PRIDELY ~ CHARLOTTE NC

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TOP 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next International Trip

OVERPACKING OVERSPENDING

NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH CARRYING VALUABLES

NOT NOTIFYING THE BANK

Whether it’s your first international trip or your fifth, traveling is all about discovering the unknown. It’s no surprise that there can be problems along the way. Extra planning and learning from these common travel mistakes can help you focus on enjoying your trip without worrying.

Mistake #1 is overpacking - too many packed items can be hard to organize and be uncomfortable to travel with. Mistake #2 is overspending - sticking to a realistic budget and leaving room for unexpected expenses is always best.

Mistake #3 is not doing enough research - it’s always safe to do extra research when traveling abroad including weather, laws, and international costs. Mistake #4 is carrying valuables with you while exploring - pick pocketers are notorious for targeting tourists, so keep your valuables locked away safe in your hotel if possible. Most importantly, mistake #5 is not notifying your bank of your international travel plans - unfortunately, your debit or credit card may be blocked due to “unusual activity” if you don’t do this ahead of time.

Restaurants

Haberdish

Stylish Southern kitchen serving craft cocktails, plus comfort food like fried chicken & biscuits.

3106 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Phone: (704) 817-1084 | Web: haberdish.com

Stoke Charlotte

A swanky option for seasonal wood-fired plates, local craft beer & artisanal cocktails.

100 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Phone: (704) 353-6005 | Web: stokecharlotte.com

Cajun Queen

Cajun dining in a restored house with 1st-floor & rooftop terraces plus a bar with live jazz.

1800 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 377-9017 | Web: cajunqueen.com

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Dandelion Market

Global lunch & brunch fare plus tapas dinners, over 20 craft beers on draft & weekend DJs.

118 W 5th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Luce

Modern, high-end Northern Italian cuisine served in a sophisticated setting with a patio.

214 N Tryon St J, Charlotte, NC 28202

Dressler’s

Polished destination with a modern vibe specializing in elevated steaks & New American dishes.

1100 Metropolitan Ave #125, Charlotte, NC 28204

La Belle Helene

Refined brasserie serving French fare, beer & wine in a soaring, elegant space with a lengthy bar.

300 S Tryon St Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28202

JINYA Ramen Bar

Vibrant gathering place spotlighting ramen entrees & finger foods, plus rice & poke bowls.

601 S Tryon St Unit 132, Charlotte, NC 28202

Estampa Gaucha

Brazilian Steakhouse

White-tablecloth rodizio serving all-you-can-eat Brazilian cuts, plus a salad bar & outdoor seating.

401 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd #306, Charlotte, NC 28202

Fujiyama Restaurant

Charlotte

No-frills counter serve offering simple Japanese eats such as hibachi & chicken katsu.

320 S Tryon St #117, Charlotte, NC 28202

A Piece of Havana

Dynamic Cuban dining in a colorful, island-accented space with a bar & music.

11126 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28273

JAN 1

WinterFest

Gather with friends and family to make lifelong memories at Carowinds’ WinterFest, the Carolinas’ most immersive holiday event. Savor the season with a festive ambience and fun holiday activities at WinterFest. Learn more at carowinds.com.

APR 29

Tuck Fest

The festival features multiple music artists, but Tuck Fest is more than just a music festival. It also features many outdoor clinics, races, competitions, and yoga sessions, as well as a large outdoor vendor market. Learn more at charlottesgotalot.com.

MAY 6

The North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival

Celebrating North Carolina brewing and real music. Visitors can sample craft beers from over 40 different breweries from across the state, including local favorites.There’s also live music to enjoy from local artists and bands throughout the 2-day event, as well as food trucks, vendor shops and even activities for the kids. Learn more at ncbrewsmusic.com.

JUN 24

Charlotte Caribbean Carnival

June is National American-Caribbean Heritage Month. Celebrate with a weekend festival full of live performances, a street parade with Carnivalinspired fashions, and an Afro-Caribbean Village with vendors, dancers, and exhibits. Learn more at charlottecaribbeancarnival.com.

JUL 2

Optimist Hall: Star-Spangled Saturday

Optimist Hall invites people to join them celebrate the Fourth of July with live music, food, and fireworks. This event is free to attend and so is parking! Learn more at optimisthall.com.

FOUR TIPS to help you boost your retirement savings

1. CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR 401(K)

If you happen to have the benefit of a traditional 401(k) plan through your employer, you may be able to contribute pretax money. This can be a huge advantage to your retirement savings plan.

