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🪖 Making history by writing history

Charlotte writer reflects on “Band of Brothers” legacy
Writer Erik Jendresen looks at the camera with his arms crossed with trees in the background.
Author, playwright, and screenwriter Erik Jendresen served as lead writer and supervising producer for the HBO miniseries, “Band of Brothers.” | Photo by CLTtoday
On a rainy spring afternoon outside Charlotte, screenwriter Erik Jendresen reflected on a remarkable story.

“History inspires me a lot. True stories are some of my favorite things to write.”

With today, June 6, being the 80th remembrance of D-Day, the Charlotte-based writer sat down with City Editor Jack to share his experience co-writing one of the greatest television series of all time — HBO’s “Band of Brothers.” The series follows the mission of US paratroopers — Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne — who fought in the European Theatre and witnessed some of the war’s most critical chapters.

“This was not just a responsibility. This whole story and this opportunity we all had was an incredible gift and it very quickly became about serving the true story of these men.”

Learning the veterans’ stories was crucial and no one played a more vital role in Jendresen’s research than the leader of Easy Company himself — Major Richard Winters. “When I came home, I told my wife I met the most balanced man I’d ever met,” said Jendresen about his first meeting with Winters.

A promotional poster for the HBO series, "Band of Brothers."

“Band of Brothers” debuted on HBO on September 9, 2001 to 10 million viewers. The series would win the Emmy and Golden Globe for “Best Miniseries.”

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Photo via HBO

“Band of Brothers” premiered on HBO in September 2001. The series won six Primetime Emmy awards, including “Best Miniseries.” More than two decades later, “Band of Brothers” is regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time.

“I’m just so grateful I had a hand in part of this. It’s not often a piece of writing or a production of a film has that kind of cultural impact.”

Eighty years since Easy Company parachuted into Normandy on D-Day — as seen in “Band of Brothers” — the world reflects on the heroism demonstrated that day in American history. “It’s a number but it’s a big number,” said Jendresen. “Eighty years is a big number.”

“Band of Brothers” is streaming now on Netflix and Max.
The legacy continues
 
Events
Thursday, June 6
  • Name The Music Trivia | Thursday, June 6 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Rhino Market, 1414 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Free | Identify songs for your chance to win prizes at this all-decades music game.
  • Jen Fulwiler | Thursday, June 6 | 7 p.m. | The Comedy Zone, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte | $27-$37 | The comedian, author, radio host, and mom of six takes the stage.
  • 21 Savage | Thursday, June 6 | 7 p.m. | PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd., Charlotte | $50+ | The rap star performs “A Lot” of his hit music.
Friday, June 7
  • Drake vs. Kendrick Kickboxing | Friday, June 7 | 9:15 a.m. + 12:15 p.m. | Gritbox, 2151 Hawkins St., Ste. #140, Charlotte | $30 | Get ready for “Push Ups” — you’ll be in “Euphoria” after this upper body-focused class set to the tunes of two rap titans.
  • Jazz Night in the Park | Friday, June 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Walter Y. Elisha Park, 345 N. White St., Fort Mill | Free | Head outside for a night of jazz and food trucks — Gena Chambers opens the show followed by Patrick Lamb.
  • Brothers Osborne | Friday, June 7 | 8 p.m. | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte | $42+ | The siblings + country singers bring the “Might As Well Be Us Tour” with guest Caylee Hammack.
Saturday, June 8
  • Willy Wonka and the Dance Factory | Saturday, June 8 | 3 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $25 | This multimedia show lets Willy Wonka take you through his world via dance.
  • The Comic Strip | Saturday, June 8 | 6-8 p.m. | Superstarz, 935 S. Summit Ave., Charlotte | $20-$40 | Listen to a live comedian as you sip drinks and paint a new masterpiece.
Events calendar here
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Matching ‘fits for Father’s Day (plus 30% off)
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Match your mini-me this Father’s Day. | Photos provided by Harlestons
Parents, is there anything cuter than matching your mini?

Harlestons is now offering matching polos and swimwear for dads and sons to share the same swag — just in time for Father’s Day. (Nope, it’s not too late to order his gift.)

Bonus: All swim — men and youth — is 30% off.

