ON THE PROWL
| NASCAR IGNITES
2012 Sprint Cup Standings #
Ms. Sprint Cup Brooke Werner
Coach Wes Long believes the Royals can go all the way again this season.
ACCELERATED!
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ive and loud, five NASCAR legends have come home to be forever commermorated in the towering NASCAR Hall of Fame here in Charlotte. Buck Baker, Cotton
Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood all transcended pro sports star status Friday and walked together into history. All five were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as the 2013 Class and their exhibits are now ready for fans to view upon their next visit. Get there soon!
DAYTONA and more
From Charlotte to Daytona the excitement is palpable as teams pile in for the Daytona 500. The race festivities
begin Saturday, February 16th with the Sprint Unlimited race, continue Thursday, February 21st with back-toback Duel races and Sunday, February 24th at 1pm, the 2013 Sprint Cup Series officially gets underway with the STAY CONNECTED
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55th Annual Daytona 500—the grandaddy of stock car racing, often dubbed the Great American Race. We’ve posted the 2013 schedule here for you along with the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings. Where does your driver stand? Prowler Magazine is proud to once again be onsite at Food Lion Speed Street, which will be in Uptown Charlotte on May 23, 24 and 25 (Fri/Sat/Sun). In addition, you will find us at NASCAR races, dirt tracks—just about anywhere there is a checkered flag. You know what time it is. Let’s go racing!
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POINTS WINS
1 Brad Keselowski 2 (+2) Clint Bowyer 3 (-1) Jimmie Johnson 4 (-1) Kasey Kahne 5 (+2) Greg Biffle 6 (-1) Denny Hamlin 7 (-1) Matt Kenseth 8 Kevin Harvick 9 Tony Stewart 10 (+1) Jeff Gordon 11 (-1) Martin Truex Jr. 12 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 13 Kyle Busch 14 Ryan Newman 15 Carl Edwards 16 Paul Menard 17 Joey Logano 18 Marcos Ambrose 19 Jeff Burton 20 (+1) Aric Almirola
2400 2361 2360 2345 2332 2329 2324 2321 2311 2303 2299 2245 1133 1051 1030 1006 965 950 883 868
5 3 5 2 2 5 3 1 3 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
Always #1 with the fans, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had 20 top-10 finishes and won a race in 2012 for one of his best years ever (despite missing two races with a concussion.)
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Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday, May 18 7:30 PM ET NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Showdown Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday, May 26 6:00 PM ET Charlotte Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sunday, July 14 1:00 PM ET New Hampshire New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday, July 28 1:00 PM ET Indianapolis Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sunday, June 2 1:00 PM ET Dover Dover International Speedway
SPRINT CUP SERIES Saturday, February 16 8:00 PM ET The Sprint Unlimited Daytona International Speedway Thursday, February 21 2:00 PM ET Duel 1 Daytona International Speedway Thursday, February 21 3:30 PM ET Duel 2 Daytona International Speedway Sunday, February 24 1:00 PM ET Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, March 24 3:00 PM ET California Auto Club Speedway Sunday, April 7 1:00 PM ET Marchtinsville Marchtinsville Speedway Saturday, April 13 7:30 PM ET Texas Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, June 9 1:00 PM ET Pocono Pocono Raceway Sunday, June 16 1:00 PM ET Michigan Michigan International Speedway Sunday, June 23 3:00 PM ET Sonoma Sonoma Speedway
Sunday, August 4 1:00 PM ET Pocono Pocono Raceway Sunday, August 11 1:00 PM ET Watkins Glen Watkins Glen International Sunday, August 18 1:00 PM ET
Sunday, April 21 1:00 PM ET Kansas Kansas Speedway Saturday, April 27 7:30 PM ET Richmond Richmond International Raceway
Sunday, March 3 3:00 PM ET Phoenix Phoenix International Raceway
Sunday, May 5 1:00 PM ET Talladega Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, March 10 3:00 PM ET Las Vegas Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 11 6:45 PM ET Darlington Darlington Raceway
Sunday, March 17 1:00 PM ET Bristol Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 18 7:30 PM ET NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race
Saturday, June 29 7:30 PM ET Kentucky Kentucky Speedway Saturday, July 6 7:30 PM ET Daytona Daytona International Speedway
Michigan Michigan International Speedway Saturday, Augus t 24 7:30 PM ET Bristol Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday, September 1 7:30 PM ET
Left to Right: Rusty Wallace HOF Inductee, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Danica Patrick, James Franco, Jr., Grand Marshall of the 2013 Daytona 500 (as Oz), Jimmie and Chandra Johnson (ESPN fashion spread).
