Esplanade Lifestyle - Northgate | Mar/Apr 2023

LIFESTYLE

Rachel 15

TAYLOR

Rachel.Veltri@TeamEsplanade.com 11

Sean

SRobertson@TaylorMorrison.com

Sunshine.Linzi@TeamEsplanade.com SALES

Monday-Tuesday,

PROPERTY 6 12 15

Letter From the Lifestyle Team

SUNSHINE LINZI

YOUR LIFESTYLE MANAGER

Spring is Coming!

Spring is the season of new growth and new beginnings after the colder winter months. Throughout spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, seedlings sprout from the ground and hibernating animals awaken. We’ve tipped the balance from longer nights to longer days. Let’s say hello to sunshine and blue skies as Lifestyle shares plenty of exciting events to celebrate!

This March, join your neighbors for your Community Garden’s Grand Opening celebration. Our expert guest speaker from the North Carolina State Garden Exchange will open your event with a brief talk on raised bed planting. Then kick back and relax to live music, yard games, food and drink, and garden giveaways!

In April, come enjoy the next installment of our National Cooking & Cocktail Series: The Art of Sushi & Sake! Members will get a chance to learn the history of sushi with a full demonstration by Patrick Scully, our National Director of Food, Beverage & Culinary Experience. The event includes trying your hand at making your own roll before enjoying a selection of sushi and sake. Check out your calendar of events and be sure to sign up to attend.

Our gorgeous boutique community continues to grow! Please know that as soon as you go under contract with Taylor Morrison on this property, you are invited to participate in all Lifestyle events and activities. The Lifestyle program is tailored to your interests, so do not hesitate to reach out to us with your comments and suggestions for events in the future.

We encourage all newly closed Members to join us for Esplanade 101, as it is the key to your Lifestyle here at Northgate. We also invite all Members to join us for Neighborhood News, a community update with your dedicated team, as well as Coffee and Conversation with your Lifestyle Manager and team to discuss your Resort Lifestyle.

Happy Spring and may your souls soak in the warmth of the new season’s sunlight.

Rachel Veltri

YOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGER

We are pleased to introduce your Community Association Manager, Rachel Veltri. Rachel is joining Esplanade at Northgate with a diverse and extensive career in real estate development, management and construction. She is a native of the Carolinas, graduated from North Greenville University with her Master of Business Administration, she holds a South Carolina Real Estate Broker’s License and is a Certified General Contractor.

In 2004, her career took her to Sarasota, Florida as the VP of Sales and Marketing for National Constructors, Inc. In 2009, Rachel moved back to South Carolina as she tells us, “with my Yankee husband in tow” to start her own company, Neves Construction. She grew her company to specialize in interim services to commercial and residential contractors, developers, and investors throughout the Carolinas and Florida.

Co-founder of Women Construction Forum, Rachel prides herself in giving back to the community by mentoring young women. Speaking to a group of female students enrolled in construction, engineering and aerospace at a local career and technology center, she was recently quoted, “If young women see professionals giving their time to encourage and mentor others, then hopefully many of them will grow up to be leaders who give back to their communities.”

When Rachel isn’t working, she loves to travel. In 2020, she found one of her all-time favorite places to vacation – Yellowstone National Park. She found the mountain top views inspiring and took photos of wildlife including bison, elk, and mountain goats! Rachel and her husband are living their “happily ever after” on a farm in Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina along with their daughter, granddaughter, dogs, cat, chickens and more farm animals to come.

Rachel hopes to meet the Members at Northgate over the coming weeks. She looks forward to assisting Members with their needs while maintaining the property so that owners can be proud to call their community home.

Community Garden

GRAND OPENING

Egg Scavenger

HUNT

Saturday, April 8

10 a.m. | Community Park

Saturday, March 18

1 - 4 p.m. | Community Garden

Spring has sprung! Join your neighbors for your Community Garden’s Grand Opening celebration. Our expert guest speaker from the NC State Garden Exchange will open your event with a brief talk on raised bed planting. Then kick back and relax to live music, yard games, food, drink, and garden giveaways!

This “egg-cellent” hunt includes riddles and puzzles! Meet Lifestyle at the Community Park to team up in groups. Each group will be given an egg with their first clue hidden inside that will lead to the next clue and so on. The group to find all the eggs wins!

Cooking & Cocktail Series

THE ART OF SUSHI & SAKE

Thursday, April 20

6 p.m. | Malta Model | $25 Per Person

This experience will include an overview of the history of sushi and sake along with an outline of the different styles and types. You will also enjoy an engaging demonstration on how to prepare sushi rice, the tools needed to create your own sushi at home, and a hands-on experience where you will fine tune your own personal artistic presentation of a sushi roll. After preparing your signature roll, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor during the tasting portion of the experience, and enjoy a sampling of delicious sake. All attendees are welcome to bring their own beverages to enjoy! Please visit the event calendar on your community website to register for this event!

