Local Charlotte startup StreetFair recently launched their new app to help homeowners find home maintenance companies based on who their neighbors already use and trust.

Neighborhoods across Charlotte have already started using the app to coordinate referrals and piggyback on existing appointments in their neighborhood to save with group discounts on services like mulch, pine needles, pressure washing, and more.

StreetFair was started by two local dads during the pandemic to help their neighbors stay connected and support the local businesses working in their communities. The app quickly started to spread to new areas, with over 200 Charlotte-based neighborhoods using StreetFair today (more than 13,000 homeowners). The app has already generated more than $1,500,000 in new referral business for local service companies. This Spring, the company is opening the app to more neighborhoods in and around greater Charlotte. 

Unlike other neighborhood sites like Nextdoor, and Facebook groups, StreetFair is not a social network – it’s a marketplace just for home services. Homeowners can see which businesses their neighbors recommend, see when those companies are going to be in the neighborhood next, and book directly through the app, helping users save money as more neighbors join in together. 

Local businesses also benefit significantly from StreetFair’s model. By helping companies get more customers in the neighborhoods where they’re already working, local businesses are able to save considerably on gas and wasted time driving between customers. 

StreetFair is proudly founded in Charlotte, where the city’s rapidly growing suburbs have found StreetFair particularly helpful as the cost of home maintenance projects continues to rise.

You can find out more or download their free app here.

Last night, Charlotte zoning and development leaders approved a new development in south Charlotte, located near Waverly on Tom Short Road.

The Cato property, currently farmland spanning 124.6 acres, will be rezoned from MX-1 (INNOV) to MX-2 (INNOV) with 5-year vested rights.

Childress Klein Properties and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are behind the project, which will bring over 900 apartments, townhomes, houses, and a middle school to the area.

This decision comes after a public hearing on March 18th where residents protested the massive new project, saying it would increased traffic congestion in an already crowded area. Developers, however, argued the benefits of the new project, including preserving some natural areas, and a new school to alleviate overcrowding at Jay M. Robinson Middle School.

The new development will turn this rare slice of Charlotte nature:

into this:

What are your thoughts on this new South Charlotte development?

Global wealth fund behemoth Vanguard has just purchased one of the largest new office developments in the Charlotte region. The 91-acre 2.4 million square foot campus was going to be Centene’s new headquarters, but the project was halted in the middle of 2022 due the Covid’s work-from-home trend, among other factors.

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, Vanguard will use the new campus to consolidate their nearly 2,400 employees that are currently spread across several Charlotte-area offices.

The University City development includes modern office spaces and a wide array of amenities, including dedicated collaboration areas, a conference center, a full-service cafeteria, outdoor dining and recreational spaces, EV charging stations, and a fitness center.

The deal between Centene and Vanguard is currently being brokered by real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield and a price for the deal has not yet been disclosed.

With the labor force participation rate at 62.5%, 0.8 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels, and the unemployment rate falling to just 3.7% WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring.

In order to see where employers are struggling the most in hiring, the site compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on the rate of job openings for both the latest month and the last 12 months.

South Carolina came in at #2 in the nation for one of the tightest job markets in the country. North Carolina faired much better for employers, coming it at #24 overall.

States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring

• Rents in Charlotte increased 0.2% in March, compared to a 0.6% increase nationwide.
• Year-over-year rent growth in Charlotte now stands at -3.1%, down from +3.8% one year ago.
• Today the median rent in Charlotte is $1,306 for a one-bedroom unit and $1,424 for a two-bedroom unit. And the citywide apartment vacancy rate stands at 8%, up 1.1 percentage points from this time last year.

For the latest data, you can check out the full April Rent Report for Charlotte here.

The Sullenberger Aviation Museum has just announced plans to officially open its doors to the public on Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. Capt. C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, who, along with his crew, maneuvered the famed “Miracle on the Hudson” landing – and for whom the Museum is named – will be in Charlotte to celebrate during a week of opening activities.

A limited number of tickets for opening day (June 1) are now available for purchase at a special rate of $5 per ticket. Tickets for all other dates through Labor Day have also been released for sale. Regular admission prices are $24 for adults; $20 for seniors, veterans, military, and educators; and $18 for students (ages 5 to 17). Members and children under five are always free. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.sullenbergeraviation.org/buy-tickets/.

Once the museum opens, the fully immersive “Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit will include salvaged passenger and crew items like beverage carts, life preservers and luggage, alongside a theatrical experience featuring a large multimedia screen where visitors will be taken through the journey of Flight 1549, beginning with the plane taking off from LaGuardia Airport and ending with the extensive news coverage of the day and subsequent investigation into its engine failure.

“The Sullenberger Aviation Museum has for more than a decade played a crucial role in preserving the history of one of our country’s most iconic aviation events representing the indomitable human spirit and an unyielding dedication to passenger safety,” said Sullenberger Aviation Museum President Stephen Saucier. “But our reimagined ’Miracle on the Hudson’ exhibit isn’t just recounting the past; it’s a catalyst for the future. The Sullenberger Aviation Museum aims to ignite the dreams of aspiring aviators, engineers and innovators who will inherit and perpetuate Capt. Sullenberger’s legacy of excellence, heroism and courage.”

Other notable aircraft that have also moved into the museum’s Main Gallery include a replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s original Wright Flyer plane; a Vietnam-era F-4S Phantom II; one of only two existing Skystreak planes used to test breaking the sound barrier; and a TV-1, America’s first operational jet fighter. Each aircraft’s exhibit will feature a tablet installed with immersive augmented reality (AR) technology where guests can piece together each aircraft’s unique journey.

Here is a fly-through of the future museum:

As Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, many establishments are scrambling to attract customers and really letting their health standards slide in the process.

Some of the most common reasons for low scores were food handlers not washing their hands properly, contaminated food containers, and improper food temperatures (many restaurants are starting to use infrared thermometers to avoid this).

These were the top 10 worst inspection scores in Charlotte for March 2024;

#10 Bojangles

8521 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28262
Scored 89 (B) on 3/27/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC on duty at beginning of inspection not able to clearly answer EHS questions related to the operation of the facility.
• Observed employee open coffee cup on top of lowboy cooler.
• Observed back handwashing sink not working.
• Observed box of unwashed tomatoes above RTE foods in the WIC.
• Observed back side of the shield on the inside of the ice machine with a large amount of black colored buildup.
• Observed ham and sausage being held below 135F. HH well has been broken for a week and facility is holding pans out of temperature under the heat lamp above the HH well.
• Observed several TCS foods in the WIC above 41F.

#9 Maple Street Biscuit Company

2725 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28209
Scored 88 (B) on 3/7/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed no CFPM present during the majority of the inspection.
• Observed food employee return from toilet room without washing hands.
• Observed food employee wash hands and turn off faucet with bare hands thus recontaminating hands.
• Observed sausage gravy, eggs and chicken hot holding below 135F.
• Observed individual housemade apple butter and pepper jam above 41F in prep unit.
• Observed goat cheese, raw pooled eggs, raw shelled eggs, ham, mushrooms and other items in cold drawers above 41F.
• Observed custard and smashbrowns in lowboy above 41F.
• Observed waffle batter containing raw egg on ice above 41F.
• Observed raw chicken tenders above 41F at chicken prep.
• Observed housemade ranch in RI between 43-45F.
• Observed housemade apple butter and pepper jelly in prep unit with no date marks.
• Observed items improperly date marked such as housemade pepper jelly and sausage gravy date marked 3/1-3/8 (discard should be 3/7), and housemade custard (with milk) dated 3/2-3/9 (discard should be 3/8).
• Observed tomatoes date marked with a discard date of 3/4.
• Observed diced ham, sautéed peppers and onions and goat cheese in cold drawers with no date marks.
• Observed smashbrowns in lowboy with no date mark.
• Observed cut green tomatoes in chicken prep with no date mark.
• Observed smashbrowns in RIC with no date mark.
• Observed sausage and veggie gravy in WIC with no date marks.

#8 Mezeh Mediterranean Grill

4920 OLD SARDIS RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28211
Scored 87.5 (A) on 3/11/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC unable to answer EHS questions on Employee Health Policy and had several Priority violations during inspection today in which PIC could not display knowledge on corrective action.
• A Certified Food Protection Manager was not onsite during inspection.
• Observed employee handling soiled equipment and utensils while passing items through dish machine and proceed to handle clean utensils and equipment without washing hands between tasks.
• Observed employee wash hands and use bare hands to push lever to dispense paper towels.
• Observed a large plastic bucket being stored in basin of hand sink next to door leading to back room.
• Observed several bowls with build up being stored as clean and several containers with sticker residue on outside of container touching inside food contact surface of following container.
• Observed one container of lamb kefta balls being held on serving line in which three of the lamb balls on top measured below 135F.
• Observed a container of pizza sauce being held in grill drawer cooler at 44F.
• Observed containers of shredded lamb and sliced tomatoes in grill drawers and two containers of arugula in 3 door reach in cooler all missing date marks.
• Observed time stamps missing from all items on serving line being held on TPHC.

