Mailbag: Top 35 feedback letters on foot patrols, STDs, poke bowls, BECs, homicides, dating and more

In response to: 12 best bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches in Charlotte

“From a displaced New York girl, all those eggs are overcooked! Just sayin! It’s not a BEC unless the yolk is running down your wrist.” – F

“Laurel Market is the OG” – M

“I love a BEC but I am weirded out when the egg is square shaped (looking at you Sunflour Bakery).” – R

“Local Loaf was out of croissants when I ordered that too, and I was really eyeing the one at the table next to me. Serious brunch envy!” – T

“No love for the BEC biscuit at King’s Kitchen in uptown? C’mon man. You can grab it to go, eat at your desk, and proceed to get absolutely nothing done the rest of the morning.” – J

“For those balling on a budget: Harris Teeter (at least the one at Queen/Providence) will cook up a B.E.C. on a Poppy’s bagel for under $3. It’s delicious.” – R

“I ate Poppy’s 3x/wk for like 6 months. If you commute past it, it basically pulls u in like a magnet.” – T

“Poppy’s for the win and a close second is Sunflour if it’s on the cheddar biscuit and add to the list Amalie’s BEC on the baguette.” – A

In response to: What’s it like to date in Charlotte with an STD? Not as big of a deal as you’d think

“Thank you so much for writing this story. I contracted the same strain of the virus in a very similar way (a loving, committed relationship), and it was devastating. Two years later, I’m still with my partner, but my family will never be able to get past what he did. To them I’m damaged goods, and he’s to blame. I still struggle to negotiate loving someone that was so irresponsible with my body. Reading someone else’s story made it feel less lonely.” – L

In response to: Introducing City Notes, the Axios Charlotte annual newcomer’s guide

“I was so excited to open my email today and see the awesome new project y’all have been working on. I just had to let you guys know how much I love the idea of a magazine for Charlotte newcomers, City Notes looks awesome! As a Charlotte native/unicorn, I’ve made various running lists of my own–kind of like less attractive, amateur-versions of City Notes–of Charlotte hot spots for so many of the young professional transplants that I have met in my neighborhood. You guys knocked it out of the park with everything you thought to include and promote, it was so good to see something like this be put out into our community where everyone can appreciate and benefit from it. I’ve already forwarded the Axios Charlotte website to all of my new neighbors, and will continue to do so because of how much I admire and appreciate all that y’all make happen in our fantastic city!” – C

“The city notes is very good! Makes Charlotte look like a much better place than it actually is. If this city was as good as the magazine makes it, I’d definitely want to stay rather than get the heck out of here after 28 years.” – A

In response to: If you don’t have these 10 things on your dating profile in Charlotte, you’re doing it wrong

“The piece about making a dating app profile should’ve just been called – how to be like everybody else.” – C

“CRINGE. Just be yourself. You’ll find someone that actually fits you that way. Also, if women are allowed to so freely ask and judge guys based on their height, why isn’t weight an acceptable profile requirement for women? Its just another body stat, right? And, arguably, more reasonable… you can control your weight a lot more than you can your height.” – R

In response to: South End and Wilmore could be getting a $1 million park

“Not a bad location, and it’s close to light rail.” – A

“Much needed amongst all that concrete.” – R

“Additional info: construction of this park would not begin in earnest until 2021.” – M

In response to: Charlotte is growing up. Here’s what 3 developers see happening right now

“I agree completely with the assessment of the 277. I think it’s a big asset, but by not having good ways in and out of it for pedestrians, bikes and even cars to an extent, uptown is sort of isolated from areas that are really not far away.” – A

In response to: Mini-mansions behind Mac’s Speed Shop going on the market this summer

“I do believe the tearing down of 900-square foot houses and replacing them with 4300 square foot houses is the very best example of the crass overconsumption that plagues Charlotte and sadly, most of the U.S. The fact that anyone would describe them as ‘mini’ anything is more depressing. Do the houses come with baby seal-skin sofas and polar-bear throw rugs?” – F

In response to: Charlotte homicides are skyrocketing. What’s going on?

