Mailbag: Top 40 feedback letters on first dates, Harris Teeter, banana pudding and generational wealth

In response to: Chem 101 – Brianna, Joey and an awkwardly funny tour of the city

“A few observations from a guy who has had many similar first-date experiences as the one in your Chem 101 story. (1) The man was unsure of what to laugh at. A woman will sense that uncertainty as a lack of confidence and leads to a poor first impression. It’s easier said than done, but being yourself; especially comfortable and opinionated about a taboo subject will win her over, rather than playing the middle and seeing how she reacts. (2) The woman was worried about the man taking it seriously. Acting too interested too early will make her less attracted to you. It may sound douchey (and probably is) but treating the date as a joke or acting somewhat disinterested in her will make her more interested in you. Otherwise, you’re just another nice guy.” – R

In response to: Harris Teeter raises the stakes in the Charlotte grocery wars with its new South End store. See 21 photos from the grand opening.

“Did anybody else notice the guy in your 9th photo wearing the blazer who is blatantly ignoring the toothpicks and going for the full fist cheese grab? So gross. This is why samples at Teeter continue to be too sketchy for me. I don’t need blazer guy fondling by cheese.” – J

Ted: “I think he’s going after the tiny, plastic sample cup. I hope.”

“Let’s be done with this and bring Wegmans to Charlotte. Puts HT, Publix, Fresh, Trader Joe’s, etc. combined to shame.” – M

“We can drink local beers and grocery shop. Game changer.” – K

“It’s still a Kroger , give it 2 weeks and shelves will be empty and labor will be scarce.” – M

“Hopefully they’ll build some in places where there aren’t many grocery stores… ex, West charlotte.” – A

“I’m like sooooops creeped out by this exterior for some reason” – J

“I guess Microsoft Word did their branding” – I

“Just left there and if a grocery store can be gorgeous it’s that. It’s one of the nicer HT I’ve been in.” – M

“YEEEEEET HARRY T***IESSSSS” – B

In response to: Why I feel like the luckiest dad in the world this Father’s Day

“After reading your recent article regarding what you are thankful for this Father’s Day, I just wanted to let you know that you tapped into a very strong emotion for me. I suspect that there are any number of the fathers out there, as long as they took the time to read your article, walked away with the same feeling of love, amazement, and humility that I did. As you have come to know, NOTHING trumps the love we have for these wondrous little creatures that God entrusts us to raise. What I hope you will see, as time goes on, is the love these children give back to us, as parents.” – D

“Sitting here tearing up. God is good!” – S

In response to: This $99 lobster special is a SouthPark summertime tradition

“Yeah 99.00…  let me see I can get 7 lobsters from New England for that. Not the Canadian ones they sell you fools that pay that lol.” – R

In response to: Do you know about Luisa’s all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, salad buffet for $8 on Montford?

“Pro tip (but you may not want to publish this or everyone will try to do it)… show up at Luisa’s a bit before the buffet closes. It doesn’t work all the time, but if there are a few pies left on the buffet, and no one else in the dining room, they will just give you whatever is left to take home.”

In response to: First Ward Park is getting this fancy jungle gym. The $100,000 piece of equipment is being donated by Southminster senior living.

“LOL, wtf is that… I remember what park bc young dolph got shot at there but I’m asking wtf is that piece of metal.” – C

“Kids actually love those.” – K

“Can someone explain to me why a child in a wheelchair was drawn into this when this jungle gym does not appear to offer any sort of accommodations for people with physical disabilities or inclusive elements for them to play on the equipment?” – M

“It may not appear it but this piece of equipment is ADA accessible and does offer wheelchair accessible features in the design.” – K

“$100,000 for a jungle gym?!” – Z

In response to: A new brewery is in the works in Wesley Heights right next to Rhino Market

“Damn! Can Charlotte get something else besides Breweries and Taco joints. What about (better) seafood, Italian, and Asian cuisine!” – S

“How many breweries does charlotte need” – T

“Lol. Brewery capital of America?” – E

“Love me a brewery but I already struggled to find parking at Rhino and Picante.” – T

“No lube jokes? I’m disappointed, CLT fam.” – G

“Oh man they better keep that name.” – S

In response to: New nightclub and event space “World” will open at the Music Factory this fall

“If I were to tell someone I was going to ‘World’ this weekend, I would laugh at myself for just saying the establishment’s name. What a dumb name. (1) Won’t name the DJ booked = there may be no DJ booked or he isn’t one of the biggest DJs in the world. (2) A pool! Yay, what an innovative way to sit in unidentified bodily fluids and alcohol of club-goers… But besides these petty infractions that hopefully will lead to the demise of ‘World’, there is no mention of what Vitale plans to do concerning improving security. You can take the name of the former club off the building, but you can’t take the club out of the building. So let it not be lost that a new name on the same business, does not dismiss the fact that people have been shot in the parking lot and crime is up in this area. Leaving the club without being shot or mugged is better than any pool or DJ who has a laptop and the ability to hit PLAY on a playlist.” – J

