Author: Brian Perry

🥚 Order Your Hand-Painted Wooden Eggs Before March 10

Written by Brian Perry on February 21, 2023. Posted in Connect.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Annual Junior Charity League of Concord Fundraiser Celebrates 31 Years with Another Unique Design This year’s Easter gnome is the latest in a long line of unique designs for the Junior Charity League (JCL) of Concord’s annual fundraiser. The JCL has hand-painted wooden eggs for the past 31 years, and since 1992, no two years have ever had the same design. From Easter bunnies, spring chickens, a patriotic tribute in 2002 to this year’s Easter gnome, these adorable wooden eggs have become a collector’s item in Cabarrus County and only a rare few people have...

🧋Boba Tea Served Up Daily by CabCo Classmates

Written by Brian Perry on February 21, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson You are probably reading this article from 1 of 2 perspectives…. “OMG! I’m obsessed with Boba tea and can’t wait to try out BOTH B&K Tea Cafe locations” OR “What in the world is Boba tea????” I must confess, I fell into the latter camp, which is why I was excited to sit down with co-owners Bobby Cain and Kristen Compton at their downtown Concord location, but not before I did some research, meaning I asked my 20-year-old daughter who has a mini Boba tea on her keychain. She explained the basics and I decided I needed to try it myself. Boba tea is a tea-based...

🍔 🗳️ Get Your First Peek at Local Competition’s Mouth-Watering Burgers

Written by Brian Perry on February 21, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Cabarrus Burger Madness is back for its third year and your local restaurants have turned up the heat on their unique culinary creations once again! How Does It Work? Diners are invited to sample limited-time burgers from 15 participating local restaurants and vote on the ExploreCabarrus website for their favorites. Voting will be open March 1–31, 2023, with a winner announced on Tuesday, April 4th. 🗺️ Visit the Cabarrus Burger Madness webpage so you can plan your tasty tour across Cabarrus County. Check out all of the participating restaurants, along with a mouth-watering burger photo (thank...

Down South on Main Is “Two Sweet” to Miss

Written by Brian Perry on February 14, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson This winner of multiple Independent Tribune Best of Cabarrus County awards is helping make Downtown Mount Pleasant a must visit destination in Cabarrus County. The popular home décor shop, Down South on Main, is celebrating its two-year anniversary this weekend with a party you “donut want to miss!” Owner Melissa Lemmond and her employees (who are more like family) make this store a place that is warm, inviting, and full of laughter. Melissa grew up in Cabarrus County and went to Mount Pleasant High School where she met her husband Jeff, and the pair live...

🍷 Toast National Wine Day at U.S.V.I. Wine Company

Written by Brian Perry on February 14, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Cabarrus Weekly is continuing its celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting another up and coming business here in our community and just in time for National Wine Day on February 18th! Genia Vanterpool and Deidra-Ann Varlack, natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands, launched U.S.V.I. Wine Company on International Women’s Day in 2021. Inspired by their homeland, and love of wine, founders, Genia (born in St. Thomas) and Deidra-Ann (born in St. John) met as Girl Scouts at the age of 9. They attended high school together but went their separate...

🎭 Area Schools Vie for Theatre Awards

Written by Brian Perry on February 7, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Pictured: Bryson Battle, 2021 Best Actor Award Winner Photo Credit: Blumenthal Performing Arts Center The Blumey Awards is a regional High School Musical Theatre Awards program, and eight of our local Cabarrus County schools have nominated their upcoming musicals to be judged for the competition. Why is it important? Because in 2021, the Blumey Best Actor Award went to our very own CabCo student, Bryson Battle of Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg. Man Can Bryson Sing! You may remember hearing Bryson Battle sing in person if you attended the Cabarrus Arts Council’s Breakfast for...

🐢 🐇 Register Now for This FREE Musical Version of The Tortoise and The Hare

Written by Brian Perry on February 7, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

This is one of our favorite family events across all of Cabarrus County… and it’s FREE! Opera Carolina comes to town to perform two shows on the Davis Theatre stage as part of the Cabarrus Arts Council’s Family Day. 🎭 Reserve your seats for either the 1:00 pm Show or 3:00 pm Show. This lively performance is sure to delight the kids and adults alike! Enjoy the other free activities that are part of Family Day (1-4 pm), including craft stations perfect for preschool/school-age children and their families. English and Spanish-speaking volunteers will be available to help with crafts. The Cabarrus...

🌳 Make a Date with a Trail This Month!

Written by Brian Perry on February 7, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Did you know that 2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina? Our friends at Walk Cabarrus have an entire section of their website dedicated to Where to Walk, including all of the great trails around Cabarrus County. 🥾 Each month, there’s a theme for Year of the Trail, along with an activity to go along with it. For February, they want to invite you on a date on one of your favorite trails…and for you to invite a friend or loved one to join you! Share your “trail date” pictures on social media and be sure to tag the Great Trails NC on Instagram or Facebook and Walk Cabarrus...

🍻 Lil’ Robert’s Place Hosting “Lucky 13” Anniversary Party on Feb 3 🍻

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson From just a bottle shop, to the quirky but home-like bar they are today. “If you lived here, you’d be home” has been the slogan at Lil’ Roberts Place (LRP) for the past 13 years. There’s an eclectic vibe at LRP, from funky couches and chairs to an airplane hanging from the ceiling…there is a lot to take in, but it’s also easy to fit in. When Cabarrus Weekly contributor Jamie visited, there was a group of regulars hanging out at the bar and several people watching the Keno numbers as they appeared on the television screen. LRP is known throughout the...

