Exploring Charlotte
Maybe you’re new to Charlotte. Or maybe you’ve been here for a while, but are still eager to get plugged in. We’re your guide to the surging creative energy of our city – the diverse neighborhoods, the colorful details, the must-see projects, the must-attend events, and all the ways to get involved. (After all, you become a true Charlottean the moment you get your uniform dirty.) In addition to covering the newest Queen City creators, offerings and trends, we’re equally passionate about making sure you know the trailblazing people, businesses and organizations that have been keeping the creative pilot light burning in Charlotte for decades. (After all, they laid the foundation for the rest of us.) And in our ongoing series #WhereAreWeInCLT, you can always count on us to capture the vibrant details and delights hiding in plain sight, around every corner of the city. Our team always has our eyes peeled, searching for the next surprise to share. Our goal is to inspire you to explore Charlotte and discover fascinating areas of Crown Town that just might become your new favorite spot.
The writing’s on the wall
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | October 22, 2020“We Are Hip Hop” is more than a mural. It’s an ongoing celebration of local hip-hop culture – a unique culture that helps elevate Charlotte. (“We don’t want to be a baby Atlanta,” Dammit Wesley said.) Every letter tells a story. The new Camp North… read more »
A Photo Tour of NoDa’s New Trash Cans
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte, For Newcomers | October 22, 2020Unlike any other area in Charlotte, NoDa is a place where the hands of artists are immediately visible. Murals may be the big ticket, but every inch of NoDa is covered in some form or creative expression, from stickers on power boxes and street signs… read more »
Thomas Spratt & King Haigler on the Trail of History
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte, Where Are We in CLT? | October 22, 2020#WhereAreWeInCLT? On the section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway across from the Grady Cole Center and the Philip L. Van Every Culinary Arts Building on CPCC’s campus, you’ll find these two bronze figures standing together, looking out into the di… read more »
Get Out There! Yard Art Day is Back
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | September 3, 2020This Labor Day will go down in history as the best Yard Art Day ever. Are you new to Charlotte? Perhaps you haven’t heard of Charlotte’s annual Yard Art Day? Stop, please click here, then come back! Charlotte photographer Deborah Triplett is a creat… read more »
Explore Charlotte’s Neighborhood Street Murals – Part Three
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | August 28, 2020Well, we made it! This is the third and final installment of our series exploring the 15 new street murals the City of Charlotte Placemaking department commissioned 14 artists and artist groups to create across the city to lift our collective communi… read more »
Featured on @CLTBlackOwned – Week of August 17 Recap
Exploring Charlotte, How To/Resources | August 26, 2020Each week the team at @CLTBlackOwned — Maddy, Jeff, Ashley and Jeremy — highlights a different Black-owned business in Charlotte and the surrounding area. The Queen City has a rich community of Black-owned retailers, restauranteurs, service-provide… read more »
The Meaning Inside Matt Hooker’s New Mural
CLT Creatives, Exploring Charlotte | August 20, 2020There’s a lot of meaning packed inside artist Matt Hooker’s newest mural in Charlotte. At the corner of Hawthorne and Kennon Streets, the mural was commissioned by Catherine Devericks, owner of The Culture Shop, a business that opened in the throes o… read more »
What’s the history behind uptown Charlotte’s four wards?
Exploring Charlotte, For Newcomers | August 13, 2020When Charlotte’s new Major League Soccer team, Charlotte FC, unveiled its logo, they rooted it in Charlotte history. As a community historian, I sure do love that. The logo is a circle, like a coin: “recognizing the city’s modern status as a major US… read more »
Featured on @CLTBlackOwned – Week of August 3 Recap
Exploring Charlotte, How To/Resources | August 13, 2020Each week the creative team at @CLTBlackOwned — Maddy, Jeff, Ashley and Jeremy — highlights a different Black-owned business in Charlotte and the surrounding area. Our city has a wide community of Black-owned retailers, restauranteurs, service-prov… read more »
Explore Charlotte’s Neighborhood Street Murals – Part Two
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | August 13, 2020Take a walk on the artistic side! This summer, the City of Charlotte Placemaking department also organized 14 artists and artist groups to paint 15 street murals in neighborhoods across the city. Artists selected from the program’s artist pool were a… read more »
Featured on @CLTBlackOwned – Week of July 26 Recap
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | August 4, 2020Each week the creative team at @CLTBlackOwned — Maddy, Jeff, Ashley and Jeremy — highlights a different Black-owned business in Charlotte and the surrounding area Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, they ask you for business suggestions or highlig… read more »
Celebrating Paperback Book Day With 8 CLT Bookstores
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | July 30, 202085 years ago, the humble paperback book as we know it today was invented. (Is it just us or doesn’t it feel like paperback books should be way older than that?) In honor of the day Penguin Books published their first 10 paperback novels in 1935, ever… read more »
Don’t Dis’ the Dog!
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | July 30, 2020People say you shouldn’t ask what goes into hot dogs, but that doesn’t work for us. We’re curious. We like to know EXACTLY how the sausage … er … hot dog is made. Here at The Biscuit, we have an insatiable appetite for information about th… read more »
Explore Charlotte’s Neighborhood Street Murals – Part One
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | July 30, 2020There are many ways to build a city. A city of more than buildings, roads and support systems. And, while planners and architects, developers and construction workers build the incredible infrastructure of our home here, so do creatives and artists…. read more »
Queen City Cinephiles Unite for 1CLT Film Fest
CLT Creatives, Exploring Charlotte | July 23, 2020Don’t let anyone tell you that Charlotte is not a film town. Scores of movies and televisions shows been filmed here and Charlotte is also the home for a plethora of film festivals. Unfortunately, this year has really thrown all of us for a loop. Whi… read more »
Get Ink-cited About National Tattoo Day
CLT Creatives, Exploring Charlotte | July 17, 2020To celebrate National Tattoo Day, we’ve compiled a list of a few Charlotte tattoo shops that always catch our eye when drive by (and scroll by on Instagram). Each of these parlors is filled to the brim with talented artists who run the gamut of style… read more »
Broken Crowns: The Truth About the Meck Deck
CLT Creatives, Exploring Charlotte, Videos | May 18, 2020BROKEN NEWS! We’ve found the answer to Charlotte’s biggest secret! For years, scholars and citizens alike have broken their backs to prove or disprove the existence of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. After years of questing, we have an i… read more »
The Queen City stands in for The Big Apple
Creative News, Exploring Charlotte | May 15, 2020“There is so much art in our city, and it’s such a gift to us. So often, we drive right by it. But if you can take the time to slow down and really notice it, you’ll see it’s amazing.” – Brooke Brown Brooke Brown was supposed to be walking around Man… read more »
She’s back… and she’s GLORIOUS!
Exploring Charlotte | May 7, 2020The Park Road Shopping Center sign has been getting some TLC since November of last year so, it was definitely a sight for sore eyes after a short rain on Tuesday night. Only one side of the sign has been put back in place today, but custom signage c… read more »
Brawley’s Beverage
Exploring Charlotte, Where Are We in CLT? | May 7, 2020Is it just us … or does it looks like she knows something we don’t? Here’s something we DO know — tomorrow is Friday and that is cause for celebration and the last day of the initial round of stay-at-home orders. And what’s a celebration without a fe… read more »
