Random notes from my brief visit

[carolinaboy]

The UNC Charlotte campus is nice. My daughter liked it, as did I.

Some of the area around the campus is sketchy.

Leaving the campus and driving down N Tryon St we did not see a light rail train for a very long time.

Uptown is cool but South End is cooler.

The Truist sign is very visible at night. I liked it.

The line at Prices Chicken Coop was too long and I unfortunately didn't have time to wait.

Shake Shack was good though,as was Jennies Ice Cream.

The weather was beautiful Saturday and the rail trail was fun.

We saw a very nice blue Aston Martin in South End. I guess it was either a NFL player, a NBA player or a banking dude. Cool car any way.

If you were in the Toyota Corolla honking at my car at the stop light, my wife was driving, not me .

I-77 was a disaster but the other interstates and highways weren't too bad.

I saw a guy walking down the street with 3 boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I yelled to my wife, "That must be KJ!" She replied, "Who the hell is KJ?"

The new towers in South End really stretch the skyline nicely. Hopefully any new towers don't go too much taller. I'd rather see many more 8 to 12 floor buildings than a few taller ones.

I appreciate everyone here who posts pictures but things are much bigger and more dense in person.

FNB tower, Honeywell, Deloitte and Ally are much taller in real life than they look in pictures.

The Lowes tech tower is beautiful and fits well (I think) in South End.

I didn't get to explore as much as I wanted to but had a nice but brief visit. If my daughter chooses UNC-C that would be fine with me because then I could visit more.

People with South Carolina plates drive very fast.I drive in Virginia a lot and thought they drove fast. They don't have anything on SC folks.

 

[RANYC]

Yes, I agree on SC drivers.  "Build the Wall!"

[Desert Power]

3 hours ago, RANYC said:

Yes, I agree on SC drivers.  "Build the Wall!"

...and make SC pay for it!

[Rickybobby]

When you left campus, did you actually drive down University City blvd and not North Tryon to start?  The line terminates on campus and turns immediately out onto North Tryon from campus.

[carolinaboy]

On 4/12/2021 at 8:23 AM, Rickybobby said:

When you left campus, did you actually drive down University City blvd and not North Tryon to start?  The line terminates on campus and turns immediately out onto North Tryon from campus.

We drove down N Tryon all the way to uptown (as best as I could tell). We paralleled the tracks for a good ways before it veered away. It is entirely possible that we wouldn't have been able to see some of the trains from our vanatge point. I just found it odd that I didn't notice any.

[Miesian Corners]

3 hours ago, carolinaboy said:

We drove down N Tryon all the way to uptown (as best as I could tell). We paralleled the tracks for a good ways before it veered away. It is entirely possible that we wouldn't have been able to see some of the trains from our vanatge point. I just found it odd that I didn't notice any.

The transit schedule has been drastically reduced due to the pandemic.

[gman430]

On 4/10/2021 at 8:14 PM, RANYC said:

Yes, I agree on SC drivers.  "Build the Wall!"

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by gman430

[atl2clt]

Wasn't sure where else to post this, but I figured this thread would be appropriate (I hope).

This past weekend, I had some family in town from ATL. For their brief 24-hour trip from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday, here was our itinerary:

• Walk around Southend and get lunch at a local brewery;
• Walk into Uptown (e.g., Romare Bearden, Tryon Street) with a guided audio tour (by me) of all the cool buildings;
• Take the light rail back home to South End; 
• Drive into Plaza Midwood for dinner and walk around the area; 
• Drive down Queens Road to ogle at big houses;
• Get drinks and dessert in NoDa; and 
• Get brunch at Suffolk Punch. 

And, wow. To say that this city impressed would be an understatement. Everywhere we went, the streets were bustling with people moving about. Uptown felt lively and vibrant. NoDa at night was absolutely roaring with people and music. (The fire department in NoDa was even outside shooting the crap with passersby). In multiple parts of town, there were pop-up stands and shops with merchants selling art and trinkets. 

I'm not quite what I'm trying to say here other than something truly special is brewing in Charlotte. This city is undoubtedly taking off right now and for us to be able to watch its growth and development will be a treat for many years to come.

My family is already planning a trip back. 

[tozmervo]

39 minutes ago, atl2clt said:

Wasn't sure where else to post this, but I figured this thread would be appropriate (I hope).

