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Big Pete will be ready for visitors by Saturday, Nov. 8. | Photo by CLTtoday
Grab your maps, explorers.Danish artist Thomas Dambo recently unveiled a new troll sculpture at the River District, as part of his largest North American installation. “Big Pete with the Big Feet” is expected to welcome visitors by Saturday, Nov. 8, and joins a sculpture in High Point and a family of five in Raleigh.
“Big Pete’s story is about how he has really big feet and loves the flowers around him, but he’s so cursed with big feet that he always steps on things he loves the most,” Dambo exclusively told CLTtoday. “He wonders if he should just stop walking and save all the flowers that he loves, or should he keep walking to help spread their seeds.”
Once complete, Big Pete will have a great view of the homes at The River District.
Photo by CLTtoday
Big Pete is perched at the main trailhead of The River District. Made from recycled wood found in Charlotte and around the Catawba River, the troll is nestled among the trees, and goes hand-in-hand with the upcoming district’s commitment to nature preservation and sustainability.
“Our airline partners, including American, will determine and communicate any schedule changes directly to customers.” Starting today, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expected to reduce flight operations by about 10% following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidance related to the ongoing government shutdown. Be sure to check your flight status and get acquainted with CLT before traveling. (WCNC)
Community
Nourish Up is calling for donations ahead of an emergency food drive tomorrow, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. The nonprofit is accepting canned meats, fruits, vegetables, cereal, and pasta + monetary donations. (WCNC)
Opening
Panko is opening soon in NoDa. Owner Luis Miguel is putting the finishing touches on the new Peruvian Nikkei restaurant, which will serve ceviche, grilled octopus, sushi, Brazilian churrasco, and Argentinian steaks. An exact opening date is TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)
Biz
The Queen City’s popular lifestyle publication, Charlotte Magazine, will print its final issue in the coming weeks. The magazine has covered life in Charlotte for nearly 60 years. (The Charlotte Ledger)
Sports
The Ally Tipoff will be held in Charlotte through 2028. The annual women’s college basketball showcase secured the South Carolina Gamecocks’ return to the Spectrum Center starting in 2026, against UNC Chapel Hill. (WCNC)
Announced
Don’t stop believin’. Journey will return to the Spectrum Center for the final time on May 20, 2026, as part of the group’s Final Frontier Tour. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
Listen
LaMelo Ball is back on the sidelines with an ankle injury. What does this mean for the team this season? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Job
Looking for a remote opportunity to lead and inspire a winning team? We’re hiring a Sales Director to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
Shop
If you’re a Costco shopper, you know about the $1.50 hot dog. But are you in on these other 10 lesser-known hacks all Costco shoppers should know about?*
Event Spotlight
Prepare to be dazzled for aerial performances.
Photo via City of Monroe
Strap in for an action-packed weekend just south of Charlotte. The 2025 Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show takes flight at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport tomorrow, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9.
Dozens of World War II-era planes will take to the sky to honor the men and women of the US Armed Forces — gates open at 9 a.m. and aerial entertainment starts around 12 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for current and former military members, $20 for civilian adults, and available online or at the gate.
The Buy
A MagSafe charging station with fast-charging technology. We love its foldable, travel-friendly design, allowing us to charge up to three devices at once from anywhere.
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.
I’ve been a fan of Thomas Dambo’s trolls for several years now. So after my interview, I was asked if I wanted to help drill a piece into Big Pete. How could I say no? A huge thank you goes to Dambo and the team at Luquire and The River District for making this a reality.
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