Entertainment

New Cuban Restaurant Open in Belmont

March 13, 2023 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

If you are wanting to try a great new restaurant, head over to Belmont where you can get some amazing Cuban food at the newly opened My Cuban Corner. The restaurant opened March 6th and serves breakfast and lunch from 7 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday.

The restaurant took over the space that formerly was White’s Restaurant. White’s was in that location for 41 years, but closed in 2021. The vacant restaurant called to new owners Nicole and Junior Montero. They had moved to the area in 2019 from Hialeah, Florida. They were lured North by the good schools and cheaper cost of living. When they saw the restaurant space, they knew they could make it feel like home or “Little Cuba” where Nicole grew up.

Breakfasts include eggs, croquetas, fries, Cuban toast, and Cuban coffee with milk also called cafe con leche. Lunch offerings will include steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, pork sandwiches, sweet plantains, and more. Friday specials will range from pork to chicken with rice and beans. Additional specials and menu items could be added later based on customer demand and seasonality of ingredients.

My Cuban Corner is a relaxed family space located at 417 N. Catawba Street in downtown Belmont. It is sure to be a place to get a meal before or after community events like parades, concerts, or just a day window shopping.

If you are curious about what your home is worth or if it’s a good time for you to buy, give us a call at 803-831-8588. We would love to share our perspective on Lake Wylie and the Charlotte area. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Airport Delays Likely

February 24, 2023 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Due to construction at Charlotte Douglas International Airport delays in security lines will be longer for the entire summer. More people travel over the summer making it the busiest time for the airport. This will inevitably lead to shorter tempers which means that travelers will need to be patient.

The airport has done some things to help mitigate the delays. Checkpoint B will be closed, but the airport has an app that will show you wait times at all of the checkpoints so you can find the shortest wait time. In addition, they are saying that you should arrive 2 hours early for domestic flights and possibly earlier for international flights.

Expected wait times should go from an average of 10-20 minutes to an average of 35-45 minutes. Since you can plan for this, make sure to eat and use the facilities before you jump into the line. You can have activities for young children to keep them entertained during the wait. If you have the means and the time, it is worth it to invest in TSA pre-check which can shorten wait times as well.

This renovation is part of the $608 million terminal lobby expansion project. This five year project is already about halfway done. Part of the project involves going from 5 checkpoints down to just 3, but they will be more technologically advanced and should shorten wait times going forward. The entire project is expected to be fully completed in 2025.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Coming to Ballantyne

February 2, 2023 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Next year Ballantyne will have a new brewery. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is opening a second location in the mixed-use The Bowl at Ballantyne. This new community will be focused on culture, community and sustainability, so the brewery is a great addition. The property is owned and operated by Northwood and they just broke ground.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne or OMB Ballantyne will be the entrance and anchor of The Bowl. The plan calls for 14,000 square feet of indoor space and 7,000 square feet of patio space and a second-level balcony overlooking a biergarten surrounded by trees. The plan is kid-friendly with a zone specifically for families that includes a playground.

OMB has created quite a name for themselves with many local accolades from Creative Loafing, The Charlotte Observer, and The Charlotte Business Journal. In addition, they have won national awards for their tasty brews. They are truly an old school brewery taking no shortcuts and you can taste the results.

This new project is part of the Ballantyne Reimagined project where an office park is in process of being overhauled. This will be a great place to visit if you live near Lake Wylie as it is much closer than their original location near Woodlawn and I-77. The new location is easily accessible from I-485. The new location is expected to open in 2024.

Restaurant Week Returns Charlotte, Lake Wylie, Belmont

January 6, 2023 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Once again, it’s time for Charlotte Restaurant Week. This year the dates are January 20 – January 29th. Eighty seven restaurants will join the fun this year with locations all over the Charlotte metro area. This includes Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Iredell, Gaston, Union, Catawba, Stanly, York and Lancaster counties.

Prix fixe menus are available for the event which is a perfect time to try out a new spot so you and whoever you are dining with can try new dishes, and share meals to get a taste of everything. The cost of these set menus is typically between $30-$45 per person not including gratuity. If you add drinks and extras, the cost goes up from there.

There are some amazing restaurants joining the lineup this year that are close to the Lake Wylie area. In the Belmont/Gaston County area are:

In Fort Mill/LakeWylie/Rock Hill/York County they are:

There are many additional options for restaurants to try. Here are some things to keep in mind. You will probably need reservations to make sure the restaurant can seat you since this event is very popular. You can follow the links above to each restaurant to make those reservations or you can call each restaurant separately. This event is dinner only for a dine-in experience so make sure you book your babysitters in advance.For information about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Check out the Belmont Festival of Trees

November 27, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The fifth annual Belmont Festival of Trees is set to occur this Monday night, November 28th. It is a great event with tree lighting in addition to luminaries throughout the park. This wonderful community gathering kicks off many celebrations throughout the holiday season.

Festive trees will be decorated with holiday lights with the official lighting at 6:30 pm. A special display of “Oh Starry Night” in luminaries will be presented by Strong Like AK on the upper field of Stowe Park.

