IT’S SHOWTIME IN THE QUEEN CITYIt’s great to be us. That is, great to be . Even in the winter months, there’s always something to do and alwayssomething you probably haven’t done before. Have you taken the kids to Ringling Brothers Barnum and BaileyCircus? How about the Harlem Globe Trotters? Have you taken your trash-talking neighbor to see Ron White?Frank Caliendo? When was the last time you had a romantic evening—think about Ms. Lauryn Hill or othershows coming up—maybe Motown at The Knight Theater uptown. If NASCAR can’t come soon enough for youand you just haven’t made it to the NASCAR Hall of Fame yet—the coming weeks offer incredible events at theHall. Do you want to get out and try something new to eat? Charlotte’s Slow Food Tours are all the buzz and acrazy-cool idea. How about something off the wall: The Miss Firecracker Contest at Theatre Charlotte. Well, wecould go on—and we will. Turn the page and sample another handful of what’s in store for you this Winter whenyou come along with Prowler Magazine on the prowl...

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W e practically live among the legends of one of the world’s most famoussports—NASCAR royalty and the stars of the future reside fromWilkesboro to Mooresville, Ballantyne to Atlanta. You may be sharing

the road unknowingly with an iconic driver from the world’s fastest sport. Thismonth, you can rub elbows with many of the best and brightest—don’t miss out!

WATCH HISTORY AT THE HALLA GREAT DAY FOR ANY NASCAR FANMake plans to be in Charlotte for the fifthAnnual NASCAR Hall of Fame InductionCeremony! Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, DaleJarrett, Maurice Petty and Fireball Robertswill be honored during this year’s ceremo-ny set for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014.

Ticket prices range from $45 for gener-al Induction Ceremony seats to $350 foran Exclusive Driver Dinner Package.Drivers, celebrities and legends of thesport will take the stage during the induc-tion of the fifth NASCAR Hall of Fameclass. Prior to the ceremony, a specialCommemorative Dinner at the CharlotteConvention Center, which adjoins theNASCAR Hall of Fame, will feature theannual inductee jacket presentation andSquier-Hall Award for NASCAR MediaExcellence winner. New this year, fans canpurchase a seat for the dinner that places aNASCAR Sprint Cup driver at their table

(limited quantities are available). After din-ner, the Induction Ceremony will takeplace in the Crown Ballroom at theCharlotte Convention Center and bebroadcast live on FOX Sports 1 andSiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

ABOUT THE NASCAR HALL OF FAMEConveniently located in UptownCharlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-footNASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive,entertainment attraction honoring the his-tory and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and enter-tain race fans and non-fans alike, openedMay 11, 2010, and includes artifacts,hands-on exhibits, 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, BuffaloWild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall ofFame Gear Shop and NASCAR MediaGroup-operated broadcast studio. Open10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week.Attached parking garage on Brevard St.

FIVE FOR EVERLASTING FAME

T I M F L O C K

J A C K I N G R A M

D A L E J A R R E T T

M A U R I C E P E T T Y

F I R E B A L L R O B E R T S

2014 REMAINING SCHEDULE

Jan. 20 Toronto 2:00Jan. 22 LA 7:00Jan. 24 at NY 7:30Jan. 25 Chicago 7:00Jan. 29 at Denver 9:00Jan. 31 at LA 10:30Feb. 1 at Phoenix 9:00Feb. 4 at G. State 10:30Feb. 8 S. Antonio 7:00Feb. 11 Dallas 7:00Feb. 12 at Brooklyn 7:30Feb. 18 at Detroit 7:30Feb. 19 Detroit 7:00Feb. 21 N. Orleans 7:00Feb. 22 Memphis 7:00Feb. 28 at S. Antonio 8:30Mar. 2 at Ok. City 7:00Mar. 3 at Miami 7:30Mar. 5 Indiana 7:00Mar. 7 Cleveland 7:00

Mar. 8 at Memphis 8:00Mar. 10 Denver 7:00Mar. 12 at Washington 7:00Mar. 14 Minnesota 7:00Mar. 16 at Milwaukee1:00Mar. 17 Atlanta 7:00Mar. 19 at Brooklyn 7:30Mar. 22 Portland 7:00Mar. 24 Houston 7:00Mar. 26 Brooklyn 7:00Mar. 28 at Orlando 7:00Mar. 31 Washington 7:00Apr. 2 at Philadelphia7:00Apr. 4 Orlando 7:00Apr. 5 at Cleveland 7:30Apr. 9 at Washington 7:00Apr. 11 at Boston 7:30Apr. 12 Philadelphia 7:00Apr. 14 at Atlanta 7:30Apr. 16 Chicago 8:00

NEW LIFE MICHAEL JORDAN GIVES FANS THEIR WISH

Bobcats Rallying BRINGING BACK THE BUZZ

ABOVE: New generations of Hornets fans attend. ABOVE RIGHT: See the pride on the face of team owner and NBA Legend Michael Jordan as he announces the new Charlotte Hornets.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

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NEW HORIZON JAZZ AT THE BECHTLER FEBRUARY 7Petite powerhouse vocalist ToniTupponce joins the Ziad JazzQuartet for the annual Jazz forLovers concerts February 7.Bring your sweetie (or find asweetie here) and celebrateValentine's Day with jazzy lovesongs. Things are bound to getheated as Tupponce, voted “sexi-est voice in Charlotte” byCharlotte magazine in 2006,croons romantic tunes. Songselections include A Sunday Kindof Love, Lover Man (Oh, WhereCan You Be?), Send in the Clownsand For All We Know.

