La Vecina, a new outdoor Latino fusion restaurant, will open soon on Plaza Midwood's Central Avenue.

Why it matters: It's a fresh offering — by the teams behind Moo & Brew and Bocao Sushi — in a fast-changing neighborhood that's often feared to be losing its local charm.

What to expect: An open-concept restaurant with a neighborhood feel that'll serve a range of Latino cuisine, says co-owner Ken Thomas, who also co-owns Moo and Brew, right next door.

• He's opening La Vecina alongside Bocao Sushi owners Carlos Nuñez and Victor Abad.
• Originally a 600-square-foot building (formerly home to The Lunchbox and before that, Chief's Smoke Shop), the team added 1,500 square feet to create a wraparound patio that's a major part of the experience.
• That's because the restaurant's main draw is its walk-up counter, designed for grabbing tacos and margs to go.

The intrigue: There will be full-service dining, too, but it's all outdoors. La Vecina will never have indoor seating, says Thomas. Instead, the space will be "winterized" come next year.

What you can expect on the menu

💼 See which top Charlotte companies are hiring.

1. Estate Planning Attorney at Erin Patterson Law, PLLC.
2. Senior Hydrogeologist at Mecklenburg County.
3. Major Gifts Officer at Davidson College.

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As state lawmakers poke around for ways to lower property taxes in North Carolina, they've got to be careful not to place too much strain on the essential services paid for with that money, like schools, policing and firefighting.

• So, legislators may try to free up some cash by reexamining the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of property already exempted from local taxes. That way, new relief would be less likely to upend local government budgets.

Why it matters: The $220 billion worth of exempt property statewide would provide North Carolina cities and counties with $2.1 billion a year if the taxes were actually collected, according to Brent Lucas, who works in the state's fiscal research division.

By the numbers: There are a few ways to be exempted from property taxes in North Carolina. Lucas shared data on the five largest categories, plus how much annual revenue local governments lose on each of them:

• $1.1 billion: Government property, including military bases, public schools, fire stations and post offices
• $255 million: Religious property, primarily churches
• $180 million: Educational nonprofits, like private schools and private universities
• $130 million: Nonprofit hospitals
• $60 million: Nonprofit affordable housing

Full story

Bring your appetite, Charlotte. There are plenty of bites and beverages to try this week.

🥃 Wednesday: Artisan's Palate's monthly series, Women of Whiskey, returns. Hear from George Dickel Whisky director and distiller Nicole Austin. The three-course meal will be paired with different drinks. | $83 | 6:30pm | Details

🍷 Thursday: Sip on half-off bottles of wine at Dilworth Tasting Room. | Prices vary | Times vary | Details

🍽️ Friday: Queen's Feast starts today. Charlotte's restaurant week runs through Feb. 1 with prix fixe specials at participating locations. | $30-$55 per person | Times vary | Details

Sycamore Brewing's former airport location has reopened as a business called The Queen's Tavern. (Charlotte Ledger)

🧑‍🍳 Customshop in Elizabeth will host Chef Callan Buckles of Rada for a one-night guest chef event on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Reservations are encouraged.

🛍️ Lifestyle brand Hill House Home has opened its store at Phillips Place in SouthPark.

News you can use from our partners.

• (Un)Valentine's Science on the Rocks is back Feb. 13 at Discovery Place Science. Single or coupled, enjoy a night of live entertainment, cocktails, hands-on fun and science with a twist at the museum. Get tickets.

You may have to wait a bit if you're looking to borrow a copy of "Heated Rivalry" from your local library.

Why it matters: The "gay hockey smut" book-turned-HBO-streaming-hit has exploded into a mega pop culture sensation.

Catch up quick: Rachel Reid's novel, which follows two professional male hockey players as they fall in love, came out in 2019.

• But the "Heated Rivalry" fandom has gone nuts since the show dropped late last year.
• Local sports bar Platform Sports partnered with Trope Bookshop to host a season finale watch party back in December, for example.

Yes, but: If you want to borrow a "Heated Rivalry" copy from a Charlotte-Mecklenburg library, good luck.

By the numbers: As of Thursday, Jan. 15, there were 103 holds on the county's 19 print copies, per its online catalog.

• And a whopping 461 people are on the waitlist for the e-book, of which there are 61 — that's about a 16-week wait, according to the Libby app.

Pro tip: The more impatient fans can listen to the entire series on Audible, no wait required, but it's $21.01.

The bottom line: If you prefer to read your hockey smut on loan from the library, it might be a while.

Fantasy football players: We want to know what punishment you came up with for the big loser in your league this year.

What we're asking: How did you publicly shame the team manager/owner who came in last place? Please describe in detail. The more diabolical, the better.

What's next: Share your story in this form by Thursday, Jan. 22, and you could be featured in our newsletter.

• If you have photo evidence of the punishment, share that, too, at [email protected].