CLT Blog » Feature

A look back at the inaugural Queen City Brewers Festival by founder Nils Weldy

Nils Weldy — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:48:26 +0000

The first-ever Queen City Brewers Festival (@QCBrewFest) hasn’t officially ended. Though the actual event date, February 4, 2012, is now in the rearview mirror, there’s the follow-up, survey dissemination, settlement, equipment return, and yes, even a bit of the 2013 festival pre-promotion that keeps this event in constant motion.

It took a little over 20 months to assemble nine Charlotte-area breweries, 22 sponsors, two food vendors, 6 artists, two dozen volunteers, the venue and the nonprofit host. The organization process requires countless hours of preparation all for one day of execution. But just as the actual breweries will tell you, it’s not about getting rich; it’s about a labor of love. My motivation was to find a way to become professionally involved with the local brewery culture. I’m not a home brewer (yet) and I don’t sell or distribute beer. I took an events-based background from positions with the Boston Bruins, Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats to create QCBF. The result has far-exceeded expectations and has made Charlotte feel more like home than ever before.

I’ve moved to Charlotte twice: once in July 2007, then again in October 2010. The first tour was grueling, due in part to a challenging work environment, which prompted the move back to New England. But unforeseen circumstances brought me and my family back to Charlotte. The second tour has been tremendously enjoyable; the brewery renaissance Charlotte’s undergoing has made the QC feel more a like the great beer cities I’ve lived in like Burlington, VT and Boston, MA, and it’s allowed me to fulfill one of my great passions — organizing a craft beer festival.

My mindset used to be that Charlotte was a springboard to a new opportunity in another city. It took an idea, a whole lot of support and patience from my wife, several selfless people from the craft beer community and the right market conditions for QCBF to come to fruition. With the first-ever festival organized (and very well-received), we (wife included) can confidently say that this is the start of a tradition and one that perhaps I’ll pass on to my two boys someday – they are, after all, Charlotteans and if they’re anything like me, they’ll love supporting local craft beer too.

Photos: Not Just Coffee celebrates one year of business

James Willamor — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:09:11 +0000

Friends, family, and loyal customers gathered Friday night to celebrate the one year anniversary of Charlotte’s Not Just Coffee. Originally located at Area Fifteen near NoDa, Not Just Coffee relocated Uptown when the Seventh Street Market opened in November.

Opening Not Just Coffee was originally a part time endeavor for James Yoder, who continued working his day job at a local hotel until he could run the shop full time when it moved to Seventh Street Station. Not Just Coffee’s original home, Area Fifteen, serves as an incubator for artists, nonprofits, and small business startups, as well as a community center for the neighborhood.

Yoder trained at the Counter Culture Coffee facility located at Area Fifteen. His shop uses the pour over method of preparing coffee and buys their organic, fair trade beans from Counter Culture. This has helped the shop build a loyal fan base: Not Just Coffee is the highest rated coffee shop in Charlotte according to Yelp.

Not Just Coffee hosts a city-wide latte art competition, Queen City TNT, on March 13th at 7:00 PM.

Read our article on the opening of Not Just Coffee.

Read the rest of this entry »

Local craft beer, Bobcats ranked last, and US Airways impact on CLT, on this week’s 282

Justin Ruckman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:43:39 +0000

This week we talk about:

Local craft beer: In the last few years, Charlotte has seen growth in the craft beer world — in the places that sell it, the local breweries that make it and people who consume it. Does this mean that Charlotte is on its way to becoming a beer town?
Bobcats ranked last: The Charlotte Bobcats — is being the worst team the best thing for them? Was the team intentionally gutted to position them for future greatness?
US Airways impact on CLT: Would Delta’s proposed merger US Airways be good or bad for Charlotte? Will this help us get more direct flights from Charlotte … or less?

Carlton is joined this week by the following panel:

Jack Brayboy: Charlotte Small Business Spotlight
Todd Ford: NoDa Brewing Company
Mary C. Curtis: Washington Post’s She The People

Thanks to everyone who watched the show’s live stream today noon!

Want to get involved in next week’s episode? We’ll put you on air! Tune in to cltblog.com/live and hit us up with your questions and comments on @282tv or the #282tv hashtag.

