South Charlotte Newcomers!

Great happenin's in Charlotte, NC!

“SPEED STREET” – that Wild & Crazy Race Week Has Begun! May 20, 2012

Filed under: Charlotte Newcomers,Charlotte Special Events — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 11:22 pm
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Yes, people, in the south, NASCAR is King (and the official sport of the state of North Carolina!).  If you’re new in town, it’s high time you increase your NASCAR know-how.  And this week, our own Charlotte, North Carolina is in the NASCAR spotlight – yes, it’s RACE WEEK!  The week kicked off with last night’s Sprint All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord (just to the northeast of Charlotte for you super newbies!). This relatively light-hearted competition just netted Hendrick Motorsports’ driver Jimmie Johnson (in the #48 Lowes car – a fact you will soon commit to memory if you’re going to be a FAN!) a cool $1million paycheck (see http://www.thatsracin.com/#navlink=navdrop for all the details).  And the big race is yet to come, the Coca-Cola 600, being run this Sunday, May 27th, again at CMS.  It’s the biggest NASCAR event in the Charlotte of the year – and the longest race (600 miles, thus the name!).  With attendance of around 100,000 people, it’s relatively easy to still secure tickets – just go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com for all the great info!

And more popular than many spring flings & festivals, this weekend’s (free!!) Speed Street Festival in downtown Charlotte sponsored by Food Lion really does have something for everybody – great food, live music with some of your (and/or your kids’!) favorite country and pop bands, appearances by NASCAR drivers and more!

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For all the event information, including event scheduling, suggested parking and transportation info (remember the Lynx!), and general faq’s, see www.600festival.com.  It’s a good time, and you’ll really feel a part of the southern scene!  Also, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum (www.nascarhall.com) will be wide open for business as well – make it a part of your entire NASCAR experience!

So join the fans, enjoy the rush of NASCAR racing, and Start Your Engines!!!

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Back to School Shopping? Get Ready for TAX-FREE Weekend!! July 22, 2011

Filed under: Back-to-School Shopping,Charlotte Newcomers — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 2:51 pm
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 Hello South Charlotte Newcomers!  It’s Maureen again…

Already I’ve noticed a lot of serious back-to-school shopping on my few ventures out into “the stores” (as you may remember, I’m the one who hates to shop!).  Well, you new North Carolina (and South Carolina!) residents – do yourselves a big favor and save some of those hard-earned dollars to spend on Tax-Free Weekend, just two weeks from today, August 5-7, 2011. 

See www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html for details regarding state specifics!

You are lucky to have landed in one of 17 states that offers some sort of tax-free shopping opportunity for various goods.  North Carolina offers two important tax-free times, including a weekend in November to save sales tax with appliance purchases, but for those of you getting your little people ready for a new school year, those of you shipping your darling teen off to college, or any of you looking to make a purchase of a new computer, computer supplies, sports equipment, or even clothes and footwear, it may be worth holding off for a couple of weeks!

 http://singleparents.about.com/od/taxfreeholidays/qt/NC.htm 

And yes, I know what you’re thinking – “they just eliminate the up to 8% tax instead of having sales of 15-40% off on items – what fun is that?”  Not so!  Fortunately, it’s been my experience, as a consummate bargain diva, that both sales and no tax offers are in place all around town!  Believe me when I say it takes A LOT to get me out to a store with a smile on my face!!  My favorite back-to-school shopping experiences on tax-free weekend have been at the Apple Store in Southpark Mall www.apple.com/retail/southpark/map/ - yes, three times now I have waited in the (long!) line in early August with other parents of soon-to-be college freshmen, just to save the $100+ on tax for their nice but pricey laptops – and they used to throw in a free iPod to sweeten the deal – now they have a $100 gift card offer:  

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/back_to_school?cid=AOS-US-KWG-BTS11 

(p.s., have your student bring their school i.d. for all the best deals!).

