Lake Norman Real Estate & Living

Dragon Boats: Shaped like a canoe, they are 40 feet long and 3.5 feet at their widest point. Boats are crewed by a team of 22, with 20 paddlers, a drummer and someone who steers. The Fouth Annual Charlotte Dragon Boat and the Annual Asian Festival is a way for the Asian community to thank the country that has welcomed them over the years, says Dr. John Chen, founder of the event. Set for Saturday, May 15th at Ramsey Creek Park,  Lake Norman, the festival and Dragon Boat races draw between 7000 and 10000 people. Dragon Boat racing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Festival races are sprint events usually on the order of 500 meters. The sport is big: Major festivals are held in New York City, Philadelphia and Portland, Or. The Cornelius festival actually began in Charlotte at Marshall Park. It features stage performances of traditional dances from various Asian Countries, the Miss Asian Festival Scholarship talent competition, regional exhibits to ethnic foods and merchandise. Admission is free. For the first time, Charlotte is fielding its own teams, including four cancer survivors. More details at www.charlottedragonboat.com.

By October, 2010, Charlotte will have completed their culture campus in up-town, Charlotte. The cultural campus consists of four new venues.... The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Knight Theater of Performing Arts, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture and the Minr Musuem of Art, Craft and Design. WOW! We have hit the jackpot. And, a few blocks away the finishing touches are being added to the Nascar Hall of Fame.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center opened in October. This center exists to present, preserve and promote African American art, culture and history for the education and enlightment of all. The new building is 46,500 square feet and is located in an area once occuped by the historic Brooklyn neighborhood, the once thriving center of the Black community which was razed in the 1960's. The Gantt Center takes design inspiration from the Myers Street School which was located in the heart of the old Brooklyn neighborhood. The bibical term, "Jacob's Ladder" was used to identify the school and referred to it's prominent exterior stair configuration. The stairs signified pride and importance of education in the advancement of African-Americans. Stairs and escalators carry visitors up to the main second floor lobby from both ends of the building while framing the central glass atrium. The striking visual effect is a direct allusion to the original Jacob's Ladder and perpetuates the ideals of enlightment and advancement through education. The center has scheduled a variety of events for Black History month including "Passage to Freedom," a four week exploration of the Underground Railroad which includes music, dance and exhibitions. Go to www.ganttcenter.org for more information.

The second to open was The Bechtler Musuem of Modern Art. The private art collection of nearly 1500 pieces has been donated to the city by Andreas Bechtler who inherited much of it from his parents Hans and Bessie Bechtler.About 100 pieces are on display at this time. Visitors will see some of the biggest names in 20th century modern art such as, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder,Edgar Degas, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Le Corbusier and Jean Tinguely. The thing that makes this collection so charming is that family members lived amoung the artists in Switzerland and collected their work because they knew them. "I enjoyed the the time with them as friends," says Anreas Becthler. It was not just art. It was life, from shopping to just gathereing and chatting. The term "modern art" refers to art from the 1860's to the 1970's. Much of what visitors will see is abstract. To behold it is to see how shapes, colors, textures and materieals can excite the senses without being realistic. A four-story atrium provides vistas across the museum.A lobby cafe features light lunch and pastries and their is also a gift shop adjacent to the cafe. Jack and I spent several hours wandering around the enjoying the art in a very relaxed atmosphere. And, our lunch was excellent. Go to; www.charlotteobserver.com/bechtler and walk through the museum and learn about the Bechtlers and their art.

On January 8, 2010 Jack and I had the privilege with 600 other people of attending the Dance Theater Gala Grand Opening of the Knight Theater. It is an intimte feeling with a contemporary flair. The 1200 seat Knight Theater will be Dance Theatre's primary performance venue for all productions except the Nutcracker. "With the Knight Theater, the feeling is that the audience can really recognize and see each individual dancer," says Dance Theatre President and Artistic Director, John-Pierre Bonnefoux. "I think that is really going to help people identify with the artists in our company." Four a tour of the Knight Theater go to; www.blumenthalcenter.org .

