Where should this family live?

In yesterday's column, I wrote about Julia Allen, a Carolinas native who happens to be a Charlotte newcomer. While Allen, a vice president at Discovery Place uptown, is working here, she's not living here yet. She's commuting from Hickory until her family can relocate. It gives her time to get to know the area and where she and her family would like to live, Allen, 35, said.

I asked readers to suggest where in the area Allen and her family should consider calling their new home. I should have clarified that I wanted residents only, not home builders, Realtors, developers, etc. I got a few of those self-promotional pitches and just one, so far, from a resident suggesting her neighborhood.

Here's what Susan Wilkie-McHale:
"The Allen family should definitely take a look at the Cramer Mountain Properties. Just in the last month, three new homes have come up for sale, and they are incredible well priced properties. I work on Park Road, and a drive down Billy Graham Pkwy. Only takes about 35 minutes every morning. The school system here is great, the neighbors are awesome, and Cramer Mountain is definitely a safe haven for children."

If you would like to suggest the neighborhood or community you live in, please post it here. Thanks!

Calling on moms

In addition to my Living Here duties, I occasionally review children's books. And today I want to hear from moms who love Madeline.

The first Madeline book in 50 years just hit store shelves. In honor of the event, I'd like to hear from moms about their favorite Madeline book or simply why they -- or their young daughters -- love her. Please e-mail your responses by Saturday to abaldwin@charlotteobserver.com. Don't forget to include your name and daytime phone number. Thanks!

Sneezing your head off? Figures.

Are you sneezing your head off as we head into fall? Or are your eyes watering and pooling like lakes?

That figures. The Carolinas are hard on allergy sufferers, according to the 2008 Fall Allergy Capitals list -- produced by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and sponsored by allergy med ZYRTEC -- released today. Three of the top 5 allergy capitals are in the Carolinas.

That top 5:
1. Greensboro, N.C.
2. Greenville, S.C.
3. Little Rock, Ark.
4. Raleigh-Durham
5. Jackson, Miss.

Charlotte ranked 20th.

For a full list of Fall Energy Capitals or tips on managing allergies, go to www.allergysavvy.com.

On Tuesday, check out the Observer's Health section for an article by my colleague Karen Garloch on acupuncture for treating allergies.

Now for a question: How are your allergies here compared with other cities you've lived in?

A Cultural Free for All

In my last post, I mentioned some cheap or free stuff around town that my family has enjoyed recently.

Dig that? Well, there's more. During the month of September the Arts & Science Council is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a Cultural Free for All. Throughout the month there are free arts, science, heritage and history events. You can catch free concerts or shows or even take free dance lessons.

For a complete list of events, click here.

What's up, readers?

I'm back.

Actually, I never went anywhere. Just took a six-week hiatus from the blog while wrapping up production of Living Here magazine. Please look for this 168-page guide to life in the Charlotte region in your Observer on Sunday, Sept. 28.

When I wasn't working on the magazine I was hanging out with my husband and toddler daughter. We found lots of free or cheap stuff to do around here. Thought I'd share.

In July, we went to two free kiddie rock concerts at ImaginOn, the big children's library in First Ward uptown. The annual summer series is called the Tricycle Music Fest. We had a blast watching Lucy and the other kids get their groove on. We're just sorry we were out of town for the first of the three acts -- They Might Be Giants (who I saw as a college freshman but apparently do just kid stuff now). For more info on ImaginOn and its programs go to www.imaginon.org.

Earlier this month, we went to the McDowell Nature Center and Preserve in southwestern Mecklenburg County. The center was just wrapping up a nature talk but a nice park ranger gave us an impromptu lesson on their resident snakes and turtles. Lucy touched a turtle and within a few days "turtle" was one of her new words. The center charges $3 a car for Mecklenburg residents and $5 a car for non-residents. For more info on this and other nature preserves, go to www.parkandrec.com and click on Nature Preserves.

Finally, last Friday the three of us went to the Lazy 5 Ranch, the privately-owned exotic animal drive thru park in Mooresville. Along the 3.5 mile drive, the ranch promises you will see more than 750 animals from six continents. Wild bison, lemurs, zebras, llamas, ostriches, camels, giraffes, wild pigs. You can feed many of them, but the zebras are one exception. (If you want to feed the animals, you have to purchase a bucket of feed -- $3, I think -- at the front gate.)

You can take a horse-drawn wagon tour or drive your own car. We opted to go in our own car because we were worried about being able to contain our 20-month old on an open-air wagon. Smart move. I'm not sure Lucy would have done well on the wagon with animals nosing their way into her personal space. She was a bit suspect when the large animals approached the car. She got wide-eyed and waved and said "bye bye" to them. That's kid talk for "Back away from the car you crazy llama." Admission is $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for kids ages two to 11. Add $3 for the wagon. Children under two are free. For more info or to make wagon reservations: www.lazyfiveranch.com.

So what fun things have you been doing in and around Charlotte?

Best Places to Live in the U.S.

Money magazine has published its 10 best U.S. cities to live. Spoiler: Charlotte did not make the cut.

At the very top: Plymouth, Minn. (population 70,100). Click here to read about Plymouth and the nine other best cities.

Have you ever lived in one of Money's best cities? Did it deserve such honors?

While you're at it, tell me what you like best and least about Charlotte. And, please, be nice. You can make your point without obscenities or turning this into a mean-spiritied (and off topic) North-South debate. Thank you very much.

Mecklenburgers first in independence?

Local history goes that Mecklenburgers have long had an independent streak and a history of being trend setters. Case in point: The area's rebellious Presbyterians settlers declared their independence from Britain more than an year ahead of the nation -- on May 10, 1775.

Of course, not everyone believes the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence really happened or that Thomas Jefferson borrowed from it in writing the version we as a country celebrate tomorrow.

But George Will lends credence to MecDec in a column in today's The Washington Post and The Charlotte Observer. Click here to read it. I like how Will starts off:

"The impatient patriots here had splendidly short fuses in 1775. Those who tilled the startlingly red clay or who lived in the town named for George III's wife, Charlotte, might have been bemused had they foreseen the annual hoopla that commemorates July 4, 1776."

So do you believe in MecDec or is it a bunch of hooey?