👚💪👛 Local Entrepreneur Blazing Her Own Trail

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

If you haven’t heard of at least one of Ashton Pollack’s businesses, you must still be in quarantine! This entrepreneur is literally everywhere and blazing a trail wherever she goes. An entrepreneur can be defined as someone who “takes on most of the risk and initiative for their new business and is often seen as a visionary or innovator.” Meet Ashton “Ash” Pollock, a female U.S. Marine Corps veteran and entrepreneur whose vision and innovation have led to a portfolio of projects that clearly requires her Marine training to keep it all going. You may have first heard of her as last year’s winner...

☘️🎳 Any “Spare” Time for a Great Cause?

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in Events.

💚 🖤 Are you looking for a great opportunity to support mentoring and empowering children to reach their potential? This is a great fundraiser for your work family, church, or friend group to get involved and support Big Brothers Big Sisters in Cabarrus County! Bowl for Kids’ Sake is the perfect way for individuals to make an impact while also having fun! BBBS asks that each bowler set a goal to raise $150 or their team raises $1,000. (Minimum $50 per bowler) as part of the Challenge. *Bowlers representing our School Challenge are asked to raise a minimum of $150 per team. Teams are made up...

🕺🏿 💃🏼 Who Was That Dancing in Front of the Gem Theatre’s Marquee?

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in CabCo Culture.

Did you see the Instagram or Facebook post of two people dancing in front of the Gem Theatre’s marquee last week? The Cabarrus Weekly had to know! We tracked the dancer down and learned more about him and why he chose to dance in front of the Gem Theatre! His name is Matt Lopez and he is a dance teacher/professor based in New York City. He’s currently driving across the United States on a Reels Tour USA and will end up in southern California eventually. Along the way, he has been wowing his 15.8K Instagram followers and his 70K Facebook followers shooting Reels featuring dances and...

📣 🤎 NC Black Heritage Festival Coming Feb 26

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

As Black History Month kicks off, be sure to make plans to attend the 2023 North Carolina Black Heritage Festival at the Cabarrus Arena on Feb 26th from 1-5 pm. This year’s theme is “Remember the Past, Celebrate the Present, & Shape the Future.” This is a great way to support black-owned businesses with over 100 companies represented with free giveaways, discounts, and coupons making the vendor shopping experience like none other. This family-friendly event will also feature performances, a kids’ zone, arts & crafts, and lots of fun! Click here for ticket information! Planning...

⚾ New for 2023: 10 Game Mini-Plans

Written by Brian Perry on January 31, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

The Cannon Ballers first home game is just a few months away on April 18th. Now is the time to reserve your tickets to a great evening out at the ballpark. New this year are mini-plans that include a collection of 10 games covering the entire season (approximately 2 per month). Plan holders have the option to exchange up to three dates, but the exchange must be made 48 hours prior to the game, and may not have the exact same seats. Benefits include: ⚾ Best seat location ⚾ Savings on regular ticket pricing ⚾ Online account management ⚾ Exclusive member events ⚾ Priority access to playoff tickets Visit...

Vortex Offers a Neighborhood-Feel with a Carolina Only Tapline

Written by Brian Perry on January 24, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson It’s a rainy Sunday morning and the Vortex Bottle Shop is filled with families, couples, and individuals seated at the bar and the high-top tables spread throughout the restaurant, everyone enjoying Sunday Brunch from the scratch kitchen and drinks from the bar. Owner Matt Widerman, a resident of Harrisburg, opened Vortex Bottle Shop almost 5 years ago. The shop is a combination of food, music, beer, and wine that represent Matt’s personal vibe. When he was younger, brewing beer was a hobby and at one time he considered starting a brewery but decided a bottle...

Kannapolis, Start Your Engines!

Written by Brian Perry on January 24, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

CONTRIBUTOR: JAMIE RICHARDSON Slot car racing is coming to downtown Kannapolis with the opening of The Slot Car Track Kannapolis on Saturday, January 28th! 🏎️ Randy and Shelley McAnulty previously operated slot car tracks in downtown Concord and Granite Quarry, but after COVID hit, decided to relocate. They have been waiting over a year for their new location to open and they say it’s been worth it. “Kannapolis is always busy and we can add to the entertainment value,” said Shelley. They also like being in the hometown of Dale Earnhardt because of their love of racing. Fun Fact:...

Cabarrus County Is Home to NC’s Largest Board Game Café

Written by Brian Perry on January 24, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

CONTRIBUTOR: KAYLA CHADWICK-SCHULTZ Tucked beneath a variety of delicious restaurant offerings, on the lower level of the Gibson Mill Market, there is a place where all imaginations are welcome. It’s a place where fathers and daughters can bond over the shared joy of good storytelling. It’s a place where new friendships are formed and old ones are rekindled during hours-long adventures. It’s a place where regulars arrive at their usual café order waiting for them at their usual table because the owners actually took the time to get to know them. In truth, this unassuming ground-level...

Underground Speakeasy Won’t Be a Secret for Long

Written by Brian Perry on January 24, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Cabarrus Weekly is giving you a peek inside this members-only social club that is actually affordable and packed with options. Exclusive, private clubs are making a comeback and you don’t have to leave Cabarrus County to find one of the coolest and most unique. Located in the center of downtown Kannapolis, The Blind Fox has come to life in the former 1930s fallout shelter of Mr. Cannon. Ken Lingafelt (one of the owners) was born and bred in North Carolina and has lived in Kannapolis for most of his life. He said he and his fellow innovators that form the...