The event is located at 24 S. Main Street in the heart of Belmont. If you can’t get to the official lighting ceremony, never fear. The trees have decorations as well as lights so they can be enjoyed day or night throughout the month of December with an end date of January 3rd.

Luminaries can be purchased to light the “Oh Starry Night: Lighting a Path to Hope”. They are a fundraiser to help support pediatric cancer patient financial care and housing support. This is through the Strong Like AK foundation. They can be donated at this link for $20 each. This worthy cause helps ease the financial burden of some of the 1.7 million people diagnosed each year with cancer. You can dedicate your luminary to someone currently fighting cancer or in memory of someone lost to cancer. You can share the story of the person you are honoring and it will be on display for the entire month of December.

For more information about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

To learn more about the Belmont Festival of Trees, check out the website here.

Fall Pumpkin Patches

October 4, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

It used to be that you would go to visit a pumpkin patch in the fall and it would be a bunch of pumpkins on the side of the road or in the yard of a church. You can do that, or you can have a much more inclusive experience with hayrides, corn mazes, arts and crafts and much more. If you are taking the whole family, it can be an expensive venture, but also a delightful day. Here are a few of the ones closest to the Lake Wylie area.

Bush-N-Vine Farm – 1650 Filbert Hwy, York, SC 29745 – Open Monday through Saturday, 8am to 5 pm until October 31st. Has a cafe with apple cider and blueberry donuts, hot dogs and slushies. Pick your own pumpkins and pay by the pound. Enjoy a one-mile walking trail. Free admission.
Cherry Place Farm – 1922 Oakdale Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730 – Open 10 am – 6 pm Saturdays and 1 pm – 6 pm on Sundays through October. Go on a self-guided tour of the farm, get lost in the 2-acre corn maze, see and pet farm animals, lots of activities for the kids, and free popcorn. $10 admission per person with kids under 2 free. Pumpkins are $9 each.
Shelby Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch – 120 Broadway Dr, Shelby, NC 28152 – Open 4-10 pm Fridays, 10 am – 10 pm Saturday, 2 pm – 8 pm Sundays through October 30th. Admission includes pumpkin picking, 8-acre corn maze and 40+ other attractions. Haunted corn maze is after dark on Fridays and Saturdays. Pumpkin patch closes at 7 pm Friday and Saturday. Admission is $13 per person and includes corn maze, hayride, and 4 activity tickets. Pumpkins vary in price depending on size.

If you want to know more about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Scarowinds Open Now

September 27, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Once again, a Halloween tradition is open to the public. Scarowinds, or the scary Halloween version of Carowinds Amusement Park is open on select nights to scare you and thrill you with mazes, rides, attractions, shows, food, and more.

The park will be open for limited hours for the event with rides and attractions in the dark for some extra spooky adventure. The scary event is not recommended for patrons under 13 years old. The park is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the end of October, but be sure you have the correct ticket, the park is open during the day, but you need separate admission for the Scarowinds event after dark. Season pass holders can get some extra perks as they can bring in guests for a discounted admission price.

On opening night, real world scares got in the way of the imaginary ones at the park. Unfounded rumors of shots being fired at the park quickly led to the park closing early. This prank is the cause of some new rules at the event including a brand new chaperone policy. Be ready to bring your ID and know that anyone under 18 has to be with an adult that is at least 21 years old. One chaperone can only be responsible for up to 4 other people so plan your group accordingly.

In addition, there is a no bag policy. You cannot bring in a bag or purse or backpack. If you have a medical necessity, you are allowed to bring in that medically necessary equipment in a small bag which is subject to a search. See the Carowinds website for more information including hours and tickets here.

If you want to know more about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

New Restaurant Coming to Belmont

September 23, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

For those of you who live in the Lake Wylie area, you know that there are some tried and true choices for eating out. We are about to get another option that is sure to be a fun night out. Belmont is about to have a new pizza parlor and arcade sure to bring nostalgic vibes.

106 North Main Street in Belmont is the new home of Stone Fired Social, a pizza place taking the spot where Johnny B’s Pizza used to be (it closed in 2021). It is right next to sister restaurant The String Bean.

The menu is still being refined, but we know for sure that the pies will offer a selection of toppings, and customization options. There will be appetizers, wings, salads, sandwiches, pizzas with red sauce, pizzas with alternative sauces, and a kids menu. There will also be more interesting offerings with fun names like the Hulk Smash Pistachio and the Red Corvette Red. All pizzas will be available in 12 inch, 16 inch, or grandma style. The grandma style is a rectangular Sicilian style.

The restaurant, once open, will be available for lunch and dinner six days per week. They will be closed on Mondays. Patrons can eat, play arcade games, order 12 different flavors of gelato, or make use of the full bar.

The restaurant should open in the next couple of weeks. They are hiring for all positions right now and are finishing all of the final details. Stone Fired Social will soon be hosting families, happy hours, team celebrations, parties and much more.

If you want to know more about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.