5 Community Resources for New Charlotte, NC Locals

Moving to Charlotte? Newcomers to the Queen City should prepare for royal treatment, because this growing metropolis has something for everyone. Though it’s earned its moniker as the International Gateway to the South, Charlotte has retained its small-town feel and traditional Southern hospitality. Here are five resources to help you fit right in with the friendly locals.

Creative Loafing (CL) Charlotte

Charlotte’s weekly alternative newspaper, “Creative Loafing” (or CL), includes an event guide on its website that allows you to narrow your event searches by region, venue, or staff recommendation. CL has an especially good pulse on Charlotte’s nightlife and should be your go-to resource for area arts and entertainment. CL publishes a “Today’s Top 5” feature with the best daily events in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Its annual “Best of Charlotte” awards also showcase a reliable roundup of the best restaurants, nightlife venues, and retail shops.

NoDa.org

Make some time to visit the website for Charlotte’s local arts district, North Davidson (NoDa). Once a mill town built around textile factories, many of the area’s old buildings have been reborn as artist studios and local shops in trendy, walkable neighborhoods. NoDa residents still maintain the close community feel that characterized the district in the early 1900s, though with a slightly more contemporary twist — there are bimonthly gallery crawls, farmers markets, art markets, and regular block parties. NoDa’s website offers a great directory of all the local goings-on, so you can easily find the best places to listen to area bands or shop for artisan gifts.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

The foundations of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library date back to the 1800s, when it opened as a subscription-only service started by prominent citizens. Today, there are 20 locations that serve over a million citizens in Charlotte and the surrounding suburbs. Regular library events include children’s story time, book clubs, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Also keep an eye out for special events, like craft lessons, book signings, and community movie nights.

Charlotte tourism events calendar

This comprehensive events calendar on the official Charlotte tourism website features everything from world-class cultural performances to professional sports games. Part of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), the calendar and its host site cater to a wide range of both residents and visitors. Check out this resource to stay in the know.

News Talk 1110 WBT (1110 AM and 99.3 FM)

Rush hour in Charlotte can get a little crazy—all the growing business communities clog the major interstates during peak traffic hours. As such, local news and sports talk station WBT 99.3 FM is an invaluable resource for commuters. The station thrives on locally produced news and has a rich cultural history. It dates back to the 1920s and has been broadcasting music, sports, and news for nearly a century.

Plenty of people move to Charlotte every day. If you’re preparing to be one of them, get ready for a whirlwind of exciting experiences. Know any other great community resources? Sound off in the comments.