Saturday Tradition

Almost every Saturday for lunch, my husband and I go to this Japanese restaurant for their sushi buffet. The restaurant is called Ru San's and is located off of Park Road in the Dilworth area. The sushi buffet is for lunch only Monday to Friday 11:30-2:30 and Saturdays 12:00-3:00. They also have a great menu from what I heard but I have only had their sushi buffet. On Saturdays doors open at 12 and their is always a line waiting to get in. You have to check out this hidden spot if you are near the Dilworth area.

PNC Music Pavilion

I talked about Time Warner Cable in a previous post and how not only do they host the Charlotte Hornets and Charlotte Knights but they have tons of concerts and shows. There is another venue in Charlotte for concerts but it is an outdoor amphitheater open in the summer. PNC Pavilion is one of those places known for the crazy tailgating and fun atmosphere. The seating close to the stage does have a covering overhead, but the rest is outdoors on a lawn area. Tons of people bring their fold out chairs and blankets to sit during a concert.

I have seen many concerts at the PNC Pavilion including Jason Aldean, Nickelback, and Zac Brown Band. They were all a blast and I would try and catch a concert this summer.

 

Upcoming Concerts:

July 10: Dave Matthews Band

July 11: Tim McGraw

July 25: Rascal Flatts

August 4: Nicki Minaj

August 12: J.Cole

 

Jetton Park

Located in Cornelius is my favorite park to go to! Jetton park is 104 acres long with a beach, food area, picnic area, tennis courts, 1.3 mile bike trail, 1.5 mile walking trail, playgrounds, and did I mention a gorgeous view of the lake. My senior prom pictures were taken here along with my engagement pictures. It is that go to park to take your kids over the weekend or just to get out for a nice walk. If you are up in Cornelius and need to get away from the city for the day, check out Jetton park.

Nascar

Welcome to Nascar city!

Nascar has four official offices in North Carolina including Mooresville, Charlotte, Concord, and Conover. Nascar has two big races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, located 13 miles from uptown Charlotte. The Bank of America 500 which is around the second week in October, and the Coca-Cola 600 memorial day weekend occur every year. The weekend before the Coca-Cola 600 they have the All-star race where the winner wins 1 million dollars. This truly is something you want to experience in your life time. Nothing beats the adrenaline you get when the cars are flying by at over 150 miles an hour.

People travel from all around the country to come see these races and us Charlotteteans' have it in our backyard! Camping is a popular thing fans will do to come down to the races. They will camp out all week in preparation. Memorial day weekend Charlotte has a big party uptown called Speed Street the weekend of the race. At any time of the year you can also checkout Nascar hall of fame located uptown.

Lake Norman

My favorite thing to do in the summer time is go on Lake Norman, located about 25 minutes from uptown. The lake is about 35 miles long extending from Huntersville, Cornelius, Denver, Mooresville, and even more areas. It is the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina. Lake Norman is beautiful and tons of fun. There are a ton of neighborhoods on the lake where people have their own boats. Or you can rent boats and jet skis for the day at different locations. A popular spot is the sand bar where a bunch of boats tie up and have a great time.

When I first moved to Huntersville, I was in my senior year of high school and tons of people lived on the lake. It was the "thing" to do and will always be in the Charlotte area.

Panther Nation

Football season is approaching and I could not be more excited about it. The Carolina Panthers are based in Charlotte but fans come from North Carolina and South Carolina since we are so close to the border. The team's quarterback is Came Newton and the head coach is Ron Rivera. If you are in the area this football season you have to go to a game. They just redid the stadium and added four escalators, two 56' x 199'  high definition video boards on each end, and a high-octave distributed sound system throughout the bowl. The games are great for any age, they do a good job at keeping the environment safe in order for families to be able to go. I plan on going to a couple games this season because my husband has PSL tickets. I am actually a huge Eagles Fan but I will support my city and cheer on the panthers (sometimes).

 

Panthers 2015 Schedule

Time Warner Cable Arena

Anytime your in the area and want to checkout a concert or show, look up Time Warner Cable Arena's schedule. They are an entertainment and sports venue, home to the Charlotte Hornets and Charlotte Checkers hockey team, owned by the city of Charlotte. Back in 2012, the Democratic National Convention was held at Time Warner. I have seen Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and Trans Siberian Orchestra at the venue over the past couple years.

 

Here is the schedule and some upcoming events this summer!

