Thursday, June 11, 2009

My picks for best places to stand in Charlotte

I asked your opinions - and thanks for sharing, everyone - but didn't give mine.

Yesterday I pointed to a list (link here to blog, and here to list) about the best places to stand in the U.S. and asked about Charlotte spots. But I didn't include any of my own choices. These things require pondering, you know.

I concur with those who mentioned Queens Road and the cathedral of oaks, and the magnificent corner of Kingston and Lyndhurst avenues (see photo above) in Dilworth. Indeed, I spotlighted both places in a piece I wrote some years back about Great Streets in Charlotte. Brevard Court uptown was another in that series.

My favorite spots to stand in Charlotte (for today, at least) are listed below. Note, I'm including only inside the city limits, so Crowders Mountain is out, as well as various funky downtowns in other municipalities like Matthews or Davidson. And ask me tomorrow and I may have a completely different list. NoDa on a gallery crawl night is great. Looking out from the 60th floor of the BofA Corporate Center is great – but not open to the public.

Here's my list:

3. In line at Price's Chicken Coop (at left) just after you've bought a quarter-dark dinner (or chicken livers) with tater tots and the hot grease is just starting to soak through the cardboard box.

2. The vaulted passage way alongside The Green uptown – one of the best designed spaces in the city. It just makes you feel grand to walk down it. The fans overhead are a nice touch for a hot climate.

1. Inside the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary on the Sunday before Christmas, with the old burnished wood, the royal blue carpets and cushions, as the brass and timpani and cymbals play and everyone is singing "Joy To The World."


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mary angling for some free chicken here....but I don't blame her, it's good.

Anonymous said...

these two articles have been delightful and uplifting.

thanks mary

Vincent said...

I like standing in my mother in laws drive way facing away from the house going in a forward motion with a subtle yet instinctive pick up in momentum with each stride that corresponds in equal degree the lessening of tension of every muscle, fiber and being of my core.

chris said...

Nice one, Vinny.

Anonymous said...

Standing in front of The Penguin is always interesting. You'll see every kind of person there is there. In fact, standing anywhere in the Plaza-Midwood area is quite an eye-opener.

Anonymous said...

I prefer South Blvd and Archdale. It's like going to a foreign country without leaving the states.

Anonymous said...

Yo prefiero de pie en lĂ­nea en la oficina de bienestar de obtener su dinero.

gracias Obama.

Anonymous said...

Jumper, Where is your favorite place to stand in Charlotte?

Anonymous said...

The Mecklenburg County Jail has stunning views.

Anonymous said...

If you are confused check with the sun, carry a compass to help you along...Your feet are going to be on the ground...Your head is there to move you around...STAND IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree anywhere around the Central Business District in Midwood is a great place to stand if you are into people watching. But the best is on a Tuesday night standing in the middle of the Trivia spectacle at Petra's in Midwood if you can get in. It's just a cultural phenom.

Rev. Mike said...
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Rev. Mike said...
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Rev. Mike said...
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Rev. Mike said...

My favorite place ever since the first time I drove by Queens University in 1982 remains anywhere on Stanford Place. The way the trees arch over the street there has always reminded me of a quiet, peaceful, Gothic cathedral. Looking at the photo I've linked, it would appear that the drought of the past few years may have diminished the foliage at the time that Google took its Street View photo, but I suspect the trees are back in their full glory this year!

(Sorry for all the deleted comments ... it took me a few tries to get that link into a publicly accessible folder on my server. DOH.)

Anonymous said...

Look at pics from 100 years ago when Myers Park was built, it was the very first sprawl developement, they cut every tree down to build Myers Park and the lots are huge. Seems like Mary would be against Myers Park.

Mary Newsom said...

Myers Park was not sprawl, it was transit-oriented development: It was a streetcar suburb. Further, its deed restrictions ensured that it was also a mixed-income neighborhood, with some smaller lots mandated for less-expensive houses.
Actually, Dilworth was the first suburb -- it, too, was transit-oriented development.
Both neighborhoods were planned for connectivity, transit and mixed uses, including retail nodes, multifamily, large houses and small.

Anonymous said...

I like sprawl. I enjoy having a little elbow room between my neighbors.

Jumper said...

I can't say I like to stand anywhere except at my workbench, which is not exciting to anyone. I prefer to sit. I like to sit at Zada Jane's.

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that Myers Park and Dilworth would have had to be "transit oriented" developments, since 100 years ago most people did not own cars and had to use public transit. So the fact that they were built as such is not remarkable. That's not to say that they aren't beautiful, desirable neighborhoods. But they certainly are no longer "mixed income" neighborhoods (especially Myers Park). Actually, as the suburbs have become more diverse the close in suburbs have become more exclusive (how many of us can afford homes in Myers Park, Dilworth, etc?). But this is never mentioned--we just hear disdain for "sprawl" (and exactly where should all those people who live in sprawl be living instead?). That being said, my favorite place to stand in Charlotte is in the woods at the edge of the creek in my suburban neighborhood--you can almost feel like you are in the mountains.

Anonymous said...

I loved reading this post of yours. It is a very nice one indeed. I hope you can come up with many of these.

This is Joshua from Israeli Uncensored News

Michaelg said...

On my own two feet. Then it doesn't matter where I'm standing.