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Halloween Costumes In Charlotte Now

It’s never too early to get started on your Halloween costume. Off Independence Boulevard in Matthews in the Windsor Shopping Center (Burlington Coat Factory, Monkey Joe’s, and Boyles Furniture Clearance are there, too) you’ll find the huge Spirit Halloween Superstore (9925 E. Independence Blvd.) devoted to everything ghastly including pre-packaged costumes, accessories (think Scream masks or fairy wands), and decorations for your ghostly party. I went last year the day before Halloween weekend…not recomended. But going now means beating the “holiday traffic” and possibly getting your hands on more options for a cool costume.

The Vera Bradley Outlet Sale comes to Charlotte!

If you’re anything like the average Charlotte woman, you have at least one item from Vera Bradley (I have too many to count from a make-up case, wallets, clutches, and a sunglass holder to the Petite Villager in three different patterns). And if you really love you some Vera, then listen up—on August 30th through September 1st at the Merchandise Mart there will be Charlotte’s first Vera Bradley outlet sale. The sale offers up to 75 percent off a variety of Vera goodies plus the admission is free. And if you’re really obsessed with Vera, check out this travel deal, which has you meeting the preppy company’s co-founder Patricia Miller plus you get early-bird access to the sale (for more info. go to this site for more details).

It’s hot, but you should be grateful

This is our third consecutive day hitting or surpassing the century mark with this summer heat. Saying that it’s hot is an understatement. Last week was hot. This week has been inferno.

But you know what? The heat isn’t that bad for people like us. Those of us who leave our air-conditioned homes, get into our air-conditioned cars, and arrive at our air-conditioned jobs. You know who the heat is really bad for? The people who don’t have these luxuries…the homeless.

Yesterday, I met with the Reverend Anthony Marciano II, executive director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He took my publisher, one of our account executives, and me on a tour of his campus on First Street. Marciano is one of those people when you hear speak puts you at ease (“Hurt people, hurt people” was a memorable line he used). He seems like the perfect person to be leading this nonprofit, faith-based organization that serves the city’s homeless population (estimated to be at 5,000), most of whom are battling alcohol and drug addiction.

The Rescue Mission has a very stringent recovery program, one that doesn’t have the amenities of these “spa-habs,” I mean rehabs, that have been making the news recently as the Lindsays and Nicoles of the world have been making addiction look like the life of the party. They should be sent here, to see how tough life really could get. And to see what a wonderful job Marciano and his staff does with about 130 homeless men each day (“We could have 100 more beds, and they’d be filled by tomorrow,” Marciano says.). They are a dedicated staff of full-time employees and volunteers (administrators, substance abuse counselors, tutors). And they do it with faith, compassion, and contributions from the community. Nearly 70 percent of the mission’s funding comes from donations from individuals—and they could use more (hint, hint).

It would be impossible for me to do the Charlotte Rescue Mission justice in this blog. You can find out more on its Web site, www.charlotterescuemission.org. And you can learn even more if you get involved. I plan to. I think my coworkers and I are going to coordinate an “Undie Monday,” in which we ask our staff to donate new underwear, something Marciano says contributors often overlook.

Okay, now I have to get back to editing stories for our October issue. But first I gotta adjust the temperature on the A/C. They keep it so cold in here.

Godfrey in Essence

Charlotte-based motivational speaker Trey Godfrey travels to schools and corporations across the country challenging people to take on community and career-based leadership roles. We wrote about him last year, and now Essence Magazine has taken notice. Essence just named Godfrey one of 60 it’s calling Do Right Men, and in Godfrey’s company are big names like Brian McKnight and John Legend. You can read more about the Do Right Men and why the magazine chose Godfrey at this link. 

I don’t want to hear that there’s nothing to do here

I’ve lived in Charlotte for nearly two years (man, time flies), and not once have I uttered “There’s nothing to do here.” You could say I have a certain appreciation because I grew up in a small town where there actually was nothing to do. Or it could be because there IS a lot to do in Charlotte. I’m a young guy. I like to go out and have fun. Will you see me at a bar every night of the week? No. But if something is worth checking out, I’m going to check it out.

I recently found out about the Pop Life series happening at Prevue on Wednesday nights all summer long. It’s co-sponsored by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. Because I work for a magazine and receive press releases and other media info that most people don’t get (or wouldn’t care to receive) I am usually pretty well informed of what’s happening around town. And I can tell you, there’s a lot happening. You just have to know where to look.

I found out about the Pop Life series from two sources. One was through Carlton Hargro, the editor of Creative Loafing and a really cool guy. I’m on his e-mail list. The second was through CharlotteVibe.com, which has an entertainment guide. I profiled the guy behind this Web site as well as the guys behind CarolinaNightlife.com in the June issue of the magazine (both sites are great for finding out about local parties). It’s resources like this that inform me of what’s going on. Then I can decide if I think it’s worth my time. And not to brag, because I think my friends would attest, but I do a pretty good job of picking where to go. I went to Pop Life last night and I wasn’t disappointed.

