Google Makes a Deal in Charlotte

I can’t even count how many deal sites there are out there these days. Of course there’s Groupon and Living Social, but there are easily 100+ other multi-city and regional sites looking to pair local businesses with new customers.

It must be at least somewhat of a worthwhile effort, because Google has even thrown its hat in the ring, hoping to leverage its size and reach to provide greater deals for those looking for a bargain. Having launched in Portland in June of 2011, Google Offers has now been rolled out to 38 cities with Charlotte being one of the latest locales added.

When you join, Google gets all up in your bizness (natch) and asks you to show the general areas where you live, work and play. The presumption is that it takes this info, along with a listing of services that you like/dislike, and presents data tailored to the areas of town you frequent. In truth, Google is probably just building a heat map of population density to prioritize its military offensive. They’ll catch you off-guard while you’re stuffing your face with a cheesesteak.

Today’s deal: half off on a beer-tasting at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.

New Kid On The Block – Leroy Fox

The folks behind Mortimer’s in the Epicenter are close to opening their newest restaurant, Leroy Fox. Much like what Mortimer’s did when they introduced a menu change, Leroy Fox has been hosting preview nights to allow friends, family and others in the neighborhood to get a sampling of what the menu has to offer. Last night’s sampling featured wings of various flavors (my favorite being the honey habanero wings), artichoke fries and steak nachos, as well as a number of other items. We also heard that that we can expect other southern staples such as shrimp and grits.

Leroy Fox opens on January 12th in Cotswald. Swing by their Facebook page for more info leading up to the opening.

Everyone Needs Heroes

As part of a Boys’ Night Out, me and The Boy headed stopped by Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find in Elizabeth. It had been years since I had been to a comic book shop. When I was younger I amassed a collection of Avengers, X-Men, Spider Man and a host of other titles that still sit in a chest in my bonus room today. I’ve picked up a few trades from time to time since, but I haven’t been a regular comic collector in years. Still, I have a lot of fond memories of looking forward to each pending issue of a title that had completely captured my attentions and look forward to passing that down to my own kids.

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Last Call for Alcohol – Frugal MacDoogal’s

It’s New Year’s Eve, which for most of you ne’er do wells means booze and fireworks (a truly stellar combination). If you haven’t procured your libations yet and don’t quite know what you’re going to want for the run-up to the midnight hour, keep your options open and make a stop a Frugal MacDoogal’s just off I-77 next to Carrowinds.

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The Cats are Back

The Bobcats hosted the Milwaukee Bucks for their 2011-2012 season opener. It turned out to be a nail-biter as they went from a 13-point deficit to a ten point lead, only to find themselves trading the lead for the last minute-and-a-half. Eventually they would pull it out in a 95-96 win.

While it wasn’t a sold-out night, plenty of fans did make it a point to catch the first game of the season. And you can count a number of Panthers among them, including Jon Beason, Charles Godfrey and Cam Newton. It wasn’t just local sports personalities, either. The confusion was palpable in the air when Derek Jeter showed up on the big screen, watching safely from the club seats. It was almost as if the whole arena had a thought bubble form overhead saying, “What is he doing here?”

So the ‘Cats are undefeated. Who knows for how long as they face Lebron, D-Wade and the Heat on Wednesday and the Orlando Magic on Friday.

At least they are home games.

Chow Down South End

A few months back, Chow Down Uptown events started popping up on a regular basis. The food truck meet-up was originally set up across the street from Seventh Street Station and has since been relocated to the NC Music Factory.

The addition of the food truck event has been good news for the QC, and as always, good news spreads. This Wednesday, Chow Down is in South End to provide tasty noms for those in the area:

8 trucks have committed for Wednesday: Napolitano’s, Maki Taco, Roaming Fork, Herband Legend, Outdoor Feasts, Goody Woodys (Charlotte’s newest food truck), Cupcake Delirium and Tasty Yo.

Kinda wish it was on Tuesday when Atherton Market would be open, but that would probably be a logistical nightmare. No matter, it’ll still be a good spot to hit up. Oh, and a little advice – Roaming Fork’s blackened fish tacos are insane!

