North Carolina Charlotte this weekend. Any tips?

kdemas

kdemas

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In Charlotte on business the next couple days and I have Friday and Saturday free. Any suggestions for things to see or places or areas to visit? I'm a street shooter at heart so a good area for wandering would be welcome.

If anyone is local id love to grab lunch or a drink and say Hi.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kent
 
Ack! I am an hour away!

Bad winter (icey) storm at present, everything closed here. I am booked Saturday, but maybe could squeeze a Friday day trip! As far as Charlotte locales... Hmmm.
 
I just so happen to be visiting friends in Charlotte-ish this weekend myself. The small towns of Kannapolis and Concord just north-east of Charlotte have lovely downtown areas.
 
unixrevolution said:
I just so happen to be visiting friends in Charlotte-ish this weekend myself. The small towns of Kannapolis and Concord just north-east of Charlotte have lovely downtown areas.
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Thank you for the tips! It's been a loooong time since I travelled to a place I know so little about.
 
kdemas said:
Thank you for the tips! It's been a loooong time since I travelled to a place I know so little about.
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Ha! I live an hour away and know nothing! We tend go up for shopping and that is about it.

I am trying to rearrange my commitment on Saturday!
 
Kent, have a look at my cousin Ben Long's immense fresco in the lobby of whatever they call the giant bank there now--Bank of America? There are several of his frescoes in Carlot (intended). Not as street shooting material, but worth a few minutes on breaks from walking. There's probably an online guide, NC Fresco Trail or similar.

Wish I had other suggestions, but haven't lived in that area since I finished college in the preCambrian Era. -->Well, if you drive north to Statesville, you can see me in one of his more controversial frescoes. I'll be the guy holding a handful of arrows (reference to one of my books).

The little mill towns surrounding Carlot are going to be more interesting, photographically and culturally. You might ask the NC locals what's worth a short drive....
 
As for weather you picked the right time to be in Charlotte. Downtown Tryon St. on Friday, lots of people will be out downtown so I think Friday will be the best time for street photography. Saturday will be in 50's as for temps but don't know how busy the streets will be on Saturday. I'm an hour away from Charlotte & don't get over their unless I'm running my delivery route. There is one area of downtown around the feed mill RR tracks that isn't safe to be by oneself but I doubt you will be in that area anyhow. Friday I have to work & don't know what the wife has planned for Saturday. Where will you be staying Kent & i'll keep an eye on this thread.
 
Hey Jeff
There are more shops (eclectic type) and restaurants in the general vicinity. There is a stop for the passenger train/light rail nearby. There is a fair sized park about a 5 minute walk from Price's/PB through an area with some nice houses. There is a trolley museum close too, although I haven't been there yet. World of BEER is not far either. It can be a busy little section of Charlotte if the weather is decent, so hopefully the weather will be good for you.
Do a Google map search of the area to get an idea of what's around there.
Have fun, hope to see some pics after your trip.
 
OK, some words from one who lives there: The top two areas for street shooting would be South End and NoDa.

The area people have mentioned with the trolley museum, Price's Chicken Coop, etc. is called South End and is a few minutes from downtown (which we call "Uptown") by light rail or car. There is an indoor farmers' market (etc.) at Atherton Mill, also in South End. The same chap who makes the city's best coffee at 7th Street Market works Atherton Saturday mornings, which are quite lively. This Saturday I uncharacteristically hope to be there. (I usually volunteer at another farmers' market, but am playing hooky this week.)

Best for street shooting would be NoDa, the city's arts district. (Named for North Davidson St.) Good eats and the city's best selection of music, too. Coffee at the Smelly Cat or a few blocks south at Amelie's. And I'll be up there Saturday night. (A friend's band is playing in a Lou Reed-themed benefit concert.)

You'll find Charlotte has obliterated much of its history in its overzealous drive to become a "New South" city. The two areas I mentioned are remaining historic(-ish) districts -- good exceptions to what is otherwise an increasingly L.A.-like sprawl of bland strip malls and blah suburbs. Some of the small towns near Charlotte (very near, like Matthews; or Kannapolis, Concord, etc. as others have mentioned further out) have cute downtowns with nice old buildings. They may not offer much street photo opportunity if your definition is "throngs of people doing interesting things," because a lot of those downtowns are the kind where Main St. is eerily quiet, businesses have a hard time staying open, and The Car has changed everything...

--Dave
 
Good luck Kent, and to answer the original question, I could potentially meet Saturday either in South End (a.m.) or NoDa (p.m.). Friday I have to work.

BTW, I forgot to mention the beer. Someone noted World Of Beer, which has good selection but is a chain. Better is to drink at the source: Heist, NoDa Brewing, and Birdsong (and soon Free Range) are in NoDa; Triple C is in South End; Unknown is just off the edge of Uptown, and others are popping up elsewhere. They are brewing really good product even though most opened quite recently. I like to eat local, so try to drink local too, and in NC the beer is miles better than the wine, where climate limits us...

--Dave
 
Argenticien said:
You'll find Charlotte has obliterated much of its history in its overzealous drive to become a "New South" city. The two areas I mentioned are remaining historic(-ish) districts -- good exceptions to what is otherwise an increasingly L.A.-like sprawl of bland strip malls and blah suburbs.
--Dave
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Totally agree with this. When I lived there I was amazed at how the history just vanished in the name of "modern improvements". It was and is pretty sad. I still mourn the loss of the Coffee Cup. I used to live in the South End within smelling distance of the Chicken Coop, and saw that area go through some transformations, both good and bad. Now when I get to Charlotte it is usually a quick in-n-out visit.
 
kdemas said:
Cool, let me know.

I'm currently at the MoMA, heading to the Mint in a bit. Beautiful day in Charlotte.
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To be fair, yes I should have included that new(-ish) museum complex on the list along with South End and NoDa. The Green and the new Romare Bearden park near there are nice too. I am stuck inside at work. :/

--Dave
 
Argenticien said:
To be fair, yes I should have included that new(-ish) museum complex on the list along with South End and NoDa. The Green and the new Romare Bearden park near there are nice too. I am stuck inside at work. :/ --Dave
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Dave,

I really appreciate the tips you've provided, a great help!
 
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