Michael Solender
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Articles by Michael Solender
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort: Embraced by Pura Vida
Wrapped in lush tropical beauty, guests here soak up Costa Rica’s good life. Just 40 minutes after leaving the airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, our private 4×4 transfer rounds a blind corner onto the approach to Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort. My wife Harriet and I are here for an eco-getaway that promises immersive nature adventures with a bit of luxe pampering on the side.
The Gantt after 50
photographs by Herman Nicholson by Michael J. Solender Walk into the administrative suite at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, and you feel it immediately: quiet determination, singular focus and little interest in resting on 52 years of legacy. That legacy is real. National-caliber programming, deep community roots, a reputation that extends well beyond Charlotte.
Green With Envy: Why Netto Bar Is Curaçao’s Most Legendary Neighborhood Watering Hole
In Otrabanda, the island’s most famous watering hole has served its signature Rom Berde to everyone from soccer icon Pelé to Netherlands Queen Beatrix. It’s my second evening in Curaçao, and my local host suggests we make a pre-dinner stop at a tiny neighborhood bar for a cocktail.
Powdered Sugar and Parachute Silk: A Weekend in New Orleans
In the Crescent City, history isn’t confined to museums. You hear it in the jazz, taste it in the gumbo, and find it dancing after dark. Less than an hour after arriving in New Orleans, I was standing in Jackson Square, the St. Louis Cathedral to my left, Washington Artillery Park—the Moonwalk—to my right. With the Mississippi flowing nearby as humidity pressed down beneath the midday sun, I was back in the French Quarter for the first time in 20 years.
If walls could talk
photographs by Richard Israel by Michael J. Solender At Charlotte’s Belk Theater, Broadway touring productions don’t begin on stage. They start at the stage door, where cast and crew arrive and make an early stop at an unassuming stretch of cinderblock wall that, over time, has become an informal showcase.
Beyond the blue in Curacao
Playa Forti beach in Curaçao. Photographs courtesy Curacao Tourism Board. Photographs courtesy Curacao Tourism Board by Michael J. Solender Just an hour after stepping off my four-hour nonstop flight from Charlotte into Curaçao, I’m floating on my back in the warm Caribbean Sea, bobbing like a cork just offshore from my temporary home, the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort. There would be time for exploring later. For now, it was the chill factor I’d come for.
Fargo: Where America’s Heartland Reaps Cultural Harvest
An authentic Midwest weekend where space, slowness, and soil grow something unexpectedly artful. Farmland flanks the short, 15-minute drive from Fargo–Moorhead’s Hector International Airport into downtown. But right alongside the early crops of corn and soybeans, the region’s agricultural roots are yielding a most unexpected harvest.
She helps adults discover the power of play
photographs by Richard Israel by Michael J. Solender Sally Stokes was so excited about Blume Studios’ inaugural virtual-reality experience, Space Explorers: The Infinite, in late 2024 that she attended wearing a head-to-toe spacesuit. Stokes, a self-described “extrovert’s extrovert,” felt the experience deeply — it even brought her to tears. That emotional response, along with photos of her in costume, caught the attention of Blumenthal Arts’ marketing and communications team.
The soul of the early American South
William C. & Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Photograph by Dan Routh courtesy Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts Photographs courtesy Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts by Michael J. Solender As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, reflections on America’s origins feel newly urgent and freshly intimate.
Aruba's Oldest Luxury Hotel Just Got a Boutique Tower — and a Rooftop Worth the Trip
Aruba Epic Stays by Michael Solender Jun 5, 2026 A strong gust sends my hat sailing at check-in to The Westerly at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort. Skittering across the coffee-colored flagstone lobby floor, my well-traveled, dancing cap draws giggles from twin grade-school boys ahead of me in the breezy, semi-open-air space. I retrieve it quickly, and the boys nod their approval. The wind never really lets up here, nor will it during my all-too-brief four-day stay.
