Charlotte's newest apartments at the Queensbridge Collective development are now ready for move-ins after about two years of construction.

Why it matters: VIVIAN, the 42-story tower on the edge of Uptown and the South End, is reshaping the skyline and raising expectations for high-end apartments in Charlotte.

By the numbers: In South End, where rents average around $2,000, VIVIAN floor plans start at about $2,100 for a 550-square-foot studio and go up to about $7,600 a month for a three-bedroom penthouse.

• A one-bedroom ranges from $3,000 to $4,000.

What's inside: 409 studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, ranging from 558 to 2,180 square feet, and a few penthouses.

• Amenities include:
• a ninth-floor indoor and outdoor gym
• a 10th-floor resident lounge with bowling and a golf simulator
• co-working spaces and soundproof pods
• pickleball and basketball courts
• a dog park
• a top-floor pool with unobstructed views, plus grilling stations, cabanas and an outdoor bar

Zoom in: Guard & Grace, the Michelin-recommended steakhouse, is opening this fall on the building's 10th floor with a 2,000-square-foot outdoor terrace.

• FARE restaurant and Night Swim Coffee also signed leases, but have no opening date yet.

Take a look around

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Summer Camp Bus Driver at Town of Matthews.
2. Senior Salesforce Admin Specialist at Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region.
3. Capital Market Funding - Senior Analyst at Ally.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

We're tracking 23 highly anticipated restaurants and bars opening in Charlotte.

A handful are opening next month, including:

• Antagonist, an all-day cafe that encourages you to put your phone away, will open March 4 in Dilworth.
• Sage & Citrus is a wellness-forward fast-casual restaurant opening in Camp North End.
• Market on Morehead will have a massive dog-friendly patio and a 25-foot TV overlooking South End's Rail Trail.
• The Craic will open in SouthPark in the former Rusty Bucket space with daily brunch and Irish eats.
• Songbirds is a wine bar for independent artists and music lovers, opening March 28 in University City.

More new restaurants and bars we're eyeing

The Charlotte 49ers introduced Kevin White, who was previously Clemson's deputy director of athletics, as their eighth director of athletics on Thursday.

"I want you all to know, I'm all in."

💪 Moxie, a members-only women's social, coworking and wellness club, plans to open in early 2027 in Eastover's former Ben & Jerry's space, offering café and event space downstairs and coworking, podcast and wellness suites upstairs. (Tiny Money)

🏫 The UNC System Board of Governors approved an across-the-board tuition hike Thursday, the first such increase for incoming in-state undergraduate students in nearly a decade. (WRAL)

🍕 King of Fire founder Siler Chapman (now a five-time world pizza champion) won first place in Pizza Freestyle and third in Pizza Classica at January's World Pizza Champion Games in Italy, and will debut his award-winning "Inferno Dolce" pie in Charlotte this spring.

🍺 Sugar Creek Brewing's first location at Charlotte Douglas International Airport has opened. (CLT)

🍖 The Goodyear House will host a one-night, five-course Backyard Barbecue on March 26, featuring family-style dishes from top Charlotte chefs as part of SAVOR Charlotte. Tickets are $70 per person.

🍽️ Supperland Speakeasy's next cocktail tasting menu, "Journey of a Honeybee," runs March 26–May 16, featuring a four-course, honey-inspired pairing experience crafted by Michelin award-winning mixologist Colleen Hughes and executive chef Joe Hutton.

🏡 Former NASCAR driver Regan Smith has listed his nearly 11-acre Lake Norman waterfront estate in Troutman for $6.5 million, featuring a 7,900-square-foot home, pool house with a golf simulator, and private dock. (WCNC)

🏛️ Four people were arrested by ICE at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Tuesday. (WFAE)

📖 Ibram X. Kendi, a best-selling author, historian and activist, will speak at the Carolina Theatre on Saturday, March 28, at 2pm. Tickets start at $69 and go on sale at noon today.

This week's hot homes are all about spaces that fit any lifestyle, from a LoSo-adjacent spot near several breweries to a Foxcroft home with a backyard pool.

Zoom in: The home pictured above, for example, is in Shannon Park — about a five-minute drive to NoDa.

• The renovated interior is a win, but that spacious shaded patio will really come in clutch once patio season hits.
• At 1,875 square feet, it's got four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
• It's listed for $495K.

More hot homes for sale

News you can use from our partners.

• 🍸 Adults-only museum fun returns to Discovery Place Science on March 20 during Science on the Rocks. Sip cocktails, meet live animals and watch science come alive across three floors of hands-on exhibits. Snag tickets before they sell out.

One of North Carolina's most beloved holiday traditions is also an economic engine.

By the numbers: The N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer had a record $31.1 million economic impact last year, driven in large part by its annual Polar Express.

• Nearly 93,000 passengers climbed aboard for the Polar Express in 2025, which was another record.

What we're watching: Tickets for the Polar Express will go on sale in early June, an N.C. Transportation Museum spokesperson tells Axios.

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Open House, Open Hearts: Charlotte Yoga Carmel's 1-Year Birthday Bash at Charlotte Yoga Carmel Commons Mar 1-2: Free mini yoga classes headline Charlotte Yoga's one-year anniversary open house at its Carmel Commons with local partners, giveaways, and a collaborative community art project.
• Charlotte Homebuying 101: From Renter to Owner Mar 4: Buying your first home in CLT doesn't have to be stressful. Get a step-by-step plan from a local expert. It will cover mortgages, offers, the due diligence process, and much more. Sign up free.
• Ballantyne Farmers Market at Brixham Park Mar 4: Shop locally-sourced produce and artisanal goods from more than 30 vendors, plus enjoy a pop-up market featuring gifts, accessories and more. Bring gently used books to donate to Promising Pages.

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

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

Laurel Park is now serving brunch in SouthPark.

Context: The restaurant opened in December in the former Village Tavern space for lunch and dinner.

• Now, it opens at 10:30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Brunch dishes include:

• Chocolate chip ricotta waffles with caramelized bananas and Chantilly cream
• Cajun shrimp and grits with Farm & Sparrow organic yellow grits
• Chicken and waffles sliders with sweet tea-brined chicken
• Eggs Benedict with options like short rib, smoked salmon and dill cakes, or avocado

Keep reading about the restaurant