august.

10

August 10.indd 1 7/28/2010 2:17:25 PM

 ITS SIMPLE
trafk does:
web
print
strategy
direct mail
radio
tv
social media
seo

trafkmedia.com

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August 10.indd 2 7/29/2010 9:52:51 AM

 offered by Conformity Corp.
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August 10.indd 3 7/28/2010 2:17:27 PM

 AT Mixed PeT, we know that your pet’s health is top priority.
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4 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 4 7/28/2010 2:17:30 PM

August 10.indd 5 7/28/2010 2:17:32 PM
 we could have called it

uptown downtown
center city noda
plaza midwood
south end dilworth
eastover myers
park southpark
midtown elizabeth M A G A Z I N E

but you can say uptown in only one breath

covering in-town Charlotte since 2005

704.944.0551

magazine

August 10.indd 6 7/28/2010 2:17:33 PM

 Own Uptown for only $625/month!*

I always wanted to live Uptown, but didn’t

think I could afford it. I am so happy with
my purchase at The Fourth Ward Square.
~ David, Recent Purchaser

Only 25 units remaining! Move in ready!

Walk to all of your favorite uptown venues.
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HOA dues not included. Subject to credit approval. Rates and terms subject to change.

August 10.indd 7 7/28/2010 2:17:33 PM

 the seen
pictures: catch light studio
george lainis

As the sun set over uptown Charlotte

and the air cooled down just a touch,
Counting Crows tuned up and cast
their music into the night sky. About
15,000 Charlotteans were entertained
at the Uptown Amphitheater at the
NC Music Factory on June 14, and the
moment was captured as dusk turned
into night.

August 10.indd 8 7/28/2010 2:17:49 PM

August 10.indd 9 7/28/2010 2:18:04 PM
 the seen
pictures: catch light studio
george lainis

The founders of Project Tuesday

created their event to help folks in
and around uptown ease the workday
blues that arise between Monday and
Wednesday. Their latest installment
took place at Midtown’s Vivace.
Embracing the new greenway and
overlooking the skyline, it was hard not
to feel better after a couple cold drinks
on Vivace’s outdoor patio.

August 10.indd 10 7/29/2010 2:59:47 PM

 So CloSE
you CAn AlMoST
TouCh iT.

ACCESS grAnTEd
AuguST 2010.

luxury living iS going Sky high

And high TECh.
This August, the state of the art, tallest residential building in
Charlotte will be opening it’s doors.
These luxury residences offer amenities including biometric
fingerprint access, floor to ceiling windows with unobstructed
views of the Charlotte skyline, top of the line finishes and a
staff ready to assist your every need.
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ensure a safe and private environment
• 24-hour doorman and resident only parking garage
• Lavish lobby staffed with concierge
• Fully equipped 5,000 sq. sf. healthclub with yoga room
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August 10.indd 11 7/28/2010 2:18:30 PM

August 10.indd 12 7/28/2010 2:18:31 PM
August 10.indd 13 7/28/2010 2:18:31 PM
August 10.indd 14 7/28/2010 2:18:35 PM
August 10.indd 15 7/28/2010 2:18:35 PM
 YEARS
FOR NANCIE HAS

HELPED YOU

FIND A HOME
NOW SHE HAS FOUND HERSElF ONE AT

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iselluptown.com
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August 10.indd 16 7/28/2010 2:18:45 PM

August 10.indd 17 7/28/2010 2:19:01 PM
*
uptown

Shelly Shepard, Charlotte native Matt Bryan Reed is a man Bryce Lankard has
an editor/writer, Kokenes didn’t have of simple interests— been spotted roam-
called The Charlotte enough to do with a among them, words, ing the streets of his
Observer home for newborn boy at home, records, movies, and childhood home of
over 10 years, writing so he is now handling adjusting to life as a Charlotte. He’s been
headlines and copy sales for Uptown grownup (whatever missing for 20-plus
editing countless Magazine and along that means). Since years during which
front-page stories. with a partner, he has graduating from UNC- time there were sight-
Wanderlust has taken formed Trafk Media, Chapel Hill’s School ings in New York and
Shelly from teaching a new marketing of Journalism and New Orleans. Known
English in Prague, agency in town. He Mass Communication, to be an instigator and
to living in a hut in has also jumped back Bryan’s been living collaborator whenever
Thailand. into the writing world the dream, working as the words photogra-
If not working, and penned the first the assistant editor of phy, art and creativ-
chances are you’ll find installment of his Charlotte-based music ity merge. Evidence
her hiking. fiction series in this magazine Shuffle and points to his purport-
Professionally, Shelly’s month’s publication. freelancing for several ed founding of both
at home with a page Check it out starting publications, includ- the celebrated Tribe
of words in front on page 48. ing Tiny Mix Tapes Magazine and the
of her, a mouse in and several weekly New Orleans Photo
hand and a deadline newspapers across Alliance. He is also
looming. the Carolinas. thought to be active
in the fight against
gravity.

18 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 18 7/28/2010 2:19:04 PM

 say more
with your smile!

A native Charlottean, A man about town

Jennifer with his camera, CHELSEA COOLEY- Miss U.S.A. 2005
Misenheimer is George Lanis of
Dentistry by Dr. Shapiro
a hair stylist and Catch Light Studio has
artistic creator with been photographing “I cannot tell you how very impressed we are with Dr.
a discerning eye for people in his native Shapiro and his entire staff!” - Kate T.
style. When she’s Charlotte for years. “Thank you for all that you do! Your office and staff is
not doing hair at From friends’ the best in the Carolina’s - I always look forward to my
Escape Hair and Skin weddings to parties to visits and you always make me smile!” - Matt K.
Studio in Dilworth, family photos for the
“I absolutely loved the experience and you made me feel
or styling fashion holidays, his work is
like a family member. I was nervous, but it was over with right
shoots, Jennifer finds creative and diverse,
away.” - John B.
outlet for her creative and he’s always
passion through
painting, personal
looking to show you in
the best light. Check
Edward I. Shapiro, DDS
Latta Pavilion, Dilworth
styling, and designing out catchlightonline.
one-of-a-kind custom com for more. now accepting
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www.uptownclt.com uptown 19

August 10.indd 19 7/28/2010 2:19:07 PM

*
name: Little Shiva Krystin Washington Sam Boykin has Peter Reinhart is the
recently traded the lived in Charlotte Chef on Assignment
species: mutant big city lights of since the days at Johnson & Wales
London, England, when mullets and University, which
here for: the smell of for the warmth of skinny leather ties means he does
ink on paper Charlotte. A freelance were in fashion. He whatever they ask
writer, she also was a reporter at him to do and goes
interests: juxtaposi- hopes to start her Creative Loafing wherever they send
tion, transformation, wedding photography for many years, and him. He’s written
mystery, clarity, the business here one has written for a seven books on
process of becoming, day – maybe after number of local and bread, pizza, food and
image and design her own wedding in national publications, culture. In partnership
Mexico next year. including Men’s with Pierre Bader, he
contributions to When not writing Journal, National opened Pie Town,
this issue: table of or taking photos, Geographic an artisan pizzeria
contents you’ll likely find her Adventure, Maxim, on Trade Street.
out discovering the Scientific American, And AS if he weren’t
website: city at a Meetup or The Charlotte busy enough, Peter
littleshiva.com networking event or Observer and is also Uptown’s
hanging out with one Charlotte Magazine. Contributing Food
of the five cousins He’s now happily Editor.
she’s currently living married and the proud
with in Ballantyne. new dad of a little girl.

20 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 20 7/28/2010 2:19:11 PM

 Townhome Living in a Resort-Style
Neighborhood Close to Shopping
and Dining at South Park Mall

From the $170’s • 1,747 to 4,500 sq.ft.

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For More Information, Visit RyanHomesUM.com

August 10.indd 21 7/28/2010 2:19:11 PM

 Publisher
Todd Trimakas

Advertising
  Matt Kokenes
704.944.0551

Executive Editor
Shelly Shepard

Contributing
Editors
Mercedes Benz. Complete and total confusion takes Peter Reinhart (Food)
over my thoughts. By the time I look down at the
clipboard, the following thoughts are swirling through Contributors
my head: Did Julie buy a car and not tell me? Was Sam Boykin
the mailman she’s friendly with more than just a Matt Kokenes
mailman? If she bought a Mercedes, where does she George Lanis
keep it? Are there places you can warehouse a car? Jennifer Misenheimer
Oh, geez, I have to pee. Bryan Reed
Then starting at the top of the clipboard I notice Little Shiva
that it’s not Julie’s name, but the name of my ex-wife. Krystin Washington
Around 9:30 one Saturday morning the doorbell rang Complete elation rushes through my body. We don’t
at our house. Julie and I were watching a news show own a Mercedes Benz, Julie hasn’t bought one, and
on NBC, enjoying some of my world-famous waffles she wasn’t telling a story about the mailman. I show Photography
with Anna playing on the floor and Kate hooked the repo man the car in the garage, tell him he should Bryce Lankard
directly into “Dora the Explorer.” No one I know rings try the other addresses he has for her and show him Todd Trimakas
anyone’s doorbell that early in the morning, so with on his way. George Lanis
a touch of dread I went upstairs to answer the door. We were lucky in dodging the repo man. So
When I opened it there was a man I didn’t know, with many folks uptown have not been as lucky, and when Cover Art
a clipboard in his hand. Out of the corner of my eye the repo man showed up he WAS in the right place Bryce Lankard
I saw he was driving a tow truck. My sense of dread and it WASN’T a case of mistaken identity. A couple model wearing: rojas
multiplies into a 6-pound rock in my stomach. spots spring to mind: the Park condos, Emerson arciela zipper dress
He says, “Are you Mr. Grimakakas?” Being used Joseph and the Epicentre. from ellemm
to folks mangling my last name, I nod “yes.” He says I wonder if it’s as dramatic when the owners
he’s sorry, but he has to pick up our car. He’s the repo of these places, or rather the LLCs that own these Distribution
man. places, file for bankruptcy protection. Does a pair Sean Chesney
I pay the bills in the Trimakas family, and just of large men in too much black leather and aviator
like people say when they are facing a life or death sunglasses show up and ask for the keys, does your Office
situation and their life flashes before their eyes, my pass no longer work the gate to the parking deck or is 1600 Fulton Ave., #140
bill-paying history immediately flashed through my the process insulated behind so many attorneys that Charlotte, NC 28205
head. Have I somehow not been paying my bills; did I the owners barely feel a bump in the road? I hope I Contact us at
miss one bill from Chevrolet over the past six months? never have to find out. info@uptownclt.com
Julie is going to be PISSED if I have to go downstairs Thankfully, this day Mr. Repo left my house Uptown Magazine
and explain to her that the repo man has taken her driving his own truck and not mine, and I was able to is a trademark of
car back. With little to no confidence in my bill-paying go back downstairs, finish my coffee and watch Anna Uptown Publishing
abilities and with as much wit as I can muster in the crawl between the couches. inc., copyright 2009.
situation, I say, “OK.” ~Todd Trimakas All rights reserved.
He hands me the clipboard that he’s carrying Publisher Uptown is printed
and says he’s sorry but he has to take our 2008 Todd@uptownclt.com monthly and
subscriptions are $15
annually and can be
purchased online at
uptownclt.com.

