>> IN THE SHADOWS OF DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE, A SMALL COMMUNITY
THRIVES.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE RETRO MEETS CONTEMPORARY, HISTORICAL
HOLDS HANDS WITH TRENDY, AND ART JOINS COMMERCE.
THIS IS THE QUIRKY UNIQUENESS OF SOUTH END, A PLACE TO LIVE, EAT,
AND EXPLORE.
RICH IN THE ARTS AND FOODS, SOUTH END HAS BECOME A GREAT
PLACE TO KICK OFF YOUR NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND.
>> SOUTH END IS A VERY DESIRABLE PLACE TO BE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED IN.
OBVIOUSLY, THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THE CLOSE PROXIMITY
TO DOWNTOWN.
PEOPLE JUMP ON THE LIGHT RAIL, GO DOWN.
A LOT OF RESTAURANTS HAVE POPPED UP.
WE'VE BECOME THE ART DISTRICT IN THE CITY.
A LOT OF GALLERIES HAVE OPENED.
A LOT OF ARTISTS HAVE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE HERE.
THEY HAVE THEIR STUDIOS HERE.
SO YOU SEE PEOPLE OUT DURING THE DAY.
YOU SEE PEOPLE OUT AT NIGHT.
>> IF YOU LIKE TO START YOUR WEEKEND ON FRIDAY, LIKE I DO,
THEN YOU'LL WANT TO CHECK OUT GALLERY CRAWL AND FOOD TRUCK
FRIDAYS IN SOUTH END.
ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, SOUTH END HOSTS AN EVENT
WHERE YOU CAN CASUALLY CRAWL BETWEEN MANY OF THE ART
GALLERIES AND STOP BY TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE BEST FOOD TRUCK
CUISINE IN CHARLOTTE.
THIS EVENT HAS BECOME A GREAT WAY FOR NEW PEOPLE TO COME
EXPLORE AND VISIT SOUTH END FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BUT BEFORE YOU COME THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU MUST KNOW --
WHEN TO ARRIVE AND BRING YOUR APPETITE.
>> WE GOT A BEAN AND A -- >> I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF
YOU'RE COMING TO A FIRST FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY, DEFINITELY GET OUT
HERE EARLY.
>> GET HERE EARLY.
HA, HA, HA.
IT'S A BUSY EVENT, YOU KNOW.
IT'S VERY POPULAR.
IT'S A VERY FAMILY-ORIENTED EVENT.
AND IT'S FUN FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR
FRIENDS OR WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR ON A DATE.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE, YOU KNOW, COME HAVE A DATE.
YOU CAN TRY SOMETHING, UM, REALLY, FROM ALL DIFFERENT
WALKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT CUISINES HAPPENING OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT GREAT BURGERS, THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE
I'VE EVER PERSONALLY HAD OFF OF ONE OF THE TRUCKS RIGHT DOWN
HERE.
WE DO TACOS AND QUESADILLAS AND SLIDERS.
YOU'VE GOT TRUCKS THAT DO CRAB BOILS.
SO THERE'S JUST REALLY SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S A NICE ALTERNATIVE FROM A RESTAURANT BECAUSE YOU CAN COME
OUT HERE AND SPEND 10 BUCKS AND GET A MEAL AS OPPOSED TO GOING
AND SITTING DOWN AND SPENDING 40 AND 50.
>> LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF CAMDEN ROAD AND SOUTH BOULEVARD,
AN EMPTY LOT PLAYS HOST TO A NUMBER OF FOOD TRUCKS EAGER TO
SERVE UP THEIR TASTIEST DISHES.
GOING ON ITS THIRD YEAR, IT WAS NOT ALWAYS THIS YEAR.
CHEF KELLI CRISAN OF THE ROAMING FORK REMEMBERS A TIME WHEN SHE
WAS THE ONLY TRUCK OUT THERE.
BUT TODAY ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE COME OUT ON THE FIRST FRIDAY TO
SAMPLE WHAT EACH CHEF HAS TO OFFER, AND WITH THE LONG LINES,
YOU CAN TELL THEY'RE SERVING UP SOME VERY TASTY FOODS.
>> NOW I THINK YOU'RE FINDING PEOPLE WHO THOROUGHLY ENJOY TO
COOK OR ARE TRAINED CHEFS PRODUCING AND PUTTING OUT REALLY
GREAT GOURMET MEALS.
OUR FOOD TRUCK PUTS OUT AN ECLECTIC MENU OF FISH TACOS,
KOREAN BARBECUE, UNIQUE STYLES OF GRILLED CHEESE, PARMESAN
FRIES, FRIED DEVILED EGGS.
AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND A MAJORITY OF THE TRUCKS ACTUALLY
PUT OUT A UNIQUE STYLE OF FOOD.
>> NOW, AFTER SAMPLING SOME OF THE BEST FOOD TRUCKS IN
CHARLOTTE, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL
ARTISTS IN CHARLOTTE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GALLERIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT SOUTH END
HOSTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS.
YOUR FIRST STOP ON YOUR CRAWL MIGHT BE THE ELDER GALLERY.
HERE YOU CAN VIEW QUALITY WORKS BY SOME OF THE BEST AMERICAN
ARTISTS, OR HEAD ON OVER TO THE CHARLOTTE ART LEAGUE, A VENUE
WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS COME AND DISPLAY THEIR WORKS.
JUST ASK GORDY CHERRY AND HIS WIFE.
THEY NEVER MISS A FIRST FRIDAY OR THE CHANCE TO VISIT THEIR
FAVORITE FOOD TRUCK AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL ARTS.
>> MY WIFE AND I LIKE TO COME OUT HERE MAYBE ONCE A MONTH FOR
THE FOOD TRUCKS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE ARTWORK.
WE ENJOY GOING TO THE DIFFERENT PLACES, SEEING SOME OF THE LOCAL
ARTISTS.
IT'S FUN.
YOU SUPPORT THE LOCAL ARTISTS, AND YOU SEE THIS ABUNDANCE OF
TALENT THAT'S OUT HERE THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW EVEN EXISTED AND
STUFF.
>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE WITH GREAT FOOD AND GREAT ARTS,
THEN REMEMBER THE FIRST FRIDAY IN SOUTH END.