Furry Friends Meet Rusty

LOVED BY GRANDMA LYNN RAY

Rusty is a two-year-old lab who was rescued by Lynn’s daughter and her family. He is about two years old and loves to be with people. Lynn’s daughter is a school counselor and is taking Rusty to classes to become a certified service dog. Once certified, she plans to take him to her school to visit with the children who come through her door every day. He is the sweetest of dogs and is sure to bring joy and lots of cuddles to the children who visit her office.

At home, he doesn’t get up to too much mischief, except for taking stuffed toys from his two-legged siblings. However, being the absolute best of boys, he gladly gives them back when asked. He loves coming to Esplanade at Northgate to visit Grandma and enjoys walking the Monarch Trail with her. Rusty brings a smile to anyone who meets him so be sure to give him a good pet when you see him walking the community with his grandma.

HAVE A Furry FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU WANT TO FEATURE?

Contact your Lifestyle Manager to be featured in the next edition of the Lifestyle Magazine. Answer a few questions about your furry, feathery, or scaly friend and share a couple pictures.

Don’t have a furry family member of your own, but know a community Member who does? Nominate them to be the next Featured Furry Friend. Contact the Member to suggest the feature or your Lifestyle Manager, Sunshine Linzi at Sunshine.Linzi@TeamEsplanade.com, to nominate anonymously.

Fitness

INTRO TO BOCCE BALL

Thursday, April 13 | 10 a.m.

Community Park

Lifestyle will introduce Members to an open style of play. The main goal (besides having FUN!) is to get the big balls closer to the little ball. Simplicity is fundamental to bocce as the object of the game is to get as many of your team’s bocce balls as close to the target, the “pallino,” as possible. Teams can be comprised of one to six Members, so come join your neighbors for a game of bocce!

Exclusive Concierge Offerings

Part of the Esplanade Lifestyle is rolling out the red carpet and giving our Members VIP access to exclusive offers and services! We are excited to build and foster relationships with local organizations and businesses to offer special rates for our community. If you know of one that would like to partner with Esplanade at Northgate, please contact your Lifestyle Manager.

ANNOUNCING THE TROON CARD

As a benefit of living in an Esplanade community, we are excited to share that current Esplanade Members receive 25% off standard Troon Card prices. Now in its 25th year, the Troon Card is the ultimate way for golfers to experience the World of Troon at the best rates. In 2023, more than 150 courses are participating in the program. Members can reserve tee times within three-days of their desired date of play and enjoy savings up to 50% off golf fees. Choose from state, region-specific, or national Troon Cards to unlock preferred rates at more than 150 golf courses worldwide. For a complete list of benefits, courses and rates, and to purchase your Troon Card today, visit www.troon.com/product/troon-card-esplanade

DRY CLEANING COLLINS CLEANERS VALET SERVICE

Esplanade Members receive FREE pickup and delivery service directly to their door. Services include dry cleaning, linens, laundry, alterations, shoes, and household items. Stop by the Sales Gallery for the sign-up sheet with the schedule and pricing list or sign up on their website.

704-398-1525 collinscleaners.com

PET SERVICES

CAMP BOW WOW

10% off all services (including grooming) and 5% off all products. Members are given the Wag Bag when they go under contract.

704-708-9663

campbowwow.com/matthews

HOUNDS TOWN USA

15% OFF Saturday Daycare only. Good at Indian Trail location. Members are given discount card at closing.

704-218-2100 houndstownusa.com

HOME SERVICES

QUANTUM SECURITY AND INNOVATIONS

Esplanade Members can choose from three EXCLUSIVE packages: Sonos Home Theater Package, Sonos Package, or Alula Security Package. Members who purchase an exclusive package will also receive a 10% discount on any additional purchase. To view QSI’s state-of-theart systems, visit the Model Homes or stop by the Sales Gallery for a brochure detailing these packages.

704-534-2468

WINDOW COVERINGS

CAROLINA SHUTTERS AND BLINDS

Esplanade Members can choose from exclusive package discounts. Contact Nicole Evans-Lane for a free design consultation. When contacting Nicole, Members are asked to supply the offer code: AFFINITY 303.

704-840-8000

nicole@csandb.us

carolinashutterandblinds.com

Recent Events

Member FRIENDSGIVING

A Lifestyle celebration of Northgate’s first annual Member Friendsgiving! Members gathered with their neighbors with grateful hearts for an evening of friendship and food.