Destination: I do, Carolinas
Cataloochee Ranch. Photograph by Ben Finch Photography by Michael J. Solender When the vision of a perfect wedding includes a romantic setting, unforgettable dining, and an intimate celebration with family and friends, destination weddings offer couples a beautiful way to have it all — with a built-in honeymoon for good measure. Here are four Carolinas destinations where the delight of the big day lingers a little longer.
Mind game: Performance coach Kathy Hart Wood talks strategy
by Michael J. Solender Most golfers who come to work with performance coach Kathy Hart Wood have two things in common. They have more talent than they show on the course, and they feel frustrated by their results. Wood, 61, helps them reframe their approach and how they manage their thoughts about their game. It’s a strategy she believes can change everything.
In plain view: Zygos
by Michael J. Solender There’s a certain symmetry behind the location of Zygos, artist Sally Rogers’ gleaming, swirling sculpture in Charlotte’s Third Ward at Trade and Poplar streets. Holding court outside the TradeMark building, a 28-story residential tower, the stainless-steel and granite sculpture is an assemblage of interconnected and complementary components.
Click, tap, revolt: A new augmented-reality exhibit marks America's 250th
by Michael J. Solender | images courtesy Histovery Beginning April 14, visitors to the Charlotte Museum of History will experience two revolutions in one groundbreaking exhibition. First, is the East Coast debut of American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition, an immersive journey that brings defining moments of the American Revolution vividly to life. The second is a revolution - or rather, a revelation - in how this history is told.
Carolina on Course: Sea Pines & Kiawah in the Swing of Things
Lowcountry Luxe awaits Atlantans at these two golf-oriented getaways where coastal tides run alongside fairways and family fun stays in focus. When a holiday dilemma pits two iconic, family-friendly, golf-soaked South Carolina resorts against each other, there’s only one sensible move for A-towners: skip the choosing and enjoy both. That’s the approach VUE took recently, teeing up Lowcountry gems Sea Pines Resort and Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Darkness and light: Caravaggio at the Mint
by Michael J. Solender Though 16th- and 17th-century Baroque realist Michelangelo Merisi never had Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, he remains one of the world's greatest cultural and artistic influencers more than four centuries after his death. Widely known as Caravaggio, the controversial artist's approach has reverberated across centuries.
New: Charlotte Lyric Theatre supports emerging artists
Like many of life's journeys, charting a career on the operatic stage doesn't come with an instruction manual or guidebook. For five aspiring Charlotte performance artists, a new career-development program provides just that, with one-on-one coaching, professional marketing services and opportunities to perform on stage. Best of all? It's free of charge. Enter Charlotte Lyric Theatre, an immersive nine-month professional-development program.
Spa, Sand, and Salsa Nights: Puerto Rico’s Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Reignites
In the know A-towners are finding a hot winter escape where the rainforest kisses the sea at Puerto Rico’s newly relaunched Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort. Perched along more than two miles of uninterrupted beach just northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort is a tucked-away escape where the ocean meets the rainforest.
OLD GROWTH - SouthPark Magazine
by Michael J. Solender Public artworks often face layers of permitting and oversight, though they typically don't need FAA approval. Yet before metal artist Hoss Haley could install his 40-foot-high steel and concrete sculpture, Old Growth, at Modern Aviation (formerly Wilson Air Center) adjacent to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, he needed the government agency's OK.
Art happens here - SouthPark Magazine
by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Richard Israel Asa Jackson enjoys a bird's-eye view of the daily happenings at McColl Center - quite literally. The center's top administrator makes his office in a converted bell tower-turned-artist's studio atop the Gothic Revival former First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church on the north end of uptown. It's only accessible by stairs, so Jackson, tall and lean, gets in his steps and enjoys the occasional solitude the retreat affords him.
Pillars of dreams - SouthPark Magazine
by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Justin Driscoll A canopy of cloudlike aluminum balloons, intermeshed and slightly misshapen, stretches toward the sky along the entrance of the Valerie C. Woodard Center off Freedom Drive in west Charlotte. Pillars of Dreams is the name of the airy, fanciful pavilion that was created and installed in 2019 by Marc Fornes.
