Archive for August, 2008

101 Great things to do in Charlotte NC #83 Phillips Place

August 31st, 2008 categories: Charlotte Eats, Charlotte Legends, Fun for Grown Ups

83. Phillips Place – Fine, upscale shopping opportunities, along with breathtaking landscaping, line the streets at Phillips Place

Once in a while we have a Charlotte attraction that is just too big & too much fun that it merits its own post! Phillips Place is one to those attractions! Phillips Place has it all ~ Rhonda and I are there on average once a week and we have plenty of great memories there! I’ll share a few as we take a tour.

Catch a movie in the beautiful Phillips Place 10 movie theater (we saw the first Harry Potter (Rhonda’s fave) a midnight show!)

One of Rhonda’s and my favorite people Lyn Conger is part owner of Charlotte’s nattiest clothing store Taylor Richards Conger and be sure to check out their new women’s shop TRCW!

We LOVE the roasted Prince Edward mussels (and everything we’ve ever tried) at Upstream ~ we agree its one of the best seafood restaurants ever! Great unsung sushi bar too.

Then its on to the Dean & Deluca Wine Room ~ one of Charlotte’s first and still best ~ sit outside and people watch, once the tress aer dressed in the twinkling white Holiday lights you might even think of Paris (OK it depends a bit on the number of glasses) and yes we have sat outside there in November! Oh and don’t forget the incredible Dean & Deluca Deli across the street — can’t tell you how many quick delicious pre-movie meals we’ve had here and if you love red velvet cake there’s is the best!

Il Posto Osteria is one of the best Italian trattorias you will find ~ high praise since I grew up in New York! I love pasta and had the beat mushroom ravioli ever at Il Posto ~ al fresco dining is a must here!
The Palm Let’s just say if you are looking for a special night out or to entertain an important business client you won’t go wrong. Greta steak, big lobsters and huge portions! Who know maybe you’ll get your caricature on the wall!
PF Chang’s We love the casual, always great Chinese cuisine. My son Ryan picked Chang’s for his first dinner date…aahhhh!
Restoration Hardware Explore, especially fun at the Holidays when they bring in all kind s of cool gadgets — fill your stocking here!
Smith & Hawken  Charlotte is lucky to have this store! Rhonda says it’s “therapy for your green thumb”

Hampton Inn & Suites  Excellent place for intown guests (we put up our wedding party here ~ they almost did not make it to the wedding!), not your average Hampton with great views and a short walk to all of the amenities described here!
Post Park Apartments  Like what you see here? Well why not live right here in Phillips Place — some of Charlotte’s most luxurious apartments Relocating? Why not stay here while you decide where to decide where to buy your Charlotte home!
(101 Charlotte things to do courtesy of NC Tourist Guide)

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Charlotte home prices showing signs of life

August 30th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Real Estate & More

As we have said before the Charlotte residential real estate market never got white hot like so many markets around the country ~ we have been lucky to have a steady mix of people relocating to Charlotte and an equally steady cadre of developers..one of our favs! So while this news is welcome it is not all that surprising ~ yes things have been slower but people are selling and buying homes in Charlotte at a steady pace. It si a very good time to buy in Charlotte!

Ripped from the Headlines courtesy of  the Charlotte Observer, read Stella Hopkins’ full article here.

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Friday Fly Fun or How to swat one!

August 29th, 2008 categories: Friday Fun, Good stuff we find

On my way to grab some coffee today I heard this story on NPR radio about why its so darn hard to swat flies. (I hate flies, spiders and snakes BTW) How do they know the swatter is coming? How do they move so fast ? Do they think it through, or is it instinct? Well low and behold Michael Dickinson and Gwyneth Card have been working pretty hard to find the answers and what they found (Insect Flight, Michael Dickinson: Current Biology 8/28/08) is pretty darned interesting.

