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My Blog
It's been a crazy week here in the Pacific Northwest...with lots of stories and photos of our experiences with the ice storm. I hope all of you are safe and warm and there is a minimum amount of damage to your homes and boats. I am a bit envious of my live-aboard boat friends...as they seem to have suffered the least amount of damage. Most marinas kept their power, and even if it did go off...the live-aboards have a generator! And there are no trees to fall on their boats, as I encountered at my house (2 fallen dogwoods in my front yard!).
So maybe it's time to look ahead to the reason we love living in the Northwest...spring and summer...the beautiful water and islands that grace us with their beauty! The boat show is coming to town this month and it's a great way to escape the winter chill and dream about what the coming months might bring! The boat show runs from January 27th to February 5th.
http://www.seattleboatshow.com/
For those of you that are interested in connecting with local boaters, there is a fabulous forum for Northwest boaters. Feel free to browse, set up a free account and join in on the conversation and local events.
http://www.pnwsailors.com/phpBB3/
Mahalo and thanks for reading my blog!
Cheryl
SV Pakele 25' Yamaha sailboat
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Happy New Year...and welcome to 2012! We are looking forward to a greatly improved economhy and real estate market this year. January is a tough month here in the Northwest...the Christmas lights have all been turned off; but it's still very dark out....and for some people, it's very depressing.
If you are able, this is a great month to take a tropical vacation and find some warm weather and sun! Even if you can't leave in January, it helps your spirit to start making plans for an upcoming vacation!
If you can't leave town...treat yourself to an outing to some of our local tropical restaurants. You'll come away feeling happier, warmer and satisfied with a good meal!
Bahama Breeze - the atmosphere can't be beat! A great place to go anytime, but even better in the winter.
http://www.bahamabreeze.com/
Bamboo Bar&Grill - on Alki Beach...serves a great breakfast!
http://www.bamboobarandgrill.com/breakfast.htm
Kona Kitchen - a great family restaurant in Seattle!
http://www.konakitchen.com/
Kauai Family Restaurant - authentic Hawaiian food in historical Georgetown!
http://www.kauaifamilyrestaurant.com/
Wishing you all a warm and sunny 2012!
Mahalo and thanks for reading my blog!
Cheryl
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Where to go in Seattle for a "tropical" New Year's Eve? Bahama Breeze is a great spot, and Seattle's Steel Drummer, Ian Dobson will be playing! Enjoy the warm, Caribbean atmosphere....
http://www.iandobson.com/panleggo/
If you are heading to Ocean Shores, you will find Dave Calhoun playing at the Pirates Cove Bar&Grill.
http://www.tropzone.net/
Happy New Year and may 2011 bring you all the very best!
Mahalo nui loa for reading my blog! Cheryl
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Aloha!
Well there is way too much talk about school and I am getting that end-of-the summer feeling...like I have to start enjoying every single day of sunshine!!! And I see so many people going into the malls to shop for school clothes and supplies. I just want to remind you to enjoy the summer weather while you can...you can always shop for clothes when it starts raining. I guess there are some schools already starting...I'm sorry all you WSU students! Back when I went there we didn't start quite so early. Although I know what goes on those first few weeks of school....no studying and lots of time out in the sun!
Here are some good outdoor events to keep you in the tropical spirit...so get out there and enjoy!
Music
Did you know that we have some great trop-rock musicians in the area? This weekend you can hear some great trop-rock music by Dave Calhoun at the following locations:
Piranha Joe's in Burien, Friday evening from 7-10pm.
Island Cafe in Portland on Saturday from 4-7pm. Apparently this is a great place...and it's a floating restaurant. I haven't checked it out yet, but it sounds like I may have to sometime. I'll have to see how it compares to my favorites in Seattle (Bahama Breeze and Bamboo Bar&Grill). Here's the website for the restaurant:
http://www.islandcafepdx.com/aboutus.htm
Floating in McCuddy's Marina on Hayden Island, the Island Cafe has been a Portland mainstay for 20 years. Floating amongst the sailboats and floating homes of the North Portland Harbor, its the perfect getaway for couples and families to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Sunday afternoon Dave will be playing and hosting a private party featuring Jim Hoehn, a Milwaukee-based journalist and songwriter. The private party is for the Parrotheads of Puget Sound. If you enjoy tropical music, Jimmy Buffet, boating, fundraising for great organizations...this is a great bunch of people! They provide a lot of "Aloha" in Seattle, with special events and fundraisers. Check out their website and think about joining. http://www.phops.com/
Jim Hoehn will also be at the ultra-cool Cellar Cafe in Wenatchee on Friday, if you are traveling over the mountains. http://www.cellarcafe.org/
Some future concerts to plan for....
