Dinner with Peter Reinhart

Pie Town is hosting a three-course dinner with noted chef and author (and Johnson & Wales instructor) Peter Reinhart on Saturday, August 15th at 6:30p. Peter will give a sneak preview of his new book due out in October.
Dinner is just $28 per person and registrations are limited. Contact Briana Cohen at Pie Town (briana@sonomarestaurants.net) to RSVP!

Find Your Center Weekend

From the CCCP Press Release: "We kick things off this Thursday night with Movies On The Green with the movie 'Independence Day'. Join us at 6:30pm for prizes, picnics and fun…the movie rolls at dusk, between 8:45 and 9:00pm. As part of Movies On The Green, restaurants in the Center City will offer special discounts. Aquavina, Blue, Champions, Fuel Pizza, Jolina, La Vecchia’s, Nix’s, Savannah Red and Therapy are offering specials from free appetizers to 10% discounts on your entire meal.

Click here for a link to the specials and a coupon to print with a list of all participating restaurants and specials. Parking after 5:00pm will be $3.00 at Two Wachovia, Three Wachovia and The Green parking garages."

Meeting Recap

Thanks to all who attended last night's meeting, especially our guests Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter and our host the Gateway Village YMCA. The Charlotte Observer's coverage can be found here, and more photos will be posted here today.

Mayoral Candidates This Tuesday, July 28th at 7:00p

This Tuesday, July 28th, the Third Ward Neighborhood Association will host mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter. Please join us at 7:00p at the Gateway Village YMCA, 900 West Trade Street.

For questions about the event, please contact me. Looking forward to seeing you at this special event!

Victoria Apartments Redevelopment

According to an article in this week's Charlotte Business Journal, First National Bancshares of Spartanburg, SC, has begun the foreclosure process on the former Victoria Apartments site. The site was successfully rezoned last year for a mixed-use project including office, retail, and hotel space.

Tim Crawford of Citiline Resortline Development, the site's developer (disclosure: also a former Third Ward board member), pledged to "place the entity in Chapter 11 protection." The Business Journal reports that this action can delay foreclosure.

I have contacted First National Bancshares requesting to be looped in on future updates.

Knights Follow-Up

The Charlotte Business Journal's Erik Spanberg provides more detail on the Knights' plans for an Uptown baseball stadium via this blog post.

Community Garden Updates

1. A planting guide for "what to plant now" has been posted under the Parks + Natural Resources page.

2. There will be a Community Garden cleanup on Saturday, August 15th from 8:30a to 11:30a.

Thanks!

No Time for the Community Garden?

The Urban Produce Box contains a variety of locally grown produce, and is available only at the Center City Green Market. Full boxes are $30 and half boxes are $17.50; each are delivered to the market on Wednesdays.

Place your order here and get more information from this Charlotte Observer article.

Mint Museum Updates

News, photographs, and information the Mint Museum's new South Tryon Street facility can be found here.

Movies on the Green

The Green at 401 South Tryon Street will host Movies on the Green on Thursday, July 30th. The movie "Independence Day" will begin at approximately 8:45p. Admission is free.

If needed, parking is available at Two Wachovia, Three Wachovia, and The Green for $3.00 (after 5:00p).

Many thanks to presenters/sponsors Charlotte Center City Partners, Wachovia, Childress Klein, and WBT!

Knights Stadium Update

Today's Charlotte Business Journal reports new information on the proposed Knights Stadium in Third Ward. Due to delays caused by legal actions against the county and the Knights, the projected cost for the stadium's construction has ballooned from $35 million to over $60 million, which "defies logic for private investment" according to sports consultant Max Muhleman.

The Knights plan to reassess plans when the court battles are settled. Options for moving forward include a public-private partnership and the sale of naming rights - difficult in the current economic environment.

To add to the neighborhood discussion of this significant issue, follow this link.

Friday Blasting

From 1:00p to 4:00p on Friday, July 17th, contractors will be using dynamite to blast away rock near the intersection of Caldwell Street and Stonewall Street. This is necessary for the installation of a new 24-inch water pipe. Prior to the blasting, there will be one or two indications from a warning horn.

"Firms Help Boost Third Ward"

Sunday's Charlotte Observer featured an article about Third Ward's partnerships with local businesses, as well as more general information about the neighborhood and its recent growth. See the article here, and enjoy.

Meeting July 28th

At 7:00p on Tuesday, July 28th, the Third Ward Neighborhood Association will host mayoral candidates and at-large city council members Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter! The Gateway Village YMCA (map) will be our generous host. As always, free parking will be available in the paved lot at 950 West Trade Street (The entry code is 950#). Stay tuned to third-ward.org for more details as they become available.

Because of the significance of the event, First Ward and Fourth Ward residents also will be invited to join us. Third Ward residents will want to arrive early, not only to secure a seat but to participate in another democratic process. Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation has authorized the creation of three design options for the northwest corner of Romare Bearden Park – the entrance that will serve most Third Ward residents – with the final selection to be chosen by neighborhood residents’ votes. Romare Bearden was a Third Ward native, making this a unique opportunity to honor his provenance. Review the three design options here.

See you on the 28th!

Clarkson Green

Please be aware of two recent break-ins occurring in the vicinity of Clarkson Green off of West First Street. This is a constant message, but please continue to be on the outlook for anything suspicious or out-of-place, and dial 911 immediately if you see something notable. Thanks!

CMPD Report

Please see this CMPD report on Response Area 2 for the month of June. Thank you Sergeant Pellicone!

Independence Day

Don't forget Red, White, and Boom! 2009 at the CPCC campus this Saturday, July 4th. Events will start at 6:30p with live music, with fireworks at approximately 9:30p. Admission is free.

For more information, see this link. Happy Independence Day!

Criterium

Excerpted from the press release: "On Saturday, August 8, 2009, approximately 200 professional cyclists from around the world will compete on the streets of uptown Charlotte to compete in the 6th Annual Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium. The Women’s 25-mile event starts at 5:30pm followed by the Men’s 50-mile twilight race at 7:00pm.
The Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium will promote community awareness of the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas in an effort to increase regional brain tumor patient access to the best treatment, technology, research, and support.
100 women riders from 8 countries will participate. The purse for the women’s competition is $25,000. 125 men from 17 countries will be on the course battling for the $75,000 purse.
A complete schedule and roster of athletes set to participate is available online at www.charlottecriterium.org. For more information go to www.btfcnc.org or call 704.821.0110."
Please note the Tryon Street closure for the event.

Neighborhood and Business Services Summer Series

The City of Charlotte Neighborhood and Business Services Department will be hosting its Community University summer series starting July 9th. Topics are focused on neighborhood improvement projects residents can do while on their “staycations” this summer. Workshops are free and open to all Charlotte residents. Participants may register by calling (704) 336-2061 or emailing neighservs@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
See this flyer for more information!