There is a good reason flies escape…they dance!  “They perform an elegant little ballet with their legs,” says Dickinson. “They move their legs around to reposition their bodies so that when they do jump, they will push themselves away from the looming threat.” Who knew? So there you have it, read Joe Palca’s NPR article here and watch the amazing stop action videos (click on the fly over there>)
…so next time you might just outwit that fly! Have a great Labor Day weekend!

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101 Great things to do in Charlotte NC #86~84

August 29th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

86. The Comedy Zone - Live Comedy Venue that features local, national, and international talent every weekend.

85. Richard Childress Racing Museum – The excitement of NASCAR Winston Cup racing can be found at the Richard Childress Racing Museum.

84. Pit Crew U and 5 off 5 on – Drop in on the school that is training the best pit crew in NASCAR. The school offers a basic eight-week program, Pit Crew U, followed by an optional advanced-level course, called “5 Off 5 On: Race Team Performance.” The term “5 off 5 on” refers to a tire-changer’s duty: Five lug nuts come off, five go on.

(Charlotte things to do courtesy of NC Tourist Guide)

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Southern Women’s Show 2008 | Food fashion & fun | Charlotte 9/18~9/21

August 28th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Legends, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Southern Shows is a Charlotte institution. I know! I went to high school with current President David Zimmerman and worked at the shows during high school for the legendary (and really classy & nice) Charlotteans Robert and Joan Zimmerman founders of the company (David’s parents). By the way the Zimmermans are also reknown for their family & friends Christmas Grog parties which were lavish enough to spawn a “teen” Christmas party with the leftovers! 

The Zimmerman family continues to put on some of the most amazing & fun lifestyle shows in the country the Charlotte Southern Women’s Show (here in Charlotte 9/18 (and eleven other cities) & the Christmas Show are awesome!

What you may not know is the Zimmermans and crew also host three of the most impressive home renovation and garden shows ~ if you are building, remodeling or planning your dream home you don’t want to miss this!

• Southern Spring Home & Garden Show  coming March 4~8 2009
• Southern Ideal Home Show  Charlotte Merchandise Mart  9/5~9/7
• Southern Kitchen & Bath Show  Charlotte Merchandise Mart  9/5~9/7

Enjoy the shows and make sure you save the date for the Christmas Show ~ the strudel is to die for!

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NC Mountains to the Sea Expo Charlotte 9/12~14 2008

August 27th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Real Estate & More

Charlotte is surrounded by magnificent mountains and gorgeous beaches. And some say right now Autumn is the best time to visit both. The beaches are at their natural and peaceful best and the mountains are exquisite as the brisk breezes and colorful fall foliage kick in! Boone NC is just two hours away and the Charleston beaches are an easy three hour drive!

Photo courtesy Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva NC

You might wnat to check out the NC Mountains to the Sea Expo coming to Charlotte Friday, Sept 12, Saturday, Sept 13 & Sunday, Sept 14 Open to the Public | Admittance is free.

From the Mountains to Sea Expo press release…
“Targeting the Charlotte area’s homebuyers and investors interested in second-home, retirement and investment opportunities in the Carolina’s most exclusive resort real estate communities, Mountain Property Showcase LLC and Exclusive Land Holdings LLC, are bringing their celebrated “Mountains to Sea Real Estate Expo” to Charlotte. The three-day community-tour weekend will be held Sept. 12 -14, 2008, at the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park at Tyvola Road and I-77. This first-annual Charlotte Expo offers free admission to the general public.
The upcoming “Mountains to Sea Real Estate Expo” in Charlotte is a three-day educational and discovery “home tour road show” event that will showcase up to 24 of the top Carolina and Charlotte area developers and their residential communities located in the exclusive resort lifestyle areas of the Western North Carolina and Tennessee mountains and the Carolina coastal areas.
At the Mountains to Sea Real Estate Expo, potential homebuyers and real estate professionals can compare and shop the various developments without having to spend days or even months driving from community to community searching for the ideal second-home resort location.”

