Find the perfect gift to express gratitude and love for the role models in your life. | Graphic by 6AM City
Shopping for a loved one? With Mother’s Day falling on Sunday, May 11, it’s a great time to give to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends. Browse the gifts we think will do the trick:
Custom initial jewelry dish | $16.99 | A sweet, delicate ceramic jewelry tray you can customize with their initial.
Local pick:Box of macarons | $30+ | Order a variety of 12 macarons from Amelie’s to satisfy the sweet tooth.
Weighted silk lavender eye pillow | $19.99 | A silk sleep mask and a cooling gel eye mask are included in this spa set named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.
Golf practice net | $99.99 | Golfers can perfect their swing before stepping out on the course with this golf net great for backyards, basements, or even the living room.
Barefoot Dreams lounge top | $99 | There may be no better gift than something luxuriously soft, cuddly, and cozy — this lounge top fits the bill.
Mom’s story book and Dad’s story book | $24.95 | Prompt them to write down memories, advice, and stories in these guided journals.
Neck + shoulders heating pad | $39.99 | This electric heat wrap helps with back pain, muscle aches, and de-stressing.
Local pick:Homemade cake | $46 | Your loved one may enjoy a sweet surprise from Marina’s Tapas, now offering full size basque cheesecakes for pre-order and pickup right at the stall.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey | $25 | You don’t have to worry about this lipstick flattering them — Black Honey is designed to look incredible (and different) on everyone.
SouthPark After 5 | 5-9 p.m. | Symphony Park | Cost of purchase | Bring lawn chairs and enjoy live music while dining from local food and beverage trucks.
In The Limelight Gala | 6-9 p.m. | The Casey by Beau Monde | $250 | Dress up for a glitzy evening celebrating local mental health heroes + listen to keynote speaker Bakari Sellers.
May Paint & Brew | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Primal Brewery Belmont | $30 | Flex your acrylic painting skills crafting a floral-themed masterpiece.
Friday, May 2
Taste of Fort Mill | 6:30-10:30 p.m. | Greenway Gateway at Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, SC | $90+ | Spend an elegant evening sampling Fort Mill’s finest restaurants to further support the greenway.
John Crist: Jokes for Humans | Friday, May 2-Saturday, May 3 | 7 p.m. | $42+ | Get ready for the deadpan jokes to fly when the viral comedian takes the stage.
Cody Johnson & Ashley McBryde | 7 p.m. | PNC Music Pavilion | $114+ | Saddle up for a roaring good time when the country artists perform.
Norfolk Tides at Charlotte Knights | 7:04 p.m. | Truist Field | $23+ | Unwind from the work week and spend Friday night at the ballpark + fireworks after the game.
Saturday, May 3
Mom & Me Class: Make a Cutting Board | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware | $99+ | Celebrate an early Mother’s Day by crafting a hardwood cutting board.
Derby Days 2025 | 3-7 p.m. | The Mint Museum Randolph | $45+ | A party packed with big hats, mint juleps, and horse racing — we’re in.
Spring Hat Paint Party | 6-7:30 p.m. | Indian Trail Town Hall, Indian Trail | $30+ | Join this paint party celebrating the beauty of the season.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA | 7 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium| $149+ | No need to stay “humble” seeing the rapper take the stage after his Super Bowl performance.
Former restaurant Zada Jane’s in Plaza Midwood is being transformed into Painted Rooster. Guests will be able to order fried and roasted chicken, plus “Mac’n’Cheez” and fried pickles in a cozy, high-energy space. An opening date will be announced soon.
Coming Soon
A new restaurant from the co-founders of Customshop and Rally — a pickleball social club — plans to open this summer in Lower South End. Guests can expect an inviting neighborhood-style restaurant, with a menu and opening date still TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)
Development
Ground has broken on Fort Mill’s upcoming Catawba Ridge Market. The shopping center at 1467 Fort Mill Pkwy. will be anchored by a Harris Teeter + additional shopping and dining options. The site is expected to be completed in early 2027. (Rock Hill Herald)
Active
Waverly Spring Wine Walk kicks off today. Celebrate spring with wine, shopping, exclusive specials, discounts, and swag. Tickets start at $20, with sales benefiting the Go Jen Go Foundation.
