Santa will respond to all children who drop off their letters between November 29 and December 10.  The child’s first & last name and address must be included with the letter.  This is a free event sponsored by the City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department.

If you’d like more information, please call 678-297-6133 or send an email to wprcprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.

I have already begun a new chapter as a marketing and event coordinator for a small retail shop. I am so excited about this new venture as my background is in event planning, which also ties in with marketing. I LOVE this shop and was a loyal customer before I became an employee. I work for a wonderful shop called the Broadwell Cottage located in Milton, Georgia. I couldn’t be happier! I love getting in touch with my creative side and am doing something that I love and am really quite passionate about. I feel like real estate has been a bridge that has helped me get to a place the makes me very happy! I went into real estate without a plan and wanted to let God lead the way and it turns out that He has led me to my passion and talent.

So, this leads me to today and this post. Real Estate has been a bridge for me and has taken me to a place that I never imagined that it would. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have been afforded and will appreciate it each and every day!

I will still blog about North Side Living because I am passionate about where I live and think that it has so much to offer someone looking for a great place to live, work and play!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Best,
Melissa

Well, the planning has been underway and Sally Rich-Kolb has been hard at work coordinating artists, vendors, sponsors and volunteers to make this year’s 2010 Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Art Festival a success. If you love antiques, vintage finds, unique fall decor and a wide range of other local artisan items such as jewelry, paintings, and home decor, you will love this festival! I attended the Crabapple Festival for the first time last year and I was very impressed.  I love antiques and great vintage finds such as lovely handpainted tole trays, china, glass ware, silver. You name it, they had it! I have scoured all kinds of antique and art festivals as well as any antique malls I can find and I can tell you that the antiques and vintage finds you’ll see at the Crabapple at Crossroads Antique and Art Festival are worth the effort to make the visit.

Not only will you see a wide range of vendors selling their art and wares, you’ll be entertained as well. Last year there were some great guys playing banjos, which I LOVED, and it just went along with the small town, quaint feeling of the event. I know that there will be entertainment again this year in the form of roaming musicians. If you get hungry, there will also be food available to purchase and eat at the event or you can choose to have lunch or an early dinner at one of our local restaurants such as CANS Taqueria, Sip, The Olde Blind Dog, Vintage Pizzeria or Milton’s. In addition, there will also be children’s activities from 2-4 at the Goddard School and a trolley to the parking areas.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date:  October 2, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (rain or shine)

Location:  Historic Crabapple. The Festival’s center is lcoated at 790 Mayfield Rd.,  Milton, GA 30004.

Parking and Admission are FREE!

For more information, please visit City of Milton.
Or send an email: crossroadsatcrabapple@gmail.com 
You can also call: 770-448-3860.

…and it is your job to find it! The Atlanta Race for the Home is a metro-wide race for your dream home brought to you by HomeFinder.com and Prudential Georgia Realty. In this high-tech race, all of the locations and challenges will be delivered via text message right to your cell phone. Any cell phone, any model, on any carrier can play. And playing is totally FREE! However, spots are limited and you must win a spot to participate, so read more and apply at RacefortheHome.com. 

• The big event starts at 9am on September 25th at Piedmont Park.
• Any couple or team of two can participate. All ages 18 years or older are welcome. Register at RacefortheHome.com and tell us why you should be chosen to play!
• The two-person teams will get final instructions at the kick-off event.  Then, you will be unleashed on Prudential Georgia Realty open houses across Metro Atlanta to play the game.
• Teams will receive instructions via text message to drive to their locations. At each location, you will be presented with a challenge.  Points will be awarded based upon complexity and other game rules.  Remember, smarts will beat speed in this high-tech adventure!
• The game platform is powered by SCVNGR which is a new mobile gaming platform funded by Google. 
• The celebration event will be held at Max Lagers Grill & Brewery in downtown Atlanta.
• There will be a series of prizes including the Grand Prize of a $20,000 down payment on the home of your dreams. 

