Support Local!

This small sign hangs in one of our favorite breakfast spots, The Broad Street Bakery in Southern Pines, NC.  CIA trained owners make amazing food!  We own a boutique real estate firm in Southern Pines and faithfully support local independent businesses when we can.

Some of our favorites restaurants along with The Broad Street Bakery are....

The Bakehouse in Aberdeen, NC for both their baked goods and lunch.  Barcelona burger with garlic sauce.... the only thing I will order.

Curt's Cucina for amazing Italian.  Friends who have lived in Italy have said they have never found better in the states.

Etalia in Southern Pines for Italian cuisine and wood fired pizza.  Of course, their wine dinners should never be missed!

Full Moon Oyster Bar has amazing seafood.  Make sure you get their potato side.

Wolcott's in Southern Pines is my favorite special occasion restaurant.  For those evenings you want to take your time, savor the food, the wine and relax.

Ironwood Cafe on Midland Road in Pinehurst is my favorite outside spot to sit and enjoy dinner.  Actually I most enjoy their martinis and appetizers!  Their dinners and lunch are great but I just enjoy the grazing experience here.

Sweet Basil in the historic district of Southern Pines gives you a great downtown experience.  Get there early or the line will be long.

Southern Prime Steakhouse is on the pricier side and serves great food and great wine but again my favorite is to sit outside on the patio and enjoy their short rib appetizer and a great glass of cabernet.  For me it is big enough for dinner.

Elliott's on Linden is a place I order only one thing!  Shrimp and Grits.  I'm a northern transplant and hated grits until I tasted Mark Elliott's version!

As you can see the area has great restaurants and amazing chefs.  I know that when I hit publish on this blog I will think of several other places we enjoy and I promise to write about them at another time.  In the meantime... support local!

Holiday with the Symphony

The North Carolina Symphony has been entertaining us since 1932.  The symphony performs across the state.  On December 21st David Glover will conduct Holiday Pops at Pinecrest High School's Lee Auditorium from 8 to 10 p.m.  Tickets are $18 to $35 and can be purchased at www.ncsymphony.org.

If you are looking to bring the Christmas holiday in with some toe tapping be sure to purchase your tickets today!

Elvis Fans Check This Out!

December 18th at 2 p.m. join the Sandhills Rotary Club as they present Elvis Christmas Special at the Pinecrest High School Robert E. Lee Auditorium.  Todd Allen Herendeen performs across the country bringing audiences a wide spectrum of music.

The event is being brought to you by Vision 4 Moore, a non profit organization that shares net proceeds with their shared partners.  Visit their website to view the amazing work they have done this year.

Tickets can be purchased at Vision 4 Moore or pick them up at The Country Bookshop, Sandhills Winery, or Given Memorial Library.  General admission is $20 or reserved seating for $30.

The Robert E. Lee Auditorium is located on the Pinecrest High School Campus at 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines.

Southern Pines Carriage Parade

December 10th is one of the Southern Pines premier holiday events!  This is my personal favorite.  The Carriage Parade is presented by the Moore County Driving Club.  This group brings their decorated horses and carriages through the historic downtown of Southern Pines.  You feel as though you have stepped into a Currier and Ives postcard!  Truly beautiful.

Horses will make the loop of  NW Broad and NE Broad. And of course, Santa will bring his carriage!

The event begins at 1:00.  You will want to bring your camera.  Don't be late you won't want to miss a single minute!

December 17th! It WILL Snow!!!

For the 5th year in a row there will be snow in Southern Pines!  

On Saturday, December 17th the Sunrise Theater will host their annual Movie and Snow Spectacular for Arc of Moore County.  The fun starts at 11 a.m. and includes snow, snacks, bounce house, fun and the movie Elf!  Can't make it at 11 that's okay, a $5 donation will allow you to join the festivities in the green space next to the theater at 1:00 p.m.