In NC, in addition to the items noted above, all school supplies and “instructional materials” will also be tax-exempt during the weekend of August 5-7.  South Carolina’s exemption includes clothes, school supplies, and computers, and some miscellaneous items including linens – GREAT to pop over the border and head to the stores (both left and right) on Dave Lyle Blvd. in Rock Hill  (Exit 79 off I-77 S) for all your dorm supplies!  TJMaxx, Target, Ross, Belk, JCPenney, and more!

So, stay cool, have fun, and shop away in those air-conditioned stores the first weekend this August!

 

Great South Charlotte Doctors – Arboretum/Ballantyne/South Park March 30, 2011

Filed under: Charlotte Medical Providers — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 8:45 pm
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According to Maria -

My home is approximately 2 miles from the Arboretum Shopping center which sits at the intersection of Pineville-Matthews and Providence Roads.  How convenient it is to go to great doctors near your house!  Located at the Arboretum Professional Park is the Carolina Health Urgent Care center, which is open 7 days a week www.itriagehealth.com. 

And if you’re looking for a good Orthodontist, also located at the Arboretum Professional Park (in Suite 201), are Drs. Hull and Coleman  www.hullandcoleman.com - they are fabulous, very professional, and caring – my children and I all had great experiences with their practice.

Not far away (in Suite 105) is a well-known Charlotte medical group for all you expecting mothers, and all the rest of you beautiful women!  It’s Eastover OB/Gyn www.eastoverobgyn.org  and you probably know someone whose babies were born with their assistance, including my own two!  They are wonderful, and if you’re looking for a referral, let me know…

Diagonally across the street, on the southeast corner  of Pineville-Matthews and Providence Rds., The Horizon Eye Care Center www.horizoneye.com  is located at the Arboretum Office Park.  Dr. Judy Hustead is my personal doctor – she’s a graduate of Harvard University and is a very caring and knowledgable ophthalmologist.  The office also offers an assortment of beautiful eye glasses!

Also located in the same Arboretum Office Park is a branch of the Asthma and Allergy Specialist group www.asthmanc.com. If you’re new to Charlotte and don’t yet have allergies – just wait!!  You’ll want to save this website address!

And if you are looking for excellent internal medicine doctors and other specialists, check out Mecklenburg Medical Group www.mecklenburgmedicalgroup.org at Ballantyne (15110 John J. Delaney Dr., Suite 200) or at South Park (4525 Cameron Valley Pkwy.).  You can utilize their website to schedule appointments, request prescription refills, update personal insurance information, and/or pay your bill.  Dr. Lorri Ayers is my personal internal medicine physician, and she provides not only excellent health care service, but has great “bedside manners” as well!

Finally, for your pediatric health care needs, consider Charlotte Pediatrics www.charlottepediatricclinic.org at South Park (4501 Cameron Valley Pkwy., Suite 100).  For my daughter I chose Dr. Susan Shaffner, and for my son, Dr. Jeffrey Cleveland.  Also worth a mention is the fine Dr. Barry Golembe, an associate in the group specializing in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.  The group has affiliation with all the major local hospitals including the state-of-the-art Levine Children’s Hospital.

Hopefully this information gives you, as a newcomer, something to start with.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at:   maria@bonmaisoncharlotte.com or 704.778.5445.

Maria O’Boyle, Bilingual Broker Specialist  www.bonmaisoncharlotte.com

 

Jolie (pretty!) Cheveux (hair!) by Erica! February 22, 2011

Filed under: Hair Stylists — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 1:24 am
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Check this out!

Let’s face it – don’t we all LOVE how we look and feel after a great cut & style?!  For a trendy look at a great price, you’ve got to head to the Lenox Shops in Torringdon (near Earth Fare) and meet friend to the Bon Maison girls, Erica Bloomquist of Jolie Cheveux www.joliecheveux.com.  She works wonders with even hard to tame hair like mine – since meeting Erica, my hair feels like silk and looks great too! 

