10 Reasons I Love Living at Lake Norman

•1.       The closeness of everything - stores, restaurants, gas, groceries, shopping, highway. Everything is convenient for me and right off an exit of I-77. Almost everything I do is within a 5-10 mile radius.

•2.       How easy it is to get invited on a boat - So many people have boats on the lake and boat owners typically try to make it out every weekend during the summer and spring. All you have to do is socialize and network at places like Birkdale, and you are sure to get invited on a boat sometime! I have a ton of friends that get out on the lake this way!

•3.       How warm the water is in Lake Norman - You wouldn't believe how much warmer the water is than the air outside of it! Even during some cold spring and fall days, the water feels like bath water.

•4.       The cool places to eat - We have 131 Main Restaurant, Mickey & Mooch, Vinnie's, O'Charleys, Joel's Asian Grill, Sushi at the Lake, Brooklyn Boys, Brixx, Red Rocks, need I say more!?

•5.       We have our own Wal-mart, Super Target, & Best Buy - Gone are the days of driving 30 miles to Charlotte to get stuff. We even have a BJs wholesale!

•6.       When you go out, it feels like "Cheers" - It's easy to run into friends and acquaintances in Lake Norman (if you want to). You can never feel like you are alone, because it feels like a small town.

•7.       There are lots of fun places to go on the lake for a good time - Rusty Rudder's for a lakeside drink, Midtown Sundries where you can pull your boat up, Lake Town Tavern, NV Lounge, Corkscrew Wine Bar, Fox & Hound for some football, or to Vinnie's to catch a glimpse of a Nascar driver.

•8.       Plenty of free or inexpensive things to do with family - Especially during the holidays, you can find places to pick a pumpkin, see Santa, pet exotic animals, antique shows, vintage car drive-ins, outdoor fairs, church bazaars, neighborhood bake sales, lake tie-ups, cook-outs, and more! And you don't have to pay to park!

•9.       There is a really active tennis group - I love to play tennis and although I hadn't had much opportunity to play this year, I get an email almost every week with an opportunity to play. There are a ton of tennis courts. If you want a map and directions to some courts, then let me know, I have it!

•10.   It feels like a small town but it's not - I am set in my ways and I have my nail lady, my hair lady, my tanning salon, my dentist, my doctor, my dry cleaner, and all my service providers picked out and they are all right here. The know me and recognize me. But the Lake is not so small that you can't shop around and get a better deal at competition either.  There isn't just 1 or 2 of everything like other small towns. We have a selection!

 

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513

Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, Sherrill's Ford, Catawba, Davidson, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns . Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

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Wine Bar Review - The Wine Loft - Wine Bar - Mooresville, NC

The Wine Loft is a new wine bar located in Mooresville in the Harris Teeter Shopping Center off Perth Road. Take I-77N to exit 36 and go west at top of ramp. Take right onto Perth Road and take your first right turn into shopping center.

The Wine Loft

130 Argus Lane

Mooresville, NC 28117

(704) 664-3230

www.thewineloftmooresville.com

The Wine Loft is an upscale wine bar offering over 40 selections of wine by the glass and over 100 by the bottle. In addition to the large selection of wines, sparkling wines, and dessert or port wines; they also have a good selection of spirits and light cuisines. The atmosphere is very swanky, upscale, and soothing. The lighting, comfortable couches, and bar seating are perfect for entertaining or hanging out with friends.

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The Wine Loft has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Maxim magazine, & New York Times.

 

I had the lucky “chance” to hang out with “Chanse”, the manager during the Wine Loft’s soft opening week and get to taste some of the food and wines, and to check out the venue for a future meetup place for my wine group www.lknwinegroup.com .

 

You really need to try the food because what I tried so far was fabulous! I can’t wait to go back and try some more items off the menu. Here is just a sampling of the tasty cuisine they feature:

 

·         Baked Brie En Croute –Vanilla infused honey spiced pecans and & balsamic reduction (THIS TASTES AMAZING!)

·         Artisan Cheese Selection –Roasted Garlic, toasted almonds, & quince paste (I highly recommend this too)

·         Filet Pistolettes – Maytag blue cheese butter & sweet onion jam

·         Proscuitto, Carmalized Onion & Fromage Blanc Pizzetti – with Arugula herb salad

 

And for desserts:

·         Molton Lava Cake – Vanilla infused honey & ice cream Quenelles

·         Coffee Crème Brulee –with Vanilla sugar and dark chocolate

 

YUM!! The bar keep can make some suggestions for you, but if you look on the inside menu, there are some printed with prices with a wonderful description of the flavors and finish tastes.

