Archive for the 'Charlotte Lifestyle' Category

South Park or South Park?

January 11th, 2010 categories: Charlotte Arts, Charlotte Lifestyle, Charlotte Real Estate & More, South Park

I was half asleep the other night but I heard that the South Park cartoon was turning 20. I can’t believe it has been around that long. I will have to say I still don’t like it and feel a bit insulted when I tell people I live in South Park and they laugh. The South Park I live in has been around a lot longer and is MUCH classier. I promise. I love it because it is 10-20 minutes from just about anything. It has the best shopping and restaurants Charlotte has to offer. Oh, and may I add that this sign is missing Neiman Marcus?

The area of South Park Charlotte North Carolina was established in the 1950’s originally as a residential suburb of central Charlotte. This region was once part of a 3,000 acre farm owned by a former North Carolina Governor. Morrocroft Mansion, which was the main house on the farm, is one of the areas most stunning registered historic places with a 14,000 square foot home in the Tudor Revival Style. Ownership of the mansion changed hands in the 1980’s but is still used as a private residence today. Real estate in South Park Charlotte NC benefits from the area’s bustling economic and retail activity. South Park Charlotte NC boasts the second largest business district in the state and one of the most popular malls around. This makes South Park exceptionally desirable for home buyers not to mention the high-end housing available in this area. The South Park District is host to the Charlotte’s Symphony’s Summer Pops concerts. These free concerts at the local amphitheater bring the community together for a fun evening of enjoyment. There are many recreational sites including the Harris YMCA, the greenways at McMullen, Lower McAlpine Creek and the county parks such as Park Road Park. There are also many Families who appreciate the excellent school system public or students may choose to enter one of the several private schools. In addition, there are several universities, public and private in the area as well as a community college. As you can see, there are many opportunities, conveniences, and advantages to choosing South Park Charlotte NC real estate. This is the area where it’s residents refuse to settle for mediocre and enjoy the exciting lifestyle of life in South Park Charlotte NC.

What I really love about South Park is there is always something going on especially in the Summer. Every Sunday, you have to put your picnic blankets out early for the FREE summer of pops concert brought to you by the Charlotte Symphony. Then there is the Great Grapes festival, the Latin America festival, Beer Bourbon and BBQ,  The new Snow Park, Crate and Barrel, Wine Tastings on Wednesdays in the court yard, Cheese Cake Factory, oh my I could really go on. I just really love living in South Park.

So, South Park or “South Park?”  When you come to Charlotte, ask us to show you South Park, or you may want to spend a day discovering all the fun you can have there.

Spoken by Donna Johnston | Discussion: No Comments »

Halloween Costume Ideas at Charlotte Goodwill

October 28th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Good stuff we find, Michael Gibbons

Recently I met Bo Hussey reach him here he is doing some pretty cool things at Goodwill Southern Piedmont (Charlotte). Bo is a smart-bold guy who is using social media tools like YouTube in innovative ways to build brand awareness and expand the Goodwill mission here in Charlotte.

Bo knows Social Media and he is ahead of the curve (for non profits) in using tools like YouTube to get the word out about Goodwill – a perfect example is this video on the best place in Charlotte to get creative about your 2009 Halloween Costume – watch the video and many more here at Goodwill Southern Piedmont channel on YouTube (and then read more about Goodwill’s mission below and on their website! (oh and check out one of my recent Goodwill costumes – Paula Dean meets Julia Child – scary)

“Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms started Goodwill with the idea that people could earn a living collecting donated goods, repairing and selling them – that a job was better than a handout.  “Not charity, but a chance,” he always said.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont began providing services to people in this region in 1965. The Southern Piedmont territory includes 13 counties in North Carolina and five counties in South Carolina. Locally, Goodwill has a retail store or provides services in eight of these 18 counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lancaster, Lincoln, Union and York Counties.

