:root{
  --navy:#0d2740; --navy2:#163b5d; --ink:#16222d; --muted:#62717d;
  --cream:#f6f3ec; --paper:#fff; --gold:#c7a258; --teal:#2e7f83;
  --line:#dfe5e7; --green:#376f56; --shadow:0 18px 48px rgba(13,39,64,.10);
  --radius:22px; --max:1180px;
}
*{box-sizing:border-box} html{scroll-behavior:smooth} body{margin:0;font-family:Inter,system-ui,-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;color:var(--ink);background:#fbfbf9;line-height:1.6}
a{text-decoration:none;color:inherit} img{display:block;max-width:100%} button,input,select{font:inherit}
.container{width:min(var(--max),calc(100% - 40px));margin:auto}.kicker{font-size:.76rem;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:.13em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--teal);margin:0 0 12px}.muted{color:var(--muted)}
.site-header{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:50;background:rgba(251,251,249,.92);backdrop-filter:blur(16px);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(13,39,64,.08)}
.nav{height:76px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:20px}.brand{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px}.brand-badge{width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:14px;background:linear-gradient(145deg,var(--navy),var(--navy2));color:#fff;display:grid;place-items:center;font-weight:900}.brand-text b,.brand-text span{display:block}.brand-text span{font-size:.82rem;color:var(--muted)}
.nav-links{display:flex;gap:24px;color:var(--muted);font-weight:650}.nav-links a:hover,.nav-links a.active{color:var(--navy)}.nav-actions{display:flex;gap:10px}.menu-btn{display:none;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;padding:9px 12px}
.btn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;border:none;border-radius:999px;padding:13px 20px;background:linear-gradient(145deg,var(--navy),var(--navy2));color:#fff;font-weight:800;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:0 8px 24px rgba(13,39,64,.16)}.btn.secondary{background:#fff;color:var(--navy);border:1px solid var(--line);box-shadow:none}.btn.gold{background:var(--gold);color:#13202b}.btn.small{padding:10px 15px;font-size:.9rem}.btn:hover{transform:translateY(-1px)}
.hero{background:radial-gradient(circle at 8% 10%,rgba(199,162,88,.18),transparent 27%),radial-gradient(circle at 88% 10%,rgba(46,127,131,.15),transparent 23%),linear-gradient(#fff,#f7f5ef);padding:72px 0 50px}.hero-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.15fr .85fr;gap:38px;align-items:center}.hero h1,.section h2,.page-hero h1{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;color:var(--navy);line-height:1.03;margin:0}.hero h1{font-size:clamp(3.1rem,7vw,5.4rem);letter-spacing:-.035em}.hero .lead{font-size:1.14rem;color:var(--muted);max-width:65ch;margin:20px 0 26px}.hero-actions{display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap}.hero-meta{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:24px}.pill{padding:9px 13px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:rgba(255,255,255,.86);border-radius:999px;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--muted)}
.agent-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid rgba(13,39,64,.08);border-radius:28px;overflow:hidden;box-shadow:var(--shadow)}.agent-photo-wrap{position:relative;background:linear-gradient(140deg,#e8eef0,#f7f3ea);min-height:355px;display:grid;place-items:center;overflow:hidden}.agent-photo{width:100%;height:100%;min-height:355px;object-fit:cover}.agent-fallback{display:none;font-size:5rem;color:var(--navy);font-weight:900}.agent-card-body{padding:24px}.agent-card-body h2{margin:0;color:var(--navy);font-size:1.6rem}.agent-card-body p{color:var(--muted)}.stats{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:10px;margin-top:18px}.stat{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:15px;padding:13px;background:#fafcfc}.stat b{display:block;font-size:1.2rem;color:var(--navy)}.stat span{font-size:.78rem;color:var(--muted)}
.value-strip{padding:18px 0}.value-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:16px}.value-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:18px;padding:18px}.value-card b{color:var(--navy)}.value-card p{margin:5px 0 0;color:var(--muted);font-size:.94rem}
.section{padding:74px 0}.section.alt{background:var(--cream)}.section-heading{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:end;gap:24px;margin-bottom:28px}.section h2{font-size:clamp(2.2rem,4vw,3.4rem)}.section-heading p{color:var(--muted);max-width:62ch;margin:.7rem 0 0}
.toolbar{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center}.search{min-width:250px;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:999px;padding:12px 16px;background:#fff}.filters{display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap}.filter{border:1px solid var(--line);background:#fff;border-radius:999px;padding:10px 14px;font-weight:750;color:var(--navy);cursor:pointer}.filter.active{background:var(--navy);color:#fff}
