Brenda Magness Realty Group

Well known for its Southlake Town Square project, Southlake is a family-friendly suburb in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area and is located conveniently near the cities of Grapevine, Keller and Colleyville. This beautiful city covers approximately 22.5 square miles and boasts more than 12 public parks, three miles of walking trails, a nature center and over 450 acres of natural park area.

Its state of the art Harkin’s Theater has the largest movie screen in Texas, and features 14 stadium seat theaters. Southlake also is host to food and dining like no other in the DFW Metroplex, with endless amounts of choices of superior dining like The Cheesecake Factory and Truluck’s Seafood (pictured left).

This is the view from the 4th floor balcony of the Southlake Hilton Hotel, located in Town Square.

Mark your calendars, Grapevine's Grapefest festival is coming up in September. Voted one of the top 100 events in North America, the popular event returns for its 22nd edition on September 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2008. Sample award-winning Texas wines and enjoy great food, beverages and live music, four full days of fun!!!

	Mark your calendar for these great 2008 events in Grapevine GrapeFest - 4 Days of Fun! September 11, 12, 13 & 14 Three Red Neck Tenors - September 3 & 4 Butterfly Flutterby - October 18 Christmas Capital of Texas - Commencing Thanksgiving weekend Magic of Christmas & Family Christmas Movies at the Palace - Commencing Thanksgiving Weekend North Pole Express - Commencing Thanksgiving weekend For additional information on these events, visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com Hours and Admission Festival Hours Thursday, September 11 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Friday, September 12 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Saturday, September 13 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Sunday, September 14 - 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Admission FREE ADMISSION: ALL DAY THURSDAY AND FROM 10AM -- 5PM FRIDAY Daily Admission - Adults: $8 Daily Admission - Seniors (62+): $5 Daily Admission - Children (6-12): $5 Daily Admission - Children under 6: FREE Weekend Pass Pin: $18 Weekend Souvenir Pass Pin: $23 VINTNERS' AUCTION CLASSIC September 6, 2008 6:30 p.m. Grapevine Concourse You could be the highest bidder at this silent and live auction of rare and collectible wines, domestic and international travel packages, antiques, and some incredible works of art. You'll definitely want to hold the "hammer price" at the Vintners' Auction. This year's Vintners' Auction will feature a special performance by Country Music artist Janie Fricke. Fricke has been named country music's Top Female Vocalist at home and abroad, and is one of the industry's most recognized performers. Fricke has recorded more than 23 albums with close to 40 hit singles and quickly became the most sought-after studio singer in Music City, working on albums with Elvis Presley, Al Green, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap and Eddie Rabbit. Tickets are $25 per person. TEXAS WINE TRIBUTE September 13, 2008 6:30 p.m. Hilton DFW Lakes This gourmet gala is the ultimate salute to award-winning Texas wines and wineries. A black-tie gala includes dazzling presentations of gourmet food paired with award-winning Texas wines. Mike Snyder will be the evening's emcee. Join us for the Texas Wine Tribute Dinner at the Hilton DFW Lakes from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person. Advance ticket purchase is required. PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINE TASTING CLASSIC Presented by Chesapeake Energy Tickets are $18.00 per person Over 30 wineries submit nearly 130 choice wines for your vote at the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the United States. Winning wineries receive the prestigious People's Choice Award. You will receive a Wine Reference Guide, which includes descriptions of each winery, tasting notes on each wine that is served, an official voting ballot, and a souvenir wine glass to commemorate your participation as a judge. Reservations are recommended. Tickets go fast for this exciting event! People's Choice Schedule: Friday: 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. People's Choice Awards Presentation at 4:30 p.m. CULINARY PAVILION Presented by Haier, the GrapeFest Culinary Pavilion features fine wine, celebrated chefs, and interactive fun throughout the festival. Cooking demonstrations, wine and food pairing demonstrations, wine education, and book signings are offered throughout the weekend. Appearing daily in the GrapeFest Culinary Pavilion will be Chef Keith Denard Jones. Formerly known as "The Champagne Chef", Chef Keith, feeds all the senses while sharing over 20 years of culinary artistry and chef's secrets through his "Eatertainment" presentations. Chef Keith is a Certified Executive Chef and recently served 10 years as the Executive Chef for Roth Distributing Company. He has won several medals from the American Culinary Federation culinary salons in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Colorado, including the grand prize in the Clos Du Bois Wine and Food Pairing competition. Other national and local celebrity chefs will be on hand to provide demonstrations and tips to festival attendees who visit the GrapeFest Culinary Pavilion. Unlimited Ride Pass Calling All Kids -- Non-Stop Rides! Thursday, September 11 5:00 p.m. - Close $25.00 per person online pre-sale $30.00 at the festival You'll have a screaming good time at the GrapeFest Carnival! We'll have you swinging, dropping, spinning and twirling on all your favorite carnival rides, including the 60-foot high rise Ferris Wheel, the popular gravity defying Starship 2000, the famous tea cup ride and much more! Here's an opportunity you won't want to miss -- Purchase a GrapeFest carnival wristband and enjoy non-stop thrill rides on Thursday, September 11 