Midwood News

Much-needed gasoline is expected to arrive in the area today. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com It appears to be more of the same at gas stations across the Charlotte metro region, with only a ...

A fuel tanker arrives at the Paw Creek tank farm in west Charlotte Friday morning.

Much-needed gasoline is expected to arrive in the area today. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com Drivers across the Charlotte region are waiting patiently -- and, in some cases, impatiently -- for a ...

Parcel by parcel, developers are remaking the face of Central Avenue near Plaza Midwood.

Scott Yamanashi patrols Pecan Avenue under the Independence Boulevard bridge. Armed Watch 06.23.08 Scott Yamanashi could have died on his 38th birthday.

Actor-rapper Ludacris will bring a little taste of L.A. to the QC when he hosts the "Black Hollywood Party" at The Big Chill on Saturday.

GREG LACOUR and CLEVE R. WOOTSON JR. glacour@charlotteobserver.com; cwootson@charlotteobserver.com A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shot a man this evening at a convenience store on Central Avenue in the ... via The Charlotte Observer

“Our neighborhood organization is jump-starting after a few years of being on the inactive side”

Now the perspiration starts.

The inspiration came last weekend, when more than 600 people attended the 13th annual Neighborhood Symposium to learn from city staff, community experts and each other.

The all-day event at the Charlotte Convention Center included guest speakers and government staff offering ideas on topics such as organizing neighborhoods, fighting crime and communicating with neighbors, particularly ones who don't speak English well.

First-time symposium participants Charles Elligson and Khristina Bretthauer say they went home with fresh ideas they can put to work immediately. Read more

“I think it's some type of contest. Those two neighborhoods are just getting clobbered.”

Like a housekeeper for an entire neighborhood, Tim Griffin takes to the streets of Plaza-Midwood armed with a few rags and some cleaning solution.

Almost weekly, Griffin walks the area's business district, scrubbing off the growing amount of small graffiti tags wherever they appear.

'I wouldn't invite people to my house if it was dirty,' said Griffin, president of the nearby Morningside Neighborhood Association. 'So, I'm not going to let people experience the area when it looks like this.' Read more

For east Charlotteans, it's a common problem: Finding an entertaining place to visit that offers family fun and doesn't require a long drive to another part of town.

One that doesn't put too big a dent in the family budget as well. Indeed, the choices are limited. For shopping, most residents of east Charlotte drive past woeful Eastland Mall to Concord Mills, Carolina Place, or some other mall miles away. Even to catch a movie in a comfortable environment means heading to a theater outside the neighborhood. Read more

“It was the right move for the market right now”

The fledging market known as The Tailgate in Plaza-Midwood for the last two summers will reopen April 26 with a new name and a new home. Now called the Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market, it will move to West Park Avenue and Camden Street in South End.

'It was mixed emotions,' said market manager Lynn Caldwell. '(Plaza-Midwood) was a great place to be.'

But the market had outgrown the space on Commonwealth Avenue and she hadn't found another spot in Plaza-Midwood that worked well with things like visibility and parking. Read more

“Like when they're all falling down.”

One by one, the fourth- and fifth-graders in Miss Valerie's after-school photography class step up to present their pictures, hanging in rows along the board.

The photos -- of Catholic statues, spicy food, kids at play -- were taken with cameras supplied by their teacher, who instructed them to snap their families, their culture, themselves. The best of the pictures, she told them, would be part of an exhibit opening at the library in Plaza Midwood.

'Tomorrow is the big day,' Miss Valerie tells them. 'I want everybody to be there.' Read more

2008 looks great for the plate: Charlotte's restaurants have hit a new level of maturity, and I'm more excited than I have been in years.

So what's stirred up the scene?

Owners with vision and enough resources to start splashily -- or the sense to start slowly?

The current economy weeding out folks who think it would be 'fun' to open a restaurant?

Finally, could it be diners with a new sophistication? Could these diners know flavors don't come from a store? Could dining, they see, mean a little bit more? Read more

Looking for an eatery after a late night? Some of the breakfast spots that are normally open, such as John's Country Kitchen, Eddie's, and Izzy's, will be closed on New Year's Day. via Creative Loafing

Status report: A look at 20 projects AMY RAINEY arainey@eyecharlotte.com CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Richard Thomson, trolley operator of No. via Charlotte.com