YOU R HOM E TEAMS
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GAME SCHEDULES
Atlanta Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, September 7 7:30 PM ET Richmond Richmond International Raceway SPRINT CUP CHASE FOR THE CUP
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS SCHEDULE Da’ Bulls, Pistons, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic and...Heat at home. Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 26 March. 1 March. 3 March. 4 March. 6 March. 8 March. 9 March. 12 March. 15 March. 16 March. 18 March. 20
Detroit Chicago Denver at Los Angeles at Utah at Sacramento at Portland Brooklyn Oklahoma City at Washington Boston at Toronto at Boston Washington Toronto
March. 23 March. 24 March. 27 March. 29 March. 30 April. 1 April. 3 April. 5 April. 6 April. 9 April. 12 April. 13 April. 15 April. 17
Detroit at Miami Orlando at New York at Philadelphia at Milwaukee Philadelphia Miami at Brooklyn at Memphis at Detroit Milwaukee New York Cleveland
Sunday, September 15 2:00 PM ET Chicago Chicagoland Speedway
GIVE HOPE
Sunday, September 22 2:00 PM ET New Hampshire New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sunday, September 29 2:00 PM ET Dover Dover International Speedway Sunday, October 6 2:00 PM ET Kansas Kansas Speedway Saturday, October 12 7:30 PM ET Charlotte Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday, October 20 2:00 PM ET Talladega Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, October 27 1:30 PM ET Marchtinsville Marchtinsville Speedway
Sunday, November 3 3:00 PM ET Texas Texas Motor Speedway Sunday, November 10 3:00 PM ET Phoenix Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, November 17 3:00 PM ET Homestead-Miami Homestead-Miami Speedway For all of your NASCAR race day coverage be sure to LIKE Prowler on Facebook, tune in to ESPN 730am, and get your copy of the 2013 Race Edition of Southern Sports Journal digital edition online at iTunes.
Jeff Gordon won handily at Homestead in 2012 to close out the season with his second victory. He remains the all-time earner with over $129 million. Counter clockwise: Nationwide Champ Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. signs, with trophy and Sprint Cup Series championship driver Jeff Gordon.
G O O D E ATS
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SO UTH PAR K MALL
Instant Elevation of Mood: The Saki Bomb
here’s a lot to a name when it comes to restaurants. And what does the name “Cowfish” say to us? Different. Built on brave combinations (fusion, perfected) and irreverent in the quest to bring us all something new. And fun. And Cowfish is SO new. And SO fun, we chose to spotlight the SouthPark eatery here in On The Prowl. The innovative folks behind this refreshing restaurant call it the first and only "Sushi Burger Bar"—which combines two of the things we love the most: fresh, innovative and delicious sushi and hearty burgers with fresh, never frozen, ingredients and bold flavors. And then they turn it up another notch. Spiked hand-spun milkshakes, premium sakes, craft beers, wine and 10oz exotic martinis on a huge bar menu. The perfect break from the hard work of a day at SouthPark Mall. "Burgushi"! That’s what they call a cutting edge fusion of burger and sushi. Burgushi items include sushi rolls created using burger components, and pick-up style sandwiches created using sushi components. If you can't make up your mind, you might try a bento box to sample a mini-burger along with your choice of sushi roll and three tasty side items. There is a huge menu of scrumptious appetizers for sharing, hot soups and entree-sized salads, homemade desserts and a kid's menu that makes it as much fun for the kids as it is for adults of all ages. Let loose and go Cowfish! www.thecowfish.com
02/17/13 02/22/13 02/23/13 03/1/13 03/03/13 03/04/13 03/06/13 03/09/13 03/10/13 03/13/13 03/15/13 03/17/13 03/21/13 03/23/13 03/26/13 03/29/13 03/30/13 04/06/13 04/07/13 04/11/13 04/12/13 04/13/13 04/16/13 04/19/13 04/20/13
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@ Grand Rapids Griffins @ Abbotsford Heat @ Abbotsford Heat @ Norfolk Admirals Oklahoma City Barons Oklahoma City Barons @ Norfolk Admirals Houston Aeros Houston Aeros Norfolk Admirals Texas Stars Texas Stars @ Houston Aeros @ Texas Stars Norfolk Admirals San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Rampage Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee Admirals Texas Stars Texas Stars @ Chicago Wolves @ Peoria Rivermen @ Milwaukee Admirals @ Peoria Rivermen
PHOTO BY SCOTT WILLIAMS
Cowfish T
CHEER ON YOUR CHECKERS
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MAD MONSTER PARTY GET READY FOR A MONSTER-SIZE INVASION of ghouls, goblins, geeks, ghosts, metal rockstars, machete mur-