National BROWNIE DAY

Members stopped by the Sales Gallery to sample a selection of brownies and share their own recipe batch with their neighbors.

Cooking & Cocktail Series THE 3 PILLARS OF PIZZA

The month of November ended on a high note with Patrick Scully returning to teach Members the fundamentals of building the perfect pizza pie!

Jingle & Mingle BINGO

Christine McDermott won 2 out of 3 games of bingo to win a chunky knit throw prize!

Recent Events

Holiday Ornament MAKING

Members spent an evening creating their own unique sets of ornaments to gift or hang from their trees last Holiday Season.

Toys for Tots Marines TOY DRIVE

Our Members have the very BEST giving hearts! Members held personal holiday parties and asked their guests to bring unwrapped toys. Northgate’s drive collected so many toys, the collection bin overflowed! When Lifestyle dropped off the toys at the base, Staff Sergeant Bowen said, “WOW! That’s from one community?”

Upcoming Culinary Events

NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY

Tuesday, March 7 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sales Gallery

What is the correct way to eat an Oreo cookie? Stop by Lifestyle to discuss and while you’re there, choose one of your favorite varieties to snack on to demonstrate your technique. Perhaps the best known is the classic “twist, lick, and dunk” but we’ll let you be the judge of the best way to eat America’s favorite cookie.

COOKING AND COCKTAIL SERIES: THE ART OF SUSHI & SAKE

Thursday, April 20 | 6 p.m. | See Flyer on Page 5 Malta Model | $25 per person

This experience will include an overview of the history of sushi and sake along with an outline of the different styles and types. You will enjoy an engaging demonstration on how to prepare sushi rice, the tools needed to create your own sushi at home, a hands-on experience, and tasting. See the Flyer on page 5 for more details.

Upcoming Events

All activities and events are subject to change. For full details, please visit EsplanadeNorthgateLifestyle.com/events.

NATIVE STAGE & DESIGN DOWNSIZING AND ORGANIZATION

Monday, March 20 | 5 p.m.

Sales Gallery

If you are considering sooner or later to downsize, then this class is for you! Whether moving or just moved, Frances will present structures and routines to help you get organized. She’ll help you address all your organizational issues to ensure a smooth transition from too much to just right without rushing through the process of going through years of objects and papers in your home.

CRAFT NORTHGATE: DIY BATH BOMBS

Monday, March 27 | 5 p.m.

Sales Gallery

YAPPY HOURS

Wednesdays, March 1 & April 5 | 5 p.m.

Bark Park

Meet up with your furry friends to enjoy a “dogtastic” social event. March’s theme is St. “Puprick’s” Day! Join your furry friends for some green pup cups (puppy safe) and a romp around the Community Bark Park. April’s theme is Easter “B’egg” Hunt. Lifestyle will hide treats across the Bark Park for your furry friends to sniff and find! Feel free to bring your favorite beverages and your favorite toy to play fetch!

MEN’S COFFEE SOCIAL

Monday, March 6 | 10 a.m.

Sales Gallery

Meet your fellow men of Northgate for a coffee social. Enjoy a freshly brewed cup while discussing all your favorite topics. Find others with common interests from sports, woodworking, poker night, fishing, cigars or craft brews.

COMMUNITY GARDEN GRAND OPENING

Saturday, March 18 | 1 - 4 p.m.

Community Garden

Spring has sprung! Join your neighbors for your Community Garden’s Grand Opening celebration. Our expert guest speaker from the NC State Garden Exchange will open your event with a brief talk on raised bed planting. Then kick back and relax to live music, yard games, food & drink, and garden giveaways!

Take bath time to the next level by making your very own bath bombs! These fizzy and fun treats create a luxurious, nourishing and relaxing spa-like ambiance for the bath. In this class, Lifestyle will teach you how to create your very own bath bombs.

ESPLANADE EGG SCAVENGER HUNT

Saturday, April 8 | 10 a.m.

Community Park

This “egg-cellent” hunt includes riddles and puzzles! Meet Lifestyle at the Community Park to team up in groups. Each group will be given an egg with their first clue hidden inside that will lead to the next clue and so on. The group to find all the eggs wins!

Upcoming Events

All activities and events are subject to change. For full details, please visit EsplanadeNorthgateLifestyle.com/events.

ESPLANADE RESORT EXPERIENCES & TROON DEBUT

Wednesday, April 19 | 4 - 6 p.m.

Location TBD

More Details Coming Soon!

