Picture Perfect Porches
Lori Shaw and Jennifer Dolan met eight years ago, when their kids were in preschool. Both had lived and worked in New York; now, they lived five minutes apart in south Charlotte. “We came from the northeast, where fall is,…
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Birthday Party Do's and Don’t's: A Parent’s Refresher on Party Etiquette
Parties are the spice of life – a time to gather with friends, laugh, talk, play games and enjoy one another’s company. Still, there are some rules of etiquette when it comes to hosting or attending a party that you need to be aware of. Here are some tips for handling common party concerns to make sure you and your child are invited back!
Have a Healthier Halloween
My father, a dentist, refused to give candy on Halloween night. He suggested apples; my mother managed to talk him down to popcorn. Still our house was only slightly more popular than that of the missionary family that dropped Bible tracts into the outstretched hands of costumed kids.
Jolina Tex Mex Kitchen & BBQ
Jolina occupies a great uptown location on South College Street. It sits adjacent to Fuel Pizza — part of the same restaurant group — and is surrounded by trendy new office and apartment blocks. Given this, one would expect the place to be buzzing 24/7. Unfortunately, when we went it was empty. Nervy and suspicious is how I feel when walking into an uninhabited restaurant during peak time, which in our case was 6:45 p.m. on a Wednesday night. Despite this, I am happy to forgive them; midweek can
The Thankful Tree
My sons, ages 3 and 5 years, have 57 dinosaurs, 24 action heroes and 214 army men. They also have an amazing collection of 47 ketchup packets, just to prove it’s not the cost that counts. Before you convict me of attempted-spoiling, I’ll ask you to count up your children’s favorite toys. After that, consider that all these items (never mind the ketchup) were purchased by well-meaning aunts, uncles, friends and grandmas.
Candlelight Christmas Evenings at the Biltmore House
To spend the holidays at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville is to step back in time. The sights, the sounds, the smells all are reminiscent of the Gilded Age at the turn of the century. Each year, the Biltmore House is richly decorated in the holiday traditions set by George W. Vanderbilt, who first welcomed friends and family to his country retreat on Christmas Eve 1895. The bright tapestry of Christmas colors complement the rich oak paneling and European furnishings of the home.
Enchantment in Blowing Rock
From late November through the Christmas season, visitors to Blowing Rock, N.C. and Chetola Resort will feel as if they have stepped into a fairy tale.
Butter-Basted Lemon and Lime Turkey
A chilled lemon and lime butter, placed under the skin, adds a zesty twist to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey and solves the problem of dry breast meat. You’ll need to dispense with your rings, gird your loins and push that citrus butter up under the skin. It is a little fiddly (the butter will break up), and you may not like the slimy sensation, but it’s well worth it. To help the big day go smoothly, make the butter ahead. Let the kids help mix the butter, lemon and lime zest together,
How to Nurture an Attitude of Gratitude
Thanksgiving may get short shrift in retail stores or the media, but you can nurture thankfulness this month and year-round in your children’s hearts and minds.
Ben Thanh Vietnamese Dining
Tucked away amongst the urban sprawl of Central Avenue, you will find Ben Thanh, a Vietnamese restaurant. Their non-descript, low-rise building fronts a parking lot riddled with broken concrete and potholes. On this particular rainy evening, dirty brown puddles lay all around.
Reader review: Charlotte Symphony Lollipops
First-grader Drew Dansby writes about the performance of "Peter and the Wolf," part of the Charlotte Symphony Lollipops series for children.
Toy Time: Good Old-Fashioned Fun
Want to see what kinds of toys your ancestors enjoyed playing with? Currently, The Charlotte Museum of History is featuring "Toy Time," an interactive exhibit of giant-sized folk toys through March 9.
Near and Far: N.C. Transportation Museum
If you love the excitement of the Smithsonian but your kids can’t stand long drives, believe it or not we have our own miniature version right here in North Carolina. It’s not quite the grand scale of the hallowed institution in Washington, D.C., but when my daughter Caroline, my brother Locke and I visited the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, I had flashbacks of my visit to the National Air and Space Museum.
12 Ways to Say 'I Love You' to Kids
It’s fun to find creative ways to show our kids we love them. Here are some ideas for sharing the love on Feb. 14 — and all through the year.
What's So Great About Camp?
Ah, camp — what images do you conjure when you remember summer camp when you were a child? Roasting s’mores over a campfire, rolling out your sleeping bag in a cozy cabin, splashing in a lake, making new friends and writing letters?
Near & Far: Knoxville
With award-winning restaurants, Southern hospitality and an assortment of activities sure to entertain the entire family, a day in Knoxville will leave you and your family wanting more of this enchanting city!
Enjoy the Trip!
I am writing this letter from the N.C. Mountains while on a relaxing mini-vacation with my husband, Chip, and son, Crawford. Ha! That is an oxymoron. Has any mother ever really had a "relaxing vacation" with kids?
Near & Far: Linville Falls
Linville Falls, a two-hour drive from Charlotte, is a beautiful mountain area just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. 221), near many attractions suitable for kids.
Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of . . . Summer Vacation? ?
That annual vacation isn’t a right, it’s a luxury. Financial planner Diane McCurdy offers some simple ways to break the costly "vacation entitlement" habit — and start ?saving now for next summer’s outing.
Join the Club! 5 Island Kids Clubs
With more hotels adding kids’ programs these days, we took a look at some super destinations with children in mind. Here are our top choices for island family resorts with Kids Clubs that pass the test!
Racin' and More at NASCAR SpeedPark
Need for Speed? Your little race fans will love the NASCAR SpeedPark and a tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway
7 Ways to Make Summer Camp Affordable for Families
While it's hard to put a price tag on their children's learning and growth, parents certainly have their family budgets to think about when considering camp.
7 Tips for Family Farmers' Market Fun
Farmers’ market outings are fun (and educational) for kids
Mother's Day Breakfast in Bed for Mom
A step-by-step guide for dads and kids to make the perfect breakfast in bed for Mom on Mother's Day.
Campfire Cooking
Learn about cooking outdoors over the campfire and try out these two new recipes.
