Well, wining and dining for a cause is a great way to kill the bird and what better a location that glorious Las Olas Blvd!

teal BISTRO AMERICAN  at 1103 East Las Olas on Thursday, October 22nd starting at 6.30pm will be the first to host a Wine Dinner Fund Raiser for the Las Olas Street Beautification. Purvin Pujara is excited to host the first dinner and give back to Las Olas Blvd and the community. He is thrilled that Winemaker Anthony Bell will be on site to preside over  five course dinner and pair it off with exquisite wines.

The mouthwatering menu prepared by teal BISTRO AMERICANA Executive Chef Christian Clausen includes: Pass Around’s of mini baked citrus crab cake, prosciutto with gorgonzola, arugula, currants and pine nuts and asparagus and wild mushroom tarts complimented with Bell 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County. First course is smoked Rainbow Trout with fingerling potatoes, watercress and tarragon vinaigrette along wit Bell 2007 Chardonnay, Napa Valley. Second Course; crispy Sweetbreads with hand-cut pappardella, Oyster Mushrooms, caramelized onions, in a Brandy Creole Mustard Sauce, paired with Bell 2005 Merlot, Napa Valley. Are you salivating yet? Followed by a main course (yes more); Cabernet braised boneless short rib with parsnip, carrot puree, pea shoots and Cabernet reduction and Bell 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Nappa Valley and for the Finale a Concord grape and goat cheese cheesecake with Bell 2006 Syrah, Sierra Foothills. Voila! Doesn’t that sound simply delectable?

The proceeds of these dinners will be earmarked to complete the funding for a new median East of Himmarshee Canal. Much of the money has already been raised through a grant from the city and support of several businesses on both sides of the canal and with the hard work of the Las Olas Association.

So do good for the neighborhood and your tummy. For reservations call Tom Hillan @ 954-712-8933. Cost $125 pp excluding tax and gratuities.

I didn’t until about 5 minutes ago…But now that I do, I want to share…

I just got off the phone with Fannie Mae to inquire if  there was any new Fannie Mae regulations that set preferences over Home Buyer Occupants as opposed to Investors when purchasing Fannie Mae Bank Owned properties…

And there is, and this is the deal:

First Look Initiative says that all Fannie Mae Bank Owned Properties new to the MLS (multiple listing service) can only accept Owner Occupant Offers for the first 15 days. After the property has been listed for 15 days then Fannie Mae will consider investor offers.

That’s great news for homebuyers getting a head start in the race for great properties and deals!!!

And great news for the neighborhood!

Investors will still have a chance to great deals, they will just have to exercise a little patience and give the regular peeps a chance

Most first time buyers by now are aware of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, unfortunately the clock is rapidly ticking and time is running out…
And the program is set to expire November 30th 2009…

However, most first time buyers are not aware that there are other programs available to assist financially with the first time purchase of a home. That’s right-MONEY IS AVAILABLE to help you buy your first home!

Who? Florida Housing Finance Corporationis a public corporation of the State of Florida and is the state’s housing finance agency. Florida Housing is a financial institution that administers federal and state resources to finance the development of affordable homeowner housing and to assist homebuyers.

FTHBoffers 30-year fixed interest rate mortgage loans to first time homebuyers through its network of participating lenders and lending institutions. There is also Down Payment Assistance (DPA) available. Florida Assist (offers up to $7,500) based on your 2 person household*(to be eligible for down payment assistance through Florida Assist, your combined household income may not exceed $61,200.00.

What? First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) Program to qualify you must have:

1.Acceptable credit: the average credit score for all 2008 loans was 674, depending on other factors somewhere in that range…However to qualify for a mortgage you must have a minimum 600 FICO score.

2.Be a First Time Homebuyer: Their definition=Do not own the home they live in or claim their mobile home as real property, have not owned and occupied a primary residence within the past (3) years, able to permanently reside in the US and will occupy the property within 60 days.

3.Take a Homebuyer education Course: 6-8 hour face to face homebuyer education class.

4.Meet the bonds program’s income and sales price limits.The guidelines for income are very generous, and based on Household Income for how many people will live in the home and what is the total income for everyone in the home over 18 years old. For 1-2 Adults (no children) they are allowed to make up to $91,800, However if there was a child or a third person the income would increase to $107,100. IRS will count all persons that will live in the home, even if they are not on the loan ie: Grandparents, fiances etc. Currently the sales price limit for Broward County is $613,321.00!!!!

So what are you waiting for? Contact a Realtor in your neighborhood who has completed the required course. Or better yet, for Broward contact one of EWM’s qualified realtors: Andrea Harrington, Christine Matotek, Verna Miller, Thomas Echea or Lisa Echea and go online and use the First Time Homebuyer Wizard to see what YOU qualify for. Good Luck!

Movies Under the Stars on Las Olas Boulevard

It’s funny…here in South Florida we gauge the success of a summer by the amount or non amount of hurricanes and storms that blow our way…So you could say we had a great summer! The weather will soon drop down a few notches and us spoiled  Floridian’s will embrace Fall’s cooler nights and venture past the safety of chilled A/C and venture more outside for entertainment…

How perfect then is it that “Movies Under the Stars”returns to Las Olas Boulevard in October with a new (back to school family friendly night) of Friday!

