Blog - Tanya Birch

Pet-Friendly Beer Destinations: Charlotte

Every opportunity I can, I venture to spots where my dog can join me for happy hour. It’s often paired with long walks from our current apartment in uptown Charlotte, too – an attempt to get some outdoor physical activity in first, with a beer stop in between.

One of the parts I love so much about this city – and the south overall – is the pet-friendly culture. There’s so many great spots that I could probably create my own guidebook from it (hmm..future writing idea?), but for now let me just highlight a few of my favorites –

Birdsong Brewery: Noda neighborhood

This brewery holds a special place in my heart. It was my relaxing escape – to send out a few more emails and finish up my work – after working nearby in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte at a loud construction site (a brewery and taproom-in-planning I opened as General Manager) in late 2016/early 2017. We moved out of Charlotte in 2019 but when we returned in 2022, it was one of the first breweries I couldn’t wait to revisit. Presently, I head there at least once a week with my dog Barley to enjoy a beer and get some work done. Dogs are welcome both inside and outside the taproom; Birdsong is a welcoming, laid-back taproom with a wonderful crew of people. Free peanuts – the peanut cracking plays a dual role in keeping you both occupied and thirsty – usually a food truck, and some awesome, consistent beer, of which my go-to is the Rewind Lager.

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery: Lower South End neighborhood

After moving to the state of North Carolina in 2015, the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) was one of the first breweries that my husband and I ever visited in Charlotte. It gave us something we never expected to experience in the U.S.- a feeling of being transported to Germany, relaxing at a biergarten in Munich; we loved sipping on a Hornets Nest Hefeweizen while reminiscing about our travels, and life abroad during the period we lived in the UK for two years. While admittedly I may be a little biased at recommending this – my husband now works here – I also truly love it for its authentic German ambience, and equally consistent, high-quality beers. Oh, and the dog factor! The 8-acre outside biergarten means you lots of open space to enjoy a beer and not feel packed in amongst other people, kids, or dogs.

Bloom & Bottle: Belmont neighborhood

Bloom & Bottle describes their business as a “friendly neighborhood bottle shop and floral workshop.” They carry lots of craft beer on tap, as well as wine and prosecco, and a bottle/can selection of both alcohol and non-alcoholic beers. Dogs are welcome outside on a small back patio, as well as inside, so it’s also a great rainy day option. There are two dog beds set up along a wall by a window – where you’ll often be greeted by the owners’ two friendly dogs – and next to it a big shared dog bowl. The welcoming display of flower centerpieces along with the fresh flowers for purchase in the back of the shop make this place a memorable environment and pleasant night-out.

The Hop Shop: Plaza Midwood neighborhood

With a great selection of European beers – the Belgian styles and German styles are my favorites – as well as its pet-friendly vibe, I can easily spend hours here enjoying their beer selection and playing cards or board games with my friends. It’s a long, narrow establishment, but it has separate couch areas and tables in the front, and even a swinging chair inside, that allow you to make each area your own and relax.

Town Brewing Company: Wesley Heights neighborhood

Town Brewing’s easy outside ordering window and spacious outdoor setup – large picnic tables everywhere – is also very dog-friendly. It’s also a short walk from the Wesley Heights and Irwin Creek Greenway system, and a beautiful 2+ mile walk for me from uptown, past the Bank of America stadium and along the pedestrian and biking trails.

Their menu of flatbreads and sandwiches are easy, delicious food options that pair well with the solid beer choices.

Charlotte’s pet-friendly culture is amazing, and as may be obvious by now, the destinations I frequent regularly revolve around my dog Barley, whose always by my side.

I hope this post provides all those living in Charlotte like me with some new ideas for your next happy hour with your dog.

Charlotte Uptown Walk: Getting Inspired

This morning I set off on my usual Saturday morning walk with my dog Barley through the uptown neighborhood. I love these long walks, but today this walk was extra special and inspiring! The feeling of inspiration is something I’ve desperately been missing in my life ever since getting diagnosed with, and fortunately conquering, cancer this past year.

But enough about cancer. I want to talk about something way more positive and important today: Easter Eggs.

As I walked through one of my favorite uptown Parks, The Green, I passed by a number of large easter eggs on display, all part of an art exhibit for the Charlotte SHOUT festival, a multi-week festival that celebrates “Charlotte’s creativity and innovation through art, music, food, and ideas.”

