Engage Charlotte Blog

by Amy Chiou

Excellent [ek-suh-luhnt] adjective: possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.

Last Friday night, I drove to a little restaurant in Fort Mill, located behind a Bojangles in a building that, rumor has it, used to be a brothel. The food was, simply put, excellent. There was calamari, homemade ravioli, stuffed zucchini blossoms, pork chops and gag grouper. Each dish was skillfully executed and made with care and respect for each of the ingredients. It was the perfect way to end a long week, mentally unwinding and slowly getting lost in the flavors.

I came across this restaurant, aptly named Passion8 Bistro, when I met Jessica, one of the owners, at a networking event. Somewhere in the banality of business card exchanges and 30-second elevator speeches, she said to me something I will never forget: "I can’t change the whole world, but I can make my part of the world better. I believe the best way for me to do that is to wake up every day and do what I love to do the best that I can. And that’s what we do at the restaurant – we deliver an excellent dining experience." With a heartfelt sales pitch like that, of course I had to visit. When she talks about the restaurant, her face lights up, and consequently, so does the rest of the room. There is a certain unavoidable ignition that occurs when people connect something they love with their livelihood.

After the meal, Chef Luca, her husband, stopped by the table to see how we enjoyed our food. He shared with us the story of the restaurant. The chef and his sous chef shop every day for the best available meat and produce and craft a menu around their selections. The menu changes daily, reflecting the season and variety of the harvest. They know the farmers and their stories personally. The fish of the day, gag grouper, was caught off the North Carolina coast by a local fisherman who used to be an engineer. He was a talented engineer, but his passion was fishing, and he was quite good at it. So one day, he quit his “traditional” job to do what he loves. Now, he goes out twice a week and brings his catch to a few restaurants, including Passion8 Bistro.

What I love about this experience is how several individual choices, executed with conviction come together to generate so much good. The local farmer, the fisherman and the chef each wake up every day pursing something that they love – and so they do it with excellence, heart and integrity. The result is exactly as promised: an excellent dining experience. But beyond the immediate good (my dinner), they contribute so much more. All three are local family businesses and what they produce and provide strengthens our economy. They are also our neighbors. Because they know that what they grow, catch and prepare nourishes our families, they do so with utmost care. These may be simple acts of everyday excellence, but they create substantial impact.

I think too often we reserve excellence for the BIG! things, like year-end reports, marketing presentations, and wedding planning. Or worse, we confine expectations of excellence to lofty pursuits like leadership, governance, and corporate America. I believe that small acts of everyday excellence are equally important. There is a sense of personal satisfaction that comes with doing something well. It builds confidence and pride, and establishes a sense of self. The current economic and political climate is so rife with feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction, that we could use some more personal satisfaction and few more happy people. I’m not advocating that people quit their jobs in search of their passions, but I am suggesting that we take the time to do a few simple things really well. In the process, someone might discover a new calling or find momentary peace in a job well done. I think it is possible that the collective impact of everyday excellence is the fuel that we need to turn everything around. The world has always run on the labor of everyday people, so let’s deliver an excellent living experience.

by Megan Sadler

In January 2012, the Mecklenburg County Bar (the Bar) began commemorating our 100th anniversary and “celebrating the remarkable journey that has transformed the Mecklenburg County Bar from one lone lawyer in a colonial town to a community of 4,400+ professional members.” 

In honor of the Bar's 100th anniversary and in commemoration of the role of lawyers in the larger community, part of this celebration has been the Bar’s designation of April 2012 as a month-long Celebration of Community Service. Thanks to the Bar’s focus on community service, I got off my tuckus and had the pleasure of volunteering at the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store yesterday evening for two hours.

As many of you know (and according to its website ), Crisis Assistance Ministry “serves the low-income citizens of Mecklenburg County, often classified as ‘the working poor’ who are facing financial emergencies and are struggling to meet life's basic needs.” One way the Free Store meets this need is by providing a place for those in need to “shop” for such items as clothing, towels, sheets, home décor, shoes and other accessories at NO cost (although a limit is typically placed on the number of items and frequency of monthly visits patrons can make). The Free Store allows its patrons to use their limited resources to focus on other basic necessities – such as food, housing and utilities.

Volunteers at the Free Store help sort donated items, re-stock the shelves and provide a retail-like atmosphere for its patrons through visually displaying available items and assisting patrons. The Free Store welcomes volunteers every day of the week and also has opportunities for drop-in volunteers or volunteer groups on Tuesday nights from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It is one of the most accessible volunteer experiences I have ever had – and I plan to volunteer there at least one Tuesday a month!

As part of the first of what I hope will be another 100 years of Aprils filed with volunteering lawyers, I would encourage you to check the Free Store out and consider volunteering and donating to this wonderful organization.

by Ally Oelerich

Warm weather is upon us, and what better place to be as a “doggy mama” than finding pet-friendly places to meet other furry friends and their owners! I adopted an Australian Shepherd Collie mix named Koda a month ago from Project Halo, a no-kill shelter in Charlotte and wanted to find fun places for her to meet other dogs to stay socialized. After doing a little research I found many dog parks & pet-friendly places in Charlotte to choose from.

William Davie Dog Park is awesome! The park has two sides to it. One side is for small dogs from 20lbs on down, and the other is for big dogs from 20lbs on up. There’s a nice fenced in large area with plenty of water, running room and toys. The parents also have a place to sit and watch their fur-children run wild. Another perk is there are plenty of trees so you can stay in the shade on the many hot days Charlotteans will experience. I’m realizing Koda has a love for sticks and water. Instead of politely taking a sip of water from the large “buckets” they have, she dipped both of her front legs and entire head in the water. With all that running around with her buddies I guess she was hot! The dog park is open from 7:30 a.m. to sunset.