What better way to spend your Saturday than playing a really fun game with lots of cool people, visiting some awesome open houses and having a chance to win a $20,000 down payment on the home of your dreams!  Remember, the game will be played at locations across Metro Atlanta so anyone from any area of town can play.

 The Race for the Home is brought to you by HomeFinder.com, Prudential Georgia Realty, Weissman Nowak Curry & Wilco, SunTrust Mortgage, Allconnect and a host of other sponsors.  The event will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Let’s Get Ready To Play!

Buyer’s agent commission will be protected if you are not present at the open house. 
Information deemed to be accurate but not warranted. 
If your home is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.

If you have driven through Historic Crabapple lately, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to buy or build a brand new home! Historic Crabapple is a wonderful pedestrian friendly community with excellent schools, fabulous dining and wonderful locally owned shops. Historic Crabapple is a terrific area to live and play and is the place that my family and I call home. That’s why I am excited to tell you about all of the opportunities to buy a brand new home right in the heart of Historic Crabapple! The following four communities offer opportunities to buy or build a brand new home: 

On the North side of Crabapple Road…

Crabapple Crossroads: Brand new homes originally built by Homes by Williamscraft Inc. who was since gone bankrupt and left a number of bank-owned homes for sale in this community. The homes are set close together with front porches and rear garages intending to give it that village feeling and enabling neighbors the chance to get out and know one another. I’ve driven through a number of times and people are always friendly and give a smile and a wave. The homes have been built with tall moldings and wood floors throughout the main level and oak treads on the stairs. Kitchens have beautiful cabinetry and granite tops and stainless appliances. The light fixtures are in line with the style of the homes and nothing is a builder special in these homes. You’ll even find details like built-ins in the mudroom, butler’s pantries and fireplaces in the dining room!

Braeburn: Located adjacent to Crabapple Crossroads, you will find the brand new John Wieland community Braeburn. The Braeburn community boasts 52 homesites with most of the sites having basements. Homes will have front porches and two and three car garages and be set within a private little enclave of mature trees. The Braeburn community will have a clubhouse and pool and the style of the homes will be in line with the outlying community. The first home has been sold in the community and framing is going on now.

Across the street on the South side of Crabapple Road…

Crabapple Station: Waterford Homes is the builder of Crabapple Station and is currently building, albeit at a slow pace, in the community. With ground being broken on two additional lots, the homebuilder will be offering two new opportunities to build new in this dog-friendly community. Crabapple Station actually has its own dog park! The community is made up of single-family homes and townhomes. There is a nice little green space with a gazebo plus a pond that lends itself to throwing a line in if you like fishing!

Crabapple Crossing: Anthem Homes, a newly created company in 2010, is building new homes in the community of Crabapple Crossing. There are 4 opportunities for single-family homes and 4 opportunities for attached garden homes. The homes in this community boast front porches and smaller lots and just like Crabapple Crossroads across the street, this community lends itself to neighbors coming outside to get to know each other. As a matter of fact, I can tell you with authority that the neighbors do know each other and their kids do play together and I can tell you this with confidence because I have heard it directly from the homeowners. Again, another wonderful opportunity to build a new, affordable home in Historic Crabapple.

So, as you can see, there are some wonderful opportunities to buy or build new in Historic Crabapple at a time when prices are low and interest rates are the lowest that we have ever seen. Take advantage of these great opportunities while they last and be a part of the wonderful Crabapple community.

It’s not too late to get your son or daughter signed up for an amazing art enrichment program offered by the City of Alpharetta Recreation & Parks Department. All classes meet at the Alpharetta Arts Center at Crabapple Government Center located in the heart of Historic Crabapple!

Here is the scoop…

ARE THEY ONLY FOR A CERTAIN AGE?
There are classes for a wide range of ages starting from 1 1/2 to 17 years of age!

WHAT DOES IT COST?
Youth art program fees per session unless otherwise noted are $70 for Alpharetta Residents and $105 for Non-Residents. Check program schedule for supply fees as they differ per class.

