sandhillsDig.com - Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Southern Pines - Golf, Events, Restaurants, Shops, Concerts

We thought we'd post an email from one of our readers - we think this is a great thing Pepsi is doing and hope you will help vote for this grant that will ultimately make a difference in the lives of your neighbors in the Sandhills...

Dear fellow sandhillsDig.com readers,

I have been involved, over the years, as a volunteer in a number of capacities at Penick Village, a retirement community in Southern Pines where my mother now lives.  It’s a wonderful place where residents and their lives are celebrated daily in every possible way.  My mom absolutely loves it.

The Sly Fox

Yesterday, we lunched on chicken and manchego croquettes with roasted red pepper coulis and shepherd’s pie at what will soon be The Sly Fox in Southern Pines.  sandhillsDig.com was fortunate to be “in the way” as owner, Chef Mark Elliott, Sly Fox Executive Chef Dan Piotrowicz and General Manager Andy Heisinger tested out some of their latest pub fare twists on innocent bystanders (landscapers, construction workers, etc.) But no one complained. We were also able to get some answers to the questions everyone has been asking...

Where is this new restaurant located?

The Sunrise Theater is offering sandhillsDig.com subscribers the opportunity to WIN 4 FREE ENCORE TICKETS good at  at any of the remaining 3 shows listed below.  To be entered to win, all you have to do is subscribe to receive our email updates.  We'll keep you current with what is going on locally in the Sandhills - restaurants, shopping, movies, events & more.

Live in HD Metropolitan Opera Encores:

Hamlet, Wednesday, April 7 at 6 pm

Simon Keenlyside in the title role with Natalie Dessay as Ophelia

Looking for a fun place to watch the big game? Check out what these local spots have going on!

O'Mahoney's in Southern Pines is offering an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET (loaded with bar food & hor d'oeurvres) for $10.  Plus, you can watch the game on any of their 24 HD LCD's.  Interactive games are planned as well. 

Mister P's, near Bill Smith Ford in Southern Pines, has specials that include $5 for any sandwich or burger & buy any appetizer and get the 2nd one at half price.  Don't miss a minute of the game on one of their 12 HD flat screens.

Congratulations to Stephanie Watts! She's won a $15 gift certificate to local favorite Swank Coffee Shoppe & Handmade Market in downtown Southern Pines next to the Sunrise Theater.  Thank you to all who sent in their photos...they were awesome!

*McKenzie with the "snow kid" she made

It is a good day when your younger brother comes home to visit and treats you to lunch. It's even better when the lunch he treats you to is a warm wedge of yummy goodness. I'll recount for you in photos:

Yep, the name "Wedgies" is a perfect fit considerting the Sandhills' famous pastime.  Not only are the sandwiches and pizzas made from wedges of pita bread, but all of the menu items have clever names too.

Wedgies is conveniently attached to the Exxon gas station next to Dairy Queen and behind the Pinecrest Plaza in Southern Pines.

Here we see Sam Franklin enjoying great conversation and the "Pitching Wedge" with his sister (or he's telling me to put the camera away, I can't remember...)

Email your favorite "Sandhills Snow Days" photos to contact@sandhillsDig.com and we'll post a gallery of the best on our blog! Best photo wins a $15 gift certificate to Swank Coffee Shoppe & Handmade Market in downtown SoPines! We'll announce a winner next week.  Let's see 'em!

It looks like more rain is on the way and nothing cures a rainy day like a good time out with friends. The sandhillsDig.com suggestion for tonight?  Dinner with friends at your favorite local restaurant and then head over to The Jefferson Inn in downtown Southern Pines to hear the amazingly talented, up-and-coming band Old Avenue.

Old Avenue has been causing a stir in Raleigh (they recently opened for the Embers at North Hills) and have set out on tour with the release of their cd "Knockin' on Doors."

"With a sound that can only be described as funky, jazzy, infectious grooves that will make you dance, with melodies that were meant for sing alongs, Old Avenue is the essence of the upbeat happy tunes we've all been missing..." 

