April 24, 2024

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Today’s Weather

75º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:39 a.m. | Sunset 8:04 p.m.
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☕️ New cafe, fresh coffee, big passion

Eight members of the Cakeable staff wearing coral and teal shirts, smiling behind the counter for a photo.

The Cakeable Cafe team were all smiles on opening day. | Photo by CLTtoday

With a heartfelt celebration, ribbon cutting, and slicing of cake, Uptown’s newest cafe is officially open and serving treats with a big mission.

Why ‘Cakeable’? The word literally autocorrects to capable — something the staff and team are proving.

Cakeable is a nonprofit workforce development program. Adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities are hired and provided help to achieve their potential through an inclusive work environment.

The cafe employs 25 people. Four to six month paid internships offer vocational training and career development while cultivating confidence in the workforce. After graduation, Cakeable helps locate career opportunities with partners like Compass Group.

Cakeable staff members taking a woman's order while people wait in the background. — You’ll find messages of inspiration and belonging on the interior of the cafe.
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Photo by CLTtoday

“Cakeable Cafe creates an opportunity for our team to develop new skills such as customer service and sales transactions to better prepare them for other jobs and roles across the city,” said Renee Ratcliffe, Cakeable co-founder.

The cafe at 401 N. Tryon St. is beautifully decorated and features indoor + outdoor seating. You can order your favorite latte, hot coffee, tea + sweet treats. Editor’s note: there are labels outside the pastry case displaying who proudly baked the daily goodies.

You can also support the team’s artists, who have candles and other handmade items on sale along with comfortable apparel.

A shelving unit with sweatshirts hanging, tumblers and shirts rolled up on top with the words "we create opportunities" hanging above the unit. — Cakeable Cafe also has a variety of sweatshirts, shirts, hats, and tumblers ready to be purchased.
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Photo by CLTtoday

“We are thrilled to open Cakeable Cafe in Uptown in hopes it will not only be a gathering place and go-to coffee shop for Charlotteans, but even more so that it will give life to a community and inspire businesses to consider the benefits of disability inclusive employment,” said co-founder John Ratcliffe.

Cakeable Cafe is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Pro tip: There is a parking garage at 401 N. Tryon St. Bring your parking ticket inside to be validated up to two hours.

Asked

What’s your go-to order at a coffee shop?

A. Black coffee — give me the juice
B. Latte — I like it strong + milky
C. Cappuccino — the foam is delicious
D. Mocha — add some chocolate in there
E. Other

Espresso yourself

Events

Wednesday, April 24

Jazz on the Plaza: Emanuel Wynter | Wednesday, April 24 | 12 p.m. | Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Free | Enjoy your lunch while listening to the live music during the midtown bustle.
Wine Down Wednesday Meditation | Wednesday, April 24 | 6-7 p.m. | Treehouse Vineyards, 301 Bay St., Monroe | $20 | Reduce your tension + enjoy a glass of wine in this mid-week guided meditation session.
Brews to Remember | Wednesday, April 24 | 6-9 p.m. | HopFly Brewing, 1327 S. Mint St., Charlotte | $50 | Enjoy dinner + drinks while browsing silent auction items to support Alzheimer’s Disease research and care.

Thursday, April 25

Volunthursday - River Cleanup | Thursday, April 25 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Iswa Nature Preserve, 9909 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte | Free | Spend the morning outdoors while keeping our waterways clean.
Kayaking Clinic: Beginner 1 | Thursday, April 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Lake Haigler Entrance, 2573 Lake Haigler Dr., Fort Mill | $34 | Learn the gear and techniques for kayaking before hitting the water.
Derek Hough - Symphony Of Dance | Thursday, April 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte | $39-$149 | Award-winning dancer Derek Hough brings high-energy choreography leading fans through a journey of music and dance.
Matteo Bocelli | Thursday, April 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $34.50 | With a similar voice to his father, renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, Matteo will perform original songs in the Queen City.

