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Responses to the February issue of Charlotte magazine

@charlottemag, I am so very grateful for you and your lovely team helping to shed light on #selfcare and the importance of tapping back into your mind and body Loved seeing what other amazing #CLT folks are doing in the community and big shout out to @meredith.connelly @get twithchrys and all of the other amazing humans that were highlighted in this issue of #Charlotte #Magazine Instagram comment from @traveling_gypsy

Readers from seemingly everywhere—including food writers at The New York Times and The Washington Post—had something to say about “Accounting For Taste,” Keia Mastrianni’s essay on food “influencers” and their effects on Charlotte’s restaurant scene. This is just a small sampling of what it stirred up on social media:

Charlotte NC is one of many mid-size cities with a growing restaurant scene but no critic to help sort it out. This is a smart, ne-grained piece on how that plays out. Tweet from@pete_wells

I’m glad @keiaishungry reported out and wrote this essay. It’s worth your time to read how a city’s dining scene is in uenced (and, for better or for worse, shaped) by those who cover it. Question for everyone: do you trust Instagram in uencers? If so, why? Tweet from@timcarman

It’s a complex story to tell. Good job, @keiaishungry, for telling it. Tweet from @kathleenpurvis

A looooooong overdue look at the state of restaurant reviews. I hope this is widely read. Thanks @keiaishungry Tweet from @thelesak

Extremely well-done piece by @keiaishungry on in uencer culture and food criticism in Charlotte. “Now, what passes for ‘information’ in Charlotte’s dining scene consists of carefully choreographed photos and videos for social media feeds—and little else.” Tweet from @CLTLedger What a great piece by @keiaishungry. It’s so good that I, a major in uencer, will share it with my dozens of followers at a deeply discounted rate. Tweet from@costellowv

I agree—reliable sources that cover restaurants in a thoughtful way are necessary and we need more, especially right now as new places open in Charlotte every week. In the meantime, people should give near-zero weight to negative Yelp or OpenTable reviews. It’s so much more useful to hear from people who’ve gone out of their way to write a rave review about a place (generally with no real incentive to do so). Facebook comment from Richard Goldberg

Your “Accounting for Taste” article was eye opening. Thanks so much. Over time I’ve noticed the fancy pictures/write ups in my IG feed didn’t align with my restaurant experiences. It makes sense now that I know their objectivity is soiled with cash and free food. Instagram comment by @hokie02vt

Awards For Smart Growth

Charlotte is the media sponsor for the Charlotte Sustainability Awards, an annual event since 2012. The environmental and smart growth advocacy organization Sustain Charlotte honors people in our community who work toward sustainability and inspire others to do the same. It’s a fun night with entertaining guests, a dinner with local and sustainable food, and an open wine and beer bar. WCNCTV Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich returns to emcee the event, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, at Extravaganza Depot, 1610 North Tryon Street. Tickets are $105, $850 for a table of 10. Details: sustaincharlotte. org/awards.

Charlotte magazine’s tablet edition is available via the Apple Newsstand and at magzter.com.

Having better health means you can live a better life. It’s what we all want for ourselves, our families and our community. At Atrium Health, that’s what drives us every day. We’re always pursuing a higher bar, a higher standard, to nd better ways to care for you – so that we can all enjoy a better life.