Tennis stars Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys gave the first serve at a refurbished tennis court in west Charlotte. | Photo by CLTtoday
Tennis fans no longer have to travel to London, Sydney, or New York City to witness elite play.
Today, Charlotte joins an impressive club of destinations as the Spectrum Center hosts the Charlotte Invitational. The Queen City’s one-night-only pro-tennis tournament aims to be a grand slam event, featuring some of the sport’s biggest names: Carlos Alcaraz (the No. 3 ranked player in the world), vs. Frances Tiafoe + Madison Keys vs. Sloane Stephens.
Before taking the court, Keys and Stephens joined the Charlotte Sports Foundation and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation to unveil a newly refurbished tennis court at L.C. Coleman Park to further spread the love of the game.
Jingle Bowl at Ballantyne | 5-8 p.m. | The Bowl at Ballantyne | Free | Enjoy an evening taking selfies with Santa + a hot cocoa bar, live DJ, and characters from Disney’s “Frozen.”
Holiday Jazz at the Bechtler| 6-7:30 p.m. + 8:15-9:45 p.m. |Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | $25+ | Take your seats for a festive jazz concert featuring renowned trumpeter, Justin Ray.
Cody Fry Christmas: A Holiday Pops Special | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theatre | $28+ | The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter leads a night of festive holiday music with the Charlotte Symphony.
Krueger Reindeer Romp 5K | 8 a.m. | Harris YMCA | $40 | Run in your best holiday costume to win prizes + proceeds benefit the YMCA’s annual campaign to support local families.
Season of Second Chances Adoption Event | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control | Cost of purchase | Find a furry friend + collect an limited edition t-shirt designed by the 704 Shop to benefit the shelter.
3rd Annual Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30-10 p.m. | Ballantyne’s Backyard | $15+ | Marvel at a dazzling wonderland with over a million holiday lights + live entertainment and tube slides.
ACC Football Championship Game | 8 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | $41+ | Join the party in Uptown to see Clemson battle SMU for the trophy.
Sunday, Dec. 8
Merry Midwood Market and Tree Lighting | 2-7 p.m. | 1600 Central Ave. | Free | Spend an afternoon shopping local vendors, decorating ornaments, and meeting Santa before the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.
Christmas with the Petersens | 7 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | $40+ | Be serenaded in holiday-themed Gospel music performed by this Ozarks-based band.
Visit Jackson County, NC from January through March for the perfect post-holiday getaway. | Photos provided by Discover Jackson, NC + Nick Breedlove
We get it — holiday travel can be hectic. If you’re planning a winter getaway, here’s a tip: Jackson County, NC’s “Secret Season” runs from January through March.
During this time, enjoy fewer crowds and shorter (or no) wait times at the most popular restaurants. Plus, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts offer some of their best deals of the year.
You can smell the crisp mountain air, soak in wide-open views, and explore peaceful hikes. It’s like having the mountains all to yourself.
Mecklenburg County approved a proposed $19 million incentives plan for a real estate project in south Charlotte. The 113-acre site, located at the former Providence Square shopping center, will feature a $500 million project that aims to bring 2,237 apartments and townhomes + a grocery store, retail and office space. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Eat
Got lunch plans? Marina’s Tapas food stall opens today at Optimist Hall. The destination for traditional Spanish tapas will host a grand opening at 11 a.m. Check out CLTtoday’s visit that may make you hungry.
Opening
Salt & Souls is hosting a grand opening event this Sunday, Dec. 8 from 12 to 4 p.m. The salt cave spa promises free aura readings, membership specials, a tour of the salt caves, snacks, and sound bath sessions. See for yourself how relaxing it can be.
Closing
The American Girl store in SouthPark Mall will close Feb. 17, 2025. The 12,000-sqft store selling classic children’s dolls is the only American Girl location left in the Carolinas. American Girl’s website posted a message reading, “Thank you, Charlotte. We’re going to miss you.” (The Charlotte Observer)
Festival
The Uptown Holiday Market is back this weekend. Guests can shop 24 Charlotte vendors lining the streets outside Levine Avenue of the Art selling apparel, crafted ornaments, and holiday treats from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. + a bonus hour on Saturday until 7 p.m. (WCNC)
Community
Gastonia plans to install 22 brand new security cameras across the city. The cameras are funded by grants and will operate 24/7 with video and photo capabilities. Gastonia Police credit cameras with helping solve 55 cases in the city last year. (WBTV)
Sports
Carolina Panthers’ wide receiver Adam Thielen was chosen as a nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Thursday, Feb. 6, leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Listen
Speaking of the Panthers... Can the team put an end to the Philadelphia Eagles winning streak? Go beyond the locker room for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
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Category
Eat
🧺 An Optimist(ic) view
Optimist Hall offers ample indoor and outdoor dining and hangout space. | Photo by CLTtoday
Feeling hungry? Fortunately, we know a food destination found only in Charlotte promising something for everyone’s tastes.
Step inside Optimist Hall at 1115 N. Brevard St. in Charlotte’s Optimist Park neighborhood where you’ll find a vibrant hub packed with 20+ food stalls, three dine-in restaurants, a craft cocktail lounge, and brewery.
“My favorite thing when I walk in is to see a variety of food,” said property manager Bernie Smith. “Everybody’s sitting together and somebody’s got a hamburger, somebody’s got Dumpling Lady. It’s all over the map. I love it. That’s exactly what [the designers] envisioned.”
Optimist Hall officially opened in August 2019, with dozens of popular food options under one roof + new tenants like Marina’s Tapas recently joining the party.
The AirFly Pro — it’s a nifty gadget that will wirelessly transmit audio from in-flight entertainment to Bluetooth headphones so you can ditch those pesky wired earbuds.
Queen City, you’re about to get served. Stay tuned for more coverage this weekend on the Charlotte Invitational + keep an eye on our Instagram because we’ll be chatting with the athletes ahead of tonight’s matches.
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