derers and...even scarier still: Gary Busey. One thing is for sure: we’re not ready for this. It’s the MAD MONSTER PARTY hosted by Charlotte Haunts at the Blake Hotel in Uptown Charlotte March 22nd-24th (Friday, Saturday and Sunday.) Fans will meet celebrity guests like BRUCE CAMPBELL (The Evil Dead Trilogy, Burn Notice), KIRK HAMMETT (Metallica), PETER CRISS (KISS), DANNY GLOVER and GARY BUSEY (Lethal Weapon and Predator 2), LEA THOMPSON (Back to the Future), wrestling legend SGT. SLAUGHTER, TYLER MANE (“Michael Myers” from ROB ZOMBIE’S Halloween Films), GUNNAR HANSEN (The original “Leatherface”: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), DAN YEAGER (the new “Leatherface”: Texas Chainsaw 3D), KANE HODDER (“Jason” from Friday the 13th VII-X), HARUO NAKAJIMA (the original GODZILLA from Japan, making a rare appearance) plus, over 40 pop culture icons. Beyond meeting these icons of madness, you can shop merchants of the macabre, selling rare and exclusive collectibles and memorabilia. You can see macabre magic shows. And party! Hear monstrous live music by THE INDEPENDENTS. Explore evil exhibits including the CREATURES REVENGE VAULT OF HORRORS MUSEUM, the world’s largest collection of original screen-used JAWS movie props and memorabilia and the CRYPT CRITTERS exhibit of live exotic slithering serpents, aggressive arachnids, and intense insects. Movie cars, makeup demos, charity auction, Scareoke karaoke, Speed Dating, surprises and much more make for a really—really—different and creepy-cool weekend. Tickets are on sale now at www.themadmonsterparty.com. Advanced discounted admission is available on the MAD MONSTER website, so if you’re going it’s better to buy online early and save. Sunday March 24th, is SERVICE APPRECIATION DAY and there will be discounted admission at the door ($13 entry) for Military, Police, Firefighters, Emergency service workers, Teachers and Students with valid ID / proof of profession. Kids 12 and under are free
A LIMITED NUMBER OF DISCOUNTED ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BLAKE HOTEL WHEN YOU USE MAD MONSTER PROMO CODE: 367217. IMAGINE A WEEKEND WHERE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN STAY WHERE ALL THE MONSTERS/STARS ARE STAYING, DRINKING AT THE SAME BAR AND PARTYING ALL NIGHT. DISCOUNTED ROOMS ARE GUARANTEED UNTIL FEB. 21ST, 2013.
SOUTHSIDE RHYTHM THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD! With the band Southside Rhythm comes another great example of music coming out of the Southend area of Charlotte. Getting their start at The Gin Mill, they have surprised even themselves with the support and excitement from local music patrons. Aspiring musicians take note: this group is a good example of what can happen when you put your minds together and commit to doing something as a group. These guys have only been playing together for three months. With seven in the group sharing the spotlight, it can easily be observed that they are playing music for the love of it. Wes (guitar), Danny (drums), Joe (bass), Eddie (lead singer), Jerry (keyboards), Seth (saxophone), and Todd (other guitar/ keys) are local Charlotte guys that have come together to create a sound that people can relate to through both cover tunes and originals. “Its a great start due to the support of our friends and family that have come out to see us! We can’t wait to see what’s next especially with spring around the corner.” said Todd from the band. The band is playing at Amos’ Southend on February 22nd, and will be opening for Sun-Dried Vibes and Badfish - a Sublime Tribute. Get out and check out Southside Rhythm and support local music and the venues that promote new bands in the city. Who knows you might meet some new faces and have a great time. Prowler always a night out at Amos’ and/or The Gin Mill. Date Just Added: Southside Rhythm is playing the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at The Gin Mill.
LOOK TO THE SKIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE QUEEN CITY TITANS OF CHARLOTTE A VIEW FROM ABOVE
TOWERING ABOVE C
harlotte offers the benefits of life associated with living in a major metropolitan city and has been successful in its ability to preserve a rich quality of life, family values and Southern charm. Through Charlotte’s 250 year history our industries and commerce have evolved to keep up with the times and the entrepreneurial spirit of our civic leaders. From gold and iron ore mining, to cotton and tobacco farming, textile manufacturing, hydroelectric power generation, transportation and logistics, energy, biotechnology and research, banking and finance, Charlotte’s industries and commerce continue to prosper and grow. As the 18th largest city in the United States with a population of 946,000 in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte provides a large and diverse talent pool. Some of the main reasons Companies relocate or build here include our mild year round climate, international hub airport, affordable housing, lower cost of living, union free labor, centralized geographic location within two hours flying time of 50% of the U.S. population, and a skilled and edu-
cated work force. Nine Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Charlotte which includes, Bank of America, SPX Corporation, Duke Energy, Nucor Corporation, Lowes Corporation, Family Dollar Stores, Sonic Automotive, Domtar and Ruddick Corporations. In addition, 366 of Fortunes top 500 companies have facilities within Mecklenburg County ranking Charlotte 7th in the United States for Fortune 500 companies. Charlotte has a strong global and international presence as the city is designated as an official Foreign Trade Zone #57 allowing goods to be brought in duty free. You will find over 850 Foreign owned companies representing 50 countries operating in the greater Charlotte region such as Belgium’s Food Lion, Germany’s Continental Tire, Great Britain’s Compass Group, and Denmark’s Maersk Sealand.