22 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 22 7/28/2010 2:29:38 PM Tranqu

 2810 Selwyn Avenue
Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-5, Sun 1-4
(704) 499-8533 | tranquilcourt.com

August 10.indd 23
Tranquil_Uptown_0810.indd 1 7/28/2010 2:19:17
7/19/2010 PM PM
1:24:46
 2 3 4

Noun – “Holy Hell”

(Don Giovanni)
The Love Language
Marissa Paternoster doesn’t Miniature Tigers –
“Libraries” (Merge)
shed much of her Screaming “Fortress” (Modern Art)
The Love Language, tellingly,
Females persona on her solo Miniature Tigers’ college radio
opens its second LP with a
debut. But she does sound pop songs might be too hip.
dense guitar drone before
freer and more dynamic than Their dabblings in idiosyncratic
bursting into a “Be My Baby”
her more renowned band sounds – particularly on the
drumbeat. That blend of indie
allows. The reputed shredder’s shimmering and shimmying
rock’s casual noise and Wall of
more unhinged rock tunes are “Gold Skull,” produced by hipster
Sound pop is the band’s calling
certainly winners, brimming luminary Neon Indian – feel a
card. But sound here is a vehicle
with finesse and blunt bit Flaming Lips and a bit Panda
for frontman Stuart McLamb,
tunefulness. But moments, such Bear. But at their core, these
who leads with a compelling
as “Call Earth,” find Paternoster songs – all of ‘em – are earnest,
croon and a knack for captivating
exploring dramatic, hypnotic breezy tunes that stick like
narratives that wrestle struggle
melodies, backed by insistent Gorilla Glue.
into triumph and vice versa.
piano and spotlighting her
tremulous vocals.

5
Fol Chen – “Part II:
The New December”
(Asthmatic Kitty)
The timbres are novel, sure,
but the mysterious art-pop
ensemble Fol Chen has packed
its second album with deep- Crowded House –
driving beats and persuasive “Intriguer” (Fantasy)
bass lines. It’s indebted to R&B Whatever aging Crowded House
in the same way Dirty Projectors has done in the past 25 years
are, but Prince seems the more has been graceful. The veteran
obvious touchstone. Fol Chen New Zealand band sounds
seems to have adopted The very veteran on “Intriguer.” But
Purple One’s eclectic influences this is no dig. The band’s age
and sonic maximalism as its shows only in the assuredness
own. and casual confidence that
permeates its seventh album.
College rock jangle and easy,
shambling tempos mark this
effort as much as the melodic
finesse and unobtrusive
psychedelic embellishments.

August 10.indd 24 7/28/2010 2:19:18 PM

 > Big Boi Brings the Swing
T he
Big Boi – “Sir Lucious Left Foot:
s u mmer ’ s
The Son of Chico Dusty” (Def Jam)
It’s hard for hip-hop to sound new.
In the 30-plus years since the genre’s
birth in New York, the sound has come
to dominate commercial popular music,
while the total hip-hop aesthetic has
influenced almost every facet of pop
culture in one way or another.
Perhaps that’s what propelled
OutKast, one of this millennium’s most
popular, respected and successful hip-hop
acts, into household name status. They
sounded energized, different, new. At least
for a while.
The duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi
has lain more or less dormant, without
officially parting ways, since their 2006
film-cum-album “Idlewild.” But that
dormancy wasn’t entirely voluntary.
Big Boi’s solo album, “Sir Lucious
Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty,”
languished in record-label purgatory at
Jive Records before its eventual release,
last month, through Def Jam Records. As
the story goes, Big Boi’s stacked resume
and bona-fide hit-machine credentials
didn’t stop Jive Records from shelving “Sir
Lucious Left Foot” for almost three years.
According to the artist, the suits at the
label felt he was being too “artsy.”
1 www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 25
best r a p
But freed from Jive, which Big Boi
a lb u m
claims demanded a more generic trend-
hopping sound, the album has been given
a chance to make hip-hop feel new again
– by holding onto the root of what made it
appealing in the first place: the funk.
Commenting on Jay-Z’s 2009
album, “The Blueprint III,” “New Yorker”
critic Sasha Frere-Jones remarked that
commercially successful hip-hop had
largely become “hip-hop by virtue of
rapping more than sound.” The music, he
suggested, had lost – or was losing – the
swing and swagger hip-hop built itself
upon. “It doesn’t matter if you’re talking
about the rudimentary digital sound
of New Orleans bounce or the crusty
samples of New York hip-hop,” wrote
Frere-Jones, “this music wants to swing
and syncopate. On major commercial
releases, this impulse is giving way to a
European pulse, simpler and faster and
more explicitly designed for clubs.”
Big Boi does nothing if not swing
and syncopate. As one familiar with
OutKast might speculate, the productions
here are draped in vocal harmonies, and
doused in thick, syrupy synthesizers,
brash horns and stuttering percussion. Big
Boi surrounds himself with luminescent
guests – T.I., Gucci Mane, Yelawolf, Janelle
Monáe and George Clinton, to name a few
– who complement the slow Southern flow
and alien funk that form the basis of Big
Boi’s aesthetic.
But still, the M.C. commands the
cuts. Big Boi’s elastic rhyming treats beats
like bullets in “The Matrix,” bending and
warping around them, over-enunciating
and stretching syllables into new sounds.
“Shine Blockas” juxtaposes Big Boi’s taffy-
flexible verse with Gucci Mane’s congested
rasp in a fog of organ chords. The single,
leaked long ago, mines its contrast to
delirious effect. The slow organ plays
against a skittering snare; Big Boi’s verbal
calisthenics confront Gucci’s deadpan.
But more than any one song
could properly convey, “Sir Lucious Left
Foot” is a vibrant, dynamic hour. Its
omnivorous appetite for sound, from
day-glo synthesizer grooves and sweaty
guitar funk to Southern soul horn blasts
and dry snap-rap drums, is entirely akin
to Big Boi’s work in OutKast. Perhaps it’s
indicative of a drought OutKast left in its
absence.
But four years without a proper
OutKast album or not, “Sir Lucious Left
Foot” is the rap album of the summer. And
probably the year. U
Reach Bryan at bryan.c.reed@gmail.com
For samples of these songs go to
uptownclt.com
uptown 25
7/28/2010 2:19:23 PM
 words: krystin washington
pictures: sharan downes
drew post
krystin washington

LONDON TO

big ben

26 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 26 7/28/2010 2:19:30 PM

 CHARLOTTE
DIRECT

For the past four years, I’ve lived the high life in London,
England. I had access to movie premieres, world-class
museums and stage productions, with the rest of Europe
just a short, cheap plane ride away.

So when I began telling people that I was trading London

for the other Queen City across the pond, I got my fair share
of strange looks. And those looks got even stranger when
people found out I was coming here without a job.
vue

www.uptownclt.com uptown 27

August 10.indd 27 7/28/2010 2:19:34 PM

M y journey to Charlotte
started in 2007 when I began a campaign to
convince my boyfriend Alex, who is now my
fiancé, to move to America. I had moved to
London in 2006 to get my master’s degree.
Shortly after arriving I knew I was going to love
it there, but it would never be home. I wanted
to raise a family one day and give my kids
a childhood like mine – filled with evenings
being pulled in a little red wagon, picking
apples at the orchard and catching minnows
at the local park… I just didn’t see that life in
London.
u Why Charlotte?
I knew that making the jump from fast-
paced London to my hometown of Indianapolis
would be a stretch for Alex, who’s London
born and bred. Although Indianapolis has a lot
to offer, neither one of us was willing to deal
parliament
28 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 28
with the cold winters. Alex has enough trouble
driving on our side of the road, even without
snow.
I initially thought we should move to
Nashville because of its weather. But it wasn’t
just the lure of long summers spent by the
pool that excited us. Then we thought Charlotte
might be the better choice for a number of
reasons – the cost of living is low, seven
Fortune 500 companies are headquartered
here, and our friends and family told us that
Charlotte is a great place to raise kids.
A high school friend, Andrea Wright,
moved here in 2009 and within 90 days she
had a job, a place of her own and had enrolled
her daughter in a great school. I knew that it
was possible to make a living in Charlotte, but
would it be right for Alex and me?
u Our virgin visit
As we gathered our luggage from the
plane’s overhead compartment during our
first trip to Charlotte in 2009, I had to refrain
from jumping up and down with excitement.
Would it be rude to push all these people out
of the way so we could move faster? Alex was
excited, too, yet he didn’t know what to expect
from a southern American city.
As we waited at the luggage carousel for
our three red suitcases, I realized that I had
four days to convince Alex, and myself, that
Charlotte was where we should make our next
move.
u Turkey burger bliss
On that first night, our friends Davis
and Sheree took us to The Counter, a burger
place in SouthPark. For Alex and I it seemed
miraculous that we were able to park so close
to the restaurant, and to top it off they offered
us a table outdoors next to a fountain! Alex was
slightly shocked that what I had told him was
true: Charlotteans can eat outdoors without
being rained on, and with no need for a warm
jacket.
It was a perfect, warm evening even
7/28/2010 2:19:36 PM
 follow us on facebook, we’ll entertain you
uptown magazine

www.uptownclt.com uptown 29

August 10.indd 29 7/28/2010 2:19:39 PM

 Save even more than before with Allstate.

Drivers who switched to Allstate saved an average

of $353 a year. So when you’re shopping for car
insurance, call me first. You could be surprised by
how much you’ll save.

JC Alvarado
(704) 954-0003
Uptown Insurance AG & Financial Services
112 South Tryon Street Suite 300
Tryon Plaza Building (Trade and Tryon)

Annual savings based on information reported nationally by new Allstate auto customers for
policies written in 2007. Actual savings will vary.
Allstate Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. © 2008 Allstate Insurance Company