“Part of what happens when the city grows at this pace. That’s on top of urban areas changing demographics, forcing folk to scatter to the few affordable places left in the city.” – J

“Not that any killing is better than another, but from what I gathered from the article, these aren’t “random killings” and most are the result of participating in “high-risk behavior” (I.e. Drug dealing). I would be much more unsettled if the killings were more random.” – S

“44 people are moving to Charlotte each day. Growing city, growing crime.” – K

In response to: I said extra fries, not exercise. 5 popular Charlotte cheese fries, analyzed and ranked

“Best cheese fries in town are from JJ’s Red Hot. Hands down.” – R

“You guys need to get over to Bistro La Bon and have the mussel fries, although Im not sure they fit on this list. However, I cant believe the carne asada fries from Sabor didn’t make it on here.” – J

In response to: I planned a scavenger hunt in Uptown Charlotte for 20 friends. Here are some tips for planning your own

“Amy, how do you have 20 friends? Jeez I’m a loser.” – L

In response to: Drunk driving in Charlotte is on the decline, but CMPD says it’s still a problem

“The popularity of Uber has helped this a lot – society dictates trends as well. For example, when we make something like cigarettes “cool” as they were many years ago- the majority of people were smoking. When cigarettes were perceived as nasty but vaping cool – all the sudden there was a huge decline of cigarette smokers (and purchases) – now this for the majority of people not all people, but they fell in line with what was socially accepted and desirable. And now, Uber has become the GO TO “cool” thing to do – and drunk driving isn’t the thing to do anymore. But more than anything, Uber simply made getting home MUCH easier and realistic with an app on our phone and a word we all know- drunk or not!” – B

In response to: CMPD to launch foot patrols in Plaza Midwood and NoDa entertainment districts

“Well, that dispels the myth that gentrification makes s*** safer.” – D

“This is good news.” – K

“Growth by 18% over the next 8 years is only gonna make it worse. Uptown gonna be looking like DT LA in 10 years – A Stage 4 in the gentrification guide book. We know who the drunk ones at these hours in these neighbors. Now watch the ones who get arrested. Lol should be interesting. – Q Looks like we can’t get drunk outside of Common Market anymore – C Good. I live in Noda and people’s cars are broken into all the time. – R Really…because the problem areas in Charlotte are the arts district and area with a Harris teeter, apartments and like two bars open past 11…not uptown with the clubs etc…good use of resources Charlotte.” – S

“Prob the same hipsters breaking into their friends cars to collect coins for another PBR.” – C

“I guess it’s true, when white people take over a neighborhood only then do the police find it urgent to become involved. So many high risk communities in Charlotte would benefit from foot patrol but yea lets start with hipstersville.” – A

“Super grateful for those officers for doing this.” – S

“Wonderful! Most major cities have this – especially in areas where there is nightlife. Hopefully this will be a deterrent and they won’t have to respond to very much.” – E

In response to: South End sushi lovers get excited, Chipotle-style poke restaurant opening on South Boulevard this fall

“Really sick of the trend of throwing a bunch of stuff into a bowl.. any fast casual Mexican, Mediterranean. It’s like slop for a pig.” – G

“Say what you want about America but we sure do love each putting stuff in bowls.” – W

“Can anyone in the industry please bring local and creative offerings North of town? South End has enough competition, come North and save us from the chains that have invaded our neighborhoods!” – C

In response to: CIAA basketball tournament staying in Charlotte for 2018

“Outsiders have been attending Nascar since 1960, no shootings. Outsiders attend the Wachovia Championships, no shootings. Outsiders attend the ACC championships, no shootings. Outsiders attend the Panthers games, no shootings. I agree that it is a bunch of outsiders who are causing trouble and ruining the image of the CIAA. Back in my music days, I promoted events at NC Central. My long time business partner went to NC Central. We have to question the way the event is organized that attracts such a rough crowd to the city.” – J