Posts Tagged Atlanta

New Listing: 1268 Timberland Dr SE, Marietta

Posted by thunsicker in New Listing, Uncategorized on May 6, 2017

Surrounded by large private estates, exclusive neighborhoods, and the Chattahoochee National Forest, this rare listing includes just under 3 acres of pristine, private land with incredible potential.

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Located in an enclave of large estate properties in unincorporated Cobb County, you’ll have easy access to the new Braves Stadium and low Cobb County taxes whether you choose to create your own large estate (the property is zoned to allow horses) or subdivide the lot for up to 3 homes.

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The beautiful Rivers Call neighborhood is a stone’s throw away, as is the Windy Ridge Office Park, so the property offers unparalleled privacy with easy access to work, entertainment, and shopping.

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This rare piece of land is actually two subdivision lots with additional land purchased later covered with mature trees and a beautiful and private natural setting.

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Bring your builders!  There are a house and stables on the site but the property is being sold for land value. Please take a look at the details on my website and give me a call to set up a viewing!

1268 Timberland Drive SE, Marietta, GA 30067

Overview  Lot/Land; 2.96 acres; 4 br house on lot; stables; zoned for horses; sub-dividable for up to 3 homes

 

Schools: Brumby/ East Cobb/Wheeler

List price: $675,000

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UPDATE: Time to register for Atlanta Summer Camps

Posted by thunsicker in Atlanta Kids, Atlanta Summer Camps, Living on March 22, 2016

I have some great updates for that  Atlanta summer camps post I did a couple of months ago!

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photo credit: Josh Powell Summer Camp

 

Much to the dismay of many families,  Josh Powell Camp announced that they had closed their doors last year.  Then today I read an article that they are open again!  It is available for boys and girls who are rising 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.  But since they were closed last year, this year only, they are taking rising 4th graders as well to allow children the full 3 year camp experience.  Chase went all 3 years and has aged out now,  but it truly is an camp experience he enjoyed.  It still has many openings and I think that is due to the belief that it closed down, but here is the weblink to hurry and register your child; they are frequently updating their Facebook page as well for more details.  They pick up at West Paces and Northside and drive the kids out to the country.  They get muddy and hot, but I know nature  boys and girls love it!

I also heard about a few more camps that I want to tell you about for those of you who haven’t finalized your summer camp plans yet. The original post  has  all the updated information is available in one place, but here are some new camp options I wanted to highlight:

  • Club SciKidz is a science and technology camp for boys and girls ages 4-15. They have locations throughout the metro Atlanta area. Currently registering for camps beginning June 6.
  • CampMODA: a Design Thinking Camp is being presented by the Museum of Design Atlanta at 4 locations: MODA’s Midtown campus, The Lovett School, GA Tech’s College of Architecture, and First Presbyterian Preschool on Peachtree. Programs are available for children ages 5-14 are are now registering for summer sessions. Check out Field Trips With Sue‘s write up for more details on the camp (and great ideas for kids activities in general).
  • GA Tech Lacrosse Camps focuses on older children looking to really polish their lacrosse skills but has both day and overnight camps for boys and girls ages 8-18

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Atlanta’s International Markets

Posted by thunsicker in Uncategorized on December 2, 2015

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. We love getting a little extra time with friends and family as we get ready to head into the holiday season.  As many of you know I had lived in Washington DC prior to moving to Atlanta and the volume of international food restaurants and shops was very large.  When I first moved here in 1992 Atlanta’s population was only 3 million people  and now its over 6 million, so along with the doubling of our population, so has our culture and the international food places we have to choose from.  I have a client that moved here from the Northeast this summer and ended up renting out in Alpharetta.  She was commenting to me that we aren’t very “European” here, and I think that might be her perception from the burbs, but here in the City we have just about anything you could ask for.

