Engage Charlotte Blog

The only thing better than watching a music video on TV or listening to a new band you just heard about on Pandora is actually going out to see them live. Lucky for you, you live in Charlotte. Hopefully the winter is over. These few days of sun have really got me excited about the spring, summer and terrible sunburns that I will no doubt have in the coming months. One of my favorite parts about this time of year is the release of the spring and summer concert schedules.

Charlotte has a few big music venues, which you have most likely heard of, even if you are new to the area. If you haven’t been to the Time Warner Cable Arena (The DVR Dome) or out to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, then you need to hop on their Web sites and pick something out to go see that tickles your fancy. Too lazy? No problem – I already did it for you. Head just north of town to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 7 and see Tom Petty and Joe Cocker play some of your old favorites. If country music is more your speed then check out the Country Mega Ticket on May 27. A name deep on that list that you may recognize is recent Academy Award winner Ryan Bingham. If you were sitting next to me at Solstice Tavern in NODA last fall, you would have been able to meet Ryan and be on his guest list for the show next door at the Evening Muse. ( No big deal). Stay tuned for more announcements from Time Warner Cable arena on concerts, but word on the street is that Phish may be playing there mid-June.

The Neighborhood Theatre in NODA is a great venue in a very cool part of Charlotte. Be sure to visit one of the many great places to eat and enjoy a few cocktails before the show. Robert Earl Keen and the Sons of Bill will be playing there on March 11.

The Visulite is another great venue on Elizabeth Street right near uptown. Elizabeth Street has just been renovated and hosts a few new places to grub before walking in to listen to Asheville, N.C., natives Acoustic Syndicate on March 12. If you can’t make it this Saturday, be sure to check out the Hill Country Revue, a North Mississippi All-Stars side project on April 7.

Not too far from the Visuilite is a great, small bar/venue, the Double Door Inn. Want to see the next big thing out of Athens, Ga.? Go see Mama’s Love on May 1 at the Double Door. Be sure to get there early – sold out last time.

Amos South End is will be hosting Sound Tribe Sector 9 this Thursday, March 11.

The North Carolina Music Factory is the new, soon-to-be-famous venue located just inside the northwest corner of 277. It offers a few very upscale, swanky, New York transplanted clubs, as well as three music venues. The Black Eyed Peas stopped by recently for an after party. I was there for the first time two weeks ago to see Trey Anastasio Band. It is truly a first-class place, and I am eager to see it add more dates to its calendar. Once you have worn yourself out from a big Friday or Saturday night this spring, be sure to stop by the Philosopher’s Stone on Sunday afternoons when the weather is nice. They have great music outside most every Sunday, as wells as bags, ping pong and picnic tables. If you see me there, feel free to buy me some wings or a beer.

St. Patrick's Day weekend is an exciting time in the Charlotte area. For some reason on the weekend of Saturday, March 13th, at any given time you will see more Charloteans claiming to be Irish than you ever thought possible. There are a number of activities taking place during this weekend so you better make sure to know your options.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade will be celebrating its 14th year in Uptown Charlotte. Last year more than 50,000 spectators joined in the fun. Like every other year you can expect to hear pipes piping and floats floating as many observers cheer in celebration of the day. This is a non-profit event and free to the public. Participating in the parade will be plenty of schools, international organizations, businesses and other groups that decide they want to join in on the fun. The start of the parade is at Tryon and 9th street in Uptown Charlotte. At 11:00 AM the march will begin and will go all the way to Tryon and 3rd St. So come one, come all, and make sure to bring something Irish with you! (At the very least you can dig through your closet and find a presentable green shirt). More information can be found here at www.charlottestpatsday.com.

Ever wanted to break a world record? Well Rich & Bennett's 10th Annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl is your chance! Come on and come all for the crawl's 10th year. This event is known as the world's largest crawl and has continued to grow every year since it began. Last year alone 5,000 crawlers visited over 20 bars in Uptown Charlotte. The event was featured last year on the Travel Channel series Extreme Wild Parties. The crawl begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday March 13 and doesn't stop until 10:00 PM that evening. All you need is to sign up beforehand or the day of and make sure to wear your special St Patty's Day crawling T-Shirt. More information can be found at www.rockhouseevents.com/stpatricksdaypubcrawl.

Aside from these two events, many local establishments will be throwing their own celebration for the day. And in the event you still need an excuse to get out of the house, expect plenty of college basketball to watch as we slowly but surely approach March Madness. So get out, socialize, and hope the rain decides to stay away this year!

