Pamela Williamson Team Clayton, Missouri Real Estate

First Friday Downtown Gallery Walk

Date: 10/3/2008
Location: Downtown St. Louis
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more information call: (314) 406-5778 or (314) 241-8008
Website: www.downtowngallerywalk.com

Stroll around Downtown St. Louis and visit cutting-edge galleries with offerings of paintings, sculpture, stylized photography and mixed media.

St. Louis Art D Tour

Date: 10/3/2008
Location: St. Louis Galleries and Museums
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more information call: (314) 853-6257
Website: www.myspace.com/artdtour

A night of art appreciation. Shuttles with live music and “seat” prizes will take people to galleries and museums in five main art districts of St. Louis: Forest Park, University City, Grand Center, Downtown, and Clayton/Maplewood. Shuttles will start at 6:00 p.m. and continue through 10:30 p.m. Galleries and museums will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm except for the Saint Louis Art Museum which will close at 9:00 p.m. The shuttle can be caught at Lumière Place Casino or any participating galleries/museums. Come to the After Party at Savoy Restaurant at Lumière Place Casino following the tour.

16th Annual Historic Shaw Art Fair

Date: 10/3/2008 - 10/5/2008
Location: Shaw neighborhood, between Kingshighway Boulevard and Grand Avenue
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (3); 9:00 a.m. - 5;00 p.m. (4); 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (5)
Cost: $5.00; children 14 and under are free
Website: www.shawartfair.com

Quality artists from around the country who work in a large variety of media and styles will be displayed on the grassy parkway of the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Flora Place.

28th Annual Builders Home & Remodeling Show

Date: 10/3/2008 - 10/5/2008
Location: America’s Center
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (3-4); 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (5)
Cost: $7.00 adults; $4.00 children 6-12; children 5 and under free.
For more information call: (314) 994-7700
Website: www.stlhomeshow.com

A consumer show featuring the latest products and services for the home. The Home Depot will present Wall Makeovers by BEHR paint; Jeff Holper, The Mole Hunter will help you rid your yard of moles and other pesky creatures; Scott Mosby, KMOX’s Home Answer Man will help visitors get the most from their homes; experts from GeoComfort will show you how to think green with geothermal; Tom Price of Thompson Price Kitchen-Bath-Home will show you how to make the most of your dated 5’x8’ bath; and Dr. Lori, a certified art and antiques appraiser, art historian and museum curator will appraise objects and answer questions.

Soulard Oktoberfest

Date: 10/3/2008 - 10/5/2008
Location: Soulard Market Park, Lafayette & Broadway
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. (3-4); 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (5)
For more information call: (314) 368-3419
Website: www.soulardoktoberfest.com

An authentic German festival featuring German Folk Dancers, German foods and German beers along with a selection of popular local and domestic beers.

Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®

Date: 10/3/2008 - 10/31/2008
Location: Six Flags St. Louis
Time: Friday 6:00 p.m. - Midnight; Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
For more information call: (636) 938-5300 x289
Website: www.sixflags.com

Six Flags St. Louis is totally transformed into a Halloween playground. Have a ghoulish good time with hair-raising shows, electrifying street entertainment, monstrous mazes and the Haunted House of Terror. Plus, experience your favorite rides in the dark. There will also be a trick-or-treat trail and special area just for kids.

Carts & Cocktails at Laumeier Sculpture Park

Date: 10/4/2008
Location: Laumeier Sculpture Park
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $125.00 Laumeier FANs and members; $140.00 ArtLink Membrs; $150.00 non-members
For more information call: (314) 821-1209
Website: www.laumeier.org

A progressive dining and entertainment event where attendees will be transported in six-seat golf carts to sculptures throughout Laumeier Sculpture Park. Each “sculpture stop” will feature a signature cocktail, appetizer (or dessert) musical entertainment and a short presentation highlighting the sculptures within view.

St. Louis Route 66 Festival

Date: 10/4/2008
Location: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
For more information call: (314) 436-1324
Website: www.confluencegreenway.org

Ten hours of fun on both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the Bridge. Events include a Sock Hop, classic cars and motorcycles, music, speakers, and a walk-in movie. Road food reminiscent of Route 66 will be available for purchase — cozy dogs (hot dogs on a stick, bar-be-que and Ted Drewes frozen custard.

17th Annual Best of Missouri Market

Date: 10/4/2008 - 10/5/2008
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 adults; $7.00 seniors; $3.00 Garden members; Free children aged 12 and under
For more information call: (314) 577-5100
Website: www.mobot.org

All things Missouri can be found at country stands filled with fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, herbs, nuts, candies, meats, mushrooms and baked foods along with arts and crafts. On hand will also be live music, cooking demonstrations by master chefs, and a Kids Corner with cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals. More than 100 products and vendors will be featured.