Manolo Betancur: Part baker, part community builder
by Michael J. Solender Birthday cake isn't usually recognized as a tool against chronic homelessness and the indignity of life on the streets. Yet more than 10 years ago, Manolo Betancur, owner of Manolo's Bakery, Artisen Gelato and Higher Grounds by Manolo, saw it differently. He learned that Raise You Up Ministries, a local nonprofit serving Charlotte's unhoused, held birthday celebrations but didn't provide cake. "That they recognized people's birthdays was so human," Betancur recalls.
Inn the mood for adventure in Virginia
by Michael J. Solender As I approach the final turn onto River Ridge Drive leading into Pearisburg, Virginia's Lilly Valley Inn, the scene coming into view is so dramatic that I pull the car over and get out, camera in hand. I'm determined to capture the perfect photo of the New River unspooling through the plunging, field- and forest-lined valley to reveal the natural amphitheater nearly 2,000 feet below me. I should have waited.
First look: Sala, a cocktail bar
by Michael J. Solender There was little fanfare in September when Charlotte chef and restaurateur Bruce Moffett quietly opened Sala, a European-style cocktail lounge next to his stalwart Italian restaurant, Stagioni. The opening was, however, an homage to Blanche Morgan Reynolds-Gourmajenko, the Charlotte socialite and legendary hostess who built the Tuscan-style villa in the 1920s at the spot where Stagioni and Sala now reside.
Her aerial dance troupe has staying power
by Michael J. Solender Gastonia native Caroline Calouche wanted to be a dancer since childhood. At Texas Christian University - where she earned BFAs in ballet and modern dance - Calouche experienced her first aerial dance performance. With her appetite whetted, she went to Europe, where she studied, performed and taught in Rome, Brussels and Austria.
Island Luxury and Taíno Heritage Shine at This All-Inclusive Dominican Resort
Dominican Republic Epic Stays by Michael Solender Nov 18, 2025 While I’m busy marveling at the waves crashing off Playa El Limón — the cloud-colored, secluded jewel of the Samaná Peninsula on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic — my horse is decidedly not. Unmoved by both the scenery and my encouragement, he lags behind our group of riders, including my wife.
OFF ROAD – Holiday Gift Guide 2025
Who doesn’t love a little pampering—especially during the holidays? Around here at Off Road, we like to bring the good life home with quality gear and treats that make everyday living just a bit more luxe. Here are a few of our favorite home and travel finds this season—things we’re gifting to others and secretly hoping to unwrap ourselves.
When it comes to chess, Charlotte has all the right moves
by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Richard Israel As he neared graduation from UNC Charlotte in 2014, economics major Peter Giannatos faced a pivotal crossroads: pursue a stable career in banking and finance, or take a bold leap into a far less conventional - and far less lucrative - arena, chess. Giannatos, 34, learned the game at age 7 from his brother.
#California Calling – Terranea Shines - VUE magazine
Southern California’s ultra-luxe resort Terranea delivers an amenity rich guest experience with easy going elegance. Southern California isn’t just a place on the map—it’s an attitude, a way of living bathed in sun, style, and effortless cool. At Terranea Resort, the glam hideaway perched on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, guests don’t just visit SoCal—they live its most radiant version, where every moment feels like the ultimate California dream.
Outdoor travel: Try one of these WNC trails
Outdoor travel: Try one of these WNC trails October 1, 2025 Trail mix: Just in time for autumn, these new - and newly reopened - western N.C. hiking trails are open for discovery. by Michael J. Solender For city dwellers craving crisp fall air and autumn's Appalachian color, western North Carolina has a clear message: "Lace up your hiking boots!" A year after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, explorers will find new trails alongside tried-and-true treks.
Outdoor travel: Trail mix
J ust in time for autumn, these new - and newly reopened - western N.C. hiking trails are open for discovery. by Michael J. Solender For city dwellers craving crisp fall air and autumn's Appalachian color, western North Carolina has a clear message: "Lace up your hiking boots!" A year after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, explorers will find new trails alongside tried-and-true treks.