PERFORMANCEConcerts are performed at 6 and8:15 p.m. Each concert is per-formed without an intermission inthe museum lobby. Doors openat 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. showand at 7:45 for the 8:15 show.Seating is first come, first served.

Standing room only is availableafter all seats are claimed.

FOOD AND DRINKAppetizers from e2 emeril’seatery are sold before and duringthe concert. The cash bar offersbeer, wine and select liquor. Jazzat the Bechtler attendees whovisit e2 emeril's eatery before orafter the concert are eligible forthe restaurant's "3 for $30" threecourse pre fixe menu. Ask serverfor details.

TICKETSTickets for each concert are soldseparately. Tickets are free formuseum members and $12 fornon-members.(Tickets may alsobe purchased by phone at704.353.9200 or at the admissiondesk.)

MORE INFORMATIONhttp://www.bechtler.org

w w w . B E C H T L E R . O R G S . T r y o n S t r e e t

Exclusive SectionRight Along MMAFighter Walk-InStage & Aisle

VIP Couches &Lounge Seating

Right Along FigherWalk-In Stage andEntrance Aisle

Heavy HorsD’Ouevres

Fireball Whisky &Fight Lab Swag

Limited Availability$80 Per Guestget.CrownTickets.com

A C T I V E P L A Y E R

R O S -

AND MORENC MUSIC FACTORY EVENTS

OSSOQueen's Feast Restaurant Week, January17-24Late Night with DJ Arthur Bros, January 30Late Night with Sarber, February 8

COMEDY ZONEJeff Dye, January 23-25Dave Coulier, January 29-31Frank Caliendo, February 7-8Dale Jones, February 12-15Jake Hurwitz, A. Blumenfeld, & Streeter Seidell, February 18Southern Fried Vegas, February 19Steve Rannazzisi, February 21-22Craig Robinson, March 5Moshe Kasher, March 6-8Deray Davis, March 13-15Southern Fried Vegas, March 19Sarah Colonna, March 20-22Russell Peters, March 27-30

LABELCarnage, January 24Dyro, January 31

THE FILLMOREAmon Amarth, January 29moe., January 30The Marshall Tucker Band, January 31Big Head Todd and the Monsters, February 1Arctic Monkeys, February 3Trial By Fire - A Tribute to Journey, February 7Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr, February 8Dom Kennedy, February 9Ms. Lauryn Hill, February 11Trey Anastasio Band, February 13Dark Star Orchestra, February 14Blackberry Smoke, February 20Young The Giant, February 21Flogging Molly, February 22The Naked & Famous, February 25Emblem3, March 2Vertical Horizon & Tonic, March 3Dropkick Murphys, March 7Excision, March 8George Thorogood & the Destroyers, March 18Children of Bodom, March 192 Good to be T.R.U., March 20Pentatonix, March 27On the Border - Ultimate Eagles Tribute, March 29

THE SALOONJon Linker CD Release Party, January 24Another Lost Year, January 25Dirtiest Players, January 26The Valley Roots, January 29U-Phonic, February 1Tantrum, February 6Caleb de Casper & the Foxy Jailvixens, February 9Chasing Pedestrians with The Gallery, February 13Porcelain Mary, February 15Shawn James & the Shapeshifters with County Graves, February 16Jumpcuts, Pippi Armstrong, and Miami Dice, February 17Elonzo, February 19Randy Allen & Southern Xpress, February 20Heroes At Last, February 22Falling Through April & Severance, February 23Trae Pierce & T-Stone, February 25All The Locals with Radio Birds, March 7

DATE TIME OPPONENT

Jan 23 7:00 PM Oklahoma City BaronsJan 24 7:00 PM Oklahoma City BaronsJan 28 7:15 PM @ Norfolk AdmiralsJan 31 7:30 PM @ Lake Erie Monsters

Feb 01 7:00 PM @ Lake Erie MonstersFeb 04 10:00 PM @ Abbotsford HeatFeb 05 10:00 PM @ Abbotsford HeatFeb 07 7:30 PM Oklahoma City BaronsFeb 09 1:30 PM Oklahoma City BaronsFeb 14 7:30 PM Abbotsford HeatFeb 16 1:30 PM Abbotsford HeatFeb 18 7:00 PM Norfolk AdmiralsFeb 21 8:30 PM @ Texas StarsFeb 22 8:00 PM @ Texas StarsFeb 26 7:15 PM @ Norfolk Admirals

Mar 01 7:00 PM @ Hershey BearsMar 02 4:00 PM @ Hershey BearsMar 07 8:30 PM @ San Antonio RampageMar 08 8:00 PM @ Texas StarsMar 09 5:00 PM @ San Antonio RampageMar 12 8:30 PM @ Texas StarsMar 15 7:00 PM Lake Erie MonstersMar 16 1:30 PM Lake Erie MonstersMar 19 7:15 PM @ Norfolk AdmiralsMar 21 7:00 PM San Antonio RampageMar 23 1:30 PM San Antonio RampageMar 25 6:35 PM @ Iowa WildMar 26 8:05 PM @ Iowa WildMar 29 7:00 PM Oklahoma City BaronsMar 30 1:30 PM Oklahoma City Barons

Apr 04 8:30 PM @ San Antonio RampageApr 05 8:00 PM @ Oklahoma City BaronsApr 06 5:00 PM @ Oklahoma City BaronsApr 10 7:00 PM Grand Rapids GriffinsApr 13 1:30 PM Grand Rapids GriffinsApr 18 8:00 PM @ Milwaukee AdmiralsApr 19 8:00 PM @ Rockford IceHogs

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE2014

TRUE GRIT AT THE FILLMORE George Thorogood and theDestroyers 3-31 and Marshall Tucker Band 1-31

All home games played at Time Warner Cable Arena in UptownCharlotte. For tics: www.charlottecheckers.com. Above: Checkmates

PLAYOFFS + PRO BOWLCOMBINING WINS for one of the longest winning streaks in the NFL in 2013, the Panthers recovered from a 1-3 start. Key factorswere a moving locker room speech by TE Todd Owen, a change of outlook by Coach Ron Rivera—now known as Riverboat Ron for hisbrazen 4th down strategy—and according to the players—it was and is, the fans. Panther fans have gotten louder and even taken thenoise on the road—you could hear the blue and black legions the loudest in the final season game at Atlanta.

