Coming Soon
Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn Link to my review
Restaurants:
French Quarter Link to my review
Mimosa Grill Link to my review
Ri Ra Irish Pub Link to my review
Marriott Link to my review
Charlotte: Hilton Garden Inn (December 2003)
My spouse and I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Uptown for two nights in late December 2003 while attending a college football game. The hotel is centrally located in the heart of uptown Charlotte, within walking distance to major companies, entertainment venues, and restaurants including Time Warner Cable Arena, Epicenter, Bank of America Stadium, and the Financial District. The hotel is across the street from the NASCAR Hall of Fame and one block from the Charlotte Convention Center. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle within a 3-mile radius of the property. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Garden Grille & Bar or a drink at our full-service bar. Use the business center, host a meeting or event, work out in the fitness center, swim in the indoor pool, or relax in the whirlpool. Suites and executive rooms include a refrigerator, microwave, flat-screen TV, with a separate living area with a sofa bed or whirlpool tub.
Charlotte: Marriott (December 2003)
Locally inspired, technology-powered innovations with a human touch are taking over, only at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. See our transformation in action as we enhance every aspect of your stay — from reinventing fitness on the road to transforming the guest room into a space designed for you. Experience innovations in food and drink and drive innovation from our redesigned meeting spaces as we create a place that uniquely welcomes you to the next generation of travel. These exciting new experiences are only at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. And this is only the beginning. Check back with us often because there is so much more to come.
Charlotte: Ri Ra Irish Pub (December 2003)
My spouse and I ate lunch at Ri Ra Irish Pub in late
December 2003. The Victorian bar in the middle of the Charlotte pub was built
in the early 1800s for the officer's mess in the Phoenix Park Barracks in
Dublin. The bar was removed in 1920 and it lay in storage in a Dublin garage
for over 70 years. Ciaran Sheehan bought it in 1996 with a view to making it
the centerpiece of his first Ri Ra Irish Pub, which opened in Charlotte on
Ciaran's birthday, March 14th 1997. Ciaran went to great lengths to source,
meticulously restore and relocate the pub from Ireland to its new home in
Charlotte. Toward the front of Ri Ra, you will find the perfect example of a
cozy shop bar which originated from somewhere within Northern Ireland, c 1740.
Sections of this back bar include a restored Guinness mirror and a collection
of Dublin Corporation Ledgers written from 1800-1840. These ledgers are
available to all pub visitors to peruse over a quiet pint. The etched glass
panels set into the Victorian back-bar are originals dating to the early 1800s.
The exact origin of the statue of St. Patrick standing behind the bar is unknown
but it is well over 100 years old. It was not uncommon for a rural town or
village to have a statue or a monument at the entrance to give a blessing to
all passers by. In addition to the original bar the pub is full of antiquities
of interest. Ri Ra is on two levels with an upper level terrace overlooking Hearst
Plaza in the middle of downtown Charlotte. The site where Ri Ra now stands was
a department store that lay vacant for a number of years. The current structure
dates from about 1910. However, during construction, Ciaran unearthed stable
equipment and horseshoes suggesting that at some point in history the site was
used as a stable.
Charlotte: Mimosa Grill (December 2003)
My spouse and I ate dinner at the Mimosa Grill in late December 2003. Consistently named one of Charlotte’s best restaurants since 1995, Mimosa Grill features global cuisine with a unique southern twist. Dedicated to artisans, farmers, and craftsmen whose passion for food creates the finest ingredients possible, Executive Chef Thomas Marlow creates Mimosa Grill’s dishes using only the freshest, natural ingredients that come straight from farm to the fork. The cuisine along with the restaurant’s stunning décor by renowned architect Bill Johnson, make Mimosa Grill one of Charlotte’s most distinctive dining experiences.
Charlotte: French Quarter (December 2003)
My spouse and I ate lunch at the French Quarter in late December 2003. Both Panos and Toula Photopoulos shared the same dream of moving to the United States. At a young age, both moved from different parts of Greece, with nothing more than some pocket change, and disembarked to what was known as the land of the free, filled with endless opportunities. Their paths crossed in Chicago Illinois, where they married, and subsequently Panos obtained a great deal of his restaurant experience. Panos began by washing dishes during the day and attending English classes during the evenings. Within a couple of years he progressed from a dishwasher, to a server assistant, to a server, to a bartender, and to a Maitre d. Years later, Panos and Toula had their three boys, George, Greg, and Frank, and after living in Chicago for 20 years, the Photopoulos'moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family. In 1986, Panos opened his first restaurant, The French Quarter, one of the area's oldest establishments, located in the Charlotte Uptown area. From their famous Lunch Specials to their unforgettable chicken wings and drink specials, French Quarter provides comfort food with a touch of Cajun. Enjoy a glass of wine or a crafted beer on their outdoor patio facing the Romare Bearden Park. Conveniently located a few blocks from the Carolina Panthers Stadium and two blocks from the new Charlotte Knights Stadium.
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