Plans for Lovin' Life Music Fest 2026 are currently on hold, organizers announced on Instagram last Friday.

Why it matters: Lovin' Life, which aimed to be Charlotte's signature festival and to help put the city on the map as a music destination, drew big names like Post Malone, Stevie Nicks, Pitbull and Gwen Stefani.

• In its first year, the festival generated an estimated $32 million in economic impact.

Driving the news: "Due to circumstances outside our control, Lovin' Life will take a short pause in 2026," organizers said in a statement. They then turned off Instagram comments.

The intrigue: Lovin' Life was scheduled to return to Uptown for its third consecutive year, May 1—3, 2026. Southern Entertainment never released headliners, a lineup, or ticket sales, which were already being promoted this time last year.

2026 would've been the third consecutive year for the music festival, which sold out in its inaugural year

• The 2025 festival, which took place May 2—4, happened on the busiest weekend in Uptown, which also welcomed Kendrick Lamar and Sza fans and Charlotte Knights games.

Keep reading about the major impact the festival had

Charlotte’s largest employers have parental leave policies that range from four weeks of paid leave to more generous offerings — like 16 weeks fully paid, IVF coverage and $50,000 in adoption reimbursement.

Why it matters: Offering generous parental leave policies is a way many local employers work to recruit and retain young talent, as well as show their staff they value them.

We verified the policies of some of the largest employers in the Charlotte region, which employ over 175,000 people locally combined.

• Wells Fargo offers up to 16 weeks of paid leave for a primary caregiver, and up to four weeks for a parent who isn't the primary caregiver.
• Bank of America offers 16 weeks of paid leave for eligible employees, for a total of 26 weeks of parental leave.
• American Airlines offers up to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Read what else these employers offer, plus what other employers' policies are

Uchibā will open in early 2026 with a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Why it matters: It'll be located above the previously announced Japanese restaurant Uchi in Plaza Midwood's new Commonwealth development.

Context: Uchibā, the sister restaurant of Uchi, has locations in Dallas and Austin and takes inspiration from Japanese izakaya bars, which are casual dives where patrons eat, drink, gather and socialize.

Dig in: Chef de cuisine Shaun King will lead the kitchen at both Uchibā and Uchi. Uchibā's menu will have small plates like baos, buns, and other shareables. Its Dallas menu, for example, features dumplings, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori skewers.

• Uchi's menu is more sushi-focused with traditional Japanese fare.

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🍸 Charlotte bartender Larry Suggs is opening a cocktail bar called APB (All Purpose Bar) in the former Protagonist Beer space in NoDa next year. (🔒 CBJ)

💿 Charlotte's only 2nd & Charles store, which sells new and used media products such as video games and vinyls, will close next month at the corner of Tyvola Road and South Boulevard. (🔒 Charlotte Ledger)

💰 Connecticut-based manufacturer ITT Inc. will acquire Charlotte-based industrial machinery manufacturer SPX Flow for nearly $4.8 billion. (🔒 CBJ)

🗳️ Democrats and Republicans are lining up candidates for competitive North Carolina midterms, which will determine who will replace Thom Tillis as Senator and the makeup of the state's Congressional delegation. (Axios)

🏃‍♀️ University City Partners' Charlotte New Year's Day 5K returns Jan. 1 at UNC Charlotte, inviting runners of all levels to kick off 2026 with a race, post-run celebration and family-friendly activities.

News you can use from our partners.

• 🎁 Experiences make the best gifts. Now through Jan. 4, save 15% on Discovery Place memberships to give your loved ones unlimited museum visits and a lifetime of memories. Gift a membership.

The North Carolina childhood home of the late musical legend Nina Simone has been restored after being saved from demolition, preservationists announced.

The big picture: The restoration is part of a nationwide movement to protect Black cultural heritage sites, backed by significant philanthropic investment.

Driving the news: The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced in November that restoration work on Simone's childhood home in Tryon is complete, following a nearly decade-long fight to protect the site.

• The home will serve as a historic place to inspire visitors and artists, authentically showcasing where Simone grew up and grew into her artistic voice, though it's not yet open to the public, officials said.

Keep reading

This week is full of festive ways to spend your days:

📝 Monday: Perform your top Wrapped song at Starlight on 22nd's karaoke night. | 7-10pm | Free | Details

🏒 Tuesday: Cheer on the Checkers against the Cleveland Monsters. | 7pm | $24.99+ | Details

🎥 Wednesday: Watch "Home Alone" on the big screen at Blinders. | 6pm & 8pm screenings | Free (food and drink specials available) | Details (edited)

🩰 Thursday: Enjoy the annual holiday tradition of Charlotte Ballet's Nutcracker at Belk Theater. | $35 | 7:30pm. | Details

🎶 Friday: Head to the Underground and jam out to Nightrain - The Guns N Roses Tribute Experience. | $10.50 | 8pm. | Details

More merry things to do this month

We recently tried the cocktails at Hermanita's "La Buena Christmas Cantina," a Mexican-themed holiday pop-up tucked inside El Malo in Plaza Midwood.

Sip on this: We ordered the "Krampus is Cool" (mezcal lovers, this one's for you) and "Ponche Navideño," a traditional Mexican Christmas punch.

• Both were paired with Hermanita's snack sampler.

The big picture: We just added five more holiday pop-up bars to our comprehensive guide, bringing the total to 15 across Charlotte.

• Sugarplum Social at Optimist Hall
• Gilded Cocktail Club at Búho Bar
• Elf Bar at Foo Bar
• McHale's House of Christmas at McHale's Irish Pub
• Misfit Toys at Queen Park Social

Sip your way through them all