The Official Charlotte, NC Discussion Thread

[Mindfield333]

I ate at What The Fries today. If you go there, be ready to spend money.

I’m gonna try to go this week. Maybe Friday

 

[Mindfield333]

Man…. We need a Black Charlotte sub



this gets negative votes

 

[Mindfield333]

 

[Skillz]

Got a pizza from Bird Superbowl weekend, $20 for cheese it was good though. Could have been SB Weekend but had a long online wait, like 4 hours but it was ready right when they said it would be.

Some upcoming events:
Mimosa Bar Crawl on Sunday, know some chicks going here: Charlotte Mimosa Crawl | Tattooz & Booz | Outhouse Tickets
First soccer game March 5th, don't know nothing about soccer but I'm going.
That Sneaker Exit event is back on the 12th, anybody ever been?: VIP TICKETS AND VENDOR TABLES for Charlotte - The Sneaker Exit - March 12th, 2022 at Charlotte Convention Center, Sat Mar 12, 2022 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
R&B Only is back on April 9th. I probably slide this as well. Tickets 'half off' tomorrow: COLORS Worldwide Presents: R&B ONLY (Charlotte, NC)
Charlotte Auto Fair: April 7th-9th. Might hit this as well, building a classic now: Charlotte AutoFair

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

I went to a Sneaker Exit. I don't recommend going unless you plan to actually buy or sell stuff.

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

Scoop: Barbecue heavyweights will launch a true Carolina ‘cue festival this May


Barbecue heavyweights will launch a true Carolina ‘cue festival this May

Left to right: B's Cracklin' Barbecue founder Bryan Furman, Master Blend Family Farms owner Ronald Simmons and Sweet Lew's owner Lewis Donald are all part of a new barbecue festival. Photo Courtesy of Lewis Donald


By Michael Graff | February 23, 2022

Lewis Donald’s barbecue life is more about friendships than meat.
From early in his career as an apprentice at the Greenbrier Resort to his own Sweet Lew’s Barbecue in the Belmont neighborhood today, the meat’s always been secondary to good company.

So anybody who knows him will hardly be surprised by this news: Donald’s rounding up his pals to bring a true regional ‘cue festival to Charlotte this May, with all proceeds going to charity.

The Carolina Barbecue Festival, built entirely around pork, slated for May 22 at Camp North End, will include an all-star list of pitmasters and owners from North and South Carolina:

• Nathan Monk, the third generation owner of Lexington Barbecue from one of the royal families of North Carolina barbecue.
• Bryan Furman, a Charlotte native who Bon Appetit called once called Georgia’s “New King of Barbecue” before his Atlanta restaurant B’s Cracklin’ burned down in 2019.
• Garren Kirkman, who along with his wife Kelly owns of Jon G’s — yes, that Jon G’s one of the new white whale barbecue experiences in the U.S., with people waiting four hours for plates on Saturday mornings in the small town of Peachland, 45 minutes east of Charlotte (Note: Kirkman will only be doing a VIP experience at this festival.)
• Tay Nelson, owner of the the nationally renowned Bobby’s Barbecue near Greenville, S.C.
• Elliott Moss from Asheville’s Buxton Hall, named one of Bon Appetit’s Top 10 new restaurants in America in 2016.

Why it matters: Charlotte has long been thought of as an OK-at-best barbecue city in a proud barbecue state. Now, on a Sunday in May, it’ll be a gathering spot for the best of two states.

What to expect: For a $75 general admission pass, you get four hours of beer, music and three distinct types of barbecue, at Camp North End’s Boileryard:

• Furman and Nelson will cook whole hog with a South Carolina mustard-based sauce.
• Monk and Moss will be doing pork shoulders with Piedmont-style red sauce.
• And Brandon Shepard of Emerald Isle’s Shepard Barbecue, along with Matthew Register of Garland’s Southern Smoke BBQ, will be doing vinegar-based eastern North Carolina style.
• Master Blend Family Farm, a family-owned farm in Kenansville, N.C., will contribute the hogs.
• And Donald and Kirkman will be doing a VIP event with their barbecue and oysters for $150 per ticket.

