This NC City Was Ranked As 2021’s Best City To Drive In

Charlotte Stories
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This NC City Was Ranked As 2021’s Best City To Drive In

With car sales up 9% in the first quarter of 2021, in part due to fear of public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive in.

The site compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions, including; 1) Cost of Ownership & Maintenance, 2) Traffic & Infrastructure, 3) Safety and 4) Access to Vehicles & Maintenance. They used 30 different metrics to determine the score of each dimension.

North Carolina’s capitol state of Raleigh was determined to be the #1 best state to drive in, with Greensboro (#3) and Winston Salem (#4) ranking close behind. Charlotte was ranked #14 in the report.

Best & Worst Cities to Drive in

Overall Rank  City Total Score  Cost of Ownership & Maintenance  Traffic & Infrastructure  Safety  Access to Vehicles & Maintenance 
1 Raleigh, NC 67.52 4 38 6 46
2 Lincoln, NE 66.09 6 26 12 26
3 Greensboro, NC 66.01 1 34 47 39
4 Winston-Salem, NC 65.62 3 23 15 88
5 Corpus Christi, TX 64.31 13 5 28 81
6 Boise, ID 64.25 11 32 9 85
7 Jacksonville, FL 64.24 2 13 71 44
8 Scottsdale, AZ 63.03 39 4 25 27
9 Tampa, FL 62.50 20 24 54 3
10 Austin, TX 62.48 24 17 39 16
11 Plano, TX 62.10 42 33 4 34
12 Orlando, FL 61.49 34 2 90 1
13 Buffalo, NY 61.28 18 43 18 59
14 Charlotte, NC 60.62 7 57 45 30
15 Durham, NC 60.56 8 45 35 86
16 Birmingham, AL 60.48 5 1 97 54
17 Gilbert, AZ 60.29 57 19 7 96
18 El Paso, TX 59.98 61 21 3 76
19 Virginia Beach, VA 59.69 17 77 14 78
20 Laredo, TX 59.33 47 63 1 100
21 Mesa, AZ 59.31 55 27 13 68
22 Wichita, KS 59.14 12 22 59 83
23 Arlington, TX 59.04 43 50 27 17
24 San Antonio, TX 58.87 29 35 52 22
25 Lexington-Fayette, KY 58.85 16 62 29 93
26 St. Petersburg, FL 58.77 14 48 61 41
27 Toledo, OH 58.59 9 36 67 77
28 Chandler, AZ 58.33 59 7 26 94
29 Garland, TX 58.18 45 53 32 25
30 Omaha, NE 58.05 22 58 49 50
31 Tucson, AZ 58.01 21 11 85 52
32 Fort Worth, TX 57.99 49 49 30 21
33 Chesapeake, VA 57.87 28 75 17 92
34 Irvine, CA 57.69 84 6 2 28
35 Madison, WI 57.16 33 73 11 91
36 Atlanta, GA 57.13 30 10 95 4
37 Columbus, OH 56.87 10 66 76 40
38 Norfolk, VA 56.80 19 56 57 90
39 Fort Wayne, IN 56.13 26 64 55 64
40 Las Vegas, NV 56.12 76 3 60 8
41 Kansas City, MO 56.09 15 18 92 73
42 Lubbock, TX 55.98 37 9 83 84
43 Irving, TX 55.89 46 61 37 60
44 Nashville, TN 55.50 25 40 86 45
45 Oklahoma City, OK 54.99 53 60 46 47
46 Reno, NV 54.87 71 28 23 70
47 Cincinnati, OH 54.69 38 54 87 10
48 St. Paul, MN 54.42 40 78 44 61
49 Phoenix, AZ 54.31 56 31 68 69
50 Glendale, AZ 54.00 58 16 69 75
51 Indianapolis, IN 53.99 31 67 81 42
52 Tulsa, OK 53.95 62 52 63 33
53 Dallas, TX 53.83 41 69 73 19
54 Anchorage, AK 53.46 35 94 24 98
55 Anaheim, CA 53.37 82 37 21 6
56 Colorado Springs, CO 53.24 48 72 53 65
57 Pittsburgh, PA 53.10 54 82 48 15
58 Minneapolis, MN 53.00 52 80 42 49
59 Hialeah, FL 52.90 27 88 80 23
60 Baton Rouge, LA 52.67 63 42 84 20
61 Chula Vista, CA 52.55 98 12 5 36
62 Henderson, NV 52.24 91 8 16 89
63 Louisville, KY 52.22 50 65 78 56
64 St. Louis, MO 52.12 23 55 100 5
65 Miami, FL 51.83 60 74 89 2
66 Portland, OR 51.71 51 71 75 38
67 Riverside, CA 51.70 79 41 36 24
68 Albuquerque, NM 51.60 36 30 96 58
69 Fresno, CA 51.26 77 14 51 80
70 Bakersfield, CA 51.19 73 20 70 48
71 Houston, TX 50.94 66 79 62 14
72 Sacramento, CA 50.62 87 25 43 12
73 Santa Ana, CA 50.40 94 46 19 7
74 Milwaukee, WI 49.90 65 83 56 63
75 Long Beach, CA 49.89 86 44 34 11
76 Jersey City, NJ 49.80 68 98 22 37
77 Memphis, TN 49.50 32 47 98 57
78 Fremont, CA 49.08 93 59 10 31
79 San Diego, CA 49.02 97 29 20 13
80 Cleveland, OH 48.63 44 87 93 9
81 Aurora, CO 48.60 64 91 66 62
82 Boston, MA 47.84 67 92 33 97
83 North Las Vegas, NV 47.07 95 15 64 71
84 New Orleans, LA 46.64 69 76 77 95
85 Denver, CO 46.59 70 85 72 43
86 Honolulu, HI 45.80 88 81 31 29
87 Newark, NJ 45.44 75 97 50 18
88 Stockton, CA 45.44 83 51 74 82
89 Seattle, WA 45.05 78 86 58 79
90 San Jose, CA 44.81 89 68 38 87
91 San Bernardino, CA 44.23 90 39 82 99
92 Washington, DC 42.50 72 90 88 66
93 Baltimore, MD 42.03 74 84 94 67
94 Los Angeles, CA 41.35 96 89 40 32
95 Chicago, IL 40.69 81 99 41 35
96 New York, NY 40.69 92 100 8 53
97 Philadelphia, PA 37.88 85 96 79 74
98 San Francisco, CA 36.11 99 93 65 72
99 Detroit, MI 35.92 80 95 99 55
100 Oakland, CA 34.20 100 70 91 51

