07-May-2013

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Things to do in Charlotte for May

Category : Charlotte News, What to do in Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina has something for everyone. Its year-round mild climate and tourist-friendly activities and businesses make it an ideal vacation spot. charlotte-fountainHere’s a few sampling of events for the month of May

Fun Family Events

Carowinds, a family-friendly theme and water park, is open on weekends in May until the 19th, when the park is open 7 days a week. This amusement park has rides for every age and entertainment for the teens. Kids of all ages will love the 34,000 square foot wave pool and the numerous water slides in the 20-acre water park.

Discovery Place will keep everyone entertained: it has an aquarium, a learning lab and an IMAX 3D theater. Nearby Discover for Kids offers loads of fun activities for children from age 1 to 8. They also have daily puppet shows and story hours.

Take the kids to the Fairy Festival at the Charlotte Nature Museum on Saturday, May 18. There will be projects for fairy and hobbit house building and a live butterfly release in the Butterfly Pavilion.

Sporting Events

Catch a game between the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A baseball team of the Chicago White Sox and the Pawtucket Red Sox at Knights Stadium on May 10. Check their schedule for other game dates in May.

Lacrosse fans can watch the Charlotte Hounds, a professional major league lacrosse team, play the Rochester Rattlers at the American Legion Memorial Stadium on May 11.

Racing enthusiasts will want to go to the Tar Heel BMX Nationals Pro Series on May 10 to May 12.

Arts and Crafts

Plan to attend the 5th annual Charlotte Fine Art & Craft Show on May 10. Held at the Convention Center, this juried show features handcrafted art and paintings by world-renowned artists and artisans.

Art (and music) lovers will also enjoy the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Go for the great collection of modern art, and try to visit on Friday, May 3, when the Ziad Jazz Quartet performs. The Bechtler is located in the Levine Center for the Arts where you can also visit the Gantt Center for African-American Arts and the Mint Museum.

Charlotte also has a diverse and exciting art district—enjoy the gallery crawl on the 1rst and 3rd Fridays during the month of May. And you won’t want to miss Carolina’s Got Art!, the annual juried arts show at the Elder Gallery.

Music

There are plenty of concerts in May, and you can also treat yourself to a day at the 3rd Annual North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival located in nearby Huntersville. Taste some great micro brews and chill out to some fabulous bluegrass. Camping is available.

From the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra to the Charlotte Children’s Choir Youth Chorale Spring Concert to the Smashing Pumpkins, you’ll be sure to find live musical performances to suit everyone’s tastes.

You might also want to check out the LEAF musical festival in Black Mountain that takes place May 9-12. It’s about a two hour drive from Charlotte, but it is well worth the trip to see the eclectic lineup of famous musicians.
Whether you decide to take a wildflower walk, a canoe nature trip, a gallery stroll, a rollicking day at an amusement park, take the free Charlotte Community Garden Tour or kick back and enjoy a concert by Crosby, Stills and Nash, you’ll never run out of fun things to do this May in Charlotte.

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01-Apr-2013

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Things to Do In Charlotte – April 2013

Category : Save Money in Charlotte, What to do in Charlotte

There’s no fooling Charlotte: Spring is finally here! Some “first-of-Spring” celebrations were cold affairs indeed with temperatures in Charlotte dipping below freezing when Spring started on March 21st. But rest assured, the worst of Winter’s cold is behind us and it’s time to enjoy the best of what Charlotte has to offer before Summer’s oppressive humidity drives us away to the nearby lakes, mountains or beaches…what a life!

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22-Mar-2013

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Charlotte Experiences a Population Boom

Category : Charlotte News, Information on Charlotte

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Recently released statistics show that the population in Charlotte, NC has grown. In fact, Charlotte’s population is expected to exceed the one million mark next year. For North Carolina, this is the first time a city has seen that much growth in population.

Surprisingly, the fastest growing county in Charlotte is Mecklenburg. It used to be Union County, but in the past few years Mecklenburg has seen more growth than any other county in that state. Studies reveal that Mecklenburg saw a 5.4 percent growth last year.

According to Owen Furuseth, the trends in Mecklenburg’s population show that they are recovering faster from the recession than other counties in North Carolina. Furuseth is a professor and demography expert from the Charlotte Urban Institute.

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19-Mar-2013

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Celebrate Spring in Charlotte

Category : What to do in Charlotte

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We’re only two days from the official start of Spring! Sans allergies, this is the best time to enjoy Charlotte’s world famous tree canopy and gardens. Here’s an outline of a few noteworthy events:

To get a true appreciation for Spring in Charlotte, start at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Their “Southern Spring” event starts March 21st and runs through May 19th. View the gardens, get help selecting plants for your own garden, or simply enjoy a family picnic on the grounds.

Saturday, March 23 has many events for families, couples and individuals. The Harlem Globetrotters, who are an internationally known basketball team, come to town for an unforgettable performance. In addition to this, there are a number of Easter celebrations for children and adults to enjoy. A thrilling Easter egg hunt is in order for adventuring seeking kids at the Adventure Landing Easter Egg Hunt. At the Second Annual Easter Celebration at the Billy Graham Center, kids can create crafts, interact with lambs, listen to a book reading and visit exhibits. The Albemarle Road Recreation Center hosts the thrilling Bette Rae Thomas Easter Egg Hunt. The event is free and offers children and youth the challenging fun of finding Easter eggs. At the Daniel Stow Botanical Garden, children and adults can meet Peter Rabbit and experience Peter Rabbit’s Garden Adventure. Live bunnies and more are at this fun event, which is on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to these Easter events, the Ri Ra Irish Pub has a live performance from Jacob and the good people. The performance begins at 10:30 pm. Salsa enthusiasts can enjoy Salsa Night at the Zaptas Mexican Restaurant.

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01-Mar-2013

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St. Patrick’s Day in Charlotte

Category : What to do in Charlotte

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Now that Valentine’s Day has passed and New Year’s Eve feels like a distant memory, it’s time to start planning for St. Patrick’s Day. Luckily, there are a wide variety of activities taking place in the Charlotte area to make your St. Patrick’s Day one to remember. Whether you’re looking for family fun or something a little more adult, Charlotte has events for all ages.

The main event in Charlotte is the 17th Annual Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival. Both events will take place on Saturday, March 16th in Uptown Charlotte. The Festival, located at S. Tryon St. between 1st and 3rd Sts. will take place from 10:00am-6:30pm. It will feature live music, Irish dancers, and Celtic/Irish vendors from across America. The entire festival is free and is a great place to bring your kids. At 11:00am, the parade begins down Tryon St. before continuing down Caldwell St. Expect over 80,000 spectators watching more than 100 different units of marchers, including Irish dancers, pipe and drum bands, floats, animals, and more. The parade is fun for the whole family and will be full of support from local community groups.

As night falls on March 16th, head over to the Historic Latta Plantation for the Celtic Music Night Fundraiser. Featuring great live music performed by Irish Temperance, the proceeds from the night benefit the Latta Plantation. The event will include food provided by Appalachian Smoke and beer from Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Tickets are priced at $10 per person, and the event is great for both kids and adults.

For the over-21 crowd looking to get out and have a good time, there are several bar and pub crawls taking place around the Charlotte area. BarCrawls.com is organizing both a one-day bar crawl on March 16th ($5) as well as a 3-day bar crawl from March 15th-17th ($15). Ticket-holders will be given a bar-crawl map as well as a wristband and cup. Tickets can be purchased here. PubCrawls.com is offering a Luck of the Irish St. Paddy’s Pub Crawl as well, featuring some of the best bars in Charlotte. Tickets are available for either March 16th or 17th on the day of the events at Dillinger’s Taproom ($15), or 2-Day All Access Passes may be purchased here ($20). Whether you choose family fun during the day, adult revelry at night, or some combination of the two, Charlotte is the place to be this St. Patrick’s Day.

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13-Feb-2013

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Upcoming Events in Charlotte

Category : Charlotte News, Information on Charlotte, What to do in Charlotte

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February has much to offer for both residents and visitors in Charlotte, NC. Kids and adults alike have a lot of events to look forward to this month. The following are some of the great things to do in Charlotte this February.

Kids and Family Events

Queen City Ghost Tours (All February)

Kids and adults who want to get scary with stories about ghosts, goblins and ghouls may come to the Queen City Ghost Tours. This event is available for the whole month of February.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live on February 16

Yo Gabba Gabba Live will be held at Ovens Auditorium. It starts at 5 p.m., and the show is great for kids and parents.

Stories with Dad on February 21

This is great for parents who want their kids to develop their imagination and literacy skills. It happens in the Community Room at the South County Regional Library. This 30-minute activity is great for children from ages three to five.

Fabulous Friday Pajamarama Storytime on February 22

Children who love stories and storytelling should not miss the Fabulous Friday Pajamarama Storytime on February 22. It will be held at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Carolina Place Mall.

Third Annual Pancakes for a Purpose on February 23

Have fun and support a cause with the Third Annual Pancakes for a Purpose. Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser aims to help a pancreatic cancer research program called Pancakes for a Purpose.

Bowl for Kid’s Sake on February 23

Children and parents who are into fundraising may participate in the Bowl for Kid’s Sake. This is an annual activity that Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte initiates.

Kids Painting Class on February 23

Allow kids to express the artist in them during the kids painting class “Abstract Heart” by Cajun Canvas. With this, they will be able to develop their art skills and take home their masterpieces.

Unsung Heroes: African Americans in History on February 23

Students and adults should come to witness the award-winning author and educator Carole Boston Weatherford’s creation with live performances of poetic biographies about people who worked hard to build the country. This activity is free, and there are no reservations needed. It is at the main branch of the Gaston County Public library.

Festivals in Charlotte

Noda Gras Mardi Gras Bar Crawl on February 16

Enjoy a fun-filled night with Noda Gras. It is going to be a party with great food and drinks. It will also be a venue for thousands of Good Eats and Meets Charlotte chapter members to get to know each other.

Charlotte Dance Festival on February 15 to 16

Residents and guests should see the two-day long unique and creative dance showcase. It features performances from local and national dance companies.

Sports

Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats on February 20

Watch as Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats compete at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Bobcats on February 22

Sports fanatics should not miss the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Bobcats at the Time Warner Cable Arena on the 22nd. It will be an exciting match that families should watch together.

Performing Arts

Les Miserables starts on February 12

World-renowned theater show Les Miserables is going to hit Charlotte on February 12 at the NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It is best to get tickets now before it is too late.

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin on February 21

It’s going to be a night full of music and love as the intimate duo Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin hit the stage on February 21 at the Knight Theater. Colvin is a three-time Grammy Awardee while Carpenter sold over 13 million records over the course of her career.

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06-Feb-2013

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Getting Your Home Ready for Spring

Category : Charlotte real estate

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It isn’t officially Spring until March 21st but if you are in Charlotte and look outside today, you would think it has already arrived. That means doing some simple home maintenance tasks to keep your home energy efficient and beautiful.  Increasing temperature and humidity can wreak havoc on your home or condo. Charlotte Sights provides some tips to help you preserve your home’s value.

For Inside Your Home

1. Check Your Seals

There are several areas in your home that have caulking or sealant. In your bathroom you need to check your sink, shower, and bathtub. The kitchen has sealant around the countertops and cabinets. Doors and windows also have seals and weather stripping that must be maintained. Gaps in the seals can cause leaks and higher energy bills. Remove dried or cracked caulking and reapply.

2. Smoke Detectors

Experts recommend that you check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors twice a year. It is important to test these units and replace the batteries.

3. Replace Filters

Now is the time to check your air conditioning filter. A clean filter makes your unit more energy efficient.

4. Clean The Dryer

Excessive lint in your dryer lowers its drying capability which can cost you money and time. A blocked vent can also create a fire hazard. Check the lint trap in the dryer as well as the wall to make sure you have removed all dryer lint.

Outside Your Home

5. Check The Roof

Winter weather can damage your roof and a rainy spring can cause inconvenient leaks. Check the vent pipes to make sure they are completely sealed. Take a look at the roof shingles as well. They can pull loose during winter storms.

6. Clean The Gutters

It is important to remove leaves, branches, and other debris from your gutters. Clogged gutters can damage your roof. Taking an afternoon to clean your gutters can prevent a more costly roof repair.

7. Wash The Exterior

The winter has been rough on the exterior of your home. You may find mold, dirt, or other stains on your siding, deck, driveway, or sidewalk. Pressure washing the exterior areas of your house will give you an immediate improvement in appearance. this is a good time to wash your windows as well. They have become dull during the past few months. A fresh wash job will leave you with sparkling glass.

8. Rake And Fertilize

Get your yard ready for the spring by raking and removing leaves and other debris. Start working on that beautiful summer lawn by adding fertilizer and weed remover.
Taking time for these simple tasks now will make your spring more enjoyable. If you get your whole family involved you can complete the entire list in one weekend.  The conscientious homeowner knows that taking care of the small details now can help prevent large repairs later and better preserve your Charlotte home’s value.

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25-Sep-2012

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Publix Coming to Charlotte

Category : Charlotte News, Information on Charlotte

publix Florida based Super Market Publix will open up its 5th division here in Charlotte, starting with a 56,000 square foot store at Providence Road West and Johnston Road. It’s expected to open in early 2014.

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24-Sep-2012

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Charlotte Observer’s Interactive Map

Category : Charlotte News, Information on Charlotte, Uncategorized, What to do in Charlotte

The Charlotte Observer’s website has a great feature hidden between its pages, highlighting some of Charlotte’s unique uptown offerings. The interactive map includes categories like Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Sports & Entertainment, Novelty while also highlighting some of the city’s landmarks such as the Ratcliff’s Flowers sign standing on South Tryon across from the new Mint Museum.

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18-Sep-2012

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Historic Dilworth Dwellings

Category : Charlotte News, Information on Charlotte, What to do in Charlotte

dilworth_sign Nine homes will be open to the public this Friday and Saturday for the 40th Dilworth Home Tour. As one of the six designated historic districts in Charlotte, Dilworth holds it’s own very special charm and is considered by some to be the first Charlotte suburb. Development of the area began in 1891 by businessman Edward Dilworth Latta, also responsible for Latta Park. He introduced the electric street car to the area, making it attractive to those who wanted to live outside center city but still have a quick and easy way to get back.

Some of the homes on this year’s tour are not original Dilworth homes, but are tear-downs that have been rebuilt with the neighborhood’s historic aesthetics. Others, however, are original Dilworth homes that have been brought back to life after years of neglect. It took hundreds of volunteers to stage these homes and, of course, the cooperation of the gracious homeowners willing to let ticket holders stroll through. The funds raised during the tour go toward some of the Dilworth Community Development Association’s (DCDA) projects and events. Dilworth Cares also receives a cut of the proceeds each year to give toward an area charity with ties to the neighborhood.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or in person at Paper Skyscraper, BLACKLION, Park Road Books, Dilworth Rug, or T. Reid & Company. To kickoff the tour, ticket holders can attend a wine tasting at the Wine Shop on Park Road this Friday at 5 before the tour starts at 6pm and continues until 9pm. Saturday’s tour will be from 10am until 4pm.

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