Donna Johnston

Being a Realtor® is all about connection not connection(s). After all you have to connect with someone before you can sell them or help them ~ two very different things. So then a Realtor® is just a salesperson (for some that’s true). I was at a meeting with one of the “big time” real estate industry gurus (can’t remember his name let’s call him Bart). Bart was coaching (not at RE/MAX) Realtors® about how to maximize their time with clients essentially how to get them to buy, buy, buy (click for a special treat) or move on to the next “customer”. Bart said on average he shows a client no more than 5 homes before they buy or he moves on — I got up and left.

To be fair I don’t think Bart was a bad guy (if not a bit smarmy) and I am pretty sure his amazing transaction numbers were true — he had a local Charlotte acolyte we’ll call him Bart II there to confirm that he too was “closing deals left and right - even in this bad market” yada…yada…yada

Now let me tell you a very different story – it’s about the little girl in the picture above ~ she’s a heck of saleseperson too by the way ~ but there’s a BIG difference…

Rhonda Gibbons® was for years known as the Denim Queen selling denim jeans for companies like LEE., Levi and Polo Jeans - trust me the rag trade as it’s called is the hardest sales job in the world! As I watched Rhonda in that job I noticed one thing that was stunning her ability to facilitate, negotiate and CONNECT with people. As a Realtor® she is even better at it! Being a Realtor® is all about connecting: connecting with your client, connecting with the seller or buyer agent, connecting with the lender, the inspector, the handyman, the appraiser etal. But what it’s really about is CONNECTING all those people and managing one smooth transaction. So what’s the secret to success all that connecting is not about her ~ it’s about everyone else. Easy to understand, hard to do! Great book on this The Go-Giver

So as they say the “proof’s in the pudding”. A couple of months ago Rhonda joined her first “networking group” Charlotte Leadership Team this one happens to be better than most and Rhonda happens to be better than that. In her first two months Rhonda won the awards for “Most Leads Given“. Think Bart would be impressed? ~ not so much ~ no deals struck, no big bucks, on the surface nothing! But Rhonda knows what this means and just how valuable all those connections are ~ Rhonda is a Go-Giver!

And as we all know if you don’t have a certificate then it didn’t happen…

As a blogger I find the only thing more controversial than politics, religion and S-E-X is restaurants. We all have our favs and sometimes depending on one’s palate or day of the week your experience may differ from ours. C’est la vie. So please take our reviews with a grain of salt ~ Rhonda and I have been to these these five multiple times and have yet to have an off meal or bad service experience! You may have your own fab five but if you give these five a try we’re pretty sure one or more will make it into your culinary rotation!

Middle of the week quick & healthy! The Roasting Company
We love The Roasting Company on what used to be Charlotte’s restaurant row Montford Drive. We affectionately call this place the “chicken place”. Big fat juicy rotisserie chicken with fantastic home made vegetable sides. The chicken tacos are great too, light with a choice of three fresh made salsas. Cold beer is available and its quick they’ll probably call your name before you sit down! Make sure you pick up a bottle of Tico sauce — wonderful mild sauce ~ Heinz 57 meets Jamaica! How do I get there?

The Real Deal Sushi! Musashi
This is not your upscale sushi place but if you’re looking for the freshest most authentic sushi without all the flash Musashi is for you. Nestled in a strip mall (yes near the Goodwill) you will find a warn friendly atmosphere - I tell Rhonda it reminds me of a neighborhood sushi place in New York where it seems like there is a great sushi place on every corner. Charlotte not so much ~ so if you’re looking for a sushi place to call your own Musashi’s the one! How do I get there?

Best Fish Tacos in the World (in Charlotte)! Cabo Fish Taco

OK I have no idea about anything else on the menu - is there anything else, do they even need a menu? Cabo Fish Taco in NoDa is just perfect - small, loud and fun and the fish tacos are to die for. Rhonda loves, loves the fish tacos high praise from someone who is not a big texmex fan. Served in a taco shell that would float off the plate if not for the chunks of piping hot (which makes the difference) lightly fried fish. Try the Longboard Island lager ~ I know Hawaiian beer? ~ trust me! How do I get there?

