Author: Brian Perry

📚 “New York Times” Bestselling Author to Appear at Mount Pleasant Event

Written by Brian Perry on April 24, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Celebrated author and North Carolina native John Hart will appear at an event hosted by the Mount Pleasant Friends of the Library on Thursday, May 4th. 📍 The event will be held at 73 & Main restaurant in downtown Mount Pleasant from 7:00–9:00pm. Hart is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including his most recent novel, The Hush. An alumnus of Davidson College and a former defense attorney and stockbroker, he now lives in Virginia and writes full-time. Hart is the only author to win the prestigious Edgar Award, presented by the Mystery Writers of America, for consecutive novels. Other...

🍨 The “Scoop” on Popular Custard Franchise

Written by Brian Perry on April 18, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson This local Abbott’s Frozen Custard franchise was the FIRST one to open in all of North Carolina and they’ve been recognized as the Chamber’s New Business of the Year! Owner Shannon Leckinger operates Abbott’s Frozen Custard – Edison Square, located in one of the fastest growing parts of Cabarrus County, The Shoppes at Edison Square. With 7 rotating flavors daily and over 100 in their arsenal, there is always something delicious happening at Abbott’s. Because the different flavors are made daily it’s always unique. Shannon says “It’s not the same as...

🌼 SpringFest Vendor Market Coming to CBC

Written by Brian Perry on April 18, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Cabarrus Brewing Company (CBC) is hosting over 80 local craft vendors this Saturday, April 22nd from 11am-5pm. The SpringFest Vendor Market started in 2018 and has been a huge success every year. Stacey Griffin, co-owner of CBC, says one of the objectives of the Market “is to help support local small businesses.” 🛍️ What will you find? Handmade crafts, jewelry, artists, services, and other vendors who are ALL businesses from our community! “It’s one of the busiest and most successful days for Cabarrus Brewing Company,” Stacey says. “People come to shop, but they also get to enjoy good food...

🎨 Paint a Portrait of Your Own Beloved Pet

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Looking for a fun night out AND a chance to paint your beloved pet? Paintings & Things by Carla and Cabarrus Brewing Company have teamed up to bring you Pets, Paints & Pints. How Does It Work? After you register, you can email Carla a photo of your favorite pet and she will sketch an outline and color guide on a 16” x 20” canvas prior to class so it is ready for you to paint! Her paint-by-letter approach guides you through as she teaches you blending and brushstroke techniques as well, so you end up with a beautiful portrait of your furry, scaly, or feathered friend! The class is $55. All...

🫧 Give Your Pets the Spa Treatment 🫧

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Barks & Bubbles offers full-service spa experiences for your pets! Barks & Bubbles was named one of The 8 Best Pet Groomers in North Carolina by Best Things North Carolina: “The prices are reasonable, and the staff members make even the most nerve-wracking experience for any anxious pet a pleasant one.” This full-service pet spa is owned by Carol Wyrick who has always loved animals. “My parents always treated them like one of the family,” she said. When she was 21, she took her pet Shih-tzu to Petsmart, and after watching the groomer for a bit she...

⚾ 🐕 Bat Dog Kacey Returns from Baseball Training

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Pictured: (left) Trevor Wilt introducing Kacey to Cannon Ballers fans at a home game; (right) Kacey back home after attending special “bat dog” training! Did You Know? Last summer the Cannon Ballers welcomed their new bat dog, Kacey Betty to their baseball family. She did basic obedience training last year with Stone Paw Dog Training and then the week before the Super Bowl she left to train with a lab-specific trainer. He has taught her how to retrieve a baseball bat, run the bases, and may even catch a flyball. Bring Your Dogs to Bark in the Park. Get your single game, mini-plan, or season...

🐶 🐱 Securing Your Pet’s Comfort During Your Move

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Real Estate.

By: Tate Honeycutt, Team Honeycutt’s resident animal expert Relocating furry friends can be a difficult road. They’re incredibly in tune with your habits, so when the furniture starts disappearing, they grow concerned. They smell the change, and it can be just as difficult for them as it is for you. Here are FOUR things to consider in order to make their transition easier: Stick to a Schedule 📅 In the days and weeks before your move and even when you’ve moved into your new home, it’s important to keep up with your pet’s schedule. From feedings to walks to morning and evening routines,...

🐱 ☕ Unique Cat Café Experience in Downtown Concord

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson A visit to Mac Tabby Cat Cafe is all about “Good energy, local coffee, craft beer, and CATS!” What’s so special about Mac Tabby Cat Cafe? The CATS of course! Where else can you take a latte into a room with 12 free-roaming felines?! So, what can you expect when you visit Mac Tabby Cafe? Twelve adoptable cats roam the CAT LOUNGE, which you can access for a small fee, and they are ready to play! The Café is in a separate area and offers smoothies, iced and hot lattes, kombuchas, lemonades, teas, sodas, beer, wine, ciders and seltzers. They also...

🐕 ❣️ SplashPaw Foundation Rolls Out Red Carpet for Pets in Need

Written by Brian Perry on April 10, 2023. Posted in Connect.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson The SplashPaw Foundation, Inc ™ was founded in 2013 by architect Ginger Moore and provides for others who cannot afford adequate treatment or care for their pets. This can include helping with the cost of treatment, medication, research or just helping a pet be more comfortable while they are ill. Ginger’s Motivation Cancer has impacted Ginger’s life on several levels. Ginger’s grandfather and mother both had cancer as well as both of her pets: Roma, a 16-year-old Spaniel mix, and Pisa, an 11-year-old Calico. During her mother’s last 2 years of battling...

