Food Street

When trying to figure out what will be going on at any uptown event, you need only to check for one detail. What type of currency will be accepted?

At Speed Street, for instance, it was straight cash, all combinations of pocket change encouraged. And we all know what happened there. Alive After Five, meanwhile, makes you stand in one line to purchase tickets, then get in another to purchase alcohol with those tickets. Mind-boggling, I know, but it sends a message. A message that says, "We're so fancy, we invent our own money. Welcome to Yup-Town. Now please go wait in another line."

This weekend, there's a festival called "Taste of Charlotte" taking over center city. Some information here and here and here. I've never been to it. But I just checked out the Web site. The first link along the left side: "coins." Description from the site:

"Coins are used to purchase food samples, beer, wine, soft drinks & water!"

You can even pre-order them online. They come in "cups," priced in intervals of $20 at first, then $100. No telling how many coins the food will cost. Be careful how many you buy. Their refund policy reads, "If you have unused coins, you can bring them back & use them next year!"

This should be Yup-Town on steroids. Enjoy.

Speaking of yuppie spectaculars, this could get interesting.