30 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 30 7/28/2010 2:19:40 PM

 if the humidity did nearly knock us down as
we left the air conditioning for our patio table.
But after “summers” in London, where the
temperature never hit 80 degrees, Charlotte
felt like paradise.
We opened the menu and found a
restaurant unlike any we had come across
before. We could actually specify what kind of
meat we wanted for our burger. I chose turkey
since it’s impossible to find a turkey burger
in London; for once I didn’t have to make my
own at home. We could then choose the size
we wanted – Alex naturally chose the largest,
just to see how big American food really is. We
I got to see Banjo Lake in all its glory. I sucked in my
breath to avoid blurting out my first reaction – it was a
retention pond!
then added toppings like sun-dried tomatoes,
guacamole and ginger soy sauce. Already, this
was shaping up to be the land of opportunity in
Alex’s mind – and we’d only ordered dinner.
u Hanging out uptown
Since we were staying uptown, we
walked from our hotel to the EpiCentre, taking
it all in. As we strolled along we noticed
how clean the streets were and how nicely
August 10.indd 31
manicured the plants and bushes were. But we
only passed a few people on each block. It was
a weekend, but this city center seemed almost
desolate. I could see it on Alex’s face and I
knew immediately he was thinking: “She’s
got me moving to this boring ol’ place where
nothing is going to happen and I’m gonna hate
it.”
How did I assure him that uptown was
a happening place to be when it was my first
time here, too? Was uptown lively on normal
days? I had to think fast so I reminded him that
London’s financial district, The City, is a ghost
town on the weekends and Charlotte’s exactly
the same. He turned to me with his head
cocked to the side, one eyebrow raised, and
said, “We’ll see.” Secretly, I had no idea, but I
hoped I was right.
Thankfully, when we arrived at the
EpiCentre we walked past bars packed with
people laughing or dancing to loud music.
Uptown Charlotte was looking up – and even
better, Alex still believed that I knew what I was
talking about.
We made our way to the movie theater.
London certainly has its share of nice cinemas,
but as we walked into the EpiCentre Theater
our feet sank into the plush carpet and we
were surrounded by crushed red velvet. Alex
looked at me and whispered, “Oh baby, I think
we’re going to love this.”
We made our way upstairs to have a
drink before the show started. We sat down in
the lounge – a high-ceilinged room, with a long
bar filled with attractive servers. For a moment
we felt like we were back in London sipping
wine with the city’s finest.
We then snuggled together on the VIP
couches – all for less than we’d spend at a
regular London movie theater – to settle in and
watch the show. Save for the woman loudly
giving her husband a running commentary
throughout the movie, it was the best film
experience we’d had in years.
We took advantage of the myriad food
choices every chance we got while staying
uptown – whether it was unlimited Brazilian
meats at Chima or some of the best seafood
and cheesy grits you can find at Lavecchia’s.
But nothing topped our post-movie EpiCentre
choice – Jason’s Deli. Now I know you might
think Jason’s doesn’t hold a candle to a more
upscale uptown restaurant, but London’s
www.uptownclt.com uptown 31
7/28/2010 2:19:44 PM
 VS.
Charlotte vs London: A Comparison
Summer:
Charlotte: I need a whole new wardrobe
– I actually brought sweaters for the
chilly evenings!
London: The English joke that they only
get two weeks of summer – it’s no joke!
The rare 75-degree day is deemed a heat
wave.
The kids:
Charlotte: Kids here open doors for
us, say yes ma’am and no ma’am and
go to Friday night football games for
entertainment
London: The local “youth” are clubbing
and drinking legally by 18.
Driving:
Charlotte: Alex thinks we always need to
leave three hours before our plane flights.
(How long will it take for him to learn
everything here is within a 20-minute
drive?)
London: If you are crazy enough to do
it, taking the 2-mile drive to the grocery
store can take 20 minutes.
Getting Directions
Charlotte: Everyone in Charlotte wants
to give me step-by-step directions
everywhere – but I can barely navigate
my neighborhood!
London: Residents barely knew where
they were on the non-gridded streets,
much less how to help you get where you
wanted to go.
Alcohol
Charlotte: We spent New Year’s Eve
driving from Harris Teeter to CVS then to
ABC Liquors only to find out that after 9
p.m. we were out of luck.
London: If you can find a store that’s
open, you can buy alcohol – that’s the
only rule.
Food
Charlotte: Sweet iced tea, cheesy grits
and collard greens – enough said!
London: Milk with your hot tea anyone?
How about baked beans or mushrooms
with breakfast? Or a baked potato
topped with coleslaw?
32 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 32
version of deli food is generally a pre-made
sandwich, the kind you can get at a gas station.
In London, if I wanted to customize a prawn
sandwich with mayo on white bread, well, I
was out of luck.
We may not see any movie premieres
with A-list stars in Charlotte, but we knew we
could have a great night out on the town.
u Is that what you call a lake?
Like me, Alex loves all things outdoors.
Throughout the first 18 months of our
relationship, he never tired of telling me about
Banjo Lake in Hertfordshire, where he’d
grown up fishing and camping. I had visions
of this lake: jet skis skimming the water and
boats motoring past the houses surrounding
the lake, with little jetties leading to water
trampolines and kayaks.
So one afternoon in May we drove up
to the lake. It was a beautiful London day –
overcast and 50 degrees, so we only had to
wear a heavy sweater. We parked the car and
followed a dirt path until we reached the boat
storage area. Where I expected a marina, a
smattering of dinghies and sailboats scattered
every which way behind a fence greeted me.
Increasingly skeptical, I forged ahead,
certain we’d not yet gotten to the lake. After
trudging through some overgrown grass and
weeds to reach the clearing, I got to see Banjo
Lake in all its glory. I sucked in my breath to
avoid blurting out my first reaction – it was a
retention pond!
Choosing my words as carefully as I
could, I suggested that Banjo Lake was sweet,
but I’d read about Lakes Norman and Wylie
and I thought they might be worth visiting.
It was on our second trip to Charlotte,
when we drove from Indianapolis, that we first
saw Lake Norman.
The sun was setting on that cold January
evening, but as I turned to look at Alex’s face, I
could see he now understood what I had been
expecting at Banjo Lake. There were only a few
boats out, but water went as far as you could
see in one direction. The trees surrounding the
water were greener than we imagined possible
in winter. And although we could just barely
see them as we sped by, Alex could tell that
the houses might rival some of the biggest and
most beautiful that he’d ever seen. He started
to envision the fish he’d catch at Lake Norman
during those lazy summer nights; the days st. paul’s cathedral
7/28/2010 2:19:46 PM
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August 10.indd 33 7/28/2010 2:19:50 PM

 we’d spend out on a boat; or even the two of us
kayaking to explore the vast body of water in
front of us.
Lake Norman was obviously a big draw
for me and Alex; it’s even where we took our
engagement photos. I was surprised, though,
when I spoke to fellow Charlotte-transplant
Desirae Woofter and found out that Lake
Norman played a role in her choosing to move
here, too. “During my first visit to the area
in the early ’90s, we went boating on a quiet
little lake with a few exclusive homes called
Lake Norman,” says Woofter, an Ohio native.
“When I made my way back in the 2000s I was
shocked at the growth and potential.” It was
that growth potential that drove her to relocate
here in 2010 – and it paid off. She quickly found
a job as an account manager.
u The pull of growth
Although Charlotte is known for its
banking industry, with companies such
as Goodrich, Family Dollar and Nucor
headquartered here, the city attracts more than
just those interested in high finance. According
to the Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte is
ranked eighth nationally for the number of
Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the
county.
Karen Nelson moved to the area at the
beginning of July to start her own consultancy
lake norman
34 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 34
business – but it was more a case of Charlotte
choosing her. “I created a LinkedIn account
while I was living in South Dakota and
started getting inquiries from in and around
Charlotte,” says Nelson, an independent lead
generation consultant for the sales industry. “It
made sense to move here since I was getting
unsolicited inquiries. So my 16-year-old
daughter and I have relocated and I’m already
seeing the payoff career-wise.”
It was the potential for growth that
made Alex and I believe we could make it
in Charlotte. The job outlook was shocking
everywhere in the U.S.; people were being
laid off quicker than we could count them. At
one point last year we questioned whether
we should move to America at all. But like
I learned from Laura Alabed, a nonprofit
communications specialist based in Nashville
who hopes to relocate here soon, sometimes
it’s just a move you make on faith.
“Neither my husband nor I have
positions in Charlotte at this point, but we’re
committed to making this move happen,” she
explains. “It may be a bit risky – especially if
we move without job offers – but we believe
that to make big things happen, you have to be
willing to take big steps.”
u It’s just the beginning
It’s been two months since I moved to
Charlotte and I have a mile-long bucket list. I
keep hearing about the Alive After Five events
on Thursdays at the EpiCentre, so I hope to
make it there soon for the live music, food and
drinks.
My family recently visited Charlotte and
we went to the U.S. National Whitewater Center
and kayaked on the river. It was nice and
relaxing, but I’d love to go back and brave the
roaring rapids. I’ve heard great things about
the Harvey B. Gantt Center and other Charlotte
museums, but I haven’t made it to any of them
yet. And I need to find a church home here, as
well.
Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll have
tackled more on my bucket list and Alex’s visa
documents will be complete so he can join me
here. Each time I call him in London I know
that we’re one day closer to continuing this
amazing adventure in Charlotte together.
Despite all of our planning and
preparation, in the end Alex and I decided to
move here for the same reason my friend
Andrea did: “When I first visited Charlotte
there was just this emotional connection,”
she explains. “I just knew that this was where
I was supposed to be. I love Charlotte – it’s
home.” U
Reach Krystin at kryst1012@yahoo.com
For more info go to uptownclt.com
7/28/2010 2:19:53 PM
 2010

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August 10.indd 35 7/28/2010 2:19:55 PM

SAL
words & pictures:
todd trimakas

August 10.indd 36 7/28/2010 2:19:59 PM

ALE As we’re talking, I casually look
around and see what looks like an
old war helmet. I ask to see it and the
gentleman behind the counter starts
talking. It is a World War II German
military helmet, he says. From the heft
of the metal and crusty leather interior
it’s hard to disagree with the age of the
helmet and the Nazi swastika proves
his claim. I am holding something close
to 70 years old, bearing the symbol of
inside will’s park & pawn
Adolph Hitler. I can’t help but put it on.
He explains that he paid $10 for the
Luftschutz helmet I am wearing while
on eBay a similar helmet recently sold
for $395. History and a potential profit
margin of 3,850 percent hook me on the
pawn business as I stand in the back of
Central Avenue Jewelry & Pawn.

August 10.indd 37 7/28/2010 2:20:01 PM

 broadway
central pawn
will spoke
T
he pawn business is the second-oldest profes-
sion known to man, dating back 3,000 years to
China. The practice started in Asia but is rich
in European and eventually American history
– it’s well known that Queen Isabella of Spain
pawned her jewelry to fund Christopher Colum-
bus’ expedition to find a more direct route to the Indies.
A half-mile up Central toward uptown, Will’s Park and Pawn
wears its history on its walls, which include a faux rhino’s head,
a collection of 1950s model airplanes, an old Elvis exit sign, and
a collection of guns and knives that could arm a province in Af-
ghanistan. In business since 1985, Will’s place isn’t about looks, or
air conditioning; it’s really about the owner Will Spoke and taking
what can be a difficult financial situation and making it at worst
manageable and at best feeling like you just made a friend for life.
A friend who also happened to loan you $40 on a slightly used
Suzuki acoustic guitar.
Spoke’s business includes a set of supporting characters who
beautifully round out his shop. Including, in no particular order:
his son Will Jr. who, after going to Appalachian State for a short
period, decided it wasn’t for him and happily joined the family
business; Spoke’s mother, who softens the all-male crew with
her charm; Mikey, who when he’s not eating fixes jewelry in the
middle of the shop; and Broadway, a true Southern gentleman with
a wavy gray pompadour who watches the door. Broadway always
has a toothpick in his mouth and started in the pawn business
seemingly at random after managing a Sears’ car service center at
SouthPark.
Talking to Spoke made me feel like I was listening to a NA-
SCAR driver talk shop while simultaneously driving his car at 200
mph. He didn’t take a breath between explaining the pawn busi-
ness to me, buying a black leather Harley Davidson jacket from a
customer, whispering that he really just wanted it for himself, and
then getting an additional $5 from the customer for getting Mikey
38 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 38
to fix his watch. By the time this customer left the shop he was
smiling, fist bumping Spoke, and promising to come back if he ever
needed some quick cash again.
Both pawnshops I visited were quick to explain that they
abide by all the rules and regulations set forth by the city, county
and state. They provide regular reports to the Charlotte police and
help to track down stolen property. As a rule, this was the first
thing that I was told. Second was that all items purchased must be
held for seven days after the purchase date, and all things pawned
must be held for 90 days after they are foreclosed upon. The third
was typically that they were making a killing on lending money.
In the state of North Carolina, pawnbrokers are legally al-
lowed to charge 2 percent interest per month on all money lent.
However, on top of this interest rate they are allowed to charge
fees for handling, appraisal, storage and insurance not to exceed
20 percent per MONTH. So with fees included it is within the law
to charge an annual interest rate of 264 percent.
But those in the industry would counter any shock and awe
from that number with the following two points. The first being
that banks legally charge upwards of $25 for insufficient funds
plus any fees levied by the store where you passed your bounced
check. For checks under $25 the DAILY interest rate could exceed
100 percent.
The second point is that pawnbrokers have been providing a
valuable service for centuries as a source of readily available credit
to a section of society that has been underserved. Thousands of
years ago it was subsistent farmers in China, today its folks riding
the No. 9 bus down Central Avenue working in kitchens across the
city, mowing lawns, and doing other menial jobs that for the most
part go unseen by the majority of society. It also includes senior
citizens on social security or welfare who are unable to pay their
7/28/2010 2:20:10 PM
 bills in a typical month. It is a part of society for which bank-issued
credit is not an option as American Express does not bombard
them with gold card offers, and in most cases Bank of America will
not even grant them a checking account.
Most of the heat and humidity outside has joined us inside of
Spoke’s Park and Pawn. The clouded glass door opens, the rusted
bell rings and in walks a gorgeous woman in a short, clingy dress
and a humongous guy with dreads carrying a vinyl covered guitar
case. In the case is an out-of-tune gleaming black guitar and paint-
ed on the back is a heart surrounded by a crown of thorns. Along
with the guitar and case is a collection of how-to tapes and books.
In Will’s place, eventually a story is told about why someone is
selling their stuff – in this case, a musical career was planned that
never panned out and a need for money overtook the woman’s
musical dreams. Will & Co. took a quick look over the guitar and
books, offered the couple a price that they took, and another happy
lifelong customer walked out the door.
In between customers, Spoke is boxing up items for eBay
like an assembly line, weighing the box, packing the goods, and
slapping a USPS pre-printed label on the outside to be picked up
by the mail carrier, sometimes upward of 30 boxes a DAY. Both
shop owners I met agreed: eBay is a huge source of income for all
pawn shops and in most cases more is sold on eBay than in their
stores. Plus, eBay is a ready source of current prices for just about
anything. In Central Jewelry & Pawn I was told of a woman who
brought in a sterling silver tea set she valued at $1,200. A quick
look on eBay found that a similar set recently sold for just south of
$500. As a result, the tea set was bought for $200. Before eBay, they
all agreed, this sort of price shopping was impossible.
A healthy but harried woman in her early 30s comes in to
Spoke’s store after Will had left for the beach; Will Jr. takes care
of her. She lays on the counter three very small silver necklaces,
with crosses made of semi-precious stones. In a business-as-usual
manner, Jr. takes the necklaces, eyes them under a jeweler’s
loop, tosses one aside, and takes two to weigh on his scale. The
numbers tickle upward ever so slightly as the necklace folds into
a small bundle on the scale. Will Jr. quickly turns and apologizes,
saying there really isn’t enough silver in her necklace to be worth
much more than a couple dollars. Her demeanor quickly changes
from one of nonchalance to quiet desperation. Not understanding
Will Jr., she says she’ll take it. He clarifies by saying the necklaces
are worth $3 at his price, meaning only about a dollar to her. She
hears this but once again says, “Fine, whatever I can get.” With a
small amount of patience left, Jr. says it’s really not worth it to fill
out the paperwork, get thumbprints, take down a driver’s license,
and report it to the police for a potential profit of $2. Not hearing
and with the desperation in her voice growing, she says she un-
derstands but would still like to sell the chains. Will Jr. realizes the
situation she must be in, and with a touch of exasperation reaches
back and pulls $3 from the cash register, and without taking the
chains he hands her the money. U
Reach Todd at todd@uptownclt.com
For more info go to uptownclt.com

