June 4, 2009
Sorry for the silence…we’ve been moving (every real estate agent should move once in a while to remember in vivid detail what their clients are going through!).
Now…excuses to come to Smith Mountain Lake this weekend abound. The weather today is rainy but they are promising a nice weekend with temps in the low 80s and sunny!
Tonight and tomorrow night, the Lakeside Singers are performing a Beach Show at the Trinity Ecumenical Church.
Joyous Junque starts Saturday at 7AM at Resurrection Catholic Church on 122 and continues on Sunday. This is a year long project for the church and some people plan their trips months in advance to scout the bargains. As usual, in addition to “stuff”, there are boats and cars again this year.
The Spring Festival put on by many of the merchants at Westlake happens all day Saturday at multiple locations in Westlake with many family activities. The story in the Eagle gives all the details.
So come to Smith Mountain Lake this weekend and enjoy the lake…and/or take in one or more of the festivities!
May 7, 2009
Well, if you can’t get to Smith Mountain Lake this weekend, ESPN2 brings Smith Mountain Lake to you!
Coverage of the the BassMasters’ Elite Series Blue Ridge Brawl will be on this Saturday, May 9th at 9AM.
See if you can pick out your dock, the dock of a house you stayed at, a place you’ve eaten by the water…and I will bet there will be some great shots of Smith Mountain itself!
(By the way, it was a pretty interesting fishing tournament too!).
April 23, 2009
Well, the build up to the Bassmaster’s Elite series Blue Ridge Brawl on Smith Mountain Lake is over and the fishing begins today. Top prize is $100,000…when I go fishing I am happy if I catch dinner :>)!
Seriously, there are lots of things to do for those of us still on land…from the Bassmaster site…
Fans are encouraged to attend the Blue Ridge Brawl’s daily launches (7:15 a.m. ET) and weigh-ins (4 p.m.) Thursday through Sunday at Parkway Marina, 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, Va. After Day Two’s competition Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 anglers for Day Three. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Day Four.
Other activities Saturday and Sunday at the Blue Ridge Brawl will begin at 1 p.m. ET at Parkway Marina, featuring the popular Dog Training & Retriever Demonstrations Brought To You By SportDog. The fun also includes a Saturday performance by local band Jordan Road, from 1:30-3 p.m.; a Bassmaster CastingKids event Saturday, hosted by the Virginia BASS Federation Nation; Skeeter boat demos; cooking demonstrations; and a beer garden from 1-4:15 p.m. both days.
At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, fans are invited to experience Bassmaster University, which includes the “Ask the Experts” session with Elite pros at 3 p.m.
Sunday’s activities include the live taping of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. The show, which will air live at 3:30 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, will preview Sunday’s final weigh-in. All events at the Advance Auto Parts Blue Ridge Brawl are free and open to the public.
And if you come on Friday…don’t forget that the SML Business Expo is from Noon to 6 at Mayberry’s Celebration Square.
April 9, 2009
We’ve had a chance to dine with friends the last couple of nights and tried out two of the new “hot spots” at Smith Mountain Lake for you!
Jonathan’s is hopping and we can see why! The food was EXCELLENT and there is a good selection of it. The desserts were also indulged in and declared very tasty (they need to figure out how to keep the caramel in the SML Dirt Pot the right temperature…we had great fun watching one of our dinner partners trying to eat “the snake”). The service was typical of a new restaurant with some uneven moments…good when there weren’t so many people in the restaurant when we got there and increasingly poor as the restaurant filled up. By the time we left there were quite a few people waiting for tables. The menu is on their web sitejonathansatsml.com Their outdoor patio will be open for dining toward the end of the month…it will have a beautiful view of the mountains.
The next night (jeez, we don’t go out for months at a time and then two nights in a row…amazing) we went to the new location of El Torito. Wonderful improvement…lots of light, airy room, comfortable booths and the food and service is still great.
April 6, 2009
A front came through Smith Mountain Lake this morning and treated us with a rare morning/rare western sky rainbow…enjoy!
April Rainbow at Smith Mountain Lake
April 4, 2009
The comings and goings of restaurants at Smith Mountain Lake seems to have picked up the pace here lately. Let’s see if I can catch you up on most of them (before they change again!).
Fallon’s is now up and running again as Fallon’s Pub and Grill.
El Torito is open in its new location at Lakewatch Plantation.
MacDaddy’s Seafood Restaurant (that was in the old China City location by the old Shop Rite) has been purchased by new owners who are tweeking the menu…still seafood.
The old Point Restaurant at Mariner’s Landing has reopened as Benjamin’s.
A new restaurant called Jonathan’s has opened at Lakewatch Plantation.
Food and service reviews welcome…please leave a comment!
April 3, 2009
Franklin County has scheduled an e-Cycling Day at the Lake for recycling and donating used computer equipment. It will be held on Saturday, April 18th from 9 to 5 at Prudential Waterfront Properties’ office at the corner of 616 and 122. This will be in conjunction with Goodwill’s alliance with Dell called Reconnect. For more information, e-mail sheflin@goodwillvalleys.com
Also, the annual Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake cleanup day will be May 2nd this year. Last year, 700 volunteers removed 42 TONS of debris from the lake. The sponsors are hoping for 1000 volunteers this year. I think technically this could be considered another excuse to come to the lake! This event is sponsored by The Smith Mountain Lake Association, The Tri-County Lake Administration and the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has more information at (540)721-1203.
March 30, 2009
How do you tell TRUE Spring at Smith Mountain Lake? Well…today I saw my first late afternoon water skier…bet he’ll be back tomorrow afternoon if it is not raining (which it is supposed to…) and maybe the next time I will not have to run upstairs to get the camera!
Daffodils, early morning bass boats numerous enough to signal a tournament…none of these hold a candle to a water skier!
March 23, 2009
As we drove around today previewing, we saw more and more signs of spring here at Smith Mountain Lake and in the countryside. The Bradford pears are gorgeous right now (especially the ones at the Food Lion parking lot!). The forsythia just scream spring! The daffodils are flowering in some yards and I still have a few crocus blooming.
I have peach trees in containers on my patio and they have been lulled into blooming (I am sure that they will need to be dragged in for safekeeping from frost a few more times though).
Time to start planning your visit NOW!
March 16, 2009
Another excuse to come to visit Smith Mountain Lake! The Roanoke Regional Homebuilders’ Association is holding their annual Home Show the weekend of March 27-29 at the Salem Civic Center (the link has times and exhibitors). This is a great way to meet contractors (and chat without obligation!), learn about building materials and get LOTS of ideas! Even if you are not planning to build a home anytime soon, there are also ideas about what you can do to improve your current home…whether at the lake or somewhere else… Lots of literature to pick up to go in your dreams and ideas file!