In plain view: Aquifer
In plain view: Aquifer September 29, 2025 Masayuki Nagase's sculpture along Little Sugar Creek Greenway evokes an unseen element of nature. by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Justin Driscoll Aquifer, a 9-foot-tall vertical sculpture holding court along a prominent section of Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek Greenway, is meant to evoke the presence of water that's not always visible in nature.
Lanzhou, China Beef Noodles Unraveled: Where History and Hand-Pulled Noodles Tie the Perfect Knot
I journeyed 7,600 miles to experience the city’s obsession with this iconic dish and uncover the cultural, historical, and personal stories simmering behind each bowl. At least the bowls are small. I’m ready to throw in the towel, but my host insists on one more serving of Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Beef Noodle Soup. “These are the flat wide noodles,” he said, eyes gleaming.
Blume Studios takes arts to a new frontier
Blume Studios takes arts to a new frontier Entertainment The Arts August 24, 2025 Blumenthal Arts expands its reach and strengthens community ties with immersive entertainment. Here's a look at what's next. by Michael J. Solender When Immersive Van Gogh wrapped its Charlotte run in January 2022, Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard was struck by one key data point: 78% of tickets were purchased by first-time Blumenthal attendees.
Theater: A reborn CAST presents Cormac McCarthy's The Sunset Limited
Theater: A reborn CAST presents Cormac McCarthy's The Sunset Limited August 12, 2025 by Michael J. Solender Coming soon: Carolina Actors Studio Theatre presents Cormac McCarthy's The Sunset Limited in a powerful production aimed at raising awareness and sparking dialogue around suicide. In June 2014, after 64 productions and eight years as a nonprofit, Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST) went dark.
Hearts & crafts - SouthPark Magazine
by Michael J. Solender In late April, Novant Health sent a callout for local artists to submit work to exhibit and sell in its gallery at Presbyterian Medical Center in Elizabeth. All proceeds from art sales would go directly to the artists. The healthcare network had just launched The Art of Remarkable Care, a $500,000 initiative designed to engage local creatives and amplify the healing power of art for patients, caregivers and the broader community.
In plain view: Nested Hive
by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Justin Driscoll Anyone admiring Nested Hive, the playful public art at Eastway Regional Recreation Center, is bound to wander into one of its colorful and quirky bowl-shaped structures. And if the visitor's a kid, they'll almost definitely climb over and through the oversized forms before resting on a bench inside. Play was a must-have for Charlotte's Arts & Science Council (ASC) when it commissioned Nested Hive.
Journey Through China’s Gansu: Ancient Routes, Modern Wonders
By Michael J. Solender From Silk Road relics to otherworldly landscapes, a firsthand journey through one of China’s most storied—and surprising—provinces. A light breeze sweeps past as I take in the view of hundreds of wind-eroded rock formations scattered across the tawny desert. It’s just before noon, and I stand in northwest China’s Yardang National Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark about two hours north of Dunhuang City.
From Jungle to Sea, These 2 Belize Resorts Deliver Eco-Friendly Adventure
Belize Epic Stays by Michael J. Solender Jun 30, 2025 I’m snorkeling just 15 yards offshore from South Water Caye, a spit of an island off southern Belize shores, when I lock eyes with a three-foot-long, nut-brown nurse shark hovering 10 feet away. Harmless to humans, nurse sharks are often called the “puppy dogs” of the sea. These gentle bottom-feeders use small teeth to crunch shellfish as they vacuum up their prey. Though I know he’s no threat, his unmistakable shark silhouette still startles me.
Teeing Off on History, Hospitality, and Flavor
By Michael J. Solender There’s more than one way to swing into the spirit of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, where every path – historic, scenic, or savory – leads to the soul of American golf. The Sandhills of North Carolina – proudly known as the Home of American Golf – offers visitors a masterclass in sport, heritage, and Southern charm.
In plain view: Spiral Odyssey
In plain view: Spiral Odyssey May 28, 2025 There's more than meets the eye in Richard Hunt's sculpture at Romare Bearden Park. by Michael J. Solender If you're heading uptown for a Knights game, concert or fireworks this summer, pause for a moment to admire Richard Hunt's soaring sculpture in Romare Bearden Park. Nearly 30 feet tall and weighing four tons, this swirling tornado of stainless steel is the Chicago sculptor's tribute to his longtime friend and fellow artist Romare Bearden.
