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Well I hope everyone had a great Memorial Weekend -- it’s hard to believe it’s the first of June and we are only a couple weeks away from summer! It’s going to be a great one with so much going on. So this is the perfect time for our Annual Summer Entertainment and Nightlife Guide. Seems like this summer is packed with opportunities to see live music; such as weekly events like Alive After 5 every Thursday evening at the EpiCentre throughout the summer, and FRIDAY LIVE! at the NC Music Factory every Friday in June. Then pretty much every week during the summer you can head to one of the many music venues such as Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Time Warner Arena or the Time Warner Amphitheater to see your favorite band or music performer. Want to get out of town for the weekend? We have picked some of the best Music Festivals east of the Mississippi. Plus, plenty more to keep you from being bored! There's no excuse not to have fun this summer.
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6.12
TOP 30 UNDER 30 WINNERS
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Well I hope everyone had a great Memo-rial Weekend -- it’s hard to believe it’s the first of June and we are only a couple weeks away from summer! It’s going to be a great one with so much going on. So this is the perfect time for our Annual Summer Entertainment and Nightlife Guide.
Seems like this summer is packed with opportunities to see live music; such as weekly events like Alive After 5 ev-ery Thursday evening at the EpiCentre throughout the summer, and FRIDAY LIVE! at the NC Music Factory every Fri-
day in June. Then pretty much every week during the summer you can head to one of the many music venues such as Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Time Warner Arena or the Time Warner Amphitheater to see your favorite band or music performer. Want to get out of town for the weekend? We have picked some of the best Music Festivals east of the Mississippi. Plus, plenty more to keep you from being bored! There’s no excuse not to have fun this summer.
In this issue we also have the winners of our Second Annual TOP 30 UNDER 30 FUTURE LEADERS OF CHARLOTTE. Please join us as we celebrate with them on Friday, June 15 at SUITE. The awards celebration starts at 8 p.m. Thanks to our event sponsors Stella and Three Olives Vodka.
Till next month, Steve Caldwell
publisher’s note
TEAM MEMBERS
PublisherSteve Caldwell, [email protected]
Editor: Edy Hinson
Creative Director: Greg Smith
Design and Production: Greenspon Advertising
Graphic Designer: Alex Ramsey
A Day At The Beach Photo Spread and Cover Photography:Photography: Jim Merrill, JMT Photography JMTFoto.comModels: Emily Armstrong, Directions USA and Emily Page
Makeup and Hair: Emily Page Swimwear: Letarte by Lisa Cabrinha, LetarteSwimwear.com
Advertising, Sponsorship, Website Sales,and General Advertising Sales Information
Brad Cheek | Steve Caldwell
Contributing EditorsCulture Editor: Louise Albano-Hurley | Dining Editor: Nikki Wilson
Entertainment Editor: Denise Gregory | Fashion Editor: Debra KennedyFitness Editor: Dr. Ryan Shum | Nightlife Editor: Sean Flynn
Contributing WritersAlison Penland | Claire Cilip | Corinna Kahn | Chelsea Flower
Dupp & Swat | Franchesca Wicker | Jeremy Bonham | Lisa Lemaster Sarah Hudson | Shadiya Collins | Stanley Owings | TekaRose
Contributing PhotographersEun Park | Jeaumane McIntosh | Lazyday.com | Justin Smith
InternsAnna Starnes | Jeaumane McIntosh
diningGet Your Forks Ready
fashionSummer IT Products
fashionPassport For Fashion
fiTnEssFlywheel Sports
fashionA Day At The Beach
LifEsTyLETOP 30 UNDER 30
ConTEnTsJune 2012
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diningGet Your Forks Ready
fashionSummer IT Products
fashionPassport For Fashion
fiTnEssFlywheel Sports
fashionA Day At The Beach
LifEsTyLETOP 30 UNDER 30
City Is Heating Up
Best Options For Smokers
Concert Scene Is Abuzz
Cheers To Your Fitness
Azure Skye
Summer Loving!
The 4 “Do’s”
Turn The Music Up
Happy Hour Fare
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Turn The Music Up
Happy Hour Fare
dining
Get Your Forks Ready Have good food and we will follow. Dozens of new bars, restaurants, cafés, diners and foodie hot spots are set to open in Charlotte this year and here at Elevate, we plan to try them all. In the meantime, we will stalk their menus, wait patiently for a grand opening sign to go up and keep you in the loop about all things delicious. Get your forks ready. It’s going to be one tasty summer.
Maverick-Rock TacoMontford Drive just keeps getting better. To add to the hot spot’s appeal, Maverick–Rock Taco will be opening its doors in the former 15 North Road-side Kitchen location. Maverick will bring together a Tex-Mex menu with an old school rock and roll theme. The menu will feature real Mexican-style
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entrees and promises to offer up strong flavors and lots of different chilies. The bar will showcase a vast selection of craft beers and feature a Bloody Mary-type drink, made with Mexican beer. The restaurant, which hopes to open for lunch and dinner sometime in June, will offer up entertainment including plans for live music and a spacious outdoor patio. 1513 Montford Dr. | Charlotte 28209
Zucca Bar and PizzeriaThe wait is over as Zucca Bar and Pizzeria opened just a few weeks ago in Southend. The Atlanta-based eatery prides itself on serving up authentic, home-cooked Italian favorites. But don’t be fooled by the original Georgia location – the New York roots run deep in this restaurant as the tra-ditional NY pizza is hand thrown and topped with freshest ingredi-
ents. With a motto like, “New York City is so far away, and life’s too short to eat bad pizza”, you have to expect the chefs know how to make a supreme pie. But if pizza isn’t your thing, Zuppa offers brunch, lunch, dinner and late night menus featuring salads, calzones, seafood, pastas, subs and plenty more. 2000 South Blvd. | Charlotte 28203 | 704.332.6076ZuccaPizza.com
How Do You Roll Custom Sushi ShopThere is no such thing as having too much sushi. Which is why I welcome and am ready for How Do You Roll Sushi to open its second location in Charlotte, this one in Uptown. Aiming to open in June, HDYR is a fast, casual sushi restaurant that lets you build you own roll. Start by selecting the wrap, seaweed or soy, and the rice, white or brown. Then select your favorite veggies to include. Next, stuff the roll with one of the nine meats, like tuna, smoked salmon or freshwater eel. Finish it off with as many top-pings and sauces as you like and you’re ready eat. Yet if you’re not one to create your own craving, feel free to select one of the classic rolls featured on the HDYR menu. 200 College St., S312 | Charlotte 28202 | 704.372.9002HowDoYouRoll.com
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Bean Vegan CuisineYes, I admit it. For being a self-
proclaimed foodie, I’m one of the people that when I hear the word vegan, the idea of cardboard-tasting-wanna-be-food pops into my head. Luckily, Bean Vegan Cuisine is working hard to open up in the Queen City and change
that perception. The mission of Bean is to cook food that people
like to eat and in a way that will sur-prise both vegans and non-vegans. All
food is served 100 percent vegan and nat-urally cholesterol free. Be on the lookout for
homestyle vegan cuisine including vegetables, sandwiches, desserts, sushi, burgers and green plate specials. While the grand opening is still yet to come, staff is working like crazy in the test kitchen trying out new recipes for the final menu. Sure to make the cut, however, is the old-fashioned burger. Prepared vegan style, this veggie burger is topped with cheese, thousand island and all the classic crunchy vegetables. And you’ll be seeing the Jokerz Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake mak-ing an appearance as well. Made with chocolate mousse, caramel sauce, chocolate ganache and an almond pecan crust, you really just need to see this to believe this. 3001 East Independence Blvd. | Charlotte 28205 | 980.939.1234
Crispy CrepeCrispy Crepe announced plans to open this delicious restaurant back in November and the time is almost here. While no official opening date has been set, South End is ready and the menu is set. Opening seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. ‘til 9 p.m., the eatery will offer up an as-sortment of crepes filled with fruits, creams, cheeses, meats and more. You can also partake in Liege waffles, fresh salads, grilled flatbreads, paninis and specialty baked goods. 1436 South Blvd. | Charlotte 28203 | 704.340.8947 | CrispyCrepe.com
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Bite Your TongueSouth End is growing and might just be the next best place for a cold brew and flavorful dinner. With the latest additions of World of Beer, Crispy Crepe and now Bite Your Tongue, you definitely need to get over to South End. The owners relocated from New Orleans to Charlotte after Hurricane Katrina and decided to bring a true taste of the Bayou with them. Bite Your Tongue is finalizing details and is set for a summer opening on Bland Street, after deciding to close down their Randolph Road restaurant and expand in a bigger location. The Cajun cuisine offers patrons “real Nawlins cookin” with dishes like alligator creole, French quarter pasta, baked fish with shrimp and crabmeat sauce, Gumbo LuLu and plenty more. 222 E. Bland St., S1A | Charlotte 28203 | 704.332.5730CharlotteCajunRestaurant.com
Dining Editor, Nikki Wilson
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Enjoy your summer! I know you will be looking and feeling fabulous as you enjoy all of the “IT” Products that will make your summer perfect.
