Meet The Red Baron.  He is one of the “Wiener”Run competitors in Mooresville this Saturday, September 26, 2009.  His training program is so stealth like that you might think he is sleeping but it is truly a cunning act to make the other Dachshunds think he is out of shape.

Like most folks, I always underestimated these small yet energetic dogs until I attended the annual Dachshund race in Mooresville.  It was truly amazing!  There were Dachshunds of all colors, sizes, and ages everywhere. 

It turns out the races are quite serious, depending on the “age bracket”.  The puppies tend to wander out of the starting box looking absolutely adorable but totally confused.  The older dogs for the most part truly get the whole idea and run to their excited owners who are yelling at them from the finish line.  Here is a photo I took last year of the race in action:

This truly is a great way to spend your Saturday morning, especially since the weather won’t be great for going out on Lake Norman.  Plus, all of the proceeds go to the Lake Norman Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization who is raising funds for the future Lake Norman Animal Shelter.

The Facts:

Date:  September 26, 2009

Time:  Registration begins at 9:30, races begin at 11:00am.  Get there early to get a good spot along the fence!

Location:  The public parking lot on Broad Street at Iredell Avenue in Historic Downtown Mooresville

Race Entrance Fee: $10

Who:  All dachshunds are eligible and will race according to age.

Besides the actual races there will be pet vendors, “I was there” T-shirts and all sorts of fun things.  Remember, this is a great cause!  For more information:  lknweinerrun@gmail.com

 Other Lake Norman Articles You May Enjoy:

 60 Things You Should Know About Life in Lake Norman, Part 1

60 Things You Should Know About Life in Lake Norman Part 2

60 Things You Should Know about Life in Lake Norman, Part 3

60 Things You Should Know About Life in Lake Norman Part 4

Fresh Sushi, Hush Puppies: The Scoop About Living in Mooresville Lake Norman

July in our beautiful Lake Norman area means warm weather, warm water and outdoor living of all kinds.  Picnics, whether on a boat, in one of our beautiful parks, or in one’s own back yard, are the perfect way to relax and enjoy summer at the lake.  This is why we all love living here!

To make this your desktop calendar, go the right hand column on the home page you will see this photo.  Click on this smaller image of my Lake Norman photo.  A larger version of the calendar will come up.  Then, right click and select “set as background”.

While I have great fun taking pictures of Lake Norman, I would love to use one of your favorite photos depicting life here in Lake Norman!. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future calendar, please send it to… 

One day last summer while taking some clients out on Lake Norman we happened by this wonderful rock formation.  Obviously, I was not the first person to see the image of a creature as someone had carefully painted in the eye.  It looks to me like it is having a fresh green bush for lunch!

I thought it would be fun to choose this for my June Lake Norman calendar instead of highlighting one of the many sports or fun activities that are in full force by June.

To make this your desktop calendar, go the right hand column on the home page you will see this photo.  Click on this smaller image of my Lake Norman photo.  A larger version of the calendar will come up.  Then, right click and select “set as background”.

While I have great fun taking pictures of Lake Norman, I would love to use one of your favorite photos depicting life here in Lake Norman!. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future calendar, please send it to… 

If you want to experience small-town life in North Carolina, attending one of the many spring and summer festivals is not only fun but a great way to learn more about our wonderful communities.  

This Saturday, May 16th,  is the annual Race City Festival (Formerly the Lake Norman Festival) in Historic Downtown Mooresville from 9am – 3pm. 

Thanks to its growing popularity, the festival has expanded to include both Main Street and Broad Street where you will find over 200 vendors of all kinds, homemade cakes, pies and other goodies, live entertainment, merchant sidewalk sales, a great children’s area and booths hosted by various charity and civic organizations in and around Mooresville and Lake Norman.

 Civic organizations like my Mooresville Lake Norman Exchange Club have booths handing out information as we did about non-profits like our child abuse prevention SCAN Center of Iredell County.  Of course, there are plenty of distractions that come along unexpectedly!

