About Mooresville's Historic Downtown Mooresville

Mark you calendars for this Friday, August 14th, 2009 from 6-9 pm for the popular and growing "On the Corner of Art and Main"monthly gallery crawl in Historic Downtown Mooresville!

"The Corner of Art and Main" is an artwalk featuring live music, art and festivities. Enjoy wine and cheese as you browse the many shops on Main and Broad Streets that will be featuring the works of local artists.

This Friday's artwalk coincides with the Depot Fine Gallery's August Exhibit free opening reception from 6-8 pm. (105 West Center Avenue in the historic train depot). This month's exhibit features three artists: Leo Gordon, Sandie Bell and John Weidman.

I would like to particularly highlight a friend and very talented artist, Sandie Bell whose art I have admired ever since I met her when I first arrived in Mooresville in 2005. A local resident of the Mooresville Lake Norman community, Sandie's work has won numerous awards and is included in private collections throughout the country. Sandie is also an active member of the Mooresville Artist Guild, Lake Norman Art League, Charlotte Artists Society and Associated Artists of Winston Salem.

This is one of my favorite works of Sandie's which she has replicated on note cards that I love sending to family and friends: "Things are looking up" reflects her spirit as well as life in our great Lake Norman area where hot-air balloons are quite popular.

One of the qualities I appreciate the most about Sandie as an artist is her versatility. She is currently working in acrylics, pastels, collage, watercolor, and mixed media. From traditional still life to abstracts, she enjoys "creating new visual statements by using shapes, patterns, colors and values."

I am particularly fond of abstract art like this piece of hers entitled "Asian Influence"

To see more of Sandie's work, visit her gallery on her website in which is included these categories of subjects: Landscapes and Flora, Fauna, Still Life, Abstract, Figures and Others. And, definitely go to the Depot Fine Art Gallery to meet her on the 14th!

If you have time after the Opening Reception at the Depot Fine Art Gallery on the 14th, I highly recommend that you stroll along Main Steet where you will find more wonderful artists such at "Cotton Ketchie" at his popular Landmark Galleries. This month he will not only have his wonderful water colors, photographs, local pottery and gifts, but the gallery will be showcasing the works of NC artist Tony Craig who also enjoys "incorporating the nostalgic old country stores and grist mills" in his artwork just as does "Cotton".

Finally, stop by for a great glass of wine at our Historic Downtown Mooresville's gourmet wine shop at the corner of Main and Moore Street.

If you can't make it this month, On the Corner of Art and Main is held the second Friday of every month. Enjoy!

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I just got word from Joel, owner of the happening Joel's Grill in the Harris Teeter Shopping Center on the Lake Norman side of Mooresville that he will be opening a new restaurant: J.J. Wasabi's at "DoMo" in Historic Downtown Mooresville!

If you know Joel and/or have been to his popular restaurant Joel's Grill you know that he doesn't do anything that doesn't include great food, high energy and fun that becomes a magnet for the who's who of Lake Norman. I expect J.J. Wasabi's, in addition to Soiree''s new restaurant SPEED, to bring a fun, night life and sense of destination to our great Downtown Mooresville's Main Street....now simply "DoMo"!

J.J. Wasabi's at DoMo will be located at the wonderfully restored, yellow-front building on the corner of Main and Moore St.: 183 N. Main St. For more information: 704: 402-3548. joelsgrill@aol.com.

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Thanks to such great success last year, once again Mooresville is holding The Second Annual Historic Mooresville Tour of Homes on Oct 17-19. Sponsored by the Mooresville Historic Preservation Commission and DEJ Realty, this event was created last year as a way to promote Historic Downtown Mooresville. Proceeds of the event benefit the Mooresville Historic Preservation and The Mooresville Museum which is in the process of restoring their new home in Downtown Mooresville.

VIP Reception

This year the VIP Reception is being held in the spectacular J.A. Stewart house located on 832 North Main Street on Friday evening, October 17th from 6-9pm. Soiree Restaurant (located in Historic Downtown Mooresville) and Say Cheese at the Grapevine will be catering the evening reception. Tickets are limited and may be purchased for $40 at the locations on their website: Historic Mooresville Tour of Homes.

