Charlotte NC Archives - There Goes Connie

Looking Back at my 2018 Travels and Recommendations

01/07/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t just looked back at my calendar and all of the photos I took. During 2018, I visited 23 destinations, finished construction/decisions/moving involved with our new house and hosted the 11th Annual Cousins Camp. You might think I’d be ready to stay home for awhile, and yes. I truly do savor days for writing, thinking and “just being.” But, those of you who know me best, know that I always LOVE planning. So, happily my calendar is filling up with more amazing places to explore in 2019.

A few of the trips I made in 2018 were purely for fun, but 100% have or will end up as blog posts or articles in other publications. And, 100% of the places I visited can be wholeheartedly recommended for you. The vast majority were in my heartland, a.k.a. The Deep South, but I also got on a few airplanes along the way.

I began the year with Steve on Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL, and we ended our travel year seeing New York City at Christmas time. In between, there were fabulous restaurants, hotels, museums, attractions of all kinds and stunning displays of nature. Here are some highlights, pretty much in order as I saw them through the year. Maybe one or more of them will capture your attention and draw you in for a closer look. Please stick with me as we explore more hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems in 2019.

Shellhunting with the shorebirds on tranquil Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL in January of 2018.

The iconic tree in Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 2018.

February is a wonderful time to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are many activities and advantage for snowbirds, and of course, the seafood is always fresh and delicious.

A search for the many painted mules in Jasper, AL is a fun pursuit. While there, the shopping and dining options are plentiful.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum is an important destination. While in town, try some of the great restaurants — Highlands Bar and Grill, Galley and Garden, Chez Fonfon, etc. — and take the elevator to the top of the Vulcan.

It was so much fun to share a “Gone with the Girls” tour with my daughter and granddaughter. Clay and Henry Counties and their towns of Jonesboro, Locust Grove and McDonough (just a few miles south of Atlanta) are full of great eateries. shops and attractions, among them is the Road to Tara Museum.

Oxford, Mississippi is home to the University of Mississippi, 4 restaurants owned by John Currence and Rowan Oak, home of novelist William Faulkner. What a great town!

In addition to famous recording studios, boutique hotels, the University of North Alabama and good Southern eats, be sure to visit the store and workshop of Natalie Chanin and get a close look at her fabulous textile artistry.

The historic and beautiful Dunhill is a great place to stay in downtown Charlotte. The rooms are comfortable, the location is great, and The Asbury, adjoining restaurant, has award-winning chefs.

Biltmore House and Gardens is a MUST when visiting Asheville, N.C. Also, consider one of the delightful B & Bs in the area.

While visiting the Old 96 District of South Carolina, I highly recommend staying at The Inn on the Square in Greenwood, S.C.

Historic Brattonsville is an informative attraction in the Olde English District of South Carolina, between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC.

Canton OH is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and SO MUCH MORE!!

Downtown Cleveland is filled with sports venues, hotels and restaurants. A little further out are attractions for history, art and music lovers, and don’t forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Columbia, TN has a great historic downtown, the James K. Polk Home and the Blythewood Inn Bed and Breakfast. Be sure to plan a stop when you’re in the Nashville area.

Gadsden, AL has Noccalula Falls within its city limits, plus a wonderful Main Street with shops, restaurants and a very active cultural center.

Corinth, Mississippi is the site of important Civil War history. Here is a poignant fountain outside the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

The Palm Court, ornate restaurant inside the Plaza Hotel in New York City, is where one of America’s most famous Afternoon Tea parties takes place.

Go. See. Eat. Experience. There’s a great, big, fascinating world out there.

(Just scroll back through my blog posts to read about these places in greater detail).

LEARNING FROM PASSIONATE PEOPLE: 2 Incredible Young Women in the World of Hospitality

06/15/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

My favorite part of being a travel writer is meeting passionate, talented people. During a recent visit that took me to Charlotte, NC and Greenwood, SC, I met two women — both young, both highly motivated, both energetic and both making a difference in their chosen professions.

First let me introduce you to Miranda Brown, the 24-year-old Executive Pastry Chef at The Asbury in Charlotte, NC. Did you catch her age and her title? She also serves as a Sous Chef to Executive Chef Matthew Krenz, giving her a chance to work in the savory area once in awhile. Can you believe how fit and trim a pastry chef can be? No doubt, she is possessed with great genes, but she is also always on the move and probably has little time to just sit and consume calories.

Miranda Brown, Executive Pastry Chef, The Asbury, Charlotte, N.C.

Miranda loves to start with a fruit or other single ingredient and uses that as her inspiration as she creates. Miranda trained under Ashley Boyd at 300 East, and Boyd’s teaching continues to echo in Miranda’s mind, especially when she incorporates fresh herbs into her desserts. A recent one, for example, is White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Fennel Gel, Pickled Shaved Fennel, and Apple Relish. That makes a dessert sound positively healthy, don’t you think?

White chocolate panna cotta.

