Shana Hannibal

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This is my second time attending ATL Carnival. My first one, which was my first time at carnival all together, was 2018. I became instantly addicted. It’s an expensive hobby, but the experience and friendships you develop are priceless. Being that I’ve given the history of carnival in a previous post, I won’t go down…

by Shana Hannibal May 28, 2023May 30, 2023

Adventure

N2DEEP Rodeo 2023

Each year, the saddle club N2DEEP hosts a rodeo in Boiling Springs, right outside of Shelby, NC. The event lasts Thursday to Sunday. However, if you just want to see the actual rodeo, you can go up on Saturday afternoon. After the rodeo, there’s a line dance party. If you’d like to join us in…

by Shana Hannibal May 21, 2023

Life

Things to do in Charlotte with Kids

As a teacher, I have plenty of time on my hands to spend with my kids. This is probably the single most important reason I stay in education. We only have 936 Saturdays with our kids, so I cherish those long summer days. However, sometimes, we tend to get fed up with each other because…

by Shana Hannibal May 18, 2023

Adventure

Dating on the Cheap: Charlotte Edition

*No one paid to be featured in this blog. However, if you’d like your business to be featured, please contact me for additional details. Dating in Charlotte for me was a challenge at first. By dating, I mean finding things for me and my significant other to do. We are from Charleston, where everything is…

by Shana Hannibal May 9, 2023

Life

Queen’s Cup Steeplechase

The 26th Annual Queen’s Cup Steeplechase, took place in Mineral Springs, NC, benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association. This horse and dog race takes place the last Saturday of April and is attended by thousands of people. Similar to the Kentucky Derby, people dress up, wear unique hats, and make bets on horses and cute doggies. Grab…

by Shana Hannibal April 30, 2023April 30, 2023

Adventure

5 Things to do on a Long Layover

Have you ever had an extended stay at the airport? Y’all, my trip to and from Jamaica was craziness. Long layovers and missed connections. So, first of all, if you ever try to book a flight for a carnival, please save up. It’s super expensive. Therefore, I tried to find the cheapest way to get…

by Shana Hannibal April 26, 2023

Adventure

Jamaica Carnival

Taking place in April, Jamaica boasts one of the largest carnivals after Trinidad and Caribana (Toronto Carnival). This year, 2023, was the first carnival following the pandemic. And, it was amazing, if I do say so myself.If you plan to go, please schedule your accommodations months in advance and go with a band that has…

by Shana Hannibal April 17, 2023

Table of Contents:

Girls’ Day in the City

Peace that Surpasses All Understanding

Girls’ Trip

Writing My first Book

Kareem

My UTI Saved My Life

ATL Carnival – Shana Hannibal on We On Da RoadMay 28, 2023
[…] that I’ve given the history of carnival in a previous post, I won’t go down that road. So, I’ll…
Dating on the Cheap: Charlotte Edition – Shana Hannibal on Best Group Fitness Programs CLT EditionMay 9, 2023
[…] classes: If your date is anything like me, I love a good fitness class. See previous post. There are…
Dating on the Cheap: Charlotte Edition – Shana Hannibal on CLT Farmer’s MarketsMay 9, 2023
[…] market: Charlotte has a ton to choose from. See previous post. You can take your boo and grab some…
Shana Hannibal on Day Trip: DCApril 27, 2023
Thx…you definitely should!
Shana Hannibal on 5 Things to do on a Long LayoverApril 27, 2023
I agree. The pass isn’t super expensive.

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ATL Carnival

Being that I’ve given the history of carnival in a previous post, I won’t go down that road. So, I’ll just list the events by the day. Also, you can check video footage on my YouTube page. Make sure to follow the ATL Carnival page for events and updates.

Day 1

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Perimeter- perfect location, price, and everything. Highly recommend!

Fetes:

Release: hosted by Release entertainment. This party was lit. It was pool party with live djs and performances by soca artists. Hypasounds and Motto were the big acts. There was a foam pit as well. Even though it started over 2 hours late, I highly recommend.

