ICYMI — Whataburger is now open in Gastonia, marking the first Charlotte-area location for the Texas-based burger chain + it’s one of several new eateries hitting the Queen City’s food scene this month.
Bookmark this list to stay ahead of the culinary curve.
May openings
Leluia Hall | Surf and turf
The highly-anticipated restaurant features a raw bar, wine cellar, and cocktail bar. Take a look at CLTtoday’s taste of the restaurant.
Soma Bistro | Indian Fusion
Get your fill of curry, biryani, samosas, dosa, and Indo-Chinese fusion bowls.
Prepare to order plain, salt, poppy, or sesame with crave-worthy schmear.
Photo by Jen Goldberg
Coming soon
Mooyah Burgers, Fries, and Shakes | Burgers | Projected opening: June 23
Prepare to savor made-to-order Angus beef burgers, hand-cut fries, and handcrafted ice cream.
PopUp Bagels | Bagels | Projected opening: Summer 2025
The viral, top-ranked New York-style bagel restaurant plans to serve its signature bagels and cream cheeses.
University City Food Truck Friday | 5-9 p.m. | Armored Cow Brewing Co. | Cost of purchase | Enjoy live music and dining from a variety of local food trucks.
Glencairn Garden Evening Entertainment | 6-7:30 p.m. | Glencairn Garden, Rock Hill, SC | Free | Be surrounded by blooming flowers while live music plays nearby.
Movie Night | 7-10 p.m. | Rea Farms | Free | Bring a lawn chair and grab food while watching “Freaky Friday” under the night sky.
Saturday, May 31
Auditions for the Carolina Renaissance Festival | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy, Huntersville | Free | Step out of your comfort zone and audition to be a dancer, magician, or royalty for the annual gathering.
Metallica | 6 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | $116+ | “Nothing Else Matters” except for this show from the legendary rock band.
NoDa 5K | 6 p.m. | NoDa Brewing Company | $50+ | Lace up those running shoes for an evening 5K through NoDa.
Charlotte Independence vs. Lexington SC | 7 p.m. | American Legion Memorial Stadium | $13+ | Cheer on the Jacks as they look to restart a winning streak at home.
Sunday, June 1
Yoga on the Rooftop | 12:30 p.m. | Harvey B. Gantt Center | $13 | Stretch through a sequence of poses before exploring the museum’s collection.
Explore Charlotte’s History | 5:30 p.m. | The Duke Mansion | Free | Hear author Phil Johnston discuss his new book about Charles C. Coddington + a wine reception with members of the Coddington family.
🎵 Rock out this summer at “the Red Rocks of the Blue Ridge”
Presented by Blue Ridge Music Center
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Blue Ridge Music Center hosts performances amidst the picturesque Appalachain Mountains. | Photos courtesy Mike Duncan (1, 2, 4, 5), Two Rivers (3)
If live music, Blue Ridge views, and cool mountain air sound like your ideal summer night, let us introduce you to this hidden-gem music venue: The Blue Ridge Music Center.
Nestled at the foot of Fisher Peak just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this outdoor music venue is rich with Appalachian heritage + beauty, and home to the sounds of the region every May-October.
The Music Center’s Summer Saturday Concert Series brings some of your favorite artists to the mountains, with past acts including Grammy winners like Sierra Ferrell, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Doc Watson. Check out this year’s lineup + grab tickets.
Pro tip— stay the weekend to discover everything that makes the Music Center worth the road trip:
Craving burgers or a milkshake? Popular food truck Surefire Market is opening a market and eatery at Camp North End this summer. Diners can expect indoor and outdoor seating in an elevated, cozy atmosphere. An exact opening date is TBA.
Coming Soon
Prepare to groove at Groovers, a new “listening bar” by the owners of Trio and Blue Door. Guests can expect live music, vinyl DJ sets, and an extensive cocktail menu — similar to the location in Charleston (hey, CHStoday). Construction and opening dates are TBA.
Try This
Savor three days of delicious Armenian pastries, kabobs, and family-friendly entertainment at this free Armenian Food Festival. Need more events for your calendar? Bookmark this guide for some of the biggest festivals in the Queen City.
Weather
The Charlotte area will see heavy rain, gusty winds, and the possibility of large hail today as thunderstorms are expected between 2 and 8 p.m. Stay weather aware with WCNC’s Weather Impact team. (WCNC)
Transit
The Metropolitan Transit Commission approved an updated transit system plan for Mecklenburg County. The new plan means improvements for the Better Bus program, microtransit, and 43 more miles of rail services. (WCNC)
Civic
Gaston County leaders approved a $424-million budget that keeps property taxes flat, addresses aging buildings, and will send $500,000 to Gaston County Schools to enhance local teacher salary supplements. The new budget will take effect July 1. (WCNC)
History
The Franks House in Third Ward will receive a historic marker on Saturday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m. The home, purchased by Arthur and Bessie Franks in 1949, was one of the few Black-owned homes in the area at that time. The marker will be unveiled at the United House of Prayer on South Mint Street.
Plan Ahead
The Ivey, Charlotte’s brain health and memory wellness center, is hosting an author talk and book signing with local author Judy Goldman. She’ll discuss her latest book, “The Rest of Our Lives,” with Jenny Yopp, The Ivey’s Director of Strategic Initiatives at The Ivey. Tickets are $25 for the event on Monday, June 2.
Arts
A new immersive exhibition is coming to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. “Collection, Reframed: We Are Here, Beyond Vision” features installations that turn the museum into a living, breathing work of art. The exhibition opens July 2 and runs through Sept. 22. (WCNC)
Watch
Have you seen bats fly in Charlotte? WCNC’s Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich shared this image, showing the bats migrating across Charlotte. Woah.
Announced
The USC Trojans and the NC State Wolfpack will headline the 2025 Ally Tipoff at the Spectrum Center on Nov. 9. Tickets are not yet available, but presale registration is open. Fun fact: Last year’s event drew 15,424 fans to Uptown.
Sports
The Charlotte Checkers are still in the running for the Calder Cup. The team returns to Bojangles Coliseum Sunday, June 1 for Game 3 to face Laval in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tickets are on sale starting at $32.
Listen
Speaking of hockey... the Canes have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but not without a fight. Go beyond the ice for the biggest stories on the Carolina Hurricaneswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
The $608 million Terminal Lobby Expansion is the largest renovation project in airport history — part of the $4 billion Destination CLT capital investment program. Before reaching that finish line, let’s take a look at the upgrades sure to catch your eye.
Pedestrian walkways
Two pedestrian bridges opened in July 2024, connecting a new mezzanine of the airport terminal to the hourly parking deck + a new 146,000-sqft canopy.
Three bus lanes were also added to carry travelers to and from the parking lots.
Baggage claim
CLT is installing two more baggage carousels + expanding and renovating the basement area.
What’s your favorite amenity at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
A. Plane-watching from the overlook B. Exploring the nearby Sullenberger Aviation Museum C. Relaxing in the airport rocking chairs D. Grabbing a bite in the food court E. Other
A great find in Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale. Get up to 60% off dresses, shoes, tees, and beauty before the sale ends this weekend. Here’s what we’re eyeing:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
We’re less than halfway through 2025 and have welcomed about 50 new restaurants and dining spots across the Queen City. I can’t wait to see how many open by the end of the year. Let me know which one has been your favorite so far + which restaurant you’re excited to open.
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