The Lenox Shops are stylish individual salons offering many services from hair styling to nails to massage, etc.

The darling French-inspired Jolie Cheveux shop is the first on the right and is staffed by Erica and two other fabulous stylists, Allie and Sheila.  Great color treatments, wonderful cuts from classic to trendy, sleek styling, plus an assortment of tried and true products, all great for your hair and all at affordable prices.  If you are looking for a new look, a new stylist, or both, your search is over!!  Go to the website www.joliecheveux.com where it’s easy to book your appointment for whatever it is you need – and bang trims are always a la maison (or “on the house” for you non-French linguists!!).

Thanks Erica!  We’re happy to call you not only our #1 Hair Stylist, but our friend as well!  XOXO

And if you’re looking for a south Charlotte home convenient to the Jolie Cheveux Salon, visit the www.bonmaisoncharlotte.com website and one of us will be ready to help…

 

Ladies NEW to CHARLOTTE – Just for You! February 12, 2011

Filed under: Charlotte Newcomers — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 9:51 pm
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Maureen wants you to know…

… that there is a special program for women new to the Charlotte area that kicks off this week!  This program is affectionately known as “Moving on After Moving In” and is a several week scripturally-based study and sharing group which acts as a big Southern Welcome to Charlotte! This program was the brain child (no, heart child) of Susan Miller, whose husband’s job in the hotel industry resulted in 14 moves during the first part of their married life!  When she finally found herself moving from Grits to Guacamole (the telling name of one of the book’s early chapters!), i.e., from her beloved South to the desert of Arizona, she was inspired to write a book outlining the spiritual journey she found herself living out.  This fabulous book, After the Boxes are Unpacked, Moving On After Moving In, has touched the hearts of many who read it during the “Moving On” program.  Next Wednesday, February 16th will mark the 11th set of Moving On sessions to take place at St. Matthew Catholic Church www.stmatthewcatholic.org.  Our parish has ministered to over 250 newcomers since the Spring of 2006, and many in the group have found deep friendship and renewed spirituality from fellow participants and sharing in both the succinct words of Susan Miller and the comforting scriptural passages contained in each chapter.   This Moving On class is available at other places of worship in south Charlotte, including Calvary Church, Church at Charlotte, and Harrison United Methodist Church in Pineville.  For more information about Moving On class locations and descriptions, as well as incredible resources to calm the just-moved heart, please visit Susan’s www.justmoved.org website.  There you can find links to the contact information for the other program locations mentioned, “meet” and contact the Just Moved team, or just order the book (and another one of her hits, But Mom, I Don’t Want to Move!) for your own use at home. 

For additional information about the Moving On program at St. Matthew Church, feel free to give me a call (704.605.5444) or shoot me an email at maureen@southcharlotteliving.com.

Thanks and once again, WELCOME NEWCOMERS!!

 

The Queen’s Feast …Restaurant Week ! January 25, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 8:47 pm
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Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity !  Restaurant week

started on Friday, January 21st and goes through Sunday, January

30th.  Each participating fine dining restaurant will offer a

spectacular 3 course prix-fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person 

(excluding tax and tips).  Reservations are definitely recommended.

Check out Queen’s Feast at www.charlotterestaurantweek.com.  Click

on individual restaurant names for location, menu and reservation

information.  Good luck making a choice as ALL of these restaurants

look scrumptious !

A few of my personal favorites include Cafe Monte  

www.cafemonte.com located at Phillips Place in the Southpark

area.  Their french pastries are Heavenly ! Another Southpark

favorite is classic and delicious.  The Palm www.thepalm.com

is the place to see and be seen !  Enjoy a dirty martini and a

famous prime top sirloin steak au pouvre while you look for Charlotte

celebs (caricatures) on the wall  ….  If you love Italian you have to

make a reservation at Toscana www.toscana-ristorante.net and

enjoy the quaint atmosphere and Tuscan cuisine at its best.  All of

their pastas and desserts are made fresh, in-house daily.  Need I

say more ?  Bonterra Dining & Wine Room www.bonterradining.com

is located in the heart of Dilworth.  It is housed in a 110 year old church and

provides a wonderful dining experience.  If you love your wine, they have

200 wine selections by the glass and another 300 wines from their

private cellar for you to enjoy.  Now that is my kind of dining !

