I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember moving to Chicago. This is North Carolina, people. The South. Home of two seasons. Summer and late-summer. This cold stuff has got to go! Five snow storms in one year!?! Global warming, huh?

The good news is this — whenever spring does decide to show up, people are going to go insane. Last weekend, we had a high just south of 60 degrees and people broke out the shorts and tank-tops. Everyone is practically willing warm weather to get here. When it gets warm, there will be lots of options for those looking to thaw out. So, sit back, zip up that ski jacket and just think about what’s ahead. Imagine if you will:

* Big time concerts at Verizon Wireless – Outside, outside, outside. Seeing big acts are ALWAYS better outdoors. Watchin’ Buffett in an arena just ain’t the same.

* The lawn at Verizon – yes, it gets its own category. That’s right, the return of $10 beers and hoping a massive thunderstorm doesn’t hit the night of your favorite show. What’s better than being outside, listening to some mega-act(s), spending half your paycheck to do so, and all the while hoping you don’t get puked and/or peed on and trying not to get struck by lightning all at once? Hey, it’s better than be stuck inside when its 6 degrees out with nothing to do but watch Celebrity Rehab reruns.

* Live music on the patio – any patio, any restaurant, anywhere. A cold beer, some chicken wings and somebody beltin’ out "Come Monday." Yes, it’ll be alright. Alright indeed.

* Gallery Crawls in NoDa – no, these don’t really stop in the winter time, but there is A LOT more people, you can stroll outside without shivering, and the music is ALWAYS kickin’. No shortage of bands, styles and people.

* Merlefest – more on this in a couple weeks, but if you’ve never made the short trip north to the campus of Wilkes Community College to check out this 4-day festival of Bluegrass and Americana, then you should. Some of the best singer/songwriters you’ll ever have the pleasure of listening to show up every year.

* Lake Norman – for those who live north of the city, the Lake is its own little world. Between party boats with live music to actual concerts on the water it’s the closest you’ll have to a beach feel without driving 4 hours.

So, hurry up Spring and sprung already. My beer hand’s getting’ twitchy in anticipation.