Fashion Editor, Debra A. Kennedy
STARTING IN JULY
THE SEARCH IS ON AGAIN! DO YOU HAVE THE LOOK?
ElevateLifestyle.com
NOWS YOUR CHANCE TO BE ON THE COVER OF THE SEPTEMBER FALL FASHION ISSUEFor more details please email us at:[email protected]
COVER GIRL
2012
Passport forFashion 2012Award WinnersIt has been a few weeks since the Passport for Fashion event and we are still hearing great things about it. This year’s Passport for Fashion proved to people all over that Charlotte is booming with creativity and fashion-forward inspiration. The designers went above and beyond the audience expectation in producing some outstanding and ingenious looks. Here are the elite winners of Passport for Fashion 2012:
Best Recyclable Design goes to *drum roll please*… ALTA-CATION, Jennifer Murphy!! The name Alta~Cation was officially established in the fall of 2010 by Jennifer Murphy. Jennifer, along with her business partner, Amanda Stevens, created Alta~Cation in their pursuit of art and creativity through fashion. The goal of Alta~Cation is to create
fashion
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one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing using an artistic eye in approaching every piece. Hand sewing is key in the Alta~Cation collection, and a little extra detailing never hurt anyone. Alta~Cation Recy-clable Design definitely did not hurt anyone but its beauty and craftsmanship did bring tears to eyes. Eloquently done!!
Best Hair Stylist: Tricia West for work with Alta~Cation. Tricia is a Hurricane Katrina transplant from New Orleans, La. Tricia is a full-time hair stylist and makeup artist at Groove Salon, Charlotte’s Premier Paul Mitchell Focus Salon. Her work can be seen in many ads for Glenn Roberson Photography and Beverly Grant Artisan Jewelry in addition to many other publications. Tricia is no stranger to the Passport for Fashion Best Hair Stylist award. She was the lead hair stylist for the Paul Mitchell team that won the 2011 Pass-port for Fashion Best Hair Stylist award. Congrats again Tricia!
Best Makeup Artist: Sara Egri “My life thus far has been an excit-ing journey. I’ve seen different places, cultures, and experienced different customs of living. I have discovered what I’m truly pas-sionate about which is the art of beautifying a human being.” Her passion is definitely evident in her performance with Alta~Cation winning her the title of Passport for Fashion “Best Makeup Artist.” Congrats Sara on a job wonderfully done!
(Left to right: Best Makeup Artist: Sara Egri, Best Hair: Tricia West, and Best Recyclable Design: Jennifer Murphy)
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Best Volunteer: Stephanie Latham Stephanie Latham recently graduated from The Art Institute of Charlotte in 2011 with her associate’s degree in graphic design. She has a love for the arts and fashion. After gradu-ation, she branded herself with the name “Stephanie Anne, Graphics.” Working with Charlotte Seen on Passport for Fashion is a dream come true for Stephanie.
Best Female Model: Mia Patterson Best Male Model: Joe Ross
Best Vendor Display: Passport for Purpose Marketplace Passport for Purpose Marketplace is a place where every item combines a consciousness and appreciation for style, quality, price and meaning. All proceeds and profits are shared
among the original artisans groups and select international non-profits. Please visit the Passport for Purpose Web site to support a fashionable cause. www.passportforpurpose.org
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Best Restaurant Display: Newk’s Newk’s Express Café units provide a tantalizing variety of made-to-order menu choices, available for comfortable in-café dining or for convenient pick-up. Newk’s serves fresh, delicious choices made-fresh-to-order and served quickly with a smile. If you loved their Newk’s Favorite Salad Dress, visit any of their Charlotte locations and try the actual salad. It’s amazing!
Newk’s Uptown: 101 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 Newk’s Blakeney: 9815 Rea Rd Charlotte, NC 28277
If you’ve missed out on Passport for Fashion this year, you missed out on an opportunity to view some of the most amaz-ing forms of artistry in Charlotte. Join Charlotte Seen for Char-lotte Fashion Week September 17 through 22, 2012.
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fitness
FLYWHEEL SPORTSA relative newcomer to Charlotte’s heart-pounding, popular cycling and endurance sport racing scene, Flywheel Sports looks to get you spin-ning past the rest. This month we profile this hot new boutique fitness studio on Providence Road, that has Charlotte on the groove of smooth beats and sounds by resident house DJs.
Founded in 2010 originally in New York City’s elite studio cycling crowd, Flywheel Sports has erupted to grow into locations from New York to the Hamptons; South Florida to Atlanta and Chicago; and now into our very own QC. Committed to providing you with the “best indoor cycling experience” and the “best 45 to 60 minutes” of your day, Flywheel of-fers an intense stadium-style cycling studio with theatre lighting, provid-ing no bad seat in the house. Classes and courses throughout the day are led by expert instructors keen on motivating riders of all skill levels and pushing you to your best. The studio boasts custom engineered
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bikes, which marry an intense cycling ride with hills and descents while working the upper body with weighted bars.
What makes Flywheel fun is their innovative ideas from other spin classes: Performance Metrics. A pre-class online check-in is available for you to keep track of your in-ride performance statistics but also to help you race against others if you choose! The high-tech and innova-tive digital tracking technology allows you to monitor your progress, set new fitness goals and measure your performance. Instructors choreo-graph and motivate class riders to sync to the beat, with customized ear-candy crafted by in-house DJs. Although the instructors guide your RPM and resistance levels, it is you the rider who decides what level at which you will best be challenged, thanks to the bike technology. Each bike comes equipped with a modernized “tech-pack.” A tech-pack displays your own resistance (torq), and speed (RPMs), current and cumulative power output, keeping you in charge of your own perfor-mance and work level. Participants can opt in to join in the digital party of the in-studio Torqboards (a large screen studio flashboard) to show how you are spinning amongst others. Stats on every ride will be recorded and are available online through a private personal account including the important details: Torq, Speed, Power, RPM’s, Distance and Estimated Calories. Using this data, you can plan and work your way to new goals for the next workout. To top it all off, the fun and welcoming studio environment also boasts complimentary towels and cycling shoes with every ride.
In addition to the unique cycling experience, Flybarre fitness training offers a well suited complement to indoor cycling. This training tech-nique focuses on body sculpting, blending the best hybrid of dance, yoga, circuit training, Pilates and strength conditioning. It is a full body workout, encompassing high repetition performance with lower loads and weights. Tools used in this part of the studio can be anything: from balls, weights, resistance bands, to even a ballet barre. The goal of Flybarre training is to develop good strength but also to elongate muscle fibres, for good range of motion and force production acting as one. Flybarre pairs deep muscle conditioning with intense stretching.
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Getting started…Flywheel makes it easy to join their chic, modern studio. Hop online to create a personal account, purchase rides and reserve a class time for whatever fits your schedule or instructor you want to work with. As studio manager Carrie said, “We are committed to providing the best indoor cycling experience available in a relaxed and non-intimidating environment. Our unique blend of cycle and sculpting classes will produce quick and visible results, and most importantly, is fun!”
For more info, contact Flywheel Charlotte ([email protected] or 980-819-8501). The first Flywheel ride or Flybarre class is free to try. Give it a trial ride and “never coast” on your training again, as Flywheel preaches. Happy riding!
Yours in health and fitness,
Fitness Editor, Dr. Ryan Shum, DC, MS, [email protected]
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These 30 future leaders of Charlotte who are 30 years old and younger come from all different types of industries; from real estate executives to TV news anchors, and from small business owners to professional athletes, these successful young people absolutely exude excellence in their field of work.
Everyone is invited to attend the awards celebration help celebrate with all the winners on Friday, June 15 at SUITE in the EpiCentre. The event begins at 8pm and continues till 11pm.
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Allen Carlson Clark Age: 23Job: Charlotte Business JournalPosition: Senior Circulation Executive
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? I am the Charter President of The Rotary Club Of Charlotte-Evening. I am the sponsorship chair for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce metro chapter and
served as silent auction co-chair for the Young Affiliates of The Mint 2011 Derby Days. I am also involved with Engage Charlotte, the Mecklenburg county Boy Scouts of America, Business Leaders of Charlotte, Charlotte Junior Chamber, Visit Charlotte, The Hospitality and Tourism Alliance and The Lake Norman Cham-ber of Commerce.
