Million Dollar Baby
In a society of excess, spoiled children are no longer the sole province of the upper class. Now, middle class parents are battling the recession, internal doubt, and each other to see who can give their kids the most stuff
News + Opinion
Get Away. Now.
Getting away from it all is often much easier said than done. But we're here to challenge you to do it anyway. Whether it's a country cottage on a sleepy Georgia vineyard or a luxurious beach escape in Bermuda, these relaxing getaways are just what you need. Trust us.
The Art of Journalism
There's a story in this issue that deserves a little bit of background.In a piece titled “Revival,” Miriam Durkin, who was the longtime arts editor of the Observer before retiring last year, profiles Theatre Charlotte and its executive director, Ron…
Antisocial Networking
Is more time on Facebook degrading face-to-face talk among teens?
NYT loves on Levine Museum
New York Times critic-at-large Edward Rothstein, who often writes about museums, had some pretty nice things to say about Charlotte's own Levine Museum of the New South in Saturday's national edition. He lauds both the permanent exhibit, "Cottonfields to Skyscrapers,"…
Steph Curry from long range
In NBA rookie game practice today, Steph Curry drained not one but two 75-footers (because I guess that's what you practice during the All-Star break). Watch:
Slumburbia
Our January cover story, "A Tale of Two Cities" by Jen Pilla Taylor, has generated much discussion. The story exploring the growing urban/suburban divide in Charlotte by focusing on two families, one that lives in Plaza Midwood and one that…
Steph Curry.
This morning, when I got up, my cell phone was already vibrating. Seems I had a few text messages left over from the night before. Late the night before. Seems a good friend of mine was sitting in his car…
All That Remains: Update
Over the past couple years, few stories we've done have received the level of feedback of "All That Remains," which ran in the November 2009 issue. This was a passion project of Ken Garfield. He proposed that we photograph and…
Five Things You Don't Know About Nicole Manske
Mooresville's twenty-nine-year-old Nicole Manske took the steering wheel on ESPN2's NASCAR Now in January 2008, and her life's been running at high speed ever since.
Crime Costs
When thieves steal, you pick up the tab
10 Great Dates
Sure, a simple dinner-and-a-movie option could cover date night, but where's the fun in that? We've found ten great dates to get you out and about in Charlotte. Get artsy in NoDa, enjoy a leisurely stroll in Waxhaw, and take the big leap (skydiving, that is) in North Carolina wine country. These dates are designed for hours of entertainment -- and, of course, plenty of romance
Looking Ahead
On page 48, you'll find our ideas for ten great Charlotte dates. There's nary a dinner-and-a-movie among them. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Since you asked, here's the story of a first date that didn't make the list.…
The Waiting Game
On a quest for dates in Charlotte, I discover that waiting for my next text is more difficult than finding the next guy
One Man and a River
David Merryman, charged with protecting the Catawba River, has a big job in any year. But in 2010, all 182 pollutant-discharge permits—including one for two high-hazard coal ash ponds on Mountain Island Lake (also known as "our drinking water") -- are up for renewal. It's time for the Riverkeeper to get to work
The Last DJ
Last April, Cal Walker died alone and destitute, having never recovered from the day the music died. Which is no way to go out for Charlotte's—and maybe the country's—last real DJ
The Making of Things
Remember when we used to make stuff? Maybe it's time to get back to that
All the Mayor's Men (and Women)
The Champagne's been drunk, the confetti's been swept away, and the election of November 2009 is a distant memory for most. But there are a few people out there who still have a bit of a swagger in their step because they helped Anthony Foxx pull off a major political feat to become the first Democratic mayor of Charlotte in more than two decades.
Two Takes on the Banks' Comebacks
Both from the New York Times (natch):"Banks Prepare for Big Bonuses, and Big Wrath":"The bank bonus season, that annual rite of big money and bigger egos, begins in earnest this week, and it looks as if it will be one…
2009 Cracked Crowns
This year's dumbest deeds
The Future of Good - Part 2
In the December issue, we launched a two-part series on charitable organizations in Charlotte. In truth, this is not new territory for this magazine. We have long covered the city's important web of nonprofits - usually pointing out who's helping, occasionally shedding light on those who could do better.
This is why we need newspapers
I didn't get to spend a ton of time with the Sunday Observer today, but two stories on the front page blew me away, and offered yet another reminder as to why newspapers are so valuable.First, the story on the…
The Best Private School Programs
When it comes to your child's education, you want only the best. So instead of sifting through countless brochures and online media kits, we've found it for you. Our list of the best private school programs in Charlotte examines the leading drama and science programs, strongest sports teams, tech-savviest schools, and more. Because sometimes you need the CliffsNotes version.
Tale of Two Cities
Over two decades of booming expansion, Charlotte has grown into two separate cities -- one urban, one suburban. So what happens now?
What goes around, comes around
Charlotte got more than its fair share of good press over the years. Now, the story has changed
Will Anthony Foxx be an impractical leader? I hope so
I watched most of the city council and mayoral swearing-in ceremonies on television last night, although I admit turning off the tube after the last of the new council members spoke. Lassiter and McCrory both gave excellent, classy farewell speeches--just…
The Reinvention Continues
Nine months ago in this space, I promised we would faithfully chronicle the new and changing Charlotte. Since then, we have published stories on the future of NASCAR, the new ways Charlotteans are networking to find jobs, and a collection…
Breaking and Entering
I had that anxiety you feel when the school calls. You know it's going to be bad, but you don't know how bad—will it be a bus accident or no lunch money? Debbie and I slowly opened the back door…
