A friendlier way to float and fly.

This week is all about South Lake Union.

S.L.U. and seaplanes are synonymous, and no feature on this growing neighborhood would be complete without mention of Seattle’s iconic Kenmore Air. 

With dozens of flights to a from the San Juan Islands, whale watching tours, and other fabulous day or weekend trip packages, Kenmore Air reigns supreme in the world of Seattle seaplanes.  

My fellow Seattle-ites will agree, it is hard to imagine present day Lake Union without the coming’s and going’s of various sea planes. As a native to the area, it would be hard to imagine not having experienced such a unique way to explore our beautiful San Juan region.  If you have not yet flown with Kenmore Air, I encourage you to see what all the fuss is about.  It is well worth your time!

Happy Flying!

South Lake Union planes, trains, and automobiles. Don't forget the boats!

Touted as a "the future hub for life sciences in Seattle," South Lake Union has a lot more to offer than just a fantastic view, and a meeting place for brilliant minds. 

Historically, the South Lake Union neighborhood offered housing for both the workers and the owners of area mills, and was primarily an industrial area.   

In recent years, Seattle residents have jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this budding neighborhood community.  It is clear that the result of the economic redevelopment initiated by Seattle City Council in 2003 has worked wonders on South Lake Union.  Not only have we seen a marked increase in housing and development, but we have also enjoyed what has now grown into a popular destination for residents and visitors of nearby neighborhoods alike.

A number of fabulous developments have chosen to land in South Lake Union, leaving a stylish mark on this gentrified neighborhood.  In a matter of blocks, expect to find great restaurants, gourmet groceries, boutique shops, marine resources, outdoor adventure resources, music, arts, you name it - South Lake Union either has it, or it's coming soon.

Next time you are looking for a place to land for the afternoon, pull up a chair on one of the lakes many waterside dining decks, and take it all in.

Cheers and Happy Viewing!

See and be seen at Sotheby's

Officially open. Officially thrilled!

We celebrated our Sotheby's grand opening this weekend, and big thanks to Team Photogenic, I can share the festivities with you.  

Additionally, our new website is live, and ready for your viewing pleasure.

Stay tuned for more info. and pictures. 

Happy Monday!

We may be busy, but we can still have fun.

To follow-up a bit from yesterdays post, I came across this collection of blogs published by Seattle Met magazine. If your office is in the city, and you have an itch to hang around a bit before heading home, take a look at one of these insider reviews on Seattle's best eats, drinks, style, and much, much more.

Here is a quick look at one tab (of many) published on the site..

Link Trader: The Design Student

April Style Counselor Ben Fuglevand loves long vests, obscure architecture blogs, and democracy webcasts

Saveur Recognizes Three Local Food Blogs

Vote for them in the magazine's Best Food Blog Awards.

Behind the Scenes: Blogger's Blogs

Style Counselor Taylor Kieburtz shows us her links (and then I show you mine)

Model Behavior

Seattle Met Bride & Groom cover girl makes it big, on the blogs and across the world

Nosh Pit By Seattle Met staff

Sauced

By Jessica Voelker

Culture Fiend

By Laura Dannen

Wear What When

By Laura Cassidy

Have a great afternoon at the office!

Being busy certainly means not being bored...

It's only Wednesday, and this has already become a whirlwind week.  Our office has a great deal to be proud of this week ( as a reminder, it's only Wednesday!).  I would love the opportunity to share a few of our milestones with you.

* If your week is anything like mine, see underneath this weeks milestones for some great "coping" tips!

•               Our high-profile gatefold in Seattle Magazine is out and it looks great – we’ll have advance copies here tomorrow for the event

•               We’re advertising this week on the home page of www.seattlepi.com – check it out!

•               Watch for a full page ad this weekend in Seattle Times announcing our opening with featured ads from our projects

•              Office press release 

•               Our updated office website should be live within the next day or so! 

•               This weekend we’ll have a gorgeous monument sign on the sidewalk with 10 A-boards around town driving traffic, so if you're in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by!

As promised, here is a great article I came across from Self magazine. 
Below you will find a few I picked from the bunch.

 BREATH

"When you make a conscious effort to breathe deeper, it naturally brings your body back to a more relaxed state," explains Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., author of Stress Free for Good (HarperOne). Place your hand on your stomach and watch it rise as you inhale for a count of 3 or 4; hold your breath for the same count, and then exhale for as long as comfortable and watch your belly fall.