from 5 p.m. to close. You may purchase wristbands in advance for $25 online at GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GrapeFest or $30 at Talley Amusements' booth located at the carnival area of the festival. The carnival is open during festival hours. In addition to sampling award winning Texas wines and enjoying fantastic food, the 22nd Annual GrapeFest also offers an eclectic lineup of artists on six stages throughout festival grounds in Historic Downtown Grapevine. Ranging from Rock to Jazz to Funk to Country, 2008 headliners include: Johnny Cooper, Le Freak, Petty Theft, Joe Ely, Mark McKinney and Joseph Vincelli. GrapeFest and its musical entertainment will have festival-goers young and old dancing in the streets. For the rock-lover, Petty Theft is just for you. Petty Theft is a Tom Petty tribute band that calls North Texas home. You have to see this band as they are as true to sound and vibe to the Heartbreakers as it can possibly get! Fans will hear classics like "I Won't Back Down," "The Waiting," and "Mary Jane's Last Dance." For the Texas country-crooner, Johnny Cooper is your man. What do people like about Johnny and his music? Fans will say, "He's the real deal!" Born in 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona, this young guitarist and singer/songwriter possesses amazing talent! He took to the stage at age 15...the past four years and well over 500 live shows are now his declaration of independence. Johnny has come of age! Regardless of what genre of music you prefer, GrapeFest 2008 has something for everyone.			The GrapeFest Golf Classic Friday, September 12 8:00 a.m. Grapevine Golf Course 3800 Fairway Drive. 2-Man Shamble $85 per player Call 817-410-3532 GRAPEFEST HOTEL PACKAGES September 11, 12, 13, & 14, 2008 Baymont Inn & Suites Dates Available: September 11 - 13, 2008 Package Price: Starting at $99/night plus applicable taxes. To book package, call 817-329-9300 Ext. 101 and ask for Sydney. Room Type: Two full-size beds or one king size bed Package Details: - Free hot breakfast - 40 free TV channels - Sparkling clean pool - When booked through Baymont Inn, choose from three different DISCOUNTED GrapeFest Packages. Contact Sydney at Baymont Inn for pricing to add a GrapeFest package to your room. GRAPEFEST - Day Package - One GrapeFest day pass - One pair of GrapeFest wine glasses - One GrapeFest program GRAPEFEST - 22nd Annual Package - One GrapeFest all weekend souvenir pin pass - One pair of GrapeFest wine glasses - One GrapeFest poster - One GrapeFest Program GRAPEFEST - 22nd Annual Couples Package - Two GrapeFest all weekend souvenir pin passes - One pair of GrapeFest wine glasses - One GrapeFest poster - One GrapeFest Program Additional package add on options: - Vintner's Auction tickets, caps/visors, wine or champagne glasses available for additional fees. Wine Offerings at the 22nd Annual GrapeFest Winery Tasting Rooms Complimentary shuttles will transport festival guests to Grapevine's wineries and tasting rooms on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttles depart just outside the North gate as follows: Saturday, September 13 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 14 Noon to 5 p.m. Wine Pavilions The 22nd Annual GrapeFest will offer three wine pavilions. Each wine pavilion will offer Grapevine or Texas wines. One of the Texas Wine Pavilions is located on Main St., directly in front of the Cotton Belt Depot District. The second Texas Wine Pavilion is located on the 300 block of Main St., in front of City Hall. The Grapevine Wine Pavilion is located on the 500 block of Main St., in front of HUMMER Stage. Ride the Train to GrapeFest Step back in time and let the Grapevine Vintage Railroad do the driving for you! Grapevine provides you with hassle-free festival travel. Board one of the historic Victorian-style coaches at Stockyards Station, in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, and enjoy the ride to Grapevine. Your journey will lead you to the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Come for the weekend, come for one night, or just come for the day! GRAPEFEST FESTIVAL FLYER PACKAGE PRICES ARE AS FOLLOWS: • $30 Adults; $15 Children (3-12) PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Round-trip train ticket • Festival admission • Two free carnival ride tickets per person • 20% off coupon GrapeFest merchandise Special overnight GrapeFest hotel packages available at GrapevineTexasUSA.com. CUSTOMIZE YOUR JOURNEY WITH THESE SCHEDULE SELECTIONS: DEPARTURE FROM STOCKYARDS Friday, Sept. 12 - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 - 10:00 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 - 10:00 a.m. RETURN TRIPS FROM GRAPEVINE Saturday, Sept. 13 - 8:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 - 6:00 p.m. MINI EXCURSIONS Another option on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad is the exciting Mini-Excursion. These 30-minute rides depart just outside of the festival grounds at the Cotton Belt Train Depot. Train tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for children (ticket prices do not include festival admission). GVRR An exhilarating experience awaits festival guests headed to Grapevine this month for the 22nd Annual GrapeFest -- Lone Star Grown, Internationally Known. This celebration of the great outdoors will be held in Historic Downtown Grapevine on September 11, 12, 13 & 14. Volunteers needed! If you are new to town, volunteering is one of the best ways to make friends and to gain a sense of community. Opportunities for businesses to work together as teams are available. Volunteers are rewarded with a celebration dinner after it is all over to celebrate the weekend's success. Volunteers are placed on a first come - first served basis. We will attempt to honor your schedule request, but the final decision will be made by the Festival Volunteer Committee. Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age. You must be 21 or older to work in the adult beverage area.

