- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Pura Vida Worldly Art
Category: Shopping Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts [Edit]
3202a N Davidson StCharlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
(704) 335-8587
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Tue-Fri 4 pm - 8 pm
Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Pura Vida Worldly Art
Review Highlights
"...in the store is Fair Trade besides the literature."
(in 4 reviews)
"Different gifts for you or someone else."
(in 6 reviews)
"This store fits right in to the cultural artsy feel of the..."
(in 8 reviews)
Loading...
15 reviews in English
-
Review from Jonathan B.
Cornelius, NC
1/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I honestly haven't found a whole lot of places in the country as awesome as Pura Vida. I walked into the second room and I'm like "they have a shrine!?" Epic. It's a shrine for those who have passed but I've always managed to find myself stuck there praying on the mementos that tell the story of others.
There is a lot of meditative stuff to be found here. Buddhist prayer beads and brass bowls that ring. Literature on various spiritualities and religious movements. Lots of cool stickers and buttons with sayings like "coexist" on them. Jewelry that looks to have a major South American influence. African drums and decor. I've even seen saris and skirts with Indian designs here too.
The shopkeeper is friendly and knows her stuff. It was great to just chat for a while about the subject matter of the store. This place boasts zen, peace, love and a warm fuzzy feeling inside! -
Review from Nicole W.
2/7/2012 1 photo
When it comes to insanely cool worldly goods, Pura Vida has 'em. This store really reminds me of Madison, WI...a handful of culture, a strong dose of interesting and cool, a lot of handcrafted items, and just a touch of hippy.
If I were to describe all the types of items you can find here, I'd likely run out of room. Thus, it's best that you just go in and explore. I was particularly drawn to the beautiful beaded necklaces, unique cards, and gorgeous scarves. Most, if not all, of these items are hand crafted and feature a specific worldly view unlike that of the USA.
For the spiritual types, there is a smattering of literature and a shrine to those who have passed - both interesting and heart aching just to walk past it. If you're walking around NoDa, definitely stop in at Pura Vida, there's nothing quite like it in Charlotte!Listed in: It's a Shopportunity, What's Up NoDa?!
-
Review from Hailey H.
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was initially drawn to Pura Vida under the suspicion I'd be able to find some good Dia de los Muertos decorations and a few pieces to remind me of Texas - of course I did, but little did I know I'd end up falling in love with this store.
To start there are plenty of Mexican art and hand crafted items to go around - tile mirrors from San Miguel, Oaxacan embroidered dresses, paper flowers, calaveras, skeleton figures and jewelry, fantastic scarves and woven table runners (if you're a fan of tesoros trading company, you'll find a good amount of items they carry here)... but this store lives up to its "worldly art" name. In an attempt to not leave anything out, we'll say it mostly covers Latin America, Asia, and Africa - highlighting Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist as well as some Catholic/Christian religions. Candles, books, incense, jewelry, wall art - from hostess gift to baby showers, you can find something unique here (and you can also spend a pretty penny doing it).
In true NoDa fashion, this is more than just a store - there's also an art gallery in the third room. In the last month I've seen two vastly different displays (one mexican-inspired paintings, one more nature photographs) so it's always nice to check in and see what's going on back there. Also, in the second room there is an altar for those who have passed on. It's a beautiful set-up of mementos, flowers, and photos and I suggest anyone who stops in to spend a moment to take it in. -
Review from Kris A.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh NoDa, how I love your concept. This store fits right in to the cultural artsy feel of the street.
Mexican culture was the main theme at this store with a little Asian too. -
Review from Julia S.
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Evil eye wards, Luchiadore dolls, paper flowers, etc, in a new and improved space. Every town needs a Pura Vida. It's awesome that they've hauled it out to NoDa - the new paint, bright colors, and oddly broken up space looks good on 'em, and the place is even more bursting at the seams than it was back in PM.
For random hostess gifts, I-don't-know-what-you-like-but-we-all-love-ethnic- chotchkeys-don't-we gifts, and for lazy day shopping, PV's got it nailed.Listed in: Malls give me hives., Women at the Helm
-
Review from Joelle N.
Greensboro, NC
7/30/2011
A great store if you love unique, handmade products, or if you're looking to shop fair trade. An eclectic mix of items from all over the world, in an inviting space that makes you want to keep exploring to see what else you might find. A small but cute selection of clothes from Mata Traders, and great jewelry and gifts. Definitely worth checking out!
-
Review from Rod O.
Charlotte, NC
6/8/2011
Hit the Gong! Please you can hit it!!! Giant Chalkboard room in back - This is a cool place - Very friendly staff! Different gifts for you or someone else.
Listed in: All ART, Area Art, Galleries (Art) Charlotte, "Tornado" Tour, NoDa
-
Review from Katherine C.
Charlotte, NC
6/29/2010
This is where I go when I can't find something at Paperskyscraper or Green With Envy. There is ALWAYS something here that is a great gift (or something for myself). The items can be a tad pricey- and I'm completely unsure if it is "fair trade" (like 10,000 villages). I am a sucker for a lot of the items. I am still eyeing a dress that has been there for over 3 years (it has never gone on sale). My friend bought the most beautiful purse there. Excellent unique items. It makes you want to travel.
There is also coffee- which is always a good thing. -
Review from Faith D.
2/21/2010
Very good vibe! This store has some fun things that remind me of various parts of the world (I guess that's where they got their name). They have various things like shoes, clothing, tinkets, books, and home decor.
There's a back room with chairs in it. I didn't investigate what it is used for, but for maybe local music or like a coffee shop. Oh yeah, you can grab a cup of coffee or a latte when you enter.
If you are looking for unique gifts or just want to browse some fun items, visit this store! -
Review from Joy S.
Charlotte, NC
10/17/2008 1 photo
I love skulls and skeletons, so I'm thrilled to have a shop that specializes in Day of the Dead gear. It's a pretty small store, but it's the kind of place where you can spend hours and hours exploring.
I hit Pura Vida hard when I was getting stuff to decorate my Zen Den in my house. They have a wide selection of spiritual goodies, from Tibetan prayer flags to meditation gongs to all kinds of incense and candles and such. It's the best place in town to find the materials you'll need to get in touch with your inner goddess.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, which is impressive in a place with so much stuff. It would be forgivable if they didn't know the stories behind everything, but I've found that they know a lot, and they're eager to share. I wish we had more places like this one in Charlotte! -
Review from Garrett G.
Charlotte, NC
9/20/2008 3 photos
If you have ever doubted the richness and authenticity of Mexican culture you should take a gander in Pure Vida. There are many great pieces of art dedicated to the Mexican Day of the Dead; I loved the bathroom mirror enclosed in dancing and playing skeletons. I just don't think it would match the décor of my very American bathroom.
The store clerk, Alina, let my nephew and I know that over forty countries are represented in the store. Books pay homage to artists like Frida and Riveria.
There is also a gypsy lounge in the back that holds concerts every Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm. Next week will be an instrumental band called Actual Proof. They will be serving up some jazz and funk flavors equipped with strings and xylophones. Before entering the gypsy lounge, there is an art exhibit. One photo of a lonely man playing an accordion on the street really struck my fancy.
Everything in the store is Fair Trade besides the literature. The store is a sweet surprise, because the gifts it has to offer are ambiguous from the street corner. -
Review from Amy R.
Seattle, WA
10/15/2008
Take your own little trip around the world at this Plaza Midwood store. Pura Vida is such a great, unique shop/coffee bar/art and music venue. I can't afford much of what they have there, so I've bought cheaper things there like postcard-sized prints of paintings and candle holders. Definitely check out the art shows and musicians who perform in the back lounge.
Listed in: Plaza Midwood
-
Review from Freda Z.
Charlotte, NC
1/17/2009
I admit it. I'm not only a huge fan of this store, but a friend of Teresa, the owner. Having said that, it was Teresa's quirky, eclectic mixture of global fair-trade items, and her artistic vision that made me want to get to know her in the first place. As Pura Vida has evolved, it's become much more that just a fun place to shop for cool stuff, it's a place with soul- a little "United Nations" in the heart of Plaza-Midwood. The addition of coffee and music allows patrons an opportunity to socialize. And the music! Where else could you see an act like Paleface (for free, no less) outside of Manhattan? Teresa's open-minded approach blends commerce and community into a delightful experience. Go there to shop for global art, ceramics, clothing, or gifts, but stay awhile for the music, conversation, and interesting people.
Listed in: OMG! My folks are coming to…
-
Review from Natalia V.
Savannah, GA
2/18/2010
Great place to shop for spiritual and artsy items. I bought a skull mold for the Day of the Death celebration and they turned out great. They also have beautiful jewelry, scarves, books, CDs....
-
Review from Rebekah P.
Charlotte, NC
8/12/2008
This is the perfect store for the world traveler in all of us. They have art and cultural crafts from Central and South America, Asia, Middle East, and India. I really liked the clothes and purses they had. There is kind of a limited selection of stuff from these various countries, but it's still fun to go poke around. There are also cultural events to check out. The Gypsy Lounge, the coffee shop in the back of the store, plays host to all kinds of musicians. Check out the website for the most up to date info.