Carolina’s #1 draft pick in 2012, Luke Kuechly hasamazed opponents with his ability to cover the fieldand read the offense. His efforts earned him Defen-sive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and he set a teamrecord with 26 tackles in one game this year.

CALLED UP FOR ACTION Offensive Tackle Jordan Gross#69 has been added to the list of Pro Bowlers for yourCarolina Panthers as well as #44 long-snapper J. J. Jansen.It’s an all-out Carolina takeover as coach Ron Rivera andhis staff will coach the Jerry Rice team in Hawaii, while theIndy Colt’s staff is working with the Deion Sanders team. Watch the Pro Bowl January 26th, live from Hawaii.

CAROLINA ALL-STARS

GIVEHOPEPANTHERS:2013

Kuechly (above) and his counterpart Daviscontinue to amaze as one of the strongestlinebacking units in the NFL today.

Jonathan Stewart will be back in the line-up vs San Fran. The Panther runninggame is fierce: Williams, Stewart, Tolbertand opponents best not forget, Newton.

NFC S

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REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

Sep. 8 vs. Seattle Seahawks LSep. 15 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. LSep. 22 vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. WSep. 29 BYE Oct. 6 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. LOct. 13 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. WOct. 20 vs. St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m. WOct. 24 at Tampa Bay Bucs, 8:25 p.m. WNov. 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. WNov. 10 at San Fran. 49ers, 4:05 p.m. WNov. 18 vs. NE Patriots, 8:40 p.m. WNov. 24 at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. WDec. 1 vs. Tampa Bay Bucs, 1 p.m. WDec. 8 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. LDec. 15 vs. New York Jets, 4:05 p.m. WDec. 22 vs. NO Saints, 1 p.m. WDec. 29 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. W

POST-SEASON SCHEDULEJan. 10 vs. San Fran., 1 p.m. L

PRO BOWL 2013QB Cam Newton #1

DE GREG HARDY #76

LB LUKE KUECHLY #59

C Ryan kalil #67

FB MIKE TOLBERT #35

Cam Newton has had a remarkable football career. He is one of a select few whohave won the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship for his team. Hewas the #1 draft pick for Carolina in 2011 and broke NFL records left and right inhis rookie season. In 2012 Cam figured out a way to win games as the seasonwinded down. In 2013, his focus has been on leadership and playing smart. Hisfocus and direction under offensive coordinator Mike Shula has delivered thebest present Panther fans could ask for—an NFC South Championship/Trip to thePlayoffs—and sent Newton once again to the Pro Bowl. Congrats Cam!

Bookending the defensive line with monster Charles Johnson and running stuntson helpless offenses has put Greg Hardy right in the spotlight and right in the ProBowl. Hardy had many amazing games and was a huge factor in the win vs. theSaints in December. His speed as a big man gives him an edge on awkward of-fensive linemen. This season Hardy has adopted a mantle of The Kraken—inrerefence to his octopus-like approach to opposing quarterbacks. The black facepaint completes the image. On SNF Hardy decided to introduce himself as agraduate of Hogwarts and called himself Kraken. He adds a dimension to thePanthers that fans love and other teams love to hate. Go Greg!

Commentators struggle for new words to sing Luke’s praises. He and veteran fel-low LB Thomas Davis are aguably the best duo in the NFL—smart, speedy anddangerous. When you look at images of Keuchly tackling he wraps his opponentsand waits for his fellow defensive Panthers to swarm to the ball. With many acco-lades like Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and Defensive Player of the Weekin 2013, Luke has become another amazing #1 draft pick for the Panthers whoare loaded with young talent. Congrats Luke—keep pounding!

Kalil became a national news story when he took out a full page ad in the Char-lotte Observer in 2012, stating that the Panthers were headed to the SuperBowl.That didn’t happen, but the act did what it was intended to do—it fired up theteam and fired up the fans. He since has said that his timing was just a little off,and that this is the year. We now know he may be off by just another year. Kalilprovides a solid, unshakable base for the offense and an ally for Newton—lettingvery few past him to reach his stellar QB. Keep holding down the fort Ryan—con-grats on a Pro Bowl season!

Another naming story—Tolbert is most commonly referred to as the Bowling Ball, orWrecking Ball. His stature and determination are truly special to watch, as he bun-dles up hangers-on and drives 8-10 yards with piles of defenders attached. Whilethe fullback may be a waning position in the NFL, the Panthers are very fortunate tohave this former Charger in the backfield. Many games have hung on red zone playsultimately made by Mike. If there is a Panther that takes the slogan Keep Pounding(credit this to former Panther Sam Mills) to heart, it is Tolbert. We look forward toseeing Tolbert run over opponents in 2014. Congats Mike!

2014

B Y R E N E E W R I G H T

Way back in 1992 your now well-aged Prowler Magazine staffers begansorting and anointing standouts in the Queen City. Our humble opinions—opinions they are—are given to share with city newcomers and natives alikethe things we find and love on the road more frequently travelled. Whilemost Charlotteans will dine, dance, shop and socialize within a limited ra-dius, our own profession and passion drives us from South End to SouthPark, from University City to Ballantyne and from Davidson to Lake Wylie. It’sour hope that our collection will inspire readers to take a trip—across townor a little further down the street—to enjoy one of the best experiences ourgreat city has to offer. Please, enjoy.