Each of the eggs on display – a baker’s dozen – features work by a local Charlotte artist. Barley’s standing by one called Hidden Gems, by the artist Taryn Hare, and her description says “My concept behind this piece was to create a larger-than-life crystal gem. I chose the Amethyst gemstone because this crystal represents peace and balance. It has the power to rid an environment of negative energy and transform that into a high frequency of love. I wanted my egg to be a symbol of peace and love in the city. I titled the piece Hidden Gems as a play on words. Highlighting the tradition of hiding Easter eggs and the resemblance the egg has to a gemstone. I want my piece to spark the same excitement and joy a child has spotting their first egg during a hunt.”

I felt lots of negative energy earlier this week myself. I was almost home after a 7-hour drive on the road from visiting my sister-in-law in the Outer Banks. It appeared there was standstill traffic up ahead, so I braked briefly while going 70 mph in the left lane; the driver behind me must have thought I was brake checking him and his road rage instincts kicked in; he violently changed lanes and cut me off, slamming on his brakes and leaving me no choice but to slam on my brakes, too, barely avoiding a major collision. When I changed lanes to avoid any more escalation, he recklessly pulled in front of me again and slammed on his brakes. I was so scared. Fortunately I was able to back away from him enough to avoid anything else bad happening in this situation, but the rest of that day I just felt sad; I couldn’t shake the negative thoughts and feel positive again.

Which brings me back to this egg. Getting rid of negative energy is something I think we all need in this world today. The spark of excitement, and the little joys in life – like the pleasure a child gets from spotting their first egg – is a way for us to remind ourselves to break away from the negative energy we may experience from others.

One of my other favorites was this egg called The Crown, by the artist Neidy Perdomo, who says that this piece is “not only an artistic representation of the Queen City, but a reminder of the greatness that lives within each of us, and that you have the power to create your own reality. I hope this piece challenges your perspective, it is up to you to make your life something beautiful.”

Time for me to take advantage of all this art, food, music, and innovation in Charlotte the next two weeks through the remainder of this festival.

What an amazing way to start the day and to remember to appreciate the little things, or in this case, big things – like giant easter eggs in an uptown park.

My Favorite Irish Spots

St. Patrick’s Day 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina: Jim and I plan to go out for a Guinness somewhere today, maybe to Workman’s Friend in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, by far one of our favorite Irish pubs in Charlotte, but otherwise it will be fairly uneventful.

This day has me reflecting back on some of the more memorable Irish spots I’ve visited in places I’ve lived or have traveled to along the way –

Dublin, Ireland

During a TBEX conference based in Dublin in 2013, our opening night event was hosted at the Guinness Brewery and we learned how to properly pour a Guinness. Another memorable night was hanging out at The Temple Bar with friends I met at the conference, a bar that’s been around since 1840 or so!

New York City, NY

Light and Dark Beers at McSorley’s Olde Ale House, East Village, Manhattan

I lived in the New York City area for approximately 10 years, and have lots of memorable Irish pub experiences during my time there. A few of my favorites are:

Molly’s – Third Avenue, Gramercy Park

McSorley’s Old Ale House

P.J. Clarke’s

The Perfect Pint – East

Finnegan’s Wake – Upper East Side

New Orleans, Louisiana

While living in New Orleans from early 2019 through February of 2022, I regularly frequented these Irish bars in the French Quarter, and even temporarily did a Monday day-shift bartending stint at Ryan’s Irish pub!

Ryan’s Irish Pub

Erin Rose

St. Pat’s Irish Coffeehouse

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Time for a Guinness.

Live in the Moment

Today is Mardi Gras Day and it’s been approximately one year since we moved from New Orleans to Charlotte. What a year it has been. Since I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in July of 2022, my motto to live in the moment is more important than ever. Two surgeries and countless doctor appointments later, I’m fortunately now cancer-free, but there’s still a reoccurring fear that I have to frequently squash in my mind of that cancer reappearing someplace else in my body.

My mission is to ideally be a source of inspiration and a positive source of support for all those out there who need it, whether that’s because you are dealing with your own medical scares, or because you want to make some changes in your life, especially ones that result in exploring more often – seeing more of the world.