Your donation to Arc of Moore County benefits individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  You can purchase advance tickets online at www.thearcofmoorecounty.org or at the Sunrise Theater the day of the event.  Please remember seating at the Sunrise is limited for the movie.
Bring the kids, the grand kids or just be young at heart and enjoy the holiday season in Southern Pines.

Blessing of the Hounds 2016

The Blessing of the Hounds in Southern Pines, North Carolina is a Thanksgiving Tradition.  The Moore County Hounds have been in existence for more than 100 years and share this spectacular event with us!  In 2014 the Blessing of the Hounds moved from their long held location at Hobby Field to Buchan Field located on North May Street.

While the event takes place from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. the tailgating begins much earlier!  Come and pick your spot and witness the tradition of riders in their formal hunting attire, the blessing which is performed by Emmanuel Episcopal Church and then  the hunt!

This is a wonderful way to start your Thanksgiving morning!  It will be an event your family and friends will talk about for years to come!

Breakfast in Aberdeen, North Carolina

Breakfast on the run is easy to do today.  You see endless cars waiting in line at drive thru windows all over the country.  Often the indigestion will follow you through the day!

If you are looking for a great breakfast near Aberdeen, North Carolina looking for a quick homemade breakfast Steak or Eggs is your place.  You only need to visit a couple of times to feel like family.  You will find the same people, often at the same table each morning.  Wait staff makes you feel welcome, they know how you take your coffee the same way they know how their own mother's take their coffee and make you feel right at home.

Nothing fancy, just great breakfast.  Pancakes, french toast, omelets, eggs... done right!  If you are not an early riser don't fret, they are also open for lunch.

Steak or Eggs has been around forever!  They used to be located where the current CVS is but have moved just up the road and across the street.  You can find them at 1850 US 1 South in Aberdeen right next to Enterprise Car Rental.  It's easy to find, just look for the front door!

Thank You to Our Veterans!

Thank you to all who have served!  This country would not be what it is today without each and every one of you!  My favorite t-shirt is one worn by a client of ours!  I believe that to join the military is one of the most selfless acts a person could possibly do.

Here in Southern Pines we will celebrate our veterans with a parade.  The parade begins at 10 a.m.  Please come out and show your appreciation!

While many businesses offer military discounts every day, you will find a lot being offered today, Veterans Day.  Check out this list on USA Today.

  

Thank you for your service!

What To Do In Southern Pines, NC???

The 2016-2017 Fall/Winter Parks and Recreation Brochure is out!  Southern Pines is offering something for everyone!

Check out the attached brochure to find what interests you most.

For children there are after school events, Jr. flea markets, parades, science events, holiday events and more.

For active adults you can find running events, day trips, craft fairs, holiday events, pickleball, corn hole, basketball league... it will be a tough decision to make

Do you like sports?  Why not try tennis lessons, join a basketball league, or golf.  Looking for something a bit quieter?  Maybe Bridge, chess, Mahjong, or a game day?

How about a day trip?  A few choices for children are the Museum of Life & Science in Durham, Sky Zone in Raleigh and Greensboro Science Center.  Adults might prefer the State Fair, or the North Carolina Transportation to name a couple.

The Town of Southern Pines brings you a vast array of things to do.

Just many of things that make us love living here!

First Health 2016 Swim Lessons for Children

First Health Swimming Lessons for Children has offerings for ages 3-12 that meet twice each week for 3 weeks.  Each class is 40 minutes and by limiting the class to just 6-10 children your children are sure to get the attention they need. Registration is held the week prior to the class start date. And classes are offered at 3:40, 4:20, 5:05, 5:50, 6:35 and 7:15.  Be sure to check the schedule since different levels of swim are offered at different times to cover the needs of all participants.

Visit the Health & Fitness Website to register.  First Health members have the first opportunity to register followed by the public. 

Classes are available through December.   Cost: $50 members/$65 community.

View their schedule by level of ability here.

First Health also offers life guard training.  But schedule quickly time is running out.

