Well...no. Not really. But from 7-10:00PM EST, I was in Dolce Vita, a wine bar in the NoDa (North of Davidson) district of Charlotte, North Carolina, hanging out and being cool with my laptop.
I had been thinking of doing something on Jules Verne, but for some strange reason the people who pay me money decided they actually needed my complete and undivided attention today, so there you go...and for some reason, I'm guessing you guys just aren't nearly as interested in return of premium riders as they are. :)
So, that said, let's set the stage for tonight's festivities!
Welcome to Charlotte!
As ever, we Wiki up
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
we learn:
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the 20th largest in the United States, with a population of approximately 610,949 (2005 estimate). The Charlotte metropolitan area (MSA) had a census estimated population of 1,583,016 in 2006. As of 2005, the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury combined statistical area (CSA) had a regional population of 2,120,745.[3] The City of Charlotte estimates its population to be 664,342 as of January 1, 2007, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
It's a fast growing city, alright. There are, 15 high-rise projects planned over the next five years, six of which are currently underway, mostly for urban residential towers. (Office space we got.)
Oh, sure. Progress. Yeah, if you're into that sort of thing. What I like best about Charlotte are the trees; looking out over the city from my office downtown, it looks like we live in a forest.
Don't take my word on it here is a satellite photo...and do click the SATELLITE button to the upper right. :)
And here's a ground shot of the Charlotte skyline.
I suppose what I wrote in February 2006 is still good.
Things I Like About Charlotte
- Architecture. Being from a small town, Charlotte was the nearest big city, therefore the only skyline that I grew up with. I like how the downtown area is developing a distinctive look and feel.
- Emergent Neighborhoods. Charlotte is developing distinct districts, whereas once upon a time it was nothing more than a downtown that was dead as a graveyard at night, surrounded by race-based residential sectors divided by railways and industrial zones. A lot has changed.
- Restaurants. You'll have trouble not finding good eats, almost anywhere in the city, and for credible prices. Downtown, you got Capital City Grill (featured in the Jack Black/Gwen Paltrow movie Shallow Hal, Luce and the omnipresent and omni-expensive Morrison's. If that luxury tax bracket's not your bag, try Cabo Fish Taco (NoDa), Cantina (Dilworth), the Melting Pot (University), and any of the several Brixx Pizza stores throughout the city.
- Good Shopping. Charlotte is one of the leading wholesale distribution center for the entire country. If you can't find it locally, you are probably going to have trouble finding it online, as well.
- Arts and Sciences. The Mint Museum of Art has an impressive and eclectic collection. Discovery Place will be hosting the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit starting next weekend. The local ballet company is among the best nationwide. There is an abundance of street festivals. The North Davidson (NoDa) district hosts well-attended 'gallery crawls'. Is it Munich or New York or Rome...nooooooo. It's just a New South-obsessed metropolis doing its thing. If you need to have a zip code with the Guggenheim in it, for brand name recognition, Charlotte's probably not for you. If you like having the options for such things, but do not live and breathe culture every weekend (for reasons of interest or time, mostly the latter), Charlotte might just work out for you.
- Sports. A lot of folks love auto racing. My dad ran a business working on race cars for the amateur and pro-am circuits. I practically grew up on the infield, and got my fill of it before I turned fifteen. The Panthers have become more often visitors to the playoffs than not. I hear we're getting a new basketball team...someday. In the meantime, we've the Bobcats.
- Pragmatic (mostly) politics. Charlotte's a great bellwhether community for national politics. You've got all kinds here, and for the most part people actually do mix across the party lines, at least in the circles I run in. The serious issues that require serious solutions are all present here, everything from law enforcement and education to health care and public works. This can contribute to some contentious discussions..but it also means that firebrands and ideologues don't last very long in local politics. People don't want to make grand civic statements; they just want the city to work. But the occasional nutjob shows up. We keep our eyes open for 'em.
Speaking of Distinctive Neigborhoods: Welcome to NoDa!!
NoDa is the nearest thing to Soho that you will find in Charlotte...only it looks like a small town converted into a bunch of art galleries and restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars, pizzerias and music halls. It truly has the feel of being an artist's colony tucked away just off the beaten path (Tryon Street is a whopping quarter-mile away). Truly, if you did not know it was there, you would never find it. On the other hand, everyone now knows it's there:
NoDa is now the home to the City's best collection of galleries and performance venues; some of the funkiest full service restaurants including authentic Cajun cooking, Southwest cuisine, a Creative pizza eatery and more.