The Governor’s race, 2012 Primary, NC General Assembly, & Susan G. Komen, on the latest State of Mecklenburg

Justin Ruckman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:40:39 +0000

On the newest episode of the State of Mecklenburg, we discuss the recent Governor’s race shakeup in depth, the 2012 Primary at large, including Romney’s lead over Gingrich, the NC General Assembly, and the recent defunding of Planned Parenthood by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Larry is joined this week by special guests:

Joel D. Ford, @JoelDFord, Former Mecklenburg County Democratic Chair
Bryan Holladay, @laconically, Political Consultant
Jenifer Daniels, @thefriendraiser, Democratic Politcal Consultant and Social Media Professional

Celiac disease & gluten-free diets, on the newest episode of A Healthier Charlotte

Bobby DeMuro — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:48:44 +0000

This show is not a substitute for medical advice, and is for information purposes only. CLT Blog and A Healthier Charlotte assume no responsibility for accuracy, as it is subject to change without notice. Review all information with your physician, and never disregard medical advice because of something you saw on this show!

This week on A Healthier Charlotte, we explore gluten intolerance, and the more serious issue of celiac disease, with four experts from the celiac community.

Restaurants, food producers and chefs across the country are all embracing the gluten-free craze, but what does it mean for you? And is it just a nutrition fad set to fade over time, or is there something more serious behind the gluten-free movement?

The Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease — a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, and other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. People with celiac disease who eat foods with gluten experience damage to the small intestine, and an inability to absorb nutrients.

Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients causes vitamin deficiencies that deprive the brain, nervous system, bones, and organs of vital nourishment. While there is no current treatment for celiac disease, you can effectively manage it through dietary adjustments.

The Show
Four local experts joined me on set to shed some light on celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and what it means in Charlotte. Our two-part panel:

Carol Szer, Charlotte Celiac Connection. Carol is a founding member of the support and information group Charlotte Celiac Connection.

Pat Fogarty, RD, LD, MSN. Pat is a registered dietitian focusing on celiac disease education and awareness, and a nutrition instructor at Johnson & Wales University.

Jackie Fogarty. Pat’s daughter, Jackie was diagnosed with celiac disease as a 2-year old.

Janet Kline, Charlotte Celiac Connection. Janet is a founding member of the support and information group Charlotte Celiac Connection.

Nikki Everett, R.O.C.K. Charlotte. Nikki is the Founder of Raising Our Celiac Kids Charlotte, as well as the Charlotte Gluten/Allergen Free Expo.

What About You?
Do you know someone with celiac disease? Have you ever gone gluten-free?

Send me your questions on Twitter or Facebook, and visit A Healthier Charlotte while you’re at it – Charlotte’s best local source of health and medical information.

Photos from CMPD’s removal of the Occupy Charlotte camp

Justin Ruckman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:20 +0000

Thanks to Grant Baldwin, who was on-site for much of the day photographing the police and Occupiers, and provided us with the above photos.

The police handled the removal of the Occupy’s encampment with tact, reading the newly passed ordinance to the campers the evening before, and giving the group multiple warnings of the impending removal.

Likewise, the Occupiers responded peacefully, playing songs like “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and even dancing the hokey pokey. Seven of the Occupiers were arrested for sitting in their tents, delaying their removal. but they did not resist, and the police used no force.

Tents removed by the police were dumped and compacted in a nearby garbage truck.

The whole process took about two and a half hours. Remaining on-site is the welcome canopy nearest the road, and of course, some Occupiers minus a camp:

The effect of the removal on Occupy Charlotte, and its following both in person and online, remains to be seen.

The Charlotte Observer has a few good pieces on the campsite removal, and was on-hand for much of the process live-tweeting developments.

Uptown camping ordinances, Governor’s race shakeup, and the murders at Flying Biscuit, on the latest 282

Justin Ruckman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:20:26 +0000

Our premiere episode on television! Tune in Mondays at 6:30 and 11:00 PM on WTVI.

This week we talk about:

Uptown camping ordinances vs Occupy: The City Council recently voted on a proposed ordinance that limits camping overnight on city property — which was meant to impact the Occupy Charlotte protesters during the DNC. Will this bring the local Occupy movement to a halt?
Governor’s race shakeup and Charlotte’s contendors: Gov. Perdue recently announced she would not seek re-election. So what does this mean for Pat McCrory, who is seeking the office? Also, what are the real chances of Foxx running? And how does this affect Democrats in NC, who now have to step up fundraising.
Murders at Flying Biscuit and abortion law: A recent shooting of a pregnant woman at the Flying Biscuit Café resulted in a suspect being charged with double homicide — since he killed an adult and an unborn child. What effect will a prosecution like this have on abortion laws? Will this case be used as a way for pro-life forces to challenge legal abortions?