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Do you agree with the rankings? 

The Panthers Just Cut Former Starting QB Will Grier

Charlotte Stories
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The Panthers Just Cut Former Starting QB Will Grier

The Carolina Panthers have just cut 2019 3rd round draft pick and former starting QB Will Grier from their roster, dropping their total number of quarterbacks down to just 2.

Sam Darnold will now be the starting Quarterback and P.J. Walker will back him up to start the season.

Grier had his first career start in week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for 224 yards, rushing for 17 yards, and having 3 interceptions in the 38–6 loss. He also started against the Saints in Week 17, throwing for 4 yards and 1 interception before exiting the game due to a foot injury in the second quarter. He did not start any games in the 2020 season.

This morning, the Panthers also made the decision to cut an additional 12 players, including; veteran linebacker Josh Bynes, receiver Omar Bayless, running back Spencer Brown, defensive lineman Frank Herron, offensive lineman Mike Horton, cornerback Jalen Julius, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, outside linebacker Christian Miller, offensive lineman Aaron Monteiro, wide receiver C.J. Saunders, tight end Stephen Sullivan, and offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg.

What do you think about today’s cuts by the Panthers? 

CityLYNX’s $150 Million Street Car Expansion Through Uptown Charlotte Opens Today

Steve
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CityLYNX’s $150 Million Street Car Expansion Through Uptown Charlotte Opens Today

Today the long-awaited $150 million Gold Line streetcar expansion through Uptown Charlotte officially began transporting passengers.

The newly expanded line now runs a total of 2.5 miles from Charlotte’s Historic West End, through the heart of Uptown, to the Elizabeth neighborhood.

According to Charlotte CityLYNX, “The CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar will operate every 20 minutes seven days a week from 5:00am – 2:00am.” From today until January 2022, passengers will ride for free, after which point, the fair will be the same as standard bus fair.

The city will now begin working on a 3rd phase of the Gold Line, which would eventually expand the streetcar line a full 10 miles, all the way down to Eastland in the east, and Rosa Parks Place in the west.

via CityLYNX

Here’s a video we made when the 1st phase of the streetcar first opened:

What do you think about Charlotte’s streetcar?

