…and we found Queens galore at a number of Drag Venues
“The Divas Have Arrived in Charlotte! Diva Royale Restaurant is the Ultimate Drag Dining and Brunch Experience.” Illusions the Show is the perfect combination of spectacular burlesque style and comedy performances by the industry’s best celebrity impersonators and the funniest drag queen hosts you’ll ever have the pleasure of encountering. More evening entertainment can be found at The Bar at 316, Chasers Charlotte NoDa, The Scorpio, you’ll find karaoke, drinks and dancing at some of the popular establishments.
Charlotte has a lot more to offer than evening entertainment, with a population under a million, Charlotte consistently ranks as one of the top growing cities. The city’s downtown area is actually known as “Uptown”, you will find a selection of restaurants or a visit to the 7th Street Public Market, where you can decide whether you’re in the mood for sushi, pizza, crepes, salads, grilled cheese sandwiches or any of the other culinary offerings. Things to do include Levine Center for the Arts. You can also purchase a pass to gain 48-hour access to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Mint Museum and do a little museum hopping. Around the corner is Charlotte’s large central park, Romare Bearden, which offers guests views of the city’s skyscrapers and sports complexes.
Charlotte’s longtime artist community, NoDa, (North Davidson Street) is a neighborhood bursting with artistic creativity. Check out the street art murals at spots like the Confetti Stripes Wall outside of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, the NoDa Wall outside of Johnny Fly Co. and the Bloom Mural outside of Fu’s Custom Tattoo. Hang out on the rooftop biergarten at The Chamber, where you can savor local brewery Wooden Robots unique crafted beer, featuring a rotating selection of draft and packaged beer, with a focus on farmhouse ales and sours.
South End is a fast-growing, energetic neighborhood home to a host of trendy restaurants and retail wares. Atherton Mill was a heritage streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2021, the building was repurposed as a restaurant and brewery, called the Trolley Barn Fermentory and Food Hall, with the farmers’ market relocated to the adjacent courtyard area. Charlotte also hosts two professional sports teams, the Panthers (NFL), and the Hornets (NBA).
In 2021, the City Council of Charlotte, NC passed a nondiscrimination ordinance that protects the city’s LGBTQ population from discrimination of any kind. The cost of living has been 5-6% below the national average. Charlotte doesn’t have one area that is considered the gay village or hub but rather, it has concentrations of LGBTQ community members living in neighborhoods like NoDa popular for its entertainment and artsy side, Plaza-Midwood a trendy, laid-back neighborhood known for its nightlife, with plenty of low-key dive bars and intimate music venues.
Tree-lined streets run through Dilworth, a quaint area with a laid-back, global restaurant scene. Kenilworth Commons and Park Square retail plazas have specialty food and clothes shop. Elizabeth is a relaxed, mostly residential area with bakeries, ice-cream shops and neighborhood bars, plus lively dining options including popular Latin and upscale American restaurants. A streetcar line runs from Uptown along Elizabeth Avenue, where the Visulite Theatre features touring and local indie bands. Uptown is the cities central business district in Charlotte. South End is home to Charlotte Rail Trail which is popular for cycling, running or walking. Myers Park, Sedgefield, Wesley Heights and others
All in all, Charlotte, NC, is a lovely place to live. With a lower-than-average cost of living, strong financial industry, relatively mild climate, and up-and-coming food scene, it’s no wonder it is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S..
