May/June 2009

Charlotte – A Race to the Conference

by Sandra D. Andrews

Charlotte is a great place to live and visit.  Don't be surprised when people wave and say hello.  Maybe they will even offer you a glass of sweet tea.

Welcome to Charlotte, the home of sweet tea, front porches, mild climate and friendly people. No matter where you come from or how you get here, Charlotte offers a lively and entertaining experience for visitors and residents alike. 

Traveling into Charlotte can be an experience in itself. If you arrive by air, you're welcomed into a pleasant airport that provides you with a taste of southern hospitality by having rocking chairs to help you ease the stress of travel. If you journey by car, you might experience first-hand the racing flavor of the region as you negotiate I- 77 and I- 85 competing with other drivers.

Charlotte is both a growing city and a small southern town. The advantages of being both of these things are easy to see. The big city side of Charlotte provides great restaurants, museums, clubs, theater, musical venues and sporting events. The small southern town side is friendly with a down-home feeling that will make you comfortable as soon as you arrive. 

Center City Charlotte is comprised of 4 separate neighborhoods with the highly distinctive names of First Ward, Second Ward, Third Ward and Fourth Ward. The four Wards are divided by Trade and Tryon Streets and each has a distinctive flavor. First Ward is a mixed income neighborhood home to the Bobcat Arena, the Bank of America Corporate Center, the Main Public Library, ImaginOn, and the Levine Museum of the South.  Second Ward is the Government Center of Charlotte and includes the Wachovia Buildings, the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center and the Convention Center. Third Ward is the home of the Carolina Panthers and the Johnson and Wales University. Fourth Ward is considered the most historic district in center city with many of the original Victorian homes among the newer development. The suburbs of Charlotte have their own charming neighborhoods including Dilworth, Myer's Park, North Davidson, South End and Plaza-Midwood (just to name a few). Each of the neighborhoods has its own flavor with distinctive architecture, restaurants, and boutiques. Traveling in Center City is easy with both free trolleys and the inexpensive light rail system that runs from 9th Street to I-485/South Boulevard.   

Take advantage of the school tours before the start of the conference. A range of tours are being offered in different parts of Charlotte and in a variety of schools: 

• Are you interested in special library programs within the school setting? Sign up for the Metro School and Oaklawn Language Academy tour. Metro School serves children with moderate to severe disabilities from five to twenty-two years old with a special library program that focuses on the use of adaptive technologies and a variety of formats.  The Oaklawn Language Academy supports language immersion programs.
• Spend a morning at the Freedom Regional Library at Philip O. Berry Academy of Technology. This combination high school media center and public library is a collaborative partnership that serves the Academy students and the surrounding area. 
• An independent school tour will include Charlotte Country Day, Providence Day School and Charlotte Latin.
• A walking tour of Charlotte includes Dilworth Elementary School and First Ward Accelerated Learning Academy. Both of these urban schools are located in historic districts of Charlotte and take advantage of their proximity to the educational and cultural resources of their locations. First Ward has partnerships with ImaginOn, Discovery Place and Central Piedmont Community College.
• The middle school tour explores Bailey Middle School and the Military & Global Leadership Academy at Marie G. Davis. Bailey Middle is located in a rural environment and has a comprehensive program to meet the needs of its students. Marie G. Davis School and media center focuses on leadership, character development, international studies and technology.

Charlotte offers a wide-variety of cultural events including museums, theaters and musical venues:

• The Mint Museum of Art  is housed in the renovated regional federal mint with fine arts and sculpture. The Mint Museum of Craft & Design is uptown on North Tryon Street just minutes from the convention center.
• The Levine Museum of the New South  features post civil war southern history and artifacts with a permanent exhibit called "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers."  
• Discovery Place, an interactive museum, focuses on science exhibits and is a great place to explore with or without children. An IMAX Dome is part of the facility and shows movies including "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Grand Canyon Adventure." Interested in theater? 
• The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center  is home to a variety of venues that offer a wide selection of plays, shows and musical events. Tickets are available through the online ticket office.   

