Donāt be fooled by the size, a padel racquet is light. | Photo by CLTtoday
Move over, pickleball. Charlotteās sports scene is getting a fresh spin ā Epic Padel, a Virginia-based company, is partnering with Prosperity Athletic Club to open its new, flagship destination on Monday, Sept. 8, along Browne Road in North Charlotte. Epic will boast state-of-the-art courts, coaching, leagues, and open play for beginners and pros.
Whatās padel? Think of it as a cross between tennis and squash ā a smaller tennis court enclosed with glass surfaces which are also part of the game.
āIāve fallen in love with paddle because I see the energy with it,ā Epic Padelās COO Tim Bainton told CLTtoday. āI like the fact that the courtās a little smaller and the ballās not traveling as fast, and itās accessible as you get older.ā
Picture yourself playing padel, tennis, pickleball, or working out inside the upgraded gym.
Photos by CLTtoday
The 260,000-sqft facility has:
Five padel courts with AI cameras to track your play
Book Signing | 1 p.m. | Billy Graham Library | Free | Join Ken Isaacs, Samaritanās Purse Vice President of Programs & Government Relations, as he signs copies of his book filled with front-line stories from his 35 years with the organization.
2025 Taste of the Panthers | 6:30 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | $121+ | Mix and mingle with Panthers legends while savoring mouthwatering food ā proceeds benefit Panthers charities.
āAustenās Prideā | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theatre | $34+ | Watch Jane Austenās most famous love story come to life on stage.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Coffee Connection | 8:30-10 a.m. | Symphony Park, Huntersville | Free | Network over coffee with members of the Lake Norman Chamber and the community.
Forest Bathing | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont | $65+ | Take a three-hour guided wander in nature to connect with your senses and surroundings.
SouthPark After 5 | 5-9 p.m. | Symphony Park | Free | Kick off the first concert of the fall series with live music and family-friendly fun, like face painting.
Crossroads Cinema | 8 p.m. | Ford Green | Free | Camp North End will be seeing spots when āThe Cheetah Girlsā plays on the big screen.
How OrthoCarolina Research Institute is rethinking surgical pain management
Presented by OrthoCarolina
Tune into monthly live webinars about innovative research from OrthoCarolina | Photo provided by OrthoCarolina
Sometimes the biggest medical breakthroughs arenāt new tools or drugs, but results from challenging the status quo.
OrthoCarolina Research Institute is an independent nonprofit that moves orthopedics forward by doing just that ā to help patients like you.
Dr. Brian Curtain from the OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center is researching alternatives to opioids for post-surgery pain management.
OCRI patients now have the option to opt into opioid-free care to avoid the risks associated with this common, but highly addictive, approach to pain management.
Craving something sweet? The Scoop N Scootery is now open along Thrift Road in Wesley Heights. The ice cream shop serves 75+ sundaes, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, and cookies.āØPlus, they deliver until 2 a.m.
Coming Soon
Mooresvilleās Merino Mill will soon be home to a new Italian restaurant. Owner Michal Bay is opening Florence Wine & Beer Garden on Monday, Sept. 22, offering wines from Italy, France, and Spain + homemade pastas, chicken, beef, and fish. (The Charlotte Observer)
Listen
Charlotteans Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele launched āShaping Charlotte,ā a podcast to discuss the Queen Cityās future ā from transit and urban design to growth, community, and more. Hear episode one now.
Development
Talks have stalled between Mecklenburg County and The Peebles Corporation over the $700 million Brooklyn Village redevelopment, after asbestos was discovered in the former Board of Education building. Demolition is on hold, and the project could be headed to arbitration. (WCNC)
Edu
Barber-Scotia College reopened its campus, welcoming 117 students for the first time in almost 10 years. The Concord HBCU lost accreditation in 2004. President Chris Rey is working to settle the schoolās debt, gain reaccreditation, and revitalize the college. (Queen City News)
Cause
Get ready to chow down for a cause. Patās Place is hosting its annual BBQ and Blue Jeans fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 6. Tickets are $125, with proceeds supporting care for children and families impacted by abuse.
Community
Mecklenburg County spends more than a million dollars a year transferring non-recyclable items from recycling centers to the landfill. To help save some change, the Solid Waste and Recycling Department is giving away stickers to help you remember whatās recyclable. Get yours at any full-service recycling center.
Plan Ahead
Tuesday, Sept. 9, marks counter-'s fifth anniversary, and theyāre celebrating in style. Snag a reservation for an exclusive showcase of wine and dinner. Did we mention they purchased 10kg of caviar for the occasion?
Active
Have you heard of chair yoga? The mind-body practice, which swaps a mat for a chair, has risen in popularity thanks to its easily accessible and inclusive nature. Try a few poses at home, or roll out your mat at one of Charlotteās yoga studios.
Sports
Peaceful Sundays were fun while they lasted, but now itās time for the NFL to return this Thursday, Sept. 4. The Carolina Panthers get their campaign underway on Sunday, Sept. 7 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Catch the games on Hulu.
Listen
Will people sleep on the Panthers this season? Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked Onās daily, team-focused podcasts.
Arts
LEGOās newest ideas set was designed by Portland, OR teenager Alex Sahli, depicting daily life in Italyās coastal villages. This is our official pitch to have a model built after Charlotte Motor Speedway ā or really, any of our iconic landmarks.
Category
Sports
šļø Calling all CLT fans
Out of 100, our score could stand to improve. | Screenshot via ESPN
Speaking of the Panthers... using ESPNās Sports Misery Index, an AI-driven system that rates how good, or how bad, you have it as a sports fan, we tested what itās like to be an average CLT fan by plugging in the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and Charlotte FC.
āThings are looking pretty grim. Iād offer to buy you a cold beverage, but Iām just a robot in your computer,ā said the MiseryBot.
Fair. Itās been rough as a Panthers fan these past few years, as the team hasnāt made the playoffs since 2017 ā the second-longest drought of any team in the NFL. Last season, the Panthers went 5-12, and during the recent preseason, they were winless. Weāll see what happens on Sunday, Sept. 4.
If you love other teams, plug them into the system and let us know your score, especiallyif you beat ours.
Itās finally September ā that means itās basically fall, right? Treat yourself in honor of a brand new autumn season with top-rated decor thatās all $30 or less.
The fun doesnāt 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 park should house Charlotteās new troll sculpture?
Thereās a lot of excitement regarding Charlotteās soon-to-be largest resident, the troll sculpture by artist Thomas Dambo ā 41% want to see it grace Freedom Park, 34% prefer McDowell Nature Preserve, 12% chose Lake Norman State Park, and 7% would like the troll to live at Big Rock Nature Preserve.
One reader wrote in āmy house.ā Honestly, I want my own, too.
Did you know this fighter jet at the Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook flew during the Cold War, Vietnam, and Operation Desert Storm? It took 10 weeks for the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II to be restored, and it now greets visitors daily. Check it out for free.
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