Batson's Blog

Happy National Cupcake Day! If you haven’t celebrated it accordingly yet, then you have another opportunity to do so this Saturday in Lincolnton, North Carolina. There’s a fundraising event called “Cruisin’ for a Cause.” Profits go to four different agencies: Relay for Life , Hesed House of Hope , Amy’s House , and the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse and Child Advocacy Center . From 5 pm until 10 pm, you can cruise around the court house in Lincolnton . One of the fundraising activities they will feature at the event is a local version of cupcake wars. Participants will be judged on three different categories: best tasting, best looking and best “cruisin” theme. For example, you may see a cupcake with a theme from the 1950’s, when teenagers would cruise the loop. A prize will be given in each category. Anyone who doesn’t have a cupcake entered into one of the categories can vote and choose the winner. Each cupcake will be sold for $2 or you can get three c...

Straight out the gate: if you want to go to Black Velvet Patisserie , you’d better have your GPS or be a Mooresville native. Black Velvet is actually right on Main Street, but I had a heck of a time getting to Main Street. Off the Interstate, around curves, and across railroad tracks to get there. It was my first time in Mooresville. I did have my GPS, but somehow I still ended up parking about 3 blocks away from the bakery. There are a couple of small cafe tables inside the shop. It seems like it would be a nice place to have a cupcake on a sunny afternoon. The day I went there were about seven different cupcake flavors to choose from. I ended up picking out three of them.

Last week I'm at work and someone starts talking about people dressed up in crazy costumes. My first thought was, "Sounds like a comic book convention," but I figured I wouldn't be that lucky. What were the chances? A comic book convention in Charlotte? I immediately Googled "comic book + convention + Charlotte" though. Sure enough! HeroesCon was in Charlotte! A real comic book convention. I'd heard about Comic-Con and WizardCon, but they were usually in cities like Chicago and San Diego. I'd always wanted to go to one of them, but the opportunity just never came up. Well, I got the chance last Saturday and I took full advantage. I went to the Charlotte Convention Center , descended the escalator and walked onto the red carpet that was set up in front of me. At the end of the walkway, there was a large portrait of the Charlotte skyline. Immediately I saw, perhaps, the best part of my day: a giant Hulk -- painted green and everything...