Apex Good Living

Yes folks, we’ve made yet another list!  The Raleigh area was recently named the #2 best place to”Live, work and Play”.

If you want to live somewhere that is in the top 10 of practically every list you would want to be on, this is it!

Despite the local news (which only reports national trends), the fact of the matter is that our real estate market, unemployment rate, economy and schools that are far more impressive than the rest of the country. And that is why everyone moves here!

We are lucky to live here and enjoy all of the many benefits this area has to offer. So smile, be proud, and be thankful~

click here for the flyer

Apex is known far and wide for its slow, Southern pace, welcoming attitude and the quaint Downtown Historic District, but fashion!?! YES FASHION!

My Girlfriend’s Closet - is known for their unique clothes and accessories at a great bargain.

Hair, Body & Sole Salon - Offering a broad range of salon and spa services, this is THE place for a new look, style, cut or color.

Nativa - the new sassy little women’s boutique, where the window changes often, always has fun, new arrivals.

Blue Tiger- a sophisticated gift shop with classy jewelry and unique gifts.

Common Grounds Coffee Shop - the place to rest from all of your shopping and enjoy a latte or tea and a pastry.

This Friday, June 13^th at 7pm, these shops are teaming up for a real, live runway fashion show, featuring must have items for summer and the latest trends in hair, makeup and nails!

Common Grounds Coffee Shop

(219 N Salem St.)

Admission is free! It’s standing room only, so wear comfortable shoes! Have a cup of coffee, a yummy pastry and see what’s hot for summer as we watch Apex become the Peak of Fashion!

Gas prices got you down this holiday weekend?  Find out the cheapest (and most expensive!) places to buy this black gold in your area. Just type in the zip code! Pretty cool! Thanks MSN.

Yes, we’ve made yet another list! According to “Bizjournals” the Raleigh Metro area is the best place in the country to live for “young adults”(age 18-34…hey wait! does that mean I’m no longer a young adult? guess so!). This was based on population, job growth, salaries and the number of young people with college degrees.

So, the next time you wonder where everyone is coming here from and why, it’s because we are one of the best places to live if you want to live somewhere that’s on EVERY list imaginable!

Want to know how we rank on other lists? Check this out from Wake County Economic Development:

#5 Best Medium-Sized City for Families with Children (Raleigh, NC)
Who’s Your City?, May 2008

#1 Best Place for Young Adults (Raleigh, NC)
Bizjournals, May 2008

Top 15 Place for Cultured Retirement (Raleigh, NC)
Smithsonian.com, April 2008

#5 Recession-proof City (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, April 2008

#2 Best Place to Buy Foreclosed Homes (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, March 2008

#4 Major Market in the South (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
#9 Market in the South for Advanced Manufacturing (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Top Ten Great Innovation Market in the South (Raleigh-Cary-Durham, NC)
Southern Business & Development, Winter 2008

#20 Best Place to Live and Launch (Raleigh, NC)
CNNMoney.com, March 2008

#3 Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC)
Sperling’s BestPlaces, March 2008

#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, March 2008

#6 Medium-Sized Metro (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Site Selection, March 2008

#10 Least Miserable Airport (Raleigh-Durham Intl.)
U.S. News & World Report, February 2008

#2 Best City for Bargain House-Hunters (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, February 2008

The Best American City for Singles (Raleigh, NC)
Every Day with Rachael Ray, January 2008

#9 Best City for Jobs (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, January 2008

Top Five Strongest Real Estate Market (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Veros.com, January 2008

#3 Most Wired City (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, January 2008

#1 Healthiest City for Men (Raleigh, NC)
Men’s Health, January 2008

5-Star Public Education Metro (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Expansion Management, December 2007

#7 Top Appreciating Metro Area (Raleigh, NC)
Money, December 2007

Top 25 Places for Retirement Jobs (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
MarketWatch, November 2007

Top Research Science Park (North Carolina State University - Centennial Campus)
The Association of University Research Parks, November 2007