WHEN ARE THE CLASSES HELD?
Classes are going to take place beginning as soon as August 31st with other classes beginning in September, October, November and January. Click here to see the upcoming schedule of art enrichment classes in the City of Alpharetta Leisure Guide.

WHERE ARE THE CLASSES HELD?
All classes meet at the Alpharetta Arts Center at the Crabapple Government Center. Located in the heart of Historic Crabapple, the address is 12624 Broadwell Road.

HOW DO I REGISTER?
Online registration is available for Art Enrichment Classes. First-time online customers must apply for a customer account. Once approved, you may register for recreation programs.  

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAMS?
Contact staff at  arts@alpharetta.ga.us or 678-297-6165 .

I know I’m excited about a few of the offerings! I have heard many wonderful things throughout the community about the classes that the City of Alpharetta has to offer at the Alpharetta Arts Center so if you try one (or more) out, I’d love to hear about your child’s experience. Let me know what you think (just leave a comment below)!

No, go create your ART out!!!

12421 Crabapple Meadow Way
Alpharetta, GA 30004
4 Bedrooms 2  1/2 Bathrooms

$244,900

If you’re looking for a home that you can get in and design to your own taste and style, then this is the home for you! This home has great bones but needs lots of work and this is where you come in… Here is an opportunity to create your own kitchen; choose your favorite color and style of cabinetry, counter tops, backsplash, appliances and then move on to the master bath and the possibilities are endless… You’ve got the opportunity to choose your own beautiful tile or marble for your shower, pick your style for new vanities with double sinks, add a brand new large bathtub with jets and since the bathroom needs new flooring, here is your chance to put in a heated flooring system (not as expensive as you might think)! The yard is private and lightly wooded and you’ll be located fairly close to the pool and clubhouse with where this home is situated in the neighborhood.

So, check out this diamond in the rough and imagine the possibilities! This is a great opportunity to get a deal on a good, solid home in the Crabapple Chase subdivision located in fabulous Historic Crabapple.

If you haven’t been to a show yet at The Element Coffee Co., you won’t want to miss this one! Nanyana Summer is back to rock the patio once again with her eclectic mix of funk and alternative. Nanyana is a local Atlanta musician whose beautiful voice and soulful style will draw you in.  According to her bio, Nanyana began composing her first songs with her first band at age 11 and then began teaching herself to play the guitar at age 15! Nanyana seems to have always had a passion for making music and her talent shines through from the very first song you see and hear her perform!

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Nanyana Summer perform in Crabapple at The Element Coffee Company on Friday, August 13 from 8-10 p.m. This show is FREE of charge and ALL ages are welcome!

It all started with a necklace… Oh, how I LOVE my necklaces! I also love Patricia DiBona of Three Birds Studio who makes necklaces that I love to wear! While shopping one day at Three Birds Studio at The Broadwell Cottage in Crabapple, it came to me; invite a bunch of wonderful women to get together and play dress up! We can try on and make our own necklaces while we drink wine, eat great food and listen to groovy music! So, the idea was born and now, hopefully will become an annual tradition – A Midsummer Night’s Soiree in Crabapple.

My little special event went off last night without a hitch (at least without a lot of hitches) and everyone really enjoyed themselves. As a previous event planner in a past life, it felt so great to plan an event again. I swear, event planning runs through my blood almost as much as my passion for houses! I think I am finding a way to merge my two passions together. Anyway, I digress, the girls had fun trying on necklaces and I know more than a few went away toting some brand new trinkets to wear proudly in the future.

The Cottage and garden looked absolutely beautiful and rustic, with candles lit everywhere and the lovely musical talent of Nanyana playing live throughout the evening. It was a magical night with friends old and new and I feel like I’ve had new life breathed into me as I make my journey on this new path that has been laid before me.

Thank you to all my wonderful ladies for coming out to my little event and I look forward to seeing you again next year!