Mazi has bold flavors, Southern soul
Mazi has bold flavors, Southern soul May 27, 2025 A first look at Mazi, the South End restaurant from Built On Hospitality featuring Mediterranean flavors and southern ingredients. by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Justin Driscoll Mazi, a new Mediterranean restaurant in South End, is energetic and contemporary, evoking the feel of a buzzy city bistro. Tufted green banquettes run along one side of the deep rectangular space, while artichoke-shaped lights cast a warm glow.
Tea, Towels, and a Secret Courtyard: Inside Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Travel Journalism Art + Architecture by Michael J. Solender May 16, 2025 It was only five minutes into my visit to Istanbul’s fabled Grand Bazaar, but I was already turned around and fast on my way to being hopelessly lost. I tried to recall the quick geography lesson I’d received moments earlier from my Turkish Tourism-certified guide, Eser Sedef. We had entered the bazaar through one of its primary entrances, the Beyazit Gate, which we agreed would be our meeting place if we got separated.
Suspense on Sunday - SouthPark Magazine
Tanglewood, the fabled municipal course in Forsyth County, featured down-to-the-wire drama with two of pro golf's most legendary figures at the 1974 PGA Championship. by Michael J. Solender After Lee Trevino carded an opening-round 73 (3 over par) at the 1974 PGA Championship at Tanglewood Park's Championship Course, nearly one-third of the field - 43 players - were ahead of him on the leaderboard.
Stay the course - SouthPark Magazine
by Michael J. Solender With the world's best professional golfers huddling at Charlotte's Quail Hollow Club for the PGA Championship in May, many less-celebrated (read: mere mortal) golfers dream of exploring championship-quality venues to elevate their own game. We've teed up three stunners you can play, each with a pedigreed course design, amenity-rich resort offerings and a top-tier golf experience that is anything but par for the course.
Paradise found - SouthPark Magazine
Sun, sand and tropical bliss await honeymooners at this sparkling Caribbean all-inclusive resort. by Michael J. Solender When the romantic energy shifts from the "I do" celebration to the joy-filled honeymoon, many sun-seeking Charlotte couples set their sights on the Caribbean.
Cappadocia - A Fairytale Dreamscape in Central Türkiye
Cappadocia – A Fairytale Dreamscape in Central Türkiye By Michael J. Solender Geologic wonders, historic treasures, culinary delights, and adventure welcome travelers to this enchanting region. Since early Roman times, Türkiye has captivated visitors with its rich history and striking landscapes. In Cappadocia, a land shaped by time and nature, travelers are met with breathtaking discoveries.
At The Palm, he's Mr. Hospitality
At The Palm, he's Mr. Hospitality March 28, 2025 The Palm's Joey Profeta makes each guest feel like a celebrity at the SouthPark dining institution. by Michael J. Solender | photographs by Richard Israel Of all the familiar faces greeting guests at The Palm restaurant in SouthPark, it's Joey Profeta's that patrons most relish seeing. Profeta is general manager at The Palm, the clubby and classic white-tablecloth steakhouse known for power lunches and celebration dinners.
In plain view: Ascendus
In plain view: Ascendus February 25, 2025 Each day, thousands of visitors - and longtime residents - cruise past this visual gateway leading into Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Here's what you may not know about the soaring sculpture. by Michael J. Solender Just off Billy Graham Parkway, Ascendus is a 60-foot steel, aluminum and laminated glass sculpture created by Portland, Oregon-based Ed Carpenter.
This Jamaican Resort’s All-Inclusive Promise Could Include a Butler Team
The resorts opened simultaneously in the fall of 2024 and bookend nearly a mile of the crescent-shaped beach where they’re conjoined by a long stretch of (mostly) shared restaurants, bars, lounges, clubs, retail shops, and amenities. Combined, the expansive resort playground rests on 180 acres of carefully developed land fringed by dense red mangroves, an adaptive hardwood species that can thrive in salty waters.
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