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The month of October organizations, clinicians, survivors, patients, family, friends and entire communities honor lives lost, promote early detection and support those impacted by breast cancer. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are giving away a Kate Spade Bow Tie Small Satchel in the Rosycheeks pink ($328 value). It’s the color chosen for Breast Cancer Awareness, but we realize that not everyone may like pink so we have included another choice if you win…a Kate Space Large Dome Satchel in Seaside blue ($379 value). How to enter: 1. Like our Facebook page. If you’ve already liked our page, you can still enter with the additional options below. 2. Like our Facebook giveaway post 3. Tag 2 friends in the Facebook comments 4. Share the post **Must do all 4 to be eligible. Winner will be drawn on Oct 18th and Announced Monday, Oct 21. Good Luck!!!** Extra entry options: Subscribe to our newsletter for an extra entry:

There’s a lot going on in Charlotte!! Below you’ll find a list of great events from Monday the 9th to Sunday the 15th… MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Half-Mile Farm’s September Slip Away and Save September 4 – 26 | Weekdays (Sun- Thurs) Enjoy a romantic dinner for two and relax with spa treatments or golf for each person. It’s a summer-ending sampling of flavor, fun and blissful rejuvenation all bundled into a September savings package. Enjoy a chef-prepared breakfast each morning, included with your stay. Rooftop Yoga September 9 | Rooftop 210 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | $5 GA, $15 VIP Start your week with a relaxing rooftop yoga session and a healthy cocktail. Your ticket includes one drink ticket, and VIPs get a tank top. Bring your own mat. Special Display: North Carolina’s Favorite Son September 9 – 30 | Billy Graham Library | 9:30-5:00 pm | free to the public Throughout the life of Billy Graham, North Carolina remained “home.” From his childhood on a Charlotte dairy farm to his mountain home with Ruth in Montreat, North Carolina played a preeminent role in the person he became. In 2013, Billy Graham was officially named “North Carolina’s Favorite Son” when Governor Pat McCrory signed a proclamation following unanimous approval from the North Carolina House and Senate. This display celebrates Billy Graham’s home state and this significant achievement through artifacts and photos from Billy Graham’s life on the farm, his Crusades in the state, his home in Montreat, the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, and more. Oconaluftee Indian Village Aug 29 – Nov 2 | 9:30-4:00 pm | $20 (adults) $12 (children 6-12) Guided tours will take you through craft demonstrations by award-winning artists who will explain the unique Cherokee crafting techniques. Meet historical Cherokee people in the living history section. You can also view special shows throughout the season such as “Time of War” and traditional Cherokee dancing. Sit, relax and dine at the picnic tables with the Oconaluftee natives after you order from the concession area. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir from the Gift Shop to remember your visit to our Cherokee Indian village. Join Bonefish Grill in Matthews to Celebrate 18-Year Anniversary September 9 | 5:30-8:00 pm Celebrate with the fresh fish experts at the Matthews Bonefish Grill as they honor their 18-year anniversary on Monday, September 9 and enjoy complimentary appetizers, live music and great giveaways! BLT Steak Tasting Series Ends October 7 | 6:30-8:00 pm | $35 BLT Steak Charlotte is raising a glass to summer with the launch of an exclusive tasting series beginning on Monday, July 15. Perfect for guests who crave exceptional food and beverage experiences, each themed tasting will feature esteemed wines, whiskeys or spirits paired with flavorful light bites prepared by BLT Steak Charlotte’s Chef de Cuisine, Matt Slezak. Tastings will be held once a month on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the private event space at BLT Steak Charlotte. Tickets can be purchased online at BLT Restaurants for $35 per person. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Rosie’s Wine Garden Opening September 10 | McGill Rose Garden, 940 N. Davidson St. | 4:00-10:00 pm | Free Rosie’s Wine Garden is a new wine bar concept at the McGill Rose Garden with 14 wines and 12 beers for you to sip while you stroll through the grounds. Disney’s Aladdin September 10 | Belk Theater | $30+ There are few things more magical than Disney shows on Broadway, so you really should carve out time to see this number. There are performances through Sept. 10-29. Join Bulla Gastrobar in SouthPark for Paella Tuesday, Every Tuesday September 10 | Bulla Gastrobar 4310 Sharon Rd STE W01, Charlotte, NC | 11:30 am-10:00 pm Make Paella Tuesday at Bulla Gastrobar your new weekly routine. Grab your work crew, friends or family and head to Bulla Gastrobar in SouthPark to celebrate Paella Tuesday! Grab a seat on the patio and enjoy weekly rotating paellas while sipping on $5 red sangrias. We can’t wait to see you there! Local to Charlotte, Rooted in North Carolina: Taste Carolina Uptown Food Tour Weekly | Time varies depending on chosen tour Explore the flavors of Uptown on Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours guided walking tour of the city! You’ll visit several unique, independent restaurants to sample chef’s creations while learning about the history of the city and its culinary culture. This tour highlights locally sourced dishes made with artisan preparations and the city’s most delightful foodie discoveries. Three Dollar Tuesdays at Pilot Brewing Every Tuesday | 2:00 pm-9:00 pm | $3 Celebrate Tuesday with $3 Pours of ALL Pilot Batches, EVERY WEEK! Excludes: *Co-Pilot Batches *Cider *Kombucha and Joybird WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Homeschool Day September 11 | 9:30 am-4:00 pm | free Homeschooling families are invited for special activities and discounts throughout the day. Meet other homeschool families while taking The Journey of Faithtour, and test your brain power with the Bessie’s Brainteasers scavenger hunt. You’ll also have a chance to see special memorabilia and artifacts from our vault that correlate with our free student lesson plans. Pilot Brewing/Gear Goat Run Club & Beer Run September 11-25 | 6:30 pm-8:30 pm | free Who doesn’t love a good brewery run club? We’ll we’ve teamed up with Gear Goat Xchg to bring you a collaboration run club and a collaboration beer series! Join us for our first run of the season and the special release of our India Pale Lager, that we brewed with Parker, from Gear Goat! We’ll start at the brewery at 6:30pm, and IIan, from Gear Goat, will lead the way on a 3 mile run, behind the brewery, in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Afterwards, enjoy a $3 pour of the Gear Goat Collaboration Beer. Run club kicks off on Wednesday, March 13th and will take place EVERY OTHER Wednesday for the rest of the nice weather. Spirit of Charlotte: Taste Carolina Uptown Food Tour Weekly | 6:30 pm-8:30 pm | 7th Street Public Market Charlotte Uptown: The Spirit of Charlotte – Enjoy delicious and innovative food and drinks – and plenty of fun – on this high spirited walking tour of several unique Uptown restaurants! Each tasting is paired with a small cocktail, local beer, or wine. You’ll learn about the city along the way and will feel like a VIP at each restaurant with Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours! Sunset Kayak September 11 | Anne Springs Close Greenway | 6:45-8:45 pm | $15+ Soak in the end of summer while paddling down the still waters of Lake Haigler at your own pace. Chicken Salad Chick Mathews Grand Opening September 11 | Mathews Location | 10:30 am to 8 pm | Free First 100 guests will recieve chicken salad for a year. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Bud Light Platinum + Charlotte Agenda Thursday Night Football Tailgate September 12| Rí Rá Irish Pub | 6-8 pm Bud Light Platinums on us, DJ Chase Morgan and celebration competitions. Will sell out, so grab a ticket fast. Bicycle Across South Carolina September 12-15 | 10:00 am | $270-$370 The inaugural Bicycle Across South Carolina (BASC) is a three-day, 139-mile cycling event taking place September 12-15, 2019 on the state’s historic Palmetto Trail. Both individuals and groups of avid or occasional cyclists are welcome, as are non-riders interested in attending the events held in host cities each night. BASC includes three and two-day ride options, with meals included. $5 Topside Oyster Tailgate September 12 | The Waterman Rooftop | 5-8 pm | $5 Crush oysters on their rooftop patio and wash them down with $3 Narragansett Lagers while listening to live music. Oysters available while supplies last, so get there early. 2nd Annual Harvest Moon Mingle September 12 | The Waterman Rooftop | 6-8 pm | $50 The 2nd Annual Harvest Moon Mingle is the main fundraiser event for Rivendell Farms of the Carolinas, a 501c3 organization that is leading the effort to create a regional, food system MAP of Charlotte. This MAP is a tool that the general public can use to find information on farms, farmers markets, community gardens, local food retail/farm-to-table, food access resources, nutrition education, volunteer opportunities and MORE! Join us for a night of celebrating and a *sneak peak* of this exciting new platform! Local bites, beer and wine included in the ticket price. Carolina Panthers v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers September 12 | Bank of America Stadium | 8:20 pm | $42-$314+ Catch the Panther’s second game of the week, and snag a free ticket to our tailgate with Bud Light to Celly Celly with your friends and Bud Light Platinum. An Evening with Chef Bruce Moffett September 12 | SOCO Gallery and TABOR 421 Providence Road | 6-8 pm | $65 Chef Bruce Moffett is doing a cooking demo from his new book, and you’ll get passed bites, drinks and a signed copy of Bruce’s cookbook. Call 704.372.8110 for a reservation. Jason Aldean September 12 | PNC Music Pavilion | 7:30 pm | $43-$123+ Country star Jason Aldean will make a stop in Charlotte, NC on his “Ride All Night 2019” tour this fall. The Grammy-nominated singer will perform along with Kane Brown and Carly Pearce at American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Thursday, Sep 12, 2019. Le Creuset Factory-to-Table Sales Event September 12 | The Park Expo and Conference Center | Varies | $10 Le Creuset, maker of the world’s most trusted and treasured premium cookware, is proud to announce the Charlotte Factory to Table sale. The event will feature special discounts on a large selection of Le Creuset products from around the world, including colors and shapes rarely seen in the American marketplace. All categories will be represented including cast iron, stoneware, enamel on steel, stainless steel, tools and accessories. Ballantyne Bootcamp Series September 12 | Brixham Tent | 5:30-6:15 pm | Free Get fit this fall with a free bootcamp every Thursday from now until Oct. 17. The workouts use body weight, plyometrics, running and more. River Jam at U.S. National Whitewater Center September 12 | USNWC | 7-10 pm | Free, $6 parking This is the last month of River Jam season, so get in your outdoor concerts while you can. Yarn is playing tonight and Big Daddy Love plays tomorrow. They’re also hosting a trail race at 6:30 p.m. with 5k and 10k distances. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Weekly Steel Tip Darts Blind Draw Weekly | 8:00 pm-12:00 am | $6 Weekly Friday night steel tip darts blind draw. $6 entry fee. Open to all skill levels. Grab your darts and come on out! For additional info visit Queen City Darting Association. Music at the Met September 13 | The Metropolitan | 6 pm | Free Summer is winding down, but outdoor concert season continues with Music at the Met. Expect food and drink specials, games and more. Rural Hill’s Amazing Maize Maze Through Nov 3 | 11:00-5:00 pm | $11.00 (13 & up) $8.00 (ages 5-12) free (4 & under) HISTORIC RURAL HILL PRESENTS THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE!! Come enjoy some fun in searching your way through a 7 acer corn maze finding map pieces and kernels of knowledge as you seek your way out of the maze. This is one of the largest mazes in the Southeast region. Food trucks will be available should you decide to make a day of it and bounce houses. Please were good walking shoes. Beer and wine will be for sale and you can take it in the maze with you Special Evening Open Swim and Dinner The Quarry At Carrigan Farms | 4:30-9 pm | $24 After a swim, there will be an all-you-can-eat dinner spread that includea grilled burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers and fresh watermelon slices. Make your summer last with this event! Puppies & Pumpkins Weekend September 13-15 | Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort | 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Woof! Get ready for some four-legged fun this weekend at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort! We’ll be playing lots of paw-tastic games and making furry-friend inspired crafts. Plus, bring your pooch to the lake for a year-end dog swim! Food Truck Friday Plaza Midwood Resident Culture Brewing | 5 pm As always, they’ve got live music, unique brews and food trucks, including The Dumpling Lady, Streamline Kitchen, What The Fries, Strudelteig, Tikka Buzz, The Feathered Fin and Hip Hop Smoothies. Food Truck Friday South End Sycamore Brewing | 4-10 pm This week’s lineup includes Papi Queso Food Truck, TIN Kitchen, OooWee BBQ, Gyro Twins Truck, TOLA Rose Italian Eats Food Truck, New Wrap Order, GOGI, Chef Ray’s Cuban Cuisine and Holy City Waffles. They’ll have refreshing boozy drinks like Prosecco pops and frosé — plus the usual beer and cider. Unwind & Dine in Historic South End Food Tour September 13-15 | Historic South End | 4-7 pm | $65 Kick off the weekend in style with a relaxing happy hour- or three hours! Explore the diversity of establishments that have turned this once industrial neighborhood into a vibrant community of new businesses in and among historic warehouses and train lines. South End has something for everyone to enjoy with local craft beers, food trucks, wine bars, and fine dining all contained within an urban residential neighborhood. This food tour includes: Specialties from six culinary establishments including restaurants, wine bars, local pubs & eateries, and culinary retail Tastings of local beer, wine pairing, and craft cocktail samples* Opportunities to interact with the key players at each restaurant and hear their stories about their businesses, personal journeys, and specialties Introduction to the neighborhood’s history and growth along Charlotte’s Light Rail Trail *Note: This tour includes tastings of alcoholic beverages paired with food items at each stop. Non-alcoholic options are available at all stops. Friday Nights at Camp North End 1824 Statesville Ave. | 5-10 pm | Free Every Friday, there’s great food, music and a few surprises for the laid-back crowd. Note: Kids and leashed pets are welcome. Men’s Dinner with Darryl Strawberry September 13 | Billy Graham Library | 5-10 pm | $25 The Library is excited to host a men’s dinner with former MLB player, Darryl Strawberry. To the outside world the former baseball star, Darryl Strawberry had a legendary life and career, including four World Series titles and eight consecutive appearances in the MLB All-Star game. It was toward the end of his career where his life with Christ began and through Him, Darryl was able to overcome many personal struggles that plagued him. He now serves as a Pastor and founder of Strawberry Ministries. Darryl and his wife, Tracy, travel to various parts of the country to share the story of God’s redemptive power in their lives. “I was once very lost and tormented, but now I am found and free in Christ Jesus. I want everyone to experience the saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ.” – Darryl Strawberry Tickets are $25 per person. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets below. All sales are final and no refunds are provided. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Muscadine Day September 14 | Charlotte Regional Farmers Market | 8:00 – 2:00 pm | Free North Carolina’s state fruit is the muscadine grape. On Saturday, September 14th vendors at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (1801 Yorkmont Road, Charlotte, NC 28217) will be celebrating Muscadine Day! Woodmill Winery will be offering free samples of muscadine wine for those old enough. Hood’s Fruit of the Vine will be handing out free samples of muscadine grape juice for all ages. Our vendors carry fresh muscadine grapes, jams, jellies and preserves. Stop by and taste all the grape goodness today. Yoga with Elyse September 14 – Dec 28 | Pilot Brewing | 9:45 – 10:45 pm | $10 Yoga class with Elyse Lutz is Saturday and every Saturday morning at Pilot Brewing. $10 gets you an hour class and a beer or kombucha. Namaste. Blowing Rock Music Festival September 14 | The Blowing Rock Attraction | 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm | $35 (adult) $10 (12 & under) The Blowing Rock Music Festival celebrates the best in Americana, Folk, Blues, Rock, & Jazz at the Blowing Rock Attraction. Outdoor performances on two stages. Music from noon to sunset. Sip and Drool! at Lenny Boy September 14 | Lenny Boy Brewing | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | free Looking to add a fur baby to your family? South Charlotte Dog Rescue will be bringing some adoptable pups for everyone to meet and show them some love! They will have live music from Nathan Davis from 3-6pm and some great vendors on site including Yappy Hour Bakery, Hungry Harvest, and Stroke. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 New Sunday Hours at Carolina Raptor Center Sept 15 – Oct 27 | Carolina Raptor Center | 10:00 am to 5 pm | $12 (adults) $10 (Seniors/Military/Teachers) $8 (Students) 3 & under free Carolina Raptor Center is now open on Sundays (March through October) from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Keeper Talks on Sunday are now a 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM Sunday Funday Market at Pilot Brewing September 15 | Pilot Brewing | 10:00 am to 2 pm | free Celebrate Sunday the 15th with craft beer, local merchants and live music by Nathan Randall Shop from artisanal apparel and jewelry by Underline K Apparel and Noonday Collection. Chili Cook-Off to Support Veterans and Military Families – Dog-Friendly Event September 15 | Lucky Dog Bark and Brew Steele Creek | 12:30 – 4:30 pm | $0-$50 What could be more exciting than watching football while displaying your culinary skills? And if you’re the armchair quarterback, this is still right up your alley because YOU, my friend, get to taste all these wonderful Chili dishes. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place Chili plus a category prize for the most unique Chili because some of us like to cook with mangoes, chocolate and other things you would not expect to see in a Chili dish! Winners are determined by a combination of a popular vote and votes from judges. All money raised will support the grassroots effort of 501c3 Patriot Military Family Foundation’s work with local veterans & military families. About Lucky Dog: no children, this venue is only for age 21 and up. Furry kids only. Dogs are welcome as long as they are FIXED, FRIENDLY and UP TO DATE ON SHOTS!

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan. Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence. Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If your pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily. Most focus on the Bug Out Bag for the family (a self-contained kit designed to get you through at least 72 hours), but don’t forget about your furry family members. You’ll want to think about your pet’s needs…leash, pet food, water, pet bowls, toys, vaccination records in a water-proof container and a blanket or pet bed. Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think! Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area. If you plan now, you can be ready for any disaster coming your way. Stay prepared and be safe. Related article: The Dog Bug Out Bag – A Survival Kit for Man’s Best Friend

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones that get in that morning workout or wrap up some work before many of us even hit the snooze button for the first time. What if you’re more of a night owl than a morning bird? Is it possible to change your ways? The answer is yes! With a little work and focus, you can change those night owl ways and achieve early bird status! Here are five tips to get you there… 1. Create a morning schedule Physically write down the things you’d like to accomplish in the morning and set a time for each. Then stick with it. Once you force yourself out of bed early one or two weeks consistently, you’ll find it gets easier and easier to do. 2. Let the light in Whether natural or artificial, light tells your brain its time to get up and get going. If your room lacks large windows where you can open the blinds up, consider investing in a timed lamp or alarm clock with a light. 3. Prep and eat breakfast Although there are many of us who chose the skip breakfast, it can be key to perking up your energy in the morning. Try prepping protein-focused meals the night before or grab a yogurt or fruit and try to consume it right after you wake. Protein increases your dopamine levels, which help make you ready for the day. 4. Get your body moving Exercising first thing in the morning helps to wake up the body. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a rigorous 5:30 am spin class, getting your blood pumping will get things moving and has a ton of other benefits, like stress and anxiety reduction and better sleep at night. 5. Feed your mind Stimulate your brain and do something you enjoy first thing in the morning. Try reading a favorite book, catching up on the news, doing daily meditation, or setting intentions. Implementing these simple steps will move you from slow starter to go-getter in no time flat! Related article: The Power of Mornings: Why Successful Entrepreneurs Get up Early