Month: May 2014

Mother’s Day is on Sunday.  Do you have plans with the special moms in your life?  If not, you might want to consider making Mother’s Day reservations today.

Magnolia’s Seafood Bar & Grill
Known for their quality seafood and great service, Magnolia’s is a great place to take Mom on her special day!  Their Mother’s Day Brunch will be served from 10am-2pm.  You really can’t go wrong with this local favorite!  30415 Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View – 302-539-5671 – don’t forget to make reservations ahead of time!

Victoria’s at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel
Tea at Victoria’s in Rehoboth Beach would be a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day, or if Tea isn’t your thing, Victoria’s is known for serving a delicious brunch as well!  302-227-7169

The Buttery
Located in historic Lewes, the inviting atmosphere of this restaurant is great for Mother’s Day.  They are known for a delicious Sunday brunch, and if it were up to me I’d make reservations for Mother’s Day just be on the safe side!  102 2^nd Street in Lewes – 302-645-7755.

The Back Porch
Serving delicious home cooked food in Rehoboth for over 36 years, if you’ve never enjoyed Mother’s Day brunch at The Back Porch Café, now is your chance!  With an a la carte brunch menu full of mouth-watering choices, you really can’t go wrong!  302-227-3674.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

 

With the temperature rising and summer heading our way it’s time to consider making a few changes to become more energy efficient for summer.

1. Clean your filters.  Clean your filters monthly and get your system checked yearly to make sure it’s running efficiently.  Ignoring this simple step could be costly in the long run because you’ll end up needing a new unit instead of simply making minor fixes to yours when necessary.
2. Check for leaks.  Feel around light switches, electrical sockets, doors, windows & baseboards to see if any air is leaking.  If you find problem areas use foam or caulk to seal it wherever possible.
3. Cook outside.  Avoid turning on the oven when possible.  Using a crockpot or the grill whenever you can will save a significant amount of energy.
4. Keep it dark.  Close your blinds or shades whenever you aren’t home and the more you can keep them closed on the sunny side of your home, the better.
5. Check the tank.  Make your toilet more efficient by filling a soda bottle with sand or water and putting it into the tank that way the toilet uses less water each time it flushes.
6. Shut it up.  If you have any unused rooms in your home be sure to shut the doors and vents to lighten the load for your a/c unit and make your home more efficient.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Head down to Dagsworthy Avenue in Dewey Beach this Saturday, May 10^th from 9:30am-4:30pm for the Third Annual Dewey Arts Fest.  The day includes free parking and admission, arts and crafts from over 40 artists and vendors, a children’s arts gallery, activities and crafts for kids, food and refreshments from area restaurants, live music from 11am-1pm, pony rides, bounce houses, and two live magic shows at 11:30am and 2:30pm.  The rain date is Sunday, may 11^th.  Support the community, the Dewey Beach Lion’s Club and the arts by checking it out!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Who doesn’t love fresh, locally produced fruits and veggies?  We are lucky enough to have several local farmers markets worth checking out, and since they’re open different days of the week, you can have fresh food all summer long!  Here are three to check out:

Historic Lewes Farmers Market – 110 Shipcarpenter Street
Open every Saturday through the end of September. 8am-12pm.  No pets allowed.  Vendors sell everything, including fresh beef & pork, homemade jellies and jams, fruits, veggies, organic baked goods, gourmet cheeses, and more!

Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market – Next to the Rehoboth Beach Chamber of Commerce (501 Rehoboth Ave.)
Open every Tuesday from noon-3pm, rain or shine.  In addition to the usual farmers market vendors you can also enjoy chef’s demos!

Milton Farmers Market – Downtown Historic Milton… you can’t miss it!
Open every Friday from 3pm-6pm through the end of October.  This farmers market has only been around for a few years, but it’s a local staple!

So, what are you waiting for?  Check out these local markets… you won’t be sorry!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Today is Cinco de Mayo!  Celebrate in style with some delicious Mexican food at one of these local restaurants:

La Tonalteca.  La Tonalteca (4578 Rt 1) in Rehoboth serves up delicious tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and more alongside their famous margaritas.  With reasonably authentic lunch and dinner options including pork, chicken, beef, seafood, salads, and more La Tonalteca serves up good food with good service for reasonable prices.  In addition to the restaurant in Rehoboth, there are locations in Milford and Millsboro as well.  Not only is La Tonalteca a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it is also the place to enjoy a Mexican fiesta any time of year.