Shop the sets. What better way to celebrate than twinning?
(T)win Father's Day
News Notes
Civic
  • The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners adopted a $2.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025. This is a 5.9% increase compared to the prior year. The county has prioritized areas including health access, housing insecurity, and education attainment.
Transit
  • What do you think would help the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization move in the right direction? The agency is collecting feedback on its 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan that will be used to inform long-term initiatives and goals. The survey is open through Wednesday, July 3.
Development
  • A park honoring former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr. is on track for a mid-2025 opening. The $7 million space will occupy one-third of an acre in Uptown at Trade + Tryon streets. The park aims to open on June 18, 2025 — McColl’s 90th birthday. (Charlotte Business Journal)
State
  • North Carolina is rolling out the SUN Bucks program this summer, an initiative to help students access nutritional food while school is out. Students receiving free or reduced price lunches automatically qualify for the one-time $120 benefit. Other students may also be eligible for the state funding.
Biz
  • Italian company FNA America Inc. has purchased a 102,000-sqft, $10 million industrial building at 419 York Southern Rd. in Fort Mill. The air compressor manufacturer plans to use the space to expand its operations into the Charlotte area, but a timeline for operations is TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Announced
  • The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will offer extended hours on Saturdays at 16 DMVs, including two offices in Charlotte. These locations will be open 8 a.m.-12 p.m. starting Saturday, June 8 through Saturday, Aug. 24; appointments are not required. (WCNC)
Real Estate
  • Welcome home, LaMelo Ball. The Hornets star purchased a $2.47 million, 3,300-sqft Uptown condo that was previously owned by Cam Newton. The unit is inside the luxury Trust Condos building, where Michael Jordan once resided. (WCNC)
Ranked
  • Charlotte is becoming more popular with people looking to relocate. According to 2024 data from moving company PODS, the Queen City ranked No. 5 on its list of US cities with the most move-ins. That’s 11 places higher than last year.
Drink Up
  • Own a local beverage business? Offer a drink deal to our readers during Drink Up Week from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. Whether it’s BOGO smoothies or 20% off wine bottles, drop your deal into this form by Friday, June 28 and let’s get this party poppin’.
Sports
  • Take a look at the Hurricanes’ potential targets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Hurricanes with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Home
    • See your dream kitchen come to life with Lowe’s. From Saturday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 12, head to Lowe’s of Central Charlotte for complimentary kitchen design sessions. Experience immersive 3D visualization with Apple Vision Pro, explore real-world materials, and share your perfect design instantly. Book a design appointment.*
    Number
    • 27,000: That’s the number of trees that are cut down each day to make toilet paper. This luxury three-ply bamboo toilet paper is changing that. It feels just like regular high-end TP, but doesn’t harm trees. Use code 6AM30 for 30% off through midnight. Learn more + shop.*
    Home
    • Did you know you can bring all your debt under one roof by borrowing from your home to pay off high-interest loans, bills, and credit cards? Calculate your payment.*
     
    Traffic

    🚗 Your ETA in Charlotte

    What does Charlotte’s average commute look like?
    Charlotte exit 74 highway sign.
    The average Charlotte commuter spends 48.2 minutes daily looking at signs like this. | Photo via Canva
    If you’re like the majority of American workers, you start your day by starting your engines. A recent study by LLC took a look at the American commute in 2022 and determined the average US worker spends 51.2 minutes per day (or 215.6 hours annually) in transit.

    How does Charlotte’s commute compare to the rest of the US? It turns out the Queen City is below the national average, ranking No. 85 out of the 170 most-populated cities in the US. Here’s how long the average Charlottean spent commuting:
    • 48.2 minutes per day, round trip (24.1 minutes in each direction)
    • 196.82 hours per year, the equivalent to 8.2 days
    It also appears commuters in Charlotte are spending slightly less time in traffic than they did in 2012. Since that year, the average daily commute has decreased by 0.6 minutes (or 1.2%).
    The Buy
    Six & Main is turning 2. Celebrate with us and enjoy 25% off sitewide. Use code BIRTHDAY25.
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    The Wrap
     
    Michael Beausoleil

    Today’s edition by:
    Michael
    From the editor
    I’m a national content editor, so expect to see me hopping into the newsletter every so often. I grew up in the Boston area, but I’ve always felt a special connection to the Charlotte Hornets. For some reason, my mom bought me a Hornets T-shirt when I was younger, and I’m still buzzing about it to this day.
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