Cool places to send newcomers
Where do you send newcomers to show them something cool in the Charlotte region?
Lupie’s or the Lazy 5 Ranch? The Penguin or Paramount’s Carowinds?
That question came up at last night’s Levine Museum of the New South event for newcomers. Participants called out suggestions of places that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman, here six months from California, should check out with his family. Along with some of the aforementioned spots, the Brooks restaurant near NoDa and the Manor movie theater made the list.
In an upcoming column, I’ll be seeking suggestions from readers for other spots around the region that are good to send new arrivals, but you guys get a head start – please post some here or e-mail them to me and I’ll follow up.
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For another preview, here’s a link to my upcoming report with news partner WCNC about the Charlotte skyline exhibit going on at the Main Library in uptown Charlotte through the end of January. It'll air during newscasts Monday and again next Saturday.
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Speaking of Gorman, he kept the museum crowd laughing with some of his newcomer observations:
--“As far as roads go – I’m sorry folks, this is not traffic.” He lived 36 miles from the LAX airport but took nearly four hours to get home when his flights landed there. He called L.A. freeways “long, thin parking lots.”
--His favorite Charlotte road, he said, is “Tyvola-Fairview-Rama-Idlewild,” followed closely by “Billy Graham-Woodlawn-Runnymede-Sharon.”
--While lost once, Gorman’s wife Sue told him, “Just keep driving and you’ll run into a Sharon or a Queens.”
--He went to a local restaurant and ordered a three-vegetable plate. His veggies were greens, mac and cheese and hush puppies. “I was unaware that fried dough qualifies as a vegetable, but I was thrilled.”
--The charms of dining at local mainstay Anderson’s, where movers and shakers met for power breakfasts before the Elizabeth eatery closed recently, were lost on him. He looked up one morning and saw Mayor Pat McCrory and County Commissioner Parks Helms in adjoining booths. “This is nuts. What are we all doing here?” he thought.
--“I’ve tried Sun-Drop (soda). I didn’t get it.”
--After a speech at First Baptist church, he was caught off guard when the minister invited members to come up and “lay hands.”
“I’m kind of freaking out – I’m thinking, ‘They’re gonna touch me,’” he said. “It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone.”
--And finally: “All in all, it’s been a great six months. I have had the time of my life.”
Lupie’s or the Lazy 5 Ranch? The Penguin or Paramount’s Carowinds?
That question came up at last night’s Levine Museum of the New South event for newcomers. Participants called out suggestions of places that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman, here six months from California, should check out with his family. Along with some of the aforementioned spots, the Brooks restaurant near NoDa and the Manor movie theater made the list.
In an upcoming column, I’ll be seeking suggestions from readers for other spots around the region that are good to send new arrivals, but you guys get a head start – please post some here or e-mail them to me and I’ll follow up.
---
For another preview, here’s a link to my upcoming report with news partner WCNC about the Charlotte skyline exhibit going on at the Main Library in uptown Charlotte through the end of January. It'll air during newscasts Monday and again next Saturday.
---
Speaking of Gorman, he kept the museum crowd laughing with some of his newcomer observations:
--“As far as roads go – I’m sorry folks, this is not traffic.” He lived 36 miles from the LAX airport but took nearly four hours to get home when his flights landed there. He called L.A. freeways “long, thin parking lots.”
--His favorite Charlotte road, he said, is “Tyvola-Fairview-Rama-Idlewild,” followed closely by “Billy Graham-Woodlawn-Runnymede-Sharon.”
--While lost once, Gorman’s wife Sue told him, “Just keep driving and you’ll run into a Sharon or a Queens.”
--He went to a local restaurant and ordered a three-vegetable plate. His veggies were greens, mac and cheese and hush puppies. “I was unaware that fried dough qualifies as a vegetable, but I was thrilled.”
--The charms of dining at local mainstay Anderson’s, where movers and shakers met for power breakfasts before the Elizabeth eatery closed recently, were lost on him. He looked up one morning and saw Mayor Pat McCrory and County Commissioner Parks Helms in adjoining booths. “This is nuts. What are we all doing here?” he thought.
--“I’ve tried Sun-Drop (soda). I didn’t get it.”
--After a speech at First Baptist church, he was caught off guard when the minister invited members to come up and “lay hands.”
“I’m kind of freaking out – I’m thinking, ‘They’re gonna touch me,’” he said. “It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone.”
--And finally: “All in all, it’s been a great six months. I have had the time of my life.”
posted by Leigh at
3:55 PM
18 Comments:
Peter and Liegh I enjoyed this story until the many hands touching you; This Techniquw sounds like something from startrek episode 35 where the People thought Mr. Spock was a miracle man , Oh well. That was fun wasnt it . Peter you are great hope of the School system which should have taken place ten years ago but thats Charlottes time clock, slow and slower yet; But happily we roll down the road of the future.
Watch out Peter not liking SUN DROP pop is like 2 demerits around here; Many Southerners grew up on SUNDROP and was put in their baby bottles when they got a little older. Peter and Y'all try BARQs rootbeer and red pop ,real good stuff with caffiene. Barqs is hard to find around these parts but is in the Target in rock hill /John Lyle Blvd.