That’s right, grab your blankets and chairs for this FREE event hosted on the Riverside Lawn (between 6th and 8th Street) on Las Olas Boulevard…

What a perfect way to wind down the week, kick off your shoes, feel the grass between your toes, munch on some popcorn and just sit back and relax!

(Grown ups can pop inside the Riverside hotel for some adult libations )

This Free event is made possible by the generosity of  the Las Olas Association, The Riverside Hotel, Magnum Opus Audio, Kilwin’s and many other kind local sponsors. So save the date, tell your friends and come chill-ax on the lawn with “Movies Under the Stars”

October 2nd @ 8pm “Charlotte’s Web”

October 16th @ 8pm “Happy Feet”

October 23rd @ 8pm “Tale of Despereaux”

October 30th @ 8pm “Casper the Friendly Ghost”

*click here for updates

I love chocolate, I always have. It makes me so happy. It cures the blues, It gets me high, it makes everything better….

And what a co-incidence to find that my EWM Las Olas office is only a few blocks away from Kilwin’s on Las Olas.

Kilwin’s for those of you who have no idea what I am rambling on about, is Chocolate Heaven. It has Chocolate everything…It has chocolate covered oreo’s…chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered potato chips…

Kilwin’s has fudge (Note description from brochure)”…Cooked in our copper kettle, poured onto marble tables and hand padded for creaminess…”

They also have 32 flavors of ice cream, candy, nuts, baskets and webkinz…

No visit to Las Olas is complete without indulging  just a little at Kilwin’s, so pop in and enjoy…Worse case they ship….

-

Ms. Esterline & Ms. Thiel Halloween 08

My son just had the fortune of graduating Kindergarten from this remarkable school.

My experience with the school, the administration and dedicated teachers and staff compelled me to share my accolades.

A little over a year ago my Job relocated me to Fort Lauderdale mid term. My son was currently at Pre-K in Miami Beach and frantically I had to find a Kindergarten for the upcoming year.

Happyland Day School in Ft. Lauderdale, (just off Las Olas Blvd), a Christian based Preschool through K was recommended to me by my Assistant and by an agent in my Real Estate Office. My Assistant knew of it through the Church and through the praise of one of our agents who’s daughter attended.

I checked it out and did my research and enrolled my son in summer camp and then Kindergarten. The word on the street was only praise for this intimate learning facility. It was amazing how well respected and regarded HappyLand was amongst parents in Fort Lauderdale. The funniest thing that I heard from a Mom was who’s 2 boys had attended several years back was that, that the Mother’s loved it so much, they kept having babies, as they didn’t want to give up being part of the Happyland Family!…And judging by the amount of pregnant Mothers I have seen in the corridors, maybe that was  true!

I remember my first appointment and meeting the Principal-Ms. Pam Alexander and her Assistance, Miss Carol, they were warm, bubbly and inviting. They reminded me of ladies from a British sit com, with warmth and humor….I felt at home….Ms. Pam has been with Happyland for 19 years, that says something in itself.

Miss Corey Thiel was my son’s Kindergarten Teacher and Ms. Esterlineher assistant. For a year, they taught, nurtured and  prepared  my son for 1st Grade. No words can express my gratitude for their dedication and passion for education and their affection for the children. My son, loved school, he loved Happyland and his thirst for knowledge continues.

Happyland is an excellent choice and an excellent start for your child. It is well rounded, balanced, fun, disciplined and Happy. It has an active parents club, small classes and many fun field trips, holiday festivities and chapel.

It is a feeder school for Pine Crest, St. Marks, St. Anthony’s, Bayview Elementary and VSY.

I believe that if a child is given a good base and a good foundation, anything is possible. That those first years are the most important baseline for the future. That it is a teachers job to spark that desire, to light that fire and at Happyland that was achieved.

Happyland Day School-954.463.6051

401 Southeast Fifteenth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to share a story about a dear friend of mine and what a admirable woman she is…

This past Saturday, in celebration of St. Patrick’s day, court was held at Mickey Byrne’s Irish Pub in Hollywood, the celebration other than St. Patrick’s in an Irish Pub with a bunch of beer swiggers was in honor of a little 3 year old girl-Gabriella, who had cancer and other children who had cancer…

It was a festive fundraiser, it was a community event, a family affair to raise money. The charity was St. Baldrick’s and the event was head shaving…

Paul Mitchell and the Paul Mitchell salon graciously set up shop (Barber that is) and began chopping away…Bar staff, locals, Hollywood Police and Government officials lined up to take the chair…

There was a clown for kids with balloon making, good beer and great pub food…There was cheering , laughing and drinking…

The finale was when the beautiful Lisa Liotta, Hollywood’s own Downtown Deputy of the Hollywood CRA in her lime brocade suit, with her perfect coiffed hair took the stage, she was going to shave it all off….Wow, I had thought when I had received the email a few weeks before notifying me of the event. What a woman!

