1. Drinking The Pure Amazingness That Is Cheerwine
Who needs a Coke when you’ve got this cherry-flavored bottle of awesome in your hand? You’ll find Cheerwine in everybody’s fridge, or at least down the corner in the pop machine.
2. Snacking On Moon Pies
Remember these? Charlotteans certainly still do. They can still find ‘em at any grocery store in town. Nobody around here fretted much when Twinkies almost went down in flames. Moon pies are where it’s at.
3. Norm the Niner And His Pickaxe
You think the San Francisco is the only team with a bunch of 49ers? Well, then, allow me to introduce you to Norm the Niner, the brazen, pick-wielding mascot for UNC Charlotte. He’s quite the ladies man.
4. Taking On The Fatboy Challenge At Mac’s Speed Shop
Mac’s Speed Shop is a Charlottean’s favorite place to go when they’re craving good old-fashioned North Carolina BBQ.
If you’re really brave, you can take on their Fatboy Challenge: it’s five pounds of sausage, brisket, chicken, pulled pork, bacon and onion rings, all covered in cheese on a giant sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and a liter of beer.
5. Stealing The Hornets Back From New Orleans
They’re coming back! After being gone for about ten years, the Hornets are making a comeback in 2014 when the Bobcats finally gain back rights to the Hornets name. Prepare to be stung, America.
6. Moonshine That Someone Else Certainly Made
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t had a swig of moonshine in these parts. Everyone has a father’s uncle’s cousin who makes it. No one here makes it themselves, of course, because that wouldn’t be legal…
7. Carolina BBQ On Everything
Good ole’ southern cooking can be found all over these parts. Especially North Carolina BBQ. It shows up everywhere in Charlotte, from the farmers markets to your neighbor’s family cookout. If you show up with a can of sauce from Texas, you’ll be laughed out of town.
8. Reliving The Past, At Least The Fun Parts
With over 100 different purveyors showcasing life and crafts from 16th Century Europe every year, it’s no wonder the Carolina Renaissance Festival was voted the best festival in Charlotte in 2013. Some go for the arts and crafts, while others enjoy watching knights knocking each other off of horses.
9. Eating Supper, Not Dinner
It isn’t dinner that Charlotteans gather for with their families in the evening, it’s supper. Dinner happens around 2 o’clock, and it’s the fourth meal of the day.
10. Tailgating At The Panthers Game
Are you ready for some football? Charlotteans are. If they’re not busy tailgating at the NASCAR race, you’ll find them tailgating at the Panther’s game.
11. A Little Bluegrass In Their Country. Okay, A Lot Of Bluegrass.
Charlotte may be a city, but its people like their music to come from the country. A lot of local bands play across town at the NC Music Factory venue, which houses more than a dozen restaurants, bars, nightclubs and music venues including the Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre and The Fillmore.
You can actually hear a little bit of everything at this great spot.
12. The Fastest Sport On Two Feet
Charlotteans love full contact sports, which is why they’re home to a professional field lacrosse team. They’re pretty recent on the MLL scene, but the Hounds are rising in the ranks every year.
13. Gobbling Up The Best Hot Dogs Ever From Green’s Lunch
It's the oldest restaurant in Uptown Charlotte (circa 1926) and it's been voted best hot dog place in 2013 Charlotte Reader’s Choice Awards. The secret’s in the homemade chili, I hear.
14. Having NASCAR Royalty In Their Midst
The King of NASCAR Richard Petty was born and bred in these parts, and Charlotte is proud to house one of the best racetracks in the series. Charlotteans love NASCAR almost as much as they love tailgating, and they really love tailgating.
15. A Little Bit Of Sugar On Everything To Make It Taste Just Right
Everything’s better with a cup ‘o sugar, sweetie. Just ask your Grandma.
Oatmeal cookies? Cup o’ sugar.
Sloppy Joes? Cup o’ sugar, too.
Feel like pie tonight? Well, that might take two.
16. Stuffing Their Faces With The Real Burger, A.K.A. The Carolina Burger
There’s a bit of debate surrounding the Carolina burger. Some people like it with pulled pork slathered with a healthy dose of BBQ, while others prefer some good ole’ fashioned ground beef. Either way, Charlotteans like their burgers topped with a mountain of slaw, mustard and onions. Even better if it’s topped with some relish.
17. And Then Topping It With Chowchow, As It’s Called In These Parts
What is chowchow, you ask? Well, if you don’t know you clearly don’t live here. It’s relish, of course! The best relish this side of the Mason-Dixon line. This side of anywhere, really. You can even get it at the local Cracker Barrels.
18. The Other White Meat That’s Not From KFC
The rest of the country can keep their KFC, it’s all about Bojangles down here. I mean, have you tried their country ham biscuits? Charlotteans have, and they’re in love. Oh yeah, Bojangles started in Charlotte, too.
19. A Donut Or Five From Krispy Kreme
Dunkin’ Donuts? What’s that?
20. Wearing Short-Sleeved Shirts In March
It may not be an eternal summer like further south, but Charlotte experiences some of the mildest winters in the country. While everyone else is busy plowing snow, Charlotteans are debating whether or not they should wear a jacket.
21. Watching The Kids Catch Lightnin’ Bugs
You might know them as fireflies, but Charlotteans call ‘em lightnin’ bugs. Not lightning. Lightnin’.
You can find them all over the city limits on a hot summer’s night. That’s the best part of living in a city that isn’t all concrete.
22. Catching A Ride At Carowinds
Forget about driving to Hershey Park, Charlottean’s just skip on over to Carowinds for a wild ride. I don’t know about you, but the Polar Vortex scares the bejeesuz outta me.
23. Whitewater Rafting Inside City Limits
With all of the nice weather here year-round, Charlotteans don’t have to struggle to find something to do. They even like to go rafting in the city so much that they built the U.S. National Whitewater Center here.
24. Seeing A Church Around Every Corner
Old-school churches are around every corner in Charlotte, and it’s hard not to stop and stare in awe at the structure of these things. Charlotteans have built over 700 of them in the city limits alone.
25. The Business Of Doing Business
Belk, Family Dollar, every bank you’ve probably ever heard of, ESPNU, Petro Express, etc. They all started in Charlotte. It’s an entrepreneur’s paradise around here.
Check out the Charlotte Business Journal if you want to keep up.
26. Shopping At Harris Teeter
Who needs Walmart when you’ve got a Harris Teeter? This East Coast grocery is a staple in Charlotte because it was started just outside of town in Matthews. Not only is there a case of hometown pride here, but the food is probably fresher than that place with the talking lion.
27. Old-Fashioned Southern Soul Food
You think Charlotte can’t do soul food? You haven’t been to Mert’s Heart & Soul, home to some of the best southern soul food in the world. Salmon cakes and fried chicken galore, people! Famous people tend to drop by here on the fly.
