Cary Real Estate Blog

Are you going to Lazy Daze in Cary, NC this year?  That’s the question alot of my friends were asking over the weekend.  One of the reasons I work at LG Real Estate is to be able to shop. 

 Right now, the high for Saturday is only supposed to be 86 degrees – that would be amazing.  Remember to go early – most of the vendors are ready to sell by 8:30am and you can actually see their items before all the crowds arrive. 

Of the 3 streets that are included in the festival, my favorite one is between the center of the Town of Cary and the old elementary school.  This is the street that I go to 1st.  Bring a small purse and remember that most of the vendors are happy to store your things for you at the booth until you are ready to go home.  And, if you want a bit of adult refreshment for a shopping break, you can drop in on the beer garden.  Check out the vendor CD this year to get a preview of the Lazy Daze wares.  See you there!

Featuring the Cary Town Band, North Carolina Symphony and Fantastic Fireworks Display

 The 4^th of July is a very special day at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary NC.  Bring your picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs and enjoy a good old fashion Independence Day celebration.  The doors open at 3:00 PM and all lawn seating and parking is free.

Free Kids Zone

 An added bonus for families is the Free Kids Zone.  The Kids Zone features slides, water tag, and a Lumpy’s Ice Cream eating contest.   The fun zone is open from 3:00 PM -6:00 PM on the grounds of the Booth Amphitheatre.

Booth Amphitheatre

 The Booth Amphitheatre is located in Cary among 14 acres of hardwoods and pines situated next to Symphony Lake.  The highlight of the 4^th of July celebration is the beautiful firework display over the lake accompanied by the North Carolina Symphony. 

LG Real Estate

Several member of our LG Real Estate team have attended this event in past years and enjoyed it immensely. Jen Grinter and family were there last year and in Jen’s words, “We had a Blast”.

COME SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO GO GREEN!

May 15 -16  /  May 22-23   /  Noon – 6:00 PM

The annual green home tour is a free, self guided event that gives potential Triangle and Cary home buyers the opportunity to step inside certified green homes.  A green home is one that is designed to be more energy efficient, have safer indoor air, and require less maintenance.

The green home tour showcases more than 30 homes in a wide variety of styles, price ranges, and building features.  You as a a home buyer can talk directly to the builders and see the latest in water conservation features, as well a as other green techniques. 

The green home tour is a joint program sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties.  Tour book pickup locations can be found at TriangleGreenHomeTour.com. 

Please call us at LG Real Estate for a follow up showing of any property on the tour.

We have great news to share that really hasn’t received a great deal of publicity.  We are sharing an FAQ that we found on the North Carolina Energy Office website.  For anyone considering updating their appliances, the details are listed below.  Even if you are not in the market to sell your home, replacing appliances can be a great decision.  It is wonderful to enjoy your new, more energy efficient appliances before you call us at LG Real Estate to list your home for sale.

GET THE FACTS:

When will the rebates be offered?   Phase I will be over a four-day period during Earth Day weekend – Thursday April 22 through Sunday April 25.

How much will the rebates be?  Rebates will be 15 percent off on Energy-Star rated appliances.  The rebates will be in addition to any store, manufacturer or other discounts being offered.

What appliances qualify?  Qualified Energy Star clothes washers, diswashers, refrigerators, and freezers.

Who is eligible to purchase items?  North Carolina residents who are replacing older clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers are eligible for the rebates on designated Energy Star appliances.  The program is only available to those replacing appliances.  Those purchasing multiple appliances or appliances for commercial properties are not eligible.

Where can I buy the appliances?  The NC Energy Office worked with the NC Retail Merchants Association and expects major retail chains as well as most independent appliance dealers to participate in the rebate program.  You can see the participating merchants at www.energync.net.

Can I receive more than one appliance rebate?  You may receive rebates on more than one appliance, but it must be for different appliances.  For example, you may receive rebates on a refrigerator and clothes washing machine, but not on two refrigerators.

Will there be rebates on any other energy star appliances?  Depending on the funds available, a second phase in June will offer rebates on Energy Star residential gas storage water heaters, tankless gas water heaters, central air conditioners, heat pumps and gas furnaces that replace older items.  These rebates will be mail-ins and can be used with purchase through retailers, contractors or programs offered through utilities.

Where is the money coming from to pay for the rebates?  North Carolina is receiving $8.8 million in federal funds to help homeowners purchase energy efficient appliances. 