Carlton is joined this week by the following panel:

Larry Shaheen: Carolina Political Consulting
Matt Tyndall: CLT Blog
Warren Cooksey: Charlotte City Council, District 7

Thanks to everyone who watched the show’s live stream today noon!

Want to get involved in next week’s episode? We’ll put you on air! Tune in to cltblog.com/live and hit us up with your questions and comments on @282tv or the #282tv hashtag.

A walkthrough of Moore Place, Charlotte’s first real solution to homelessness

Keia Mastrianni — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:44:32 +0000

Billy Joe Shaver, 59, spent seven years on the streets of Charlotte, living in makeshift camps, most notably his “semi-permanent” home, a dwelling he constructed out of warehouse pallets and lived in for four years. Shaver managed his basic needs to the best of his ability, despite bouts with mental illness and difficulty managing his medications. He found solace everyday at the Urban Ministry Center, where he would get a hot meal and an occasional shower. It was there that Shaver became acquainted with Joann Markley, case manager for Urban Ministry Center’s Housing Works program providing housing and supportive services to chronic and disabled homeless individuals.

Markley recognized Shaver to be a perfect candidate for the program, which was launched in May 2008 to test the “Housing First” approach, a philosophy that says every person has a fundamental right to housing no matter their condition, physical disability or addiction. Housing First offers permanent supportive housing to the chronically homeless meaning there is no time limit on residency and individuals receive supportive services to assist with their conditions.

Billy Joe Shaver moved into his permanent home September 2010 and still resides there 16 months later. He receives on-going case management and assistance with his mental health appointments, including transportation to pick up his prescriptions, help with paying his bills and regular check-ins by Markley.

Shaver says he was “spellbound” when he was first told that he would no longer have to live on the streets and describes the services he receives as “invaluable.” Today, he enjoys taking a shower whenever he wants, watching television (his favorite show is the Price is Right) and having the ability to wash his clothes on site.

The bigger picture is that Shaver is no longer part of the 10-20% of Charlotte’s chronically homeless who drain 50% of the available resources and valuable tax-payer money. Shaver along with 24 other individuals who participate in the scattered site program (formerly called Homeless to Homes) are a living testament to what homeless people need most, a home. More than that is the combination of a permanent housing option coupled with supportive services.

As Markley puts it, “Chronic homelessness is a different animal, there is a wide chasm of transition, much like culture shock” that must be tended to.

In Charlotte, the issue of homelessness is old hat and the conversational path well-worn. For over a decade now, key organizations and agencies have collaborated, brainstormed, task forced and thrown a myriad of services at Charlotte’s growing issue. Caroline Chambre, Director of Housing Works at the Urban Ministry Center comments on the longstanding problem, “There are great agencies doing good work, but emergency shelter and transitional housing are not a solution for the chronic population.” Overflowing shelters and rising taxpayer costs, despite new services and strategies, are a clear indication of the persistent problem.

Until now, the ultimate solution, a home for the homeless, has been elusive, a white rabbit darting just out of reach. Zoning issues, a weakening economy and political opposition paired with an antiquated perspective that the chronically homeless need to be “housing ready” before they are worthy of housing have contributed to the city’s inability to effect visible change.

On January 29, Moore Place opens to become Charlotte’s first permanent supportive housing complex to use a “Housing First” model and the first in Mecklenburg County to target the chronically homeless. Located off North Graham Street, Moore Place represents an important beginning toward visible change in the city’s housing landscape. More importantly, it is home to 85 previously destitute individuals. The complex sits on a 2-acre lot and boasts 85 individual apartments along with on-site case management where residents will have access to services and a supportive community.

The new development follows a model for housing that has already been implemented successfully in cities such as New York, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City and Richmond. Data shows that the taxpayer cost reductions are staggering. The average daily cost for an individual housed in a residential unit at Moore Place is $29.50 compared to a night in jail which costs taxpayers $110 per night or a visit to the emergency room which carries a price tag of $1,029 per visit.

Moore Place enters the housing scene nearly six years into Charlotte’s 10-year Plan to End Homelessness which set a goal to have 500 permanent supportive housing units by 2016. Although the development barely scratches the surface of the number proposed in October 2006, Moore Place is the pioneering first step toward the achievement of that goal.