Charlotte YPs have long been involved in local charities. We serve on boards, planning committees, fundraising committees and even auction ourselves off. Several notable YP-oriented fundraisers are held throughout the year. These fundraisers are not only good causes but also great places to meet people. So if you’re looking for new friends, dates, business connections or just a reason to dress up, be sure not to miss events like Guys and Dolls, which coming up next weekend! Let’s face it, who doesn’t like getting dressed and spending money for a good cause?

www.guysanddollscharlotte.com

The Guys and Dolls Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction is Charlotte’s premier event for young professionals. Coming up on its 10th year, the event features 30 of Charlotte’s most-eligible men and women, and their fantastic date packages up for auction to the highest bidder. Packages include fantastic trips, shopping sprees and many more surprises. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar raised during Guys and Dolls supports research, education and care programs of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tickets are $90 general admission, $100 seated table and $125 VIP. Includes hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine bar, silent & live auctions and live entertainment.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 20, 2010, starts at 6:30p.m.
WHERE: Hilton Charlotte Center City 222 E. 3rd St. Charlotte, NC 28202

A new year often brings the idea of a new beginning. We find ourselves relieved that we’ve made it through one more year (especially 2009) and challenge ourselves with new goals and resolutions for the next 365 days of our lives. Yes, I am that person reminding you of your resolutions and encouraging you to keep them! I’d like to share with you a new habit of mine that has begun to benefit me in more ways than I originally thought. It’s running uptown.

At my family’s annual Christmas get-together on the Gulf Coast of Florida, my parents handed me a book entitled Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham and encouraged me to take a look. Being a former college soccer player, the only type of training I remember is getting up too early, lifting too much, running until I couldn’t breathe anymore and spending hours on the field in game situations. Getting older, I’ve realized that my body does not respond to exercise the way it used to. And “training” was out of the question, because I just end up getting hurt. However, marathon training provides a slow, progressive, week-by-week method to running more than you ever thought you could.

Taking my parents advice and finding instant inspiration from them urged me to make a goal of completing a marathon in 2010. But how will I get there? My first step was to pick a half marathon a few months out to complete as a base for the training I will need for the full marathon. Jacksonville, Fla., is the destination of my first half marathon, which will take place on February 21. If you have never run before, pick a 5k and then a 10k to work your way up. I began with Charlotte’s very own Turkey Trot (8k) last Thanksgiving, and the excitement of pinning a number on your shirt and crossing the finish line has been more than enough to carry me through my current training program. Once you have made up your mind to get to the start line of a race, you’ll find yourself motivated to run. You will quickly realize that it’s not about how fast or hard or intense your workouts are, but rather you'll be content with the satisfaction of starting and finishing each session. Before you know it you will be relieved when you realize you only have an 8-mile run to complete for the day. I know this sounds crazy at first, but trust me – building step-by-step gets you there. Just don’t push it!

Running uptown you ask? I’ve recently moved into an uptown condo, and the combination of working and living within the I-277 loop has created a deeper sense of community with Charlotte. Occasionally, my training program will call for timed runs that do not require a certain distance, and it’s on these days I will cover everything from Trade & Tryon and beyond. It’s fun to whisk by the Westin, First Ward development, say hello to friends at the EpiCentre, pay a visit to Bank of America Stadium, run by Butter in the N.C. Music Factory, and brisk by Alexander Michaels in the same day and on foot. The sights, sounds, and familiar faces of uptown running brings with it an added motivation to keep those feet moving. Recently, I even ran into an acquaintance at a local restaurant who was quick to let me know he nearly hit me at an uptown intersection. “I saw this crazy person running and realized it was you,” he said. I also feel it very important to high five other runners I cross paths with on the street. Some find it crazy, but I know it instills a little more motivation in us both.

With all of that said, let me take a final moment to encourage you to re-visit your New Year’s resolutions. If you haven’t kept them all, get on it! Feel free to add running to the list if you have not done so already. I have even made it easy for you by attaching a link below to a few 5k and 10k training programs, so you have no excuse. I can promise you that running will bring you more emotional, physical, and even spiritual satisfaction than you ever could have imagined.

Runner’s World Training Programs

2009 was a challenging year for most of us, and I know some of you who are reading this blog have been displaced from your jobs or are recent graduates, trying to find a job, any job, during the challenging time. Some of you have simply given up – either because you’ve submitted 1,000 resumes over the past month and haven’t received a call, or because you just don’t have the energy anymore. Believe me; I know the feeling. I’ve been out of more work before and know how draining and frustrating it can be.

But never fear. There are a few things you can do to maintain momentum and a positive attitude:

1. Reinvent yourself – Drastic changes to the U.S. workforce have almost eliminated “traditional” career paths and opportunities. The days of working for the same company for 30 years are no more. Thus, if you’ve earned a degree in business finance and are having a hard time finding employment, rethink your current skill set and see if it would be a good fit in a “nontraditional” setting. For example, maybe you could use your skills in an account executive (sales) role.
2. Don’t forget your network – Most people are using the Internet and social networking sites, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, to find employment. However, don’t forget the importance of your network. According to “Job Search and Career Networking Tips” by Alison Doyle on About.com, more than 80 percent of successful job searches come from one’s network. Your network can include acquaintances, past employers, friends and family, or alumni from your school. Make sure to stay in contact with your network on a regular basis, not only when you’re looking for a new job. Also, take advantage of new networking opportunities, such as an Engage Charlotte luncheon. You will meet many young professionals who are looking to expand their network and may also be looking for others in the same boat as you.
3. No man is an island – If you need some additional support to help with your job search, or just to find someone to talk to, visit www.charlottechamber.com/member-info/snt-jobsupportgroups/ for a list of support networks that can help educate and provide you with emotional support during this time of transition.

I hope this information is beneficial and will offer some solace as you continue your job search. Remember to check the Engage Charlotte Web site about upcoming events and other information. Best of luck!