Best New Uptown Dance ClubRoxbury Nightclubroxburynightclub.comOccupying a terrific multi-level venue on W. Fifth Street,this new club, playing hitsfrom the 80s and 90s, ispoised to become Charlotte’snext hot dance spot. Thefounders are the former own-ers (and DJ talent) behind thelate, lamented Breakfast Club.Be sure to check out the Tikibar on the patio.

Best New Movie VenueStudio Movie Grill studiomoviegrill.comThis cool EpiCentre spot hasway more to offer than justfirst run movies in a theaterwith its own cocktail bar andfull grill menu with in-your-seat service. A variety of al-ternative and family filmseries, including cartoons,chick flicks, documentaries,golden oldies and indieaward-winners from film fes-tivals around the country, areon the schedule as well, alongwith screenings for specialneeds kids, most priced at $2per ticket. And did we men-tion the four-hour validatedparking in the EpiCentregarage?

Best Film Festival and ConventionThe Mad Monster Partythemadmonsterparty.comHorror movie fans hit thejackpot when the Mad Mon-ster Party came to town. The

weekend of festivities, com-ing up in 2014 March 21-23,includes new and classic hor-ror film screenings, a dealersroom full of horror memora-bilia, after parties, and a slewof horror movie stars signingautographs. Among thisyear’s attending celebs –William Shatner.

Coolest CocktailsBubble Charlottebubblecharlotte.comThis stylish new spot in theEpiCentre features a wide va-riety of champagne kept per-fectly chilled in a specialcooler, plus a fun list cocktailsand a great menu of go-withs. For the ultimate frigidexperience order your cock-tail “in the rocks” with yourfavorite liquor encased in anice egg.

Best VIP RoomsSuitesuitecharlotte.comNext door to Bubble, andfrom the same set of smartguys, Suite is the go-to spotfor those who prefer a privatenight on the town. Several in-timate areas, for parties fromtwo to a dozen, are availablethrough reservation, includ-ing tables in the middle of thedance floor and on a wonder-ful outdoor terrace with aview of the skyline.

Best Tequila FlightsVida Cantina charlotte.vidacantina.comWith more than 50 differenttequilas behind the bar, Vidais definitely the spot to ex-pand your knowledge of theworld’s favorite get-your-party-on liquor. Choose yourflight of three different tequi-las by type (blanco, anejo, orreposado) or by brand.

Best Authentic Italian PizzaLa Tagliatellalatagliatella.usAmong the tasty and authen-tic Italian dishes served at this

new European import in theEpiCentre, the pizza is astand-out, emerging thin andcrispy from the genuine Ital-ian oven, and topped witheverything from eggplant toTuscan bacon, plus generousshreds of rare Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, aged in acave for two years.

Best New Sports BarCedar Street Tavern cedarstreettavern.comNew spot near the GatewayCenter just off W. TradeStreet has a full menu serveduntil late, great happy hourand daily drink specials , plusplenty of TVs.

Best All-You-Can-EatChima Brazilian Steakhousechima.ccWith more than a dozen dif-ferent rotisserie-cookedmeats, including steak, lamb,pork, sausage, chicken andfish, carved at your table, plusan enormous salad bar, this isthe place to bring yourbiggest appetite.

Best Uptown Parking DealFitzgerald’s Irish Pubfitzgeraldscharlotte.comPay a visit to this fun pub withan Irish theme after 5 pm andget your parking validated inthe adjacent Wake ForestParking Garage through 3 am.

Best Fresh Seafood LunchDeep Sea Seafood Market deepseamarket.comA Charlotte Secret: Stop by

this seafood market on Mon-roe Road from 11 to 2 Mon-day through Saturday forsandwiches, tacos, po-boys,salads and soups made withseafood fresh off the boat.

Best Rooftop PatioWhiskey Warehousewhiskeywarehouse.com Enjoy drinks and apps highover Plaza-Midwood with theCharlotte skyline as a back-drop.

Best Charcuterie PlateBlock & Grinder blockandgrinder.comEnhance your cocktail hourwith a plate of meats andcheeses, ranging from wildboar sausage and housesmoked salmon to a rich bluebrie cheese, in this friendlyspot near the corner ofSharon Amity and Provi-dence.

Best Wine TastingCu [Copper] Bar at 131 Main131-main.comThis little cocktail lounge witha huge copper bar next to theEast Boulevard 131 Main lo-cation hosts the city’s bestnew wine tastings. The once-

BRAZWELL’S

BLOODY BAR

KIRK @ MAD MONSTER

ROOFTOP V.I.P. @ SUITE

a-month events feature lib-eral pours of small batchwines dispensed by knowl-edgeable wine reps, plus ahuge spread of food from theadjacent 131 Main kitchen,including its famous, fall-off-the-bone tender baby backribs.

Best Bloody Mary DealBrazwell’s Premium Pubbrazwellspub.comConstruct your favorite wake-me-up beverage for $4 all daySaturdays and Sundays at theBloody Mary Bar hosted bythis Montford Drive stand-out.

Best Fashion HangoutOsso Restaurant & Loungeossocharlotte.comCharlotte’s fashionistas andbeautiful people feel right athome in this NC Music Fac-tory spot decorated by de-signer François Fossard,creator of some of thehippest nightclubs in the U.S.