To Caroline Chambre, who has nurtured this project for close to 2 years along with an incredible community of dedicated and talented individuals and organizations, the development of Moore Place gives Charlotte a chance to affirm that homelessness is a solvable problem, that permanent supportive housing is a viable solution worth replicating.

“Housing First honors people for who they are, where they are,” says Chambre. “It is a just and compassionate solution to homelessness. With this approach, chronic homelessness is a solvable problem.”

For the city of Charlotte, Moore Place is revolutionary progress. For Charlotte’s homeless, it is hope.

Moore Place will hold a community open house on Sunday, January 29 from 3:30 to 5 PM. Contact Katie Church at 980-224-9256 for details.

Sources say Gov. Bev Perdue won’t seek re-election

Justin Ruckman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:23:37 +0000

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) is set to announce today that she will not seek reelection in 2012, according to two sources familiar with her plans.

Perdue, who turned 65 earlier this month, was set for a rematch of her 2008 race with former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory (R), but she has been plagued by low approval ratings and faced some tough odds this year.

Nightlife ordinances, the future of the Red Line, and falling crime rates, on this week’s 282

Justin Ruckman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:21:49 +0000

Our last beta episode before we go live into weekly production on TV and the web!

On this week’s episode we talk about:

Nightlife ordinance: The City Council continues to float the idea of imposing a stricter noise ordinance on nightlife venues in Charlotte. The latest idea could force some bars and clubs to stop indoor music, pool and other activities by midnight. If it goes into effect, how could such an ordinance affect Charlotte’s nightlife industry?
The future of the Red Line: Last week, The Iredell Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday night against a plan for the proposed $452 million Red Line Regional Rail project, raising questions about the project’s future. This mirrors early opposition by many to the light rail project years ago. How can the Charlotte area ever hope to become viable without creating a viable public transportation?
Falling crime rates: Recent reports from CMPD state that crime in Charlotte fell, once again — this time more than 7 percent. But some people are questioning the methods used to calculate the figures. Are the numbers being fixed or is Charlotte becoming a safer place?

Carlton is joined this week by the following panel:

Dave Boraks: DavidsonNews.net
Kate Gaier: News 14
Constantine Mouzakitis: CLT Buzz

Thanks to everyone who watched our live stream of this week’s show. Stay tuned at cltblog.com/live at noon on Mondays for our next taping!

SC’s presidential primary and NC’s race for governor, on the latest State of Mecklenburg

Justin Ruckman — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:00:31 +0000

On the newest episode of the State of Mecklenburg, we run the gamut from Pat McCrory vs. Governor Purdue, to the Republican presidential playing field in light of the South Carolina primary. Larry is joined this week by special guests:

Warren Cooksey, @wcooksey Charlotte City Council District 7
Dr. Michael Bitzer, @catawbapolitics Associate Professor of Politics, Catawba College
Jenifer Daniels, @thefriendrasier, Democratic Politcal Consultant and Social Media Professional

One of the best episodes yet! A great primer as we watch the weekend’s primary results unfold.

This week on A Healthier Charlotte: Financial Health

Bobby DeMuro — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:49:02 +0000

This week on A Healthier Charlotte, we explore the relationship between your bank account, and your overall health.

Whether it be financial responsibilities, bill-paying anxiety, health care costs, or anything in between, money can have a large effect on your physical, emotional, and psychological health. So, four experts on various aspects of finances and psychology join the show this week to examine money’s role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Show
Our two-part panel:

Jon Davis, Elements 2 Lead. After joining us to discuss goals on a previous episode, Jon is back on set to discuss how a fulfilling career must just be a part of the overall puzzle of health and wellness.

Mark Bruinooge, Tykoon. Mark is a founder of the Charlotte-based startup Tykoon, that uses technology to teach children and families how to budget, save, and invest money.

Courtenay Wardell, Charlotte Smarty Pants. Courtenay is the Vice President of Charlotte Smarty Pants and an expert on financial health for families.

Dr. Frank Gaskill, Southeast Psych. Dr. Gaskill is a Psychologist and the Founder of Southeast Psych, working with children, adolescents, and adults in a family-based approach.

What About You?
Do you think finances are tied to your health? Ever seen a physical manifestation (stress, anxiety, weight gain, whatever) come from financial issues or problems? We’d love to hear your take on if and how your finances are tied to your health, and what you do to make sure you live healthy, wealthy, and wise!