Although Goodwill has grown in the past 100 years, we cannot rest while so many people still need our services. The demand for Goodwill’s employment and training services continues to increase as a result of the changing economy. This increasing demand magnifies Goodwill’s need for donations. Last year, Goodwill received more than 875,000 donations of clothing, household items and furniture totaling more than 54 million pounds from the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina.”

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Quick – Name the East Coast “Tech Mecca”?

October 28th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Charlotte Real Estate & More

Not so easy is it? DC? New York? Orlando? New England tried, Richmond? OK maybe Raleigh’s the closet thing but then you don’t think of Raleigh as a hotbed for iconoclastic techies with start up ambitions – you think Nortel (they still around?), SmithKlineblahblahblah. No I’m talking more about a thriving entrepreneurial community where people ride bikes to work and play ping pong and vintage pinball all day – they don’t really but you get the picture. (and of course better snacks)

I was reading Neal Peirces’ column about Barcelcona’s transformation from rusting industrial shell to an “entrepreneurial city” based on technology and the “knowledge economy” – I thought hey nobody’s doing this on the east coast (YET!!!) why not Charlotte read Peirce’s Washington Post column here

So here’s the thing I think Charlotte could and should be the East Coast “TechMecca” did I just coin a phrase? – I think I did! I like that but no matter what we label it I think there is a huge opportunity (JOBS) for an east coast city to grab this distinction – right now- before its too late! We have a lot of things already in place:

• Charlotte is a leader in motorsports / high tech automotive development – wind tunnels etc
• Between Charlotte- Murdoch Research Institute-Raleigh we’re part of a distinct tech region
• BMW is here, NASCAR, Google and Apple are nearby too
• Our great hospital system will rely heavily on new tech innovations
• Our textile heritage could fire up nano and specialty fibers/fabrics
• We have UNCC and their business incubator facilities
• BIG and other entrepreneurial groups
• our oft maligned school system is just waiting (and will rise) to feed into a community vision like this
• We also have a thriving and astute social media / web community – we could (maybe we already do) lead here

and that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head….

We can do this! We’re big enough to take this on and we’re stable enough (lucky) that we can build on what we have – all we need is a plan, a vision and a collective zeal like that put forth by cities to host the Olympic Games! Charlotte is a happening place with a great circulation of new people we need something to get behind something like an Olympic bid – except in this case it would be a drive for something lasting (JOBS) unlike the fleeting  3 week glory of the Olympic games! And of course don’t forget better snacks!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 1 Comment »

We Don’t (really) Want to Sell our Plaza Midwood Home…

April 30th, 2009 categories: Blake Garvin, Charlotte Lifestyle, Plaza Midwood

…but we must!
It’s surprising and a bit curious that when we list and help sell a client’s home we’re helping them do something they (often) don’t want to do ~ and worse than that we’re good at it! Selling a home can be bittersweet. Sure you’re excited about the new home or moving to a new city but there’s usually a lot of stuff you’ll miss ~ most people love their homes!

Blake’s clients the Kerns are no exception ~ Nicole, Bryan and their adorable daughter Kathryn love their Winter Street home and the Midwood neighborhood. After all who wants to miss out on Midwood Maynia, Plaza Midwood’s annual family fun festival! It’s this weekend by the way lean more by clicking right here.

Back to the Kerns, as we know life moves on and sometimes we have no choice but to move – relocation, job change, school choice or downsizing. What is too often overlooked by buyers is that the very home they want to buy has most likely been loved and cared for. Read Nicole Kern’s beautiful note about their 1904 Winter Street home which has been obviously loved and cared for – click here for a virtual tour.

Nicole talks fondly of her Midwood neighborhood and with good reason ~ this area have been one of Charlotte’s most sought after locations. Plaza-Midwood has an eclectic (OK funky) mix of traditional southern charm, urban revitalization and buzz worthy arts, dining and culture!