Most Creative TapasSoul Gastroloungesoulgastrolounge.comThis second-floor spot inPlaza-Midwood serves someof the city’s finest cuisine, in-cluding a list of creative smallplates that range the world inculinary style from Asian-glazed pork belly tacos withwatermelon salsa to foie grascrème puffs in a red winesauce. Follow its Twitter feedto get daily updates on spe-cials.

Best Value MenuCantina 1511 cantina15eleven.comYou can try some of the streetfood-inspired Mexican dishescreated by Executive ChefVincent Giancarlo at a greatprice by ordering off the “se-cret” value menu, available atboth Cantina locations. Enjoya 3-course dinner for twowith your choice of many ofthe restaurants’ specials forjust $22. Kids can eat for anadditional dollar. Or stop byfor a value-priced lunch.

Best Chicken DishesLeroy Foxleroyfox.comThis Cotswold spot in the for-mer Hotel Charlotte locationis known for its Southernstyle fried chicken, but themenu goes way beyond legs,breasts and thighs, offering alengthy list of fried, grilled,barbecued and broiledchicken dishes, includingeight different sandwichesand five salads.

Best Upscale UpfitNan and Byron’swww.nanandbyrons.com A tasteful makeover trans-formed the former Vinnie’sOyster Bar in South End intoone of the city’s nicest neigh-borhood restaurants.

Cocktail Trend Beer CocktailsMixing beer with booze cameinto its own in 2013, withcraft bartenders creating newand flavorful drinks that sub-

stituted beer for traditionalmixers. Look for some of thebest at Tilt on Trade and HeistBrewery.

Food Fad CrepesSuddenly French pancakeswrapped around savory orsweet fillings were every-where in 2013, with severalspots around town joiningthe trend pioneered by thepopular Crepe Cellar in NoDa.

Hot Sauce of the Year Srirachahuyfong.comPopularly known as “the cocksauce” for the rooster pictureon its bottle, this Thai-in-spired combo of fresh chilipeppers, garlic, and distilledvinegar took the culinaryworld by storm in 2013,adding flavor to everythingfrom wings to cocktails.

Whisky Flavor of the Year Fireball Cinnamon Whiskyfireballwhisky.comPacking a cinnamon punch,Fireball lit up our tastebuds!Bartenders competed to con-struct the best cocktail featur-ing the popular liquor, butour favorite way to imbibe isstill a straight shot.

Best New Date Night Idea Culinary CrawlsWith Charlotte neighbor-hoods developing active culi-nary scenes and localbreweries on the rise, severalcompanies now offer toursthat take you to local restau-rants and beer pubs in NoDa,South End, and the CenterCity, with a taste at each spotand some neighborly network-ing. You can walk, bike, take aSegway, board a bus, or evenhop aboard a pedaled trolleyfor your crawl. Companies of-fering culinary experiences in-clude Feast Food Tours,Dishcrawl, Urban Adventures,Tour de Food, Charlotte BrewTours, and Party Pedaler.

Emerging Neighborhood ofthe Year Charlotte Eastwww.charlotteeast.comThe Central Avenue corridorfrom Plaza-Midwood to East-land Mall has long beenhome to Charlotte’s most di-verse ethnic community, withAsian restaurants and grocerystores rubbing shoulders witheateries from South America,the Middle East, and beyond.Now business owners andresidents are organizingunder the Charlotte Eastname, creating a more acces-sible experience spearheadedby the annual sell-out event“Taste of the World,” a bustour introducing the cuisinesand restaurants of the neigh-borhood. And, with the trol-ley coming, and possibly amovie production studio atthe former Eastland Mall site,the future looks bright forCharlotte East.

Best Return From the Bayou Charlotte Hornetsbackbuzzcity.comThe purple and teal return toCharlotte along with the Hor-nets name, a uniquely localnickname with referencesdating all the way back to theBritish occupation of the cityduring the Revolutionary War.During their original run, theHornets led the NBA in atten-dance for many years and itsteal and purple logo’d attire,designed originally by men’swear champ Alexander Julian,was a best-seller around the

TAPAS @ SOUL

CANTINA 1511 TREATS

2014

world. Fans (and manage-ment) believe the return tothe Hornets brand willbreathe fresh life into Char-lotte’s NBA franchise. Now, if

Chairman Michael Jordancould just get his Hornetsbuddies from “Space Jam” to-gether for some on-court ac-tion… Muggsy Bogues is stillaround. Wonder what AlonzoMourning and Larry Johnsonare up to these days?

Best New Public Space Romare Bearden Parkparkandrec.comCharlotte’s newest publicpark occupies a full city blockin the center of Uptown.Named for our most famousnative-born artist, the parkpromises to be the venue ofchoice for Center City cele-brations, as well as free con-certs, art shows, free paintingand photography classes, andfitness programs.

Best New Pro Sports Team Charlotte Hounds Lacrossecharlottehounds.comLacrosse is a rough and tum-ble sport, and Charlotte fansswiftly embraced this newprofessional team playingfrom April to August in Me-morial Stadium, with an aver-age of 5,000 fans attendingeach game. The Hounds hada winning season at homelast year, with an overall 7-7

record. The team plays its firstgame of the 2014 season athome on April 26 against theOhio Machine.