Do you have any extra hobbies/interests? Sailing, playing golf, wakeboarding, snow skiing, hunting and taking my dog Boss for runs.
pho
to b
y A
lliso
n K
uhn “Breeze” Emily Ross
Age: 27Job: Moga CharlottePosition: Owner/Designer
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? I try to live each day with a positive outlook towards all aspects of my life -- health, community, and everyone I come in contact with. A stranger once told me that a
simple smile will brighten any dark moment, so with that I try to go out of my way each day and smile at at least one person -- the impact is so uplifting! Working in the Health and Fitness community, I try to be a role model and I encourage all of my clients to approach me with any questions and concerns.
Crystal Rozier Age: 29Job: Bank Of America Merchant ServicesPosition: Marketing and Communications
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? I was a “Big Sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters here in Charlotte for two years from 2009 - 2011. In 2008, I ran for Woman of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society to help raise money to fight blood cancers. I do my best to support the Charlotte community by donating to local organizations such as the Dowd YMCA, Charlotte One, and the Humane Society. My boyfriend and I recently rescued a pit bull from an organization called Rescued Me here in Charlotte. She is awe-some, everyone should adopt!
Danny Landry Age: 23Job: Full House Productions Position: Marketing and Events Coordinator
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Alive after Five, Junior Chamber, I work with many social groups around town, put on events that benefit local charities.
Do you have any extra hobbies/interest? Running, trail biking, cooking, fishing, froggin’, hunting and LSU football.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I managed to put on Charlotte’s first Cinco de Mayo Chihuahua races. My favorite achievement is bringing Mardi Gras up from my native Louisiana to Charlotte in February. Incredible crowd and felt just like New Orleans.
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Dustin Matthew Osbourne Age: 26Job: Stealth ComponentsPosition: International Electronics Broker
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Victory Junction / This Ones For Ben Scholarship
Tell us a little bit more about yourself/life? I am a Charlotte native where I am the top broker at Stealth Components, which is an electronic components distributor that sells to overseas manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace, and telecom industries. I have been a top performer for them over the past three years, helping them become one of the fastest grow-ing companies in Charlotte.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? Stealth Components 2011 Top Performer
Dennis Wayne Linens Jr. Age: 29Job: 8 The SalonPosition: Hair Stylist/DJ
Tell us a little bit more about yourself/life? I enjoy helping others find their success. I keep things positive. My wheels are always turning and I’m always searching for creative opportunities.
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? Every day I make people feel great about themselves by giving them a hair style that complements their face shape and bone structure, and every night I play mu-sic that makes people dance, cut loose and forget the stresses that life can bring.
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Ford Quarterman Age: 25Job: Red Ventures/Nextus LLC/Give Fifty OnePosition: Master Sales Agent/President & Founder/Marketing Director
Do you have any extra hobbies/interests? Play in a few soccer leagues, avid outdoorsmen and love hik-ing, kayaking, rockclimbing, watersports, longboarding, etc; I
love traveling, learning Spanish, entrepreneurship, networking, tech startups, event plan-ning/marketing/promotions, live music, social scenes etc.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? Red Ventures Master Sales Agent – consistently lead the company in sales revenue every month. Orchestrated and successfully raised angel investment for local ed-tech startup. Successfully founded, organized, marketed and executed Tallulah Fest – an outdoor kaya-king, camping, music festival in Northeast Georgia that we hope to grow into the largest festival of its type in the South East.
Gwyn MacMorris Age: 27Job: Cystic Fibrosis FoundationPosition: Development Manager
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? I am involved with the community in a major way through my job. I plan events that raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). Nearly 90 cents of
every dollar I raise goes directly to medical research and drug development to im-prove and hopefully save the lives of children and young adults living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is a fatal, genetic disease and the current median age of survival is 37 years old, which is much better than it was 60 years ago when the disease was first discovered, but it is not good enough. It is my goal to see this disease cured while I’m working for CFF.
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James Thomas Broyhill II Age: 28Job: Robert Pittenger Company Position: Investment & Land Specialist
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? I believe that you have no room to criticize something un-less you have a will to change it. My contributions to the Charlotte community stem from not only my involvement
in current organizations, but also a willingness to help others achieve success in their community efforts. Whether it’s through my work at Charlotte City Club, The Chris Canty Foundation, Starlight Society or recent financial contribution to the American Heart Association (Charlotte Chapter), I try to provide my resources and commit wholeheartedly where it is needed. Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.
James Wolf Age: 29Job: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Position: Financial Advisor and Planning Specialist
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? President of the Charlotte Gamecock Club and USC Alumni Club of Charlotte (with 8,000 alumni in the region), Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte
Jaycees, SC Alpha Alumni Association, Standout Charlotte with the Cystic Fibro-sis Foundation.
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? I help people find internships and jobs, community service projects such as the Salvation Army, raise money for the USC scholarship fund, raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and donate to many causes.
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Jay JohnsonAge: 26 Job: Muscle Lab Performance Position: Personal Trainer/Fitness Model/Writer
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? At the moment I am running group classes exclusively for women in which some classes are offered for free to not only promote health and wellness but to create a
comfortable environment for women as well. As I grow, I intend to incorporate events that will involve health and wellness in children as well since the majority of my work before training consisted of teaching and mentoring children from the First grade through high school.
Jed Hartigan Age: 30 Job: Velocity Sports Performance Position: Athletic Sports Performance Training
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Actively supports various children’s sports teams and organizations in the Charlotte area.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? From February through April of 2012 I ran a program for 18 aspiring football athletes who wanted to pursue a career in professional football. These young men were skilled athletes who had been overlooked in the NFL draft but wanted a chance to prove their abilities. Of the 18 young men I trained, 15 have signed contracts with teams in the NFL and CFL.
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Jennifer Ridenour Age: 28Job: Therapy Hair Salon And Spa Position: Co Owner and Hair Stylist
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? My business is so new, but one of my main goals when we opened was for our shop to become a presence in the Charlotte community -- one of my main reasons
for wanting to own something here. Since I didn’t grow up with a hometown, Charlotte has really become one to me, and I want to give back and be involved as much as possible. With the salon, we offer tons of free classes and benefits to our clients and their friends, who have really become like family, so they know their importance to us goes beyond an every-six-week hair appointment.
Jim Powderly Age: 30Job: Powderly CPA, PLLC Position: Owner/CPA
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Lupus Foundation and Freemorewest Partners
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I ran the Rock n Roll Music City half marathon in Nashville and was awarded as a 2011 “Stand Out Charlotte” individual by the Charlotte chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? By being a board member of local charities and helping raise money for their causes.
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Jody McLaughlin Age: 26Job: Sales Performance International Position: Client Accounts Coordinator
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Crisis Assistance Ministries, Life Span Adult Disability Ser-vices, Second Harvest Food Bank, The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem- Keynote Speaker, Biggest Loser Season 13
Production Assistant for the southeast (Charlotte, NC), The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – concentration bullying, The Daisy Girl Scouts Troop - Lectured on the respecting yourself and others, the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? Less than a year ago, I was crowned Miss Charlotte USA. It was my duty to represent the best city in North Carolina in the Miss North Carolina USA pageant. I was a fresh face to the pageant world and only competed once before my big win.
Joseph Samuel BlackAge: 29 Job: Robert Black Insurance Services and Joseph Samuel Catering Position: Senior Broker and Owner/Operator
Are you involved with any community activities/projects?Past President, current Sergeant of Arms, past winner of distin-guished Rotarian award, Paul Harris fellow member of Mt. Holly
Rotary Club, YMCA Board of Directors, deliver Meals On Wheels, Community Relief Organization (CRO) volunteer, help sponsor and cater non-profit (Metro Food Bank, CRO, Toys For Tots, Ace And TJ Grin Kids, etc.) Fundraisers at Tilt on Trade, past board of director Member Montcross Chamber of Commerce, Gaston county schools business partnership -- adopt a kid/kids from the local elementary schools ever year for Christmas and get them gifts that they may not otherwise get.
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John Benjamin Shaul Age: 26Job: John Benjamin Designs Position: Designer and Retailer
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? I serve on The Charlotte Junior Chamber Board, holding two positions: State Director and VP of Community. While serving on this board, I’m involved with a number
of charities including Team Emma, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Charlotte Rescue Mission and Hospitality House. [I am] personally involved with The Bethlehem Center, MS Society and The Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I received a Jaycee Keyman award and the Jaycee Presidents Award and was named the 2011 Jaycee of the Year.