We can not endorse the Expo or vouch for the builders or any of the communities but it looks like a great opportunity to check out several communities at once. Good Luck and of course if you find something that strikes you fancy let us know we’d be happy to do some research and check it out for you!

Here are some of the communites represented:
Hampton Lake (Bluffton, SC), GlenLaurel Preserve (Brevard), Mountain Air (Burnsville), Sugar Pointe (Banner Elk), Reynolds Mountain (Asheville), Sunset Falls at Bald Creek (Waynesville), Wilderness Trail (Banner Elk), The Settings at Lake Rhodhiss (Black Mountain), The Hammocks on Bald Head Island (Bald Head Island), The Lodges at Eagle’s Nest (Banner Elk), Leatherwood Mountain (Ferguson), The Reserve at Sugar Mountain (Banner Elk), Red Tail Mountain (Mountain City, TN), Balsam Mountain Preserve (Sylva), Queen’s Gap (Rutherfordton), Mountain Club at Cashiers (Cashiers), The Cove at Celo Mountain (Burnsville), Vista at Bill’s Mountain (Lake Lure), River Country Estates (Piney Creek), Crestview Mountain (Sparta), and Trillium/Chinquapin (Cashiers).

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Anderson Custom Homes Wows! Homearama at the Palisades

August 27th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Real Estate & More

Talk about a diamond in the rough ~ Wow! If 1931Youngblood Road West looks this good today can you image what it will look like opening day (see rendering) Homearama 2008! Oh and do I need to remind you can be the one moving in to this stunning enclave of handcrafted homes! Anderson Custom Homes is one of the Charlotte area’s premier builders…

“Anderson Custom Homes, Inc. was founded on the philosophy that the personal involvement of the homeowner is the best way to ensure customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves in building client and supplier relationships that are built on years of trust and integrity. With over 15 years of experience Ricardo and Bobbie Fisher along with the team at Anderson Custom Homes, have committed themselves to building distinguished custom homes that fit our client’s unique lifestyles.” (read more here)

So how are things coming along on (your) home?

“Located adjacent to the riding arena and natural galloping trails of The Palisades Equestrian facilities this truly exceptional Colorado Craftsman style home is beautifully set on a large wooded one acre home site. Offering 5 bedrooms with 5 full baths, 3 half baths plus an additional full bath at the pool cabana. Fine details are abundant everywhere. At every turn this home inspires and impresses.Some of the many luxurious features include, a trellis porte-cochere drive leading you to dual 2-car garages, multiple covered verandas on the main and upper levels facing the front and year yards. An owner’s suite with an elevated bed area and a 2-sided fireplace shared with an adjacent sitting area. French doors leading to to a private screened veranda stepping down to the owner’s grass terrace.

An exceptional kitchen with dual islands wrapped in custom cabinetry, upgraded appliances and interior stone work. The kitchen opens to a hearth room with diagonal coffered ceiling in addition to a game room with bar and billiards table and offering direct access to an outdoor covered kitchen/living area with built-in barbeque and views of the pool and cabana below.” $2,899,000 (info & video here or give us a call we’d love to show you this gem before the Homearama crowds!)

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Lakes Norman and Wylie keep Charlotte in the swim

August 26th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lake Living | we have two!, Charlotte Lifestyle

Our plucky Blake Garvin and her hubby Johnny love uptown Charlotte and their beloved home neighborhood Plaza Midwood more than anything! So what does it take to pull her away from home? For one~  Lake Norman “tie ups”  on a summer afternoon!!

From Blake…

“So here’s the scoop...Lake Norman Tie Ups kind of under the radar….so we meet at the designated marinas around 11:00am to get the boats gassed up and head out to the ‘tie up’ which is about 5-10 minutes of drive time from Holiday Marina (Exit 28 off I77). If you are headed out there, make sure to have your bumpers ready to tie with other anchored boats from around the lake. On an average Saturday, there are close to 50 – 100 boats out in the middle of the cove playing their music and enjoying the beautiful  lake Norman weather. Once tied up with one another, people blow up their floats and jump on in – meeting everyone floating around them. This is the place to surely see some tan Charlotteans! This event starts around mid May and goes through mid September or so. If you are up for meeting some new friends, this is the place to do it in the summer…..

