I have lived in Wilmington for 20 years now and one thing that I love about it is the gorgeous weather we have.  Today it was truly amazing and the rest of the week it is supposed to be just as gorgeous.  We went to a REALTOR luncheon at Lake Brewster today and it was great to walk around the neighborhood, touring homes in the warm sunshine!  Lake Brewster is a wonderful community located in the Monkey Junction area of Wilmington.  There is a variety of different priced homes from $190,000 to the $263,000.  Lake Brewster is convenient to Carolina Beach, Historic Downtown Wilmington and plenty of shopping/dining options.  To learn more about Wilmington or Lake Brewster Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.  

Wow, there are a ton of great events going on this weekend!  Enjoy one or a few of these great events: 

• RIVERFRONT FARMER’S MARKET, Saturday, 8am-12:30pm.  There are only a few weeks left to enjoy the farmer’s market on Water Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
• WINTER WONDERLAND @ MAYFAIRE, through December 24th at Mayfaire Town Center.  Winter Wonderland continues at Mayfaire Town Center with a one-of-a-kind outdoor Winter Wonderland with realistic nightly snow, holiday music, drummers, Santa, carolers, snow fairies and more.  Free!
• ENCHANTED AIRLIE, Thursday through Sunday at Airlie Gardens.  Festive lights, live music and the largest display of model trains in the Southeast.  Stroll through this whimsically lighted display at your own pace.  Advanced tickets are required!  I am looking forward to this next weekend!
• VISIT SANTA!, Thursday through Sunday until 8:30 in Hilton Park.  Bring your camera!
• LIGHTING OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE, Thursday at 6pm in Hilton Park.  Holiday entertainment plus Santa, this is free!
• LAUGHING FOR LIFE, COMEDY BY THE BEACH, Thursday, 8pm at Thalian Hall.  A benefit comedy show that has joined forces with Steve Haydu’s St. Patricks Day Lotide Run.  The fund raises money for local families negatively impacted by cancer. 
• HOLIDAY LIGHTING OF THE BATTLESHIP, Friday through January 6th at the Battleship North Carolina.  Enjoy nightly from dusk until 11pm. 
• WINTER JAZZ, Friday, 6pm at the New Hanover Government Center.  Bring your chair, blanket and picnic (no glass bottles).  Enjoy music by Jim Felds Quartet with Sarah Parker.  Tickets are $8.00.
• ISLAND OF LIGHTS PARADE, Friday, 7:30pm at Carolina Beach.  The Christmas parade furnishes night time electric displays, featuring floats, bands, queens, clowns, horses, Santa and more.  Bring your chairs, blankets and snacks to enjoy the fun!  Parking is free!
• A TUNA CHRISTMAS, Friday, 8pm at Thalian Hall.  This is the popular holiday sequel to Greater Tuna which has been a nationwide sellout since its premier in 1991.
• SANTALAND DIARIES, Friday through Sunday, 8pm at City Stage.  The show is about an out of work slacker that decides to become a Macy’s elf during the holiday crunch.
• ISLAND OF LIGHTS HOLIDAY FLOTILLA, Saturday, 6pm at Carolina Beach.  The parade of boats will cruise from Snows Cut to Carolina Beach boat basin and back. 
• PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND, Saturday & Sunday at the Battleship North Carolina.  Activities include Battleship Alive Interpreters aboard ship and Azalea Coast Radio Club will provide HAM radio operators the opportunity to contact the ship.
• OLD WILMINGTON BY CANDLELIGHT, Saturday & Sunday at 4pm.  Call 762-0492 for more details.  Tour of the finest private homes, churches and historic sites in the downtown Wilmington area.
• A MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS SHOW, Saturday, 7pm, at Fat Tony’s Italian Pub.  The 17-piece Wilmington Big Band plays to benefit Toys for Tots.  $8.00 per person or $4.0 if you bring a new toy donation.  Fat Tony’s is located at 131 N. Front Street.
• POPLAR GROVE’S CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE, Sunday at 12:00pm.  Take a tour, shop for handmade gifts and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies in the manor house.  Admission will be free!  Poplar Grove is located on US Hwy 17 North at Scotts Hill.
• 6TH ANNUAL WILMINGTON HOLIDAY PARADE, Sunday, 5:10pm in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  The parade begins at N. Front and Walnut at 5:10pm. 

To learn more about any of these events or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com. 

There are a ton of fun events this weekend.  Enjoy them and take time out to look at Wilmington NC Real Estate.  Here is the line up:

• RIVERFRONT FARMER’S MARKET, Saturday from 8am until 12:30pm.  The market is located on Water Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
• DOWNTOWN SUNDOWN CONCERT SERIES, Friday from 5:30-10pm in Riverfront Park in Downtown Wilmington.
• TOY CRAZY EXHIBITION, Wednesday through Sunday at the Cameron Art Museum.  The Cameron Art Museum is located on S. 17th Street in Wilmington. 
• WILMINGTON FALL FESTIVAL, through 10/31 on Surry Street in Wilmington.  Each night enjoy a haunted house, hayrides & horse and pony rides, arcades, live music and vendors.
• BLACK RIVER NATURE CRUISE, Thursday at 9:30am.  A four hour adventure up to the Black River.  Starts at Battleship North Carolina.
• 12TH ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE, “QUARANTINED IN DEAD CITY”, Thursday through Sunday next to Kinko’s on Oleander Drive. 
• POPLAR GROVE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL, 27TH ANNUAL, Friday through Sunday at Poplar Grove Plantation.  Friday from 6pm until midnight, Saturday 2pm until midnight, and Sunday from 2-10pm.  Haunted hayrides, a non-scary haunted house, carnival rides, games and a costume contest.  Poplar Grove is located on Hwy 17 N in Scotts Hill.
• HALLOWEEN GHOST TROLLEY, October 24th through the 31st from 6-9pm.  Listen to ghost stories (tailored for young children) and experience the “Haunted Barn”!  Water & Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
• OFFICIAL BLUES BROTHERS REVIVAL, Friday at 8pm.  A Blues Brothers tribute featuring hits from the famous film and five Blues Brothers albums.  The show will be held at Thalian Hall.
• IRISH HOMECOMING, Friday at 8pm.  The show will take place at UNCW Kenan Auditorium.
• EVIL DEAD:  THE MUSICAL, Friday through Sunday, 8pm at the City Stage on N. Front Street.
• PLEASURE ISLAND SURF FISHING CHALLENGE, Friday through Sunday.  The awards dinner is Sunday from noon until 2pm at Federal Point Shopping Center.  Over $12,000 in cash and prizes.  Call 264-5487 for more details.
• 10TH ANNUAL ALL FORD CAR & TRUCK SHOW, Saturday at Independence Mall.  Music, food & drinks, a raffle and approximately 140 cars and trucks will make up the show.
• PORT CITY MOPARS CAR & TRUCK SHOW, Saturday at Mayfaire Town Center.  The show is open to all cars and trucks that are 20 years old or older. 
• FAMILY FUN & FITNESS FEST & HALLOWEEN 8K RUN, Saturday at 9am.  There will be plenty of entertainment, bounce houses, music and food along with representatives from a variety of health & wellness businesses.  The festival will be held at the YMCA on Market Street.
• DOGFEST, Saturday, 11am at Empie Park.  Enjoy live music, vendors, food, costume contest for the dogs and kids, games and prizes.
• GREAT PUMPKIN HUNT AT THE MLK CENTER, Saturday at 11am.  Face painting, arts & crafts, cookie decorating and hayrides.  The MLK Center is located at 410 S. 8th Street.
• 2008 CHILI COOK-OFF, Saturday, 12pm at Hugh MacRae Park.
• KOOKY SPOOKY JAM-BOO-READ, Sunday, 4pm at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington.  Dress in your favorite character from a book or wear your Halloween costume. 

To learn more about any of these events or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.

The owner of a Carolina Beach taxi service has created the first “green cab” in North Carolina.  The cab is actually a golf cart that he installed a meter on.  The cab can only be driven on roads that are 35 mph or less but will not pollute the air as they are electric.  The owner said that he is planning on adding luxuries to protect his customers such as plastic and blankets.  To learn more about this topic or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.

There are a lot of festivals and outdoor activities going on in the Wilmington area this weekend so enjoy!  Here is the line up: 

• CAPE FEAR RED TROUT CELEBRITY CLASSIC, Thursday through Saturday at the Figure Eight Island Yacht Club.
• POPLAR GROVE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL, Friday through Sunday at Poplar Grove Plantation located on Hwy. 17 North at Scotts Hill.
• WILMINGTON FALL FESTIVAL, through October 31st in Downtown Wilmington.
• OKTOBERFEST, Friday & Saturday at Independence Mall.  Benefit for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity will include music, food, drink and dance.
• TOBY TYLER-10 WEEKS IN THE CIRCUS, Friday through Sunday at Thalian Hall.
• FUN FALL FESTIVAL AT THE FIT FOR FUN CENTER, Saturday, 9am at the Fit For Fun Center in Wilmington.
• FALL COIN SHOW, Saturday and Sunday at the American Legion Post 10 in Wilmington.
• SUMMER NEVER ENDS CELEBRATION, Saturday, 10am at the Boardwalk Gazebo in Carolina Beach.  Arts & Crafts, fireworks, live music, pony rides, dance demos and more. 
• LIGHTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL, Saturday at Hugh MacRae Park, 12:00pm. 
• THE VIENNA BOY’S CHOIR, Saturday, 8pm at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium.

Don’t forget to look at Wilmington Area Real Estate!  There are a lot of great buys out there.  To learn more about any of these weekend events or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.

The Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival will be held this weekend, October 11th and 12th.  The Pleasure Island website describes the festival as follows:  Now entering its 15th year, there will be nationally recognized Blues and Jazz performers, coastal cuisine, natural beauty and salt air that will transport you into another dimension…and into a world where your cares and stresses are left behind. It’s a world where the weather is warmer, the people are friendlier, the food is tastier, and the music is “blue-sier”.  This two-day festival takes place along the scenic Cape Fear River at the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreational Area in Kure Beach.  There will be crafts, music, and fine wine tasting. Children will stay entertained for hours as they enjoy magicians, juggling acts, clowns and much more in the Kidz Zone.  To learn more about the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival or Wilmington real estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or go to my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.

 The weather looks like it will be another fantastic weekend!  There will be a lot of activities downtown this weekend with Riverfest going on.  Enjoy the outdoors! 

• RIVERFRONT FARMER’S MARKET, Saturday from 8am-12:30pm.  The market is located on Water Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
• JAZZ AT AIRLIE GARDENS CONCERT SERIES, Friday from 6-8pm.
• DOWNTOWN SUNDOWN CONCERT SERIES, Friday from 5:30-10pm.  This is a free concert on Water Street in downtown Wilmington. 
• WILMINGTON’S WORLD WAR II SHIPYARD EXHIBIT at the Cape Fear Museum.
• RIVERFEST, Friday through Sunday in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  Continuous live entertainment, arts and crafts, exhibits, dance performances, contests, children’s activities, food, river events, fireworks and more. 
• GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK: THE MUSICAL, Friday through Sunday at City Stage, 21 N. Front Street in Wilmington.
• BATTLE OF THE BEACHES, Saturday October 4th through October 11th. Fishing tournament between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach.  For more information check out   http://www.cfbwfishingclub.org/index.php
• 4TH ANNUAL CLEAN WATER CLASSIC SURF FESTIVAL, Saturday from 6:30-11am.  Stone Street at Wrightsville Beach.
• THE CAROLINA WAKE SERIES 2008 UPRISING TOUR FINALS, Saturday and Sunday.  Pro, semi-pro and local wake boarders will be riding the river in front of the battleship all weekend. 
• BRITS AND BATTLESHIP CAR SHOW, 10TH ANNUAL, Saturday at Battleship Park.  Sponsored by the British Motor Club of the Cape Fear River. 
• BACK DOOR KITCHEN TOUR, 3RD ANNUAL, Saturday at 12:00pm at various locations in Downtown Wilmington.  Tour kitchens of 9 homes in the Historic District.

To learn more about any of these weekend events or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoast.com.