Friday, April 26

BOOM Festival | Friday, April 26 | 12-10 p.m. | Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd., Charlotte | Free | Immerse yourself in this three-day energetic and diverse arts showcase in Camp North End.
Spring Plants Sale at Urban District Market | Friday, April 26 | 3-7 p.m. | Urban District Market, 2315 N. Davidson St., Charlotte | Cost of purchase | Get your garden growing with tutorials + new vegetables and flowers ready for your care.
Indigo Girls Live at Davidson College | Friday, April 26 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Davidson College, 200 Baker Dr., Davidson | $50 | Be “Closer to Fine” watching the Indigo Girls perform songs off their newest album.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Community

Get social. Pineville launched its first social district. People can now drink alcohol in certain areas while in public. Participating establishments will have colored stickers on their windows. The district comes months after Plaza Midwood launched its social district. (WCNC)

Traffic

Rock Hill’s exit 81 on I-77 is expected to open at the end of this month. The exit was designed to serve the Panthers headquarters project before being scrapped. The new exit will serve as a new route between Eden Terrace and Dave Lyle Boulevard. (The Rock Hill Herald)

Announced

Who’s hungry? North Italia will open a location at Birkdale Village in Huntersville. The modern Italian restaurant replaces Fox & Hound which closed in March. North Italia is expected to open later this year. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Concert

PNC Pavilion will feel the thunder. Imagine Dragons is bringing their Loom World Tour to Charlotte on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26.

Civic

A former 1920s church converted to apartments is now a historic landmark. Charlotte City Council unanimously approved the designation for The Church on Parkwood this week. The church erected in Villa Heights is tied to the suburbanization of that neighborhood. (The Charlotte Observer)

Ranked

A Gastonia charter school remains No. 1 on US News & World Report’s list of best public high schools for 2024 in the Charlotte area. Highland School of Technology claimed the top spot in 2023. Providence High School ranked No. 2 and Ardrey Kell High School took the No. 3 spot.

Health

There’s a new multicultural tobacco-free coalition in Mecklenburg County. The group is working to raise awareness, educate communities, and explore policy changes to create a more healthy community. (WCNC)

Travel

We’re going to Miami. Starting Friday, July 5, Frontier Airlines is offering non-stop flights to Miami. The service will be available three times a week. Tickets start at $29. (WSOC)

Sports

The Canes have a 2-0 lead in Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs. Can they hold that lead against the Islanders? Follow the Carolina Hurricanes with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Plan Ahead

📚 Turn the page for Indie Bookstore Day

fiction shelves at downtown books and news

Secondhand doesn’t mean second best when it comes to books. | Photo by AVLtoday

This Saturday, April 27 is Independent Bookstore Day, and these Charlotte booksellers are ready to celebrate:

Book Buyers, 3040 Eastway Dr., Charlotte
Enjoy a comfortable reading nook, stocked shelves, soothing background music, and an eco-friendly mini-shop with snacks and apparel. Pro tip: the owner, Lee, posts trivia questions on Instagram every Friday.

Julia’s Cafe & Books, 1133 N. Wendover Rd., Charlotte
Peruse the books with a coffee and pastry + sales benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St., Davidson
Main Street Books has resided in an old general store on, you guessed it, Main Street for 40+ years. The longstanding shop has a comfortable sitting area and polished wood floors.

Editor’s note: most of these stores are also taking part in the Greater Charlotte Book Crawl. The event ends Tuesday, April 30.

Two more stores

Answered

Monday, we asked “What experience would you like to see added to the Spectrum Center?” and here’s what you said:

Survey says many of you would like screens in the seats in front of you.

57% — screens in the seat backs
28% — comfort gardens
7% — water-powered retractable seats

A write-in response also called for more veggie-based and healthy food options. We think that would be nice, too.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Maria

From the editor

I consider myself a bookaholic and had lived by Book Buyers for at least two years before ever stopping in. Now, I can’t wait to finish the book I’m currently reading to go get another one. The owner is very knowledgeable about what’s in stock. What should I pick up next? Let me know.

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