.events-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:20px}.event-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid rgba(13,39,64,.09);border-radius:22px;padding:22px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:14px;box-shadow:0 8px 24px rgba(13,39,64,.055)}.event-top{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px}.category{font-size:.75rem;font-weight:850;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:7px 10px;border-radius:999px;background:#eef5f5;color:var(--teal)}.event-date{font-weight:850;color:var(--gold)}.event-card h3{margin:0;color:var(--navy);font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.25}.event-meta{display:grid;gap:5px;color:var(--muted);font-size:.91rem}.event-desc{margin:0;color:#33414d}.joel-take{margin:0;background:#f8faf9;border-left:4px solid var(--gold);padding:12px 13px;border-radius:10px;font-size:.92rem}.event-actions{display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:auto}.icon-btn{border:1px solid var(--line);background:#fff;border-radius:999px;padding:9px 12px;cursor:pointer;color:var(--navy);font-weight:750}.empty{grid-column:1/-1;border:1px dashed var(--line);border-radius:20px;padding:36px;text-align:center;color:var(--muted)}
.spotlight{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.05fr .95fr;gap:24px}.spotlight-panel{background:var(--navy);color:#fff;border-radius:26px;padding:30px;min-height:100%}.spotlight-panel h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:2.25rem;line-height:1.05;margin:0 0 12px}.spotlight-panel p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.82)}.spotlight-list{display:grid;gap:12px}.spotlight-item{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:18px;padding:18px}.spotlight-item b{color:var(--navy)}.spotlight-item p{color:var(--muted);margin:5px 0 0}
.cta-band{background:linear-gradient(145deg,var(--navy),#102f4d);color:#fff;border-radius:30px;padding:38px;display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.15fr .85fr;gap:30px;align-items:center}.cta-band h2{color:#fff}.cta-band p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.82);margin-bottom:0}.cta-box{background:rgba(255,255,255,.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14);border-radius:20px;padding:20px}.cta-box a{display:block;color:#fff;font-weight:750;margin:8px 0}
.page-hero{padding:62px 0 34px;background:linear-gradient(180deg,#fff,#f7f5ef)}.page-hero h1{font-size:clamp(2.7rem,5vw,4.2rem)}.page-hero p{max-width:70ch;color:var(--muted);font-size:1.08rem}.content-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:24px}.content-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:22px;padding:26px}.content-card h3{margin-top:0;color:var(--navy)}.content-card p,.content-card li{color:var(--muted)}.checklist{padding-left:20px}.checklist li{margin-bottom:8px}
.footer{background:#0a2035;color:rgba(255,255,255,.78);padding:34px 0}.footer-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.2fr .8fr .8fr;gap:28px}.footer b{color:#fff}.footer p{margin:.5rem 0 0}.footer a{display:block;margin:6px 0}.legal{border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.12);margin-top:25px;padding-top:18px;font-size:.82rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.58)}
.floating-contact{position:fixed;right:18px;bottom:18px;z-index:45}.floating-contact .btn{box-shadow:0 12px 28px rgba(0,0,0,.22)}
.notice{padding:13px 16px;border-radius:14px;background:#fff7df;border:1px solid #ead8a6;color:#72591e;font-size:.92rem}
@media(max-width:980px){.nav-links{display:none}.menu-btn{display:block}.nav-actions .secondary{display:none}.hero-grid,.spotlight,.cta-band,.content-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.events-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}.value-grid,.footer-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}.mobile-menu{display:none;position:absolute;top:76px;left:0;right:0;background:#fff;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);padding:18px 20px;box-shadow:var(--shadow)}.mobile-menu.open{display:grid;gap:12px}.mobile-menu a{font-weight:750;color:var(--navy)}}
@media(max-width:650px){.container{width:min(var(--max),calc(100% - 24px))}.hero{padding-top:48px}.hero h1{font-size:3.1rem}.events-grid,.value-grid,.footer-grid,.stats{grid-template-columns:1fr}.section-heading{display:grid;align-items:start}.toolbar,.search{width:100%}.search{min-width:0}.hero-actions .btn{width:100%}.agent-photo-wrap,.agent-photo{min-height:300px}.cta-band{padding:28px}.nav-actions .btn:not(.secondary){display:none}}

.quick-links{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:-4px 0 24px}.quick-links a{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:999px;padding:10px 14px;color:var(--navy);font-weight:800}.quick-links a:hover{border-color:var(--gold);background:#fffaf0}.conversion-card{position:relative;overflow:hidden}.conversion-card:before{content:'';position:absolute;inset:0 0 auto 0;height:4px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--gold),var(--teal))}.service-chips{display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap}.service-chips span{font-size:.86rem;padding:8px 11px;border-radius:999px;background:#f5f7f7;border:1px solid var(--line);color:var(--navy);font-weight:700}@media(max-width:650px){.quick-links a{flex:1 1 45%;text-align:center}}


