Mac Tabby Officially Opening This Weekend – Charlotte’s First Ever ‘Cat Cafe’

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Mac Tabby Officially Opening This Weekend – Charlotte’s First Ever ‘Cat Cafe’

We’re not kitten you, Charlotte’s first ever ‘Cat Cafe’ is meow here!

‘Mac-Tabby’ will be opening for the first time this Caturday at noon in Area 15 – an eclectic business incubator in the Optimist Park neighborhood between Uptown and NoDa.

If you’re feline down, Mac-Tabby will offer patrons a quiet place to drink some coffee from Pure Intentions, kombucha from Lenny Boy Brewing, wines from local wineries, and a variety of other drinks and tasty treats.

According to their website, they “leased two spaces side-by-side to abide by NC law, providing a happy and healthy environment! One space is our dedicated “Cat Lounge” that will house 11 cats at any given time with lots of cozy seating for our guests. Our cafe space will be for check-ins, to grab a beverage or some of our paw-some merchandise before heading over to chill with the kitties. You will be allowed to bring food and drinks into the Cat Lounge – just don’t share with anyone furry!”

You can book a reservation on their website for $12 pur hour pur human.

Saturday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

One of the best things about Mac Tabby is that if you end up falling in love with a new companion – all of their cats are up for adoption.

We’re pawsitive you’ll have a clawsome time!

Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte Region This Weekend

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Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte Region This Weekend

The weekend is almost here!

There will be Christmas markets, musicals, football, basketball, and tons of lights!

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 Weihnachtsmarkt

This is the last weekend of OMB’s legendary Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas Market.

This year, they have over 40 vendors – their largest market to date. Some vendors will be in traditional wooden huts, but all will be decorated to the max and full of local crafts and baked goods. Like the Christmas Markets of Nuremburg, Germany, OMB’s Weihnachtsmarkt will also have fresh beer on tap (including our winter seasonal brews Dunkel & Yule Bock) and Gluhwein (pron. “Gloo-vine”), a mulled red wine served hot and fresh.

For more info click here.

#2 Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets

This coming Friday night the Miami Heat will be coming to Charlotte to take on the Hornets at the Spectrum Center starting at 7:00pm.

For tickets or more info click here.

BONUS – the Hornets will also be taking on the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night – for tickets click here.

#3 Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah

Christopher Warren-Green, a self-proclaimed “Messiah junkie,” has earned an international reputation for his moving interpretations of this enduring oratorio. For the first time, he leads your Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, 100-voice Chorus and four soloists in this annual performance of one of the most inspiring works of music ever written.

He’ll be leading the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra this coming Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7:30pm.

For tickets or more info click here.

#4 Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker

Grammy-winning Fantasia will be performing live in Charlotte this Friday night on her national ‘Christmas After Midnight’ album tour.

She will be playing at the Oven’s Auditorium starting at 8pm on Friday night.

For tickets or more info click here.

#5 VTG CLT Pop

VTGCLT Pop is a pop-up shop featuring handmade and vintage wares from 90 of the best local and regional creatives. The shop is open daily, now through December 21 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. for all your local Holiday shopping needs.

The shop has four remaining special evenings with programming:

12/14 – 7pm | Merry Modern Wreaths Workshop with Studio Cultivate
12/16 – 10am | Milk Glass Pie + Old North Shrub Sodas
12/18 – 7pm | Boho Wall Hanging Workshop with Studio Cultivate
12/21 – 2pm | Closing Party with Petty Thieves Brewing Co.

For more info click here.

#6 Rivermen Brewing Grand Opening

Belmont’s first brewery will be opening this weekend, and to kick things off, they’ll be throwing a huge grand opening party.
The new brewery and restaurant will feature with beer, food, music and games!

#7 Lake Norman Christmas Light Boat Parade

The parade will start at Blythe Landing at 5:30pm and end there by 7pm.

Three parks are staying open from 4:30pm to 7pm. Blythe Landing, Ramsey Creek and Jetton Park

Please bring a chair and some hot chocolate.

Check out more information here.