It seems like even people who normally eat from the take out menu more than they cook are in the kitchen this time of year. The holidays are a great time to not only enjoy your family’s traditional dishes, but to add and experiment with new foods and traditions. Atlanta is such a global city that you can “travel” almost anywhere in the world now, just by visiting the international markets we have all over the city.

photo credit: emorycampuslife.org

photo credit: emorycampuslife.org

The “original” world market in Atlanta, Your Dekalb Farmers Market in Decatur, has grown and moved around over the years but it stays packed because of the huge variety of spices, produce, wine and beer, as well as the full-service seafood and butcher counters. Chances are, if you’ve heard of it, you can find it there. For me, it’s a bit of a trek from Vinings but it’s a fun place to go if you need something special (or just want to do a little food tourism without getting on a plane.) Kids love looking at the bins of live crabs.

photo credit: city-data

photo credit: city-data

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Buford Highway Farmers Market

Buford Highway, called Atlanta’s International Corridor is known for it’s variety of restaurants from Korean BBQ to taquerias and everything in between. There are even a couple of food blogs dedicated to exploring Buford Highway, like EatBufordHighway.com and a MeetUp group Buford Highway Foodies and Southern Foodways Alliance has done an oral history project on it.  It’s another great place to get an authentic taco or bowl of pho without having to get a plane ticket, but it’s also got plenty for the home cook to explore in the supermarkets like H-Mart, a Korean market where you can pick up pre-marinated meat to grill along with an entire row dedicated to soy sauces, and the Buford Highway Farmers Market, known for having food from almost every continent.

photo credit: atlantamagazine.com

photo credit: atlantamagazine.com

 

Closer to home is the new Little Italia marketplace in Westside, so after you have lunch at Pizza Antico, you can shop for your Italian dinner at Bottega Luisa. Someone described it as being stocked like “an exaggerated version of an Italian grandmother’s pantry” with every Italian product you need to make the perfect at-home date night.

Similar to the Chelsea Market Hall in Manhattan and the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, the Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market in the redeveloped Sears and Roebuck building is a mix of marketplace, dining, coffee shops, grab and go stalls and snacks in an historic Atlanta landmark. With wide variety of offerings from a South African biltong  bar to the King of Pops and everything in between, you can do a little globe-trotting under one historic roof.

photo credit : Sarah Dorio

photo credit : Sarah Dorio

In Smyrna, Nam Dae Mun Farmers Market has a variety of exotic produce but don’t forget to check out the freezer section where you can get any kind of potsticker dumpling you can imagine!  I also had to take pictures there when we were shopping recently as they had “Burnt Goat Heads” and some other items that I’m not sure what culture eats and I wasn’t game to try!  We found the green, spiky Durian,  both fresh and frozen, it is banned on Singapore’s rail network as we found out while visiting there this spring, as well as many  airports and hotels in south-east Asia. Durians polarize people. Fans say if you can get past the stink, the flesh has an ambrosial taste. they’re known for their good value.  We had a Chef from Oaxaca Mexico stay with us this spring and we were able to find most ingredients she needed to prepare a feast for 25 here at my house.  All this and more can be found at Nam Dae Mun which is right off Spring Road in Smyrna and they are close to Vinings and Buckhead so you can avoid a long trek across the city anytime you need a whole fish or an unusual Asian chili sauce.  Take the kids when you go, its a great education and maybe they’ll want to try something new!

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Atlanta Holiday Ice Skating

Posted by thunsicker in Living on November 10, 2015

photo credit: getkanga.com

photo credit: getkanga.com

I know many of you didn’t grow up ice skating or roller skating for the most part, but those from the North may be seeking a bit of their past that is rare to find down here in the south.  We now have several places you can go this winter to get your ice skating fix.  When I grew up, the ice skating rink was the hang out to meet your friends, and when it got really cold we could skate on friend’s ponds.  I had friends that would get to know lots of people from different schools from hanging out at the roller rink and down here you can hardly find one!  Well, here they are, hope you can enjoy a fun weekend day with your children, or perhaps a birthday party.  We do have them, just not as many.

photo credit: stregisatlanta.com

photo credit: stregisatlanta.com

The St. Regis Atlanta Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink:

November 21, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

  • 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday through Friday
  • 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Saturday and Sunday
  • *Special Hours* December 19 through December 24: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • *Special Hours* December 25: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • $30 per hour for adults & $18 per hour for children under 16 plus tax and 20% service charge
  • Last skate reservation is 8 p.m.

