Musser & Company was originally founded in Charlotte in 2014 by Caleb Musser, and has since grown into one of the most exclusive 3-d gift companies in America. In their first year alone, they were able to land accounts with Coca-Cola Consolidated, several major league teams and the MLB All-Star Games.
This year they secured perhaps their most impressive account yet – making exclusive gifts for every NFL team owner for Superbowl 50;
Caleb and his team now plan on expanding their unique 3D offerings by working with new mediums, including metal, acrylics, and 3-d printing.
Check out their website here to find out who else they’ve made gifts for (including George W. Bush and his father).
Ardrey Kell High School senior Mike Senatore has just orchestrated the most viral high school talent show video since that Michael Jackson dance last year.
In less than 24 hours the video has racked up well over a million combined views on Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook.
Mike Senatore says he knows his fame will only last three or four more days, but he’s loving every minute of it. Senatore is now becoming known around the country as the guy who flipped the water bottle.
The water bottle-flipping video was being planned for over a year and Mike was able to get most of his classmates in on it too, telling them to go crazy as soon as he stuck the landing.
There are now so many videos taken from different angles that have spread pretty much everywhere across the internet, it’s really impossible to know exactly how many times it’s actually been viewed.
The stunt combines the perfect amount of spontaneity, skill, joy, and timing that adds up to the perfect viral video recipe – the internet was already primed for another viral video after Chewbacca Lady happened.
Enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family at the US National Whitewater Center for their annual Memorial Day Celebration this weekend. 5 and 8-mile trail races start the day, followed by live music into the evening. Stick around to enjoy our firework display at dusk, capping off a fun-filled Memorial Day at the USNWC.
This coming Saturday there will be 4 bands performing from 12:30-7pm in Uptown’s First Ward Park. Bring your friends and enjoy lawn games & beer from OMB, PLUS Giant Chess, Giant Connect 4, Corn Hole, Ping Pong, Foosball, Pop A Shot, Jenga, Spikeball.
The 2016 Mint Hill Madness will return this coming Memorial Day Weekend from May 27th through May 29th.
The festival was started to celebrate the founding of the Town, and features events for everyone in the family; delicious food; great music ranging from country to rock; a fantastic family carnival; an arts/crafts fair; an all-American parade; and of course, a spectacular firework show.
Within a 60 mile radius around Charlotte, there are over a dozen wineries of all shapes and sizes, including a cat-themed winery that just opened in York County!
Just southeast of Charlotte, you can live out childhood fantasies by enjoying some award-winning wine in a treehouse at The Treehouse Vineyards in Monroe. If you’re in the Concord area, you can enjoy some local art with your wine at The Cabo Winery.
This weekend Mecklenburg County will be opening its very first beach at Ramsey Creek Park.
Access to the beach will be free, but parking will cost $3 per car for residents of the county, and $5 per car for non-residents. There’s also a season pass available for $52 if you’re a resident and $77 if you’re not.
From Thursday May 26th through Saturday May 28th, Uptown Charlotte will be turned into the ever-growing Speed Street.
With live musical entertainment, appearances by top NASCAR drivers and celebrities, dynamic exhibits, tons of food, and even more free give-aways, this is one event you can’t miss.
You may want to take the lightrail into the city because parking is going to be insane.
This Sunday starting at 6pm, the Charlotte Motor Speedway will be hosting it’s biggest event of the year – and one of the biggest NASCAR races in the country – the 57th running of the legendary Coca-Cola 600.
If you’ve never been before, it’s worth experiencing at least once. Tickets are now selling for $36 each.
Courtesy of Mazda MotorsportsAmerican hero Marine Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Liam Dwyer is hosting a charitable karting event to benefit the Semper Fi Fund. The fund is a 501-C charity that raises money for wounded service members and their families in time of need. The Semper Fi Fund 150 takes place at the GoPro Motorplex, a world-class karting facility in Mooresville, NC, on Tuesday evening, May 31 from 6 to 8:30 pm. The karting event is slated to feature a number of pro racing drivers from the world of sports cars and stock cars.
Dwyer served two tours of duty in the Marines, and recovered from grave injuries to become a Mazda factory race driver in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series.
Dwyer, 34, initially suffered injuries while on duty in the Middle East in 2007. He re-enlisted in the Marines for a second tour of duty in 2010. On May 22, 2011, Dwyer stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, suffering many grave injuries. Dwyer lost his left leg and received serious injuries to his other extremities and torso. Lucky to be alive, he has survived 50 surgeries to address the damage.