Please join Esplanade Resort Experiences and Troon for a very special “Debut” event where you will have the opportunity to meet with the team of highly talented leaders dedicated to elevating how you live and connect within the community you call home.

Both informative and fun, mingle with fellow Members while enjoying live entertainment, light bites, beverages and other exciting festivities!

During this debut, there will be experience stations hosted by the Esplanade Resort Experiences and Troon teams demonstrating the array of concierge-level services and lifestyle programming currently offered across our Esplanade communities. Get a taste of what you’ll enjoy in the world of culinary, discover how you will find your zen with our uniquely curated wellness offerings, embrace your inner explorer as you uncover what’s to come for future travel opportunities, and more!

Monthly Member Meetings

LADIES SPRING BONNET BRUNCH

Monday, April 3 | 11 a.m.

Royal Café and Crêperie

The flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing! Let’s celebrate that spring is in the air with a ladies brunch. Wear your finest hat or bonnet decorated for spring for a chance to win a prize for the most festive.

ESPLANADE 101

Tuesdays, March 7 & April 4

10 a.m. | Sales Gallery

New Members can meet with the CAM and Lifestyle Manager to briefly discuss HOA and Lifestyle topics outlined in your Member Handbook. Come with your questions!

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Tuesdays, March 21 & April 18

10 a.m. | Sales Gallery

Meet with your Community Association Manager in a relaxed and social setting to discuss the latest news surrounding the neighborhood.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION

Wednesdays, March 29 & April 26

9:30 a.m. | Sales Gallery

Join your Lifestyle Manager for a relaxing and informative meeting. Find out what’s happening on the social scene. Bring your questions and suggestions.

Lynn Ray

The Members of our community are truly what make this a wonderful place to live. In each edition, we will spotlight a Member, couple or family to showcase the amazing people that call our community home. If you would like to be featured or want to nominate another Member, please contact your Lifestyle Manager.

Lynn Ray was born in southeastern Michigan and lived there forty years before moving to North Carolina. She grew up with loving parents, her four siblings, and her family’s dogs. She fell in love, got married, then along came her two daughters. Once her girls were in school, she went to work and discovered her creative side! With over 25+ years in art direction, public and client relations, she found her niche and knew she was a “people person.”

Given a great opportunity to further her career, Lynn and her husband relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina in 2000. As passionate as she was about her career, life took a turn and she went on leave to care for her husband. Sadly, her husband passed in 2001.

In adjusting to her new life, Lynn found a perfect fit when returning to work. She discovered that helping people to “simply have a good day,” was far more rewarding that anything she had previously done, so she made a career change. She completed her certification to work in North Carolina licensed family care and assisted living

homes with a focus on Life Enrichment Programming. She is semiretired now, but continues to enjoy her work in dementia care.

Lynn strives to make everyone feel happy and fulfilled. From the moment Lifestyle met her, we knew this to be a true reflection of her nature. When searching for a new home, she wanted to experience an enriched Lifestyle program that spanned all of her many interests; whether it’s going on walks, exercising, shopping or just a day of pampering. She tells us, “I moved to Northgate for the community connection and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.”

When she isn’t working, Lynn loves to be outdoors spending time with her five grandchildren and grand dogs. The things she loves most in her life are her family, a little adventure, sunshine, and all the two and four-legged friends she meets every day. We are so very happy Lynn chose Esplanade at Northgate for the next chapter in her life!

Interest Groups & Social Clubs

Doing more of what makes us happy is called the key to life by many. Share your passion and take the first step by creating a club or group today!

Meet fellow Members with similar interests by creating or joining an Interest Group or Club! Any Member wishing to develop one should contact your Lifestyle Manager to receive information and an application. The Lifestyle Manager will then help to facilitate promotion of activities developed by the Members. Depending on the group size and activity, the Sales Gallery may be a suitable space for your gatherings.

1. DEVELOP: Create the name and purpose of your club. Review guidelines.

2. SUBMIT APPLICATION: Let us know! We'll help schedule your meeting place and time.

3. GET LISTED: Once approved, your new club will be listed on the website and in the Lifestyle Magazine.

Rose & Cucumber Eye Mask

Rich in ascorbic acid and phytochemicals, cucumbers help tighten and soothe skin. They are also known to reduce swelling and remove toxins from the body. This blended mask reaches the inner and outer corners of the eyes.

