Whoa! This is one stuffed stocking! (A big ol’ pre-holiday Biscuit.)
Zoe Clark as “Little” surveys her new kingdom in “Frontier.” PHOTO CREDIT: AK Media Productions
Charlotte Filmmaker Exploring Award-Winning “Frontier” For some time now, Charlotte has been known as a location for feature films and television shows. But, lately, the Queen City seems to be gaining steam as the home of up-and-coming filmmakers, with the recent releases of films like MIKE, the documentary My Father’s Brothers and others. Add to that list “Frontier,” a short film directed by Charlotte videographer, Chuck Kleven, which recently won “Best North Carolina Short Film” at the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. Click the link below to watch the 16-minute film about a young girl escaping into the woods and her imagination. And, then read our interview with Chuck about the making of the film. 
Maria Howell & Noel Freidline Share Songs of the SeasonOver the last year, we’ve shared the stories of Charlotteans doing their best to put the Queen City Music scene on the map. This week, Andy Goh sits down with two of our most celebrated musicians — Maria Howell & Noel Freidline — who have just released a Christmas album. Enjoy their conversation. 
Proud Colombian, creator, dreamer, art aficionado, graphic designer and (most importantly) chocolate fanatic. All this and more describes our friend, Caro Diaz … a woman with so many passions, she just can’t help starting things. Over the last eight years, she’s transformed her interest in design into INKA Print CLT, a screenprinting business. Now, she’s a driving force behind CLT en Español, a bi-lingual digital magazine that explores the growing Alternative Latin scene in Charlotte and creates a space for Latino artists to share their stories. CLT en Español was recently awarded a HUG grant and that seemed a perfect excuse to ask Caro 5 ridiculous questions… What song are you powerless against … you MUST dance, even if you don’t want to?
Do I have to choose one? (You guys are tough.) Okay. Mr. James Brown — “I Feel Good.” (Honorable mentions to “[Enter] the Kingdom” by Lincka & Rat F!nk and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” by Rod Stewart.) When you’ve had a hard day in Charlotte, where’s the best place to treat yourself to an indulgent snack (or dessert) in Charlotte?
Does beer or cider count as a dessert? LOL. Alfajores and Tres Leches Cake are my fave. But, for comfort food (when I am really depressed), it’s Colombian Food from El Cafetal, almost feels like my Mom made it for me, so it brings me back home every time I eat their Bandeja Paisa or Pan de bono. Yum! What’s your third favorite shirt you’ve ever printed at INKA? (Plus one and two.)
This is really a tough tough question . . . I am sweating here… #1 City of Immigrants
#2 Comunidad Colectiva – En la lucha
#3 Viva La Música – Carlotan talents I have an emotional attachment to the organizations and companies that these went out for and the message they convey. Of course, there is always that shirt I still have to design and print. But, I get so attached… What’s the first car you remember driving? Did it have a name?
My first car was a 1981 Mercedes Benz. Her name was “MECHAS” (Because in Colombia, “Mechas” is the nickname for people named “Mercedes.”) What emoji do you use waaaaaaay too often?
CANDELA emoji. (And, by “candela.” I mean this one … ?)
Troll-Proof Your WordsBetween 2019 wrap-ups, 2020 proposals, holiday Instagram posts and reams and reams of impending “Thank You” notes, it’s a fair bet that we all have some serious writing ahead of us. That also means people will be scanning our work on the hunt for typos and poor use of grammar. Let’s give ourselves the gift of not giving the haters anything to go on. So, we turned to one of our favorite Charlotte writers, Jonathan McFadden, for a few hints. Heed Jonathan’s hints right here.
Didja’ hear the one about the 10 CLT artists who drove a rental truck filled with art to Miami?Local artists Rebecca Henderson and Grace Stott made good on their “get moving” mission with their mobile art gallery, Wheeling Art Dealing, as they traveled south to Miami Art Week earlier this month. With help from the Women’s Impact Fund and Goodyear Arts, they hauled down I-95 in a rented truck with a curated collection of work by ten artists, including Amy Bagwell, Renee Cloud, de’Angelo Dia, Amy Herman, Holly Keogh, Deb Koo, HNin Nie, Elisa Sanchez, Grace Stott, and Liliya Zalevskaya. They shared the work across Miami, from Locust Projects and Laundromat to the streets of Wynwood. See some of their travel photos right here. 