International Connectivity and Centralized Geographic Location Charlotte’s Douglas International Airport supports ten major and eight regional airlines offering 650 daily and nonstop flights
to 179 domestic cites and 31 international destinations including Frankfurt, Munich, London, Paris, Toronto, Rome, Mexico, the Caribbean, Ireland ,Jamaica and Brazil. In 2010, 38.1 million passengers flew through Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranking it the 7th busiest in the world for take offs and landings. Charlotte’s geographic location at the cross roads of major transportation Interstates I-77, I-85 and I-40 is the reason why Charlotte has become a hub for transportation and logistics companies. Transportation and Logistics Hub The Charlotte region is home to over 300 logistics and 100 distribution centers with 24 million square feet of distribution space. Distribution facilities include companies such as Family Dollar Stores, Black & Decker, General Motors, Lucent Technologies and TJ Maxx. The area’s biggest distribution centers include Lowes Companies 1,474,000 square feet and Black & Decker with 1,365,000 square feet.The Charlotte region is the center of the country’s largest consolidated rail sys-
Story by Greg Greenawalt, Author www.DestinationCharlottetheBook.com | Photos by Paul Purser, PhotoCharlotte.com
tem, Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation that link 43,200 miles of rail between Charlotte and 23 Eastern states. Charlotte also is the nation’s 12th largest trucking center, with more than 265 firms operating here that employ 9,780 workers.The Charlotte Air Cargo Center at the Douglas International Airport provides 500,000 square feet of space and gives manufacturers quick access to runways, railroads and interstates. In an effort to gain a future advantage in an expanding global marketplace, Charlotte is developing a intermodal transposition complex. The Charlotte Douglas International airport has broken ground on a major Intermodal transportation facility that will connect a new third parallel runway directly to rail and ground freight services on a 24/7 basis. Biotechnology Research and Development Charlotte continues to gain status as a leader in innovation and research by continuing to show its support for new research and development facilities. The Kannapolis Research Center located 30 minutes from Charlotte is the brainchild of Castle and Cooke’s Chairman David Murdock and is a unique collaborative effort between private industry and public educational facilities to create a world class research campus for nutrition, health and biotechnology research. This $1.5 billion dollar development offers more than 1 million square feet of state of the art laboratories, classrooms and office space. This private/public collaboration includes research partnerships with Duke University, The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Community College system. Other major research facilities in Charlotte include the University of North Carolina’s Charlotte Research Institute and The Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte the New Energy Hub Charlotte was recently dubbed the New Energy Capital with over 250+ companies tied directly to the energy related industries who employing more than 27,800 workers ranging from solar panel manufacturing to nuclear engineering . Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte along with other global nuclear engineering firms that have substantial operations in the Charlotte region, such as Areva NP,
The Shaw Group, Toshiba, Siemens, Parsons, Westinghouse Nuclear, and URS. You will find 39 power plants currently operating in the region and 12 nuclear reactors in the Carolinas. Banking and Finance “The Wall Street of the South” Charlotte is most well-known for its banking and financial services industries. The beginnings of Charlotte as a financial center dates to 1799 when gold was first discovered in the Charlotte area. By 1837, the U.S. Mint had opened a branch to
mint gold coins. In 1927, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond opened the Charlotte branch. Today Charlotte’s banking resources measure $2.3 trillion second only to New York City. The city is home to a United States Federal Reserve Bank and 20 banks that employ approximately 55,000 financial and 40,000 banking employees. Charlotte’s largest banks include Bank of America’s World headquarters, Wells Fargo’s Eastern Regional Headquarters, BB&T Corporation, SunTrust Bank, RBC Bank, First Citizens Bancshare, Fifth Third Bancorp and Ally Bank. Over 250 companies in the Charlotte region offer financial services and employee 60,000 professionals that include, G.E. Capital and TIAA-CREF the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association. Bank of America’s world headquarters, located in Charlotte, roots
sprang from North Carolina National bank which grew to one of the nations largest under the leadership of CEO Hugh McColl. In 1991 It became Nations Bank and in 1998 was renamed Bank of America .Today Bank of America is the largest bank holding company in the U.S. by assets and serves clients in over 150 countries.Wachovia Bank was formed by the merger of First Union Corp and the former Wachovia Corporation in 2001. Wachovia made its headquarters in Charlotte. First Union began in Charlotte during the turn of the century with a location inside the Buford Hotel on Tryon Street. In December 2008, Wachovia was acquired by Wells Fargo Corporation headquartered in San Francisco creating the 4th largest U.S. financial institution with $1.2 trillion in assets and nearly 300,000 employees. Charlotte is considered Wells Fargo’s Eastern Regional Headquarters. Healthcare and Life Sciences Charlotte has more than 10,000 workers that are employed in healthcare and life sciences occupations with an additional 7,600 workers in pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing. Over 200 pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing companies have facilities in the Charlotte