Leesa L. Finley, REALTOR®

With the Centennial Celebration in Wake Forest fast approaching you can imagine that things are in overdrive getting ready for the festivities. One of the greatest ideas just became available today!

Engraved Brick Pavers are now available for purchase! 4" x 8" Brick Pavers are a great way to honor loved ones, commemorate a special event, recognize special groups such as civic groups, athletic teams, etc! The Brick Pavers will be placed in what is tentatively called "Centennial Plaza" which will be located just outside of the new Wake Forest Town Hall that is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2009.

* photo from the Town of Wake Forest Website

Be a part of history and support the Centennial Celebration by purchasing an engraved Brick Paver for only $100.00. What a great idea! If you would like more information regarding the Brick Pavers you can visit this website and also download an order form.

Extraordinary ideas are the norm in My Back Yard....

Be sure to be in historic downtown Wake Forest on September 14th! Not only will you have the Artists Tour in full swing there will also be the Criterium Race!

This exciting event will feature:

• .6 mile course rounding the historic downtown area
• a DJ
• an Antique Car Show
• Street Vendors and Expo
• a Kids Race and Safety Rodeo

This fantastic community event is being held to promote health and wellness through cycling.

Races start at 8:00am and continue to 4:35pm. There is $6000.00 is cash and prizes! To view a flyer for more information please click here.

Registration is open until September 12. Adult registration is $30 and Junior registration is $15. A $5 late fee will be added for registrations done on day of race.

This race will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Wake Forest. For more information about registration, race times, sponsorship please visit their website!

Have fun and get out to explore My Back Yard....

The Wake Forest Area Artists' Studio Tour began in 1995 and has grown each and every year. There will be a Open House and preview party held on September 12 from 5pm - 9pm at Sunflower Studio in conjuction with Art After Hours. Samples of artwork will be on display. Enjoy live music, wine and hors d'oeuvres!

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to tour artist's homes and studios. Some of the featured artists include:

• Sherry Allis - Variety of mediums including pencil, water colors, colored pencil, acrylics and oil.
• Kathleen Bird - Water color, pastels, and acrylics
• Ed Hardy - Acrylics
• David Boone - pastels
• Maureen Seltzer - Watercolors

There are approximately 40 artists featured on this tour! The above are just a sample of some of the work that you will find. All artist's studios are located within a 7 mile radius of Historic Downtown Wake Forest.

Dates and Times are:

September 13 / 14 and September 20 / 21

10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday and 1:00pm - 5:00pm Sunday

This tour is open to the public and is FREE! What better way to meet the local artists, see the environment that provides their inspiration and ask a few questions?

<!-- --><!-- --> 2008 Wake Forest Area Artists' Studio Tour
<!-- --><!-- -->For best results, please set your margins to .25 before printing this map.
<!-- --><!-- -->Youngsville
<!-- --><!-- -->See detail map
<!-- --><!-- -->Numerical Map Location List:
Benejam-O'Connell, Mary #1
Blackerby, Gayle #1
Burrell, Linda #1
Hardy, Ed #1
Hoban, Rebecca #1
Thomas, Suzanne Galant #1
Wolf, Cyndy #1
Levine, Sol #2
Seltzer, Maureen #3
Vadala, Laurel #3
McCauley, Alison #4
Wells, Vivian #5
Picard, Gaylord #6
Busch, Nancy #7
Pukalo, Linda #7
King, Martha #8
Boone, David #9
Steele, Mary Margaret #10
Young, Deborah #10
Floyd, Tanya #11
Bird, Kathleen #12
Brock, Gray #12
Kearns, Cheryl Doyle #14
Wolf, Lisa Bernardi #15
Arendt, Boni #16
Martin, Leslie #17
Dean, Mary #17
Hayes, Angelia #19
Hight, Cheryl #19
Vanover, Ellen #20
Allis, Sherry #20
Davi, Susan and Gary #21
Wallace, Bill #22
Weldon, Phyllis #23
Nardozzi, Trish #24
Parker, Sharron #25
Prim, Michael #26
Robbin Richardson #27
<!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --> Detail map of downtown
Wake Forest
<!-- --><!-- -->Studios will be open over two weekends:

Saturday, September 13,
10 am ~ 5 pm
Sunday, September 14,
1 pm ~ 5 pm
&
Saturday, September 20,
10 am ~ 5 pm
Sunday, September 21,
1 pm ~ 5 pm
<!-- --><!-- -->Alphabetical Artist List:
Allis, Sherry #20
Arendt, Boni #16
Benejam-O'Connell, Mary #1
Bird, Kathleen #12
Blackerby, Gayle #1
Boone, David #9
Brock, Gray #12
Burrell, Linda #1
Busch, Nancy #7
Davi, Susan and Gary #21
Dean, Mary #17
Floyd, Tanya #11
Hardy, Ed #1
Hayes, Angelia #19
Hight, Cheryl #19
Hoban, Rebecca #1
Kearns, Cheryl Doyle #13
King, Martha #8
Levine, Sol #2
Martin, Leslie #17
McCauley, Alison #4
Nardozzi, Trish #24
Parker, Sharron #25
Picard, Gaylord #6
Prim, Michael #26
Pukalo, Linda #7
Robbin Richardson #27
Seltzer, Maureen #3
Steele, Mary Margaret #10
Thomas, Suzanne Galant #1
Vadala, Laurel #3
Vanover, Ellen #20
Wallace, Bill #22
Weldon, Phyllis #23
Wells, Vivian #5
Wolf, Cyndy #1
Wolf, Lisa Bernardi #15
Young, Deborah #10

For a printable version of this map please click here.

**Volunteers from the Historic Downtown Wake Forest Criterium will be on hand September 14th to assist Tour Visitors with convenient parking and to escort Tour Visitors across bike race lanes.

It just got a whole lot busier in My Back Yard....

Even more choices for Live Entertainment in Wake Forest NC!

The Well Coffee House & Restaurant was featured by me a few months back when they first opened. New Coffee Shop - The Well! Wi-Fi, Superb Coffee and Awesome Food!

At that time the coffee was fabulous and the food was great BUT they are continually adding to their menu and refining the total customer experience. Their barista are some of the most talented and the food is sinfully delicious!

The Well Coffee House & Restaurant has become a great location for live entertainment! Some of the great artists coming up are:

• Sept. 4 - The Other Guys - 7:15pm
• Sept. 5 - Melody Brown - 7:30pm
• Sept. 11 - Spencer and Jana Shugart - 7:15pm
• Sept. 12 - Daniel Moore - 7:30pm

Check out their menus! Healthy yet filling breakfast selections to fuel you for the day, light and delicious lunch and dinner choices (great paninis) and a wonderful selection of desserts and sweets!

Don't forget the Wi-Fi! Lot's of work to do? Bring your laptop and stay on track!

If you haven't been lately, take some time to check out The Well Coffee Shop & Restaurant again!

Always a great place to relax, unwind, grab some great food and hear some fantastic local talent in My Back Yard....

I mentioned a few posts back that September marks the Festival and Fair season in Wake Forest which rolls us right into the Holiday Season!

Well, here is how we are kicking it off!

3rd Annual Four-Alarm Chili Cook Off

September 20, 2008

Saturday at the Wake Forest Farmers Market

11:00am - 1:00pm

There is still time to get entered in this fun and DELICIOUS event! Cash prizes are awarded for two categories:

All Meat and People's Choice Anything Goes

Space is limited to 25 entries and you are permitted to enter in both categories. For spectators you can purchase "taster kits" at only $5.00. All proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest Fire Department! If you are interested you can get an entry form at www.wakeforestmarket.org

A little spice just got added to My Back Yard....