Chopped sandwich at Lexington Barbecue. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios

Of note: The proceeds will help nonprofits Piedmont Culinary Guild, World Central Kitchen and Operation Barbecue Relief.

• Live music will include: Emanuel Wynter, Justin Fedor & The Denim Denim, DJ That Guy Smitty and Carolina Gator Gumbo.

What he’s saying: “It’s barbecue-focused. The beer and music is secondary,” Donald told me yesterday. “It’s continuing the heritage. One of our slogans is ‘Divided By Sauce, United By Coals.’ Yeah we may use different sauces, but we’re all doing the same thing. It’s mass production barbecue vs. slow and steady. We’re slow and steady.”

Whole hog barbecue at Sweet Lew’s. Photo courtesy of Lewis Donald

Backstory: Donald founded Sweet Lew’s in 2018 after working for several years at Reid’s. Before that he spent a career traveling across the country learning recipes and techniques from some of the leaders in smoking.

• When he opened, he wanted it to be one of those small joints that stopped serving when the food ran out each day — sort of like Jon G’s does on Saturday.
• But Charlotte “is just a totally different market,” Donald told me. And soon people started complaining about showing up to find the restaurant was out of this meat or that meat, so he changed the approach.
• He donates hundreds of meals each year to charities like Heal Charlotte and World Central Kitchen.

Between the lines: The Carolina Barbecue festival will create an interesting complement for the traveling Beer, Bourbon and Barbecue Festival that will be in Ballantyne the day before, May 21.

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

@Bryan Danielson, didn't you once say you didn't know that Concord had a downtown? It was selected by HGTV as one of the most charming small-town downtowns in the country. (Concord isn't actually a small town because it has over 100,000 people)


https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-travel/article258726388.html


North Carolina city makes HGTV’s list of 30 most charming small-town downtowns in America
By Melissa Oyler

Updated February 26, 2022 11:38 AM

HGTV has named Concord as one of the 30 most charming small-town downtowns in America. Courtesy of the City of Concord
HGTV has released its list of “30 Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America.” One North Carolina town made the list — and it’s only a 32 minute drive from Charlotte’s Uptown to its downtown.

Congratulations to our neighbors in Concord, North Carolina — HGTV has noticed the walkable, charming, historic downtown that we also love for its artsy, boutiquey vibe, locally owned restaurants and tree-lined streets.

“As a community, we pour so much love into our downtown and take great pride in preserving our history while continuously offering residents and visitors new experiences,” Johnson Bray, Concord’s downtown development manager, said in a statement. “We have the best variety of uniquely local dining, shopping and entertainment, and it is a great affirmation to have others recognize our downtown and the small businesses that help make it so special.”

HGTV cited Concord’s lively historic district and street art scene, specifically a mural on Union Street featuring The Avett Brothers, who are, of course, from Concord. Also getting a nod from the network were Cabarrus Creamery, the art galleries at the historic Cabarrus County Courthouse and the gardens at Memorial Garden on Spring Street.

In South Carolina, Greenville made the list, named for its natural beauty combined with Southern charm. HGTV cited Mice on Main (an outdoor scavenger hunt for bronze mice), and the city’s cafes, art galleries and boutiques, specifically Mast General Store and Luna Rosa Gelato Café.