Gorgeously and graciously she sat as they shaved and her tresses fell to the ground and the bar roared, her 5 year old son sat next to her in admiration, knowing what a wonderful thing his Mother was doing for sick children. I was full of sheer admiration for my dear friend a dynamite lady who that day blew me away even more…

I spoke to her today and asked her how it was with out her locks? She laughed and said she has way more time in the mornings now and is considering keeping it short….

St. Mark’s Episcopal School is a private Christian School located in Ft. Lauderdale. It caters PK3 through 8th Grade. St. Mark’s is situated on beautiful grounds on 1750 E. Oakland Park Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334.

The word on the street (from the Mother’s in Parking lots) is this is an exceptional school. I have not come into contact with a single parent or teacher that doesn’t have a good word to say about St. Mark’s.

But with that said, it is always nice to see for yourself, so I attended one of their open houses. (I am looking for options for my young son).

The grounds of the school were well maintained and the children that I passed were full of smiles.

Upon the tour I spoke in detail with the teachers from the Kindergarten & 1st Grade and they too all seemed happy in their jobs. To me that is a key sign, happy kids and happy teachers.

The school seems to be very well rounded and follows the Christian beliefs without being stuffy or too overly religious.

St. Mark’s curriculum overview says that they follow a modified Montessori instructional program. That I was not aware of, but firmly believe in the Montessori method so that was a plus to hear that.

The student (a young man) who was our tour guide told me that the coach was the best and really enjoyed all the sports programs that the school offered. They had a large outside field and court and an impressive gymnasium which converted to adapt to all the sports.

The music room was glorious and so was the music teacher. Everyone takes Spanish, which is another star.

The school cafeteria menu included healthy options and a salad bar and I was told ice cream is allowed as a treat once a week.

The most impressive aspect of the school, was the technology. All classrooms are now equipped with Smart Boards. A Smart Board, looks like the old fashioned white board, but is fact computerized. The teacher demonstrated how she could write on the board with her “colored interactive markers”, then go straight to the Internet. She clicked on a storybook site and opened a talking animated read along story before our eyes. She then moved to Math, and picked a volunteer, who played a game on the board, by clicking on the answers (moving fish) for addition problems. It blew me away. What a great tool for the teachers and more importantly for the children.

Mac Lab

They had a Mac Lab, with 25 pristine large macs. They also have PC’s throughout the school and the students are educated on both. In the library they have “take out” Mac Books.

With the increasing advancements in technology it is important for education that the schools have the tools to keep up with the movement.

Find those Manolo’s, Louboutin’s, Casadei’s, whatever, but grab those heels and get ready to strut your stuff down Las Olas this Saturday October 11th, come rain or shine.

That’s right, Diva’s this is strutting for a cause in the Annual High Heel Hike 2008 supporting the “Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye”.

Register online. $25 per hiker (includes T-Shirt). Registration starts at 11am and the High Heel Hike begins at 12.00 Noon. It’s only 1K, nothing a real Diva, couldn’t handle in a pair of heels.

Bring, Mom, Grandma, daughter, sister-it’s for all ages, it’s a Sisterhood kinda thing and they have crowns for 3 categories: High Heel Hike-Queen (1st place fundraising), High Heel Hike-Teen Queen (first place fundraising ages 13-19) and High Heel Hike-Princess (first place fundraising ages 12-and under)…

What “Princess” wouldn’t want to parade down Las Olas in her sparkly garb with the grown ups?

At least, go out and support your Sista’s and cheer them along, it will be a event you will not want to miss and a parade that would make Carrie Bradshaw green with Shoe Envy!

This is the perfect courtyard Sunday Soiree for all to enjoy. That’s right, kids and dogs welcome as well…

Nestled in the charming 55th Street Station, this welcoming courtyard invites you to relax, kickback, and chill with good friends, old and new…

Music for your ears and soul provided by DJ Jody McDonald and Dj Richard Vasquez, old school style reminiscent of those good old days.

Get there early, 6pm and bring the kids and make it a pizza night, Andiamo Brick Oven Pizza (their sister restaurant) is right across the road and you can get take out and eat it here. The kids will be entertained playing in the courtyard, terrorizing the coy in the pond, swinging in the love seats, bouncing on the cushions or enjoying one of the many board games on hand. If they are really lucky, they might get bubbles as well!

Meanwhile, the parents, or rest of the grown ups can chat and chill with a fabulous cocktail or two. May I recommend the Mexican Sidecar. Light fare is available from their menu, but as I mentioned, if your tummy calls, you have Adiamo’s pizza, Sushi Siam and Soyka’s to feed you.

As the sun sets, and the courtyard is lit, the tempo is taken up a notch. MC Shelley Novak will gracefully and humorously entertain you into the night.

Dancing is allowed and encouraged, should the mood take you, but laughter is required!

It is the perfect place to pop in, stay for a while, or stay all night (till 11pm).

5580 NE 4th Court @ 55th Street Station, Miami, Just off Biscayne, opposite Morningside-305-758-9932