Labor Day In Charlotte- Festivities and Concern for The Gulf Coast
September 1st, 2008 Categories: Charlotte News and Politics, Things To Do Charlotte
School started for most last week, and this Labor Day Monday has our eyes turned to the Gulf Coast, as Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and the pan handle of Florida prepare for what appears to be a major hurricane.
Now for the best map and blog for storms I’ve seen (thanks to my evacuated son Andrew) That’s Hanna on the right.
3 Years after Katrina, is the city better prepared? Clearly, the evacuation orders were taken seriously this time and seem to be progressing well. But what of the levies? Will they hold? Will the newly rebuilt homes, buildings and towns survive?
All good questions to be answered in the next several days and weeks. Thankfully, the coast is deserted.
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If its Labor Day in Charlotte, then its Matthews Alive for us, here are a few photos from last year’s festival. They are all thumnails, click to enlarge.
and here is the map of historic Matthews and the block party that is Matthews Alive
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Things-To-Do Charlotte, NC| Aug 1-3
August 1st, 2008 Categories: Things To Do Charlotte
By Megan McDonald
Here are some fun things to do in Charlotte, NC this weekend!
Shopping
It’s tax-free weekend across all of North Carolina. It’s time for back-to-school shopping! Enjoy the break from that 7.5% tax and the great sales happening everywhere.
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Lewis Black
Friday, August 1 8:00 pm
Belk Theater ($45.50-$65.50)
Come watch and enjoy the actor, author, and stand-up comedian as he riffs over his love-hate relationship with America. It is guaranteed to be a good laugh!
found in The Charlotte Observer
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‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Friday, August 1 8:00 pm (FREE)
McGlohon Theatre (345 N. College St.)
Two amusing characters who have vowed to never marry must reconsider in this William Shakespeare comedy staged by Collaborative Arts. (The show is running at various times through August 10)
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Lend Me a Tenor
Friday, August 1, 2008 8:00 pmSaturday, August 2, 2008 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 3, 2008 2:00 pm
$15-$22
Set in 1934, this fast-paced comedy revolves around renowned tenor Tito Morelli, known to his fans as “Il Stupendo,” who is scheduled to sing the lead in Othello, produced as a gala fundraiser for the Cleveland Opera Company. Unfortunately, even before the star leaves his hotel room, everything begins to unravel. Chaos ensues when a “Dear John” letter left by his wife, who has mistaken an autograph-seeker hidden in his closet for a secret lover, is misinterpreted as a suicide note. The distraught Morelli accidentally is given a double dose of tranquilizers to calm him and he passes out. Saunders, the company’s General Manager, is determined the show must go on, so he enlists the aid of his assistant Max to impersonate the opera star. Max is succeeding admirably…until Morelli awakens and heads for the stage. What follows is a chain reaction of confusion, plot twists, double entendres, innuendoes and constant entrances and exits through many doors.
found on www.charlottecultureguide.com
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Pink Floydian Slip
Friday, August 1 8:30 pm
Amos’ Southend ($10-$12)
Listen to the music of Pink Floyd as this tribute bands performs their hits like “Comfortably Numb,” “Learning to Fly,” and “Another Brick in the Wall.”
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Panther Fan Fest
Saturday, August 2 9:00 am
Bank of America Stadium (FREE)
For those of you ready to kick of football season, come to the Bank of America Stadium at 9:00 am on Saturday to enjoy music, games, contests, and appearance by the TopCats and Sir Purr outside the stadium. After, enter the stadium at 9:30 am and the Panthers will begin their open practice at 11:00 am.
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Breaking Dawn Release Party!
Friday, August 1 10:00 pm
This is a can’t miss supernatural event! Come participate in Trilogy Trivia, get a tattoo- temporarily, hunt for Bella’s ribbon, and walk the black carpet in our Strut Your Stuff fashion show/costume contest.Win great prizes and buy the book at midnight!Don’t forget to pre-order your copy today!
found on www.charlottecultureguide.com
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Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick
Saturday, August 2 7:00 pm
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ($23.50-$125)
If you love ’80s rock, this show is for you! Enjoy your favorites songs by these bands and relive the “good ‘ol days” for a night!
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Bon Odori Japanese Dance Festival
Saturday, August 2 11:00 am- 5:00 pm (FREE)
Wachovia Atrium and Plaza (301 S. Tryon St.)
This fun, free, family oriented event includes dancing, cultural exhibits, and what is sure to be excellent cuisine. Taiko drumming by Matsuriza will be one of the highlights of the day’s events.