GET EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING

Each morning, think about one little, enjoyable thing you plan to do that day (the crossword puzzle) and one bigger pleasure on the horizon (your trip to the mountains), suggests Allen Elkin, Ph.D., director of the Stress Management and Counseling Center in New York City. This ritual trains your brain to focus away from what can go wrong that day.

CHANGE CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU

"Unpredictable events can cause the most stress," Luskin explains. "If you cultivate even a little bit of surprise in your life, it helps keep your cognitive responses flexible and helps you handle whatever life throws your way." Take a new cardio class or pick a cuisine you've never tried. (Hallå, Scandinavian!)

DISH OUT A COMPLIMENT

The flip side to TGIF is OMGIM: Oh, my God, it's Monday! In fact, more heart attacks occur on Mondays than on any other day. Schedule a weekly lunch with a friend or take a class you love on Mondays so you'll look forward to the start of the week, Dr. Wheeler advises.

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSEMARY

Breathing this scent for five minutes lowers cortisol, a study in Japan finds. Testers loved Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo ($10). Sniff out valerian to aid sleep and bergamot and rose to calm down, suggests Sue Jonas, aromatherapy consultant in Woodstock, Connecticut, for Crabtree & Evelyn.

PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

We've all had our moments: I missed the train, I'm late, now I'll be fired! Elkin suggests rating on a scale of 1 to 10 how devastating your worry is, with 10 being catastrophic illness. Chances are, you'll have some points to spare. Take a deep breath (see #1) and picture your stress shrinking and your happiness growing.

And finally....

NORDSTROM

     If I need to explain this one, CALL ME! 

Here's wishing you a happy and busy week!

A note to my clients...

I would like to take a brief moment and explain in further detail how my recent move to Sotheby’s International Realty makes for an exciting and valuable change.  Sotheby’s “worldwide” means just that – we are truly global. 28% of our website visitors login over sea’s, and each are unique.  Compared to the web traffic of other brokerages, Sotheby’s leads the pack. As illustrated by current statistics, Coldwell Banker last logged 119,000 unique visitors on their website.  Sotheby’s logged 1.2 million unique visitors.  This is impressive, and telling. 

Additionally, we enjoy the luxury of healthier marketing opportunities through our global partnerships with  powerhouse companies and publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Robb Report, Yahoo, even Google – to name a few.  Our brokerage employs the region's only vertically integrated real estate solution, which for you the client, means complete service packages comprised of research, product development, and proven marketing / sales tactics. 

So, what does all this really mean for you?

I now enjoy the luxury and ability to represent my clients locally in a global marketplace. Through Sotheby’s, my “tool chest” has grown exponentially.  We will make use of unlimited access to proven marketing campaigns, expert web counsel, and “inside track” information on trends and real estate opportunities in the region. Furthermore, you will enjoy a higher level of service from me as I am now surrounded by a higher level of expertise. The like-minded and goal oriented group of individuals with whom I now collaborate and consult with will provide invaluable counsel on future transactions.  My team is comprised of a truly “top-shelf,” interesting, and dynamic group of professionals with more than 100 years of combined real estate experience.  Expanding on the services I offered before, we are taking “Concierge Service” to the next level. I am excited to share that I will be producing more client events designed to build community, educate, and create networking opportunities for you.  

This is an exciting time, and as I grow into this new and inspiring professional environment, I look forward to sharing it all with you.

Opportunity knocked, and I am sure glad I listened!

Cheers,

Connie

Here's one for the ladies..

Grab your gal's and take to the Woodmark in Kirkland.  This looks like a fun and fabulous way to catch up with great friends and enjoy a summer evening on the water.

Happy Hour-ing!

Out To Lunch Concert Series

Seattle is an exciting city, especially during summer. The Out to Lunch Concert Series is a fabulous way to make the best of that break in your day. The series will run through summer in a number of different locations throughout the city. As concert dates in your corner of the city kick off, be sure to check out this wonderfully interactive site.  Along with each concert listing, organizers have included fresh and convienient restaurant options within 3 blocks of each concert - "You bring lunch, we'll bring the music..."
Below is the venue map as posted on the series website, for those who would like the complete and detailed calendar, here is a printable schedule.  