July 7th: Imagine Dragons

July 18th: Sam Smith

July 19th: Shania Twain

July 21st: Ariana Grande

September 18-19th: Professional Bull Riders

 

U.S. National Whitewater Center

My absolute favorite spot in Charlotte is the Whitewater Center. The whitewater center is an outdoor recreational center located about 25 minutes from uptown Charlotte. They have tons to offer such as:

• whitewater rafting
• whitewater kayaking
• ropes courses
• rock climbing
• zip lines
• mountain biking
• hiking
• flat water kayaking
• flat water stand up paddleboard
• canopy tours

My husband and I have season passes and season parking passes. We are out there almost every weekend. Not only is there tons to do but it is a great way to get outside and get some exercise. I think a lot of people in the Charlotte area take the whitewater center for granted. People travel from around the country and even the world to come here. It is an Olympic athlete training site for whitewater kayaking. Not only is it meant for recreational purposes, but they have a ton of festivals and concerts. Basically they always have some kind of event going on whether it is for social, a marathon, dining, or holiday. We take our GoPro when we go whitewater rafting and love to check out the footage later. It is open 365 days a year but especially fun during the summer. If you are in the Charlotte area you have to go for a day to check it out!

 

 

Chapter 2 Boutique

Chapter 2 is my favorite boutique in the Charlotte area up near Lake Norman. They have two locations with the original being in Birkdale Village. Their other location is a little smaller located in Cornelius. They also have a website online where they post new arrivals everyday during the week. Their clothes are mainly all the hottest trends for women at unbeatable prices. You have to check out this boutique if you are up near the lake. If I ever need an outfit for a event, it is always my go to stop. I will post some pictures of their clothes below.

Okay, maybe we all can't go to Harvard, but we can certainly have a little fun pretending we did! Show your humorous side with this easy wear tank. Perfect as is, and ideal for layering later.

If you are the kind of girl who loves to make a big statement even when speaking softly, this maxi is a definite must have!!  Light weight, flowy, flirty and versatile this maxi will be a sure to reach for all summer long!  Features empire inspired waist with open weave inset detailing.  The flowy, loose fit is perfect for staying cool in the hot summer heat!!

There is no way you can possibly feel blue while you know you have these cute little shorts waiting for you!!  Pull on style features elasticized waist for custom, comfort fit with trendy print in various shades of vibrant blues and dual side slant pockets!!  Pair with simple tee, tank or dress with woven blouse for quick, enviable summer ready style!!

Foreigner's Paradise: Charlotte Living Through The Eyes of a Local.

My husband George is from Charlotte so he has seen the change over time in the city. Not many people are actually from Charlotte so I asked him to talk about living here and his view on the queen city.



Have you ever met anyone who is actually from Charlotte?  I didn't think so…but now you have.

I am one of the few and proud, a Charlotte native.  Living in your hometown, surrounded by people from everywhere but there, can seem daunting to some people, but I'm not one of those people.  I love my hometown, and one of the greatest attributes of this wonderful place is the shear diversity of people living here.

Living in Charlotte truly represents living in the "melting pot" that most of us have heard about the United States as a whole.  In Charlotte, you can find a wide variety of people from an even wider variety of places.  As it is with any diverse groups of people, there is also a need for a diverse variety of entertainment, food and leisure activities; which makes Charlotte a great place to live…for anyone.

In the immediate area surrounding "uptown" you can find just about any kind of food you could possibly want.  This is a factor of the different people who have moved to Charlotte and brought their previous wants and needs with them, and we natives are thankful for it.  Believe me, us natives will always love our NC BBQ, but our taste buds have diversified too, so with the influx of new people comes new foods and new takes on some of our old timey favorites.

Charlotte also bolsters a similar variety in the choices of entertainment.  We have choices ranging from our hometown professional sports teams, the U.S. National Whitewater Center, The Epicenter and many others.  Every person can find their entertainment needs met, here in Charlotte.

Now, I couldn't possibly talk about all of the things that make Charlotte a great place to live, mainly because I'm not interested in writing a novel, but THAT is exactly what makes this an incredible place to live.   I implore you, yes, you reader, to go out and explore this great city and experience all that it has to offer…you'll find all of your classic favorites, but you just might find yourself having experiences you never thought you'd find in "small" Southern city.

- A Charlotte Native


Thank you for writing a post on my blog George!

Clean Juice

Juicing has become such a popular trend in today's society. Finally someone opened up a juice/ smoothie shop in the area! I talked about Birkdale Village in my previous post and how they are always opening up new places. A couple weeks ago a couple living in the Charlotte area decided to open Clean Juice. If you go on their website, you can read about their story and why they decided to open a juice shop. I went their the other day and absolutely loved it. Anytime I am in Birkdale I plan on stopping by for a juice.