Atlanta Jouvert: this was actually more of a concert. It was hosted by Majah Hype. But to be honest, he looked like he didn’t want to be there. It was love djs from 9pm to 3am. Bonnie was the first to come out, then Bunji. The sound system kept having issues and people barely danced. This party’s only saving grace was Bunji. I wouldn’t recommend.

Day 2

Parade and Village: This took place at Westside Park. The parade was over four miles long, and was comprised of nearly 8 bands. The parade started an hour late. Madd colors and Entice was probably the most lit.

The village was perfect. There were fabulous vendors and food from all over the world. Ample porta potties. I was able to get close to the stage and enjoy acts like Motto, Skinny Fabulous, and Allison Hinds. I would recommend you buy your ticket early though. I bought it online months ago for $20. At the gate, it was nearly $50.

Day 3

Fetes:

Overproof Brunch- the $20 admission only covered admission. You still had to buy your own food and drinks. I wouldn’t suggest this event in the future. But the hostess was super sweet about everything.

Colorgasm: I definitely recommend this fete. The event took place in the middle of the field in the middle of nowhere, but it was definitely vibes. People were chill and dancing. My only suggestion is for them to have more food and drink vendors. Those lines took forever. Or, perhaps make this a cooler fete so we can bring our own drinks.

Day 4

SSS Red: this was the best way to end our carnival weekend. It’s similar to jouvert, except the only color is red and there’s only one truck. We danced and sang. We ran into celebrity djs and Soca artists. My car was completely red on the inside when we left. In the future, I’ll pack plastic covers for my seats. I’d rate this 9/10.

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N2DEEP Rodeo 2023

Queens of Charlotte

If you’d like to join us in our adventures in NC, make sure to check us out on Facebook.

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Things to do in Charlotte with Kids

Ray’s Splash Planet: Located in uptown Charlotte, this indoor water park boasts several water slides and a lazy river. The prices are super affordable and you can stay a very long time. This is fun for all ages. They also allow birthday parties!
Dan Nicholas Park: Nearly an hour outside of Charlotte, Dan Nicholas Park is home to a campground, lake, carousel, train, gem mine, aquarium and nature center, and animal habitats. You can easily spend an entire day here. You can either pack a lunch or buy one on site.
Picnic in the park: There are several cool parks here in Charlotte. My favorites for picnics are Romare Bearden, Elizabeth, Freedom, Independence, and Hornet’s Nest. During the week, there are less people at the park. This makes it nice and peaceful. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can barely breathe due to the sheer volume of people everywhere.

Splash pads: Does your little one love to run through water? There are several splash pads located all over Charlotte. If you go during the week, there are usually daycares or preschool kids there that they can play with. Splash pads are located at Romare Bearden park, First Ward Park, Latta Park, and Nevin Community Park.
City swimming pool: There are a few options for pools to visit in the city. There are cheap and pricey options. For a charge, you can visit Coin Bar or rent a cabana at JW Marriott. Cabanas can hold 5 or more people and have food and drink options. Double Oaks and Cordelia Pool are available through parks and recs; the fee is only $2 per person.
Outdoor Movies: many shopping centers like River Gate in Steele Creek or StoneCrest in Ballantyne offer free movies over the summer. However, my favorite location is Camp North End because of its location and food options.

Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi on Pexels.com

Movie Theater: Over the summer, most movie theaters offer free or heavily discounted options for families. Ayrsley Grand and PNC Pineville have weekly options for kids. They typically show older movies (from last summer). Make sure to arrive early to get a good seat because summer camps and daycares usually bring their kids too. For current movies, you can go on the off days and pay the matinee price. The best thing is, there are less people there.
Parks and Rec: we have, hands down, the best city sponsored programming around. Through Charmeck Parks and Recs, you can do pretty much anything at a discounted price. They offer group hiking, biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, animal classes, fishing, or camping opportunities for kids and adults. Most things cost $20 or less.
Imaginon: One thing my kids must do each summer is take a train ride up to the library uptown. They have story time daily, and there are several activities they can participate in. Sometimes, they even have plays where teens perform. If you can’t make Imaginon, the other libraries around the city have things too. Make sure to check their websites for storytime, puppy visits, and to check out books.
Nascar Museum: Is your little one a fan of fast cars? This museum is dope because it goes through the history of Nascar. There are literally pieces of the original track on display. You can touch it. They play a video of the original races. And a plus, there’s a restaurant right beside it, so you can have lunch after your visit.

Beach: Don’t want to drive to Charleston or Myrtle, you can visit a lake beach right here. You have two options: Lake Lure is about an hour or so away. Or, you can visit Lake Norman. You simply pay a small parking fee and enjoy your day. Make sure to pack a picnic and beach toys.
Whitewater Center: The Whitewater Center is great for families that like to go outside. There’s yoga, hiking, an obstacle course, biking, and rock climbing. There are also water activities. In the winter, there is ice skating (I know it’s summer, but you should know).
Discovery Place: There are about four different discovery place museums in Charlotte. One in Huntersville, two Uptown Charlotte, and one in South Park. Each features different things. One focuses on nature and science. One focuses on technology. The one in Huntersville is more focused on preschool activities relating to community careers.

I would normally suggest the airport overlook, but it is under construction right now. So, it’s closed. What places do you like to visit with your kids over the summer?

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Dating on the Cheap: Charlotte Edition

*No one paid to be featured in this blog. However, if you’d like your business to be featured, please contact me for additional details.

Dating in Charlotte for me was a challenge at first. By dating, I mean finding things for me and my significant other to do. We are from Charleston, where everything is romantic. The other day, we reminisced about bike riding in James Island County Park and walking down the battery at night. The cool breeze and whispering sweet things to each other. I turned to him and said, “You know what? You inspired me to research date night ideas similar to what we broke college kids use to do.” So, without further ado, here you are. $ means it’s free or super cheap. $$ means there’s a cost involved.

Hike or Bike: In Charlotte, there are several greenways embedded in the city. I have two favorites. One in Pineville near the Carolina Place Mall and one in the South Park area near Freedom Park. For more information, check out the CharMeck Parks and Rec website. If you’d prefer more of a challenge, there are also mountains you can hike nearby. My go-to is Crowders Mountain right outside the city. It takes about 30 minutes to get there. Or, you can hike to the waterfall at Rocky Creek Trail near Chester, SC. The rapids are absolutely stunning. $