North Carolina Ranks in 2021’s Top 17 Hardest-Working States in America

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina Ranks in 2021’s Top 17 Hardest-Working States in America

With Americans working an average of almost 1,800 hours per year and leaving around half of their paid time off unused, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Hardest-Working States in America.

In order to determine where Americans work the hardest, WalletHub compared the 50 states across ten key metrics. The data set ranges from average workweek hours to share of workers with multiple jobs to annual volunteer hours per resident.

How Hard Does North Carolina Work? (1=Best, 25=Avg.):

  • 12th – Avg. Workweek Hours
  • 25th – Avg. Commute Time
  • 22nd – Employment Rate
  • 15th – Annual Volunteer Hours per Resident
  • 15th – Avg. Leisure Time Spent per Day

Hardest-Working States in the U.S.

Overall Rank*  State Total Score  Direct Work Factors  Indirect Work Factors 
1 Alaska 68.63 2 2
2 North Dakota 68.26 1 37
3 Nebraska 60.45 3 10
4 South Dakota 56.81 4 31
5 Texas 55.83 5 33
6 Wyoming 55.71 7 19
7 Oklahoma 54.92 6 28
8 Virginia 53.66 10 6
9 New Hampshire 52.77 11 12
10 Kansas 51.78 8 36
11 Maryland 51.12 15 3
12 Georgia 50.65 9 39
13 Colorado 49.89 14 15
14 Utah 48.77 29 1
15 Tennessee 48.06 12 41
16 Minnesota 46.68 25 5
17 North Carolina 46.26 19 26
18 Indiana 46.10 20 20
19 Iowa 45.68 17 35
20 Alabama 45.27 13 49
21 Idaho 44.43 26 16
22 Hawaii 44.24 28 14
23 Wisconsin 43.88 30 8
24 Kentucky 43.67 23 34
25 Arkansas 43.67 16 48
26 Louisiana 43.50 21 43
27 Montana 43.32 31 11
28 Vermont 43.30 27 24
29 Missouri 43.23 24 32
30 South Carolina 42.81 22 42
31 Washington 41.75 33 9
32 Maine 41.28 35 7
33 Mississippi 41.22 18 50
34 Delaware 40.17 34 17
35 Florida 37.92 32 45
36 Arizona 37.86 36 21
37 Pennsylvania 37.57 41 13
38 Ohio 36.71 39 23
39 California 36.05 38 30
40 Nevada 35.72 37 40
41 Massachusetts 35.40 44 18
42 New Jersey 35.38 42 25
43 Illinois 34.69 43 27
44 Oregon 34.27 49 4
45 Michigan 33.49 40 44
46 Rhode Island 31.07 47 38
47 Connecticut 30.87 50 22
48 New York 30.60 48 29
49 West Virginia 30.11 45 47
50 New Mexico 29.53 46 46

*1=Hardest Working
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Do you agree with the rankings? 

Black-Owned Spa Launches New Foundation To Serve Charlotte-Area Youth and Women

Steve
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Black-Owned Spa Launches New Foundation To Serve Charlotte-Area Youth and Women

Black-owned, luxury day spa Ugo Artistry and owner Chidimma Ekwem have launched a foundation that will focus on serving youth and women in the community. The U.G.O. Initiative – which is launching during National Black Business Month this August – will look to focus on self-care, wellness and education in communities that need it most.

“As a business owner, but more importantly as a wife and mother, I’ve never felt more compelled to give back to the community,” said Chidimma Ekwem, licensed aesthetician and owner of Ugo Artistry. “For years, Ugo has focused on women’s health and wellness, which greatly impacts the lives of their children. Therefore, we are proud to partner with community organizations that focus on similar areas.”

The U.G.O. Initiative will focus on three core values: unity, gratitude and opportunity. The organization hopes to promote unity by becoming a resource for wellness in the community; showcase gratitude by hosting appreciation events for staff, clients and members of the community; and provide opportunities through jobs, internships and scholarships.

In the foundation’s first partnership, the Initiative will work with The Relatives – a youth crisis center which helps children and youth find shelter and support by serving as the Safe Place agency for Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area. The Initiative will provide health and wellness kits for youth returning to school during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Ekrem – a former teen mother who is now a wife and mom of three – chose to partner with the organization because of their commitment to youth.

“The Relatives is so grateful to Ugo Artistry and the U.G.O. Initiative for meeting a unique need,” said Trish Hobson, Executive Director of The Relatives. “These skincare products will help our kids feel confident and cared for, while they face the many challenges of this school year.”