 

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital

Does the Pinehurst, North Carolina area have a good hospital?  As a Realtor that is a question we hear often.

If your move needs a strong hospital, Moore Regional Hospital is the one for you.  Located at 155 Memorial Drive in Pinehurst near the circle that connects Hwy 211 and Hwy 15/501, this hospital is convenient to all area towns.

Here are a few of the rankings:

• US News and World Report ranked Moore Regional #7 in North Carolina
• US News and World Report also ranked FirstHealth Moore Regional hospital tops in diabetes, gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology and urology.
• HealthGrove ranks Moore Regional #10 in Patient Satisfaction
• Truven Health Analytics has also announced Moore Regional Hospital in the Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the country
• The Joint Commission has also recently bestowed Moore Regional with the designation of Primary Stroke Center designations

Our rankings show just how satisfied we are with our hospital here in Moore County!

To learn more visit their website First Health of the Carolinas.

Upcoming Vote for 1/4 Cent Sales Tax

We all know that a penny doesn't go very far today.  But if we act as a group 1/4 of a penny can do wonders.

Moore County Board of Commisioners is requesting a 1/4 cent sales tax increase on the March 15, 2016 ballot.

What does a 1/4 cent increase look like to the purchaser?  For every $100 purchase it equals 25 cents.  $300 purchase equals 75 cents and $500 adds an additional $1.25 to your purchase price.

What does a 1/4 cent increase look like to Moore County?  This would add an additional $2.2 Million annually!  Moore County plans to use this increase to help fund new schools and needed renovations in existing schools.  Moore County Schools has 10 projected plans identified by priority.

While we never like our bills to increase this simple tax will not be applied to gas or groceries.  As stated above, the 1/4 increase will raise an additional $2,200,000 while a penny increase to property taxes in Moore County would only raise $1,183,307.

This increase has already been adopted by 10 nearby counties.  But the choice in Moore County is yours on March 15th!  Vote either [  ] For  or  [  ] Against!

Summer Classic Films

You may have noticed from previous blogs that I do enjoy The Sunrise Theater.  There is another group of classic films being featured on Thursday evenings during the summer.  While some have already passed the remaining films are:

• July 16th         Sleepless in Seattle
• July 23rd         From Russia with Love
• July 30th         The African Queen
• August 6th      Singing in the Rain
• August 13th    Field of Dreams
• August 20th    Nine to Five
• August 27th    Dirty Dancing

All shows begin at 7:30.  Arrive a bit early to be sure to get your glass of wine, beer or soda along with your favorite movie snack!

You can find The Sunrise Theater at 250 NW Broad Street in the Historic District of Southern Pines.

The Sunrise Theater is just one more thing we love about living here.  Let Towering Pines Real Estate find you the perfect home to enjoy these fun events every day!

55+ Activities in Southern Pines

The April schedule is out for the Douglass Community Center at 1185 West Pennsylvania Avenue.

Chess Club meets Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Bring your chess set and enjoy the fun.

Don't forget the Fitness Room is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Available equipment includes exercise balls, stretch bands, free weights, weight machine, elliptical machine, stationary bikes and treadmills.  Cost is $10 for residents and $20 for non residents for a 6 month cycle.

The group will see Temple Theatre perform "Hairspray".  11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Travel will be to Sanford.  Cost is $26 for residents and $52 for non residents.  There is a minimum of 9 required and a maximum number of 14 for attendance.

For more information on 55+ activities at the Douglass Community Center be sure to call Emma Griffin at 910-692-7376.

Foray for Frogs at Weymouth Woods

North Carolina State Parks is celebrating the "Year of the Amphibian".

Weymouth Woods celebrates this Friday evening at 7 p.m. with a Foray for Frogs.

Be sure to wear closed toed shoes and bug spray, also bring a flash light for a hike down to the creek to listen for the call of toads and frogs.

This program is free and open to the public.  But please leave your four legged friends at home.

You will find this event at 1024 Fort Bragg Road in Southern Pines.