So if you live in Charlotte but haven’t been to Midwood lately then this weekend might be the time to get on over for Midwood Maynia. And if you are in the market for what Blake desribes as a ShamWow House well then you just might want to take a look at 1904 Winter Street ~ make sure you call Blake though because the Kerns are not to eager to sell (we’re kidding of course!)
Oh and almost forgot Blake is hosting an open house at 1904 Winter Street, Sunday May 17th – email Blake here for all the details!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Fresh Oysters in Charlotte – Found a Pearl!

April 11th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Eats, Charlotte Legends, Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Rhonda Gibbons

OK you either love’em or you hate’em. Let me just say that last night at Vinnie’s Southend three of Charlotte’s top real estate professionals were lovin’em so much we almost grew shells and we need ‘em! Please excuse the hard shell/real estate biz analogy. Rhonda my awesome wife, me and my good friend Gray Steelman took care of a “raw oyster jones” we’ve had for a couple of months. 

As you may know Rhonda and I are now partners on Charlotte’s premier real estate team (after all its our name – Charlotte Premier Realty) haha — anyway we commiserated for a bit and then launched into a full celebration of all things Charlotte real estate and more. Rhonda showed her patience and expertise in contracting a beautiful yet hard to sell Queens Beans condo in Myers Park, Gray is looking to parlay his self storage wizardry into a new venture Mustang Properties and I had some amazing success at a recent entrepreneurial competition for my side venture Buttons of Hope. Yes we ordered extra lemons and made some sweet LEMONADE!

So where’s the pearl? I think these days anyone on a quest for raw seafood has to think twice and to be honest $.25 oyster night always leaves me a bit …queasy ya’ know!  Well quease no more Vinnie’s served up what we all agreed (after yes 7 dozen) were some of the finest juiciest, freshest oyster we’ve ever had..anywhere and believe me Rhonda’s years at Charleston Oyster fests makes her an expert! The service was warm and friendly and the beers were icy cold — let’s just say when you have a hankering for raw oysters on the cheap you must run to Charlotte’s Southend and find a table at Vinnie’s Raw Bar a pearl on the Charlotte restaurant scene.

ps. I know it sounds weird but after all those oysters we needed melted cheese in a bad way (maybe it was the shellfish haze – or Coronas?) so a stop at LaPaz one of our oldest favs (remember waiting 3 hours for a table at LaPaz on Fenton Place?) was in order and ready with some unbelievable blue corn chicken nachos – Go there, Try them!…all in all a great evening in a couple of Charlotte’s hidden gems

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Well Excuuuse me, no way my Charlotte home is worth THAT much!

January 21st, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Charlotte Real Estate Trends, Home Financing

Yes it’s THAT time of year again….TAX TIME! That time of year when we all look back over the last year and try desperately to remember anything, anything we did or spent that might reduce our tax hit! Here’s Kiplinger’s take on the 10 most overlooked dedutions if you’re into that kind of thing.

But today I wanted to talk about something near and dear not to every Charlotte homeowoner’s heart…Charlotte Mecklenburg property taxes, or in the latin Ad valorem taxes – (don’t you they use latin or french when they want something to sound more noble and magnanimous.) By the way for 2008 it’s $1.2973 per $100 assessed value.

In today’s Charlote ObserverApril Bethea has as really great article Can I Appeaal Tax Value?. In part she reports

“The start of the new year kicks off the period when property owners can appeal the tax values on buildings and land, and officials from across the Charlotte region said they’ve been peppered with requests similar to Stanberry’s. But N.C. law doesn’t allow current economic conditions to be used as a reason to change a property’s tax value… The law catches many homeowners by surprise. “A lot of people assume quite naturally that current sales information would be a valid reason for an appeal,” said Chuck Hicks, real property appraiser manager for Mecklenburg County. read the full article here”

Things that can be considered in appeals:

• Correction of clerical or mathematical error, or error in applying schedule of values used in most-recent property reassessment.

• Physical changes to property, such as addition or removal of a structure.

• A rezoning change, or adoption of a conservation or preservation agreement.

Things that cannot be used in appeals:

• Normal, physical depreciation of buildings.