Koda and her stick

For those that live in Uptown Charlotte, Frazier Park is another great option for a pet friendly dog park. Like William Davie Dog Park, this also has a separate small dogs area from the large dog area. There’s plenty of drinking water and small tubs for them to take a dip and cool off. Frazier Park is well maintained, and a lot of younger people who live in the city bring their dogs here. So if you’re out going, it’s a great place to talk to strangers.

Being a very active girl who enjoys the outdoors, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is also a great place to bring your dog. USNWC is an outdoor adventure center with whitewater rafting, hiking trails, biking, a bar and grill with patio seating, rock climbing and special events from Thursday River Jam with live music to Olympic trials. Dogs on leashes are allowed on the grounds and trails!

Like beer and want to bring your dog to the bar? Kick back and relax while your pooch plays with friends at The Dog Bar in NODA. Even if you don’t own a dog it’s a great place to check out the other pooches and chat with their owners. There’s a fenced-in area where the dogs can run around and play as well as walk around near the high top tables where people are enjoying their drinks at. It’s a very chill atmosphere, but remember to give your dog water not beer!

Even though it’s only been a month since I’ve owned Koda, it’s been a fun journey so far! There is a strong sense of community that takes place when you visit a dog park where you instantly have a connection and conversation starter with a stranger. The people you meet can either be local, visiting a friend or not even own a dog at all but can appreciate a cute pup to watch for part of their day. Whether you decide to bring your pet to a dog park, a dog bar or a rafting center to people and dog watch, make sure to bring treats and be prepared to give lots of belly rubs.

Beer, dogs, and good conversations along the way ... ah the good life. What is your favorite dog spot in Charlotte?

by David Truesdale

March Madness is here, spring is almost, but it’s never too early to talk football. If you haven’t heard yet, the Carolina Panthers will take the field in 2012 with a new and improved logo. The logo and logotype change is the first in the team’s 18-year history.

The new logo incorporates the use of more blue and gives the panther a sleeker three-dimensional, contemporary look. The change comes at an interesting time, with the NFL announcing that the official uniform provider will switch from Reebok to Nike this upcoming season. It will be interesting to see some of the updates teams make to their uniforms, given Nike’s track record for designing “outside the box”. If you are unfamiliar with the influence Nike has had on many college football teams’ uniforms, a good example to take a look at is Oregon’s from last season. The next question is how this will affect the Panther uniforms in 2012. There is plenty of speculation, but with the exception of the brand switch, the extent of uniform changes for the Panthers is not known at this time.

The new look for the Carolina Panthers.

The Panther organization is coming off a season in which three team members were selected to the Pro Bowl, including rookie sensation Cam Newton. He emerged as not only the Rookie of the Year, but also as one of the premier quarterbacks in the entire league. In fact, Cam was the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in the same season. He also now owns the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback with 14. Charlotte is certainly full of positive energy, and that energy seems to have been injected into our team. Last season, it felt like there were a few more “victories” than what the team’s final record of 6-10 indicated. Things are definitely looking up for the Carolina Panthers in 2012!

by Crystal Thomann

Can you smell it? Spring is in the air. Spring immediately makes me think of fresh flowers, picnics in the park, and bright-colored dresses. However, dresses usually mean exposing more of your body than the heavy winter coats and sweaters. So with spring also comes the new-found motivation to stop hibernating and work out more, shedding those nasty winter pounds you gained to help keep warm! Charlotte is a great place to be for so many reasons, one of which is the countless fitness options available. One of my personal favorites, running, has a plethora of options. However, running can be time consuming, monotonous and sometimes difficult to stay motivated to do if you don’t have a goal. For years I have used races of varying lengths as my “light at the end of the tunnel.” There are two 5k races coming up this spring in Charlotte that are very near and dear to my heart. Both would be perfect races for beginners to use as a training goal or for or more seasoned runners to compete for a place.

Central Piedmont Community College’s Foundation has its 17th annual Charlotte Skyline Run, which will take place Saturday, April 28, 2012. It is one of nine races featured in the Run for Your Life “Grand Prix” series. An estimated 1,500 runners are expected to attend this family fun event which will support CPCC Student Scholarships and other student needs. The Skyline Run will consist of the 5K run, Walk for Health, Family Fun Run and Charlotte Baby Jogger Championship. Central Piedmont Community College, which also happens to be my place of employment, is dedicated to providing scholarships for students in need. Last year they provided 1,249 student scholarships! The Skyline run is one way the CPPC Foundation is able to continue to meet the needs of CPCC students in an ever-changing and challenging economy. You can help support and register for the Skyline Run here.

Dress for Success’ Charlotte location holds an annual 5K Power Walk taking place the following month, on May 12, 2012, in Freedom Park. Last year the walk was held in three countries and 32 cities, and it continues to grow each year! In order to gain employment and become self-sufficient, it is critical that women are also healthy and well. Dress for Success helps empower women to make healthy choices in work and in life. The Power Walk for Dress for Success plays a crucial role in ensuring that women understand the importance of maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle. This 5k event promotes health and wellness initiatives of the organization as well as raises funds and visibility for Dress for Success. The Power Walk for Dress for Success is a celebration of family, fitness, and financial independence. It is guaranteed to be a fun, unique event to do as an individual or to get a team of your friends and family together to support a good cause. You can get more information or register for the 5K Power Walk here.