Consider celebrating Taco Tuesday every day at any of Tacos 4 Life’s four Charlotte locations. | Photo by CLTtoday
Some days, your lunch break can be the most exciting time of the workday. And if you’re looking for a tasty, local lunch spot that doesn’t break the bank, we’re here for you. Check out this list of 30+ places where lunch for one costs $15 or less.
Uptown
The French Quarter
This tavern located in Brevard Court offers $12 lunch specials every weekday + sandwiches under $15.
Mert’s Heart and Soul
For under $15, get your soul food fix with a Southern fried chicken plate.
Seating at the bar of The People’s Market features plenty of outlets to stay charged up.
The People’s Market
This hub boasts a vibrant neighborhood vibe while offering coffee and bites, like a classic chicken sandwich, plus a drink for ~$13.
Sunflower Baking Company
After ordering a Southern BLT for $9.25, that leaves an extra few dollars for a fresh pastry or brownie for dessert.
Charlotte Knights Women in Sports Night Networking Event | 4-6 p.m. | Truist Field | $55 | Meet executives from sports and entertainment organizations from across the region before watching the Knights take on the Memphis Redbirds.
Creatives & Cocktails | 6-8 p.m. | Little Diversified Architectural Consulting | Free+ | Sip cocktails and mingle with creatives over board games.
Friday, Aug. 15
Brain Health Workshop Information Session | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | The Ivey Brain Health & Memory Wellness Center | Free | Get the details on The Ivey’s upcoming eight-week course to build brain-healthy routines.
Candlelight: ‘90s Hip-Hop on Strings | 4:45-6 p.m. | The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing | $42+ | You’ll find a new appreciation for ‘90s hip hop after hearing “Gangsters Paradise” on strings.
Eras After Dark: Taylor Swift Night | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | Blinder’s Sports Lounge | Free+ | Dress up, sing along, and live your best Swiftie life during this themed party — “Ready For It?”
Saturday, Aug. 16
Cannon Ballers Shooting Star 5K | 9 a.m. | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis | $18+ | Run or jog your way past the ballpark before ending with a lap around the bases and home plate.
Front Paige Media Book Fair | 12-5 p.m. | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | Free+ | Build your personal library with new faves from local booksellers + meet local authors.
Charlotte Pride Festival | 12-11 p.m. | First Ward Park | Free+ | Shop from local vendors, dance to live music, marvel at performers, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community before the parade on Sunday.
Johnnie-O, a lifestyle brand known for its “West Coast prep” aesthetic, opens tomorrow, Aug. 15, at The Village at SouthPark (across from Cowfish). This store boasts a selection of polos, pullovers, and performance gear.
Coming Soon
Hungry for more? Bossy Beulah’s will expand its menu once it opens at the Park Road Shopping Center on Monday, Aug. 25. The restaurant, known for its crispy chicken sandwiches and fries, is adding a burger option. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Announced
Dozo Japanese American Kitchen is moving from City Kitch in Wesley Heights to Dilworth, taking over the former Fern, Flavors from the Garden. The popular eatery will expand its menu, and seating capacity, once it opens in October. An exact date remains TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)
Closing
Belmont’s Kaya Gastrolounge is closing its doors this Sunday, Aug. 17. The eatery, offering African, Caribbean, and French-inspired tapas, opened in March. A reason was not given for the closure.
Edu
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools launched a new “Top 10 Things To Know” guide for parents to prep for the first day of school. The guide covers enrollment, transportation, cell phone policies, and more. CMS classes begin Monday, Aug. 25 — get prepared. (WCNC)
Sports
Charlotte FC is keeping season ticket prices between an average of $31 to $149 per match, with club seats starting at $70. This marks the first time in club history that all season ticket holders will avoid a price hike. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Transit
NC By Train recorded a 4% increase in ridership during the first half of 2025 — including routes between Charlotte and Raleigh. The state-supported passenger rail service carried more than 355,000 people from January through June 2025, compared to ~342,000 during the same period in 2024. (WCNC)
Eat
Charlotte’s Burger Week starts tomorrow, Aug. 15, and Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar wants the crown. The burger chain introduced the Queen City Crunch Burger, in hopes of topping last year’s third-place win. The annual competition runs through Sunday, Aug. 24.
Civic
Mecklenburg County proclaimed Tuesday, Aug. 25, as Women’s Equality Day. To celebrate the day and the 105th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, a free celebration is planned for Saturday, Aug. 16 at Camp North End, featuring local vocalist Ruby Edwards, spoken word artist Michelle Wright, and more.
Listen
The Hornets released their full preseason schedule. Go beyond the court for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Stat
Are Gen Z cereal killers? Sales of the boxed breakfast have fallen by 13% in the US compared to 2021 — a decline attributed to changing preferences in young Americans. But who can blame them when they have local brunch options like this? (New York Post)
Trending
“Hot Girl Summer” ruled in 2019. “Brat” summer took over in 2024. Now, this summer has been dubbed “brain rot summer” — a season with no viral anthem, no clear vibe, and scattered cultural chatter. If that makes you want to unplug entirely, touch grass at a local park. (Business Insider)
Beauty
Restore thinning hair with Happy Head’s dermatologist-developed, customizable treatment plans. See how good customer results are + take 45% off your first six Rx orders with code 6AM.*
The US Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team won 1-0 against Colombia in its second of three training camp matches in South America, with Charlotte-native, 16-year-old forward Ryan Wlodyka, making his debut on the field.
Wlodyka shared his excitement on this post, and dreams of playing on the US Paralympic soccer team.
For jam-packed days, these five on-the-go essentials keep us sane:
👜 This stylish + functional crossbody boasts multiple pockets and a soft leather feel for under $35.
💦 We stash these deodorizing body wipes in our car + purse because you never know when you’ll need a quick refresh.
👟 When rushing out the door, these slip-on canvas sneakers are our go-to kicks.
🌬️ This styling cream + wand stays in our purse to quickly tame frizz and flyaways that pop up on humid days.
🪫 We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once.
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.
Which of the following are the most commonly spotted birds in the Charlotte area?
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation’s Hummingbird Festival is underway, with workshops and hikes across the Queen City. And when it came to testing knowledge, 54% of readers knew Northern cardinals, blue jays, Carolina wrens, and American robins were all commonly spotted around the Queen City.
Speaking of soccer... Carolina Ascent FC is warming up for its second season on the pitch. I spoke with Head Coach Philip Poole and Forward Mia Corben about what we can expect this season. Look for that story tomorrow.
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