Most Anticipated Day inSports 2014 First Pitch at the New Knights Stadiumcharlotteknightsatuptown.comThe first pitch in the newBB&T Stadium in the CenterCity is scheduled for April 11,at 7:05 pm in a game againstthe Norfolk Tides. But much

more than 72 games ofTriple-A baseball is scheduledfor the new 10,000 seat facil-ity. Expect concerts, festivals,and, come football season,tailgating for Panthers homegames.BEER COCKTAILS

BEARDEN PARK

Prowler Fans, we’re just gettingstarted here. You can let us knowwhat you think is “Best of Char-lotte” worthy by emailing us atinfo@prowlermagazine.com. Findus at over 60 events in the yearahead. Please stop by and giveus your vote. Get Prowler free inyour email every month:www.ProwlerMagazine.com

HORNETS REBOUND

Block & grinderblockandgrinder.com

Roasted Bone MarrowServed with MediterraneanFlake Salt and Parsley Salad

Wild game Meatloaf Served with a Bourbon BBQSauce, Mashed Potatoes Cro-quette, and Braised Greens

BLt steak in the Ritz-Carltonwww.e2hospitality.com

10 oz. hanger steak & Frites Available at lunch, brunch anddinner

Prime steak & FontinaCheese Panini The Charlotte Observer calledthis “the carnivore’s idea of agrilled cheese.” Served withfries.

Capital grillewww.thecapitalgrille.comDelmonico with PorciniMushroom Crust Capital’s signature steak,served with a 15-year AgedBalsamic Sauce

Bone-in Kona Crusted Dryaged sirloinCoffee-rubbed sirloin, servedwith Shallot Butter

Chima Braziliansteakhousechima.cc

Rodizio Brazilian all-you-can-eat rotis-serie meats served by roam-ing gauchos. Selectionsinclude at least 15 varieties ofmeats, including top sirloin,filet, ribs, lamb, pork, chicken,sausage and fish. Comes withall-you-can eat Salad Bar ofcold cuts, cheeses, salads,soup and traditional Brazilianhot dishes.

Del Frisco’s Doubleeagle steakhousedelfriscos.com

Prime Pair sundaysTwo-course prix fixe ($49),Sundays only8 oz hand-cut Filet paired withCrab Cake, Lemon-Garlic Scal-lops, or BBQ-spiced Shrimp,plus your choice of salad andside.

Wagyu Longbone32-oz. cut of prime Japanesebeef

Fleming’s Prime steakhouse & Wine Barwww.flemingssteakhouse.com

sunday Prime Rib DinnerThree-course prix fixe ($29.95)Sun. and Mon. through Feb.3

BEST CHARLOTTES T E A K H O U S E S

C o n s i d e r T h i s : the Ultimate Meat LoveR’s MenuWhen the weather turns chilly, our appetites return to the Ice Age. Nothing will satisfy butmeat—big cuts of beef and wild game, charred over a fire. So who’s got the beef this winter inCharlotte? We’ve canvassed the local steakhouses and found some stick-to-the-ribs meals, in-cluding several seasonal specials available for a limited time. January was officially NationalMeat Month, so we broke out the (steak) knives and now present a Valentine’s primer for all.

Renee WRight presents

On our cover: Del Frisco’s Valentine Special

Above: Ruth’s Chris Filet Page Right: Fleming’s Filet

Bottom: Fleming’s Prime RibSpecial Meal

Fleming’s Prime Rib served aujus with creamy horseradishand Dijon sauces, with yourchoice of salad, side, anddessert

Winter Taste the Season SpecialTwo-course pix fixe (40.95)through Jan. 31Forest Mushroom and House-made Ricotta Crostini withpesto and sun-dried toma-toes, plus Cedar-Smoke andCharred Prime New York Stripwith rosemary and garliccipollini onions and horserad-ish cream

Firebirds Wood Fired Grillwww.firebirdsrestaurants.com

Wicked Burger Old-fashioned cheeseburger,seared on a flattop with ched-dar cheese

Filet MignonHand-cut 7 or 9 ounce centercut of Filet, wrapped in Apple-wood-Smoked Bacon, searedon the wood fired grill, servedwith your choice of loadedbaked potato, seasoned steakfries or sweet potato wafflefries

Morton’s The Steakhousewww.mortons.com

Bone-In RibeyeVoted the Number One steakin Charlotte

Winter Meat Lover’s Special($22) Morton’s Prime Burgeror 9 oz. Prime Rib Sandwichpaired with a glass of Chap-pellet “Double C Ranch”Cabernet blend

The Palmwww.thepalm.com

Bone-In Tomahawk Rib-Eye Chop40-oz. cut of Prime corn-fedbeef, aged a minimum of 35days. Recommended for two.

Modern Power LunchThree-course prix fixe($25.90), Meat Lover’s Edi-tion: Classic Caesar Salad2 4-oz Filet Mignon Medal-lions served a la Stone withBordelaise sauce with Half &Half side of Cottage Fries andFried OnionsNew York Style Cheesecake

Ruth’s Chriswww.ruthschris.com

Ruth’s Classic DinnerThree-course prix fixe ($43-$53), Meat Lover’s Edition:Steak House Salad12 oz. Ribeye with side ofSautéed MushroomsChocolate Sin Cake

Cowboy RibeyeHuge bone-in cut of USDAPrime beef, served sizzling ona 500-degree plate

Sullivan’s Steakhousesullivanssteakhouse.com

The Sure Thing Winter SpecialThree-course prix fixe ($39)Meat Lovers’ Edition:Braised Beef Ravioli, IcebergLettuce Wedge, Porcini-Shal-lot Crusted Strip Steak withgarlic horseradish mashed po-tatoes and Bordelaise

Strip Steak Au PoivreSteak crusted with pepper-corns in a Bourbon Pepper-corn Sauce, served with friesand Crab Parmesan Cream

Tell us your steak stories at:Info@ProwlerMagazine.com

Here are 10 simple solutions thatwill allow you to enjoy your timewith friends and family at partiesand events in the future while

maintaing the physique you desire.

1 Eat a small meal prior to going toevents and parties to keep you fromover eating while attending the party.

2 Eat foods that take more calories todigest than they contain such as Cel-ery, Oranges,Tangerines, Strawberries,Cucumber and Carrots.