With extraordinary hotels, a variety of stores for great shopping, an abundance of restaurants, attractions for everyone in the family and a one-of-a-kind urban wine trail, a weekend in Grapevine is a wonderful experience. Grapevine is the premier leisure destination in North Texas.

	Mark your calendar for these great 2008 events GrapeFest Make your way to historic Grapevine and uncork the fun for the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Wine lovers and connoisseurs from across the nation will sample award-winning Texas wines at the 22nd Annual GrapeFest on Sept.11, 12, 13 and 14. GrapeFest is the place to enjoy premium wines, great music, delectable foods and plenty of fun it’s the perfect spot to eat, shop and be entertained! Nash Farm Fall Round Up - October 11 Butterfly Flutterby - October 18 Christmas Capital of Texas - Commencing Thanksgiving weekend North Pole Express - Commencing Thanksgiving weekend SummerFest at the Gaylord Texan Resort Through September 1, 2008 Gaylord Texan Resort Underneath Gaylord Texan's glass-top atriums, kept at a comfortable 72 degrees year-round, guests will discover lush gardens, winding waterways, restaurants, shops, and more! Weekends throughout the summer will include a variety of entertainment, culinary events, and resort activities for adults and families. Grapevine Market Thursdays and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Liberty Park Visit Grapevine Market in Historic Downtown Grapevine and discover unique merchants in an open air European-style shopping experience. Summer Nights August 1 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Gazebo Friday, August 1 - Grapevine's 2nd Annual Talent Search - Find Grapevine's next big star through an entertaining Karaoke contest, complete with judges, prizes and more! Elvis Movies at the Palace August 8 7:30 p.m. Elvis stars in King Creole as Danny Fisher, a young delinquent high school dropout. He quits his job as a busboy in a nightclub, and one night he gets the chance to perform. Success is imminent and the local crime boss Maxie Fields wants to hire him to perform at his nightclub The Blue Shade. Danny refuses, but Fields won't take no for an answer... August 29 7:30 p.m. Catch Elvis and Ann-Margaret as they star in the 1964 hit Viva Las Vegas. Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix - once he has the money to buy an engine. He gets the cash easily enough but mislays it when the pretty swimming pool manager takes his mind off things. It seems he will lose both race and girl, problems made more difficult by rivalry from Elmo Mancini, fellow racer and womanizer. Perhaps some singing will help. Movies at the Palace are $7.50 per person or $5 with a same day receipt from any Grapevine restaurant. Popcorn is always a dollar! Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan Resort Spin Doctors Friday, August 29 8:30 p.m. Grapevine Opry at the Palace Arts Center Viva Las Vegas: Elvis Tribute Saturday, August 16 7:30 p.m. Travel Back In Time 705 S. Main St. 817-410-3123 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m The Grapevine Vintage Railroad travels along the historic Cotton Belt Route between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards. The Railroad is serviced by two vintage locomotives which include "Puffy" the 1896 steam locomotive and oldest, continously operating steam engine in the South, and a 1953 GP-7 diesel locomotive. Regular train excursions depart from the Historic Cotton Belt Depot in Grapevine for the Fort Worth Stockyards. Trains run Thursday through Sunday at 1 p.m. and return to Grapevine at approximately 6 p.m. Round-trip fares are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (55+) and $10 for children (3-12). For a shorter excursion, try the Trinity River Run. A one-hour trip out of the Fort Worth Stockyards along the scenic Trinity River, this train departs the Stockyards at 3:30 p.m. Thursday - Sunday and returns at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and children.

