While politicians publicly praised Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on Thursday following the news about her resignation, the behind-the-scenes campaigns to replace her are likely already underway.

Why it matters: An interim mayor could be the expected Democratic nominee in the 2027 election, compressing what would normally be an aggressive race to lead the country's 14th-largest city into a matter of weeks.

Catch up quick: Lyles will step down effective June 30, roughly halfway through her term.

• Though she attributed the decision to wanting to spend time with her grandchildren, some have questioned why the 73-year-old mayor was noticeably showing up less frequently to meetings and speaking engagements, as WFAE reported.

How it works: Per state statute, city council must appoint a Democrat to fill Lyles' vacancy, since the replacement must be a member of the same party.

• Currently, James "Smuggie" Mitchell Jr. serves as mayor pro tempore and may assume the mayoral powers during Lyles' absence, including if a replacement isn't named by June 30.

Go deeper: The names circulating for Lyles' seat

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• 2nd Saturday Stream Cleanup + Garden Maintenance at Hidden Valley May 9: Stream cleanups that involve removing litter from the stream and surrounding areas to improve water quality and wildlife habitat! You will also help care for the Hidden Valley Ecological Garden.
• Huge tent sale & indoor bargains at CotsWold Marketplace May 11-16: Indoor early bargains May 11–16, plus a huge tent sale May 16, 8am–6pm (extended hours). Save on furniture, art, lighting, rugs & more. Parking across the street at Sonic.
• Reel Out Charlotte at Independent Picture House May 13-17: The Queen City's LGBTQ Film Festival! Celebrate LGBTQ lives and loves on the big screen at Bar Argon on May 13th and at the Independent Picture House from May 15th to 17th.
• Foundation Fighting Blindness: Charlotte GameChangers at Topgolf Southwest May 14: Charlotte GameChangers: Score for Sight. Interactive sports, dinner + auction. Sponsorships available. Supports vision research. $125.
• Copland & Kahane at Knight Theater May 15-16: Reflect on the meaning of home with reflective works by Aaron Copland & Gabriel Kahane in the Classical Series finale, featuring a collaboration with Roof Above.
• Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward at Historic Fourth Ward May 16-17: A walkable, self-guided garden and lifestyle tour, complete with food, wine and cocktail tastings, plus live music, at gardens and restaurants throughout Historic Fourth Ward in uptown Charlotte.

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

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

Chili Willi's opens today in the former Waterman space in Lake Norman.

Why it matters: The restaurant is a revival of a West Virginia favorite, which operated for nearly three decades before closing in 2011. Its new iteration has become a passion project for local restaurateur Rob Duckworth (of Duckworth's and Link & Pin), who took his wife there on their first date and remembers making early-career business deals there.

Context: Duckworth and Chili Willi's former chef-owner, Ron Smith, have been discussing reopening the restaurant in some capacity for over a decade. Last year, they penned the deal to bring it to Charlotte.

Dig in: The menu features several original Chili Willi's favorites, including pork carnitas tacos, pollo flautas and chicken fajitas.

• The cocktail program leans heavily into scratch-made margaritas with fresh lime juice, agave and tequila.

Stop by: Find Chili Willi's at 9615 Bailey Road in Cornelius.

• Open daily at 11am. Closes at 10pm Sunday-Thursday and closes at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

A closer look at the menu

🏈 North Carolina High School Athletic Association's board of directors of sanctioned girls flag football as an NCHSAA varsity sport. (NCHSAA)

• The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation will donate $1 million to support girls high school flag football programs across the Carolinas.

⚖️ Attorneys for Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused in Charlotte's August 2025 light rail stabbing, have filed a motion to request a federal competency hearing, arguing Brown "has suffered from debilitating mental illness and impairment, including severe delusions." (WBTV)

🥘 The third annual Charlotte Family Meal, a collaborative dinner featuring nine top Charlotte chefs benefiting food service workers in crisis, will take place June 8 at Supperland. (Tickets)

✈️ A new hotel near the airport, Spark by Hilton, opens May 14. (Hilton)

🛝 PlayNation, a new 14,000-square-foot "screen-free" play room for kids 0-13, will open at Eastway Crossing by the end of the year. (QC Nerve)

This week's hot homes lean into personality, like this Hidden Valley split-level that blends character with comfort.

912 Bannister Pl. — $300,000

Zoom in: 4 beds, 2 baths and 1,816 square feet.

• Other notable features include a fireplace, open living area and spacious rooms with plenty mid-century modern touches.

More hot homes to see

Market on Morehead is opening next week in South End.

Why it matters: MoM will likely draw crowds for its 25-foot jumbotron and skyline views.

• The new South End spot comes from the same owner of the popular Market on Main in Columbia, S.C., and is prominently located off the Carson light rail station, just a few blocks away from Uptown.

What to expect: The spacious outdoor patio is dog-friendly and features an indoor-outdoor bar.

• Inside, watch lobster rolls, wings, burgers and fries prepared through the open kitchen.

What's next: MoM will be in its soft-opening phase May 14-17 with dinner service. It'll slowly roll out brunch and lunch hours throughout May.

Take a look around

South End Hideaway opens Thursday, May 14, in the former Slingshot space on West Bland Street.

Why it matters: The new day-to-night bar revives one of South End's most recognizable entertainment venues, just weeks after Slingshot closed and months after neighboring Resident Culture South End shuttered last summer.

Catch up quick: Olsen Hospitality Partners, the group behind Queen Park Social, has now taken over the massive two-story venue with plans for a more polished mix of cocktails, entertainment, food and nightlife.

What to expect: South End Hideaway is designed as a casual daytime hangout that turns into a nightlife spot, with pool tables, darts, lounge seating and DJs spread across two levels.

• During the day, the venue will focus on casual drinks, games and group hangouts. At night, it'll shift to a more dance-driven environment with DJs and live music.

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