August 2008

	2008 Pet Guide Gourmet treat recipes, green pet and yard products, canine couture, and more than fifty other ways to keep you and your pet happy and healthy. Plus, a rundown of Charlotte's top spots to board your pet Edited By BLAKE MILLER
	Equation for Success? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave $1.4 million to help five troubled high schools find their way. It may be Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' best shot at closing the achievement gap By SARAH CROSLAND
	How to Get the Most out of CMS We demystify the public school magnet program. Plus, pros and cons of going IB By MICHELLE SIMS

Departments

Life Lines
No matter what you call it—city bag, bucket, shopper, hobo, or messenger bag—big bags are in. But do we really have that much stuff, or is something else going on?
By LAURIE PRINCE

People
When Melissa Mummert, an affiliated community minister at Charlotte's Unitarian Universalist Church, set out to help disadvantaged prisoners, she never imagined it'd be on screen
By ABBY CALLARD

In Every Issue

• Editor’s Note
• Letters  

The Buzz

Spotlight From Home Depot to Rock 'n' Roll, one Charlottean gets lucky through MySpace
40th Anniversary Looking back at Charlotte's problem with crime
Money & Power The $20,000 Mommy Makeover. Plus, the Power Meter: who's up and who's down this month
QC Culture Is text messaging making us stupid? And a NASCAR pit crew goes om
Real Estate The cool -- and eerie -- past of Charlotte's mills-turned-mixed use projects

Life/Style

To Die For Carry it all in these fashionable and functional totes, satchels, and bags
In Search Of Go green with your wardrobe Shopping Scene South End welcomes a stylish transitional home store Shoptalk Petal and The Pink Hanger show off serious mid-year sales. Plus, FRESH boutique adds new designer lines
Stylemaker Tara Davis designs for a woman's curves Trendsetting Show off your name with initial necklaces The Fit Life Rolling out your tired muscles
Fitness Four reasons why you need a heart rate monitor. Test Drive How the YMCA can really help you shed weight
City Seen INTERMIX hits SouthPark. Plus, Taste of Charlotte, The  Mint's The Art of Affluence, Symphony Spirit Awards, and more

Back Page

A moment in time
Photograph by Chris Edwards

Charlotte Guides

Agenda
Spotlight Discovery Place does history
Best Bets American Idol goes on tour and the Panthers hit the field. Plus, three reasons to laugh this month
Conversation Journey's bassist talks touring, Steve Perry, and how the band found its new lead singer
Calendar What to do this month

Eat, Drink
Revisit Two chefs are better than one at the reinvigorated Cosmos Café
Uncorked Think it's too hot for wine? Van Miller doesn't
The Dish New steakhouses galore! Now Open Nofo's hidden Mexi Café
Global Table Experience the exotic East at Kabob House
Restaurant Listings