Send me your questions on Twitter or Facebook, and visit A Healthier Charlotte while you’re at it – Charlotte’s best local source of health and medical information.

Rock Hill-based startup 3D Systems a finalist for CES award, vote now!

Justin Ruckman — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:59:48 +0000

From Jim Van Fleet’s Charlotte Startup Community newsletter:

Based out of Rock Hill, Rajeev Kulkarni’s 3D Systems has created what they are marketing as the first consumer 3D printer and launched it at CES this year. They made a big splash, and have been nominated for a People’s Voice award by c|net.

The deadline is 1PM Eastern today, Thursday, January 12. It shouldn’t take more than a minute– please take that minute to potentially help Charlotte score a big win on the international commercial marketplace!

Vote now for the 3D Systems Cube!

Also check out Cubify, the website 3D Systems launched alongside the Cube as a community for people to share and develop 3D models for printing. You can also see more about the startup on CNET’s CES blog.

Homelessness, the secession of Ballantyne, and Cam Newton, on the first 282 of 2012

Justin Ruckman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:17:36 +0000

282 is back for 2012, and gearing up to our full broadcast launch on Jan 30th!

On this week’s episode we talk about:

Homelessness in Charlotte: The recent debut of the film “Souls of Our Neighbors” turned the spotlight, once again, on the issue of homelessness in Charlotte. As the film (and recent news stories) outlined, the problem has actually increased in the last five years. That said, what are the chances that we can actually eradicate and significantly decrease homelessness in the city— especially by the time the DNC rolls around?
Ballantyne’s proposed secession: Talk about Ballantyne breaking off from Charlotte proper and forming it’s own town/city has recently started to gain steam. How do you feel about the possible separation of Ballantyne — and will this be a boon or spell doom for Charlotte?
Cam Newton: Now that we almost have a full season of football behind us, what has been the impact of Cam Newton on Charlotte?
Charlotte’s New Year’s resolutions: What do you want to see happen in Charlotte in 2012?

Carlton is joined this week by the following panel:

Lawrence Shaheen: Host of State of Meck and Partner at Carolina Political Consulting
Terry Deboo: Member of the Chamber
Jack Brayboy: Host of Charlotte Small Business Spotlight

Thanks to everyone who watched our live stream of this week’s show. Stay tuned at cltblog.com/live at noon on Mondays for our next taping!

The @bigfleet beat: January’s startup community news & events

bigfleet — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:43:57 +0000

Each month, Jim Van Fleet distills the city’s startup community news and events into a single, easy-to-read digest. You can get this same information delivered directly to your inbox by signing up here.

Welcome

Thanks to CLT Blog for the opportunity to find some new readers!

The new year is a time brimming with possibility. It’s natural to resolve to do better or to be better. Whether it turns out that way or not, it’s a natural time to try a new commitment.

Education is going to be a recurring theme for this newsletter in 2012, and as of this writing, over 220 thousand people have made a commitment to learn to code during 2012 at CodeYear. When I first saw the link just a few days ago, the number was about 20 thousand. Will you be learning to code this year?

Ben Craig Center

I haven’t doubted of the desire and capability of UNC Charlotte to aid those in the entrepreneurial community, and I was further impressed after attending a session on Leveraging University Resources at the Ben Craig Center. Director of the University Career Center, Denise Dwight Smith spoke about the variety of options that businesses have for providing work experience for college students, along with the benefits of exercising those options. Barry Burks, Associate Director of the Charlotte Research Institute, spoke about the PORTAL building in addition to the nature of the partnership between UNCC and Charlotte businesses. I was particularly interested in the Senior Design Project that all UNCC seniors must complete, as some of them can be sponsored and defined by industry very economically. Also, no one should underestimate the abilities of a reference librarian, and Betty Ladner was there to inform us of their availability at the J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNCC.

If you have experience with any of these programs (good or bad), or plan to take advantage of them in 2012, please say so in the comments!

Events

Labs on 15th Launch Thursday, January 19, 2011, 6 PM Cost: Free Venue: Area 15 (map) Host: Area 15 and Philip Dodds

The Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte is near and dear to my heart, and not only because I live there. Area Fifteen has been hosting Charlotte BarCamp for the life of the series, and one of its original driving forces Philip Dodds and his wife Amadea Unisa Dodds are launching a new youth technology education program there to run through the first half of 2012.