Today marks a new turning point for me. It’s time to start writing again, traveling more, and exploring the Carolinas near my current home in unique, fun ways. That will include focusing on things I love, such as brewery-related travel and pet-friendly excursions with our dog Barley.

I hope you’ll read along and join in the journey with me. You can follow me on instagram @tanya_birch, and here on this blog!

Living in the French Quarter, New Orleans: My Observations

Mardi Gras Day was yesterday and I was not part of the festivities this year. Just 9 days ago, I moved from New Orleans back to Charlotte, North Carolina.

So how do I begin to describe it?

New Orleans was unlike any other place I ever lived, and before living there, I didn’t think much could surprise me – mostly because I have lived in major cities like New York City and London, and in the US states of New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. I’ve traveled quite a bit throughout my life – to 20 countries throughout Europe and 37 states throughout the US thus far.

But the truth is, I was still surprised, caught off guard by the culture and the way of life here. And after three years as a Nola resident, when I first learned of my husband’s new job opportunity and our forthcoming move away, I was sad. I had never before experienced strong emotions like this in any of our other moves. I am usually always ready for a new adventure, but this time I clung to New Orleans and held it tight. I over-indulged in drinking (that’s easy to do living in the French Quarter).

I tried to take in all the aspects of my daily life in the French Quarter that I knew I wouldn’t get in other cities, see every detail around me – like the sights of the flickering gas lanterns and the sounds of the clogging hooves of mules escorting people down Esplanade Avenue on carriage rides. I raided my costume drawer and found my purple wig, my turquoise wig, and my glitter jacket to accessorize for all the parades I attended during carnival season before my time to move.

Attending the Krewe Du Vieux parade in February 2022

After three memorable years, here’s my observations…

Daily Walks

Walks through the French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods – the neighborhoods I lived in during my time living in New Orleans – never grew old, even If you repeated the same walk five days in a row. There’s always something new to discover.

I was constantly impressed by the architecture of these historic houses and landmarks. With styles like shotgun, double barrel shotgun, creole cottage, and Greek revival, you can spend the entire walk admiring the variety of designs and dynamic color schemes, like a yellow Creole Cottage with turquoise shutters or a bright purple shotgun with green shutters.

From the street, you have no idea what’s beyond the exterior structure of the French Quarter houses, and when you get a glimpse inside, like a peek through a window or a gate exposing a hidden courtyard, it’s a fun find, a secret passageway into a new world.

A Welcoming, Fun Community

During my daily walks with my dog alone, it was rare that I ever actually felt alone. That’s because there’s an amazing community of people in New Orleans, always an exchange of hellos whether you’re a stranger or a friend.

People like Kenny, the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in my life, who works at the dive burger joint down the street. He’s always positive and happy, even when he’s hauling kitchen equipment outside to deep clean it or doing the dirty task of spraying the greasy kitchen mats down. There are the street cleaners sitting inside large giant sweeper vehicles who wave and smile and tell you to “Have a blessed day.” There’s the Bubba’s Produce guys who start work at 4am every morning, and loved seeing me and Barley as we passed them to go to Crescent Park. One guy in particular told me the same story every time I saw him. “You have your best friend with you today, don’t you?” he asked. “Yes.” Then he replies, “I have a best friend, too, but she talks back to me and badgers me. It’s my wife.” Then we laugh, and it’s still funny when he says it the next day and the day after that. There’s the bar regulars who I know from my short stint bartending in the French Quarter, and as I pass them on the street I love that I have had the chance to know their drinks of choice, their habits and their favorite stops.

A Diverse Array of Neighborhoods

New Orleans is way more than the French Quarter. There’s 73 neighborhoods in this city. I enjoy biking along Bayou St. John, through City Park, and into Mid City and the Lafitte Greenway.

One such example is this dive pizza restaurant called JB’s Fuel Dock, located in a marina area on the south side of Lake Pontchartrain. When I went there and watched the boats cruising by and overlooked the peaceful waterways, I felt like I was in a small, relaxed port town. It’s not the New Orleans most tourists would imagine.

Safety and Security

On a normal day, it was not unusual to wake up and read the news and read about carjackings, armed robberies, and shootings. On my exercise routes, I often experienced the aftermath of crime. I rode my bike to City Park and had to bypass shattered glass on the bike lanes – glass that was all attributed to broken car windows from break-ins. One morning I went on a run in Crescent Park along the Mississippi River but was warned I should not continue down the route – as the police were removing a dead body near the River as a result of a drug overdose.

It became commonplace to carry my pepper spray, and sometimes even a taser, out on my walks, particularly when the sun went down. And most Nola residents are in agreement that this won’t change – crime is part of the city’s makeup and past as much as Mardi Gras is.

A Holey Way of Life

I’m not talking here about the holy Catholic Church, a prominent religion and faith for many residents living in the city of New Orleans.

There’s other holey things about this city. Like the potholes, which are so famous that there’s even an Instagram page called Lookatthisf*instreet with 60,000 followers. Every day new pictures are posted of all the deep potholes in and around New Orleans. In the three years we lived there, we had five flat tires. It’s a real holey mess.

There’s also some holey-ness in the form of missing gaps with the way society functions, or rather doesn’t function – kind of like a big black hole that leads you to nowhere. Like when I had to wait for 8 hours at the DMV to get my out-of-state license switched to Louisiana. Or when we received an energy bill for $900 for our two-bedroom rental that we just had to pay, even though no one could rationalize why it was 4 times the normal price. Or after Hurricane Ida, when important city services were still shut down almost two months later. Garbage wasn’t picked up, and that resulted in huge flies swarming the city. We couldn’t sit outside and eat or drink anywhere without being surrounded by them.

Always Something to Celebrate

Positively, there’s always something to celebrate, even when there is flies and trash piling up all over the city. Because when that happened, a group of people decided to throw a trash parade. They dressed up in trash bag costumes and marched to city hall with some trash – their trash in one hand and a drink in the other. That’s what New Orleanians do.

In New Orleans, you celebrate weddings and you also celebrate funerals. You have a party. You appreciate life. You live in the moment.

And that’s something all of us should be doing every day of our lives.

So, New Orleans, thank you for the experiences and the adventures over the last three years. I will appreciate every moment I had there and continue to live in the present.

And most importantly, always remember to find a reason to celebrate.

Asheville, North Carolina: A 3,400 mile journey with Barley

My History as an Asheville Resident

When I think back to the period when I lived in the city of Asheville, there were lots of highs and lots of lows.

The first time I learned about this Western North Carolina city in the mountains was in the year 2015, while we were living in the New York City area, sick of the day-to-day grind of life there and careers devoid of passion. My husband Jim wanted to pursue a career in beer so we began researching a new place to live so he could pursue that passion. Names like Portland, Denver, and San Diego were all possibilities, but Asheville ultimately stood out. It had the most breweries per capita out of anywhere in the US and it had one other advantage that determined its final placement as our number 1 spot: driving distance to our families living in the northeast.

I thought I was ready for it. For the mountains, the fresh air, and a slower paced lifestyle, and I sought out new adventures, so we moved in the summer of 2015.

Then the reality set in.

I couldn’t walk to bars, restaurants, or shops. There were no subways or light rails. When I walked out the front door, there wasn’t excitement and energy and action like I was used to the previous 12 years of my life living in cities with 8 million people.

Instead of being surrounded by people, I felt like I was now surrounded by 8 million trees. The only thing I could possibly walk to without getting in a car was a dirt trail to a hike, and I didn’t really enjoy hiking. I worried we had made a terrible mistake. But I had to make the best of it.

Fast-forward to six years later and the rewards were worth the risks. My husband secured a job at a growing brewery and we moved to a larger city, Charlotte, as he was promoted, then to an even more exciting opportunity in New Orleans where we live now.

But in Asheville, we met lifelong friends, and that in turn has given us lifelong memories. So as I planned my road trip itinerary, I decided to carve out four full days there to spend time with those friends and to reflect and reminisce about my life there while I called it home.

A Newfound Appreciation

Since I’ve lived there, the city has grown significantly. In a little less than 10 years, from the census in 2010 to the one in 2019, the city grew by almost 10,000 people. Approximately 90,000 people now live here.

Even without googling population statistics, I noticed the growth as I encountered traffic coming into town on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of summer (not even peak tourist season which is the Fall when the leaves change), and as I observed all the new construction throughout the city.

