Wiggins’ Bridgerton Collection features earrings named for Lady Whistledown ($18) and Lady Danbury ($20, above). She makes items like her hand-stamped worthy + badass gold fill signature necklace ($50, top) with a hammer and steel stamp. Other popular pieces include a “Sorry I’m Booked” bookmark ($5, right), acrylic initial necklaces ($20, right), and custom cake toppers (from $30, opposite).

She also uses her work to bring attention to social justice. After the police killing of George Floyd last year, she created buttons emblazoned with “I Can’t Breathe.” She’s sold nearly 700 and donated the proceeds to The Movement for Black Lives.

Before the pandemic, Wiggins relied on pop-up markets—she attended roughly 100 in 2019—to reach customers and sell her jewelry. Last year, she had to shift all of

her business online. Now, she says, worthy + badass products and equipment have taken over her three-bedroom home near Plaza Midwood “If I had to open my oven right now,” she says, “it wouldn’t happen.”

To date, worthy + badass has shipped to all 50 states, Canada, Europe, and South America. The company’s footprint continues to expand, but Wiggins says the support from fellow Charlotteans has been essential, particularly during the

last year. “The Charlotte community is freaking amazing,” she says. “I’m blown away by how people come behind smallbusiness owners.”

LAUREN LEVINE CORRIHER is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, American Way, Elemental, Charlotte Agenda, U.S. News & World Report, and other publications. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @latestbylauren.

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE

RO O M W E LOV E

Fill In the Blanks

Designer Shadie Copeland gives new life to an old Foxcroft living room

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COLOR YOUR VIEW The young couple’s former home is half this size, and they didn’t have much furniture or décor. They did have an antique rug they wanted to use as an anchor piece. “We loved the colors in it, so we layered it on top of a larger textured area rug,” Copeland says. “The patterned pillow with the birds looked so great against that antique rug, so that’s where we built our palette.” She carried those hues throughout the room with details like the red Pindler piping on the custom chair pillows upholstered in F. Schumacher fabric.

NO-FUSS FABRICS Copeland chose furniture and fabrics that could weather kids—they already had a toddler, and another child was on the way—and a dog. She found the sofa and two upholstered chairs at Robin Bruce and the wood cane armchairs with woven rattan backs at Four Hands. “This furniture layout was the most ideal, because they wanted a comfortable, cozy space with lots of seating,” she says. The tiered oak coffee table from Worlds Away rounded out the room. “With small kids, you’ll have their books out all the time, and this is a great place to display them.”

LAURA SUMRAK

RARE FINDS

SHADIE COPELAND, owner of Shadie Copeland Interiors, had a “beautifully renovated blank canvas” when the new owners of a brick ranch in Foxcroft hired her to furnish and decorate the interior. The team at Greentree Homes had already reconfigured the maze-like floor plan and brightened up the main floor with a fresh coat of white paint. They also designed the fireplace and installed the shiplap walls that Copeland used as the focal point of this family gathering space. —Taylor Bowler

Copeland created a “vintage art wall” to fill the space beside the swing arm lamp. The homeowner bought the first painting with an antique wood frame at Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, and Copeland found the rest at Art House Charlotte. She placed a custom-built live-edge console with satin brass legs behind the sofa.

“That table isn’t the first piece you see,” she says, “but it’s just a beautiful and unique little area that the clients love.”

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE

B U I L D I N G H I STO RY

The Foundation Builder Born into slavery, W.H. Houser constructed a new Charlotte

BY TOM HANCHETT

CHARLOTTE was once a red-brick town.

After the Civil War, the Queen City reinvented itself as a railroad hub that served a cotton mill region, and nearly all the town’s new buildings were brick.

William Henry Houser had a hand in many of them. “Born in 1845 and reared as a slave, at age 12 he became an apprentice of the brick-mason and plasterer,” noted The Voice of the Negro in Atlanta in 1906. “At the age of 16 he was put in charge of a brick yard in Chester, S.C.” Houser belonged to a tradition of skilled African American artisans—an important aspect of slavery that historians often miss. I’d always heard about two occupational groups: field hands and house servants. Beginning a decade or so ago, through reading and other research, I learned about a third: skilled artisans. Black midwives guided women through childbirth. Black cooks invented Southern cuisine. Black grooms cared for horses. Black barbers cut whites’ hair.

Black builders dominated brickmaking and contracting.

“Skilled Black artisans became civic leaders all over the South after Emancipation,” Catherine Bishir tells me. Bishir wrote a profile of Houser on N.C. State University’s website North

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Carolina Architects and Builders and Crafting Lives, a book about North Carolina artisans.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, Houser was free to move to Charlotte.

He opened a factory to transform humble Carolina clay into sturdy red bricks.

For centuries, artisans had made bricks a few at a time by hand, but Houser invested in steam-powered machines for mass production. “W.H. Houser has half a million good brick for sale for immediate delivery,” trumpeted an 1896 Charlotte Observer ad.

He became the fast-growing town’s busiest contractor. “At one time,” said The Voice of the Negro, “more than one-half the brick used in and around Charlotte was furnished by Mr. Houser.”

Randy Thomason, Houser’s great-greatnephew, has documented dozens of his projects from the 1880s and ’90s. City Hall, the county jail, grade school, downtown stores, a railway depot, buildings for textile engineer D.A. Tompkins and suburban developer Edward Dilworth Latta—Houser built them all. “He overcame such insurmountable odds,” Thomason says.

Houser was proudest of his work for rising African American institutions.

He built Friendship Baptist on Brevard Street, his home church. His 1898 Coleman Manufacturing textile factory still stands in Concord. It was entirely Black-run, and its owner, Warren Coleman, won national acclaim for his perseverance at a time when most Southern cotton mills refused to hire African Americans.

Glass-and-steel progress has swept away much of Houser’s handiwork, but two landmarks survive. He supplied

COURTESY

Randy Thomason (right), William Henry Houser’s great-great-nephew, has documented dozens of Charlotte buildings made of brick that Houser’s business furnished. Houser also supplied the brick used to construct 125-yearold Carter Hall (below) at Johnson C. Smith University.

brick for the construction of Carter Hall, completed with exuberant Victorian turrets in 1896 and now a local historic landmark, at Johnson C. Smith University. Houser probably taught the JCSU students who supplied much of the labor.

The same year, Houser laid the cornerstone for First United Presbyterian Church on Seventh Street uptown.

The congregation’s menfolk pitched in alongside his bricklayers, laboring at night after their regular jobs while women held lanterns.

Historian Janette Greenwood’s book Bittersweet Legacy: The Black and White ‘Better Classes’ in Charlotte, 18501910 tells how Houser ran for alderman in the 1880s and ’90s on a platform of limiting alcohol sales. He hoped social respectability and Black achievement in business would lead to equality.

But in the 1890s, during a national economic depression, white politicians kicked off what they termed the “White Supremacy Campaign” of 1898-1900. A new poll tax and literacy test disenfran-

Houser laid the cornerstone (above) for First United Presbyterian Church (left) at East Seventh and North College streets in 1896, the same year Carter Hall was completed.

chised Black citizens. A tide of hatred targeted successful African Americans.

In 1902, suspected arsonists destroyed Houser’s brick factory. His son, physician Dr. N.B. Houser, had already departed for Helena, Arkansas, to find better conditions. William Houser joined him there and died in 1912.

His body came home to Friendship Baptist for the funeral. The Observer took note: “William Houser was a brick-

mason and one of the city’s leading colored contractors, held in high esteem by members of both races.”

BUILDING HISTORY is a monthly series that highlights Charlotte’s historic buildings. Tom Hanchett, a local historian in Charlotte since 1981, is the author of Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975 and former staff historian at the Levine Museum of the New South. Follow him on Twitter at @historysouth.

ART IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC APRIL 17  NOVEMBER 28 MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN When the city fell quiet, artists turned to their work to make sense of a new reality. The results take center stage in a Mint exhibition featuring works of art that grapple with issues from systemic racism to isolation in a masked world.

Silent Streets: Art in the Time of Pandemic is generously supported by Fifth Third Bank

mintmuseum.org

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GOOD LIFE

PART Y P I C S

Seen Upcoming Calendar of Events Submit your event online at charlottemagazine. com/calendar, and look forward to seeing more from these: APRIL 4/22 Charlotte Sustainability Awards, sustaincharlotte.org/awards 4/23 Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte benefiting The Pink House, carolinabreastfriends.org MAY 5/22 Charlotte Memory Gala benefiting Alzheimer’s Association, sharecharlotte.org

Heart Ball Gala 2021 (Virtual)

benefiting American Heart Association Charlotte Jan. 30, 2021 1. Patrons watch at home 2. Sarah French 3. Kim Henderson, Donna de Molina, Al de Molina

Roof Above (Virtual)

benefiting Charlotte’s homeless Jan. 15, 2021

Living History: Winter On The Homestead Latta Plantation Jan. 10, 2021

1. Jamie Patton, Bryan Patton, Liz Patton 2. Levi Zeilenga, Shane Zeilenga, Addison Zeilenga, Chad Zeilenga, Annie Zeilenga 3. Peyton McKee 4. Noah Herr

Continued on page 30

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

DANIEL COSTON; COURTESY (3)

1. Sierra Ferrell 2. Troy Conn Trio

THE GOOD LIFE

Intersection Art Opening C3 Lab Jan. 11, 2021

Dream Gala 2021 (Virtual) benefiting Dream On 3 Jan. 30, 2021

1. Brandon Lindsey, Elizabeth Lindsey 2. Shane Lawrence, Mary Beth Taylor 3. Tom Cornwell 4. Wyatt Dorrette, Levi Lowrey, Dave Kennedy

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

DANIEL COSTON; EMBY TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY (4)

1. Liz Chiles, Dan Weidman 2. Chavonne Trevillion, Asha Davis 3. Hyun Lee 4. James O’Toole, Kelsey Bates 5. Mark Doepker 6. Blair Townsend, Angela Johnson

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THE GOOD LIFE ART S + E V E NT S

The Playlist THE BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE THIS MONTH

BY ANDY SMITH

See Hank Willis Thomas’ Wordplay in Myers Park

You can see “Love Rules” through April 23 alongside a solo show by photographer Linda Foard Roberts. The Raleigh installation, in the Warehouse District, remains in place.

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Find the ‘Dreamer’ in South Carolina You’ve likely seen Darion Fleming’s work around Charlotte. The artist, also known as @daflemingo on Instagram, crafted the massive Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters wall piece in Plaza Midwood and the viral Purell mural in Villa Heights. His latest major project takes us to downtown Rock Hill, S.C. “Dreamer” is about the power of imagination. “I want this piece to act as a reminder that children should always be encouraged to create,” he tells us. “A child’s dreams are fabricated through an imagination that feeds off creativity, and it can all start with a crayon.”

WHILE YOU’RE IN ROCK HILL: Take a walk through the gorgeous Glencairn Garden (725 Crest St.), with its tiered fountain and flowering trees; visit the planetarium at Museum of York County (461 Mt. Gallant Rd.); and have a glass at the popular Cat’s Paw Winery (1567 Fayrene Rd.).

See Some Live Music (We Hope) These concerts were scheduled as of press time with no guarantee that the curtains would open.

APRIL 3: Afroman and Folk Rap Band at The Unknown Brewing Co. (1327 S. Mint St.)

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

APRIL 9: Alicia Witt at The Evening Muse (3227 N. Davidson St.)

APRIL 10: Garth Brooks at Bank of America Stadium (800 S. Mint St.)

APRIL 10: Fozzy at The Underground (820 Hamilton St.)

APRIL 24: Jimmy Buffett at PNC Music Pavilion (707 Pavilion Blvd.)

COURTESY

ALONG WITH RALEIGH, SOCO Gallery (421 Providence Rd.) hosts the Charlotte wing of a two-city installation of Brooklyn conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas’ “Love Rules.”

The work consists of a neon sign that alternates illuminated letters to spell, “LOVERULES,” “LOVE,” “RULES,” and “OVER” (by combining the last three letters of “LOVE” and the first letter of “RULES”). The piece pays homage to Willis’ cousin Songha, murdered in Philadelphia 21 years ago. “Love over rules” comes from the last message Songha left for the artist before his death.

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EXPLORE THE TASTES OF CHARLOTTE

Bar fries smothered in gravy, cheese sauce, and bacon is a popular happy hour snack at Havana 33.

N OW O P E N

¡SABROSO! Havana 33 serves authentic Cuban cuisine lakeside

BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

HAVANA 33 opened at the bottom of a peninsula on Lake Norman in late October, in the space formerly occupied by The Prickly Pear. The restaurant has the same lake views and one of the same owners, Val Panizzut.

But instead of modern Mexican fare, chef Renee Garcia serves authentic Cuban dishes like picadillo and mojo chicken with yucca fries and sweet plantains. In place of the dark mahogany bar, stone columns, and black tablecloths, you’ll find a brighter, more energetic interior with exposed shiplap walls, murals of classic cars, and light fixtures made from repurposed Bacardi bottles.

