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I do jest big-time and saddened you don't remember me... =(
Oh dear. I will go back and read posts, Mikey. We have several Mikes and I do get confused. Just don't wait so long in between posts so I can keep up!!!
ETA: Mikey! Doom and Gloom Mike!!!! Our mortgage, finance, housing market discussions, right??? Where have you BEEN? Gotten lost in all the "cosmopology" of Charlotte???????
Thanx for the kind words, Gator . . . this subject - about CLT being cosmopolitan - has been beaten into the ground. I do think some people interpret my remarks (and those of other natives) as being rude at times, b/c we probably come across - on this subject, especially - as somewhat prickly.
The truth is - who cares if Charlotte is cosmopolitan or not. It all depends on what you mean. That is like the other threads on whether CLT is liberal or progressive. Good grief. There are many tiers to "liberal" and to "progressive." There is fiscal liberalism as opposed to social liberalism.
Same for CLT being cosmopolitan. Yes, we have people living here from all over the world . . . yes, we have diverse neighborhoods. Etc. Etc.
I think what most people need to know about CLT is . . . you can have whatever life you want here, w/in certain restrictions. We don't have dozens of nightlife hotspots that stay open all nite, so if that is what makes a city "cosmopolitan," you won't find it here. This is not NYC, the City that Never Sleeps. We sleep here.
If you want Berkeley, you won't really find it here. If you want San Francisco, you won't really find it here. If you want Seattle, you won't really find it here. However, you can find bits and pieces. If you want London and/or NYC . . . move to London and/or NYC.
The main thing most newcomers don't "see" about CLT is . . . the bulk of socializing that goes on in this city is in homes, private clubs, church groups and w/ friends getting together. People who have the same interests find each other and then hang out together, be it in neighborhoods w/ back yard BBQs or be it in condos uptown or at someone's social club, church group, etc. There are also groups of people who get together and head to other cities (such as ATL) to see concerts or to party. So what goes on in CLT is often NOT visible to the casual eye.
Charlotte is what we all make it. Whatever you bring, then that is what is here. If you bring a good attitude, then that will increase the "kindness" factor . . . and no demographer can measure those types of intangible things. Regardless of where you hail from originally - be it another part of the USA or from another country - CLT is what we all make it. Attitudes are everything.
If you want something here and can't find it - create it. You want to celebrate your ethnic heritage and you feel no one is recognizing you? Get busy and start a festival. Life is what you make it. Don't wait for someone to hand you a life. Find what you want or make something new . . . but quit complaining or disparaging others b/c you haven't found exactly what it is you want here in Charlotte, NC. It is not up to those who have lived here for generations to twist themselves into a pretzel so you can find your comfort zone.
You hit the nail on its head. As a recent transplant, I've found a healthy number of people who complain about Charlotte but have not made the effort to get out and make it happen for them. I am enjoying Charlotte while still missing some aspects of NY but I didn't expect Charlotte to be NY either.
You hit the nail on its head. As a recent transplant, I've found a healthy number of people who complain about Charlotte but have not made the effort to get out and make it happen for them. I am enjoying Charlotte while still missing some aspects of NY but I didn't expect Charlotte to be NY either.
Hey, Westchestergal! So glad you are getting settled in . . . one positive about CLT is - you can still make trips back to NYC!!! YEA!! Is there anyone who doesn't need a NYC fix every so often????
ETA: Mikey! Doom and Gloom Mike!!!! Our mortgage, finance, housing market discussions, right??? Where have you BEEN? Gotten lost in all the "cosmopology" of Charlotte???????
At the risk of inciting the wrath de Sunny... I am that Mikey.
I was in Mooresville, but I'm back in NY as my wife basically told me either we move back or we get divorced. So, here I am back. It was a crazy 3-4 months to say the least.
On topic, I felt Charlotte was plenty Cosmopolitan (this with me coming from 25 miles outside of NYC) and really would have loved to stay. I decided that I could add value to this forum based on my experience of trying to pull off the relo.
I think what Charlotte needs is bigger variety of restaurants. Don't get me wrong, we have more restaurants chains and independent mom and pops that I ever saw in FL. However, it is mostly the same kind of food. We need more thai, vietnamese, upscale chinese, CUBAN (guess where I am from...) french, spanish, middle eastern, etc.
Oh dear god! Not another, "Is Charlotte cosmopolitan?" To some it is, to some it isn't. NEXT TOPIC PLEASE! Too bad so many Asians and other foreign newcomers are educated and have jobs better than jumping into the precarious restaurant industry. Buy international cookbooks, get over it! Geeeez! Make your own bloody hummus, it is the easiest thing in the world to make. Buy some skewers and make your own kebobs. Also, pretty easy. Geeeez, I need some wine!!
Oh dear god! Not another, "Is Charlotte cosmopolitan?" To some it is, to some it isn't. NEXT TOPIC PLEASE! Too bad so many Asians and other foreign newcomers are educated and have jobs better than jumping into the precarious restaurant industry. Buy international cookbooks, get over it! Geeeez! Make your own bloody hummus, it is the easiest thing in the world to make. Buy some skewers and make your own kebobs. Also, pretty easy. Geeeez, I need some wine!!
If you don't like the Thread, don't stick your nose in it. Some of us are enjoying the conversation.
At the risk of inciting the wrath de Sunny... I am that Mikey.
I was in Mooresville, but I'm back in NY as my wife basically told me either we move back or we get divorced. So, here I am back. It was a crazy 3-4 months to say the least.
On topic, I felt Charlotte was plenty Cosmopolitan (this with me coming from 25 miles outside of NYC) and really would have loved to stay. I decided that I could add value to this forum based on my experience of trying to pull off the relo.
MIKE!!! No wonder you have not been hanging out on the forum! I wish your wife would have liked it here. I so enjoyed our conversations.
Well, w/ your having lived here - and especially w/ coming from NYC region - seems to me you have very valuable insights about life here.
We are gonna keep you as an honorary NC resident, Mike. You never know - you might find yourself back here someday. Stranger things have happened . . .
CLTKing - I would like to see more Cuban, too!!! Even w/ the lousy economy, I think a well publicized Cuban restaurant in S. CLT would make it.
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I so enjoyed our conversations. 