Mariachi.   Mariachi (14 Wilmington Ave) in Rehoboth serves up some of the best food from all over Latin America.  Locally owned, Mariachi serves up flavorful Cuban, Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish food, delicious desserts, and happy hour Monday through Friday.  Their fresh, homemade salsa is delicious, as are the enchiladas and margaritas.  Prices are fair, the service is great, and you really can’t go wrong no matter what you order.  Definitely worth a try if you like Llatin cuisine!

El Dorado.  El Dorado Restaurant (18766 John J Williams Hwy) in Rehoboth specializes in fresh, made-to-order, Baja style fish tacos.  They are open from 11am-9pm Monday-Saturday and receive rave reviews for both their food and service.  The atmosphere is super casual, but you can’t beat the freshness!  Everything is made to order and you can fix up your choices exactly how you’d like with the complimentary salsa bar.  Although they’re famous for their fish tacos, all other varieties are delicious too, as are the burritos!  If Mexican food is your thing, definitely check out El Dorado!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

There is a small window of time when the weather is beautiful and it’s not unbearably hot, and we are currently in it!  So, it’s the perfect time to get some of those outdoor projects done.  Here’s a quick rundown of a few projects you should do now:

Prep Your Mower – If you do your own yard work, chances are you’ve already been out mowing this year, but if you haven’t already, you should sharpen those blades before you cut any more grass!  Also check to make sure your other lawn & garden tools are in good operating condition.
Gutters and Downspouts – Check them out carefully to be sure none have gotten loose over the past year and clean out leaves and other debris.  Also check for sags and water stains that may indicate a problem.
Fans & Air Conditioners – Dust them, wash them, remove any debris or building, and clean or replace the filters.  If you don’t have central air and need to install window units, now’s the time.  Make sure to seal the area around them well!  While you’re at it, change the filter to your furnace, especially if you use the fan year round.
Roof Inspection – If your roof is older or you think there might be an issue now’s the time to get up there (or hire someone to do it for you!) and check it out.  Be on the look-out for missing shingles or shingles that may be loose.  Pay careful attention to the areas around chimneys, pipes, vents, skylights, and other such areas.  While you’re up there take a good look around and become aware of anything that might be a potential problem if there’s a nasty storm (such as nearby tree limbs, etc.)
Foundation Vents– Check your vent blocks and remove or open the covers to let some air circulate.  Clean them out if dirt has built up around them over the winter, and check to make sure the soil hasn’t shifted in a way that is allowing groundwater to drain into your basement or crawl space.
Outdoor Faucets – If they’ve been covered, uncover them and turn on the water supply if you shut it off over the winter.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and let us work for you – 302-629-6693.

The Lewes Merchants’ Spring Sidewalk Sale will run from 10am-5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday in downtown Lewes.

Additionally, the Rehoboth Beach Village Improvement Association will present a Designer Show House on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well from 10am-4pm.  The Show House is located at 46 Columbia Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.  It is a 1940s cottage that is currently 3700 square foot, 4 bedroom home after undergoing several transformations over the years.  Tickets for the Designer Show House are $25.  If you miss it this weekend, there will be additional Designer Show House weekends from May 9-11 and May 16-18.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

It’s May first, and the quiet days of the “off season” are quickly drawing to a close.  I’m sure you’ve noticed many sure signs that spring is in full bloom and the “beach season” is beginning to pick up speed.  Here are three of my favorite:

1.  The Dairy Queen in Lewes has reopened!
I don’t know about you, but I get a little depressed when the Dairy Queen closes because it means that winter is on it’s way.  Now that they’ve reopened for the season I’m ready to get myself a Blizzard, take a walk on the beach and enjoy the last days of peace and quiet before the tourists descend upon us for summer!

2.  Cape Henlopen State Park is charging for entry again.
Delaware State Parks charge their entry fee beginning each spring, and although I love getting into Cape Henlopen for free during the winter, I don’t mind paying because it means that beach weather is just around the corner!

3. Fishing is picking up.
The local boat ramps are ready, tackle shops are open and fishing is picking up.  The surf, piers and waterways are full of fishermen and women waiting for the perfect catch!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty and let us help you find the property that is perfect for you – 302-644-2266!