After 146 Years, Ringling Bros. Chose Charlotte To Host One Of Their Last Shows Ever

Steve
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After 146 Years, Ringling Bros. Chose Charlotte To Host One Of Their Last Shows Ever

ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-last-show-in-charlotteAfter almost 150 years of touring, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus recently announced that it will be shutting down “The Greatest Show On Earth.”

The historic American spectacle will now perform a limited number of final performances in select cities, says Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, the producer of Ringling.

Their website states that they will be shutting down due to declining ticket sales “This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company,” Feld commented.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus decided to host one of their final series of shows in the Queen City next month.

Their ‘Out Of This World’ show will feature never-before-seen additions, including a full ice rink and Olympic-class gymnast routines.

It will be themed as an intergalactic adventure, with the audience joining the performers on a space quest of good versus evil that will include gravity-defying acrobats, orbital aerialists, deadly animals, daredevils stunts, and tons of clowns.

Here’s the promo video they just released for the show:

It will be hosted the Spectrum Center from February 1st through the 5th with show times starting at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm.

Tickets are now starting at $28 each. For more info or to buy tickets click here.

Their final performance will be on May 21st at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

Gastonia Approved Plans For A New $30 Million Senior Living Development

Steve Peters
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Gastonia Approved Plans For A New $30 Million Senior Living Development

gastonia senior livingGastonia recently gave the approval for a massive new $30 million senior living community on Union Road, just north of the Catawba Creek Golf Course.

The new state-of-the-art development will include a clubhouse and fitness center. There will be health and wellness coaches and a nurse practitioner available.

Mills River, as it’s now being called, will include a three-story, 60-unit complex for people ages 55 and older.

The developer, Green Builders, chose the location due to its proximity to all the necessities that seniors need, such as food, medicine, and physician care.

The company now plans on starting construciton in a week or two, with 11 months until the building is finished.

The new development will include an exercise room, library, TV room and room for events.

Do you think this might be a step in the right direction for Gastonia?

New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men, and Paula Abdul Are Coming To Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men, and Paula Abdul Are Coming To Charlotte

nkotbThirty years after the debut of their first album, New Kids on the Block have decided to go on one last limited-run tour, and they’ve picked Charlotte as one of their major stops.

They’ll also be bringing along Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul for the ultimate trip down memory lane.

This will be Paula Abdul’s first tour in over 25 years. Boyz II Men previously joined New Kids on the Block for their Package tour in 2013.

“Our fans know we love to bring them a party, and this tour is no exception,” NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg said in a statement. “It’s not just a show, it’s an experience. Paula Abdul is such a pop icon and Boyz II Men are one of the best R&B acts of all time. It’s going to be a night of hit after hit, and we can’t wait to deliver the ‘Total Package’ to our fans!”

All together, the three bands have sold over 200 million records worldwide, and Boyz II Men remain the best-selling R&B group of all time. Abdul halted her music career in recent years to appear as an actress and television personality, but not before she logged an incredible seven No. 1 hit singles in the late ’80s and early ’90s, including “Straight Up” and “Opposites Attract.”

The groups will be playing at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on July 13th starting at 7:30pm.

For more information or tickets click here.

Charlotte Is Rallying Together To Raise $50,000 To Save A Young Girl’s Life

Steve
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Charlotte Is Rallying Together To Raise $50,000 To Save A Young Girl’s Life

help-with-familys-brain-surgeryAfter hearing that their daughter has late-stage brain cancer, and that their insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of the surgery, one Charlotte family is praying for a true miracle this year.

They started a GoFundMe page to try to raise the $50,000 needed for the surgery on Feb. 3rd. They’ve already been shocked and humbled at the response – in less than a month, 146 people have pitched in to raise over $30,000.

They now have renewed hope that their daughter might live.

According to their GoFundMe Page:

“…Isabella was operated on November 28th. During the operation, the doctor told us that the tumor was bigger than he originally thought and that he was only going to be able to extract 40%. She was going to need another surgery. Despite the possible complications of the operation in which she could lose her speech or the ability to recognize people, Isabella recuperated spectacularly. That is when I knew God had been with her all the time. Praying to God doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen to you, it means that He will be by your side when they do…

…Our doctor recommended that Isabella’s second surgery should be done in the USA, where most hospitals have the equipment necessary to extract the whole tumor. With the help of my sister who lives in North Carolina, Dr. Mark Van Poppel agreed to take my daughter’s case and do the surgery on February 3rd. The insurance company will not cover this surgery, (it did however, cover the Guatemalan surgery), but my family and I will do whatever it takes to give her the best possible care. We are estimating that the surgery will cost over USD $50,000.00, so we are asking for your help. We are an average family who has been blessed with work and food on our table, but the operation’s cost is way over our budget…”

After raising over $30,000 in less than a month, they posted this update:

“I want to thank each and everyone of you, who kindly have donated for my daughters upcoming surgery in Charlotte, NC.

