At last, the long-awaited Cain Center for the Arts officially opened on January 3, 2023. A stunning beacon in what locals refer to as OTC (Old Town Cornelius) the Cain Center is now welcoming guests for art classes, shows, and art exhibits. Some art exhibits can be viewed through the windows while walking along Catawba Avenue through Downtown Cornelius. Currently, they are featuring pieces by Jacob Pfeifer from Hot Glass Alley.
Cornelius was considered a sleepy, lake town, but the last ten years gave new life to the side of town that used to house the historic cotton mill, which gave Cornelius its name so many years ago. Fun fact: Cornelius was named after investor Joseph Benjamin Cornelius who provided funding for the cotton mill.
Many residents of the Lake Norman area have made the short trip to Charlotte to enjoy musical theatre, stunning ballet performances like the Nutcracker, and other performing arts at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Now, Cornelius seeks to rival the culturally rich experiences offered uptown in the comfort of our cozy, lakefront suburb.
Performances at Cain Center for the Arts
Without a doubt, the Cain Center offers a wide variety of entertainment great for the whole family. Upcoming performances include the country-inspired comedic stylings of Jon Reep, the magical allure of Dragons and Mythical Beasts (2022 Olivier Award nomination for Best Family Entertainment), and Martin Sexton, dubbed the “soul-marinated voice” by the Rolling Stone. You can go here to find upcoming shows at the Cain Center for the Arts.
Local Cornelius, NC Restaurants, Bars & Bottle Shops
When you make your maiden voyage to the art center, don’t forget to include local restaurants and shops in your plans. Lake Norman boasts many great restaurants to enjoy prior to shows at the Cain Center, but if you’re looking to find restaurants within walking distance, consider choosing a restaurant from this list!
Best for a Cocktail
- Thigs Cocktails: 1-minute walk, craft cocktails in a trendy, cozy spot
- Cool Fish: 5-minute walk, upbeat featuring Sake, local beers, and cocktails
- Barrel & Fork: 9-minute walk, great if you love adventurous cocktails and great bourbon
Best for Beer & Wine
- OTPH (Old Town Public House): 1-minute walk, great selection of local beer and wine, prosecco on tap, plus live music, trivia, etc. depending on the night
- Barley Market: 7-minute walk, great selection of local beer
Upscale Dinner
- Barrel & Fork: 9-minute walk, boasts a flavorful menu in a up-fitted home off of Main Street in Cornelius
Casual Dinner
- Maola’s: 3-minute walk, great for pizza and pasta
- Crafty Burg’r: 5-minute walk, great for burgers.
- Cool Fish: 5-minute walk, highly recommend Sashimi Poke Bowl or the Sushi Burrito (for something out of the ordinary)
Best Place to Live
Undoubtedly, Lake Norman is blossoming into a suburb straight out of a fantasy novel. Current residents know the not-so-hidden gem that they’ve encountered. To those of you considering where to plant, your roots, consider Lake Norman. Did you know that Charlotte recently made Zillow’s Top 10 List for Hottest Housing Marketing in 2022? Additionally, our very own Huntersville zip code 28078 was recently ranked the number one zip code in Charlotte by Axios!
The housing market reflects just how popular this area has become. If you’re looking for a place to call home this year, look no further than the Lake Norman area! If you’re looking to sell, go here to fill out this form so that I can provide you with a market analysis and let you know what your home is worth. Or, you can go here to look at homes for sale in the Lake Norman area. Feel free to text or call me at 704-654-9305 when you have any real estate questions. I’m here to help!