/* Visual refresh + Charlotte Now */
.update-bar{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#081b2e,#123b60,#1f6d78);color:#fff;text-align:center;padding:8px 16px;font-size:.82rem;font-weight:750;letter-spacing:.01em}
.update-bar a{color:#ffe3a4;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px}
.hero.hero-visual{position:relative;isolation:isolate;background-image:linear-gradient(100deg,rgba(5,20,35,.93) 0%,rgba(7,28,47,.84) 46%,rgba(6,28,43,.42) 100%),url('https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Charlotte_night_skyline_2016.jpg/1280px-Charlotte_night_skyline_2016.jpg');background-size:cover;background-position:center 55%;padding:88px 0 70px}
.hero.hero-visual:after{content:'';position:absolute;inset:auto 0 0 0;height:140px;background:linear-gradient(transparent,rgba(7,20,33,.32));z-index:-1}
.hero.hero-visual h1{color:#fff;text-shadow:0 4px 28px rgba(0,0,0,.28)}
.hero.hero-visual .lead{color:rgba(255,255,255,.83)}
.hero.hero-visual .kicker{color:#e8c875}
.hero.hero-visual .pill{background:rgba(255,255,255,.11);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.22);color:#fff;backdrop-filter:blur(8px)}
.hero.hero-visual .agent-card{background:rgba(255,255,255,.94);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.36);box-shadow:0 26px 70px rgba(0,0,0,.24);backdrop-filter:blur(16px);transform:rotate(.35deg)}
.value-strip{margin-top:-28px;position:relative;z-index:3}
.value-card{box-shadow:0 14px 36px rgba(13,39,64,.08)}
.sports-section{background:linear-gradient(145deg,#0b2238,#123b60);color:#fff;position:relative;overflow:hidden}
.sports-section:before{content:'';position:absolute;width:420px;height:420px;border-radius:50%;background:rgba(46,127,131,.20);right:-120px;top:-180px}
.sports-section h2,.sports-section .section-heading p{color:#fff}
.light-kicker{color:#e9c875!important}
.live-badge{background:rgba(255,255,255,.10);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.18);border-radius:999px;padding:9px 13px;font-size:.82rem;font-weight:800;color:#d7f4dc;white-space:nowrap}
.sports-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,1fr);gap:14px;position:relative}
.team-card{background:rgba(255,255,255,.96);color:var(--ink);border-radius:20px;padding:18px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:13px;min-height:260px;box-shadow:0 16px 34px rgba(0,0,0,.16);border-top:4px solid var(--gold)}
.team-mark{width:50px;height:50px;border-radius:15px;background:linear-gradient(145deg,var(--navy),var(--teal));display:grid;place-items:center;color:#fff;font-weight:900;letter-spacing:.03em}
.team-league{font-size:.72rem;font-weight:850;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--teal);margin:0}
.team-card h3{margin:2px 0 7px;color:var(--navy);line-height:1.15}
.team-record{font-size:1.18rem;font-weight:900;color:var(--navy);margin:0}.team-record span{font-size:.78rem;font-weight:700;color:var(--muted)}
.team-next{font-size:.86rem;color:var(--muted);margin:.4rem 0 0}
.team-card>a{margin-top:auto;color:var(--teal);font-weight:850;font-size:.88rem}
.city-now{background:#fff}
.editorial-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:20px}
.editorial-card{position:relative;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:26px;padding:26px;background:linear-gradient(180deg,#fff,#f8fafb);box-shadow:var(--shadow)}
.editorial-card:after{content:'';position:absolute;width:150px;height:150px;border-radius:50%;right:-70px;top:-70px;background:rgba(199,162,88,.11)}
.editorial-card.comedy-card:after{background:rgba(46,127,131,.13)}.editorial-card.festival-card:after{background:rgba(55,111,86,.13)}
.editorial-icon{width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:16px;background:var(--navy);color:#fff;display:grid;place-items:center;font-size:1.25rem;margin-bottom:18px}
.editorial-card h3{color:var(--navy);font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:1.7rem;line-height:1.1;margin:0 0 18px}
.mini-list{display:grid}.mini-list a{display:grid;gap:2px;padding:12px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);position:relative;z-index:1}.mini-list a:hover b{color:var(--teal)}.mini-list b{color:var(--navy);font-size:.96rem}.mini-list span{color:var(--muted);font-size:.82rem}
.free-section{background:linear-gradient(120deg,#123b60,#1f6d78);color:#fff}
.free-section h2{color:#fff}.free-section p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.8)}
.free-head{display:flex;align-items:end;justify-content:space-between;gap:24px;margin-bottom:28px}
.free-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:14px}
.free-card{background:rgba(255,255,255,.10);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.18);border-radius:20px;padding:18px;display:grid;gap:6px;transition:.2s ease;backdrop-filter:blur(8px)}
.free-card:hover{transform:translateY(-3px);background:rgba(255,255,255,.15)}.free-card span{font-size:.76rem;color:#f6d98f;font-weight:850;text-transform:uppercase}.free-card b{font-size:1.02rem}.free-card small{color:rgba(255,255,255,.72)}
