On a quiet Sunday morning, the Union-Market Passageway in Concord felt anything but spooky, which…read moreis always a pleasant surprise because some alleys can definitely give off that vibe. But here, the white painted brick and the bright artworks made it feel open and welcoming. The murals tell the story of Concord's industrial past and how those early mills and factories shaped the city. Knowing the installation was completed in 2013 by artist Sharon Dowell made me appreciate how intentional the space feels. One of the captions, "This image shows the original Cabarrus County Courthouse, built after the Town of Concord was laid out in 1796 on a 26 acre tract of land called 'Pea Ridge' near the old Indian Trading Path. It was a modest frame structure 30 feet wide and 30 feet long with a 15 foot hip roof. It was constructed in the intersection of Union and Corbin (now Corban) Streets." Walking through with no one else around, it was easy to slow down and take in the colors and the way the artwork is framed against the clean brick walls, and the passageway felt more like a small outdoor art gallery than a cut through. It is a simple spot but a charming one, and on a calm Sunday morning, it added a nice bit of character to my walk through downtown Concord. [Review 665 of 2026 - 4753 in North Carolina - 25846 overall]

Union-Market Passageway is not just another utilitarian alleyway in an historic downtown district…read more It's historical and artsy too! located between 48 and 46 South Union the pedestrian alley is currently adorned with works by Charlotte artist Sharon Dowell titled "Momentous- A Timeline of History Shaping Sites of Concord" it includes several large pieces installed on the wall depicting places and periods significant to life in the early days of the greater Concord metro. small plaques accompany the panels providing background and context for the illustrations.

This beautiful mural takes up the entire wall of the Live Love Serve Foundation facing Old…read morePineville Road. A series of faces and patterns that don't quite line up with the porthole shaped windows but still provides a positive outlook on the foundation. They have also installed a sign that provides context. It reads in part, "'We exist to love and serve.' This was true in 1993 and is still true 25 years later. These simple words describe not what we do, but why we do it. 'We exist to Love and Serve our Clients, Associates and Community.' The 10'9" x 17'4" mural running along the Old Pineville Road side of our building is our way to inspire others to live a life focused on love. The inspiration for the mural came from the Wynwood community in Miami, Florida that embraces art in an effort to positively impact the community." It is worth a stop, especially if you're nearby for Brewers on Yancey. [Review 1116 of 2024 - 3614 in North Carolina - 22142 overall]

Though the bridge itself is simply a means of foregoing the need of an intersection on the west…read moreside of NoDa, the beautiful mural makes it stand out and a more memorable part of Charlotte's art flavor. Brainchild of local artist Will Puckett, this gorgeous mural tells a wonderful story of Mecklenburg history. There's a brilliant explanation of this at the listed website. Though you may not find yourself walking down North Davidson Street most days, take the time to walk by and take in this gorgeous story/work of art. It's quite remarkable and more memorable up front rather than from your car window.

Hooray for public art! This used to be one of the ugliest bridges in a city that prided itself on…read moreutilitarian industrial infrastructure. But a few NoDa artists have, with the help of many grants, painted the columns with the major contributors to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. For those of you who took history classes in the real world, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence probably isn't a familiar document. All true Charlotte citizens know that Mecklenburg declared independence from the British years before the Continental Congress. But then they lost the document and all proof of its existence so just take our word for it okay? This is especially convenient for southern gentlemen who are ferociously proud of the revolution but uncomfortable giving any credit to those damned Yankees. In the project's later stages the mural will extend beyond the bridge's columns to decorate the embankments on either side with images of the Mecklenburg Resolves, another document of unclear purpose and dubious existence. Basically, I'm saying that they could have picked some better subject matter. Like, something that actually happened. Or, if you are happy with imaginary events, why not choose something truly heroic like the day America beat back the Martian menace? But regardless, I think it is fitting that this bridge, spanning one of two routes into NoDa's arts district, be covered in an enormous, colorful mural.

