Belmont’s Legendary “Friday Night Live” Happening This Weekend

Steve
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Belmont’s Legendary “Friday Night Live” Happening This Weekend

One of Belmont’s most popular series of the year is happening this Friday night with everyone’s favorite Journey tribute band – Trial By Fire.

‘Friday Night Live’ is an annual concert series in the heart of historic Belmont. Every year, an average of 6,000 people flood the downtown streets to discover new local food and drinks, enjoy live music, dance in the streets, and meet some new friends.

This year’s Friday Night Lives will feature:

  • May 24, Trial By Fire (Journey Tribute Band)
  • June 7, Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot
  • June 21, 20 Ride (Zac Brown Band Tribute)
  • July 4, JAVA Band — hosted on a Thursday in conjunction with the annual Red, White and Belmont celebration and featuring fireworks to follow

All concert events kick off at 6 p.m. with a DJ followed by scheduled bands at 7 p.m., running through 10 p.m. each evening. The city’s streets close off to vehicles at 2 p.m. each concert day.

Check out more information at http://cityofbelmont.org/439/Friday-Night-Live-Concert-Series

#WalkCLT Returns to The Queen City Next Week

Charlotte Stories
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#WalkCLT Returns to The Queen City Next Week

The popular walking initiative, #WalkCLT, will be returning to the Queen City next week. A community kickoff event will be held in the FreeMoreWest neighborhood on Friday, May 31.

#WalkCLT is community-focused exercise initiative that was first launched in Plaza Midwood back in 2015. This year, residents of the neighborhoods surrounding FreeMoreWest are being encouraged to get out and walk around their community.

“In a country where suburban sprawl and auto-centric development often trumps pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods, it is especially important to highlight the many social, economic, and environmental benefits of walkable communities and advocate for safer, more adequate pedestrian infrastructure,” said Shannon Binns, Founder + Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte.

The event kickoff will take place on Friday, May 31 from 5-8 p.m.

HOW IT WORKS:

  • Check-in and receive your event wristband, map and free t-shirt (available to the first 350 attendees!) at Recover Brands – 1518 Bryant St. starting at 5 p.m.

  • From 5:00-7:40 p.m. walk the designated route and collect stamps on your event map when you stop by at the participating stops.

  • The stamps you collect will be entered in a raffle for some fun prizes! The more destinations you visit, the more chances you’ll have to win!

  • Gather for an after-party celebration and enjoy live music and the raffle drawing at Town Brewing – 800 Grandin Rd. starting at 7:30 p.m.!

ROUTE:  See the full route and list of participating businesses and their activities/discounts by visiting walkclt.org. Maps will be available at the event.

North Carolina’s Jr. Chef Team Just Won 1st Place In The Southeast

Steve
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North Carolina’s Jr. Chef Team Just Won 1st Place In The Southeast

A student culinary team from Apex High in Wake County won first place in the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition earlier this month for their grilled chicken street tacos with mango salsa, seasoned black beans and cilantro lime rice. The team of two students, Amanda Marrott and Alyssa Townsend, represented North Carolina in the second annual regional competition held May 9-10 at Sullivan University in Kentucky.

The Wake County team outcooked seven other student culinary teams last month to win the North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition and advance to the Southeast regional contest.

“Although it was a lot of recipe testing, taste revisions, nutrition modifications, and hard work, the best part was being able to see our growth along the way. We had a goal, worked hard, and achieved it,” said Marrott.

Teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and North Carolina competed in the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition. Harlan County High from Baxter, Kentucky, won second place with their taco Pop-Tart. A team from Putnam Charter School in Eatonton, Georgia, won third place with their honey chipotle chicken tacos with mango salsa and cilantro lime crema. Sullivan University in Kentucky awarded students from the top three finishing teams with scholarships. Members of the first- and second-place teams were offered full scholarships, and members of the third-place team were offered partial scholarships to attend the university.

“These kids proved that school lunches can be colorful, nutritious, and taste amazing,” said Erica Hoskins, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher for the Apex High team. “I loved this competition because it took me as a culinary instructor out of my comfort zone with teaching the classics and pushed me to understand and appreciate school nutrition. I enjoyed showing them that they can combine their love of food with so many different careers.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition and challenged each of the states in the Southeast to identify a team of students to represent their state at the competition. Students were challenged to work with their local School Nutrition Programs to develop a school lunch entrée recipe to adhere to national nutrition standards, include at least two ingredients grown in their state and one USDA Foods item, and appeal to student taste preferences. For the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition, teams had 90 minutes to prepare their dish and two minutes to present their recipe and student taste-test results to judges.