The fourth piece of the cultural campus is the new Mint Musuem which will be finished in the fall of 2010.The Mint Museum of Art initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint, coining 5 million in gold from 1826 to the outbreak of the Cvil War. A grassroots community effort during the Depression saved the original Federal style building from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site. The museum formally opened to the public on October 22, 1936 as North Carolina's first art museum. Today it is a rich and diverse resource with noted collections of American art, pre-Columbian art, American and European ceramics, American decorative arts, historic costumes and accessories, African art, Asian art, historic maps, contemporary art and photography. For more information about the Mint Museum, go to; www.mintmuseum.org.

It is very exciting to be a part of such a vibrant city that still has so much warmth and charm and wonderful people.

 

As I was walking to our brand new workout facility, I thought, "living in the Peninsula is like living at a resort" ... how lucky I am. It is like being on vacation every day. Let me tell you why I think this ....

1. We have a brand new Workout Facility with state of the art equipment, arobics room, beautiful locker rooms with saunas and steam showers and childcare facilities.

                                                                           

2.  Eight lighted tennis courts for all levels of play. We have a very active men's, women's and children's tennis program and always there are holiday events. For hit and giggle tennis there is a monthly couples group that play on the second Friday night.  We have a very professional staff for teaching and just being there to help you with your game and cute clothes in the pro shop.

                                                                                    

3. A Swimming Pool that is home to many children during the summer. The biggest attraction is the huge water slide. There is a very active and competitive swim team that has just finished their season and are about to have their swim banquet. The snack bar adds to the fun for children and mothers. Great sandwiches and for mom and dad they serve great margaritas.

                                                           

4. A 18 hole beautifully manicured Golf Course for all levels of play six sets of tee boxes. Again, the golf program is very active with men's groups, women's groups and a fantastic children-young people's program. If you like to practice our practice range and facilitiy is one of the best. Great instructors to help you with your game.

                                                                      

5. A Club House that has great food and wonderful socialbility. There is Sunday Brunch, Saturday night steak night, Wednesday, half price wine night, Thursday, pasta night, Friday, prime rib night.  Three restaurants and a ball room for large parties as well as weddings or other social gatherings. Once a month ... first Friday there is happy hour. People just arrive have some appetizers provided by the club and just get to know one another.

      

6. One of the most fun activities for the women is Ladies Night Out.  A resident hosts this event each month and all women are invited to come and chat and get to know each other and all the activities while enjoying a glass of wine, salads and desserts. There you find out about Bunco (which I had never heard of before I moved here ... it is a dice game), book clubs, garden club, volunteer groups,etc.

7.  Jetton Park is right in the middle of our community. A beautiful park with walking trails, picnic areas, beach, bike rentals and tennis courts.

   

  

8. Peninsula Yacht Club. If you are a boater, this may be the club for you, situated in the Peninsula there is a marina for motor boats and sail boats, a boating store and a wonderful dining room inside and out. There is also a swimming pool on the grounds.

If you are thinking of living in this wonderful state of North Carolina or do live here, but want to live a "vacation" life style, please call us to help you and go to our website to see more of The Peninsula and the surrounding area, luxurylakenormanhomes.com. Another plus for The Peninsula, we are only 25 minutes from up-town Charlotte with it's culture and casual and fine dining as well as the same distance to the interntional airport ....  one and one-half hours to the mountains and four hours to Charleston or Hilton Head and the ocean.  Come and visit!

The Preserve at Robbins Park brings to the fore an idea with deep historical roots. Namely, the concept of a preferred neighborhood bordering a capacious public park, first posed in the 19th Century by the pioneers of classic American urban design. The result is a study in elegant contrasts which combines the luxury of in-town living with a Lake Norman address. Which commingles the possibility of more meaningful neighborly connection with the demands of personal privacy. All in the context of an unforgettable natural setting with woodlands, public fields and natural habitats which will give the Preserve at Robbins Park lasting stature, as well as the opportunity for families at all life stages to be part of something heartfelt and permanent.  

