Love the Outdoors? Explore the Upper Neuse River Greenway Trail
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
The Upper Neuse River Greenway trail is a recent addition to the Triangle region’s network of nature trails. It officially opened in November 2011 and is a project led by the Raleigh Parks and Recreation department, whose mission it is to “to actively encourage, provide, promote and protect quality leisure, recreation and cultural opportunities, facilities and environments that are essential for the enhancement of the lives of our citizens” (Source: www.raleighnc.gov).
Greenway Details
The Upper Neuse River Greenway trail is a 10-foot-wide paved pathway that extends from Falls Lake dam to the WRAL soccer complex on Perry Creek Road. The greenway features seven bridges, along with seven boardwalk sections. The trail passes under Falls of Neuse Road, New Falls of Neuse Road and Capital Boulevard, so there are no road conflicts along the route. The greenway is the first segment of the larger Neuse River trail to be completed. The trail provides connection to the Falls canoe launch and the Falls Lake recreation area. In addition, the trail passes through the future Thornton Road park site. In addition, the Wake Forest greenway system is scheduled to be connected to the Neuse River trail.
History, Background and Funding
The Neuse River corridor forms the backbone of the Capital Area Greenway, a region designated in 1976. It has a number of important goals, such as the preservation of the flood plain along the river and the development of a trail system throughout the corridor, including one that runs its entire length. Another goal involves the creation of upland park areas that flank the corridor on either side at a distance of two to three miles. These are designed to provide additional recreational opportunities and access points. To that end, since the corridor’s master plan was adopted, over 2000 acres of land have been acquired. The area is funded by city of Raleigh bond as well as by nearly one million Federal dollars. In addition, financial support comes from AARA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) in the amount of 3.25 million dollars.
For a unique experience of the region’s remarkable natural beauty, be sure to visit the Upper Neuse Greenway trail.
Don’t Miss a Unique Exhibition about the Mongol Warlord Genghis Khan
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
From November 19, 2011, to January 16, 2012, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh will be the site of a remarkable exhibition of treasures from the empire of Genghis Khan. The exhibit is on loan directly from Khan’s native Mongolia, thanks to the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and some private collectors as well.
Who was Genghis Khan?
Khan was a Mongol warlord who’s famous for conquering half of the known world in the years between 1162 and 1227 AD. His empire was four times the size of the Roman Empire and was roughly the size of the entire continent of Africa, an incredible 11,600,000 square miles. Khan is widely regarded as an innovative leader and enlightened statesman who brought stability, religious tolerance and unity to most of Asia and some parts of Europe.
Highlights of the Exhibition
The exhibit tells Khan’s amazing story by focusing on his life, his culture, his people, his land and his legacy that endures to this day. There’s a wide-ranging collection of objects from Khan’s time — weapons, jewelry, ornaments and even musical instruments. Also on display are working models of Khan’s deadly siege weapons, including a huge triple crossbow and a trebuchet, which is a type of powerful catapult. Both weapons contributed greatly to Khan’s success in conquering heavily fortified walled cities. Recently, the mummified body of a Mongol princess was added to the exhibition, including her wooden coffin, exquisite silk robes, pearl earrings and a variety of other treasures. The mummy was discovered by Mongolian archeologists in the Gobi Desert, where the dry climate and a sheltered cave naturally preserved it.
Ticket Information and Address
Tickets for the exhibition range from $5 to $14. Contact the museum at 919.733.7450 or toll-free 877.4NATSCI. The address is 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. Normal opening hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, noon to 5 PM. On the first Friday of the month, the museum is open until 9 PM, but do call to verify the evening hours before visiting.
This is a rare opportunity to view a spectacular, one-of-a-kind collection. Highly recommended!
Don’t Be a Scrooge: Visit the Bitmore Village Dickens Festival!
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
This holiday season, be sure to experience the unique historical atmosphere of the Bitmore Village Dickens festival. Held over a 3-day period in December, the festival is a celebration of the magic of the season, complete with music and over 300 performers who bring Dickens’ world to life. The main stage of the festival offers continuous entertainment, including the Montford Park Players drama group, singers, dancers, choral groups, musicians and much more.
Events at the Bitmore Village Dickens Festival
Charles Dickens was the 19th-century English author who penned the beloved tale “A Christmas Carol” and who created the remarkable character Ebenezer Scrooge. In the story, Scrooge is visited by a ghost who helps him overcome his miserly nature and become a true believer in the magic of the season. To celebrate his transformation, the Bitmore Village Dickens festival offers plenty of entertainment, both onstage and by strolling actors and musicians.