Check out Gallery Crawl twice a month to experience NoDa's unique street scene. Every 1st & 3rd Fridays throughout the year. From 6pm to 9:30pm. Or if you cannot make it to the Gallery Crawl please visit NoDa during regular business hours. Most Businesses open 7 days a week.
Soho's little sister is located in North Charlotte's historic mill village 2 miles from Uptown on North Davidson Street at 36th.
Cabo Fish Taco is a Kendrick mainstay. Dos Equis....yummmmm......oh, yeah. There is good food there, too!
here are some of the galleries, if you're interested in taking a peekie...
Now we come to Dolce Vita!!!
warning, this is a lively website, with lots of lively graphics. Bandwidth misers, take heed!
From the page:
Dolce Vita has a variety of special events taking place each month, ranging from beer and wine tastings, ping pong tournamets, theme parties to gallery crawls every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. View our calendar of happenings.
We also offer using our space for birthday parties, engagement parties, group meetings, and charity events. Stop in or send us an email to inquire about availability and rates. Drink@dolcevitawines.com.
Join us for WINO WEDNESAYS: 1/2 price wine by the glass
That last was such a good idea, we decided to take them up on the offer :)
Welcome to Drinking Liberally, Charlotte Chapter!!!!
For those of you who don't know, Drinking Liberally is about "Promoting Democracy, One Pint At A Time".
Naturally, I just had to join. :)
The Charlotte Chapter is led by some very cool people, and some rather atypical liberals to many thought processes -- an investment advisor, a marketing executive, and a banker. That comes with the territory; we meet downtown, and downtown Charlotte is the second largest finance center in the country. I am (in)famous for the blogging gig, and for drawing cartoons all the time on bar napkins.
One of the regulars brews beer, and wanted a label and a name for her product. So I drew a napkin declaring "Drink Delicious! Lauralicious It's Nutritious!" It's now on display in her office, last I heard.
Mostly, though, they don't quite know what to think of me, either. :)
So, that's where I am tonight!
NOTES FROM THE FIELD!!!!
Okay, time to blog! So far the most interesting in me having a notebook at the DL meeting has been -
"Hey, Chris - Can I check my MySpace account? :)"
That's not entirely true; I did showcase my diary from Saturday on "Histocompatibility and Kissing" -- which provoked a beautiful answer --
"Oh that's so true! Every time I go on the pill, I break up!
It gets better. Another woman indicated that, yes, she suspected the very same thing, that this was indeed going on.
This quickly became the conversation of the night, as clearly it was a story with legs.
Tee hee!
This is going to be so much fun. :)
Okay... in the meantime I have been invited to do more in the DL organization (we might need to clear that one with management), specifically there is a Reading Liberally (me, books, good!) or to maintain the Charlotte Chapter website (apparently, we as a chapter have no been doing that...lucky us! There's me!). I told them I was too quiet and shy to do any of the social stuff.
Oh, yeah. You're totally not suited for that!
Thanks :)
Later, I talked to a member of the board for Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County, who was interested in boosting membership after a slow stretch. I recommended ourselves, then thought perhaps the good folks at bluenc.com might be of service in the form of advice, experiences and the like.
If anyone can help it will be the BlueNC peeps.
I know.
I'm one of 'em. :)
And now: Welcome to CSKendrick's Top Comments Pix :)
m00nchild speaks with a frustration that is only dangerous to those who disregard it
alohaleezy makes a good point about liability costs savings from single-payor insurance
Southside preaches it! Enough with subpoenas and deadlines, already
big spoiled baby wonders how any veterans group could possibly support the Chickenhawk-in-Chief
grumpynerd shares with us a harrowing tale of where estate planning meets private health care meets divorce court. And it's an ugly intersection, indeed.
chumley, well, I just CAN'T leave chumley out :). It's like a law, or something. :)
hopesprings declares the significance of the Comey testimony.
Bob Johnson doesn't led Godwin's hateful maxim keep him from calling a fascist a fascist
Geekesque makes a fine point -- Iraq and impeachment are tied together -- either Bush will leave Iraq, or he will in time be impeached.
Yellow Canary sings about Bush administration shamelessness.