10 to 15 children will be receiving letters like this one (PDF) inviting them to be a part of a curriculum aimed at helping them begin a life of programming websites. The computers at Area 15 (donated by Muzak) may represent the only chance some of these children have to experiment with technology– a chance many of us may take for granted concerning our own children.

As the letter says “this is a time for makers.” Won’t you consider attending to find out how you can help these children get skills that could change their lives forever? I won’t be able to make this meeting, so I would really appreciate your consideration by lending a hand to help make this project a success. There’s some pizza in it for you!

CRTEC w/ Chris Siefken, CIO of Beanstalk Data Wednesday, January 11, 2011, 7 AM Cost: Free with $150 annual membership, but you must apply for membership first. Venue: AT-NET Services, Inc. (map) Host: CRTEC

One area where Charlotte excels is delivering valuable content to technical entrepreneurs. Some of you may be interested in CRTEC, the Charlotte Regional Technology Executives Council, where my CEO Chris Halligan chairs the Events committee. They are a membership organization that has started charging $150 a year for membership, but if you are able to attend 7-9AM meetings, it’s well worth it. Speakers have included OtherScreen president Garth Moulton, UNCC College of Informatics Chair Yi Deng, SQLite inventor Richard Hipp, and Jim Di Piante, project manager for IBM’s Watson project– remember the Jeopardy playing machine? 80% of the revenue from membership funds up to $4,000 in scholarships to the UNCC College of Informatics, so a lot of your money goes to an excellent educational cause.

January’s meeting features Chris Siefken, CIO of Beanstalk Data on how they are using NoSQL to track, analyze and aggregate their incoming data in real time. NoSQL is already an important topic and trend in the computing world so I’m excited to attend.

Bits and pieces

Ignite Charlotte 4 Call for Speakers

You can apply to speak at Ignite on January 10. You might be surprised at the results of speaking publicly about a personal or professional passion; Ignite Charlotte has had a major impact on my life. If you are interested in sponsoring Ignite, an event that’s accustomed to packing the Neighborhood Theater with forward-looking Charlotteans, you can contact my wife Megan at meganvanfleet at gmail.com.

Save the Dates

Charlotte BarCamp 7 will be on April 21, and Charlotte Startup Weekend 4 will be the following weekend, April 27-29.

Freedom Riders closes Series A

Freedom Riders, a company planning to “take the petroleum out of Medicaid”, has received its Series A funding. We look forward to hearing more about their efforts to make a difference by cutting health care costs while helping the environment.

Packard Place maps and initiatives

The team at Packard Place has done an assessment of the Charlotte startup ecosystem, and will be having meetings during the coming months to marshall efforts in the city to help fill the gaps. Review their map of the entreprenurial support system in the Queen City. Do you see anything missing? If so, leave a comment!

Blog at the Charlotte Observer

I was excited to see a business blog at the Charlotte Observer start covering a similar landscape. This coverage may help the city of Charlotte take its entrepreneurs more seriously.

NC IDEA Finalists and Winners

NC IDEA formally announced their winners, and two Charlotte companies are among them, with mailVU and InfoSense joining OtherScreen as the three Charlotte recipients this year. You can read more at the NC IDEA website or at the CBJ

Thanks

Thanks for reading, and I hope you consider subscribing to my newsletter to receive special offers and notification of special events.

This week on A Healthier Charlotte: New Year, new you, and a new approach to goal-setting

Bobby DeMuro — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:14:01 +0000

This week on A Healthier Charlotte, we’re ringing in the New Year with a discussion on goal-setting and New Year’s Resolutions.

New Year’s Resolutions are a touchy subject. Anecdotally, we all know people who set goals at the start of the year, only to fall off the wagon pretty quickly. While there isn’t a large amount of research on how many people fail at their New Year’s Resolutions (and why), some researchers have examined it.

A University of Scranton study from 2002 found that between 40-45% of American adults will make one or more New Years resolutions every year. Not surprisingly, many of the top resolutions are about weight loss, exercise, and other general personal health issues. Still other popular resolutions involve better money management and debt reduction.

The Scranton study even took resolutions a step further, and followed the percentage of people who stuck to their goals over time. Of all their study participants, 75% maintained their goals for a week. Only 64% of people maintained their New Year’s Resolutions for a month, and by June, a mere 46% of people had kept to their New Year’s Day promises.

Academic research aside, what does this all mean for you? We brought three healthy living experts in to the studio to weigh in on effective goal-setting, failure, commitment, lifestyle habits, and yes, even New Year’s Resolutions.