Happy Lunching!

NW Seattle Estate Garden Tour June 27th 1:30-5:00

A phenomenal event for those of you who love gardening!  Don't miss this event!

NW Seattle Estate Garden Tour. Sunday 1:30-5pm. This is THE year! Come stroll through three gorgeous estate gardens clustered at the north end of the Highlands. Hear Mike Good, Ellen Wanless and Andre Feriante each playing guitar in the gardens. Pass through an additional estate as you walk leisurely through and then pause in the Florence Henry Memorial Chapel to hear JoAn Andenes play the organ. Hop our shuttle to Dunn Gardens to finish with a lovely reception, a green gift and enjoy fantastic Jannie Spain and Friends Jazz Band. A total spectacular day in beautiful gardens. This tour is a rare opportunity and will delight, so bring your friends and enjoy. Entrance is $100 to benefit the Dunn Gardens. We continue to work on preserving the gardens in a positive, entertaining way.

Hope to see you there!

Opportunity knocked, and I listened.

I am thrilled to share the news of my move and affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty.  As I posted a couple weeks back, Realogics in Seattle has joined Sotheby’s International Realty to form what can only be described as Seattle’s most dynamic and well-appointed Real Estate brokerage. 

Our new showroom opens next week, and it will be making its own unique statement in Seattle and the greater Northwest. 

The Sotheby’s world-wide brand, paired with their global marketing tools, adds to my ability to provide my clients the highest quality of service and professionalism.

I cannot wait to show you what all the excitement is about!

Father's Day 2010

Father's Day is fast approaching and there is still plenty of time to plan your "day out with Dad." If by any chance you are short on ideas, here are a few fail-safe possibilities that will surely be a hit.

Bill Cosby - June 20, 2010

Legendary funny-man Bill Cosby returns this weekend to Benaroya Hall for two back to back performances. 

Ticket prices range between $25-$90 depending on location in the hall, a variety of seating locations are still available.  While there, think about dinning at the Benaroya with Wolfgang Puck Catering's full-service dining in the Norcliffe Founders Room, positioned just steps from the Auditorium. Seatings start at 5pm. Call 206.215.4747 for reservations.

The Museum of Flight - Dad's are free!

The Museum of Flight will be admitting Dad's free with coupon on Father's Day. The coupon can be claimed at any Bartell Drug locations, free of charge! The museum has made plans for activities with Dad throughout day. More detailed information on the events sponsored by the Museum, can be found in this link. 

Mariners vs. Cincinnati Reds

For all you sports fans out there, take to the field and cheer on the M's with Dad.  Tickets can be purchased online, or at Safeco.  

Interbay Golf Center

Take to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls, or two! Improve your swing and spend time with the "old man."  For more info. on driving directions and upcoming events, check out their website. Here is a brief look at some of the available Interbay options.

Range Pricing: 
Small Bucket (34 balls) - $5.00
Medium Bucket (68 Balls) - $8.00
Large Bucket (102 balls) - $10.00
Jumbo Bucket (155 balls) - $13.00

9 Hole Pricing:

	Mon-Fri	Sat & Sun
Adult	14.00	16.00
Senior	12.00	16.00
Junior	11.00	16.00
Power Cart Rental	12.00	12.00
Pull Cart Rental	4.00	4.00

                                                      

June 2010 Specials
Early Bird Special Package	Round of Golf, Pull Cart, and Breakfast Sandwich for $17.00/Adults $14.00/Seniors, Juniors, Military Weekdays (Must tee off before 9am)
Interbay Cafe Happy Hour Menu	Happy Hour 3-6pm $2 PBR 16oz Cans $2 Draft Radeberger Pilsner $5 Hot Wings – 1# Hot wings with dip and veggies $4 Artichoke Crab Dip – Served warm with baguette rounds $4 Veggie Potstickers – Served with Mae Ploy Sauce $4 Grilled Chicken Skewers – with dipping sauce $5 Interbay Nachos – Yes we make our own chips!
Mini Golf Happy Hour Package	Round of Mini Golf and 16oz. draft for $10.00  Everyday 3pm-6pm

For your daily history blurb, here is a great write-up from The Seattle Times on the history of Father's Day. 

Here's wishing you a great Father's Day!