#8 Repticon Charlotte

Repticon, a recognized leader in hosting reptile and exotic animal expos throughout the United States, is coming back to Charlotte with an outstanding mixture of vendors, breeders, and educators. This family-oriented, fun-filled event offers guests the opportunity to learn about animals not normally seen in local pet stores. Breeder-vendors are always willing to teach; and, throughout the event, there will be seminars on animal-related topics by experts in the field of herpetology.

For more info click here.

#9 Les Miserables

Les Miserables is the Tony Award-winning musical based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. Les Miserables debuted in London at the Barbican Centre in 1985 and now a production is being staged at Landmark Theater in Richmond, Virginia. The musical has become one of the most popular in the world, and with the unbridled success of the 2012 film adaptation it’s popularity will only continue to grow. Les Miserables is one of the most historic musicals in all of theater and one any patron of the arts needs to see at least once.

For more info click here.

#10 Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers in Charlotte

There’s now a good chance that Aaron Rodgers will be medically cleared to play this Sunday. Rodgers broke his collarbone on Oct. 15 against the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Hundley has started the last seven games.

The Panthers are coming off a big win against the Minnesota Vikings and now have a good shot at winning the NFC South – based on their history against Rodgers, the Panthers are looking good.

Game starts this Sunday afternoon at 1pm.

For tickets or more info click here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

Fort Mill Waffle House Armed Robbery Caught On Video – Police Asking For Public’s Help

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Fort Mill Waffle House Armed Robbery Caught On Video – Police Asking For Public’s Help

Early yesterday morning at around 3:30am, two armed men walked into Fort Mill’s Waffle House and robbed the employees at gunpoint.

The Fort Mill Sherriff’s Office released the following video of the surveillance camera and is now asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects;

The official police report reads;

“At approx. 3:30 AM on December 13th, 2017 three black male suspects robbed the Waffle House on Regent Parkway in Fort Mill, SC. The trio sat down ordered food & while the cook prepared the food they got up, one jumping over the counter, and robbed the restaurant at gunpoint. The group forced the cook & waitress to the ground and robbed them as well. The suspects ran out and were seen leaving in a silver or gold in color Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Marquis.”

If you have any information about the robbery or who the suspects in the video might be, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-409-4321 or the York County Sherrif’s Office at 803-409-4321.

Thousands Rally Around Petition To Save Charlotte’s Historic Park Terrace Theater

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Thousands Rally Around Petition To Save Charlotte’s Historic Park Terrace Theater

A new petition is starting to spread around Charlotte’s online community after plans were announced last week that the historic Park Terrace Theater would be closing.

The petition is called, “Save Park Terrace theatre Charlotte from developers“, and as of Thursday morning, it’s already received 3,397 signatures – just 1,603 shy of its 5,000 signature goal.

The petition reads;

One of Charlotte’s oldest theatres is rumored to be closing December 17th. This historic theatre is a Charlotte landmark and vital cultural asset to our community. Edens is the owner of the Park Road shopping center. They are based in Columbia, SC and, as such, are removed from recognizing the emotional and cultural impact of this decision, especially for close-in city dwellers, of which there are more and more each day. I urge you to go to their website and contact them and urge them against this decision. Save Park Terrace theatre. Many things are more valuable than merely the highest bidder. www.edens.com

Hundreds of people commented on the petition, sharing their memories of the theater, and their anger toward the thought of shutting it down;

The historic cinema first opened in 1964 as the Park Terrace Theater (25 years after Charlotte’s first cinema opened – Dilworth Theater). Consolidated Theatres spent $2 million on renovating the theater in 1996, doubling its number of screens from 3 to 6. Regal then bought the theater from Consolidated in 2008.

Sometimes life is just too flippin’ pretty. @parkroadcenter #charlottesgotalot

A post shared by QueenCharlotte’sPimentoCheese (@qccheeseroyale) on

I reached out to Eden’s for comment and they said they’re currently in negotiations with a tenant that plans on bringing a new entertainment option to the 20,000+ SqFt building.

Once negotiations are finalized, they will release the name of the new tenant and the plans for the building.

They assured me that the building will not be torn down or sold.

Massive New Entertainment Complex In The Works For University City

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Massive New Entertainment Complex In The Works For University City

A massive new entertainment complex is now being planned for an undeveloped piece of land in University City.

