In my new blog series "Adjusting to Life in Charlotte", I will try my best to help those either new to any area become comfortable with their new environment. Please chime in with comments if you have any suggestions like "please, no more blogging. Your writing is so awful that you're the direct result of 5 comas yesterday."
Being new to any medium to large city (Charlotte is the 21st largest city in the U.S. and the largest in North Carolina), its important that you get out and get involved in a group or two. In my last post, I mentioned that church is always a good place to start but maybe you've been tossed out of every church in town - what then? Well, Charlotte is a unique city because of the overwhelming number of folks who have been moving here from other states (50,000+ a year). Consider it the San Diego of the south.
So start with your favorite out of town football team. Maybe you're a Washington Redskins fan and want to connect with others. Well, start by doing a google search for "Charlotte NC Redskins Fans" and you'll come up with a group a fellow colleague of mine originally from Northern Virginia started. We get together and watch the games on Sundays and cheer on the 'skins. There are groups for almost every major team meeting on Sundays around the cities in bars and restuarants. Steelers fans are well represented.
Cowboys fans...there are no groups. In fact, we don't want anymore of you so say in texas (kidding. there are one or two of you here unfortunately).
Not into sports? Check out Mingles of Charlotte. I ran into this group at the Davie dog park off of Hwy 51 (another great place to meet if you're a dog lover) on Saturday. They are a group of young professionals who enjoy getting together and having fun. They're mostly transplants and seem like a really nice group of folks. Charlotte Newcommers Club may be another club to look into here in town. I would say by the pictures on their site, they tend to attract a little older crowd.
College groups are also a great way to find new people. Check out your alumni chairperson to find a local chapter here in the Queen City. They typically have regular gatherings to watch sporting events, hang out, and even celebrate holidays. College life all over again...except this time with a little grey and hopefully more money.
If you're single? Here's a list of single hot spots here in town.
Caribou Coffee: 1531 East Blvd. 704-334-3570, http://www.cariboucoffee.com/.
Center City Green Market: 7th and College Streets. (Saturdays, May-September.) http://www.centercitygreenmarket.com/.
Common Market: 2007 Commonwealth Ave. 704-334-6209.
Dish: 1220 Thomas Ave. (DJ's or iPod shuffle Wednesdays). 704-344-0343, http://eatatdish.com/.
The Evening Muse: 3227 N. Davidson St. (Open mikes, live music). 704-376-3737, http://www.theeveningmuse.com/.
Freedom Park: 2435 Cumberland Ave., in Dilworth. 704-432-4280, http://www.parkandrec.com/.
Jackson's Java: 8544 University City Blvd. (Poetry open mike second Thursdays.) 704-548-1133.
Latorres: 118 W 5th St. (Latin dancing classes Friday & Saturdays.) 704-377-4448 or http://www.latorresrestaurant.com/.
Lunchbox Records: 1419-A Central Ave. (Records, live music.) 704-331-0788.
Manor Theatre: 607 Providence Rd. (Movie theater.) 704-334-2727.
NoDa gallery crawls: 36th and North Davidson Streets. (First & third Fridays.) http://www.noda.org/.
Rodi: 245 W. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. (Live music.) 704-864-7634 or http://www.rodiworld.com/.
Shoppes at University Place: J.M. Keynes Drive. (Concerts Sundays in summertime.)
Sir Edmund Halley's Restaurant & Freehouse: Park Road Shopping Center, 4151-A Park Road. 704-525-2555 or http://halleyspub.com/.
SK Net Cafe: 1425 Elizabeth Ave. (Internet cafe, poetry & indie films Tuesdays, stand-up comedy Wednesdays, live music Fridays & Saturdays.) 704-334-1523 or http://www.sknetcafe.com/.
South End gallery crawls: Camden Road and South Tryon. (First Fridays.) http://www.historicsouthend.com/.
VisArt Video: 1945 E. 7th St. (Movie rentals.) 704-343-3031.
Yesteryear's Goodtime Pub: 4508 E Independence Blvd. (Karaoke.) 704-566-9444.
Sincerely;
Jonathan Osman
The Charlotte House Hunter
Charlotte NC Homes, Charlotte Real Estate
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