See you shopping!

 It all Started with a Fruit Dryer

If I had only known 15 years ago when our youngest son Matt requested a fruit dryer for his 14^th birthday how that would change his life.  We had recently moved to the Cary area from CA.  Matt, the youngest of our four sons was the only one to make the move to the foreign country of NC. He came kicking and screaming which is very typical of any rising 8^th grader. 

The Food Channel, Cary High, and UCLA

While getting acclimated to his new life without a plethora of friends on his doorstep, Matt gained a real fondness for the TV Food Channel.  After learning to make beef jerky from his new contraption he started playing with recipes.  We never gave it a lot of thought until we heard about a Thanksgiving meal he fixed for his college roommates at UCLA.  By this time Matt had graduated from Cary High School in 1999 and went on to become an English major and Spanish minor at UCLA.  He was fortunate enough to spend a year at the University of Barcelona and during the summer he went to a culinary school in Spain. 

Eat This Not That!

Moving the clock forward several years Matt is now the co author of the “Eat This Not That” book series.  His real pride and joy is the latest book of the series “Cook This Not That”.  On Sunday April 18th,  Matt will be at the Cary location of Barnes and Noble to discuss his books.  The book signing and discussion will begin at 4pm.  On Wednesday, April 14th at 3am (the only weird time in the country) Matt will be on the Bonnie Hunt show along with David Zinczenko demonstrating several of the recipes. 

James Beard Food Writing Award

A few weeks ago Matt was nominated for the James Beard Food Writing Award.   This is a great honor and is considered the Oscar of food writing.  The nomination was for an article he did for Men’s Health Magazine called “Beauty and the Beast”.  He just arrived back to NYC from a trip to CA to work with Carl’s Jr/Hardees to help them devise a healthier menu.  There is an article about Matt in the April18th edition of the Cary News.

Proud Mom

As his Mom of course I beam with pride but taking that aside he is a wealth of information and if you meet him on Sunday you will be glad you did.

A great place in Cary to celebrate spring

Come celebrate spring at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) opening day, April 3, 8 am-12 pm, at 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Rd. in Cary.  Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht will celebrate the market’s second season with remarks at 10 am. Chef Ricky Moore of Giorgio restaurant will share samples of his signature dish, Goat Cheese-Lavender Fritter with local honey at the Education Tent.  Shop for spring flowers and seasonal, local foods for your Easter celebration on opening day, and return each weekend for the food and in support of community. The market’s web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, features all the farmers and vendors, plus much more.

The WWFM will be open 34 Saturdays, through November 20, rain or shine, to provide area residents with access to locally grown and crafted foods. Market offerings include seasonal produce, grass-fed meats, North Carolina seafood, eggs, artisan breads and desserts, coffee, flowers, vegetable plants, wine, natural cleaning products, jewelry and more. Gardeners will be able to purchase seedlings, including heirloom varieties, for their gardens at home.

 A growers only/producer’s only market

The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is a grower’s only/producer’s only market, which means all the vendors either grew or hand-crafted their products and have not purchased these goods elsewhere to re-sell them. All vendors are located within 125 miles of the marketplace to ensure access to local, fresh foods.

Seasonal produce available at market is picked at the peak of ripeness for the greatest taste and nutritional benefit, and it has been grown with little to no pesticides. Eggs and meats from grass-fed animals offer much greater nutritional value and significantly less saturated fat than these products sold at grocery stores. Supporting local family farmers also nurtures community and a local economy, while helping the environment. For instance, produce sold at many area grocers has traveled an average of 1,500 miles (and sometimes even across continents), compared to less than 125 miles.

 Featuring a guest educator each week

The market features a guest educator each week and live, family-friendly music. You may sign up for a free e-newsletter, which details what is fresh at market each week, special events and more, through the web site’s Newsletter tab.

We at LG Real Estate highly endorse the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM).  Lee Ann Crowder from our staff remarks that the variety of food including cheeses, fish, and vegetables is excellent and she enjoys meeting Cary neighbors at the market.

Yes, downtown Raleigh is only 20 minutes from Cary and we at LG Real Estate highly recommend this culinary journey:

 Saturday Afternoon Walking Food Tour To Raleigh’s Global Gastronomy

 Experience a culinary journey of sight and taste that spans a cross-section of Downtown Raleigh’s undiscovered international restaurant venues, blended together with some forgotten historical tidbits of the city to create a unique global perspective that readily replaces preconceived notions about Raleigh.  It’s fun, informative and delicious.

