Iron Man
Little Iron Man met Big Iron Man at the "Heroes Aren't Hard to Find" convention in Charlotte. Big Iron Man must have gone through a lot of cardboard to build that armor!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Lexington Barbecue
When people talk about Eastern North Carolina Barbecue, this is ground zero. Called "Lexington Barbecue" to most of the world, it's real name is "Monk's Barbecue" or as the locals call it — the "Honeymonk" or simply the "Monk."
The Monk was founded in 1962 by Wayne Monk and it is nationally-recognized as the classic Eastern North Carolina Barbecue. If you're up for a pilgrimage, head to 100 Smokehouse Lane in Lexington, North Carolina. Your GPS will probably fail you but you'll be close enough that somebody can send you in the right direction. Just don't go on Sunday because they're closed — even North Carolina's most famous pitmasters have to rest some time.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Full Moon (Almost)
April 11's full moon is called the "Pink Moon." I think March's full moon didn't get the memo.
This photograph was captured on the Blue Ridge Parkway just as the sun had set, leaving behind a brilliant lavender and pink sky that blended right into the hazy Blue Ridge Mountains.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Trader Joe's and the QC
I think it's interesting the way ring roads — in this case, I-277 — serve as a boundary for major urban development. Charlotte has since spilled over past 277 but you can see how it also helped increase the density of Uptown along the way.
In the foreground is Midtown, anchored by the Trader Joe's.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Mavic Pro drone.
Powder
This was the back deck of Slopeside on Beech Mountain last month. It's hard to believe but we're supposed to get snow for the next two days on the Mountain. The ski resort is closed while they're getting ready for the summer mountain biking/disc golf/beer drinking season but I bet somebody will take a couple runs this weekend! They make P-tex for a reason!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Jellyfish on a Wall
This jellyfish lives in an aquarium at the SC Riverbanks Zoo. I wish I had taken a photo of the name plaque so I could tell you what type of jellyfish it was because it seemed to be a little less common than the ones you normally see at aquariums. After a little bit of research, it might be a Cassiopea Andromeda. If you're reading this and you know the name of this little guy, let me know in the comments and I'll update this post!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Martial Arts University Graduation
This is Master Harris at Martial Arts University during the last graduation. If you live in Charlotte and have kids who are interested at all in martial arts — specifically Tae Kwon Do — I highly recommend a visit to Master Harris and MAU. Master Harris and his team focus on building character as much as they do breaking boards. And the MAU parents really appreciate it!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Sugar Creek Gem Mine
I admit we used to scoff at the "gem mines" that we'd pass on our way through tourist traps like Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach. I still can't vouch for them but I can say that the Sugar Creek Gem Mine in Banner Elk is a lot of fun!
The kids love the place and they pull enough stuff out of the buckets that you feel like it was money well spent. Semi-pro tip: the bigger buckets come with bigger gems so if you have several kids, get a giant bucket rather than a small one for each kid.
They have some neat stuff in the gift shop, too, like soapstone candle holders and geodes that haven't been cracked open yet so you can discover what's inside on your own.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Carolina Blue Dilworth Church
I hate to use our beautiful church as a metaphor for the UNC victory last night but this photo has been in my queue for about a month and I just realized I had titled it "Carolina Blue Dilworth Church" so it seems quite appropriate. I'm sure plenty of people were praying for a win last night, too.
If you live in Charlotte and you haven't visited Dilworth Church, you should check it out. It's a historic church and the 11am service is traditional but not stuffy at all.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Middle Street
This single block is the happiest place in South Carolina. Sullivan's Island is the ultimate lowcountry beach town and Middle street is it's heart. Eat at any one of these restaurants and a good time is guaranteed. Top on my list is, of course, Poe's. But you can only eat the Amontillado burger so many days in a row before you are craving a non-burger. Hometeam BBQ across the street is a surefire BBQ hit. Taco Mamacita next door makes really tasty, eclectic tacos, too.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.