Real Estate Statistics for Mercer Island – July 2010
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Monthly Archives: August 2010
Mostly Music in the Park: The Kings of Swing
Tonight is the last show for Mostly Music in the Park’s 2010 season. The concert is scheduled from 7 pm to 8:30 pm this evening. Mercer Island’s concert series is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a relaxed Mercer Island evening. The concert will be held in Mercerdale Park ( 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd St), under the Veteran’s Pergola.
Tonight’s concert features the Kings of Swing, who offer up Big Band Swing Music. The 19 piece dance band hails from the Seattle area and plays in the Miller/Dorsey style. Their story is unique— the original members made their start back in 1944, at Seattle’s Cleveland High School. They played together until 1949; life duties called, however, so band members went their different directions until 1986. It was the love of Swing Music which brought seven of the original members back together to revive the band in 1986. The continuing legacy of the Kings of Swing remains alive today thanks to the original band members’ love of Big Band music.
Bring a picnic dinner, kick back and enjoy. Oh, and don’t forget your dance shoes!
Mostly Music in the Park: Global Village
Mostly Music in the Park, Mercer Island’s concert series, has two more concerts in its 2010 season. The concerts are scheduled on Sundays & Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm. What a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a relaxed Mercer Island evening. The concerts are held in Mercerdale Park ( 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd St), under the Veteran’s Pergola.
Tonight’s concert features Global Village, offering up World Fusion/Latin Jazz music. Bring a picnic dinner, kick back and enjoy.
Mercer Island’s Adventure Playground Now Open
Take the kids on over to Deane’s Children’s Park (aka Dragon Park) to experience adventure. The Adventure Playground opened July 27th at the park. Kids can build forts structures, dig in the dirt and play in a safe, wooded setting.
Playground details:
- Season: July 27-October 28th, 2010
Days & Time: open every Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4 PM
Process: No registration is required to come and play; all first-time participants must have a parent sign a waiver
Participants: children, ages 4 to 13
Cost: Free for Mercer Island residents; $2 drop-in fee for non-residents
Supervision: children ages 4 to 6 must be accompanied by an adult; children ages 7 to 13 may play without adult supervision, though parents are welcome to stay.
Bring the kids to Adventure Playground for a day filled with summer fun and imaginative outdoor play.
Mostly Music in the Park: Freckles Brown
Mostly Music in the Park , Mercer Island’s concert series, has three more concerts in its 2010 season. The concerts are scheduled on Sundays & Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm. What a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a relaxed Mercer Island evening. The concerts are held in Mercerdale Park ( 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd St), under the Veteran’s Pergola.
Tonight’s concert features Freckles Brown, a local rhythm and blues band. The band hails from Olympia and all the members are vetrans of the south Puget Sound music scene.
Bring a picnic dinner, kick back and enjoy.
Seafair 2010: I-90 Bridge Closures for Blue Angels
Seafair 2010 is in full swing. The Blue Angels, an annual Seafair treat, will be performing August 6th,7th & 8th. Accompanying the Blue Angel performances are the annual I-90 bridge closures. The closures effect both east and westbound lanes between I-5 and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island, plus the whole length of the I-90 Center Roadway.
Below is a schedule of east and westbound bridge closures; dates range from Thursday, August 5th, through Sunday, August 8th. If you need to travel the I-90 Center Roadway or are a bicyclist/pedestrian, don’t forget these routes have different closure schedules (Center Roadway will be closed 2 hours before the times posted below; bicycle/ped. lanes close approximately 30 minutes prior to times posted below.
- Thursday, August 5th
The bridge will close twice on the 5thClosure #1: 9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closure #2: 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Friday, August 6th- 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (practice show)
- Saturday, August 7th- 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (full show)
- Sunday, August 8th – 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (full show)
The SR 520 floating bridge will be open to car traffic during the I-90 closures. If you have any other questions, please check out the Seafair Bridge Closure webpage.
Tips to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Clean, clean, clean. Remove the vegetation growing in cracks in concrete walkways or between paving blocks, wash down the siding, clean the roof and gutters, wash the windows, and make your home look move-in fresh. Don’t forget outbuildings and storage sheds.
Spruce up the yard. Mow and edge the lawn, and get rid of weeds, leaves and dead branches. Cut back shrubs that are hiding your home’s beauty, especially around windows. Beds or pots of annuals add a splash of color and make the home feel cared-for.
Make it new again. If the patio furniture or backyard play equipment is past its prime, give it a new coat of paint or remove it. A fresh, neutral coat of paint on the house can make it look new, and contemporary color schemes can take years off an older design style. Tasks such as refinishing a deck or recoating a driveway with asphalt can have big payoffs.
Make the entryway say “welcome.” Your door makes the first close-up impression. Consider replacing it with one that’s more stylish, paint it a contrasting color, or add some new hardware such as a kickplate or door knocker. Adding a seating area can also make the entryway more inviting.
Dress up your windows. Add some shutters or planter boxes to give the “eyes” of your home some soul.
Three ways to evaluate your home’s curb appeal:
Park where a potential buyer would, and walk towards the house. Can you see the best features of the house, or are they blocked by shrubbery? What detracts from the appeal of the home? A cracked driveway? Water stains below the gutters? Address those first impressions first.
Take digital photos of the exterior. Look at color photos first, then look at them again in black and white to see problem areas more clearly without the distraction of color.
Evaluate your home at different times of day and from different angles. Take another look at your home at dusk. Would additional lighting make your home more attractive? People will try to drive around to see your backyard. If you have an alley, how does your home look from that angle?
See our free Guide to Selling a Home for even more tips from the pros.