Listen
Need a lunch break reset? A free lunchtime music series called “Uptown Unplugged” is taking over Romare Bearden Park’s Formal Oval every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get ready for laid-back acoustic sets to high-energy throwback jams, running every week through June 4.
Try This
Take mom out to the ballgame. The Charlotte Knights are offering all moms a complimentary ticket to enjoy the 1:05 p.m. game against the Memphis Redbirds on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11. Families can enjoy themed stations with jewelry making, card making, and family photographs.
Cause
Ever considered joining Charlotte Coffee Club? Along with regular coffee meet ups, this organization offers volunteer outreach opportunities, like preparing sandwiches for Charlotte homeless shelters. Interested? The next meet-up is happening Saturday, May 10 at 9:15 a.m. at Resident Culture. (WCNC)
Legacy
Earlier this week, UNC Charlotte honored the memories of students Reed Parleer and Riley Howell by placing wreaths outside the Kennedy Building. The students died in an on-campus shooting in 2019. In a post, the university shared that their memories continue to “inspire strength, unity and resilience.”
Sports
We’re getting a Panthers roster post-draft analysis with The Charlotte Observer’s Alex Zietlow. Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Wellness
Struggling to shed pounds?Simple is a science-backed app that helps users lose weight with habit trackers, fasting schedules, and personal coaching. Join millions who’ve already lost weight without medication, sustainably. Take the quiz to start your journey and get 50% off.*
Stat
$5,000. That’s how much you may have to drop if your dog or cat tears their ACL — a surprisingly common knee injury in pets. To the rescue: pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that cost could be reimbursed.*
Number
540,000+. That’s how many customers choose this hearing aid when it comes time to make that decision for their loved ones. See why.*
Biz
Did you miss the chance to feature your business’s product or service in today’s feature of the 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide? Don’t worry — you can still secure your spot in time for Father’s Day. Bonus: Use code PGG2025 for 20% at checkout.
Finance
Last chance to invest in the “Uber of mobile phones.”Mode Mobile grew 32,481% from 2019-2022, and just secured their Nasdaq ticker with plans for a potential IPO. The opportunity to invest at $0.26/share closes today.†*
Category
Cause
🏔️ Ain’t no mountain high enough
Molly Belk went up and down Tanzania’s second-highest peak in 11 hours and 4 minutes. | Photo via Anna Stallman Communications
Charlotte native Molly Belk recently made the history books by setting the women’s world record for the fastest known time climbing up and down Mt. Meru — the second-highest peak in the East African country of Tanzania.
Most hikers spend three to four days reaching the 14,980-ft. summit and descending. It took Belk 11 hours and four minutes.
Belk made the hike in support of The Foundation For Tomorrow (TFTT), a Charlotte-based nonprofit empowering students in Tanzania through education and emotional support.
Belk was no stranger to adventure and the outdoors — having spent plenty of time farming, camping, and ultra running. So, she welcomed the challenge, laced up and climbed Mt. Meru, though, altitude proved to be a challenge.
“I left a lot of room for improvement for anybody who wants to go take that record from me,” said Belk.
Swim trunks with pockets. These quick-drying swimsuit trunks have a hidden pocket built into an anti-chafe compression liner — perfect for keeping phones, keys, and cash safe on beach days.
Thank you to Molly Belk for speaking to me about her record-breaking climb. Her story reminded me of my personal experience seeing the highest peak in Tanzania — Mount Kilimanjaro — when I visited East Africa.
Fun fact: It’s rare to see the summit without a cloud in the sky. That’s why I’m so lucky to have captured this photo.
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