I actually had a really similar experience with a brother in town this past weekend. Friday night we did dinner and drinks at a bustling Latta Arcade. Lots of people out and about around the park. A line too long for cereal sent us to Krispy Kreme instead. (sorry not sorry.)

Saturday we hit up CM and Legion in Plaza Midwood, Town Brewing and NJC in Freemore, a packed Heist Barrel Arts (with live outdoor music!), and ended on the Birdsong patio. Lots of liveliness everywhere, everyone seemed to be in really high spirits. 

Sunday we ended with lunch and drinks in NoDa at Salud and did about there. It was a beautiful weekend, and Charlotte really shined. 

[rancenc]

On anyone's next visit to Charlotte, not only take in the sights of the city, but use  the location for an incursion into some of the wonderful towns and cities such as Blowing Rock.  

https://www.ourstate.com/sip-stroll-in-blowing-rock/?fbclid=IwAR30T1RUGQJY-ShqWAa6W4bV-fxRnH4q8rGowRXi3xcTPHs_xoFu6ZjMiig

[SgtCampsalot]

On 4/20/2021 at 9:44 PM, atl2clt said:

And, wow. To say that this city impressed would be an understatement. Everywhere we went, the streets were bustling with people moving about. Uptown felt lively and vibrant. NoDa at night was absolutely roaring with people and music. (The fire department in NoDa was even outside shooting the crap with passersby). In multiple parts of town, there were pop-up stands and shops with merchants selling art and trinkets. 

I'm not quite what I'm trying to say here other than something truly special is brewing in Charlotte. This city is undoubtedly taking off right now and for us to be able to watch its growth and development will be a treat for many years to come.

My family is already planning a trip back. 

This has been my experience, too, especially in NoDa which has had so many street vendors lately, it's very charming as heck!

It becomes more depressing, though, when I remember how CLT is just one of scores of cities in the US that are increasingly consolidating wealth as the national economy works for less and less people.

It's becoming harder and harder to get by here. Every time I see how many people move here with financial means, and how they gravitate toward city-centric areas (if not specific suburbs), it hurts my heart because our leaders (fed, state, municipal) choose to make prosperity for some at the expense of most. Our cities right now are just a reminder of that.

Edited June 6, 2021 by SgtCampsalot

[victory]

On 4/20/2021 at 9:44 PM, atl2clt said:

Wasn't sure where else to post this, but I figured this thread would be appropriate (I hope).

This past weekend, I had some family in town from ATL. For their brief 24-hour trip from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday, here was our itinerary:

• Walk around Southend and get lunch at a local brewery;
• Walk into Uptown (e.g., Romare Bearden, Tryon Street) with a guided audio tour (by me) of all the cool buildings;
• Take the light rail back home to South End; 
• Drive into Plaza Midwood for dinner and walk around the area; 
• Drive down Queens Road to ogle at big houses;
• Get drinks and dessert in NoDa; and 
• Get brunch at Suffolk Punch. 

And, wow. To say that this city impressed would be an understatement. Everywhere we went, the streets were bustling with people moving about. Uptown felt lively and vibrant. NoDa at night was absolutely roaring with people and music. (The fire department in NoDa was even outside shooting the crap with passersby). In multiple parts of town, there were pop-up stands and shops with merchants selling art and trinkets. 

I'm not quite what I'm trying to say here other than something truly special is brewing in Charlotte. This city is undoubtedly taking off right now and for us to be able to watch its growth and development will be a treat for many years to come.

My family is already planning a trip back. 

So your family was visiting from Atlanta? Did they make any comparisons or point out any differences between the two cities? It seems these are the two cities in our region that, for lack of a better word, have a rivalry, much like Houston vs Dallas. I have always enjoyed being a fly on the wall hearing residents of each metro area fight it out for which is best, cleaner, safer, more interesting, better shopping, whatever. I'd be curious to know what, if any, comments along those lines might have been made.   

[JorgiPorgi]

I love this thread. I loved hearing about outside experiences in Charlotte- I get so used to living here that it becomes harder and harder to see the changes. Every time I have friends and family visit they are amazed at the growth. 

[atl2clt]

On 6/5/2021 at 2:50 PM, victory said:

So your family was visiting from Atlanta? Did they make any comparisons or point out any differences between the two cities? It seems these are the two cities in our region that, for lack of a better word, have a rivalry, much like Houston vs Dallas. I have always enjoyed being a fly on the wall hearing residents of each metro area fight it out for which is best, cleaner, safer, more interesting, better shopping, whatever. I'd be curious to know what, if any, comments along those lines might have been made.   