www.uptownclt.com uptown 39

August 10.indd 39 7/28/2010 2:20:11 PM

 words & pictures:
sam boykin

August 10.indd 40 7/28/2010 2:20:15 PM

 llenora Barker stands by her man. When her
husband, Andy, announced he wanted to build his
very own old-fashioned Western town, she told him it
sounded like a great idea.
And when he sold his share of a successful
construction company and moved the family
from their comfy life in Charlotte to a remote and
overgrown stretch of land in North Carolina’s Brushy
Mountains, Ellenora went along with it.
And when Andy built a tiny shack next to
the horse stables for the Barker clan to sleep in,
including two little kids, she never complained.
“I tell these young girls today that they have
to put their husbands first,” said Ellenora, 88. “I go
along with what my husband wants.”
Today, some 56 years after they left Charlotte,
Ellenora is still queen to Andy’s king, and they
preside over a surreal little town called Love Valley,
population 117.

August 10.indd 41 7/28/2010 2:20:19 PM

 bout an hour northwest of Charlotte in Iredell County,
Love Valley looks like an Old West film set. But
everything is real, including the piles of horseshit along
Main Street, the saloons, the blacksmith shop and the
general store, as well as the residents’ desire to keep the
town vital yet still authentic.
It’s a goal that has met with mixed results over
the years, and is further threatened by the fact that
Andy and Ellenora, the town’s founders — its heart
and soul — won’t be around much longer.
“As long as they’re still alive, Love Valley will
be OK,” said Iredell County Sheriff’s Deputy Tommy
Adams, who helps keep order in the town. “But
when they go, it might be in trouble.” But Love
Valley has a savior, one who is just as comfortable
atop a horse as she is a surfboard. Although her return to Love
Valley in 2005 was marred by tragedy, she’s determined to stay
there and “finish what her grandpa started.”
42 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 42
Roughing It
Driving past cornfields, churches and trailer parks, I spot the
sign for Love Valley, the “cowboy capital of the south.” Soon the
pavement ends altogether, and I pull into a spot in front of Andy’s
Hardware. A little convoy of horseback riders saunters past, and
the one leading the group gives me a squinty nod hello.
Andy’s Hardware is a classic, old-fashioned country store,
with a concrete floor and stone walls. Just about every square
inch is overflowing with a cluttered array of tools, plumbing and
electrical supplies, rakes, sledgehammers, generators, paint and
just about anything else you can think of.
Near the front of the store, kicked back in a tattered office
chair, is the man himself, Andy Barker. Decked out in jeans, a blue
flannel shirt and big white cowboy hat, he’s holding court among a
group of visitors and townspeople.
Andy, 86, is a notorious flirt, given to hugging and kissing
just about any female in his vicinity, especially if they’re young and
pretty.
He introduces the teenaged girl sitting next to him as his
7/28/2010 2:20:23 PM

girlfriend, and she giggles and blushes at the joke.
Andy owns about 800 acres around Love Valley, through
which some 250 miles of horse trails wind and twist. At one time
he owned over 1,800 acres, but “it was just too damn much,” he
said.
Over the years he’s sold parcels to a select number of
residents and business owners. “I figured if they owned the
businesses they’d have to keep it open,” he said. “Otherwise they’d
starve.”
As a young man, Andy made a bundle working as a
contractor in Charlotte. He jointly owned JA Construction
Company with his father and remodeled department stores across
the Southeast, including Belk.
After joining the Army and fighting in World War II, Andy
came back home to Charlotte and married his high school
sweetheart, Ellenora.
At 29 he’d had enough of the construction business, and
decided it was time to fulfill his life-long dream of building his own
town.
August 10.indd 43
main street love valley
Andy sold his share of the construction company, and with
their 6-year-old daughter, Tonda, and 2-year old son, Jet, the
Barkers pulled up stakes and in 1954 moved into a tiny one-room
shack attached to a horse stable in what is today Love Valley.
“We really roughed it,” Ellenora remembered. “But I was a
country girl so I didn’t mind.”
Using construction crews from JA Construction Company,
Andy invested about $200,000 to build the town. He envisioned a
type of utopia that combined his love of cowboys and Christianity.
In fact, the first structure he built was the Love Valley
Presbyterian Church, which still has services every Sunday. This
was followed by a rodeo arena and post office. The town was
incorporated in 1963.
Hippie Invasion
Over the years, Andy and Ellenora slowly developed the
town into an offbeat attraction for horse lovers and hell raisers.
During the summer, the population balloons to about 500 full-time
residents, and weekends and holidays, especially Halloween, are
bustling with tourists.
Word around town is that while Andy grabs the spotlight –
he was first elected mayor in 1965, a position he’s held on and off
ever since – it’s been Ellenora working behind the scenes that has
Using construction crews from JA
Construction Company, Andy invested about
$200,000 to build the town. He envisioned
a type of utopia that combined his love of
cowboys and Christianity.
made it all happen. Or as long-time resident Charlie Nance puts
it: “Andy is the bullshitter, and Ellenora is the one who makes it
work.”
In addition to the rodeo, Love Valley’s other big attraction is
its downtown, which is essentially a dirt road lined with saloons, a
general store, tack shop, blacksmith shop, gift shops, riding stables
and hitching posts.
www.uptownclt.com uptown 43
7/28/2010 2:20:27 PM
 love valley presbyterian church

August 10.indd 44 7/28/2010 2:20:30 PM

 No cars are allowed downtown, and visitors and residents
alike get around via horseback and horse-drawn buggies. There are
several cabins and rooms for rent, as well as RV parks and about a
half-dozen campsites scattered around the property.
In the early days, the town attracted equine enthusiasts who
came to see the rodeos and take advantage of the horse trails that
cut through miles of deep woods. Andy said that over the years
he’s hosted everyone from ambassadors and governors to senators
and musicians, and even claims he went horseback riding with
Lyndon Johnson.
Nance, originally from Mt. Mourne near Mooresville, moved
to Love Valley with his father in the early 1960s when he was 12. “ I
could basically run wild,” he said.
He wasn’t prepared for just how wild things got in July 1970
during the Love Valley Rock Festival. Organized by Andy, the three-
day event drew more than 100,000 people, who flocked to the area
to see more than 40 bands, including the Allman Brothers Band,
Sly and the Family Stone and British singer-guitarist Terry Reid,
along with a host of local and regional acts.
“It was the biggest thing to hit Iredell County, and also the
most detrimental,” said Nance. “People around here had never seen
hippies. They didn’t understand all that sex, drugs and rock and
roll stuff. They were skinny dipping and rolling around in the mud.”
As for Andy, he has to be coaxed to even talk about the
festival. “I hated that cockeyed thing,” he said. “That was my first
and last rock festival. One cured me.”
He explained that his daughter and her boyfriend, enamored
over the Woodstock Festival in 1969, kept talking about how they
wanted to go to a big rock show. “I said, ‘Hell, I’ll just have one.’
That’s the kind of fella I am. We had one hell of a crowd. We were
bigger than Charlotte for a couple of days.”
He wasn’t prepared for just how wild things got in July 1970 during the Love Valley Rock
Festival. Organized by Andy, the three-day event drew more than 100,000 people, who
flocked to the area to see more than 40 bands, including the Allman Brothers Band, Sly
and the Family Stone and British singer-guitarist Terry Reid, along with a host of local and
regional acts.
The festival also ushered in a groovy new era at Love Valley.
Many concertgoers decided to hang around after the show,
and some bought land next to Love Valley and started a little
commune.
“We called it Weird Acres,” said Nance. “They lived in
teepees, tents and tree houses. It was something else.”
As the town grew, so did its unusual reputation. In 1986
Love Valley’s leathersmith, Joe Ponder, appeared on the David
Letterman TV show showcasing his ability to pull a car and lift
a 606-pound pumpkin with only his teeth. His feats of strength
earned him a place in the “Guinness Book of World Records” and
Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
August 10.indd 45
Love Valley’s unique setting has also proven irresistible
to filmmakers. Last year, students from the University of North
Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem filmed “Dying from
Home” in Love Valley, about a Western outlaw. And a group of
Charlotte-based directors, writers and actors recently wrapped
on “Devil’s Crossing,” an independent horror movie in which the
“Western and zombie genres collide.”
Nance has lived in Love Valley on and off over the years, but
moved there for good in 2003 when he married Beth, who serves
as the town manager.
The two first met at a rodeo in Charlotte in 1999. Charlie was
riding bucking horses and working as a rodeo clown, and Beth,
originally from Walhalla, S.C., was working as a paramedic on a
sports medicine team.
Together they manage the Love Valley Arena, which hosts
the rodeos and horse shows. Moreover, the couple is part of
ongoing efforts to return Love Valley to its family-friendly roots.
The Wild West
Talk to just about anyone who visited Love Valley in the
’80s and ’90s, and they’ll tell you it was more of a lawless Western
town than a tourist destination.
Duke “Mutt” Burgess moved to Love Valley from Lincolnton
a few years ago and runs Love Valley Mercantile with his wife,
Katrina. “I came up here as a kid and got into all kinds of trouble,”
he said. “You could get whatever you wanted, good and bad.”
On consumer-complaint website PissedConsumer.com,
there are several scathing posts about Love Valley, including one
from 2008 that characterizes the town as “an absolute trash hole”
that’s “dirty and racist and run down and poorly managed and just
crappy.”
Another posting from 2009 details a fight that broke out at
one of the local watering holes where “a kid almost got beat to
death” and how there were no police or bouncers around to restore
order.
“Up until a couple of years ago it was pretty wild,” said
Adams with the Iredell County Sheriffs Department. “There were
lots of fights and alcohol. You definitely didn’t want to bring
children here. You still get some unruly people, but it’s nothing like
it used to be.”
Ellenora and Andy both seem unfazed by all the talk of trying
to clean up Love Valley’s image. When asked if she’d like to see
any changes, Ellenora shrugged and said, “It doesn’t matter what
www.uptownclt.com uptown 45
7/28/2010 2:20:30 PM
 happens. It’s going to happen anyway.”
During my recent visit, there were plenty of kids and
families riding horses and filling up the campsites. And old-
timers congregated on benches outside the storefronts, including
Montana, 79, a former two-step champion who lives in Mocksville
and has been visiting Love Valley since the 1950s. “We just like to
sit around and tell lies,” he said.
But there’s still a rowdy, rebellious undercurrent that runs
through the place. By noon a pretty good crowd has gathered at
the Chicken Coop, a little open-air shack with a dirt floor that’s part
of The Silver Spur Saloon.
A five-piece band rips through some bluegrass tunes as
bartender Frank Campbell keeps the $2 Budweisers flowing,
punching a cowbell every time he gets a tip.
Then, as the raucous crowd guzzles brews and cheers the
clockwise from top: andy barker // ellenora barker
charlie and beth nance
46 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 46
band, an unexpected site: triplets, all well endowed with long, dark
hair, stroll into the bar. Every head in the place swivels in their
direction. They’re the Jenkins sisters and have lived in the area for
years. “We just love riding horses around here,” said Kallie Jenkins.
“And we don’t really like going to the city.”
Inside The Silver Spur Saloon, dairy farmer Terry Barker (no
relation to Andy) is ordering lunch. Barker, 44, said he visits Love
Valley just about every weekend, and usually hangs out at the
saloon, which features live music and a big dance floor.
He said he couldn’t care less about horses, but instead comes
to Love Valley for something else.
“You should see the girls who come up here,” he said, and
begins to tick off all the cities that his various conquests have
come from.
Although Barker said his plan is to find “the one” in church,
for now he’s happy with carousing at The Silver Spur. “The girls
who come up here are different, they’re willing to take chances.”
Bob and Judy Adams bought The Silver Spur Saloon in 2006.
The couple, who first heard about Love Valley from their son,
moved from Maryland looking to enjoy the simple country life.
“Since we’ve been here there’s been some hooting and
hollerin’ and people getting into it in the streets, but it’s calming
7/28/2010 2:20:40 PM
 down,” said Bob. “We love the people and the atmosphere here. It’s
so nostalgic.”
A few doors down from The Silver Spur is Jack’s Place. While
The Silver Spur is popular among the older crowd and country the chicken coop
line dancers, Jack’s Place, which has pool tables, video poker and
karaoke, is where the younger crowd hangs out.
Jack and Linda Jolly have owned the bar since 1998. Jack,
who grew up about 10 miles from Love Valley, said he used to visit
a lot during the 1960s and ’70s. “It used to be wild,” he said. “But
it’s more family-oriented now.”