John Swindell Freeman Age: 25Job: Johnny Fly Clothing Position: Owner/Designer
Tell us a little bit more about yourself/life? My company Johnny Fly Clothing is a lifestyle inte-
grated into a wearable piece of art. I blend images and icons involved in people’s everyday lives into modern
and unique clothing. I have created designs that people connect to, like the boom box and the headphone. These designs have both been huge retro icons that people can directly connect with. My style has a vintage flair with its own modern “fly” twist. I’m currently working on higher fashion designs for both men and women entitled “Fly Fashion Collection,” due to be released this fall.
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Kimberly Kristin Hughes Age: 29 Job: 704Events.com Position: Owner
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? I believe I give back to the Charlotte community a few ways -- first, by offering locals a valuable Web site to stay connected to and become engaged with the ever
changing and growing Charlotte community. I also take a lot of time and consid-eration to give back to those who need our help the most through volunteer and non-profit efforts. I aim to always serve as a role model and inspiration to encour-age people to always strive to be their best, realize your own personal value and to always remain positive and forward-thinking.
Kyle Martin Bender Age: 28Job: Wilkinson Property ManagementPosition: Real Estate Agent and Property Manager
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Cystic Fibrosis Guy and Dolls Auction -- Participated
as a Bachelor and Fundraised; North Carolina Young Professionals Network, Business Leaders of Charlotte
Do you have any extra hobbies/interests?All Sports -- Hockey, Mountain Biking and Ultimate are my favorite I also have a passion for music. Especially for live music, guitar and history.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I was voted five-star best in client satisfaction for Real Estate in Charlotte for the past four years in “Charlotte Magazine.” I also built a Real Estate Firm from the ground up.
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Lauryn Ulma Age: 27Job: Bobcats | Sports & Entertainment Position: Marketing Development Coordinator
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? I’m lucky to work for a company that has a community focus with the Cats Care program. I have opportunities throughout the year to volunteer with various initiatives
including hunger, education and wellness.
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? I enjoy working with children and have recently participated in fundraising and activities for premature babies as well as for kids with cancer and autism. I strive to become more active in these efforts and encourage others to do the same!
Marianela Contreras Age: 27Job: U.S. Air ForcePosition: Medic
Do you have any extra hobbies/interests? I love to travel and visit new places. I also like hiking,
camping, paint balling, and going to the shooting range.
Tell us a little bit more about yourself/life?I’ve been in the military for seven years and love my job. I have been deployed twice to Iraq as a medic and learned so much out there. It was quite an experi-ence and I would never take it back. My eyes witnessed a whole lot and am so thankful that I was able to help the wounded soldiers. I definitely value and ap-preciate life so much more after my experience in the “sand box”.
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Morgan Fogarty Age: 30Job: Fox Charlotte Position: Anchor/Reporter
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned?This year, I won the National Athletic Trainers’ Associa-tion “Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting Award” for a story I did about the concussion identification and
treatment program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. Over the past couple years, I’ve won several First and Second place awards from the radio television digital news association of the Carolinas for my reports. The Charlotte commu-nity also often votes me “favorite” local newscaster in various publications, which I think is very cool. Awards from professional peers are great, but awards from viewers who watch Fox Charlotte mean the most.
Perry Swenson Livonius Age: 29Job: Hood, Hargett, & Associates Position: Producer in Personal and Commercial Insurance
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? Making people smile!! By “Choosing Joy” and being a
good role model to young girls through encouragement and example. I would encourage everyone to find something that they are really passionate about and run with it. My passion is golf and people. Even though I didn’t reach my dream of being the next Annika Sorenstam, I realized my purpose in life is to use my passion for golf to make a difference somehow and to reach a lot of people.
Three of my daily mottos when I wake up are: “Win or lose, just PLAYING at all is winning!” , “Choose Joy.” and “You have to fall in love with the process!”
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Rhema Marie Helm Age: 24Job: Charlotte Bobcats/Heels.com Position: Lady Cat/Model
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Through my church, Forest Hill, I am one of the dance teachers/class leaders for an after-school program at Quail Hollow Middle School. I am blessed to have the
opportunity to do a lot of community activities through the ‘Cats Care’ program associated with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I was honored to find out I would be on the cover of last month’s Elevate issue. That was a first time ever for me. This past season I was named as one of the team leaders for my dance team and I take a lot of pride in any leadership role.
Ryan Troyer Age: 28Job: Mindseeker Position: Recruiting Consultant
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Participate in the Multiple Sclerosis Charity Walk; At-tend the “Stiletto Sprint” - a charity supporting aware-ness for ovarian cancer; I donate/ participate in the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations golf tournament every year; Donate to a local ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) charity; I attend local career fairs to aid individuals with their career searches.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned? I try to continually look for ways to improve myself and contribute to my office, some of my professional successes include: Key member of a sales team that secured a $2 million dollar per year deal for Mindseeker, and promoted to Senior Team Lead of an anti-money laundering group at Wells Fargo after six months.
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Sean NguyenAge: 24 Job: Lazyday.com/Red Bull North America Position: Territory Manager/Logistics Team Member
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? Being the manager of lazyday.com, we created and im-plemented the lzyvip card benefiting the second harvest food bank. We also are responsible for holding events
such as CincoFest and Socialympics with Rockhouse Events and the Santa Bar Crawl with Elevate Lifestyle.
Do you have any extra hobbies/interests? I stay active. Chances are you will see me riding my bike in a ridiculous tank top around uptown, bouncing around on Crowder’s mountain or back home in Wilm-ington surfing and fishing. There is nothing more I’d rather do than be outside.
Will Pitts Age: 26Job: Charlotte Collegiate Football Position: Director of Sales
Are you involved with any community activities/projects? YMCA youth basketball (coaching), 24 hours of booty, guys and dolls auction for cystic fibrosis.
Can you tell us about any recent achievements you’ve earned?My primary focus for the past few years has been the Dr. Pepper ACC football championship and the Belk Bowl. Both were extremely successful this past year and we are looking forward to even better things in the future.
In your opinion, how do you contribute to the community? In addition to my job which is community oriented, I have a passion for coaching and youth mentoring.
At press time Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers and Webb Simpson, Professional Golfer interview and head shot had not been received. To see the complete interview of each winner you can go to ElevateLifestyle.com
Survive Our Island!The 2012 Anchor Island Yacht Bash.
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The City Is Heating Up!As summer arrives in Charlotte, the city begins to heat up with a number of cultural events, outdoor festivals, performances and more. Take a break from your regular routine to catch a national tour at The Belk Theater or jazz at the Bechtler. Whatever you choose to attend, it’s sure to be a great time. Below are some of our picks for things to see and do this summer.
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Jazz at the BechtlerThis summer, on the first Friday of each month, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art will host “Jazz at the Bechtler,” a series of concerts performed by the Ziad Jazz Quartet. Performances will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the museum lobby and feature both local and regional jazz artists. Each concert is themed, with June’s featuring tracks from Miles Davis, John Col-trane, Sonny Rollins, and the jazz scene of 1957.
July hosts vocalist Maria Howell, who has performed with Ray Charles, as well as in The Color Purple, in the “Return of Gypsy Jazz.” In August, hear a “Tribute to Duke Ellington,” with songs such as Pent Up House, Tenor Madness and St. Thomas, among others.
Tickets are free with the price of museum admission or museum member-ship and may be purchased online or by phone at (704) 353-9200.
Creative Loafing Art and Music FestivalJoin Creative Loafing as it hosts the CL Art & Music Festival at the NC Mu-sic Factory on June 16. It’s a day dedicated to local art and music, which features restaurant and drink specials, with 25 artists selected to showcase and sell their works to the public, as well as performances from four live bands. The event is bound to be a good time, but if that’s not enough to draw you out for the day, perhaps cold beer sold from the fountain in the Music Factory will fit the bill. The party is expected to draw more than 600 people, so if you’re an artist and interested in displaying some of your work, artists booth are $150 and can be split between two people. You can find registration forms on the Creative Loafing Web site, CLClt.com.
The event runs from noon to 9 p.m. on June 16, and it will be held at the NC Music Factory (100 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28206). It is free and open to the public.
HeroesConFounded 30 years ago by Shelton Drum, owner of Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find in the Elizabeth neighborhood, HeroesCon is a must-do for comic book fans of all ages. With its family-friendly atmosphere, convention-goers mingle with professionals and exhibitors from across the country, as well as comic book fans from all over the North Carolina region.
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Join the crew of HeroesCon at the Charlotte Convention Center, June 22 through 24 for three days filled with superheroes, villains and much more. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the convention so it’s bound to be one you don’t want to miss. Final details and the guest list are be-ing finalized, so please visit www.heroesonline.com periodically for more information.
