The Queen City Welcomes Me Back

Now that the holidays are over, I am once again back on the road for work.

I opted to drive to Charlotte as it's only a four-hour trip. It would take the same amount of time, door-to-door, to fly here because of traffic, airport crap, rental car, etc. The drive up was a lovely, lazy Sunday push and I had blue skies and open road for most of the way.

I've actually been here since LAST Sunday, I've just been too busy working to post. But it was my first week doing a new task for the company - training instead of demo - and I find I quite like the work and the change of pace; 8 hours of give and take versus 1-6 hours of show and tell. The folks here are incredibly bright and warm, so that helps.

I like Charlotte. It hasn't seem to have figured itself out yet, but I think it's got great potential. The Queen City is a banking center of huge proportions and the Uptown reflects that - huge skyscrapers and restaurants but not too much in the way of real fun. However, they have added the light rail and I think the outlying neighborhoods are pretty charming and funky. My colleague and I spent last week exploring the food and wine in Uptown Charlotte, even enjoying a rickshaw ride (!!!???) back to the hotel the other night. It's been quite fun getting to know her and I'm glad to have come to North Carolina if just for that.

She and I spent last week dining all over uptown - RockBottom, Capitol Grille -- and even ventured to a mall nearby because they have a Cheesecake Factory. Yes, I know. She's Danish, though, and they don't have them so a trip to the mall was entirely all right. As it turns out, the mall - Southpark - is very posh and contained a lot of stores someone of my financial status has no business being in. However, I did find a Torrid there and blew a load of cash on work clothes - none of which I can expense, but all of which I quite need. (And, ladies, if you are above a size 10, Torrid is fantastic - fun, quality clothes for work and play in larger sizes.)

This weekend, Niels came up to visit and we met up with his old buddy Jeremy, who took us disc golfing at Kilborne Park, out for drinks at The Philosopher's Stone, the Solstice Tavern and on an aborted trip to a waaaay overcrowded Mac's BBQ. Jeremy lives in Charlotte's version of SoHo (and Louisville's Highlands) -- it's called NoDa for North Davidson. We had dinner at the Penguin - a traditional greasy spoon with awesome burgers and great friend pickles (in chip form!) This morning we went to Mert's uptown for Southern comfort and soul food with Jeremy, his girl Nichole and his sister Emily. Excellent mac n cheese -- excellent! It has me pining for the mac back in Louisville at Lynn's Paradise Cafe.

Niels has actually made it back to ATL already, and I am working in the hotel room, content to spend a night in ordering room service. The good folks at the client site have invited us to attend a Bobcats game Wednesday - in the executive box! I have never been a basketball fan, so this will be my first time at an NBA game. Hopefully, viewing from the lap of luxury will help me get into the game.


I'm afraid it didn't occur to me to look at the plaque on this statue. It was outside some sort of government building, I think. That's my hotel lit up in white in the background. The right is where the NASCAR Hall of Fame is being built. Yeehaw!

Riding in a rickshaw is a bit nervewracking. The speed seems much faster and since there is absolutely no safety protection involved, I did get pretty scared zooming downhill. I actually spent a lot of time planning how I would fall if the thing turned over or crashed!

As you can see, we did actually survive. I don't think I am likely to repeat the experience here. Perhaps if I get the chance in Copenhagen, though.

Niels' friend Jeremy (super awesome guy!) shows us the ropes at the disc golf course at Kilborne Park. We loved it - it's a great way to get exercise and feel like you are accomplishing something at the same time. And, you needn't lug golf clubs around!

This is me prepping for a disc throw - much, much harder than expected. Those little puppies don't fly right unless you've got technique. I have none.

This action shot make me look like a kung fu star. In reality, my disc would fly about 30 feet, hang a decided left and plummet into the woods. Jeremy, on the other hand, was able to throw his over 200 yards at a shot. Ulp.

Charlotte has been good to me - and hopefully will be through the rest of my stay. And I might even be coming back again in the next six months.

Flight: None

Drive: 253 miles, one way

Bags: Black gear roller, backpack, huge pink suitcase

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn - Uptown. Sigh. I've stayed here before and enjoyed it, but this trip it seems the management is going downhill a bit - the desk staff have not been terribly friendly. They seem cranky and annoyed when I have dealt with them. Also, a lightbulb was out in my room when I arrived, the remote needed batteries and three days later another lightbulb went out. The maid sometimes delivers coffee packets, sometimes only delivers decaf (why, god, why????) and occasionally forgets to check the TP. Um, I'm not terribly thrilled with the place this time around. Lastly, the parking garage is a slow and painful cruise through many levels of parked car hell to a dangerous and steeply sloping exit that shows the marks of past drivers who accidentally hit the walls of this narrow ramp. I generally opt for HGIs as they are clean, a tad upscale but still for normal folks - this place is the exception to the many great stays I've had. And, frankly, my complaints are hardly major.