Sticky buns stuffed with country ham and goat cheese icing are also signature items on The Asbury’s menu. Miranda oversees the baking of hundreds of these every day.

Sticky buns at The Asbury.

The Asbury is adjacent to The Dunhill Hotel at 237 North Tryon Street in Charlotte. I highly recommend that you try both the restaurant and the hotel when you are in Charlotte, and, by all means, save room for dessert!

Next, I traveled to the Old 96 District in South Carolina and stayed at the Inn on the Square at 104 East Court Avenue in Greenwood, SC. That’s where I met Claire Griffith, the hotel’s General Manager, a delightful whirlwind.

Claire Griffith, General Manager, Inn on the Square, Greenwood, S.C.

Claire started out in the food and beverage side of the hospitality industry by watching her mother work and doing everything she was told to do — even as a child. The work was hard, but she loved the excitement of it all. Her mother also pointed her in the direction of hotels, and she got the first job she ever applied for in that area. Love brought her to Greenwood, S.C. when her boyfriend (now husband) wanted to move back to his hometown. At the time, there weren’t many openings in the hospitality field, so she joined a catering team at Lander University.

All the while, she kept her eyes on a property in the corner of Greenwood’s Uptown, and she was elated when Jim McGuinness and Wesley Oldham bought it and started the renovation. When the time was right, she marched in and announced to the men, “You need me!” Never mind the fact that she was seven months pregnant at the time, they believed her and had the good judgment to hire her. The hotel opened for business on October 1, 2015, and she gave birth on November 10, 2015. Talk about a Superwoman!!

Inn on the Square, Greenwood, S.C.

Claire almost seems to be everywhere all the time. She gave me some time to talk about the hotel’s history at the end of a full day, and we saw her again early the next morning when she breezed through the dining room to grab some coffee — obviously gearing up for another busy day. Inn on the Square is indeed fortunate to have her energy and her zest for the job. I hope they will keep her at the helm for a long time to come.

Billy Graham STILL Has an Impact

06/01/2018 By: CCPearson1 Comment

We almost missed it. On a recent trip to various locations in North and South Carolina, our itinerary was filled with addresses of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. My head was spinning with all we’d be seeing and doing, but Steve remembered something that I had forgotten. Billy Graham was from Charlotte, N.C., and that’s where we were spending the night. We realized that a short window of opportunity would be open the next morning before we drove to Asheville, N.C. and found that the Billy Graham Library was only about 15 minutes from our hotel. I’m so very glad we had a chance to visit.

Billy Graham Library main building.

As a born-again Christian since I was 8 years old, Billy Graham’s name, face, and ministry have filled my consciousness my whole life. I am just one of the 215 million people in 185 countries that Mr. Graham preached to in his lifetime. In the 99 years of his life, his sermons carried one central message — Jesus Christ is the only way to God because the Bible tells us so.

Billy Graham preaching to the people of the world.

Representatives of various people groups who heard Billy Graham preach.

The Billy Graham Library is located, appropriately so, right off of Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte. The dedication was held on May 31, 2007, with three former U.S. Presidents in attendance (Bush 41, Clinton and Carter). He was, after all, referred to as “Pastor to the Presidents” and met with all of them going back to Harry Truman.

Right before he preached.

Billy Graham with John F. Kennedy.

Billy Graham with President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.

The staff and website are quick to tell you that this is not a memorial or a museum but a ministry. And, I got to see that in action for myself. The grounds are beautifully-maintained, and the atmosphere is one of peace and tranquility with beautiful Christian music playing the moment you get out of your car. The exhibits and multimedia presentations follow a logical and well-planned order, constantly pointing people to Jesus. And, as I fully expected, there was a Gospel invitation given at the end with trained counselors on hand to answer questions and to pray with those who wanted help.

I loved the attention the Library gave to Billy’s wife Ruth. She died in 2007 after they had been married for 64 years. She was the one who stayed behind rearing the couple’s 5 children while Billy traveled all over the world preaching. Her commitment to his ministry was every bit as strong as his was. (They had 19 grandchildren, a fact that I, as a grandmother to 13, carefully noted).

Ruth Bell Graham’s engagement ring, their wedding invitation and cake topper.

The burial sites of both Billy and Ruth were very special, as were those of Cliff Barrows and his wife and George Beverly Shea. Their music was essential to the success of countless crusades. (Just as a side note, my uncle George Rose was a gifted singer who was often compared to George Beverly Shea. He admired the man so much that he named his son George Beverly Rose. We called him “Bev.”)

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministry Team

George Beverly Shea. One of his most requested songs was “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”

Graves of Billy and Ruth Graham.

Graves of Cliff Barrows, his wife and George Beverly Shea.

Steve and I left with uplifted hearts. This ministry is done in an excellent way. Admission is free. I recommend it highly. You will also find Billy’s boyhood home on the grounds, as well as a bookstore and a very clean and attractive cafe.

Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.” Can you just imagine the thousands that were standing at the gates of heaven to welcome the man who had preached Jesus to them and helped them find salvation and eternal life?

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