Michelle Hall

Denver is growing so fast it is hard to keep up. The Denver residents are anxiously awaiting a few new restaurants to open soon.

Neat is a martini and tapas bar. Tapas are appetizers that are eaten as a meal. It is a great way to socialize with friends as everyone samples the wide range of dishes. "What started out as a light bite to accompany a glass of wine in Andalusia spread throughout Spain, and latterly to fashionable bars worldwide."

Neat is located at the West Pointe Shoppes on Highway 16 in Denver, NC.

Another new opening in West Pointe Shoppes is ,Steak Norman,

a full service custom butcher shop and deli.

They will serve speciality meats with names like Boarhead.

Midtown Sundries, a local chain, has made it's way out to Denver. Midtown Sundries offers American cuisine and a full bar. It is located by the intersection of Hwy 73 amd Hwy 16.

And last, but not least, we look forward to the opening of The Naked Oyster Company, a raw oyster bar and grill. Located on Natalie Commons Drive in Denver, this is sure to attract a lot of attention.

Michelle Hall is a Denver Residential Real Estate Broker for the Charlotte, Lake Norman, and surrounding areas. She can help you stage your home or connect you with a stager who will get you results. Please visit www.LKNELITEHOMES.com for your real estate needs.

Michelle Hall - Century 21 Hecht - 704-608-2408 - mhall@c21hecht.com

Well you've heard about the Loch Ness monster, but have you heard about the monster that is said to lurk underneath the deep waters of Lake Norman lovingly called, Normie? There have been hundreds of monster sightings over the years, so many in fact, that there is an actual website about it...www.lakenormanmonster.com..

You will hear colorful stories of these mysterious sightings. Here is an example of one of the stories told by a man named Bill from Charlotte, NC dated 9/27/2007:

"I stil am reeling from what my eyes beheld this past weekend. We were out camping (read: drinking) on the red clay banks of what is used to be covered in water. Well, where we are used to be called Lake Norman before the drought, when I in my tank top and Mom in her ball cap had just settled into our sleeping bags for a long summer nap.

The youngun's were all asleep in the hay, and the dog had retired from a long Summer dawg's day. When what to my wandering eyes should appear...but a huge lake dragon, sipping on beer! He was slimy and green and all covered in mud, and he shook when he laughed, and then offered me a "Bud". With a twitch of his tail, he opened another, and looked straight at me, and said: "What's happenin' brother?!" Confused and afraid, I stammered and stuttered...drunk and disoriented, the Monster belched and he sputtered. So we sat and we talked, the Monster and I: and he told me tales of the lake, under the dark summer sky. I told him about NASCAR, and how our area was growing: he told me tales of the deep as a distant rooster was crowing. With the night now spent, the darkness gave way to light, and the Monster slipped back into the water and yelled out "Good night!" Good night? I exclaimed, as I drank one more beer...and my wife awoke from her sleep and said what are you doing out here? Out here, my dear? Out here by the pier? ..Yes, what are you doing out here, out here drinking all of this beer? I was talking to Norman, I said with a grin...and she took the beer from my hand, and then led me home again. Well that is my story, tis frighteningly true...You'll see the monster too, if you drink as much as I do!"

There is a rumor about some biological experiment gone wrong which is what happened to Normie. Now personally I have never seen or heard anything about this mysterious creature... but maybe.

Charlotte has so much to do... there is something for everyone. If you haven't taken a bite out the city, here are a few upcoming events that may wet your appetite.

On October 7, 2008 you can take a tour of the world renowed culinary school, Johnson and Wales. Located downtown (or uptown as Charlotteans say), you will get to tour the Academic Center of Culinary Arts and the Baking and Pastry Labs (I can already smell it...yummy). You must register by September 26 in order to take the tour, so don't wait til the last minute. Once the tour is over you can walk around downtown and see all the swanky new bistros, and cocktail bars. But if you want something more low key, you can go to one of Charlotte's favorite watering holes, Cans. This retro grill has a 70s and 80s theme. The soundtrack is.. well you can probably guess. You can munch on favorites like sloppy joes while you drink a canned beer.

If downtown isn't your scene because you'd rather be surrounded by nature, then take a 2 hour guided tour at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This experience will surely get you heart pounding as you ride the waves and take tight turns in the largest man-made river ever made. You'll also enjoy exploring this 300 acre wooded facility. This event takes place on October 7.

If golf is your thing, then get your par on this deal. On October 8, you can participate in a golf tournament at Charlottes 5 star championship golf course, The Golf Club at Ballantyne REsort. This golf course has received numerour accolades at a state and regional level and has also been named the "Most Excellent Golf Resort" by Conde Nast Johansen. Also check out Dana Rader's Golf School which hs been listed as one of the top prestigious golf school in America by Golf Magazine.

Looking for something to do?

Just bring a picnic basket, picnic blanket or chairs and kick back and watch a movie OUTDOORS!

Lake Norman has started it's 3rd annual BOAT-IN movie series. You can choose to watch a movie from your boat or by land. IF you come to view the movie by boat you will need to listen by radio signal. If you choose to have a picnic on land you can hear the movie from a hand held radio.

This is so much fun, especially for the little ones. IF they get a little antsy they can get up and move around. And if money is kind of tight, no problem, you don't have to pay a dime. How awesome is that during a time of inflation? A free night out for the whole family!

July 9 - Ramsey Creek Park - Shrek III begins at 8:30p.m.

July12 - Ramsey Creek Park - Aurthur and the Invisibles - 8:30

July 25 - McGuire Nuclear Station - 8:45

August 6 - Ramsey Creek Park - 8:30

August 20 - Ramsey Creek Park- 8:30