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2 weeks ago | 
charlottemagazine.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Donna Julian has been the woman in charge of the Spectrum Center for more than 20 years. You’ll find her in the lobby before events, greeting longtime Hornets season ticket holders and first-time concertgoers as if it was her first week on the job. “I can tell you about great events I love, of course. But what I love about this job is the energy in that arena during an event,” she says. “I love the fact that people are coming together, all different types of people.
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2 weeks ago | 
charlottemagazine.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Donna Julian has been the woman in charge of the Spectrum Center for more than 20 years. You’ll find her in the lobby before events, greeting longtime Hornets season ticket holders and first-time concertgoers as if it was her first week on the job. “I can tell you about great events I love, of course. But what I love about this job is the energy in that arena during an event,” she says. “I love the fact that people are coming together, all different types of people.
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3 weeks ago | 
charlotteobserver.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Aqua e Vino, a 10-year-old Italian restaurant in the Strawberry Hill area of Charlotte, just reopened after four months of closure and renovation. And it's gone from a beige den to a blue beauty, with a new, history-packed feel. Vintage amaro posters frame the walls, turquoise wallpaper reminds diners of the south of France water, and hand-drawn sketches by chef and owner Gabriele Grigolon give the space a rich, personal touch.
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3 weeks ago | 
yahoo.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Aqua e Vino, a 10-year-old Italian restaurant in the Strawberry Hill area of Charlotte, just reopened after four months of closure and renovation. And it’s gone from a beige den to a blue beauty, with a new, history-packed feel. Vintage amaro posters frame the walls, turquoise wallpaper reminds diners of the south of France and hand-drawn sketches by chef and owner Gabriele Grigolon give the space a rich, personal touch.
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1 month ago | 
foodandwine.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Barbecue is a craft of lineage, best learned by hand, often the weathered hands and wisdom of the previous generation. This Father’s Day, top pitmasters and dads across the Carolinas reveal the barbecue secrets they pass down to their own children. “Fatherhood is all about teaching and inspiring,” says Christopher Prieto of Prime Barbecue.
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1 month ago | 
charlotteobserver.com | Heidi Finley |Kayleigh Ruller
Michelin announced its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have also been added in Chicago (2011); Washington, D.C. (2017); California (San Francisco in 2008, statewide 2019); Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida (2022); Toronto (2022); Vancouver (2022); Colorado and Atlanta (2023); and most recently, Texas (2024). For the first time, a Michelin Guide will showcase the best restaurants in the American South - including North Carolina.
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1 month ago | 
charlottemagazine.com | Kayleigh Ruller
A long line is usually a deterrent. At this bodega, it’s part of the allure. It’s typically a ragtag crew: stragglers, churchgoers, strollers, freshly licensed teens. Above is a sign that reads “Laurel Market: Deli, Sundries, Wine, Beer.” It’s a paradoxical sight: a humble neighborhood market at 114 Cherokee Road in affluent Eastover, with a shack-like frame and an open sign hanging askew. Who even bears the burden of a line anymore, with our self-checkouts and delivery apps?
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1 month ago | 
charlotteobserver.com | Kayleigh Ruller
The team behind Customshop and Marina's Tapas has announced plans to open a wine bar in Dilworth in late summer or early fall. And it's the wine bar of their dreams. This 1,200-square-feet spot that was most recently Mere's will transform into a welcoming, homey wine bar with a backdrop of fresh, shareable food, operated by Alex Bridges and chef Andres Kaifer. "When I was like 20-something years old and I thought I might want to have a restaurant one day, I thought of this place," Bridges said.
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1 month ago | 
yahoo.com | Kayleigh Ruller
The team behind Customshop and Marina’s Tapas has announced plans to open a wine bar in Dilworth in late summer or early fall. And it’s the wine bar of their dreams. This 1,200-square-feet spot that was most recently Mere’s will transform into a welcoming, homey wine bar with a backdrop of fresh, shareable food, operated by Alex Bridges and chef Andres Kaifer. “When I was like 20-something years old and I thought I might want to have a restaurant one day, I thought of this place,” Bridges said.
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2 months ago | 
heraldonline.com | Kayleigh Ruller
Charlotteans, if you’re looking for a trip equal parts restorative and stimulating, this is the place you’ve been waiting for. Beaufort, South Carolina, is just under a 4-hour drive from Charlotte at around 230 miles. The town itself is just small enough to get a true feel for on a weekend. But the striking Lowcountry nature — the vistas, lagoons and mossy trails — tucked between waterways is expansive enough to barely just get a taste. You’ll want to come back for more.