Tickets: 1-day pass: $15, 3-day pass: $30, Kids 12 and under: FREE
Hours: Friday, June 22: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Saturday, June 23: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.Sunday, June 24: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Charlotte Convention Center: 501 S. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find: 1957 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204(704) 375-7463
Shakespeare on The GreenThe Charlotte Shakespeare Festival returns for its seventh year to present free Shakespeare to the Charlotte community. The festival features two full-length productions, a pre-show performance series and educational workshops aimed at introducing younger audiences to the works of Shake-speare.
The festival opens with performances of The Tempest at The Green in Uptown. The show runs through June 17, with performances Wednesdays
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through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. For those who can’t make it to any of those showings, the Shake-speare Festival will also produce The Merchant of Venice at The McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square from August 15 to 26.
This festival, as well as other shows, are pro-duced by Collaborative Arts Theatre, a profes-sional non-profit theater founded by Elise Wilkin-son and Joe Copley in 2006. The theatre pro-duces both traditional
and modern classics, with a core commitment to Shakespeare. For more information about the summer festival or the theater and its general sea-son, please visit their Web site, www.charlotteshakespeare.com.
And a few shows and performances you may want to catch this summer:
Beauty and the Beast National Tour, Belk Theater, June 26 - July 1The Marvelous Wonderettes, Actor’s Theatre, June 6 - 23Beatles Tribute Night, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, June 16Earth, Wind and Fire, Ovens Auditorium, June 22Screwtape Letters, Knight Theater, June 29 - 30National Poetry Slam, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, August 7 - 11Guys and Dolls, CPCC, June 15 - 21Rapunzel, CPCC, June 27 - July 8Noises Off, CPCC, June 29 – July 5Legally Blonde, CPCC, July 13 - 19
Culture Editor, Louise Albano-Hurley
1100 Metropolitan Avenue S130 | Charlotte 28204 | 704.332.6322
LaPazCharlotte.com
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MondAy$2 Coronas
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TequiLA TueSdAy(Ask your server about this week’s Tequila)
$7 Tequila of the Week Flights $7 Tequila of the Week Margarita
$2 Pacificos
WedneSdAy$5 Specialty Mojitos
Half off Bottles of Wine $6 irish Mexican
THurSdAy$4 original Margaritas
$7 Skinny Girl Margaritas$6 Mexican Trash Can
BAr BiTeS Monday - Thursday3:00pm - 6:30pm
Ground Beef an Cheese Tacos $1.00
BBq Pork Sliders $1.50Green Chilé Cheese Fries $3.00
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Chilé Con queso $3.00Guacamole $3.00
BBq Pork nachos $3.00
Best OptiOn FOr smOkers
Why e-cigs are the best option for smokersThere is no need to beat around the bush; here are three amazing reasons why electronic cigarettes are taking the world by storm. • 6 ingredients vs. 4,000-plus chemicals in paper cigarettes• FREEDOM – avoid the smoking bans• Money! – save some green by going electronic.
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Alright, now let’s have a quick introduction with our headliner. An electronic cigarette or e-cig is a device that uses a small battery to heat up and vaporize flavored nicotine juice from a cartridge, that is then inhaled. These devices give you the look and feel of a traditional cigarette but cut out the fat. No ash, no smoke (just vapor), no fire, and no smell. In short, everything you enjoy about smoking but without the downside! As Charlie Sheen would say, “Winning!”
Did you know that traditional cigarettes can contain more than 4,000 different chemicals and ingredients? Most of these need the PhD. version of Hooked on Phonics to pronounce and a medical dictionary to understand. Some of the chemicals that have been found in traditional paper cigarettes include: rat poison, cyanide, butane, formaldehyde, and pesticides. Well, this answers the question, “What are things that make me go hummmm….?” Why do we put these things in our bodies?
Electronic cigarettes were made to be an alternative to putting these chemicals in our bodies. Ahhhh, it sure does feel good to have choices! Unlike traditional cigarettes, blu Electronic ciga-rettes ONLY have 6 ingredients (5 if you get the non-nicotine cartridges) and all ingredients in our juices are approved for con-sumption! In addition to that, all of our flavors are made right here in the USA at Johnson Creek Smoke Juice. While all electronic cigarettes contain just a handful of ingredients, blu is one of the only companies that utilize trusted facilities in the USA to produce the juice. Put your trust in the hometown hero!
Lately, smoking bans have been putting the strangle-hold on plac-es that were once THE place to go and enjoy a smoke. Currently, only 13 states do not have statewide smoking bans that limit you in places like restaurants, bars, and the workplace. North Caroli-
Best OptiOn FOr smOkers
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na has statewide bans in all three of these. Elec-tronic cigarettes give you the pow-er to take back your freedom.
Food For Thought! How long has it been since you have been able to enjoy the act of smoking while sitting in your fa-vorite restaurant
with your friends, and never miss a piece of the conversa-tion? Probably a long time. Have you ever been working the day away in your office, momentum and productivity levels are through the roof, and suddenly you have the urge to smoke? It’s easy to call a timeout and go take a smoke break, but get-ting back into the groove is not quite as easy. Use electronic cigarettes right at your desk; increase productivity and keep the momentum charging full steam ahead. Productive workers are valuable assets! Think about it.
Have you ever taken out a calculator and figured out what it costs to smoke cigarettes? I assure you it is a lot more than just the price of a pack of smokes. Obviously, there are all of the tangible costs like: cigarettes, lighters, and ash trays. That is easy to figure out, but what about all of those sneaky ninja costs: higher insurance, dentist bills, dry cleaning, de-creased value of your car, or even the potential to miss out
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on promotions? According to CostOfSmoking.com, tobacco smokers earn four to 11 percent less than their non-smoking counterparts.
The dollar signs flying through your mind probably look like some kind of special effect from a George Lucas movie. But if we take this one step at a time, we can make it manageable. A pack of cigarettes can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 in some states. One electronic cigarette cartridge costs just about $2 and is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes. So, on the low end, that is a $3 per pack savings. A person who smokes a pack per day could save almost $1,000 a year, not to mention all of the other ninja savings you could encounter too!
Over all, electronic cigarettes bring the options back to the table and give you some power! Nobody is going to do this for you -- get your freedom back! Use electronic cigarettes to take a step toward eliminating crazy chemicals from your body, avoid the smoking bans, and save yourself some hard earned cash. You have nothing to lose.
ConCert SCene
iS AbuzzWith days growing longer, people are ready to go out and enjoy the diverse nightlife Charlotte has to offer. This summer, there are plenty of shows you won’t want to miss! From Warped Tour to the Jazz festival, from One Direction to 311, Charlotte’s concert scene is abuzz with activity. So whether you’re into metal and nostalgic for the 80’s (with acts like KISS and Mötley Crüe, which is sure to be the rock show of the summer) or country is more your thing (with artists like Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisely), you’ll be sure to find your ideal show!
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Jimmy Buffet Thursday, June 7 at 8:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Gov’t MuleSaturday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, and Thompson Square Saturday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGrawThursday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Maiden England Tour: Iron Maiden, and Alice Cooper Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
311 and Slightly StoopidSunday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Under the Stars I – Third AnnualUptown Charlotte Jazz Fest Pieces of a Dream and Soul of SummerFriday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Under the Stars II – Third Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest feat. Boney James and Incognito Saturday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
ConCert SCene
iS Abuzz
Brothers Of The Sun Tour: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGrawSunday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m.Bank of America Stadium
One DirectionWednesday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.Time Warner Arena
Fresh Music Festival feat. Doug E. Fresh, Keith Sweat, K-Ci and JoJo, Guy, and SWV Sunday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Arena
ColdplayTuesday, July 3 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Arena
The Jacksons: Unity Tour 2012Saturday, July 7 at 8:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Roger Waters: The Wall LiveTuesday, July 10 at 8 p.m.Time Warner Arena
Last Summer on Earth Tour feat. Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and CrackerFriday, Jul 13 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Summerland Tour 2012 with Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit, and Marcy Playground Sunday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
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Maze and Frankie Beverly Saturday, July 21 at 9:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
The Tour: KISS and Mötley CrüeWednesday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jason Aldean and Luke BryanThursday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Train and Mat KearneyThursday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Nickelback, Bush, Seether, and My Darkest Days Friday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Childish GambinoFriday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry DouglasSaturday, July 28 at 8:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Vans Warped TourMonday, July 30 at 11:30 a.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd SkynyrdFriday, August 3, time TBAVerizon Wireless Amphitheater
O.A.R. with RebelutionTuesday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, and Eli Young BandThursday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Def Leppard and PoisonSaturday, August 11 at 7:00 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Trespass America Tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Pop Evil, Emmure, God Forbid, and BattlecrossTuesday, August 21 at 4:30 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Tour Is A Four Letter Word: Jason Mraz & Christina PerriTuesday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses Saturday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m.Time Warner Amphitheater
Toby Keith and Brantley GilbertSaturday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
PhishSunday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Entertainment Contributor,Sarah Hudson
Cheers! To Your FitnessGuys, Whether you are preparing for your next role in an action movie, chasing after the kids, showing off to the girls at the beach or just want to feel better, exercise is a must. How much exercise is up to you, but you need to start with a plan. One that does not eliminate those fun social events which include your favorite alco-hol. By the time you finish reading this article, Elevate will have announced another fun event. We have all been there: “I used to work out but it’s been awhile,” or “I just haven’t had time.” Let’s turn that into: “Yeah, I work out.” To make that change, get your-self into a realistic, sustainable routine that fits into your lifestyle. It will still take hard work and dedication, but it isn’t impossible.
