The End of a Wonderful Year

Here we are, at the end of a wonderful year.

In 2017, the Real Estate By Design team has moved offices, brought a new Broker-In-Charge and some wonderful new agents on board, and closed our most transactions ever! The Lisa Ellis crew was also involved in growing our local community with the development of the Ramsley and Garden Ridge communities with J Fuller Homes. It’s been a tremendous year and we’re so inspired to carry these successes into 2018 and continue to help move our community forward with outstanding service to buyers and sellers. 

There are certainly plenty of ways for you and your family to enjoy this last bit of the year and celebrate the beginning of a new one! Alert the nerds in your life because the GeekCraft Expo Holiday Market comes to the Durham Armory this Saturday. This curated craft market specializes in handmade, “geek”-themed crafts of all kinds, including clothing, accessories, toys, home decoration, furniture, and art. If it’s geeky and made by hand, it can be found at the GeekCraft Expo! If you’re looking to reminisce about Christmases past, check out the “In A Holiday Mood” concerts happening throughout this weekend at the North Carolina Museum of History. Enjoy performances of big-band-style songs and dances with seasonal favorites such as Jolly Old St. Nicholas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, The Nutcracker Suite and We Wish You a Merry Christmas performed by Rollin Glaser and the Tune Swingers Orchestra. The North Raleigh/Midtown Hilton will also host the 2nd Annual Bluegrass Christmas Festival this Thursday through Saturday. The festival will feature over 20 bands, arts & craft vendors and late-night jamming all under the roof of the Hilton’s spacious Ballroom!

If you’re looking to indulge in some decadent dining this holiday season, it’s hard to beat Herons! The famed restaurant of The Umstead Hotel and Spa will feature a special White Truffle Holiday menu throughout the month, as well as exclusive Christmas Eve, Christmas Dinner, and Christmas Brunch dining. Expect to be wowed by these impeccable tasting menus curated to cause a celebration of your taste buds! 

When the acorn drops on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have your choice of where to belt out “Auld Lang Syne.” As always, the City of Oaks will close out the calendar year in spectacular fashion in downtown Raleigh. One of the state’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations, First Night Raleigh is more than just a countdown to midnight. A full day of live music and other entertainment, including over 100 performances across 35 venues, plus a Ferris wheel, pop-up wedding chapel, mini golf course and fireworks make this one of the year’s most anticipated events for locals and visitors.  At the PNC Arena, the Grammy-nominated Avett Brothers will continue a longstanding tradition by playing their 14th annual New Year’s Eve performance, the second to take place in Raleigh. The North Carolina Symphony will introduce a brand-new show to welcome 2018 at their special event concert, “New Year’s Eve Celebration.” Ring in the new year in style, with the unparalleled sound of a full symphony orchestra as a guest conductor, Thomas Wilkins, introduces the new program including Gershwin hits like “Embraceable You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” with soprano Indra Thomas. 

Wherever your celebrating takes you, we hope your spirit is bright and your heart is warm knowing that we celebrate you, our friends and clients, the whole year through!