Tagged: History

There are important moments in the development of any large city. Charlotte's history goes back to the fortuitous intersection of two trading paths that later became Trade and Tryon Streets. But there is another critical moment in the development of our region and it is forever tied to a tent city on the outskirts of town during the first World War. Camp Greene was not here long but its story, and the story of the town that became a city around it has been a nearly three decade long quest for Jack Dillard. Mr. Dillard has studied the history of the camp since the early '80’s and he recently made a documentary chronicling the camp's history. We'll learn more about this pivotal time in our region, when Charlotte Talks.

From 1960 to 1962, Cuban parents put more than 14,000 of their own children on planes bound for the US. Operation Pedro Pan was intended to remove these children from Castro’s influence and indoctrination. Most people believed this would be a temporary solution but many families were never able to reunite. We learn more about this, the complicated relations between our two nations and a possible solution when Charlotte Talks.

Latkes? Check. Chanukah gifts? Check.

Brandy-soaked sugar cubes to set afire…What’s that? You’ve never taken part in a Flaming Tea Ceremony for Chanukah?

Neither had I, nor anyone I knew, not in all our years of celebrating the Jewish holiday known as the "Festival of Lights."

It goes like this: Everyone at the table soaks a sugar cube in brandy, places it in a teaspoon, lights it with a candle, sings a holiday song, then drops the little fireball into a glass of tea, which puts out the flame. Then everyone drinks their tea.

There has perhaps been more conversation about the end of our world in the last decade than ever before in world history. From Y2K to an American preacher twice predicting the world's end, to a minor asteroid scare, we’ve heard a lot about the Earth’s demise. But no "end days" announcement has captured our attention more than the Mayans. The ancient Central American civilization lived by a calendar that predicted the world's end on December 21st, 2012. Recent reports regarding this prediction have ranged from hysteria to disdain. Even officials of the Mayan Cultural Festival are already planning next year’s event. But, just in case the Mayans are right, we’re talking about their end of time prediction before December 21st. Join us for a fascinating look at the Mayans with a local expert when Charlotte Talks - for perhaps the last time.