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK

(Above) The Masa Frita is crunchy fried pork and pickled red onions served with rice, beans, and plantains. Diners can sit in the colorful dining area (top) or on the patio overlooking the lake (right).

HAVANA 33 637 Williamson Rd., Ste. 100, Mooresville 704-799-0875 havana33.com Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. WednesdaySaturday

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Have a seat at a table, booth, or the 10-seat bar—and don’t be surprised if you hear a thumping sound coming from the kitchen.

That’s just the chefs using mallets to tenderize the pork. On a sunny day or warm evening, grab a table on the patio overlooking the lake.

Start with a classic mojito ($8) or try a signature cocktail like the Cha Cha Cha ($10) with Stoli, Muddy River Carolina coconut, pineapple, and blue Curacao. There’s also a short wine list and a beer menu with local brews like Sycamore’s Mountain Candy IPA and OMB Copper.

The tapas are the stars of the menu. The Chicken Empanadas ($9) come with three warm, crispy chicken turnovers and a side of piquillo sauce for dipping. The Cuban Egg Rolls ($8) are an exquisite mashup of comfort food with pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles encased in a crispy shell. (Don’t be shy about

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

requesting more spicy honey mustard dip.) The Yuca Fritters ($7) are addictive bite-sized dough balls stuffed with cheese and served with a side of cilantro aioli. And if you’re just looking for a happy-hour snack, Havana 33 serves five varieties of bar fries, but the Four Cheese and Gravy Fries ($8), smothered in gravy, cheese sauce, and bacon, is a top seller for good reason.

Each of Havana 33’s five sandwiches is served on authentic Cuban bread from La Segunda Bakery in Tampa and pressed panini-style. The Pan con Lechon ($12) is stuffed with crispy pork, grilled onions, and garlic mojo sauce. If you’re craving a classic Cuban, the Sandwich Cubano ($12) gets it done with pork, ham, Swiss, and pickles. But if you want to kick it up a few notches, go for the Havana 33 Special ($14).

It’s layered with roasted pork, ham, prosciutto, Spanish chorizo, Swiss cheese, pickles, and

(Above) The Ropa Vieja is a traditional Cuban dish of shredded beef, onions, peppers, and tomato sauce. (Top) A classic Cuban sandwich with a side of fries and a mojito. (Right) Cuban Egg Rolls come with a side of spicy honey mustard dip.

mustard, and it’s big enough for two people to split for lunch. Each of these sandwiches comes with a heap of Guajiro fries, which are sprinkled in cotija cheese and served with a side of cilantro garlic mojo.

The Havana Classics are plated entrees that come with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. The Ropa Vieja ($16), which translates to “old clothes” in Spanish, is a traditional Cuban dish of slow-cooked shredded beef, onions, peppers, and tomato sauce. The Masa Frita ($14), a medley of crunchy fried pork chunks and pickled red onions, is a punch of

salt, spice, and tang in one bite. For a vegetarian option, there’s Pisto Manchego ($12), a mix of roasted vegetables stewed in tomato sauce and topped with manchego cheese.

Whether you come for a weekday lunch with co-workers or a casual dinner after a day on the boat, Havana 33 is a fun, affordable alternative to the countless Tex-Mex restaurants in Mooresville. You’ll get generous portions and colorful cocktails in a casual, lakeside setting.

Don’t leave without trying: The Cuban Egg Rolls ($8) with a side of spicy honey mustard dip.

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK

At Dee’s Vegan To-Go, owner Dee Hairston (above) serves vegan comfort foods like Fried Chix Tenders & Waffles (left).

LO C AL F L AVO R

VEGAN SOUL

Charlotteans embrace familiar comfort foods with a twist

BY JARED MISNER | PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER TAYLOR

IN DECEMBER, after four years of hawking her vegan sweet potato spice cake and other plant-based dishes at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Dee Hairston opened her first brick-and-mortar vegan restaurant, Dee’s Vegan To-Go, on West Boulevard. The St. Louis native serves homemade vegan comfort foods like Fried Chix Tenders & Waffles with vegan “chicken” tenders battered with coconut milk and seasoned flour, and Hearty Black Bean Chili with organic black beans and Beyond Beef.

Hairston—who won’t disclose her age but admits she has grandchildren— learned to cook traditional soul food from

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

her mother and grandmother, and she picked up some techniques from a few semesters at Johnson & Wales and Central Piedmont Community College. But 11 years ago, she decided to drastically change her diet. She’d lost her mother, grandmother, and two aunts within five years of each other, all from conditions that have often struck people of color through the decades: diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Hairston, who grew up eating the same dishes they did, knew she was at risk, too.

She began to swap out, for example, fried chicken for tofu and coconut milk for heavy cream. She gradually learned to

make her own version of vegan soul food through trial and error and her beloved cookbook collection, which she’s built over 30 years. “I would practice, drill, and rehearse,” she says. “Of course, my family was my guinea pig.”

Instead of traditional, animal fat-laden Southern cuisine, Hairston landed on a health-conscious modification that’s catching on in Charlotte and other American cities. In the past year, in defiance of COVID’s vise-like grip on the restaurant industry, at least a half-dozen vegan comfort or vegan soul food restaurants, food trucks, and pop-ups have opened in Charlotte. In Atlanta, Lil Baby, Snoop Dogg, and Tiffany Haddish frequent The Slutty Vegan, a vegan burger joint where customers wait in line for as long as three hours.

Black celebrities have helped spread the word about vegan cuisine’s benefits.

Serena Williams, Erykah Badu, and Colin Kaepernick often post about their plantbased diets on social media, and last year Kaepernick launched a vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor, Change the Whirled, a blend of non-dairy caramel and fudge chips with graham crackers and chocolate cookies. It figures that the enthusiasm has spread to restaurant owners: In the first months of the pandemic, more vegan restaurants opened in the United States (517) than closed (413), according to a summer 2020 report in the online vegan and vegetarian restaurant guide HappyCow. Chenelle Bragg, who opened Best of Both Souls in the Wesley Heights neighborhood in September, is another one of these pioneering chefs. Bragg, 43, grew up in

The Vegan Revolution A sampling of Charlotte’s vegan soul food/comfort food restaurants:

Chenelle Bragg (left) serves a soy-based Nashville hot chicken sandwich (above) at her carryout vegan spot, Best of Both Souls.

Detroit but as a child ate Sunday dinners at the home of her maternal grandmother, a native of Meridian, Mississippi. The food was pure Southern—fried chicken, collard greens with fatback, black-eyed peas, chitlins—and she retained some of her eating habits into adulthood.

But a diverticulitis diagnosis convinced her to think harder about what she ate, and she soon discovered that a plantbased diet helped control her flare-ups.

“Soul food, to me, is when you’re cooking from yourself,” she says. “You’re cooking with love, you’re cooking with passion, and it’s food that’s good for yourself.”

After she moved to Charlotte, Bragg worked in local restaurants and as a private chef before she opened Best of Both Souls. Her most popular menu item is a soy-based Nashville hot chicken sandwich served between two buttery (vegan) buns.

Of course, changing your own diet is one thing. Convincing others who were raised on Grandma’s down-home cookin’ on Sunday afternoons is another. But many vegan chefs say customers embrace the dishes once they try them. “I give them a sample, and they always order,” says Akil Courtney, owner and chef of Ve-Go food

truck. Courtney bought the food truck in June 2019 and regularly parks outside local breweries, where he convinces meat eaters to try his wheat-based barbecue ribs and crabless crab cakes.

American palates increasingly tolerate, even enjoy, tempeh instead of tuna.

The number of Americans who eat vegan food has risen from an estimated 290,000 in 2004 to 9.7 million in 2019, according to a study the British retail analytics firm Ipsos Retail Performance published last year. (That number doesn’t include vegetarians, who still eat dairy and eggs, or “flexitarians,” who only occasionally go meatless.) You don’t have to invest fully in a vegan diet to eat and enjoy vegan food.

Most of Dee Hairston’s customers at Dee’s Vegan To-Go—about 80%—aren’t vegan, she says. They just like her food.

Her jambalaya topped with Beyond Meat vegan sausage; coconut cream-based “Mac and Cheeze”; and stir-fry with “chicken” made from plant-based proteins are her most popular dishes. She fries the vegan chicken, as she would real chicken, and adds a medley of herbs and spices to tofu to replace the bacon grease and salt pork that soul food chefs use to flavor meat.

But one soul food staple she hasn’t been able to make vegan? Oxtails.

“That’s not supposed to be vegan!” she says, laughing. “Nope, nope, nope!”

JARED MISNER, a vegan for nine years, is a frequent contributor to this magazine. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Our State.

DEE’S VEGAN TO-GO, 1540 West Blvd., Ste. 100, 980-430-3856 Don’t leave this takeout-only spot without one of Chef Dee’s baked goods. It’s a tasty treat after the spicy jambalaya.

BEST OF BOTH SOULS, 2200 Thrift Rd. (inside the City Kitch building), 704-270-9998 This mostly takeout restaurant has some of Charlotte’s best Nashville hot chicken, vegan or not.

VE-GO FOOD TRUCK, locations vary, 704-351-1928 Choose jerk “chicken,” calabash “shrimp,” or country-fried “steak” at this food truck, which is usually parked outside one of Charlotte’s many breweries.

SOUL MINER’S GARDEN FOOD TRUCK, locations vary, 704-713-5661 With temporary homes outside a number of regional breweries, this vegan food truck dishes up barbecue jackfruit sliders and collards without the bacon grease.

VEGGANERS LUCK, locations vary, 310-867-9531 This “ghost restaurant” is pop-up only, so follow it on Instagram to locate its vegan brisket and pecan pie.

VELTREE, 7945 N. Tryon St., Ste. 110, 980-355-0075 Good luck choosing between the “Not Popeye’s” sandwich and the vegan shrimp po’ boy sandwich at this University City spot.

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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FOOD+DRINK O N T H E LI N E W I T H

KRISTI MARTIN

Your Mom’s Bazaar’s general manager has pulled through the COVID economy—and cancer

BY TAYLOR BOWLER Age: 47 You might know her from: She founded and owns FEAST Food Tours & Culinary Events.

Relationship status: Married Hometown: “I was born in Ohio but moved to Salisbury at age 11. I came to Charlotte in ’91 and never left.”

Currently lives: Harrisburg Favorite sports team: Carolina Panthers Currently watching: The Crown Currently reading: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Describe your role with FEAST and how it will overlap with Your Mom’s Bazaar. I founded (FEAST) in February 2012, because I love sharing Charlotte’s culinary story and creating a fun experience for people. At the time of COVID, I had three full-time and six part-time employees. When the pandemic hit, we had to shut down operations because we can’t run food tours and go in and out of restaurants. So I had to let everybody go and put everything on hold. I may start it up again, but Your Mom’s Bazaar came along at a good time—the opportunities aligned.

How did your cancer diagnosis change your approach to work? In December 2018, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. I started chemo in January 2019 and got into remission, so I had to find a stem cell donor. We found an anonymous donor through Be the Match, and I got the bone marrow transplant in April 2019. But I had to hand everything over to my employees and do what I could from my hospital bed.

How’s your health? My 12-month quarantine ended in April 2020, so I had to go right back into quarantine because I have a baby immune system. I’m still in remission, and I’ve had hardly any rejection symptoms, so I’m almost back to my normal self. But yeah, I was wearing masks in restaurants before it was cool (laughs).

What do you think is an underappreciated flavor? My favorite flavor profile is bitter. I love IPAs, Negroni … I’m a bitter girl—well, not that kind (laughs).

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Is there one recipe you’d still like to master? I’ve started pickling, fermenting, and canning. I’m still learning at the basic level, but I’d like to make my own vinegar.

What would be your last meal? I’d eat at the best Michelin star restaurant in the world. Or spend a week and go to all of them and have my socks blown off (laughs).

What’s your favorite way to spend an unscheduled day in Davidson? I’d start at the Davidson Farmer’s Market with a Summit Coffee and a Your Mom’s Donut. If the weather is nice, I just love roaming in and out of the shops and boutiques. I’d have lunch at the Pickled Peach, and I’d end the day with cocktails and dinner at Kindred.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Charlotte? That’s impossible to answer, so I’ll say Soul Gastrolounge because it’s so diverse and checks a lot of boxes.

THE TOUGH STUFF Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla Coffee or tea?

Coffee Beer or wine?

Beer Cake or pie?

Cake Doughnut or muffin?

Doughnut Lobster roll or egg roll?

Egg roll

What’s your favorite food city, other than Charlotte?

Charleston.

Bon Appétit or Gourmet?

Bon Appétit

What’s one culinary trip you’d still love to take? Hundreds!

I’ve traveled a lot, but I’ve never been to New York City, so that’s at the top of my list.

Ina Garten or Paula Deen?

Ina Garten

What do you like to do outside the kitchen? When I came out of cancer, I wanted to live more and figure out who Kristi 2.0 is. So I do yoga. I’ve learned to knit. I did an alcohol ink painting class at Levine Cancer Institute, so I’ve been getting into that. Who knows? I may have customers in alcohol ink art.