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Step 1: Evaluate your diet.Whether exercising or not, take a minute to evaluate what you are currently eating. It may be beneficial in more ways than you know. Foods can affect you physically as well as mentally. “You are what you eat,” is a great saying to repeat in your head as you order or buy food. Am I the lean healthy meal or the greasy, loaded-with-fat option? Use that saying as a daily, mental tool for the first few weeks to help set a routine. Add fruits and vegetables
to meals and never miss breakfast. Keep instant oatmeal, break-fast bars or fruit at the office. It can help the non-morning person and those pressed for time fit their breakfast in each day. Add vi-tamins, workout supplements and protein shakes or bars to your diet. Supplements are not for everyone. Check the label to see if it works for you. I recommend a protein shake or bar immediately after exercising as that’s the time your body needs it most. Even without exercise a positive change in diet can make you feel great.
Step 2: Do some research.What about yourself do you want to change or improve? What will it take to get the results you are looking for? There are so many resources to gain knowledge. If you are researching online make sure the Web site you are getting the information from is a repu-table one. Try menshealth.com or muscleandfitness.com. Some of the best information you will find is from personal trainers, indi-viduals who play sports or the ones working at your favorite nutri-tion store. Once you have figured out what you are looking to accomplish and how you can go about doing it you can start creat-
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ing your workout game-plan. Bookmark the best pages you found from those sites, write down the info you get from talking to people and use this to put together a list of exercises you need to do, including reps and sets for each and outlining your cardio plan with distance and/or duration.
Step 3: Start working out.Just do it. You may not know how to start and sometimes you may be unsure of exactly what you are doing. So start slow and just don’t overdo it. If using weights, start out with something light in order to get a feel for the motion of the exer-cise and increase the weight when you are ready. There are plenty of gyms to choose from and if you are not into going to one of those places you can find a variety of home workout options. I would suggest starting out with dumbbells either at home or at the gym. Dumbbells can be used for a wide vari-ety of exercises that target every major muscle group in your body. Include cardio in your workouts by running outside, on a treadmill, boxing, kickboxing or circuit training. Again this de-pends on exactly what you are looking to accomplish. If you are trying to build muscle mass, do way less cardio. If you are trying to burn fat, do more. Whatever plan you come up with for yourself stick to it for four straight weeks and it will become part of your routine. To help with that, abstain from alcohol during the first few weeks of starting. If you cannot abstain at least reduce the amount and times you have alcohol while setting your routine.
Step 4: Plan around your parties.Remember we wanted to get fit and feel great without forever giving up those events and enjoying a drink or two. Treat al-coholic drinks as part of your diet. On days you are going to be drinking be sure to keep track of your meals for that day and adjust how many or what type of drinks you have. Having
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two dark beers will be better than having five light beers. If you are drinking hard alcohol stay with the lighter kind with soda water or lime instead of the heavy drinks or dark liquor. If you are going out on a date and just having a couple of drinks, that most likely won’t effect your routine. But what if you are doing an all-day bar crawl? Well, you probably won’t be work-ing out that day and I highly doubt you’ll be able to the day after. Increase the number of working out days prior to the big drinking day. Hydrate yourself with plenty of water before the bar crawl and as soon as you can after the event is over. This will speed up your recovery time. Staying hydrated everyday and especially on days of exercise will keep your muscles from getting sore or cramped up. Now get started and re-member what I said earlier: realistic, sustainable routine that fits your lifestyle. Your body is just the vessel carrying your soul, when I retire mine I want to know I got the most out of it.
Jeremy Bonham
Azure Skye It is only fitting that the Carolina state known for its trademark blue sky would be the home of a company named Azure Skye that produces both premium flavored vodkas and fruit-infused wines. Azure Skye Beverages makes its home close to the Charlotte-Douglas Airport on Old Dowd Road in an unassuming business park; but behind the brick façade you will find a complete micro-winery that produces 13 different fruit concentrated wines as well as a distillery that filters vodka no less than six times per batch. John Johnson, the brainchild behind the production of Azure Skye Premier Wines and Indigo Premium Vodka, was inspired at a young age when he learned that the fruit from his grandmother’s trees and grapevines were being used for more than just baking pies. After her death, he decided to carry on the family tradition of homemade “hooch” and began tinkering with his grandmoth-
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er’s recipe by experimenting with flavors such as adding apples to Gewürztraminer or kiwis and Asian grapefruit flavors to Sauvi-gnon Blanc. The combinations were an instant success among friends and family and soon a business was born. The subtlety of the fruit flavors makes the wine a perfect complement for dessert courses, cheese plates, or as a base for a refreshing summer drink like Strawberry Basil Sangria.
In 2011, Johnson’s interests turned to experimenting with potatoes, soy, grains, and corn and only six months after the production of Indigo Premium Vodka, he was awarded the silver medal in the 2012 World Spirit Competition. This budget-priced vodka is clean and silky smooth with a warm finish and has been compared (more favorably) to higher priced spirits such as Grey Goose. In addition to Premium, there are also raspberry, peach and citrus flavors that contain fruit essence and purees which give a fresh intense flavor without leaving a chemical aftertaste. Add a splash to your favorite cocktail or spike your next batch of lemonade for a well-balanced libation.
Azure Skye products are available for purchase in N.C., S.C., Va., W.Va., Md., Fla., Nev., Miss., and Tenn., as well as NoDa Mar-ket and Deli at 2424 N. Davidson Street; and at the micro-winery at 5253 Old Dowd Road. In an effort to promote their products in the Charlotte area, Johnson offers residential and commercial wine tastings and offers somewhere between 25 and 100 sam-plings per month, depending on the season. He also offers wine tastings for up to 10 people at their location-of-choice by appoint-ment and teaches wine-making classes for couples, two Saturdays per month. Their location is open six days a week to the public for purchases and they also offer free delivery of wine within the Charlotte area. Visit the Web site at www.myazureskye.com or call John Johnson at 704-909-7394 to schedule a tour and tasting for yourself and a group of friends.
Azure Skye
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Strawberry Basil Sangria featuring Azure Skye Wine1/2 lb. fresh strawberries1 apple1 oz. fresh whole basil leaves1 bottle of your favorite Azure Skye wine (we used Peach Chardonnay)1/2 c. sugar1 c. club soda1 c. white grape juice
Trim and thinly slice the strawberries. Slice and dice the apple into very small bits. Score the basil leaves with a fork instead of cutting the leaves into strips, as you do not want your guests choking on basil while trying to enjoy this drink. Simply rub the basil leaves gently with a fork in order to release their flavor in the sangria. Layer the fruit, sugar and basil in a large pitcher and let sit for about 10 minutes. This is just to let the sugar absorb the
juices from the basil and the fruit. You’ll see it turn a bit red. Add the club soda first and then the remaining liquids. Stir well and serve.
Alison Penland
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Summer Lovin’Loving the thought of all the fun stuff you’re going to do this sum-mer? Know where the wild things are? Whether you’re looking for a fun event to partake in this summer solo, rolling with your best buds, burning off the kids’ out-of-school energy, or finding a place to ignite that summer fire with a hot date; Elevate Lifestyle has all of your summer fun places to go! Don’t waste away in the house all day, find hot ways to keep cool and be seen around town. June kicks off this summer series guide; you can surely find something here that piques your interest. Sports Fanatics, Art Lovers, Food-ies and everyone in between will surely have plenty to do this sum-mer. Here’s a mini guide to all the BIG events you can enjoy in June. Yes, yes … you’re welcome!
