Between Queens: Merci, Amelie's!

Between Queens: Merci, Amelie's!

Merci, Amelie's!

Thanks to Amelie's French Bakery http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com/ I had a fabulous afternoon and evening in Charlotte!  Once we were inside, it was as though we were on a weekend getaway in Paris!  Eclectic, French, great coffee, teas, mineral water, beautiful pastries (we only looked...), delicious soup & sandwiches, everything cozy and warm.  I recalled many fond emotions from when I lived in Europe and spent hours working and studying in coffee shops throughout Frankfurt, DE.  I even corresponded "auf Deutsch" with my former high school German teacher.  While in one moment we felt swept away to a private cafe in Europe, we also amazingly, for one of the first times since our arrival, felt a part of our new community: we were fortunate to have two very warm and inviting conversations with Amelie's welcoming staff.  Merci, merci, merci, Amelie!  You gave us a fabulous day and hope for more to come in our new Queen City. Bissous!

So, we are here...now where to go?

The perfect Saturday date night I'm dying for Charlotte to give me would go somewhat like this: Late afternoon run, 5-6 miles, beau & beagle in tow, naturally. Clean up, head to an independently owned, intimate restaurant for sushi or small plates (tapas, Kimchee, shared dishes) where the proprietor knows our names and tastes. Pay up and walk along street - perhaps meandering into some shops and galleries along the way. End at a jazz club. Great live music. Ambiance abounds (not the typical Charlottean corporate-owned steak-chain) as well as romance and emotions that only a locally owned business can evoke - welcoming a diverse, creative clientele that's open to mingling. A glass of red and inspiring conversation - ideas, brainstorming, holding hands, getting lost in the instruments, voices and vibration.

Getting Started:
My run - Myers Park / Freedom Park / Greenway - check!
My beau & my beagle - check!
Place for a nice bite? - _________________________________
Nice urban streetscape for a stroll? __________________________
Great Jazz club or any local, live music? _______________________
How can I round out my perfect evening experience in Charlotte? Ideas welcome!