Jaunted

Twice a month on Friday evenings you can battle for on-street parking and take a stroll through the district. Although it’s billed as a gallery crawl, we’d probably be more comfortable referring to it as a gallery pit stop. There aren't too many and it’s not too spread out, but we say it’s worth it nonetheless. Honestly, the website makes it look like the second coming of SoHo—something it’s definitely not.

We got a kick out of Sunshine Daydreams; it’s your typical hippie hideaway. Full of cliché stoner memorabilia and Goodwill resale items, there’s something there to make you smirk. Our favorite shop on the strip was The Boulevard. A showcase for designers and artists, they offered up paintings, local handmade goods, stuff for your puppy, and best of all, things were somewhat affordable. All the shops we visited were heavy on the local merchandise and that’s a good thing.

Local music can be found at the Neighborhood Theatre, an original movie house from the 1940s, it also doubles as a stage for local performances. There’s several bars and restaurants to whet your whistle, but if you’re looking for something a little more stimulating try the Smelly Cat Coffee House. Our favorite oddball Phoebe is nowhere to be found, but they do offer a good cup of joe.

Overall, if you find yourself in the Queen City for business or pleasure, take the short hike up to NoDa. The locals seem to enjoy it, so it can only improve as time goes on.

Related Stories:
·NoDa [Official Site]
·Sunshine Daydreams [Official Site]
·The Boulevard at NoDa [Official Site]
·North Carolina Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kjb]