 

The bar keeps had a lot of friendly conversation and I found out everyone is new to the Lake Norman area so we had much to talk about. I tasted a glass of Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi for $8 per glass and also a glass of Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir Sonoma for $10 per glass and both were delicious and fresh.

 

The Wine Loft offers:

·         Team Suggestions

·         ½ price bottles every Tuesday

·         Tastings on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30

·         Host for Private Parties or Events from 10-150 people

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513


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Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns. OR email me: sandy@sandyisyouragent.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

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Sandy McAlpine, GRI, ABR, CDPE, SFR Broker,REALTOR Licensed in NC and SC
McAlpine Properties 
(704) 746-7513
Lake Norman Homes
Copyright 2008-2012, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, by the Author - Sandy Aichner McAlpine

I can also assist buyers and sellers in Short Sales and Foreclosure sales and purchases.

Please call me If you have interest in purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, Sherrill's Ford, Catawba, Davidson, or Statesville, North Carolina!

 

Update! - The Little Kitchen (closed)- Mooresville, NC - Lake Norman

<----------Now closed. Unfortunately we have lost a piece of Mooresville History. 

One of the best kept secrets in Mooresville is a place called the Little Kitchen. If you can find it, then you are in for a wonderful surprise!  They serve everything from steaks, to chicken, to fish, to shrimp cocktail, and also have a huge salad bar. The sides and sweet potatoes are pure country cookin'!

This restaurant started in 1969 in the downtown part of Mooresville and has been a staple for the residents since. With the scrumptious salad bar, to the moist and juicy Prime Rib that I had ordered for myself, you are in for a real homemade treat!

Casual Atmosphere with friendly staff. The Little Kitchen is not open on Mondays but IS open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Their secret weapon is the cheese spread and crackers that they bring out before the meal. Yum!

If you get a chance to eat there for dinner, please try the Prime Rib, it's one of the best I have had. Here is a review from Yahoo.com:

Joy (5 out of 5 stars) - Aug 2007 -My husband and I have been going to the Little Kitchen about twice a month for 20 years or more. The prime rib is the best I have ever tasted, truly the prime of prime rib

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513


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Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns. OR email me: sandy@sandyisyouragent.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

 

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Bar Review - Corkscrew - Huntersville

                    

Interested in a glass of wine and some light cheeses or hummus after work?
Well then, Birkdale Village Corkscrew is the place for you to unwind!

It's right off exit 25 on I-77 and I give this place 5 stars out of 5!   

The Corkscrew in Huntersville, is a unique wine bar that features a wall of wines by the bottle and a full menu of wines by the glass for you to try. Unsure of your selection? Just ask any of the bar keeps - they are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the wine flavors on hand.

Not only is the atmosphere really upscale and urban, but you are within walking distance to many other restaurants to complete your dinner meal. It's a great stop after work or a prelude to a wonderful dinner or movie at Regal Cinemas.

You can sit outdoors or inside. There is plenty to entertain your eyes from the art work on the walls, to the television with captions, or to the shoppers walking the village outside.

Corkscrew also offers some select beers and sparkling champagnes if you are celebrating or looking for something a little different too.

The Lake Norman Wine Group holds tastings there about once a month. You can check out the schedule at www.lknwinegroup.com

Corkscrew Wine Shoppe & Bar  www.4corkscrew.com 16916 Birkdale Commons Parkway Huntersville, NC 28078 (704) 987-0011

*picture courtesy of googlemaps Sandy Aichner, North Carolina Real Estate Agent

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513


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Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns. OR email me: sandy@sandyisyouragent.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

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The Thanksgiving Morning Southpark 8k Turkey Trot (celebrating it's 20th year),

which is "a do not miss" Holiday Tradition, and will have over 4000 runners and walkers. The races will be an 8k run, a 5k walk, a Tot-Trot, and a 1 mile fun run/walk. It would be great to see many of you on Thanksgiving morning!

I've run it for several years and I am sure many other Lake Norman area folks make the treck down to Charlotte South Park area for the race as well. It's only about a 30 minute drive and you can be back home and eating turkey before noon! 

 

Over 35 states are represented! I will be there with my friend Willow so if you are interested in meeting us down there, then give me a shout! p.s. we run about a 10:30 pace.