The Home Tours

All of the homes on the tour are located in downtown Mooresville. The tour hours are:

• Saturday, October 18th: 10am - 6pm
• Sunday, October 19th: 1pm - 5pm

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the event. Parking and ticket information is also on their website: Historic Mooresville Tour of Homes.

The Homes on Tour:

1. 334 West Center Avenue: The Ernest Henry Miller House (1898)
2. 318 West Center Avenue: The W.M. Lentz House (1884)
3. 351 West Center Avenue: The Zebulon Turlington House (1906)
4. 832 North Main Street: The J.A. Stewart House (1896)
5. 329 South Academy Street: The Annie Rankin Carr House (1902)
6. 335 South Academy Street: The Mary Howard Rankin Turlington House (1902)
7. 354 South Academy Street: The C.L. Emiston House (1920's)
8. 318 West Wilson Avenue: The Davidson House (Turn-of-the-Century)
9. 419 Harris Street: Mooreville Mill Village (1917)
10. 328 Messick Street: Mooresville Mill Village (Early 1920's)

This group of homes will provide an opportunity for historic home enthusiasts to see everything from small Mill homes to the grand estate on Main Street. Visitors can start and stop at any home on the tour. The tours are given in groups led by an experienced docent (I did this last year and it was great fun!) so that you learn about the special characteristics of each home as well as some fun history.

If you have been visiting this Lake Norman Real Estate Blogsite for very long you know I love our Historic Downtown Mooresville and I truly hope this opportunity to see so many wonderful historic homes will encourage more of our Lake Norman home owners to venture east a bit and learn more about our historic part of town!

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Don't let the last phase of theHistoric Downtown Mooresville street beautification keep you from exploring and enjoying an amazing array of new shops, art galleries and restaurants! If you haven't been downtown in just 6 months you will be amazed at the changes! Most of the historic buildings have had beautiful face-lifts, the sidewalks and crosswalks have inlaid bricks, the park next to the Mooresville Artist Guild Depot has brand new landscaping and there is new signage and lamp posts.

Behind the temporary cement barriers on the north end of downtown Mooresville, there are some exciting new shops ready to welcome you!

Right on the corner just down from Cotton Ketchie's renowned Landmark Galleries you will find the new 202 North Main Fine Wines store which offers a great selection of higher-end wines and wine tastings.

Due to open next week is the exciting new upscale culinary, catering, learning and retail store: The Savvy Chef.

Another new Art Gallery: Gallery 206!

The Garden Party is an exceptional, upscale store with unique gifts from Vietri Italian dinnerware to incredible baby gifts. A perfect place for a bride or mom-to-be to register!

The owners of our wonderful Soiree Restaurant have taken over the location of the old Histories/Lucky Tavern and are planning a fun, "happening" restaurant called SPEED with entertainment to draw in a later evening, younger crowd.

Artworks on Main , which just opened in May, is a beautiful art gallery offering artist supplies, art classes for adults and children, workshops and seminars.

Be sure to check out "The Corner of Art and Main", Downtown Mooresville's Artwalk featuring live music, art and festivities. Enjoy wine and cheese as you browse the many shops on Main and Broad Streets that will be featuring the works of local artists on the second Friday evening of every month.

If you haven't visited Historic Downtown Mooresville lately, now is a great time to go!

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The Mooresville Downtown Commission, a non-profit group that works to maintain and sustain the development and character of downtown Mooresville, is asking the Town Commissioners to increase the funding it receives from the town to $60,000, but the town is uncertain of the return on investment.

Previously, the Town's contribution to the group has been approximately $45,000 per year. However, with the impending retirement of the long-standing director, the MDC feels that it's necessary to hire “an executive director with experience promoting and revitalizing downtowns”, and add that this individual will be held to the meeting of certain goals in “increasing investment, business growth, residential development and entertainment”.

Some of the Town Commissioners feel that the money the Town has provided in the past has not provided any measurable results, despite the Town's additional efforts in upgrades to sidewalks and parking in the Downtown area. MDC board members seem to share this concern and frustration, however, and also feel that the board must demand results from a new executive director.

The Town Commissioners have until June 30 to make a decision on the budget request of the MDC, but some sources feel a decision sooner is likely.