The Next Generation

And that’s just what Tori Barker is fighting for. Tori, 32, is
Andy Barker’s granddaughter, and she’s inherited his adventurous
spirit and determination.
Her early life was marred by tragedy when her father,
Jet, who helped his father build Love Valley, died of cancer in
1981 when she was just 3. He’s buried outside the Love Valley
Presbyterian Church.
Tori grew up on a ranch in Raleigh, and she spent many
summers and weekends at Love Valley hanging out with her
grandparents and riding horses.
After she graduated from North Carolina State University
with a bachelor’s degree in textile industry and design, she got
married in 2002. A few months later she and her husband traveled
around Europe and eventually moved to Long Beach, Calif., where
she became an avid surfer and also earned a bachelor’s degree
in fashion design at California State University–Los Angeles. The
couple next moved to Carolina Beach in North Carolina.
“My grandparents always encouraged me to travel and see
the world. But I always wanted to return here to Love Valley.”
And that’s just what she did in 2005. Life dealt her another
blow when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident that
same year. Tori has remained at Love Valley, and in 2006 she opened
Moonshine Gifts. Located across from Jack’s Place, where she also
bartends, the little “country boutique” features arts and crafts,
jewelry, pottery, home accessories, candy and ice cream.
Her little boutique is busy during my visit. People seem to
naturally gravitate there, from little girls who just want to hang
out, to awkward teenage boys and pot-bellied men, all obviously
smitten with Tori. She handles all the attention with easy Southern
charm as she rings up soft-serve ice cream and soft drinks.
Tori lives in a little apartment above Moonshine Gifts and
is actively involved with trying to keep Love Valley thriving. She
serves on the town board, helps design the town’s website and
marketing pamphlets, and organizes fundraisers to build a Love
Valley museum and municipal complex.
“I like living here,” she said. “It’s my community. I’ll never be
able to replace my grandpa, but I’ll do whatever is necessary to
tori barker make Love Valley the best place it can be. This is home and where
my future is.” U
Reach Sam at samboykin4@gmail.com
For more info about Love Valley go to uptownclt.com

