It’s easy to overlook Nusa, the fast-casual Indonesian restaurant that opened in the former Charlotte Café space at The Arboretum in December. It sits among a cluster of Asian eateries (Curry Junction, Sushiya Japan Ramen & Sushi Bar, and Malaya Kitchen), and the south Charlotte shopping center is home to several popular local restaurants (Vicious Biscuit, Cajun Yard Dog, Link & Pin). But don’t sleep on this one. Nusa is the first fully authentic Indonesian restaurant in North Carolina, and it’s a refreshing change when you’ve had your fill of customizable salads, bowls, and burritos ..read more

In December, as the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture prepared to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, president and CEO David Taylor announced he was retiring after 14 years. The museum board selected COO Bonita Buford—a chemical engineer and arts enthusiast in her second career—to succeed him.  The Gantt, founded in 1974 as the Afro-American Cultural Center, has grown from a small, grassroots cultural center to a regional fixture for Black art, history, and culture. Buford says she wants to expand its range. “We want to remind people that we’re not just a m ..read more

Michelle Lane, owner of Modern Cottage, worked alongside the team at Grandfather Homes to design her client’s classic Georgian in the Cramer’s Pond community in Plaza Midwood. They made the new build look old with lime-washed brick, a cedar shake roof, and boxwood hedges. The homeowner opted for a light, airy interior but had a unique request for the first-floor lounge. “She wanted it to feel dark and moody, like a departure from the rest of the house,” Lane says. “She was very into Bridgerton at the time, so she envisioned herself in there with a glass of Champagne. It’s meant to be a ladies ..read more

Incredibly, we’ve been at this business of determining what’s best in Charlotte for 25 years. We’d say it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, but the truth is that, yes, it does: The city’s come a long way since 1999, outgrowing a few sets of clothes as it’s lurched into its status as a big American city. It’s been smooth at times, awkward at others, but always an exhilarating trip. So we proudly present the 2024 Best of the Best Awards, with its vegan dishes, boutique burgers, cocktail experiences, and rage rooms, as we try to imagine what’ll make the list in 2049. EAT PLAY EXPLORE LIVE S ..read more

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Giovanna Torres and her parents went to the movies often. But despite the island’s Spanish heritage, proximity to Latin America, and dual national languages, Torres says the only movies available were English-language Hollywood films. “Maybe they had Spanish subtitles,” she says, “but that was it.” It wasn’t until she attended a liberal arts college in Connecticut that she was introduced to Latin American cinema in a class. “I was mind-blown,” she says. “I was like, How have I never seen these films?” Even though film budgets in Latin America are “minuscule compared ..read more

“I paint with fire,” says encaustic artist Melissa Stutts. “It’s the easiest way to tell people what I do. And they probably think that means, like, I’m Evel Knievel. But it’s very disciplined. It’s nuanced, like sipping tea next to a crackling fire versus just painting more stuff on top of stuff.” We’re at McColl Center, in the studio she’s occupied since December. The walls are lined with Stutts’ paintings, which she creates with layers of heated wax that she manipulates and mixes with colored pigments. The floating shelves display smaller canvases and reproductions of her large-scale paint ..read more

Mortgage interest rates have soared back to pre-2008 levels, and Canopy, the local Realtor’s association, refers to the supply of homes for sale in Charlotte as “critically low.” If you’re stuck in the home you own, it makes sense to maximize the space to your lifestyle. These five design trends are examples of just that. Sculleries Sculleries originated in Britain, where they’ve historically served as kitchen-adjacent rooms for washing dishes and storing utensils and cookware. (They were often a flex for wealthy homeowners, too.) Today, sculleries are making a comeback in high-end homes beca ..read more

Optimist Hall – a textile mill-turned-food hall just north of uptown – has become one of Charlotte’s most popular dining destinations. The 22,000-square-foot space at 1115 N. Brevard St. is home to more than two dozen tenants that include food stalls, bars, restaurants, and retail. Grab a seat inside at a communal table and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi, or head outside to the courtyard to eat, drink, and socialize. OPTIMIST HALL 1115 N. Brevard St. Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.  Sunday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. *Some locations may have diffe ..read more

This job has allowed me to eat from some of the most elaborate (and priciest) tasting menus in the city. Many are 10 courses or more and paired with cocktails, wine, or sake. Often, these meals are more than I can consume in one sitting, and some remnants inevitably go to waste. (Admissions like this reek of privilege, I know. Stay with me.) While I’m getting overserved at restaurants, millions of people don’t know where their next meal is coming from—and not just those on food stamps. What about the broke college student or the single parent who can barely afford groceries every week? What a ..read more

Most arts organizations depend on volunteers. April is National Volunteer Month, and whether your artistic talents resemble those of Michelangelo or a toad, Charlotte institutions need your help. Here’s our usual roundup of arts events—plus where to find volunteer opportunities.  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Knot Just Knitting Tuesday, April 2 Noon-2 p.m. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Mint Hill Branch Textile crafters gather to socialize, share tips and techniques, help each other with projects, and brainstorm service projects. Free. Volunteer opportunities  Charlotte Center for L ..read more