Mailbag: Top 30 feedback letters on Grier Heights, Google, Harris Teeter, dogs, reality shows and more

In response to: As a streaming alternative to cable, Google launching $35/month TV service with ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc in Charlotte

“Seems Better than Sling TV due to the DVR option. Will try it when it is available.” – S

“Great option.” – E

“Need.” – S

“Google’s new $35/month alternative to cable sounds awesome. Too bad every single apartment complex in NoDa and Southend, where all the millennials live, require you to sign onto whatever cable company they’re partnered with, rendering Google’s product useless to most of Charlotte.” – D

“Youtube TV with no Food Network is simply a non-starter.” – G

In response to: Grier Heights is nearing a tipping point. Will another black community vanish?

“There are things that can be done, but they require thoughtful city planning, zoning laws and investment by the city to keep rents affordable in all areas of the city for low and moderate income residents. In the years I have lived here, I have not seen any political will to assure affordable housing in Charlotte.” – H

“As a native Charlottean that grew up on commonwealth Avenue during the 80s, I can’t help but feel a giant sense of relief when I read this story. Grier Heights was never welcoming to me or to anybody I knew. It was an unsafe area my whole life that brought the area nothing but trouble. I’m thrilled to see it change, and when Mrs. Wallace asked on the final line “Where are all these people going to go?” all I can think is maybe to another town so we can finally be rid of them and their relentless drain on our resources. Whatever people in Grier Heights call “community” is what we call “crime and endless nagging, costly problems” so please take all that elsewhere where it can be… welcomed (?). Maybe to Shelby, Lancaster, Albemarle or Kannapolis. Maybe even further out like Marshville or Wadesboro or Pageland. Go to a place where life is slower, things are simpler, cheaper; perhaps they can continue working on their beloved “community” for another few generations out there and let the rest of us get on with living safer more productive lives here in the city. Just because your family has lived in one place for a while no longer guarantees you anything in today’s world… (much like the promises we made to our elderly that we haven’t kept) times have changed and so must the minds of these people.” – R

“Gentrification always benefits the city in terms of tax revenue.” – J

“It is very sad for the people who have lived there for generations. I for one, know how difficult it is to build a credit score, being an immigrant who moved to the U.S. 5 years ago, but alas, these processes have requirements and you need to know that and work your butt off to meet them, if you really want it that bad. Unfortunately though, if homeowners choose to sell their homes and investors (or other races) choose to buy them, there isn’t really much you can do. Is there?” – A

“I went to elementary school in Griertown at Billingsville, it’s a s***thole and gentrification isn’t a bad thing. Only the leftist hipsters at Axios Charlotte would lament people who do own their homes in the neighborhood receiving premium over-inflated values for their property and moving out of the ghetto.” – S

In response to: 7 wine bars that offer wine flights from $6 to $30

“OMG perfect place to have you try ALLLLL the wines” – A

In response to: Doughlicious Yummy’s Cookie Dough Bar for $4.75 (includes toppings) video

“I found it was really good after being in my fridge for a while. highly recommend taking it home and putting it in the fridge for a day.” – R

“Went here last week and, honestly, I wasn’t that impressed. It wasn’t that cold and it kind of left a weird taste in my mouth.” – W

“Loved it! Huge servings and free toppings!” – J

In response to: Boozy Sunday brunch faces one final political hurdle

“2 more hours is nice but HOW about they just do away with a ban of ANY kind on Sundays and be done with it!!?” – L

In response to: A new reality show is scouting Charlotte’s nightlife scene

“Can’t wait to see what kind of drama they can make out of a bunch of millennials drinking at breweries and eating at food trucks.” – S

“If they mean Harris Teeter on a Friday, we in.” – L

“The name of the show: BoredAF” – J

In response to: 37 budget-friendly new client fitness deals for your summer bod

“The YMCA is still by far the best deal around…sliding scale of membership cost, locked in for 5 years (at least it was when I signed up 2 years ago after graduating, can’t confirm 100% you still get it locked), access to many branches, and soooo many different types of classes. Most of these classes listed have some kind of similar offering at the Y (yoga, barre, cycle) so you can mix it up, without breaking the bank. There’s also pools, but I get wigged out by super warm, indoor, heavily-used-by-strangers pools, so I can’t really comment on that aspect.” – L

