Posts Tagged buckhead
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!
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
Atlanta Birthday Parties for Kids
Posted by thunsicker in Atlanta Kids, Uncategorized on February 3, 2016
I’ve written about planning Chase’s birthday parties a few times over the years; it’s fun to stay on top of what’s available in Atlanta because not only do kids grow up fast, their interests and hobbies change as they get older. I’ve always tried to plan a theme or venue that really reflects who Chase is as a person so I’m always asking friends for recommendations or researching to see what’s new.
Last year, I wrote about Main Event on Cobb Parkway, a great indoor facility with games, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, and even a sports bar for adults. Main Event is still a favorite with Chase’s friends and I think it’s a good option to keep in mind for winter birthdays.
photo credit: 365atlantafamily.com
Another place that seems to be popular no matter the age of your child is LEGOland Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza. They have DUPLO for toddlers on up to rides for older children and all the LEGOs you could possible want to build with! They even have a LEGO box kids can jump into!
Zip lines, ropes courses, sky bridges for the gravity defying adventurer, Treetop Quest has 3 locations in Dunwoody, Buford, and a new location in Roswell. One of the cool things about this place is that the activities are self guided so once you are trained on the safety equipment, you can go through the course or zipline as many times as you want.
photo credit: classic-paintball.com
Paintball is really popular with the older kids (and adults) and can be a really fun group activity. Most paintball facilities will reserve a field for groups of 10 or more on weekdays.
- Dosser Works Paintball in Atlanta (near Turner Field) has a zombie themed course- perfect for kids who are in the “gory” Halloween costume stage. You can bring your own party food to their picnic area but they also offer concessions like hotdogs and snacks.
- Classic Paintball in Lithia Springs has 5 fields and an urban course to choose from. They also have picnic areas and pavilions for your birthday party treats.
- Georgia Paintball has two fields in Acworth and Dallas Georgia. They have a castle, a western town (called Dodge City) and wooded courses and they offer packages and specials for groups at both locations.
photo credit: boxycolonial.com
For the nature lover, Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has birthday party plans that include hiking, animal interaction, and a nighttime planetarium theme. They tailor parties for different age groups and every party package includes a cookie cake. They host a lot of great programs and events including a butterfly festival and a summer camp so they’re a great local resource for nature-loving families.
Members at the Center for Puppetry Arts can book a birthday party with tickets to a show and a party room. You can add a build-you-own puppet workshop to the party package and each guest will have a puppet to take home with them.
I don’t have as much experience with planning parties for girls but my friends with daughters tell me that their girls are really into their American Girl dolls so the American Girl Boutique & Bistro at North Pointe Mall in Alpharetta might be the perfect spot to celebrate. They even have a doll hair salon!
photo credit: huffingtonpost.com
Or if your little lady (or gentleman) enjoys a lovely cup of tea and a tower of delicious scones and cakes in elegant surroundings, several of Atlanta’s top hotels offer afternoon high teas:
- The St. Regis Atlanta offers an elegant Afternoon Tea at Astor Court Friday – Sunday.
- The Ritz Carlton Buckhead’s Lobby Lounge has two seatings each afternoon Wednesday – Sunday with live piano entertainment.
- Four Season’s Park 75 Afternoon Tea is available with seven day advance reservations for parties of ten or more.
For the budding artist, the Vinings School of Art right here in Vinings offers several different art class packages for birthday parties. Your child can choose the project they create and instructors will guide the guests through
I also ran across a great list of birthday party ideas for children in Atlanta including Fernbank, the Georgia Aquarium, Young Chef’s Academy and more. Just click on the highlighted words to get taken to their sites.
Atlanta Holiday Ice Skating
Posted by thunsicker in Living on November 10, 2015
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
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.
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
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.
- Sparkles Smyrna Phone: 770-432-6222
- Sparkles Kennesaw Phone: 770-428-3941
Visit Your Local Library for Summer Fun
Posted by thunsicker in Uncategorized on July 17, 2015
Vining Branch Library
One of my favorite local resources here in Vinings and Buckhead are our local libraries. Both Cobb and Fulton counties have great branches in the area. We love our local Vinings branch library; their summer program theme is “Superheros!” and their events schedule looks pretty “super!”
From story hour for toddlers, summer reading programs for all age groups (including adults), special guest speakers, classes, art competitions and family movie screenings, the libraries are a wealth of activities that are great for your brain and your budget.
Take a look at the websites for the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and Cobb County Public Library System I’ve linked here, find the closest branch and see what cool (literally- they’re air conditioned!) summer programs they have coming up in July and August.
Lights, Camera, Action, Y’all!
Posted by thunsicker in Famous People in Atlanta, Uncategorized on November 7, 2014
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).
