Schoooooool’s Out. For. Wednesday! – Active & Creative Ideas to Keep You from Going Insane Today
It’s Wednesday, May 1. You weren’t planning on the kids being home today. But, they are. And, you’re 5 minutes away from meltdown. I know it because I’ve lived it and I want to help you.
What to do? What to do?
Luckily, Charlotte SHOUT! is getting warmed up, adding to lots of fun, creative things to do with kids of all ages (yes, even those of us in the 45th grade) inside the beltline in Uptown Charlotte. Here are a few suggestions of how you can kick May off with a fun outing in the Center City that might just sneak in a little education for your students.
NUMBER ONE: BIG, BIG BUNNIES
Charlotte SHOUT! is taking over the Center City with Charlotte Jazz Fest this weekend and a week’s worth of exciting activities next week focused on four areas: Arts, Music, Food and Ideas.
We suggest fifth and sixth areas — SURPRISE AND DELIGHT. For example, The Green on South Tryon Street has been invaded … by giant, inflatable bunnies. Called “Intrude,” these guys beg you to pose with them day or night (when they light up). They beg you to visit The Green at the start and end of the day for incredible selfies.
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NUMBER TWO: SEE THE SEE SAWS
Just a few blocks away from the Bunnies on the Avenue of the Arts, you’ll find “Impulse” — an “interactive work comprising a series of 15 seesaws with light and sound that changes when in motion.” If you can peel off the bankers taking a break from work to get one, it’ll be worth it. (And, if you’re there at lunchtime, swing by the Levine Center for the Arts Pavillion for Lunch Hour Jazz.)
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NUMBER THREE: WALK THE STREETS AND TALK TO WALLS
Last fall, the Talking Walls festival gathered an incredible collection of muralists to paint works of art all over Charlotte, with a high concentration in the Center City. While some are easy to spot, you’ll find others in surprising places. And, they even provided you with a map to all of them at HERE.
NUMBER FOUR: MEET QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S DOG & HISTORIC HORNETS
While you’re hunting for murals, jump into some Charlotte History, too. The May 20th Society and others have assembled The Liberty Walk — a series of historic markers telling the story of how, among other things, we got to be called a “Hornet’s Nest of Rebellion” during during the Revolutionary War. And, you can even meet Queen Charlotte and her dog along the way. Click here for an online map and downloadable brochure.
BONUS IDEA! If you’ve never had them, we suggest you mosey on over to Fourth Ward and Alexander Michael’s for some of their world famous fried pickles. You’re not REALLY a Charlottean until you have. If the kids (or the adults) aren’t into pickles, have no fear. It’s all good at Al Mike’s.