#7 Crafty Crab Seafood

8933 J M KEYNES DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 87.5 (B) on 3/21/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed fryer basket stored in rear hand sink.
• Observed raw shrimp over ready to eat crab and crab legs.
• Observed dish machine not reaching sanitizing temperatures only 147 degrees F.
• Observed potatoes and corn on tphc not labeled with as to what time to discard or what time food was placed on tphc.
• Observed aspirin over food prep surface in main kitchen area.
• Observed lye and scouring compound over food prep surface in rear kitchen area.

#6 Chicken King

7825 NATIONS FORD RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28217
Scored 87.5 (B) on 3/19/2024

They had the following violations;

• Owner, who was present at beginning of inspection, has a certification that expired last month.
• PIC unable to provide employee health policy.
• Observed two employees on two separate occasions walk into kitchen area from outside and begin handling food without first washing hands.
• Observed employee remove one glove to handle cell phone and don a new glove to continue handling food without removing second glove and washing hands prior to donning new gloves.
• Observed hot water temperatures only reach 83F at handsink on cook line.
• Observed 0ppm chlorine sanitizer at 3 compartment sink.
• Observed various TCS items holding below 135F under heat lamp covered by cardboard.
• Observed no date mark labels on any items in prep units including housemade coleslaw, potato salad, sliced tomatoes, deli meats, mashed potatoes, rice, and mac & cheese.
• Observed clean dishes stacked wet.

#5 Showmars

2540 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28214
Scored 86.5 (B) on 3/6/2024 (rescored to 93.5 on 3/21)

They had the following violations;

• Observed facility had several priority item violations today. Observed no PIC.
• Observed no CFPM on duty at beginning of inspection.
• Observed no educational poster on Employee Health and was shown vomit and diarrhea poster instead.
• Observed food service worker donning on new gloves without washing hands. Food service worker was preparing raw flounder and peeling eggs.
• Observed employee hand wash sink with no paper towels.
• Observed food debris on ice scoop and inside ice scoop holder attached to ice machine.
• Observed several pieces of cooked chicken in hotel pan on prep top between 112*F-120*F from this morning.
• Observed bag of shredded cheese and mozzarella without any date marking.
• Observed broccoli on a pan in lowboy cooler without date mark.

#4 Dennys 

4541 SUNSET RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28216
Scored 85.5 (B) on 3/25/2024 (rescored to 92 on 4/1)

They had the following violations;

• PIC not monitoring proper sanitizing of equipment and utensils in dish machine; PIC not monitoring temperatures of food in cold holding, PIC not monitoring hand sinks are properly equipped, PIC not monitoring employee’s hand washing.
• Observed employee wash hands for just a few seconds.
• No readily available disposable towels at all three hand sinks upon entry.
• Low temp dish machine had no sanitizer connected for use. Machine had two types of detergent connected. No Ultra San in facility.
• Found many TCS foods in prep coolers holding above 41.0 F.
• Found many pans of TCS foods not date marked throughout facility.
• Written disclosure at bottom of menu for burgers indicates burgers may be ordered rare, but no asterisk on burger menu items to direct consumer to the consumer advisory.

#3 Sushi Hana

1515 S TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 84.5 (B) on 3/6/2024 (rescored to 97 on 3/13)

They had the following violations;

• Hand washing, bare hand contact, cold holding, raw food storage order, using TPHC, cooling, and dish washing were out of compliance.
• Employee was asked if she knew if there was an employee health policy here, and she was unaware of it.
• Employee breaded raw chicken and did not wash hands before switching gloves and handling lettuce.
• Employee was handling washed cucumber with bare hands.
• Bowl of cut salmon sitting on top of hand washing sink at sushi station.
• Wrapped cream cheese sitting directly on top of plate of raw fish in sushi display cooler.
• Can opener blade had visible multi-day residue on it and large amount of containers and lids stored as clean had sticker and food residue on them.
• Lettuce measured 52F at 1:30PM. PIC stated it began cooling at 12PM.
• Crab, salmon, yellowtail, tofu, spicy salmon, shrimp and kale were stored completely out of temperature control at sushi station and measured 49-72F. Lettuce on line was also stored completely out of temperature control and measured 60F.
• Eel in sushi reach-in cooler had old date sticker of 2-24.
• Rice held using TPHC was not marked with time.
• Charlotte roll on all you can eat dinner menu is missing asterisk tying it to consumer advisory on bottom of menu.
• Pill bottle stored on shelf above clean utensils.

#2 Harris Food Mart

8400 OLD STATESVILLE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28269
Scored 82.5 (B) on 3/22/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC couldn’t provide or tell EHS how employees were trained on FBI.
• Observed employee pick raw chicken off floor and tried to continue flouring chicken.
• Observed broom and dustpan blocking hand sink.
• Observed raw shell eggs stored above RTE food in WIC.
• Observed Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich at 119F.
• Observed Chicken , cooked sausage ,bologna, liver mush all above 41F.
• Observed Gas Treatment(for cars) stored on shelf with hand soap, bleach, and coffee filters.
• Observed urial in male bathroom taped off.