 

The Bojangles on Morrison Blvd is the location for packet pick-up

Pre-Registration Deadline for all races is November 20th. Entry fee for the 8K race is $25.00 until Nov 20th, After Nov 20th $25, and on race day $40

Info and sign up at www.charlotteturkeytrot.com

Race Start Times

Thursday November, 27th, 2008 1 Mile Fun Run - 8:30am 8K Run (4.97mi) - 9:00am 5K Walk (3.1 mi) - 9:00am Tot Trot (26.2 yds) - 10:00am

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513

Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, Sherrill's Ford, Catawba, Davidson, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns . Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

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Wake Surfing.

Fun things to do at Lake Norman (or any lake for that matter).

What?    Yes, I said "Wake Surfing".  It's fun, but it is so uncalifornian.  It's not surfing on the waves at the coast, that's for sure.

Well, easily put, " Wake Surfing" is Surfing behind a boat - using the wake that the boat makes to ride the wave.

It's also catching across the nation like wildfire and becoming really popular in the Lake areas.  It's starting to get really popular in on Lake Norman.  I am fortunate enough to have met some new friends that have introduced me to it and it is a blast!!

I had a chance to try it a few times this past summer and started to get the hang of it! And now as I am sitting here listening to the weather forecast call for 38 degree temps tonight, I long for the warm summer days that we spent in the "bath-like" Lake Norman waters, surfing!

I have already been prodded by my "year-round ",  lake loving friends about getting a wetsuit because I will surely miss out on those "slightly warmer" winter days going out on their ski boat.

I can't tell you how much fun it is, so I will show you a video of my friends actually wake surfing behind a big boat with a huge wake. (I don't recommend you try this if you are not a skilled skier/wake-boarder). These folks have been doing it for a very long time.  Notice they throw the ropes back.

They tried a "duo wake surf" for the first time and this is what happened:

 

 

Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, I have  pictures of me wake surfing! LOL! The 3^rd one is Mac and he is doing it without the rope (which is what you are supposed to do). I eventually got to that point at the end of the summer.

  

 

 And yes, I gave in to peer pressure! Got the wetsuit too-------- 

 

If you are interested in getting a wake surfing board and tips, I would try talking to the folks at Icy Waves Surf Shop in Cornelius, NC.

Sandy Aichner, GRI, ABR, Broker, REALTOR ~ RE/MAX Executive Realty (704) 746-7513

Lake Norman Real Estate Call me at: 704.746.7513 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, Troutman, Denver, Sherrill's Ford, Catawba, Davidson, or Statesville, North Carolina or surrounding towns . Feel free to visit one of my websites: MooresvilleHomeSearch.com, SandyIsYourAgent.com . Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Twitter.

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Gotta cut your lunch and dinner bill down due to the decline in real estate sales? I have a solution!

Most people in their 20s and 30s wouldn't normally be caught dead walking into a cafeteria these days. But with gas prices going up, why not try a cheaper alternative at lunch and dinner? You have to eat early though, because they close at 8:30pm!

 

K&W Cafeteria serves really good, fresh, homemade food. It's cheap, it's fast, and it's REALLY REALLY good. I visit the locations in Cornelius and Statesville in the lake norman area. They have been serving food for almost 70 years, so they must be doing something right! K&W started in Winston-Salem, NC.

Here is a link to their locations:  http://www.kwcafeterias.com/locations.html

They offer over 100 different selections of food! Not only do they have almost every kind of cooked meats and fish (like hamburger, roast beef, chicken ala king, fried fish, etc) but they have great pastas, salads, desserts, breads, and more! It takes me about 20 minutes to get in and out, and that includes my eating time. FAST!

I think my average bill is like 6 dollars. I get about 2 or 3 cooked veggies and a meat, and sometimes a dessert, and a sweet tea. They have lots of diet drinks and low-cal stuff too. They publish their heart healthy items right in front of you while you are in line choosing.

I usually get roast beef or hamburger steak with a-1 sauce and then lima beans, fried okra, and a piece of pie or toasted garlic bread. sometimes I get mashed potatoes or black-eyed peas. Yum!!!

When trying to cut costs these days...think about new lunch and dinner choices!

 

 

Hey all!!! Several People have contacted me wanting more information about running groups in the Lake Norman area. I wanted to post the information on my Lake Norman Real Estate Blog so that people could have access to the information that they need.