2. OPEN AN IRA

It is a good idea to establish an individual retirement account (IRA) to help invest in your future. You can do either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Take some time to research both options and see what’s best for you.

3. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS

A good idea to help you increase your savings even more is to set automatic payments each month. This will help you grow your money without even having to think about it.

4. SET A GOAL

Understanding and planning ahead of time how much you may need in the future not only can help you better understand why you’re saving, but it also can make the process more rewarding.

6 Most Profitable Blog Niches

Making money online with a blog has never been easier.

There are so many areas you can explore when developing content for a blog. Making a profit from doing this is definitely possible, but it is essential to make sure you are creating high-quality content to help you monetize. Here are some quick tips and ideas to help you get started.

1

Don’t overestimate the value of digital marketing in today’s businesses.

SEO, email campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing are just some of the broad range of strategies used in digital marketing.

2

Digital Marketing Blogging for Profit

There are many valuable ways to write and help people make money online.

Some of these blog topics include freelance writing, working as a virtual assistant, and even starting your own online business.

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AUG 20

Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant

For the first time, watch at the festival as some of the best local drag performers compete for the crowns of Mx. Charlotte Pride, Ms. Charlotte Pride, and Mr. Charlotte Pride. Learn more at charlottepride.org.

SEP 16

Festival in the Park

Festival in the Park returns for its 58th year in Freedom Park with nearly 200 artists, four performance stages and a greater variety of food and beverage options. Learn more at festivalinthepark.org.Enjoy delectable foods of all types cooked fresh onsite. Learn more at treasurecoast.com.

OCT 7

Taste of Charlotte Festival 2022

Taste of Charlotte, the three-day food festival returns with tastings from Charlotte-area restaurants, live music and activities at Truist Field. You can purchase festival coins to use for restaurant samples, beverages and kid’s activities, and enjoy delicious food while strolling the three stages of entertainment, performances and interactive demos. Learn more at tasteofcharlotte.com.

NOV 20

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Time travel to the greatest party since Camelot! Stroll through the Village of Fairhaven where history comes alive with non-stop, day-long, immersive, and interactive entertainments! Shop an abundance of arts and crafts in the village open-air Artisan Market! Learn more at carolina. renfestinfo.com.

PFLAG CHARLOTTE

To support families, allies and people who are LGBTQ+, to educate ourselves and others about issues important to LGBTQ+ communities, and to advocate in our communities for a more equitable future for all.

PFLAGCHARLOTTE.ORG

CHARLOTTE LGBTQ ELDERS

All are welcome! We believe in quality of life, equity and affirmation for all members of our community. We do this through education, advocacy and the creation of inclusive engagement opportunities to create social networks and make a positive impact with all of our pursuits.

CHARLOTTELGBTQELDERS.ORG

CHARLOTTE TRANS HEALTH

Our mission is to increase trans-specialized provider clinical competency and best practice interdisciplinary collaboration among affirming providers in the greater Charlotte area.

CHARLOTTETRANSHEALTH.ORG

RAINBOW FOSTER NETWORK

Rainbow Foster Network would like to provide support for new foster parents, and for LGBTQ+ youth. The need is urgent. Oftentimes, LGBTQ+ youth can be hard to place in foster homes. We believe that if foster parents had the training and resources to be able to support those youth, they will be more willing to open their homes.

RAINBOWFOSTERNETWORK.ORG

TRANSCEND CHARLOTTE

Transcend’s mission is to pursue equity and social justice for transgender and gender expansive communities through education, advocacy, mental health and social support services. Our vision is a world where people of all gender identities live their authentic truth, free from discrimination and oppression.

TRANSCENDCHARLOTTE.ORG.

3

Health

& Fitness

Online fitness classes have become more and more popular over time.

There are many areas of fitness content to include such as workout videos, fitness courses, and one-on-one training sessions.

4

Finance & Investing

People are constantly seeking ways to manage their money better.

You can help people manage their money wisely in ways like saving for retirement or making the right investments.

5

Food Recipes

People love to learn about quick and easy meals and diets.

Getting creative with this is the fun part as you can put your own twist on popular dishes or share innovative recipes.

6

Self Care

There are so many beneficial topics to create content on inlcuding routines, stress management, mindfulness, and journaling.

Now more than ever, people are tapped in to their mental wellness.