5 Ridiculous Questions with CLT Development
If you’ve read The Biscuit or followed our social feeds recently, it’s pretty apparent that we have a bit of a crush on @CLTDevelopment. (Hey! We have our reasons.)
Clayton Sealey’s use of levity, humor and sarcasm in the pursuit of educating people (like the current “CRANE-y Awards” featured on Instagram), makes him a kindred spirit with us Biscuit bakers.
Long before he began managing the @CLTDevelopment accounts (which were originated by Shane McDevitt), Clayton was interested in cities, construction, development and planning — since he was little kid, in fact. By his own admission, he was “absolutely that kid that was breaking into[contractor’s] job sites to give myself tours.” In fact, he says he was “lucky enough, as a teenager, to be on top of the Westin as the final few slabs were poured on the roof.”
For someone obsessed with construction and development, Charlotte is a fertile ground … even for someone who lives up in Brooklyn, New York right now. Clayton’s a native, so we’re happy to cut him a break.
Clayton considers Charlotte his home and travels to the Queen City frequently. He works today as a director of marketing for an out-of-home advertising company. While he’s currently taking a bite out of the Big Apple, the sheer volume of tweeting, posting and writing Clayton does about Charlotte tells us his heart lies back here in North Cackalacky. @CLTDevelopment burns a lot of calories on the city’s new construction, but Clayton says it’s also “about starting conversations, linking people together, and learning from each other.”
AND, NOW, WE HAVE 5 RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS FOR CLAYTON …
What was the last book you didn’t finish?
I can’t pinpoint the exact one, but I can tell you two things:
1. The NYC Subway is the antithesis of Walden Pond. So, I feel unashamed to admit I tried and failed to read Walden by Thoreau after THREE YEARS of attempts.
2. Much like George R.R. Martin, I too might never finish A Song of Ice & Fire. I made it halfway through book 5 and realized that winter was just going to keep coming.
You live a North/South life. When you say, “I’d like Iced Tea” at a restaurant, what do you expect to get?
Long Island Iced … kidding. If I’m getting an iced tea, it better be indistinguishable from sugar water, arrive in a styrofoam cup and have “crunchy ice.”
If you could fire up the DeLorean, hit 88mph and save one CLT building from the wrecking ball, what would it be?
Hotel Charlotte, not the restaurant on Sharon Amity that is now Leroy Fox, but the hotel on Trade Street, that sat where the Carillon is today. Not just because I love the building, but the real allure is the opportunity to foil David Copperfield’s plan live on air. (You can watch Mr. Copperfield escape the building’s 1988 implosion here.)
If for one day you could only communicate with people using quotes from a single movie, what would it be? Which quote would you use the most?
“Damn the Man! Save the Empire!” from Empire Records
- Person: Excuse me, sir, what time is it?
- Me: Damn the Man! Save the Empire!
Ben & Jerry’s is developing a CLT ice cream flavor. What’s it called? What’s in it?
“The Bees Teas” – Vanilla base with honey, mint, black tea. It’s super vanilla on the surface, but as you dig deeper — and deeper – there are so many interesting flavors lurking in the center. You just gotta’ hit the right pocket in the pint. (Side note, I think I might attempt to make this.)
And, one to grow on …
What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard in NYC when you tell people you’re from CLT?
1. “Have you been cow tipping?” (I tried, but failed.)
2. “Wow, it must have been so nice to grow up at the beach.” (The green shores of Freedom Park are lovely in May.)
What’s funnier is when Charlotteans find out where I live. A few people really like to think I’m a dangerous Yankee with an agenda.