Painted by artist Abel Jackson, this large mural takes up half the wall on the outside of The…read moreChamber by Wooden Robot https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-chamber-wooden-robot-charlotte-2?hrid=Yg3CZBsgKiiPDbltikDo0w near the 36th Street Lynx station. You'll be able to see it best if you take the opposite exit from the station instead of walking past the brewery. With the phrase "Hear, Imagine, and Be Love", the mural depicts the artist's niece and two family friends. Abel hopes "the community will receive gratitude and love for their loved ones and for yourself" when viewing the mural. [Review 16950 overall - 3272 in North Carolina - 466 of 2022.]

The Confetti Hearts Wall is a mural in Charlotte's South End district along an otherwise boring…read morealleyway. The artwork is by artist Evelyn Henson. It is between Camden and Hawkins around the corner from Hawkers and other restaurants. Forty feet long, it is an "Instagram wall" where you can post for your perfect picture and then get an ice cream from Jeni's! [Review 2074 of 2024 - 3760 in North Carolina - 23093 overall]

Can park right outside, Such a cute spot for pictures and ice cream after , stopped here for the…read moreday and was worth the 15 minute drive

Industrial Oaf: Delicate Dump by Kevin Vanek sits in the parking lot of the F&M Trolley Barn in…read moreSalisbury like a big steel question you weren't expecting to find, this rough welded figure that looks both awkward and strangely random at the same time. Having read up on the artist for this review, I've learned that it is his design to reinvent industrial forms with a child-like curiosity and celebrating the history of labor through reclaimed materials. You can see that here in the way the metal still carries the marks of its past life while becoming something almost humorous and expressive. What really works is how the piece transforms this corner of the parking lot into a small moment of discovery, because as you walk around it the posture shifts and the welds reveal little decisions that make the figure seem more alive. Vanek's approach to material and form comes through clearly here, a blend of industrial grit and emotional softness that he aims for. The result is a sculpture that feels both heavy and oddly endearing, like it's carrying the memory of the work that shaped it. It's the kind of artwork that rewards a second look and adds a small spark of curiosity to a place you wouldn't normally think of as an art stop. [Review 656 of 2026 - 4744 in North Carolina - 25837 overall]

If the Foxes won't upset the English, the Huntersville…read more The town of Hunterville is close to Charlotte and is basically a burb. It has 50k people in it, and 2 of them are friends of mine (and married) (which is working out okay) (ish). I attended their wedding, and usually hang with them when I'm in town. The girl is not named Charlotte. Would be cool if she was. As for the food have only recently started finding some really great stuff around here. In Charlotte, eat Chicken from Viva, anything from Tamales La Pasadita and Las Lupitas. Little Village Grill for Gyros. It's a very safe burb with not much great food, where very little ever happens. There are some good spots around here, a nice custard shop, a good chicken tender shop, I'll tell you about them later after I try more stuff.

Located on the grounds of the federal building, this tall obelisk is a tribute and memorial to…read moreFirst Lieutenant William Ewen Shipp. Shipp was born near Asheville in 1861 and raised in Lincolnton and Charlotte. He became the first Southerner to graduate from West Point after the Civil War and chose to serve with the 10th Cavalry. An African American regiment known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Shipp saw hard service on the western frontier and was commended for bravery during the Geronimo campaign. In 1898, he volunteered for combat in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and was killed in the charge up San Juan Hill on July 1 of that year. The monument was erected in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had served alongside Shipp in Cuba. Roosevelt later visited the site in 1905, calling Shipp "a gallant fellow." The obelisk itself is made of Winnsboro granite and was originally placed in front of the U.S. Mint building on West Trade Street. It was moved slightly during the 1934 expansion of the post office and courthouse, and in 2018 it was returned to a more prominent position on the courthouse lawn as part of a modernization project. [Review 1431 of 2025 - 4502 in North Carolina - 24982 overall]