While the Apex High team was cooking to first place in Kentucky, two of the finalist teams in the N.C. Jr. Chef Competition presented during the Thrive NC festival in Raleigh hosted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Teams from Parkwood High in Union County and Hobbton High in Sampson County presented on stage among James Beard awardees and nominees Vivian Howard, Ashley Christensen, Cynthia Wong, Keith Rhodes, Meherwan Irani, and Cheetie Kumar along with several other local celebrity chefs. The students shared their experience with the Jr. Chef Competition and how they created their recipes. They also had the opportunity to meet and ask questions of the mentor chefs at the event. The Thrive NC festival showcased talented chefs and producers from across the state and was paired with a daylong summit that highlighted the need for healthy food access for all.

Massive Great White Sharks Are Now Swarming Around The Carolina Coast

Steve
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Massive Great White Sharks Are Now Swarming Around The Carolina Coast

Dozens of great white sharks are beginning to swarm around the Carolina coast – including some of the biggest currently tracked in the Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers with OCEARCH are reporting a total of 23 Great Whites within 50 miles of the North and South Carolina Coastline that were previously caught and tagged with electronic trackers.

6 of the sharks in the swarm are among the biggest ever tagged in the Atlantic, ranging in size from 10 feet to 15 feet in length.

“In our studies, we have tagged about 43 sharks. And six of the largest ones are off of the Carolinas,” OCEARCH’s Dr. Robert Hueter told CBS News on Friday.

The biggest of the group, Luna, at 15 feet and 2,137 pounds, is now swimming dangerously close to North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Last week, Luna was captured on video just off the coast of Charleston by a group of amateur fishermen (footage of Luna begins at 2:45);

If you plan on swimming near any North or South Carolina beaches, experts recommend taking extra precautions, including removing all shiny jewelry, wearing magnetic shark repellents, and avoiding colorful swimsuits.

Your risk will also increase if you swim at dusk or in the early hours of the night.

South Carolina Passes Extra Signage Bill for Uber Drivers

Stacy Anderson
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South Carolina Passes Extra Signage Bill for Uber Drivers

South Carolina lawmakers took quick action against rideshare companies following the death of college student Samantha Josephson. Josephson was killed when she entered into the wrong vehicle one night, assuming that the driver was her Uber driver.

The driver of the vehicle locked the doors and put on safety locks meant for children to keep Josephson in the back of the vehicle.

She never made it home, and her body was later found.

Lawmakers in the state filed and passed a bill quickly that requires all Uber and Lyft drivers to display their license plate information at the front of the vehicle when the vehicle approaches. Drivers can use a marker and paper to make their sign, but Uber is choosing to print stickers that drivers will be required to display for passengers.

The stickers will alert passengers to the appropriate vehicle that is supposed to be picking them up. Uber and Lyft both send vehicle identification information to passengers, but with some states not requiring front license plates, passengers often get into vehicles that match a description without checking the license plate number.

Senate and House officials went back and forth on the idea of requiring all rideshare drivers to have an illuminated sign in the front of their vehicles. The clause, which was in the original bill, was eventually removed. Uber and Lyft both contest that the illuminated signage may have led to other incidents where predators would purchase or use similar signs to target victims.

Drivers in South Carolina will be required to have their license plate information displayed at the front of the vehicle by June 16, 2019 when the law goes into effect.

The bill passed through the South Carolina Senate in a 40-0 vote.

Uber has also taken their own steps to stop a reoccurrence of what happened to Josephson. The company has chosen to roll out a safety campaign that alerts passengers on the best way to verify their rides and also check the vehicle’s make and model number.

Steps have been given to all potential passengers that must take safety into their own hands.

Boston is passing laws for drivers, too, requiring all rideshare drivers to be fingerprinted under a new bill. The measure initially failed in 2016, but new safety concerns for rideshare passengers are enough to help the bill pass. Lawmakers argue that fingerprints are the only way to verify that a person is actually who they say they are.

Top 10 Best French Fries In Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Top 10 Best French Fries In Charlotte

We recently asked our 21,000+ daily newsletter readers (you can join our newsletter here) who they thought made the best french fries in Charlotte.

Based on their responses, these are the top 10 best french fries in Charlotte:

#10 Bad Daddies

Kicking off the list is one of the cities best sweet potato fry maker – the burger joint that was founded on East Blvd. and that is now making burgers and fries all around the country. They start with Kennebeck potatoes, hand cut them, rinse and dry them, blanches them in soybean oil, cools them, then fries them to order. They also have what many consider to be the best sweet potato fries in the city – and the tater tots are also ridiculously good.

#9 Tenders

Finally found my perfect tender match💘 #swipedright #tenders #pdq #clteats #eeeeeats

A photo posted by Let’s Eat Yall (@lets.eat.yall) on

Ok this place isn’t technically in Charlotte, but we had to include it in the list for having some of the best shoestring fries in the Charlotte region. Tenders was created by a former chef from 131 Main and has since become one of Lake Norman’s favorite eateries.