In response to: 7 best banana puddings in Charlotte, including one that’ll give you a buzz

“You forgot Hubee Ds” – E

“Eatin’ nanners in our jammers” – J

“Honey, instead of a babymoon let’s do a banana pudding tour of Charlotte.” – T

“Midwood smokehouse hands down…. don’t phone a friend, don’t ask your granny, just trust me here #realfacts” – W

“Agenda, you’re doing the Lord’s work.” – A

“I thought I was the only one with a no-fruit-except-banana-pudding rule!” – L

“I am shocked Mac’s Speed Shop wasn’t on the list and Sugar Donuts need to be for their homemade southern banana pudding donut with a homemade nilla wafer on top.” – S

“Obviously you don’t know about Fud at Salud’s AMAZING nana pudding, or it would have been #1 on your list!” – E

“Stopped by Savor Cafe and Catering yesterday to give their banana pudding a try and it was hands down the best I’d ever had!” – K

In response to: How generational wealth is created in Charlotte real estate

“There are always going to be areas that are perceived as desirable and undesirable to live. This isn’t little league – not everyone gets a trophy.” – D

“Unfortunately real estate appreciation comes with gentrification of less desirable areas. New younger families move into a cheaper area they can afford, bring new energy and begin to fix up a home that was neglected then attract their friends as it snowballs. unfortunately the owners living in these areas with little to no appreciation tend to have a high density of neglected homes and home owners that don’t pride themselves on improving them or their neighborhood but also yell when they are forced out because young people started taking over the neighborhood and raise the price of rent/taxes due to new found desirability (aka home appreciation).” – C

“Another article laced with success shaming… if you have a great job make good choices and reap the benefits you are public enemy No. 1. I will most likely never afford the houses in these neighborhoods but I certainly do not begrudge those who can. you can’t help but chuckle…. when people preach about the evils of capitalism from their iPhone 7 while drinking a $6 coffee.” – H

“It’s not just ethnic minorities that aren’t able to buy in neighborhoods like Myers Park & Eastover — many WASP I know can’t either! … and not because of ‘down payment’ issues as you cited; because the property is too expensive for a majority of shoppers. HOWEVER, I’d never snub those that can — success & hard work isn’t shameful!” – W

“I don’t see how this is wealth or success shaming. The point of the article is that the deed covenants stated only Caucasians could purchase the land, and it was not outlawed in this country until 1968. The article is simply saying that minorities were not able to purchase homes in this area, when prices were lower, due to these covenants. Since they were not able to purchase, they couldn’t pass it down or sell when the value increased, hence they couldn’t generate the wealth some families were able to when Myers Park property values increased. Kudos to anyone who can afford the current price tag!” – C

In response to: Charlotte hidden barbecue gem is a 10-minute drive from Uptown

“Used to go there all the time when I lived up by Northlake Mall– GREAT barbecue, and super friendly staff. I def wanna get my photo on their wall, w/ a Bubba’s BBQ t-shirt, taken someplace exotic!” – J

“I’ve lived in NC for my whole life and have never heard anyone ever refer to barbecue as “cue”. GTFO with that s***.” – C

In response to: Do you really need a permit to film in Charlotte’s parks?

“Public parks are public spaces which enjoy the highest level of First Amendment protection – and filming and taking videos is speech. As it applies to non-commecial speech, which the ordinance is probably not intended to cover, the ordinance is unconstituional. Even as to commercial speech, which enjoys less protection, the government’s interest in restricting the speech (i.e. the filming) has to be substantial, the ordinance has to directly advance the government’s interest, and ordinance has to be narrowly tailored* to serve the government’s interest. My guess is that this ordinance fails constitutional scrutiny as it applies to commercial speech as well. Further, it appears to be vague as to what conduct it applies to (which can also invalidiate the ordinance). Bottom line, someone needs to challenge the ordinance and get it off the books.” – B

“Had to have a sound permit for the kids to trick or treat in our neighborhood and the mayor along with CMPD command agreed that we had to have one as multiple kids would gather! Also had to have one for a private party on our lot for Memorial Day with a BBQ Grill #OneTermJennifer” – F

In response to: The 2017 Charlotte Pizza Superlatives

“The lack of options for Chicago style around here have always amazed me.” – C

“New York Style 500 Degree Pizza slices on South Blvd needs to win a category. They are delish!” – R

“Do y’all think we can hit all of these in one weekend? #CauseIDo” – A

“Thanks to your Pizza Superlatives article, we’ve been craving pizza since before breakfast yesterday. Last night, we decided to do something about it. We went to Hawthorne’s to check out their Sicilian Pizza. Before then, I only had their NY style. The Sicilian did not disappoint – and it was “yuuuuuge.” When the waitress brought it, we were talking mad game, so she bet us $5 we couldn’t finish it. Even with four hungry twenty-somethings chowing down, we didn’t make it. But now we all have bonus lunch meals for today. Snapchat video attached. [Extreme pizza content: viewer discretion advised]” – K

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