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🦉 Time to go peep
Spotting owls is a real hoot at Latta Nature Preserve. | Photo via Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Charge your phones and grab your binoculars, Charlotte. The annual Great Backyard Bird Counttakes flight on Friday, Feb. 13, and runs through Monday, Feb. 16. The community event invites nature lovers and bird enthusiasts from around the world to go outside, watch, count, and celebrate birds.
Anyone can participate — all you have to do is go outside and observe for as little as 15 minutes. Count all of the birds you see or hear using one of the following tools:
The information will help experts study bird habitats, migration patterns, and global bird populations.
Don’t know where to start? Check out this list of common birds in our area + start in your backyard or any of these parks around the Queen City. Bonus: Once you submit the photo for the count, consider sending it our way.
Bucket list moments you can only experience in Jackson County
Presented by Discover Jackson, NC
Reach the peak of your 2026 in the mountains of Jackson County. | Photos provided by Discover Jackson
A new year calls for meaningful adventures, and 2026 is the perfect time to explore Jackson County in Western North Carolina.
Known for its waterfalls, scenic hikes, and peaceful mountain trails, the area invites visitors to slow down and reconnect with nature.
From mindful forest therapy experiences — including the country’s first fully accessible forest therapy trail in Sylva — to iconic hikes leading to Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, Jackson County offers unforgettable, bucket-list moments rooted in wellness and wonder.
The I-485 Express Lanes in South Charlotte will span between I-77 and US 74.
Photo via WCNC
Traffic
NCDOT will open the I-485 Express Lanes on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6 a.m. The express lanes span 17 miles from I-77 to US 74. Future lane closures are possible as lighting and signage installation, roadway work, and toll technology installation will continue after the lanes open. (WCNC)
Open
Half Shell, a seafood and oyster bar, is now open in South End. The restaurant serves ceviche, lobster rolls, crab legs, steak, and oysters, with lunch launching on Friday, Feb. 13.
Announced
Mahjong mania in Charlotte: The Queen’s Mahjery, a studio focused on the tile-matching game, is expected to open this summer in Oakhurst Commons. Want to perfect your skills? Find a game around town. (Axios Charlotte)
Coming Soon
But wait, there’s more. The Naked Farmer will open on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the former Maple Street Biscuit Company space in South End. The farm-to-table restaurant will offer a seasonal menu, focusing on locally-sourced ingredients. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Mailbag
I asked, and you delivered. So many CLTtoday subscribers sent in photos from last weekend’s snowfall, so we made a gallery to showcase the wintry wonderland. Thank you, Charlotte.
Sports
It’s official. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s fall races will be on the 1.5-mile oval track, not the 17-turn road course. The Roval was used from 2018 to 2025. (WCNC)
Scouting America’s Mecklenburg County Council is Scouting for Food to support Nourish Up. If you receive a door tag, simply leave a bag or box of non-perishable food outside by 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 for Scout pickup, or drop off at one of these collection sites.*
Read
AI won’t take over the world — people who know how to use AI will. That’s why 1M+ pros working at Google, Meta, and OpenAI read Superhuman AI. Join now and learn AI skills, tools, and news in just three minutes a day. Subscribe for free.*
Asked
Asked
It’s not too late — share your snow day snaps with us.
Have you heard of Mr. B? The Mooresville-based special needs educator is going viral after his wife posted a video of him, which was meant for his students. In the video, he explained how the weather caused a schedule change and encouraged his students to play in the snow — at least until school schedules returned to normal.
It’s almost time for the perfect holiday to tell your friends how you feel: Galentine’s Day. Treat the bestie in your life to a February 13 gift that says, I’m grateful for you.
There’s a trend on social media right now where you can ask ChatGPT to make a caricature of what it knows about you so far. With a laptop, Kindle (I think), notepad, and a mug of coffee in hand, I think it seemed about right. With the entire city of Charlotte serving as my office, the skyline makes a fitting backdrop, even featuring a few of the city’s most recognizable buildings.
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