Birkdale Village

If you feel like getting out of the city for the day, you need to head up towards Lake Norman and stop at Birkdale Village. Located about 25 minutes from uptown Charlotte in Huntersville, you will find a community of shopping, restaurants, cafes, and apartments. It is one of those main gathering places everyone goes to for a new outfit, or dinner with friends. Birkdale even has a bar called Fox & Hound which is great for watching the big game on TV. During Christmas time they decorate the village beautifully with lights and a big tree.

Basically every time I am up in Huntersville visiting my parents and friends, I stop in Birkdale for at least something. Whether I am catching a movie at their theater, or checking out one of their new restaurants.

Romare Bearden Park

As I talked about in one of my blogs earlier, the Charlotte knights stadium is located right in uptown Charlotte with a beautiful view. Right next to the stadium is this awesome park they created where a ton of events are going on. The other day I went to the baseball game and they had a street soccer game setup right in the middle of the park. Right next to the game was also a wedding ceremony. It is a cool little spot where people are hanging out on the grass, or little kids splashing in the fountain. Not to mention the view is awesome. You have the buildings surrounding you, the Charlotte Knights stadium next to you, and restaurants all within walking distance.

Southern Food Is Good For The Soul

Today I had an awesome brunch at a café I have been dying to try out. Tupelo Honey Café is located on South Boulevard in the South End area. They are most known for their brunch and tasty mimosas. The food and drinks are of a Southern style and they have many different locations besides Charlotte. I started out with a mimosa and a delicious biscuit with jelly. Then I had the Fried Chicken and Biscuits for my meal. I would strongly suggest trying out this restaurant if you are in town.

Fahrenheit

If you are looking for that hot new city restaurant, Fahrenheit is the place to be. It is perfect for a business meeting, cocktails with friends, or a nice dinner with family. I have been to the restaurant a bunch of times and loved the city atmosphere with breath taking rooftop views. Fahrenheit is on the top level of the Hyatt Place Hotel and Skye Condos. You can either sit inside where the windows are big enough to see the city, or sit outside by the heaters. Here is a list of my favorite items on the menu:

Appetizer: Charlotte "Nachos"
Salad: Fried Goat Cheese Croquette
Pizza: Margherita
Entrees: Wild Mushroom Ravioli

Greenway

Little Sugar Creek Greenway is one of many greenways in the Charlotte area. Plans are already in the works to extend many of  the greenways and connect them. If you are in the south Charlotte area by Central Piedmont Community College you should check out the little sugar creek greenway. It extends 1.29 miles from East 7th Street to Morehead Street and connects Central Piedmont Community College, Elizabeth Park, Thompson Park, retail and dining areas and Carolinas Medical Center. Visit their website to find out about other Greenways, parking, and attractions along the way.

Alive After Five

Every Thursday night when the warm weather finally arrives, the Epicenter holds the alive after five event. It is a great way to get the weekend started with live music, beverages, and a fun atmosphere. It is in the heart of uptown Charlotte where some of the best bars and clubs are just in walking distance. Listed are some of the bars and restaurants to check out in the Epicenter:

Bars:

• Blackfinn Ameripub
• Whiskey River
• Bubble
• Suite
• Howl at The Moon
• Tin Roof
• Rooftop 210

Dining:

• Wild Wing Café
• Smoothie King
• Jason's Deli
• Firehouse Subs
• Bruegger's Bagels
• Five Guys
• Vida Vida
• Libretto's Pizzeria
• Yoforia

Shop Till You Drop

Who doesn't love to shop? Charlotte has a great mall called Southpark located just  15 minutes south of uptown. People from around  the Charlotte area come to this mall because of their high end stores and great restaurants in the area. Most of the other malls in Charlotte do not have Coach and Michael Kors for example, which is why Southpark has a lot to offer. I would recommend going to the restaurant Upstream across the street from the mall. It has amazing seafood and sushi.

The Buzz Is Back

The Hornets are back in the Queen City. This NBA 2014-2015 basketball season, the Hornets have come back as the Charlotte Hornets. From 1988 to 2002 the Hornets were in Charlotte but then left to go to New Orleans. Charlotte then became the Bobcats from 2004 to 2014. The city of Charlotte wanted their Hornets back at the Hive. This year they have returned and games are super fun. The atmosphere has such Charlotte pride and it is great to see the city come together.  And of course seeing Michael Jordan some games is s cool bonus for going.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Looking for some live sport action this spring and summer? Go to a Charlotte Knights triple A  baseball game right in the middle of uptown Charlotte. The Knights used to have a stadium in South Carolina but they recently built a brand new stadium right in the Queen City. Any seat has the perfect view of the city and the games are a ton of fun.  Great for families with children or check out Thursday night games where beers are half off.  I  have already been to a couple games this season and it is a great environment and great attraction for the city of Charlotte.