Next Stage Selects for the 2020 CULTIVATE CohortLate last week, Caylin Haldeman, director of CULTIVATE — a year-long incubator focused on giving early-stage organizations tools to sustain themselves — announced that six organizations would comprise the 2020 cohort. The class includes several nonprofits covered in The Biscuit like Foster Village, Community Matters Cafe and Hope Vibes. The program is funded by the Reemprise Fund and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read more about the cohort here. Charlotte Is Creative, publishers of The Biscuit, were participants in the 2018 cohort. New Life Ahead for The Excelsior ClubAs reported in QC Metro, the historic Excelsior Club may soon find new life as a redeveloped entertainment complex, supported by funding from the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Foundation for the Carolinas. Read more in QC Metro.
As reported Tuesday, Dec. 17 on WBTV, the Queen City has won a Major League Soccer franchise. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Panthers’ owner David Tepper and Mayor Vi Lyles gathered with a crowd of CLT soccer fanatics at the Mint Museum Uptown to make the expansion team official after rumors have been swirling for quite some time. With the new team not taking the pitch until 2021, it will give this group of fake stock image Charlotteans we interviewed some time to think everything over … before they take too many headers. 
EDITOR’S NOTE: With the team headed to a practice facility at the old Eastland Mall site, we think it’s time to bring back a beloved CLT symbol for the team logo. And, that ain’t no joke.
 PHOTO CREDIT: 100 Gardens 100 Gardens Aquaponics Tour
Dec. 21 at 10:30am @ Myers Park High SchoolCreativity comes in all shapes and sizes. But, when you hear the word “aquaponics,” the creativity bells might not start ringing in your head. Oh, but, you’d be wrong. 100 Gardens, third place winner in the 2018 SEED20 competition, takes a wildly creative approach to inspire youth toward sustainability. They do so by teaching them to create their own aquaponics gardens to raise fish and grow vegetables while reducing negative environmental impacts. The nonprofit’s goal is to build 100 gardens at 100 local schools to educate tens of thousands of students. This Saturday, December 21 at 10:30am, 100 Gardens will be giving a tour of their aquaponic garden at Myers Park High School. It will be a great way to see how getting creative with education can lead to greater change in the future. For more information, click here. 
Grab a Beer & Save Your Bacon at the Last-Minute Market
Dec. 21 from 11 am to 4 pm
Triple C Brewing Barrel Room
With only six shopping days left before Christmas, you may be starting to panic. No worries, our pal, Jordan Dollard, Chief Retail Strategist at Esther and Elsa Retail, is ready to rescue you. She’s arranged for 30 local retailers to be on hand with gifts suitable for everything from White Elephant presents to the main event under the tree. Plus, you know, food trucks and beer. Consider our sleigh bells officially rung. Find a complete list of vendors here.
If aquaponics & pop-up markets aren’t your thing and you still need help filling up your end of the decade calendar, how about a dash of ugly sweater karaoke, a sprinkle of Prince, a tablespoon of Charlie Brown and a few other secret ingredients to help bake up a great finale to your year?
Click here to learn about more CLT events.
Christmas decorations have popped up all across the Queen City lately. As many local businesses make their festive transformations, we’ve always had a soft spot for the one and only Lang Van. The restaurant has served up Vietnamese cuisine in Charlotte’s Eastside for nearly 30 years. If you pay Lang Van a visit in December, you’ll see that they’ve decked their usual bamboo hallway with tiny Santas, snowmen and colorful lights. And, if you pay them a visit at any other time of the year, you’ll find some of the most delicious dishes our city has to offer. This place defines #OGClt culinary charm. Directions: 3019 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215 This Queen City exploration is powered by OrthoCarolina.
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. | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |  |
 |
| 
