Sunday, August 31, 2008 by Planet Janet.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are back in session, and an estimated 2,500 of its enrolled
students are homeless. While many of us are fortunate enough to have a place to call home and
the money for school supplies, many parents can’t provide their children with the most basic of
necessities. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tuesday, August 12, 2008 by Planet Janet.

If you savor live music, you don’t have to venture uptown. From planning a girls’ or guys’ night
out to looking for some dinner and distraction for your family, SouthPark and Cotswold have a wide selection of venues to whet your musical and gastronomic appetites.

Family-friendly venues

• ParkTowne Village, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road. Grab a burrito from Qdoba Mexican Grill, your favorite sandwich from Jason’s Deli or a waffle cone from Marble Slab Creamery, and head to the outside patio. Music plays 7-10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. The center is across the street from Park Road Shopping Center on Woodlawn Road at Park Road.
• Cotswold Village Shops, 300 S. Sharon Amity Road. Depending on the type of fare you prefer (Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina or Charley’s Restaurant), you can enjoy ’70s and ’80s music on either patio. On Friday nights, the music goes from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and tends to be family-oriented.  Sometimes there are scheduled kids’ activities, such as a face painter or a balloon artist. Saturday nights are geared more toward date night, and music starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.
• Earth Fare, 721 Governor Morrison St. If you haven’t checked out Earth Fare, you’re in for a treat. Not only is it a fantastic natural and organic market, grabbing a quick bite to eat at its deli and café is always a hit for people on the go. So grab a wrap or a slice, and check out the acoustic guitar music 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday on the patio.
• Maggiano’s Little Italy, 4400 Sharon Road. Enjoy soft music and southern Italian cuisine on the patio or in the bar 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

A night on the town

• Fairview Grill, 5124 Park Road. From 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday and Friday nights, the band plays blues and classic rock.  Karaoke lovers belt out the tunes 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursdays and 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday nights.
• Village Tavern, 4201 Congress St. From 7-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, take in the SouthPark sights and musical sounds on the patio. Enjoy your favorite glass or bottle of wine at half price on Wednesdays. Jazz is played Thursday nights. The restaurant is inside an office building at the corner of Barclay Downs Drive and Morrison Boulevard.
• McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, 4335 Barclay Downs Drive. Head to the patio for some relaxing and soothing tunes 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday. This SouthPark establishment is near Joseph-Beth Booksellers on the west side of the mall.
• The Grape Wine Bar & Café, 4300 Sharon Road. Located in The Village at SouthPark next to Crate & Barrel, this wine bar has it all. More than 120 unique wines are available as well as small-plate gourmet fare. Live jazz from 7-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
• Press Box, 1627 Montford Drive. Established in 1974, this casual sports bar rocks it out 10 p.m.-2 a.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The menu includes typical bar fare.

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Sunday, August 3, 2008 by Planet Janet.

Long before the “Dancing With the Stars” phenomenon swept the nation, Dana Glandon was hooked and had waltzed her way to a successful career in ballroom dancing.  But the SouthPark resident wasn’t always hot for the foxtrot. When her parents began lessons at a Fred Astaire studio in 1988, she was reluctant to join them.

“I didn’t want to dance with old fogies. But finally, after a year of them asking, I went. Of course, I fell in love with it,” Glandon said.   And she loved it so much, the then-Realtor bought the franchise four months later, which she sold in 1996.
Since then, Glandon has owned and operated two more studios with her partner, Tony Prado, their current business being Queen City Ballroom. She went on to become the 2006 National Ballroom Dance champion in the International Standard Division.

Through her love affair with ballroom dancing, Glandon got her just rewards. Once 100-plus pounds overweight, the shrewd businesswoman quickstepped her way to a sleek size 4. Glandon said, “I transitioned from a very shy person to a very confident person.

“I tend to stay 20 to 30 pounds overweight,” she said. “If I have a goal to do a competition or a show, that keeps me focused to lose weight and be careful of what I eat.”

Her pride and joy
Boasting a 5,600-foot floating hardwood dance floor, two five-foot crystal chandeliers, a circular bar and a fully equipped kitchen, the elegant Queen City Ballroom is a destination for people of all ages. Her youngest student is 6, and her oldest student – her mother – is 90. “She comes every day for a lesson,” Glandon said. “She won’t skip it for the world.”

In addition to classes, dance competitions, wedding receptions and parties, Queen City Ballroom also showcases its talent twice a year with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. On July 26, the “Broadway Lights” production raised $1,500. The annual holiday gala, also benefitting Make-A-Wish, is scheduled for Dec. 20.

What’s the best part of her job?  “Sitting at my desk and looking out the (corner office) window and seeing all the progress that each individual has made,” Glandon said.   “It’s hard to do any paperwork because I like to watch the students.”

So you think you can dance?  Or maybe not?
No worries, folks. Take a complimentary private lesson with one of her 12 instructors, and go from there. “You don’t have anything to lose,” Glandon said.   “Our job is to make (people) feel comfortable and make it fun.”  From Latin, swing, shag, country-western and ballroom dancing, the sky’s the limit at Queen City Ballroom.


Want to go?
While testing the waters with a complimentary lesson is the way to go, according to Glandon, you can also check out the scene on Friday nights. Starting at 8, a group class is offered to the public for $5 at Queen City Ballroom (10403-I Park Road). Following the class is a dance social from 9 to 11. ($10). At 10 p.m., students and professional dancers demonstrate their moves to the crowd. Open bar, coffee, and cake are provided. Details: 704-541-5440.

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