.essentials-section{background:linear-gradient(#fbfbf9,#f3f0e8)}
.essentials-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:16px}
.essentials-grid article{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:22px;padding:22px;box-shadow:0 8px 25px rgba(13,39,64,.05)}
.essentials-grid article>span{display:inline-grid;place-items:center;width:38px;height:38px;border-radius:12px;background:#eef5f5;color:var(--teal);font-weight:900;margin-bottom:12px}.essentials-grid h3{color:var(--navy);margin:0 0 7px}.essentials-grid p{color:var(--muted);margin:0;font-size:.92rem}
.event-card{transition:transform .18s ease,box-shadow .18s ease}.event-card:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 18px 40px rgba(13,39,64,.10)}
.page-hero{background:linear-gradient(120deg,#f8f4e9,#edf6f5)}
@media(max-width:1120px){.sports-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr)}}
@media(max-width:900px){.editorial-grid,.essentials-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}.free-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}
@media(max-width:650px){.hero.hero-visual{padding-top:56px;background-position:58% center}.hero.hero-visual .agent-card{transform:none}.sports-grid,.editorial-grid,.essentials-grid,.free-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.free-head{display:grid;align-items:start}.live-badge{white-space:normal}}


/* Guides, forms and conversion */
.guide-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.3fr 1fr 1fr;gap:18px}.guide-feature,.guide-card{display:block;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:24px;padding:26px;box-shadow:0 10px 30px rgba(13,39,64,.06);transition:.2s ease}.guide-feature{grid-row:span 2;background:linear-gradient(145deg,#0f2a45,#1d6370);color:#fff}.guide-feature h2{color:#fff;font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:2rem}.guide-feature p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.8)}.guide-feature span,.guide-card span{font-size:.74rem;font-weight:850;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#d9b86f}.guide-card h3{color:var(--navy);font-size:1.3rem;margin:.45rem 0}.guide-card p{color:var(--muted)}.guide-feature:hover,.guide-card:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 18px 42px rgba(13,39,64,.1)}.newsletter-panel{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:24px;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:26px;padding:30px;box-shadow:var(--shadow)}.neighborhood-long-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:16px}.neighborhood-long-grid article{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:22px;padding:24px}.neighborhood-long-grid h2{color:var(--navy);font-size:1.45rem;margin-top:0}.form-shell{max-width:760px}.form-shell form{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:26px;padding:28px;box-shadow:var(--shadow);display:grid;gap:18px}.form-shell label{display:grid;gap:7px;color:var(--navy);font-weight:800}.form-shell input,.form-shell textarea{width:100%;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;padding:13px 14px;font:inherit;background:#fbfcfc}.consent-row{grid-template-columns:auto 1fr!important;align-items:start;font-weight:600!important;color:var(--muted)!important}.consent-row input{width:auto;margin-top:4px}.form-note{font-size:.82rem;color:var(--muted);margin:0}.policy-copy{max-width:850px}.policy-copy h2{color:var(--navy);margin-top:2rem}.policy-copy p{color:var(--muted);line-height:1.75}@media(max-width:900px){.guide-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}.guide-feature{grid-column:1/-1;grid-row:auto}.neighborhood-long-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}@media(max-width:650px){.guide-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.newsletter-panel{display:grid}.content-grid.three{grid-template-columns:1fr}}


/* SEO category hubs */
.category-jump-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:14px}.category-jump-grid a,.sports-mini-grid a{display:grid;gap:5px;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:20px;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 8px 24px rgba(13,39,64,.05);transition:.18s ease}.category-jump-grid a:hover,.sports-mini-grid a:hover{transform:translateY(-3px);box-shadow:0 16px 36px rgba(13,39,64,.09)}.category-jump-grid b,.sports-mini-grid b{font-size:1.05rem;color:var(--navy)}.category-jump-grid span,.sports-mini-grid span{font-size:.86rem;color:var(--muted)}.sports-mini-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,1fr);gap:12px}.content-card code{display:block;white-space:normal;word-break:break-word;background:#f5f7f7;border:1px solid var(--line);padding:12px;border-radius:12px;font-size:.78rem;color:var(--navy)}@media(max-width:900px){.category-jump-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}.sports-mini-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}@media(max-width:600px){.category-jump-grid,.sports-mini-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}