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Plan Ahead
🗓️ Celebrate Black History Month
The River of Life mural along Beatties Ford Road honors Black history makers from the Beatties Ford Road corridor. | Photo by CLTtoday
February is Black History Month, and there are still ways to commemorate the occasion across the Queen City.
Southern Accents: A Sign of the Times | Thursday, Feb. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | VAPA Center | $35+ | Enjoy this live, musical performance by acclaimed ensemble A Sign of the Times.
African American Heritage Festival 2026 | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Charlotte Museum of History | Free+ | In honor of the 250 anniversary of the United States, the museum will examine how African American service members shaped the nation.
Opera Carolina Presents: Lift Every Voice | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 8-10 p.m. | The Carolina Theatre | $71+ | Lift Every Voice honors the legacy and contributions of African American artists and composers to the world of opera and classical music.
A taste of romance: Culinary escapes in Jackson County
Presented by Discover Jackson, NC
Quiet trails, cozy towns, chef-driven dining, and just enough winter magic to make a getaway feel extra special. | Photos provided by Discover Jackson, NC
During Secret Season, Jackson County offers couples a peaceful escape filled with cozy small towns, frosty mornings, and quiet trails like Pinnacle Park and Whitewater Falls.
Savor intimate meals at chef-driven spots such as White Moon, Lulu’s On Main, Buck’s Coffee Café, Dalaya, and Library Kitchen + Bar, then unwind at Sapphire Valley Resort or grab a drink at one of the area’s many breweries.
Picture yourself dining at Guard and Grace this fall.
Renderings via Guard and Grace
Announced
Michelin-recommended steakhouse Guard and Grace is on track to open at Queensbridge Collective this fall. Ahead of the opening, the restaurant will host two tastings: Customshop on March 25 and Community Matters Cafe on April 14. We spoke to Chef Troy Guard about how he chose the Queen City — get a refresher.
Environment
Today is the last day to apply for Solarize Charlotte, a program providing grants for households interested in getting free solar panels installed in Mecklenburg County. Interested? Apply here.
Sports
The Scotland National Team will use Atrium Health Performance Park — Charlotte FC’s training facility — as its base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team chose the facility for its amenities and proximity to the airport. The World Cup begins June 11 and ends July 19. (WCNC)
Community
Last week, Charlotte City Council voted to amend the Overgrown Vegetation ordinance, allowing residents to register to grow pollinator gardens and naturalistic landscapes in their yards. This means vegetation can be taller than 12 inches without a fine when registered with the city. (QC Nerve)
Announced
From selling CDs from his car in South End to performing in Uptown, J. Cole is bringing The Fall Off Tour to the Spectrum Center on Saturday, July 11. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m.
Award
Congratulations to Siler Chapman. The King of Fire founder competed in the World Pizza Champion Games in Rimini, Italy, and took first place in Pizza Freestyle and third in Pizza Classica. Get this: For freestyle, Siler tossed pizza dough while riding a unicycle.
Play
Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in future.
Health
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Home
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Category
Sports
🏆 Hall of Fame bound
It’s always a great day at BofA Stadium when Luke Kuechly and Sir Purr are together. | Photo via Carolina Panthers
“This is real, it’s super cool.” That was Luke Kuechly’s reaction after learning he’d been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Kuechly is the third Carolina Panthers legend inducted in five years, joining Sam Mills and Julius Peppers. Peppers even surprised Kuechly at home with the news.
“They’re like the secret service! I had no idea anybody was going to be at the house,” Kuechly told CLTtoday about the surprise. “They did a great job.”
Editor Maria, here. Kuechly doesn’t love talking about himself, and he’d rather talk about football. Ask about his success, and he’ll point to the team every time.
“I loved it — loved the guys, the city, the organization. You don’t have the opportunity to play with the same team in the NFL, and for me to have that opportunity was very special,” Kuechly said.
Mark your calendar. Kuechly will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026 — tickets are on sale.
The Buy
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A pedestrian-only corridor. What do you think of this idea?
Joinery Alley will become a pedestrian-only corridor at Optimist Park, boasting 14 storefronts and easy access to the Light Rail — something 72% of readers love, while 17% are not fans, and 11% are unsure about.
Speaking of Guard and Grace‘s opening timeline (scroll back up if you missed this), I’ll be trying a few bites this week. If you’ve been to their locations in Denver or Houston, respond to this newsletter and let me know what you ordered.
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