I recently stumbled across a new place – or rather, a new concept in an existing place. Carrie and I and another couple had reservations at 131 Main, off Statesville Road in Cornelius, but the restaurant was running a bit behind with our table so the hostess suggested that we check out their new place, Roxy’s Coffee & Wine, just 2 doors down from them at 9606 Bailey Road (where Dilworth Coffee used to be). We welcomed the suggestion, walked the 20 steps or so to Roxy’s, and quickly determined that the place has a super cool concept. Coffee AND Wine? Imagine Starbucks and the Corkscrew all rolled up into one, wonderfully inviting beverage shop. Click to read more about Roxy’s weekly specials for adults and kids, on CorneliusNews.net’s THE GUIDE>>

CHARLOTTE – The summer 2012 edition of Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week is scheduled Friday, July 20, through Sunday, July 29, throughout the Charlotte area. Participating restaurants include  long list of favorites in the Lake Norman area, from Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson, Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Mooresville, Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails and 131 Main in Cornelius, and many more in Birkdale Village and Huntersville.

A record 107 restaurants in seven area counties are in on the summer feast. [See the full list below.] Menus and information will be available on the web beginning Friday, June 29, at www.CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com. Read the full story

19905 W. Catawba Ave.
Johnsbury Shopping Center
(near Zapata’s)
Cornelius.
704-439-0996 or 704-360-2399
Daily, 8am-6pm

www.maddysfattys.com/

Davidson College students Katie Cheatham (left) and Liz Engle helped out at the Davidson Community Garden this spring.

On the PlanCharlotte.org page at UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute this week, writer Amber Veverka takes a look at two Charlotte groups that are helping to get fresh, local food to those who don’t live near or shop at a farmer’s market. Sow Much Good and Friendship Gardens are both in the midst of growing, she writes.

Here in north Mecklenburg, we’d also take note of the Davidson Community Garden off Potts Street. The volunteer-run garden was organized a couple of years ago by Davidson United Methodist Church, and donates a portion of its produce to the Loaves & Fishes food pantry at nearby Ada Jenkins Center. Read the full story

Cornelius has a new place to get a little something sweet: Maddy’s Fatty’s gourmet cupcake and custom cake shop on West Catawba Ave. Meanwhile, Davidson could get a new burrito and taco restaurant this fall: Plans are coming together for a Carrburritos, in the Wooden Stone building on South Main Street. Also below, news about a June 28 beer dinner at Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Mooresville, the planned Meatballs on Main in Cornelius and other restaurants. Read the full story

Harris Teeter’s recent deal to buy Lowe’s Foods stores in the Charlotte area will bring a new grocery concept to stores in Cornelius and Huntersville. The Matthews-based grocery chain confirmed this week it will convert those two Lowe’s stores into “a new, innovative format” that will help differentiate them from exisiting Harris Teeter stores nearby. Read the full story