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Community Mosaic Project Friday, August 1 6:00 pm
SouthEnd Gallery Crawl (FREE)
The premier Community Mosaic Project “Gluefest” will be held Friday, August 1 from 6:00 - 9:00 during the SouthEnd gallery crawl. This event is free and open to all ages. Help us put together a piece of public art to grace Charlotte Art League on Camden Road!
found on www.charlottecultureguide.com
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Charlotte ComiCon
Sunday, August 3 10:00 am- 4:00 pm
Crowne Plaza ($3, free for 12 and younger)
Be apart of Charlotte’s largest, one-day comic book convention this Sunday, August 3. The event features guest artists and writers, door prizes, freebies, and thousand of comic books.
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Bark in the Park
Sunday, August 3 5:15 pm
Knights Stadium ($7-$12)
Bring your dog to the ballpark with you! Cheer for the Charlotte Knights as they take on the Durham Bulls with your pooch at your side. All leashed dogs get in for free.
found in The Charlotte Observer
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It is a strong home buyers market here in the greater Charlotte area. Thinking about moving to Union County? Lake Wylie? Matthews or Charlotte? You can quickly compare home prices with the links below, or just give me, Terry, a call at 704-351-1519. I am a Buyer’s Agent specializing in relocations–and will represent only you. You can also search the entire MLS, by area with the first link below.
Charlotte Home Search -By Area
Moving To Charlotte? A Good Introduction to the Area?
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Beaches Near Charlotte, NC- Love Where You Live
July 26th, 2008 Categories: Things To Do Charlotte
A great feature about our region is its close proximity to the mountains and the beach.
I was very fortunate to visit the beach every childhood summer. I loved the vacation, but not the eight hour drive from Pittsburgh to Virginia Beach.
So imagine how excited I was last week when my family left Mooresville at 9 a.m., and were enjoying the beach by 2:30 that afternoon. Some beaches are even closer, Charleston for one!
For our first North Carolina Beach excursion, we picked Carolina Beach, located on the Cape Fear Coast near the historic city of Wilmington. Drive time from Charlotte is about four hours. If possible, leave on a weekday or get an early Saturday start. Many minivans with out-of-state license plates clogged the highway heading toward the beach when we returned on Saturday afternoon.
The North Carolina beaches are low-key. Since I’m used to the bustling boardwalk of Virginia Beach, my husband was worried I wouldn’t like the tranquility of sand dunes. But I did. Since this is the first North Carolina beach I’ve visited, I can’t say how it compares to others (more or less crowded). We certainly weren’t bored, but didn’t feel overwhelmed either. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel which was actually the only ”big name” hotel on the beach. The other properties were houses and local motels.
Like all parents of young kids at the beach, we built sandcastles, collected sea shells, and took pictures. Breakfast and lunch were enjoyed in our room; but we ventured out for dinner, treating ourselves to ice cream and family walks on the beach. There’s a bike path on the road that parallels the beach, so we enjoyed two morning rides topped off with donuts from Brit’s Donut Shop. Opened in 1939, you can tell this is a favorite among locals and repeat vacationers.
One morning we took a field trip to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington. For WWII buffs like my husband, history enthusiasts like myself, and battleship lovers like my son, it was a great excursion. Even if you don’t fall into any of these categories, the awesomeness of the ship makes it a must see.
(ed: Kelli, Did you see the alligator in the lagoon? tm)
A thunderstorm cancelled beach plans on Friday afternoon, so it was great having downtown Wilmington as an option. The city has a cool children’s museum (free admission thanks to my Discovery Place membership!), so we played there and had dinner at a nice restaurant along the Cape Fear River.
I’m sure we’ll venture to Carolina Beach again; but, with so many beaches close by (Kure Beach, Oak Island, and Wrightsville beaches just in the Cape Fear region alone), we’ll likely explore. It’s nice to be able to do so knowing you can reach your destination by lunchtime!
I think you should love where you live because of what it has to offer, not how close it is to other places. As Terry and I have hopefully shown, Charlotte has great amenities right in its own backyard. But I do love being close to the beach- and the warm North Carolina waters.
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Editors note: I’m publishing this as I vacation on the Cape Fear Coast on Bald Head Island, just a few miles south of Carolina Beach and Wilmington. More on that next weekend. TM
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It is a strong buyers market here in the greater Charlotte area. Thinking about moving to Charlotte, or Lake Wylie? Lake Norman? You can quickly compare area prices with the links below, or just give me, Terry, a call at 704-351-1519. I am a Buyer’s Agent specializing in relocations–and will represent only you.
