Writer, Editor, Journalist, Essayist, Columnist
Hard to believe, but I’m seven weeks into a job at Charlotte Agenda already. Days and weeks move faster when you’re on staff somewhere. But I’m enjoying it. I mean, of course I miss the freedom of freelancing and midmorning walks with Gizmo, but Agenda’s been a refreshing change. A few months ago I thought…
The pelicans—excuse me, the goddamn pelicans—are back. They skipped town for the hurricane last fall like everybody else, and weren’t to be seen during a 99-degree Memorial Day weekend, but they made it in time for Father’s Day, gliding over the beachfront homes in a single line, headed wherever it is smug and certain creatures…
When Charlotte College moved to a nearly 300-acre stretch of farmland in north Charlotte in 1961, construction crews finished the first two buildings ahead of schedule. It was August, and The Charlotte Observer was so excited it sent a photographer out for pictures of the buildings standing next to a barn. A woman saw that…
Have a new story out today on Karsyn Elledge. She’s an 18-year-old race car driver who just happens to be the granddaughter of Dale Earnhardt. I’m really happy with how it turned out, and hope you’ll enjoy it, too. The only way a story like this comes together is with time. My editor, NASCAR.com’s Brad…
The robins are dancing and singing in the yard this morning. I just saw a squirrel lounging in a dogwood branch. In Charlotte this winter, everyone celebrates a day that doesn’t start with rain. Supposed to be in the high-60s, the weather folks say. Hotchupretty, my father would say. This evening will mark two months since he…
When I was a kid, my babysitter, Betty, kept a Reader’s Digest in just about every room of the house. I’ve known for a few months that RD had plans to republish my July 2018 Charlotte magazine column, “How Do You Define Success?” Still, when a yellow envelope arrived the the other day carrying two copies of…
Charlotte magazine posted my new back-page column yesterday. It’s out in print, too, in a terrific “Music Issue.” You really ought to subscribe here. Editor Emma Way should be counted among the top young journalists in the country, especially after what she’s done in just a few months as editor. And her partner in magazine-making, longtime…
Matt Tullis extended a warm invitation to join him on Gangrey: The Podcast this week. First time I saw Matt’s name was 2012, back when SB Nation Longform was around and he wrote this fascinating story about a horseshoe champion. Those were fun times. Glenn Stout was just beginning to build his base of contributors,…
Hey good people, I’m updating my site and moving it over to the WordPress empire. Hope to have it finished soon. In the meantime, here are some things I’ve had published in the past 30 days. You may have heard me mention this ESPN story on Muggsy Bogues a time or two. But the evening…