Even amidst all the national real estate challenges, here are some exciting news quoted recently about Texas, North Texas areas. Recent observations and predictions by leading economists and business experts indicate the Texas real estate market is growing stronger.

"Texas housing prices are holding up."

"27% of all US jobs created in 2007 were in Texas."

"Energy activity is strong and exports are increasing."

Mine Yucel
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas


"Texas ranked No 1 in the US in job growth for 2007."

Susan Combs
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts


"5-year forecast for the Dallas market - 25% to 40% gain."

"Improving economy in the second half of 2008."

Lawrence Yun, PhD

Chief Economist
National Association of REALTORS


"Decline in housing starts is near the bottom."

"Favorable corporate profits picture."

"Oil prices are leveling out."

"Predicts economic recovery by early 2009."

Mark Dotzour
Chief Economist
Real Estate Center Texas A&M

For a local market analysis of homes in your neighborhood, click here to request our FREE Market Snapshot.

Posted by:
Brenda Magnes, Brenda Blaser & Pam Yoakum Realty Group
Ebby Halliday REALTORS, Southlake
www.MBYRealtyGroup.com

Southlake, Texas, the fifth largest city in Tarrant County at just over 22 square miles, is a prosperous suburb of about 26,000 residents. Conveniently located between Dallas and Fort Worth, it is located just minutes from the DFW International Airport. Southlake has a beautiful year round climate, with summers generally in the high 90's and winters averaging in the 40's.

Southlake Activities
Southlake boasts many outdoor activities, and is a golf-lovers dream. Southlake is home to the Timarron Country Club, a course well-renowned in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The city boasts several parks, miles of walking trails, community centers, tennis centers, and numerous ball fields.

Southlake Shopping
The Southlake Town Square is a highly popular outdoor shopping center shopping and activities center in Southlake, renowned across the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. Town Square hosts several entertainment activities year-round, and also features several national retailers, and highlights several local retailers as well. Its state of the art Harkin's Theater has the largest movie screen in Texas, and features 14 stadium seat theaters. Southlake also is host to food and dining like no other in the DFW Metroplex, with endless amounts of choices of superior dining like The Cheesecake Factory, Rockfish Seafood Grill, and Truluck's Seafood and Crabhouse just to name a few.

Southlake, TX Education
Southlake is state recognized for their education. For 7 years in a row, Southlake's Carroll Independent School District has received exemplary status recognition from the State of Texas, the largest school district in the state to do so. Carroll ISD has a zero percent drop out rate coupled with almost a 100 percent attendance rate. Several schools in the district, including Carroll High School, have been named National Blue-Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Southlake has nationally recognized Accounting, Robotics, and Forensics High School teams. Furthermore, Southlake is minutes from Tarrant County Community College, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and several more institutions of higher learning.

Southlake, Sports
Southlake's great academics is coupled with a great high school football team, the Southlake Carroll Dragons. The Carroll Dragons were ranked #1 in the nation in 2004-2005, and has won state championships in Division 5A-I in 2002, 2004, and 2005, the highest division in Texas High School Football. The Dragons achieved perfect 16-0 seasons in each of their championship years, an amazing accomplishment for Texas High School Football.

Businesses and Corporations in Southlake, TX
Southlake is home to Fortune 500 company Sabre, the parent company of Travelocity. Southlake is also host to a large branch of Verizon Wireless. Southlake's economy is well diversified in technology and energy and is just minutes from the downtown Fort Worth business centers.

To find an address, business or other location in Southlake, Texas CLICK HERE

For printable driving directions to Southlake, Texas from anywhere in the US CLICK HERE

Posted by:
Brenda Magnes, Brenda Blaser & Pam Yoakum Realty Group
Ebby Halliday REALTORS, Southlake
www.MBYRealtyGroup.com