'PostSecret The Show' -- Go See It!

Do yourself a favor and go see PostSecret The Show at Booth Playhouse before it closes this Sunday, May 4. The show has actually been running for a week now, but it might be a bit of a secret to some of you. I had the privilege of seeing it last evening with a group of friends, and it's one of the best, most thought-provoking, and emotion-stirring live shows I've seen in awhile.

PostSecret, the brand, began in 2004, founded by Maryland-based Frank Warren as a community art project. He invited people to mail him anonymous postcards, confessing their secrets, and he would select some each week to post to his blog, PostSecret.com. It quickly grew to become one of the most popular blogs in the world, and today has received more than 650 million visits--Frank has received more than half a million postcards, all to his home address. He continues to post new postcards every Sunday. And, of course, he's gone on to write several bestselling books about the experience.

PostSecret The Show truly brings those postcards to life. I was amazed at how the one or two-sentence anecdotes were so riveting. Funny secrets--about pulling pranks and embarrassing confessions; sad secrets--thoughts on wanting to commit suicide or being victims of abuse; astonishing secrets--infidelity and crimes committed. It all comes together to convey that we really don't know what people are holding inside, and it reminds us just how alone in this world some people feel.

Actors Birgit Darby, J.R. Adduci, and Kerry Ipema in PostSecret The Show. Credit: Blumenthal

A group of Charlotte bloggers, including me, were invited to attend a dinner last week with Frank and the team of writers and producers responsible for turning PostSecret into a stage play (most of them are from Vancouver). That's where I learned that Charlotte, because of the presence of the great Blumenthal Performing Arts, is the debut city for this show, so Charlotteans are the first people anywhere to see it. You have four more opportunities to experience if for yourself:

Wednesday, Apr 30, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 2, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3 p.m.

Tickets range from $19.50 to $39.50. Visit blumenthalarts.org/postsecret for complete details.

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Read About It: Jimmie Johnson and His '6 Pack'

I had the pleasure of interviewing six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson for the May/June issue of Where Charlotte. It's the cover story, and you can read the article online by clicking here. You'll find the issue distributed throughout the Charlotte area (hotels, visitors centers, tourists attractions, and conveniently in the newsstands along the streets in Uptown) beginning next week.

The first question I asked Jimmie was about keeping his drive and competitiveness this season, now that he's won six championships. But before I asked him that question (in these Grown People Talking blog posts where I tout my published work, I like to give you a little anecdote that's not in the story), I said to him: "When I think of six championships, the first person who comes to mind is Michel Jordan." I then proceeded to tell the guy who could potentially become the winningest NASCAR driver ever, in terms of championships, that he should connect with Michael Jordan to make a special "6 Rings" edition of the Air Jordan sneakers. Sneakerheads are familiar with the 6 Rings kicks. And hey, it's not a stretch--both JJ and MJ reside in Charlotte.

Jimmie simply chuckled, and replied with a gracious thank you. He's truly one of the most humble superstars I've ever talked to. I believe that his humility comes across in the interview. He's also a fitness fanatic, which is not common with NASCAR drivers. You wouldn't think that a sport in which the athlete is literally sitting down for about four hours would require one to be physically fit--back in the early days of NASCAR, the drivers were known to have beer guts and chain-smoke cigarettes. Drivers have a different image today, though, but I don't think fitness is a part of it (their pit crews work out tremendously nowadays, however). Perhaps if more NASCAR drivers ran, biked, swam, and worked out as much as Jimmie Johnson, they'd be able to catch him.

Also, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, founded by Jimmie and his wife Chandra, have launched their first-ever Wellness Challenge, with four upcoming events in the Charlotte area:

• Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K Run and Family Fun Walk, April 27
• Lake Norman Excursion Cycle/Run, July 12
• Jimmie Johnson Foundation Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon, August 19
• Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon, September 7

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Charlotte Hounds Kicking Off 2014 Season

It's a busy time across the city for Charlotte professional sports, with the Bobcats competing in the NBA playoffs for just the second time in franchise history, and the Knights opening their new Uptown ballpark a couple of weeks ago. Now, it's the Charlotte Hounds' turn to take center field, which means if you're a local sports fan, you should give our Major League Lacrosse team your undivided attention. Likely still under the radar to some who didn't realize Charlotte has an MLL team, the Hounds are beginning their third season this Saturday, April 26.

Credit: facebook.com/charlottehounds

I remember blogging about the announcement in 2011 that Charlotte was getting an MLL franchise. Now, the team plays a 14-game regular season schedule, one game a week, usually on Saturdays but also a couple of Friday games. The Hounds play home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium, just outside of Uptown, and they open the season at home this Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Ohio Machine. Expectations are high for the Hounds in 2014 because they made it to the MLL championship game last season, eventually losing by one point to the defending champions, Chesapeake Bayhawks.

Credit: twitter.com/CharlotteMLL

Tickets to home games range from $12.50 to $42.50. And new this season, about half of the Hounds' games--some home, some away--are scheduled to air on FOX Sports Regional Networks, including this Saturday's season opener. You can show your support for the team on social media using the hashtag #ReleasetheHounds (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram). Visit charlottehounds.com.

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Lady Cats to Become HoneyBees When Bobcats Become Hornets; Auditions Begin June 7

Heading into this NBA season, I assumed 2013-14 would be another subpar year for the Charlotte Bobcats, and one that would be even more marginalized because of the excitement around the team switching back to the Hornets name next season. So it's been a pleasant surprise to see the Bobcats cap off just their second winning (above .500) season in their 10-year franchise history, and make the playoffs for the second time (you need to show more enthusiasm).

While most of us Bobcats fans last week were keeping an eye on how the team would finish the regular season, which would determine how they were seeded in the playoffs and who they would play in the first round (they finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and are facing the second-seeded Miami Heat), another announcement was made: the HoneyBees will hold auditions beginning June 7 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Lady Cats. Credit: Sean Phaler/bobcats.com

The HoneyBees are what the Lady Cats--Charlotte's NBA dance team--will become when the Bobcats transition to the Hornets after this season ends. If you were a previous fan of the Charlotte Hornets (1988-2002), then you might recall that the HoneyBees were the original name for the Hornets' dance team. So this is another piece of purple-and-teal nostalgia that will return to the Queen City in modern form, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

The audition requirements to try out for the HoneyBees are rather simple, well, aside from you needing to be an incredible dancer in great physical shape:

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age by June 7th, 2014 (must present valid ID)
• Must have graduated from high school or received G.E.D.
• Must have proper audition attire and footwear
• You must be available every night during the week of boot camp (June 8th-June 15th)

Audition Day Tips

• Come dressed in your Hornets-inspired dance gear. Show off your love for the Hornets in purple and teal! Must include a midriff top and shorts and non-marking shoes
• Bring a warm-up suit or cover-up. Restrooms will be available but there will be no formal changing area
• Concession stands will not be open; bring your own snacks and water

Keep up with all of the Bobcats-to-Hornets announcements by visiting BackBuzzCity.com.

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What Does It Mean When A Family Dollar Store Opens In Your Neighborhood?

When opening a new business, particularly a brick-and-mortar store, one of the most important factors that goes (or should go) into the decision-making of the entrepreneur or corporation is the location (location, location, location, as developers say). A lot of market research and data are analyzed when new locations of franchises are being considered. So it's strategic when a franchise or chain like H&M, Chuy's, Taco Mac, or Chick-fil-A, for example, is deciding when and where it is opening in Charlotte. Among other things, it usually represents an area's population growth, and depending on the business, it might represent the affluency of that population.

But what does it mean when a new Family Dollar store opens in an area? Back in December, I was making a quick drive to the bank down the street from my house when I realized that a Family Dollar was being built. I commented on Twitter:

Noticed a Family Dollar is being built down the street from my house. Not sure if that's good or bad for my neighborhood.
— Jarvis Holliday (@HollidayInk) December 19, 2013

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had conversations with various people on topics involving socioeconomics. In a few of those conversations, we began talking about companies/stores like Walmart and Family Dollar, and in the case of Family Dollar, some interesting perspectives emerge as to the type of areas and neighborhoods the company opens stores in.

This Family Dollar is opening soon on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road in my neighborhood.

Leon Levine opened the first Family Dollar store in Charlotte in 1959. Today, it's a publicly held, Fortune 300 company, headquartered in Matthews, with more than 8,100 stores in 46 states. It's largely viewed as a fast-growing chain, so it came as a bit of a surprise when Family Dollar announced on Thursday that it would be closing 370 stores and slowing new-store growth. This is a result of sales from the most recent quarter being down 3.8 percent. Also as part of their "immediate, strategic actions," the CEO says the company has "made a significant investment to lower prices on about 1,000 basic items." So apparently, you'll be able to buy many items at the store for even cheaper; I guess as a way to drive more customers to the stores.

Furthermore, this is how Family Dollar is described in its corporate bio:

For more than 54 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations. Family Dollar’s mix of name brands and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 8,100 stores in rural and urban settings across 46 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers, who often refer to their neighborhood store as “my Family Dollar.”

Recently, a friend told me that "You won't find a Family Dollar in Ballantyne." This goes back to the perception of the type of neighborhoods in which Family Dollar opens stores. And my friend is right; I searched the store locator on Family Dollar's website and there isn't one in Ballantyne. But according to the company's history section, where it describes how and why a young Leon Levine started Family Dollar, it says he found success opening discount stores in low to middle income neighborhoods.

If that trend continues, then does it mean that if there's a new Family Dollar store opening where you live, that your neighborhood is considered low to middle income?

This isn't at all intended to be a knock on Family Dollar as a company. I've never heard anything bad about what it's like to work for them, the way, say, we often hear complaints about Walmart. And it should be noted that the company's founder and his wife do some incredible charitable giving through the Leon Levine Foundation--their impact can be seen throughout Charlotte especially, with the tens of millions of dollars they've donated.

The reality is that a business is a brand, and brands represent things. What do you think it represents if a Family Dollar store opens in your neighborhood?

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National Volunteer Week Underway, Culminates Locally With Hands On Charlotte Day

I didn't realize this was National Volunteer Week (April 6-12) until I saw a couple of tweets last night on the topic. It's held annually in April, but the week ranges from year to year--sometimes it's near the beginning of April, sometimes at the end--so it tends to creep up (read the Presidential Proclamation for National Volunteer Week 2014). But now that I know--and you know--that it's underway, what are we going to do about it?

Fortunately, in Charlotte, we have Hands On Charlotte, a nonprofit volunteer service organization that makes it easy to get involved in the community throughout the year. HOC coordinates volunteers to help homeless families, guide at-risk youth, tutor disadvantaged children, feed the hungry, care for the environment, and more. The organization keeps a running calendar of volunteer events, in partnership with other local organizations, for which you can sign up.

Photos credit: facebook.com/handsoncharlotte

And its own signature community service event is Hands On Charlotte Day, taking place for the 22nd year, this Saturday, April 12. On HOC Day, as many as 1,000 volunteers spend the day working on projects across the city, ranging from sorting donated clothing and landscaping Charlotte schools to clearing neighborhood debris and repairing nature trails. If you want to participate, you need to register by April 10; and the sooner you register, the more likely you are to get the service project you want. Children and teenagers are allowed to participate at many of the volunteer projects, so you can make it a philanthropic outing for the whole family (pull those brats away from the Xbox).

You'll only have to spend about three hours of your time Saturday morning volunteering, and then you can spend that afternoon at VBGB Beer Hall and Garden for the "after-party" with other HOC Day volunteers.

You'll find all the details at handsoncharlotte.org.

According to Points of Light:

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change – discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to make a difference.

Amen to that.

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My First Time: Fourth Ward Bread Co. In Uptown

My experience on Tuesday was (actually) my second time visiting Fourth Ward Bread Co.--my first time was in December when I met a friend there for coffee. I expect to now make this my go-to bakery/cafe/coffee shop when I'm in Uptown.

Simply put, Fourth Ward Bread Co. is awesome. Open since September, it's located on North Graham Street, just off the intersection of Graham and Sixth streets (across from CVS). The layout is inviting, the decor charming: high ceilings, exposed brick walls, tall windows, and cool furniture, like a table propped up by an antique bike.

Photos by Jarvis Holliday.

The food is the star, though--this is, after all, a bakery. On my first visit I had the egg and cheese croissant; on Tuesday I ate lunch there, ordering the turkey bianca (sandwich) with the soup of the day, which was clam chowder. It's hard to convey how good the food here is. It's served fresh, hot, and flavorful--everything you would want from a bakery. I can't wait to try other items on the menu, particularly the sweets like the cinnamon bun, cookies, and cannoli. The coffee is decent; I'd say there's room for improvement with it.

Because I'm someone who often finds myself needing a space to do a couple of hours of work on my laptop in between meetings or interviews for stories, I love that this spot has plenty of tables and seating. And there's free WiFi, of course. Fourth Ward Bread Co. is family-owned, so that's another reason I look forward to being a repeat customer.

Another cool fact: the cafe was used in a scene in Homeland last season. Remember when Saul's wife was having that affair?

Photo credit: Facebook

Fourth Ward Bread Co., 312 N. Graham St., fourthwardbreadco.com, facebook.com/fourthwardbreadco.

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'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' Hits Charlotte April 8-9, King of Pop's Music Is Alive and Well

In less than three months, we'll reach the five-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. He reigned as the King of Pop for decades during his lifetime, and because of the legacy of great music and memorable performances he left behind (not to mention previously unreleased music coming soon), he will forever be immortalized. So it's only fitting that when Cirque du Soleil partnered with the Estate of Michael Jackson and in the fall of 2011 launched a tour specially built on MJ's music and iconic dance moves, they titled it Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. Already one of the top-ten grossing tours of all-time, it comes to Charlotte for two nights, April 8 and 9, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour features nearly 50 international dancers, acrobats, and musicians, including four of the original band members who worked with Michael. It's presented in a rock concert format that "combines the excitement and innovation of Michael Jackson’s music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil’s unparalleled creativity," as the show's synopsis describes. They perform--on stage and soaring above it--to about 30 of MJ's greatest hits, including several of my favorites: "Billie Jean," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Man In the Mirror," "P.Y.T.," "Rock With You," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," and many more. I almost want to bust out some of his dance moves just typing the names of those songs... shamone!

Photos courtesy of Cirque du Soleil.

The tour first came to the Queen City in March 2012, during its original North American run. By the end of that summer, it had moved on overseas and proceeded to spend the next year and a half entertaining audiences all over the world. It returned to the States about a month ago, and I'm looking forward to seeing it myself when it stops in Charlotte next week.

Tickets to the Charlotte shows are on sale, ranging from $58 to $172, and can be purchased by clicking here.

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