Street eats or sit-down?

Sit-down Facebook or Instagram?

Instagram

COURTESY

How did this opportunity with Your Mom’s Bazaar come to you? I’d known owner Courtney (Buckley) for a few years—we’re in the Piedmont Culinary Guild together. She was looking for a general manager with knowledge of local food. I officially started in December 2020.

BITE-SIZED STO R I E S

Foodie Tidbits on a Small Plate

T H E STO RY B E H I N D. . .

BOSSY BEULAH’S opens its second location this summer at 2932 Griffith St. in South End. The chicken sandwich shack will have a walk-up window and patio seating.

Fine & Fettle’s Oatmeal Cream Pie

PEPPERBOX DOUGHNUTS will expand this spring to a second location at 2810 N. Davidson St. Look for its signature yeast-raised doughnuts in flavors like sea salt milk chocolate, lemon poppyseed, and white chocolate cranberry swirl, plus a variety of vegan options and locally roasted coffee and tea.

FINE & FETTLE’S EXECUTIVE CHEF, Daniel Wheeler, arranges his plates like flower beds, garnishing colorful local ingredients with edible marigolds, violas, and a variety of greens. Many of his dishes, like his grandmother’s Bucatini Bolognese, are served with a story. His Oatmeal Cream Pie nods toward a childhood after-school snack: “an oatmeal cream pie with a glass of strawberry Nesquik,” he says. “I’ve often thought of how to recreate this part of my life into a dish—this is the reincarnation of that snack.” The oatmeal pie FINE & FETTLE represents the cookies, the toasted marshmallow fluff is the cream 4905 Barclay Downs Dr. filling, and the strawberry crumble is a grown-up substitute for the 704-552-1715 Nesquik. The fresh strawberries, edible flowers, and delicate dots of fineandfettle.com strawberry cream are the mark of this seasoned chef. —Taylor Bowler

Lindsay Anvik and Rob Henricks, the couple behind the popular charcuterie business BABE & BUTCHER, will open their first brick-and-mortar location at Camp North End this spring. Customers can purchase grab-and-go charcuterie boxes or build their own meat and cheese platters and watch the staff assemble them through the window into the catering kitchen.

COURTESY

YaMe ASIAN NOODLE opens this month in the former Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse space in Parktowne Village. The fast casual concept will serve ramen, pho, pad thai, and other Pan-Asian dishes like fried rice, sesame chicken, and stir-fry veggies.

New York-based pizza joint EMMY SQUARED PIZZA will open its first North Carolina location this summer in a former consignment store at 1508 Central Ave. Order their trademark Detroit-style pizza, or choose from a menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and bar snacks. —Taylor Bowler

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Lake Norman, In Depth

Lake Norman, In Depth “Lake Norman” can refer to either the actual lake or the area that surrounds it—the collection of northern Mecklenburg and southern Iredell County cities and towns, the spaces between them, and the new homes, piers, and boat docks built at or near the water’s edge. That’s the new Lake Norman, all right. But if you know where to look, you can find older, more eccentric places that underline the area’s history, culture, and ecological importance—right alongside the $2 million new builds with wet bars and jet ski lifts. You can find value in both. Let’s take a ride.

Jetton Park in Cornelius includes a small beach that’s a popular lakeside setting for weddings.

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SHORE BETS

A guide to the pearls scattered throughout the Lake Norman area

By TAYLOR BOWLER, GREG LACOUR, and ANDY SMITH

Lakeside Activities “SO THIS IS THE BRAND-NEW RAPTOR CENTER,” says Michele Miller Houck, technically the Carolina Raptor Center’s associate executive director but someone who, on the center’s website and in her email signature, has adopted the title of “Chief Wonder Maker.”

“And it’ll have 40 enclosures. It’ll have an outdoor classroom and health and wellness center for the birds—so, essentially, this is where the diet is prepared. This is where the quarterly health checks are done on the birds. This is where they would come if they had an injury. This is for our resident birds that live at this facility—which will be probably between 60 and 80 birds that will live here.”

It’s midday on a January Friday at Quest, the new, multimillion-dollar science education center for the nonprofit RAPTOR CENTER AND LATTA NATURE CENTER AND PRESERVE (6345 Sample Rd., Huntersville); 1,460-acre Latta, Mecklenburg County’s largest nature preserve, has hosted the Raptor Center since 1984. No one else is around—we’re all still slogging through the winter of COVID—and Houck and I keep our masks on and our conversation properly distanced.

But eventually, Houck and the rest of her team hope, as many as 100,000 children and adults per year will roam the trail that leads to new enclosures for owls, eagles, hawks, vultures, shrikes, and even a laughing kookaburra, and take in bird shows at a new, 200-seat Duke Energy Amphitheater.

This alone would be a significant step for the Raptor Center. But those improvements join hands with the now-completed, 13,000-square-foot Quest, a modern education center for Latta with water-themed interactive exhibits, meeting spaces, classrooms, and an indoor fountain that demonstrates how Charlotte gets its drinking water: rain that collects in nearby Mountain Island Lake.

The back part of Quest serves as an introductory stop for the Raptor Center, and the building’s design allows visitors to take in the hydrological Latta exhibits in front, then the Raptor Center space in back.

From there, they can head behind the building to the bird enclosures and amphitheater. Houck expects 20 of the enclosures to be finished this year.

Even after nearly 40 years, and even though Latta and the Raptor Center are technically separate entities, they’ve never integrated their missions this fully. The complex’s touchstones are “innovation and collaboration,” she says. “We just think that we’re stronger together.”

—Greg Lacour

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

A Visit to Lake Norman State Park (and Others) Even boomtowns have oases. Here’s Lake Norman’s biggest: nearly 2,000 acres of pines and mixed hardwoods, 30 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a 125yard sandy beach, and 32 sites for camping—and, of course, fishing. The state park (759 State Park Rd., Troutman) opened in 1962 after Duke Power donated the land, and the lake’s sediment-rich waters teem with crappie, perch, bass, and channel catfish.

The park, about a 45-minute drive from Charlotte, hugs the northern edge of the lake near Troutman, and trails meander along the edges

of coves and inlets. On a chilly Sunday afternoon in January, families ply the tracks with their dogs and, at the bottom of a peninsula near the visitor center, a father and his two young sons cast lines from a sandstone boulder that juts into the water.

If you don’t need the expanse or care to drive that far, check out any of a trio of local parks in Cornelius: RAMSEY CREEK PARK (18441 Nantz Rd.), with its 44-acre waterfront area; JETTON PARK (19000 Jetton Rd.), with its reservable decks and gazebos; and ROBBINS PARK (17738 W. Catawba Ave.), a newer offering with a disc golf course and an expansive play area for kids. —G.L.

LOGAN CYRUS; COURTESY

A Look at the New Latta Nature Center and Preserve and Carolina Raptor Center

Lake Norman, In Depth

An interactive exhibit on display inside Quest, the new science center at Latta Nature Preserve in Huntersville (left). Carolina Renaissance Festival (below) plans to return this fall.

Discovery Place Kids: Huntersville’s RainyDay Sanctuary For 11 years, this Discovery Place location (105 Gilead Rd., Huntersville) has topped the must-visit list for area families.

The imaginative stations here allow kids to play in a pretend grocery store, laboratories, and an obstacle course that extends to the center’s high ceilings.

—Andy Smith

Carolina Renaissance Festival Returns Hear ye, hear ye! The annual festival (16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville) returns this fall to transform 25 acres into a 16th-century European town, complete with jousting and turkey legs. Let the post-plague revelry begin. —A.S.

Historic Celebrations at Rural Hill Historic RURAL HILL (4431 Neck Rd., Huntersville), an open, 265-acre rise just 16 miles north of uptown, is a popular space for weddings and similar events along with, normally, the beloved Loch Norman Highland Games and North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival in spring and the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze in fall. As of this writing, COVID has canceled the Loch Norman Games, at least, a major downer for a property devoted to Scottish history; its founder, John Davidson, built a mansion there in 1788, some 60 years after relatives of his had sailed from Scotland. (The remnants of the house, which burned down in 1886, remain on the property.) Couples still go there to exchange vows among the tree stands, though—and once,

says executive director Jessica Bustamante, a falling walnut conked a bride on the head during the ceremony. —G.L.

Cornelius History on Foot The town offers two 1.25-mile tours, one each for north and south of Catawba Avenue.

Highlights include the former site of the Cornelius Cotton Mill, co-founded by J.B. Cornelius, for whom the town was named in 1905. The mill building was demolished in 1997 and replaced by the town hall and (progress?) a Food Lion. —G.L.

Picks and Tricks at Carrigan Farms The 170-acre family farm (1261 Oakridge Farm Highway, Mooresville) is perhaps best known for its haunted trail in

October, but owners Doug and Kelly Carrigan host weddings and school tours throughout the year, too. Swim in the Quarry beginning in mid-May, pick strawberries, apples, or pumpkins from April to mid-November, or schedule a family photo shoot any time you like. —T.B.

A Trip Around the Track at GoPro Motorplex This outdoor, 0.7-mile, 11-turn karting facility (130 Motorplex Dr., Mooresville) is modeled after a historic track in Parma, Italy.

Drivers must be at least 16 to race—the karts reach speeds up to 55 mph—but this year GoPro added the Mini Motorplex, a remote-controlled racing experience that’s open to all ages. —T.B.

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Aliño Pizzeria in Mooresville serves Neapolitan pizza, including the Toscana (right), with San Marzano tomato sauce, sausage, fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil, and garlic.

Food

A Saucy Survey: 5 Lakeside Pizzas to Try NAPLES-STYLE:

CHICAGO-STYLE:

NEW YORK-STYLE:

BUFFALO-STYLE:

DETROIT-STYLE:

The thin, wood-fired pies at ALIÑO PIZZERIA (500 S. Main St., Ste. 401, Mooresville) follow a traditional mold.

Authenticity points: The tomato sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes, found only near Mount Vesuvius.

Deep-dish lovers in Charlotte point to MATT’S CHICAGO DOG (19732 One Norman Dr., Cornelius) for a prime, multi-layered pie. The box is heavy, so you can pretend you worked out today.

Hand-tossed, NYC-style pizzas at GIOVANNI’S PIZZA AND PASTA (559 Winecoff School Rd., Concord) are regularly praised by northern transplants—and we all know which style has the most gatekeepers.

Yes, Buffalo has a style, too: Expect a fluffy crust with toppings that cover the entire surface. The aptly named TASTE OF BUFFALO PIZZERIA (9610 Sherrill Estates Rd., Ste. B, Huntersville) does it right.

PELLEGRINO’S TRATTORIA (275 N. Main St., Ste. C, Troutman) slings many styles, including Detroit’s: rectangular, semi-deep slices with cheese cooked into the crust. —A.S.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

PETER TAYLOR

Tour the world without leaving the lake

Lake Norman, In Depth Saeed Safaie, an Iranian immigrant with a mechanical engineering degree, opened the current version of Saeed’s Bar & Grill in Cornelius in 1998.

Rise, Shine, and Soak Up Sun at Café 100

Croon the Pit Stress Away at Saeed’s We can’t think of a better Lake Norman bar that an Iranian mechanical engineer opened behind a gas station-turned-snow cone shop and which, thanks largely to the patronage of Dale Earnhardt Jr., draws NASCAR drivers and crew when they feel like singing karaoke. COVID restrictions have hurt SAEED’S BAR & GRILL (20832 Catawba Ave., Cornelius) as they have other bars; a longtime patron set up a GoFundMe in January on behalf of owner and founder Saeed Safaie. But Saeed hangs on with karaoke; a menu with burgers, dogs, subs, and other racin’-appropriate grub; and young NASCAR stars like Cole Custer and Ryan Blaney, who drop by every now and then. —G.L.

‘Strip’ Sips at The Soda Shop in Downtown Davidson

PETER TAYLOR

The Charlotte area doesn’t have much in the way of collegetown “strips,” the strings of cheek-by-jowl small businesses that have served generations of undergraduates. But Main Street in downtown Davidson is a kind of miniature Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, with its antique stores, the hobnobbing hub of Summit Coffee, and Kindred, perhaps the region’s best restaurant. THE SODA SHOP (104 S. Main St., Davidson), open since 1951 across Main Street from the imposing brick structures of Davidson College, embodies the cozy atmosphere of downtown: You can squeeze into booths or perch atop oldfashioned soda fountain stools to inhale classic burgers, fries, and shakes. —G.L.

Rd., Cornelius) serves Carolina classics like fried catfish, blue crab claws, and hushpuppies with a side of honey butter.

Think of it as a Palm Springsinspired fish fry with a tiki bar and sweeping lake views. Enjoy calabash shrimp in the midcentury modern dining room, sip a Negroni slushie on the covered

patio and watch sailboats dock for lunch, or treat the kids to chocolate and vanilla swirl soft serve. If you order something to go, get the Lobster Roll on the Kindreds’ famous milk bread.

No matter how you slice it, a meal here tastes like an instant vacation. —T.B.