More about the Dickens Festival
Plan to come to the festival in the evening, when over 250,000 white lights illuminate the village with a wonderful, magical glow. Be sure to visit some of the shops, where you’ll find the shopkeepers dressed in traditional Dickensian costumes from the 19th century Victorian era. Enjoy a horse-drawn ride through the village’s tree-lined streets. To enhance the ambience, you’ll find real “chestnuts roasting by an open fire,” as the song goes, so don’t forget to sample them. The village is decked out with evergreen holiday wreaths on each picturesque streetlight and on many shop doors to enhance that holiday feeling.
The Bitmore Village Dickens festival is an event not to be missed!
A Unique Holiday Experience: The Scandinavian Christmas Fair
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
Looking for something different to do this holiday season? Why not visit the Triangle region’s Scandinavian Christmas fair? The fair is a wonderful celebration of the authentic Christmas traditions in the countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. At the fair, you’ll learn about holiday celebrations in Scandinavia. Called “Julmarknad” in Swedish, the event offers a unique opportunity to experience the holiday customs and traditions of these northern European countries, which, as we all know, are closer to the North Pole where Santa lives! So, what better way to celebrate the season?
What’s Happening at the Scandinavian Christmas Fair
The fair attracts people from Scandinavia, as well as those who are of Scandinavian descent, but all others are welcome as well. Soak up the ambience of this annual holiday tradition, including sampling delicious seasonal treats. In addition, a number of skilled artisans and vendors offer a unique choice of items from all over Scandinavia, including homemade indigenous foods, jewelry, crystal, decorations and much, much more. Immerse yourself in the old-world atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind holiday event.
Events and Performances at the Fair
Talented artisans and vendors offer unique crafts and gifts from all over Scandinavia. You will find everything from knives and quilts to crystal pieces, jewelry, homemade bread and Christmas decorations. One of the highlights of the event is the Lucia Procession where adults and children dressed in Scandinavian costumes perform traditional songs. It’s a great event for families — the kids will enjoy a visit with Santa, who’s known as Tomten in Scandinavia. There’s also dancing and storytelling, along with charming gnomes and other popular holiday characters.
Entertainment and Food Galore!
The stage at the fair is a center of activity and ongoing entertainment, including traditional Scandinavian folk dancing and music, along with plenty of singing. There’s even a fashion show that displays the beautiful folk costumes of this vibrant European region. Why not plan to attend this year to experience the wonderful culture, traditions and food of Scandinavia, including the ever-popular herring? Other culinary delights to experience are Swedish meatballs, salmon and pea soup. There’s also a “coffee corner” that serves delicious home-baked pastries. Adults also will enjoy sampling glogg, a wonderful spiced wine.
Find the Scandinavian Christmas fair at the Holshouser building on the state fairgrounds.
Thanksgiving: Tradition and a Wonderful Feast at the Fearrington House
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
Here in the South, we’re all about tradition. We take our holiday meals quite seriously, so when we choose to dine out on Thanksgiving, the fare must be superb. At the Fearrington House, the chef and staff are well aware of this, and have put together a remarkable Thanksgiving menu. So, if you haven’t made your reservation yet, read on to learn why you should consider this wonderful restaurant for your 2011 holiday feast.
Thanksgiving at Fearrington House: First and Second Courses
The first course sets the stage for the rest of the meal, and this year Fearrington House offers a delicious and innovative celery root and vanilla soup with Southern fried chicken. The soup is served with pickled grapes and a hearty walnut pesto. The second offering is a cured North Carolina trout with a confit of butternut squash with candied pine nut creme fraiche. The dish is finished with a unique mustard gel and crispy horseradish tapioca. The second course is a choice of green bean casserole or seared scallops. The casserole is made with wild mushrooms, poached egg, sage, crispy onions and brioche. Sweet potato puree complements the scallops, along with a smoked pecan crumble, buttered Savoy cabbage and a luscious maple-cranberry cream.
Thanksgiving at Fearrington House: A Delicious Take on Tradition
For the main course, the inn is offering roasted turkey with a twist. It comes with a confit turkey leg and mustard pie, and a lemon and rosemary sausage stuffing. Accompaniments include roasted fingerling potatoes, gingerbread parsnips with baby carrots, root vegetable pava, cheddar mac and cheese, creamed maple and mustard collard greens and brussels sprouts with pancetta. Cranberry sauce, turkey gravy and bread sauce round out the entree menu. For dessert, there’s a spectacular napoleon made using a moist almond cake, pumpkin and nutmeg chiboust, sweet potato, mulled wine apples, and spiced bread ice cream. The entire meal is priced at $69 per person. The Fearrington House Inn has won a number of accolades, including a reader’s choice award from Conde Nast Traveler. Departure magazine ranks it as a “world’s best foodie destination.”
