I love stopping over at this pretty area on South Tryon. With fountains going, pretty sculptures…read morethat appear to be dancing in them, and tables peppered throughout that invite you to take a breather, this place is very relaxing. If eating at Mimosa Grille, you can ask to be seated outside to enjoy this oasis in Uptown Charlotte at night. It is even more beautiful then, with the trees lit up and without the hustle and bustle of the workweek. If you are just stopping through, there are plenty of places for you to relax and catch your breath, including the "upstairs" area - you can climb the flight of stairs and get a birds eye view of S. Tryon while enjoying a book or a sandwhich, or just a quiet moment. The Plaza adds a nice touch to Uptown.

What a divine space to relax, get some sun on your shoulders, and watch the busy worker bees fly…read morepast! The seating is ample, the atmosphere is lighthearted and breezy, and the people watching is top notch. Gets crowded on those breezy spring/early summer days, but it's more than worth it to grab some fresh air and get away from your desk. Personally, I prefer the Green to the Plaza, but it's basically the same thing, just with less green stuff. And seriously, people watching. I saw a dude walk by with a teal bowtie on. TEAL!

Seems like a lot is in the air here in Charlotte where mental health people issues are concerned I…read moreunderstand they had a killing here this is home however I have mental health issues and I do not have any such thing on my record I've been treated some kind of way by hospitals by businesses and by the local Transit system you can't just put all of us in a box and say where are the same because we're not and that by and if you're working in an area where you are dealing with mental health people with mental health issues then you need to be trained how to deal with us because a lot of times you are said I issues off by the way you respond and then run and tell lies when we react especially when we are in a mental health crisis state

Amazing city!, so many options and activities. Would highly recommend this city 10/10. If staying…read morein Charlotte I would recommend staying in the drury hotel. Was her burning panda fest. It was an amazing festival

Located on the side of Romare Bearden Park closest to Mint Street, this welded stainless steel…read moresculpture soars 30 feet into the air like a wave. The artwork was unveiled on September 23, 2017. The caption reads, "Richard Hunt created 'Spiral Odyssey' as a tribute to his friend Romare Bearden (1911-1988). Bearden and Hunt were the first contemporary African American artists to have solo exhibitions at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1971." "In 1963, Romare Bearden played a pivotal role in the founding of a collective of African American artists known as the 'Spiral Group' who actively participated in the Civil Rights movement. In the manner of the Archimedean spiral that advances by radiating outward to embrace all directions, the elegant spiral formed by Richard Hunt's sculpture symbolizes the widening influence of the Spiral Group. It also represents the circular nature of progress and the complexities of Bearden's multifaceted career, which even in its legacy continues to ascend." "The 'Odyssey', Homer's epic poem chronicling the hero's perilous voyage home, inspired Bearden as well as Hunt. A form resembling a ship's bow servs as the base of Hunt's sculpture. A journeying vessel, the ship alludes to forward momentum as well as the suffering experienced by enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage. The sculpture's ascending height attests to a fortitude of character - strength, tenacity and liberty. Whimsical vignettes mimicking fish surfing in the ship's wake, and generative plant life inspired by the surrounding garden, signify resiliency and regeneration." Collection of Mecklenburg County, Commissioned in partnership with the Arts & Science Council and the Public Art Commission. Funding was generously provided by Mecklenburg County, Duke Energy Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Board of Directors of the Arts & Science Council. [Review 268 of 2024 - 3525 in North Carolina - 21303 overall.]

Really enjoyed my visit here. Walking up from the parking lot you got a wonderful burst of aromas…read morefrom all the way across the street. It's only been about two years since the first time I tried Indian cuisine but it is now one of my favorites and this place smelled wonderful. Inside was a warm yellow/orange/purple color scheme with single tables along the wall and large community benches in the middle. One of the coolest things was that you could see the entire kitchen set up, including the storage for all the spices and the tandur oven where they grill all the meats and make the naan. We sat down and Nikki introduced us to the owner, H.P. Patel. He told us about how the whole point of Tandur Indian Kitchen is to bring authentic Indian cuisine in a simplified, streamlined manner and that most of the menu used recipes from Chef Hari Nayak (who's cookbook they had in the restaurant to look at.) We had three different options for appetizers while everyone showed up. Thinly sliced, crispy seasoned okra fries were surprisingly delicious. They would be great solo or as a crunchy addition. The kale pakora were also great. They were like flavorful, veggie filled fritters and were my favorite of the three. Lastly were the grilled Tandoori Wings. They were good, but honestly paled in comparison to the other two offerings. Never thought I would pick veggies dishes over chicken! (Also, though not relating to authentic Indian cuisine the sweet tea was pretty good!) Once it was time for the main course we got to choose from their full menu. I decided on the Kadai Chicken w/ Basmati Rice and Garlic Naan. Ive never tried this particular sauce before but a friend has been here previously and said the standard chicken tikka was lacking spice and I wanted to try something with a kick. It didn't disappoint! It was a tomato based sauce with onion, bell pepper and chili oil and they didn't skimp out on the chicken. One of the best Indian entrees I've had. The rice was good though nothing special, but the garlic naan was excellent. I'm always a sucker for good carbs and this was buttery garlic goodness. I had a nice evening and would visit again if I'm in the area.

With a place of honor on South Tryon at the entrance to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, this…read moreshimmering statue was installed in 2009. Over 17 feet tall and weighing over 1400 pounds, the "Disco Chicken" is as much a symbol of Uptown as the Bank of America tower. Covered from top to bottom in over 7,500 pieces of glass, it was created in 1991 by French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, and purchased by Andreas Bechtler specifically for placement at the front of the museum. The official name of the statue is "Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l'Arche" or "Large Firebird on an Arch" even though it does look a lot like a chicken wearing disco pants. If you're in Uptown, this is the place to stop for your "I've been to Charlotte" photo! Round number - this is my 1300th Charlotte review! [Review 13131 overall, 448 of 2020.]

Almost passed right by it -- it looks like an unsuspecting alleyway but fear not! The murals were…read moreBEAUTIFUL and I so appreciate when cities make an effort to incorporate more art into its streets

Great to walk through and read about the installations! Beautiful and free street art. Awesome…read morephoto opportunities and lots of hidden treasures. :)

Good to see them, giraffes are my favorite animal..... They…read moreare very unique. very tall, just like real giraffes, glad we have them in Charlotte

Up against the tall building in South End, these two giraffes look a bit out of place. What are…read moresteel sculptures of an African animal doing in Charlotte? It turns out that there are stories and that's okay. Feel free to make up your own. One of the giraffes appears to be stretching its long neck, looking outward. The other is stooped low, giving the appearance of grazing. I think they look very neat. It appears that they were designed by Ben Parrish of Steel Design Studios and are here as public art in front of this mixed use tower. I like art. [Review 16925 overall - 3248 in North Carolina - 441 of 2022.]

Hey! Who put this park here?! This little (and I mean…read moreLittle!) park seems like someone took over a few parking spaces in front of the Latta Arcade with guerrilla-like building tactics. This park has transformed two parking spaces into an urban communal commune! The park is not tied to the restaurants around there, so anyone can stop, and watch the traffic go by, and look out onto the much larger park across the street, and enjoy the scenery. There are a few places to sit in this little park. That's about all there is to do here. Okay, so it's not Yosemite. I checked out the park's website, and saw that they plan to put a tree in, but that plan is currently on hold, it seems. There's a sign that urges you not to drink booze in the park. That's what the parking spaces are for. Parking is not plentiful around here! There's two less spaces now, due to the park. Your dog will be happy with this park, as there's a nice fire hydrant right next to the park.