If you really want to “go out on the town” then my next suggestion

and new, favorite restaurant has to be MEZ.  It is located in uptown

at the trendy Epicenter and it is a fabulous dining experience.  This

restaurant is beautiful, contemporary, upscale and uptown!

Sip a cosmopolitan in the ritzy bar and enjoy the Charlotte

skyline. Here you will find gorgeous views and fabulous food !

Be sure to tell the parking attendant you will be dining at MEZ and

the $10 parking fee will be waived !

These are just a few of the many wonderful restaurants that are

featured this week.  Please treat yourself to one lovely evening

out …. You deserve it !

 

Small Town Charm Still Exists !! January 21, 2011

Filed under: Surrounding communities — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 4:25 am
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Paige wants to let you know -

If you are new to Charlotte and have not been south of Blakeney shopping center yet … do yourself a favor and drive a little further down the road to the small, quaint town of Waxhaw, NC.  Here you will find a charming downtown district which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Stop and browse through the unique antique shops on Main Street and then head over to Rippingtons www.rippingtonswaxhaw.com, a must-visit restaurant, for a delicious lunch.  Or, if it is a Saturday evening, be sure to try Southsiders Pub & Deli www.southsiderswaxhaw.com, for an incredible Chicago-style hot dog, deli sandwich, or fabulous wrap.  And if you’re a BEARS FAN, Southsiders may just be your new favorite home away from home (go BEARS ! – that’s for Maureen !).  You’ll also get to enjoy listening to local bands – check their website for upcoming entertainment !

And, if you are a horse lover … drop by Waxhaw Tack Exchange www.waxhawtackexchange.com and see the latest in breeches, riding boots, or saddles.  This shop has it all !  Let them help you schedule a riding lesson too.  Waxhaw is home to many beautiful horse farms and stellar equestrian facilities. 

And if you are looking for fabulous furniture at a DISCOUNT (and I do mean DISCOUNT !) price … hop back in your car and travel a few more miles east to Furniture Factory Outlet World.  You truly have to see it to believe it !  it is a huge warehouse full of furniture at unbelievable prices.  Be sure to check out www.waxhawfurniture.com for details and directions.  Another FYI – they are only open 3 or 4 days a week.

If you fall in love with the small town atmosphere and think you would like luxury country living, then Bon Maison Properties has the perfect home for you !  Just 10 minutes from charming downtown Waxhaw is a hidden “gem” of a neighborhood called Queens Gate.  Upon entering this neighborhood you will see two equestrian centers with training, boarding, and lessons available.

And as you continue to travel through the neighborhood to our listing at 4824 Pimlico Lane, there is a picturesque pond, meadows, and a white picket fence … what more could you ask for ?

This small neighborhood of 20 homes offers homesites of 1 to 3 acres.  Our stunning listing is located on a cul-de-sac street, sits on 1.2 acres, has approximately 4400 sf, and is listed at the unbelievable price of $460,000.  Check out the visual tour of this property at www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?t=2333348&prt=10003 and enjoy this magnificent home.  You’ll notice the unique architectural detailing and design elements that have been incorporated in this wonderful space.  Just give us a call if you’d like a personalized tour and we will be happy to set it up for you !

So head down and enjoy the small town charm of Waxhaw and all that it has to offer … you will be glad that you did !

