Longtime friends Harvey Gantt and Mel Watt are selling their neighboring Uptown townhomes for a combined $3.55 million.

Why it matters: Gantt, Charlotte's first Black mayor, and former U.S. Rep. Mel Watt have been friends and Fourth Ward neighbors for nearly 50 years.

Layout: Inside Gantt's home, listed for $1.9M, you'll find four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms across 4,419 square feet.

• Watt's home is listed for $1.65M with three bedrooms and four bathrooms across 3,068 square feet.

Zoom in: Gantt, an architect behind many Charlotte landmarks, designed the homes. He says he wanted something contemporary that still "put a friendly face to the street" in the historic neighborhood — think front porches and balconies that fit in with the old houses but don't feel suburban.

• Gantt's home features a light-filled design studio, plenty of wall space for art and a layout built for entertaining during his time as mayor.
• Watt's standouts include an indoor sauna, a built-in bar and a custom sound system that plays throughout the house — and has doubled as a PA system for political events.
• The properties share a tennis court where their children grew up playing — and Gantt thinks the next owners might appreciate it for pickleball.

Send this to your bestie that you want as a neighbor

The annual Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade takes place this weekend in Uptown's First Ward Park and surrounding streets.

🎉 What to expect: The two-day celebration kicks off today, Aug. 15, from noon–10pm, featuring performances, live music, food, local vendors and exhibits.

• On Sunday, the festival runs from noon–6pm, with the parade along N. Tryon Street from 1–4pm.

🎟️ If you go: Admission to the festival and parade is free. A ticketed VIP experience includes an air-conditioned lounge, food, drinks, upgraded restrooms and premium viewing access for $199 for both days.

• Several paid parking lots are located near the park. If you're taking the light rail, the 7th Street and 9th Street Blue Line stops are closest to the festival.
• CATS has a helpful reel showing you how to get there by train.

📍 Stop by: First Ward Park is at 301 E 7th St.

More weekend events

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Students are heading back to college, and this local designer is turning basic dorms into dream rooms — for free.

By the numbers: The typical family spent $34,019 on college during the 2025-26 academic year, according to a 2026 Sallie Mae report about how Americans are paying for college.

• To add to the running tab, the luxury dorm decor economy has become a freshmen-year trend. Some students are even spending $20K to have interior designers transform their rooms.

Catch up quick: Each year, designer Ebony Staten gives minority first-generation college students free dorm-room makeovers through her nonprofit, Vogue Room.

• The makeovers include custom headboards, wallpaper, wall decor, lamps, desk accessories, towels and bedding, with items supplied by local small businesses.

How it works: The scholarship is open to minority, full-time first-generation students entering college in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland or Tennessee.

• Finalists who don't receive a full makeover get a dorm-room starter package with towels, bedding and sheets.

What's next: This year's applications are closed, and two students got their dream dorms this week. Applications will reopen in early 2027.

Share these dorm designs with a rising college freshman.

There's still time to catch "& Juliet" at Belk Theater before its last run tomorrow.

What to expect: The musical is a modern take on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

• Using pop songs from the early 2000s, Shakespeare and his wife debate over a new ending for the titular characters.

💭 Laura's thought bubble: This musical is a millennial's dream playlist — think Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande and the like.

If you go: Tickets start at $47.