I am humbled by all the support, kindness and generosity you have given us!”

The family still needs to raise $20,000 to save their daughter’s life…they are praying for a true Christmas miracle this year.

Find out more on their GoFundMe Page here – Please share! 

Piedmont Medical About To Spend $120 Million To Build Fort Mill’s First Hospital

Charlotte Stories
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Piedmont Medical About To Spend $120 Million To Build Fort Mill’s First Hospital

fort-mills-first-hospitalAfter a decade of legal battles between Carolina’s Healthcare, Novant Health, and Peidmont Medical, a judge has just given final approval to Peidmont Medical Center to build Fort Mill’s first official hospital.

The new, $120 million, 100-bed facility will be located on the corner of Highway 160 W and Highway 21 in Fort Mill, S.C.

“We celebrate today with the community of Fort Mill as they are one step closer to getting the high-quality hospital that they have deserved for years,” said Bill Masterton, chief executive officer of Piedmont Medical Center. “Fort Mill Medical Center will deliver trusted health care services in the heart of town as we extend the quality programs that residents have come to expect from Piedmont Medical Center.”

Once it’s completed, the Fort Mill Medical Center will include; a 24-hour emergency room, comprehensive women’s health services, advanced cardiac services, and a full intensive care unit.

The new hospital is now expected to create at least 400 jobs and bring in significant tax revenue for the town of For Mill, including an estimated $2.8 million to the Fort Mill School District, more than $500,000 to the Town of Fort Mill and more than $700,000 to the county on an annual basis.

For more information and continued updates, you can visit the hosptial’s new website at www.fortmillmedical.com

Charlotte Just Witnessed The Largest Women’s March In City’s History

Steve
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Charlotte Just Witnessed The Largest Women’s March In City’s History

This morning the city of Charlotte witnessed its largest march for women’s rights in the history of our city.

This weekend’s march, called the Women’s March on Charlotte, joined hundreds of thousands of others marching in cities across America, with the largest march being held in Washington DC (current estimates are around 500,000 in DC alone).

According to the CMPD, the Women’s March drew at least 10,000 people onto the streets of Uptown Charlotte this morning.

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It wasn’t just women who marched this morning – both men and women of all ages and races joined in.

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The march included a wide variety of messages and agendas.

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According to their website, “The Women’s March on Charlotte is being held in alignment with the Women’s March on Washington, on January 21, 2017. Charlotte is only one of multiple cities across the nation holding local Women’s Marches, sending a clear message to our government that women’s rights are human rights.

The Women’s March on Charlotte welcomes people of all faiths, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientation; we want our voices and our message to be heard in Washington and around the world.”

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The two-mile march will start in First Ward, and end in Romare Bearden Park.

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The march remained peaceful throughout the morning, with police stationed at every intersection along the route.

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Were you a part of the march this morning? 

How do you feel about it? 

 

The I-77 HOV Lane Will Be Closing For A Year Starting Today Due To Toll Road Construction

Charlotte Stories
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The I-77 HOV Lane Will Be Closing For A Year Starting Today Due To Toll Road Construction

toll lanes stoppedI-77 will be experiencing even more congestion between Charlotte and Lake Norman starting today when the HOV lane will be shutting down.

According to the I-77 Mobility Partners (toll lane company), the HOV lane between I-85/I-77 and Brookshire/I-77 will be closing for the next 12 months due to the toll lane construction project.

The company noted that the closure will allow them to remove the concrete safety barrier that divides the highway, set temporary safety barrier walls, as well as place new pavement markings.

They noted that anyone driving into Charlotte should reduce their speed as they approach the new work zones and allow more time to travel into Charlotte.

What do you think about the new toll lanes on I-77?

Top 5 Things Donald Trump Owns In North Carolina

Steve
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Top 5 Things Donald Trump Owns In North Carolina

trump-national-golf-courseAt 12pm this afternoon, Donald Trump was officially sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, causing some to rejoice, some to tremble, and others to remain indifferent.

No matter how Charlotte feels about our new President, he has certainly taken a liking to our region.

In 2007 Trump’s company put an option on a piece of land on Tryon St. in Uptown Charlotte to build our cities tallest building, but those plans were put on hold when the economy crashed. In 2012, he purchased a golf resort on Lake Norman and poured millions into repairs and upgrades on the course. He has since regularly visited Trump National Charlotte for both business and pleasure trips.

In an 2013 interview with WSOC, Trump commented, “I like North Carolina. In fact, we’re looking at another deal in NC, a little different section. We’re looking at another deal in NC. I have so many friends in NC. It’s a great place,” he said, “I can’t talk yet, because I like to talk about it after I sign.”

