Light up the Holidays!

Map out a Route Glowing with Holiday Cheer

My family has a Christmas tradition of piling into the car (or cars! if there are enough of the extended family in town) to scout for the best holiday light displays.  Who doesn't get in to the spirit of the season looking at beautiful and sometimes truly over-the-top light displays?? I'm always amazed at the time, effort and creativity that people put in to their illuminated decorations.  And grateful!  Very grateful!

So, I love that there's a helpful map of all the best light displays in the Wilmington area.  Take a look at this link to the map ... and then get the family together and go light up your holiday with a fun drive through the neighborhoods!

Wilmington Christmas Lights Map website

Wilmington a Cultural Mecca?

Plenty for Arts Lovers to Enjoy!

The "cultural mecca" of eastern North Carolina?  Yes! Wilmington can make that claim easily with our thriving and ever growing Arts and Culture scene.  Wilmingtonians can enjoy a variety of theater productions, high quality museum exhibits, and an excellent range of musical performances.  Dinner theaters, concerts, broadway shows .. we've got it!  Venues range from  open-air amphitheaters, to historic buildings both grand and cozy, to modern state-of-the-art facilities.  The impressive new Wilson Center downtown provided Wilmington with a major 1,600-seat performance theater - the largest in the area - designed to accommodate large broadway touring productions, symphonic performances, major artists in concert, and more. If you haven't been yet, try to get there for a performance ... maybe the "Wizard of Oz" this weekend, or the upcoming Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.

Link: Events at the Wilson Center

 Recent exciting new developments in Wilmington include the new professional ballet company (I'm heading out soon to their 1st Annual International Ballet Gala.  Very excited!).  I've also enjoyed the just 4-year-old Wilmington Opera, which has produced some wonderfully lush and professional performances.

Want more info about Opera Wilmington upcoming performances?

Link: Opera Wilmington website

Our thriving arts scene is highlighted by Fourth Friday Gallery Night, which happens -- as you might guess -- the 4th Friday of every month.  During this free monthly event, downtown galleries, studios and art spaces open their doors to the public in an after-hours celebration of art and culture.  Take the popular self-guided tour between 6-9 pm at locations throughout downtown Wilmington.

For more info on Fourth Friday Gallery Night, including walking maps, use this link:

Link: Fourth Thursday Gallery Night

You can also enjoy a self-guided tour of the downtown arts scene anytime using a location-specific audio tour with this ArtsWilmington free app.

Link: ArtsWilmington.OnCell app.

    Here are some more good sources of information about:

Arts Council of Wilmington website and calendar of events:

Link: Arts Council calendar

Wilmington and Beaches website Things to Do

Link: Wilmington and Beaches Calendar

Lovely Airlie Gardens - A Century of Gardens by the Sea -- and More!

Airlie Gardens is one of the treasures of Southeastern North Carolina.  First developed as a garden by Mrs. Sarah Jones, wife of wealthy industrialist Pembroke Jones, Airlie has been an important local landmark for over a century.  (An interesting historical side note:  Sarah and Pembroke Jones were famous for their over-the-top entertaining.  In fact, the saying "keeping up with the Joneses" originated with Sarah and Pembroke Jones!)  

Airlie Gardens draws garden lovers from around the world to its 67 acres of stunning seasonal blooms, walking paths, ancient oak trees, freshwater lake, and formal gardens.  It has also evolved into a venue for a lively array of activities that can appeal to all members of the family.  Events include the popular bi-weekly summer Concert Series, the Annual Holiday Light Show, the Summer Art Exhibit, monthly guided Bird Hikes, the Butterfly House, and the Annual Oyster Roast (in October).  New this fall is a 4-week event, "Hops and Talks," in which Airlie hosts several local breweries as well as Catch the Food Truck (one of my favorites!) 

For more info about visiting the gardens and attending the events, check out the Airlie Gardens website.

Airlie Garden Website

Historic Carolina Place

Renovated Bungalow

A Rich History in Charming Carolina Place, Wilmington NC

Carolina Place was the first of three "Streetcar Suburbs" built in Wilmington NC - some of the earliest planned communities in the early 20th century United States.  Once located on the outskirts of Wilmington city limits but easily accessible by streetcar, it was designed to accommodate a growing middle class.  Now, Carolina Place is part of Wilmington's downtown landscape.  (Sadly, the streetcars are no more.)  Many of the typical 1, 2, and 3-bedroom bungalows here have been beautifully renovated, while some are still waiting for their facelift.  Don't expect to find large yards or garages, but do look for great craftsman and architectural details and plenty of historic charm.  The Carolina Place Historic District has become a popular and highly sought-after location for homeowners looking for character, a central location and strong sense of community.