Don't forget to visit our award-winning public library, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. PLCMC won the 2006 National Award for Museum and Library Service for extraordinary public service. There are two library locations in the Center City area of Charlotte, the Main Library and ImaginOn. ImaginOn is a partnership between the PLCMC and the Children's Theater of Charlotte to bring stories to life for children and young people. It is a remarkable shared space that is waiting to be explored. 

The Charlotte region is also home to the National Whitewater Center . Located in Gaston County on the Catawba River the Whitewater Center is an official Olympic training site and has kayaking, whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, mountain-biking and hiking. Equipment and lessons are available on site making it a great outdoor adventure. Another great outdoor adventure is the Carolina Raptor Center  in the Latta Plantation Park. The Raptor Center serves as a rehabilitation center for injured raptors and an education facility. View a variety of raptors up close and learn how the center protects and cares for them. Latta Plantation also offers horseback riding in a park setting and the Latta Plantation home place is open for viewing. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens  is another great way to explore the region and to view a wide variety of flowers, plants and trees. The gardens include an Orchid Conservatory, a four season's garden and a conifer garden. DSBG is located in Belmont, about a 30 minute drive from Charlotte, and offers a gorgeous setting to spend an afternoon.  

Sports are a huge part of the Charlotte scene. Football fans have the Carolina Panthers, basketball lovers can watch the Charlotte Bobcats, hockey loyalists can cheer on the Charlotte Checkers and, of course, race fans can watch their favorite NASCAR drivers. 

The Carolina Panthers  won the heart and soul of the Carolinas when they made a great showing at the 2003 Super Bowl, barely losing to New England 29-32. Of course, the 2008 Divisional Playoffs were disappointing but there's hope for next year. The Panthers play downtown in the Bank of America Stadium. The games tend to be sold out but you can try the online ticket office. 

Lowe's Motor Speedway  is NASCAR's home in the Charlotte region. Located just 20 minutes from Charlotte in Concord, Lowe's Motor Speedway offers tours of the track and great racing! Other racing-related sites include the Sam Bass Gallery and the Hendrick Motorsports Museum. Take some time to explore the track and the surrounding area. Interested in seeing a race? The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway is hosting the “World of Outlaws World Finals” the weekend of November 5th. You can also take a lap on the track by participating in the Richard Petty Driving Experience . Whether you're a rookie or a potential pro you can find a session that fits your driving skill.

There is shopping galore in all of the neighborhoods but if you are looking for a big city shopping experience visit South Park Mall. South Park has a huge variety of stores including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Godiva Chocolates, Tiffany's, Mont Blanc and Urban Outfitters. With over 160 stores and restaurants, it's the ultimate way to spend an afternoon whether you're window-shopping or need something special. Concord Mills, a shopping destination for many located near Lowe's Motor Speedway, has over 200 stores including outlets and off-price retailers. 

Don't miss the food in Charlotte.  It's an eclectic mix of Southern cooking, ethnic cuisine and fine dining. Close to the Convention Center are a myriad of restaurants with a variety of cuisines. Soul food and southern cooking is a specialty with grits, hushpuppies, collard greens and sweet tea not to be missed. Just remember that when you order tea, everyone assumes you want it sweet.

North Carolina is a beautiful state and November is a wonderful time to be here. Take some time and explore the mountains to the west of Charlotte. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers a scenic drive that gives you the opportunity to view the beautiful fall foliage and a chance to visit the Biltmore House in Asheville. The Biltmore House was the country estate of George Vanderbilt and is still owned by his descendants. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, it is the largest home in the United States and continues to be a working farm and winery. You can tour the house and gardens, participating in a wine-tasting and have lunch in the converted stables. If you have the time, Biltmore and the Blue Ridge Mountains are a treat not to be missed.

Charlotte is a great place to live and visit. Don't be surprised when people wave and say hello. Maybe they will even offer you a glass of sweet tea.