Trip To Charlotte

The start of an early morning drive. 

4 years together. And they said we wouldn't last...

Lunchtime Cocktail

Off to an early start.

Hello Charlotte!

I snapped this shot from the car. I'm quite proud of it.

Lark and Key Gallery

My first visit to the gallery that houses my favorite artist's (other than Jerry) work. I discovered Duy Huynh's paintings on Art.com last year, and I've been smitten ever since. I was thrilled to find out that he lives and operates out of a gallery in Charlotte, so I knew my next visit to Charlotte would include a stop to this gallery. It was everything I hoped for and more. His wife, who runs the gallery, is from my small town of all places! We even know some of the same people! To see Duy's work in person is a whole different experience that you can't get through the Internet or even his prints that are available through Art.com. The texture of his paintings are amazing. He uses stamps to incorporate intricate patterns into the texture. It really adds another dimension to his work. In addition to Duy's paintings, the gallery is full of many works by other talented artists.  

Brochure of the current exhibit: Cross Pollination

Absolutely beautiful work in this exhibit. 

Here's a few of my favorites:

Subject To Change by Duy Huynh

Symbiotic Mindset by Duy Huynh

Elvis, Day Gecko with Squash Blossom by Vikki Sawyer

King of the Pollinators by Vikki Sawyer

We would have loved to buy everything in the store, but alas, we are poor, so we picked up a couple of pottery items that were in our price range:

I got this cute little vase.

And Jerry picked up this mug.

After the gallery, we checked into a hotel and got freshened up for the concert that started in a couple of hours. I snapped a quick selfie and then we walked through downtown Charlotte and the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen to get to our destination. I actually planned the walk through the cemetery because I thought it would be "neat." Yeah, I'm a little weird... However, I had no idea how big this cemetery was going to be. We actually got a little lost in it, but we eventually found our way out the other side.

But first, let me take a selfie.

Elmwood Cemetery - even the name is creepy. Nightmare on Elm Street, anyone?

Springtime in the Cemetery

Because we were lost and in a hurry, I didn't get to take photos in the cemetery like I would have liked to, so here's some images from the cemetery's website:

Ok, enough of the morbidity, let's go to The Decemberist's concert. Oh wait, half their songs are about death. Oh well, just enjoy the pretty pictures all taken by moi from the second row with my humble Iphone camera. 

When we walked out the door of the concert venue, this is what greeted us: 

Midnight Milkshakes at Mattie's 

(say that real fast 3 times)

Perfect ending to a perfect day.