Destined for Dining
My discovery that a love of food could be turned into a career occurred in a somewhat unorthodox fashion
News + Opinion
Is It 2011 Yet?
It’s been a heckuva year here in Charlotte. And by “heckuva” I mean not terribly great. Those of us who choose to remember 2010 will recall it as the year Charlotte’s momentum finally stopped. A few fancy projects—namely, the new…
'Tis the Season to Give
We've scoured Charlotte with discerning eyes to bring you the coolest and most interesting gifts for everyone on your list.
Being District Attorney: Peter Gilchrist Looks Back
After an impressive thirty-six years in office, District Attorney Peter Gilchrist is stepping down. A look back at his career arc shows the evolution of the office—and the dramatic challenges that await his successor
Is Seth Curry the Second Coming?
His older brother Stephen has become a household name among basketball fans. This season, his first on the court at Duke, Seth Curry gets his chance to shine
100 Best Dishes
Clear your schedule. Make reservations. These are the 100 best dishes in Charlotte
2020 Vision Plan thoughts
On the evening of Thursday, November 18, I sat in on the final community workshop for the Center City 2020 Vision Plan. Actually, workshop is a bit of a misnomer; it was really more of a presentation that was open…
Does Charlotte Have the Right Networks?
I don't always go for his stuff, but I found David Brooks' column today interesting (apologies for consecutive blog posts citing the New York Times--which probably says more about my budget than my politics, by the way. WSJ has a…
My Endless Charlotte
The following paragraphs appear in an essay titled "My Endless New York" that was published recently in The New York Times:Today I drop my cleaning off with Joseph the tailor and we exchange Yiddishisms and reminiscences (his) of Jewish Russia.…
Friday Night Lights
Before the Carolina Panthers were even a glimmer in Jerry Richardson’s eye, high school football was the most important sport in Charlotte. Our writers and photographers take you inside the culture of Charlotte’s very own Friday Night Lights.
Institutions
The November issue contains stories on two important civic institutions--The Charlotte Observer and Johnson C. Smith University
Dentist's Daughter
When I tell people my dad is a dentist, they typically say something about how nice it must be to not be nervous about trips to the dentist’s office. These people haven’t considered two things: first, the average dental patient…
Answering the Call
In his first two years as president of Johnson C. Smith University, Ronald Carter has begun reaching beyond the school’s traditionally closed gates. It’s just the first step in reintroducing the institution to Charlotte
Stop The Presses?
It hasn’t come to that—yet—but this much is clear: The Charlotte Observer is not the newspaper it once was, and it likely never will be again. Walker Lundy, a former top editor at multiple newspapers, details what has been lost and tells the story of the Observer’s battle to save itself
Tweet This: You're Fired
If you’re not careful in Charlotte, your social media presence can cost you your job
Herb
That's what everyone calls Charlotte's best known and most accomplished artist. But the simplicity of those four letters belies the complexity of the professor, provocateur, and painter
Top Public High Schools
After the unveiling of our exclusive public schools ranking last year, our staff agreed that we would tackle the enormous task once again in our October issue. Like last year, our goal in compiling our exclusive annual ranking of the…
The Band - Harding University High's "Band of Gold"
In August 2007, Anthony Jones took a phone call. “He said, ‘This is Barack Obama,’ ” Jones, the musical director at Harding University High School for sixteen years, remembers. The then presidential candidate was hosting a rally in Charlotte, and…
The Rivalry - Independence vs. Butler
Independence High School and Butler High School In Charlotte high school football, there is no bigger rivalry than Independence and Butler. The two schools are located on Charlotte’s eastside and draw students from adjacent neighborhoods. Independence has won seven state…
The Cheerleader - Bailey Thompson, Charlotte Christian School
“This side! Stand up and yell: ‘Fight, Knights, fight! Fight, Knights, fight!’ ” A lone football hurtles through the looming dusk, a fanfare of blue and white pompoms flutters, and the crowd, buzzing from Charlotte Christian School’s first-quarter touchdown at…
The Player - Marquise Williams, Mallard Creek High School
He's committed to play football at UNC, but Williams says winning a state championship is his focus right now. As a member of the first graduating class to have started at Mallard Creek High School as freshmen, he wants to add to his group’s legacy.
Game Day - South Point High School, Belmont
One play, one and a half yards to go. The South Point Red Raiders huddle around their coach, get their instructions, and then, weary but hungry, line up across from the ball. If they can keep the Lincolnton Wolfpack from…
The Coach - Jim Oddo, Charlotte Catholic
At home games, the Charlotte Catholic Cougars run onto Jim Oddo field. Not far behind them runs Coach Oddo, his red or brown ball cap tugged low, his mind churning about the next play. Charlotte Catholic, in its thirty-seventh season…
Class Acts
We're just as tired as you are of hearing about the doom and gloom in our public schools. So instead of rehashing the bad we turned to the good — as in some really amazing kids.
The Outlook
As the Blue Ridge Parkway's stewards look to the future on its seventy-fifth anniversary, its visitors continue to enjoy the spectacular views that have made it famous
Your Guide to Charlotte's Beer Scene
Charlotte—and North Carolina—is in the midst of a beer revolution, and we’ll drink to that.
What Now for the Mint?
After decades of planning and dreaming, the Mint Museum finally has a fancy new uptown location all its own. Now new leader Kathleen Jameson is challenged with building a museum to match
Coal Ash Hearings Today
For our February issue, Charlotte journalist Rhiannon Bowman profiled David Merryman, who serves as the Catawba Riverkeeper. This was the subtitle of that story: "David Merryman, charged with protecting the Catawba River, has a big job in any year. But…