🍝 😋 Husband and Wife Team Serve Up Delicious Premade Meals

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: CabCo Moms Ever have one of those days when the last thing you want to do is cook dinner, and you’re sick of fast food? Well, Leo’s Gourmet Market owners Cody Chiarenza and Cailin Arsenault have been preparing their favorite dishes since 2021 and selling them frozen or fresh out of their market in Concord. Our contributors, the CabCo Moms (aka Ashley and Tania) are regulars at the market and prepared this feature for us to share with our readers. In fact, they even made a video tour of the market to show exactly how you can shop at this great local market. How...

⚾ Partnering to Make a Difference: Eli Lilly & The Cannon Baller Foundation

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Eli Lilly and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have announced that Lilly will be the presenting sponsor of the Cannon Baller Foundation, which is built upon five pillars identified by the team and stakeholders after three years of working in and giving back to the community at and around Atrium Health Ballpark. Some highlights… 🎓 Lilly will create a Cannon Ballers Scholarship Program with a direct gift to a graduate who has worked with the Cannon Ballers. They will also donate more than 1,500 meals to Title I students who attend one of the team’s three Education Games. 🌳 Break-A-Bat, Plant-A-Tree...

🍔 🏆 2 Gals Kitchen Wins 2023 Cabarrus Burger Madness

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

🌽 🌶️ 2 Gals Kitchen in Downtown Concord scored their second victory with the Mexican Street Corn Burger which featured two smash patties, Mexican street corn, green chili queso cheese, guacamole, and chipotle mayo. 2 Gals won the Cabarrus Burger Madness challenge in 2022 as well. “This year’s lineup was nothing short of exceptional resulting in participating restaurants selling a combined total of more than 4,800 delectable burgers throughout the month,” said Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO. The Cabarrus County CVB launched Cabarrus Burger...

🧔🏻 💥 💥 Beardy Weirdy to Host Comic Book Convention May 6th 💥 💥

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson In addition to presenting Concord Micro-Con, Chris Rigo also has retail space with over 7,000 comic books for sale at The Depot at Gibson Mill. Chris is the “beard” behind Beardy Weirdy’s, and he is one passionate comic book collector. Collecting since he was 8 years old, he has amassed more than 20,000 comics in his personal collection. 🤯 He prides himself on having the largest selection of back issues for sale in Cabarrus or Rowan County at his retail location inside the Depot at Gibson Mill. He is always in the market to purchase collections and welcomes...

🎮 🚗 Former Video Game Developer Advances to Next Level with Family Business

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Ward Childress worked on Guitar Hero and Skylanders before returning home to start a family and work alongside his mom at Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships. In today’s world, almost every kid plays video games at one time or another. If only they could grow up and get paid to just play games all day! Well, maybe not play them…but what about creating them? That’s exactly the career goal Ward Childress had when he headed to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York to study computer science and pursue his dream of creating video games. Turns out he was REALLY good at it! In fact,...

Farmer’s Market Season Is Here! 🌻 🍅 🥬 🍋 🌻 🍅 🥬 🍋

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Tipsy Hare Ciderworks is bringing a new Spring and Summer Farmer’s Market to Downtown Kannapolis every Saturday morning from April 15th through Aug 26th. The market will take place inside and outside both Tipsy Hare and Old Armor Beer Co. and then continue up and down West Avenue. 🍓 🥩 Market vendors will feature a mix of local fresh produce and meat as well as other local products. There will be plenty for you to see, taste and buy. The Shops on West Ave will also be participating. Why is it important? Tipsy Hare co-owner Kyle Lingafeld said the idea is to “help promote foot traffic and drive...

🥤 ☀️ Healthy Shakes and Teas Served with a Side of Sunshine

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

With all the hustle and bustle going on in downtown Concord, we all just need a place to chill and relax…Welcome to Union Street Nutrition! ✨ Serving healthy shakes, energizing teas, and good vibes. What’s on the menu… 🐵 Most Popular Shake: Chunky Monkey. It might sound like a dessert, but it is also good for you! All shakes have less than 1% dairy, 24 g of protein, and 21 vitamins and minerals. 🍓 Most Popular Tea: Berry Happy. The teas are energizing and are more like a clean energy drink than a typical tea because they include antioxidants and are made from a green and black tea blend. There’s...

🍻 🎉 CBC Celebrates 7 Years of Community and Great Beer

Written by Brian Perry on March 14, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

CBC’s Anniversary Celebration on March 17th at 4pm Welcomes the Return of Food Truck Friday, Live Music from Unknown Artist, and a New Beer Release! Cabarrus Brewing Company (CBC) is Cabarrus County’s largest full-scale craft brewery, and it was also one of the first, opening in March 2016. However, it is their commitment to the community, and the community’s commitment to them that has them still raising a glass 7 years later. The CBC Difference… From day one Steve Steinbacher saw CBC as a community gathering spot as much as a brewery. “We wanted a place that brought people together.”...

🥞 Annual Pancake Day Brings Community Together

Written by Brian Perry on March 7, 2023. Posted in Connect.

For 65 years, our community has come together to enjoy pancakes, sausages, and of course Sun Drop during this day-long event to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County. If you have never been to this event, it really is a special day to share a meal with friends, coworkers, or your family. Check out the photos from last year, courtesy of Michael A. Anderson Photography, to get an idea of what this event is all about. Come by for breakfast, pop in for lunch, or even make attending your dinner plan on March 16th anytime between 6:00am and 7:30pm. 🎒 📓 Funds raised from Pancake Day...