Charlotte Happenings is your monthly guide to events and things to do in and around Charlotte, NC.
Issue link: http://charlottehappenings.epubxp.com/i/706014
MY charlotte PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAROLINA PANTHERS KONY EALY CAROLINA PANTHERS DEFENSIVE END Tell us about yourself. How did you get to where you are today? I grew up in Missouri with a large family and started playing sports in the second grade. I accepted a football scholarship to the University of Missouri (Go Tigers!) and had the honor of being selected by the Panthers in the 2014 NFL Draft three years later. I am blessed to be in the Queen City! What's your favorite Charlotte meal? There are so many amazing restaurants here in Charlotte that it's hard to decide. For coffee/tea, I still love a good drink from Starbucks. For brunch, you've got to check out Terrace Café in South Park. Their red velvet waffles and chicken and waffles are amazing; you look at the menu and want to order one of everything! For dinner, Ruth's Chris Steak House in South Park is always a go-to. Their filet is really done well and never disappoints. Last but not least, for dessert, I went to Fahrenheit recently and—wow—we ordered one of everything, and the hot chocolate entremets and bar chocolate bites were incredible. If you only had 10 words, how would you describe Charlotte? Great sense of community; family-oriented; active; welcoming. Describe your perfect day in the city. What would you do, see and experience? I would take my family to Carowinds and enjoy the child-friendly aspects like Planet Snoopy and lunch with the "Peanuts" gang. Afterward, we would go to the SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium. They have a really cool ocean tunnel and a soft-play area for kids. After that, my girlfriend and I would have date night at the EpiCentre. There is always something going on over there. We love going to the movies, so dinner and a movie at Studio Movie Grill would be a great place to start, and then we'd probably have to go back to Fahrenheit for dessert! Why is Charlotte "home" for you? In a lot of ways, Charlotte reminds me of the community I grew up in back in Missouri. I love the Southern hospitality and the sense of community here. Since I was drafted by the Panthers in 2014, Charlotte has really embraced me, and it's truly an honor to be a member of the Queen City and play each week in front of such incredible fans. What is your favorite Queen City memory? My favorite memory in Charlotte would have to be our last home game in the 2015 season. It was Jan. 24, 2016, the NFC Championship game here at Bank of America Stadium, and we were playing the Arizona Cardinals. My whole life, I grew up watching the NFL, and to be on that field when we won that game knowing that we were heading to the Super Bowl—it is a feeling I can't put into words, especially in front of our hometown crowd. It was one of the best nights of my life. What should a visitor or newbie to Charlotte know in order to fall in love with the city? It's not hard to fall in love with Charlotte. This city is full of Southern hospitality, and the community here is very open and welcoming. What are Charlotte's best-kept secrets or most defining spots? One of my favorite spots here is the AvidXchange Music Factory. They have a lot of venues on-site with comedy shows and concerts. I saw Bone Thugs- N-Harmony there last year. And Tommy Davidson (actor/comedian) is a good friend; he performs there, too. To see Kony Ealy and the Carolina Panthers in action, visit panthers.com 12 AUGUST 2016