Dwyer races with a special prosthetic leg in the No. 26 Mazda race car. The car needs almost no modification as the prosthetic attaches to the clutch pedal, and is released by the pull of a simple lever. It allows Dwyer to quickly climb from the race car for his co-driver to take over, and it has allowed him to take two major event race victories in the past two seasons of racing.
Charlotte Police are now asking for the public’s help to find a missing teenage girl who went missing on Monday morning.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Hailey Burns (now 16 years old) was last seen at her home on Baldwin Hall Drive, in Charlotte’s Ballantyne area around 12:30 a.m.
Hailey is a white female, 5’5″ tall, and weighs around 130 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black long sleeve t-shirt with Marilyn Monroe on it and Converse tennis-shoes.
Anyone who sees or has information about Hailey Burns is asked to call 911 immediately. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
For more information, you can refer to CMPD report number 20160523-0828-04.
The 22nd annual Speed Street is returning to Uptown Charlotte this week. With perfect weather, more vendors, and several world famous musicians (including Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, and The Band Perry), organizers are now anticipating a record-breaking crowd of over 250,000 fans.
Speed Street will officially run from noon on Thursday (5/26) through Saturday night (5/28), but several streets will begin shutting down tomorrow (5/25) and will stay closed until 8am on Sunday morning (5/29).
Tryon street (between Stonewall and Trade) will close at 9:30am tomorrow morning;
According to the official press release we received from Speed Street, here is what you can expect over the next several days;
MUSIC: Claiming one of its best musical lineups in years, Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola will feature the soulful sounds of Sol Fusion and the Voltage Brothers Thursday, May 26 on the Mello Yello stage for a free concert. Friday night’s concert on the Coca-Cola stage will highlight chart toppers Montgomery Gentry and Chris Young followed by Kellie Pickler and Grammy award-winning The Band Perry on Saturday, May 28. Tickets for Friday and Saturday night performances are $15 with limited supplies remaining.
DRIVERS: Fans attending the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will flock to the festival for access to their favorite drivers. Among the drivers to attend are Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman. Appearances are subject to change. For a complete lineup of driver appearances, please visithttp://600festival.com/appearance-schedule.
Circle K Fuels Fun: Festival sponsor Circle K is holding nothing back to show festival attendees a good time. On Friday, May 27 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., fans can get an autograph from the driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota, Kyle Busch. In addition, racers can compete against other fans in the Circle K i-Racing school bus and receive a keepsake photo at the Circle K Tap Snap photo area.
SHARE A COKE AND A SONG: Visit the Coca-Cola display on Thursday, May 26 to celebrate a moment, a memory, a mood or a feeling through the universal love of music. Packages of Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coke Zero™ and Coca-Cola Life® will feature an array of song lyrics from recent chart-toppers, classic hits and traditional favorites as part of the “Share a Coke® and a Song” campaign. The “Share a Coke® and a Song” tour will be at Circle K & Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola allowing guests to refresh with an ice-cold Coca-Cola, while singing, dancing and listening to music lyrics with friends and family.
PNC SPEED STREET 5K: The second annual 5k welcomes the young and young at heart to race through the streets of Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, May 28 starting at 8 a.m. At 8:45 a.m., a 600-yard fun run will take place for children inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To register for the run, visithttp://speedstreet5k.racesonline.com/register.
WHICH ‘CUE ARE YOU? Heinz has partnered with some of the nation’s top BBQ pit masters to create a new lineup of BBQ sauces inspired by legendary barbecue regions like Kansas City, Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina. Stop by to sample all five sauces.
#IDRIVEMYHEALTH: Lilly Diabetes will be at Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola bringing awareness to its #IDriveMyHealth show car tour. Activities include photos with driver Ryan Reed’s show car, a tire-changing simulator and diabetes management tips.
A Bite-Sized Taste of Heaven: While strolling the festival, enjoy Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers. The lip-smacking, sweetly-sour, mind-warping tastiness is a bite-sized bit of heaven. With bright dual-colored pieces and playful shapes, Sour Brite Crawlers offer festival goers the candy they crave.
