Agenda for Tuesday June 16

Last night I did the Cardio Funk class at the Dowd Y. It was 45 minutes of me flailing around to Crisscross and Janet Jackson like a fool and I loved it. I was very very not good at it at all and it was just great.

I’m turning 30 in a few weeks and there are a few things I simply will not waste my depleting brain cells on anymore. Among them: figuring out how to work my printer, clearing out my inbox, convincing myself to like beer, wondering what people think about me (don’t care!), keeping up with the latest apps and gadgets and Kardashians, being in loud places, knowing what various slang acronyms stand for, and yeah, dancing around like a nut. Take it or leave it. 

VITALS

Today’s Weather: 98. Showers and thunderstorms late, 50% chance of precipitation.
Today’s Stat: 7. # of unprovoked fatal shark attacks off the coast of North Carolina since 1900.
Today’s Job: Senior Brand Manager at Snyders-Lance. Apply.
Today’s Charlottean: Rebecca Wofford, founder and executive director of The Lunch Project, for creating sustainable school food programs in Tanzania and educating kids (and adults) in Charlotte about how to make a dent in big, complicated global issues one meal at a time.

ORIGINALS

AT&T joins CLT internet arms race and Mayor Clodfelter is a U-verse subscriber
AT&T launched GigaPower yesterday, joining TWC and Google in the battle for the best, fastest internet offering in Charlotte and Ted says we the consumers will win in the end. He breaks down the options, assesses the quality of the press conference swag (important) and recreates the stock photo in their brochure. Take his coffee away.

Know your farmer: A tour of the top 7 farmers markets in the Charlotte area
Vanessa shows us where real chefs (herself included) find the inspiration and ingredients that drive menu creation at some of our favorite Charlotte restaurants. I don’t think I could have listed more than three markets so this is useful and informative.

Serving the Charlotte homeless community one lunch at a time: Meet Hashtag Lunchbag Charlotte
Erin sought more and found it in a monthly volunteer opportunity that preps 200 lunches for people in need in Charlotte. Hashtag Lunchbag is all about utilizing social media to raise awareness and funds for ending hunger. Love it.

The Yolk is running a serious breakfast revolution in Rock Hill
I know I’m spending an excessive amount of family time down in Rock Hill lately and you’re over it, but hear me out because cool things are happening down there. This diner is packed with a line out the door on the regular and locals say they won’t eat breakfast anywhere else. Let’s investigate by eating things…

The Cherry Neighborhood’s complex history and complicated future
Cherry is one of Charlotte’s oldest historically black neighborhoods but recent controversial rezoning is changing the face of a neighborhood whose future looks nothing like its past. Massive $600,000 homes are replacing the original bungalows, raising rent and running lower-income families out. I took a look back at Cherry’s historic roots.

Freemore West: 9 reasons to check it out now
The intersection of West Morehead and Freedom Drive has seen promising growth over the last several years and Liz has 9 reasons to eat, drink and explore your way through this still overlooked neighborhood. (I lived there my second year in Charlotte and can vouch for it.)

City Smart: Voter IDs to Doorstep Delivery
WTF We Vote fills us in on everything from public comments on the proposed 2016 voter ID laws to CMS’s desperate attempt to find teachers evidenced by their recent Craigslist posting. 

TALKING POINTS

Germany-based Lidl passed on Charlotte as its future US headquarters. CBJ reports the global 10,000-store grocery chain opted instead for a $200 million investment in Arlington County, Virginia. Meanwhile Harris Teeter and Publix are most likely over here in the 704 like, “We’re cool with it.”

Brutal heat broke a 125-year-old record high yesterday. Brad Panovich reports our 99 degree Monday broke the old record set back in 1890. Need I remind you it’s not technically even summer yet? Oof.

Two kids lost limbs in uncharacteristic shark attacks on Oak Island. The Observer reports a 12-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy involved in separate attacks 90 minutes apart Sunday afternoon both lost an arm. Officials have not closed the beach but are patrolling it with helicopters. It’s terrifying, no doubt, but you’re more likely to die by drowning, getting struck by lightning or riding your bike.

Stay cool out there, Charlotte, and beat the heat with these private pool access hacks. You’re gonna need ’em.

– Katie