www.uptownclt.com uptown 47

August 10.indd 47 7/28/2010 2:20:47 PM

DUPLICITY

August 10.indd 48 7/28/2010 2:20:50 PM

 * “Duplicity: A New Beginning” is the first installment of an ongoing fictional series. Any similarity to actual people or events is
purely coincidental.
“L
ook, there’s Chopper 9,”
Laura said, pointing into the clouds behind
Bank of America Stadium, as the latest
news helicopter emerged from the hazy
morning horizon and banked into an arc
over the scene below on Stonewall. That
made three news and two police helicopters
circling the jet-black smoke billowing from
the street below, and Steven, Nick, Lori and
I all crowded in front of the tiny window in
my office to get a better look.
We looked more like second-graders
with our faces plastered to a classroom
window than futures analysts at a Fortune
500 company. But as much as we craned
our necks, and fogged up the glass, the
action remained conveniently hidden
behind the new Duke Energy building. Even
from 38 floors up, all we could see were
speeding toy police cars and little plastic
fire trucks racing behind a gleaming, perfect
shield of steel and glass. The thick column
of smoke continued to rise from behind
the building and drift into the sky over the
stadium.
“Man, I really hope no one got hurt
down there,” Steven said from behind his
wire-rimmed glasses, nervously biting his
lip. Steven was a nice guy, and an eternal
optimist. He wore bad ties and a constant
expression of sympathy and understanding.
He was chubby, instantly likable, and
words: matt kokenes
pictures: todd trimakas
August 10.indd 49
had the kind of optimism that could
be contagious – like when Dr. Phil gets
involved with some seriously dysfunctional
family and you think for a second that
everything just might work out. A year
ago, when six people in our team were cut
in one day, he tried to reassure everyone
carrying a brown box to their car that it
would all be OK. As if his optimism alone
would be enough to help them make their
$4,500/month mortgage payments.
It wasn’t going to be OK this time,
though. At least not for someone down
on Stonewall Street where all the smoke
was coming from. To me, the five circling
helicopters and almost a dozen emergency
response vehicles were proof of that.
Nick turned toward Steven with an
incredulous smirk. “Dude, Steve, are you
serious?! Someone down there is burnt
toast, man. Fried. Well done.
“One less car on the road for the
commute home, right Gus?” Nick smiled
toward me, hoping for a laugh.
I shrugged. Steven looked over at me
and pushed up his glasses.
Nick was one of those guys who only
needed five minutes to rub you the wrong
way, and he had been transferred all over
the country because he was so good at
pissing off the wrong people. He’d come to
Charlotte this spring from somewhere in
Ohio. Cincinnati or Dayton, maybe. He was
a math genius, though, and as long as he
could help banks lose less money, he’d have
a job somewhere. Nick could have been
Eminem’s twin brother, and he was known
around the office as Slim Shady. He hated
rap music, and he hated his nickname even
more. Karma can be a bitch, I guess.
I saw he had the new ID badge that
the company had just switched to. Damn if
he really didn’t look just like Eminem, too.
Just like him.
I glanced down at my own badge, and
a faded, young Gus Kaminski smiled up at
me.
Nick was also that guy who didn’t get
the memo that you stop wearing Old Spice
after high school, and my office smelled like
cheap aftershave.
“Guys, I need to get going on a couple
of things this morning,” I explained. “I hate
to stop the show, but I have a really big fire
to put out, and a meeting with Brent at 10,
and I’d like my office back now, please.”
I wasn’t trying to make a joke, and
only realized what I’d said when all three of
them turned away from the glass and stared
at me. Slim Shady smiled and laughed one
of his Ohio dickhead laughs.
“Nice, Gus.”
I had moved into my very first
window office just eight months earlier, and
Nick had taken my old cubicle between Lori
and Steven. The window office wasn’t really
much of a step up. The space was comically
cramped and just big enough for a desk and
filing cabinet. It had less actual space than
my old cube, but it did have a view of the
street and apparently enough room for four
people to squeeze shoulder to shoulder in
7/28/2010 2:20:52 PM
 front of the single window.
The water stain in one of the ceiling
tiles and my bonsai tree silently looked on
with us as the churning smoke began to
subside. Glare from the mid-morning sun
now reflected brilliantly off of the Duke
Energy building and lighted up my tiny
office like a movie set. This was my favorite
part of the day actually – the 38 minutes
every morning when sunlight overpowered
the white glow of fluorescents.
“Wait Gus, hang on a sec,” Lori
breathed, stepping up on her tiptoes,
eyes again glued to the street below. She
instantly became the tallest member of the
group, and I could see Nick fighting hard to
keep his eyes pointed downward.
“There’s a tow truck.”
Lori was the prettiest girl in our
department. Excluding admin, she was
really the only girl in our department.
Gifted with legs like a Russian ballerina,
and a unique ability to find discrepancies
in reams of mind-numbing statistical
data, she had the guarded persona that
attractive women embrace when working
surrounded by guys. Chestnut hair cut to
a razor’s edge scraped her collar when she
glided through the office, and annoyed
brown eyes discouraged the bravest of
suitors. Nick openly proclaimed he had “hit
the jackpot” when he was placed next to
Lori, and waited until precisely 10:15 a.m.
on his first day to begin hitting on her. She
ignored Nick’s weekly invitations to “grab
a roll down at Enso” with such zest that
even Steve finally suggested that he give up
and “find someone who’s more receptive,
because you’re a good guy, and the right
woman for you is out there somewhere.”
The smoke had stopped completely,
and the tow truck carefully backed up out
of sight, leaving only yellow shadows from
its siren to maintain the suspense in my tiny
office. The air conditioning kicked on again,
displacing a few tufts of Lori’s brown bangs
and sending a fresh blast of Old Spice
around the room.
I glanced around the city and noticed
that the event down on Stonewall Street
wasn’t our spectacle alone. Thousands of
onlookers in a colossal theater of office
towers stared down at the scene silently
50 uptown www.uptownclt.com
August 10.indd 50
with us. Faces, hands, coffee mugs, suits
and ties of all shapes and colors peered
down solemnly on a brilliantly sunny
August morning. Some of them could
probably actually see what was going on.
“Can Stella can see it from her office?”
Nick asked, gesturing across the street
toward Two Wachovia. It wasn’t a secret
that my fiancée worked in that building,
but I had never had a conversation directly
with Nick about it. Even after five years,
I still couldn’t get used to office gossip. It
annoyed me that he knew, but I had bigger
problems to deal with, and I was pretty sure
it wouldn’t matter in 30 minutes anyway.
Lori and Steven’s eyes darted to each
other’s and back to the street.
“Stella can’t see it either,” I said flatly.
“The Duke building is in her way, too.”
“Hey guys, did I miss the show?”
Brent was our team’s director, and he
had a special talent for popping up like a
prairie dog every time you let your foot off
the gas for a nanosecond. Every time. His
surprise appearances were always coupled
with some sort of “gotcha” comment,
delivered with a look of condescending
patience. A look like, “I understand, because
I’m smarter than you, but if you keep trying
and I’m patient enough, we just might get
past your stupidity one day.”
When Brent spoke, Steven’s chubby
frame jolted upright at the same time Lori
spun 180 degrees, awkwardly squeezing
Nick between them. The Stonewall Street
spectacle was officially over.
The company couldn’t have found
a more dedicated VP. In the six years I
reported to him, Brent only missed a half-
day of work, to attend his father’s funeral.
He wore his ID badge on a blue lanyard
around his neck at all times. He wore it
at lunch. He wore it at offsite company
teambuilding events at the Bobcats games.
He probably wore it to bed every night.
“Guys, don’t forget, 2 p.m. today in the
big conference room, instead of 2:30,” Brent
told us.
“And Gus, I’ll see you in my office at
10, right?”
“Yep, I’ll be over there in just a few.”
I had caught wind of my imminent
termination two weeks before when Allison
from HR mistakenly sent an e-mail to me
rather than Brent, explaining the timetable
for a new hire’s computer setup and training
schedule. Some guy named Jeff would be
taking in the view of uptown through my
window on Monday morning.
“Bring your FY 2010 revised figures,
too, please,” he said, glancing around my
office.
“Oh, and the wreck down there,” he
said, nodding toward the window. “A bread
truck rolled over on top of a Honda. Crushed
a girl to death.” Brent had C-Span playing on
a flat panel TV in his office day and night,
and the bottom of the screen had burn-in
from the stock ticker. He had probably just
surfed the local network affiliates for the
best helicopter footage of the crash.
Because of the e-mail, getting fired
wasn’t a surprise. In fact, I was so sure that
I’d be leaving the building for the last time
at 10:15 a.m. today, that I had made plans
to meet Stella at Skyland Diner at 10:30 for
breakfast. The only real surprise was that
Brent turned off his flat screen when he
fired me.
The elevator ride to the lobby was
long and uncomfortable. Dantavius, the
280-pound security guard, who normally
would have been talking about Panthers
football the whole way down, was mum.
He stared straight ahead at the steel doors
with cold eyes and pursed lips like he was
escorting a maximum-security prisoner to
his cell.
“Armanti Edwards going to run a
couple back for us this year, you think?”
I asked, not seeing any reason why we
couldn’t still be buddies. I had talked to the
guy practically every morning for the past
six years.
Six years didn’t mean anything to
Dantavius apparently, and he maintained
his new strict code of silence all the way to
the sidewalk.
“I see you’re still in one piece,” Stella
smiled, looking up from her menu. We sat
in a booth at Skyland Diner and, aside
from an elderly couple gazing out at South
Boulevard two tables away, we had the
place to ourselves. The waitress set down
two cups of coffee and walked over to the
older couple.
7/28/2010 2:20:55 PM
August 10.indd 51 7/28/2010 2:20:57 PM
August 10.indd 52 7/28/2010 2:20:59 PM
 “It went exactly like I expected,” I
explained. “He had me bring in last year’s
numbers, pointed to the red ink, and called
security. I was in the car by 10:20.
“It was kind of anticlimactic, really.
“And you know that gigantic security
guard, Dantavius, that won’t shut up about
the Panthers?” I continued. “He didn’t say
a fucking word to me the whole way out of
the building. Not one word. Wouldn’t even
talk about the Panthers. That guy loves the
Panthers. That’s scary, actually. That’s like
Donald Trump not wanting to talk about
money.
“They don’t let you pack up your stuff
apparently now either, it’s just straight
to the door. I guess they spare you the
humiliation of walking out with a cardboard
box, and just send you your stuff by mail.”
“So is Eminem going to take your
office now?” she asked, laughing.
Stella had the kind of natural beauty
and charisma that you couldn’t turn away
from. She could melt even the most bitter
people with her smile. With just a little eye
makeup she could be deadly. She was out of
my league for sure.
I wasn’t quite ready to laugh it up
just yet, though. Surprise or not, I was still
numb from the shock of being asked to
leave the place where I’d spent six years
of my life and being escorted to the door.
Text messages were flooding in now from
Steven, Lori and Nick.
“Oh, come on Gus. Lighten up. We
knew this was coming.”
The lunchtime crowd began filing in,
and a group of four young guys in tailored
suits eyed Stella as they slid into the booth
behind us. The woman at the register
shouted something in Greek, and the grill
began to hiss loudly back in the kitchen.
“You’re glad it’s over, right? I mean,
working for Brent? Come on. What a
douche.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Capital is a much better fit anyway.”
“You’re still having drinks with all
those guys at Luce at 6 tonight, right?”
“As far as I know, we’re still on,” I lied.
“So, it’s pretty much a done deal,
then?” Stella said, swallowing a bite of
English muffin and wiping her mouth. “Just
August 10.indd 53
got to get your comp package figured out?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
When I found out I was losing my job,
I had panicked and created the fictitious
story about a better job opportunity
with another company. The lie had now
advanced past the point of no return.
There were no opportunities at any other
companies right now, though, and she
should have known that.
We had an $80K wedding on Isle of
Palms in two months, and our architect had
just delivered the tiny model of our new
home yesterday afternoon. A month ago, a
backhoe had unceremoniously razed a brick
ranch in a wooded lot just off of Wendover
Road to make way for our new 4,500-square-
foot place.
Stella hated lying more than anything.
Actually, that was the only thing in the
world she hated. All that charm and appeal
evaporated when she smelled a lie.
If I had found the right time to tell her
that our wedding and new home may not
happen, though, I’m not sure she would
have been able to hear it anyway. In this
case the truth would only do more harm
than good.
Besides, I had a plan.
The four guys at the next table leaned
forward as they rehashed details about the
bread truck and the unfortunate Honda.
I heard one of them whisper something
about the smell of burning hair.
“Cool. And you know we still need to
cut that check to Tracy,” Stella continued,
going down her mental punch list.
“The new photographer she
recommended is a little more expensive, but
his work is way better. Definitely worth the
money.”
My stomach churned. Our wedding
was two months away, and our planner was
already juicing me dry. She wanted another
six grand by the end of the month.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll get it out tomorrow.”
“And how crazy was that crash this
morning, huh?” Stella continued, talking
louder over the increasing noise of shuffling
tables and chairs. When she said this, the
four young guys at the next table all looked
over at us before leaning back in for more
carnage. It was noon now, and the lunch
crowd had brought the diner to life. The grill
sizzled loudly back in the kitchen.
“Yeah, I heard a bread truck flipped
on top of an Accord over on Stonewall
Street and caught on fire,” I said, sipping my
coffee. “Some girl died.”
“Really?” Stella said, setting down her
fork. “I heard it was a BMW.”
I lay in the middle of the stage
at Freedom Park alone, and spent the
afternoon nursing a six pack of Miller Lite
tallboys. Cicadas screamed at the top of
their lungs as the steamy August afternoon
heated up around me. I was in a cave – a
cool island oasis of chipped concrete and
’60s architecture, surrounded by punishing
heat waves and wilted grass. For hours, my
only company was a group of 30-something-
year-old moms across the lake. They were
dressed for tennis, and each one of them
gripped an expensive-looking stroller with
bicycle tires. Except for the occasional
curious glance, they ignored me. I’d bought
the beer from the midtown Texaco – the
one with the walk-in beer cooler – and the
cans were so cold they were making my
fingers numb. They made my body numb,
too, and I lay back and closed my eyes, and
wondered whether this was what prison
beds felt like.
On the third ring, I sat upright. I
wasn’t able to get my phone out of my
pocket by the time the call had gone to
voicemail, so I just stood up and stretched.
It was late afternoon now, and the park
was much hotter, and completely deserted.
It was way too intense for little kids,
and the four tennis moms were gone.
Heat shimmered off of the lake and even
the geese looked tired as they circled
impatiently. The brown paper bag with the
six empty cans next to me hadn’t moved.
I now had a total of eight missed
calls and 23 text messages, and as I drove
north on Tryon Street, past the Amtrak
station and a dozen used car dealerships
all offering easy credit, Rob’s voicemail
confirmed that we were still on for 6 pm.
He’d be wearing a black baseball hat
and waiting for me at the warehouse off of
North Davidson Street. U
Reach Matt at matt@uptownclt.com
For more info go to uptownclt.com
www.uptownclt.com uptown 53
7/28/2010 2:21:02 PM
 pictures: bryce lankard | brycelankard.com
clothes: ellemm | shopellemm.com
styling & accessories: jennifer misenheimer
hair: jennifer misenheimer | welcome2escape.com
makeup: patty mclaughlin | makeupbypatty.com
models: cora for wilhelmina-evolution |
krysta for factor women atlanta
location: ice sensations | icesensations.com
special thanks to gary, nick and paul

August 10.indd 54
ME
7/28/2010 2:21:06 PM
 clothes: plastic island blair dress // mink pink imposter jacket | ellemm

MELT
August 10.indd 55 7/28/2010 2:21:08 PM
 clothes: rojas tina one shoulder dress | ellemm

August 10.indd 56 7/28/2010 2:21:13 PM

 clothes: motel naomi dress | ellemm

August 10.indd 57 7/28/2010 2:21:17 PM

 clothes: tie-dyed cotton scarf // rojas denim dress short | ellemm

August 10.indd 58 7/28/2010 2:21:25 PM

August 10.indd 59 7/28/2010 2:21:27 PM
 clothes: rojas indigenous shorts jumper // rojas boned denim bando | ellemm

August 10.indd 60 7/28/2010 2:22:02 PM

 clothes: colcci black feather romper | ellemm

August 10.indd 61 7/28/2010 2:22:08 PM

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assignments:
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Charlotte, NC 28206

^ Fine Art represented in Charlotte

by: DOMA gallery
www.domaart.com

August 10.indd 62 7/28/2010 2:22:11 PM

 clothes: motel jetta dress | ellemm

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 Winner of the 2010 Members Circle of Distinction Design Challenge
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photography: Weinmiller, Inc. our new show room: 826 hawthorne lane / 704.377.6304 / www.reaching quiet.com