Related Links
Charlotte Home Search -By Area
Charlotte Real Estate- Good Years Ahead
Slowing or Downturn- the Truth about Charlotte Real Estate
Moving To Charlotte? Like a Good Introduction to the Area?
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Things-To-Do Charlotte, NC| July 18-20
July 18th, 2008 Categories: Things To Do Charlotte
Its another summer weekend full of things-to-do in Charlotte, NC!
by Megan McDonald
“The Dark Knight”
See Heath Ledger’s final performance on IMAX! Discovery Place has shows all weekend long. Catch all the dark, intense scenes on the big screen! I personally saw it opening night, at 12:01, and it was quite worth it. I will probably see it more than once! For any fan, it is a darker look at Batman and the world he lives in, and Heath Ledger will give you the chills as you enter the twisted world of the Joker. If I could suggest one thing you must do this weekend, it would be to see ‘The Dark Knight.’
Call Discovery Place for more ticket information 704-372-6261
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Brad Paisley (with Jewel, Chuck Wicks, and Julianne Hough)
Friday July 18th, 7:30 pm Verizon Wireless ($25-$54.25)
The country star with hits like “I’m Still a Guy,” “Ticks,” and “Wrapped” will hit the stage at Verizon Wireless tonight with three other performers, including ‘Dancing With The Star’ cast member Julianne Hough making her debut as a singer.
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African Children’s Choir
Friday July 18th, 7:00 pm
Northside Baptist Church
The primary goal of the African Children’s Choir™ is to raise awareness of the need of destitute and orphaned children in Africa and to raise funds for continued development and support of the Choir’s relief and development programs.
Join these talented youth for an evening of traditional African music and praise songs.
found on www.charlottecultureguide.com
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“Side Show”
Saturday July 19th, 8:00 pm ($28)
Queen City Theatre Company’s final performance of the Broadway musical about the Hilton sisters, conjoined twins who lived their last years here.
Found in The Charlotte Observer
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Bryan Adams and Foreigner
Saturday July 19th, 7:30 pm ($10-$60)
Verizon Wireless
found in The Charlotte Observer
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BeachBlast
Saturday July 19th, 10 am- 10 pm (Free)
Patriots Park, downtown Kings Mountain
This day of beach music includes summer sounds from the groups Crimson Rose, Billy Scott and the Party Prophets, and the Ricky Godfrey Band. In addition to all the fun summer music, there will be amusement rides, arts and crafts, games, food, and fun for the whole family!
found in The Charlotte Observer
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“Get on the Bus” Tour
Saturday July 19th, 9:30 am- 12:30 pm
Lynx’s Scaleybark Station parking lot on South Blvd.
Experience What’s Old, New, and What’s Ahead in the Queen City.
Join Charlotte newcomer’s group Staying Ahead, Carolina for its first “Get on the Bus” Tour of Charlotte.
This is no ordinary tour. We won’t drown you in historical facts. This tour will be a “social on wheels,” as you take in the rich culture the Queen City has to offer. You will meet new people, sample foods from great restaurants, visit some tucked away spots that you might not have considered. You will know where to take friends and guests when you are looking to experience something unique in Charlotte.You will appreciate how Charlotte is taking shape in some of the hot areas of town.
found on www.charlottecultureguide.com
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Culture and Cookies
Sunday July 20th, 2 pm (Free)
Levine Museum of the New South
Explore an exhibit, take part in a craft project, and then enjoy some cookies! Free and fun for the family!
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Western Film Series
Sunday July 20th, 2 pm (Free)
ImaginOn
Catch two of Roy Rogers brief western movies (both under 80 minutes). “Utah” and “Idaho” will be screened back-to-back with an intermission in between. Bring the cowboy lover in your family!
found in The Charlotte Observer
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Rush
Sunday July 20th, 7:30 pm ($26.50-$84)
Verizon Wireless
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It is a strong home buyers market here in the greater Charlotte area. Thinking about moving to Lake Wylie? Matthews, Charlotte, Weddington? or Lake Norman? You can quickly compare home prices with the links below, or just give me, Terry, a call at 704-351-1519. I am a Buyer’s Agent specializing in relocations–and will represent only you. You can also search the entire MLS, by area with the first link below.
Charlotte Home Search -By Area
Moving To Charlotte? A Good Introduction to the Area?
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