Seven years in the planning, The Preserve at Robbins Park compelling even by Lake Norman standards. The last large tract of open land in the heart of the lake section of Cornelius now marries luxury living to an adjacent nature preserve. Streets will intertwine with preserved woodlands while also tying together planned parks and public fields. Children and adults alike will enjoy the extensive standing groves and delightful creekside habitats. Contiguous greenway trails will offer miles of hiking and biking and Lake Norman itself is directly across the street. The Preserve will also offer connectivity with Birkdale Village, Lake Norman’s favorite destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.

 

The T

The entrance will be completed with landscaping as soon as the roads are in, which they will start pouring next week. Sidewalks will be poured in three weeks, then people can start meandering through the property which makes it easier  to pick out their home site. The first model home will be completed in June of 2010, but new home construction will begin in August and September of 2009. When the project is completed there will be 140 homes ranging from $550,000 and up.

 

This up-scale community right in the heart of the Lake Norman community is a great edition to Cornelius. Go to simonini.com for additional information or call Jack Ziegler @ 704-575-4788. We look forward to hearing from you soon if you are looking for new construction in our great area.

                                                                               

                                                    

Team Ziegler has the honor of being one of the chosen few Charlotte area Realtors by Simonini Builders to help them market and sell their custom homes in the Charlotte and Lake Norman area. Simonini has been the southeast's premeir custom home builder for over 35 years, simonini.com.

The home we are featuring is a "Brand New" home in the prestigious lake/golf communty of The Peninsula on Lake Norman. This is the only new home in The Peninsula that is for sale. If you are looking for new and in The Peninsula, this might be the home for you.

This home is a "Energy Star" home saving 15-20% in heating and cooling costs. It has five Bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms, 4700+ heated square feet, three car garage and is all brick exuding "Old World Charm" inside and out. The spacious Kitchen/Great Room with cast stone Fireplace opens onto a covered Patio creating one large space for family and entertaining friends. Up-grades in this home include ... all hardwood floors on the main level, Sub-zero, Bosch and Wolf appliances, granite and limestone counter tops throughout, lite fixgtures and whimsical chandliers. The bonus for this great home is ... it is Swimming Pool Ready.

Simonini is trying to help you get into this home with it's Four great Simonini Features:

1. Energy Star

2. Warranty: Every new home comes with a One-Year "bumper to bumper" Warranty and a 10 year structural warranty.

3. Help-You-Sell: The Help-You-Sell program provides $15,000 to their buyers to help them get their current home fready and listed for sale. They can use the money for staging and decorating with the help of Simonini designers or repairing and improving with the help of the Simonini construction team. if their home is completely "list ready"  or if they don't have a home to sell at all, then they can use that money towards packing, moving and closing costs, club ,memberships or anything else they desire related to their home purchase

4. Why Wait Guarantee:  This is an amazing program where Simonini guarantees their clients that their price is really the best price they can get anywhere! Based on the Case Shiller price index, the guarantee says that if Charlotte area home prices are down by more than 10% a year from now (June 2010), we will refund the difference to our clients (up to and including a 15% decrease) This guarantee is in place with a full price offer.

                                                          

                                     

Go to our website, LuxuryLakeNormanHomes.com for an interactive viritual tour. Click on Featured Homes of the week and ENJOY your tour.

This past weekend the place to be was Taste of Charlotte, tasteofcharlotte.com. Only 25 minutes from the Lake Norman area and so much fun for everyone in the family. It is held every year about this time, Friday - Sunday, 11:00 am - 11:00pm. Over 30 Restaurants are represented with some of their best samplings, lots of great barbeque pork, chicken and beef samplings as well as sweets for the sweet tooth, several stages for live music and dancing, the Marketplace for unique shopping, children's activites and street performances.

                                                                                  

Taste of Charlotte - 2009,much to see and do.                               Jack enjoying a beverage and delicious food.

