CLTure® ( culture )

Music, sports, arts, entertainment, and culture publication based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Jack White, comedian Nate Jackson, WNBA legend Candace Parker, Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball takes on App State, Charlotte Independence play in the USL League One Final, Charlotte Book Fair, and McColl Center’s Centennial Celebration. Check out our new weekly events guide! https://t.co/TR3a1wBCWv

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After more than 50 years, Charlotte Ballet’s story is still unfolding in motion, passed from dancer to dancer, one curtain call at a time. How a small dance company founded in Winston-Salem in 1970 became a Charlotte institution. https://t.co/UzemArIjcc

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The Charlotte Independence are on a historic run, looking to win their first USL League One championship when they face Athletic Club Boise on Saturday in Matthews. https://t.co/L2N3XHT3JG

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A 'Basquiat x Banksy' exhibit featuring original works with a shared connection is coming to the North Carolina Museum of Art this month. https://t.co/AtYZFDxlSU

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Tony Hawk made a surprise stop in Charlotte on Friday, visiting the recently expanded Renaissance Park Skatepark in southwest Charlotte and leaving behind an autographed signature Birdhouse skateboard for a lucky local to claim.

Hawk also made a stop at McKoy's Smokehouse & Saloon on Old Pineville Road for some barbecue.

Located within the 135-acre Renaissance Park in the Yorkmount neighborhood off West Tyvola Road, Renaissance Park Skatepark originally opened in January 2021, with the upgraded skatepark reopening on May 15.

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Charlotte jazz musician Phillip Howe is continuing Bill Hanna’s legacy and going viral with his unique approach to music education and theory. https://t.co/8eLaDGl3Ae

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Shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, Roy Cooper's campaign posted a video showcasing scenes from across North Carolina, spanning its beaches, farms and small towns, set to Nina Simone's iconic 1965 recording of “Feeling Good.”

The song was a fitting soundtrack to an election that marked a significant political shift in North Carolina and across the country.

Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley by nearly 20 percentage points, flipping a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat and becoming the first Democrat elected to represent North Carolina in the Senate since 2008. Democrats also regained control of the state House for the first time since 2010, ending 16 years of Republican control.

Originally written by British songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse in 1962 for the musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd,' which premiered in 1964, “Feeling Good” was a theatrical expression of liberation and triumph.

The musical explored class divisions and an unequal social system, with the song performed at a moment of victory for a character who challenges the rules of a game designed to favor the privileged.

Simone, a Tryon, North Carolina, native, transformed the song into one of her signature recordings on her 1965 album, 'I Put a Spell on You,' bringing a commanding, soulful interpretation that emphasized its themes of freedom, independence and self-determination.

Her recording emerged as Simone was becoming one of the most prominent musical voices of the civil rights movement, giving the song additional resonance around empowerment and liberation.

More than six decades later, the song's message of a new beginning took on renewed significance in North Carolina and beyond, as Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, flipping the House and Senate from Republican control and reshaping the balance of power in Washington.

🎥: @RoyCooperNC

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The last time the EpiCentre (now Queen City Quarter) was operating at full capacity was during NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2019.

Once a centerpiece of Uptown Charlotte’s nightlife scene, the former EpiCentre is preparing for a transformation under a new ownership group that includes Hornets Sports & Entertainment.

Lincoln Property Company, Vision Ventures and Hornets Sports & Entertainment have formed a joint venture to acquire Queen City Quarter, the 302,324-square-foot mixed-use development. The partnership plans to evaluate opportunities to reposition the property as a more vibrant destination for dining, retail and entertainment.

Originally opened in 2008, the four-level complex spans three acres and features restaurants, retail, office space and hotel accommodations.

The development became a popular entertainment destination following its opening, with venues such as Suite, Whisky River, Howl at the Moon, Bubble, Rooftop 210, Strike City, and more.

It also played a prominent role during the 2012 Democratic National Convention, serving as a media hub for CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg and C-SPAN. The property hosted the Charlotte Hornets’ rebranding celebration in 2013 and a Carolina Panthers Super Bowl pep rally in 2016.

However, a combination of safety concerns, declining business activity and the pandemic contributed to the property’s deterioration and tenant departures. By August 2021, the complex was reportedly 70% vacant and facing foreclosure.

The property was renamed Queen City Quarter in September 2022 as part of an earlier revitalization effort.

For Hornets Sports & Entertainment, the acquisition extends its investment in Uptown beyond Spectrum Center, as the new Novant Health Performance Center across from the arena, is also expected to open in spring 2027.

While we don't know exactly how the property will be utilized, it will be an opportunity to reinvigorate a prominent Uptown space and landmark.

📸: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure

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WNBA legend Candace Parker will be in Charlotte this month for a special appearance celebrating the opening of her sports card shop in partnership with Score More Sports in University City. https://t.co/UJqrykNaOL

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Fresh off her WNBA championship, Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, Tidjane’s sister, lights up the Hive. The Hornets need all the energy they can get heading into the final quarter.

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Minutes distribution in the first half with Coby back in the lineup as the Hornets trail the Pistons 65-54. Pistons shot 63% and the Hornets had 11 turnovers — four by Schroder.

Coby White: 10 minutes
Dennis Schroder: 14 minutes
Sion James: 10 minutes

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Moussa is a warrior.

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Huge applause for Coby White, who was announced last in the starting lineup by the PA announcer Shawn Parker.

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Coby White set to play in his first home game in Charlotte in 202 days against the 5-1 Detroit Pistons tonight.

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Victoria Monét, Yebba, Rod Wave, Charlotte Checkers back home, EpicFest at ImaginOn, Upcycle Arts’ market at the Mint, Coby White’s return for the Hornets, Dawn Staley in town for Ally Tipoff, a Filipino Food Fest, and Improv Charlotte celebrates 20 years this week! https://t.co/yGAnoV18An

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Great time to watch this if you haven't already. https://t.co/mxlat3Esou

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Janelle Salaün, the older sister of Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaün, is a WNBA champion after the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night.

Janelle, who was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2025 before earning unanimous selection as the 2026 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year this season, averaged 12.7 points per game and set WNBA single-season records for a reserve with 509 points and 93 3-pointers.

She also represented France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping the women's national basketball team win a silver medal.

The siblings, who are separated by three years, 11 months and five days, grew up in France in a basketball family. Their shared competitive spirit and influence on each other's development were highlighted in a 2025 feature by https://t.co/u35ChBthny lead writer @Sam_Perley.

In the story, Tidjane credited his older sister's work ethic for helping shape his approach to the game, both on and off the court.

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The Hornets fall to the 76ers, 109-104, extending their losing streak to three games and dropping to 3-4 on the season. Philadelphia closed the game on a 15-3 run. Hornets back at The Hive Monday to host the Detroit Pistons.

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VJ Edgecombe hits the three with 35.4 on the clock, bringing the lead to 105-101 and LeBron off the bench.