Briefing for Monday January 4: Seven reasons the Panthers’ win is a huge deal

OPENING REMARKS

Big win for the Panthers, in a whole lot of ways.
1) Huge bounce back after the loss to the Falcons last week.
2) Clinched home field advantage until the Super Bowl.
3) Victory without starting running back Jonathan Stewart or wide receiver Ted Ginn.
4) Cam Newton ties Steve Young for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback ALL-TIME (I’m assuming he’ll get at least one more in his career).
5) Back-up running back Cameron Artis-Payne gets his first professional touchdown and a whole lot of confidence.
6) Panthers become one of seven teams ever to go 15-1.
7) Newton all but locks up his case to be the league’s MVP.

The Panthers are so huge for this city. Get ready for the playoffs.

VITALS

Weather: 45. Sunny. Actually cold again, but 0 percent chance of rain.
Stat: $178. Cheapest Panthers playoff ticket on StubHub right now.
Job: Financial Analyst at Sealed Air. Apply.
Do: “Cherishing the Craft” interactive beer class at Sugar Creek Brewing. Details.
Charlottean: Sophia Grace, the first baby to be born in Mecklenburg County in the new year.

ORIGINALS

Single ladies and gentlemen, these are the best Charlotte Meet Markets [Levans]
This is not a misspelling. If you want to find a potential love interest, you’ve got several avenues to take. You can go fitness related (STAX, Yoga on Tap, NoDa Run Club, etc.) or food related (Food Truck Friday, Chef Alyssa Speed Dating) or try your luck at places like apartment complex pools. You got this.

Queen’s Feast (aka Charlotte Restaurant Week) is back. Here’s what’s new [Dunn]
15 new restaurants are lined up for this winter’s event. If you haven’t been before, this is your chance to try out the city’s finest eating establishments for a very reasonable price. Corkbuzz, CO, Rocksalt, Smoke Modern Barbeque and Rusty Bucket are some of the new highlights.

Cam Newton is making Charlotte cool on a national scale [@thetrolleywalk]
This year probably marked the first time that LeBron James was in town, and wasn’t the coolest person in the arena. Plus Cam sparked a nationwide dance craze.

Retail Uptown? This shopping neighborhood is just getting started [Dollard]
Uptown isn’t necessarily known as a shopping mecca but the success of several pop-up shops over the holiday season show that this is an up-and-coming area for retail. One vendor made $25,000 in three days.

Drink local for a cause at the 5th Annual Queen City Brewers Festival [Beth]
Tickets to this thing can be hard to find, but you get unlimited beer samples of Charlotte’s best brews, plus you raise money for ACEing Austim Charlotte. Wins all around. Event happens February 6.

If your New Year’s resolution is to sweat, hot yoga is for you [Koban]
I’ll go out on a limb and say 60 percent of us have getting in better shape on our list. Here’s why hot yoga will leave you laying in a pool of sweat feeling accomplished.

Work life of Carlos Davis, CEO of Stand & Deliver, LLC [Dunn]
Carlos is about improving more than public speaking with his professional skills clients. He’s about the entire person. Zoe’s Kitchen is his go-to lunch spot.

TALKING POINTS

A mega-Teeter is coming to town []. A Harris Teeter store that’s 50 percent larger than normal is about to open in Matthews and it has all sorts of goodies: growler station, soup and wing bar, meat smoker, juice bar and walk-in humidor. Here’s hoping these expand.

Drunk guy steals and crashes a police car [WSOCTV]. Happened on New Year’s at Coyote Joe’s on Wilkinson Boulevard. Officer was investigating a complaint and left the keys running in the ignition, and there you go.

French bistro takes place of Terra in Eastover [Thomas/CBJ]. Aix en Provence is now open on Providence Road. Think Tagliatelle with ragout of lamb and preserved lemon and cavatelli with baby octopus, red wine and foie gras.

TODAY’S PHOTO
The not-so-future home of Kid Cashew, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant from Martin Sprock (RuRu’s, Leroy Fox, Ios Greek Kitchen). Primed to open its doors mid-January. 

PARTNER PHOTO
Allen Tate Home of the Day: Dilworth bungalow, 4 bed 2 bath, $625,000.

#CLTagenda
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“Blood Orange Juice today in honor of January being National Blood Donor Month!” via @ravenouspanda. #savealife. 

– Andrew