Let me tell everybody about CARROWINDS ; This place will get much better I promise everybody. Cedar Point is sandusky Ohio is a huge draw and has People come there from all over the world to ride rolla costers and much much more . They will have Hotels all around where you walk out the front door and 'VIOLA'you step out into the park. They have Old time missisippi river boat rides with robotic pirates and western characters and also HIPPOs that come out of the water and spray people on a hot Charlotte day , and they are scarry. they have spook house rides , fun house and the largest water park with waves and twisting slides. A steam train that rolls around the whole park like BUSH gardens Tampa. when People come to Charlotte it will be head to the FUN PARK . Cedar Park has the leading Rolla coasters in the World yes indeed.
I always tell newcomers to do three things:
1. Jaipur Indian Restaurant - weekend buffet is to die for
2. Go outdoors - charlotte area has excellent parks and nature preserves (McDowell, Latta, and Rocky River to name three) that are great places to hike, picnic, fish, and enjoy nature
3. Thomas Street Tavern - the outdoor patio in back is the best place in Charlotte to hang out with friends
I like to take people to East Boulevard, Freedom Park, the Southpark area, and over by Central Ave. Downtown is always nice to go too - grab lunch or dinner, walk around...
I can't wait until the new museums are finished by the new Wachovia project. I will definately take people there once they are open. The Whitewater Park sounds good too if you like the outdoors.
I wish we would have got BUSH gardens here a few years ago , like the one in "Tampa dark continent" But if Cedar Park does Carrowinds up you will not be dissappointed. Cedar point is known for all over the world for its rolla coasters and much more. We do believe that it will improve the economy in that area by leaps and bounds.
Check out cool neighborhoods like Fourth Ward, Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth, NoDa, SouthEnd, and Myers Park.
For restaurants, I'd recommend the Penguin, Lupie's, Open Kitchen, Alexander Michael's, Thomas St. Tavern, Boudreaux's, Mert's Heart and Soul, and Pike's.
Penguin, Lupie's, Open Kitchen, Alexander Michael's, Thomas St. Tavern, Boudreaux's, Mert's Heart and Soul, and Pike's
BARrrrrrF ! These are the equivalent to McDonald's with a little bit higher price tag. Take them here and they will never come back to visit.
How about Zebra, Luce, Fiama, Zinc, Latorre's, LuLu's, Dolce Copper, Bentley's on 27th for a class A evening.
For casual I would suggest Cabo, Mamma Ricotta's, Zapatta's, Zen, Kabob Grille, Greek Isles or Hawthorne Pizza.
Grabbing a beer: RiRa, Flying Saucer, Brixx uptown, Connolly's
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Great choices by previous poster. Here's some more for Uptown.
Upscale: Coco Osteria, City Tavern, Mortons, Ruth Chris (opening soon), Blue, Harry and Jeans, House of Jazz, McNich House, Monticello, Savannah Red, Sonoma, Arpa, Capital Grille.
Casual: Cafe Sienna, Belle's, Dean & Deluca, Ember Grille, Fujo, Fusebox, Soho China Bistro, Presto, Therapy Cafe.
Sports: Rock Bottom, Fox and Hound, Brick and Barrel, Phil's, Cedar Street Tavern, Stool Pigeons.
I WANT N.Y. STYLE PIZZA !!!
Not that dried out, cheeseless pathetic excuse we have named FUEL.
This place would be laughed into forclosure in N.Y.
Come on Luigi's of South Tryon (the only true NY slice in town). Move your butts out of the burbs and into the core of the city where you belong.
Imagine your lunch time and late night crowd uptown !
20 INCH pies Uptown !!!!
Lets start a riot !!!
I am from OHIO and our PIZZA in Columbus is fabulous. When I go to get Pizza I go back to Ohio and bring back TOMMYS pizza or Rotolos pizza. So far I have found nothing in the order of Ohios Pizza here , so I bring it back on ICE. Some New Yorkers who live here said " the Pizza here is nothing like NEW YORK Pizza, I ve never been there so I couldnt tell ya. But we do have a crisis in Charlotte about PIZZA i'll agree on that subject.
Where in the HELL is real cincinnati chili like Skyline, empress, or GOLD STAR chili; This product is in four states as far as I know but not here yet; If Charlotte wants to be a world class city you have to do it like we have back HOME Cincinnati chili . This is spaghetti, with a special sauce and onions , red beans, and mounds of fine graded cheddar cheese on top , skinny hot dogs with chilli and cheddar on top as well as other foods now. we could tweek it and put a pulled pork sandwich on the menu.
Back where Im from in Ohio we have topless beachs everywhere; Yes , a women can go topless because men can so therefore , women can as well. Many dont go topless for obvious reason (A) they have nothing to show (B) they have to much to show and swing around (C) or the water is still to cold even in the summer; Many wash their cars in the driveway topless what a treat.
Discovery Place/IMAX Dome Theater! That's where I take my newcomers/friends who come to visit the city. They love it. Additionally, a SouthPark visit is a must!
take 'em back to Nu Yawk
Oh man I would die for some Skyline...
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