Independence Boulevard is a heavy traffic point during evening rush hour. | Photo via WCNC
You may be reading this preparing to hop in the car before facing the chaos of I-77 North heading into Uptown. How about Park Road en route to SouthPark at 5 p.m.?
It’s no secret. Charlotte has a lot of traffic. During peak morning and evening rush hour, the bumper-to-bumper gridlock can feel hard to escape.
In fact, the Queen City’s traffic congestion ranks among the highest in the country, according to new data from the 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard. The survey looked at three years of travel delay comparisons, costs of congestion to drivers, and commuting trends based on metro area traffic patterns to garner these rankings.
The end results found these striking numbers for Queen City commuters:
Charlotte ranked No. 20 for the highest traffic delay times by city in the US.
1 day and 17 hours lost in congestion
$734 cost of congestion per driver
What’s the busiest road in Charlotte? Let us know your travel tips.
Community Engagement Visioning Workshop| 6-7 p.m. | North County Regional Library, Huntersville | Free | Help shape the future of housing and development in Charlotte during a night of discussion with county leaders.
“Hamilton"-Themed Pre-Show Dinner Menu | 5 p.m. | The Asbury | $40 | Don’t throw away your shot at a perfect pre-show dinner before seeing the hit musical, “Hamilton.”
Friday, Jan. 10
Laser Show: Queen | 7-8 p.m. | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia | $10 | Experience the “Radio Gaga” of this state-of-the-art laser graphic show set to Queen’s biggest hits.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Hershey Bears | 7 p.m. | Bojangles Coliseum | $25+ | The Calder Cup is up for grabs when the Checkers look to attack the Bears on the ice.
The Dave Matthews Tribute Band | 7:30 p.m. | Amos’ Southend | $20+ | End the work week with an evening celebrating 30+ years of music from the iconic rock band.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Rocky Road Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | US Whitewater Center | $37+ | Embrace and cold and blaze the trails during this morning run.
Charlotte Symphony: Bach + Mozart | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater | $11+ | Acclaimed conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson will take the stage for a night of music by Stravinsky, Bach, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 25.
These businesses that have stood the test of time and stolen the hearts (and loyalty) of locals and visitors alike. | Photo provided by Experience Columbia SC
If you’re like us, you’re a sucker for a bit of nostalgia. The good news: Columbia, SC is full of vintage vibes. Next time you visit, don’t miss these three timeless spots that embody the city’s charm:
Nickelodeon Theatre: Catch an indie flick or cultural screening at this beloved Main Street landmark.
Villa Tronco: Savor authentic Italian dishes at South Carolina’s oldest restaurant, or what we like to call, a family-run treasure.
Art Bar: Experience eclectic nightlife with live music and vibrant decor in the Vista. Plus, it’s a great spot to get a late-night bites.
Charlotte could see its first snow storm in three years. A winter storm watch has been issued from Friday night to Saturday morning. A developing storm system may bring a mix of rain, snow, and sleet to the Carolinas. There’s a 60-80% chance for one to three inches of snow to accumulate around Charlotte by this weekend. (WCNC)
Travel
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is prepping snow teams and a fleet of nearly 40 snow removal and de-icing vehicles ahead of Friday’s storm. The airport will remain open + travelers are urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Community
Speaking of winter weather... Duke Energy activated emergency response protocols ahead of the storm. The energy company is positioning teams statewide to combat ice accumulation and prevent outages. (WCNC)
Opening
Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails is coming to Park Road Shopping Center. The California-based restaurant will take over the former Cantina 1511 site, serving up southern favorites like fried chicken, homemade meatloaf, and mac and cheese. Stay tuned for an opening date. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Coming Soon
A bookstore and cafe + another brick-and-mortar location of The Dumpling Lady are coming to downtown Huntersville. It’s part of a rezoning project, replacing two adjacent, abandoned homes on Gilead Road across from Huntersville Elementary School. A development timeline remains TBD. (Queen City News)
Job
Ally Financial confirmed hundreds of layoffs nationwide and in Charlotte to help “right-size” the company. No exact number was given but it will be “less than 5%” of its workforce. About 2,400 people work for Ally in Charlotte. (The Charlotte Observer)
Announced
Switchyards — the world’s first neighborhood work club — is donating 50 free memberships to individuals working for nonprofit organizations in the Charlotte area to help support local nonprofit work. Anyone interested needs to fill out this application by Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.
Outdoors
Lighten up. The South End portion of the Rail Trail will soon be illuminated with never-before-seen light installations. Nine art installations will line the Rail Trail from Atherton to the Bland Street. Light Rail Station. The free light display will run every night at sunset from February 7-23.
Watch
“Yeah I was a little nervous.” UNC head football coach Bill Belichick spent Tuesday touring Charlotte area high schools + recruiting players to come to Chapel Hill. Belichick visited Weddington, Providence Day, Hough, and Myers Park High School. Players and coaches spoke to Nick Carboni about meeting the Super Bowl-winning coach. (WCNC)
Sports
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is nominated for this week’s FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week after a strong season-end performance. Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Eat
Start 2025 with Thrive Market: organic groceries delivered right to your door. (They ban over 1,000 harmful ingredients.) Join here to get 30% off your order plus a free $60 gift.*
Health
Weight Loss by Hims & Hers offers a personalized, science-backed approach to weight management. Combining medication, expert support, and digital tools, the program helps individuals reach their weight loss goals. With personalized weight loss treatment plans, simple online access, and no hidden fees, it’s a flexible, affordable solution for lasting results. Learn more.*
Category
Eat
🥘 Hope in the kitchen
Hopeway announced a partnership with Chef Sam Diminich to provide fresh, nutritious meals to Hopeway’s clients. | Photo via Hopeway
Chef Sam Diminich’s culinary career comes with many stories. He won the Food Network competition show “Beating Bobby Flay” (hey, Bobby!) and opened Restaurant Constance in West Charlotte. Now, Diminich and Your Farms Your Table Restaurant Group is teaming up with HopeWay, a Charlotte-based mental health clinic, to share good will with a good meal.
A collaboration effort called The HopeWay Kitchen looks to provide seasonal, chef-driven, nutritious meals to HopeWay’s clients, guests, and staff.
“Food is integral to how we heal and connect, and it has quickly become apparent that the need for quality food in mental health facilities is high,” said Diminich.
The Your Farms Your Table (YFYT) team plans to manage HopeWay’s 9,000-sqft in-house kitchen, providing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at the center’s 20-acre campus. With emphasis on fresh, local ingredients from Charlotte-area farms, YFYT looks to serve more than 100 meals everyday while supporting clients’ diverse dietary and therapeutic needs.
The best two-piece sweatsuit for running errands, work-from-home days, or cozy weekends. We love the knit fabric and the roomy turtleneck design for extra comfort.
Charlotte traffic is certainly not for the faint of heart. Good luck getting anywhere quickly heading down Park Road south between 4:30 to 6 p.m. With that in mind, I’m looking for new podcast recommendations for my next road trip. Any recommendations, let me know.
Answered
Answered
What’s your favorite activity at a ski resort?
There are plenty of spots near Charlotte for skiing or snowboarding this winter.It turns out only 13% of you may be adrenaline chasers and shredding the slopes. For the 53% of you who have never skied or snowboarded, you can always join the 33% of voters who opted to sip hot chocolate indoors.