Considering how much Trump has invested in our state, hopefully a Trump presidency will mean good things for our state.

Here are the top 5 things Donald Trump owns in North Carolina:

#1 Trump National Charlotte

According to TrumpNationalCharlotte.com, “This beautiful property is located 30 minutes from Charlotte in the picturesque countryside of Mooresville. The Greg Norman designed course, with incredible views of Lake Norman, is one of the best in the state. The exquisite Clubhouse and other various amenities make Trump National Golf Club, Charlotte the most desirable Club in North Carolina.”

#2 Trump International Realty

According to their website, Trump International Realty has 7 offices around the country; 2 in NY, 2 in Florida, 1 in Chicago, 1 in Las Vegas, and one of them is right here in the Queen City (120 Trump Square, Mooresville, NC to be exact).

#3 Trump Home

Donald Trump has his own line of furniture, called ‘Trump Home‘, and one of their flagship showrooms is in High Point, NC.

#4 Bank of America

According to his 2016 financial disclosure, Donald Trump owns between $100,000-$250,000 of Bank of America stock, whose headquarters are right here in Uptown Charlotte.

#5 VF Corp.

Another company Donald Trump owns stock in, according to his 2016 financial disclosure, is VF Corp., the parent company of dozens of clothing brands, including; Lee, Wrangler, Nautica, The North Face, and many others. The company is based in Greensboro, N.C.

On January 12th, Donald Trump announced that he would be handing over complete control of his business empire to his sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump.

Given the fact that they were key members of his presidential transition team, however, it remains to be seen if he will have any business discussions with them over the next 4 years.

If they do, it could be good news for the Tar Heel state, and particularly Charlotte.

How do you feel about the new Trump Presidency? 

Queen’s Feast (Charlotte Restaurant Week) Starts Today At Over 130 Local Restaurants

Steve
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Queen’s Feast (Charlotte Restaurant Week) Starts Today At Over 130 Local Restaurants

Happy Queen’s Feast Day!

Today is the start of the annual week+ long restaurant event known as the “Queen’s Feast”. It’s basically where a ton of local restaurants will each create special 3 course menus to showcase their finest offerings for a flat price of $30.00 or $35.00 each (plus, tax/tip).

Personally, I don’t think that many of the restaurants offer much of a ‘deal’, but there are certainly a few (namely Chima).

The Speedway Club (Concord)
The Speedway Club (Concord)

This year the Queen’s Feast will run from Jan. 20th through Jan 29th and includes over 130 local restaurants.

Here is the complete list (click on the link for more info on each restaurant’s specific deal):

Belmont / Gastonia / Gaston / West Charlotte

Old Stone Steakhouse ($30)

Riverview Raw Bar ($30)

Webb Custom Kitchen ($35)

Concord / Cabarrus

Rocky River Grille ($35)

The Speedway Club ($35)

Union Street Bistro ($30)

Cotswold

Mezzanotte ($30)

Namastay Kitchen & Hangout ($35)

Dilworth

300 East ($35)

Babalu Tapas & Tacos ($30)

Bonterra Dining & Wine Room ($35)

Fiamma ($35)

Fran’s Filling Station ($30)

Eastover

Lumiere French Kitchen ($35)

Napa On Providence ($35)

Primo Tuscan Grille ($30)

Elizabeth

The Cajun Queen ($30)

Carpe Diem Restaurant & Caterers ($35)

Passion8 ($35)

Fort Mill / Rock Hill / York

Fish Market Seafood Bar and Grill ($35)

Five & Dine ($30)

The Flipside Cafe – Fort Mill ($30)

The Flipside Restaurant – Rock Hill ($35)

The Pump House ($30)

Hickory / Catawba

BOCA ($30)

Cafe Rule & Wine Bar ($30)

Standard Oyster Company ($30)

Indian Trail / Union

The Trail House ($30)

Lake Norman / North Mecklenburg / Iredell / Lincoln

131 Main – Lake Norman ($35)

The 220 Cafe ($30)

Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails ($35)

BLOCK Bistro ($35)

Campania Cafe ($30)

Chillfire Bar & Grill ($35)

Dressler’s – Birkdale ($35)

Eddie’s on Lake Norman ($30)

Epic Chophouse ($35)

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – Northlake ($35)

Jeffrey’s Restaurant ($35)

Kabuto Japanese Steak House & Sushi – Lake Norman ($35)

The Melting Pot – Lake Norman ($35)

Mickey & Mooch – Lake Norman ($35)

Red Rocks Cafe – Birkdale ($35)

Sabi Asian Bistro ($30)

Smoke BBQ – Birkdale ($30)

