You can check out the daily doings at the Film Festival at the NCFlix blog.

Nights of Fire uses more than 1,000 shells to paint the sky with a rainbow of colors. Several hundred special effect shots illuminate the Carolina Skytower at different times during the 25-minute program which begins at 10 pm. The computer produces a brilliant and thrilling show, firing shells in precise time to music with an accuracy of 1/100th of a second.  

The Carolina RFD section of the Park in front of Boomerang Bay is one of the hottest vantage points to view the fireworks display. Other popular viewing areas include Nickelodeon^TM Central and Thrill Zone.

The Carolina Skytower, one of the original attractions at Carowinds, enjoyed a patriotic off-season makeover, thanks to new owners of the park, Cedar Fair.  Rising high above the 108-acre theme park on the North and South Carolina state line, the Skytower provides panoramic views of the park and both states from a height of 320 feet. Carowinds is currently in its 35^th season.

Carowinds dropped its ticket prices this year for the first time since opening in 1973.  The drop in single-day ticket prices is the first major move by the new owners.  Cedar Fair bought Carowinds and four other parks in June, 2006 from Paramount, a division of CBS Corp., for $1.24 billion.  

Cedar Fair has dropped most of Carowinds' major licensing agreements, essentially de-Paramounting the amusement park. It formerly had numerous references to Paramount films such as the Borg Assimilator coaster.  One notable exception, New York-based Nickelodeon Networks, will be kept in place for at least three more seasons.  That will keep characters Sponge Bob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer, along with the park's signature daily Nickelodeon parade, entertaining the youngest guests. 

The new owner, which owns the famous Cedar Point park outside of Cleveland, has already spent about $3 million on improvements at the 108-acre theme park.

Another innovation by the new owners brings an ice skating show back to the park for the first time in 10 years. The Carowinds Theatre has been transformed for an ice-skating extravaganza titled "Endless Vacation." The cool interior of the air-conditioned theatre offers a much-needed respite from the steamy summer heat in the Carolinas. A special performance of the ice show will be presented on July 4th.

Also on July 4, Carowinds guests can enjoy an all-you-can-eat Fourth of July picnic in the Southside Picnic Pavilion from 5 to 7 p.m. The menu includes fried chicken, hot dogs, baked beans, potato chips, Coca Cola beverages and ice cream. Picnic tickets are $15.00 for an adult ticket, $10.50 for Junior/Senior, and $11.00 for season pass holders.

Carowinds is open daily through Aug. 26. Sat. - Sun. operation resumes Sept. 1 - Oct. 28. The park also is open Sept. 3.

Visit www.carowinds.com for more info.

Red, White & Boom
Charlotte's  annual July 4th event is long on the Family Fun this year with family-friendly activities from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The event is alcohol-free but there will be food and soft drinks on sale.

It will also be spread out throughout the Center City area. The fireworks themselves - a 20 minute show at 9:30 - will be shot off from the Central Piedmont Community College campus on Elizabeth St. and the newly named Charlottown Blvd., until recently a little orphan remnant of Independence Blvd. In case you're wondering, this is the stretch of Independence where the Double Door Inn, a legendary Blues club, is located.

The fireworks should be clearly visible from all over the southeast side of the city.

 Stadium and grass seating to watch the fireworks show is promised, but apparently not yet set the week before the event.  Memorial Stadium next to the CPCC campus hosts a Family Fun Fest (sponsored by US Airways) from 6-10pm, and it is an excellent spot to watch the fireworks.

Clear Channel radio stations, 96.1 The Beat, WRFX 99.7 The Fox, Lite 102.9, 96.9 Kat Country and 106.5 The End, will also establish various viewing areas throughout Center City.

For the latest, visit: http://www.charlottecentercity.org/

 When my family visits, I like to take them to Fig Tree. I have the kind of family that runs the gamut from the  barely civilized to the over-educated, and Fig Tree is one of those rare culinary finds that allows both kinds of folks to be comfortable.

I had the best risotto of my life there at one of their wine tastings. The wine tasting was informative and fun; my only complaint was that I had to sit at a large table with people I didn't know, and one of the strangers was a little obnoxious. Otherwise, it was a lovely experience.

Located just outside of Charlotte's uptown at 1601 East Seventh St, you won't have to venture too far out of the business area to find this gem.

 Reid's is a rare find in Charlotte, which is a bit lacking in the gourmet grocery department, and these wine tastings are excellent and informative. The wines chosen each week are also offered for sale at discount rates after each tasting.

 Find more information at Reid's Fine Foods.

Bojangles is located primarily in the Southeast. If you're from the area, you may wonder, "Why in the world is this chick blogging about Bojangles?" If you're not from here, you're thinking, "What's Bojangles?"If you're from the area, you may wonder, "Why in the world is this chick blogging about Bojangles?" If you're not from here, you're thinking, "What's Bojangles?"

Being a North Carolina native, I had some experience with the biscuit empire; however, once I relocated to Charlotte, I became a die-hard Bojangles fanatic. Occasionally the desire for a Bo-berry biscuit or a biscuit with cheese or their signature seasoned fries will overwhelm me.

 It's good stuff. And if you're visiting Charlotte from the biscuit-barren, Bojangle-less deserts, indulge in this lard oasis. Seriously, they're on every freakin' corner here.

 Find out more at the Bojangles Website.

 The motto "You May Already Be An Activist" is great to describe this simple way to help. If you've got leftovers, leave them in a clean container on top of a trash can so that others less fortunate can enjoy them.

 Cool, isn't it?

 Located at 250 North Trade St. in Matthews, it's a few miles out from downtown Charlotte, but it's in an area of Matthews that's worth the trek to see. Located on a charming block with interesting shops and restaurants, downtown Matthews has much of the Southern charm that uptown Charlotte lacks.

 The menu includes a full range of classic American bar fare, and there are televisions all around, making it the perfect location to watch sports events. There's karaoke on Saturday nights, and on Wednesday nights, the bikers come out for Bike Night.

 To get the real feel of what it's like to be a Charlotte local, check out Kristopher's.