Online streaming of anime shows has evolved over the last few years thanks to Netflix and Hulu. The library of shows to watch on both platforms is incredible in both quality and quantity. In the past, the only legitimate way to watch new Japanese anime shows was to wait for them to either air on American television or release on DVD. Thankfully, Netflix and Hulu have helped to bridge this gap for American audiences. One fact worth noting is that each streaming platform offers a differentiated assortment of shows. ![]() Netflix Differentiation The quality of shows on Netflix is amazing. The streaming service offers fantastic shows such as Full Metal Alchemist, Gurren Lagann, and Soul Eater (a great choice for Halloween binge watching). You could spend many days watching highly rated shows. Netflix also offers exclusive shows and original anime content. Devilman Crybaby is an example of an original anime show on Netflix. In addition, Netflix has exclusivity distribution rights for a few shows. Some of the better Netflix exclusive shows are Knights of Sidonia and Ajin: Demi-Human. The only complaint with Netflix's offering of shows is the lack of newer episodes available. If you want to see new episodes of popular anime shows, you need to look else where. ![]() Hulu Differentiation The major benefit of using Hulu is to watch the latest episodes of your favorite anime shows. Hulu does an amazing job airing new episodes of popular anime shows like My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan. Hulu is able to simultaneously release weekly episodes as they air in Japan. Adding shows to your watch list will allow new show notifications to appear. Beyond new shows, Hulu offers a generous catalog of great shows from past and present. The amazing Hunter X Hunter and Cowboy Bebop are just two examples of Hulu's premier shows available. It is hard to find weakness in Hulu's anime offerings. There are anime shows available on both Netflix and Hulu. For example, One Punch Man has been available on both platforms. You may not miss out on some shows by only having access to one streaming service. If you were to have to choose between Netflix and Hulu, it would be hard not to recommend Hulu as the service of choice. With access to new weekly content and a huge catalog of past shows, Hulu comes out ahead of Netflix. However, you should get Netflix if you are interested in some of their exclusive shows and other shows not available currently on Hulu. Either way, it is a great time to be an anime fan with so much content included with an inexpensive monthly subscription. I had the opportunity to take out-of-town guests to Bang Bang Burgers in Charlotte's Southend neighborhood. The Southend location opened in March of 2018. The original Bang Bang Burgers restaurant is located in Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood. Both locations are open 11am to 10pm daily. The signature dishes at Bang Bang Burgers are their double patty gourmet burgers. A great burger starts with its ingredients. Bang Bang Burgers uses artisan breads and quality meat to craft multiple burger options. They also have a few non-beef sandwich options as well as salad bowls. Their burgers and sandwiches come a-la-cart with optional sides such as fries and onion rings. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I would have to agree that the photograph of the Seoul 2.0 with fries speaks for itself. This delicious burger option comes with a beef patty, pork belly, burger toppings, and a spicy mayo sauce. The french fries are also very good and a recommended add-on. For those interested in something with less calories, Bang Bang Burgers offers a few different salad bowl options. The one pictured below is a Salmon Bowl. I was informed that the quality and taste was great. When it comes to beverages, Bang Bang Burger offers non-alcoholic fountain beverages and craft beer. I was pleasantly surprised to see local craft beer available on draft. The prices were reasonable for food and drinks considering the quality of food served. There is a side room for people to gather and a nice front porch for outside seating. My guests enjoyed Bang Bang Burgers for lunch and would definitely return again. I recommend you visit Bang Bang Burgers on your next Southend adventure for a casual and tasty meal.
The AvidXchange Music Factory is an entertainment venue near Uptown Charlotte. There are multiple bars, restaurants, clubs, and concert venues located in one complex. World is one of the nightlife clubs at the Music Factory open on the weekends. The club focuses on hosting Electronic Dance Music concerts and other related events. I had the opportunity to visit World recently for a weekend EDM show featuring Tritonal. I have been to the nightclub before when it was known as Label. New management took over the nightclub last year and made improvements in security and customer experience. Many of the events held at World are EDM concerts. You can except fast-paced music, flashing lights, confetti, and other visual effects. The opening act typically starts between 10 and 11 p.m. with the main act coming on around midnight. The concert usually ends around 2 a.m. There are three types of tickets available for shows. General admission tickets give you access to the floor space of the venue with bars on either side and bathrooms behind the stage. These tickets are the least expensive option with prices varying by show. You should expect to spend $20-40 for a general admission ticket. Prices vary depending on the popularity of the artist. The next level of ticket available is for the VIP area. This area is above the floor space on the right-hand side of the venue. You get a bird's eye view of the concert along with a separate bar and bathroom just for VIP ticket holders. These tickets range from $10-30 more than a general admission ticket. The third option to attend a show is to buy a service table service for a group of people. This is much more expensive than a normal ticket, but it does include alcohol, mixers, a private seating area, and table service for your group. It is common to see people celebrating a birthday or special event when purchasing a table service package. Over time I have purchased floor and VIP tickets depending on the artist and pricing. I almost always buy a VIP ticket because it is less crowded and a better view of the show. However, you do not get the same vibe from the crowd and have much less space to move around in the VIP. The floor space is a better option for those that want to jump, dance, and be fully immersed in the show. World is one of the more intimate venues I have been in to see popular EDM artists like Hardwell, Blau, and Borgeous. The size of the venue allows you to always have a good view of the artists and visual effects. I am thankful to have a concert venue in Charlotte that brings my favorite EDM artists to town.
I spent the last weekend in uptown Charlotte with friends and family. Many of us visited the 7th Public Street Market for lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The market is a great location for reasonably priced food and beverages while in uptown. There are two shops at the market that sell local crafts and wine in case you want to shop a bit. A light rail station sits conveniently outside the building for quick and easy access to Charlotte. Out of the 13 vendors inside the market, my personal favorite is Bonsai Fusion. Bonsai Fusion sells sushi, poke bonsai, and bonsai burritos. The poke bonsai are similar to a poke bowl you would order at other restaurants. Each poke bonsai is priced at $8.50 for a small and $14.50 for a large. Bonsai burritos are basically a poke bowl with sushi rice wrapped inside a tortilla. The Chop Chop, pictured below, includes sashimi fish, carrots, lettuce, jalapeno, beets, and spicy mayo. I also like to add soy sauce to the wrap as I eat it. Each burrito is $11.00 and come in various configurations. The 7th Street Public Market is open daily with varied weekend hours. If you are planning to drive, you can get parking validated for the first 90 minutes with any purchase. Just make sure you park in the 7th Street Parking Garage. I hope you give Bonsai Fusion a try during your next trip to Uptown Charlotte. |
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