Women of Whiskey is an intimate monthly dinner party series at Artisan's Palate in NoDa that celebrates women distillers worldwide.

Why it matters: The dinner and cocktail pairing is a great way to meet people, try new spirits, and learn a bit of history.

Context: Artisan's Palate owner and chef Christa Csoka says the idea stemmed from the notion that whiskey is considered a man's drink.

• "Women drink whiskey too," Csoka says.

Women empowerment is something Csoka is very passionate about — Artisan's Palate is a 100% women-owned and operated restaurant, cocktail and wine bar.

• "Every single spirit we use [for Women of Whiskey] is made, distilled, blended and/or owned by a woman," she said.

How it works: The ticketed event includes three cocktails, each paired with small plates.

• Price per event varies, but it's typically $60-$65, not including tax and tip.
• Csoka makes modifications to dietary restrictions, including vegan and vegetarian.

Attend this month's event

The Women of Whiskey tasking I went to in November was hosted by Melissa Katrincic, owner and distiller at Durham Distillery, which produces Conniption Gin.

Why it matters: Some of the best gin in the country is made in North Carolina.

Flashback: Melissa and her husband, Lee Katrincic, launched Durham Distillery in 2013.

• Since then, they've won several accolades, including "Best in the U.S." at the World Gin Awards in 2019 and 2020 for their Conniption Navy Strength Gin.

Stop by: Durham Distillery is at 711 Washington St.

• You can take a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting for $15, or stop by for a cocktail at the Corpse Reviver Cocktail Bar & Lounge.

🎾 16,194 people attended the inaugural Charlotte Invitational. (Axios)

⚽️ Charlotte will host four FIFA Club World Cup matches in June 2025. (Axios)

🏈 The Charlotte 49ers hired Tim Albin as their new head coach. (Axios)

🗳 Outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper is considering running for U.S. Senate in 2026. (WSOC)

I love public service. I want to keep helping North Carolina and our country. I haven't made that decision yet, but it's on the table.

💸 A Charlotte woman says she sought FEMA money to fix a small crack in her window from Helene. Instead of covering the $200 tab, she says, FEMA offered to put her and three others in a hotel for a month. (WSOC)

• One option was the Marriott in SouthPark, where the average rate is nearly $200 a night.

🚉 Charlotte Area Transit System has opened a survey for feedback on its transit system plan. The plan outlines which projects a potential 1-cent sales tax would pay for. (CATS)

🎄 A Nashville Christmas tree business is finding ways to give back to Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina. (Axios)

⛳️ Visitors spent an estimated $95.7 million at the 2024 U.S. Open, and generated around $242.5 million in economic impact for North Carolina. (BusinessNC)

⚽️ UNC will take on Wake Forest in the NCAA women's soccer championship at 7 tonight in Cary.

• It's the Tar Heels' 28th appearance in a national title game and the Demon Deacons' first-ever appearance.

🏀 Applications are open until Jan. 6 for the fourth annual Rick Bonnell Memorial Scholarship. The Charlotte Hornets Foundation will award $10,000 annually to a journalism student enrolled at a North Carolina college or university. (Hornets)

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Check out Street Car's festive cocktail flight, The Funny Bus' holiday comedy tour and these other happenings:

☕️ Today: Paint a holiday mug at Salted Melon. | 6pm | $75 | Details

🎸 Tomorrow: See legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel with special guest The String Revolution at Knight Theater. | 8pm | From $45 | Details

🎤 Wednesday: Sing your favorite song at Goldie's last open mic night of the year. | 6pm | Free | Details

🍺 Thursday: Learn about Charlotte's brewing legacy at "Charlotte Loves Beer" at Free Range Brewing. | 7pm | $30 | Details

Full weekday planner

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2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick has called the Charlotte area home for about six years with his wife, Brooklyn Decker. Ahead of Friday's Charlotte Invitational, we asked him a few questions about living here.

What are your favorite restaurants in the city?

Supperland and Ever Andalo. "Jamie [Brown] and Jeff [Tonidandel]'s whole [restaurant] group — they're phenomenal," he says.

If you have visitors coming in for the weekend, where are you taking them?

They'd stop at Intown Golf Club, which he and Decker are investors in, and maybe throw in a Hornets game.

What he thinks about Charlotte's chances of scoring more big tennis events

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Registered Nurse, RN - Cardiac Telemetry at Rowan Medical Center at Novant Health.
2. Director of Community Relations & Civic Engagement at The Mint Museum.
3. RN – Medical Telemetry at RL Enterprise Recruiting & Staffing.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board. 

Hiring?Post a job.

A small section of one of Charlotte's most popular greenways is temporarily closed due to construction on a massive apartment tower next to the Metropolitan.

• If it's part of your regular walking, running or biking route, follow detour signs along Kings Drive.

What to expect: The recent closure may extend up to 90 days, a Mecklenburg County spokesperson tells Axios.

More on the route

News you can use from our partners.

• 🏊 Dive into winter with Charlotte Country Day School. Registration is open for private and semi-private swim lessons at the Klein Aquatic Center for children ages 2-12. Register here.
• 🌯Want to try something new tonight? How about vegan chimichangas? Compare Foods has both the recipe and the ingredients, all that's missing is you. Start your dinner now.
• Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville will transform into a winter wonderland on Sunday, Dec. 15 for Frost Fest. ❄️ Expect festive crafts and activities, frosty science demos and appearances by Santa and Elsa. Buy tickets.

What a season for college football and the fun is just getting started.

Here's a look at postseason play for schools in the Charlotte area and beyond.

🐯 Clemson (10-3) enters the College Football Playoff as the No. 12 seed. The Tigers play the No. 5 seed Texas (11-2) on Dec. 21 at 4pm on TNT and Max.

🐏 North Carolina (6-6) vs. UConn (8-4) in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 at 11am on ESPN.

🏴‍☠️ East Carolina (7-5) vs. N.C. State (6-6) in the Go Bowling Military Bowl on Dec. 28 at 5:45pm on ESPN.

🐔 South Carolina (9-3) vs. Illinois (9-3) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 at 3pm on ABC.

😈 Duke (9-3) will play Ole Miss (9-3) in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 at 7:30pm on ESPN.

🏟 Virginia Tech (6-6) will play Minnesota (7-5) in the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on Jan. 3 at 7:30pm on ESPN.