Jack Johnson, smooth singing vocalist/guitarist from the North Shore, Oahu in Hawaii. He'll be at the Gorge on Oct 2nd. That should be a good concert! We may even still have some good weather at that time. Reminds me of the year that Jimmy Buffet played the Gorge on the first weekend of October, and it was over 80 degree...what a day!
 Speaking of Jimmy Buffet...he will be in Portland on Oct 19th. Not sure why he is skipping Seattle (too much rain?!?). I held off buying tickets because I thought he would come here...oh well. I may just have to wait till he shows up in Honolulu and see if I can fly over there to see him. He has his new restaurant there and has been known to pop in and do a private show for the Parrothead organization there!
Boating
Well, the Seattle Boat Show was last weekend...but did you know that you can get free sailboat rides at Elliott's Bay Marina and Shilshoe Bay Marina on Thursdays&Fridays? Check out the link on the website for the Seattle Boat Show. http://www.seattleboatshow.com/
Walks/Runs
August 29th is the Alki Beach 5k Run/Walk to benefit local breast cancer patients through NW Hope&Healing Foundation.
http://www.active.com/running/seattle-wa/alki-beach-5k-walk-and-run-2010 or
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=227240806619&ref=search#!/group.php?gid=227240806619&v=wall&ref=search
Mahalo nui loa for reading my blog! Cheryl
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 Aloha Seattle...are we enjoying the heat? We live in a gorgeous place, which is even more obvious when it's sunny weather and we get out to see all of the beauty in our area. I had an opportunity this past weekend to go up to Anacortes and join in on the festivities at the marina, which were sponsored by the owners of the Lattitudes&Attitudes Seafaring Magazine. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! The town is fascinating...great places to eat and wonderful people. There were so many beautiful boats and we met some great seafaring friends and pirates! This is an annual event for those that love sailing and boating. My "crew" went on a side trip to Deception Pass....amazing!
 Visit my Facebook page if you want to see some fabulous photos of this beautiful place. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1020412523
Check out Anacortes: http://www.anacortes.org/
And here is the link to the Lattitudes&Attitudes online magazine, in case you want to check it out and make plans to participate next year:
Website: http://www.seafaring.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Latitudes.Attitudes.Seafaring.Magazine
Enjoy the Puget Sound!
Mahalo for reading my blog....Cheryl
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Summer has arrived in Seattle! I have been so busy enjoying it that I have forgotten to blog. I've enjoyed some backyard bbq's with friends and family. But where can we go to sit outside and hear some tropical music?
Try some of these places:
Ian Dobson, a local Steel Drummer plays his Caribbean style music at The Willows Lodge (across from St. Michelle Winery) each Wednesday in July and Aug from 5:30 to 8:30. A nice patio atmosphere, beverages, appetizers make for a fun outing!
The Bamboo Bar&Grill is still a favorite of mine, because I love Alki in the summer! Cactus is another great open air restaurant/lounge on Alki; although I don't believe they have music.
I have also heard that Waterways Cruises are a great way to enjoy Lake Washington in the summer. They have music on board and have a variety of cruises, including Happy Hours, Brunch and Dinner cruises. They also have specialty cruises for Seafair and Blue Angels. I hope to try one of these this summer...
Here's hoping you get outdoors and enjoy this great weather!
Aloha!
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Aloha! Congratulations to all of this year's graduates!!! Seattleites have embraced the beloved Hawaiian tradition of giving a lei to celebrate a special event or achievement, such as graduation. Leis have always been a part of the ancient Hawaiian culture and modern culture of living in Hawaii. Hawaiian lei is a part of every celebration...there is no wrong time to give a lei (brths, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and deaths). You will see the graduates heaped with leis from family, friends, and other well wishers. The leis convey love, aloha, and your affection for the graduating person on their special day.
A few facts about giving someone a lei:
First...where do we find one here in Seattle? The best place for authentic Hawaiian leis (flown in fresh) is the Hawaii General Store on 45th in the UW district. http://www.hawaiigeneralstore.net/
I have seen leis in flower shops and the floral department of grocery stores; but you may want to see what type of flower they are using if that matters to you.
Lei etiquette...and you will see that there aren't many rules when it comes to leis in Hawaii: Who can wear a Hawaiian lei? Anyone.
What kind of Hawaiian lei can you wear? Any kind, except....for a preganant woman, always give an open ended lei (closed leis are bad luck) and don't give a "hala" lei to a politician as the hala fruit represents the coming of the end and a time to move on to new things.
Where can you wear a Hawaiian lei? Anywhere.
When can you wear a Hawaiian lei? Anytime.
Why do people wear Hawaiian leis? Any reason.
What is the proper way to give a lei in Hawaii? The proper and traditional way to give a Hawaiian lei is to place it over the person's head so it hangs around their neck, then give him or her a kiss on the cheek. Of course if you have a closer relationship with that person you can kiss them on the lips.
