Angela Elliott, REALTOR® C21 Classic Properties ~ Gainesville, FL Real Estate

5/14/2008

I moved to Gainesville, FL in the middle of 4th grade and we moved to The Hammock on one of the last designated scenic roads in Alachua County, Millhopper Road. Millhopper Road is home to Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site, which is a park containing a giant sinkhole you can walk down into. The walk back up is not very fun though! Millhopper Road is also home to the 7000 acre San Felasco State Park, which has miles of walking trails. San Felasco has another entrance off of HWY 441 in the Alachua/Progress Park area and on this side of the park you may walk, cycle or ride horses. The Millhopper Road side is strcitly for walking.

There are not many lakes within Gainesville, but The Hammock does have one. Most of the homes on the west side of the neighborhood are lake front. The Hammock is a heavily wooded neighborhood in which the homes sit on 1.5+ acre parcels. The Hammock has recently been designated part of the San Felasco Preserve as it borders the State Park.

In my years living there, I have seen deer, bunnies, and tons of birds. The Hammock is a veritable wildlife sanctuary. The neighborhood is extremely quiet and serene and the people are very friendly. It is not a very transient neighborhood - people seem to buy there and stay put for years. Only a handful of homes sell per year here. There are currently 3 homes on the maket in The Hammock as of 5/14/2008:

The lowest price home available currently is a 3/2.5 2735 sqft home on 1.8 acres built in 1983 and priced at $398,900. It just hit the market today.

The highest priced home currently available is a 3/3.5 lakefront beauty boasting 4132 sqft and an enormous garage underneath the house. This magestic property is currently priced at $769,000.

The last sales include:

3/2 2973sqft built in 1997 sold 4/30/2008 for $369,000

4/3 3472sqft built in 1977 sold 2/15/2008 for $500,000

3/3 3218sqft built in 2006 sold 11/19/2007 for $625,000

It really is a Hammock!:

If you're interested in seeing homes available in The Hammock or any of Gainesville's other fine neighborhoods, please call or e-mail me and I will send you available listings.

If you'd like a free market analysis of your home in The Hammock or elsewhere in Alachua County, please click the 'request CMA' buttom below and I will complete one for you promptly.

Your Millhopper Road Realtor!

Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).

The Top is one of my all time favorite restaurants in town. I really like "different" food and get tired of the same old run of the mill stuff. The Top definitely delivers. My favorite appetizers from The Top are the corn fritter nuggets & garlic dipping sauce and sweet potato fries. The Top has seared sashimi grade tuna dishes, filet, vegetarian selections featuring plenty of tofu (try it blackend) and tempeh, pastas and homemade desserts (try the vegan chocolate cake and peanut butter pie). The Top also has a full service bar and are renowned for their Mojitos. I usually get the Bombay and Tonic - extra lime.

We pulled up at the Top at around 9:30 p.m. last Saturday night. Parking can be difficult, but by some unknown stroke of luck, not only did we get a parking spot, we were seated immediately in one of the comfortable booths. The Top has a unique decor and features a photo booth in the back by the desserts.

The service is always good. I read a few negative reviews as to service online, but I've never had an unfriendly or unaccomadating waiter here. My waiter did, however, raise an eyebrow as I took a picture of the Mojito you'll see below, so I awkwardly said I was profiling the restaurant. Unfortunately I didn't receive any kick backs or samples for this feat, but the delicious food I was eating washed away my dissapointment quickly.

We devoured the corn fritter nuggets before I remembered my mission (to take pictures for you good folks), so let's go right into the entrees:

~PESTO GNOCCHI WITH BLACKEND TOFU~

Delicious and perfectly cooked potato gnocchi pasta in a pesto cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and ciabatta bread on the side. I ordered mine with blackend tofu on top, but you can have it plain or with chicken.
The plate was artfully put together when it arrived but I started eating and forgot to take a pic beforehand again! What can I say, my mouth was watering.

~ THE TOP BURGER WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES ~

~BLACK PEPPERCORN ENCRUSTED FILET IN BRANDY CREAM SAUCE ~

Served with mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. My companion said the peppercorn was a little overwhelming (and scraped some off) but that the brandy cream sauce was very good. He said the steak, however, was absolutely cooked to perfection and was great quality (and he's a steak guy).

~ THE TOP MOJITO ~

The Top Location:

The Top is not open for lunch and is closed Mondays. They are open Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call for hours, but I believe they open at 5 and stay open quite late the other days of the week.

*Make sure to visit my Article Index for more Gainesville Restaurant Profiles, Gainesville real estate and other Gainesville Info.*

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Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).

La Fiesta is a mexican restaurant that is on my recommended places to eat in Gainesville, Florida. I was going to the Newberry road location for years, but now there is one in NW Gainesville, which is in my "neck of the woods", so I go here.

Mexican is a pretty serious debate in this town. I haven't eaten at every single Mexican joint in Gainesville, but I've been to a lot of them. I've never had a good experience with Las Margaritas (I had a terrible pitcher of margaritas one time there too), although most Mexican fans love it. I order food for take out often and everyime I get the food home it's cold, despite arriving early and the 5 minute drive home.

I've never had a bad experience with La Fiesta. I love their mild refried beans, their queso and their vegetarian offerings, especially the Vegetarian Chimichanga. It is stuffed with mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, onions, a little garlic, etc. then wrapped in a tortilla and flash-fried. It is then smothered in the house queso and served with spanish seasoned rice and refried beans. Another of my favorites is the very simple, yet delicious, Bean Burrito - enchilada style. It is your standard bean burrito, but it has a very good enchilada sauce gently drizzled on top and mixed with a little queso.

