Ring in 2025 like royalty in the Queen City. | Photo by Nan Palmero via Wikimedia Commons
Happy (almost) New Year, Charlotte. We’re so excited to kick off 2025 with you + for all of the possibilities the new year holds.
This year, a song by a local musician you’ve never heard might become your new favorite, a restaurant might open right down the street, and that new business you’ve been watching come together for months could finally open to the public.
As we prepare for a promising new year, we want to know what you want to read about each morning.
Are you trying to find out if your favorite festival is returning this year, or wondering about an upcoming development in town? Do you want to know where to get the best bowl of ramen? Is there a piece of Charlotte history you’ve always wanted to know about? What news gets you excited about opening our newsletter each morning?
Asked
Asked
To celebrate 2025, we thought we’d answer 25 of your questions. What do you want to know?
Share your questions and stay tuned as we uncover what you’re curious about.
A Very Merry Uptown Market | 4:30 p.m. | The Market at 7th Street | Cost of purchase | Shop local and WNC vendors + sip $5 wine flights while meeting Santa and The Grinch.
Novels & Needles Meet-Up | 6-7 p.m. | That’s Novel Books | Free | Meet local yarn crafters while discussing your latest read.
Thursday, Dec. 19
Open Air Live | 5-5:30 p.m. | Camp North End | Free | East Coast Entertainment is opening its doors for a free, monthly concert series.
Thirsty Terrarium Thursday Workshop | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | PlantHouse - Charlotte| $26 | Choose your favorite plants to fill a one-of-a-kind terrarium for your home.
Cirque de Noël | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theatre | $27+ | Listen to holiday classics performed by the Charlotte Symphony as aerialists soar above.
Sister Act | 7 p.m. | Booth Playhouse | $18+ | Based on the 1992 blockbuster, sing and laugh as “Sister Mary Clarence” stars as a nun while hiding out from mobsters.
Charlotte’s rezoning committee recently discussed a redevelopment plan for housing and commercial space at Providence Square. If approved by the County Board of Commissioners, the project will bring new homes, retail space, and other upgrades near Providence Road and Sardis Lane. Consideration is set for Jan. 22, 2025. (WCNC)
Announced
“I Believe” you’re in for a good time. After selling out during its 2023 shows in the Queen City, The Book of Mormon is returning for a limited engagement Aug. 12–17 at Ovens Auditorium. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m.
Coming Soon
Dutch Bros Coffee may soon open its first coffee shop in the Carolinas and the Queen City. The West Coast chain submitted a plan for property at 5637 Albemarle Rd. in east Charlotte. A timeline is TBA — we’ll keep you updated. (The Charlotte Observer)
Civic
Mecklenburg County wants your input on community development funding. The Five-Year Consolidated Planning process will help the county decide where federal funds can go to create better housing + increase economic opportunities. Mark your calendars for workshops on Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, 2025.
Community
Pre-leasing is going on now for Northwood’s new luxury residential tower, Oro Ballantyne. The 26-story apartment building boasts 356 units + walking distance to the shops within The Bowl at Ballantyne. Move-ins are anticipated to start in early 2025.
Feel Good
An anonymous “Secret Santa” handed out $100 to many strangers in Avery County. The man went house-to-house, giving $100,000-worth of $100 bills to people and businesses that sustained major damage from Helene. (WBTV)
Legacy
Charlotte-native and former SC congressman John Spratt has died. Spratt represented South Carolina’s fifth congressional district from 1983 to 2011. He was 82. Flags will be lowered to half-staff on the day of his funeral, which is TBA. (WCNC)
Sports
The Tar Heels are looking to serve the Florida Gators their first loss of the season during tonight’s Jumpman Invitational. The two-night college basketball showcase tips off at the Spectrum Center. Tickets are still available.
Listen
Speaking of the Tar Heels... there’s a major focus on the team’s elite guards. How will that work against UF during the Jumpman Invitational? Go beyond the hardwood for the biggest stories on the North Carolina Tar Heelswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Try This
We recently spent an oh-so-rejuvenating afternoon at Woodhouse Spa SouthPark, Charlotte’s everyday luxury spa. Here are the highlights (hint: glowing skin and full-body relaxation).*
Going the EV route could save you more than just gas money. Many auto insurance companies now offer up to 10% off EV and hybrid vehicle premiums, rewarding your eco-friendly choice with additional savings. View Money’s Best Car Insurance list to find coverage tailored to your ride (and wallet).*
Category
Family
⚾️ Train like the pros
Players Athletic Club boasts state-of-the-art technology, retractable batting cages, and moveable pitching mounds. | Photo by CLTtoday
A home run for east Charlotte.Players Athletic Club, a new state-of-the-art indoor training facility, is open and welcoming athletes of all levels to sharpen their skills year-round.
The Players Athletic Club (PAC) provides baseball, softball, and lacrosse training facilities near South Park and Myers Park — neighborhoods where families often commute across the Queen City for similar amenities. The goal? Make parents’ lives easier.
“A lot of these parents have two or three kids. Each of them has their own activities and they’re spread out around Charlotte and it gets to be too far to drive and so time consuming,” explained Blair Henson, Director of Operations at the Players Athletic Club.
The facility at 3525 Latrobe Dr. features wall-to-wall turf, seven retractable batting cages, interchangeable nets, Hack Attack Pitching Machines, and cutting-edge technology like Hittrax.
Along with technology, PAC offers private lessons, group lessons, batting cage rentals, strength training, and off-season conditioning with expert coaches.
Have you tried the Carolina Gold Rice Casserole at Supperland yet? I highly recommend making a reservation and getting a bite + trying the Yule Log, complete with adorable mushroom-shaped meringues. Your taste buds will thank you.
Answered
Answered
Predict how much snow (overall) you think Charlotte will see this year.
There’s s(no)w doubt about it, Charlotte has had its fair share of snow over the years but, as we approach a new year, we wanted to see how much snow you think we’ll get. We saw a tie, 29% responded no snow or five inches, 43% said one inch of snow.
