Slick City looks like it's for kids. It is. But it's also very much for adults.

Why it matters: In our conversations with Charlotteans, a common theme keeps emerging: The city needs more activities that don't revolve around drinking.

• May we present: a massive indoor slide park designed that'll almost certainly make you feel like a kid again?

Catch up quick: Slick City is a 34,000-square-foot indoor slide park in south Charlotte that opened in February — the first North Carolina location for the Denver-born business.

• You can book 90 minutes ($29.99) or 120 minutes ($34.99).
• Walk-ins are allowed. We went at 4pm on a Monday and could've just bought tickets there, though we'd recommend reserving your time slot on the weekends.

The intrigue: The park is family-friendly and clearly built with kids in mind, but they haven't forgotten those 18+.

• Adults-only nights and after-hours glow parties are in the works.
• The slides are for customers 4+, and the soft play area is for kids 0-3.

We recently took a team outing to Slick City.

Here are five things we wish we knew before going.

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Communications & Donor Engagement Coordinator at Gaston Community Foundation.
2. Fire Captain at Town of Matthews.
3. Therapist at In Session Psychotherapy, PLLC.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, speaking to an influential Charlotte business audience Thursday, stressed the need for the General Assembly to invest in mental health care following Iryna Zarutska's fatal stabbing on the light rail.

Why it matters: Stein said it wasn't just Zarutska who was killed by a suspect with a history of mental illness. He referenced a Raleigh teacher who died following an assault in her home and the Southport mass shooting.

Zoom out: The fatal stabbing prompted "Iryna's Law," which Stein signed. The legislation limits cashless bail for certain violent and repeat offenders, but didn't bolster funding for mental health services.

What he's saying: "We need to do a better job intervening with people when they need it," Stein said. "It's about providing the right care to the right person at the right moment, and if you miss that moment, you may miss your chance to intervene."

Keep reading

🏀 Last night, the Hornets retired Dell Curry's jersey. He was also given a key to the city and awarded with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — the highest civilian honor in North Carolina. (Axios)

🤖 Charlotte landed in the top 10 U.S. metros for artificial intelligence job growth, outpacing cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. (CBJ 🔐)

🌿 Mecklenburg County approved $6.3 million to restore Mallard Creek, a major local waterway and greenway corridor. (WFAE)

🏛️ Levine Museum of the New South will host Catalyst 2026: Taste of the New South on April 16 at the Grand Bohemian. The fundraising event explores Southern food, culture and history through a panel, dinner and community programming.

🏷️ A Charlotte event honoring Cesar Chavez is moving forward under a new name amid sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader. (WFAE)

📸 The Harvey B. Gantt Center will debut "Presence of Color" by artist Jeremy Okai Davis today. The new exhibition examining racial bias in photography through reimagined "Shirley" cards and Black portraiture, with a free opening celebration and artist talk.

📺 N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson is joining a lawsuit to block the proposed merger of Tegna and Nexstar, two television companies that own stations in the Charlotte area, Greensboro area and northeastern corner of the state. (WRAL)

🍽️ Mimosa Grill will celebrate its 30th anniversary on April 23 with a five-course Legacy Dinner featuring "Top Chef" contestant Brittany Cochran and former executive chefs who will revisit dishes from the restaurant's history.

Being within walking distance to all the bars and restaurants in South End means you'll hardly have to use your car.

• The home pictured above is for sale in the Wilmore neighborhood, blocks away from North Italia, Charlotte Beer Garden and other South End favorites.

Zoom in: At 1,977 square feet, the house has three bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

• Notable features include: a shaded porch, fireplace, wood floors, stainless steel appliances, wood ceilings, a walk-in closet and a fenced-in yard.
• It's listed for $950K.

More hot homes

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Charlotte FC vs. New York Red Bulls at Bank of America Stadium tomorrow: Join the party and don't miss Charlotte FC take on the New York Red Bulls. Arrive early to score a limited-edition Sir Minty basketball jersey, presented by Ticketmaster. $58+.
• Creek Week at Various Locations March 21-28: Volunteer, learn, and connect during Creek Week. This is a week to celebrate and appreciate the creeks through volunteerism, education, and environmental stewardship.
• Camden Commons at Camden Road Sunday: Camden Road transforms into a vibrant neighborhood block party where you can shop with local small businesses, enjoy larger-than-life games, snap the perfect photo, and so much more.
• Whitton Executive Series: Molly Grantham - Practice Makes Progress at Whitton Auditorium, Carroll Hall, Winthrop University March 26: Join Winthrop University for the Whitton Executive Series, featuring Molly Grantham - a 4x Emmy-winning journalist turned national speaker, 3x author, charity auctioneer, and proud mom of three.
• AI and the Future of Everything with Nita Farahany and Nicholas Thompson at Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts March 26: AI and robotics are reshaping industries and redefining humanity. Nicholas Thompson and Nita Farahany explore AI breakthroughs, ethics, and how we'll thrive in the future. $42.
• Enterprise Leadership - One Day Workshop at The Pearl March 27: Ideal for experienced professionals to refine their leadership skills and to deepen awareness of the department's functions, strategies, and actions for collective organizational purpose. $995.
• Heart of the Home Tour March 27-28: The Symphony Guild hosts its highly anticipated fundraiser, featuring a curated collection of beautiful and distinctive exclusive homes and gardens throughout South Charlotte neighborhoods, including Myers Park, Dilworth, Foxcroft and Villa Heights. $40.
• Dvořák's New World Symphony at Knight Theater March 27-29: Grammy-winning duo Soprano Janai Brugger and Music Director Kwamé Ryan reunite to perform works by Floyd, Stravinsky, and Barber, leading to Dvořák's "New World" Symphony. $44+.

Want more things to do? Check out our Event Board.

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

It's a historic day for Queens Royals men's basketball. The Myers Park-based school will play its first NCAA Tournament as a Division I program tonight vs. Purdue.

Why it matters: The Royals are the underdog as the No. 15 seed vs. No. 2 Purdue, and Charlotte sure loves to cheer for the underdog.

Zoom in: The game tips off at 7:35pm in St. Louis on TruTV. While the school's official watch party is at capacity, Angry Ale's will also host a watch party.

5 things to know about the Royals

Mindless Minutia's citywide trivia championship kicks off this Sunday, but there's another competition happening year-round.

What's happening: About 30 Charlotte bars are hosting a new Battle of the Bars league.

• Each location has a custom trophy that stays onsite, and the winning trivia team signs it every week.
• The team that has the most wins halfway through the year will be invited to a $1,000 tournament.
• Year-end champs keep the trophy and compete for another $1,000.

Stop by: Participating bars include Seaboard Southend, Hoptown, The Local, Lenny Boy, Gilde, Triple C Brewing, The Daily, Monday Night Brewing, Highland Creek, Steamers, Freemore, Tavern on the Tracks, Clutch, Caswell Station, NoDa Brewing, Ed's Tavern LKN, Divine Barrel Brewing, Hopfly, Resident Culture, The Clubhouse, Birdsong Brewing, Burial Brewing, Heist Barrel Arts, Crafty Beer Guys, McHales, Town Brewing, Hi-Wire Brewing, Monarch Market, Kanna Collective and Jack's Corner Tap.