Travel

When in Rome

Charlotte to the Eternal City: A travel expert's luxe hotel picks and iconic landmark guide Article by Carroll Walton As if visitors needed more reason to enjoy majestic Rome, 2025 is the year of the jubilee. Not only is the Catholic Church holding its once-every-25-years period of prayer, reflection, and penance, it’s welcoming Pope Leo XIV, the first American to serve as pontiff.  Charlotte-based luxury travel consultant Elizabeth Walsh shares her insights on what makes Rome such a special...

Life + Culture

2025 - 2026 Summer Camp Roundup

Plan ahead for the next adventure Article by Liz Brown MERRI-MAC - OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR GIRLS Location: Black Mountain, N.C. Ages: Rising 1st grade - Rising 11th grade Registration: Opens in June  For more than 75 years, girls have been returning to Merri-Mac for summers of fun and growth. Located high up in the N.C. mountains, Merri-Mac is a Christian summer camp for girls. Merri-Mac believes the happiest environment is one in which the love of God is demonstrated by the staff and felt by...

Life + Culture

Summer Remembered

Local business leaders reflect on summer memories and pastimes Article by Liz Brown | Photography by Amanda Anderson Charlotte Harris Lucas  owner of Charlotte Lucas Design and Co-Owner of House of Harris  How long have you lived in Charlotte? Where did you grow up?   My parents were born and raised here. We moved to Charlotte in 1999, my sophomore year at Myers Park High School.  What are some favorite summer memories from your childhood?  Before we moved to Charlotte, we lived in...

Arts + Culture

Swiss Family Legacy

The Bechtler family brought love of European modern art to Charlotte Article by Carroll Walton When Tanja Bechtler walks through the bright and airy rooms of Charlotte’s Bechtler Museum, which houses her family’s extensive collection of modern art, she sees more than masterpieces. She sees childhood memories. Bechtler, the middle of three sisters, remembers hanging on the arms of Germaine Richier’s bronze sculpture, “La Sauterelle, grande,” on the lawn of her grandparents’ estate in Zurich...

Arts + Culture

Art Americana

Artist Veronica Davila captures summertime spirit and nostalgia in watercolor series Article by Carroll Walton Artist Veronica Davila was a seventh grader living in Sweden when her father, a pulp and paper engineer, decided to move the family to America for a year. To a small town in Idaho, no less. It was either going to be a disaster or an adventure. The latter is what comes through in Davila’s “Echoes” series on display at Anne Neilson Fine Art in SouthPark. Davila, a mother of a...

Home + Design

Modern Edit

Designer Susan Hill’s eye for structure refines every architectural detail Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Dustin Peck When Sari and Justin Kaplan came to designer Susan Hill, they wanted help making their 80s traditional home off Providence Road both contemporary and family-friendly. “We are multigenerational south Floridians who recently relocated to Charlotte,” Sari says. “We wanted our home to reflect the excitement of our new city while still paying homage to our deep roots in...

Home + Design

Rural Renovation

NASCAR XFinity driver and wife shed 80s aesthetic for transitional warmth Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Heather Ison NASCAR Xfinity driver Brandon Jones gets enough traffic in his day job. So, when he and his wife Ashley were looking for a new home in the Charlotte area, he wanted to escape the hustle of Lake Norman's suburban lifestyle. They found the perfect 30-acre property near Monroe, but its 80s-style house needed an update from the stomp textured ceilings and dentil...

Style + Beauty

Tailored Elegance

Taylor Richards & Conger clients share personal style and favorite brands at Orosoko Sound Bar Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Olly Yung Taylor Richards & Conger (TRC) was established as the premier destination for men’s luxury fashion in Charlotte. The store offers bespoke made-to-measure tailoring, ready-to-wear and personalized customer service, focusing on quality and craftsmanship. Taylor Richards & Conger caters to a vast array of clientele with their curated selection of...

Life + Culture

The Changebaker Film

Colombian immigrant and humanitarian Manolo Betancur featured in documentary Article by Carroll Walton The profile of Manolo Betancur–like the bread he bakes–is rising. The Colombian native behind Manolo’s Bakery has a reputation for speaking his mind about issues facing Charlotte’s immigrant community and backing it up with charitable work.  In Charlotte, he has delivered bread to migrant workers, donated blankets to the homeless, birthday cakes to children and prepared meals to thousands...

Food + Beverage

All Purpose Grilling Rub

Pitmaster Matt Barry from Midwood Smokehouse provides rub for your favorite BBQ dish Article by Matt Barry | Photography by Courtesy of Midwood Smokehouse The beauty of this rub is its versatility. Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder for more heat. Add extra sugar to make it sweeter. Pro tip: I love doing this on beer can chicken in the summer—put some rub in the beer can with onions and garlic for a super flavor kick. No matter how you use it, I hope you and your family enjoy it! ...