How to survive holiday houseguests in Charlotte

The Little Sugar Creek Greenway stretches for roughly 19 miles down to the Catawba River, and the occasional goose encounter can turn scenic strollers into sprinters. They may wander all the way to the South Carolina state line, giving you a glorious stretch of quiet before they call for a rescue pickup.

For the hipper, harder-to-please crowd, aim them toward the Rail Trail in South End, where murals, breweries and dogs in sweaters provide endless distractions.

The Confetti Hearts Wall is a perfect Instagram stop, and a gentle reminder about the importance of kindness … especially toward the people who bought new guest sheets with a high thread count.

At the Charlotte Museum of History’s eight-acre campus, visitors can learn about the region’s stories from the Revolutionary era to present day — delivering plenty of entertainment for them and precious cleanup time for you.

The President James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville is a full complex dedicated to the president almost nobody remembers. Guests will spend a solid 30 minutes trying to recall a single Polk fact before surrendering to the gift shop.

The Charlotte Liberty Walk in uptown is essentially a self-guided parade of plaques. History buffs will nerd out; everyone else will slip into a nearby bar.

The Firebird at the Bechtler is arguably the flashiest proof that Charlotte has an arts scene.

Romare Bearden Park offers free skyline shots with a fountain backdrop perfect for convincing followers you’re living your best life.

For a winter glow-up, send them to the Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field (admission required), where everything looks like a North Pole vacation.

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall in South End magically turns one hour into four, giving you time to slip off for coffee before the “Where are you?” texts begin.

The Depot at Gibson Mill in Concord, 88,000 square feet of antiques, is likely where “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” was coined. Who doesn’t need a ship in a bottle or a book inscribed to someone else?

For more tasteful finds, point them to Southern Lion at Carolina Place Mall, which sells new home décor from 100+ merchants and lowers your odds of receiving a gourd-shaped gravy boat.

Mert’s Heart & Soul in uptown serves sweet tea, cornbread and soul food.

Mac’s Speed Shop in South End mixes BBQ with craft cocktails and country rock.

Paper Skyscraper in Dilworth offers Southern wit on everything from books to dish towels.

Blackhawk Hardware adds free popcorn and judge-y napkins (like the ones I received as a hostess gift that said: “My housekeeping style is best described as there appears to have been a struggle.)

After dark, send guests to McAdenville’s Christmas lights (free) or Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway — pricey per vehicle, but worth it if someone has a third-row seat.

For folks who don’t drink much but want a story, Southern Grace Distillery, a former prison in Mount Pleasant, offers a $14 “Behind Bars” tour and a sample of its “Conviction” bourbon, plus a vivid reminder why drinking and driving is a bad idea.

In Belmont, Muddy River Rum Distillery hosts $10 Saturday tastings with a souvenir shot glass and enough samples to make anyone feel like a pirate.

The Airport Overlook at CLT is free, open daily and packed with playgrounds, picnic spots, exhibits, and runway views — fun for kids and oddly therapeutic for adults wishing they were on one of those planes.

Monopoly Lifesized at Blume Studios (board game meets escape room) gives guests 70 minutes of gameplay and mild competitiveness denial.

Topgolf is half-off Monday through Thursday and doubles as lunch if you time it right, with bonus entertainment watching Uncle Tony — the self-proclaimed golfer — whiff a few.

Forgotten ingredient run: A quick dash to Harris Teeter or Reid’s because that charcuterie board needs crackers.

Prescription pickup: Step out to grab your meds and no need to mention it’s the calming kind that gets you through the visit.

Goodwill drop-off: Believable with end of year donation deadline looming. They don’t need to know the truck is parked around the corner from your house.

Forgot I was volunteering today: A noble cause that provides a perfect cover and if they try to join you, explain there was a mandatory training course back in October.

CMS enrollment hits 14-year low: (Ledger🔒) New state figures show Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools enrolled 139,476 students this fall — down about 2,400 from last year. The decline comes as charter and private schools continue to grow.