Reservations are recommended.  Call The St. Regis Atlanta Holiday Desk at 404.563.7797 for reservations and more information.

Centennial Olympic Park Ice Skating Rink:

November 21, 2015- January 10, 2016

  • Monday – Thursday 4:30pm – 10:00pm
  • Friday 4:30pm – 11:00pm
  • Saturday 10:00am – 11:00pm
  • Sunday 10:00am – 10:00pm

Admission is $12.00 per person for a 90- minute session (including skate rental)

Rink @Park Tavern at Piedmont Park

  • Monday- Friday 4:30pm-Midnight (21+ 8pm-Midnight)
  • Saturday & Sunday 11:30am-Midnight (21+ 8pm-Midnight)

All-day skate for $15 – $20 for all ages until 8pm. At 8:30pm the SW Rink is a 18+ venue until Midnight.

SKATE Atlantic Station:

November 21, 2015- February 14, 2016

  • Monday-Thursday: 4:00PM-10:00PM
  • Friday-Saturday: 3:00PM-11:00PM
  • Sunday: 3:00PM-11:00PM
  • Holidays: 3:00PM-11:00PM

General Admission is $13.00 with discounts for military, seniors, and students. Call Concierge at (404) 410-4010 for more information.

photo credit: sweet jack.com

photo credit: sweet jack.com

I’ve also just learned that an ice rink is coming to Marietta Square this holiday season! It’s scheduled to open November 30. No specifics on hours or admission have been announced yet, but I’ll post more info on Facebook when I get details.

For year-round ice skating and roller skating, check out these rinks:

Marietta Ice Center has hockey league teams but there is also public skating available. Here’s the calendar or you can call or email for more information

  • Email: Info@MariettaIceCenter.com
  • Phone: 770-509-5067

Center Ice Arena in Sandy Springs offers hockey, curling, special events, and public skating. Here’s the calendar and their contact information

  • Email: centericearenaga@gmail.com
  • Phone: 404-549-8425

Sparkles Family Fun Centers has several roller skating locations around Atlanta, including Smyrna and Kennesaw. They have public skating but are also set up for parties with concessions and packages.

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Atlanta Private Schools Open House Schedule 2015

Posted by thunsicker in Atlanta Private Schools on November 6, 2015

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photo credit: prepfection.com

Every year, I have out of town clients that tell me which private school their child is planning to attend.  Most parents aren’t aware of the process, the schedule, and how competitive it is.  I have a post about “off cycle” admissions  but most private schools in Atlanta don’t accommodate off cycle admission, creating a challenge for executives who are relocated during the summer months.  Holy Innocents is the only one I know of that my clients have been able to get into off cycle.

Part of being a realtor is helping families with relocation and transition and a big part of that process is finding the right schools for your children. I’ve done a few posts with tips and information about the process of application for Atlanta private schools in order to help parents navigate the process and minimize disappointment when unexpected things pop up. For me, it’s not just about selling real estate, it’s about helping people create homes here in Vinings and Buckhead!

The “on cycle” process typically starts in October the year prior to the year you want your child to start,  usually with testing beginning in October.  Then in November the private school Open Houses start and the schools may schedule private tours of the schools as well.  By January, schools have booked the individual interviews and they stop accepting applications in January to early February.  Decisions are made and announced at the same time, usually the first Saturday in April.

There are wait lists and a lot of movement during those first two weeks after announcements, so don’t give up on your first choice too soon.  But it’s interesting because  schools are pretty good at knowing which students are the best fit for their curriculum and education styles so I’d prefer a school that wanted my child on their first list personally.  Trust the process and apply to at least three. Schools are looking for candidates that are going to succeed in their environment so it is not usually the parent’s choice at the end of the day, it’s up to the schools.