As a lifelong Atlantan now relocated to Charlotte, I have LOTS of conversations with friends and family about the similarities/differences between the two cities. A few things stick out:

• Cleanliness: The most common thing I hear from visitors, unfortunately, is that "Charlotte is so much cleaner than Atlanta." While I understand this sentiment, I really dislike this statement. It always seems to have a weird racial and socio-economic undertone. In essence, what it sounds like people are saying is, "I feel more comfortable walking around this city." While that statement may be true, I think that commenting on the "cleanliness" of a city is, in many cases, a red herring (i.e., an avoidance technique to shy away from commenting on more complex and more controversial observations). 
• Architecture: Charlotte has some really impressive buildings and, for the most part, they actually have some character. Both BofA towers, Duke Energy Center, Hearst Tower, the Wells Fargo jukebox building, 300 South Tryon. They all have a little bit of flair and nuance. Most importantly, they are all concentrated in a central downtown hub that lights up beautifully at night. Atlanta, on the other hand, went through a glut of development in the 70s and 80s that has aged very, very poorly. I'm looking at you Peachtree Center, Georgia Pacific building, AT&T building, Mariott Marquis, Coca-Cola Building. I mean, yuck. I routinely hear Atlanta friends/family say that they really like the buildings and the skyline in Charlotte. Instagram photos with skyline backdrops are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta. Also, rooftop bars/restaurants are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta ("Why don't we have any of these in Atlanta?"). 
• Food: I don't know if I'm just getting lucky, but I routinely go to amazing restaurants in Charlotte whenever I have company in town. I haven't had a single guest leave without saying "I ate too much this weekend" (which is great, because it means I did my job as a host). While Atlanta has a larger and more diverse culinary scene, Charlotte somehow seems to have a more distinct culinary identity. It's BBQ; it's fried chicken; it's craft beer. It is undeniably Southern in ways that Atlanta is not. While that might sound cheap and kitschy, it's not. In fact, it's really cool. It adds character and definition to the city. Charlotte will quickly climb the ranks as a culinary destination, if it hasn't already. 
• Shopping: Atlanta wins this hands down and it's not even close. Atlanta has a number of world-class shopping districts (more on this here). On the other hand, Charlotte shopping is bland, maybe even exceptionally bland. I can't think of a single shopping area I would take friends and family while they're in Charlotte. South Park Mall? That's gonna a hard no from me. That said, Charlotte's identity as a destination for furniture and antiques outmatches Atlanta.
• Which city is more interesting (i.e., culture)?: Whether a city is interesting is, in my opinion, rooted in whether a city has culture. "Culture" is a complex term, though, and it's difficult to unpack all of the normative assumptions packed into that single word. In short, I think culture = history. Which city has more history? Atlanta does, by a mile.
  • Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights movement. It hosted the 1996 Olympics. It was the birthplace of Outkast and Southern rap. And now, it's the Hollywood of the South. I mean, "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" were both filmed in Atlanta--two of the top five highest grossing films of all time. If you spend enough time in Atlanta, you'll find Atlanta's cultural identity everywhere, from the Billboard Top Charts to some of the most watched Netflix shows (e.g., Ozark; Stranger Things).  Atlanta is also an intensely important political node, as the recent January 2021 runoff had the entire country focusing on how Atlanta residents were voting. Atlanta's recent upswing in cultural popularity was no overnight feat, though. It took decades of cultivating a unique image. 
  • Charlotte, in comparison, is usually greeted with the comment that "everything is so new!" This sentiment runs directly counter to the idea (or at least my idea) of culture. The buildings mostly look brand new; there is no iconic personality that defines the city; there was no major history lesson in grade school about Charlotte. Of course, I'm sure that plenty of multi-generation Charlotte residents recognize that Charlotte too has a unique culture and history. But from the outside, it does not appear that way. 
• Walkability/Urbanism: Charlotte--all day every day. I just had in-laws in town this past weekend and we didn't get in the car once. We walked all around South End and Uptown and took the train up to NoDa. Once the street car is open, I'll even add Plaza Midwood to the itinerary. "This city is so walkable" is perhaps my favorite comment to hear from out-of-towners. 
• Is there a rivalry between the cities?: Nope. First, from a business relocation standpoint, each of Charlotte and Atlanta have different identities in the types of businesses they attract. Second, from a sports perspective, I don't consider the Hornets or the Panthers to be, respectively, the primary rival of the Hawks or the Falcons. Overall, Charlotte and Atlanta have a symbiotic relationship as fast-growing Southern cities, separated by a mere 4 hours on I-85. Both cities are experiencing similar levels of growth and similar migration patterns. That said, I don't think most Atlantans have ever been to Charlotte, so it often comes as a surprise when they first visit and find out that Charlotte is bigger and cooler than they were expecting. 

