'Charlotte's boring': Outdated reputation?
How can Charlotte improve its reputation for fun?
Twice within the past week, I heard stories of people who’d visited Charlotte – one for a business meeting, the other for a Panthers game – and weren’t even planning to try to go out to have fun afterward. Charlotte is boring, conservative, a bank town, both people said. What could I possibly be missing?
That reputation may have been fair a couple of decades ago, but I’d argue it isn’t today. This past weekend offered opportunities including Friday’s Panthers game and all the revelry in uptown streets both before and afterward; live music in NoDa, where a band called "Los Loose Lugnuts" played old-time country tunes in the wine bar La Dolce Vita; the rousing closing performances of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at Actors’ Theatre; and a film festival celebrating the career of pioneering filmmaker Charles Burnett, with Burnett himself in attendance at each screening. And yes, I sampled all of those activities myself this weekend. I didn’t have time for a minute of boredom.
If these events hadn’t presented themselves to me, I’m certain I would have found dozens more without looking very hard.
So, how do those of us who consider Charlotte a pretty fun place to live get the word out to others who have an outdated image of this place?
Twice within the past week, I heard stories of people who’d visited Charlotte – one for a business meeting, the other for a Panthers game – and weren’t even planning to try to go out to have fun afterward. Charlotte is boring, conservative, a bank town, both people said. What could I possibly be missing?
That reputation may have been fair a couple of decades ago, but I’d argue it isn’t today. This past weekend offered opportunities including Friday’s Panthers game and all the revelry in uptown streets both before and afterward; live music in NoDa, where a band called "Los Loose Lugnuts" played old-time country tunes in the wine bar La Dolce Vita; the rousing closing performances of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at Actors’ Theatre; and a film festival celebrating the career of pioneering filmmaker Charles Burnett, with Burnett himself in attendance at each screening. And yes, I sampled all of those activities myself this weekend. I didn’t have time for a minute of boredom.
If these events hadn’t presented themselves to me, I’m certain I would have found dozens more without looking very hard.
So, how do those of us who consider Charlotte a pretty fun place to live get the word out to others who have an outdated image of this place?
posted by Leigh at
10:35 AM
34 Comments:
who cares? if they're old enough to still be under that impression, and they're not from around here (let's be honest we've got more than our fair share of transplants) let them stay in. it means more fun for the rest of us who know how to enjoy ourselves!
As a Charlotte native, I can attest to the fact that there is a lot more to do now in Charlotte than there used to be. We attended the Panthers game on Friday night and the place was buzzing! It was a lot of fun. But they do need more places to go uptown, though. If you've lived here for any length of time, you've already gone to all the places around Charlotte and it's gotten old already. But I am sure that will come eventually.
Not to be cliche', but if you are bored in Charlotte then you are probably a boring person. There is more than enough to keep a visitor entertained on a weekday, let alone a weekend. And really, I would even disagree with the 11:13 anon who has gone to "all the places" around the city; the more I explore different parts of town the more I realize that it's beyond any on person to regularly do everything the city has to offer. There are clubs like the Milestone hidden away in random locations, new restaurants constantly opening in Uptown and Dilworth, golf in every corner of the county, indie movies at the Manor and Ballantyne, conventions, an unbeatable pool hall in Elizabeth, events like Live After Five on a regular basis... the list goes on and on.
This might not be Miami just yet, but anybody who chooses hotel cable over College Street deserves to be bored.
As a transplant who's only been in the area for 9 years, I can honestly say that things have changed tremendously during my time here in Charlotte. Anyone who is under the assumption that there's nothing to do here isn't even trying very hard and would find something "boring" about any other place they've visited.
However, here's another take from a visitor's perspective that may expain some things. Most of the events that take place are sprawled throughout the area. Unless your rent a car (which may not be a covered expense for all business people who come here), then you may have to rely on taxis or mass transportation to get you to a number of these events. If you know anything about trying to use public transportation in Charlotte, then you know it can be daunting to say the least. It's possible to see why business tourists who might possibly stay in one area be limited to the activities that are available in that area. That could make things a little stale...
i definitely agree with lj. the problem with charlotte is the urban sprawl and the fact that there are things going on, but you have to know (or figure out) how to get there. many people in town for business that are staying in downtown aren't going to drive 45 minutes to ballantyne or elsewhere. it is confusing to get around if you aren't familiar with the area especially considering that street names change so many times. charlotte can be 'boring' to some/many visitors but it's a great place to live.
I think once the Epicentre entertainment complex opens on College Street, the museums and new theater at the new Wachovia complex are built (and maybe the Nascar HOF, if thats your thing), the new Knights stadium, and the new center city park will change the way people perceive downtown Charlotte. Even light rail will help, because then people can take the train to South End. There will be a lot more things to do for a business visitor and I cannot wait until all of these projects are done! As a resident of Charlotte I will definately use them myself.
Well, I'm a transplant (2 years) and if there's boredom to be found, I sure couldn't locate it Saturday. Brunch in H-Ville @ 11:30. Pride Charlotte from 1:30 - 4:00, random bar/early dinner 4 -6:30, party at a house for Pay Per View event 7:00 - 2:30 a.m. I could USE more boring weekends, I was useless on Sunday. I remember when I was in college a dozen years ago that people from my area said "Greensboro = Greensboring". Hmmmm...I never got bored. Same with Charlotte today. I'm not bored.