64 uptown www.uptownclt.com

August 10.indd 64 7/28/2010 2:22:21 PM

 Dining and Nightlife Guide
AMERICAN Bentley’s on 27 – $$$ Zen Asian Fusion – $ Einstein Brothers – $
201 S. College St. Fl. 27 704.343.9201 1716 Kenilworth Ave. 704.358.9688 $ - 201 S. Tryon St. 704.332.4015
Alexander Michael’s – $ (Charlotte Plaza Building) Einstein Brothers – $
401 W. 9th St. 704.332.6789 BLT Steak – $$$ BAKERY 1501 South Blvd. 704.333.4370
BlackFinn – $$ 201 E. Trade St. 704.547.2244 Java Passage – $
210 E. Trade St. 704.971.4440 Bonterra Restaurant – $$$ Cloud 9 Confections – $ 101 W. Worthington 704.277.6558
Camilles – $ 1829 Cleveland Ave. 704.333.9463 201 S. College St. Suite 270 704.334.7554 Jump N Joe’s Java Joint – $
1518 E. 3rd St. 704.342.4606 Carpe Diem – $$$ Great Harvest Bread – $ 105 E. Morehead St. 704.372.3217
Cedar Street Tavern – $ 1535 Elizabeth Ave. 704.377.7976 901 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.0431 La Tea Da’s – $
120 N. Cedar St. 704.333.3448 Coastal Kitchen & Bar – $$$ Amelie’s Bakery – $ 1942 E. 7th St. 704.372.9599
Champions – $ 222 E. 3rd St. 704.331.4360 2424 N. Davidson St. 704.376-1781 Nova’s Bakery – $
100 W. Trade St. - Marriott Hotel 704.333.9000 Custom Shop – $$$ Nova’s Bakery – $ 1511 Central Ave. 704.333.5566
Comet Grill – $ 1601 Elizabeth Ave. 704.333.3396 1511 Central Ave. 704.333.5566 PJ’s Coffee & Lounge - $
2224 Park Rd. 704.371.4300 Fig Tree – $$$ Panera Bread – $ 210 E. Trade St. (Epicentre) 704.688.0366
Cosmos Cafe – $ 1601 E. Seventh St. 704.332.3322 601 Providence Rd. 704.374.0581 Port City Java – $
300 N. College St. 704.372.3553 Lulu – $$ 214 N. Tryon St. (Hearst) 704.335.3335
Dressler’s – $$$ 1911 Central Ave. 704.376.2242 BARBEQUE SK Netcafe – $
The Metropolitan 704.909.6295 McNinch House – $$$ 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704.334.1523
East Boulevard Grill – $ 511 N. Church St. 704.332.6159 Art’s Barbecue – $ Starbucks – $
1601 East Blvd. 704.332.2414 Mimosa Grill – $$ 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424 545 Providence Rd. 704.372.1591
Ember Grille – $$$ 301 S. Tryon St. 704.343.0700 Jolina Tex Mex & BBQ – $ Starbucks – $
601 S. College St. WestinHotel 704.335.2064 Monticello – $$ 500 S. College St. 704.375.0994 101 S. Tryon St. 704.374.9519
Fenwick’s – $ 235 N. Tryon St. – Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193 Mac’s Speed Shop – $ Tic Toc Coffee shop – $
511 Providence Rd. 704.333.2750 Pewter Rose Bistro – $$ 2511 South Blvd. 704.522.6227 512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750
Fox and Hound – $ 1820 South Blvd. 704.332.8149 Rib Palace – $
330 N. Tryon St. 704.333.4113 Ratcliffe on the Green – $$ 1300 Central Ave. 704.333.8841 DELI
French Quarter – $ 435 S. Tryon St. 704.358.9898
321 S. Church St. 704.377.7415 Zink – $$ BREAKFAST Adams 7th Street Market – $
John’s Country Kitchen – $ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.444.9001 401 Hawthorne Ln. 704.334.0001
1518 Central Ave. 704.333.9551 Art’s Barbecue – $ Art’s Barbecue – $
Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill - $ ASIAN 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424
1524 East Blvd. 704.370.1177 Coffee Cup – $ Blynk – $
Nix – $ 88 China Bistro – $ 914 S. Clarkson St. 704.375.8855 200 S. Tryon 704.522.3750
201 N. Tryon St. 704.347.2739 1620 E. 4th St. 704.335.0288 Einstein Brothers – $ Common Market – $
Pike’s Soda Shop – $ Basil Thai – $ 201 S. Tryon St. 704.332.4015 2007 Commonwealth Ave. 704.334-6209
1930 Camden Rd. 704.372.0097 210 N. Church St. 704.332.7212 Einstein Brothers – $ Dikadee’s Deli – $
Presto Bar and Grill – $ China King – $ 1501 South Blvd. 704.333.4370 1419 East Blvd. 704.333.3354
445 W. Trade St. 704.334.7088 128 Brevard Ct. 704.334-7770 IHOP – $ Dogwood Cafe – $
Providence Café – $ $ China Queen Buffet – $ 2715 E. Independence Blvd. 704.334.9502 138 Brevard Court 704.376.8353
829 Providence R d. 704.376.2008 127 N. Tryon St. Ste 3 704.377.1928 Monticello – $$ Fresco Cafe & Deli – $
Providence Road Sundries – $ China Saute – $ 235 N. Tryon St. – Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193 3642 Moultrie St. 704.376.5777
1522 Providence Rd. 704.366.4467 2214 Park Rd 704.333.1116 Owen’s Bagel & Deli – $ Grand Central Deli – $
Rock Bottom – $ Creation – $ 2041 South Blvd. 704.333.5385 101 N. Tryon St. 704.348.7032
401 N. Tryon St. 704.334.2739 1221-A The Plaza 704.372.2561 Tic Toc Coffeeshop – $ Great Harvest Bread Co. – $
Selwyn Pub – $ Cuisine Malaya – $ 512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750 901 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.0431
2801 Selwyn Ave. 704.333.3443 1411 Elizabeth Ave. 704.372.0766 Groucho’s Deli – $
Simmons Fourth Ward Restaurant – $ Dim Sum – $ BRITISH 201 N. Tryon St. 704.342.0030
516 N. Graham St. 704.334.6640 2920 Central Ave. 704.569.1128 Halfpenny’s – $
Something Classic Café – $ Eggroll King – $ Big Ben’s Pub – $ 30 Two First Union Ctr. 704.342.9697
715 Providence Rd. 704.347.3666 8907 Steelechase Dr. 704.372.6401 801 Providence R d. 704.334.6338 Jason’s Deli – $
South 21 – $ Emperor Chinese – $ 210 E. Trade (Epicentre) 704.688.1004
3101 E. Independence Blvd. 704.377.4509 337 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.2688 CAJUN & CREOLE Jersey Mike’s Subs – $
Stool Pigeons – $ Fortune Cookie – $ 128 S. Tryon St. 704.343.0006
214 N. Church St. 704.358.3788 208 East Independence Blvd. 704.377.1388 Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen – $ Jersey Mikes Subs – $
The Gin Mill South End – $ Fujiyama – $ 501 E. 36th St. 704.331.9898 2001 E. 7th St. 704.375.1985
1411 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0782 320 S. Tryon St. 704.334.5158 Cajun Queen – $$ Jump N Joe’s Java Joint – $
The Graduate – $ Fuse Box – $ 1800 E 7th St. 704.377.9017 105 E. Morehead St. 704.372.3217
123 W. Trade St. 704.358.3024 227 W. Trade St. 704.376.8885 Laurel Market South – $
The Penguin – $ Ginbu 401 – $ C A R I B B E A N 1515 South Blvd. 704.334.2185
1921 Commonwealth Ave. 704.375.6959 401 Providence Rd. 704.372.2288 Leo’s Delicatessen – $
The Philosopher’s Stone – $ Great Wok – $ Anntony’s Caribbean Cafe – $ 1421 Elizabeth Ave. 704.375.2400
1958 E. Seventh St. 704.350.1331 718 W Trade St. Ste M 704.333.0080 2001 E. 7th St. 704.342.0749 Li’l Dino – $
The Pub – $ Hong Kong – $ Austin’s Caribbean Cuisine – $ 401 S. Tryon St. 704.342.0560
710 West Trade St. 704.333.9818 1713 Central Ave. 704.376.6818 345 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.8778 Matt’s Chicago Dog – $
Thomas Street Tavern – $ Indochine Asian Tapas Lounge - $ 425 S. Tryon St. 704.333.3650
1218 Thomas Ave. 704.376.1622 210 E. Trade St. 704.688.0078 CHINESE Owen’s Bagel & Deli – $
Tic Toc Coffeeshop – $ Koko – $ 2041 South Blvd. 704.333.5385
512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750 6609 Elfreda Rd. 704.338.6869 88 China Bistro – $ Philadelphia Deli – $
Union Grille – $ Monsoon Thai Cuisine – $ 1620 E. 4th St. 704.335.0288 1025 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.4489
222 E 3rd St. – Hilton Towers 2801 South Blvd. 704.523.6778 Vanloi Chinese Barbecue – $ Phil’s Tavern – $
704.331.4360 Orient Express – $ 3101 Central Ave. 704.566.8808 105 E. Fifth St. 704.347.0035
Vinnie’s Sardine – $ 3200 N Graham St. 704.332.6255 Wok Express – $ Rainbow Café – $
1714 South Blvd. 704-332-0006 Pho An Hoa – $ 601 S. Kings Dr. 704.375.1122 400 South Tryon 704.332.8918
Wild Wings - $ 4832 Central Ave. 704.537.2595 Reid’s – $
210 E. Trade St. 704.716.9464 Pho Hoa – $ COFFEE SHOPS 225 E. 7th St. 704.377.1312
Zack’s Hamburgers – $ 3000 Central Ave. 704.536.7110 Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $
4009 South Blvd. 704.525.1720 SOHO Bistro – $ Caribou Coffee – $ 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554
214 N Tryon St. 704.333.5189 100 N. Tryon St. 704.372.5507 Salvador Deli – $
AMERICAN MODERN Thai Taste – $ Dilworth Coffee – $ N. Davidson St. 704.334.2344
324 East Blvd. 704.332.0001 1235 East Blvd # B, 704.358.8003 Sammy’s Deli – $
131 Main – $$ Taipei Express – $ 330 S Tryon St, 704.334.4575 1113 Pecan Ave. 704.376.1956
1315 East Blvd. 704.343.0131 731 Providence Rd. 704.334.2288 Dilworth Playhouse Cafe – $
300 East – $$ Tin Tin Box & Noodles – $ 1427 South Blvd. 704.632.0336
300 East Blvd. 704.332.6507 101 N. Tryon St. 704.377.3223

