Bridge Street, in far west Huntsville,Alabama is a new shopping development with a lake, plenty of restaurants and shops, and a new, tall Westin hotel. Connor’s Steak and Seafood is a particularly good place for a steak dinner, and the nearby Cafe 153 is a great place for an after-dinner latte or espresso. Lighting and live musicians on weekends make Bridge Street a fun destination.
I was disappointed to learn that Kreativ Sole had closed, but Huntsville has a new upscale hip-hop boutique called Valet Boutique (@ValetBoutique) that has a full array of urban wear for the discerning customer. Visit them at http://valetboutique.blogspot.com/, like them at http://www.facebook.com/valetboutique or follow them at https://twitter.com/ValetBoutique.
Lowes’ Mill in Southwest Huntsville is a former cotton-textile mill that dates from around the beginning of the 20th Century. After a stint as a Genesco Shoe factory, it closed, and has since been turned into a unique gallery of artists’ studios, galleries and shops. I had driven out there Saturday to visit Vertical House Records, but unfortunately they had closed at 5 PM.
I woke up at 5 AM Sunday morning in Monroe, checked out of the hotel, ate breakfast and headed out for New Orleans for a second-line that started at 1 PM. I made better time than expected and got there early enough that I was able to head to Dirty Coast (@dirtycoast)on Magazine Street for a new T-shirt. Visit http://www.dirtycoast.com/ to get your New Orleans T-shirts when you’re not in New Orleans. You can also like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirty-Coast-Press/6107254790 or follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dirtycoast. And when you’re in New Orleans, visit their storefront and check in on Foursquare to unlock discounts.
M & M Records has been Tyler, Texas’ main spot for Texas rap albums and mixtapes, gospel, blues and T-shirts. It’s off the beaten path, but definitely worth a visit, and you might just find that out-of-print Texas rap CD you’ve been wanting.
Half Price Books and Records in Dallas might be the largest used book store in America, or close to it. Of course there are other locations in Texas, as well as in several other states, but this flagship store on Northwest Highway in Dallas is the original location and company headquarters. The store is filled with used and cut-out books, compact discs and vinyl record albums, all at remarkably low prices. Visit them at http://www.hpb.com/001.html for more info.
Rewind Music and More is one of Dallas’ premiere stores for hip-hop, gospel and blues CD’s and mixtapes. After a number of years in Oak Cliff’s Wynnewood Village, they have relocated to a store front at 3823 Ross Avenue just northeast of downtown Dallas. They’re definitely worth a visit for any fans of Texas rap. And remember, there’s no experience quite like visiting an independent record store.
Social Status (@TheSocialStatus) is Charlotte’s newest hip-hop shop in Plaza-Midwood, full of upscale urban wear and shoes.
Rap City Fashions is yet another hip-hop shop in Charlotte, this one on the north side of the city on Tryon Street.