Apologies on the essay. Slow day at work today. 

Edited June 8, 2021 by atl2clt

[KJHburg]

I agree mostly with everything said above.  I have many friends in the ATL metro and those who come here say many of the same things.  as for the cleanliness I do think it how our streets are not littered with trash and so forth.  Everyone who says that to me means nothing else I can assure you.   Like you said most Atlantans are very surprised at Charlotte's size and I swear they think we are the size of Greensboro or Durham or something.   Likewise many locals know Atlanta is a bigger but they underestimate it MUCH bigger the metro area is than metro Charlotte's.  My friends live 40 miles out and it is continuous development all the way into downtown which when they go they spend the night!  I have always said ATL is one of my favorite mega cities in the USA but Charlotte is just the right size for me.  Not too small not too big just right. The tree canopy and rolling hills of the ATL are beautiful as are their 5 high rise clusters! 

[victory]

1 hour ago, atl2clt said:

As a lifelong Atlantan now relocated to Charlotte, I have LOTS of conversations with friends and family about the similarities/differences between the two cities. A few things stick out:

• Cleanliness: The most common thing I hear from visitors, unfortunately, is that "Charlotte is so much cleaner than Atlanta." While I understand this sentiment, I really dislike this statement. It always seems to have a weird racial and socio-economic undertone. In essence, what it sounds like people are saying is, "I feel more comfortable walking around this city." While that statement may be true, I think that commenting on the "cleanliness" of a city is, in many cases, a red herring (i.e., an avoidance technique to shy away from commenting on more complex and more controversial observations). 
• Architecture: Charlotte has some really impressive buildings and, for the most part, they actually have some character. Both BofA towers, Duke Energy Center, Hearst Tower, the Wells Fargo jukebox building, 300 South Tryon. They all have a little bit of flair and nuance. Most importantly, they are all concentrated in a central downtown hub that lights up beautifully at night. Atlanta, on the other hand, went through a glut of development in the 70s and 80s that has aged very, very poorly. I'm looking at you Peachtree Center, Georgia Pacific building, AT&T building, Mariott Marquis, Coca-Cola Building. I mean, yuck. I routinely hear Atlanta friends/family say that they really like the buildings and the skyline in Charlotte. Instagram photos with skyline backdrops are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta. Also, rooftop bars/restaurants are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta ("Why don't we have any of these in Atlanta?"). 
• Food: I don't know if I'm just getting lucky, but I routinely go to amazing restaurants in Charlotte whenever I have company in town. I haven't had a single guest leave without saying "I ate too much this weekend" (which is great, because it means I did my job as a host). While Atlanta has a larger and more diverse culinary scene, Charlotte somehow seems to have a more distinct culinary identity. It's BBQ; it's fried chicken; it's craft beer. It is undeniably Southern in ways that Atlanta is not. While that might sound cheap and kitschy, it's not. In fact, it's really cool. It adds character and definition to the city. Charlotte will quickly climb the ranks as a culinary destination, if it hasn't already. 
• Shopping: Atlanta wins this hands down and it's not even close. Atlanta has a number of world-class shopping districts (more on this here). On the other hand, Charlotte shopping is bland, maybe even exceptionally bland. I can't think of a single shopping area I would take friends and family while they're in Charlotte. South Park Mall? That's gonna a hard no from me. That said, Charlotte's identity as a destination for furniture and antiques outmatches Atlanta.
• Which city is more interesting (i.e., culture)?: Whether a city is interesting is, in my opinion, rooted in whether a city has culture. "Culture" is a complex term, though, and it's difficult to unpack all of the normative assumptions packed into that single word. In short, I think culture = history. Which city has more history? Atlanta does, by a mile.
  • Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights movement. It hosted the 1996 Olympics. It was the birthplace of Outkast and Southern rap. And now, it's the Hollywood of the South. I mean, "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" were both filmed in Atlanta--two of the top five highest grossing films of all time. If you spend enough time in Atlanta, you'll find Atlanta's cultural identity everywhere, from the Billboard Top Charts to some of the most watched Netflix shows (e.g., Ozark; Stranger Things).  Atlanta is also an intensely important political node, as the recent January 2021 runoff had the entire country focusing on how Atlanta residents were voting. Atlanta's recent upswing in cultural popularity was no overnight feat, though. It took decades of cultivating a unique image. 
  • Charlotte, in comparison, is usually greeted with the comment that "everything is so new!" This sentiment runs directly counter to the idea (or at least my idea) of culture. The buildings mostly look brand new; there is no iconic personality that defines the city; there was no major history lesson in grade school about Charlotte. Of course, I'm sure that plenty of multi-generation Charlotte residents recognize that Charlotte too has a unique culture and history. But from the outside, it does not appear that way. 
• Walkability/Urbanism: Charlotte--all day every day. I just had in-laws in town this past weekend and we didn't get in the car once. We walked all around South End and Uptown and took the train up to NoDa. Once the street car is open, I'll even add Plaza Midwood to the itinerary. "This city is so walkable" is perhaps my favorite comment to hear from out-of-towners. 
• Is there a rivalry between the cities?: Nope. First, from a business relocation standpoint, each of Charlotte and Atlanta have different identities in the types of businesses they attract. Second, from a sports perspective, I don't consider the Hornets or the Panthers to be, respectively, the primary rival of the Hawks or the Falcons. Overall, Charlotte and Atlanta have a symbiotic relationship as fast-growing Southern cities, separated by a mere 4 hours on I-85. Both cities are experiencing similar levels of growth and similar migration patterns. That said, I don't think most Atlantans have ever been to Charlotte, so it often comes as a surprise when they first visit and find out that Charlotte is bigger and cooler than they were expecting. 