Many of the booths are Main Street are local and regional artists selling arts and crafts of all kinds.

 If you really want a glimpse of the past, don’t miss visiting D.E. Turner’s Hardware store which was opened in 1898!  Last year they not only had a great variety of the classic red wagons but they were selling bottles of locally made root beer and various homemade canned goods.

Speaking of food, besides some wonderful homemade goodies, you will find food vendors selling such things as the ever so decadent funnel cakes, kettle corn, turkey legs, hot dogs and fresh lemonade.  This is not the day to be counting calories!

 Businesses offer all sorts of free goodies for children and adults; from face painting to drink caddies. There is always a children’s Fun Zone where there are plenty of activities to keep kids busy and happy!

I love working at the booths because I can sit back and watch friends, families and visitors go by.  One year I sat in the Mooresville Museum’s booth and had a great time meeting many of the descendants of the original families of Mooresville and hearing stories about times long ago.

 There are always several stages scattered around where you can listen to a variety of live music, watch performances of all kinds, especially of local school children. New last year there was an area behind Soiree’s Restaurant that was set up with a stage for more contemporary bands of all kinds.

Parking is available in various spots around the downtown as well as side streets.  Come early and spend the day!

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If you want to experience the best of life in a small college town in the Lake Norman area, you need look no further than the Summit Coffee  house on Main Street in Historic Downtown Davidson.

Summit Coffee & Tea is the epitome of what true old-school coffee houses should offer:  A gathering place for students, faculty and locals where people of all ages are drawn to the warm and inviting ambiance, great coffee, delicious pastries, fine teas, micro-brews, wine, evening entertainment and a place to hang out with your laptop or a good book.

 With tables and chairs in both the front and on the large rear patio, (pictured to the right), on a sunny day you will find Summit Coffee to be a central meeting spot for students, soccer moms, professors, artists, athletes and anyone who appreciates top quality coffee and a place to just enjoy being with friends.

Inside the 100 year-old building in which Summit Coffee is located, a collection of antiques and mis-matched furniture, ceiling fans and a wall of eclectic sundries from T-Shirts to coffee mugs are all just the right amount of funky to make everyone feel at home. 

Don’t be at all surprised to find a group of people waiting in line.  I don’t think I have ever been there when it wasn’t busy! 

That’s because Summit Coffee serves up the best coffee around by a friendly group of top-notch baristas! 

The chalk board menu behind the counter offers myriad beverage options including the best espresso I have found in the Lake Norman area as well as pastries and lunches from La Patisserie in Mooresville.

You can also buy freshly roasted coffee beans by the half or pound.  My favorite is their rich decaf Magnolia. 

If you climb up the rather unassuming stairway to the second floor you will find a huge room with stuffed furniture, a corner for the musicians, and a great place to enjoy their premium wines and micro-brew beers 6 nights a week. 

During the day it’s a popular but quiet place to hang out or study with friends.

You will quickly learn, however,  that Summit Coffee is more that just a place to find great coffee. 

There is an overarching theme of mountain climbing and adventure blended with a passionate focus on Sustainability, Fair Trade, Organic and Shade Grown coffee. 

Since it opened over 10 years ago, Summit Coffee has shown a strong commitment to the community and giving to charitable organizations like The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, The Conservation Alliance, Davidson Lands Conservation to name just a few.

If you go to their website: SummitCoffee.com, you can order their “Climbers Series, World Class Coffees” as well as their regular coffees, coffee mugs, learn about Sustainability and top quality Fair Trade, Organic and Shade Grown Coffee. 

I think the Quote from mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer  which is on their organic cotton T-Shirt says a lot about the owner and the character of Summit Coffee and what makes it special:

“A summit isn’t just a place on a mountain.  A summit exists in our hearts and minds.  A summit is a symbol that with the force of our will, we can transform our lives into whatever we choose them to be”

 Summit Coffee & Tea.

128 South Main Street. Davidson, NC 704.895.9090