3 Eat fruits that are lower in sugar.Some options include: Berries, Mel-ons, Papayas and Peaches.

4 Stay away from the sweet, mixed

drinks – which tend to be laden withcalories – and stick to a glass of whitewine or a simple gin and tonic.

5 Workout at least 30 minutes a day toboost your metabolism.

6 Drink lots of water to keep you feel-ing full, therefore you won’t eat asmuch when you go out.

7 Find a friend with similar goals andhelp keep each other on track. Havingto answer to someone will keep youfrom eating that handful of fattysnacks or ordering food late night.

8 Use smaller plates and eat in moder-ation. Have your favorite dessert, butonly have one serving .

9 Stay active, park further away fromthe restaurant or club or event to forceyourself to walk more.

10 Dress to impress. Ditch the comfyclothes and try to wear clothes thatcompliment yourself. Be daring andbold. Doing so gives you a confidenceboost and will help you be less likely toover eat. Plus it’s just fun to dress niceand go out-especially when you feelgreat about the way you look. Step itup in 2014 and make it a great year.

PROWLER TRAINER Coach Clark Knows What You Need After The Holidays

20 MINS THAT COUNT

IT WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL time of the year but unfortunately it’s also the timeof the year we put on those extra pounds we worked so hard too keep off allyear. A study by the National Institute of Health shows that most Americans onlygain 2 pounds at the most during the six-week period between Thanksgiving andNew Years Day. The problem is that most of us do not lose that extra pound ortwo in the year that follows. The added stress of holiday travel, shopping, end ofschool year projects, and other factors also cause weight gain. These medical re-searchers also concluded that the two main factors that influence weight gain arehunger and activity level. We all need a plan for dealing with social indulgences.

WARM-UP4 minutes 4 exercises, 30 second intervals30 seconds: Run in place30 seconds: Jumping jacks30 seconds: High-knees sprints30 seconds: Butt kicksRepeat 2x

WORKOUT16 minutes 7 exercises, 30 second intervals30 seconds: Full plank with alter-nation leg kick backs30 seconds: Alternating legslunges 30 seconds: Floor mountainclimbers30 seconds: Elbow planks30 seconds: Push-ups (on kneesor regular )30 seconds: Arms raised squats30 seconds: Laying flutter kicks30 seconds: rest Repeat 4x

Belive it—you will feel this, getresults quickly and get back toyour day quickly. Stick to it!

www.ImpactTrainingSystem.com

20 MINUTESCOUNT ‘EM

R E S I D E N T I A L S E R V I C E S– New Home Electrical Wiring– Electrical Repair Service– Installation of Electrical Appliances (Ceiling Fans, Kitchen Appliances, etc.)– Lighting Installation– Motion Sensors & Outdoor Lighting– Dimming Controls– Structure Data/Computer Cabling– Whole Home Automation Controls– Whole Home Surge Protectors ($75,000 COVERAGE)

C O M M E R C I A L S E R V I C E S– Commercial Electrical Repair– Installation of Electrical Appliances– Lighting Installation– Surge Protection– Dimming Controls– Structure Data/Computer Cabling– Kohler, Generac, and Winpower Generators withautomatic and manual transfer switches

We are very proud of our technological innovationsand are among the leaders in custom residentialand commercial design.

Serving the Charlotte Region since 1976

704.821.7005Service@ARCElectricCompany.comwww.ARCElectricCompany.com

LET US QUOTE YOUR PROJECT, LARGE OR SMALL

CHOOSE THE ELECTRIC COMPANY CHOSEN BY ABC’S THE BACHELORETTE, HOMEARAMA AND ESPN/PROWLER MAGAZINE

THREE SKINNY OPTIONS TAKE OFF THE WEIGHT WITHOUT TAKING THE COCKTAILS OFF THE MENU | BY LORI SCOTT

G R E A T D R I N K I D E A S ? SUBMIT THEM AT INFO@PROWLERMAGAZINE.COM

Taste need not be a casualty with new trends in “skinny” cocktails...take a minute to choose skinny at the ABC store.

Peppered Bloody Mary2 parts skinny pepper vodka4 parts low sodium tomato juice¼ part fresh squeezed lemon juice¼ part Worcestershire Sauce3 dashes hot saucePinch black pepperCelery stickLemon wedgeBuild in highball glass over cubed ice. Garnish with lime wedge.

Calories Saved Per Drink 220

Vodka Cranberry FizzThis is an easy one! Just replace half of thecranberry juice with Diet Sprite or sparklingwater for a refreshing vodka cranberry with less calories! There are several brands of “skin-ny” vodkas (and other liquors) that are nowavailable and are very palatable. Some skinnybrands contain a slightly lower alcohol content,such as 60 proof vodka vs 80 proof.

Calories Saved Per Drink 60

Low-Cal Fruit and Fusion Flavored Vodkas

Calories Saved Weekly 1200+

Voli Light Vodkas are 25 to 40 percent lowerin calories than leading brands and contain nomore than 81 calories per serving, the compa-ny said. They also save consumers the needfor sugary mixers, as Voli is recommended tobe served over ice or with club soda. Availableflavors include Lyte, Voli Lemon, Voli EspressoVanilla, Voli Raspberry Cocoa and Voli OrangeVanilla. Each bottle has a suggested retail priceof $19.99.