This family-owned restaurant (100 Huntersville-Concord Rd., Huntersville) in a converted blue house serves breakfast and lunch until 2:30 p.m. daily. Order a bacon and egg combo, Greek frittata, or a Café Sunrise mimosa at the seven-seat counter. Stop in for lunch on a sunny day and enjoy a panini, wrap, or burger on the patio that overlooks the garden. —T.B.

… and Don’t Forget Dessert at Mooresville Ice Cream Company This 97-year-old ice cream parlor (172 N. Broad St., Mooresville) serves classics like Nana’s Banana Pudding and My-Oh-My Peanut Butter Pie, and it occasionally unveils new recipes like Flavor #88, in honor of Dale Jarrett’s 2014 induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Stay and order a banana split at the counter or grab a cone to go and stroll downtown Mooresville. —T.B.

Say ‘Hello’ to Hello, Sailor Joe and Katy Kindred’s second restaurant (20210 Henderson

Hello, Sailor, Joe and Katy Kindred’s second restaurant, focuses on Carolina beach classics like fried catfish, blue crab claws, and hushpuppies with honey butter.

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Drink Lost Worlds Brewing Brings Adventure to … a Cornelius Shopping Plaza DAVE HAMME is a relative newcomer to the beer world, but being a business consultant gives him one key insight: “As craft beer’s been maturing and growing, we had to differentiate ourselves.” He injected a love of archeology and adventure into LOST WORLDS BREWING (19700-D One Norman Blvd., Cornelius), modeled after the explorer clubs of the early 1900s. Maps, artifacts, and the replica skull of a woolly rhinoceros—an extinct species that dwelled in Pleistocene Asia—adorn the walls.

Hamme’s brewery at One Norman Plaza is less than a year old, but it gets national attention in beer publications and competitions. When we chat in January, he shares “three pillars” that drive Lost Worlds’ success in our booming beer sector.

The first, “whatever you’re doing, you’ve got to do right,” is why Hamme hired industry vets. Lost Worlds opened in April 2020 as a fully formed concept: Head brewer Dave Gonzalez—formerly of NoDa Brewing, Rivermen Brewing Company, Foothills Brewing, and Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery—crafted brews that medaled in the NC Brewers’ Cup and the Great American Beer Festival.

Content strategist Sherri Johnson’s past clients include Miller Brewing Company; she brought along a graphic designer from those days to create Lost Worlds’ intricate cans and merchandise.

The second pillar, Hamme says, was to build a “lifestyle brand” beyond the cans and apparel. One example: Lost Worlds calls its bartenders “Adventure Guides,” and each staffer is trained to

regale visitors with the explorers’ tales that inspired the brewery’s decor.

The third pillar, “community,” has been the most difficult for a place that opened during the shutdown last year.

They’ve partnered with nonprofits Pat’s Place Advocacy Center, Shirley’s Angels, and Cornelius Animal Shelter, and the brewery hosts yoga sessions, hiking groups, and, soon, speakers from the archeology field.

While his core customer base comes from the Lake Norman area, Hamme hopes to host travelers when the world opens again. “Everyone has a great travel story they want to share,” he says, “and the key for us is to give them a place to do that.” —A.S.

LOGAN CYRUS

Brewer and adventure enthusiast Dave Hamme modeled Lost Worlds Brewing after explorer clubs of the early 20th century.

He wants patrons to bring treasures they’ve collected so he can display them.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Lake Norman, In Depth

A Lakeside Flight

A rundown of beers to try at LKN breweries VISTA

A West Coast IPA with hints of grapefruit and citrus.

LOST WORLDS BREWING (19700-D One Norman Blvd., Cornelius) GO REAP YOURSELF

A pale ale infused with the world-famous hot pepper Carolina Reaper.

ASS CLOWN BREWING COMPANY (10620 Bailey Rd. E., Cornelius)

Have a Glass at Davidson Wine Co.

BROWN SUGAR BROWN COW

This urban winery (121 Depot St., Davidson) is like a candy store for oenophiles, who endure limited options at craft breweries. Choose from more than 35 varieties, including Barolos, pinotages, petit verdot, and ports. Order appetizers like crab and lobster dip and charcuterie, or splurge on gluten-free chocolate mousse pie. —T.B.

A malty “mocha brown ale.”

D9 BREWING COMPANY (11138 Treynorth Dr., Cornelius) MOTHER OF HUMAN KINDNESS

A creamy hazelnut stout.

PRIMAL BREWERY (16432 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville)

CAFFEINATION STATIONS:

The Lake Norman Coffee Roundup SUMMIT COFFEE CO. (128 S. Main St., Davidson): It expanded to Chapel Hill, NoDa, and Asheville, but Summit’s flagship store remains in the same 19th-century building in Davidson.

PUBLIC GROUNDS (21314 Catawba Ave., Cornelius): Sip local roasts from Black Powder Coffee, savor pastries from Bakery 28, or enjoy kombucha from Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

RIVER OTTER RED

77 GROUNDS (605 Jetton St., Ste. B, Davidson): This new addition to Davidson serves Pure Intentions Coffee and dairy-free oat and almond milks. —T.B.

An Irish Red with a bit of roasted barley.

ELEVEN LAKES BREWING (10228 Bailey Rd., Ste. 201, Cornelius) —A.S.

PETER TAYLOR; LOGAN CYRUS

CABBELLA’S COFFEE SHOP (1250 N. Highway 16, Denver): Have a warm caramel latte by the fire or take it to go and stroll the waterfront park around the corner.

GOOD DRIP COFFEE (108 S. Main St., Ste. A, Davidson): Enjoy a matcha latte with a pecan-pie pop tart and watch the foot traffic along Main Street.

77 Grounds serves Pure Intentions coffee, teas, and bites from other lake-area vendors.

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Out On The Water Get Educated at the Ride LKN Wake & Surf School The instructors at this school (114 Bowfin Cr., Mooresville) tailor lessons in wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and wakefoiling to people of varying skill levels, from newcomers to riders ready for pro tricks. The business also offers private charters and summer camps for kids, with tubing, wakeboarding, and surfing lessons. —A.S. On Board with Aloha Paddle Sports This waterfront shop (400B N. Harbor Pl., Davidson) at North Harbor Landing in Davidson rents kayaks, too, but it specializes in paddleboarding.

A private introductory lesson costs $60 ($35 for ages 10-16), and Aloha also offers paddleboard yoga and 90-minute sunset paddle tours.

It’s a lake, so don’t worry about surf, but watch those boat wakes. —G.L.

Aloha Paddle Sports rents paddleboards and offers lessons (above); aside from lessons, Ride LKN Wake & Surf School also offers summer camps for kids, family boat rentals, and private group charters (below).

Dragon Boat Festival Breathes Fire Afresh Here be dragons, again: On October 16, leviathans descend upon Lake Norman for the 15th annual Dragon Boat Race, part of the annual Charlotte Asian Festival at Ramsey Creek Park.

The team competition is part of a Chinese tradition that’s more than 2,000 years old. COVID canceled last year’s event, but organizers from the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association confirm that the 200-meter bout is back for 2021. —A.S.

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Lake Norman, In Depth The Carolina Grace, a 100-foot luxury yacht and event venue (below); Capt. Gus Gustafson (bottom) of Captain Gus’ Lake Norman Laugh Liner.

Essential Boat Tours on Lake Norman COURTESY: VISIT LAKE NORMAN (2); CAROLINA GRACE/CHRIS SHERIDAN; RIDE LKN WAKE & SURF SCHOOL

Four options to traverse the lake in style Queens Landing: This cruise service operates two boats with dining included: the luxurious The Lady of the Lake yacht or the replica Mississippi riverboat The Catawba Queen. (1459 River Highway, Mooresville)

Celebrate on Lake Norman’s Biggest Yacht: Carolina Grace, a 100-foot luxury yacht and event venue, is the largest vessel of its kind on the lake. It’s outfitted with two bars, offices, four bathrooms, a heated

upper deck, and room for more than 100 guests, which makes it a coveted wedding venue. But it offers intimate experiences, too, like dinner cruises and yoga classes. (18020 Kings Point Dr., Cornelius) —A.S.

Captain Gus’ Lake Norman Laugh Liner: Think the Funny Bus on water.

Capt. Gus Gustafson is a published author and an ideal fishing partner.

(Little Creek Access Area, 4880 Burton Ln., Denver) Charlotte Cycleboats: This party boat experience, highly popular for bachelorette shindigs, gives you the chance to work off those drinks by powering the vessel together. If you hear lots of yelling on the lake, it’s probably this boat. (400B N. Harbor Pl. Dr., Davidson)

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HOT LISTINGS

COVID SEEMS TO HAVE CRIPPLED just about everything in 2020 except Charlotte’s runaway train of a housing market, and Lake Norman maintained its status as an area for mid-priced to high-end homes with all the space and amenities a buyer could ask for—and lake access to boot.

Sales dipped in the lockdown months of April and May and even into June, according to data from Canopy, the main Realtors’ organization for the Charlotte region. But the Lake Norman market rebounded hard as the year progressed: By year’s end, the number of closings had grown by 8.2% over 2019, and inventory had dropped by more than 60%, an astonishing figure. “Fifty percent of our business went away in April and May, and we still surpassed last year’s (sales) total,” says Stephanie Gossett, a Cornelius-based Allen Tate regional vice president who has worked in the Lake Norman area for most of the last 25 years. “It was nuts.”

Gossett says she believes the lockdown in spring, normally the peak season for home sales, actually created pent-up demand that was freed once COVID restrictions eased. And even that wasn’t the primary reason why sales shot back up.

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She credits a combination of factors: historically low mortgage interest rates (as of late January, generally less than 3% for a 30-year, fixed-rate loan); a continuing shortage of home inventory, exacerbated by a slowdown in building; “and on top of that, we’re still one of the most popular places to live in the country,” she says. “It’s been the perfect storm for the housing market—in a good way.”

In some ways, the pandemic may have heightened the appeal of the spacious new builds Lake Norman is known for. Gossett stresses that her evidence is anecdotal, but she’s heard from professionals who before 2020 lived in places like Mooresville and Davidson and commuted to and from their jobs in uptown Charlotte. COVID forced many of them to work from home, a trend that figures to continue—and much of Lake Norman’s housing stock allows for conversions and additions to accommodate home offices and workspaces. Far from dousing the area’s housing market, COVID and its consequences may have added fuel to it. “In the field right now, multiple offers are more the norm than the exception,” she says, “and we’re talking about 15 offers, not two.” —Greg Lacour

COURTESY

An expanded roundup of desirable real estate in and around Lake Norman

Lake Norman, In Depth

254 BEATEN PATH RD. $849,000 MOORESVILLE This cozy retreat on a private cove has a shoreline boardwalk that leads to a pier and covered boat slip. The main level has hardwood floors, a gourmet kitchen, and a spacious master suite that opens to the back deck. 3 BD, 2.5 BA, 3,589 sq. ft., The Allen Team, thechristyallenteam.com 7980 BRADFORD LN. $1,150,000 DENVER Classic colonial architecture, a formal foyer, and custom built-ins give this two-story abode a traditional sensibility. An expansive covered porch, backyard pool, and boat slip make it primed for lake life. 3 BD, 6.5 BA, 7,045 sq. ft., Keller Williams, kw.com

108 PIER 33 DR., UNIT 413 $229,900 MOORESVILLE Enjoy access to the lake, boardwalk, pool, and tennis courts from this ground-floor waterfront condo. Unwind on the patio with a cocktail, or kayak across the cove to Havana 33 and Eddie’s on Lake Norman. 2 BD, 2 BA, 1,051 sq. ft., Helen Adams Realty, helenadamsrealty.com

153 HUNTINGTON RIDGE PL. $695,000 MOORESVILLE This picturesque custom home sits at the end of a winding driveway on a four-acre lot. Entertain friends and family in the updated kitchen, or relax by the stone fireplace in the living room. 4 BD, 4 BA, 3,702 sq. ft., Allen Tate, allentate.com

17810 HALF MOON LN., UNIT B $489,000 CORNELIUS This poolside condo has wood floors, plantation shutters, and a gas fireplace surround. The complex has nearby kayak storage, boat rentals at the marina, and an onsite day dock. 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,464 sq. ft., Coldwell Banker, coldwellbanker.com

111 ISLAND COVE LN. $1,664,400 MOORESVILLE This new build in The Harbour at the Pointe community comes with amenities like a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, playground, and community docks. The two-story home has an open kitchen with walk-in pantry, a formal dining room with a wet bar, and a large covered porch with an outdoor fireplace. 4 BD, 4.5 BA, 4,576 sq. ft., TSG Residential, tsgdavidson.com 7823 LIVE OAKS DR. $1,895,000 DENVER Located in the gated Live Oaks community, this renovated home has an open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, and patio with an outdoor grill. The waterfront property has a private pier and floating dock with two watercraft ramps. 4 BD, 4.5 BA, 5,476 sq. ft., Keller Williams, kw.com 20345 NORMAN COLONY RD. $2,199,999 CORNELIUS This waterfront sanctuary has hardwoods throughout the main floor, plantation shutters, high-end light fixtures, and expansive windows that offer lake views from nearly every room. The finished walkout lower level leads to a private pier with a diving board and boat and jet ski lifts. 5 BD, 4.5 BA, 5,155 sq. ft., Select Premium Properties, Inc., selectpremiumproperties.com 16505 JETTON RD. $5,500,000 CORNELIUS With cedar beams and cathedral arches throughout, this colossal estate feels like a castle on the lake. The master suite has a fireplace, walk-in closet, and personal laundry station. The downstairs great room opens to a stone lanai with an outdoor kitchen and saltwater pool; the private pier connects to a two-boat slip dock. 5 BD, 5.5 BA, 8,127 sq. ft., Lead 2 Real Estate Group, lead2group.com Homes available as of February 9, 2021.