Apologies on the essay. Slow day at work today. 

Man, that was a FANTASTIC read! No apologies required. Great stuff!

[jessediebolt]

On 6/8/2021 at 6:19 PM, atl2clt said:

As a lifelong Atlantan now relocated to Charlotte, I have LOTS of conversations with friends and family about the similarities/differences between the two cities. A few things stick out:

• Cleanliness: The most common thing I hear from visitors, unfortunately, is that "Charlotte is so much cleaner than Atlanta." While I understand this sentiment, I really dislike this statement. It always seems to have a weird racial and socio-economic undertone. In essence, what it sounds like people are saying is, "I feel more comfortable walking around this city." While that statement may be true, I think that commenting on the "cleanliness" of a city is, in many cases, a red herring (i.e., an avoidance technique to shy away from commenting on more complex and more controversial observations). 
• Architecture: Charlotte has some really impressive buildings and, for the most part, they actually have some character. Both BofA towers, Duke Energy Center, Hearst Tower, the Wells Fargo jukebox building, 300 South Tryon. They all have a little bit of flair and nuance. Most importantly, they are all concentrated in a central downtown hub that lights up beautifully at night. Atlanta, on the other hand, went through a glut of development in the 70s and 80s that has aged very, very poorly. I'm looking at you Peachtree Center, Georgia Pacific building, AT&T building, Mariott Marquis, Coca-Cola Building. I mean, yuck. I routinely hear Atlanta friends/family say that they really like the buildings and the skyline in Charlotte. Instagram photos with skyline backdrops are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta. Also, rooftop bars/restaurants are a thing in Charlotte; they are not in Atlanta ("Why don't we have any of these in Atlanta?"). 
• Food: I don't know if I'm just getting lucky, but I routinely go to amazing restaurants in Charlotte whenever I have company in town. I haven't had a single guest leave without saying "I ate too much this weekend" (which is great, because it means I did my job as a host). While Atlanta has a larger and more diverse culinary scene, Charlotte somehow seems to have a more distinct culinary identity. It's BBQ; it's fried chicken; it's craft beer. It is undeniably Southern in ways that Atlanta is not. While that might sound cheap and kitschy, it's not. In fact, it's really cool. It adds character and definition to the city. Charlotte will quickly climb the ranks as a culinary destination, if it hasn't already. 
• Shopping: Atlanta wins this hands down and it's not even close. Atlanta has a number of world-class shopping districts (more on this here). On the other hand, Charlotte shopping is bland, maybe even exceptionally bland. I can't think of a single shopping area I would take friends and family while they're in Charlotte. South Park Mall? That's gonna a hard no from me. That said, Charlotte's identity as a destination for furniture and antiques outmatches Atlanta.
• Which city is more interesting (i.e., culture)?: Whether a city is interesting is, in my opinion, rooted in whether a city has culture. "Culture" is a complex term, though, and it's difficult to unpack all of the normative assumptions packed into that single word. In short, I think culture = history. Which city has more history? Atlanta does, by a mile.
  • Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights movement. It hosted the 1996 Olympics. It was the birthplace of Outkast and Southern rap. And now, it's the Hollywood of the South. I mean, "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" were both filmed in Atlanta--two of the top five highest grossing films of all time. If you spend enough time in Atlanta, you'll find Atlanta's cultural identity everywhere, from the Billboard Top Charts to some of the most watched Netflix shows (e.g., Ozark; Stranger Things).  Atlanta is also an intensely important political node, as the recent January 2021 runoff had the entire country focusing on how Atlanta residents were voting. Atlanta's recent upswing in cultural popularity was no overnight feat, though. It took decades of cultivating a unique image. 
  • Charlotte, in comparison, is usually greeted with the comment that "everything is so new!" This sentiment runs directly counter to the idea (or at least my idea) of culture. The buildings mostly look brand new; there is no iconic personality that defines the city; there was no major history lesson in grade school about Charlotte. Of course, I'm sure that plenty of multi-generation Charlotte residents recognize that Charlotte too has a unique culture and history. But from the outside, it does not appear that way. 
• Walkability/Urbanism: Charlotte--all day every day. I just had in-laws in town this past weekend and we didn't get in the car once. We walked all around South End and Uptown and took the train up to NoDa. Once the street car is open, I'll even add Plaza Midwood to the itinerary. "This city is so walkable" is perhaps my favorite comment to hear from out-of-towners. 
• Is there a rivalry between the cities?: Nope. First, from a business relocation standpoint, each of Charlotte and Atlanta have different identities in the types of businesses they attract. Second, from a sports perspective, I don't consider the Hornets or the Panthers to be, respectively, the primary rival of the Hawks or the Falcons. Overall, Charlotte and Atlanta have a symbiotic relationship as fast-growing Southern cities, separated by a mere 4 hours on I-85. Both cities are experiencing similar levels of growth and similar migration patterns. That said, I don't think most Atlantans have ever been to Charlotte, so it often comes as a surprise when they first visit and find out that Charlotte is bigger and cooler than they were expecting. 

