Let’s All Celebrate Galentine’s Day with Stacy Cassio
Stacy Cassio believes every woman deserves a stage, microphone, & audience
We can think of no better way to celebrate Feb. 13 — Galentine’s Day — than to share an interview with incredible Stacy Cassio, founder and CEO of Pink Mentor Network, with you. Galentine’s Day, a day devoted to ladies celebrating ladies, started as a fictional holiday on the show Parks & Recreation and clawed its way into reality. But, Stacy is working to make EVERY day Galentine’s Day for women in Charlotte.
Stacy spoke about her passion to empower women by building a network, resources and support for them at the February 7 gathering of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. Biscuit publishers, Tim Miner and Matt Olin, chatted with Stacy about her mission immediately after she finished her talk. And, you can listen in right now on The Biscuit CLT Podcast.
Will Charlotte’s ‘farsighted’ developers honor Brooklyn Village promises?
by Jonathan McFadden
In late January, writer Jonathan McFadden toured the Levine Museum of the New South’s exhibit, Brooklyn: Once A City Within A City, with author and historian, Tom Hanchett. This exhibit is the latest addition to the Museum’s #HomeCLT series, a multi-year exploration of Queen City neighborhoods and communities in Charlotte. It chronicles the destruction of Brooklyn, a neighborhood that was once seen as a sanctuary for Charlotte’s African-American community, during urban renewal starting in the 1960s. Exploring the exhibit with Tom stirred many thoughts in Jonathan about the past and the present.
Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus.
And, the Orange Construction Barrel, really WAS patented in Charlotte.
We Charlotteans have a terrible habit of saying, “Nothing ever happened here.” But, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This Sunday, Feb. 16, is designated National Innovation Day — a day to celebrate creative ideas that work their way into the real world. And, that got us thinking? What was invented in Charlotte? And, then we thought, “Why don’t we play a round of Queen City Quiz Show about inventions that were born in the Charlotte region with Jason Harper, Page Fehling and Brigida Mack?”
As reported on WBTV, an Audrey Kell High School senior got creative after being deferred from Harvard University. While Harvard continues looking over his application, Ethan Kim wanted to make sure they knew what they’d be missing out on if he’s not accepted. He went all in by producing a music video titled “Harvard Let Me In,” where he gives the resume rap of a lifetime, all while flexing his creative chops and ridiculous flow. We are really impressed and we decided to see if a few “stock image Charlotteans” were fans, too.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Ernest Moren Photography A NIGHT IN RIO: 11th Annual Brazilian Festival
February 22 at 7pm
The Neighborhood Theatre
Want to spend an evening in Brazil without leaving the Queen City? Nosotros te tenemos. (We got you.) There’s no passport required to take this trip to Rio de Janerio with the Latin American Coalition’s 11th Annual Brazilian Festival. Hosted by LAC, the event promises to be bigger than ever. The festival will feature energetic dance performances, capoeira martial arts presentations, live music, and a lively Carnaval parade finale that you won’t want to miss!
- Swap Series: Book Swap – February 19 @ Free Range Brewing
- Intimismos: Franco Fasoli & Octavio Garabello – February 21 @ LaCa Projects
- Shifting Gears: Mardi Gras Bike Parade – February 22 @ The Plaza
Caroline Calouche
Founder of Caroline Calouche & Co. and CLT Cirque & Dance Center
Native Gastonian Caroline Calouche loves to dance. But, dancing on the ground wasn’t enough. Two BFA degrees in ballet and modern dance wasn’t enough. A post-graduate choreography program at the Salzburg Experimental Academy for Dance in Austria wasn’t enough. She wanted to dance in the sky. So, she learned to dance suspended by silks. So, yeah. It’s safe to say that Caroline doesn’t come down to earth very often. And, when she does, you’d better be quick to catch up with her.
It took everything we had, but we finally got Caroline to slow down for a minute. When we did, we asked her 5 Ridiculous Questions (and one to grow on).
Don’t Be Modest, Create Loud And Proud
Jonell Logan knows a thing or two about getting creative to spark change. As the National Executive Director of The League of Creative Interventionists (LoCI), Jonell has had her hand in many projects across the country that have fostered change and made a tangible impact in the community, especially here in Charlotte. The LoCI is a nonprofit that uses creativity to transform communities from within by connecting and supporting a national network of artists and community partners. When running a nonprofit there are bound to be some challenges. Here’s one of the three biggest creative challenges Jonell says she’s facing on Thursday, Feb 13.
Modesty Isn’t Always The Best Policy
“LoCI has been doing great work in Charlotte since 2018 but neglected to tell that story. We must get the word to garner increased financial support for creatives and the communities they work with.” – Jonell Logan
The ghost of grocery stores past are alive and well. Decades ago, this sign would have boldly said “Farm Fresh Produce Direct From The Field To You” in bright red lettering. Today, you can just make out the faint lettering of a sign from yesteryear at the Park N’ Shop grocery store on Wilkinson Blvd. Back in the 1950s and 60s, this store, owned by Charles Reid, reigned supreme. It was known for its sloped roof, steel arches (which are still very much intact), head-turning promotions and large parking lot where you could park and — you guessed it — shop. (It has a twin still standing over off of East Sugar Creek Road where it’s now a Compare Foods.)
The Park N’ Shop shut its doors in 2004 and has sat vacant ever since, but not for too much longer! Red Hill Ventures and the Roby Family of Companies have announced they are working together to repurpose the former grocery store into over 30,000 square feet of office space (with a possibility for retail, too). They plan to retain and highlight the building’s iconic shape. We can’t wait to tell you more as plans develop.
Interesting History Tidbit: In 1961, conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, famous actors and vaudeville performers, were offered a job as cashiers at the Park N’ Shop after being abandoned by their manager while touring in Charlotte. (They even had a special booth built to accommodate them.) The sisters were able to slow down and escape a grueling life of constant — and sometimes abusive — performing and set down roots here until their passing in 1969.
Directions: 3512 Wilkinson Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208
This Queen City exploration is powered by OrthoCarolina.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Albert Herring
Don’t go around hungry. If you missed the last batch of The Biscuit, don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you … and full of satisfying Southern sassiness. Click here to dig in, y’all.
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