 

 

See these After-Christmas Sparkle Sales! January 4, 2011

Filed under: Holiday Shopping — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 3:47 pm
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Maureen has noticed -

If you’re like me (really don’t like shopping!!), now is the perfect time to get out there and take advantage of some still-happenin’ after-Christmas super sales!  Now I’m not talking clothing, accessories (except at Cubbyhole!), housewares, and electronics, per se, however you will be happily surprised by all the Christmas goodies available at a minimum of 50% off!

First, have you been to PEPPERMINT FOREST on Carolina Place Parkway near the Carolina Place Mall? www.peppermintforest.com

This Christmas Extravaganza shop, seasonly known as PEPPERMINT FOREST, is home to some of the most delightful Christmas trees, decorations, and displays, and is only open around the Christmas season.  Thus the need to empty out and go back to its alter-ego, Oasis Pools!  Their need to change over is of course to your advantage!  The sale will go on through the month of January (check out their website to see gobs of photos of the great holiday stuff still waiting there for you!!).  There are beautiful ornaments, trees of every shape and size (30-50% off), holiday collectibles (not on sale, but available!), hostess gifts, presents for the pets, festive ribbon, and the wonderful talented staff can whip the ribbon up into gorgeous bows while you’re shopping around (see above!).  Definitely worth the ride to Pineville’s Furniture Row area!

After your rummage through the goodies at Peppermint Forest, head up Park Rd. to nearby BLACKLION www.blacklion.com

No way – you haven’t been there???  Even I, the non-shopper, enjoy the leisurely stroll through the lanes and lanes of mini-shops at BLACKLION every so often!  But now, it’s a must  for the Christmas bargain shopper, with all Christmas items at 50% off!  You’ll see everything here, from  Christopher Radko ornaments (yes, on sale!) to Christmas decor items, to furniture and incredible home accessories.  Really, words cannot adequately describe this place – you just HAVE TO go!!  When you’re done with this shopping, enjoy a delicious lunch in the store’s cafe before heading out to…

CUBBYHOLE in Ballantyne Commons East shopping center at the intersection of Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Johnston Rd.(also has Harris Teeter, Blockbuster, Fox & Hound, etc.).  CUBBYHOLE is a teeny-tiny version of the multi-booth/shop concept you just left at Blacklion.  Exquisitely charming booth areas are filled with great gifts for friends, family, or yourself!  Christmas items are 50% off and everything else in the store is 20% off!!  Christmas sale runs through January.  A great time to stock up on gifts for the year, decor and hostess gifts for the holidays, wedding and graduation gifts, and CUBBYHOLE does have a nice selection of purses, jewelry, and unique clothing items as well!  Carolyn and the gang will be ready to help you find the perfect item(s!), and ALL ON SALE! 

Ok, now that the kids are back to school, and/or your regular routine has been established, RUN out to these places soon, while the selections are still incredible.  Happy (post-) holiday shopping!

 

Welcome to Charlotte’s BIG CHILL! December 14, 2010

Filed under: Charlotte Weather — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 8:18 pm
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Maureen wants you to know -

It’s really NOT usually this cold in Charlotte!! 

So many of you who are new to the area from points north were probably looking forward to a mild winter for a change – and here it is, frosty as can be in Charlotte, NC, and it’s not even WINTER  yet!

The official records say that Charlotte’s average Dec-Jan temperature range is lows in the 30′s to highs in the 50′s!  We need to send these temps in the teens packin’ back to the North Pole.  And get ready for Charlotte’s real winter time dilemma – the prospect of snow (which is apparently threatening our southern peace and tranquility for the end of this week!).  Those of you from (supposedly!) less temperate climates are about to be amazed by what the thought of snow does to our fair city.