The Panel

Jon Davis
Jon, a former college football player, is the founder of Elements 2 Lead, a blog dedicated to co-creating a culture where 1 + 1 is more than 2. Follow Jon on Twitter.

John Hoctor, DC
John, a self-proclaimed exercise and nutrition nut, is a Doctor of Chiropractic and the Owner of Hoctor Family Chiropractic in Cornelius. Follow John on Twitter.

Katie Levans
Joining the show again, Katie is a blogger at Sweet Tater Blog, a freelance writer, and a current graduate student an Winthrop University completing her Master of Science in Human Nutrition. Follow her on Twitter.

What About You?

What’s your take on setting goals for the New Year? Do you find it beneficial, do you give up pretty quickly, or do you not even bother? Share your thoughts in the comment section below – and if you’re brave, share your resolutions, too!

Got questions or comments? Follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and check out A Healthier Charlotte while you’re at it – Charlotte’s best local source of health and medical information.

Video: ALT CLT visits Occupy Charlotte

Justin Ruckman — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:51:57 +0000

The folks at ALT CLT (a new local blog), including Lila Allen (@lila_allen) & C.J. Toscano (@zactivix), spent some time w/ Occupy Charlotte a little ways back, sitting in on meetings and hanging out w/ participants, and posted this video recap of what they saw and learned.

Check it out, as well as their site in general, which just launched last month.

This week on A Healthier Charlotte: Holiday stress got you down?

Bobby DeMuro — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:19:01 +0000

The holidays are here, and this week on A Healthier Charlotte, we’re covering the aspects of holiday health you deal with on a daily basis – stress, time management, anxiety, nutrition and exercise, and even seasonal affective disorder and depression.

The Show
The holiday season often brings many welcome guests – like family and friends – but with the demand of those around you, stress and depression sometimes creep in as well. And it shouldn’t be a surprise; after all, there are countless demands on many of us, from gifts and family, to holiday events and food.

Luckily, we asked local experts to give us some insight into holiday health, stress management, and more – and what we can do about it at home. Three experts on varying holiday-related and mental health topics join the panel this week. They are:

Jen Plym
Founder, Charlotte Smarty Pants
@CharlotteSmarty

Dr. Russell Hancock, LPA
Licensed Psychological Associate, Carolinas Medical Center

Trey Ishee, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist, Southeast Psych
@SoutheastPsych

After the show, visit A Healthier Charlotte for web extras, behind-the-scenes footage, and more.

More Info
The American Psychological Association provides great information to manage holiday stress and anxiety, including these tips:

Take time for yourself – There may be pressure to be everything to everyone. Remember that you’re only one person and can only accomplish certain things. Sometimes self-care is the best thing you can do—others will benefit when you’re stress- free. Go for a long walk, get a massage or take time out to listen to your favorite music or read a new book.

Volunteer – Many charitable organizations are also suffering due to the economic downturn. Find a local charity, such as a soup kitchen or a shelter where you and your family can volunteer.

Have realistic expectations – No Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or other holiday celebration is perfect; view inevitable missteps as opportunities to demonstrate flexibility and resilience. A lopsided tree or a burned brisket won’t ruin your holiday; rather, it will create a family memory.

Remember what’s important – The barrage of holiday advertising can make you forget what the holiday season is really about. When your holiday expense list is running longer than your monthly budget, scale back and remind yourself that what makes a great celebration is family.

Seek support – Talk about your anxiety with your friends and family. Getting things out in the open can help you navigate your feelings and work toward a solution for your stress. If you continue to feel overwhelmed, consider seeing a professional such as a psychologist to help you manage your holiday stress.

Have questions, suggestions, or thoughts?

Comment below, or follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Memphis star Bryan Fenkart reflects upon national tour, coming to Charlotte in January

Michael J. Solender — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:46:56 +0000

Memphis – Tuesday, January 3rd through Sunday, January 8th

Ovens Auditorium. More information: http://www.blumenthalarts.org/?blumenthal=41

The scene is mid 1950’s Memphis, Tennesse. Recorded music, mostly 45s and 78s were sold in department stores along with their players. Huey Calhoun, a quirky department store sales clerk demonstrates a knack for picking just the right records that will sell to his mostly white middle class teenage female clientele.