Old Avenue will be playing from 9pm - 1am.  Just what we need to cure these rainy day blues.

Last week, I got a phone call from my friend Greg about grabbing some lunch. An alarm went off inside of me that it was time for some hickory smoked barbecue, cabbage, slaw & hushpuppies from Pik N Pig. We made the short scenic drive from Southern Pines to Carthage to check out this diamond of a restaurant at Gilliam-McConnell Airfield.

The Sheppard’s have been in the barbecue business of serving up delicious barbecue for 3 generations and the atmosphere is one of a kind. How often can you satisfy your pulled-pork craving while watching a Cessna 152 perform a spot on landing?

Pik N Pig has quite a following throughout all of North Carolina. My cousin Baron, who is 17 and just got his solo pilot’s license, flies his plane from his home outside of Winston-Salem for a Pik N Pig barbecue dinner plate with two sides.

Here are a few facts about the Pik N Pig:
• Cozy dining room plus outdoor seating for the warm weather days
• The full menu is available for take out
• Full service catering (they did our friend Sean Butler’s wedding rehearsal dinner and it was awesome!)
• The barbecue is slow cooked all night long over a natural wood fire…yum!
• The Pik N Pig was featured on the Tar Heel Traveler this past September. See what Scott Mason has to say:

Anna and I love to hunt. No, not the manly version of crouching in a tree stand on an early morning but the hunt for a “new to us” piece of furniture for our home. On Christmas day, Anna told me that my gift from her would be a desk to go in our den which got me pumped up. I knew that meant the hunt would soon ensue. Saturday morning came and we were off. This time we decided to start at Page Furniture in downtown Southern Pines and to my delight, we hit a homerun. Page’s had a vast array of pieces that cross all styles and looks. The desk we found was a perfect fit (size, price, style etc.) Page’s has affordable prices and they are even willing to negotiate on most items. The fun part is that even if you don’t see something you can’t live without today, you never know what may be waiting for you to discover it tomorrow.

It is always fun to come up with just the right gift for your loved ones. Anna and I had the best time shopping for cool local gifts to give our family & friends this past Christmas. There was one gift in particular that we wanted to hold onto because of its fun factor…

Does this new year have you hard at work trying to figure out what your resolutions will be for 2010?  If you're like me, you're getting organized, making notes and pondering ways to make 2010 the best year yet.  Although, it all starts with New Year's Eve and that means celebrating this Thursday night.  Start making your plans of where you want to be when the "pinecone" drops.  Downtown Southern Pines will be alive with it's First Eve celebration.  Broad Street will be blocked off from 6-8:30pm with a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages.  Call your friends and family & watch the "pinecone drop" at 8:30!

The Sunrise Theater on Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines is doing some gift giving of it's on this Christmas.  The Sunrise is inviting kids of all ages for free showings of The Polar Express starring Tom Hanks this Thursday & Saturday.  Again, admission is FREE so bring the entire family (even Uncle Ned) & watch a child's exciting journey to the North Pole.  Thank you Sunrise Theater for this gift to our community!  

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Christmas is my favorite time of year.  And going to the annual Christmas Parade in downtown Southern Pines really got me excited about all the wonderful blessings we have right here in our community.  On this overcast and cool December morning, one particular child in the parade reminded me of the enthusiasm and joy we all should have this time of year and always.  He simply shouted, "Merry Christmas Everyone!"  He probably yelled those words 50 plus times that day as his float carried him and others up and down Broad Street, probably not fully knowing that his example of enthusiasm is what helps to make a community like ours so great. 

Want to find out more about our local community, visit sandhillsDig.com!

Donna Lane & Pearly Girl is having a "Relocation Celebration Sale" Thursday, December 10th from 5-7 p.m. to show their excitement and appreciation for the growth of their business and to celebrate their beautiful new storefront location in the Belvedere Building on West Pennsylvannia Avenue in downtown Southern Pines.  The sale includes 40% Off Pearly Girl items (including jewelry) throughout the store plus wine and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.  See you there!