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Lake Norman, In Depth

LUXURY LAKE AT THE

A penthouse condo in Cornelius with custom touches at every turn

By MICHELLE BOUDIN Photographs by JOEL LASSITER

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Lake Norman, In Depth The wide-open living area has coffered ceilings and a wall of windows.

After nine years in their 8,700-square-foot home in The Peninsula, a waterfront community on Lake Norman, Jim and Colleen Ludington were ready to downsize.

But the couple planned to wait until their youngest son, 16-yearold Sam, graduated from high school. “We weren’t looking, but I heard about the Watermark project and went to meet with the developer, and I just loved everything they were doing,” Colleen says. “We worried that if we didn’t get in right from the beginning, we’d miss our chance at one of the penthouses.”

Watermark Lake Norman is a gated, resort-style condo community with 48 units that broke ground in 2018 and was completed late last year. The Ludingtons bought one of 10 penthouses with private elevators and two-car garages. Their unit was still under construction when they purchased it, which allowed them to work with the builder on architectural changes before they moved in last fall.

Colleen, a realtor and children’s book author, wanted it to feel like a pre-war apartment in New York City. “My whole aesthetic—from the herringbone walnut floors to the marble bathrooms—I wanted it to have that timeless and classic feel.”

The framework was there: high ceilings, hardwood flooring, and a wide-open living area. The Ludingtons would make just a few modifications to the kitchen layout, add a built-in wine display, and install a custom fireplace in the living room.

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Lake Norman, In Depth

The wine lounge (left) has a built-in unit that holds up to 600 wine bottles.

Herringbone walnut floors give the new build a timeless and classic feel, reminiscent of a pre-war apartment in New York City (above).

Jim, a retired technology executive and gourmet cook, wanted a spacious kitchen with gas appliances and room to store his cookware and gadgets. They added 10-foot cabinets and had a rolling ladder crafted with gold rails to match the kitchen hardware. A second kitchen island gives the family an informal dining area with room for eight; its waterfalledge countertops are gray and gold Dolce Vita quartzite from Cutting Edge Stoneworks in Mooresville.

Off the kitchen, a separate seating area originally budgeted as a dining room is now the Ludingtons’ wine lounge. The couple wanted to replicate the wine cellar in their previous home that held their extensive collection of French and Italian wines.

They worked with the team at Vine & Branch Woodworks in Mooresville to design a 12-by-10.5-foot wine wall that holds up to 600 bottles. The built-in unit also has a humidor drawer for cigars, side cabinetry for glassware, and pull-out cabinets below for liquors and mixers. They turned the area beside it into a lounge that overlooks the pool where Jim likes to have his morning coffee.

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In the living room, a custom 7-by-2-foot gas fireplace from Fireside Hearth & Home anchors the space. “We designed the living room around a French painting that hangs above the fireplace,” Colleen says. “We had to do a lot of research to find a fireplace that would scale properly.”

The master suite includes a custom-built, boutique-style closet that displays Colleen’s clothes, designer shoes, and collection of half a dozen Kentucky Derby hats. In the bathroom, Vine & Branch installed custom cabinets with a StyleLite Tierra Elm finish; the countertops are Calacatta Gold Marble.

With the project complete, the couple says their favorite part of penthouse living is the open floor plan, which allows for more interactions with their boys. “It’s been great for our family,” Colleen says. “We thought, We’ll build it and maybe we’ll rent it, and then we fell in love with it.”

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

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Lake Norman, In Depth

The master suite (opposite) has a sitting area with a wall of framed Hermès scarves, a spa-inspired bathroom (above), and a custombuilt, boutique-style closet (above, left) that displays the homeowner’s designer clothes and shoes.

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ONE-TRACK MIND

A determined Mooresville resident dodges nature, regulations to construct his lakeside line Photo essay by DANIEL COSTON

Lou Paone’s backyard garden at The Point community in Mooresville features 485 feet of model train tracks.

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Lake Norman, In Depth

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Lake Norman, In Depth

Paone designed the garden’s terrain to evoke the “lush and rugged character” of the Pacific Northwest.

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Paone admired a model train display 25 years ago and thought he’d take on a similar project if he ever had the time.

A yellow jacket attack and waterborne infection that nearly cost him the use of his legs gave him the opportunity.

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Lake Norman, In Depth

O

n any given evening at The Point in Mooresville, you might hear the distant reverberation of a train. It could be a real-life freight rolling on the Norfolk Southern line that runs north-south through Lake Norman. Or it could be one of Lou Paone’s four model trains, 1/32nd-scale locomotives and cars that broadcast a train whistle recording as they whip around the 485 feet of track in his back garden.

Paone, a 72-year-old managing director at Deloitte Corporate Finance, designed and built all of it in the 5,000-square-foot garden behind his waterfront home, complete with shrubs, flowers, bushes, and rock formations. He created it after twin disasters. He and his wife, Rosemary, moved to The Point in 2007.

A year later, Paone, a lifelong gardener, stepped on a yellow jacket nest while working in a plant bed on the property. The wasps stung him nearly 30 times.

About a week later, with his wounds still open, he contracted a waterborne bacterial infection. “I almost lost the use of my legs,” he says.

Paone had to recuperate for several months while he worked from home, unable to travel for business, and he had time on his hands. He remembered a friend’s neighbor he’d met 25 years before who had built a model train display in his compact garden and spa. If I ever have the time and the space, Paone thought then, I’ll do the same. Now he had both, and he started to research garden railroads. “The internet is amazing,” he says. “I found tutorials, articles, and chat rooms that provided me with answers to many of the questions I had for designing and building a garden railroad.”

Paone had always admired “the lush and rugged character of the Pacific Northwest.” As he recovered, Paone removed trees and dumped soil to level the 100 feet between his house and the shoreline, then painstakingly built more than 125 feet of interconnected wooden trestles to guide the engines’ journey through the garden. The terrain beneath it contains waterfalls, a pond and cove, a river gorge, and a dry riverbed. He even took an online bonsai class so he could shape shrubs and ornamental trees.

He found a tutorial from a pair of modelers in Australia to learn how to build the stone bridges and another from a U.S.-based modeler about how to stabilize the stainless-steel track as it expanded

in extreme heat and contracted in cold. One way to answer those questions: Spend a lot of money.

Stainless steel conducts electricity better than any other metal and doesn’t corrode. It costs $15 per linear foot, and Paone spent $7,000 on the track alone. He used 500 plants at $30 each and 40 pallets of stone. Each of the four train engines cost between $750 and $1,500.

Then came the regulatory hurdles. “I had a ceaseand-desist order from the (N.C. Department of Environmental Quality) that stated, ‘If you continue to upset the naturalized area along the shoreline without getting our approval, you’re going to be fined $2,000 a day.’ I immediately called them and said, ‘What do I need to do?’”

Paone had to add trees back to the property to reflect the original number and amend his original design for the pond because it encroached on a shoreline setback requirement.

“Duke Energy was also alerted by the NCDEQ because I was building a waterfall and pond that were using a secondary irrigation pump,” he continues. “Duke Lake Services only allows one irrigation pump per property for lakefront homes to conserve lake water.” Paone redesigned the system to send water from the overflowing pond back to the lake.

His last hurdle: The Point community’s architectural committee, which told him his plan had numerous violations of their code and that the model trains were “toys.” (The committee prohibits permanent toys visible from the lake on lakefront property.)

Paone did what he would at work: He made a PowerPoint presentation to address each concern.

“I then brought in two of the railroad engines … and made the argument that they were essentially a unique garden accessory to a naturalized garden landscape,” he says. “The committee was immediately taken by the visual attractiveness of the model train engines.”

It took about three months for him to win approval.

But Paone says the trials were worth it. “People often say, ‘Your grandsons must love it,’” he says. “They do love it, but kids get easily bored if they are not constantly active. It’s the adults that will stand there and be mesmerized by the layout and detail.”

DANIEL COSTON is a photographer in Charlotte.

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WHERE THE LIVING IS

Easy

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Designer Brenna Morgan updates a lakefront home in Mooresville for a couple of Texas transplants

BY TAYLOR

BOWLER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

TIFFANY RINGWALD

Lake Norman, In Depth

In the breakfast nook, Fairfield dining chairs surround a one-of-a-kind table from a Hickory-based Amish manufacturer.

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(Left) A custom waterfall edge countertop is the focal point of the kitchen.

(Right) Morgan used the kitchen’s existing gold cabinetry and the homeowner’s teal barstools to build her color palette.

D

esigner Brenna Morgan worked in real estate for 10 years before she transitioned to interior design full-time in 2016. She transformed clients’ homes throughout the Charlotte area, but after a few years the bulk of her jobs were in Mooresville, Davidson, and Cornelius. Waterfront homes became her sweet spot; she understood the Lake Norman aesthetic and how to merge light, water, and outdoor living.

In October 2019, she took on a lakefront home in Mooresville. The homeowners had just relocated from Texas, and they bought the property for its proximity to the Lowe’s campus, where the husband works. It had stunning lake views and a dock for their boat, but the home itself, built in the early ’90s, needed updates. The previous owners had put on an addition that made it feel like “a bit of a hodgepodge, with a disjointed floor plan,” Morgan says. “We removed so many can lights. There had to be a can light every two feet in this house.”

Morgan worked alongside contractor Paul Pelis of Denver-based Perfect Choice Renovations to make the home function for the couple and their college-aged daughter, who would live with them while she took classes virtually. And because the husband worked for Lowe’s, Morgan had to use their products anywhere she could.

She gave the entire first floor a refresh, which included the kitchen, bathroom, and a dining area she turned into a workspace. Once COVID hit, it was clear the couple would need a work zone that functioned for both, so Morgan designed a built-in workstation with Lowe’s cabinetry and a walnut desktop they stained to match the floor.

Next, they ripped out the bathtub in the downstairs bathroom and replaced it with a standalone shower. “It needed to be more functional for lake life,” Morgan says. “When you’ve been out on the water or have sandy feet, you need a shower where you can rinse off.” In the living room, where French doors had opened to the front deck, they widened the opening by four feet and added collapsible doors to expand their view of the lake: “Now the light floods in, so it has an indoor-outdoor feel.”

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Lake Norman, In Depth

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In the kitchen, they kept all the appliances except the sink. Since there was no pantry, they installed tall black cabinets for added storage. But the homeowners didn’t want to rip out or repaint the existing gold cabinets, so Morgan worked them into a palette she built around the couple’s teal barstools. “I struggled with this,” she says. “It’s not a color palette most people would gravitate toward. It would have been easier to rip the cabinets out and start over.”

To tie the warm and cool tones together, she installed a custom waterfall edge countertop from Elements Stone. “Since they didn’t want to change the perimeter cabinets, that island needed to be a showstopper,” she says. “We found some cool granite slabs and created a focal point. They liked the movement in the veining and wanted something more organic.” Above the island, she hung three frostedglass pendant lights from Regina Andrew.

Morgan carried that mix of cool neutrals and warm accents into the breakfast nook, which she furnished with a one-of-a-kind table from an Amish manufacturer in Hickory and dining chairs from Fairfield Chair Company. An aged brass chandelier from Crystorama and blue and gray rug from Surya tie her palette together.

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Morgan designed a built-in workstation with Lowe’s cabinetry and stained the walnut desktop to match the floors.

Lake Norman, In Depth

Down the hall, she converted a laundry closet, which already had a water line, into a wet bar and found a remnant piece of granite for the countertop. “The wet bar is just another way of making your home more of a destination instead of just where you live,” she says. “They’ve grown so popular, especially in the last year.”

Upstairs, she revamped the loft with a coffee bar for the same reason. “It was born out of convenience,” she says with a laugh. “You stumble out of bed in the morning, and you’re working from home, so you just want to walk down the hall and grab your coffee before you jump on Zoom.”

With the eight-month renovation behind them, the homeowners have a bright, functional space where the view never gets old. “A lot of clients don’t want drapery because they think it takes away from the view, but it actually highlights it because it draws your attention to the windows,” Morgan says. “And if you’re going to spend all that money to live on the lake, you want to maximize the view.”

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

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SPECIAL SPECIAL ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SECTION

TOP

Hotels & Inns Planning your next getaway?

