The Food Network is holding a casting call in Charlotte, and three other cities, to find "disastrous home cooks". If you haven't taken any of the areas many cooking classes and think you might fit the bill or you know someone who does, e-mail hopelesshomecookchar@optomenusa.com by August 14 and include the cook's name, age, town, occupation, contact phone number and a recent photo.

Charlotte's casting call will be held Saturday, August 16, at the Blake Hotel and the show will begin production in late September. Contestants will need to be available for about three weeks.

Blake Hotel
555 S. McDowell St.
Charlotte, NC 28204

All the Charlotte-area retailers have unleashed aisle after aisle of school supplies in anticipation of those getting a jump on preparing for the 2008-09 school year which begins Monday, August 25 for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. I braved the school-supply section at Target this weekend and picked up everything my rising first-grader will need this year.

But if you're a little late in the game and need some help navigating the area school systems here is a back-to-school guide for Charlotte including information for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Union County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools and Fort Mill Schools. Take a look and you'll find helpful information regarding school calendars, immunization information and a list of bell schedules.

If Mexican food is your thing, you might want to hold off on anything with avacados or jalapeno peppers as both have been recalled by North Carolina Health Officials. The salmonella-tainted peppers and avocados have been traced to food distributor El Campo Produce, which is based in Charlotte.

This recall comes on the heels of a tomato recall that affected the area last month.

While major stores like Harris Teeter do not seem to be affected, many area Mexican restaurants and small Mexican stores are.

Can you identify the location of this photo? If so, leave a comment!

See past photos:

• Where in Charlotte Photo Gallery

Do you have a great photo to share? E-mail me at charlotte.guide@about.com.

Photo © Andy Ciordia
Courtesy Flickr Creative Commons