Farmer’s market: Charlotte has a ton to choose from. See previous post. You can take your boo and grab some beautiful flowers or buy some fresh food to cook later. I also like the unique desserts and fruit available. Camp Northend’s market is on Wednesdays, while all the others are on Saturday morning. Grab your coffee and peruse at a snail’s pace. $
Airport overlook: Have you ever watched planes take off? Perhaps this is only romantic to me because of how much I love traveling. If you guys own a pick-up truck, sit on the back with some blankets, pillows, and a glass of adult drinks and watch the planes take off. Maybe you can plan your future adventures together. If you don’t have a truck, you can always pack a blanket and have a picnic. There are a few benches and tables out there, but that’s less romantic in my opinion. $
Outdoor movies: Each year in the city, there are several neighborhoods that offer movies in the park or at night. My absolute favorite is Camp Northend. On Thursday nights, they play a variety of throwback movies near the Ford building. You can either pack your own food and drinks, or you can purchase some from their vendors. It gets crowded, so come early. $
Park picnic: You can do so much with a park date. Charlotte has some of the prettiest parks. My favorites are Freedom, Independence, and Fourth Ward. You can pack a picnic. Or, you can bring some canvases, some paint, and some wine for a paint and sip in the park. $
Food Truck Friday: Now, technically, it’s free to attend. But, you will have to spend money. FTF takes place once a month in West Trade Complex. There are food vendors, as well as other material goods. You can find unique gifts like special soaps, candles, books, body butters, etc. There’s a dj and it’s a beautiful ambiance. $$
Local festivals: Charlotte and the surrounding areas are full of festivals. We have Festival in the Park twice a year. It’s an art showcase in Freedom park. We have the Charlotte Caribbean festival, Hola Fest, and the Durag Fest. Most street festivals are either free or really cheap. But, again, you will need money to buy things because it’s super cute and it benefits local vendors and small businesses. $$
Fitness classes: If your date is anything like me, I love a good fitness class. See previous post. There are a few new ones too. There’s a line dancing class at Tuckaseegee Rec Center each Tuesday at 6 and there’s rooftop yoga at Harvey B. Gantt at 12:30 on Sundays. Most classes are either free or under $15 per person. $$
Art Walk: Enjoy murals and other forms of art around the city with a guide or by yourself. You can download the self guided tour or you can book a tour with Art Walk CLT on eventbrite. This is completely free and absolutely amazing. You’ll get to learn all the behind the scenes info on the artists and their inspirations. I personally prefer the guided tours because they bring the artists with them! $
Music in the park: Everyone loves music. Why not listen for free? There are several opportunities for free music in the park in Charlotte. The most notable is South Park after 5 on Thursdays. Summer Pops is at Symphony park and Camp Northend has music on Friday nights. Each week offers a variety of genres and performances.
Poetry Slam: Have an artsy date? Poetry is top tier. You can either visit local poets at Red @ 28 on Wednesday nights ($5) or you can visit Starlight for free. Or, you can follow ASC for their poetry slams that happen throughout the year. It will definitely have you in your feelings. Perhaps in a good way. $$
Museum: We have some of the best museums. Harvey B Gantt has at least one free event each week. I believe the Mint Museum Randolph is free on Wednesdays. Many of the other museums offer free visits periodically, as well. And, if you’re a Bank of America customer, you get to visit a museum (Mint Museum, Bechtler, Museum of the New South) for free each month. Visit their websites for more details. $
Matinee at the movies: Matinees are great because they are cheaper, it’s less people there, and you won’t have to worry about the awkward moment at the end of the night. You can see a movie then catch dinner or go somewhere else. Matinees in Charlotte are typically less than $10 per person. But, the food costs…yikes. And you definitely don’t want to pack a sneak meal on your first date. $$
Church: we have a plethora of large churches here in Charlotte. Are you trying to woo her over? Show her that you’re well rounded. And, if you’re lucky, some serve dinner after service. Plus, you may find a church home in the process. Win win! $
Panthers Training Camp: is your person into sports? You can watch the Panthers train for free at their training camp on the campus of Wofford the last few weeks of summer. Just make sure to pack a cooler with food and drinks. It gets hot out there. At the end, you get to meet the players and you could get their autographs. $
Volunteer: want to see if your potential mate has a good heart? Try volunteering around the city. There are a ton of organizations who could use your help. You can volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House or you can feed the unhoused with Block Love CLT. Block Love has volunteer opportunities nearly each day of the week. $
Beach: I know what you’re thinking. The closest beach is 3 hours away. Well, you’re in luck. We have a “beach” nearby in Lake Norman. It’s much smaller than a traditional beach, but it’s close by and you only pay for parking. Pack a picnic and spend the day learning about your date. $$

Did you like these options? Share with your friends!

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Queen’s Cup Steeplechase

For video footage, follow me on Youtube or Tiktok 🙂

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5 Things to do on a Long Layover

Have you ever had an extended stay at the airport?

Y’all, my trip to and from Jamaica was craziness. Long layovers and missed connections. So, first of all, if you ever try to book a flight for a carnival, please save up. It’s super expensive. Therefore, I tried to find the cheapest way to get there. I booked my flight out of RDU, because CLT’s prices are insane. I got a decent price, but it came with a layover both ways. Which sucks.