#8 Crepe Cellar

This place has some of the best flavored fries on our list, especially their pesto brie french fries – you will not be sorry.

#7 Nolen Kitchen

Nolen Kitchen slightly edges out Tenders for the best shoestring fries in the region – extremely crispy and flavorful. They’re also famous for their fried zucchini chips – a “healthy” version of french fries.

#6 131 Main

😛 Comfort food at it’s best. #131main #cltrestaurantweek #ribs #porkchop #lkn #lakenorman

A photo posted by Lindsey (@linds_birdsong) on

Try these shoestring fries with some malt vinegar, if you’ve never tried it before, trust me, you’ll love it.

#5 East Boulevard Bar & Grill

East Boulevard makes one of Charlotte’s best unconventional fry – hand-cut, round, home fried fries. These things are especially good when dipped in some of East Blvd’s own ranch or honey mustard sauce.

#4 Fran’s Filling Station

Fran’s burgers are a perfect summertime meal. Try one on your next visit to the Filling Station😋

A photo posted by Fran’s (@fransfillingstation) on

Fran’s has continually been ranked among the best fries in Charlotte since they opened in South Charlotte in 1994. They hand-cut russet potatoes, soak them in cold water, fry them in canola oil at a low temperature, then fry them again to order at a higher temperature – similar to Bad Daddies, but slightly better.

#3 Roosters

Hangar steak, pan fried corn & pommes at the Chefs Counter. Charlotte N Carolina#food#foodie

A photo posted by Shari Kenyon (@sharireneek) on

Roosters (both in South Park and Uptown) doesn’t actually serve french fries – they serve ‘pommes frites’. The restaurant’s style is southern cuisine in tapas form, with heavy French influences – no wonder they have some of the best french fried potatoes in the city of Charlotte.

#2 Comet Grill

9:00 dinner at my fav spot in all of Charlotte #staytunedqc #slapyourgrandma #yum #localgoodness #foodporn #yum #getinmyface

A photo posted by Jenna Gribble ✌ (@hello_im_jenna) on

The hand-cut fries at The Comet Grill are a truly a comfort food wonder. They’re a perfect combination of greasy and crispy with that deep savory potato flavor. It might be a little hard to find tucked beside a Food Lion, but if you can find them, you won’t be disappointed.

#1 Viva Chicken

#Peruvian #chicken with #cilantro #rice and french fries – pre youth #symphony #concert #dinner

A photo posted by Melanie Cogdill (@mocogdill) on

Viva Chicken offically has the best french fries in the city of Charlotte – they’re in a class all to their own. They’re the crispiest fries you’ll ever eat, and the flavor is indescribable. Sometimes I’ll just go to Viva to order fries and load em up with several cups of Aji Amarillo sauce….mmmmmmmm.

Comment below with who you think makes the best french fries in Charlotte;

Mecklenburg County’s Only Public Beach Opening This Saturday

Steve
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Mecklenburg County’s Only Public Beach Opening This Saturday

first mecklenburg county beachMecklenburg Counties first public beach, which first opened 3 summers ago, is about to reopen this coming Saturday (5/25) with upgraded facilities and services.

According to CharMeck Parks and Rec, “individuals and families planning a trip to the beach will be able to visit daily between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Lifeguards will be on duty during beach hours.”

Back in 2016, just before the beach first opened, we took some drone footage and edited it into the official trailer of the 2000 movie ‘The Beach‘.

Here is the “Official Trailer of Ramsey Creek Park Beach”;

The upgraded facilities now include a total of 177 parking spaces, new signs and surveillance cameras, and a more consistent CATS bus schedule to and from the Ramsey Creek Park beach.

Last day this year for the #Beach at #RamseyCreekPark #LaborDay

A post shared by Marvin Beach (@mlb1510) on

Last year, the total attendance at the beach was approximately 70,000, with the majority of visitors coming toward the beginning of summer, and declining toward the end, presumably because of overcrowding and limited parking.

Will you be heading to the beach this year?

704 Recycling Truck Burst Into Flames Last Night (Video)

Steve
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704 Recycling Truck Burst Into Flames Last Night (Video)

A 704 Recycle and Waste truck burst into flames last night at around 7pm on highway 150, about 20 miles north of Charlotte.

Most of the incident was captured on video by Charlotte Realtor Paul Martinez.

He posted the video to his Facebook page, noting that, “According to the driver, the truck simply overheated…”

The incident happened near the intersection of NC 150 and Old Mill Rd. in Lincolnton, NC, about 20 miles north of Charlotte;

According to The Denver Fire Department, the driver of the truck escaped before the fire began. No passengers were present and no one else was injured in the blaze.