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 Dining and Nightlife Guide
Sandwich Club – $ Open Kitchen – $ Sullivan’s – $$$ Quiznos Sub – $
525 N. Tryon St. 704.334.0133 1318 W. Morehead St. 704.375.7449 1928 South Blvd. 704.335.8228 127 N. Tryon St. 704.374.9921
Sandwich Club – $ Pasta & Provisions – $ The Corner Pub – $ Quizno’s – $
435 S. Tryon St. 704.344.1975 1528 Providence Rd. 704.364.2622 335 N. Graham St. 704.376.2720 320 S. Tryon St. – Latta Arcade 704.372.8922
Substation II - $ Portofino’s Italian – $$ Roly Poly Sandwiches – $
1601 South Blvd 704-332-3100 3124 Eastway Dr. 704.568.7933 PIZZA 317 S. Church St. 704.332.6375
1941 E. 7th St. 704-358-8100 Primo Ristorante – $$ Sbarro – $
116 Middleton Dr. 704.334.3346 Brixx – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.332.5005
DESSERT Cafe Siena – $$ 225 East 6th St. 704.347.2749 Simply Subs – $
230 N. College St. 704.602.2750 Donato’s Pizza - $ 212 S. Tryon St. 704.333.0503
Crave the Dessert Bar – $ Salute Ristorante – $$ 718-A West Trade St 704.714.4743 Smoothie King – $
501 W. 5th St. 704.277.9993 613 Providence Rd 704.342.9767 Domino’s Pizza – $ Epicentre - 210 Trade St. 704.979.6911
Dairy Queen – $ Terra – $$ 343 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.9847 Smoothie King – $
1431 Central Ave. 704.377.4294 545-B Providence Rd. 704.332.1886 Fuel Pizza – $ One Wachovia Center 704.374.0200
Dolce Ristorante – $$ Villa Francesca 214 N. Tryon St. 704.350.1680 Spoons – $
1710 Kenilworth Ave. 704.332.7525 321 Caldwell St. 704.333.7447 Fuel Pizza – $ 415 Hawthorne Ln. 704.376.0874
Luce Ristorante – $$ Volare – $$ 1501 Central Ave. 704.376.3835 Woody’s Chicago Style – $
214 N. Tryon St. – Hearst Plaza 704.344.9222 1523 Elizabeth Ave. 704.370.0208 Hawthorne’s NY 320 S. Tryon St. - Latta Arcade 704.334.0010
Monticello – $$ Zio Authentic Italian – $$ 1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 Zack’s Hamburgers – $
235 N. Tryon St.– Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193 116 Middleton Dr. 704.344.0100 Latta Pizza – $ 4009 South Blvd. 704.525.1720
320 S. Tryon St. 704.333.4015
ECLECTIC L AT I N Papa John’s Pizza – $ S E A F O O D
1620 E. 4th St. 704.375.7272
The Melting Pot – $$$ Cuban Pete’s – $ Picasso’s – $ Aquavina – $$$
901 S. Kings Dr. Stuite 140-B 704.334.4400 1308 The Plaza 704.910.5233 214 N. Church St. 704.331.0133 435 S. Tryon St. 704.377.9911
Therapy Cafe – $ Pie Town – $$ Cabo Fish Taco – $
401 N. Tryon St. 704.333.1353 M E AT & T H R E E 710 W. Trade St. 704.379.7555 3201 N. Davidson St. 704.332.8868
The Fig Tree – $$ Pizza Hut – $ Capital Grille – $$$
1601 E. 7th St. 704.332.3322 Dish – $ 901 S. Kings Dr. 704.377.7006 201 N. Tryon St. 704.348.1400
1220 Thomas Ave. 704.344.0343 Rudino’s Pizza & Grinders – $ Fig Tree –$$$
FRENCH Mert’s Heart & Soul – $ 2000 South Blvd. - Atherton Mill 704.333.3124 1601 E. Seventh St. 704.332.3322
214 N. College St. 704.342.4222 UNO Chicago Grill – $ LaVecchia’s – $$$
Terra – $$ Blue – $$$ 401 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0085 225 E. 6th St. 704.370.6776
545-B Providence Rd. 704.332.1886 214 N. Tryon St. 704.927.2583 Villa Francesca McCormick & Schmick’s – $$$
Intermezzo Pizzeria & Café – $ 321 Caldwell St. 704.333.7447 200 South Tryon St. 704.377.0201
GREEK 1427 E. 10th Street 704.347.2626 Zio Authentic Italian – $ Outback Steakhouse – $$
116 Middleton Dr. 704.344.0100 1412 East Blvd. 704.333.0505
Greek Isles – $$ MEXICAN
200 E. Bland St. 704.444.9000 QUICK BITES SOUTHERN & SOUL
Little Village Grill – $ Cabo Fish Taco – $
710-G W. Trade St. 704.347.2184 3201 N. Davidson St. 704.332.8868 Bojangles’ – $ Lupie’s Cafe – $
Showmars – $ Johnny Burrito – $ 310 E Trade St. 704.335.1804 2718 Monroe Rd. 704.374.1232
214 N. Tryon St. 704.333.5833 301 S. Tryon St. 704.371.4448 Boston Market – $ Mert’s Heart and Soul – $
La Paz – $$ 829 Providence Rd. 704.344.0016 214 N. College St 704.342.4222
INDIAN 1910 South Blvd. 704.372.4168 Burger King – $ Price’s Chicken Coop – $
Phat Burrito – $ 310 E. Trade St. 704.334.3312 1614 Camden Rd. 704.333.9866
Copper – $$ 1537 Camden Rd. 704.332.7428 Chick-fil-A – $ Savannah Red – $$
311 East Blvd. 704.333.0063 Salsarita’s – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.344.0222 100 W. Trade St. 704.333.9000
Maharani – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.342.0950 Chicks Restaurant – $ Marriott City Center
901 S. Kings Dr. 704.370.2824 320 S. Tryon St. – Latta Arcade 704.358.8212
MIDDLE EASTERN Church’s – $ S P A N I S H
I TA L I A N 1735 W. Trade St. 704.332.2438
Kabob Grill – $ Dairy Queen – $ Sole Spanish Grille – $$$
Carrabba’s Italian Grill – $$ 1235-B East Blvd. 704.371.8984 1431 Central Ave. 704.377.4294 1608 East blvd.. 704.343.9890
1520 South Blvd. 704.377.2458 Metropolitan – $ Domino’s Pizza – $
Coco Osteria – $$  138 Brevard Ct. 704.333.5175 343 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.9847 S T E A K H O U S E
214 N. Tryon St.–Hearst Plaza 704.344.8878 Fuel Pizza – $
Dolce Ristorante – $$ OUTDOOR DINING 214 N. Tryon St. 704.350.1680 Beef & Bottle – $$$
1710 Kenilworth Ave. 704.332.7525 Fuel Pizza – $ 4538 South Blvd. 704.523.9977
Fig Tree – $$$ Big Ben’s Pub – $$ 1501 Central Ave. 704.376.3835 Capital Grille – $$$
1601 E. 7th St. 704.332.3322 801 Providence Rd. 704.334.6338 Green’s Lunch – $ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.348.1400
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza – $ Cans Bar – $ 309 W. 4th St. 704.332.1786 Chima – $$$
1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 500 W. 5th St. 704.940.0200 Mr. K’s – $ 139 S. Tryon St. 980.225.5000
Intermezzo Pizzeria & Café – $ East Boulevard Grill – $ 2107 South Blvd. 704.375.4318 Flemings - $$$
1427 E. 10th St. 704.347.2626 1601 East Blvd. 704.332.2414 Papa John’s Pizza – $ 210 E. Trade St. 704.333.4266
Luce Ristorante & Bar – $$$ Ember Grille – $$$ 1620 E. 4th St 704.375.7272 LaVecchia’s – $$$
214 N. Tryon St. – Hearst Plaza 704.344.9222 601 S. College St. - Westin Hotel 704.335.2064 Pasta & Provisions – $ 225 E. 6th St. 704.370.6776
Mama Ricotta’s – $$ Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $ 1528 Providence Rd. 704.364.2622 Longhorn Steakhouse – $$
601 S. Kings Dr. 704.343.0148 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554 Pita Pit – $ 700 E. Morehead St. 704.332.2300
214 N. Tryon St. 704.333.5856

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 Dining and Nightlife Guide

PISCES
Morton’s – $$$ Dilworth Billiards
227 W.Trade St.- Carillon bldg. 704.333.2602 300 E. Tremont Ave. 704.333.3021
Outback Steakhouse – $$ Dixie’s Tavern

SUSHI
1412 East Blvd. 704.333.2602 301 E. 7th St. 704.374.1700
Ruth’s Chris – $$$ DoubleDoor Inn
222 S. Tryon St. 704.338.9444 218 E. Independence Blvd. 704.376.1446
Sullivan’s – $$$ Ed’s Tavern
1928 South Blvd. 704.335.8228 2200 Park Rd. 704.335.0033
Evening Muse
S U S H I 3227 N. Davidson St. 704.376.3737
Fox and Hound – $
Enso – $$ 330 N. Tryon St. 704.333.4113
210 E. Trade St. 704.716.3676 Hartigans Pub – $
Fujo Uptown Bistro – $$
301 S. College St 704.954.0087
601 S. Ceder St.
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza – $
704.347.1841 All Sushi Rolls
KO Sushi – $$ 1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 Under $10
230 S. Tryon St. 704.372.7757 Howl at the Moon – $
Nikko – $$ 210 E. Trade St. 704.936.4695
1300-F South Blvd. 704.370.0100 Jillian’s SouthEnd – $ Serving until 2am
Pisces – $$ 300 E. Bland Street 704.376.4386
1100 E. Metropolitan Ave. 704.334.0009 Loft 1523 – $$ (Thurs-Saturday)
Room 112 – $$
112 S. Tryon St. 704.335.7112
1523 Elizabeth Ave.
Madison’s – $$
704.333.5898 12-10pm
Ru-San’s Sushi – $$ 115 Fifth St. 704.299.0580 (Sunday)
2440 Park Rd. 704.374.0008 Morehead Tavern – $
300 East Morehead St. 704.334.2655
T A P A S Mortimers -$ Drink Specials
210 E. Trade St. 704.334.2655
Arpa Tapas – $$$ 704.372.7792 Phil’s Tavern – $ Nightly
121 W. Trade St. 105 E. Fifth St. 704.347.0035
Cosmos Cafe – $$ 704.372.3553 Picasso’s – $
300 N. College St. 214 N. Church St. 704.331.0133 1100 E Metropolitan Ave.
Pravda – $$ Suite 120
V E G E T A R I A N 300 N. College St. 704.375.8765
Charlotte NC 28204 704-334-0009
Presto Bar and Grill – $
Blynk – $ 445 W. Trade St. 704.334.7088 Free Parking www.piscessushi.com
200 S. Tryon 704.522.3750 Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $
Dish – $ 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554
1220 Thomas Ave. 704.344.0343 Selwyn Pub – $
Something Classic Café – $
715 Providence Rd. 704.347.3666
2801 Selwyn Ave.
Stool Pigeons – $
704.333.3443 Getting your mortgage from The Bank?
V I E T N A M E S E
214 N. Church St.
Suite – $
704.358.3788
Really?
210 E. Trade St. 704.999.7934
Pho An Hoa – $ The Attic – $
4832 Central Ave. 704.537.2595 200 N. Tryon St. 704.358.4244
The Corner Pub – $
B A R S 335 N. Graham St. 704.376.2720
The Forum – $$
Amos SouthEnd – $ 300 N. College St. 704.375.8765
1423 S. Tryon St. 704.377.6874 The Gin Mill – $
Apostrophe Lounge – $$ 1411 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0782
1400 S. Tryon St. 704.371.7079 The Penguin – $
BAR Charlotte – $ 1921 Commonwealth Ave. 704.375.6959
300 N. College St. 704.342.2557 The Pub – $
Big Ben’s Pub – $$ 710 West Trade St. 704.333.9818
801 Providence Rd. 704.334.6338 Thomas Street Tavern – $
Buckhead Saloon – $ 1218 Thomas St. 704.376.1622
201 E. 5th St. 704.370.0687 Tilt – $$
Cans Bar – $ 127 W. Trade St. 704.347.4870
500 W. 5th St. 704.940.0200 Town Tavern – $
Cedar Street Tavern – $ 200 N. Tryon
120 N. Cedar St. 704.333.3448 Tremont Music Hall – $
Connolly’s on 5th – $ 400 W Tremont Ave. 704.343.9494
115 E. 5th St. 704.358.9070 Tutto Mondo – $ Call Holt and do something better with your money.
Cosmos – $$ 1820 South Blvd. 704.332.8149
300 N. College St. 704.375.8765 Tyber Creek Pub – $
Coyote Ugly – $ 1933 South Blvd. 704.343.2727
521 N. College St. 704.347.6869 Vinnie’s Sardine – $
Crave the Dessert Bar – $ 1714 South Blvd. 704.332.0006 Holt Parham
501 W. 5th St.
Dilworth Bar & Grille
704.277.9993 Whiskey River – $
210 E. Trade St. 704.749.1097
704-464-2262
holt@uptownmortgagehq.com uptownmortgagehq.com
911 E. Morehead St. 704.377.3808 Wild Wings - $
210 E. Trade St. 704.716.9464 NMLS ID 69813 NMLS ID 40551

1447 S. Tryon St., Suite 301 at Bland St. LYNX Station

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August 10.indd 68 7/28/2010 2:22:26 PM