A Lake Norman favorite during the week as well as on the weekends is the Rusty Rudder, rustyrudder.com, on the shores of Lake Norman in Cornelius. For seven years the popular lakeside hangout has held a monopoly in the nightlife scene on Tuesdays. Every week Charlotteans, Lake Norman residents, music fans and NASCAR drivers stop in for live bands and hard-to-beat drink specials. The bar attracts tourists and locals alike. And, while the outdoor lakeside deckk/bar is a particularly popular warm-weather hangout in the summer, their still turning people away in the winter.

 

 Other Places with  Great Waterfront Views.

Midtown Sundries ... play Rockband, sing karoake or listen to live music and eat good food inside and out. midtownsundries.com

Queen's Landing ... boasts a dueling piano bar, Jack's Lakeside Grill and a floating dock bar that offer great views of the lake, queenslanding.com

North Harbor Club ... for a more up-scale bar, have a glass of wine on the twinkle-lighyted patio, also enjoy dinner, northharborclub.com

Living in this great Lake Norman - Charlotte area there is always somewhere to be ... We love it here and love sharing the life style. I will keep you informed of fun places all summer long.

If you like Italian, the Lake Norman area has two of the finest Italian Restaurants around. We have enjoyed meals at both of them in the last two weeks.

Caruso's, carusosfineitalian.com, is located in Mooresville, NC. It is a small intimate dining area so reservations are recommended. The food is very authentic Italian. Every dish is created using only the freshest and finest ingredients. There are nightly specials. Jack had one of them which was rack of lamb infused with mint. He loves lamb and this was some of the best. Another favorite of the evening was the Spaghetti Bolognese which was a combination of veal, beef and pork in a red wine tomato sauce. Variety of Italian wines complimented the entre's. We have had many fine meals at Caruso's and will go back soon.

Positano Osteria, positano-osteria.net, is located in the center of the Birkdale Shopping Center in Huntersville, NC. A slice of tuscany with a modern American spin. A larger and more cosmopolitan feel than Caruso's, but also wonderful Italian food specializing in pasta, fish and veal. A full service bar plus a large wine selection (half-price on Sundays and Mondays). Positano recently added an oven for its classic Neapolitan line of pizzas and started a luncheon buffet. All desserts are made in house ranging from the popular tiramisu to ricotta cheesecake and chocolate mousse.

You can't go wrong with either restaurant ... two different venus .... try them both, you won't be disappointed.

                                                                            

 

Washington DC: Wehave lived in North Carolina for eight years and have had Washington DC on our "places to drive to" for the weekend. This year we did it.  A six hour drive to the Capitol city. And, had a great time. Just take a good pair of walking shoes and you will find yourself steeped in the history of our country. Memorial Day weekend was extra special as there were so many celebrations going on honoring all our war veterans. We started our trip with an 8 hour tour that gave us a overview of all the museums to see and other points of interest. The next two days we got our map out made a plan and visited all the places that were of interest to us. Some of the places we visited were the Capital, the White House, many of the memorials .... Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, World War II, Vietnam, Muesum of American History, Museum of Space and Aviation, Georgetown. You could spend a week there and not see everything. Next time the gardens and art galleries will be on my list.  Just such a inspirational place to go and makes you proud to be an American.  Also, great restaurants!

                                                              

Lincoln Memorial                                                Capitol                                                            World War II Memorial                                                                    
Bill & Melissa Ziegler
(The kids)

Asheville, North Carolina: If you want to stay in North Carolina and drive for about two hours from Charlotte, Asheville is a great destination. Asheville is always a great place to strool - downtown there are galleries, shops and eateries to sample. Or, walk through the Monford area just north of the business district, on the other side of 1-240 between cumberland and Montford Avenues. It was built between the 1880's and the 1920's, a time when Ashevill mushroomed as an upscale vacation destination and is loaded with sizeable Queen Anne's Colonial Revivals, sturdy bungalows and more. Much of Montford was made a Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The neighborhood is full of Bed & Breakfasts. And, up the street is the famous Biltmore Estate and Winery. For more go to,   www.exploreasheville.com. 