region. Presbyterian Healthcare operates four major hospitals in the Charlotte area including the largest private community hospital, Presbyterian Hospital. This facility offers specialized treatment centers including a women’s center, a children’s hospital, cardiovascular institute, cancer center, and behavioral health center. The Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital is one of the nation’s foremost facilities for orthopedic injuries, disease, knee and hip replacement surgeries. The Carolinas Healthcare System is the third largest in the United States and their flagship facility is the Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte. The Carolina Medical Center is home to an academic medical center and teaching hospital, a level 1 trauma center and the Levine Children’s Hospital. Charlotte’s Home Grown Companies Charlotte has proudly spawned several corporations with deep roots to our region.NASCAR is more than a sport in Charlotte it is a major industry in the Carolina’s and impacts the region to the
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tune of $4.5 billion dollars annually. NASCAR and NASCAR related industries employ 27,000 in North Carolina. Charlotte’s new NASCAR Hall of fame will add millions in tourist and convention related revenue to the local economy for years to come. Coca-Cola has been part of Charlotte and North Carolina’s history since 1902, when entrepreneurs J.B. Harrison and Luther Snyder started selling Coca-Cola in bottles in communities around the state. Today, Charlotte is home to the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the nation, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, headed by CEO J. Frank Harrison III, great grandson of the pioneering Coke bottler. Belk Department stores were founded by William Henry Belk and his brother John M. Belk in 1893 in the Charlotte area. For decades the Belk’s have operated stores in Charlotte. Today, the 3rd generation of the family leads Belk Inc. with 300 stores in 16 southern states that generate $3.5 billion in annual revenues and employs over 20,000. At the turn of the century, Phillip Lance and Salem Van Every embarked on
a mission to create the perfect sandwich cracker and the Lance brand was born. Lance now has over $920 million in annual revenues and employs over 5000 people nationwide. Lance brands include Cape Cod potato chips, Toms, Stella Doro, and Archway. In 2010 Lance merged with Snyder’s of Hanover the Pretzel King forming Snyder- Lance Inc. which continues to be headquartered in Charlotte. Duke Energy was originally founded by two brothers Dr. Walker Gill Wylie and Dr. Robert H. Wylie who owned a plantation on Lake Wyllie that created its power with an early hydroelectric power system. The two brothers convinced another pair of brothers James Buchanan Duke and Benjamin Duke to invest in a series of hydroelectric power plants along the Catawba River. The Company was incorporated as Southern Power in 1905 with Dr. Walker Gill Wylie was President and Benjamin Duke as first VP. James Duke served as President from 1910-1924. The company was renamed Duke Power and then Duke Energy .Today Duke supplies energy to over 7 million customers and is a leader in nuclear power and alternate energy sources such as wind and solar .In 1958, a 21-year-old entrepreneur with an
You can connect with and follow Author Greg Greenawalt on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DestinationCharlottethebookTwitter www.twitter.com/DestCharlotteBlog http://destinationclt.blogspot.com/
interest in merchandising became intrigued with the idea of operating a lowoverhead, self-service retail store. Leon Levine believed he could offer his customers a variety of high-quality, good value merchandise for under $2. Because he had grown up in his family’s retail store, he understood value, quality and customer satisfaction. Beginning with one store in 1959 in Charlotte, Family Dollar Stores Inc. currently operates more than 6,600 stores in 44 states. Founded in 1946, Lowe’s has grown from a small hardware store in North Carolina to the second largest home improvement retailer worldwide and the 7th largest retailer in the U.S. Lowes companies a fortune 500 company serves 15 million customers per week with more than 1700 home improvement stores in the U.S. Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Mooresville N.C. just north of Charlotte. The Lowe’s story began when H. Carl Buchan, part owner of the North Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned creating a chain of hardware stores. At the time, Lowe’s was a typical, small town hardware store selling everything from overalls and snuff to wash tubs, work boots and horse collars.
DRAWN TO US In addition to its appeal as a growing banking, energy and medical center, Charlotte offers immediate visual appeal to visitors with spectacular skyline views which combine the natural beauty of the Carolinas and a shining, towering collection of architecture. Many of these recognizable images are of the headquarters of institutions which are collectively responsible for the incredible growth of our city. A signature of Charlotte for many decades appears in these images as well—the preservation of the beautiful trees, even in uptown areas where glass and steel reign supreme. ---------------------From Top Left, From Left Page to Right Page They Are:
One Wells Fargo Office Tower Two Wells Fargo Office Tower Fifth Third Bank Coca-Cola Consolidated Levine Children’s Hospital Duke Energy McGuire Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Norman Duke Energy (National Gypsum Corporation) Belk Department Stores Family Dollar Department Stores Corporate Headquarters Lance Foods Bank of America Corporate Center Reflection (el Disco in foreground) Presbyterian Hospital Kanapolis Research Campus
In recent weeks your Charlotte Bobcats have given Kobe Bryant and the Lakers a close call and routed Kevin Garnett and the legendary Boston Celtics here at home for an impressive win. What’s next?
