Food + Beverage

Ten-Table Wonder

Jonathan Cox’s Seaboy in Lake Norman Delivers in a Big Way Article by Elliott Harrell | Photography by LunahZon Photography Charlotte has plenty of great restaurants, but if you venture 30 miles north to Lake Norman, you’ll find Seaboy Restaurant & Bar, arguably one of the best new restaurants the area has seen in a while. Seaboy opened in March of last year, and by December, Esquire magazine had named it one of the best new restaurants in America. The restaurant is the brainchild of...

Life + Culture

Less Rush, More Meaning

What Local Author Leslie Hooton Learned About Friendship and Gratitude While Healing Article by Leslie Hooton I can already hear the pushback. Haven’t I looked at a calendar? Here we are careening at breakneck speed to the holidays. Your lists have lists. There are family presents to buy. There are teacher remembrances. Santa Claus. Hostess gifts. Baking. And the groceries. Groceries! How is it that you keep going to the grocery store daily and still never have something to prepare for...

Travel

Who’s Coming With You?

Travel Destinations Tailored to Travel Companions Article by Krisha Chachra Choosing where to travel is just as important as choosing who you travel with. The right destination sets the stage for meaningful experiences, and not every place suits every group.While kids can tag along to Las Vegas, Sin City is best enjoyed with fellow couples or friends. Although a trip to Disney can be fun with anyone, nothing compares to the wonder on children’s faces when they first glimpse Cinderella’s...

Arts + Culture

Bloom & Brushstroke

A Local Florist's Tribute to Four Artworks on View in Charlotte this Fall Article by Liz Brown For Jessica Rauls, the florist behind Gather Flower Studio, every arrangement starts with intention. It's flower-focused, built from local, seasonal blooms and often layered with produce for texture and surprise. She doesn't simply arrange flowers; she aims to create art, thinking first about sentiment and emotion before placing a single stem. So when asked to interpret four local paintings in her...

Life + Culture

GIVING THANKS

Readers' Share Gratitude Notes to Neighbors, Plus Our Favorite Hostess Gifts Around Town Article by Queen City Lifestyle Staff Hostess gifts, available at Isabella: Pom Pom Bubble Turkish hand towels, $31; assorted playing cards, $17.50; roomy matches tin collection, $19. 115 Cherokee Road.   Dear Bonnie & Ted, I don’t think you fully realize what that dinner meant to us. As a busy mom, just getting an invitation and having someone else take one thing off my plate for an evening is...

Life + Culture

Love & Light

Three Charlotte Families Share Their Diwali Traditions Article by Elliott Harrell | Photography by Olly Yung Every family has its own set of holiday traditions, often passed down generation after generation. They make the holiday memorable; without them, things just wouldn’t feel right.  Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is a holiday that originated in India and centers around the celebration of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated over...

Home + Design

Room for What Matters

Personal Treasures, Global Finds and Thoughtful Design Give This Foxcroft Renovation a Story All Its Own Article by Taylor Bowler | Photography by Brie Williams Styled by Ashley Hotham Cox The 5,000-square-foot red-brick home had been well-maintained by its previous owners for decades, but it was ready for a refresh. Its new owners were empty-nesters, but they weren’t looking to downsize. They wanted a first-floor primary suite, inviting spaces for entertaining and enough bedrooms to...

Life + Culture

A Feast of Faith

For Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, The Yiasou Festival is Where Faith, Tradition and Recipes Get Passed Down Article by Carroll Walton and Liz Brown | Photography by Rico Marcelo Charlotte is changing fast, with more than 150 people moving here daily, high-rises stacking up, condos swallowing every gap and traffic thickening. But one thing has stayed deliciously the same: the Yiasou Greek festival. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral hosted its 48th annual festival in Dilworth in...

Food + Beverage

Three Point Shot

Stephen and Ayesha Curry Debut a Trio of New Slam Dunk Restaurant Concepts Article by Elliott Harrell A full-court press to revamp the dining options at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte is underway, thanks to the teamwork of local basketball legend Stephen Curry, his wife Ayesha and acclaimed restaurateur Michael Mina. Three new concepts will open by the end of this year, continuing widespread renovations the hotel started in 2023. All-day cafe Sweet July opened in July, while steakhouse Bourbon...

Life + Culture

Creative Composting

Jonathan Mustich is Helping Charlotte Rethink the Journey From Food Scraps to Fresh Harvests Article by Taylor Bowler | Photography by Olly Yung Jonathan Mustich spends much of his time thinking about what happens after we're finished with something.  Mustich is the founder of TerraLoam, a sustainability company that transforms products into nutrient-rich compost to reduce waste and improve soil health. His latest innovation, the BioDigester, can convert up to 220 pounds of compostable...