Charlotte Nature Museum

The Nature Museum at Freedom Park in Dilworth is a great place to go for a family day out. With numerous activities throughout the museum you'll be sure to have a blast. Take a walk through a butterfly pavilion and discover all kinds of plants and animals while learning fun facts about local wildlife. The Charlotte Nature Museum provides a whole day of learning by experiencing wildlife through live animal exhibits and interactive education programs.

The Museum is separated into these sections:

• Beginnings - explore the life cycle of young animals
• Creature Cavern - Get close to opossums, owls, snakes, skinks, skunks and more
• Butterfly Pavilion - Walk among butterflies and watch them as they grow
• Insect Alley - view tiny insects and explore their world.
• Our Big Backyard.- Discover the world underground
• Paw Paw Nature Trail - Take a walk through the woods and see local wildflowers

Kids can sit around and enjoy Grandpa Tree and his forest friends as they tell stories by the “nighttime campfire” or catch a Puppet Show. Museum trips are not only fun for the whole family but they can turn out to be great shopping trips as well!

Gift shops have many unique and educational toys that are perfect for decorating a kid's room. With all of the indoor and outdoor exhibits available its always a great time to visit the Charlotte Nature Museum and adds to the list of fun things to do around Dilworth.

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Dilworth is Loving All Things Savvy

Dilworth has found a new way to dazzle Charlotte with a “savvy consignment boutique” located on Park Road.  J.T. Posh has a wide variety of clothing and accessories available from many designers. The prices are too good to argue with at 50-80% off of regular price.

                                                        
                                                         Courtesy of JTPosh, thecharlottelifestyle.com


Unlike other consignment boutiques who only update their inventory occasionally, J.T. Posh updates it's items almost daily. If you have been looking for a reason to pamper yourself, rest assured that checking out this boutique will prove successful.   And, of course, we love their savvy slogan!                                         
                                        

                                                         

                                                                             Courtesy of JTPosh, thecharlottelifestyle.com

With all those clothes you'll be buying, you just might need a new closet in a Dilworth home nearby! :)

  



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Dilworth's Hottest Eats Part 2

If the first five culinary delights didn't have what you were looking for, check out who else made it to UrbanSpoon's Top Ten Restaurant's for Dilworth. The final five are sure to tempt your taste bud's with an assortment of dishes from around the world prepared by some of Charlotte's best chef's.


6) Fiamma
If corporate restaurants aren't your style, try out this local restaurant that puts its heart and soul into every dish.  Fiamma serves up house made pastas with fresh ingredients everyday and welcomes it's guests with an open layout and open kitchen. While being a recent participant in the Charlotte Restaurant Week has brought this restaurant a lot of attention, its true claim to fame is offering top notch service and serving up authentic and amazing Italian food.

7) 131 Main
From its Cast Iron Scallops to the Cedar Plank Salmon, 131 Main offers up some of Charlotte's finest American inspired cuisine. They put their reputation on the line everyday with the company slogan of "We Define Fresh" and have risen to become one of Dilworth's best restaurant's. You won't find a menu that reads like a novel at 131 Main, instead you will find that all of they're creations fit on one page which allows the culinary team to truly focus on the perfection of each dish.

8) Zen Asian Fusion
If you've got the craving for something more Asian inspired Zen Asian Fusion has you covered. With a large menu of tantalizing selections that range from the classic Sesame Chicken to the un-heard of Zarzuela de Mariscos, Zen Asian Fusion is sure to have what you're looking for. Located on Kenilworth Ave. in the heart of Dilworth, this restaurant also offers tapa's, sushi, catering and a generous wine selection.

Photo Courtesy of SavvyDiner                                                

9) Kabob Grill
The Kabob Grill is your home for exquisite Mediterranean cuisine that is sure to take your breath away. They have a wide range of creations that are unique to the restaurant and make the Kabob Grill one of the best places to eat in Dilworth. Whether it's grape leaves with rice, garlic, onion, tomato, spices, lemon juice and olive oil or the massive Rack of Lamb, the one thing that's for sure is you won't be going home hungry.

10) Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
That's right... African cuisine in the heart of Dilworth, who knew? Meskerem's Ethiopian Cuisine is just another example of the wide range of culture's represented within the Dilworth community and they offer up some truly amazing food. They offer a menu with plenty of choices for either the raw meat eating carnivore or the vegetable craving vegetarian in the family and offer some dishes that are sure to tempt your taste buds. This is a must for anyone in Dilworth looking to get out and try something outside of they're normal routine!

Courtesy of Sweettater                                                              

Dilworth area restaurants are a great reflection of the diversity in our neighborhood and continue to offer some of the best food in Charlotte. If you're a culinary connoisseur looking for some tempting dishes to sink your teeth into, Dilworth's Top Ten list is sure to satisfy your craving.

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Dilworth's Hottest Eats, Part 1

Looking for somewhere to eat this weekend in Dilworth? How about treat yourself to some of Charlotte's hottest restaurants located right here in Dilworth? From burgers to besaega, Dilworth offers a wide range of culinary delights that are sure to please even the hardest-to-please foodies. Here's the scoop on Dilworth's best eateries as ranked by local foodies on UrbanSpoon:

1) Big Daddy's Burger Bar

Dilworth burger connoisseur's are crazy about Big Daddy's and it shows. Ranked 3rd Overall Best Restaurant in Charlotte and #1 for Dilworth on UrbanSpoon.com, Big Daddy's is quickly becoming the place to eat in Dilworth. Huge burgers, a bustling bar (yet still family friendly) and smiling staff aren't the only thing Big Daddy's is using to gain its success, they are run by the same people that run some of Charlotte's other hottest restaurants (keep reading...). Whether its breakfast, lunch, dinner or even a gluten free menu you're looking for, you won't be disappointed at Big Daddy's Burger Bar.