SKINNY FAVORITES Light and Right

Chicken Parmigiana BurgersIngredients1/4 cup flour (to make gluten-freeuse 2 tbsp cornstarch instead)2 cups water 4 cups fat free milk1 large celery stalk, chopped1/2 medium chopped onion8 oz sliced baby portabella mush-rooms 2 chicken bouillonsfresh ground pepperpinch of thyme10 oz frozen classic mixed vegetables(peas, carrots, green beans, corn)2 potatoes, peeled and cubed small16 oz cooked chicken breast, dicedsmallsalt

DirectionsCreate a slurry by combining 1/2cup of cold water with flour in amedium bowl and whisk untilblended. Set aside. Pour remainingwater and milk into a large pot andslowly bring to a boil. Add celery,onion, mushrooms, chicken bullion,thyme, fresh pepper, frozen vegeta-bles and return to a boil. Partiallycover and simmer on low until veg-etables are soft: 20 minutes. Removelid, add potatoes and cook until soft,about 5 minutes. Add chicken, andslowly whisk in slurry, stirring wellas you add. Cook another 2-3 min-utes, until soup thickens, adjust saltand pepper to taste and serve.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

XTRA MOIST LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKESIngredients18.25 oz Duncan Hines DarkChocolate Fudge cake mix1.4 oz sugar free, fat free, in-stant chocolate pudding1 cup canned pumpkin (notpumpkin pie filling)1 1/3 cups water

For the Chocolate Glaze1/2 cup confectioners' sugar1 tbsp unsweetened cocoapowder1/2-1 tbsp 1% milk1/4 tsp vanilla extractpinch of salt

DirectionsPreheat oven 350°. Line cup-cake tin with liners. Combinepumpkin puree/water in largebowl; mix . Add chocolate pud-ding mix, mix well. Add choco-late cake mix, beat 2 mins. Fillcupcake liners 2/3 full and bakeabout 25 - 28 mins. Cool in panon wire rack 15 mins. Glaze:combine dry ingredients, addvanilla and 1/2 tbsp milk,adding more 1/4 tsp at a timeuntil smooth. Add to piping bagdrizzle onto cooled cupcakes.

Ingredients16 oz lean chicken burgers4 oz part skim mozzarella cheese 1cup pomodoro4 rolls such as ciabatta rolls

DirectionsHeat the sauce; cook burgers 2-3minutes on each side. Top withcheese; when melted put on a rolland top with sauce.

Pot Pie Soup Nutritional BreakdownServings: 6 | Serving Size: 1 bowl (1-1/2 cups) Calories: 253.8 |Fat: 1.8 g | Protein: 27.7 g | Carb: 31.9 g | Fiber: 3.4 g

Parmigiana Burgers Nutritional BreakdownServings: 4 | Serving Size: 1 burger| Calories: 324.7| Fat: 8.9 g |Protein: 31.1 g | Carb: 28.8 g | Fiber: 0.9 g | Sugar: 2 g

M y name is Ethan Powell, I am7 years old, and this is myfirst article as a Jr. Corre-spondent for Charlotte

Prowler Magazine. I would like tothank Prowler for inviting me and myfriends to go and experience ShadowQuest at The Great Wolf Lodge. Itwas a blast! I learned a lot aboutmagic—and about writing for a maga-zine. Here is my experience:

The Quest to Become A WizardWhen you first arrive at the GreatWolf Lodge, you’ll need to select yourwand! You can choose from blue, pink,orange, grey or many other colors.

Your wand, when wielded skillfully,will grant you newtools and weapons.You’ll need theseweapons as youtravel through theLodge in search ofeach video adventurein the Shadow Questgame.

In Shadow Quest,you work alongsideIvan—a frost giantwho looks like a meanie but is reallygood-natured. And Lumina, leader ofthe light pixies. Your goal is to save thelight for your village and spare your

friends from the evil of Malaki—afearsome, light-eating Yeti (snow mon-ster). You will need to concentrate andbring all of your skills as a Magi to be-come a wizard and save the day!

You’ll collect (or lose) coloredgems, based on how you use yourwand. Playing is fun and challengingand you never know what’s aroundeach corner.

It’s awesome to control the gamewith your magic wand and go througheach challenge with your friends.

I loved the characters of ShadowQuest and had a great time. I wouldrecommend Shadow Quest to boysand girls of all ages—it’s even fun forthe whole family.

I rode their awesome new ride,Howly Wood. I also played a cool newlight game called Atomic Rush. Thenwe got to play a new, wild shootinggame called 4D World.

My family played Shadow Questfor the first time and then went tolunch and had an awesome pizza party!I had the Hungry As A Wolf PizzaMeal. They also have a restaurant thathas a giant forest with lots of animatedthings in the tree tops that you can ac-tivate with a wave of your magic wand.They even had someone at the lodgethat came to our table and made a bal-

loon sword for me and a bal-loon puppy for my friend!

We plan on goingback soon and spending a dayin the water park. I want toride the Howlin’ Tornado—it’s a giant raft ride that seats4 people and you go swirlingdown a gigantic drain—it’ssuper cool, and a little scary.

If you’re going:Great Wolf Lodge is located nearConcord Mills. Call 704-549-8206 orvisit www.GreatWolf.com.

WAND-WAVING, TREASURE-CHASING ADVENTURE THROUGHOUT THE LODGE

IT’S SHADOW QUEST!

THE GREAT WOLF LODGE is one of the Charlotte Region’s premier family attrac-tions and largest hotels. A day, two or a week inside the sprawling, themed lodge can easilyfeel like a full-fledged family vacation in another locale—when you step into the lodge,you’re on vacation. The Great Wolf Lodge is known for it’s massive indoor heated waterpark and loveable, woodsy animated characters and live mascots. Yet many young visitor’scome for a game played with electronic wands know as Magi-Quest—the same interactivevideo adventure played at the popular Myrtle Beach destination, Broadway at the Beach.Now comes Shadow Quest, the next generation of epic adventures.