Good morning, Lake Norman! In today’s edition: Stephen Curry’s surprising exit renaming, Lowe’s $8.8B deal, Science on the Rocks, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Milestones beyond the box score: An interstate exit in Davidson was renamed for Stephen Curry, honoring his college legacy. He became the first active pro in an NCAA administrative role and launched a NIL fund — read the full story.

Upscale housing market gains momentum: Charlotte’s luxury home prices have surged, ranking 10th among U.S. metros for growth since 2015, as Sunbelt markets lead the trend. Overall home prices in Charlotte also ticked up recently — see the numbers and trends.

Branding, parks and housing: From a $340 million Town1 project with Joey Logano to downtown rezonings and preservation plans, 2025 reshaped Huntersville. The town board meets today in the new Town Hall — explore the year’s changes.

Retail rivalry intensifies: Lowe’s is buying Foundation Building Materials for about $8.8 billion in cash, aiming to grow its professional contractor business and challenge Home Depot in a $250 billion market — see how Lowe’s targets pros.

Freshen up your nest: Whether you’re restyling a shelf or giving the coffee table a quick glow-up, Knotty & Board stocks a curated mix of decor, candles, seasonal accents, and kitchen finds. Friendly, low-key styling tips help when indecision hits… so your space feels polished without trying too hard.

Kid chaos, contained: Whether your littles need to climb, slide, or plunge into a ball pit, Playland Indoor Playground & Cafe keeps them busy with obstacle courses and pretend-play nooks, while you sip from the café. An easy win for weekdays or those “help, it’s raining” moments.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🐦 Bird Walk – January @ Wing Haven | Monday (1/12) at 2:30 PM – If your idea of cardio is a peaceful loop with binoculars, this guided bird walk at Wing Haven is for you. Stroll the garden with fellow grown-ups, swap bird IDs, and savor quiet, fresh air, and a little feathered drama.

🎭 Rent @ Iredell Arts Council | Tuesday (1/13) at 6:00 PM – Craving some gritty nostalgia with your night out? Rent brings 1990s NYC to the stage with rock, heartbreak, and chosen-family grit, tackling love, poverty, and the AIDS crisis. You’ll leave humming, maybe misty-eyed, and very glad you paid the rent.

🌲 Forest School – Ages 3-7 @ Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center | Wednesday (1/14) at 9:30 AM – Let the littles trade tablets for tree stumps at this classroom in the forest, ages 3 to 7. It’s child-led exploring, nature play, and basic outdoor skills, no PowerPoint, just pinecones, and you get bragging rights for raising a tiny trail sage.

🐦 Hand Building Sgraffito Bird House @ Patch’s Playhouse | Thursday (1/15) at 5:30 PM – Roll up your sleeves for an instructor-led clay night where you hand build a birdhouse, then sgraffito it, fancy speak for carving your design. It’s part art class, part bird real estate seminar. Your backyard, and the chickadees, will approve.

🍷 Sip, Savor, and Salud @ Total Wine & More | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Trade your usual cabernet rut for a guided hop through Spain and Portugal, where Rioja, Albariño, and Douro reds do the talking. You sip, you learn, you feel very cultured, no flashcards required. Come for the education, stay for the very drinkable homework.

❄ Ice Sculptures @ Stowe | Friday (1/16) at 3:30 PM – Swap the winter blues for a stroll through Daniel Stowe’s icy wonderland in Belmont, where 20 nature-themed sculptures sparkle across the gardens. Moderate to heavy walking, so wear sensible shoes. Grab an early bite at Jason’s Deli in Huntersville, but that tab is yours.

🔬 Science on the Rocks (21+) @ Discovery Place Science | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Skip the same-old bar and head to Discovery Place for Science on the Rocks, a 21+ mash-up of cocktails, up-close animal encounters, and a legit science show. It snagged Charlotte Magazine’s Best of the Best, which is local-speak for worth the babysitter.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Lake Norman report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 68°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 88%

Rain showers and patchy fog before 1pm, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68. South southwest wind 2 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers likely before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 3%

Sunny, with a high near 49. West northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 2 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Most popular house this week

Set on a quiet Skybrook cul-de-sac, this home enjoys one of the neighborhood’s most private lots. A resort-style backyard has a saltwater pool and spa, built-in grill, firepit, and a deck for entertaining. Inside, hardwoods and expansive windows showcase sunset views. Surrounded by nature, the setting feels serene and secluded. The kitchen offers elegant cabinetry, a gas cooktop, and double ovens.

Highlights include a coffered family room with gas fireplace and built-ins, a main-level guest suite, plus butler’s pantry. Upstairs holds a primary suite with sitting room, two bedrooms, and a bonus. The walk-out basement adds fireplace, kitchenette, game space, and a barn-door gym that converts to a sixth bedroom.

Take a peek inside →