Here are some critical do’s and don’t's for Charlotte Winter Weather -

  • First of all, when you hear a forecast of snow, DO be one of the first ones to the grocery if you even think you may run low in the milk and bread department.  You wouldn’t want to be one of those people shown on the evening news who didn’t get the memo in time to help deplete the stores of these items. 
  • Secondly, DO rush to your favorite hardware store (Blackhawk Hardware at Park Road Shopping Center is a local favorite www.blackhawkhardware.com) for a snow shovel (you probably left your snow blower in your last garage!), ice melt, and fun sledding toys for the kids.  Hurry over there, too, because southern supplies are limited!
  • Speaking of the kiddies, DO plan on having them home from school for extended periods if there is an inch or more of snow accumulation – yes, feel free to read it again, I said an INCH!  Reasons are numerous but include the fact that there are only approximately 35 snowplows available for snow removal, and get ready – they will plow only main thoroughfares in a snow event; most drivers (including school bus drivers!) are inexperienced winter-weather drivers so will likely (and thankfully) not want to be out on the roads; and even when the snow melts by day, if overnight temps dip below freezing, we have treacherous black ice conditions to deal with the next morning.
  • DO stay tuned to the local TV stations and computer/smart phone weather apps for the onslaught of weather related closings of schools, churches, and businesses.
  • DO Keep plenty of batteries in stock as we have a history of ice storms and subsequent power outages in our region.  You may even want to consider talking to your new friends at Blackhawk Hardware (or Sears, or Home Depot, Lowes, or elsewhere) about a gas-powered generator to light up your house and power your appliances in the event of a winter (or other) weather emergency.
  • So, DON’T worry, but instead, enjoy the BIG CHILL the best you can – stay cozy, grab the blankets, light the Christmas tree (or the candles and/or gas fireplace if the power goes out!), be sure to add wine to your emergency grocery supply list, gather your favorite friend(s) and family, and look forward to our Carolina blue skies and bright sunshine to come to the rescue soon!

Soon to come – how to enjoy Carolina outdoor winter activities and nearby ski resorts…

 

SOUTHERN CHRISTMAS TREES …. December 4, 2010

Filed under: Holiday Shopping,Uncategorized — Why Move to South Charlotte? @ 11:29 pm
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Yes, there is such a thing as a Southern Christmas Tree !  The Fraser Fir is the token tree of the south …. growing naturally in the Southern Appalachians above 3000 feet.  This is the tree with the silvery green needles that is beautifully shaped where the ornaments hang daintily on each branch and the Angel sits perfectly on top !  In my “southern” opinion it is much prettier than the Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir or Norway Spruce.  But I must admit that I have never really seen an UGLY Christmas Tree… no matter what variety.  

If you are looking for the perfect Christmas Tree in South Charlotte … Try Simpson’s Trees on Pineville Matthews Road across from Charlotte Catholic High School.  They offer hundreds of trees in all shapes and sizes.  It will be almost impossible to choose one because all of their trees are simply gorgeous.  Here you can also find fresh wreaths… both large and small … and fresh garland, as well.  Bring your camera for a picture of the kids surrounded by a forest of evergreens.  If you bring your tree stand, the friendly staff at Simpsons will be happy to help you trim down your tree and place it in the stand.  They will even bring your tree to your car and tie it down for the ride home.  Now that is what I call southern hospitality !

If your idea of finding the perfect Christmas Tree involves a little more adventure, then pack the kids up and take a drive  to the mountains of Boone, North Carolina where there are literally hundreds of Christmas Tree farms.  You will find yourself in Christmas Tree Heaven !  Here you can pick your perfect tree and have their staff cut it down for you.  Or bring your own saw and do it yourself !  If you are super lucky – it may even SNOW !!! Most of these farms will also have fresh wreaths and garland and some even have country stores to browse through and sip fresh apple cider !  Check out www.ncchristmastrees.com for directions.  My family has been going to J & D Tree Farm for years and we LOVE their selection.  Their website is www.jdtreefarm.com.  If you want the “total package” of Christmas Tree hunting … go to www.rrrtreefarm.com to see how you can combine a night at one of the Boone hotels with your search for the perfect Christmas Tree.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPPING !!!            

 

 
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