So, I drove up to RDU shortly after midnight to find parking and to ensure I didn’t induce a panic attack before my flight. I get anxious with the unknown. The morning went fine. I parked, got through TSA (if you watched my Youtube video you’d see that I got pulled in the security line up for my bag and a strip search). Any who, I made it to my flight on time and everything went smoothly.

Then, I landed in Miami and realized I would be there for nearly 5 hours before my connection. It wasn’t quite enough time to leave the airport. I had to find ways to burn time. So, I did! And, here’s what you can do to burn time if you have a long layover at the airport.

Work: If you’re super busy like me, you can use this time to catch up on things you’ve been meaning to do. I wrote a blog. I scheduled some payments that I was late on. I organized my pictures and videos on my phone. I deleted old menus from my files. Overall, I just needed some organization in my life. So, I used that time to do that.
People/Plane Watch: I find it the most amusing to watch people in the airport. Everyone has strange nuances that are on display. It’s interesting. I like to watch people run to catch flights. Or people looking around confused. I also love to watch the tiny doggies hustling through the airport. Plane take offs and landings are fun too. Especially when the svelte pilots come strolling down the jetway.
Airport Lounges: When you visit different airports, you typically walk past a cool room and see people inside chilling. Those are membership lounges. Some are offered with certain credit cards, some you can pay to enter. Or, you can buy memberships for them. One I’m considering getting is the Priority Pass. With this pass, you have access to lounges in Canada, the US, and the Caribbean. This pass starts out at $70 each year. It allows you to relax, get something to eat, and some have pools.
Eat/Drink: Each terminal has different restaurant and bar options. I’d recommend going online ahead of time to see which places you’d like to hit. Depending on where you’re going, there may be different cultural options. For instance, I make it a point to get empanadas if I get stuck at Miami’s airport. There are always tons of bars. Grab a drink to take the edge off.
Explore the city: Now, you can only do this one if you have more than 4 hours to spare. If you have less than 4 to 5 hours, I wouldn’t recommend leaving. Some people actually schedule layovers in certain areas on purpose, to have time to explore the city. You can leave your checked bag floating in airport space while you visit restaurants, spas, or museums.

Bonus

Explore the airport: Each airport has something different to offer. Vegas has like a mini casino in theirs. Miami and Chicago have tons of cool artwork all around the airport. Destin has miniature airplane displays. LGA has a light and water show feature in the middle of their airport. Atlanta has drug dogs. It’s all so much fun. Just kidding ATL.

Hope you enjoyed this! What other topics would you like to read about?

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Jamaica Carnival

Taking place in April, Jamaica boasts one of the largest carnivals after Trinidad and Caribana (Toronto Carnival).

This year, 2023, was the first carnival following the pandemic. And, it was amazing, if I do say so myself.If you plan to go, please schedule your accommodations months in advance and go with a band that has a great reputation.

They have Uber, so you won’t have to worry about transportation. I stayed at Pegasus. It was simply amazing. A breakfast buffet is included free with your room. There’s a spa and large pool. This hotel has a 24 hour restaurant and there’s also a bar at night. By the way, most of the soca artists stayed there.

So, I saw quite a few. For footage, check out my YouTube and TikTok channels.

There used to be two carnivals in Jamaica before the pandemic. It has now combined and takes place in Kingston.

At first, I was hesitant. Previous conversations among friends were negative towards Kingston. Many referenced the movie Shottas. So, needless to say, I had pause. But, I went anyway because you know what? Stuff happens everywhere. Heck, watch the news in Charlotte.

I stayed for four delightful days. I played mas (joined the band, dressed up in costume) with Gen X. This, hands down, was the best decision ever. The costumes were beautiful and well put together. The delivery was on time. They constantly gave us food and drinks. Mas camp for lunch break had music, massages, tons of free food and drinks, and plenty of photo opps. I’ve decided to not shade other bands. I’m sure you’ll see the comments posted online.