According to documents filed with the city, the project will include about 16 acres just south of Ikea off McFarlane Blvd;

new-entertainment-complex-coming-to-university-city

Cambridge Properties will be leading the development of the new entertainment complex, which they hope will become a major destination for the entire University City region.

Their current plans for the site include; a hotel, a bowling alley, several new restaurants (at least one with a rooftop bar overlooking the city), a movie theater, a new brewery, and a new driving range (possibly the new site for Charlotte’s second Topgolf location).

The new project will sit in the perfect location, between the I-85 interstate and the new LYNX Blue Line light rail extension, which is expected to start running in the Spring of 2018.

Charlotte Was Just Ranked As The Safest Major City in North Carolina

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Charlotte Was Just Ranked As The Safest Major City in North Carolina

The home security company SafeHome.org just released a report ranking the safest cities in North Carolina. The report factored in a variety of metrics, including; FBI crime stats, crime trends, and law enforcement officers per capita – and to a lesser degree; population density, population trends, unemployment rate, median income, and education level.

Charlotte was ranked as the 16th safest city in North Carolina and the most populated on the list with a “safety score” of 68.27. The Queen City beat out every other major city in our state, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham (#19), Winston Salem, and Fayetteville.

Holly Springs, a small city southwest of Raleigh, was ranked #1. According to the report, “Holly Springs is the safest city in the state with a safety score of 89.19 and a population of 31,640. It has experienced a 14.6% decline in its already low violent crime rates…The median income for a family is $92,539, with only 3.7% of the population under the poverty line. The low poverty rate, proximity to a major city for high paying jobs, and the good education system in the town, all contribute to the town’s high safety rating.”

The report lists the top 20 safest cities in North Carolina as;

1. Holly Springs

2. Cary

3. Cornelius

4. Huntersville

5. Wake Forest

6. Kannapolis

7. Matthews

8. Jacksonville

9. Concord

10. New Bern

11. High Point

12. Garner

13. Greensboro

14. Greenville

15. Burlington

16. Charlotte

17. Wilson

18. Rocky Mount

19. Durham

20. Hickory

21. Salisbury

22. Wilmington

23. Asheville

24. Gastonia

25. Goldsboro

Find out more about how the cities were ranked on SafeHome.org’s report here.

SUV Bursts Into Flames on I-85 – Backing up Traffic For Miles (Video)

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SUV Bursts Into Flames on I-85 – Backing up Traffic For Miles (Video)

Yesterday at about 3pm, an SUV burst into flames near exit 23 on I-85 South in Christmastown USA (McAdenville).

The Gaston Gazette uploaded the following video to youtube that was taken by an unnamed witness on the scene;

Witnesses recounted that the driver of the sedan was weaving through traffic at high speeds when he collided with a tractor-trailer. The sedan then went off the road and crashed into and abandoned SUV that was sitting on the shoulder.

Miraculously, no one was injured. Several lanes of traffic were shut down after the accident, which backed up traffic for several miles.

Mark Wahlberg’s New Burger Joint ‘Wahlburgers’ Selected First Charlotte Location

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Mark Wahlberg’s New Burger Joint ‘Wahlburgers’ Selected First Charlotte Location

Mark and Donnie Wahlberg’s new restaurant is finally opening in Charlotte!

Last year we announced that the new celebrity-owned Wahlburgers would be coming to Charlotte, but that they hadn’t yet picked a location.

According to a new press release, they just signed a lease on the old Lure Oyster Bar in Ballantyne’s ‘Village at Robinson Farm’. The 6,000-square-foot building sits on the corner of Rea Rd. and Williams Pond Ln., right next to The Famous Toastery;

This will be the third Wahlburgers in the Carolinas, with one in Myrtle Beach now open, another one in Raleigh almost finished, and a fourth expected to be built somewhere in Charleston after Charlotte’s location opens.

“We are on the road to bringing Wahlburgers to a city near you, we’ve created this family business with a mission to welcome families and friends from around the world to a place where they can break bread, enjoy some great food and lots of laughs.” Mark Wahlberg commented in a statement.

Mark and his brother’s restaurant inspired A&E to launch the new reality show based on the burger chain. It features all the behind-the-scene drama of expanding a burger joint to new cities throughout the Southeast.