Apologies on the essay. Slow day at work today. 

Thanks for sharing! Definitely awesome to hear opinions of our city from people that moved here/visited recently.

I agree with the points you made in your "culture" section. I definitely view Charlotte as a city that is approaching it's time. We don't have the deep history that ATL has or other cities on the East Coast may have... but I think we're at the very beginning of the time where the city makes its mark. The amount of growth we've seen in the past 30 years, 20 years, 10 years, 5 years.... insane. The entire city has transformed from a smaller, family friendly city to a real city that attracts a wide variety of people and businesses. 

[jessediebolt]

On 4/10/2021 at 8:01 PM, carolinaboy said:

The UNC Charlotte campus is nice. My daughter liked it, as did I.

Some of the area around the campus is sketchy.

Leaving the campus and driving down N Tryon St we did not see a light rail train for a very long time.

Uptown is cool but South End is cooler.

The Truist sign is very visible at night. I liked it.

The line at Prices Chicken Coop was too long and I unfortunately didn't have time to wait.

Shake Shack was good though,as was Jennies Ice Cream.

The weather was beautiful Saturday and the rail trail was fun.

We saw a very nice blue Aston Martin in South End. I guess it was either a NFL player, a NBA player or a banking dude. Cool car any way.

If you were in the Toyota Corolla honking at my car at the stop light, my wife was driving, not me .

I-77 was a disaster but the other interstates and highways weren't too bad.

I saw a guy walking down the street with 3 boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I yelled to my wife, "That must be KJ!" She replied, "Who the hell is KJ?"

The new towers in South End really stretch the skyline nicely. Hopefully any new towers don't go too much taller. I'd rather see many more 8 to 12 floor buildings than a few taller ones.

I appreciate everyone here who posts pictures but things are much bigger and more dense in person.

FNB tower, Honeywell, Deloitte and Ally are much taller in real life than they look in pictures.

The Lowes tech tower is beautiful and fits well (I think) in South End.

I didn't get to explore as much as I wanted to but had a nice but brief visit. If my daughter chooses UNC-C that would be fine with me because then I could visit more.

People with South Carolina plates drive very fast.I drive in Virginia a lot and thought they drove fast. They don't have anything on SC folks.

 

I graduated from UNCC in 2017 and my sister graduated this year! I think it's an underrated school in the eyes of many locals. I've lived here my whole life and the sentiment from friends of mine was that Charlotte was "boring" and if you went to UNCC you were a failure in many ways. After 4-5 years as a student, I feel the complete opposite. I loved staying in Charlotte (I also got into SCAD in Savannah) - I lived at home and commuted too... so I attended a ton of Hornets games and was able to enjoy the benefits of living in a big city while being a college student. UNCC has grown a ton in a short time, reflecting the growth of Charlotte as a whole. It's a good school and I think it should be an option for anyone that prioritizes things like convenience, cost, opportunity for things like internships, and education in general over things like the "traditional" college experience.

I'll note that I'm not a fan of the university area of Charlotte. I think the campus is great but strange outside the lines.

[ertley]

10 hours ago, jessediebolt said:

We don't have the deep history that ATL has or other cities on the East Coast may have... 

This is the only thing here that sticks in my craw: the general perception that Atlanta has a deeper history than Charlotte. (I'm not leveling a criticism of you, @jessediebolt, because I realize this is indeed general perception.) I accede that Atlanta's may be richer, because more people means more history, naturally, and Atlanta has nearly always been larger than Charlotte, but it's not deeper: Charlotte was officially incorporated in 1768, and for over 80 years of Charlotte's history, there was no Atlanta. Atlanta wasn't even settled until 1837, merely a quarter century before the Civil War, and wasn't incorporated officially until 1847. (I looked these numbers up on Wikipedia, natch!) In 1865 Atlanta wasn't 30 years old, but had grown to around 10,000 people--because it was a railroad depot and exchange developed only after the Cherokee had been forcibly removed from northern Georgia in the '30s.

I contend that it's one thing, and one thing only, that gives Atlanta the veneer of having some storied Southern history: Gone with the Wind.  If Peggy Mitchell from Atlanta hadn't written that book, Atlanta would be thought of no differently than Houston or Birmingham or even Charlotte, in terms of its history--20th century economic prowess and influence another thing entirely. But Gone with the Wind was such a phenomenon from the minute it was published in the '30s, and made such an indelible impression on American culture, that it forever influenced people's perception of Atlanta as a storied Southern city. Americans like to get their history from movies and t.v. mainly, and much less from actual historical works. Gone with the Wind wrote the history of the Civil War for several generations of Southerners who never actually read a book of 'dry' history, and so Atlanta became enmeshed in the popular history of the South, for both non-Southerners and Southerners alike.  

My biggest gripe, I guess, is with city of Charlotte leadership, and its failure to brand itself as a city with far deeper (although perhaps not richer) history than Atlanta or many other Sunbelt cities. Charlotte is actually part of pre-Revolutionary War American historical progression, a century or so younger than literal literal East Coast cities, but older than those farther inland. In the Charlotte Culture and History threads, there have been many discussions about potential ways the city could develop and implement cultural and historical opportunities, but of course the city's focus always has been and continues to be pure economic and specifically business development.   

So, tourists or visitors to Atlanta can excuse the absolute absence of anything preceding the last quarter of the 19th century (if I'm being generous) because "Sherman burned Atlanta," but in reality Sherman burned a small city of under 10,000 with no buildings older than 25 years, but when they come to Charlotte, a city closer to a century older, the absence of old structures--no one's fault but Charlotte's, to be sure--creates the impression that Charlotte is only as old as what they see. Atlanta should put up a golden statue 40 feet high in honor of Margaret Mitchell, because they owe a lot to her, at least in terms of people's perceptions.     

[KJHburg]

Lets remember President George Washington did visit Charlotte in 1791 and the only city he visited in Georgia was Savannah as there was no Atlanta/Terminus/Marthasville.    Charlotte does have a long history and one of the turning points of the Revolutionary war was just west of town at Kings Mountain.  This Patriot win there was one of the turning points of the whole war.  Plus the first gold rush in America started in nearby Cabarrus County in 1799.  

 

[QCxpat]

3 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Lets remember President George Washington did visit Charlotte in 1791 and the only city he visited in Georgia was Savannah as there was no Atlanta/Terminus/Marthasville.    Charlotte does have a long history and one of the turning points of the Revolutionary war was just west of town at Kings Mountain.  This Patriot win there was one of the turning points of the whole war.  Plus the first gold rush in America started in nearby Cabarrus County in 1799.  