• Economic changes affecting the county.

• Improvements to property such as repainting of buildings or other structures, and landscaping.

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Uptown Charlotte even has its own magazine(s)!

January 15th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Legends, Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Yeah who knew, well we knew but maybe you didn’t — Charlotte has a couple of great magazines focused on the still growing and bustling Uptown area. Check out this link to Uptown’s super cool online version of the magazine. If you’ve never seen an online magazine where you can actually turn the page it’s pretty cool. And make sure to watch the short video promoting Under the Influence at Charlotte’s iconic Visualite theatre (it’s not what you think!) SKI much?

Or maybe come by the Visualite and check out the Gourds — now that one caught us by surprise too! Rhonda, Jackie and I however did see two great Duncan Sheik shows at the Visualite if that is more your style!

Oh yes and make sure you check out Charlotte’s newest uptown magazine EYE Charlotte by our friend and reknowned Charlotte Observer reporter Crystal Dempsey!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Ikea will Bea in Charlottea Area in 2009!

January 14th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle

OK I think I may have given rhyming a seriously bad name! But IKEA is opening soon in Charlotte and I have to say not a moment too soon — we need some fresh new retail! The chain’s 356,000 square foot store (one of it’s largest) opens February 18 in the bustling University area. IKEA founded in 1943 in Helsingborg, Sweden brings it’s eclectic mix of home furnishings, bath, kitchen and full interior design services –  basically uber cool stuff you really don’t see anywhere else! Get a preview here at their website! Who doesn’t need a royal feline futon or should I say BASTIS…

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Charlotte Restaurant Week | Dine Like Royalty in the Queen City

January 12th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Eats, Charlotte Lifestyle

Charlotte Restaurant Week is back for an encore! Also known as the Queens Feast Winter 2009
Enjoy a culinary extravaganza during this week-long celebration of Charlotte’s restaurant scene. From Saturday, January 24, through Friday, January 30, each participating upscale restaurant will offer a spectacular 3-course, prix fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

May we suggest a few personal favorites: Cajun Queen, Carpe Diem, Villa Antonio-South Boulevard, Upstream, M5 Modern Mediterranean, McIntosh’s Steaks & Seafood, Noble’s Restaurant, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Copper Modern Indian Cuisine

Whichever restaurant you choose (or choose more than one!) I promise you’ll enjoy that famous Charlotte hospitality and some surprisingly good eclectic fare.

Just don’t ask for any substitutions! (Even Jack has to go prix fixe)

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Wells Fargo talks and Charlotte hopes they listen.

January 6th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle

I spend way to much time railing about big companies and their lack of real leadership, vision, creativity and of course transparency.  There are a few exceptions Apple, ING, Timberland, uLine and Zappos come to mind. So what a pleasure to read today that Wells Fargo has a new blog aptly if not creatively named the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog and that the CEO is an author! Now I have not had the chance to check it out to see if like so many it’s just another company speak, boiler-plated, lawyered, extended company brochure sans pictures excuse for a blog. For now I’m going to give CEO John Stumpf, Anne Marie Quinn and Matt Wadley more than the benefit of the doubt. In fact I’m going to say KUDOS for even having a blog while so many companies don’t, won’t or can’t!

If as Matt Wadley says…

“See, my passion has always been for the written word, though I do enjoy the spoken and sung versions from time to time. And I’m really excited to have the chance to engage with you about the merger of two of America’s best financial companies.

But let me back up just a minute. Now I know some of you may see “Corporate Communications” and think: “Puh-leeze! Blogs are supposed to be about informal conversation, not just another channel for company press releases!”

Well, I couldn’t agree more.” read more here

Well Matt now that’s sounding pretty good and for all those antsy Wachovitteans this might just prove to be your best source for information, FAQs and a way to connect and learn about our new partners from the west! So take look at the Wells Fargo – Wachovia blog and come back to tell us what you think, better yet tell them! Dare I, we say welcome Wells Fargo!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 1 Comment »

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