I’ve been to several carnivals, so I had a general idea of how it would go. I absolutely loved jouvert (paint/powder party). This was the best jouvert I ever attended. The fete (party) started at 2am and ended around 9am. The most beautiful part was dancing and watching the sunrise…especially when you’re with your friends. Food and drinks were also included (Gen X). At the end, there was a performance by Problem Child.

With carnival, there are always tons of fetes. You must get with your crew and decide which ones you want to attend. Those can add up though. From what I hear, Jamaica’s fetes were not as expensive as Trinidad.

The parade took place on Sunday and we had a ball! The total route was 5 miles long! If you plan to go, please do tons of cardio to help you prepare. The trucks here are way faster than Miami. We had to practically run at certain parts. They aren’t strict about stormers (non mas players that walk with the band) as New York. We danced and laughed and had a great time! I met Omarion and Winnie Harlow.

Overall, I’d give this carnival a 9/10. The only reason I deducted a point was because of the lack of real addresses and because of the speed of the trucks. We were confused a few times and thought we were lost.I’m putting together a group for Miami Carnival in the fall. Complete the form if you’re interested.

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Starting Over

OMG! Y’all! This past weekend, I was in DC with my family for spring break. You wouldn’t believe what happened to me.

I woke up Saturday morning to an alert from FB that my account was suspended due to recent posts that violated their guidelines. I was shocked because I never post anything inappropriate. So, I attempted to login and it prompted me to verify my account. I attempted to verify my account fifty million times and kept getting booted out. The one time I could get in, I saw Arabic writing all over my page. My heart sank.

Immediately, I began receiving texts from my friends asking if I had been hacked or something. Yes, friends, I was. After several attempts, FB stated that my account would be disabled due to the amount of attempts to get in. Understandable. The only concern I have is when it becomes available again, will they come back [the hackers].

I could not bring myself to cry, but my stomach was all messed up. I couldn’t really enjoy my trip or eat because my nerves were so bad. After three days of no success getting back in, I gave up and decided to create a new page.

My biggest concerns are/were:
Will my friends believe it’s actually me?
Will I regain access to the group I started, which has over 1K people?

There were two positives that came out of all of this. One, I still had access to my IG account and Tiktok. I’m so thankful I did not link them together. That would have been a nightmare, indeed. Two, at least I learned a valuable lesson. Please update your passwords periodically and if there is a two step verification process available, go ahead and set that up. Also, make sure you have your friends’ phone numbers, so you don’t lose them in the process.

Update: I created a new account. Then, magically, a few weeks later I was able to get back into my account. I had to upload my ID to FB to verify it was me. Then, I deleted all the gun pics my hacker posted. Craziness 🤣

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Caribana 2023

Caribana aka Toronto Caribbean Carnival takes place August 3rd – August 7th in Downtown Toronto, Canada. Join me as I fete and take over da road! Below are my featured fetes. Catch me outside! For more fete ideas, check out my sponsor!

Our Favorite Fetes

Post sponsored by Toronto Caribana

Reggae vs Soca on the Lake

I Love Soca

Euphoria Wild Water Kingdom

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Steal My Itinerary: Gatlinburg, TN

A group of girls and I decided to plan a trip to Gatlinburg. Now, if you’re my true friend, you know that the last time I went, it was mediocre. I think I figured out why. The key to enjoying Gatlinburg is to rent a cabin. A hotel just doesn’t hit the same spot.

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So, we schlepped up the mountains and enjoyed a beautifully warm cabin. The cabin is called Cloud 9 and sits at the top of the mountain. It has 7 or 8 beds, three levels, home movie theater, pool table, and jacuzzi. Two fire places and indescribable views. About 10 of us stayed and we had a time!

The best part of the trip was watching the sunrise with my homies. We all huddled together in front of the window, waiting for pink and yellow footprints to dot the sky. The funny thing about being in nature like this is, it makes you reflective. You think about true connections and aspirations.

Funny side note: there really are black bears roaming the mountains, so be careful.