Whether you prefer warm, sandy beaches, relaxing poolside, or the scenic beauty of the mountains, these luxurious hotels and resorts can make your stay more memorable.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE MAGIC OF MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

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ESCAPE TO THE COASTAL LUXURY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON ON A BEACH ROAD TRIP

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erenity is just a short drive away when you escape to the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean from your private balcony at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

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2/19/21 1:48 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GROUND BREAKING

BUILDERS

Buying or building a new home, or renovating your current one? Learn more about industry professionals on the following pages

Preserving Renovating Modernizing repurposing the City’s historic grocery store into premium workspaces

PARK WORK SHOP

-N--

c commercial general contractor

robycommercial.com 704.334.5477 NOW LEASING

Roby realty 704.248.3551

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EMPIRE COMMUNITIES

A

s one of North America’s largest privately held homebuilders, Empire Communities has an established tradition of creating prestigious award-winning new homes and communities that have earned a reputation for not only outstanding attention to detail and customer service, but for amenities and a sense of community that make a neighborhood thrive. Since we began in 1993, we have built over 22,000 new homes and condos, with current communities in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Toronto, Canada.

We build homes that make everyday life richer and more sustainable, with enviable home designs where smart space planning and quality building meet.

For us, life revolves around giving our best, thinking differently and treating everyone with respect, and we’re grateful to be bringing these values and years of experience into the Charlotte market.

EMPIRE COMMUNITIES

See where you belong at empirecommunitiesNC.com

Formerly Shea Homes North Carolina

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2/22/21 9:47 AM

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nterest in The Falls at Weddington, a new 244-acre community, is building quickly, as homebuyers continue to discover the exquisite, wooded community is the perfect choice for suburban life outside the big city. Its exceptional, convenient location provides close proximity to a wide variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options, Interstate 485, Ballantyne, Waverly, South Park, Uptown Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In addition to top-rated schools and the finest in contemporary living, The Falls at Weddington will offer abundant social and health-based activities catered to residents seeking opportunities to interact with their neighbors. Amenities will include a recreation and fitness center, swimming pool and a community playground. Jones Homes USA is part of the Emerson Group, a premier international real estate development company that has built dozens of communities in the United States, the United Kingdom and Portugal since the

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company’s inception in 1959. They are dedicated to creating outstanding communities for today’s families and offering homes with innovative designs, exceptional luxury appointments, and the latest energy features and home technology.

THE FALLS AT WEDDINGTON

Learn more by calling 704-246-7034 or visit JonesHomesUSA.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PRESERVING, RENOVATING, MODERNIZING

E

stablished in 2009, Roby Commercial is the commercial construction division of the Roby Family of Companies.

Roby Commercial’s expertise ranges from design/build and ground-up construction to interior and exterior renovations and up-fits across a wide range of industries.

In recent years, the company has gained notoriety for its adaptive re-use renovations of historic landmarks. Roby Commercial converted the old Biltmore Dairy pasteurizing plant on West Morehead Street into a two-tenant office complex in 2019. In 2020, the company renovated the 108-year-old VanLandingham Estate, modifying the bed and breakfast into a wedding and corporate event venue. Earlier this year, the company transformed a 111-year-old, 3,712-square-foot home into the surgery center and clinic for Dilworth Animal Hospital. The company recently started rehabbing the iconic Park-N-Shop on Wilkinson Blvd.

Originally built in 1958, Park-N-Shop was Charlotte’s premier grocery store in the 1950s and 60s. The modernized building, being rebranded as Park-N-Workshop, will maintain its overall exterior shape with its distinctive sloped roof and steel arches. The interior is being completely overhauled into a 33,000-square foot office space accommodating five to six tenants in custom suites.

“It’s very rewarding to give new life to these buildings while preserving their past glory,” says Matt Young, president of Roby Commercial.

ROBY COMMERCIAL

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Builders and Remodelers

YOUR GUIDE TO THE AREA'S BEST BUILDERS AND RENOVATORS

ACCENT HOMES CAROLINAS 3906 Brandie Glen Rd. 704-308-3006 accenthomescarolinas.com

BEACON BUILDERS 317 E. Tremont Ave., Ste. 304 704-309-1834 beaconbuilders.com

CHARLOTTE HOME IMPROVEMENT 2014 Park Dr. 704-777-8013

CYRAS CUSTOM HOMES 4436-B South Blvd.

704-264-7280 cyrascustomhomes.com

ALAIR HOMES 11910 Terrill Ridge Dr., Davidson 704-622-2262 alairhomes.com

BELK BUILDERS 401 Hawthorne Ln., Ste. 110-203 704-400-4710 belkcustombuilders.com

CHARLOTTE LIVING REALTY 1125 E. Morehead St., Ste. 208 704-659-6705 charlottelivingrealty.com

D & W, INC. 7540 Grier Rd. 704-598-9316 dandwinc.com

ANDREW ROBY, INC.* 2000 W. Morehead St. 704-334-5477 andrewroby.com

BERGEN’S CONTRACTING & REPAIR, INC. 712 Morrow Ave., Pineville 704-889-2020 bergensrepairs.com

CHIOTT CUSTOM HOMES, INC. 4310 Park Rd., Ste. 101 704-469-7444 chiott.com

DAVID DUNN & SONS CUSTOM CARPENTRY 240 Zimmer Rd., Fort Mill 704-243-7253 daviddunnsons.com

ARCADIA HOMES 6428 Bannington Rd., Ste. A 704-412-4130 arcadiahomesinc.com

BLUE WATERS CONSTRUCTION 9628 Industrial Dr., Pineville 704-323-4121 bluewatersconstruction.com

CITYVIEW BUILDERS, INC. 704-334-6097 cityviewbuilders.net CLASSIC STONE CREATIONS 1529 Industrial Center Cir. 704-525-2580 classicstonecreations.com

ARTISAN CUSTOM HOMES 21016 Catawba Ave., Cornelius 704-987-9369 artisancustomhomes.com

BUNGALOW DESIGNS, INC. 704-995-5031 bungalowdesignsinc.com

ASHLAND CUSTOM HOMES 834 Wismar Ct. 704-281-7571 ashlandcustomhomes.com

CAROLINA CRAFTSMAN BUILDERS 704-634-8999 carolinacraftsmanbuilders.com

CLOSETS BY DESIGN CHARLOTTE* 1108 Continental Blvd., Ste. A 704-588-7272 charlotte.closetsbydesign.com

H.C. BARRETT & ASSOCIATES, INC. 10100 Park Cedar Dr., Ste. 108 704-542-1105 hcbarrett.com

CAROLINA HOME REMODELING 372 Crompton St. 704-714-5744 carolinahomeremodeling.com

COPPER BUILDERS 1235-E East Blvd., Ste. 155 704-389-5308 copperbuilders.com

BARRINGER HOMES 1341 E. Morehead St., Ste. 202 980-284-7007 barringer-homes.com

CHARLOTTE DESIGN BUILD, INC. 15105-D John J. Delaney Dr., Ste. 329 704-749-4506 charlottedesignbuild.com

CRAFTSMEN CONSTRUCTION 4745 Silabert Ave. 704-537-7337 craftsmenconstruction.com

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

DAVID TYSON & ASSOCIATES, INC. 704-523-6521 DERHODES CONSTRUCTION, LLC 2625 E. 5th St., Ste. D 704-281-4156 derhodesconstruction.com DIALECT DESIGN 933 Louise Ave., Ste. 10121-A 704-763-0506 dialectdesign.com DIAMOND BUILDERS OF AMERICA 14805 Rexford Chase Ct., Matthews 704-443-1000 diamondbuildersofamerica.com

DIFABION REMODELING 1070 Van Buren Ave., Ste. D, Indian Trail 704-882-7738 difabionremodeling.com THE DOWD COMPANY 6701-B Fairview Rd. 704-364-0943 DREAM HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS 16011-A Lancaster Highway, Ste. 337 704-659-1905 dreamhomebuildersand remodelers.com DUBOSE CUSTOM HOMES 704-348-7003 dubosebuilders.com EMPIRE COMMUNITIES* Formerly Shea Homes of North Carolina 8008 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 300 704-602-3333 empirecommunitiesNC.com

HOBSON BUILDERS, INC. 4108 Park Rd., Ste. 103 704-654-2911 hobson-builders.com

LYNN LUXURY HOMES 3020 Prosperity Church Rd.,, Ste. I 704-200-0889 aclynnhomes.com

SIMONINI HOMES 501 E. Morehead St., Ste. 4 704-333-8999 simonini.com

D. R. HORTON 8001 Arrowridge Blvd.

704-377-2006 drhorton.com

MADISON HOMEBUILDERS 2720 W. Arrowood Rd. 704-523-5151 madisonhomebuilders.com

SINACORI BUILDERS 10100 Park Cedar Dr., Ste. 166 704-543-7474 sinacoribuilders.com

IMPACT DESIGN RESOURCES 305 Foster Ave., Ste. 200 704-778-6814 impactdesignresources.com

MASTERBUILDER FELLOWSHIP FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, INC. 433 Main St., Matthews 704-708-5367 masterbuilderfellowship.com

STEELE’S CONSTRUCTION 34 W. Main Ave., Taylorsville 828-302-0074 steelesconstructionllc.com

IRON RIVER BUILDING GROUP 5634 Rocky Trail Ct. 704-846-0331 ironriver.com JAS-AM GROUP 5113 Piper Station Dr., Ste. 201 704-507-8795 jasamgroup.com JCB URBAN COMPANY, INC. 1200 E. Morehead St., Ste. 200 704-334-2927 jcburban.com

ETHIC LLC 2433 The Plaza 704-533-0057 ethicllc.com

JEFF CHANCE CUSTOM HOMES 704-400-8854 jeffchance.com

EVANS COGHILL HOMES 4108 Park Rd., Ste. 413 980-447-2755 evanscoghill.com

E.S. JOHNSON BUILDERS 455 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Davidson 704-987-7950 esjohnson.com

GEMINI CONSTRUCTION 3006 Old Montgomery Rd., Monroe 704-400-6826 geminiconstructioninc.com

JONES & HEDGES 704 East Blvd.

704-904-9927 jhcustombuilders.com

GERRARD BUILDERS 1920 Abbott St., Ste. 302 704-241-8863 gerrardbuilders.com GRANDE CUSTOM BUILDERS 4368 S. Tryon St. 704-999-6898 grandebuilders.com GRANDFATHER HOMES 1111 Central Ave., Ste. 320 980-219-7480 grandfatherhomes.com GUTHMANN CONSTRUCTION 10720 Carmel Commons Blvd., Ste. 300 704-752-9990 guthmannconstruction.com HENDERSON BUILDING GROUP 704-201-1429 hendersonbuildinggroup.com

JONES HOMES* Bent Creek 1057 Chippenham Ave., Indian Land, SC 803-547-7132 The Falls at Weddington 406 Turtleback Ridge, Weddington 704-246-7034 JonesHomesUSA.com

MEETING STREET HOMES & COMMUNITIES 19925 Jane Crump Way, Cornelius 704-714-3070 meetingstreet.net MEL DESIGN BUILD, INC. 704-361-1535 meldesignbuild.com MILLS ELOGE 2923 S. Tryon St, Ste. 220 704-246-2577 millseloge.com

TIMBER BLOCK 3708 Curleys Fish Camp Rd., Connelly Springs 866-929-5647 timberblock.com TIMBERLINE HOMES, INC. 2316 Shenandoah Ave. 704-634-7862 timberlinehomesofnc.com

MVP CONSTRUCTION 704-286-6687 mvpconstruct.com

URBAN BUILDING GROUP 342 Circle Ave. 704-307-4606 urbanbuildinggroup.com

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE REMODELING INDUSTRY 704-365-6274 naricharlotte.com

VISTA HOMES 2301 W. Morehead St., Ste. A 704-594-4174 vistahomesclt.com

NEW OLD, LLC 3605 Latrobe Dr., Ste. G newold.com

WADDELL CUSTOM HOMES 2243-A Ebenezer Rd., Rock Hill 803-985-4160 waddellcustomhomes.com

PALMER CUSTOM BUILDERS 704-544-0367 palmercustombuilders.com PIKE PROPERTIES 1300 Baxter St., Ste. 255 704-332-3332 pikeproperties.com

KELLY MCARDLE CONSTRUCTION 4515 Old Pineville Rd. 704-344-9411 kellymcardle.com

RAM CONSTRUCTION 401 Rensselaer Ave. 704-352-6090 ramconstructioninc.com

KENNETH BEALER HOMES 1454 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville 704-662-6400 kennethbealerhomes.com

RAND STREET CONSTRUCTION CO. 704-375-3933 randstreetco.com

KINGSWOOD CUSTOM HOMES 115 College St., Pineville 704-889-1600 kingswoodhomes.com

THR DESIGN BUILD 401 Hawthorne Ln., Ste. 110-179 704-595-3573 thrdesignbuild.com

SANTI DESIGNS 13917 Albemarle Rd. 704-837-7302 santidesigns.net

T. WHELAN HOMES, INC. 748 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville 704-662-6460 twhelanhomes.com WHITLOCK BUILDERS 8101 Tower Point Dr., Ste. 100 704-364-9577 whitlockbuilders.com WINDOW & DOOR PROS 1141 Hawthorne Ln. 704-344-1875 windowanddoorpros.com ZAR CUSTOM HOMES 980-236-7444 zarcustomhomes.com

* Denotes featured advertisers

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

87

THE GUIDE

Restaurants YOUR GUIDE TO CHARLOTTE’S DINING SCENE KID CASHEW

Dilworth ❤ 300 EAST

$-$$

NEW AMERICAN The interior of this old houseturned-restaurant is welcoming, as is the menu of familiar and surprising sandwiches, salads, and entrées.