The food tour stops numerous times for sample tastings at 6-8 local restaurants. For example,

• A local contemporary American restaurant that received top honors recognition, or
• A local venue that features many original NOLA recipes, or
• An Asian restaurant that will have you dreaming of dumplings, or
• A Euro-gastro pub that raises the bar on culinary excellence

When: Saturdays- 2:30 pm (don’t be late)

Who:  Able-bodied adults, no more than 10

How Much:  $ 28 per person (+$2.50 svc chg), includes all tastings at 7- 9 restaurants

Weather:  Tours are rescheduled if there is a cancellation due to severe weather

What’s it like:  Delicious, fun and informative (but remember we’ll be walking approx. half of the 3 hours)

What to wear:  Comfortable clothes & walking shoes

Where to meet:  Former Capital City Grocery Porch, 10 minutes before departure, 10 West Franklin St, Raleigh. Free Parking for our customers            

Where to buy tickets:  Check tour dates, reserve and pay a minimum of 24 hours in advance of tour date. Click here for available dates and tickets

Please sign up for a tour and let us know how you liked it. 

It’s this weekend!   I’ve got my friend lined up to go with me, my special little purse for easy access to cash (no more credit cards) and I am ready.  When I look around my home, I have quite a few accessories that originated at the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival.  I’ve been going for years.  I  always early (near 8:30) to get that good parking space and beat the August heat!  I’d have to say that my favorite artist sells the glass beads and the cool birdhouses.  One of my favorite vendors to check out is Cat Glass Fever.

Do you have any favorites?  I hope to see you there!

Cary NC is a great place to raise a family and of course be a grandparent. Cary is a vibrant community of 132,000 (2008 count) located between The City of Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park.  The average age in Cary is 33.7 which means families, children, and of course lots of grandchildren.  There are wonderful parks, great schools, beautiful neighborhoods, and plenty of activities for children and grandchildren.

Allie & Ashley

We (Dave & Lenda Goulding) have 2 married sons that live in Cary and 3 precious little granddaughters.  Our oldest son Rex and his wife Lora live in the Preston area of Cary and have 2 daughters – Ashley age 6 and Allie age 4.  They love swimming at the Prestonwood CC pool and fishing in their backyard which is located on one of the Preston Lakes. 

Sadie

Our 2^nd son Ryan and his wife Dani live in the Weston Manor subdivision of Cary. They have a daughter, Sadie Claire, who will celebrate her 1^st birthday in a couple of weeks.  Sadie is now walking and loves to explore and play games with GG (Lenda) and G-POP (Dave).

Normally, we as parents follow and locate close to our children so that the grandkids are nearby.  We are very fortunate to run a business- LG Real Estate- in a town so inviting and conducive to young families.  Our oldest son Rex moved to Cary from Boston in 2003 and Ryan moved here from California in 2007. 

Cary Senior Center

So not only is Cary a terrific place to raise a family, it’s also a great place for grandparents to reside.  The parks, recreational, and cultural department of the Town of Cary operates the Cary Senior Center.  The Cary Senior Center is a 17,000 square foot recreation and education facility designed by and for the adults 55 and older in Cary.  The center sponsors such activities as the Senior/Teen Wii Bowling Challenge, Ice Cream Socials, Annual Evening Concert (free), Tai Chi and other exercise classes. 

 So grandparents come to Cary – the kids and grandchildren will follow!

2009 Summerfest Series

The North Carolina Symphony moves outdoors to the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary NC for the summer season.  Bring your neighbors and kids, pack a picnic and enjoy the festive atmosphere and vibrant sounds of the summer. You can wear your shorts and flip-flops, sit back on the lawn and enjoy the stars and the music.

11 Summertime events  

         There are 11 events scheduled on the Sunmmerfesr series and rickets are on sale at the Booth Amphitheatre box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The complete schedule and pricing can be found on the Koka Booth Amphitheatre website.

4th Of July Concert

One of the highlights of the summer series is the July 4th Independence Day concert and fireworks display. My wife Lenda and I attended the July 4th concert our first year here in Cary in 1994. We were amazed at the number of families and young children enjoying the festivities, picnics and spectacular fireworks over Regency Lake.

Please enjoy the summer series and contact us with any questions about the concerts or real estate in the Cary area.