UptownGrrl

I agree - this is where Atlanta and Charlotte have it right, I think. If you put it out by the track, you're likely to attract only people who are already interested in Nascar - perhaps they're going to the race anyway, and will stop by the HOF to check it out. Putting it away from the speedway, close to other congregation centers, will attract the interest of those who may not otherwise have thought to visit a Nascar attraction (in addition to those who seek it out as a destination). And, isn't that their goal -- increase awareness of the sport, and increase the fan base? Why just provide an amenity for the existing fan base? From a product marketing standpoint, they would want to attract more current "non-users" who have a high likelihood of becoming users. Its a general concept that actually works against Charlotte -- we're SO well known for Nascar, its assumed that everyone here is already a fan. That makes for good support, but not much growth potential. A city with a bigger population of non-fans and more pass-through non-fans (i.e. tourists) provides a bigger market for future fans. Sort of like low intro rate credit cards and discounted cable service for "new" customers. Once you're a profitable existing customer - you're hosed. No more goodies.

I second Sonoma - the place is beautiful. I'd like to know who their interior designer was. Also, prices and portions are actually pretty reasonable. I've tried to go to Copper twice - jumping the gun each time. I guess they got a bit behind and pushed back their opening day. Glad to hear the positive review though. One place I wouldn't recommend is Jaimama - the new "coastal cuisine" restaurant on East Blvd. in the former Vidalia & Grapes location. We waited close to an hour and a half before our entrees arrived, it was quite pricey, they didn't include some side dishes that were supposed to come with the meals and it really wasn't that good. I ordered Jamaican Jerk ribs that had no meat on them and didn't taste like jerk at all. Our server was really funny and entertaining though. I'd chalk it up as a place to go for an appetizer and a glass of wine out on the patio. I guess you have to cut them some slack for being new, but apparantly some places - such as Copper - can pull it off right from the beginning.

Another Nascar-Charlotte Connection: Charlotte Lands NASCAR Reality Show "Twenty-five aspiring drivers will compete in a new reality-TV show filmed in Charlotte starting this month and shown next fall on The Discovery Channel. The winner will compete in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The producers for "America's Next Top Driver" -- still a working title -- are now in Charlotte and hiring crew members for the four to six weeks of shooting."

Or, a Bond girl perhaps....

Last thing I remember hearing is "by the end of the year".

a.k.a. Needless Markup

New "beach" at Lake Norman? Sounds like it will be a nice place to spend a summer day. "The $3.1 million complex, paid for with a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant, was finished in November. It includes a 125-yard sand beach, a bathhouse and concession building, bathrooms, picnic grounds, parking and a 50-foot fishing pier." Lake Norman Gets New Swimming Beach

Here was a recent article by Leigh Dyer, comparing membership clubs, discount department stores and grocery stores. Anecdotal, but interesting. http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/bus...er/11130025.htm It used to be that you could pay a 5% upcharge at some of the clubs, which meant as long as you spent less than $700-800 dollars there in a year it was cheaper to pay the upcharge than become a member. That apparantly has gone up to 15% though (took 'em awhile to figure that out!). But, it may still be better to pay the upcharge if you only need large quantities for your annual summer bbq or holiday time and your annual tab is only a couple hundred dollars.

Queens has optioned the building which they say the may use for a law school if they go ahead with it. Or, Queens may use it for other academic purposes if they don't go forward with the law school. At this point, Elon is the only school that's moved from the planning stage to the implementation stage. The Elon Law School will be housed in the to-be renovated Greensboro public library building in downtown Greensboro. I think Queens and UNCC are now taking a wait-and-see approach to see how the Elon school gets off the ground, and what impact it would have on establishing another law school in Charlotte. If Charlotte does get a law school, I think Queens would do it before UNCC would.

An article in the Business Journal today discusses the current state of the competition to land the Nascar Hall of Fame. The state really supports the idea, but unfortunately, seems to be a little light on the cash. There is talk of bolstering the bid through the donation of land, and the article mentions "land designated for the convention center's expansion" and the "Hall Marshall county site on North Tryon". A final note mentions Daniel Levine's willingness to discuss his First Ward property, but says he has not be contacted. Nobody's commenting on financing at this point, apparantly because there are a lot of options on how to approach it and it seems no one wants to commit to a position. Meanwhile, it looks like some of the other contenders (Daytona, Atlanta and Kansas City) have prepared to pony up some big bucks and have lined up locations and big-time corporate support. What do you all think 1.) the hall of fame will potentially do for local tourism and the economy, 2.) How vigorously should Charlotte/NC compete (i.e. $$$) for it, and 3.) Where do you think it should be built if it does come to town?

LOL. agreed. Dulles is so inconvenient. I wonder if we'll have any direct flights or if it will all shuttle through Atlanta (as most of their other southeast airports do). A quick, cheap flight to Savannah/Hilton Head would be very nice.

I thought I read in some previous versions of the greenway plans (that go back decades) that this had been considered, but never got off the ground due to engineering roadblocks. I just hope that as development sprouts up along the 'new' greenway that setbacks are far enough to accommodate expansion of the waterway so a true riverfront district may still be a possibility in the future. I'd hate to see the idea ruled out forever because someone put up a really expensive building too close to the Sugar Creek Greenway. It would be the ideal setting for a stroll district, or even a nice recreation area like Great Falls Md./Va. along the C&O Canal (some parts of the canal are narrow enough to jump from one side to the other, and some parts resemble a rapid river).

Been in North Carolina since 1992, and in Charlotte since 1997. Originally from the sprawling suburbs of D.C.

"Queens University of Charlotte was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute, located at College and 9th Streets near the center of the city. From 1891