Recommended reading – Lindsey's picks
More Ledger classics from our archives that are worth a read
Good morning! Lindsey here. We’re continuing to look back on some of our favorite Ledger stories, and today, I’ve chosen a few of my most memorable stories that I worked on over the past year — and one I wrote as an intern in 2021. I’ve had many opportunities to meet some interesting and inspiring people in the community, and I enjoy sharing their stories with you.
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I hope you enjoy today’s sampling of “Lindsey’s picks.”
—Lindsey Banks, staff writer, The Charlotte Ledger
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🚴♀️ “These moms put the ‘M’ in BMX” Three Charlotte-area mothers decided to try their hand at BMX, or bicycle motocross, after watching their tween sons excel at the sport. I spent an evening last year at Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track talking to Sonia Badanik, Ginger Markham and Kristy Bochniak about how they got into the sport and what it’s been like for them racing in their 40s. I also asked their sons about what they think of their mothers practicing alongside them, and their answers may surprise you. The three mothers are just an example of women in BMX; participation among women ages 40 to 50 has increased by more than 75% in the past five years.
Ginger Markham (from left) and her son Jack line up next to Matt, Sonia and Kuba Badanik at the top of Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track one evening in January.
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♻️ “They're not retiring from recycling” Aldersgate residents Ted and Gaye Smith invited me into their home at their retirement community and walked me through their weekly process of collecting recycling from their fellow residents, cleaning and packing it up, and taking it to Envision Charlotte’s Innovation Barn to be repurposed. Ted, 86, and Gaye, 85, have collected more than 16,000 items over the past year that have been transformed into things like bricks, benches and filament for 3D printers. They’re an inspiring pair who are passionate about protecting the environment.
Most of the plastic items that Ted (left) and Gaye Smith collect are takeout trays from the dining areas at Aldersgate retirement community.
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🏠 “Stopping Charlotte's Airbnb ‘party houses’” This story dives into Airbnb regulations in Charlotte, and how some Airbnbs are being used to host large parties. Charlotte’s new Unified Development Ordinance does not include any regulations for short-term rentals, and the city doesn’t keep track of them. Neighbors to some of Charlotte’s chronic Airbnb party houses shared their experiences — including a video of a party-goer urinating on their car. (He gave us the video, below.) Many Charlotte residents are worried that whole-dwelling Airbnbs are not only disturbing their community but are exacerbating the affordable housing crisis.
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✏️ “Charlotte gets sketchy” Every month, the Charlotte Urban Sketchers meet at a different location across the Charlotte area to sketch their surroundings for two hours. Urban Sketchers is a global nonprofit that invites people of all ages and skill levels to connect and capture the city through sketching. Participants never draw from photos, and at the end of each meeting, the sketchers gather around to share their creations with the group. They also post the artwork on the group’s Facebook page. Charlotte’s chapter has been around for over eight years, and it’s free to join — all you need is portable drawing materials.
In December, members of Charlotte Urban Sketchers met at Backdrop Coffee in west Charlotte to draw on-location for two hours.
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🕺 “I took my mom clubbing in uptown” Yep, two years ago, I took my 50-year-old mother to three bars and clubs in uptown Charlotte. We set out one Friday night on a mission to prove that Charlotte has nightlife options for adults of all ages. This story was a part of The Ledger’s “Urban Adventures” series and offers up reviews of each place we visited and tips for navigating Charlotte’s nightlife scene. Sadly, our favorite spot, The Roxbury, is no longer open, but this story is still a fun read if you’re looking for some going-out inspiration.
The Ledger’s Lindsey Banks (right) and her mom, Tanya Banks, visited Charlotte nightclub The Roxbury together in 2021. Alas, The Roxbury closed in June 2023.
Lindsey Banks is a staff reporter for The Ledger: lindsey@cltledger.com
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project