Forbes names Alpharetta one of the friendliest towns

Forbes.com recently teamed up with Nextdoor.com, a San Francisco, Calif.-based social network for neighborhoods, to name America’s friendliest towns. Ranked at #7 was Alpharetta, which is no surprise to those of us who live in North Fulton! Take a look at the Forbes top ten friendliest towns slideshow here.

1. Sammamish, WA
2. Orinda, CA
3. Fishers, IN
4. Seal Beach, CA
5. Westerville, OH
6. Frisco, TX

Click here to search my website for Alpharetta homes for sale.

7. Alpharetta, GA

Population: 46,700

Near Atlanta, the so-called “City of Celebration” loves to throw events throughout the year. Among the most popular: the Alpharetta Arts StreetFest, food fest called Taste of Alpharetta, an annual parade for war veterans, a “Scarecrow Harvest” in which residents craft and display scarecrows for Fall, and a holiday tree-lighting ceremony. According to Nextdoor, holiday parties, yoga groups, and movie nights are commonly organized in neighborhoods around town.

8. Downers Grove, IL
9. Huntington Woods, MI
10. Tooele, UT

Behind the Numbers

Forbes teamed up with Nextdoor.com to assess 500 small metro areas with populations between 5,500 and 150,000. Using data from the U.S. Census, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and City-Data.com, we ranked the towns based on four data points: percentage of owner-occupied homes (studies have shown a direct correlation between homeownership and neighborhood stability); the crime rate; charitable giving; and the percentage of college graduates (research has found that college-educated folks typically display more civic engagement, with higher rates of voting and volunteering). Nextdoor then conducted qualitative surveys among its membership in the towns that rated the highest to help finalize the ranking of the top 15.

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Wacky World Park at Wills Park in Alpharetta

My three and a half year old son loves to be outside and to play!

Especially on these pretty spring days in Atlanta, we enjoy a playground in North Fulton at Wills Park.  It’s officially called Wacky World but  my son calls it “Castle Park”.

Located at 11925 Wills Road in Alpharetta, GA, Wills Park sits on 110 acres and offers Swimming, Equestrian, Baseball, Tennis, Frisbee Golf, Dog Park, Playgrounds, Walking Trails, Concerts, Rodeos, Dog Shows, Basketball Courts, Recreation Center, and the South’s famous Taste of Alpharetta.

Living in Alpahretta and in North Fulton of metro Atlanta is very fulfilling, especially with public parks that are as comprehensive and as nice as Wills Park.

Click here to see more about Wills Park in Alpharetta.

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North Fulton Blog Round Up for February 22, 2011

Spring seems like it’s on the way and there are a couple of great outdoor things to read about this week in the North Fulton Blog round Up.

Alpharetta Patch reports that soon local parks may be smoke free, if it passes, Alpharetta will join Roswell and Milton in their similar laws.

Arts on the Creek, an annual event on Labor Day in Johns Creek, is gearing up for its 2011 show.  Mark it on your calendar now!

On Arbor Day 2011, read what the City of Milton did in conjunction with Summit Hill Elementary….very inspiring.

Also inspiring and touching this week is a blog post by Stephany Fisher of CBS Atlanta News. Fisher tells about a new organization called Will To Live, which was founded by a family in Johns Creek whose all-star son, Will Trautwein, tragically took his life in October. This sensitive issue is an important one, and a must-read for people who have teenagers in their life.

Lee at Roots in Alpharetta hits the nail on the head when talking about an Athens favorite, The Taco Stand, opening up in Alpharetta.  UGA grads, let us know what you think about it….or if you’re not feeling up to, read the post from his blog.

There’s a newly formed chapter of the Young Men’s Service League in Milton. Their first meeting was held recently in Milton. Primarily for mothers and their sons who are in eighth grade or higher, YMSL is a national organization that does philanthropic work in their local community.

Tired of spending $1 a day going up and down GA-400? Apparently others are too, and Senator John Albers of Roswell has introduced a bill to end the toll on GA-400.

While we may be hoping for a break on GA-400, estate taxes are on the rise in most states. Check out Law Offices of L. Tracy Teiger, P.C. to see which states have had increases in estate taxes….it may one day affect you if you have relocated to North Fulton and your family is in other state.

On my own blog, I found a couple of charts that show some hope for the Atlanta and North Fulton real estate markets.  As the real estate market in Atlanta begins to improve, now may be the maximum buying opportunity.

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North Fulton’s Restaurant Trifecta

Sometimes there are days when you find yourself eating out for all three meals.  While it may not be the nutritionist’s plan for you, it does happen.  On those days (or perhaps three separate days), here are my favorite three restaurants in North Fulton.

Best Breakfast in Alpharetta

Flying Biscuit Cafe.  An Atlanta tradition, now franchised in a dozen locations in the southeast, Flying Biscuit Cafe is more than a place to get yummy fresh biscuits. Their full entree breakfasts are heart-warming, and sometimes heart-healthy.  If you want to be particularly good, ask for the whole wheat biscuit.

Best Barbecue in Roswell  - for lunch

Swallow at the Hollow is a Roswell treasure.  Their home cooked smoked meats, sausage, homemade macaroni and cheese, and so many other menu items are delish.  In addition to a great meal, Swallow at the Hollow is well-known for its support of the music community in Atlanta and Nashville.

While lunch there is great, dinner is sometimes better because on weekend  nights they host Nashville’s premier singer/songwriter/artists in shows that start at 10:00p.m.  Local musicians appear at Swallow at the Hollow during the week. Great food and great music! What a combination!

Best Sushi in North Fulton – for dinner

Sushi Nami is North Fulton’s best sushi restaurant, located on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta.  They have the most creative rolls, a super wine list,  a nice atmosphere and great service.

Sushi Nami can be a little pricey, but totally worth it. You can tell others think it’s worth it too because sometimes the wait is a little long….so I recommend you make a reservation or arrive early.

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Snow in Atlanta and Alpharetta

Some are calling it “snowmageddon” in Atlanta and in Alpharetta where multiple inches of snow have fallen in the past couple of days.  There seems to be snow everywhere in metro Atlanta, including North Fulton, where officials continue to encourage residents to stay at home.

We are bundled up where we live in the Alpharetta neighborhood of The Palisades, snow on the streets, drifting off of trees onto neighboring lawns.  In 2010,  I sold eight homes in The Palisades. It really is an ideal neighborhood, even in snowy weather. Stay warm!

An evening shot of a home in Alpharetta's Palisades neighborhood in the snow of January 2011.

A warm glow from this Palisades home despite the cold winter storm in January 2011.

Frosty treetops in the backyard of a home in Alpharetta's Palisades neighborhood.

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