My boyfriend likes the Combination Fajita, which is seasoned steak and chicken with sauteed onions and peppers. served with a side of beans, quacamole, tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce and tortillas. He also likes the standard beef and been burrito and says the meat tastes like chilli mac meat (a little on the spicy side).

The margaritas here are very good, whether you go house or top shelf. I also enjoy their cheese enchiladas and the vegetarian quesadilla (my old staple before discovering the chimichanga). The prices are fair, the quantity is good and the food is hot and fresh. Beware though: La Fiesta can get packed at night, especially on the weekend.

Now for some photos:

COMBINATION FAJITAS

VEGETARIAN CHIMICHANGA:

BEAN BURRITO ~ ENCHILADA STYLE

BEEF/BEAN BURRITO & CHIPS AND QUESO

La Fiesta Locations:

NW: 9513 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL (352) 335-8484

Newberry Rd.: 7038 NW 10th Pl, Gainesville, FL (352) 332-0878

Map it using Google Maps

*Make sure to visit my Article Index for more Gainesville Restaurant Profiles, Gainesville real estate and other Gainesville Info.*

Active Rain members: Make sure to join Active Rain Foodaholics!

Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).

5/13/2008

Blues Creek is a neighborhood located in the NW quadrant of Gainesville, FL in the North 43rd Street area. The community features a clubhouse, pool (both pictured below) and a tennis court for its residents. Blues Creek is zoned for Talbot Elementary, an A-rated Elementary which I attended in my "formulative years". Blues Creek is also zoned for Fort Clarke Middle school and Gainesville High School. I have lived in Gainesville for 17 years now and I can say Blues Creek is one of my favorite neighborhoods. I know all the "secret" trails and how to connect over to the TV20 Park, or Deer Run, or even Spring Forest.

Blues Creek is located just minutes from the Hunter's Crossing shopping center which contains Publix, Millhopper Cafe (Mexican Restaurant), Starbucks, Subway, CVS, UPS Store, Dry Cleaner, Campus Credit Union, Wachovia, and other shops. Chinese Food coming soon too!

Currently there are 22 homes available on the market in Blues Creek. There are 15 patio homes under $195,000 and 7 single family homes starting at $299,000.

The lowest priced unit available is a 2/2 patio home in The Gardens built in 1999 with a 2-car garage and 1327sqft. Home is priced at $165,000. The Gardens is a section of Blues Creek which is exclusively patio homes. The association grants you access to the amenities, but also promotes the care free lifestyle of a condominium as they also provide lawn care, exterior pressure washing and roof replacements when necessary.

The highest priced unit available is a brick/hardi-board 4/3 built in 2006 that sits on a cul-de-sac lot and has a 3-car garage. Home is priced at $487,750.

Blues Creek Clubhouse & Pool

Interested in Blues Creek's current listings? They are only a call or e-mail away. Contact me for a free MLS search today and I'd be happy to send you some!

Would you like to know your home's current value? Please call or e-mail me with your address or click the 'Request CMA' button below and I'd be glad to provide you with an estimate!

Your Millhopper Area Realtor!

Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).

If you have not been to the Gainesville Downtown Farmer's Market (specifically known as the Union Street Farmer's Market due to its location), you need to quit procrastinating. Every Wednesday starting at 4 p.m. and running until 7 p.m., vendors are in place at the Sun Center (surrounding the Hippodrome State Theatre), ready to tantalize your taste buds and offer fresh wares from herbs and produce to organic milk, homemade soaps, handmade jewelery, and a variety of other local goods/trades.

Visit the Union Street Farmer's Market Website to explore the vendors you will run into while attending. One of my favorites is the Terranova Catering Company. I can't go to the market without buying some of their fig & kalamata olive tapenade. I could eat that stuff by the spoonful, honestly. Terranova also sells their fresh baked breads, stuffed breads, goat cheese and other out-of-bounds spreads. Visiting their booth is reason enough to attend the market. They also participate in the Haile Village Center Saturday Morning Farmer's market.

Another of my favorite's is Maria's Bakery. Her handmade spanakopitas are a must have and her flavored focacia bread is very good.

Don't dare buy produce from the grocery store as while the Farmer's Market contains a lot of other goodies, it really is about the Farmer's and their fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and plants that are available. You have several vendors to choose from, a great selection and you're supporting local families, not to mention getting the freshest product!

Another of my favorites is the 2nd Street Bakery. I recommend them on my Gainesville FL Restaurant Guide, which features my top picks for places to eat in Gainesville. They have fantastic coffee and baked goods at their 2nd street location, but they also participate in the downtown Farmer's Market. Their citrus herb bread is one of my favorites, and if you ever go to the shop, the tempeh sandwich on the citrus herb bread is highly recommended. Every pastry 2nd street makes is of the highest quality, and all of their fresh baked breads are hearty, crusty and flavorful.

WHERE:

Union Street Farmers Market
20 Southeast 2d Place in
the Sun Center
Gainesville, FL 32601

Also be sure to visit:

Alachua County Farmers Market I

Northwest 34th Street & U.S. Highway 441 Gainesville, Florida

(352) 371-8236

YEAR-ROUND Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com. A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).