The show has already featured an impressive mix of celebrity guests, including NASCAR favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., music legend P. Diddy, and even Pope Francis.

Charlotte’s new Ballantyne Wahlburgers is expected to open sometime next year.

Greg Olsen Has Just Been Nominated For ‘Man Of The Year’ Award

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Greg Olsen Has Just Been Nominated For ‘Man Of The Year’ Award

car_2016Greg Olsen has just been nominated for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Olsen is one of 32 players, one from each NFL franchise, who has been nominated for the award that recognized a player for his community service as well as excellence on the field.

This is now the third time Olsen has been nominated the award.

The NFL had some incredibly kind words for one of Panther fan’s favorite players:

“On the field, Greg is one of the NFL’s best tight ends. A four-time team captain and three-time Pro Bowler, he is the first tight end in NFL history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (2014-16). Greg ranks in the top 10 all-time in receptions (625) and receiving yards (7,393) and is approaching the top 10 in receiving touchdowns among NFL tight ends.

In 2009, after watching his mother tackle and survive breast cancer, Greg Olsen founded Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation. The Foundation’s Receiving Hope program focuses on cancer research and education programming. The program has distributed over $524,000 to six hospitals and foundations nationwide, with funding generated by events executed entirely by Greg. The program’s most notable and largest fundraiser, Kicks for a Cure, has raised over $850,000 in its eight year history.

In early 2013, Greg and his wife Kara founded the HEARTest Yard Fund after a routine examination of their unborn son, T.J., revealed the infant had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a congenital defect marked by an underdeveloped left ventricle and aorta. The HEARTest Yard Fund is a family service program administered in conjunction with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. The cutting-edge program provides families of babies affected by congenital heart disease with services including in-home, private nursing care, physical therapy and speech therapy, all at no cost to the families or hospital. The program provides about $25,000 – $30,000 worth of nursing care (approx. 460 hours) per family during the first six months of the baby’s life. Since its inception, the fund has distributed nearly $1.7 million in support. In November 2017, the HEARTest Yard’s cutting-edge programming expanded when Greg and Kara announced the initiative’s new cardiac neurodevelopmental program – the first of its kind in the region.”

You can read the NFL’s entire description of Olsen here.

The winner of the Man of The Year award will be announced in Houston at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally the night before The Super Bowl on FOX.

The winner will receive a total of $500,000 donated in his name, with $250,000 going to a charity of his choice and $250,000 supporting the expansion of Character Playbook across all NFL markets.

They’ll also be running a separate “Charity Challenge” on social media – if you love Greg Olsen, please post #WPMOYChallenge and ‘Olsen’ on social media between Dec. 11 and Jan. 7. If Greg receives the most hashtag mentions, he’ll win an additional $25,000 donation to his charity, the runner-up will receive $10,000 and the third-place winner will receive $5,000.

Panthers Graham Gano Shares Video Of Bullied Boy Now Going Viral

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Panthers Graham Gano Shares Video Of Bullied Boy Now Going Viral

Panthers’ star kicker Graham Gano just posted a powerful message of hope to all those struggling with being bullied.

He shared the now-viral video of middle-school student Keaton Jones that’s already been viewed over 20 million times in less than 2 days.

Graham told all his followers to “Be positive role models for kids in your life and encourage them to stand up for others as well.”

Here’s the original video of Keaton;

The video was initially recorded in Keaton’s mom’s car after she picked up out of fear of more abuse at lunchtime.

In the video, Keaton Jones asked the question, “Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What the point of it? Why do you find joy in taking innocent people, and finding a way to be mean to them? It’s not OK.”

As he was describing the physical and verbal abuse he’s received over the years, tears started to well up in his eyes.

“It’s not OK,” Jones said. “People that are different don’t need to be criticized about it. It’s not their fault. But if you are made fun of, just don’t let it bother you. Just stay strong, I guess…It’s hard, but it’ll probably get better one day.”

Other sports figures and celebrities have also been showing their support for Keaton Jones and all others who’ve ever been bullied.

The day after the video was posted, University of Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano even contacted the Jones family to see if he could spend some time with Keaton;

Please help spread hope and encouragement to all those who’ve ever been bullied or made fun of!

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