07.04.2024

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🌭 Hot dogs and July 4 = two peas in a pod

Hot diggity dog: Where to get a hot dog in Charlotte

Two hot dogs with stacked toppings and sauce on a silver tray.

The Good Wurst specializes in scratch-made sausages and smoked meats + serves hot dogs and other items from to-go windows at the locations in South End and Plaza Midwood. | Photo via The Good Wurst Company

The Fourth of July makes me want a hot dog real bad. From neighborhood grill outs to baseball game brats, summer is hot dog season.

We asked for your favorites and rounded up local spots to grab a dog. We’ll be frank, we know Charlotte has other hot dog spots. If you’re favorite didn’t make our list, let us know.

The Good Wurst Company, multiple locations:

The Good Wurst specializes in scratch-made sausages, smoked meats, and Montreal style bagels with locations in South End and Plaza Midwood.
Open daily

Editor’s note: Check out a hot dog eating contest on Saturday, July 6 at Pilot Brewing.

Brooks’ Sandwich House, 2710 N. Brevard St., Charlotte

This family-run staple in NoDa serves stacked hot dogs and burgers.
Closed through Friday, July 5 for the holiday.

Pro tip: Brooks’ is a cash-only restaurant. There is an ATM on site.

Pinky’s Westside Grill, multiple locations:

Pinky’s opened in Wesley Heights in 2010 and was featured twice on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Open daily

A hot dog with mustard, coleslaw, and chili with a busy restaurant in the background. — A fan favorite at JJ’s Red Hots is The Char Heel with a side of tater tots.
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Photo by CLTtoday

JJ’s Red Hot, 1514 East Blvd., Charlotte

JJ’s has been serving hot dogs for 10 years in Charlotte. They take pride in their house-made chili, coleslaw, and toasted potato buns.
Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, July 4-Saturday, July 7.

Pro tip: Try the Char Heel dog. It features house-made chili, slaw, diced onions, and yellow mustard.

Crave, multiple locations:

Expect an extensive menu featuring a loaded potato or Memphis dogs at the restaurants in Charlotte and Concord + a self-pour beer wall.
Open daily

Hot dogs, get ya hot dogs here

Asked

How many hot dogs do Americans eat on July 4?

A. 30 million
B. 85 million
C. 100 million
D. 150 million

Take a bite

Events

Thursday, July 4

Fourth of July Celebration | Thursday, July 4 | 9 a.m.-10 p.m. | US National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte | $12 | Jam to live music + take a thrilling pass at whitewater rafting and ziplining.
Firing of the Cannons | Thursday, July 4 | 10-11 a.m. | Downtown Fort Mill, 214 Main St., Fort Mill | Free | Cannons will ring in this 52nd annual patriotic display.
Charlotte Knights vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | Thursday, July 4 | 6:35 p.m. | Truist Field, 324 S. Mint St., Charlotte | $22+ | Root for the home team and stay for the largest fireworks show in the Southeast after the game.

Friday, July 5

Carolina Eucalyptus Festival | Friday, July 5 | 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Carolina Lavender Farm, 188 Meek Rd., Gastonia | $20 | Wander through fragrant eucalyptus fields to pick your own bundle.
Mint Hill Cruise In | Friday, July 5 | 5-9 p.m. | Mint Hill Festival Shopping Center, 6908 Matthews Mint Hill Rd., Mint Hill | Free | Marvel at classic hot rods lining the streets in this monthly spectacle.
Jazz at The Bechtler | Friday, July 5 | 6 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $20-$25 | Singer, songwriter, and actress Maria Howell will bring contemporary hits and jazz to the museum stage.

Saturday, July 6

Summer Sculpt Saturdays | Saturday, July 6 | 9-10 a.m. | McAlpine Creek Dog Park, 8617 Monroe Rd., Charlotte | $10 | Spend the morning stretching while surrounded by nature.
Merica Deck Party & Bar Pong Tournament | Saturday, July 6 | 1-3:30 p.m. | Angry Ale’s, 1600 Montford Dr., Charlotte | Cost of purchase | Compete for gift cards in this event celebrating Independence Day.
Southern Soul Sunshine Festival | Saturday, July 6 | 3-9 p.m. | Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Rd., Huntersville | $30+ | Enjoy soulful music, food, and more while supporting breast cancer awareness.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Community

City and county offices, banks, and post offices are closed today for the federal holiday. Grocery stores like Walmart, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter may be open but with limited hours. (WCNC)

Cause

Samaritan’s Purse sent 24 tons of supplies to the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. The storm made landfall in Grenada as a Category 4. The Charlotte-based organization will distribute supplies over the next several days. (WBTV)

Coming Soon

Toastique, an artisan toast and juice spot, will open in South End on Thursday, July 20. On opening day, visitors have the chance for a $50 reward. The South End restaurant will be the chain’s first in North Carolina. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Eat

Get hungry. Viva Chicken brought back its fan-favorite item: the Verde Chicken. The item is only available for the summer menu. The chicken is available as a taco, wrap, or as a catered item.

Environment

Creating a healthy community. Mecklenburg County Air Quality, Sustain Charlotte, and Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) are teaming up to create the Clean Air Games. The games hope to reduce the number of single-occupancy rides. Prizes include an electric scooter, tickets to a Charlotte FC game, and more.

Sports

Mark your calendar. UNC Hockey will play an outdoor game in Charlotte in January. The Tar Heels will face off against Virginia Tech at Truist Field on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Listen

2023 was a tough season for the Panthers but Derrick Brown had his best to date. Find out what set him apart on the Carolina Panthers’ roster with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Learn

Charlotte for $100

15 facts you didn’t know about the Queen City

Spectrum Center and the Charlotte skyline lit up at night.

Spectrum Center hosted the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. | Photo by Nan Palmero via Wikimedia Commons

Here’s something pretty nifty about the Queen City that you may not know: Charlotte’s original name was “Charlotte Town,” named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, consort of King George III.

Did you know Charlotte is the site of the first documented discovery of gold in the US? In 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed found a 17-pound rock that turned out to be gold, marking the beginning of the North Carolina Gold Rush.

But that’s not all. Charlotte was home to the first Family Dollar, which opened in November 1959. Now, the store has thousands of locations in 48 states and is a subsidiary of the Dollar Tree.

Did these three facts blow your mind? Let us know.

12 more facts

The Buy

The Buy 7.04.24 (Affiliate)

Reusable grocery cooler bags. If you’ve been rocking the same tired grocery bags for a while now (guilty), investing in some sturdy, insulated bags makes transporting groceries comfortable and more convenient.

Answered

This week, we asked “What year was the Fourth of July declared a national holiday?”

Red, white, and blue fireworks exploding in Uptown, surrounded by tall buildings. — The WBT SkyShow provides a spectacle of pyrotechnics in the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
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Photo by Jon Helm via Flickr

On this Independence Day, we wanted to test your knowledge on our country’s history.

While independence was declared from Great Britain in 1776, July 4 wasn’t declared a federal holiday until nearly 100 years later — June 28, 1870.

Celebrations did occur before Congress officially declared the holiday. If you’re making plans for today, be sure to check out a number of events taking place around the Queen City today.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Maria

From the editor

City Editor Jack and I wish you all a safe and happy Fourth of July. Whether you’re grilling at home or heading out to see fireworks, we hope you create wonderful memories. Don’t forget the sunblock!

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