Trattoria Al Gusto ($35)

Twisted Oak American Bar & Grill ($30)

LoSo (Lower South End) / Montclaire South

Carolina Prime Restaurant & Steakhouse ($35)

Matthews

Amor de Brazil Steakhouse ($30)

Cafe 157 ($35)

Sante Restaurant ($35)

Midtown

Dressler’s – Metro ($35)

Maharani Indian Cuisine ($30)

Mama Ricotta’s ($30)

The Melting Pot – Midtown ($35)

Pisces Sushi Bar & Lounge – Charlotte ($30)

Vivace ($35)

Montford Park / Park Road Shopping Center

Burtons Grill & Bar ($35)

CO ($35)

ROCKSALT ($35)

Mountain Island Lake / Coulwood

Heirloom ($35)

NoDa

Heist Brewery ($35)

Plaza Midwood

Bistro La Bon ($35)

Comida ($35)

The Peculiar Rabbit ($35)

Quail Hollow / Park Crossing

Ilios Noche – Quail Corners ($30) [this location only]

Salisbury / Gold Hill / Rowan

Morgan Ridge Vineyards & Brewhouse ($35)

South Perimeter / Ballantyne / Pineville

131 Main – Blakeney ($35)

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – Stonecrest ($35)

Gallery Restaurant ($35)

Global ($35)

Harper’s – Carolina Place ($30)

Mickey & Mooch – Arboretum ($35)

New South Kitchen & Bar ($30)

Pearlz Oyster Bar ($30)

Sky Asian Bistro ($30)

Smoke BBQ – Stonecrest ($30)

Stone Mountain Grill ($35)

Trio ($30)

Vine American Kitchen ($35)

Waldhorn Restaurant ($30)

South End

Fidelli Kitchen ($30)

The Liberty Gastropub ($30)

Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano ($35)

Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar ($30)

O-Ku Sushi ($35)

Sullivan’s Steakhouse ($35)

SouthPark / Foxcroft

BAKU ($35)

Cafe Monte ($30)

Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar ($35)

Dean & DeLuca Wine Room & Restaurant ($35)

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House ($35)

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – SouthPark ($35)

Flagstones at the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark ($35)

Georges Brasserie ($35)

Harper’s – SouthPark ($30)

Maggiano’s Little Italy ($35)

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks – SouthPark ($35)

Paco’s Tacos & Tequila ($30)

Red Rocks Cafe – SouthPark ($35)

Reid’s Fine Foods – SouthPark ($30)

Rexford Park Public House ($35)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House – SouthPark ($35)

Toscana Ristorante Italiano ($35)

Upstream ($35)

Village Tavern ($35)

WP Kitchen + Bar ($30)

Southwest Charlotte / Rivergate

Riverbleu Steak & Fish ($30)

Uptown Charlotte

5Church ($35)

204 North Kitchen & Cocktails ($30)

Aria Tuscan Grill ($30)

Bernardin’s at Ratcliffe ($35)

BLT Steak ($35)

Blue Restaurant & Bar ($35)

Brazz Carvery and Brazilian Steakhouse ($35)

Bubble Charlotte ($30)

Caffe Siena ($35)

The Capital Grille ($35)

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse ($35)

City Smoke ($30)

Enso Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar ($35)

Essex Bar & Bistro ($35)

Evoke ($35)

Fahrenheit ($35)

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse ($35)

Libations Kitchen & Bar ($35)

Luce Ristorante e Bar ($35)

Malabar Spanish Cuisine ($30)

McCormick & Schmick’s – Uptown ($35)

Mimosa Grill ($35)

Morton’s The Steakhouse ($35)

Red Ginger Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi ($30)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Uptown ($35)

Sea Level ($35)

Are you going to any Queens’ Fest restaurants this year?

Which one?

Rock Hill Road Shutting Down Until April 7th Due To Celriver Road Widening Project

Charlotte Stories
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Rock Hill Road Shutting Down Until April 7th Due To Celriver Road Widening Project

The SC Department of Transportation just announced a new road closure due to the Celriver Road widening project. Starting this coming Monday, Jan. 23rd, up until Friday, April 7th, the section of Eden Terrace between Celriver Rd and Wilkerson Rd. will be shut down to all traffic.

The State DOT recommends a detour through Cherry Rd. Residents can turn left onto Riverview Road heading towards Cherry Rd, then right onto Cherry and go to the intersection of Celriver Road, turning right onto Celriver Road and back onto Eden Terrace.

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State road crew will be working with Blythe Development, Inc. to complete the road widening project.

If you have any questions or concerns, it’s recommended that you contact John Huskins with the S.C. DOT Rock Hill Construction Office at 803-324-3545.

Please help spread the word!

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