Board approves raise: (Ledger🔒) The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education approved a 7% raise for Superintendent Crystal Hill, as well as a contract extension through June 2029.

Residents push for an I-77 tunnel: (Transit Time) Neighborhood leaders want the state to study putting part of the highway underground, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation says the multibillion-dollar project may be too costly.

$1.2B in Covid recovery funds set to expire: (WFAE) North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek says state agencies have until the end of 2026 to spend a remaining $1.2B in federal Covid funds before they expire.

Co-owner of Charlotte brewery faces charges: (WSOC) Justin Tawse Brigham, a co-owner of Sycamore Brewing was arrested Thursday and charged with statuatory rape of a child, indecent liberties with a child and first-degree burglary. The backlash against Sycamore grew on Friday, with some grocery chains and bars declining to sell the beer.

Eviction closes longtime Charlotte art gallery: (Ledger 🔒) Coffey and Thompson, the city’s oldest art gallery, has effectively closed after an eviction at 811 Providence Road, leaving artists, small businesses and customers scrambling to retrieve belongings and unfinished artwork amid confusion about what remains inside.

Uptown safety operation: (Charlotte Observer) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says the first weekend of Operation Safe Season led to 18 arrests, the seizure of 14 firearms, more than 120 citations and over 200 traffic stops.

Second victim in Blue Line stabbing is recovering: (Charlotte Observer, subscriber-only) Kenyon Dobie, who was stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train Friday, said he is recovering with a tube in his chest draining blood from his lungs. He has started a GoFundMe page.

Riverside tied to high-profile uptown site: (Ledger 🔒) A request for a zoning verification letter for Riverside Investment & Development at 301 S. Tryon St. was filed with the city on Friday. 301 South Tryon is one of the addresses on the Two Wells Fargo block, a 3.4-acre uptown site that’s under contract to be sold.

Atrium CEO highlights housing pledge: (Ledger 🔒) Gene Woods again cited a 14-acre affordable housing commitment tied to The Pearl, though the land has not been donated and critics continue to question the project’s progress.

More job cuts expected at Wells Fargo: (Reuters) The Charlotte-based bank expects further workforce reductions and higher severance costs as it pushes to improve efficiency and gradually roll out artificial intelligence tools beginning next year.

Charlotte company to sell for $4.8B: (Charlotte Business Journal) Manufacturer ITT said last week it will acquire Charlotte-based SPX Flow for nearly $4.8B. ITT is buying the industrial machinery manufacturer from Lone Star Funds, which bought SPX Flow for $3.8B in 2022.

West Charlotte football coach out: (The Charlotte Post) West Charlotte High football coach Sam Greiner has been removed as head coach and suspended with pay as a teacher pending a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools investigation, though CMS has not disclosed the reason for the probe.

Panthers playoff tickets: The Carolina Panthers on Thursday started selling tickets to potential home playoff games. The NFL playoffs start Jan. 10, and the Panthers have a chance to make the postseason.

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CMS enrollment falls to 14-year low. Plus: Raise for CMS superintendent; Atrium CEO on affordable housing commitment; Charlottean writes book for late wife; Snow at NC ski resorts; Podcast episode on offbeat holiday films

Why rage rooms are crushing it. Plus: CMS projections miss the mark; Top books borrowed from library in 2025

In memoriam: Mack White Jr., always surrounded by books. Also remembered: A teacher at South Charlotte Baptist Academy; an industrial psychologist professor at UNCC; a scientist and researcher at Celanese

Should I-77 go underground?: Building a a tunnel could allow widening without harming neighborhoods

A Christmas Carol gone rogue — or rouge: “Scrooge in Rouge” runs through Dec. 20 at Warehouse PAC, 9216 Westmoreland Road.

Eviction in Eastover. Plus: Seeking your predictions for Charlotte CRE in 2026; Queensbridge Collective changes up its second tower; Data center gets OK in the region