The best Thai in Town! Bangkok Ocha
Another family run neighborhood find! Rhonda and I eat here a couple of times a month and have always, always been 100% happy. The food is authentic and I’ll add the shrimp and scallops are notably fresh and tasty. Too often Asian restaurants seem focused on the noodles or rice leaving the meat less than notable. Not at Bangkok Ocha ~ try the #38 shrimp & scallop combo. Oh and for a wonderful beer try the always icy cold Singha beer! How do I get there?

That Very Special Evening! Barrington’s

Maybe because it’s so small you get the feeling you found something no one else knows about and you’d be right! The kind of place where the Chef’s specials…are! You will need a reservation and in New york style you will be sitting close but somehow you don’t feel that way cause you’re focused on the one you’re with and the amazing food and wine ~ find a special reason and go to this very special Charlotte gem! How do I get there?

So there you have it five of Rhonda and my favorite restaurants in Charlotte. We’re sure you have five more and we’d love to hear about them ~ leave a comment and we’ll be sure to check yours out! Bon Appetit!

Did you know Charlotte was once a goldrush boomtown! Things like the Reed Gold Mine, our Goldrush Trolley System, the Mint Museum, the beautiful miner statue (shown here) and our beloved UNCC 49ers all reflect the rich heritage of a gold mining boomtown (turn it up)!

So what now? Is Charlotte a boomtown, is any city really a boomtown anymore these days? One of our favorite Charlotte Observer columnists and bloggers is Peter St. Orge - he recently started up what he calls The Squeeze — I suppose Charlotte Scoop was taken haha. Peter does a nice job summing up Charlotte’s Boomtown status in his interview with UNC Charlotte’s John Connaughton about an upcoming PBS show “Frontline” feature on Charlotte read here.

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.

Gabrielle Shain is at it again ~ doing what she and her Shain Gallery on Selwyn Avenue in Myers Park do best! Come Into the Park is an opportunity to support the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, dine and dance and to view new works by two nationally recognized artists. I know this will be an awesome event and an chance to see (watch how fast they sell) new works from Kim Schuessler and Geoffrey Johnson who are two of the countries most original, up and coming artists! Kim and Geoff went to art school together, are good friends and delightful people ~ getting to know the artist makes the art so much more memorable! Their works adorn many of Charlotte’s finest homes. Every time I look at the piece Geoffrey did for our wedding I think of the day I met my good friend in France. (story below)

If you are not familiar with their work you will be amazed, while Kim and Geoffrey’s styles are very different, their art genuinely reflects the way they see the world around them. At first you might think Kim’s work playful and Geoff’s brooding that would be a mistake ~ look closer to see that Geoff’s ethereal work is all about the light and Kim’s figures have a deeper meaning and backstory. Kim and Geoff are not siblings but their art is what you might expect from a brother and sister, not the same, independent but somehow deeply connected. It is a joy to meet them and to see their work!

So Geoff and me in France…two weeks after 9/11 Rhonda and I off to France for a Connie Winter’s artist workshop - one week, fifteen women, unlimited wine, french countryside, Geoff and me. Upon meeting Geoffrey in the Marseilles airport we immediately grabbed a beer, became fast friends and set out together to maintain some semblance of “manliness” for the week. Not to fear, this incredible group of smart, funny, talented women took us under their wing — put it this way we learned about a lot more than just painting! Anyway we became good friends and Rhonda and I have become not only huge fans of Geoff’s work but of the person!

So I hope you will join us for Come Into the Park at the Symphony Park band shell (and don’t forget the Summer Concert Series there later in June!) in Southpark on May 14 more information click here. And when you’re in Myers Park please check out the Shain Gallery, one of Charlotte’s best ~ be sure to check out Connie Winter’s work, her son Darren Young’s and of course Kim and Geoff’s too. Say hello to Gabrielle if art is your thing then you want to know Gabrielle!