101 Things To Do in Charlotte North Carolina #89~87

August 2nd, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Buying a home in Charlotte North Carolina is only the beginning! Whether you live in Charlotte or are dreaming about relocating here we think you’ll find the Charlotte Mecklenburg area has some pretty amazing things to do and some hidden gems! Rather than list all 101 Charlotte attractions we’ll give you three at a time (hint: you can find the complete list right now here courtesy of the North Carolina Tourist Guide).

We know lists can get a little boring so let’s make it fun — we’ll share our thoughts good & bad (in pink) and if you’ll let us know what you think if you go please leave a comment right here on our blog (its easy simply click on Comments above under the title)…so let’s get started…

89. Latta Equestrian Center – show grounds, lighted arenas, guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons and a tack shop at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in northwestern Mecklenburg County. With 13 miles of equestrian trails winding through the woods, this is the perfect spot for a peaceful afternoon ride.

88. Opera Carolina – one of the largest and most successful professional opera companies in the Southeast. The company’s strong reputation is built on a commitment to excellence in its mainstage productions and acclaimed Education & Outreach programs.

87. City of Frescoes – Charlotte is called the City of Frescoes. Rare in the U.S., Charlotte is home to several sites painted by Ben Long, a NC native. Ben is world renowned and a beloved Charlotte icon — see the Bank of America lobby!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

101 Things To Do in Charlotte North Carolina #92~90

August 1st, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Buying a home in Charlotte North Carolina is only the beginning! Whether you live in Charlotte or are dreaming about relocating here we think you’ll find the Charlotte Mecklenburg area has some pretty amazing things to do and some hidden gems! Rather than list all 101 Charlotte attractions we’ll give you three at a time (hint: you can find the complete list right now here courtesy of the North Carolina Tourist Guide).

We know lists can get a little boring so let’s make it fun — we’ll share our thoughts good & bad (in pink) and if you’ll let us know what you think if you go please leave a comment right here on our blog (its easy simply click on Comments above under the title)…so let’s get started…

92. Hart Witzen Gallery – Charlotte’s Hart Witzen is a privately owned, self sustaining arts venue supported through rental of the gallery and artist studios allowing Hart Witzen to function as an alternative space not dependent on government grants nor subject to the artistic opinions of others. Some of the most original artwork in the area can be seen here. Home to Rhonda’s husband Michael’s 2002 art exhibit Qui. A mutual appreciation for each others’ work, complimentary styles and a conversation about the color pink has led to emerging artists Dina Lowery and Michael Morgan Gibbons work simultaneously on two separate canvases switching the canvases periodically to work on each others painting. Completed paintings are unique exhibiting the style, inspiration and signatures of two artists. (here’s a sample)

91. NC Racing Auto Hall of Fame located in Mooresville NC, this Racing Hall of fame annually inducts new members and is available for touring year round.
90. Dale F. Halton Theater – At Central Piedmont Community College’s Dale F. Halton Theater, education meets entertainment. Catch theater, music and dance productions on a stage worthy of the world’s great artists. Charlotte has had more than its share of, strong, successful and influential women. Dale Halton is one of the icons — might call her the Queen of Pepsi here in Charlotte!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

101 Things To Do in Charlotte North Carolina #95~93

July 21st, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Buying a home in Charlotte North Carolina is only the beginning! Whether you live in Charlotte or are dreaming about relocating here we think you’ll find the Charlotte Mecklenburg area has some pretty amazing things to do and some hidden gems! Rather than list all 101 Charlotte attractions we’ll give you three at a time (hint: you can find the complete list right now here courtesy of the North Carolina Tourist Guide).

We know lists can get a little boring so let’s make it fun — we’ll share our thoughts good & bad (in pink) and if you’ll let us know what you think if you go please leave a comment right here on our blog (its easy simply click on Comments above under the title)…so let’s get started…

95. McColl Center for Visual Arts – The center supports an active artist in residence program and their works can be viewed by the public. The Center also offers lectures and artists forums.
I think we’ve all visited the McColl center during gallery crawls — always an eclectic display and one of Charlotte’s most intriguing architectural landmark. Originally built in 1926, McColl Center for Visual Art is located in a former Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. In 1995, Bank of America acquired the church for and deftly, beautifully transformed the burned out reamins of the church! — you have to see it to believe it!
(photo: courtesy McColl Center: Sarah Hughes| Flower House)

94. Queens Landing – Experience a day of fun on beautiful Lake Norman, where the possibilities are endless. Conveniently located 30 minutes north of Charlotte, we have so many things to do that you’ll have to keep coming back. You can reach us by car or boat. Whether you’re enjoying Lake Norman in your own boat, or meeting friends for lunch at Jack’s Lakeside Grill everyone loves lake Norman! Don’t forget to check out The Catawba Queen our replica Mississippi River Boat. We can safely say we ALL have had wonderful times on Lake Norman — and becauce Charlotte’s weather is perfect plan on enjoying the lake from April to October! Who knows you might be so smitten you’ll end up buying a home on Lake Norman –you wouldn’t be the first!