Ekwem was born in Charlotte as a first-generation Nigerian American who began working full time at just 14 to help support her family. That path led her to a career in social services where she worked with impoverished women on employment resources. She then found her passion in health and wellness, leading her to create Ugo Artistry in 2017.

3rd Annual Bigfoot Festival Is Returning To North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
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3rd Annual Bigfoot Festival Is Returning To North Carolina

After having to cancel last year because of Covid, the small town of Marion, NC (about 50 miles North West of Charlotte) has confirmed it will be hosting our region’s biggest annual Bigfoot Festival for the 3rd time this coming September.

Friday, September 17th will include a massive Bigfoot Expo inside the Marion Community Building with Researchers presenting and displaying a wide range of evidence. The expo costs $5 per person.

Saturday, September 18th will feature an expanded street festival that will last from 10 AM-6 PM with vendors, speakers, Sasquatch-themed food, and even a kids zone.

The event will be sponsored by the Marion Downtown Business Association, the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, and the Facebook group ‘Bigfoot 911’.

John E. Bruner, who started Bigfoot 911, noted that the Bigfoot Festival will be something unique for not only North Carolina but this part of the country as well – it’s the only event of its kind on the East Coast.

The festival’s website notes that:

“Whether you’re a foodie interested in trying Bigfoot Poop, a baked delicacy from one of Downtown Marion’s bakeries, or you have an interest in art and want to stroll along Downtown Marion’s self-guided Bigfoot Mural trail, there’s something for everyone planned for the 2021 WNC Bigfoot Festival.”

Organizers are planning on having a wide variety of craft and food vendors, along with book signings, lectures, and live demonstrations about how to hunt for the mysterious creature.

Several booths will be set up for Bigfoot hunters to present their photographs and plaster casts from expeditions into the woods.

Making Your Rental Apartment in Charlotte Look Fabulous

Selena Charley
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Making Your Rental Apartment in Charlotte Look Fabulous
41% of people in Charlotte rent their home, with the average rent being $1,321 a month. Renting is often a convenient and affordable way of living in the area that you want to be in. When you are living in a rented apartment however, you may find that there are certain restrictions on decorating your home. Landlords often want the walls in a property kept painted with neutral colors, such as white and cream, and for the floorings to be left as they are, especially if they are hard-wearing carpets. Decorating an apartment like this is practical and makes it easy to sell, but it may not be in your own personal taste and style. There are plenty of ways however, that you can spruce up your apartment in Charlotte, so that it reflects your own taste.
Blinds and curtains
Changing the blinds and curtains is an excellent way of injecting your own color scheme into an apartment without changing the wall colors. Industry experts Justblindsncurtains recommend going for ombre shade blinds, for a modern twist. Ombre fits in with boho styling, or gives you the choice of 2-3 shades in a classic color scheme. Bold, geometric patterns on curtains and blinds are another great way of bringing a modern twist into your apartment space, and you can mix and match prints depending on the seasons. You could even put up blinds to represent your favorite Charlotte sports team, if you love the 49ers choose a vivid forest green, or a bright turquoise for the Charlotte Hornets.
Throws and rugs 
Textured throws and rugs are a great way of bringing some stylish Scandinavian hygge into your apartment. In the winter months, think Game of Thrones and go for plush faux fur in soft greys and browns – it will give your living space the feeling of luxury and comfort. You will look forward to taking off your shoes and getting comfortable when you come home from work. If you’re going for a classic, executive look in your apartment, then corduroy or tweed are good fabrics for rugs and runners in your space, and they are extremely hardwearing too. Deep reds and greens can bring a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Change up your artwork
You don’t have to drill nails into the walls to be able to put up your own artwork. Command Strips are one of the most common ways to attach pictures and paintings without ruining the walls. You can also use poster hangers that will easily hang from dado rails and coving. Another option is to have some of your favorite photos printed as restickable picture tiles. These can make a beautiful feature on your walls that is unique and personal to you.
If you are renting an apartment in Charlotte, it doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate in your own personal style. With fabrics, textiles and paintings you can give your personal space a stylish makeover.

5 Gift Ideas for Coffee Lovers

Burt Philips
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5 Gift Ideas for Coffee Lovers

Do you have a coffee lover in your life? We’ve got you. The best gift for someone who loves coffee is something that serves a purpose in their coffee-drinking life.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find the perfect gift for someone who appreciates a good cup of Joe. Check out our favorite options on the market:

A tumbler

Many people who drink a morning coffee find themselves rushing with a mug in hand as they try to get to work on time. Any avid coffee lover knows that this isn’t the way to go. To avoid spills and cold brews, a coffee tumbler is the ultimate option for anyone loves coffee. 

A no-spill tumbler with the ability to keep your coffee hot for hours on end is the perfect gift for your coffee-loving friend. Get their name engraved or choose a tumbler that’s their favorite color and you’ll be putting a smile on their face!

A coffee subscription

What is a coffee drinker’s biggest expense? More than likely, it’s their coffee. This is something that any coffee-drinker can’t live without. So, what would be a gift that would be both great while also beneficial? A coffee subscription that offers great new brews every month is an ideal option for your coffee fanatic friend. 

From a subscription that allows you to sample various coffee beans to a subscription that creates specific coffee blends just for you, there are plenty of great options to choose from. 

A gift card to their favorite coffee shop

If your friend has a specific coffee shop that they love going to, then consider the gift of a coffee gift card. Some people think gift cards are a cop out. However, when your friend gets to save money on their favorite lattes or cappuccino at their favorite coffee joint in the city, you can be sure that they’ll be more than appreciative of a gift like this. 

Home espresso maker

Do you want to treat your friend to their own little café in the comfort of their home? If you know that they’ve had their eye on the latest espresso maker or they’d love a Nespresso milk frother to make their own cappuccinos, a high-end coffee maker could be the way to go. 

This is the perfect way to give gifts for coffee lovers that will be put to good use. Your friend may already have some coffee machines but trust us; you can never have too many coffee toys. 

A set of coffee mugs

Ask any coffee drinker; you can never have too many mugs! Whether you shop at their favorite coffee shop for a set of espresso cups or buy some coffee mugs on a trip to a far-away destination, coffee mugs are an ideal gift. 

Any coffee drinker would be happy to add to their collection, so think about unique or trendy sets that would be perfect for your brew-loving friend or loved one. After all, part of the morning coffee experience is the mug you use, so take your time to find the perfect designs for your friend. 

In Conclusion

Whether your friend needs a new coffee maker, or you want to surprise them with a coffee subscription, anything coffee related is always a welcome gift for the coffee lover. No matter what the occasion, you can be sure that anything that adds to a coffee-drinker’s coffee loving is going to be the perfect gift.

Tropical Storm Ida Could Sweep Through The Carolinas Next Week

Charlotte Stories
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Tropical Storm Ida Could Sweep Through The Carolinas Next Week

Over the past few days a new storm has been gaining strength in the Caribbean and is now projected to make landfall in Louisiana as a major hurricane on Sunday afternoon.

This morning at 8:00am, the National Hurricane Center released the following information about Tropical Storm Ida:

Data from Air Force Reserve and NOAA reconnaissance aircraft 
indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 
mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts, and additional steady to rapid 
strengthening is expected during the next few days.  Ida is forecast 
to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, and to 
be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the 
northern Gulf coast.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km)
from the center.

Once the Ida system makes landfall, it’s unclear which direction it will go.

2 of the projected paths show the storm moving across the North Carolina/South Carolina border as soon as Wednesday afternoon:

The Atlantic Coast hurricane season for 2021 runs from June 1st through November 30th.

NWS officials are reminding all residents in Atlantic Coast states to be prepared for this hurricane season.

In case of a power outage, make sure to have the following emergency items stocked in your home;

We will continue to update this article as this storm develops. 

There’s An Unclaimed $1 Million Winning Powerball Ticket Somewhere in North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
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There’s An Unclaimed $1 Million Winning Powerball Ticket Somewhere in North Carolina

NC Education Lottery officials are now looking for the winner of a $1 million Powerball jackpot that was purchased for $2 from a grocery store earlier this week and as of 9am on Friday morning, it has still not yet been claimed.

According to a press release from the NC Education Lottery, “the winner bought the ticket at the Harris Teeter on Raleigh Road Parkway West in Wilson”.

The winning ticket perfectly matched all 5 white balls, with the winning numbers of 17-36-47-60-61 (current odds of perfectly matching all 5 white balls is 1 in 11.6 million).

Winners have a total of 180 days from the day the numbers are drawn to claim their prize.

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