The psychologist that does your child’s testing is a good resource in directing you to the schools that would be the best fit, but if your heart wants one in particular, don’t give up, wait out the wait list.  I know people with siblings tend to just apply to the school they have a child in already and many regret it later when that child doesn’t get in, so expand your search and consider others; a school program that is a fit for one isn’t always a fit for another and you don’t want to be in a position of having to move to get in a good school district after the fact! Trust me- it happens more often than you can imagine!  So, to help you get rolling, here are this year’s Open House dates:

Woodward Academy offers group tours by reservation on select dates through February

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Pirch Cooking Demo: Pink Himalayan Salt Block Cooking

Posted by thunsicker in Living on October 23, 2015

We learned all about salt block cooking

Pink Himalayan Salt Block Shrimp

I can’t say enough good things about the experience we had at my event at Pirch. I’ve talked about their space and the wonderful event staff but I wanted to tell you more about one of the highlights of the evening: the cooking demo. I had never heard of salt block cooking but let me tell you, I am sold! The chef made a really wonderful but simple shrimp dish on a pink Himalayan salt block; we we all really impressed by how he simply sauteed the shrimp on the heated block and it was really delicious, just lightly infused with salt.

I found an interview with Mark Bitterman on The Splendid Table (a great cooking radio show and podcast) who wrote the book that our demo was based on: Salt Block Cooking 101  He explains the technique and how to care for your salt block. I have his cookbook and can’t wait to try making shrimp on it at home. I also noticed that it can be used on the grill, which is great since we are lucky in Atlanta to be able to grill almost year round, and also saw some really great looking cold salads like watermelon and feta in the book.

This recipe from Sur la Table is similar to the one we loved at Pirch:

photo credit: Surletable.com

photo credit: Surlatable.com

Salt Block Honey and Black Pepper Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small shallot, peeled and finely minced
  • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled and finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1-½ teaspoons cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound large shrimp, cleaned
  • Kosher sea salt, as needed

Procedures:

Grilling shrimp brings out their natural sweetness, and grilling them directly on a Himalayan salt block, imparts a subtle salty note to the shellfish. Make sure to heat the salt block slowly on the grill or in an oven to prevent cracking. Also make sure to give the block several hours to cool to room temperature before lightly scrubbing under running water.

Prepare the Himalayan Salt Block: Place a completely dry Himalayan salt block on a cold charcoal or gas grill. Light grill and heat slowly to 400 degrees. Once grill reaches temperature, allow salt block to heat for another 20 to 30 minutes. Alternately, set salt block on a rimmed baking sheet, place on a rack in the center of a cold oven and heat to 400 degrees. Once oven reaches temperature, allow salt block to heat for another 20 to 30 minutes.

To make the honey cracked pepper glaze: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook until shallots have softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the honey, lemon juice and black pepper. Stir to combine, then taste and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the shrimp: Using a silicone pastry brush, brush shrimp with glaze mixture. Place shrimp directly on salt block and cook until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, turn shrimp onto a clean spot on the block. Brush again with glaze and continue cooking until the center is slightly opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

To serve: Divide shrimp between 4 heated serving plates. Drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of reserved glaze mixture and serve immediately.

Via the Sur la Table test kitchen

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Main Event, a New Atlanta Birthday Party Option

Posted by thunsicker in Uncategorized on January 7, 2015

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Parents, there is a new indoor play venue that opened up near us on just a couple of months ago that I wanted to tell you about. Main Event Entertainment in Atlanta is right below the AMC theatre on Cobb Parkway inside the perimeter and has bowling, laser tag, rock climbing, gravity ropes, an arcade with lots of games for kids and a sports bar (with some happy hour specials) for adults where they can catch a game on TV or play pool while the kids go play. With the weather getting so cold, it’s a great spot for birthday parties or just an indoor play day. The first time we were there was for a birthday party and the boys could run wild and play laser tag several times.  You no longer need to be at a party to play, just sign up!  They are running a Winter Funpass special that starts at around $15 per session right now which gives you unlimited access to a lot of their activities.  I’ve had several friends who have been there at least five times in the last couple weeks and I’ve heard nothing but good things.  I actually got to sit at a counter and have snacks and watch a football game while the boys played.  Of course they were checking in quite often as they always wanted more money on their play cards!

