Charlotte is hungry for HYROX — the popular global fitness race combining running with functional exercises.

Why it matters: Numerous local gyms are partnering with the HYROX brand to host official training events and workouts for Charlotteans looking to train for a race.

What to expect: The race consists of eight functional workout stations with a 1 km run (.62 miles) between each.

• The individual stations are a 1000m SkiErg, 50m sled push, 50m sled pull, 80m burpee broad jumps, 1000m rowing, 2000m farmers carry, 100m sandbag lunges and 100 wall balls.
• There's no time limit to the race, but HYROX cites the average finish time at 1 hour and 32 minutes.

Zoom in: Charlotte's HYROX affiliate clubs typically offer a mix of coach-led workouts, race simulations and physical fitness tests (PFT), plus access to the right equipment.

• Some offer open gym access with everything you need to train solo.
• Others have group sessions designed to build the strength and endurance needed to compete.

Where to train in Charlotte

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has a new name and plans for expansion.

Why it matters: Now called Daniel Stowe Conservancy, leaders want to highlight all that the 380-acre site has to offer.

What to expect: They recently added nearly two miles of crushed concrete trails, bringing the total of trails to more than eight miles.

• In May, they'll open Big Leaf Café + Shop and the Farmhouse Garden Center.
• A three-story Prairie Castle Playground and an expanded kids' adventure trail will open in June.
• The existing Trailhead Store coffee shop will expand its menu to include beer and wine.
• Plus, they plan to add more educational programs, workshops and outdoor activities.

See more renderings

A child and adolescent psychiatric facility will break ground in east Charlotte on April 22.

Why it matters: The Katie Blessing Center will be the first of its kind in North Carolina, according to a press release.

What to expect: The 64,000-square-foot facility at 5516 Central Ave. will be completed in phases.

• Phase 1 includes renovating the existing facility and will open in 2026. It'll offer behavioral health urgent care, inpatient care, telehealth, indoor recreation and an outdoor courtyard.
• Phase 2 will add additional space to the existing building and is expected to open in 2027. The additional space will allow for more beds to meet requirements for acute inpatient and Psychiatric Residential Treatment.
• Phase 3, opening TBD, will include more beds and therapy spaces, and an indoor gymnasium.

See more renderings

North Carolina may soon double the state's tax on sports betting operators and, for the first time, include N.C. State and UNC-Chapel Hill in the list of universities that receive the revenue, per a budget proposal Senate Republicans are advancing this week.

Why it matters: The change would generate an estimated $133 million in additional revenue over the next two years, of which the state's two biggest public universities would receive $56 million each.

Driving the news: The measures are tucked within the Senate's more than 400-page bill that the chamber's leadership unveiled Monday. The legislation is expected to pass next week.

• The budget proposal also calls for UNC and N.C. State to play every UNC System school in men's and women's basketball at least twice by the 2039-2040 season, with one of the games being an away game for UNC and N.C. State.

Keep reading about the bill

💼 Check out who's hiring in Charlotte.

1. Paid Search (PPC/SEM) Specialist at Atypic.
2. President at Sullenberger Aviation Museum.
3. Chief Financial Officer at Blumenthal Arts.
4. Executive Assistant II at Duke Energy Corporation.
5. Deli Manager at Food Lion.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring?Post a job.

💡Tianyu Lights Festival, with 25 Chinese lantern installations, opens this weekend at Concord Mills and will run through June 22. (Tianyu Lights Festival)

🗑 The city of Charlotte will be closed this Friday in observance of Good Friday, but Solid Waste Services will collect residential garbage, recycling and yard waste on Friday, per a press release.

🤳 The Lovin' Life Music Festival app is now available to download and includes the full schedule, map, set time reminders, plus push alerts for pop-up shows, per a press release.

✈️ American Airlines will add five minutes of boarding time to domestic mainland fights starting May 1. You'll have 35 minutes to board if you're flying on an Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft and 40 minutes if you're flying on a Boeing 737, Airbus A321 and all widebody aircraft. (American)

🍽 Mama's Comfort Food and Cocktails, which will open at Park Road Shopping Center this June, has rebranded to "Mother's Comfort Food and Cocktails," per a press release.

📅 Check out what's going on in Charlotte.

• SHOUT! Hip-Hop Celebration at Victoria Yards Fri: For the first time, Charlotte SHOUT! honors hip-hop's impact on the city and beyond with a night dedicated to lyrical mastery, storytelling, and dynamic beats.
• SHOUT! Jazz Fest at Victoria Yards Sat: Charlotte's premier free jazz event returns with an extraordinary lineup of rising stars and seasoned masters redefining the sound of jazz at Victoria Yards for Charlotte SHOUT!
• Earth Day Celebration at Discovery Place Science Sat: Celebrate our big blue planet with special activities featuring TEDx Speaker Hadia Ghandour, artists from local nonprofit Clayworks and Discovery Place Science educators—included in general admission. $0-$24.
• Grilled Cheese Festival at South End Station Sat: Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day with 18+ melty, mouthwatering takes on everyone's favorite sandwich. Sip on cold drinks from the Bloody Mary Garden, Mimosa Bar, and more. Cheesy fun awaits. $25-$50.
• Gospel Sunday @ SHOUT! at Victoria Yards Sat-Sun: Charlotte SHOUT! ends with a powerful gospel night featuring the Life Center Choir, Dayanna Redic, Jasmine E, and headliner Isaiah Templeton. Uplifting music that unites and inspires.
• Screen Printing 101 at Arts+ Community Campus Apr 23-May 28: Learn the step-by-step process of creating screen-printed works on paper, textiles, and apparel. Each student will create a variety of screen-printed works that showcase their unique artistic voice. $275.
• Richard Sheltra Memorial 10k, 5k and Fun Run in Pineville May 3: Gather community, family & friends together to celebrate the life of Richard Sheltra and raise money to support The Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation. $ 45 for 10K, $35 for 5K and $15 for 1-mile fun run.
• Mother's Day Weekend Tea Party at The Omni Grove Park Inn - Country Club May 10: Celebrate Mother's Day with a tea party, fine teas, and treats, or an overnight stay with breakfast, sparkling wine, and elegance—creating a weekend of love, laughter, and relaxation. $80.

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

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

We wish there were more hours in a weekend.

🎭 Friday: See Broadway musical "Kimberly Akimbo" at Knight Theater. | $40.23+ | 8pm | Details

🍪 Saturday: Learn how to bake and decorate bunny cookies at Sweet Spot Studio. | $70 | 11am | Details

📚 Sunday: Pull up a chair and start reading in That's Novel Books' Silent Book Club at Camp North End. | Free | 9:30-11am | Details

More fun things to do this weekend

The Charlotte Hornets, who finished the season 19-63, rank 22nd out of the NBA's 30 teams, according to an ESPN analysis.

By the numbers: Over 41 home games, 703,935 people attended games at Spectrum Center.

What we're watching: Spectrum Center will close during the offseason for its second round of renovations. Across the street, the team is putting up a standalone practice facility.