93. Lowes Motor Speedway Over the Wall Tour - (photos courtesy Harold Hinson) At the center of the excitement is Lowe’s Motor Speedway, one of the country’s premier racing facilities which hosts three NASCAR Nextel Cup events each year as well as other motorsports races and various car shows. The Speedway’s Over the Wall Tour is a fun behind-the-scenes tour which allows visitors to get a close-up look at the garage, travel down pit road, and even drive around the Speedway’s infamous 1.5 mile oval with 24 degree banks. Over the Wall tours are just $5 and well worth the cost to experience driving along the Speedway. For Five Bucks, This is a special tour but then everything about NASCAR and Lowes Speedway is special, loud and fast – pass the chicken!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Charlotte’s Underwater Treasure: Mecklenburg Aquatic Club!

June 30th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Kids

Living in Charlotte we have so much to be proud of — but there is just something “once in a lifetime” about the Olympics. This year we have a number of local athlete who have made it to the Olympic trials, thanks to the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club. Monday night our own Mark Gangloff, a MAC swimmer was the first Charlotte based swimmer to earn a ticket to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing! Mark came from behind placing second in the 100 meter breaststroke. (read Scott Fowler’s story here).

So what does it take to be an Olympian ~ a lot of pool time and a whole lot of talent. Coaching helps too and that is one thing Charlotte can safely boast about ~ The Mecklenburg Aquatic Club better known as MAC is one of the best in the country. For 31 years MAC has been spawning swimmers of Olympian stature. This year more than two dozen MAC swimmers with some sort of Charlotte connection will try to make the Olympics team. Longtime Charlotteans like Doug Van Wie, Ricky Berens and twins Matt and Sean Patton will be among them.

Just a few of the MAC accolades:

USA SWIMMING OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBER
1988,1996, 2008
USA SWIMMING OLYMPIC TRIAL QUALIFIERS
1988,1992,1996,2000,2004
USA SWIMMING NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM MEMBER
1990,1991,1992,1995,1996,1997,1999,2003,2004,2005

MAC is more than just a Charlotte tradition, its a cherished jewel in the Queen City’s crown. So whether you’re ready for the podium or juts trying to learn to swim MACS is for you ~ sure you may never reach the Olympics but you will have swum in regal water and been around a whole lot of people who can show how to reach your best!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Charlotte Summer Pops at Symphony Park, SouthPark. | Priceless.

June 30th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Kids

Charlotte is blessed to be one of the few cities in the country that has a free Summer Pops series. For four sundays in June thousands of Charlotteans transform SouthPark’s Symphony park into hundreds of private backyards and are serenaded by one of the best orchestras in the country the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Better get their early Sunday morning to stake out a place on the grand lawn and then around sunset lean back, enjoy great food, a bottle of wine and some of the best music you’ll ever hear!

Last night Rhonda and I joined friends Keith and Sarah Cox who Rhonda helped relocate to Charlotte from Miami. (this was our view) Keitha and Sarah love, love their home in the Ballantyne area and Keith is making some noise with his new website ConnectWithCharlotte.com a great resource for everything to do in Charlotte. So nest year plan to join us at one of the Summer Pops concerts ~ Oh and if you need to buy a home first we can help you with that!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

101 Things To Do in Charlotte North Carolina #98~96

June 28th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Buying a home in Charlotte North Carolina is only the beginning! Whether you live in Charlotte or are dreaming about relocating here we think you’ll find the Charlotte Mecklenburg area has some pretty amazing things to do and some hidden gems! Rather than list all 101 Charlotte attractions we’ll give you three at a time (hint: you can find the complete list right now here courtesy of the North Carolina Tourist Guide).

We know lists can get a little boring so let’s make it fun — we’ll share our thoughts good & bad (in pink) and if you’ll let us know what you think if you go please leave a comment right here on our blog (its easy simply click on Comments above under the title)…so let’s get started…

98. The Federal Reserve Bank of Charlotte - The main lobby of the Charlotte Office offers a money exhibit featuring a history of money in the United States from Colonial days to present and includes a display highlighting the gold mining era in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.That’s a new one for us tell us what you find!

97. Ribbon Walk – is woodland oasis in the heart of the city of Charlotte. The forest includes 192-acres of woodland and wetland habitat with several miles of nature trails and a variety of native flora and fauna. An extraordinary grove of old-age beech trees designated as a “treasure tree grove” (picture here) stands out a one of the most impressive features of the forest. There are also picturesque mature pines, flowering trees and other native hardwoods. Wetland features include several ponds and meandering streams. Native wildflowers dot the forest floor. Take and walk and discover wildlife or signs of wildlife. You may see mammal tracks, hear frogs or spot one of more than 60 birds that have been seen in the forest by birdwatchers. That’s a new one for us tell us what you find!

96. Duke Power Energy Explorium- located at McGuire Nuclear Station (on Lake Norman). The Energy Explorium features hands-on energy information exhibits, a Lake Norman movie, wildflower garden and one mile nature trail. That’s a new one for us tell us what you find!

Whether your looking to buy your first home in Charlotte or you’re a native we hope you enjoy Talk!Charlotte our elective mix of information & fun about the best place to live, Charlotte North Carolina! We love hearing from you so please, please if you have question about Charlotte Real Estate or about our blog, leave a comment or drop us a note anytime, we’ll listen @ Donna, Rhonda, Jackie, Blake or Betsy! Enjoy! ps. We didn’t know were computer geeks either!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »