After months of struggling with permits and plenty of media attention, Lucky Dog Bark and Brew is finally open on Statesville Road in Cornelius, and hosted its grand opening celebration this past weekend. It’s a fairly straightforward – and good – concept: An indoor and outdoor dog park that serves coffee and adult beverages. It also has plenty of TVs for all the sports fans out there looking for a place to entertain both themselves and their doggy companion at the same time. But there may be another reason to visit – particularly for local singles. Let me explain: Read the full story

The Rusty Knox Band will play a concert on the Green this Sunday in Davidson. The band includes, from left, Greg Miller, Dwight Burks and Rusty Knox. (DavidsonNews.net file photo)

Davidson’s own Rusty Knox Band is featured in the next Concert on the Green this Sunday, Aug. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Davidson Village Green.

Rusty Knox grew up around music in Davidson with a grandmother who played church organ for over 50 years, and a large extended family that gathered around the piano on Sunday afternoons. Read the full story

Vertigo, Funky Buddha, NV, Synergy, Sidebar, Unleashed, and LKN Music Hall. What do these words have in common? Well, they’re all business names, and they’ve all opened – and closed – in the same Shops on the Green venue within the last 11 years. Yes, LKN Music Hall is the latest casualty, having closed its doors just last week. Read the full story

Join the rowers from North Carolina Community Sailing and Rowing for an evening of beer, food and watching the Olympic rowing trials Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Galway Hooker, 17044 Kenton Drive, Cornelius. Ten percent of all proceeds from food and beverage sales that evening will go toward building the NCCSR fleet. Read the full story

Live music fans have plenty to enjoy this week, beginning Monday night with former Bad Company bassist Paul Cullen at Alton’s Kitchen and Cocktails in Cornelius.  Finish the week with Barnstock ’12, a two-day music festival showcasing emerging local bands and benefiting local charities. The Kannapolis Summer Concert Series features The Tams on Friday, and The Big Time Party Band takes the stage on Saturday, with the Beach Bash in the Park in Cornelius. And foodies take note: Rural Hill hosts a Food Truck Rally Friday evening. Theater is also on the menu this week. The Davidson Community Players’ production of Neil Simon’s “Rumors” begins Thursday and runs through the weekend. Also on Thursday will be a discussion of the balance between the rights of people to protest during the Democratic National Convention and the need for security. It’s part of  WFAE Public Conversations Series held in Charlotte. There are still plenty of activities for the kids this week, including library programs and Native American camp at Triple Play Farm. As for meetings of public interest, Cornelius celebrates approval of its Comprehensive Master Plan on Monday, and Davidson Design for Life hosts a public information session to discuss the findings of the HIA and gather additional public input.

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Last Thursday, Carrie and I handed off the kids to my mom and dad and we’ve been having what we like to refer to as a “stay-cation” ever since. This is the first time that Zoie, our youngest, has left the nest for an extended period of time, so this is the first time in close to seven years that Carrie and I have been child-free for an extended period of time. And we’re making the most of it. Read the full story