Wow.  Another great week of events to fill up your schedules.  Be sure to stop by and see Michelle Yow and staff at Donna Lane & Pearly Girl in downtown Southern Pines on Thursday from 5-7pm.  They have moved to a wonderful storefront location on West Pennsylvannia in the Belvedere building and are having a Relocation Celebration sale.
 

This week has what I will call a "cornucopia" full of local events that you should mark on your calendars.  Don't be a turkey, get out and be local this weekend!

Check out huge "Black Friday" savings at Donna Lane & Pearly Girl in downtown Southern Pines.  The word is that Michelle has marked down most items 40% off including jewelry, make-up and accessories when you stop by between 10am-12pm.  Plus, take advantage of 10% off all spa services.

On Thanksgiving morning, as part of the annual tradition, local spectators and equestrians will gather at Hobby Field off Youngs Road in Southern Pines.  The event kicks off at 9:30 with The Blessing of the Hounds by the Rev. Meaghan Kelly from Emmanuel Episcopal Church.  Watch the riders take off, stay and socialize and then watch the riders make the jump as the return.  Bring your friends and family!

Last year...

Last night, we decided on Ten-Ya in the Village of Pinehurst.  Ten-Ya has a new menu so we took our time to see what would catch our eye.  We started by sharing Edamame and for our meal, I went conservative with the authentic Hibachi Chicken and Anna picked out a roll from their new sushi menu which has a motto: "Never Try, Never Know." Our server recommended the Kabuto Roll which was delicious - spicy tuna, white tuna, cream cheese & caviar flash fried with spicy sauce.

Our favorite thing?  Enjoying creative sushi rolls (like a meal you might find in Raleigh or D.C.), and then stepping out the front door into the quaint Village of Pinehurst - home.

Ten-Ya is running a sushi special for the month of November - Buy one, Get one half off.  Enjoy any sushi roll at the regular price and get a second roll of equal or lesser value for half price. 

FYI - Ten-Ya has another location in downtown Southern Pines

sandhillsDig.com is shopping at Denker Dry Goods in Downtown Southern Pines this week. Not only are fab new items beckoning (scarves, Glam dresses, Michael Kors, jeans & jewelry), Denker’s is doing something pretty darn cool and offering a nice discount to customers who bring in much-needed items for the Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care.  So start your Christmas shopping at Denker’s – and you’ll end up with gifts that give...and give some more.

Here are the details:

Denker's Drive for the Sandhills/Moore Coalition
November 16th-21st
• Bring in 6 can goods or items to Denker's from the Coalition shopping list (see below) and receive 25% OFF one item of your choice
• Bring in 2 new packages of children's socks or underwear to Denker's and receive 25% OFF one item of your choice
• Bring in 1 Blanket or Full or Double set of sheets to Denker's and receive 25%OFF one item
• Bring in all 3 categories above and receive 25% OFF THREE ITEMS of your choice!

I had the whole thing planned out, Wes and I would go back to Italy this year to celebrate our engagement there 7 years ago. We’d fly to Rome, train to Florence, then the coast, Cinque Terre, rent a car…but I’ve been unable to find that perfectly priced pair of airline tickets and the value of the dollar isn’t helping much either…

In the meantime, I’m getting my Italian gelato fix here in Southern Pines at Henry's. When I walk in and see those colorful mounds of authentic Italian gelato, I’m transported back to my favorite Florentine gelato joint near the Palazzo Vecchio.

Word has it that the owner’s of Henry’s traveled to over 50 countries to bring a wide range of flavors and recipes here to the Sandhills. The best part about Henry’s is that although you can only fit one or two flavors in a cup, you can sample as many as you’d like.

My favorite flavor (this month) is pumpkin spice.  What's yours?  Tell sandhillsDig.com readers.

Positano, Italy, 2002