I wrote a post  a while back about all the birthday parties I’ve planned for Chase over the years and I think I’m going to add this one to my list. His birthday is in October so while I usually have warm-weather outdoor options, I also need to keep an indoor option in mind in case it’s chilly and this place covers a pretty broad age range (it’s amazing how fast they grow up and won’t fit in a bouncy house anymore!). So if your kids have an upcoming birthday or just have a lot of energy to burn and not enough square footage in the house to corral them, Main Event is a fun close-by option.

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Lights, Camera, Action, Y’all!

Posted by thunsicker in Famous People in Atlanta, Uncategorized on November 7, 2014

photo credit: AtlantaHistoryCenter.tumblr.com

Swan House photo credit: AtlantaHistoryCenter.tumblr.com

Atlanta’s booming film industry has brought a flurry of A-list stars to Buckhead recently. Ryan Gosling, who is filming the ‘70’s noir “The Nice Guys” with Russell Crowe was spotted out enjoying dinner at the Buckhead Diner last weekend. They have been filming all over town including the retro fabulous Sandy Springs home of Dallas Austin (where Justin Beiber stayed while he worked on a recording project earlier this year).

photo credit: inquisitr.com

Dallas Austin’s retro fabulous home photo credit: inquisitr.com

 

Marvel is filming “Ant-man” downtown in mid-November, superhero fans! The film is starring Paul Rudd as a man who can change sizes and communicate with insects. And speaking of superheroes, former superheroine and Cartersville native Chloe Moretz (who was Hit Girl in the film “Kick Ass”) is filming “The Fifth Wave” on location in Ansley Park.

 

And for fans of ‘80’s comedy, Ed Helms of “The Office” is back in his hometown of Atlanta doing a sequel to the Griswald’s “Vacation” to Wally World. He’s playing the role of a grown-up Rusty Griswald with Christina Applegate cast as his wife. I hear that while their roles will be small, both Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo will be making an appearance. They’ve been filming around Midtown and in Charlotte NC.

 

It sounds like there will be more of this in our area as Tyler Perry Studios expands with its purchase of property in the decommissioned Ft MacPherson and Jim Jacoby builds the huge Atlanta Media Campus and Studios in Gwinnett, slated to be the largest movie complex outside of California.

 

If you’re looking for a little of the “lights, camera, action” yourself, here’s a casting call I recently heard about: Looking for wealthy philanthropists, business owners and CEOs for an inspirational, uplifting primetime hour-long series for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The ideal families should live in the Atlanta area, have at least one 7-12-year-old child and would be able to assist another family in need. If you have everything in life money can buy and feel like giving back to a hard working family who had their run of bad luck, please apply here:  http://www.nbc.com/casting#htohl

 

Break a leg, y’all!

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June 2014 Market Update

Posted by thunsicker in Atlanta Real Estate, Preparing Your Home For Sale, State of Real Estate Market on July 31, 2014

Whether you are actively buying or selling or you are just curious what the market is doing, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Market Updates are full of interesting and useful information. View the June update for Buckhead here:

June 2014 Buckhead Market Update

June 2014 Buckhead Market Update

Click here to view additional market update videos.

Please contact me if you have any questions about any aspect of the real estate market. I would love to discuss it with you.

Tina Hunsicker tinahunsicker.com (404) 931-3944

Tina Hunsicker
tinahunsicker.com
(404) 931-3944

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April 2014 Real Estate Market Update

Posted by thunsicker in Uncategorized on May 29, 2014

Here is the real estate market update for April. These stats are very general by area. Various price points are moving much faster than others. In Vinings, the over $2M price point had about a 4 year inventory in January, and while it is finally moving, it’s still at about a 2 year inventory level. Because of this, I see those prices continuing to drop, while the lower price points are holding steadier now.

 

April 2014 Market Update

This link will take you to the Vinings Market Update, but you can browse areas throughout Atlanta and the state of Georgia here. As always, if you have any questions about this update or anything real estate related, please contact me.

 

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