Arts + Culture
Pantone Color of 2025
Mocha Mousse Article by Liz Brown The Pantone Company, a global leader in color design, selected "Mocha Mousse" as its 26th annual "Color of the Year." The soft brown will serve as inspiration for trends in apparel, accessories, home design, graphic design and more. What is officially designated PANTONE 17-1230 is described as a warm and flavorful brown. The color conjures both the natural world, with its earthy tones, and delectable deliciousness, with its suggestion of cacao, chocolate and...
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Artists at Work
McColl Center celebrates 25 years of cultivating the Charlotte arts Article by Carroll Walton Hugh McColl, former chairman and first CEO of Bank of America, used to drive past an abandoned Presbyterian church at the corner of 11th Street and Tryon near his uptown office. It had been burned down in a fire set by a vagrant trying to get warm one winter night in 1984. As CEO of what was then NationsBank, McColl purchased the land and decided to redevelop it as an urban artist colony, which opened...
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Keeping the Romance Alive
Trope Bookstore introduces Charlotteans to new fiction and, sometimes, each other Article by Cate Stern | Photography by Courtesy of Trope Bookstore Shortly after rekindling her passion for reading, Katie Mitchell discovered The Ripped Bodice, the country's first romance-only bookstore, on Instagram. Inspired, Mitchell introduced Charlotte to its very own romance-only bookstore on wheels, Trope Bookshop, in October 2023. The Green Girl, as Mitchell calls the bus that transports Trope’s...
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Gift of Letter Writing
Handwritten notes are great way to show someone you care Article by Queen City Staff | Photography by Janie Jones There is a lost art in letter writing that I wish to hold onto. In this speedy world where anything can be done lickity-click, a handwritten letter takes time and shows thoughtfulness. Much like a fingerprint, your handwriting- as elegant or clumsy as it may be- is as much a piece of you as the color of your eyes or the sound of your voice. The handwriting of a loved one that has...
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Hoops Connection
Charlotte Skill Factory youth basketball program focuses on development and friendship Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Courtesy of Charlotte Skill Factory In just three years, Lawrence Gordon has grown his youth basketball program from 10 kids to 250. Charlotte Skill Factory is unique among Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU, programs, he says, because it's built on connection rather than simply competition. "The relationships you build makes sports special," he tells his players in...
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Loving thy neighbor
Manning is watching over widows one bouquet at a time Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Amanda Anderson Ashley Manning’s idea for her Valentine’s Day Widow Outreach Project started in 2020 with a gesture for a preschool teacher. Manning, a mother of four, thought it would be nice to give a bouquet of flowers to her child's teacher whose husband had died of cancer. She didn't realize its full impact until after COVID closed schools that spring and the teacher drove by their house to...
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5 Charlotteans to know in health & wellness
Follow these local leaders in wellness for tips, ideas, and inspiration for the new year Article by Carroll Walton Vani Hari Founder of The Food Babe.com and Truvani You probably know Vani Hari "The Food Babe," a nationally known health food activist. But did you know she grew up in Charlotte and graduated from South Mecklenburg High and UNC Charlotte? Her Indian immigrant parents named her "Vani," which in Punjabi means "the voice." She lives that out as a blogger, influencer and...
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Serving Style
Celebrating pickleball and a Palm Royale theme for upcoming Mint Auxiliary Winter Party at Rally Article by Liz Brown | Photography by Olly Yung Rally for Mint Auxiliary The Mint Museum Auxiliary invites you to Rally for a Palm Royale-themed pickleball soirée Feb. 8th—a perfect blend of 1960s glam and sporty sophistication. Embrace the charm of a retro Palm Beach resort getaway with bold colors, whimsical prints, and tennis-inspired attire. Take a swing at the newest craze in racket...
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Fighting for others
Attorney Theresa Viera driven by personal experience to help clients Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Loretta Hughbanks One of the first things attorney Theresa Viera tells victims of domestic violence is to pack a “go bag” with all of their essentials so they can be ready at a moment’s notice. She also recommends packing a camera, like the disposable one she and her mother used. “It’s very hard to collect evidence on these things,” she said. Viera is lead attorney and founder of...
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Clean Eats
Healthy Eating Spots in the Queen City Article by Carroll Walton Focusing on clean eating, and cutting down on processed foods, is a great way to start the new year. The Mayo Clinic says nourishing your body with foods that come more directly from the earth—fruits and vegetables, lean meats and protein, whole grains and dairy—can improve not only your heart and brain health but help you build a stronger immune system, manage your weight, and make you feel more energetic too. What’s not to...
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