Julia Pelly lives in southeast Charlotte with her husband and two young children. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, exploring the city with her husband or pushing her children on their backyard swings. Find more of her work at juliapelly.com.
A Kid-Free Date-Night Itinerary Along the Lynx Light Rail
The latest "Kid-Free in the QC" column
THE LYNX LIGHT RAIL is a great way to see the city and spend time connecting with your partner as you head out for a date night. Check out one date night itinerary below, all accessible from the Blue Line:
Idlewild.
36TH STREET STOP: Whether you live in the NoDa area or not, you’ll enjoy starting your date day in this hip corner of Charlotte. Noda offers a wide array of restaurants and bars from which you and your partner can choose to start your adventure. Haberdish, located at 3106 North Davidson Street, offers a full bar menu of delicious cocktails that pair nicely with their signature snack plates like hushpuppies or biscuits and bacon jam.
After grabbing a drink and appetizer, take your time as you stroll down towards the nearest station. As you stroll, be on the lookout for street art and, when you find a mural that you like, take the opportunity to snap a date-night selfie.
If you’re in the mood for another drink as you stroll, consider stopping in at Idlewild or Wooden Robot. Idlewild, located under the apartments at Novel Noda, serves classic cocktails seven nights a week from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and is known for their cozy atmosphere. Wooden Robot’s second location, in the heart of NoDa, is home to their oak foeders and barrels in addition to a taproom, patio and rooftop biergarten and offers a rotating selection of draft and packaged beers.
EAST/WEST STATION: Once you’ve had your fill of NoDa, hop on the Lynx and head to Southend. After arriving in South End you’ll have to decide whether you want to eat first or stroll first. If you’re ready to eat, and want to stay close to the train, consider dinner at Barcelona or Superica.
Barcelona, a favorite among both locals and Lynx riders, is known for their charcuterie and cheese as well as their small plates. Start your meal by choosing three options from their charcuterie menu to make the perfect plate and then order several small plates, like grilled hanger steak or mushrooms a la plancha, to share with your partner.
EMMA WAY
Superica.
Superica, a Tex-Mex favorite in Charlotte, is open until 10:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Order the Guacamole, Chile con queso or steak fajita nachos to start and then a classic puffy or hard shell taco dinner as your entree and you’ll be full and happy by the time your check arrives.
After dinner, you might be in the mood to check out some of South End’s art galleries. South End is home to the largest concentration of art galleries in the Charlotte area (including Elder Gallery, Hodges Taylor, and others) and hosts a monthly gallery crawl. On the first Friday evening of the month, most neighborhood galleries stay open late and host receptions for new art exhibits or show off some of their favorites. If you’re lucky, you might just get to meet the artist.
Once you’ve had your fill of food and art in South End, hop back on the Lynx and find your way back to your car in NoDa. Enjoy your Lynx date this month Charlotte parents!