Charlotte Launches First Car-Sharing Program In Uptown and South End

Steve
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Charlotte Launches First Car-Sharing Program In Uptown and South End

The City of Charlotte recently formed a partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, to bring its new “wheels when you want them” membership service to residents in Uptown and South End. The City’s Car Share Parking Pilot Program now features a total of 12 Zipcars that can be driven by anyone who has signed up for the program.

The vehicles are now available by the hour or by the day in easily accessible locations throughout the city, and can be reserved via Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone.

Zipcars are now available at the following locations: 

126 New Bern St (On-Street)
101 W. Worthington Ave (On-Street)
319 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (On-Street)
126 South Mint St (On-Street)
215 North Pine St (On-Street)
519 North Brevard St (On-Street)

Camden South Line: 2300 South Blvd
Camden Gallery: 1750 Camden Rd
Museum Tower: 525 S. Church St
Skyhouse Uptown: 640 N. Church St
Element Uptown: 355 West Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

The Zipcar Charlotte fleet features a variety of makes and models, including a Toyota Prius named “Queen Charlotte” and a Ford Escape called “Excellence.” Each reservation includes gas, insurance, and 180 miles of driving per day.

The launch in Charlotte builds on the company’s success at UNC Charlotte. With a number of students already using Zipcar, the company was eager to expand its presence off-campus to provide more residents and visitors with convenient access to wheels where they live, work and play. Zipcar members can reserve and drive any of the company’s vehicles in Charlotte as well as more than 12,000 vehicles in the company’s global fleet.

“We’re thrilled to be officially launching here in the Queen City, enabling two-car households to scale back to one, and even inspiring some to live car-free,” said Vilaire Lazard, Zipcar general manager. “Our ‘wheels when you want them’ service increases mobility while also decreasing traffic, congestion and parking demand, in turn making cities better places to live.”

Prospective members can join online and find out more information at www.zipcar.com/Charlotte.

For more information on Charlotte’s Car Share Parking Pilot Program, visit www.charlottenc.gov/transportation/carshare.

Why South Carolina has the Most Expensive Car Insurance Rates in the Region

Sylvia Sanders
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Why South Carolina has the Most Expensive Car Insurance Rates in the Region

As most motorists know, insuring a vehicle can be costly at the best of time. Even if you are an older driver with an unblemished driving record, you may find that the cost of your car insurance has rocketed over the years. Throughout the United States, there are some areas where car insurance is more expensive than others. A recent study found that South Caroline was one of these states with premiums, on average, a staggering 88 percent higher than in North Carolina.

In fact, the report found that throughout the region, 20 of the 25 most expensive cities for car insurance were located in South Carolina. Naturally, this is bad news for drivers in the area, as they are paying a fortune in car insurance premiums compared to people in other parts of the region. Even the cheapest city in South Carolina came up as being over a third more expensive than the most expensive city in neighboring North Caroline.

What Can Motorists Do?

Naturally, motorists in South Carolina are keen to do something about the cost of their insurance premiums. Finding immediate legal representation in the event of an accident or if the need to consult south carolina dui lawyers arises is a very efficient way of avoiding an immediate rise. However, other than moving out of the state and into a cheaper area, what can you do? Well, the good news is that there is plenty you can do without having to up sticks and move out of the area altogether. In this article, we will look at some of the ways in which you can help to slash the cost of your insurance premiums in South Carolina.

One of the things you can do to bring down your car insurance costs is shop around rather than automatically renewing with the current provider. If you feel that you are one of the many motorists in the area that is paying over the odds for coverage, it is well worth researching to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. You will most likely find companies that will offer you a discount for being a new customer, and once the first year has passed, you can then look again to become a new customer with another provider. This means you will always get the best deals. Comparing won’t take long because you can do it all online at a time that suits you.

Another factors to consider is the technology you have at your fingertips these days. Modern tech has made it much easier to cut costs on motor insurance for a number of reasons. First off, as outlined above, you can compare car insurance quotes and find better insurance deals with greater ease thanks to internet technology. Second, you can use certain devices to help reduce your coverage such as dash cams and trackers. All of these can help to bring coverage costs down.

Finally, you need to consider where you park your vehicle, as this can also have an impact on how much you pay in car insurance. When you park in a safe place such as a garage or driveway, you are less at risk of problems such as damage or theft. This then makes you a lower risk to the insurance company, and the reduced risk is then factored into the cost of coverage. So, making sure you park off the street and in a secure place can also help.

All of these tips can help when it comes to bringing your car insurance premiums down and saving money. Of course, there are additional steps you can consider such as taking an advanced driving course to demonstrate you are a safer driver and less of a risk.

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