#1 Top Business Climate (North Carolina)
Site Selection, November 2007

#16 Top Real Estate Market (Raleigh, NC)
Expansion Management, October 2007

#3 Economic Development Hot Spot (Wake County, NC)
National Policy Research Council, September 2007

#10 Economic Development Hot Spot (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC)
National Policy Research Council, September 2007

#3 Techiest City in America (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 (Data released September 2007)

#3 5-Star Business Opportunity Metros (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Expansion Management, August 2007

#12 Most Affordable Real Estate Market in the Nation (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Forbes.com, August 2007

#12 Best Market for Female Execs and Women Business Owners (Raleigh, NC)
Bizjournals, August 2007

#18 Fastest Growing Suburb in America (Holly Springs, NC)
#20 Fastest Growing Suburb in America (Wake Forest, NC)
#63 Fastest Growing Suburb in America (Apex, NC)
Forbes.com, August 2007

#15 Most Educated Workforce (Raleigh, NC)
Business Facilities, July 2007

#14 Best Place to Live (Apex, NC)
# 22 Best Place to Live (Holly Springs, NC)
Money, July 2007

“Fast City” for Research and Development (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
Fast Company, July 2007

#8 Fastest Growing Large City (Cary, NC)
#15 Fastest Growing Large City (Raleigh, NC)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 (Data released 2007)

#1 Seller’s Market-Residential (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes.com, June 1007

#3 Best City for Relocating Families - Medium Markets (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation, 2007 Report

#8 County for Business Recruitment and Attraction (Wake County)
#10 Large Metro for Business Recruitment & Attraction (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC)
Expansion Management, May/June 2007

Top 5 Cities for Young Singles (Raleigh, NC)
Kiplinger’s Best Cities for Every Stage of Your Life list, June 2007

5-Star Knowledge Worker Metro (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
#3 Metro for College Educated Workers (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Expansion Management, April 2007

#3 America’s Best Jobs in the Hottest Cities (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
Business 2.0, May 2007

#7 Business Boomtown (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Inc., May 2007

Top Ten Places in the South for the Creative Class (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
Southern Business and Development, Winter 2007

#3 Best City for African Americans (Raleigh, NC)
Black Enterprise, May 2007

#4 Hottest Job Market for Young Adults (Raleigh, NC)
Bizjournals, April 2007

#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh, NC)
Forbes, April 2007

#8 Fastest Growing Metro in the Nation (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
U.S. Census Bureau, April 2007

#5 Best Place to Find a Mate (Raleigh, NC)
Men’s Health, March 2007

#1 Best U.S. City for Jobs (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Forbes.com, February 2007

Top 50 Hottest Cities for Expanding and Relocating Companies (Raleigh-Cary, NC)
Expansion Management, February 2007

Top Ten Tech Town (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
Wired Magazine, January 2007

#1 School District in the Nation for Certified Teachers (Wake County)
National Board of Certified Teachers, January 2007

Have you seen NBC 17’s new community and news website for Apex and the surrounding community? Kudos to NBC 17 for putting it all together! Check it out at http://apex.mync.com/site/apex/

VARSITY GIRLS SOFTBALL - TONIGHT!
Tonight the Varsity Team is playing in the second round of play offs against Wake Forest/Rolesville at 5 pm.  They won Tuesday, May 13th 4 to 2 against Richmond High School to proceed to second round tonight.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE PLAYING FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ON SATURDAY!
The Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team beat Green Hope Thursday night 13-5.  They will play in the State Championship Game on Saturday at 1:00 at Durham County Stadium.  Come out and cheer on the team!!  GO APEX!!

COUGAR BASEBALL - TONIGHT!
The baseball team won their second round playoff and will play Hoggard tonight at 7:00.

APEX MEN’S LACROSSE - PLAYING FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - SATURDAY!
The Apex Men’s Lacrosse team won the State Semifinal game Wednesday night against Greensboro Page, 9-3.  Go Cougars!!!  Great offensive and defensive performances were key to the win – outstanding teamwork!   What’s next?  Come out and SUPPORT your Apex Cougars Saturday night as they go for their second state championship in three years. They will be playing Chapel Hill and the Duke Lacrosse Stadium at 7 pm.

