Purple is in!

LUXE TRENDS 11 2009  (Purple is In)

 Lee Ann Miller Team Logo w/Tate

704-896-5141 Office

www.LeeAnnMiller.com

 

Charlotte, NC Sports Teams & Events

 Panther Stadium

 

Sporting events always draw big crowds in the Charlotte area.

 

FOOTBALL

The Carolina Panthers (704-358-7800, www.panthers.com) took to the field as an NFL expansion team in 1995 and rose to a magical season in 2004, making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance against the New England Patriots. Their home, the natural-grass Bank of America Stadium, is located in Third Ward Uptown.

BASKETBALL

The NBA returned to Charlotte in 2004 thanks to Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson. The Charlotte Bobcats (704-262-2287; www.nba.com/bobcats) play in the new Charlotte Arena in Uptown. The Charlotte area is also home to wonderful ACC teams (www.theacc.com) such as North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, North Carolina State & Wake Forest.

BASEBALL

The Charlotte Knights (704-364-6637, www.charlotteknights.com), a farm club for the Chicago White Sox, have played baseball in the Charlotte area for more than 100 years. They currently play at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill but may move closer to the city soon.

HOCKEY

On the ice, the Charlotte Checkers (704-342-4423,  www.gocheckers.com) are the East Coast Hockey League affiliates of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The team recently moved to the Charlotte Arena.

SOCCER

For soccer fans there are the Charlotte Eagles, a professional team in the second division of the United Soccer Leagues, and the Lady Eagles, who play in the Atlantic division of the USL’s W league (704-841-8644, www.charlotteeagles.com). The season runs from April to August.

GOLF

In May 2003, Wachovia first sponsored the PGA tour to Charlotte at Quail Hollow Country Club , which has welcomed by such golfing greats as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson. It began as the Wachovia Championship but is now know as the Quail Hollow Championship. (800-945-0777, www.quailhollowchampionship.com).

NASCAR

NASCAR races roar at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, including the Coca-Cola 600 and the Sprint All-Star Challenge in May and the UAW-GM Quality 500 in October (704-455-3200, www.lowesmotorspeedway.com). Racing excitement spills from the speedway into uptown Charlotte during Speed Week each May. You can enjoy a parade, fireworks, entertainment, food and special events leading up to the races.

FISHING

The Charlotte Regional Sports Commission (704-332-7717, www.charlottesports.org) sponsors other sporting events in the Charlotte Area, like the Citgo Bassmaster Classic at Lake Norman. The commission also works to bring in sports organizations and teams, which contribute millions to the local economy and enhance the area’s overall quality of life. 

OTHER SPORTING EVENTS

Other big sporting events include the Charlotte Run for Peace and 10K (www.charlotterunforpeace.com) in January and the Queens Cup Steeplechase in Mineral Springs in Union County (704-843-7070, www.queenscup.org) in April. In addition, there’s the Charlotte Ultraswim in June (704-846-5335, www.justswimmac.org/ultraswim). The Continental Tire Bowl brought the excitement for a college football bowl game to the Carolinas and has recently been changed to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Played at Bank of America Stadium and featuring the ACC and Big East Conference, the game draws a crowd of more than 70,000.

HOT AIR BALLOONS

In September, the sky’s the limit for the National Hot Air Balloon Rally (704-873-2892, www.statesvillechamber.org) near Statesville.

                                                                                                 
                                                          704-896-5141 Office
                                                       www.LeeAnnMiller.com
                                                           Allen Tate Company

Charlotte Area Shopping Centers

Ayrsley
    NC 49 at I-485
    Charlotte, NC  28273
    704-643-4148
   
www.ayrsley.com
   
Baxter Town Center & Village Shops
   1030 Assembly Drive
   Fort Mill, SC 29708
   877-570-4663
  
www.villageofbaxter.com
  
Birkdale Village
   8712 Townley Road
   Huntersville, NC 28078
   704-895-8744
  
www.birkdalevillage.net
  
Carolina Place Mall
   11025 Carolina Place Parkway
   Pineville, NC 28134
   704-543-9300
  
www.carolinaplace.com
  
Concord Mills
   8111 Concord Mills Boulevard
   Concord, NC 28207
   704-979-5000
  
www.concordmills.com
    
Hickory Furniture Mart 
   2220 Hwy 70 SE
   Hickory, NC 28602
   800-462-6278
  
www.hickoryfurniture.com 

Monroe Mall
   2115 W. Roosevelt Boulevard
   Monroe, NC 28110
   704-289-6547
www.shopmonroemall.com
  
Northlake Mall
   6801 Northlake Mall Drive
    Charlotte, NC 28216
    704-921-2005
   
www.shopnorthlake.com
  
Phillips Place                      Cameron Valley Parkway at     Fariview Rd
   Charlotte, NC 28210
www.phillipsplace.com
     
Prime Outlets-Gaffney
   1 Factory Shops Boulevard
   Gaffney, SC 29341
   888-545-7194
  
www.primeoutlets.com

 