Whew. Lots of wrathful posts today.
Wrath, well-aimed, is good.
It leads to justice.
So...who's got next?
Welcome to YOUR Top Comments Pix :))
From OrangeClouds115
this one and this one (and the response from Runs with Scissors): and an award for stamina and endurance to CSI Bentonville, who got a real pain in the ass to recognize the merits of her point of view.
From Truth of Angels
dennisl is officially bored :)
and, per Truth, regarding a conversation that deserved it. :)
from ezdidit
My comment is here
The story is here
Note from CSK: Normally, I'd not abide competing self-promotion but people liked this one, so I'm letting it slide :)
Welcome to Top Mojo, without the Tip Jars :)))
1 - I just had an opportunity........mayan.....74
2 - The story is powerful, however.....Alizaryn.....74
3 - Bush Committed Crime by Knowingly Violating FISA.....Rhonda.....68
4 - Happy Hump Day.....Debbie in ME.....62
5 - Support the Troops - - - - Impeach The President......ezdidit.....61
6 - Perfectly sums up my feelings.....Wandering Hoo.....57
7 - All they have to say is.....illinifan17.....57
8 - Wait til after the Veto.....buhdydharma.....56
9 - Also overlooked in the coverage........dweb8231.....55
10 - Personally, I will never fault anyone.....buhdydharma.....55
11 - You said:.....Ken in Tex.....55
12 - see my sig!.....buhdydharma.....53
13 - The president of the United States.....oxon.....53
14 - Happy Day of Humps - Alta California!!!.....Predictor.....53
15 - You know what I love.....Chaoslillith.....49
16 - I agree, I think they're up to something also......MichiganGirl.....49
17 - The President did.....drational.....49
18 - Yeah, I thought so too. The call to Ashcroft's.....Boadicaea.....49
19 - My family was tortured.....Pitin.....49
20 - Medical Flash.....bramish.....47
21 - IMHO to ask directly for a resignation.....Eikyu Saha.....46
22 - Day of Humpification.....khereva.....44
23 - The Times Inserts Editorial Content in the News.....FishOutofWater.....44
24 - Whether JRE wins or not.....Da Rock.....42
25 - Keep the laser lights focused.....antirove.....42
26 - Nah.....kos.....41
27 - outstanding.....homo neurotic.....41
28 - dennisl.....Carnacki.....41
29 - Screen door. backside. warning......Dood Abides.....40
30 - I think you're on to something.....donnamarie.....40
Welcome to Top Mojo, without the Tip Jars :))))
1 - Please don't fault me.....wmtriallawyer.....357
2 - here it is!.....buhdydharma.....305
3 - Tips / Mojo: 15 May 2007.....A Siegel.....249
4 - ok, this was the clincher for me.....clammyc.....232
5 - I have not seen adequate analysis.....drational.....183
6 - Tips to support.....TomP.....177
7 - tip jar - comment on rest of article.....BloggerJohn.....125
8 - I think this is important - so important that.....teacherken.....106
9 - Really sad that this is our . . ......nyceve.....103
10 - Yes, I'll be the first to say it......chuckles1.....89
11 - Tip Jar.....Steven R.....76
12 - I just had an opportunity........mayan.....74
13 - The story is powerful, however.....Alizaryn.....74
14 - Thoughts?.....Dave Montoya.....70
15 - Bush Committed Crime by Knowingly Violating FISA.....Rhonda.....68
16 - Tip Jar just in case.....CowPunk.....66
17 - That 3rd quote is quite telling......thepdxbikerboy.....64
18 - Grumpy Humpday CnJ.....redlami.....63
19 - Happy Hump Day.....Debbie in ME.....62
20 - Support the Troops - - - - Impeach The President......ezdidit.....61
21 - Thank you, Kossacks!.....ilona.....58
22 - No Shit? Cool!.....Alegre.....57
23 - Perfectly sums up my feelings.....Wandering Hoo.....57
24 - All they have to say is.....illinifan17.....57
25 - Wait til after the Veto.....buhdydharma.....56
26 - cheers to random stough!.....condoleaser.....56
27 - Also overlooked in the coverage........dweb8231.....55
28 - Personally, I will never fault anyone.....buhdydharma.....55
29 - You said:.....Ken in Tex.....55
30 - Happy Day of Humps - Alta California!!!.....Predictor.....53