 

Charlotte also played a prominent,  albeit little known,  role in the closing days of the Civil War.   Following the evacuation and fall of Richmond on April 2, 1865, the Confederate Cabinet fled  south on the rails to the relative safety of Charlotte,  deep in the Carolina backcountry, where they stayed for 2 weeks.  Several important events happened during this period.   First, while in Charlotte, as Confederate President Jefferson Davis was giving a speech from the porch of businessman Lewis Bates' home (located on the 200 block of South Tryon Street),  he was interrupted by a messenger.  The urgent telegram that he was handed advised him that President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865.   Second, while in Charlotte, on April 24, 1865, the Confederate Cabinet issued orders to Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnson to surrender to Union Maj. General William T. Sherman at Bennett Place (near Durham).  Following negotiations, the surrender took place on April 26, 1865.   The agreement disbanded all active Confederate forces in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, totaling 89,270 soldiers, which was the largest active fighting force to surrender during the Civil War.   Coming on the heels of the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Va.,  on April 9, 1865,  this keystone decision taken in Charlotte effectively ended the Civil War.   The final official actions of the Confederate Cabinet as an organized government occurred in Charlotte (not in Atlanta or Richmond).   Afterwards, the members of the Confederate Cabinet split up and quickly left Charlotte as each of them had federal bounties on their heads. 

Links:  https://www.cmstory.org/history-timeline   The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: U.S. Civil War 1861-1865

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_Place

Edited June 10, 2021 by QCxpat

[jessediebolt]

6 hours ago, ertley said:

This is the only thing here that sticks in my craw: the general perception that Atlanta has a deeper history than Charlotte. (I'm not leveling a criticism of you, @jessediebolt, because I realize this is indeed general perception.) I accede that Atlanta's may be richer, because more people means more history, naturally, and Atlanta has nearly always been larger than Charlotte, but it's not deeper: Charlotte was officially incorporated in 1768, and for over 80 years of Charlotte's history, there was no Atlanta. Atlanta wasn't even settled until 1837, merely a quarter century before the Civil War, and wasn't incorporated officially until 1847. (I looked these numbers up on Wikipedia, natch!) In 1865 Atlanta wasn't 30 years old, but had grown to around 10,000 people--because it was a railroad depot and exchange developed only after the Cherokee had been forcibly removed from northern Georgia in the '30s.

I contend that it's one thing, and one thing only, that gives Atlanta the veneer of having some storied Southern history: Gone with the Wind.  If Peggy Mitchell from Atlanta hadn't written that book, Atlanta would be thought of no differently than Houston or Birmingham or even Charlotte, in terms of its history--20th century economic prowess and influence another thing entirely. But Gone with the Wind was such a phenomenon from the minute it was published in the '30s, and made such an indelible impression on American culture, that it forever influenced people's perception of Atlanta as a storied Southern city. Americans like to get their history from movies and t.v. mainly, and much less from actual historical works. Gone with the Wind wrote the history of the Civil War for several generations of Southerners who never actually read a book of 'dry' history, and so Atlanta became enmeshed in the popular history of the South, for both non-Southerners and Southerners alike.  

My biggest gripe, I guess, is with city of Charlotte leadership, and its failure to brand itself as a city with far deeper (although perhaps not richer) history than Atlanta or many other Sunbelt cities. Charlotte is actually part of pre-Revolutionary War American historical progression, a century or so younger than literal literal East Coast cities, but older than those farther inland. In the Charlotte Culture and History threads, there have been many discussions about potential ways the city could develop and implement cultural and historical opportunities, but of course the city's focus always has been and continues to be pure economic and specifically business development.   

So, tourists or visitors to Atlanta can excuse the absolute absence of anything preceding the last quarter of the 19th century (if I'm being generous) because "Sherman burned Atlanta," but in reality Sherman burned a small city of under 10,000 with no buildings older than 25 years, but when they come to Charlotte, a city closer to a century older, the absence of old structures--no one's fault but Charlotte's, to be sure--creates the impression that Charlotte is only as old as what they see. Atlanta should put up a golden statue 40 feet high in honor of Margaret Mitchell, because they owe a lot to her, at least in terms of people's perceptions.     

 

You're right, we do have history of course ... but it isn't relevant in the physical status of our city. You'd have to research to discover the history rather than it being common knowledge that the history exists (like ATL, NY, BOS, etc).