Rock Hill Galleria
   2301 Dave Lyle Boulevard
   Rock Hill, SC 29730
   803-324-1711
  
www.rockhillgalleria.com
  
South Park Mall
   4400 Sharon Road
   Charlotte, NC 28211
   704-364-4411
  
www.southpark.com
  
Shoppes at University Place 
   8929 J.M. Keynes Drive
   Charlotte, NC 28262
   704-549-4811
  
www.shoppesatuniversityplace.com

Specialty Shops on the Park
   Morrison Boulevard at
   Roxborough Rd
   Charlotte, NC 
  
Westfield Eastridge Mall
   246 N. New Hope Road
   Gastonia, NC 28054
   704-867-1847
  
www.westfield.com/eastridge

 
  704-896-5141 Office
  Allen Tate Company
 www.LeeAnnMiller.com

Shopping Around Charlotte

Love to shop? You will find yourself at home in Charlotte. With everything from upscale to antique to bargain shopping, Charlotte is continuously expanding its retail space and drawing shoppers from across the region. Whether you’re looking for a Louis Vuitton handbag, unique Victorian jewelry or just a good deal on a new suit, Charlotte has what you’re looking for.

The most exclusive mall in Charlotte is Southpark at the corner of Sharon and Fairview  roads. Anchored by Hecht’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Belk and the latest edition, Neiman Marcus. Southpark houses numerous specialty shops and several high-end retailers including Burberry, Kate Spade and Louis Vuitton.

Other posh shopping centers in the area include Specialty Shops on the Park behind Southpark mall and Phillips Place on Fairview Road, characterized by cobblestone walkways, upscale restaurants, galleries, jewelers and a salon.

Concord Mills, opened in 1999, draws mall enthusiasts from across the region to its 1.4 million square feet of shopping and entertainment. Packed with a number of outlet stores like Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, Osh Kosh B’Gosh, Saks Fifth  Avenue and Ann Taylor, Concord Mills boasts more than 200 stores, a 24 –screen movie theater, restaurants and Dave and Buster’s with a dance club, hibachi grill, four bars, billiards and a bowling alley. Located about a mile from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord Mills also draws visitors to its NASCAR SpeedPark, which features six race tracks, miniature golf, kiddie rides, laser tag, an arcade and a rock climbing wall. About 15.3 million people flock to Concord Mills each year, making it the top tourist attraction in the state.

The University area is bursting with shopping centers, but none a aesthetic as the Shoppes at University Place off W.T. Harris Boulevard. Set around a small lake, the Shoppes at University Place also includes a two-mile walking trail. In addition to big-box retailers Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Shoppes at University Place are home to more than 80 stores and restaurants, many of which offer a spectacular view of the lake.

The Mooresville area is exploding with shopping areas. Most are anchored by a big box store, such as, Super Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Super Target, Khols, Belk or Best Buy and surrounded by specialty shops that include World Market, Ross, Pier One, Old Navy & Pet Smart to name a few.  You will also enjoy the vast variety of restaurants & race shops.

Birkdale Village, a mixed-use development of shops, apartments, restaurants and offices, occupies more than 700,000 square feet in Huntersville. With an old-time Main Street and park benches, Birkdale Village includes a Banana Republic, Gymboree, Gap, American Eagle, Barnes & Noble, Williams-Sonoma, Pier 1, salons and a 16 screen movie theater.

In fall of 2005, Northlake Mall opened to much fanfare at the intersection of I-77 and W.T. Harris, serving North Mecklenburg and the booming Lake Norman area. With more than 150 shops and restaurants, the new mall is anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, Hecht’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Borders and a 14-screen movie theater.

In Pineville, Carolina Place Mall is extremely popular, drawing South Charlotteans to its more than 140 specialty shops that include American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap. Near the I-485/NC 51 interchange, Carolina Place is anchored by Dillard’s, Hecht’s, Belk, JCPenny and Sears. Across NC51, the Centrum offers big-box retailers Best Buy and Home Depot.

Just up I-485 at NC 49, Ayrsley is a new mixed-use development of retail, office and residential space with specialty shops and restaurants. Nearby, Whitehall Commons is a new shopping center with 585,000 square feet that includes Super Wal-Mart and Lowe’s.

Distinctive shops are popping up all over Charlotte’s historic mill villages, Southendand NoDa. Known for their galleries and renovated mills, both areas offer unique clothing stores and restaurants.

Antique lovers will also enjoy the Metrolina Expo, a trade center that hosts a monthly Antique & Collectible Show, which attracts avid collectors from across the Southeast.

A number of shopping centers outside of Charlotte also provide excellent shopping ventures. Westfield Eastridge Mall in Gastonia is anchored by Dillard’s, JCPenny, Sears and Belk and includes more than 75 specialty stores.

About 45 minutes southwest of Charlotte via I-85, the Prime Outlets in Gaffney, features more than 80 outlet stores including Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Bass, Pottery Barn, Nautica, Nine West and Jones New York.

Because of its abundance of manufacturers, North Carolina is one of the best places in the country to buy furniture. About an hour from Charlotte, the Hickory Furniture Mart in Hickory offers domestic and imported furniture and home furnishings from more than 100 factory stores, outlets and galleries, and features more than 1,000 lines.

 
     704-896-5141 Office

 Allen Tate Company

www.LeeAnnMiller.com