Walks & Hikes

I thoroughly enjoyed the morning walks with my dog Barley to explore various coffee shops around the neighborhood I stayed. One morning I walked along a new greenway in the River Arts District about a mile and a half to get to a coffee shop between various warehouses and art studios. The greenway is built for walkers and bikers and you can walk along the French Broad River on either side. It was a great walk, and flat, too, and this greenway did not exist when I lived here. There’s so many urban planning and design projects that are taking place throughout the city, and that makes me so excited to see.

My view of hiking has evolved significantly over the years, and during this visit, I was excited to hike and to take in the nature outside in a climate much cooler from the hot, humid, six months of summer that I now experience living in New Orleans. One afternoon my friend Natalia and I, accompanied by our two large dogs, hiked the Looking Glass Rock hike in Brevard. A 40-minute drive from Asheville, it was an almost 7-mile hike up 1,700 feet with amazing views in Pisgah National Forest.

A Laid Back Vibe

I love the relaxed feel of Asheville and the number of breweries, coffee shops, and artists workspaces. Though I’ve discovered that life in the mountains is not the best geographic fit for my tastes, I know it has a lot to offer. I understand why so many people are passionate about this lifestyle, and this stop of the road trip helped me to take in the city from a brand new perspective.

Reflecting and Reminiscing

Six years ago, I can confidently say that my husband and I never would have imagined starting a journey in Asheville that’s now led us to New Orleans, Louisiana.

This part of the road trip allowed me to take a deep breath, immerse myself in the nature and the beauty and just simply smile. I am proud of all the new ventures we’ve jumped into headfirst every step of our journey.

When we moved from Asheville five years ago, I didn’t turn my head to look back. I raced to get out. But this time, I took it all in, looking backward and forward, with a new sense of peace and fulfillment in my heart.

A 3,400 Mile Journey with Barley: Birmingham

Day 1: New Orleans, LA to Birmingham, AL. Distance: 342 miles

A long road trip seemed like the perfect idea as the world of 2020 drifted away, and with it, the ability to travel again here within the US in 2021.

My family loyally travels to Ocean City, Maryland annually, a family tradition that started about 65 years ago with my Nana and her sisters and brothers (she’s now 88 years old), and that now results in at least 40-50 relatives all descending upon the Ocean City beaches every year on the last week of June.

So with that destination in mind, I mapped out a route there, with stops along the way in Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia.

I believed the time on the road would give me a chance to get re-inspired and creative after a difficult 2020 where my creativity felt muted. Driving vs. flying is also the only option since I don’t want to leave my dog Barley, who is a constant presence by my side whether that be on long road trips or to local bars throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans where I currently live (see picture below for evidence).

Barley waiting for a treat at a bar in the French Quarter

I researched an itinerary that would be pet-friendly every step of the way. My first night, I stayed in Birmingham, Alabama at a La Quinta hotel off the highway, where I stopped at Good People Brewing Company, a brewery I love for the beer and also because they are very dog friendly both inside and outside.

I was expecting to get there and relax for awhile, sip on a beer and maybe order dinner from the food truck outside while writing and relaxing after the drive.

But I didn’t enjoy that first night of the road trip as much as I thought I would. I wondered what others thought of me as I sat there alone on a Saturday night at a small table in the corner of the taproom next to the bathrooms, with my computer open, and my dog sleeping on the floor next to me.

Just outside, a large private party was taking place, perhaps a wedding shower. There were balloons tied to every table and people were dressed semi-formally. They hugged each other in greeting and it was nice to see socializing and reconnecting and social nearness, and with it I thought about how great this all was to see. That made me smile.

My only real social interaction that night after a long drive alone came in the form of two 8-year old kids, who asked to pet Barley.

I like the freedom that road trips provide, but there’s an inherent loneliness that comes along with solo road trips. This first night it was all-consuming as I weighed my plans for dinner. I no longer wanted to have dinner out and I knew that eating dinner at my hotel room would be more peaceful and comforting. I settled on a made-to-order sandwich and soup from the Publix grocery store near to my hotel and went to bed early – to prepare for another 350 mile drive the following day.

All in all, a good day and I knew that the days following would be filled with social interaction of friends and family and so I happily savored the quietness and settled in for a good night’s sleep.