 

I personally participate (and have been for several years) in a Walk/Run Marathon and Half Marathon Training group. I generally train year-round for several races throughout the winter, spring, and fall to keep myself in shape. I usually back off on those summer swealter races because of the heat and also work!!! Real Estate agents tend to be too busy during the summer to get all the training runs in. I truly believe that running with a group MAKES you stick to a program and gets you completely prepared for whatever goal you have in mind.

The way it works is simple. The group splits up into mini pace groups. You run as a group that runs at the same pace as you (9min, 10min, 11min, 12min).  Then, the group starts the run. It runs for a few minutes (ex. 5min) and then takes timed intervals (1min) of walking in between each Run interval. It is really fun. Gives you a chance to talk. Gives your lungs and muscles a rest. Helps you go a longer distance with less pain. It's been proven and their are several books out there on the subject. You really don't lose much time with the walk breaks (as far as finishing with a personal goal). I have done several half marathons in a great personal time and used this method. I feel better afterwards too.

 

 Now here is the info:    The Director of the Lake Norman and Charlotte Galloway Running Group is John Lineberger and his email is runwalk13@yahoo.com . He runs several programs all year. They usually start out at 3 or 4 miles and work their way up in the mileage for several weeks with low mileage weeks. It's every saturday at a certain location and usually at 7 or 8 in the morning.

There is a small fee to join (usually $49-99 depending on program), but with that fee, you get a t-shirt or singlet (cool max type material), you get a book on the Galloway running method, a running LOG, water stops throughout the course each week (that's the best thing ever), lots and loads of nutritional emails, etc. 

The EMAILS ALONE ARE WORTH IT!! I have been running for years and in this program and there is NEW material all the time. Helps you run smarter, faster, better all the time. New products come out on the market and John takes the time to learn about, research,and test these products to give you his personal opinion. He also takes the time to post the weather each week for the run and let you know how to dress!!! It's simple, stress-free RUNNING! And, LASTLY, I have made a lot of friends out of it.

 

The Charlotte running group generally runs from the Charlotte uptown YMCA on College Street at 7am in the morning, but Email John to get the correct time because it changes with the weather and the mileage on any given Saturday.

The Lake Norman running group has been leaving from Cafe Mia at 8am in Birkdale Village (Huntersville) on Saturday mornings as well. It's a much smaller cozier group, but still fun. The courses are pretty nice and sometimes run by the lake (it's a little low right now though).

Please let John know by email if you are interested and what group you need information on. I currently do my weekly training runs in the Mooresville area and at the Lowe's YMCA. I try to join the group as much as possible, but when I can't, I usually email other members to see if they also have schedule conflicts so we can run together. It's hard to find people to run with this far north! Half the battle is getting information to just DO IT, right??

  LAKE NORMAN DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS AT STAGE 3

These restrictions are being implemented due to the major threat of drought for our drinking water and the running of the power plant facilities on the lake itself. Too bad the drizzle we got yesterday did NOTHING.

The steam station in Terrell uses the water to make steam to run the coal plant and the nuclear facility in Huntersville uses it to cool off the turbines. Duke Energy is hoping that residents will cut usage by 10-20% so that they will not have to go into panic mode. If this drought were to continue, then the plants might have to be shut down for some periods of time.

As the drought continues, I am hearing more and more about dangerous low spots on the lake for boaters as well. It would not make for a very fun outing if your motor were to run aground in the middle of the lake! Duke Energy is supposedly keeping Lake Norman as high as possible with dams for the Nuclear station to keep running, but that is keeping the river low in communities south of this lake.

With lake and river levels declining at such a high rate, the fish and ecosystem are slowing dying and the river water is slowly becoming unsafe with higher levels of toxins from waste water runoff. We can't forget that this lake was "man-made" for the purpose of running the power plants. However, Duke Energy stocks the lake with certain types of fish that keep the "bad algae" and other funky lake diseases at bay. But what types of things are happening in that water?

Recently,I met  a local man and his wife at "Egg at the Lake" breakfast place in Mooresville. He and his wife have lived here for 18 years and in his prior life, he had a job in Lake Norman where he came into contact with information dealing with the engineering of the wastewater runoff areas and economic development. They both told me, "DON'T GO INTO THE LAKE WITHOUT EAR PLUGS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN GET".

Now that's a lovely thought for the day.

WE NEED RAIN!!! HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SOME THIS WEEKEND (yay!) I have conflicting thoughts about this rain though, because I planned a trip to Scarowinds on Friday night with the family. I will let you know how that goes!

Sandy Aichner, Broker

RE/MAX AT THE LAKE

WWW.SANDYISYOURAGENT.COM