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“It is the month of June, The month of leaves and roses, when pleasant sights sa-lute the eyes, and pleasant scents the noses.” Nathan-iel Parker Willis
Alive After Five Epicentre Weekly every ThursdayAlive After Five will jump start your weekend in style! The largest weekly happy hour and free, yes FREE entertainment celebration! Official after-parties held at Whiskey River, Suite, Vida, Strike City, and BlackFinn. Wristbands from AAF will allow entry into after-parties. AliveAfterFives.com
Friday Live! at the Factory every FridayCharlotte’s largest after work party is back! Friday LIVE! at the Factory returns to the “Fountain Plaza” stage every Friday in June featuring weekly national, regional and local entertain-ment. The perfect way to get your weekend off to a great start with great live music and ice cold beverages! NCMusicFac-tory.com
Silent Disco Pavilion at EpiCentre every Friday in JuneThe new “silent rage,” featuring a LIVE DJ transmitting di-rectly to you through wireless headphones. Those without the headphones hear no music, giving the effect of a room full of people dancing to nothing. Often two DJs compete for listen-
Summer Lovin’
ers. It hasn’t happened in Charlotte yet, this is the first time it has been brought to the Queen City! PavilionAtEpicentre.com
Fridays on the Patio at Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina every Friday ‘til SeptemberJoin the party on the patio from 4 to 7 p.m. All day DRINK SPECIALS sponsored by Corona $7, Coronitas $4, and Co-rona and Corona Light $15 Buckets! Weekly giveaways in-clude tix to see Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney at Bank of America Stadium. Come one come all, win tix to Tim McGraw! Contact Andrea Jones at [email protected] for more info or call 704-971-8432.
Kiss 95.1 Anchor Island at Lake Norman every Saturday this summer!Experience the 2012 Anchor Is-land Yacht Bash with Celebrity DJ’s, fun games and giveaways! Pre and Post Party at Birkdale Fox and Hound. Bus leaves at 10 a.m. and returns to dock at 2 p.m. KissAnchorIsland.com
Charlotte Knights Baseball Check online for season schedule and ticket prices. There are nightly promotions which you can find on their Web site as well. CharlotteKnights.com
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NoDa Gallery Crawl first and third Friday of every month, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.No official beginning or end -- it is not an organized parade of viewers. It’s like a pub crawl, but participants stroll at their leisure past a lively street scene through a fine collection of street vendors, galleries, shops and boutiques. Admission is free. Noda.org
June 8 - 10 Taste of Charlotte Uptown Charlotte, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Enjoy an array of culinary delights from Charlotte’s area res-taurants. Play at Adventure Village, a full block-long kids’ area, and try unique brews at the Tavern at the Taste. TasteOfChar-lotte.com
June 22 – 23 Third Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, 6:00 p.m.The Third Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival returns to the Queen City with the sounds and rhythms of some of the world’s greatest jazz performers. Following up a nearly sold-out second year, the festival has expanded to two nights to meet the demand and accom-modate the legions of fans that flock to the festival, which offers a unique at-mosphere for the true jazz enthusiasts. Tickets are on sale now at...UptownCharlotteJazzFest.com.
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June 22 - 24 Heroes Convention 2012, Charlotte Convention Center Hosted by Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find, fans can mingle with professionals and exhibitors. Times vary, so visit their Web site at HeroesOnline.com
June 23 Charlotte Bayou Fest, Independence Park, Noon - 8 p.m.It’s an all-you-can-eat extravaganza with live music, crabs, Cajun seafood, beer, arts and crafts, tons of fun and so much more! CharlotteBayouFestival.com
**Summer lovin’ Series Cont’d, SEE JULY next***
TekaRose
the 4 “Do’s”of evening makeupI am constantly asked by my clients how to take their makeup from day to night. Keeping in mind that many of you have very little time to transition your look from the office to the evening streets, I’m recommending four quick tips to take your look from daytime sophistication to nighttime sultry in no time.
#1 Do: Deep tone of eye shadowTo turn up the volume with your eye makeup for evening, add a deep tone of eye shadow at your lash line and blend it onto the eyelid. By adding smokiness to this area, not only are you creating a sultry look to your eyes, you are also creating a fuller look to your lashes. There is no hotter look than the smoky eye for going out on the town. It is THE head-turner of all makeup looks. With that said,
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if you are not looking for attention on your night out, then this may not be the look for you.
#2 Do: Mascara and more mascaraThose who know me know that I refer to mascara as the “desert island” product in your makeup bag. It is the ONE product you must have if you are ever stranded on a desert island. So my tip here is to add a few layers of mascara before your night out. The more the mascara, the more open the eyes look. Mascara also makes the whites of the eyes look super white. Full, long, voluminous lashes are the perfect complement to the smoky eye.
#3 Do: Compact foundationEver tried to touch up your makeup with liquid foundation? What a MESS! If you want the easiest way to transition your complexion from the daytime meltdown to a refreshed look for evening, then you must have a cream compact foundation. This allows you the ability to simply use your fingertips to smooth over the imperfec-tions and revive your complexion. No mess, no fuss. The other great thing about this type of foundation is the fact that it is so portable-friendly! Trust me on this “Do.” You will thank me later!
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#4 Do: A nude lipstickSo, you’ve probably figured it out by now; I LOVE NUDE LIPSTICK! Not only is it so chic when partnered with the smoky eye, but it is super easy to maintain throughout the evening. A deep lip color is a lot of maintenance through-out the night. Opting for the nude shade is going to ensure an effortless look all night. The way it should be!
Life TrendI always like to close with what I like to call a “life trend.” I’ve talked about how to turn up the volume with your makeup
for the evening. I now want to talk about how to turn up the volume with your personal happiness. One of the greatest life lessons I have learned is that true happiness is the result of getting your mind off of yourself and getting your mind on others. The more we shift our focus off of “me” and begin to think about the needs of oth-ers, the happier we become. My friends, we really do reap what we sew. Give it a try. A happier you; it’s in the doing!
Recommended products to get this look:• Trinity iMpact eye shadow palette (shade: i’M delicate)• iWink iMpact mascara (shade: black)• Total iMpact multi-tasking foundation• Full iMpact crème lipstick (shade: i’M humble)
All products can be found at iMpactcolorcomsetics.com or at Fuze Salon.
Fashion Contributor, Stanley Owings
Turn The Music upA great way to reward yourself this summer is to enjoy the warm weather at a mul-tiple-day music festival instead of your typical one-act concert. There are many fun local festivals to check out if you want to make your experience a day trip. You can also hit the road to reach larger music festivals if you are looking for an excuse to take a mini-vacation. Get excited to enjoy an experience unlike any other as you watch hundreds of your favorite bands among thousands of fans.
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River’s Edge Music FestivalLive Nation Entertainment pres-ents the initial debut of the Riv-er’s Edge Music Festival located in Saint Paul, Minn. on Harriet Island. This new two-day festi-val hosts big name artists with Tool headlining with its only U.S. tour date on June 23 and Dave Mathews Band on June 24. More than 30 artists like alter-native rock bands The Flaming Lips, Brand New and Mutemath as well as local bands like Polica and Motion City Soundtrack will perform on the festival’s four
stages. Two-day or single-day wristbands are available at RiversEdgeMusic-Festival.com, Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com. Get festival updates on Twitter @RiversEdgeFest. Brew Stash BashAt this brand new summer music festival, sip Carolina craft beers as you listen to music by Farewell Drifters, Brown Bird and Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons. The event is free with beer available for purchase from North and South Carolina breweries such as NoDa Brewery, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Four Friends Brewing. Enjoy the alternative folk music and specialty beers on June 16 at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. At the event, five dollars buys four tickets that each entitle you to one beer sample. More info at USNWC.org
Verizon Wireless American Music FestivalKnown as the largest outdoor music event on the East Coast, this festival is held right on the beach at Virginia Beach, Va. From Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. For about 20 dollars each day you can watch performances by headliners O.A.R. (Aug. 31), Cheap Trick (Sept. 1) and Train (Sept. 2). Not many music festivals can boast such big artists for such a low fee. There will also be perfor-mances by The Wailers, Southern Culture on the Skids and Soul Asylum. Free shows will be scattered throughout the festival as well. End your summer at the beach with some great music! Tickets can be bought at Ticketmaster.com.
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BarnstockWant to enjoy music while bene-fiting a charity? Barnstock raises money for the Second Harvest Foodbank of Charlotte and the Davidson Fire Department. The two-day event on July 27 and 28 is held in Huntersville, N.C. at Brown Farm about 30 minutes north of Charlotte. Barnstock has a strong community feel and
features local artists. The set list includes the Local Traumatic, Billy Jones & The Pocket, War Hands and Chasing Pedestrians. More info at MyBarnStock.com.