I arrived around 8 p.m. (after leaving a happy hour one of my coworkers had at her home—thanks for the Moe’s and the Coronas, Kate). Prevue, formerly known as Gilda’s, is located in the Highland Mills condos in NoDa. I always thought that whole complex was cool. I strolled up to a red carpet entrance. After a couple of “Wassups” I breezed on in because there was no cover charge. And I was surprised to see that the place was packed on a Wednesday night. The art and fashion crowd were definitely there, as you would expect to find in NoDa. But there was just an all-around good mix of people.

The drink prices were reasonable and, on top of that, there were complimentary hors d’oeuvres. The DJ was playing mellow hip hop. It was a great vibe. I only knew a handful of people there, but it was the kind of place where you come to mingle, meet new people.

This was my first time out at Prevue. This was a Wednesday night. You may go there on a Friday and it might just be five people there—four bartenders and the DJ. But what I’m saying is that on that Wednesday it was great, and I would feel confident in saying on most Wednesdays it would be the same. That’s kind of how Charlotte is. We don’t necessarily have those hotspots that you could go to any night of the week where you’re guaranteed to find a packed house. But that’s okay. You just need to know when to go where.

Pop Life Summer Series
Each Wednesday through August 29
6 p.m.-until
No cover and complimentary hors d’oeuvres 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Prevue
2901 N. Davidson St.

Charlotte’s PD retires

I just got back from a week’s vacation and haven’t made it through all my papers yet. But I did see that Isabel Day, Meck County’s Public Defender, is retiring. A few years ago, I profiled her office for the mag. To this day, I think it remains my favorite story of all the ones I have written. I found Isabel and the work her office does to be fascinating. I hung out with a couple assistant PDs for a few days, and I could have hung out all month. What they have to deal with is unbelievable. Of course, the number one question they face is, how can you consistently defend people who are guilty? Each person had their own approach, but what it came down to is this: They do it because it is the American way. They do it because they believe in the justice system, and they believe everyone deserves a fair shake. And throughout the day, each PD kept a good humor, which I would have found impossible. Isabel, in particular, was as quick with a laugh as anyone I have ever interviewed. Although she did tear up at the mention of one of her more difficult cases.

Anyway, I could go on. Observer story says Isabel and her husband are going to live in a boat off the coast. I wish them well, and her shoes are big ones to fill. —Rick Thurmond

Manolo Blahnik Pre-Fall Trunk Show at Neiman Marcus

If you weren’t already obsessed with having a pair of Manolos of your own after watching every episode of Sex in the City, then head over to Neiman Marcus for the Manolo Blahnik pre-fall trunk show June 12th to the 17th, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Not only will you catch a glimpse of this fall’s coolest new stilettos, but you’ll walk out wanting, needing, and likely coveting a pair of your own. We promise. Go to www.neimanmarcus.com for more details.

Chick-fil-A made me feel special

A Chick-fil-A location opened in South End about three weeks ago. It was a much-needed fast food joint in that particular stretch along South Boulevard. Plus, our office is in South End so I have a great new place to get to quickly for lunch, which I’ve been doing twice a week since it opened. So I was eating lunch there today and it dawned on me how great of a place this really is. I was sitting at the table (alone but don’t be sad for me, I do it often) eating my traditional #1 combo and making notes on my to-do list (it’s a notepad–I haven’t crossed into the world of PDAs yet, ok). I was done eating so I pushed my tray to the end of the table to make room for my doodling. Then the manager walked up to me and said, “I can take this out of your way,” and proceeded to remove my tray. But before walking away, she also asked me if I’d like a refill of my drink, which I said yes to–my traditional Hi-C fruit punch. For a second, I forgot I was at a fast food restaurant. That was excellent service and I didn’t even ask for any of it. That Chick-fil-A is one classy joint!

Hello world!

OK, a little intro stuff:

Charlotte magazine is the monthly city magazine for one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolises. We offer a mix of engaging lifestyle stories, fact-based journalism, illuminating profiles, and authoritative reference guides. Our editorial mission statement is to tell readers—both newcomers and longtime residents—things about their city that they did not know in an interesting and sometimes provocative style. With every article, readers gain a deeper understanding of their city—how it works, how it came to be, how to make the most of it, what challenges it faces, and what the future holds.

Now, about our new blog, which you’re reading right now:

The Daily Buzz is our editors’ blog. Here, we’ll continue the conversation started on the pages of the magazine, comment on the news of the day, discuss the juicy gossip we hear, go behind the scenes of the magazine, and point out good and bad stuff we see in other local media. And we want you to join in on the conversation. So bring it on.