Charlotte has no personality? 10 places that beg to differ

This two-story atrium built in 1914 is the work of architect William H. Peeps who also designed the clubhouse at Myers Park Country Club and the Ivey Company department store. It served as an office building and commercial hub before falling into disrepair in the 50s and 60s. Latta Arcade was renovated in the 70s and today houses a number of small businesses, including quick-service restaurants, boutiques and salons. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission ranks Latta Arcade “among the most significant early twentieth-century office buildings erected in Charlotte.” Find it: 320 S. Tryon Street.

Brevard Court

Brevard Court, the outdoor cobblestone extension of Latta Arcade, celebrated its hundredth anniversary last year. It’s a lively pedestrian alley lined with restaurants, bars and small businesses. It feels like someone plucked a side street out of a much older European city and dropped it in the heart of Charlotte. Find it: S. Church Street between W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and W. 3rd Street.

Abbeydale

This men’s clothing boutique fights Uptown’s “khaki uniform” stereotype one custom tailored suit at a time. Abbeydale’s unique storefront in the bottom of a parking garage defies our lack of high-end Uptown retail with a small but notable street level footprint. Walk or drive by when the sharply dressed stylists are eating lunch at the bistro table out front and tell me that lacks personality. Find it: 116 W. 4th Street | www.houseofabbeydale.com

Poplar Street Cafe & Wine Bar

This newly opened cafe and wine bar found a home in the Morrison House, a Charlotte Historic Landmark built in 1885. Aside from their admirable historic preservation of the house, Poplar’s owners also did an incredible job creating three unique environments in each of the seating areas. There’s a bright white room up front ideal for lunch or a work session, a cozy black room in the back for sipping wine by the fireplace and a warm room filled with eclectic art. Find it: 224 W. 10th Street | Facebook

Va Da Vie Gelato

The best place to get handcrafted gelato in Charlotte? In the middle of a parking lot, of course. Va Da Vie is a frozen treat oasis smack dab in the middle of the asphalt at Park Road Shopping Center. They use local dairy only along with specialty ingredients imported from Italy and France. Find it: 4203 Park Road Shopping Center | www.vadaviegelato.com

The Myers Park Boo Hole

Although it sounds treacherous (or perhaps inappropriate), the Boo Hole is a kid-friendly treasure trove hidden in a stone wall in Myers Park. Without giving away the exact coordinates of the Boo Hole, I will tell you it’s located in near the Duke Mansion (but not on the grounds so please don’t go creeping around private property). Look for “Hey, Boo” written in cement on the sidewalk. It’s a tribute to Boo Radley from Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird and is maintained by a neighbor known as the Boo Lady. You’re encouraged to take a treasure and leave one in its place. Find it: Myers Park near the Duke Mansion

Bryant Park

This park was completed at the height of the Great Depression likely with labor and funding from The New Deal’s Work Progress Administration (WPA). Its standout feature is a stunning terraced stonework stadium overlooking the baseball field. It also has a lovely view of the Uptown skyline. Find it: 1701 W. Morehead Street | charmeck.org

Vic the Chili Man’s Hot Dog Cart

Aside from being one of the nicest and funniest people I have ever met, Vic Werany also serves a mean street dog (with veggie dog options to boot). He’s one part cook (he’s currently working to launch his line of homemade sauces) and one part entertainer. You’ll find him on the regular delighting the Uptown lunch crowd with his antics behind the cart. Find it: Vic used to set up shop in front of the alley between Chima and Bank of America Plaza but due to construction there he has moved directly across the street near the corner of S. Tryon and W. 4th | Facebook

Hall Family Farm

One thing that makes Charlotte unique is that its sprawling city limits encompass everything from Uptown’s skyscrapers to wide open farmland. Nowhere is that more apparent than when rolling up to Hall Family Farm in south Charlotte. One minute you’re in a grocery store strip center and the next thing you know you’re picking strawberries in the middle of a field. The family-owned farm, operated by the Halls for more than 70 years, is a literal breath of fresh open air in the middle of a bustling retail district. They’ll reopen for the 2016 season in April. Find it: 10713 Providence Road | hallfamilyfarm.com

The Dunhill Hotel

This 10-story hotel originally opened in 1929, fell into shambles in the 70s and was fully restored beginning in 1987 and then again in 2008. During the first round of restorations, a human skull was discovered in the elevator shaft but never identified. Today The Dunhill functions as a full-service boutique hotel and event venue. Find it: 237 N. Tryon Street | www.dunhillhotel.com