There is only one problem at the time. The music is ‘race music,’ or music that was influenced and recorded predominately by African Americans – a taboo violated that gets Calhoun fired. His dismissal lands him at a 2^nd tier radio station in town where serendipity plays a role in his rapid rise to celebrity in playing the very same race music across the regional airwaves. Along the way he falls for an African American blues/jazz singer who is equally smitten with him and he helps land her on the national stage.

Too much tension, too mercurial their rise to stardom, and too many people stand between them to allow for an all together happy ending. This is the story of Memphis.

The book is by Joe DiPietro ( I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) with Bon Jovi’s David Bryan providing the musical score and co-writing the lyrics with DiPietro.

Calhoun is a fictionalized character based upon the very real Dewy Phillips, Memphis DJ and radio personality of the same era. Bryan Fenkart brings the lead role of Huey to Charlotte in January. As an understudy that played Calhoun on Broadway for close to two hundred performances, Fenkhart is honored to originate the same role on the 1st national tour. His TV/Film appearances include: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Red Hook, and You Tell Me. He is also a singer/songwriter, and his new album Simple & Grey has just been released.

I spoke with Fenkart by phone last week.

Certainly as a Broadway musical, this performance cannot be characterized as a “message” play, yet there very clearly is a very real message about race, relationships and prevailing attitudes. Have you ever faced similar issues that are experienced by your character and how do you draw upon those in your performance?

For the most part as a white Jersey kid from the suburbs I didn’t deal or have to confront many racial tensions growing up. Being in the theater subculture on and off Broadway I’ve seen more Gay vs. Straight issues than Black vs. White discrimination and prejudices. The bottom line is this: Art equals art. That is the message that resonates with me and our performers, we see talent in all variants and feel there should be acceptance of people for who they are and what they do regardless of race or orientation.

It is certainly somewhat of a surprise however, that even in 2011 there are some prevailing attitudes that are not accepting. There is a scene in the show where there is an interracial kiss between my character and Felicia. The cast was informed that on more than one occasion, in of all places Memphis, there were audience members that walked out of the show as a result of that scene.

Chemistry between romantic leads is one of the most difficult things to capture and spark in a Broadway performance such as this – How do you and Felicia Boswell manage to light that fire and keep it lit?

Well it helps a great deal that we like other, she is a terrific partner and a super professional to work with. We both recognize that a big part of our roles is making the love interest appear believable so we work at it, and finally, well you have seen Felicia, she is a very beautiful woman, it is not too difficult to kiss her!

Your character Huey is on stage for virtually every scene in the show and it is a very physical role with the varied song and dance numbers – how have you trained to be up for the demands?

Believe it or not all my cardio exercise comes from the show and rehearsals. I have to work at keeping the weight on, I am burning so many calories – It is crazy I can eat anything I want. Mostly I rest. Many of the cast are a bit younger and can see the tour as one long vacation going out a great deal, I hunker down and become a hermit resting in my hotel room. We do eight shows a week and that is pretty demanding.

You were an understudy/standby for Chad Kimball in the original Broadway run– what did he teach you about the role and how have you made it your own?

Chad is a great performer and a friend. He had some tough physical challenges during the Broadway run that had me as an understudy play a disproportionate number performances –it was actually 25% of the run – so I feel like I knew the character fairly well coming into the tour. I am perhaps a bit lower keyed and quirky than Chad in my portrayal of Huey – he is an unusual guy, though my performance is perhaps a bit more organic and a bit less frenetic. There are some things vocally that I’ve done to make the character my own as well.

What did you know of Dewy Phillips and 1950s radio before you began with the show – what surprising things have you learned since?

Really nothing before I started with the show. As part of our research though we had the opportunity to listen to actual recordings he made for Red, Hot and Blue radio show. He was courageous and stood up for what he believed in – a character element that Huey Calhoun embodies as well.

Plaza Midwood getting $1M makeover

Justin Ruckman — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:48:26 +0000

The City is about to break ground on a million-dollar-plus pedestrian-centric redevelopment project in Plaza Midwood, starting in January 2012, according to WBTV.

You can download a full PDF of the “Plaza-Central Pedscape Plan” from the City of Charlotte’s website.

Included in the plan are improved pedestrian crossings, improved pedestrian-scale street lighting, bicycle parking, tree plantings, public art installations, even a mid-block pedestrian path connecting Thomas St. and The Plaza, in the place of the current parking lot corridor between Whiskey Warehouse and Thomas Street Tavern.

It remains to be seen how much of this plan will make it into reality, but it’s promising to see this neighborhood getting some infrastructural attention to encourage more walkability.