2) Ru Sans

Sushi and seafood is Ru Sans claim to fame. Coming in at 13th Overall for Charlotte and 2nd for the Dilworth neighborhood, Ru Sans has become the Dilworth Sushi Mecca for raw fish loving foodies. Located at 2440 Park Rd and only blocks from both Freedom Park and Latta Park, Ru Sans makes for a quick stop if you're looking for the best sushi Dilworth has to offer.

                                                   Photo Courtesy of CitySearch

3) Mama Ricotta's

Coming in at 14th Overall for Charlotte and 3rd Best in Diworth, Mama Ricotta's is sure to be a crowd- pleaser. Coming from the same family tree as Big Daddy's, Cantina 1511, Paco's Taco's and Plate Perfect Catering, Mama Ricotta's was bred for success. From the calamari to the Cannolicchi Pesto, Mama Ricotta's has a huge menu of Italian creations that are sure to please even the pickiest of eater's.

                                                     Photo Courtesy of TheChicLife

4) Cantina 1511

Mexican food is fast becoming a huge genre in the restaurant scene and Cantina 1511 is leading the way. With chefs trained in authentic Mexican cooking techniques, it's not hard to see why this restaurant is fast becoming one Charlotte's hottest restaurants. Tortillas and cheeses are made in-house as well as copious amounts of fresh spices and ingredients from Mexico. So whether you're looking for Vegetarian Taquito's or Pescado Vera Cruz, you'll find it and love it at Cantina 1511.

5) 300 East

Wrapping up the "Top 5" for Dilworth is 300 East. It is easily the place to go for upscale dining that's sure to impress. Located in the heart of Dilworth, 300 East has been serving up mouth watering culinary creations for over twenty years and is still one of the hottest places to get dinner in Dilworth. With a seasonally changing menu and a skilled team of chef's in the kitchen, you are in for a culinary wonderland of flavor's that will leave you craving more.

                                                Photo Courtesy of 300 East

Check back for Part 2 on Thursday and we will be wrapping up the Top Ten Restaurants In Dilworth. Happy Dining!

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Dilworth Schools: Part 1 of 4

Dilworth area schools offer some of the best learning opportunities within North Carolina. One of the biggest questions families ask when determining where to live in Charlotte is, "How are the schools?" With education being a substantial determining factors of adulthood success, its imperative that parents demand the best for their children.

Photo courtesy of Valley Library (Oregon State Univ.) on Flickr.com

                        

Despite budget cuts from CMS and other school districts from across the country, Dilworth area schools continue to offer exceptional learning opportunities to all of its students. If you're living in, or thinking about moving to Dilworth, your public school journey will take you through Dilworth Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle, and then to Myers Park High. These schools are ranked among the highest in the state for EOG and EOC test scores, internet access, advanced course curriculum, licensed teachers, and yearly progress.

                        

Follow my future blog post as I explore in more detail the advantages of each of the public school in the Dilworth community and how they relate to your child's success.

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Is Dilworth a Model for Walkability?

Dilworth has phenominal walkability and neighbors enjoy the convenience of the shops, restaurants, and parks. In a presentation made Thursday evening at the Center for the Environment building at the Catawba College, urban development designer David Walters cited the Dilworth neighborhood as an example for "a transit-oriented development".

Future urban development planning is becoming increasingly more important due to the shift in residential living. In recent years the U.S. has seen city living take over the popularity of small town living. David Walters is the program coordinator of the Master of Urban Design Program at Catawba College's College of Art and Architecture and is the author & coauthor of several books on urban design and community planning. He noted that as the popularity of urban living continues to rise, communities need to focus their planning on becoming more "walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly".

                                          Courtesy of Google Maps


The Dilworth community was built throughout the early 1900's and is a great example of a community that has redesigned itself through the decades to continue to improve the living standard. With sidewalk lined streets, bike lanes, and easy access to the light-rail and uptown, the Dilworth neighborhood continues to prove itself as the best place to live in Charlotte.

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Put Dilworth Walkability to use: Picnic at Freedom Park

Some of the best bungalows in Charlotte are located in the Dilworth neighborhood, but what you may be unaware of is that it is also home to one of the best parks in town. The weather is warming up and we aren't far from the picnic-worthy days of spring.  Those who own a home in Dilworth will be eager for a day out at Freedom Park. This 98 acre expanse features a seven acre lake with a fountain and also has an adjacent nature museum.

There is something for everyone at this local park:

• A train that children can explore
• Large Playground
• Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball courts
• Bike Trails
• Paved walkways around the lake make a great walk/run area

The historic roots of Dilworth are reflected in the 46 year-old tradition of Festival in the Park. This wonderful glimpse of local flavor and art has been listed as one of the top 20 events for September 2011 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

It's obvious that Freedom Park is a great bonus for residents of Dilworth and a great selling point for those looking to buy a home here.

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