Save room for dessert by pastry chef Laney JahkelParrish. 300 East Blvd. (704-332-6507) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ BONTERRA

$$$$

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

CAPISHE

$-$$

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

(980-819-9494) 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.

(704-333-0063) L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

DOLCE OSTERIA

$$-$$$

$$-$$$

$$-$$$

PIZZA Two words: pistachio pizza. Seriously, try it.

Then grab a spot on the patio beneath the bistro lights and enjoy a bottle of wine with friends. There’s a second location in Providence Commons, too. 2230 Park Rd., (704-900-0929) L, D, BAR ✸

88

$

ZEN FUSION

$$

FUSION Here, fusion means a sampling of dishes from the Far East and Spain. 1716 Kenilworth Ave. (704-358-9688) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

Elizabeth/Cherry CAJUN QUEEN

$$$

$$

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

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

INIZIO PIZZA NAPOLETANA

THE MAYOBIRD

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 ✸

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, thin-crust pizzas, note-perfect risotto, and daring meat entrées. 2418 Park Rd. (704-333-3062) L, D, BAR ✸☎

FRAN’S FILLING STATION

$$

$$

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

FIAMMA RESTAURANT

LEBOWSKI’S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL

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

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

CAJUN Nightly live jazz complements New Orleans creole favorites like shrimp étouffée and crawfish Diane in this century-old house. 1800 E. 7th St. (704-3779017) BR, D, BAR ✸☎

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

FERN, FLAVORS FROM THE GARDEN

$$

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

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

❤ CUSTOMSHOP

$$-$$$

✸☎

EARL’S GROCERY

$

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 ✸

❤ THE FIG TREE RESTAURANT

$$$$

NEW AMERICAN The No. 2 restaurant on our 2018

$ $$ $$$ $$$$

❤

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

B BR L D V

Best Restaurants list, the Fig Tree specializes in fresh and flavorful cuisine with an emphasis on wine pairing in a 1913 bungalow. 1601 E. 7th St. (704-332-3322) D, BAR ✸☎

❤ PIZZERIA OMAGGIO

$$

PIZZA Among a sea of by-the-slice joints, owner Daniel Siragusa sticks by his Italian roots with personal pizzas. Some think they can’t possibly eat the whole pie, but they do. And then they order dessert. 1055 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 130. (704-370-0777) L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ THE STANLEY

$$$

SUNFLOUR BAKING CO.

$-$$

NEW SOUTHERN Chef Paul Verica’s menu reflects a respect of seasonal produce, with playful dishes such as “Asparagus—as many ways as we could think of,” and a more robust cocktail program. 1961 E. 7th St. (980-299-2741) D, BR (Sun), BAR ✸☎

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

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

Huntersville/Lake Norman ALIÑO PIZZERIA

$$

❤ DRESSLER’S

$$$

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

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

✸☎

FLATIRON KITCHEN + TAPHOUSE

$$$

STEAK HOUSE High-quality steaks are a given here, but the seafood and vegetables are treated with the same respect. 215 S. Main St., Davidson. (704-2373246) BR, L, D, BAR ✸☎

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.”

HAVANA 33

$$

CUBAN Enjoy lake views and authentic Cuban dishes like picadillo and mojo chicken with Yuca fries and sweet plantains. 637 Williamson Rd., Ste. 100 (704799-0875) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

❤ HELLO, SAILOR

$$-$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Davidson’s sweethearts, Joe and Katy Kindred, opened this lakefront spot. Expect Carolina classics like fried catfish and seafood platters, as well as tiki drinks. 20210 Henderson Rd., Cornelius.

(704-997-5365) BR, L, D, BAR ✸

❤ KINDRED

$$-$$$

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

SABI ASIAN BISTRO

$$

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

Matthews/Mint Hill KABAB-JE ROTISSERIE & GRILLE

$$

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

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

LOYALIST MARKET

$-$$

AMERICAN This charming eatery is a sandwich shop by day and a cheese shop by night. Choose from over 60 artisan cheeses and cured meats from the U.S. and abroad, along with gourmet food products, wine, and local beer. 435 N. Trade St., Ste. 102. (704-814-9866) L, D, BAR ✸

NEW ZEALAND CAFÉ

$-$$

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. (704-708-9888) 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.

(704-845-1899) D, BAR

❤ YUME BISTRO

$$

JAPANESE The excellence of this spot’s ramen and sushi carry over to the to-go format, with Yume’s InHome Ramen and Gyoza Kit among its innovations.

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. (704333-7884) L, (weekdays), D, BAR ✸

FENWICK’S

$$

LEROY FOX

$$

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 ✸

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, woodfired 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 ☎

$

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. (704-3761781) B, L, D

BAO + BROTH

$-$$

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

$$-$$$

❤ HABERDISH

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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

$-$$

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

$

$-$$

$

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 ✸ ☎

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

THE DUMPLING LADY

ASIAN One of Charlotte’s most popular food trucks has a brick-and-mortar space in Optimist Hall. Order Zhang Qian’s authentic Sichuan dumplings, noodles, and dim sum, and brace for spice. 1115 N. Brevard St. (980-595-6174) L, D, V

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 ✸

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

$-$$

HEIST BREWERY

NoDa/North Charlotte AMÉLIE’S FRENCH BAKERY

CRÊPE CELLAR KITCHEN & PUB

FRENCH The crêpes—both sweet and savory—are delicious, but the restaurant’s fare goes beyond its French roots with flavorful salads, entrées, and craft cocktails. 3116 N. Davidson St. (704-910-6543) BR, L, D, BAR

$-$$

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 ✸

LEAH & LOUISE

$$

PAPI QUESO

$-$$

ROOM AND BOARD

$-$$

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

AMERICAN Inside a two-story Victorian home and former boarding house, have your choice of sandwiches, APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

89

THE GUIDE 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 Structured like Chipotle, build-yourown meals include a base starch (banh mi, vermicelli noodles, white rice, fried rice), one protein, and five toppings. 2001 Commonwealth Ave. (704-345-9490) L, D, V, B/W ✸

COALTRANE’S

$-$$

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

COMMON MARKET

$

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

DIAMOND RESTAURANT

$-$$

DISH

$-$$

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

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

❤ INTERMEZZO PIZZERIA & CAFÉ

$-$$

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

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

90

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

❤ MIDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE

$$

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

MOO & BREW

$$

AMERICAN A playful list of burgers, craft beers, and friendly servers make this spot an easy choice for a casual dinner out. The patio is packed on nice nights.

1300 Central Ave. (980-585-4148) L, D, BAR ✸

❤ NC RED

$$

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 ✸

SAL’S PIZZA FACTORY

$$

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

❤ SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

$$

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 ✸

SNOOZE: AN A.M. EATERY

$$

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 ✸

THREE AMIGOS

$$

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, complete with add-ons like corn and pork belly, as well as traditional Japanese small plates and a sushi menu.

1324 Central Ave. (704-910-6387) D, V, BAR ✸

ZADA JANE’S CORNER CAFE

$-$$

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

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

South End BARCELONA WINE BAR

$$$

❤ BARDO

$$$

❤ BEEF ’N BOTTLE

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Nosh on Spanish and Mediterraneaninspired tapas or a charcuterie board with meats from different regions in Europe. Choose from more than 400 wines, and don’t miss the olive oil cake. 101 W. Worthington Ave., Ste. 110. (704-741-0300) D, BAR ✸☎

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 ☎

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

BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY

$$

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

THE DUNAVANT

$$$

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

THE EAGLE FOOD & BEER HALL

$$

AMERICAN Feast on fried chicken with a side of house made hot honey, plus comfort food sides like mac & cheese, collards, and hushpuppies. 2120 South Blvd., Ste. 1 (704-780-1570) D, BAR, ✸

EIGHT + SAND KITCHEN

$

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

❤ 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 ✸

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, ✸

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

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

$$

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 ✸

OGGI RISTORANTE ITALIANO

$$$

ITALIAN Find comfort food like spaghetti and house meatballs and lasagna, or savor some squid ink linguini and a glass of pinot grigio on the patio. 16646 Hawfield Way Dr., Ste. 101 (704-716-9400) L, D, BAR ✸

THE PORTER’S HOUSE

$$$-$$$$

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 ✸

SUPERICA

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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 ✸☎

MAC’S SPEED SHOP

THE WATERMAN FISH BAR

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Consistently good pasta, 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 ✸

$$$

JAPANESE This is sushi for true sushi aficionados. The Luke Lobster roll is a delectable mouthful of lobster meat, spicy tuna, avocado, and eel sauce topped with sweet potato strings. 8410 Rea Rd., Ste. 100 (980-4981578) L, D, BAR ✸

$-$$

BARBECUE Solid barbecue and cold beer (150 choices) in a motorcycle-themed space draw fun-loving crowds, with additional locations in Matthews and Lake Norman. 2511 South Blvd. (704-522-6227) L, D, BAR ✸

SEAFOOD This oyster bar has all the staples: lobster rolls, clam chowder, and oysters four ways. At sunset, head to the rooftop terrace for a cocktail and views of uptown. 2729 South Blvd., Ste. D. (704-275-5558) L, D, BAR ✸

MIDNIGHT DINER

$

VANA

MOCCO BISTRO

$

AMERICAN This 24-hour classic diner has everything you’d expect, including 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 ✸

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 ✸

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 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

$$

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 ☎

SEOUL FOOD MEAT CO.

$$

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

NEW AMERICAN Chef Michael Noll serves a blend of tapas and shareable plates in this open kitchen spot with a wood-fired theme. Don’t miss the quail with Tandoori marinade, buttermilk, and chili oil. 1440 S. Tryon St., Ste. 100. (980-819-5913) BR, D, 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 ✸

$$-$$

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. (803-324-3547) BR, L, D, V, BAR ☎

GALLERY RESTAURANT

SPICE ASIAN KITCHEN

$$-$$$

$$-$$$

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 lasagna-sized slice of tiramisu for dessert. 7828-E Rea Rd. (980-335-2758) BR (Sun), L, D, V, BAR ✸

THE FLIPSIDE CAFÉ

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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 ✸

THE BLUE TAJ

RED SAKE

$$

(Arboretum, Ballantyne, Pineville, Fort Mill)

CIVETTA ITALIAN KITCHEN + BAR

$$-$$$

ASIAN The dumplings and Pad Thai are consistently good, but the bibimbap, 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 ✸

South Charlotte BIG VIEW DINER

RED ROCKS CAFÉ

$$$-$$$$

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

WALDHORN

$$

SouthPark/Park Road ❤ BAR MARCEL

$$-$$$

BAKU

$$-$$$

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 ✸☎

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 sharedplates 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 recreating a classic French restaurant, and diners react enthusiastically at brunch, lunch, and dinner. 6700 Fairview Rd. (704-552-1116) B, L, D, BAR ✸☎

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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THE GUIDE 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

$$$

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 ☎

NEW AMERICAN Stefan Huebner’s creative cocktails may be the main attraction at this members-only speakeasy, but chef Corey Dawson’s sweet seared scallops with roasted mushroom risotto will convince you to stay for dinner. 4237 Park Rd., Ste. B. (704-817-3710) D, BAR

EASY LIKE SUNDAY

$$

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

$$-$$$

$$$

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

LITTLE MAMA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

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. (980-209-0323) D, BAR

$$$

OAK STEAKHOUSE

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. (704-716-8226) L, D, V, BAR ✸

❤ PEPPERVINE

$$$$

FUSION Chef Bill Greene serves a rotation of artistic small plates with unexpected pairings, like lamb belly with kimchi porridge and smoked butternut squash with miso. 4620 Piedmont Row Dr., Ste. 170B. (980283-2333) D, V, BAR ✸☎

REID’S FINE FOODS

$$-$$$

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 ☎

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 ✸

FINE & FETTLE

AMERICAN The dining room has retractable glass walls, Japanese boxwood hedging, and a fountain. 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 ☎

$$-$$$

AMERICAN Chef Daniel Wheeler makes culinary art at this homey restaurant inside the Canopy by Hilton. Feast on pork cheeks with edamame, a fried hen sandwich, or splurge on a fried PB&J with black pepper sorbet. 4905 Barclay Downs Dr. (704-552-1715) B, BR, L, D, BAR ✸

