SouthPark's M5 to become ...

... Zink, in a move by Harper's Restaurant Group -- opening target date is early next week.

M5 Modern Mediterranean had closed a few weeks ago because of an exhaust system problem, and sibling Zink American Kitchen had closed uptown earlier in the summer. M5 had been under review by the company and headed in a more mainstream direction before the equipment problem. Now chef Scott Wallen and staff are putting finishing touches on a menu that will incorporate the most popular dishes from Zink, including housecut fries and chips, plus the most popular from M5 (flatbreads from the wood-burning oven, Mediterranean dips and housemade pita, roasted whole fish), plus new additions, and a version of a popular sea bass dish from sibling Upstream (this one done with cod, miso-marinated).

And yes, the 30-foot zinc bar that was a hallmark has moved to the new location, at the Village at SouthPark, 4310 Sharon Road (704-909-5500). Domestic beer and wines and nightly specials will be as they were offered at the original Zink.

Talk on the radio!

Tune in to Mike Collins' "Charlotte Talks" on WFAE (90.7 FM) at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 and ask me anything. Anything the producers will let you, that is. We'll be discussing sustainable foods, out-of-the-way shops and the like. Got an idea or suggestion? Yell here, or on Thursday: Call 704-926-9323 or 800-603-9323, tweet @CharlotteTalks, e-mail to charlottetalks@wfae.org or post here.

Dine out, do good

All through September, 30 area businesses, about half of them restaurants, will donate a portion of their proceeds for one day to Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a national nonprofit that raises money for pediatric cancer research. The effort was designed to honor Charlotte kindergartener Grier Christenbury, a 6-year-old who has battled neuroblastoma since he was 2 1/2 and is in treatment again, and children in similar circustances. September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. Each day's business also presents an opportunity to celebrate a simple pleasure, say organizers: "a family dinner, eating ice cream on a hot summer night or getting your nails done with your mom." Check out the calendar here; find out more about Cookies here.

Brunch, bistro, baked goods.

Maddi's Southern Bistro will offer brunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. both Sunday and Labor Day Monday. 16925 Birkdale Commons Parkway; 704-987-7762.

CPCC's Baking and Pastry Arts program sells boxed lunches and desserts from its Aspire Bistro project: Proceeds benefit the BPA club. Hours: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3:30-8-:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday for the next few weeks. You can check it out via video here.

Roosters, Mad Men, more

Rooster's hosts a four-course Biltmore wine dinner Sept. 9, and artist Michael Haun of Roodoodles will be there, painting roosters during the dinner. Some "roodoodles" (sample pictured) will then be sold. Dinner includes heirloom tomato Caprese croutes with '06 Blanc de Blanc; wood-grilled hanger steak with '07 Reserve Zinfandel, Chalk Hill; and more. $47; 6601 Morrison Blvd.; 704-366-8688.

Mez offers a dinner with wine from Russian Hill Estate in the Russian River Valley Sept. 15 for $55 (including lamb chop with mint, sweet onion chutney and veal jus, paired with '06 Russian Hill Top Block Syrah), and another highlighting Bodega Catena Zapata on Sept. 17 for $60 (with applewood-smoked tenderloin with roasted Brussels sprouts and root vegetables and '06 Catena Zapata). 210 E. Trade St.; 704-971-2400.

DWR Charlotte (Design Within Reach) hosts a Mad Men style cocktail party Sept. 9; wear "your favorite mid-century threads" and swig martinis, talk mod furniture and listen to music from DJ Scott Weaver. 4310 Sharon Road; 704-365-6514; RSVP to charlotte@dwr.com.

Free froyo, chef change, 1/2-price apps

The Blakeney TCBY store will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 25 with one free cup of yogurt per customer. 9864 Rea Road; 704-341-2002.

Marc Jacksina is now executive chef at Andrew Blair's on Montford Drive. "Customers will see a different side of my cooking, more direct in approach, but still gutsy, and directed towards pairing well with our amazing bourbon, wine and craft beer lists," Jacksina says in a press release. Folks looking for chef Blake Hartwick will find him doing some stints at Sunset Grille (his former Las Ramblas stomping ground) and Aria uptown, he says.

Big View Diner offers half-price appetizers 4-6 p.m. daily in its bar/lounge. 16637 Lancaster Highway; 704-544-0313.

Amelie's open uptown

The uptown outpost of popular French bakery Amelie's (the original a 24/7 operation in NoDa) is open uptown at 330 S. Tryon St. Manager Lynn St. Laurent says they're experimenting with hours right now -- currently, they're open 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, to 9:30 Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10-4 Sunday. But says St. Laurent, "just like with NoDa, I'm here at 7:30 and people just keep coming in!"

Pastries and egg bakes, plus regular coffee (no espresso, at least yet) are available in the morning, with two soups, sandwiches and salads arriving from the original site about 11 a.m. each day for the lunch crowd. Folks are asking about baguettes to take home; St. Laurent says they're working on it, hoping to establish a strong order system, so you could pick them up on the way home at lunch or end of day. "We just don't like to sell them more than an hour or two old."

"Weird" hours are happening too; for example, the place opened for the Panthers game Sunday and got plenty of traffic, she says. "We'll extend hours as business warrants it." 704-376-1782.