Cats Rising
Guard Kemba Walker (15) and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) both led Team Shaq with 8 points each in the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston. WALKER AVERAGING 17.9 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds (35 minutes) KIDD-GILCHRIST AVERAGING 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds (26.7 minutes)
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Out Uptown
If you haven’t been to a Charlotte Bobcats game lately, now is the time. Ticket offers make it affordable to take friends (or the family) and enjoy celebrity sightings while supporting what some believe will be the future Charlotte Hornets—do you BEE-LIEVE?
Go Youth While the early run of wins for the Cats this season showed inspired play, seasoned fans didn’t expect it to last forever. And while recent months have piled up a string of losses, the team has managed to avoid the distinction of the NBA basement. With the record recently showing 11-39 it’s hard to expect a win on any given day. What you can expect is a celebrity-specked courtside and moments of greatness from Walker and company. And some really nice looking Lady Cats with free t-shirts. That’s why the NBA is better than...almost anything else.
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If you love basketball and want to participate in Charlotte Bobcat’s functions, there is literally always something brewing. Visit the website and check out the community affairs: www.NBA.com/BOBCATS
Effort
Imagine what it takes for five relatively unknowns to win against a Laker team? While the Bobcats may not have it yet, it’s clear that they’re making the effort.
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Welcome to our newest series: a roving tour of local Charlotte breweries. Who would have thought there would be enough real breweries to merit a series, right? Or thought that this once sleepy, southern city would one day have an extremely substantial crop of talented brewers and a massive following of beer connoisseurs? Believe us, there’s plenty to be tasted, toasted and told.
Photos by Scott Williams
On this first leg of our tour, we begin at the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Your Prowler crew visited the fabled Brauhaus on a Friday to be greeted by our host Josh Brigham, who has the most gracious and courteous demeanor one could ever hope for as a guest. How could you not be in such great spirits when you are, on a daily basis, working with the nectar of this social realm? We would be giddy, too! Enjoy the series, drink heartily, and be safe!
Cheers! OMB Owner John Marrino has reasons to smile proudly: a great brewery and much-loved brand.
A little more than four years ago, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery was no more than an idea on paper, an experiment slowly brewing itself to life from a garage in South Charlotte. But John Marrino is a man of action, and when he sets his mind to something, he makes it happen. So today OMB, as it’s affectionately called by locals, is a thriving business, pumping out 7,000 barrels in 2012 to more than 380 local restaurants and grocers within a thirty-mile radius of Charlotte. Fittingly, Marrino’s background is engineering. He holds a Bachelors degree from Tulane University in mechanical engineering with a minor in Business Management. Compound that with a 16 year stint with a German company selling high tech water purification equipment to water treatment companies, including a 4 year stint in Germany soaking up the culture, and you’ve got a sense of OMB’s humble beginnings. Marrino returned to the States with the German company, eventually settling in Charlotte in 2002 where he built a factory for the firm off Carowinds Blvd. Shortly thereafter, his firm was acquired by a large international conglomerate , which triggered his decision that it was time to take a risk and try a new venture. Following a crosscountry, soul-searching vacation with his family, an article he read
sparked the realization that Charlotte didn’t have its own brewery. And he couldn’t find any beer on the market that compared to the outstanding beer he fell in love with in Germany. He didn’t know much about the brewing business – only that he knew what he liked when he tasted it. But he had an entrepreneurial spirit and determination. So why not just make it for himself and share it with others? So for two years, he researched and taught himself how to brew, meanwhile convincing a few select investors that the craft beer industry was about to explode, and Charlotte was the only big U.S. city without a successful local brewery. What would make his beer original is that it would be brewed in the traditional German style, meaning it would go through an intensive, multi-step process, including a series of precise temperature changes,
requiring more time and attention to detail to brew than other beers. “Beer is interplay in taste between sweet and bitter,” says Marrino. “Malt provides the sweet, and hops provide the aroma and the bitterness. I wanted to find the justright combination that contrasted between the two, and repeat it consistently through a quality process.” The result eventually became what is OMB’s flagship beer, “Copper,” which is an authentic Dusseldorfstyle Altbier. It was straight from the garage to a 15,000 square foot warehouse off South Boulevard, where the brewery is still located today. Marrino started in 2009 with just two coworkers and minimal equipment purchased from the former SouthEnd Brewery, which closed its doors the same year. To keep up with demand, in just four years OMB has grown to 17 full time employees and is brewing two to four times per day. Plus they’ve taken over 15,000 more square feet of the warehouse to make room for new equipment like the recently-installed cutting-edge keg cleaner and filler, and a new filtration system. Late last year they also added a bottling line to begin servicing local
Your OMB Host Josh Brigham grocery stores. OMB pulls fresh beer from its lager tanks every week, filters and packages it, and hand delivers it using their own drivers and refrigerated trucks, to ensure freshness and quality.
The timing for OMB was right on. In recent years, there has been resurgence in the craft beer industry, with hundreds of successful microbreweries popping up across the country. Charlotte holds a handful of their very own. “In 30 to 40 years, the beer industry will look a lot like the wine industry,” predicts Josh Brigham “The big brew manufacturers will remain, but you will have a multitude of distributors and beers to fit every style and taste.” Norm Randall, General Manager /Co-Owner, Dilworth Neighborhood Grille agrees. “Charlotte Breweries are HOT! Beer lovers like different flavors, and their taste buds change with the seasons, even over the course of an evening. Luckily there are more choices out there now to feed their appetites. Beer isn’t just one-size-fits-all anymore.” With the increased demand in craft beers, and the community support behind OMB, the local Char-
lotte brewery is positioned for continued growth. Josh says that while they are currently delivering primarily in the Charlotte vicinity, you can expect expansion is in the plans. “We have customers calling from across the state asking when they’ll be able to buy their favorite OMB beer in stores or restaurants near them. We’ll get there, but we will never sacrifice quality for quantity. We want to be ready.” On tap year-round are the flagship “Copper,” a full-flavored and refreshing lagered-ale, and “Captain James Jack Pilsner.” They always keep a third reserve on tap, a limited “experimental” batch that varies each month, plus they rotate four seasonal beers. Marrino still serves as Brewmaster, developing the recipes for their seasonal beer offerings in collaboration with his brewers, including their Anniversary Altbier they will introduce in March to honor their four-year anniversary.
What’s in a name?
OMB’s fall “Mecktoberfest” recently won a silver medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. The front of the brewery houses a quaint traditional German bierhall open to the public with long community tables, dark wood-paneling and Old World chandeliers. Of course, all varieties of OMB beers are always on tap, plus there’s a great selection of German-style food available. Tours of the brewery are offered regularly, a great activity for parties, out-of-towners or the curious beer lover. The atmosphere, just like a good beer, is very laid back and friendly. Oftentimes the employees and even the owner can be found off-hours mingling among the crowd, making their patrons feel right at home. Take a souvenir to go —like an OMB shirt, beer stein or a few growlers of your favorite OMB beer.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg has German roots. The city was named for Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III, who ruled Great Britain from 1760 to 1820, during the time Charlotte was founded. Queen Charlotte was born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a district in the northern part of Germany. Hence Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is right on time.
Go There:
215 Southside Dr Charlotte, NC 28217 (704)525.5644 www.oldemeckbrew.com Tues-Thurs 4 pm—9 pm Fri 4 pm—10 pm Sat 12 pm—8 pm Sun 12 pm—6 pm
PROWLER CHEF FINDS HOME IN A LOVELY PLACE
I AM JUST A COOK
O
h boy, I have been busy! One thing about the New Year, it brings along so many new things and a renewed spirit for accomplishing more than you did in the outgoing year. To me, the excitement of celebrating a new calendar year is synonymous with opening surprise gifts that will lead your imagination to the ends of the earth without knowing what is inside. It is exciting when your mind and thoughts travel faster than your ability to unwrap the gift itself. For my readers who are getting to know me; I am not an individual who likes or cares very much for tooting my own horn. Although, I must admit when I get excited about something my entire face lights up, my psyche races at top speeds and my body pursues wherever my mind leads me. Last year I worked painfully hard to develop my new career path and personal objectives in this ever-evolving culinary
world. Naturally, that excitement ushered in fear and uncertainty about how I will accomplish all that I have intended to achieve since starting my cooking journey in 2010. I skill-
Through my cooking and educating others on the value of eating to live a better life, I am able to nutritionally equip others for the tasks they face.
fully managed to work hard at accomplishing my goals, persevered through difficulties and aspired to be my very best. All through this process I had to “check myself�. I had to diligently evaluate what was personally
achievable for me. Once I was able to do so, I knew exactly how I would walk the walk, talk the talk and press toward my dreams of becoming a legacy chef, culinary resource and make professional contributions that would impart my point-of-view from multiple angles about food and cooking. This brings me to my announcement: I am the new Executive Chef at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in downtown Gastonia and I am all smiles. My job search was as arduous as my personal evaluation to be impactful in my final career choice. In the end I wholeheartedly know I emerged victoriously. I have found an organization that is resolute about ministering to others, partnering with local businesses & professionals to develop our area. FUMC utilizes food as a vehicle to help others, creates a knowledge base for living healthier lives while being the centerfold for building a stronger community from the kitchen table. Some may wonder, is it really that serious when all you are doing is cooking. Beyond a shadow of a doubt; yes it is! I believe each of us is designed to do a magnificent work that moves us to perform and contribute our most excellent work. Through my cooking and educating others on the value of eating to live a better life, I am able to nutritionally equip others for the tasks they face. I have been blessed with the talent to provide people with the energy and body-building nutrients to work at their very best without losing my quest for flavor. I am a zealot for cooking from the heart. My cooking ethic drives my immensity for structuring flavor profiles which is a selfless way of developing recipes and meals. Every time I create my next meal or dish, I think of the total experience so you walk away with as many pronounced flavors that will impart a total palatable experience after eating my cooking. I often reference myself as a thoughtful
cook and authority on hospitality. For me there is no greater task than serving others with fervor, sincerity and meticulousness at every occasion. We live in a very fast-paced and instant culture that makes it easy for us to forget how valuable it is to spend time serving others and making them feel as if they are the only one in the room. Food is a very powerful medium that affects every part of our living but even more so it is an industry with multi-faceted levels for operating. Food is a viable conductor for business, personal living and economic base
that is hard-pressed to rival. As a heartfelt cook and professional Chef, I am grateful that FUMC chose me to help carry out their food ministry within their Church family but also beyond their congregational walls. As a little girl, I always admired FUMC as the soul of Gastonia, a true unsung hero and Champion for the community. I look forward to all of our exciting plans and my professional ambitions coming to realization. I am anxious to work with others who have a desire for setting a new culinary
Salsa Fresca
standard and level of hospitable service in our city. Remember to always cook with love, passion, heart and soul! —M Chef Smith
Upcoming from our favorite Chef: We invite you to join us for coverage in our March issue of five celebrity chef’s competing in Creative Loafing’s First Annual Iron Fork Competition.
