DREAMS Presents: Reaching New Heights
(Update: Coming up in 2017, the Festival of Dreams will be held Sept 30, 4-7 pm. The Dreams Presents: 20th Anniversary (yes! 20 years!) Gala will be Nov 18, 6-9 pm. Go to their website or the Dreams Center for Art Education Facebook page for tickets.)
DREAMS of Wilmington is something really special. This nationally award-winning nonprofit is dedicated to building creative, committed citizens, one child at a time. It provides youth in need with high-quality, free-of-charge programming in the literary, visual, multimedia and performing arts. On Sept 30 you'll have the opportunity to see the young DREAMers showcase what they've been learning with a visual and performing arts production, "DREAMS Presents: Reaching New Heights." The event will be at the Dreams Garage, their terrific, 5,000 sq ft, newly-renovated community center/performance venue. Get your tickets here! Friday, Sept 30, 6 - 8 pm 901 Fanning Street, Wilmington
Link: Dreams of Wilmington
Fall Harvest Fun at the Farmers Markets
Late summer and fall is a wonderful time to visit your local farmers markets for delicious, locally sourced fall produce, seafood, local crafts, plants and more. If you are new to the area, or thinking of moving here, just know that there are several great markets to choose from around Wilmington. (The smaller markets in local beach towns tend to close earlier in the year, but I'll include some here anyway in case you want to check them out next spring.)
-- Downtown Farmer's Market on Water St, Saturdays 8 am - 1 pm, until Nov 19. This highly popular market along the Cape Fear River is overseen by Riverfront Farmers Market, Inc, which just this spring expanded to open a new, and very successful!, market at Ogden Park...
-- Ogden Park Farmers Market, Wednesdays 8 am - 1 pm, until Nov 16. Located on the park's sprawling 125-acre grounds, there is ample parking and easy access from both Market St and Gordon Rd. (I heard they may still be taking applications for new vendors.)
-- Poplar Grove Farmers Market, Wednesdays 8 am - 1 pm, until Oct 26. Visitors to the market can also explore the grounds of beautiful, historic Poplar Grove Plantation for free.
-- Gourmet in the Grove, Thursdays 4 - 7:30 pm. (Call before you go. The last one may have been Sept 1.) Poplar Grove also has the distinction of hosting the only evening farmers market, with a few local vendors offering a chance to browse, shop, wine and dine after work hours.
-- Carolina Beach Farmers Market at Carolina Beach Lake Park, Satudays 8 am - 1 pm until Oct 1.
-- Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market, on the municipal grounds adjacent to the town hall, Mondays 8 am - 1 pm until Sept 26.
-- Southport Waterfront Market, Wednesday 8 am - 1 pm through Sept 7
1st Annual Wilmington Boat Show
(Update: The 2017 Wilmington Boat Show was originally scheduled Sept 8-10. Sept 8-9 were beautiful days to see the showcased boats, but because of the threat of inclement weather, it was closed on Sept 10. Look for the return of the world-class Wilmington Boat Show next fall!)
Boats of all shapes and sizes will be on display, with some available to try out, at the the inaugural Wilmington Boat Show this weekend, Sept 9-11. This 3-day event will be big!... in fact, bigger than originally expected. According to JBM & Associates (who also manage the boat shows in Charleston and Savannah), the Wilmington event has "morphed into a major show for the boating industry." It is also a great opportunity to showcase some of Wilmington's new amenities along the Cape Fear River, with event venues at the sparkling new downtown convention center, the recently completed Port City Marina and Pier 33, as well as at Battleship North Carolina across the river. (Free water taxi service. Yes!) In addition to the boats, there will be all kinds of exhibits, informative seminars and games for both adults and kids. Check out the website for more info. (BTW, Vets go free on Sunday.)
Boats of all shapes and sizes will be on display, with some available to try out, at the the inaugural Wilmington Boat Show this weekend, Sept 9-11. This 3-day event will be big!... in fact, bigger than originally expected. According to JBM & Associates (who also manage the boat shows in Charleston and Savannah), the Wilmington event has "morphed into a major show for the boating industry." It is also a great opportunity to showcase some of Wilmington's new amenities along the Cape Fear River, with event venues at the sparkling new downtown convention center, the recently completed Port City Marina and Pier 33, as well as at Battleship North Carolina across the river. (Free water taxi service. Yes!) In addition to the boats, there will be all kinds of exhibits, informative seminars and games for both adults and kids. Check out the website for more info. (BTW, Vets go free on Sunday.)
(Update: GLOW added another 100 students 6th Grade girls in 2017, and moved up 100 of last year's students to the 7th grade. The first year of the school, and the summer leadership program, was wildly successful. GLOW is already preparing to build a new school to accommodate the growing school. BTW, GLOW has been nominated for Chik-fil-A's True Inspiration Award (worth $75,000!). To vote for GLOW (do it!), download the Chik-Fil-A One app to your smart phone, register, and then select "vote" under the True Inspirations Award menu / Atlantic Region.)
On Monday, Aug 29, 2016, 100 6th grade girls, mostly from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Wilmington, began their educational path toward college graduation. They are the first class of the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW), a North Carolina private charter school. Wilmington is excited to have GLOW, the newest of 18 schools in the nationally recognized Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN). YWLN is a proven network of high-performing schools started 20 years ago in East Harlem by NY philanthropist Ann Tisch. With the intention of leveling the playing field for disadvantaged girls, YWLN schools are modeled on the finest private schools, and paired with effective strategies to address the array of challenges faced by at-risk students. The high school graduation and college acceptance rates of YWLN schools have established this model as a leader in single gender low income education. Graduates attend college at a rate four times greater than their peers.
Click on the video above for more info, or on the link below to go to the GLOW website. The Academy is actively seeking volunteers as tutors, recess monitors and more. What a wonderful opportunity to make a difference!
Link: Glow website and volunteer sign-up
RiverLights Development
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| Rendering of the waterfront seafood restaurant |
(Update: As of Oct 2017, "Smoke on the Water" restaurant at the Marina at Riverlights has become a popular spot for good food and panoramic views of the Cape Fear River. Mangolia Social Cafe is also open for coffee, breakfast or a light snack. Homes are going up quickly in this new community -- and they are beautiful, upscale properties. Be aware, the Del Webb homes in the 55+ area of the community are "ala carte" builds -- meaning the base price may be in the low to mid-200's, but all the upgrades you are likely to want will add up quickly. Worth it, no doubt, but be prepared...)
RiverLights, the new "lifestyle" community on 1,396 acres along the Cape Fear River, will soon be opening some of its first model homes for potential buyers to view. Framing is done on the Phase 1 of the "market place," the riverside seafood restaurant, amenities centers and townhomes. Seven different builders are breaking ground to start construction of their models, while Del Webb, the developer for the 55+ portion of the community, will have his model patio homes (which start in the mid-$200s) ready in about six weeks.
RiverLights, the new "lifestyle" community on 1,396 acres along the Cape Fear River, will soon be opening some of its first model homes for potential buyers to view. Framing is done on the Phase 1 of the "market place," the riverside seafood restaurant, amenities centers and townhomes. Seven different builders are breaking ground to start construction of their models, while Del Webb, the developer for the 55+ portion of the community, will have his model patio homes (which start in the mid-$200s) ready in about six weeks.
The amenities in this community will be unmatched in New Hanover County, and most will be completed in 2016 before new homeowners move in. Del Webb has begun the 55+ amenities center, which includes awesome indoor and outdoor heated saltwater pools, huge clubhouse, tennis and pickle courts and more. Separately, the RiverLights developer also is building several parks, walking/biking trails and amenities, including the "Lakehouse" which will be another community clubhouse with a saltwater pool, fitness center and gathering space. Most of the beautiful boardwalk along the river is finished, and construction on the Marina Village with waterfront bar/restaurant is underway. The place looks amazing!
If you are interested in a community with beautiful river access and 500 acres of planned open space, a lake for fishing and kayaking, outstanding amenities, its own restaurant and shops, and the highest quality home builders -- all just a 10 minute drive from downtown Wilmington -- well, you won't be the only one! If you want to jump before others discover this gem, contact me. I can get you additional info and arrange a tour also.
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