BonnarooWith about 80, 000 people camped out to see 150 bands on more than 10 stages, Bonnaroo is a beloved tradition by music lovers who are not afraid to get a little dirty to enjoy good music. Running from June 7 through June 10 in Manchester, Tenn., Bonnaroo features big name bands from all genres. This includes Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Avett Brothers, Foster the People, Skrillex and Ludacris. A Bonnaroovian code has even developed that promotes a strong sense of community, a laid-back and positive atmo-sphere and even reminds you to drink water “at a similar rate at which a fire hy-drant produces it!” College student Caroline Cope said that although Bonnaroo was exhausting, it was one of the most fun things she had ever experienced. “I want to go again another year for sure because it was incredible with all the music and different people.” More info at Bonnaroo.com.
Music MidtownVenture down to Atlanta, Ga. and experience the history and culture of this vibrant city. While there, enjoy Music Midtown held at The Meadow at Pied-mont Park from Sept. 21-22. This outdoor concert has multiple stages that will host performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Avett Brothers, Florence + the Machine, T.I., Girl Talk, Ludacris and more. Each day the music starts in the afternoon and goes until 11 p.m. Two or one-day tickets are available at MusicMidtown.com.
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HopscotchThe third annual Hopscotch music event held Sept. 6-8 in Raleigh, N.C. hosts 175 bands at 15 different venues. The streets of downtown Raleigh are roped off during the festival for easy traveling when venue hopping. Wristbands can be purchased for the entire event or tickets can be purchased at each location. Hopscotch highlights bands of all genres hailing from the Triangle area but also includes groups from all over the country. According to the festival Web site, Rolling Stone Magazine said Hopscotch has a “Mardi Gras-like” atmosphere with its many different venues and blocked off streets. More info at HopScotch-MusicFest.com.
LollapaloozaGrant Park, the Chicago, Ill. home of Lollapalooza, is over 115 acres and holds 130 artists that continuously perform from Aug. 3-5. Although music tastes have changed over the years at this 20-year music tradition, the festival always delivers the big name artists. They include Avchii, The Black Keys, Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Bassnectar, Flor-ence + the Machine and Passion Pit. To recharge each day, check out Chow Town, a collection of vendors selling good eats, and booths set up by festival spon-sors that hand out free merch. Connect with other Lollapalooza goers on Twitter @lollapalooza. Tickets can be bought at Lolla-Palooza.com.
BamaJamIf you consider country music and summer synonyms, check out BamaJam in Enterprise, Ala. Running from June 14 through June 16, BamaJam fea-tures country music royalty Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson and more. There are camp grounds at the event to provide a true summer music festival experience. More details at BamaJam2012.com.
Anna Starnes
IN FOCUSphotos by: lazyday.com
IN FOCUSphotos by: lazyday.com
Happy Hour Fare: small Bites, Big BusinessFor decades, “Happy Hour” has been that time during the week to hit up your favorite after-work watering hole for cheap libations. These days, Happy Hour has evolved to include snack-sized portions of the newest or most popular menu items at a gener-ous discount. Many Charlotte restaurants have a Happy Hour menu, but that’s where the simi-larities amongst them wane. Some serve ethnic cuisine, others serve All-American grub; some restaurants have had the discounted menu for years, some for weeks – but one thing is a constant: it’s great for business.
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Blue Restaurant and Bar, located in Uptown Charlotte, is a Happy Hour vet-eran. They’ve had “Blue Twos” for six years and it has been very profitable.
Owner Alex Myrick describes the special menu: “We offer a unique variety, from pizza to arancini (Sicilian rice balls) to a Mediterranean sampler.” Diners can pick two items from “Blue Twos” and enjoy for only $10.
According to Myrick, the typical “Blue Twos” crowd consists of Uptown workers, people going to Bobcats games, or those seeing shows in the area. Blue has a similar menu for the late-night crowd which appeals to the same demographics or for those who want a light bite before hitting the town.
Myrick says the “Blue Twos” menu has aroused diner’s interest in their entrees. “We hear this a lot: ‘I came in for a drink and light appetizer and wanted to come back for dinner.’ This is always important to us.”
Blue offers “Blue Twos: 2 for $10” from 5 – 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their late night menu is available until 11 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 12 a.m. on the weekends. 206 N. College St. | Charlotte 28202 | 704.344.9222 BlueCharlotte.com
Lebowski’s Grill and Pub, located in Dilworth, has had their “Happy Bites” menu for two years and are extremely pleased with the traffic it brings. Co-owner Amelia Weaver says the Happy Hour crowd is manifold, ranging from the after-work crew to nursing students, and Lebowski’s special menu reflects this diversity.
“We offer our famous wings, homemade dips, and soft shell tacos. It appeals to all whether they are vegetarian, health conscious, or have a craving for something light and tasty!”
Having a Happy Bites menu helps Lebowski’s pique the interest of first time diners. “First timers who come in for a beer and to try a small bite off our happy hour menu are always pleasantly surprised and want to come back for more,” Weaver said.
Happy Hour Fare: small Bites, Big Business
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Lebowski’s offers Happy Bites from 4 – 6 p.m., Monday thru Friday. They also offer the same menu from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. for the late night diners. 1524 East Blvd. | Charlotte 28203704.370.1177LebowskisGrillAndPub.com
La Paz Cantina, located at the Metropoli-tan, initiated its Happy Hour menu a mere two weeks ago. La Paz’s “Bar Bites” menu is young but always brings a good crowd. Owner/Operator Trace Manning said the typical “Bar Bites” patrons are business professionals.
“We mainly get those who work uptown nearby or in the Metropolitan. They come in and take advantage of our daily drink spe-cials, get a light snack, all for under $10!”
Their “Bar Bites” menu is successful because they have taken a few of their most popular items off the main menu and made them smaller. This menu is also a great opportunity for La Paz to introduce some of their newest items, Manning said.
Bar Bites at La Paz has heightened patrons’ curiosity enough to join them for a full lunch or dinner meal. Repeat customers are the best for business according to Manning, and the Bar Bites menu is a great way for diners to veer away from their usual favorite and try something new and interesting.
Overall, Manning is very satisfied with the business and relationship-building that comes from their Bar Bites. “Happy Hour is a little slower so we can really take the time to talk to our patrons, interact with them, and build a solid rapport with them.”
La Paz offers Bar Bites from 3 – 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. They are dabbling with a similar late night menu which they plan to incorporate one day! 1100 Metropolitan Ave., S130 | Charlotte 28204 | 704.332.6322LaPazCharlotte.com
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Other local hotspots in Charlotte to find great happy hour food specials:
Pisces Sushi Bar and Lounge This one isn’t at night but is worth the visit during the day.Every Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. they offer all you can eat sushi. 1100 E Metropolitan Ave., S120 | Charlotte 28204 | 704.334.0009PiscesSushi.com
Hickory TavernMost days of the week beginning at 4 p.m.: Taco Tuesdays; 50 cent wing Wednesdays; Peel-and-eat shrimp and Oysters for less than $1 on Thursdays. Multiple Locations TheHickoryTavern.com
Vida Mexican Kitchen y CantinaTuesdays from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. enjoy $2 tacos210 East Trade Str., S104A | Charlotte 28202 | 704.971.8432VidaCantina.com
Queen City QEvery Monday thru Friday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. you can enjoy pork sliders and tacos for $2, three ribs for $4.50, six for $9 and nine for $13.50, and wings you can get six for $3, twelve for $6 and 24 for $12.225 East 6th St., SA | Charlotte 28202 | 704.334.8437QueenCityQ.com
City TavernEvery Thursday at all three location from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the bar these ap-petizers are half price: Ahi Tuna, Calamari, BBQ Chicken Chips, Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Chips, Tempura Asparagus, Cajun Chicken Eggrolls, Ten Wings, Hummus with Pita Points, Oysters Rockefeller, Pita Pizza and Onion Ring Basket.
Petite Filet Mignon or Petite Cajun Salmon for $10 and Cajun Chicken Sand-wich or Shaved Prime Rib Sandwiches for $5.Multiple Locations | City-Tavern.com
Corinna Kahn
IN FOCUSphotos by: Jeaumane McIntosh
IN FOCUSphotos by: Jeaumane McIntosh
IN FOCUSphotos by: Jeaumane McIntosh
IN FOCUSphotos by: Jeaumane McIntosh
IN FOCUSphotos by: lazyday.com
IN FOCUSphotos by: lazyday.com
CMYK = 38,75,100,48RGB = 101,53,20
IN FOCUSphotos by: Jeaumane McIntosh
Coming in july 2012
DemographiCs of elevate lifestyle reaDers:female 55.4% | male 44.6%
age: 21-27: 25.5% | 28-34: 45.2% | 35-44: 29.3%annual income: less than $35K: 2.2%
Between $35k-$54,999: 31.7% | above $55K+: 56.1%
psyChographiCs of elevate reaDers:exercise weekly: 76.8%
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