WOMEN’S SOCCER - SATURDAY
The Women’s soccer game against Leesville is Saturday @ 6:00.  The winner of the Apex/Leesville game faces the winner of the Broughton/East Chapel Hill game to advance to the state championship game.

If you missed Peak fest last weekend in downtown Apex NC, you missed out! This is one of my favorite of many Apex events, and this year was fantastic! The weather was truly perfect, and made it a great segway to spring/summer. Featuring street vendors, live music, “fair food” and more, this is what Apex is all about! Small town character, families, festivals, and good old fashioned fun!

Don’t miss the 4th of July parade! Bring your bikes, trikes, wagons and scooters, this is a motorless parade! Remember to dress the patriotic part as there is a contest! Don’t fear the heat, the fire department will hose you off when you’re done!

Craig Rutman with Real Living Partners Triangle passes out balloons to kids as they stroll by.

Well, it seems the prayers for rain have been answered! I have always joked that Apex was in a bubble like the movie “The Truman Show”, but not this week! We in Apex don’t have the water woes that our neighbors have, but it’s still good for all of us.  If the downpours are leaving you less than cheery, pretend your a kid again and go running through some puddles! Ignore the strange looks you might get, and just go with it. You’ll feel great!

But let’s all pray for sunshine this Saturday for Peakfest! Be sure to make it downtown for this once a year festival. It’s gonna be fun!!!

RealLiving.com, the national website of our partner company, Real Living Inc, is the site that we use and provide to our clients to search the MLS for homes and find valuable information. It has always impressed us for it’s search ability as well as the ability for our clients to save, send, and notate listings by signing up for Real Living 2.0. This awesome site allows us to help our clients further by providing them with tools like an interactive calendar, appointment scheduling, document uploading and more.

It’s now official that it “blows the others away” in this recent survey! Pretty impressive for a company that has been primarily serving markets in and around Ohio, and has only just recently started to expand into other regions.

If you are looking for a great place to find homes and real estate information, check it out! We hope you will be impressed too! Real Living 2.0

Real Living Website Stats PDF

The infamous Salem Street Soda Shop has officially closed. It’s sad for many of us who loved taking our kids there, and hanging out listening to Wade J’s stories about growing up in Apex. It’s good news for him and his family, however. After many years of “leaving home in the dark and coming home in the dark”, Wade J is looking forward to having more time with his wife and family. Soon to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, they are looking forward to “a less hectic next 25 years” according to wife, Sharon.

They say that you must grow or die. I am reminded of that a lot living here in Apex. As people lament about change of different kinds. I can’t help but think “I wish my kids could just stay the same too, but…”

Ironically, when I first met Wade J at the soda shop shortly after moving here, what struck me was how positive he was about the changes that he has seen as one of the few who have lived here their entire life. I later came to find that just about everyone that I have met who is “from here”, is thrilled about the growth and change and new opportunities. I always thought how ironic it was that it’s “those who came here and contributed to the growth, are those who complain the most about it!”.

Now, another irony…As many bemoan the closing of the soda shop, it is Wade J who is excited about the new “Salem Street Pub” that will take it’s place.  It is he who is telling everyone to “give it a chance” and that “it might even be better than the soda shop”.

While I doubt that it will be better, I do hope that it will be a fun, family friendly place that I can take my kids for a good affordable dinner, or enjoy a relaxing evening over a glass of wine with friends. That wouldn’t be so bad:).

We wish you well Wade J and Sharon. Thanks for all you gave all of these years. It was more than just long hours standing over a grill, or serving the best burgers and orangeade anywhere. You gave us many great memories.

Check out the story on NBC 17:

http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/search.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2008-04-09-0025.html 

or Cary News:

http://www.carynews.com/news/apex/story/8651.html (by the way, the kid who eats hot dogs with peanut butter is my Sam!)

or the N&O:

http://www.newsobserver.com/print/thursday/city_state/story/1031690.html