                                        
                                                                                           Downtown Asheville,NC

Galax, Virginia; a couple of hours drive from Charlotte. Galax is the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is rich with tradition, shopping, recreation and scenic beauty. Galax offers everythig from a quaint downtown shops to hiking and old time Bluegrass Music Festival, Fiddler's Convention as well as the New River Train. Required Dining ... The Galax Smokehouse, on North Main which has all variety of smoked pork and (very heavenly) smoked mashed potatoes. For more got to ... www.visitgalax.com.

                                                                      

Happy Traveling this summer.  This is another thing that makes the Charlotte-Lake Norman area so great, as we are a doorstep away from so much history and beauty and activities. 

                                                               

 

Seven of us who live at The Peninsula ventured out for a wonderful "field trip" to The Reynolda House in Winston/Salem (less than two hours away). We discovered the Reynolda House is the centerpiece of the Reynolda Historic District in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is the restored 1917 Mansion of Katherine and RJ Reynolds. We were given a personal tour to discover the family and the life they lived. Through out the Mansion are masterpieces of American art and special exhibts in both the historic house and the museum's new exhibition wing. We then strolled through the formal gardens to smell and enjoy the springtime flowers. There are shops and dining in Historic Reynolda Village as well as the Wake Forest University campus is accessible by a walking train or by car. Our group chose to eat lunch across the street at Graylyn which was built as a country estate and has been restored with an elegant feel. It is used as a conference center with 98 one-of-a-kind guest rooms, 55 sprawling acres and award winning cusine like no other. We were fortunate to have a wonderful buffet lunch in one of their sun rooms. The chef came to say "Hi" and gave us the most fabulous fresh mushroom recipe we had ever experienced.  I have made it already and it is so good!

You could stay longer and tour Old Salem which is filled with history and cute shops or make it another day trip. These are some of the reasons why this area is so great ... always something interesting to do and see. For more information go to their website .... reynoldahouse.org.

 

Set the cruise control on your car. Order draft beer instead of bottled. Switch to powdered laundry detergent. Each is an easy way to exert a positive impact on the world's ecology and each can be found in Jodi Helmer's new book, The Green Year: 365 small things you can do to make a big difference. Going "green" doesn't have to be at odds with present day society's on-the-go, gotta-get-it-now, Blackberry world. The key is finding what works for you. It's not about installing solar panels and spending thousands of dollars. It's not about going out and buying a hybrid car, but about little things everyone can do.

The Green Year at  a Glance

January 13, Turn your computer off at the end of the day ... and help save a ton of carbon dioxide emissions.

February 16, Download your favorite music online to eliminate the manufacturing of a CD, it's plastic case, the paper liner notes and the plastic wrapping.

March 16, Buy your dog a leash made of canvas or hemp. Replalcing all nylon pet leashes in the US would prevent the release of greenhouse gases equal to the amount produced by 250,000 households per year.

April 19, Donate newspapers to local animal shelters to use as bedding, also plastic grocery bags.

May 5, Fill small bowls with beer and place at soil level to get rid of slugs in your yard.

June 23, Wash your car at a commercial carwash and save anywhere from 40-100 gallons of water.

July 14, Get the junk out of your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your car can reduce fuel efficency by up to 2%.

August 30, Choose a cast-iron pan over one with a non-stick coating, which contains chemicals that are harmful to the environment and people.

September 10, Scrape (don't rinse) dirty dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.

October 9, Switch to powdered laundry detergent, liquid detergent is almost 80% water!

November 21, Use your PDA or cell phone to text short messages. Texting uses 30% less energy than e-mailing.

December 13, Buy a cut Christmas tree. Nearly all sold Christmas trees are grown on tree farms, meaning their stock is replenished yearly and forests aren't depleted ... and they are recyclable!

Happy Earth Day!