First Steps for Bobcats

The NBA lockout is finally over and the season is about to begin. There’s no telling what impact it has had on the relationship between players and owners, but I have a hard time believing anyone associated with the league doesn’t recognizing that its relationship with fans took a big hit.

Michael Jordan certainly appears to believe so. In a recent letter to fans, he has outlined some of the initial measures the team is taking to make up for the inconvenience the 2011-2012 season has become:

As a thank you for your support, we have a number of fan appreciation events that will be taking place. It all starts on December 17th when you can get your first look at our team during a free scrimmage at Time Warner Cable Arena. Then at our preseason game on December 19th against the Atlanta Hawks, all kids 14 and under can attend for free. Opening night is always a special game and on December 26th we would like to offer 50% off concessions for everyone in attendance. As another thank you, for our first 3 games in January, every ticket in the upper level will be only $5.

Meh. As a season ticket holder there is very little I find enticing about what is being offered so far. Except maybe the concessions bit. Finally the beers will be priced at what they’re worth!

York Crossing Restaurant – Utility Dining

The York Crossing shopping center is a remnant of a different time. I imagine it being the demarcation of the city limits in years past, prior to Charlotte’s expansion to the state line. Nearly all of the traffic the shopping center sees is by those who use it as a thoroughfare to circumvent the intersection of South Tryon and Westinghouse. What once was home to a couple of anchor stores and a handful of smaller retailers is now reduced to a Dollar General, some shady internet and gaming parlors, and the York Crossing Restaurant.

To call it a hidden gem would be a disservice (not to mention hackneyed and cliched). There is neither shine nor sparkle to the place. No flair, no style and no atmosphere. You’re not going to go there for the experience (unless you are someone so removed from the banality of every day life that you like to mingle with us plebes for sport).

No, the York Crossing Restaurant is a utility spot- a diner that serves the near-extinct function of providing a meal and little else. A place that you could easily visit two to three times a week as a matter of routine.

My first visit was for breakfast, but they also serve lunch and dinner as well. And for just over six dollars I was able to get:

• 2 pancakes
• 3 strips of bacon
• 2 slices of toast
• 2 eggs
• home fries
• coffee

On another trip I had all of the above minus the pancakes. Didn’t break five dollars.

And there’s nothing to complain about the meal. It doesn’t take much to make a good breakfast, but it’s surprising how often people can ruin this most simple of meals. Often, it’s because they are trying to do too much with it. At York Crossing Restaurant, they keep it simple. And that’s the recipe for becoming a staple.

Beer Is A Social Drink In More Ways Than One

The app that has been getting the most action on my besmudged smart phone of late has got to be Untappd. If you find yourself seeking out varieties of beer that extend beyond the Bud/Miller/crappy Lites out there, this is a must have. Not only does it provide you with a means of tracking your consumption (there is an inverse relationship between beers downed and the ability to recall their names, after all), but it also provides recommendations of beers similar to the one you are cataloguing.

As is the norm with just about any social app out there, you can find friends with whom to share your discoveries and adventures. Know of someone with impeccable taste in beer? Friend them through the app and you will be able to track the beers they rate highly and, possibly more importantly, will be able to see where they were able to procure said libation.

And you are now free to reallocate a few more brain cells from memory functions to ritualistic alcoholic sacrifice. You’re welcome.

New Orleans in Charlotte

This past weekend, Wells Fargo played host to a little Thanks-for-welcoming-us-to-the-city festival. It was a weekend of the arts as area museums were free to the public and performances were lined up for the accompanying street festival. The highlight was definitely Branford Marsalis taking the stage between the Mint Museum Uptown and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

And it was a good one to watch. Branford played a bunch of New Orleans standards, making the music readily accessible to an audience regardless of whether they consumed a regular diet of jazz. My guess is that it’s the type of show that he does to put food on the table rather than feed his soul. But for most of us it was great, as it was much more than what we usually get.