There’s no better holiday setting than this romantic white-columned farmhouse with extensive gardens that overlook rustic pastures.
Thanksgiving Dinner 2011 in Style: The Renowned Four Square Restaurant
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
Stepping out this year for a Thanksgiving feast? It’s good to know that the Raleigh, NC region has a wonderful variety of restaurants to choose from. For a holiday dinner, the setting is as important as the meal. One venue that’s a standout year after year is the elegant Four Square restaurant, located in the beautiful Bartlett Mangum House. Here’s a brief sampling of what to expect at the restaurant’s sumptuous meal.
First Courses: A Delightful Selection
Thanksgiving dinner at the Four Square is priced at $55 per person. Always popular is the hearts of romaine salad that features blood oranges, pears and a grilled scallion-basil-feta vinaigrette. There’s also a harvest pumpkin soup served with blue crab and rye croutons. For the more adventurous, the grilled pheasant sausage is a good choice. It’s served with grainy mustard potato salad and stewed tomatoes. The innovative lobster ravioli with creamed cabbage and truffle oil drizzle rounds out the selection of first courses.
Entrees: Traditional and More
Turkey with all the trimmings is the highlight of most Thanksgiving meals. The Four Square’s offering features turkey from the Little River Ranch, apple-cornbread dressing, collard greens, pickled okra, old- fashioned cranberry sauce and rich giblet gravy. For seafood lovers, there’s crispy red snapper served with creamed corn, spicy red chiles and spinach, and preserved persimmons. A salmon coulibiac is offered as well, with country ham and grainy mustard. It’s accompanied by a black truffle reduction and a roast pepper-broccoli salad with basil tarragon pesto. Pasta lovers will relish the pumpkin gnocchi in a roasted garlic-eggplant broth, accompanied by French onion green beans and fried parsnips. Finally, a wonderful grilled-to-order organic beef tenderloin with mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus and black truffle reduction, completes the restaurant’s Thanksgiving offerings.
About the Four Square Restaurant
The Four Square’s chef visits the Durham Farmer’s Market regularly in search of the freshest local ingredients. Relying heavily on the region’s farms and purveyors, the restaurant’s menu is full of the best the Triangle has to offer in vegetables, grains, seafood and meats. From beautiful purple asparagus to heirloom chicken and turkey, the pantry at the restaurant is just bursting with fresh vegetables and fruit. Lettuce and greens are delivered daily, along with field peas, beans, heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Lamb and pork are sourced locally as well.
For the best in seasonal holiday fare, don’t miss Thanksgiving at the Four Square restaurant.
Uncork NC: The State’s Wine History and Heritage
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
Did you know that North Carolina is home to over 100 wineries? Our climate is perfect for growing many varieties of grape, including those from which Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viogner wines are made. The winery industry in NC grows European-style vinifera grapes and the native muscadine grapes that are planted in the state’s western and Piedmont regions. Wine grapes have been cultivated in North Carolina since the first settlers arrived from Europe in the 16th century era of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
North Carolina Wine: A Long and Storied History
The wine industry in North Carolina began in earnest with the founding of Medoc Vineyard in 1835. It was small by modern standards, and produced about 60 barrels of wine per year. Popular in the eastern regions of the US, the wine was highly regarded. The Medoc Vineyard also produced a champagne. By the time of the Civil War, there were about 25 thriving wineries in the state, but the war forced closure of many, whose vintners fled north. Winemaking returned, though, and wineries flourished Peachland, Murphy, Littleton, Tryon, Eagle Springs, Conover and many other places.
North Carolina Wine: Accolades Abound
Wines from this region won medals at the Paris Exposition in 1900. By 1904, Virginia Dare red and white wines were best sellers across the nation and won medals at the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition. North Carolina wines continued to win critical acclaim throughout the 20th century.
NC Wine and Prohibition
When Congress banned the production of alcohol on 1919, a number of undisclosed wineries sprung up in secret, little-known locations, many in the Piedmont hills. NC’s “moonshine” often was a clandestine wine rather than the more famililar distilled white lightning. Despite both Prohibition and a law declaring the state to be “dry” (alcohol-free) the wine industry in North Carolina survived and has re-established itself into a vibrant, world-class competitor. Today, the state ranks 7th in wine production in the US.
So, when you come to North Carolina, remember to sample our wonderful wines.
Start Wine-ing at the 2012 Triangle Wine Experience
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
The Triangle Wine Experience is a remarkable charity event that features the region’s best wines and wineries. Wine in North Carolina? Absolutely! The Wine Experience is 18 years old, and always has attendance figures in the thousands. If you’re a lover of fine wine and want to contribute to the Frankie Lemon School and Developmental Center, the plan to attend the event which will be held on February 2 through February 4, 2012. The event is the primary funding source for the school, which is a non-profit entity dedicated to education children aged 3 to 6 who have developmental disabilities, impairments or delays.
More About the Triangle Wine Experience
On the event’s first night, the best vintners and wineries in the region host wine tastings and dinners at many of the best and most respected restaurants in the region. Imagine! A five-star meal accompanied by a five-star wine! In past years, attendees have had the choice of over 30 of the area’s most prestigious restaurants. During the second day, local wine merchants host tastings by many of the areas most respected winemakers and winery owners who offer samples of their wines to event participants. The same wines will be available by the bottle. In the past, many of the area’s best wineries have participated, including Honig Winery, Solena Estate, Vision Cellars and Blackbird Winery. So, expect a great selection of wines from North Carolina and beyond.
The Grand Gala and Auction
The weekend ends with a black-tie event that features live and silent auctions of premium wine groupings and collections and luxury packages that have been created exclusively for the event. After the auction, the Triangle Wine Experience continues with fine food, fine wine, music and dancing. Registrations will be accepted starting in November at 919-845-8880. For additional information about the event, contact the Frankie Lemmon Foundation at the same number.
For the best food and wine the Triangle has to offer, plan to attend this free event that’s presented by Nomacorc, a leading manufacturer of alternative wine closures.
Spooktacular Halloween Bash at Midtown Farmers’ Market at North Hills
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
It’s that time of year when there’s an eerie feeling in the air. Ghosts and goblins abound, and there always are more treats than tricks. Why not try something different this year and visit the Halloween Bash at Midtown Farmers Market at North Hills?
About the Halloween Bash
Even the littlest trick or treaters will enjoy an event full of family fun. There will be plenty of music and activities to keep everyone occupied, including pumpkin painting, a masquerade parade, crafts, children’s costume contest, delicious seasonal foods and wonderful hot cider. When the bash ends and the market closes at noon, traditional trick or treating throughout North Hills will begin. The event is free, and is great for children of all ages.
About Midtown Farmers’ Market
This is a growers only market, so you can expect to find high-quality farm products on sale. There’s an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, cheese, meat, baked goods, flowers, homemade desserts and much, much more. Is there any better way to support North Carolina’s farmers? The market is a community favorite, so it seems natural to hold a variety of live events there, including entertainment, workshops and demos. The Duke Raleigh Hospital also has a presence there, and conducts healthy living and wellness activities. For more information about the market, visit www.northhillsraleigh.com/news/3829/.The market is located on 4350 Lassiter and North Hills Avenue in Raleigh, and runs on Saturdays from 8 AM to 12 PM from April 16th to November 19th.
For an event that supports the NC agricultural community and provides great, safe fun for children, the Midtown Farmers’ Market Halloween Bash is not to be missed!
Halloween in the Triangle: The Haunted Mordecai Festival
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
There’s nothing better than a haunted house to get you in the Halloween spirit. For a spooktacular evening of themed fun, including music, games, food, and crafts, plan to visit Mordecai Historic Park on October 29, 2011. Featuring scary lantern tours and haunted trolley rides, Halloween events at historic Mordecai House promise to be terrifying in the most fun way!
About Mordecai House
Mordecai House is one of Raleigh’s architectural treasures. It was built in the late 18th century, a few years after the American Revolution. At the time, it was one of Wake County’s largest and most prosperous plantations. Today, it still has the original furnishings, including portraits of the five generations of the Mordecai family who lived there. The house is rich in legends, and is said to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Willis Mordecai Turk, who seems to be watching over her home from the spirit world. More than a few visitors have reported disconcerting encounters with a female ghost who fits her description. The ghost is seen to descend the home’s main staircase gracefully and enter a room. What better setting for a Halloween event the whole family will enjoy?
About the Lantern Tour and Haunted Trolley
Want to see for yourself if Mary’s ghost still inhabits Mordecai House? Then take the late night lantern tour. The glow of the lanterns lends an otherworldly aura to the tour, which can be quite frightening for younger children, as well as some skittish adults! There’s also a costume contest scheduled for kids under 12. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. Reputed to be a site where paranormal activity occurs, Mordecai House is the perfect venue for a spine-chilling Halloween experience.The haunted trolley ride is a must as well — perhaps you’ll see a ghost along the way — like that of a man with the scarred face who’s reputed to appear and disappear.
To be sure you’re included in this scary, yet fun-filled Halloween event, preregistration is strongly recommended. Contact Mordecai House at 919.857.4364, or visit the website for more information at www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai.