This weekend is action packed with holiday festivities!

• LIGHTING OF WORLD’S LARGEST LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE, FRIDAY, DEC. 1st AT 5:45PM.  This is the 78th annual lighting of the tree at Hilton Park.  Entertainment begins at 5:45 with holiday carols.  The tree remains lit until Dec. 31st.
• ISLAND OF LIGHTS NIGHT-TIME CHRISTMAS PARADE, FRIDAY, DEC. 1st AT 7:30PM.  This is an exceptional night-time electric parade featuring floats, bands, queens, clowns, horses, Santa and much more.  The parade travels along Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach from Atlanta Avenue to Federal Point Shopping Center. 
• SILVER BELLS & DIAMONDS:  THE DIAMONDS’ HOLIDAY SHOW, FRIDAY, DEC. 1st AT 8PM.  This is a Vegas-style stage show that will be held at Thalian Hall in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  Thalian Hall is located at 310 Chestnut Street. 
• CAROLING BY CANDLELIGHT, FRIDAY, DEC. 1st FROM 6:15-8PM.  Join the group in front of The Latimer House and sing your way through old Wilmington.  Bring treats and a thermos of hot chocolate.  The evening ends with a spectacular chorus at the foot of Market Street.  The Latimer House is located at 126 S. Third Street.
• JAZZ AT CAPE FEAR MUSEUM, FRIDAY, DEC. 1st FROM 6-8PM.  Sit back, unwind from a long week, and experience the Museum in a whole new light!  Guests are invited to bring folding chairs, blankets, snacks and the beverage of your choice.  The band is Liz Pina with the Kevin Kolb Trio.  The Cape Fear Museum is located at 814 Market Street in Wilmington.
• ISLAND OF LIGHTS HOLIDAY FLOTILLA, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd AT 6PM.  Fishing boats and pleasure crafts are decorated with thousands of lights that make a spectacular display on the Intracoastal Waterway.  The parade of boats will cruise from Snows Cut to Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back.  This event is free to the public and parking is available in the local parking lots. 
• ST. MARK’S 7th ANNUAL HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd AT 10AM.  St. Mark’s Church is located at 1011 Eastwood Road in Wilmington.
• BATTLESHIP FAMILY FUN TIME, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd FROM 1-4PM.  There will be a lot of activities for families and a special part of the program will be to make Christmas cards for veterans that are in the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville, NC.  The event is included in the regular admission to the ship.
• WILMINGTON FUR BALL, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd FROM 7-10PM.  This is a black-tie event that features a silent & live auction and dancing to the musical stylings of Martha Bassett’s Camel City Swingers.  Drinks and lavish hors d’oevres will be served.  All proceeds benefit the Pender County Humane Society.  The Fur Ball will be held at Thalian Hall in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
• CHRISTMAS PUDDING, RUNS FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AT THALIAN HALL STUDIO THEATRE.  This is a traditional Holiday puppet extravaganza featuring “A Christmas Carol”, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and “Punch & Judy’s Christmas Eve”.  Shows are Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 3pm & 7pm and Sunday at 3pm.  The Theatre is located at 310 Chestnut Street.
• THE DOLL & TEDDY BEAR SHOW AND TEA, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 3rd.  There will be dolls and teddy bears on display and for sale.  Refreshments will be available.  The hours on Saturday are 4-8pm and Sunday from 2-6pm.  The event is free with donations being accepted.  The show is being held at the Salvation Army Church at 222 S. 3rd Street.
• OLD WILMINGTON BY CANDLELIGHT, SATURDAY, DEC. 2nd THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 3rd.  This year’s two-day tour includes over 10 historic private residences, B&B’s, churches, the Cameron Center, the new Children’s Museum of Wilmington and The Latimer House Museum decorated for the holidays.  Luminaries will adorn the historic paths from home to home.  Hours on Saturday are 4-8pm and Sunday 2-6pm. 
• WILMINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA-HOLIDAY CONCERT, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.  A Wilmington tradition continues with a performance of Handel’s Messiah and the introduction of Wilmington Symphony Select.  Call 910-962-3500 for tickets.  The concert will be held at UNCW’s Kenan Auditiorium located at 601 S. College Road.
• FESTIVAL OF TREES CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 3rd.  The festival is held at the Wilmington Hilton in Historic Downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River.  There are beautifully decorated trees, silent auctions, entertainment, holiday shopping and more!

Enjoy the holiday weekend and capture some of the holiday spirit!  To learn more about these Wilmingon events or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395. 

Hundreds of PPD employees will be making a move to Historic Downtown Wilmington in the beginning of 2007. They will be moving from their offices located in various parts of town to their new high-rise building in downtown Wilmington.  The company is expected to employ approximately 2000 people in their new building.  Yesterday a trolley full of employees took a trip to downtown Wilmington to have lunch and take a guided tour of the city.  PPD will be a great addition to Historic Downtown Wilmington and it will also be great for Wilmington Real Estate since some of these employees may choose to live downtown.  There are a lot of new, trendy, loft style condos being built and many will be ready in the beginning of 2007, just in time for the transition!  To learn more about Wilmington condos contact me at 910-431-9395. 

This is a new listing in Chestnut Heights in Wilmington, NC.  It is a charming Cape Cod style home with a lot of character and a fabulous yard.  Chestnut Heights is a great neighborhood and is very convenient to Historic Downtown Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, I-40, schools, shopping and dining.  To learn more about this fantastic home or any Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395. 

There are new fall hours for the Wilmington Farmer’s Market.  The market is open from 9-1pm on Wednesday’s in Halyburton Park and Saturday’s in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  To learn more about the Wilmington Farmer’s Market or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395. 

Preparing your home for cold weather now can prevent costly damage later.  Following you will find fall preventative home maintenance that every homeowner should follow.

• Gutters & Downspouts:  Clean gutters and downspouts often to prevent build up of leaves and other debris.  Check to make sure that the water drains properly.
• Windows and Doors:  Change screen door to storm door.  Inspect any loose or damaged window or door frames.  Install weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors to prevent drafts. 
• Heating Systems:  Have a HVAC professional check your heating system.  Clean your ducts & check for air leaks.  Clean the thermostat’s heat sensor and contacts plus check for accuracy.  Lubricate the hot water heater’s pump and motor. 
• Plumbing:  Ensure that the pipes are well insulated. 
• Chimney and Fireplace:  Have a professional inspect and clean your chimney.  Test the flue for a tight seal.  Install a carbon monoxide alarm near the fireplace. 
• Attic Ventilation:  Make sure the attic insulation doesn’t cover the ventilation vents in the eaves.  Make sure the ridge vents and the vents at eaves are free of plants and debris. 
• Landscape and Yardwork:  Fertilize and reseed your lawn.  Prune trees and shrubs after the leaves turn.  Trim any limbs that are close to power lines or the roof of your house. 

To learn more about Fall Home Maintenance or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395.

The Festival of Trees begins today at 10am and runs until Sunday, Dec. 3rd.  The festival is held at the Hilton Hotel in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  104 trees will be decorated keeping this year’s theme in mind, “Let Heaven and Nature Sing”.  There will also be music, crafts, a dessert cafe, a holiday boutique, raffles and a silent auction.  Weekdays the festival is open from 9-6:30 and weekends it will be open from 10-6:30.  All proceeds benefit the Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center.  To learn more about the Festival of Trees or Wilmington Real Estate, contact me at 910-431-9395. 

It was a nice day shopping at Mayfaire Town Center.  I arrived at 7 am and it was easy to park and shop throughout the center.  The weather was gorgeous and the holiday shoppers all seemed to be enjoying the sales and sunshine.  I was exhausted by noon but it was worth it, I accomplished quite a bit of my holiday shopping and found some bargains at the same time. 

Mayfaire Town Center is located on 400 beautifully landscaped acres at the intersection of Eastwood and Military Cutoff Roads.  It combines a mix of specialty shops, restaurants & cafes, residences, entertainment venues, hotel and office space while retaining the gracious lifestyle of the Cape Fear Coast.

I went to a Realtor Luncheon on Tuesday at the condos above the retail shops at Townview and they are very unique and have fabulous ammenities.  There are also condos available at the Village of Mayfaire and the single family homes are in Parkside, which is a charming Charleston-style neighborhood. 

To learn more about Mayfaire or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395.