Meet Kate Minus 8

The annual Southern Women's Show, this year scheduled for September 17-20 at The Park (formerly the Charlotte Merchandise Mart), always brings in a few female celebrity speakers and authors for the series of events, which focus on such things as fashion, food, health, business, education, travel, and home. This year's headlining guest is celebrity mom Kate Gosselin, of Jon & Kate Plus 8. Really?

I've never been a fan of reality TV stars, so I'm probably bias here, but I think the organizers of the women's show, which draws thousands of attendees, could've done better than Gosselin. What is she going to give the audience tips and advice on? I think people should get all they need from her either from her show on TLC or from tabloids in the checkout aisle at supermarkets. But hey, she'll likely be a big draw, so the organizers probably know what they're doing. (Maybe next year they'll bring in one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.)


Gosselin, who'll being coming fresh off the heels of a two-day stint as co-host of The View (September 14 and 15), is scheduled to appear at the Southern Women's Show on that Thursday afternoon (September 17). Meanwhile an event that evening, that will benefit Dress for Success Charlotte, will feature actress Andie MacDowell (that's more like it). I've always thought MacDowell, who's a Gaffney, S.C. native and honorary chair of this event, was a class act.

Find a full schedule of events for the Southern Women's Show at www.southernshows.com/wch.

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GPT Quickie: Enso

Last night I attended the VIP grand opening of Enso Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar at the EpiCentre. It was crowded from wall to wall, which is a lot for this large space. It was obvious that hundreds of people had gone online and printed tickets for the event as they could be seen holding them in their hands as the line stretched down the EpiCentre's courtyard (while Alive After Five was also taking place).

I'm going to hold off doing a review on Enso for now. Opening nights at bars and restaurants, especially as crowded as this one was, don't always give you a genuine experience. Though the owners spared no expense on last night's event (free beer, wine, hors d'eouvres, and sushi was served) just like they didn't hold back on decking out the place. I expect this to be the new hotspot at the EpiCentre, and it might cipher away a little of Mez's crowd (Mez gets crowded on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights). If you visit Enso soon, post a comment here with your thoughts on it.

Here are a couple of pics I snapped with my camera phone of the nyotaimori model who was there, also known as naked sushi.

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New Website Informs Charlotte Voters

This is one of those election years in which not enough people get involved and even fewer get informed. By now, you're either still in love with Obama or you're carrying guns to rallies for health care reform. But this November's election is just as important as any issues you see round the clock on cable news. This November is the election for the people who make the decisions that affect your neighborhoods, schools, roads, and even jobs (or lack thereof). Now there's a new website that helps you get inform about the men and women who are seeking office for mayor, city council, county commission, school board, and more in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.


As a joint project between The League of Women Voters, GenerationEngage, and Kids Voting Mecklenburg, www.CharMeckVotes.org is a comprehensive online voter guide. The site includes profiles submitted by local candidates, where you can learn why each believes he or she is best for the job, what role they might play in improving the quality of life for Charlotte, and how they believe everyday citizens can get involved. It currently includes information about the Charlotte primary, and will soon have details about general elections. CharMeckVotes.org will be updated throughout the year and will include additional races in 2010 and beyond.

Also, early voting is now underway through September 12. You can find info about that on the website as well.

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What I Knew About the Dale Earnhardt Roller Coaster

Around this time last year I was working on a Charlotte magazine article on Max Siegel, who at the time was president of Dale Earnhardt Inc. My series of interviews with Siegel were some of the best I've experienced during my career as a journalist. The reason I say this is because of the access he granted me. I asked if I could "shadow" him for a couple of days, follow him around DEI's offices and race shops in Mooresville, sit in on his meetings, and experience what his typical day is like (it moved at a hectic pace).

At certain times during some of the meetings I attended, Siegel would ask me to turn off my recorder or say "this is off the record," basically letting me know what I was about to hear shouldn't be included in the article. It wasn't one of those situations in which he was trying to control the interview--he was instead very candid and forthcoming--but some of the discussions in the meetings were private business matters or included details that hadn't been finalized.

One of those meetings was about Carowinds' interest to build a roller coaster dedicated to the late, great Dale Earnhardt. One of Siegel's primary responsibilities was to oversee this type of business venture--companies frequently approach DEI with propositions to attach themselves to Earnhardt's lucrative brand (he's like the Elvis of NASCAR). Carowinds' proposal to build an Earnhardt roller coaster was in its early stages at the time. Well, it appears that DEI liked it because they've signed off on the licensing, paving the way for The Intimidator roller coaster, set to debut next spring as was announced by Carowinds yesterday.


The Intimidator will be the Southeast's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, standing 232 feet (23 stories) tall at its highest peak and reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The 5,316 feet of track will feature high-speed twists and turns including seven steep drops--one for each of Earnhardt's NASCAR championships--and it's intended to replicate the speed and intensity of a NASCAR race. The trains on The Intimidator will be designed to mirror Earnhardt's 1998 Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The roller coaster is projected to cost $23 million to build.

Below is a video simulation of The Intimidator roller coaster. For more details, visit www.intimidator.carowinds.com.



As for Siegel, he left DEI after the company merged its racing operations with Chip Ganassi Racing late last year. He's since started a marketing firm called The 909 Group, based in Huntersville, and continues to work with NASCAR along with other major sports and entertainment clients.

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Enso Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar Opening

If you love the EpiCentre in Uptown, this is good news to you. If you're not a fan of the EpiCentre, you're probably sick of hearing about bar and restaurant openings (which have been happening about once a month for the last year and a half). Well, here's another one. Enso Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar is holding its grand opening tonight. It's Uptown's first late-night sushi bar.

The concept seems to be similar to Nikko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in South End in that it's going to be upscale and will likely draw an elite crowd. I think Charlotte can support them both--Nikko has a strong following and is in a convenient location (i.e. parking), while Enso will draw from the large foot traffic that comes through the EpiCentre and has an edge because it plans to serve sushi until 2 a.m.

The owner of Enso says this soon-to-be hotspot was inspired by renown bar/restaurants like Nobu in New York and Tao in Las Vegas. You can see for yourself. Tonight is a VIP grand opening from 7 to 9 p.m. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and sake will be served. If you want a free ticket to tonight's event, go to www.ensocharlotte.com (after filling out a brief form you'll be given a ticket to print; while they're still available). Enso opens to the public tomorrow (August 28) and reservations are being accepted (704-716-ENSO).

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