Easter Eggstravaganza

The Town of Aberdeen will be holding an Easter Eggstravaganza for children ages 9 and younger on Saturday, March 28th at the Aberdeen Lake Park.

The fun begins with face painting at 10:30 and the Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m.

The egg hunt will be broken into age categories of 3 and under, 4 - 6 years, and 7 - 9 years of age.  Each group will have their own area and all hunts will begin at the same time.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for the Easter Bunny who will also be joining you at the event.

For more information call 910-944-7275.

Stoneybrook Steeplechase 2015

We are so excited that the 64th running of the Stoneybrook Steeplechase is just weeks away.  This event marks the start of spring here in the Sandhills.

Saturday, April 4th is a day filled with friends and festivities! Gates open at 9:30 and there is a full race day schedule of fun.

If you are one of the "hat enthusiasts" you can register for the competition between 9:30 and 11. Judging is at 11:30.

10 a.m. opens the Vendor Village and Kid Zone and the kids can register for the Stick Horse Races which will begin at 11:30 as well.

Please know that you can purchase a general admission ticket online prior to the event for $25 or $30 at the gate.  There are also tailgating options available.  For those competitive and enthusiastic tailgaters you will be judged at 11:30 also!

Please note that after speaking with the horse park today children are no longer free and must purchase a ticket to attend the event.

The event takes place at the Carolina Horse Park at 2814 Montrose Road, in Raeford, North Carolina.

We look forward to hosting our 2nd Annual Towering Pines Real Estate event for agents, friends and clients!

A Special Thanks to Nancy Hudson of Shutterbug Graphix for this great picture from last years event!

Sandhills Community College Creative Living Classes

Do you love to learn?  Enjoy a learning atmosphere?  Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina offers a great array of classes to keep you engaged.  Here is what is currently offered in their Creative Living Series for March and April.

Follow the Rhoades Scholar Lecture Series
Learn Finance
Enjoy the North Carolina Symphony Lecture Series
Attend the Parenting Workshops
Interested in Dance, Film & Music
How about Hobbies and Crafts
Would you like to learn a New Language
Learn to paint or draw in their Art series
Is Personal Enrichment your thing
Or possibly you have another Special Interest

Sandhills Community College is conveniently located at 3395 Airport Road in Pinehurst, North Carolina.  You can contact them at 910-692-6185.

Wine, Chocolate and Valentines in Pinehurst and Southern Pines, NC

Chocolate and Wine Lovers Unite this Saturday for the Chocolate Love Affair.  Wind your way through 18 different stops in the Village of Pinehurst to enjoy the decadent samples available.  Tickets are available online for $35.  The event is rain or shine an begins at 4 p.m.!

Triangle Wine also has an event on Saturday, February 7th.  From 2 to 5 p.m. they will be having a tasting of "Perfect Wines for Date Night."  On February 14th, Valentines Day, they also will have a tasting of "Wines to Pair with Chocolate" from 2 to 5 p.m..  Triangle Wine can be found in the Southern Pines Village Shopping Center across from Kohl's.

Valentine's evening you can bring your sweetheart to The Wine Cellar at 241A NE Broad Street in Southern Pines for music.  Enjoy trying some of their recommended romantic wines.

Enjoy your time while you are here and should one of these excite you to move to our area please give Allan and Terry of Towering Pines Real Estate a call at 910-528-2078.




 

Compare Moore County SAT Scores

Schools have a large impact on home purchases.  Quality of a school district is almost always on the top of the list of concerns for buyers.  Whether you have children in school or not being in the right district can give a home strong resale advantages.  The North Carolina SAT Report for 2014 has been released.

We are very proud of our teachers and their dedication to the students of Moore County Schools here in North Carolina.  For a full understanding of a school district be sure to research testing scores, excellence awards and teacher student ratios. NCReportCard.org is a great spot to start.

When you are ready to start your search please give Allan and Terry at Towering Pines Real Estate a call 910-528-1181.