Uptown Charlotte, the EpiCenter of the Queen City

 Uptown Charlotte

The Green

Charlotte is really under construction. I’ve never seen so many cranes. Not everything has been torn down but you can really see what renovation has done to the city. Needless to say, Uptown would be a great place to live (costly though). The Blue Lynx line connects all these areas plus it is an easy walking area.

Uptown is where it is all happening in Charlotte; sports centers, performing arts, restaurants and housing, mixed with the old and new.

Uptown is basically broken out into four areas; north, south, east and west.

Uptown East; Spectrum Center, EpiCenter, the Tyron Street Square

Tyron Street Square statues each on the four corners of the street.

Uptown South; Bank of America Stadium, Levine Center for the Performing Arts, The Green and NASCAR Hall of Fame 

The Green park; beautiful park surrounded by restaurants, hotels, housing and shops.

Uptown North; Levine Museum of the New South, ImagineOn and Main Library (under construction)

The 7th Street Market

Original church architecture

Independent theatre

Uptown West is mainly the state and local municipal buildings, not very interesting so no photos.

Can't wait to see Uptown in the spring and summer. More to come...

NoDa area of Charlotte, NC, the Queen City

 NoDa (North Davidson)

After spending several months traveling and living abroad, I’ve settled (at least for six months) in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte is named “The Queen City” after Queen Charlotte, King George III wife, English ruler during the Revolution. 

I decided to live in the NoDa (North Davidson) area, an artist community in Charlotte between Uptown and UNCC (University North Carolina Charlotte). I'm about 1.5 miles from N. Davidson and E. 36th.

NoDa is a thriving art community and North Davidson has several shops and restaurants.

Several coffee houses line the streets but the coffee isn't all that great and prices are high. A small latte at the Smelly Cat is $6!

NoDa is one of the areas of the city where older buildings and houses haven’t all been torn down showing the old Sourthern charm.

Many of the nice old houses are being side stepped for more modern apartments.

I live on the second floor of a court yard surrounded by lots of trees. It is very nice and the aprartment is about double the size of the apartment I had in Boston.

NoDa is way out of the way from other areas of the city. Charlotte's transportation system isn’t what i’m used to (over an hour wait for a bus) so lots of Lyfts rides to get where I need to go.

I’m looking forward to seeing more the city over the next couple of months so look for most posts.