Fairy Tale Tea with Cinderella

Date: 10/4/2008 - 10/5/2008
Location: The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
Time: 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 members; $18.00 non-members; Admission to the museum in included in the ticket price.
For more information call: (314) 822-8900 Reservations required
Website: www.magichouse.org

You and your little princess or prince charming are cordially invited to a very magical tea. Enjoy a cup of tea (or juice) and pastries and enjoy a short, live production of Cinderella inside the Whitaker Theater at The Magic House. Following the play, kids can see their favorite characters up close as Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother visit with guests and sign autographs. Guests must be at least 3 years old. Guests are encouraged to dress in their storybook best

Guest blogger on this post is

Mark Haselhorst

Owner, Arbor Mortgage

914 Almond Hill Ct.

Manchester, Mo 63021

Cell # 314-322-6596

Office # 636-225-7057

Fax 636-529-1162

Web: www.arbormortgagestl.com

E-Mail: mh@arbormortgagestl.com

One Mortgage company owner’s opinion

Indeed the housing market has slowed to a crawl lately. And on a daily basis you can turn on any new channel and hear the talking heads going on and on about how “the banks have made getting a home loan MUCH more difficult lately! About how the “credit is drying up”, about how the rates are rising, about how home values have really dropped.

Any wonder that the potential home “buyer” is choosing to stay out of the market!!!

Here are the facts (in my opinion). Home values have not DROPPED; they have adjusted down to where their true values should be at. Did we really think that our homes were really appreciating at 20% a year. Seriously? No, that was a bubble and now that the bubble has burst we are back to where our homes were valued at— at a normal appreciation rate prior to the bubble that occurred starting in late 1999.

Rates are going up??!! Really? NO. Rates are at their lowest mark in the recent times. We all got a little spoiled (including me) when the 30 year dropped to the mid 5% range back in 2002 to 2003. The fact of the matter is rates (as of this typing) are BELOW 6.5% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Try and convince the 1975, 1985 and 1995 home owner that this is a high rate. Their rate was well worth of 10%. So rates are VERY low right now compared to where they have been over the 25 to 35 years.

Now for the big one: “It’s HARDER THAN EVER TO GET A HOME LOAN” REALITY”?!?!?!?, NO, THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL… PLEASE READ ON…..

If you have decent credit, can verify your income, have at least a 3% down payment, and you’re not in debt up to your eyeballs — a home loan is waiting for you at any bank of your choice. The money is plentiful and very easy to get. Enough said.

Now, if your credit is sub par, if you are in debt, up to your eyeballs, if you, have no down payment, and you do not report income to the government— NO, YOU CAN GET A LOAN applicant is in the minority, most U.S. home loan applicants will be quite happy to hear that they would be approved for a home loan today— despite what a media is telling us.

The media should be reporting the “truth” — that banks have simply stopped lending to the very high risk borrow— not the average U.S. citizen who manages their money well.

Mark James Haselhorst

Owner— Arbor Mortgage

St Louis, Mo

We have received SEVERAL emails and thank yous from consumers for posting the consumer questions answered series, and the people and places in your neighborhood series. To that we say

You are welcome!

These posts are for you…..the consumer, and our clients. We want all of your questions answered and more importantly we want you to feel/be informed.

Do not hesitate to email or call and ask us questions. People feel comfortable doing this because they know we will never send them unwanted emails. We only put you on our email list if you request it.

We also have guest bloggers on here answering your questions. If we feel there is another who can answer the question better because they specialize in that area then that’s who we get the answer from. We don’t know all the answers and don’t pretend too, but what I can guarantee is that we will find the answer for you!!!

We want you to be armed with information so you can make the best decision for you. There is a lot of misinformation out there. We want to help you in any way we can.

Have any questions or need your home listed or want to buy the home of your dreams?

Give us a call at 314-757-8135 Office or email us at pamelaw53@yahoo.com

This is part of the Places in your neighborhood series.

Boutique Chartreuse

They bring the latest eco-fashion from the best small designer and eco-brands to St. Louis.

Their unique lines include:

Passenger Pigeon, Perfectly Imperfect, Del Forte Denim, Kusikuy, Sweetgrass Fibers, Indigenous Designs, Of the Earth, Earth Creations, Ecoist, Kim White, Maggie's Functional Organics, CariJo Tees, Marfar Designs, Sweetskins, Texture Clothing and many more.

Sizes 2 to 14; from $25 to $250.

Their focus is wearable, fashionable, and affordable organic, justly made apparel for today's woman.

Boutique Chartreuse
8135 S. Big Bend Blvd
Webster Groves, MO 63119

Store Hours: 11-6 Wednesday - Saturday

P: (314) 458-2410

http://www.boutiquechartreuse.com/

Don't you just love fresh produce? I do. I am a big fan of fruits and vegetables and I always have been. I love having relationships with local farmers and knowing exactly where my food is coming from. If you're like me check out the farmer's market in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Kirkwood Farmers' Market is conveniently located between Highway 40 and I-44 in St. Louis County at the intersection of E. Argonne Drive and Taylor Avenue at 150 East Argonne Drive. Located in the heart of Downtown Kirkwood, a thriving business district with 300+ local businesses, the market serves as a cornerstone for the community as a place to eat, shop and gather with friends

Kirkwood Farmers' Market
150 E. Argonne
Kirkwood, MO 63122

P: (314) 822-0084

http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/

I will do some investigating and do another blog about all the farmers markets in Missouri! Coming soon...........