❤ GOOD FOOD ON MONTFORD $$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN Bruce Moffett’s small-plates bistro unites a variety of influences and flavors onto one menu, and each dish is worth ordering. 1701 Montford Dr. (704-525-0881) D, BAR ☎

HARPER’S RESTAURANT

$$

AMERICAN Jazzed-up American cuisine makes Harper’s a place to take out-of-town guests with varying palates. 6518 Fairview Rd. (704-366-6688) BR (Sun), L, D, BAR ✸

HIBISCUS

$-$$

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 ✸

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 offers 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 ✸

SOUTHERN PECAN

$$-$$$

SOUTHERN The team behind Café Monte serves Gulf

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

Coast-inspired cuisine like pecan fried catfish, Louisianna barbecue shrimp, and oyster po’ boys. 6705-C Phillips Place Ct., Ste. C (704-749-2949) L, D, BAR ✸

STEAK 48

$$$$

TAQUERIA MAL PAN

$$-$$

STEAK HOUSE Steak is the main attraction, but don’t miss the crispy shrimp deviled eggs, corn crème brulée, and seafood tower. 4425 Sharon Rd. (980-5804848) D, BAR ☎

MEXICAN Pace yourself with the chips and guacamole because the California burrito is the best burrito you’ll have in Charlotte—spoiler alert: it has French fries inside. 4625 Piedmont Row Dr., Ste. 115-D (980298-6138) BR, L, 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

$$

YAMA ASIAN FUSION

$$

MEDITERRANEAN With additional locations in Dilworth and Plaza Midwood, this fast-casual concept serves Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired fare in a wrap, salad, or grain bowl. 720 Governor Morrison St., Ste. 120. (704-365-7130) L, D, B/W ✸

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

vative, 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

$$$

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 ☎

❤ THE ASBURY

$$$

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

235 N. Tryon St. (704-342-1193) B, BR, L, D, BAR ☎

BASIL THAI

$$-$$$

THAI Thai lovers can sate their cravings with tasty pad Thai, while the more daring can try dishes like crispy red curry duck, a rich, deep-fried half duck in a spicy red curry sauce. 210 N. Church St. (704-332-7212) L (weekdays), D, V, BAR ☎

THE CELLAR AT DUCKWORTH’S

$$-$$$

NEW AMERICAN The focus is on small plates, craft beer served in its proper glassware at proper temperature, and craft cocktails. 330 N. Tryon St. (980-349-4078) D, BAR ☎

CLOUD BAR BY DAVID BURKE

$$

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

$

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

$$

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

$$-$$$

GLOBAL Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influ-

ences 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 like his mom made it and carbonara as it’s served in Rome.

230 North College St. (704-602-2750) B, L, D, BAR ☎

❤ FIN & FINO

$$$

SEAFOOD Come for the raw bar, but stay for bartender Brittany Kellum’s drinks. Then splurge on a slice of cheesecake. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Ste. 100.

(704-800-5680) L, D, BAR ✸☎

❤ HAYMAKER

$$$ - $$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Enjoy locally and seasonally inspired dishes from North Carolina chef William Dissen in this bright, stylish space next to Romare Bearden Park. 225 S. Poplar St. (704-626-6116) BR, D, BAR ✸☎

THE KING’S KITCHEN

$$-$$$

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, ✸☎

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. (704-3449222) 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. (704-344-8878) L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

❤ McNINCH HOUSE

$$$$

NEW SOUTHERN Guests order from a daily prix fixe menu (ranging from five 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 ✸

MICO

$$$-$$$$

ARGENTINEAN The South American-inspired menu is full of complex flavors and unexpected mash-ups like harissa creamed spinach and brown butter bread crumbs. Chef de Cuisine Whitney Thomas arranges each dish with edible flowers and vibrant vegetables that frame the plate. 201 W. Trade St. (980-999-5550) L, D, BAR

MIMOSA GRILL

$$$

NEW SOUTHERN This popular after-work spot has a seasonal menu, friendly service, tasty seafood dishes, and creative mixtures to top grits. 327 S. Tryon St. (704343-0700) BR, L (weekdays), D, BAR ✸☎

MOA KOREAN BBQ

$$-$$$

❤ SEA LEVEL NC

$$-$$$

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 ✸

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. (704333-5189) L, D, B/W

❤ STOKE

$$$

NEW AMERICAN Hotel dining gets an upgrade with this wood-fired-grill, family-style concept in Marriott City Center. 100 W. Trade St. (704-353-6005) B, BR, L, D, BAR

SUKOSHI

$$

SUSHI Think high-quality sushi in a fast-casual setting. Chef Michael Chanthavong brings favorites from his menu at O-Ku, like tuna wrap-it-up and salmon citrus rolls. 101 S. Tryon St., Ste. 120. (980-495-3800) L, D, V

THE YOLK

$-$$

AMERICAN Greg and Subrina Collier’s breakfastfocused concept in 7th Street Public Market is open for breakfast and lunch, but shrimp and grits topped with Gouda cheese, jerk seasoning, and scallion pesto is delicious any time of day. 224 E. 7th St. (704-2304346) B, L

West/Northwest Charlotte COMMUNITY TABLE BISTRO

$

SOUTHERN At the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, a small, cafeteria-style restaurant sears, bakes, and fries comfort food on a daily rotation for an affordable price. 5301 Wilkinson Blvd. (980-636-1000) B, L (weekdays), V ✸

ESTIA’S KOUZINA

$$-$$$

❤ HEIRLOOM RESTAURANT

$$-$$$

GREEK This upscale Mediterranean restaurant offers healthy and delicious dishes like gyro pitas, lamb burgers, and hearty salads. 609 N. Main St., Belmont. (704825-7005) BR, L, D, V, BAR ✸☎

NEW AMERICAN Ingredients are sourced almost exclusively from North Carolina, and the tasting menu includes fried chicken and pork and beans. 8470 Bellhaven Rd. (704-595-7710) D, V, BAR ☎ APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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$-$$

BOSSY BEULAH’S

$

AMERICAN Think of Bossy Beulah’s as the kid sister—or sidekick—to Noble Smoke. Order your

fried chicken sammie bunless or add American cheese, and pair it with a sweet tea or Cheerwine.

2200 Freedom Dr. (980-737-1400) L, D, ✸

PINKY’S WESTSIDE GRILL

Breweries

Best Sips

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

DIVINE BARREL

3701 N. Davidson St., Ste. 203 980-237-1803 divinebarrel.com

FONTA FLORA OPTIMIST HALL

1115 N. Brevard St., Ste. D 980-207-2470 fontaflora.com

FREE RANGE BREWING

2320 N. Davidson St. 980-201-9096 freerangebrewing.com

HEIST BREWERY

2909 N. Davidson St., Ste. 200 704-375-8260 heistbrewery.com Other location in Druid Hills

NODA BREWING COMPANY

2921 N. Tryon St. 704-900-6851 nodabrewing.com Other locations in Optimist Park and Charlotte Douglas International Airport

PROTAGONIST CLUBHOUSE

3123 N. Davidson St., Ste. 104 980-938-0671 protagonistbeer.com

94

SALUD CERVECERIA

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

2101 Central Ave. 704-333-1862 residentculturebrewing.com

SOUTH END/SOUTH CHARLOTTE/MORA BREWERS AT 4001 YANCEY

4001-A Yancey Rd. 704-452-4001 visit.brewersat4001yancey. com

$

Our favorite brews this month, chosen by Charlotte magazine staff Buzzed City Pale Ale, $10.99 (4-pack), THE UNKNOWN BREWING CO. IN 2017, Unknown partnered with Bring Back the Buzz, a fan group that began as a grassroots campaign to bring the Hornets name back to Charlotte. The resulting beer, Buzzed City, is a smooth pale ale that’s ideal for watch parties at an ABV of 4.6%. This dry-hopped American pale ale has a crisp finish. Let’s hope the end of this season is just as pleasant. —Andy Smith

3306-C N. Davidson St. 980-495-6612 saludcerveceria.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

$

AMERICAN Housed in an old auto shop, this funky spot serves great burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and salads, as well as tasty sides like waffle fries. 1600 W. Morehead St. (704-332-0402) L, D, BAR ✸

TOUCAN LOUIE’S

CARIBBEAN With state-sourced meats smoked in-house 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 ✸

EDGE CITY BREWING

6209 Old Post Rd., Ste. 109 980-949-6199 instagram.com/ edgecitybrewery

LENNY BOY BREWING CO.

SYCAMORE BREWING

528 S. Turner Ave. 980-859-2586 blueblazebrewing.com

TRIPLE C BREWING COMPANY + THE BARREL ROOM

PRIMAL BREWERY

3000 S. Tryon St. 980-585-1728 discoverlennyboy.com

2900 Griffith St. 704-372-3212 triplecbrewing.com

LOWER LEFT BREWING CO.

THE UNKNOWN BREWING CO.

4528 Nations Crossing Rd. 704-469-9861 llbrewco.com

1327 S. Mint St. 980-237-2628 unknownbrewing.com

OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY

WOODEN ROBOT BREWERY

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

SUNSTEAD BREWING

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

BLUE BLAZE BREWING

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

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

Belmont 16432 Old Statesville Rd. 704-947-2920 primalbrewery.com Other location in Huntersville

Concord CABARRUS BREWING COMPANY

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

COURTESY

❤ NOBLE SMOKE

BARBECUE Feast on Carolina-style pork and Texas-style 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 ✸☎

Charlotte magazine (ISSN 1083-1444) is published monthly by Morris Communications at 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 303, Charlotte NC 28203-5161. Entire contents Copyright © 2021 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

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

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

13717 E. Independence Blvd.

704-628-5211 sweetunionbrewing.com

Harrisburg PHARR MILL BREWING

105 Oakley Dr. 704-456-7657 pharrmillbrewing.com

115 E. North Main St. 704-843-7326 dreamchasersbrewery.com

130 W. White St. 803-324-4610 dustoffbrewing.com

CROSSWORD OF THE MONTH

By Andy Smith

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

211 West Ave. 704-933-9203 oldarmor.com

Matthews SEABOARD BREWING, TAPROOM, & WINE BAR

213 N. Trade St. 704-246-6575 seaboardbrewing.com

Monroe SOUTHERN RANGE BREWING CO.

151 S. Stewart St. 704-706-2978 getsrb.com

Mooresville GHOSTFACE BREWING BREWERY & PIZZERIA

KING CANARY BREWING CO.

CAVENDISH BREWERY

274 Columbia Ave. slowplaybrewing.com

DUST OFF BREWING

THE DREAMCHASER’S BREWERY

Kannapolis

LAKE WYLIE BREWING CO.

207 N. Chester St. 704-830-0435 cavendishbrewing.com

SLOW PLAY BREWING

121 Caldwell St., Ste. 101 803-366-7266 rockhillbrewingcompany.com

Waxhaw

OLD ARMOR BEER CO.

427 E. Statesville Ave. 704-799-7433 ghostfacebrewing.com

Gastonia

LEGAL REMEDY BREWING

129 Oakland Ave. 803-324-2337 legalremedybrewing.com

ROCK HILL BREWING COMPANY

Indian Trail SWEET UNION BREWING COMPANY

204 Main St., Ste. 101 803-547-6464 amorartisbrewing.com

1741 Gold Hill Rd., Ste. 100 803-802-0001 lakewyliebrewingcofortmill.com

Rock Hill, S.C.

562 Williamson Rd. 704-967-8472 kingcanarybrewing.com

JOLLY ROGER BREWERY

236 Raceway Dr., Ste. 12 704-769-0305 jollyrogerbrewery.com

Pineville MIDDLE JAMES BREWING

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

APRIL 2021 // CHARLOTTE

95

YOU ARE HERE

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

LOCATION: 168 N. College St.

.

ge St

le . Col 168 N

Uptown’s Portal to the Arts YOU COULD PLAY KICKBALL in the middle of the 100 block of North College Street on this cloudy weekday afternoon uptown. That’s how little traffic passes a nondescript, metal-ringed, glass double door behind the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. But for theatre lovers, this is sacred ground—this door has seen the comings and goings of some of the biggest names in theatre and music.

Stage doors are big deals in cities like London and New York, where on any night (barring a pandemic), audience members

96

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // APRIL 2021

dash outside and around to wait for the chance at an autograph and a selfie. You seldom bump into big-name entertainers in Charlotte. But as the city has grown, so has the roster of A-list performers who’ve traveled here to take the stage.

Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kristin Chenoweth have crossed this threshold to greet fans after shows— McDonald after singing with the Charlotte Symphony in 2008, Chenoweth after a solo show in 2016. Classical music luminaries Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma have strolled

through it. The casts of national touring shows like Hamilton and Aladdin have spilled out after their curtain calls to find a bite to eat and head back to their hotels.

Performers become mortals at stage doors. They’re where we can catch a glimpse of their handbags and scruffy sneakers, where we can see who takes off their stage makeup in the theater and who wears it out onto the street. If we’re fast and lucky enough, we score an autograph, a quick conversation, and a lasting memory. —Cristina Bolling

SHAW NIELSEN; CRISTINA BOLLING

This double door, at least, remains