What are leis made of? A lei is usually made from flowers, and based on the event you are celebrating...you can get creative with what to use for your lei (candy, money, etc). For instructions on how to make leis, you can google it and find all sorts of sites and UTube videos to show you how.
Orchids are the most popular flower used for leis, but the most rare and special lei from Hawaii is not one made of flowers but of leaves. It is called a Maile (pronounced my-lee) lei and is made from the fragrant leaves and bark of the indigenous Maile vine that only grows in the rainforests of Hawaii. What makes Maile so unique and unforgettable is its intoxicating fragrance that is clean, fresh, woodsy, vanilla, sweet, and spicy all at the same time. Once you smell true Hawaiian Maile, you want to smell that scent all the time.
So if you have a graduate this year...this is one way to bring a little Aloha into the celebration!
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 In the Northwest we are blessed with so much beauty and a lot of rain! We are very active here in the Seattle area...running, walking, biking, hiking, skiing, etc. With the Puget Sound and our many lakes, we have endless water activities such as boating, kayaking, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, etc. We have some of the most convenient waterfront properties, where you can start your day waterskiing and then drive a short commute to work.
Here in Seattle, we know how to make the most of a warm, sunny day. But sometimes the rain lasts too long and we go endless days feeling as though it were November. We need to see more sun and feel more warmth....or at least find a way to pretend it's 85 degrees and sunny! Is there anyone else out there that wants to know where to go in Seattle to feel an "escape"? Are you wishing for a laid-back moment in paradise? Join me on the search for some great places, food, music, people, etc.. In my blog I will share some of the best places to find a tropical experience in Seattle. It's June, and it was a beautiful day...but now the temperature has cooled and it's getting cloudy. The forecast for tomorrow includes some rain. Ugh! I'm feeling the dreaded gloom coming upon me. So I need to reflect upon my day and all that I was able to do outside...and turn on my tropical music! It has been a long winter and I am so anxious for summer...a real summer with sun and heat, where I can go out on a boat or walk along Alki Beach. I want to drive to Anacortes and take a ferry boat ride to the San Juans and see Orca whales. I want to go to the Fauntleroy ferry dock on a low tide day where I can walk under the dock and see huge purple starfish. I want to stroll along the water in Kirkland and eat somewhere on the waterfront. I hear they surf at OUR ocean..hmmm...not sure that Ocean Shores or Westport offers the same type of surf scene as Hawaii..but it would be interesting to check it out.
SInce summer is not "really" here yet, I will need to go find some color, music, and tropical ambience. So I am heading to Bahama Breeze ... one of my favorite tropical restaurants!
Bahama Breeze is located in Tukwila...near the Westfield Southcenter Shopping Mall. Very convenient...right off I-5. Check out their link....have your computer speakers on so you can hear the music. The menu is great...I like almost everything on the menu...but my 2 favorite appetizers are Coconut Shrimp and Fire-Roasted Jerk Shrimp!
http://www.bahamabreeze.com/
Need a place for a large group gathering? I recommend Bahama Breeze if you are looking for a casual setting at a reasonable price. We had a fantastic work reunion here...in the atrium section of the restaurant. For $25 per person, we had the entire area to ourselves on a Saturday afternoon and they provided us with buffet tables of an unlimited variety of appetizers. At 4pm, we didn't even have to leave...they just opened the area to the public, but we were able to stay in there as well. And the restaurant staff was superb! So stay tuned as I find more tropical people, places, music and activities that represent the Aloha Spirit in Seattle. Mahalo (thank you) for reading my blog.
Cheryl Bourg
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Now is the best time to invest in property...you can't go wrong with this type of investment. The prices are low, the interest rates are low and the supply is high...it's your market! Consider buying your first home, a 2nd home for vacations, a rental home for investment income, an investment home for your child at college, vacant land for future building or sale. The time is right! This is today's best investment.
I assisted a client in purchasing a home in Pullman, to provide housing for their son attending WSU. What a wise investment it turned out to be! They were able to purchase a brand new 5 bedroom home at a incredible price and consistently rented out the extra 4 rooms for all four years their son was in college. The added benefit was that their son learned to manage the property during this time!
For those of you who haven't owned a home in the last 3 years...the opportunities are even better! The new government $8000 Tax Credit program will save you $8000, in addition to the standard tax benefits of owning a home. Currently, our state is researching options to offer this $8000 as Down Payment funds for your purchase. Stay tuned for more information on this.
Don't miss out on this amazing program...the deadline to purchase a home is November 30, 2009. I encourage you to start now to take the steps to prepare for this very important purchase. You may be surprised to see that you can qualify to purchase a home. If you are currently renting, ask for the Rent vs. Own Comparison Sheet. My team of agents, lenders and tax consultants can assist you in determining if this is the right move for you!
Feel free to contact me anytime...and if you are interested, we will have our next HomeSteps Seminar coming up in June for new homebuyers. We invite you to attend and have your questions answered.
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