In response to: Mark the calendar and grab the leash: 5 must-do dog-centered events in July

“Us dog parents can find it hard to find things to do around this city, other than the dog parks, the Greenways, and the occasional dog-friendly patio. Please keep articles like this coming!!! I wish there was a dog friendly magazine for local Charlotte peeps…” – A

In response to: Charlotteans leave dogs in hot cars every day. Here’s what to do if you see one

“We need to get laws on the books allowing people to break windows to rescue an animal [depending on their condition] after calling 911 like many other states are doing/have done… but NC seems to be behind on the times, as usual.” – C

“If 311 didn’t take forever to respond to these hot car calls, windows might not be broken. I’ve personally called once and waited over 30 mins… no one showed, but the owner finally came out from enjoying his lunch.” – J

In response to: Tuesday night is Tiki Night at Haberdish including a $16 Hurricane

“If it’s anything like the hurricanes you can get at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans, that drink maximum is probably a good idea.” – M

In response to: Lidl pauses progress on South End grocery store

“Considering NC’s history with environmental policy and the history of the old AM radio facility that was previously on said site, it wouldn’t surprise me if it took more than a decade to properly and safely remediate the property. Charlotte’s history as a radio center for the east coast is strong and the 1940s-80s AM stations used a lot of PCB filled transformers, so…. Do you want cancer? Or proper remediation?” – J

“The executives working for Lidl are having more regulatory hurdles than anticipated evidently. Sloppy work. Indian Land’s location isn’t open yet either.” – E

In response to: How to get $3 hoppy 9.6% beers and $3 glasses of wine in Myers Park? Say hello to Harris Teeter’s second-floor bar

“Been there. It’s actually quite nice!! Never thought HT would have a bar inside a grocery store that was actually relaxing and nice to sit at.” – J

“Dude, sorry I missed you at the HT. That’s become my local watering hole for the past couple years. It’s crazy to say, but it’s almost Cheers like. Lots of folks who go there now friends and hangout. Definitely a good sense of community there. I know, it’s weird to say.” – B

“I need to volunteer to do the grocery shopping.” – P

“My mom’s fav place in Charlotte when she comes to visit.” – J

In response to: 25 must-try meat-free dishes in Charlotte

“Best place on the list is Bean Vegan.” – R

“Fern’s cinnamon rolls are the BOMB!!” – L

“Interesting dishes at places I’ve never been, and reasonable prices too! Next time be sure to include one of the awesome options at Lang Van…. best tofu I ever had. Their #63 is to die for!” – C

In response to: Tamales la Pasadita doesn’t have tableside guac or huge margaritas, but they’re home to the #1 tamales in town

“I’m pretty sure they straight up put crack in the tamales. How else can you explain how addictive they are? – J

My favorite part of this restaurant is that all the pictures have text on them like they’re memes. So you look at the menu and you almost get a reflex for humor.” – A

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

“I am sending this here instead. I read with interest the Chem 101 series. My husband and I met on Match.com in 2011 so I am a big fan of all versions of “online dating” and being set up. My mom, who also lives in the Charlotte area (Huntersville) is single. She bravely tried online dating once and did not enjoy it. I have been thinking on an app/website that would allow adult children to do the matching making for their single parents online. I would eagerly do this for my mom. Charlotte seems like a key market with so many parents of adult children settling here due to climate, access, cost, grandchildren, etc. When I saw Chem 101, I wondered if there was a riff on it that included some element of CA readers matching their eligible parents here in town. Just a thought. Thanks for always keeping me in the loop on all things Charlotte.” – M

In response to: Amazon just dropped a bomb in the Charlotte grocery wars

“I get the need for big headlines. But Amazon did not drop a bomb. Amazon plus Whole Foods = a whole lot of nothing in grocery. Walmart leads by a huge margin. The Germans are making a big play with Aldi and Lidl. Kroger is second, though I suspect they are the ones in trouble. The same is true with Harris Teeter and Publix. The middle is what will be lost here – Walmart and the lower end has a bunch of dedicated shoppers that may or may not care about Amazon products, but aren’t going to order from Amazon grocery when the kids are screaming for supper. Amazon is awesome, but they have a lot of infrastructure to build out. Whole Foods was up for sale for a reason.” – B