THE BEST STUFF ON EARTH
Serves 4 Friends INGREDIENTS
1 ¼ cups of tomatoes (peeled and seeded) cut in small dices 1 cup of small diced onions 2 garlic cloves minced 1 serrano chile, seeded & minced ¼ cup of fresh packed cilantro finely chopped salt and black pepper to preferred taste 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice DIRECTIONS
Combine all the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl. Correct seasoning with salt, pepper, and lime juice.
PROWLER CHEF’S KITCHEN TOOL OF THE MONTH
BENCH SCRAPER
GREETINGS PROWLER FANS! My favorite tool for this month is the Bench Scraper. For the past couple of weeks I have been pondering in the back of my mind why I have not shared this tool with my readers. This tool just happens to be one of the handiest kitchen accessories you will ever use for your food preparation; but also by the same token it is one of the most under recognized tools. The bench scraper has often been reserved for Bakers and Pastry Chefs used to scrap up their fine particles of baking ingredients to toss into their recipes or help clean off their work bench. Any cook will find a great use for this crafty tool. I use my bench scraper for a number of duties, such as: scraping up small pieces of foods, unique cuts of ingredients, baking staples such as flour, sugar, butter and everything else in between. However, when you choose to use your bench scraper, it works like a charm when cleaning up your work table or cutting board. You can purchase these tools in different types of materials but they are fairly inexpensive and may range in costs from $3 - $10. I have included a great recipe that will surely put your bench scraper to great service. I think you will enjoy this bright tasting salsa dip to pair up with your favorite chips.
A Nice One Like This For $15
Soups!
SLOW COOKER SPECIALTIES
TO HELP YOU RIDE OUT THE LAST DAYS OF WINTER
BY LORI SCOTT
CHICKEN Tortilla
Soup
INGREDIENTS
1 pound frozen chicken (shred near end of cooking time) 1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce 1 medium onion, chopped 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers 2 cloves garlic, minced 3(14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth 1 teaspoon cumin 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn 1 can black beans, rinsed DIRECTIONS
Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in chicken broth, and season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir in corn and black beans. Cover and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours. Garnish with crushed tortilla chips, sour cream, shredded cheese, or avocadoes. (Note: garnishes not included in nutrition information) Serves 4-8.
SLOW COOKER TOMATO SOUP INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter or oil 1/4 – 1/2 cup onion, diced (to taste) 6 cups tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (vegetarian version, use vegetable broth) 1 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste) 1 – 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (substitute sour cream or milk in a pinch) OPTIONAL
1/4 cup carrots, chopped, steamed 1/4 cup orange vegetable puree – sweet potato, carrot, squash, etc. OPTIONAL GARNISH
Sour cream Shredded cheddar cheese Oregano DIRECTIONS
Sauté onions in butter for 2 minutes. Place onions, tomatoes and stock in a crockpot. Cover, and let it cook on low for 5-8 hours. Add optional carrots or puree. Puree tomatoes with cream, using an immersion blender or a regular blender (if using a regular blender, puree it 2-3 cups at a time – hot liquids expand in a blender). Stir in salt. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Serve hot, and garnish as desired. Serves 2-4.
LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP INGREDIENTS
6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2-inch cubes 1 large onion, chopped 1 quart chicken broth 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed 1/4 cup butter 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 cup cream or half-and-half 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 cup sour cream (optional) 8 slices bacon, fried & crumbled cheese, for sprinkling
Expand
DIRECTIONS
Combine first seven ingredients in a large crockpot; cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours (potato should be tender). Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soupy is slightly thickened. Stir in cream, cheese and chives. Top with sour cream (if used), sprinkle with bacon and more cheese.
YOUR TAILGATING ADVENTURES AT PROWLERMAGAZINE.COM with our Tailgating 101 Archives
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