INGREDIENTS

» Half a cucumber

» 1 ounce rose water

» Blender

» Cotton rounds

DIRECTIONS

This mask recipe makes quite a lot, so cut more cotton rounds in a half-moon shape than you think you’ll need. In a blender, puree the cucumber and rose water until liquefied. Transfer to a bowl soaking the rounds in the mixture, squeezing the excess, then re-soaking for optimal absorption. Store the extra soaked cotton rounds in a resealable bag in the freezer for future use. Thaw the eye pads 10 minutes before use making sure they’re still cool to help reduce puffiness. To apply, place the half-moon eye pad underneath the eye close to the bottom lash line. Leave on for 10–15 minutes.

Spring Cleaning: 21-Day Declutter Challenge

» Day 1: Listen to a podcast about organizing.

» Day 2: Organize your closet and pack away winter clothes.

» Day 3: Clean out your refrigerator and freezer.

» Day 4: Organize your pantry.

» Day 5: Remove clutter from kitchen counter tops.

» Day 6: Organize kitchen cabinets; donate items no longer used.

» Day 7: Organize laundry room.

» Day 8: Clean out your wallet and purse.

» Day 9: Organize your bedroom closets.

» Day 10: Clean out your junk drawer.

» Day 11: Sort through your USPS mail.

» Day 12: Remove old apps from your phone.

» Day 13: Clean out your inbox and unsubscribe from emails.

» Day 14: Open the windows to enjoy fresh air and play music!

» Day 15: Purge old personal grooming items and makeup.

» Day 16: Vacuum the interior of your car.

» Day 17: Clean the garage and storage closets.

» Day 18: Organize your home office and filing cabinets.

» Day 19: Organize your medicine cabinet.

» Day 20: Organize holiday decorations and storage bins.

» Day 21: Donate unused clothes, toys and shoes.

Around Town

SUCCESSFUL GARDENER – STARTING VEGETABLES FROM SEED

Thursday, March 2 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Union County Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe | allevents.in Learn seed starting basics through this discussion on requirements for soil, light, water, and temperature. The timing to plant seeds of warm season vegetables should be tied to our average last frost date. Starting your seeds at the right time will help you grow short, sturdy transplants that will perform well when hardened off and moved into your garden. Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, Sandy will share tips and tricks to get your plants from seed off to a good start.

ANNUAL CHARLOTTE DONUT FESTIVAL

Sunday, March 5 | 1 - 5 p.m.

Norfolk Hall | eventbrite.com

This sweetest of festivals showcases the delicious round treat plus some other tasty, sweet treats from some of Charlotte’s favorite bakeries. Enjoy music, lifestyle vendors, and goods from other local artisans and artists.

PAWS IN THE PARK

Saturday, April 1 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pineville Lake Park | charlotteblackdogs.com

Spend the day in the park and enjoy a concert by Chairmen of the Board! This annual event features rescues and animal shelters with fundraising items and dogs available for adoption, food trucks, business and arts & craft vendors, demonstrations, dog contests at 12 p.m., photo booth, kids playground, Blessing of the Animals, and Circus Stella. This is a free family event.

SEED Wildlife Garden: Gardens that Inspire Children

Support the new SEED (Student Environmental Education & Discovery) Wildlife Garden and expanded Children’s Garden at Wing Haven! Many years of thoughtful planning for the formerly unused ¾-acre parcel beyond the Rose Garden, and adjacent to the Wood Duck Pond, has resulted in the SEED Wildlife Garden meant to inspire generations of children and their families.

In keeping with the tradition of the Clarkson’s historic garden as a bird and wildlife sanctuary, this newer garden area incorporates a variety of learning and play environments to help children learn from and observe nature. Environmental educational materials will reference from and utilize exciting SEED garden areas including a green tunnel,

a bird observation platform, an ozone garden, a pollinator garden, an outdoor classroom, a pump and dry stream bed, and more.

The SEED Wildlife Garden opened to the public with great celebration in April 2019. $1,000,000 will be raised in designated endowment to support the new space and expanded educational programs. You can help support the new SEED garden in perpetuity for the children of our community with a donation to help us reach our total goal of $1,000,000 in designated SEED Endowment to support the plantings, programs and people that make this space come alive! For information about donations or gifts to the SEED Wildlife Garden, please contact Development Director Susan Evans at 704-331-0664, ext. 108 or visit winghavengardens.org

National Wildlife® Photo Contest

Calling for Entries!

The National Wildlife® Photo Contest, which began over five decades ago, celebrates the power of photography to advance conservation and connect both photographers and viewers with wildlife and the outdoors. The most compelling nature images can help protect wildlife in profound ways. Showcase the beauty found within your Esplanade community (and beyond!) and share your nature and wildlife photos for a chance to win prizes and to get published in the pages of their award-winning magazine. Entries may be submitted now through March 26 and voting begins May 1. Visit photocontest.nwf.org to enter!

EsplanadeNorthgateLifestyle.com