Roll with the Mayor to Work

I received this info this afternoon in an email from Moira Quinn of Charlotte Center City Partners. Tomorrow morning (Friday), CCCP and the City are holding the Mayor's Ride and Bike to Breakfast. See info below.

This is an important way to show support for cycling in Charlotte and support for making Charlotte a greener, healthier city. The main leg of the bike ride will be from the Dowd YMCA in Dilworth to the Wachovia Atrium in Uptown. And there will be two park and rides for those who want to get a longer ride in before meeting at the Y. Be sure to bring your helmet.

Find Your Center Mayor’s Ride and Bike to Breakfast with Ruth’s Chris
Start location: Dowd YMCA (400 E. Morehead St.) in the parking lot behind the YMCA
End location: Wachovia Atrium (Tryon St.)
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Cost: Free

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Panthers in the Park

A couple of days after wrapping up mini camp, the Carolina Panthers hosted "Panthers in the Park" Tuesday to greet the public. About 4,500 fans turned out to Freedom Park for the free afternoon of activities as Panther players signed autographs, posed for photos, and led contests. Members of the TopCats cheerleading squad and team mascot Sir Purr were on hand as well. See video below (courtesy of Panthers.com).

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Events for the Week: May 5-9

Your best weekly list for parties, nightlife, social, and cultural events in Charlotte. This isn’t intended to be a complete list of everything that's going on, but instead are the events GPT recommends. Use contact/website info listed to verify event details.

Wednesday, May 5

Cinco de Mayo!

Find Your Center Jazz Series
It’s the kickoff of this new monthly, lunchtime jazz series (taking place the first Wednesday of the month until August). Bring your lunch or pay $5 for a great box lunch (catered by McCormick and Schmick’s), and enjoy music by John Alexander’s Band: Big Octave. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Fifth floor terrace, 201 South Tryon. www.findyourcenter.com.

Cinco de Mayo Party at La Paz
It’s Charlotte’s largest and longest-running Cinco de Mayo celebration. Several drink specials ranging from $1 tequila shots to $4 margaritas, and music by a Red Bull DJ. All day and night. Free. La Paz, 1910 South Blvd. www.lapazcharlotte.com.

Cinco de Mayo at The Bear
Charlotte’s newest bar is looking to create a holiday tradition. Drink specials include $2 Coronas and $3 tequila shots. All to give you the liquor courage for karaoke beginning at 9:30 p.m. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Black Bear Saloon, at NC Music Factory, 900 Seaboard St. www.blackbearcharlotte.com.

Pop Life – Cinco de Mayo Edition
It’s still the city’s most popular Wednesday night event. Starts after work but runs late. Complimentary food 7-9 p.m. from Sadie’s. Music by DJ DR. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Luna Lounge, 521 N. College St. www.lunacharlotte.com or www.thesolkitchen.com.

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Primary Responsibility

North Carolina primaries are taking place today and the polls are open until 7:30 p.m. If you're at work, perhaps you should go during your lunch break, or go after work. You should be in and out in 10-15 minutes because the lines won't be long--turnout during primaries is usually very light. That's the reason I'm posting this important reminder. We focus so much on the November elections, but guess what? It's the primaries that determine who the choices of candidates are in November, so if you don't participate in the process in May, come November your candidate may not even be on the ballot.

Today, you'll be voting on candidates for U.S. Senate and House, N.C. Senate and House, County Commissioners, Mecklenburg County Sheriff, and a few judges. You can find your voting location by visiting the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, www.sboe.state.nc.us, and clicking on "My Polling Place."

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Joslyn James Jilted by Charlotte Hotel?

TMZ.com is reporting today that Tiger Woods and former mistress/current stripper Joslyn James may have nearly stayed in the same hotel while in Charlotte over the weekend. Gloria Allred, the publicity hound of an attorney who represents James, emailed a letter dated for today to the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte seeking an answer as to why her client's hotel reservation was cancelled. Allred speculates that it could be because Woods was staying there.

This kind of thing was bound to happen with James traveling to the cities to perform in strip clubs where Woods is playing golf tournaments. She was at Uptown Cabaret Friday and Saturday, and she ended up having a longer weekend than Woods, who missed the cut and didn't play after Friday's round of the Quail Hollow Championship.

Click on the image below to read the letter sent by Allred.

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