CIRCLE K KIDS’ ZONE: There are activities for children of all ages at the annual event, including the Circle K Kids’ Zone on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Bounce houses, games, slides and a variety of activities are sure to please the young. In addition, family activities also will be located at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The NASCAR Hall of Fame plaza will be a second home for games, bounce houses, obstacles and more on Thursday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Convenient parking is nearby to access the kids’ areas.
BUY, SPIN AND WIN: The North Carolina Education Lottery has raised more than $4 billion dollars for education programs across North Carolina. Visit the North Carolina Education Lottery booth located near the corner of Tryon Street and Third Street to play the Buy, Spin and Win promotion.
According to a new dress code policy (policy #8520) for all schools in North Carolina’s New Hanover County School District, all skinny jeans are now banned for females.
— New Hanover Co Sch (@NewHanoverCoSch) May 16, 2016
The school district’s new dress code, puts a full restriction on “leggings, ‘skinny jeans’ or other excessively tight-fitting pants unless covered by a top or dress to the appropriate length,” that length being one that “cover[s] the posterior area in its entirety.”
Many students and parents took to Twitter to share their thoughts;
Skinny Jeans, really NHCS?? There are way more important things to focus on than jeans. This is just downright petty!#policy8520#NHCS
The school district’s deputy superintendent, Rick Holliday, defended the policy, saying that it will help the learning environment.
“We’re basically trying to stay ahead of what might be disruptive to the learning environment,” he said. “Disruptive” attire, Holliday said, could be anything that invites bullying, unwanted attention, or in-class distractions.
New Hanover County School Board Vice Chair Jeannette Nichols told WECT the policy was suggested in part because “bigger girls” were being bullied for wearing tight clothing.
A Sheriff with the Rowan County Police Department just arrested Jamie Tryee Kirk “Twisted Sister” on several charges of drug possession and drug trafficking.
Jamie was found in possession of large amounts of opioids and meth amphetamine. She has now been charged with trafficking opium and possession of meth and has been placed under a $75,000 secured bond.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s office, Jamie has an extensive criminal history with a felony conviction for fleeing to elude, and misdemeanor convictions for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer, second degree trespassing, driving while impaired, injury to personal property, simple worthless checks, and more.
If you live in Charlotte and want to go to the beach, your closest options have been to drive 3 hours down to South Carolina or 1 hour up to Troutman – now that’s all about to change with the opening of Mecklenburg County’s first ever public beach this weekend.
Charlotte Stories took some drone footage today and edited it into the official trailer of the 2000 movie The Beach;
The beach will be located inside Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius.
Mecklenburg County Park and Rec crews are hoping to have it finished up this week in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The beach will fit up to 500 swimmers, but parking is only limited to 127 cars, so you’ll most likely either have to carpool or walk on popular weekends.
Lake Norman generated over $21 million last year. With the addition of Mecklenburg County’s first beach, leaders are hoping to blow past that number through restaurant and local business revenue.
Access to the beach will be free, but parking will cost $3 per car for residents of the county, and $5 per car for non-residents. There’s also a season pass available for $52 if you’re a resident and $77 if you’re not.
The 10th annual DrumStrong festival in Weddington, NC just streamed one of the longest drum circle marathons to over 70 countries around the world.
Charlotte Stories was granted exclusive access to film the event (including permission to use our drone);
This years event featured the addition of the fire-breathing ‘Remo The Dragon’, several more food trucks, and dozens of vendors. Performers included The Kruger Brothers, Jeff Sipe, Josh Daniel & Mark Schimick, Flatland Tourists, Of Good Nature and others.
The Swimmers started DrumStrong in 2007, after Scott Swimmer’s son Mason was diagnosed with bone cancer.
The goal of the event is to bring together survivors and those affected by cancer in any easy-to-participate activity that everyone can join in on. In the years since its inception, it’s sprouted fundraising events around the world, with DrumStrongs from Tokyo to Hawaii to Rome all broadcasting simultaneously on the web.
Ardrey Kell High School senior Mike Senatore has just orchestrated the most viral high school talent show video since that 
Charlotte Police are now asking for the public’s help to find a missing teenage girl who went missing on Monday morning.
The school district’s deputy superintendent, Rick Holliday, defended the policy, saying that it will help the learning environment.
A Sheriff with the Rowan County Police Department just arrested Jamie Tryee Kirk “Twisted Sister” on several charges of drug possession and drug trafficking.
