The StrEATs cook-offs pit local chefs against each otherto be crowned StrEATs Neighborhood Champion. | Photo by CLTtoday
Ready your appetite. The annual Charlotte StrEATs Festival announced its return to the Queen City during this year’s Charlotte SHOUT!. The festival celebrates Charlotte’s culinary landscape, local chefs, businesses, and flavors.
The appetizer
StrEATs Uncorked is happening Friday, April 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Johnson & Wales University. This second annual event brings some of North Carolina’s finest wines and cuisines to Uptown.
Pro tip: Early bird tickets are $55 before prices increase March 1.
Imagine sipping cocktails al fresco during the VIP Tasting Tour.
Photo via Ryan Allen
The main course
The StrEATs Tasting Tour kicks off Saturday, April 12 from 12 to 3 p.m. at Gateway Village. This unique festival brings locally-owned restaurants from across the city. Some of our favorite chefs will hold cooking demonstrations, craft cocktails, and allow you to sample cuisines. Tickets tend to sell out for the 21+ event.
On Sunday, April 13, the free StrEATs Festival will take over Gateway Village, providing guests a chance to shop and sample from some of the Queen City’s top chefs, vendors, and food trucks.
Mid-Day Reset Yoga | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Founders Dairy Barn at Dairy Barn Entrance, Fort Mill, SC | $14 | Take a midday break by stretching your mind and body in this guided class.
TantrumCon | Thursday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Jan. 26 | 12 p.m.-2 a.m. | Le Meridien Charlotte | $40+ | Spend time playing your favorite board game with new friends.
Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons | 6:45-8 p.m. | The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing | $33+ | The energy is “Radioactive” as the iconic bands’ top songs are played on strings.
Randy Travis: More Life Tour | 7:30 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium | $54+ | Experience “More Life” as the country music star brings his tour to the Queen City.
Friday, Jan. 24
Greater Charlotte Home + Landscape Show | 12-7 p.m. | Cabarrus Convention Center, Concord | $9 | Attend this convention to get the best inspo for your next home remodel.
Find candidates who want to work right here, right now. | Gif by 6AM City
56%. That’s the percentage of full-time employees in the US who want a new job in 2025. Of this, 27% have already started searching. What’s more, the first part of the year sees the largest uptick in job postings + submitted job applications online.
If you’re hiring this year, don’t let your job posting get lost on over-saturated job sites. We created 6AM City Job Board to help you cut through the noise and find top local talent. Share your opportunity with the most connected locals, CLTtoday readers.
The Charlotte region is facing near-freezing highs through the end of the week. Today will be the coldest day of the week, with single-digit wind chills. Don’t worry, temperatures are expected to slowly climb this weekend. (WCNC)
Coming soon
Paper Skyscraper is expanding to Lake Norman. The eclectic gift shop is opening its third location at 610 Jetton St. in Davidson in February. An exact date is TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)
Closing
Time is running out to visit Sake Express in Belmont. The restaurant is set to close at 675 Park St. on Friday, Jan. 24. The Japanese restaurant has operated for 14 years and the owners are looking for a new location. Chase Bank plans to open a branch in the space. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Closed
Wolfman Pizza, a Cotswold staple for more than 30 years, is closed. The lease for the specialty pizza shop was not renewed by the property management company. Craving a slice? Their location at Quail Corners on Park Road remains open. (The Charlotte Observer)
Concert
Not one, but three big names will perform at PNC Pavillion this year. Jason Aldean, Billy Idol, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts take the stage this summer. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 24 for the Billy Idol tour + Friday, Jan. 31 for Jason Aldean.
Job
At least 250 people are wanted to staff the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. The PGA of America is accepting applications through Feb. 11 for bartenders, painters, operations, and construction. The championship is scheduled for May 12-18. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Tech
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are taking to the skies. CMPD launched a new program — Drones as First Responders. The drones are expected to be first to scenes, gathering information, before officers arrive. The goal is to reduce times + improve community safety. (Queen City News)
Travel
Travelers, prepare for landing. The North End Around Taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is officially open for aircraft traffic. The $253 million project minimizes aircraft crossings on runways 18C-36C, provides additional space for arriving flights, and streamlining traffic flow.
Cause
More than $262,000 was raised for cancer research through the sale of a home in New Sherrills Ford + a golf tournament in support of Pelotonia. In 2024, M/I Homes raised more than $3 million for Pelotonia in Charlotte and 14 other cities across the country. (The Mecklenburg Times)
Sports
The 2024-2025 season marked the beginning of Dan Morgan’s era as GM. How did the 2024 NFL Draft Class do on the field? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Financial grace periods are few and far between these days. Oil checks, doctor appointments, Tax Day — time speeds by between them. But these credit cards allow you nearly two years to pay them off (with zero interest), allowing you flexibility in 2025.*
Category
Coming Soon
🐎 Giddy up
Nickyo’s Rodeo will boast an indoor stage, plenty of dancing space, and an outdoor courtyard. | Photo via The Plaid Penguin
For longtime Charlotteans, the name may sound familiar. For new residents, the news is just as exciting. Nickyo’s Rodeo, a beloved restaurant and bar once located in Eastover, is opening this spring in South End.
Valerie Brewer and Britton McCorkle, the partners behind Bottle Cap Group, spent many nights at Nickyo’s. The business ran from 1985-1994, serving as both a business hub and a place to let loose and sing karaoke.
“The original Nickyo’s was really an amazing place, and not just for its time,” says McCorkle.
The new location at 120 W. Bland St. will boast an indoor stage for karaoke and live music, a DJ booth, an expansive courtyard to feature an additional bar, an area for live music, and food trucks.
Saddle up, an exact opening date is TBA. Be sure to follow us on social media to plan your next rodeo.
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During last year’s StrEATs Festival, City Editor Jack and I savored every bite we sampled! Also, I was fortunate to meet Chef Aarón Sánchez and watch him cook on stage. As a fan of MasterChef and Food Network, I was a little starstruck.
