Shopping in Charlotte
The fun thing about the holidays are the shopping excursions. It may take hours and hours of shopping to complete your list and gather all those special gifts. Well, there is nothing more exciting than going away to a big city and shopping for the unusual that you may not find at home. Charlotte, North Carolina has so many unique shopping areas you’ll feel like you died and went to New York not North Carolina.
A fun shopping weekend should always start with a great hotel., maybe something near the good stuff. Try the Doubletree Guest Suites Southpark, with all the great things you get at Doubletree (chocolate chip cookies!!) and the benefit of being right in the fray. Not only will you be near the upscale Southpark Mall (filled with every brand imaginable from Louis Vuitton to Neiman Marcus), but you will not want for a decent meal. Southpark has every kind of restaurant you can imagine in a 2 or 3 mile radius., but since it’s a super special weekend try Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. They don’t come any better, although they may come cheaper. Its definitely pricey, but you will taste the difference immediately; truly something special for the holidays. If you’d like something a little out of the ordinary, then Zebra is the place for you. Culinary art, warm ambience, and super great service. Don’t miss this treat. If you want to be a bit naughty after dinner, because you’ll definitely need the extra sugar boost for shopping, stop at Polka Dot Bake Shop for cupcakes in all the best exotic flavors. Be sure and get an extra dozen to take home, perhaps the cookies and crème or the turtle flavored ones, although the vanilla bean cupcakes, for the purest, are the best!
Charlotte, North Carolina has a had a renaissance of sorts when it comes to shopping. It has become quite the urban gift haven. If you explore some of the up and coming areas right outside uptown you will discover fun and quirky boutiques that can offer anything from wearable art pieces to designer pajamas. You can find special treats for your pet or something different for friend with a new baby.
Lets begin in Dilworth. This area has some of the nicest boutiques in the city. East Blvd. has shop after shop lining the street. The best place to start is at the Red Sky Gallery, which has a great selection of art. Take your time as you explore all this store has to offer. Begin with the hand painted eggs with storybook themes to decorate a Christmas tree, then look at the wearable art pieces by Eleanor Wirth, which will make quiet an impression for that someone special. Want something a bit different, maybe a bit more fun? Then go next door to Cottage Chic. This funky house -turned into a quirky shopping stop- will surprise you with what’s inside. You can find anything from Bed Head pajamas (Oprahs favorites) to Kate Spade handbags, to a Yoana Baraschi patent leather jacket. If you’re looking for some interesting books, stop at the PaperSkyscraper. This delightful gift shop runs the gamut from books to a bobble head Shakespeare. This is a must stop for something fun! Dilworth is a great place to shop for chic items but if you want something a bit more unique then go a bit further…
NoDa is one of the areas quickly becoming a haven for the artistic soul. An area under a complete renovation, you can find some of the quirkiest stores around. Try the Canvas Monkey for the most affordable art to be had. Up and coming artists of all types adorn the walls of this eclectic store, most within a beginner art collectors budget. If you need something even cheaper drop a $5 token into the “artomat”, a vending machine full of small original art that pops out when you pull the lever. Its a fun way to buy that first artistic work. Check out the grown up version of action figures with OCD Man or Crazy Cat Lady. Be sure and collect them all. Go across the street to The Boulevard at NoDa, a flea market of sorts with lots of handmade art and clothes in individual stands. Here you can also find the Milkwood Collection. This is a group of emerging artists whose works are transferred to pillows, skirts, dresses, scarves and tanks, the perfect way to show off art. Be sure and take a quick stop in the 60’s at Sunshine Daydreams. It’s a crazy store full of tie dye and hemp. We all have an aging hippie to buy for. NoDa is the place for all your eccentric needs.
So pack up your gifts, pack up your bags, and dream the whole way home of the smiles and laughs you’ll share with family and friends. A shopping weekend in Charlotte is a perfect way to enjoy the business of Christmas.
Robin Gardner, Editor At Large
Things to Do in Charlotte, North Carolina
A fun shopping weekend should always start with a great hotel., maybe something near the good stuff. Try the Doubletree Guest Suites Southpark, with all the great things you get at Doubletree (chocolate chip cookies!!) and the benefit of being right in the fray. Not only will you be near the upscale Southpark Mall (filled with every brand imaginable from Louis Vuitton to Neiman Marcus), but you will not want for a decent meal. Southpark has every kind of restaurant you can imagine in a 2 or 3 mile radius., but since it’s a super special weekend try Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. They don’t come any better, although they may come cheaper. Its definitely pricey, but you will taste the difference immediately; truly something special for the holidays. If you’d like something a little out of the ordinary, then Zebra is the place for you. Culinary art, warm ambience, and super great service. Don’t miss this treat. If you want to be a bit naughty after dinner, because you’ll definitely need the extra sugar boost for shopping, stop at Polka Dot Bake Shop for cupcakes in all the best exotic flavors. Be sure and get an extra dozen to take home, perhaps the cookies and crème or the turtle flavored ones, although the vanilla bean cupcakes, for the purest, are the best!
Charlotte, North Carolina has a had a renaissance of sorts when it comes to shopping. It has become quite the urban gift haven. If you explore some of the up and coming areas right outside uptown you will discover fun and quirky boutiques that can offer anything from wearable art pieces to designer pajamas. You can find special treats for your pet or something different for friend with a new baby.
Lets begin in Dilworth. This area has some of the nicest boutiques in the city. East Blvd. has shop after shop lining the street. The best place to start is at the Red Sky Gallery, which has a great selection of art. Take your time as you explore all this store has to offer. Begin with the hand painted eggs with storybook themes to decorate a Christmas tree, then look at the wearable art pieces by Eleanor Wirth, which will make quiet an impression for that someone special. Want something a bit different, maybe a bit more fun? Then go next door to Cottage Chic. This funky house -turned into a quirky shopping stop- will surprise you with what’s inside. You can find anything from Bed Head pajamas (Oprahs favorites) to Kate Spade handbags, to a Yoana Baraschi patent leather jacket. If you’re looking for some interesting books, stop at the PaperSkyscraper. This delightful gift shop runs the gamut from books to a bobble head Shakespeare. This is a must stop for something fun! Dilworth is a great place to shop for chic items but if you want something a bit more unique then go a bit further…
NoDa is one of the areas quickly becoming a haven for the artistic soul. An area under a complete renovation, you can find some of the quirkiest stores around. Try the Canvas Monkey for the most affordable art to be had. Up and coming artists of all types adorn the walls of this eclectic store, most within a beginner art collectors budget. If you need something even cheaper drop a $5 token into the “artomat”, a vending machine full of small original art that pops out when you pull the lever. Its a fun way to buy that first artistic work. Check out the grown up version of action figures with OCD Man or Crazy Cat Lady. Be sure and collect them all. Go across the street to The Boulevard at NoDa, a flea market of sorts with lots of handmade art and clothes in individual stands. Here you can also find the Milkwood Collection. This is a group of emerging artists whose works are transferred to pillows, skirts, dresses, scarves and tanks, the perfect way to show off art. Be sure and take a quick stop in the 60’s at Sunshine Daydreams. It’s a crazy store full of tie dye and hemp. We all have an aging hippie to buy for. NoDa is the place for all your eccentric needs.
So pack up your gifts, pack up your bags, and dream the whole way home of the smiles and laughs you’ll share with family and friends. A shopping weekend in Charlotte is a perfect way to enjoy the business of Christmas.
Robin Gardner, Editor At Large
Things to Do in Charlotte, North Carolina
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