#1 Little Caesars

228 EASTWAY DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28212
Scored 82.5 (B) on 3/4/2024 

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC unable to answer EHS questions related to the food establishment.
• Observed several priority item violations today.
• Observed employee drink commingled with customer food in lowboy cooler.
• Observed no paper towels at handwashing sink and bathroom sink.
• Observed cheese sauce with mold on it.
• Observed Quat sanitizer at 3 comp sink above 400 ppm.
• Observed pizza sauce prepared yesterday cooling in WIC above 41F.
• Observed all TCS foods except chicken wings in Prep top and WIC above 41F.
• Observed TCS foods in prep top and open TCS foods in lowboy cooler not date marked.

If you’d like to monitor health scores or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.

Hanging in my dining room is one of my most favorite pieces of artwork. An artist’s easel is setup in a field of colorful flowers. Next to it is a blanket with a wicker basket, fruit and a glass pitcher. It’s the ideal picnic scene.

The perfect picnic doesn’t have to live only on my wall. There are ways to make a simple picnic in a beautiful place.

Local experts share their thoughts with Charlotte Stories on how to plan the perfect picnic:

Choose the right spot

Finding a place to picnic in Charlotte isn’t difficult. There are parks with picnic tables, shelters and grassy knolls in most every part of the county.

Michael Kirschman is the Deputy Director of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department. “Best kept picnic spot, in my opinion, is Buzzard Rock overlook at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve,” Kirschman said. “The view is the best in the area overlooking Mountain Island Lake. Short path brings you to a wooden deck with built in seating.”

Kirschman also recommended Clarks Creek Nature Preserve in the University City area. It has blooming wildflowers, a shelter, grill and playground.

Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman offers several picnic options. Walk along the path to find tables with a view of the lake. Some spots are secluded with a small sandy beach, perfect for spreading out your blanket. Later, take a short walk to the park’s swimming area for a quick dip.

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, Romare Bearden Park, Freedom Park, Park Road Park and Jetton Park have many options for picnics. For larger groups, shelters with covered seating areas may be rented through Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation.

Bring the best foods

Once you know where you’re headed, choosing your menu is next. Amanda McLamb is The Foodie Realtor at Cottingham Chalk Hayes. She is @clthomes by day and @ravenouspanda for every meal.

“A picnic spread is all about communal feasting,” McLamb suggested. “I always like to pack items that are easy finger foods.”

For McLamb, an ideal picnic meal is an array of cheeses and cured meats, freshly baked bread and olive oil with sea salt flakes mixed with either red pepper flakes or shaved truffles. Add pickled or fresh chopped veggies to the menu for crunch.

“Lately, I loved roasting stone fruits, especially peaches, when they are in-season, on parchment paper or on the grill until caramelized, tossed with salt and balsamic reduction and served on bread with mascarpone,” said McLamb.

Caroline Winchester, Catering Sales Manager for Dean & DeLuca at Phillips Place, suggested heirloom tomatoes in a cucumber and tomato salad or caprese salad with tomato, basil and mozzarella.

“I love the vibrant colors that these salads have as well as the crisp taste of summer that both bring to the palate,” Winchester said.

Add the finishing touches to your menu with splendid drinks. “When I think summer picnic I can’t help but remember all the days on Lake Norman as a child, and my mom bringing lemonade for us,” Winchester said. “It’s the quintessential summer staple drink. You can mix it with tea or something a little stronger depending on your style.”

Make it look good

The presentation of your picnic is almost as important as the food you’ll eat. An attractive cooler or basket with a table cloth or blanket can make the meal feel special. These shops have what you need:

Blis Gift Boutique in the Overstreet Mall sells Urban Baskets, Scout coolers, plastic appetizer plates and platters and Swig wine glasses and Swell bottles; $15-$30. 100 North Tryon Street Suite 265

L&M Monogramming has easy to carry picnic blankets that include a free monogram with the purchase; $30. 310 East Blvd. Suite 1

The Greener Apple carries Klean Kanteen bottles, To-Go Ware bamboo utensils and stainless steel containers and LunchBots; $13-$31. 1306 The Plaza

 Pro Tips for the Perfect Picnic

1. Don’t forget the essentials. Pack utensils, plates, napkins and water.

2. Picnics don’t have to be homemade. Pick up food from your favorite deli or restaurant.

3. Choose shade. Charlotte summers are hot, but sometimes a shady spot can make all the difference.

Photos: Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, Blis Uptown, Amanda McLamb