Yeah, I'm sure that Albany NY, Newark NJ, Pittsburgh PA and Cleveland OH are just rocking. If the people who are new continue to complain about our "outdated" town, I'm sure their hometowns will graciuosly welcome them back.
After all, houses are selling at discount prices from what I hear.
Bitter, no.....just proud of what Charlotte had, not of what it is quickly becoming. Welcome y'all!!
Charlotte's not boring but getting around can sure be a PITA. On Sat I went to a party at Dixie's and had to pay $5 to park. Charlotte business community, wake up and do something about downtown parking after business hours! Who in their right mind should pay $5 (or anything, really) to park downtown and spend $$?
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Uh, $5 for parking is a bargain!!!! Go to another city and see what you would have to pay!
Oh, and anon 7:09 - Charlotte is a lot better than what it used to be and it is only getting better, so :-P
Charlotte certainly has plenty to do if your up for it. I don't anyone staying downtown for a few nights would have any problem finding something to do without leaving. They could take a trip down to Ballantyne in much less than 45 minutes if they leave after 7pm. I make it from Downtown to Ballantyne in 40 minutes everyday at rush hour and I can get there in 20-25 minutes if I work late. However for a night or two there is no need to leave DT.
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Charlotte has changed very much since I moved here 8 years ago but there is still not much here to do. The Panthers games, lame club seen and the malls. I guess if you never had much to do that would seem like alot.
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I wish people could be more civil. If you want to engage in a productive and lively discussion, you must use "reasonable person" standards when responding. I'm disappointed there were so many posts deleted by the Blog Admin because most journalists have pretty liberal standards regarding what is acceptable, so these posts must have been pretty out of bounds. Come on, people, can't we just be civil? That isn't a difficult standard to achieve.
CIVIL: Adequate in courtesy and politeness : MANNERLY (e.g. a civil question).
Sure. There are plenty of bars and nightclubs; however there isn't much in terms of diversity. Uptown has plenty of bars but they're all pretty much the same with the same type of crowd. Even NODA has fallen prey to the yuppie cleansing.
I moved away from Charlotte to atlanta 4 years ago. When i got to Atlanta, i realized how crappy Charlotte is! A year before i moved i was bored out of my mind being there. When i go back to visit friends and family, there is nothing to do. The skyline is what- like 2 or 3 buildings? I dont know why Charlotte cant just embrace its small town-ness, instead of trying so hard to be a world class city like Atlanta. My brother who lives in charlotte sent this article to me thinking i would get a laugh out of it. He is also counting down the days til he can leave the 2nd queen city (cincinatti is actually the queen city)
Discovery Place, Concord Mills, and the Mint Museum get stale after the hundredth visit! Charlotte is great...if you like sports, lame dance clubs, and generic shopping malls. For a good concert, you pretty much have to drive to Atlanta.
This may sound like whining, and it probably is. That's why I'm saving as much $ as I can, getting solid work experience after college, and moving to NYC in 5 years! NYC may be more expensive, but you don't need a gas-guzzling car to get everywhere, and there are lots more free things to do there. Charlotte blows!
I'm a newcomer, arrived in September from Mexico City.
The city isn't THAT bad... A visitor would find something to have some fun.
But to live here is a pain... really... it is a bloody boring place to live. It has little nightlife (in less than a month you get to know all the worthy places), the dinning isn't special, it lacks museums, and very little decent come here.
I like the cost of living, be able to walk or use train (I live in Uptown), the little traffic and the friendly people, but there is no way I can call this place fun.
"very little decent bands" I meant in the previous comment...
"That reputation may have been fair a couple of decades ago, but I’d argue it isn’t today." ... dude, you are perfectly right about it
I totally agree that this reputation is outdated. I've always been a pool-lounger, and when people come here I think they are surprised at the pools Charlotte NC offers! Some of them are really great for relaxing and getting a tan while others make for killer beach parties. Those definitely are not boring!
You have got to be kidding me. I am looking for a new home because I am tired of the exorbitant prices of the chicago suburbs.
I traveled to Charlotte in the hopes of making it home. Downtown Charlotte is pretty and all but all but it doesn't have any flavor to it. It's a pretty little town more than a down town. There is no real night life. Like others have said don't expect to hang out after the party at a coffee shop or have an early, early morning breakfast at 3:00 a.m. I also checked for concerts and festivals, nothing much there either. And, I'm sorry, but golf and pool halls don't compete with the diversity of music, reggae, house music, jazz, rock, blues or options for dining, festivals, concerts and muesuems.
Just might have to make the best of it here in the beautiful suburbs of Willowbrook, IL (30 min from Chicago).
Charlotte is a rapidly growing city and it's mainly known it being a large banking center. But I've lived here my whole life and it has changed a lot. This city has a lot to offer, you just have to know where to go. For example we have Southpark Mall and Carolina Place Mall, great restaurants, Carowinds Amusement Park which is currently building the world's longest, tallest and fastest traditional roller coaster, The Wells Fargo Championship, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Epicenter, Mint Museum and much more. This city is only growing and overtime it will have more to offer. But I do agree that this city does get a little boring doing the same things again. This city is a great place to raise a family though, it has great sized and cheap housing, great place to ring a job and great schools.
To see what Charlotte really has, you have to go beyond Uptown Charlotte. There are amazing country clubs with golf courses and other amenities such as Ballantyne, Longview and Quail Hollow toward South Charlotte.
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