You may think that November 10th, in any given year, should be festooned with layered garb, winter climes, and bags of leaves lining the streets of your neighborhood. Well, y'all, Charlotte had a hootenanny of a hoedown of a throwdown on this blissfully warm Saturday! 72 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! Not only did the good ol' sun decide to beat the chilly air away with a stick, but the event decided to sun kiss some of us hicknic-goers with a good bit of UV rays! Over 500 Yelpers and their guests gathered at TEN Park Lanes for Crown Town's Fall Hicknic and greeted this wild hair of a warm day with open, plaid-laden arms!
Yelpers came adorning their best country-fied haut couture and blended like molasses on pancakes with the smells of smoky BBQ in the air, hay bales, and bluegrass tunes filling the air. Dion L reckons, "Yee-haw! I'm like Carly Rae Jepsen! We don't even have to try! It's always a good time! Fun. Food. Treats. Overalls. (Or in my case, straw hats.)"
Vendors aplenty at this kinful gatherin'. Polka Dot Bake Shop, TEN Park Lanes' blissfully delicious BBQ, and Sweet Lorraine's Bakery held down the eats and sweets for everyone. Pairin' them sweets with a mighty fine cup of joe was seen with Central Coffee Co and Not Just Coffee on premise, too. Beverages…goodness gracious, me oh my, there was never a shortage. Batch 19, Saranac, Lonerider Brewing, Four Friends Brewing, Natty Greenes Brewing, Sam Adams, New Castle, Star Hill, Linenkeugels, Big Boss Brewing, Fetzer Wines and vitaminwater made for a mighty fine way to wet yer whistle! Chad E notes "Beer avenue allowed you to sample from a nice selection." Kenny R stakes his claim that "the beer, what can I say, plenty to choose from although that caramel porter was truly awesome."
Now, y'all, TEN Park Lanes is bowlin' alley, and Yelpers had the chance to roll a few down the lanes and knock them pins dead! Ana O reminisces — "To top it all off, we had an amazing time bowling. I loved the
graphics on the screen. The bowling area was very clean and shiny.
They had plenty of balls in all sizes and for all finger sizes, which I
think was perfect." Many a victory dance was seen, as were gutterballs, but victory nonetheless!
Folks got their creative side satiated with Wine & Design. A lovely mural of the Charlotte skyline, country-inspired of course, was painted by all and turned into a masterpiece. Folks also got to a grinnin' with Shutterbooth on site and made some take-home memories of their own!
Now this day would have been remiss if we weren't to also feature one of Charlotte's fine non-profits. Charlotte Yelpers were generous in donating to Beds For Kids, a local organization that provides beds and furniture to children without. Y'all helped to raise over $700 for these mighty fine people! Yee Haw!
T'was a great day, indeed. As the sun set and the beautiful day came to a close with the softening of bluegrass tunes in the background, Yelpers said farewell to TEN Park Lanes. Rumor has it you can still find some a'rustlin hay still on the grounds… Until next time, y'all!
Check out the Flickr album here!
Read some of the reviews here!
Until then, SYOY!
(pictured with wife, JJ (right) and Christina G – NC Triangle Community Manager (left)