Blake, you are so right the amazing thing about Charlotte is we are surrounded by natural fun whether it be 2.5 hours to the cool mountains, 3.5 hours to the Charleston beaches or right here half hour north or south to Lake Norman or Lake Wylie ~ Charlotte is convenient to all. And did you know Charlotte has on average 214 days of sunny/partly cloudy conditions and lake-friendly weather from April till October!

And just to whet your Charleston SC appetite…sunset in the low country!

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Charlotte HomeArama 08 | Giddyup!

August 20th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Real Estate & More

 
I took a ride out to the Ranch at the Palisades Sunday afternoon ~ after reading up on this year’s Charlotte HomeArama I  wanted to see for myself how things are moving along with the new homes. All I can say is Wow! First of all I had not been in the Palisades in a while — that is one amazing piece of land and the development plans are some of the most exciting & ambitious in all of Charlotte. Having said that the Lake Wylie area is growing right along with it as this Lake Suburb hits its stride in the next few years there will be a lot of happy new homeowners withing  stones throw of Lake Wylie! In five years we’ll all be looking back saying I wish I had bought a house down there when it was reasonable!

The 2008 HomeArama homes are sure to impress ~ although they are a bit out of my league it will be fun and informative to see all the new features, bells and whistles ~ I am always smitten with the pools, waterfalls and outdoor firepits. One thing for sure is this will be an equestrian friendly neighborhood — finally! Kidding aside if you have a horse (and a couple million) this would be an awesome place to consider ~ the galloping trail as it is known is a idyllic ribbon of green grass winding through the woods not 50 yards from your back door ~ very cool, very English country!

Here are a few pictures of the homes in progress and the galloping trail. Shortly I will be writing more about the three featured builders Jordan James, Persis-Nova and Anderson Custom Homes. For now sit back and dream, imagine yourself going out for a brisk gallop before the dinner bell! And make sure you save the date for Charlotte HomeArama October 4 – October 6 2008 you won’t want to miss this one!

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Connect with our own Rhonda Gibbons @ ConnectwithCharlotte.com

August 18th, 2008 categories: About Our Realtors, Rhonda Gibbons

The (one of ) great thing about Charlotte is that it has all the amenities of the “big city” but maintains the charm of a small town. New to Charlotte, Keith Cox is a former client of Rhonda’s and now a friend (that happens a lot!) Keith, wife Sarah and daughter Mozelle love their new home in Ballantyne. Keith recently launched a new venture ConnectWithCharlotte.com  a website designed to help Charlotteans find the best and most unique products and services in the Charlotte area. We at TalkCharlotte now visit ConnectwithCharlotte.com all the time to catch up on the latest Charlotte happenings, reviews and fun stuff!

Today we are proud to point you to a spotlight interview with our own “Help Me Rhonda” Gibbons, in part…

“You go through phases in life. Years ago, I lived on Lake Wylie and was into waterskiing. When I turned thirty I got into golf. At fifty, I bought a road bike! I got this backwards. I’m thinking maybe I should have bought the bike when I was thirty and taken up golf at fifty!

“I would say that my biggest accomplishment happened yesterday. Yesterday I had a closing with some obstacles to overcome, right down to the wire. We were able to iron them all out. If my client walks out with a smile, that is my latest, biggest accomplishment. “  (read the entire interview here at Connect With Charlotte!)

We hope you enjoy Rhonda’s unique take on Charlotte Real Estate as well as what its it’s (oops grammar 101) like to ride hundreds of miles on her bike! Remember to bookmark TalkCharlotte.com & ConnectwithCharlotte.com your best way to Connect with all Charlotte has to offer!

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