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!
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
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
Play time in Atlanta
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Living, Neighborhoods, Vinings on June 18, 2014
Summer is here and we are all looking for things to do with our children. I ran across this great article – a list of Atlanta’s Top 10 Parks and Playground. Some of these might be old favorites, but it’s always good to learn about new parks when you need to mix up your summer routine.
Run, Swing, Slide: The 10 Best Atlanta Playgrounds
Before summer starts to swelter here in Hotlanta, it is time to take this outside, parents. We scoured the city and rounded up 10 playgrounds that are a breath of fresh air and a guaranteed boredom buster. These parks have something for everyone—even the grown-ups. Consider this your bitty’s bucket list. Enjoy!
While our local Vinings/Smyrna playgrounds didn’t make the list, I’ll add my own recommendations:
Vinings: Cochise Riverview Club (members only): we have our own great playground by the pool.
Smyrna: There is a great playground by St Benedict’s. It is very clean, and young and older kids both enjoy this one.
Smyrna: Just up Atlanta Road is Taylor-Brawner Park. Besides having a great playground, it is also the site for Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays. Take your kids for the playground and stay for dinner or popsicles.
Buckhead: Beaverbrook Park. It’s very quiet and has a lot of shade for these hot, summer days.
Rainy Days: We’ve all used McDonalds and Chick Fila in a pinch or on a rainy day – can’t beat it.
Smyrna’s Taylor-Brawner Park
Are any of these your favorites? If not, where are your go-to playgrounds or parks?
Bieber home shopping update
Posted by thunsicker in Atlanta Real Estate, Famous People in Atlanta on February 20, 2014
It looks like Justin isn’t ready to commit. According to TMZ, he has decided to rent for three months until he finds that perfect location. Like I said, I didn’t believe the other rumor since that house is so close to the street, but this house, the craziest house in quasi Buckhead (more Sandy Springs than Buckhead), makes sense. His temporary Atlanta home is that of record producer Dallas Austin. The four bedroom 5,500 sq. ft. home resembles a spaceship.
If he wants my opinion, he should just pay the big bucks and buy Tyler Perry’s estate on Paces Ferry Road for $28M. It has the security and privacy he needs, and is such a good location with easy access to I-75 to get intown and go to the airport. This estate would require a lot of upkeep and maintenance with the fabulous grounds and gardens and it comes with quite a hefty tax bill which was reduced in 2012 to $285,000 but was as high as $397,771 in 2010, though, so I guess his search continues… I use to have a listing in Ball Ground that has studio already built in, would definitely give him privacy too. I’ll have to think more about what will fit the bill.
Feature for Sellers: Prudential monthly real estate updates
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Data and Statistics, State of Real Estate Market, Vinings on September 16, 2013
Knowing what is going on in the real estate market is just as important when selling your home as it is when you are buying. One of the great features that has come with joining Prudential is a monthly market update that is quick and concise. Below, I’ve included links to the Buckhead and Vinings September updates.
What you’ll notice in the Buckhead data is the dramatic fall off of sales in August. Normally, I would think this drop is related to back to school, but this year the decrease was more dramatic than in years past.
Vinings was more stable from July to August. I believe the uptick in sales prices is related to the Jumbo rates being lower than conventional financing right now. In both markets you’ll see that inventory is down dramatically.
If you are interested, I’m happy to pull YTD data for you as well. As always, if you’re thinking about selling, give me a call so I can help you analyze the value of your home.
Buckhead home for sale convenient to Chastain Park
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Featured Homes for Sale on September 27, 2012
The big reveal! This home has been completely remodeled and a professional home manager has arrived. Check out the new hardwood and tile flooring added on main, new carpet upstairs, completely new kitchen with beautiful cabinetry, granite and all new appliances. All new light fixtures, roof, everything freshly painted. Fabulous flat lot. Come take a look!
THIS HOME IS NO LONGER ON THE MARKET OR LISTED WITH TINA HUNSICKER
95 Spruell Springs Road – Atlanta, GA 30342
Three bedrooms, two full baths
Offered at $339,000
This home is convenient to Chastain Park and sits on a flat, level lot. With three bedrooms and two full baths, this completely remodeled home is move-in ready.
Everything in this home has been updated! The main level includes brand new hardwood floors and light, bright neutral paint colors.
The kitchen features tile floors, beautiful cabinetry, granite countertops, and all new appliances.
All of the bedrooms have updated carpet and paint colors as well.
The level backyard is professionally landscaped and features a patio for dining alfresco.
For more information on all homes for sale near Chastain Park, please contact:
Tina Hunsicker
Prudential Georgia – Buckhead Office
404.931.3944
tinahunsicker@hotmail.com
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