Other Southeastern cities that make the list (and would make a good road trip from Charlotte!) include:

• Athens, Georgia (3 hours, 20 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Dahlonega, Georgia (3 hours, 53 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Fernandina Beach, Florida (5 hours, 44 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Cape Charles, Virginia (5 hours, 53 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Middleburg, Virginia (5 hours, 56 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (6 hours, 5 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Franklin, Tennessee (6 hours, 46 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Covington, Kentucky (7 hours, 27 minutes from Charlotte)
  

 

[Bryan Danielson]

@Bryan Danielson, didn't you once say you didn't know that Concord had a downtown? It was selected by HGTV as one of the most charming small-town downtowns in the country. (Concord isn't actually a small town because it has over 100,000 people)


https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-travel/article258726388.html


North Carolina city makes HGTV’s list of 30 most charming small-town downtowns in America
By Melissa Oyler

Updated February 26, 2022 11:38 AM

HGTV has named Concord as one of the 30 most charming small-town downtowns in America. Courtesy of the City of Concord
HGTV has released its list of “30 Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America.” One North Carolina town made the list — and it’s only a 32 minute drive from Charlotte’s Uptown to its downtown.

Congratulations to our neighbors in Concord, North Carolina — HGTV has noticed the walkable, charming, historic downtown that we also love for its artsy, boutiquey vibe, locally owned restaurants and tree-lined streets.

“As a community, we pour so much love into our downtown and take great pride in preserving our history while continuously offering residents and visitors new experiences,” Johnson Bray, Concord’s downtown development manager, said in a statement. “We have the best variety of uniquely local dining, shopping and entertainment, and it is a great affirmation to have others recognize our downtown and the small businesses that help make it so special.”

HGTV cited Concord’s lively historic district and street art scene, specifically a mural on Union Street featuring The Avett Brothers, who are, of course, from Concord. Also getting a nod from the network were Cabarrus Creamery, the art galleries at the historic Cabarrus County Courthouse and the gardens at Memorial Garden on Spring Street.

In South Carolina, Greenville made the list, named for its natural beauty combined with Southern charm. HGTV cited Mice on Main (an outdoor scavenger hunt for bronze mice), and the city’s cafes, art galleries and boutiques, specifically Mast General Store and Luna Rosa Gelato Café.



Other Southeastern cities that make the list (and would make a good road trip from Charlotte!) include:

• Athens, Georgia (3 hours, 20 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Dahlonega, Georgia (3 hours, 53 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Fernandina Beach, Florida (5 hours, 44 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Cape Charles, Virginia (5 hours, 53 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Middleburg, Virginia (5 hours, 56 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (6 hours, 5 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Franklin, Tennessee (6 hours, 46 minutes from Charlotte)
  
  
• Covington, Kentucky (7 hours, 27 minutes from Charlotte)

I still never been there


I need to check it out now… may make that a nice date since I’m fairly newly single

 

[Bryan Danielson]

@Tribal Outkast

Why don’t you open up them pockets and take @CarmelBarbie out this weekend to get some of that BRISKET


Give her that SaltBae Passion

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

The Discovery Place IMAX Dome, which had been closed but recently reopened after being revamped, is showing The Batman this weekend and next weekend

The Batman in IMAX | Discovery Place Science | Accenture IMAX Dome Theatre

 

[Tribal Outkast]

@Tribal Outkast

Why don’t you open up them pockets and take @CarmelBarbie out this weekend to get some of that BRISKET


Give her that SaltBae Passion

Bro I might need to see what this place is talking about though

 

[CarmelBarbie]

@Tribal Outkast

Why don’t you open up them pockets and take @CarmelBarbie out this weekend to get some of that BRISKET


Give her that SaltBae Passion

How about you and @Tribal Outkast take me and @Booksnrain out. I want to do a charlotte coli meet up.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

The Discovery Place IMAX Dome, which had been closed but recently reopened after being revamped, is showing The Batman this weekend and next weekend

The Batman in IMAX | Discovery Place Science | Accenture IMAX Dome Theatre

I worked near the IMAX DP for sooo many years…. And never been there.

I need to check out one of they themed events

 

[Bryan Danielson]

How about you and @Tribal Outkast take me and @Booksnrain out. I want to do a charlotte coli meet up.

@Booksnrain aint trynna come out to play

 

[Mindfield333]

I gotta get out the house this weekend. Starting a new job soon