Posts tagged fall

Fall Events 2009: Chicago

Sep15
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

pumpkin

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again, with kids back in school, Labor Day over and the prospect of cooler weather and changing leaves on the horizon, but here we are halfway through September.

And whether you’re a long-time Chicago resident, a suburban home owner or someone looking to make a move before December, you’ll want to check out this list of events, activities and ideas for making the most of the autumn in Chicago!

Festivals:
As the one of the largest city in the nation, Chicago offers all kinds of festivals, not just in summer but year-round! In addition to what you’ll find downtown, local suburbs and neighborhoods provide their own events, too, so it’s worth checking into your town’s schedule to see what’s available there! Here are a few city highlights:

  • Oktoberfest, September 25, 26 & 27: Bratwurst, beer and bands with live music create a slice of Bavaria at Lincoln and Southport in Lakeview.
  • Country Music Festival, October 3 & 4: Two days of live country music at Jackson and Columbus, Grant Park.
  • The Free Daley Plaza 12th annual Halloween celebration, formerly called “Pumpkin Plaza:” Afternoons in late October, come out to enjoy the haunted village, pumpkin decorating (weekends only), storytelling, live performances and more.

Athletics:
Being active has never been easier than during the autumn months when the weather is at its most comfortable. And in Chicago, you’ll find plenty of athletic options, whether to compete in races or watch your favorite sports teams!

  • Chicago Marathon, October 11: Attention, runners! This Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2009.
  • Chicago Bears: Catch a game this fall at Soldier Field!
  • Chicago Bulls: This year, the Bulls host their season opener October 29, against the San Antonio Spurs.

Seasonal Activities:
Savor the season by taking time to enjoy it with hayrides, pumpkin patches, fresh apple cider and more! Here are a few ideas for making the most of fall:

  • Pumpkin Patches: Pick your own pumpkins, snap some scenic shots and bring them home to carve!
  • Apple Orchards: Nothing says fall like picking fresh apples and sipping hot cider while you much on homemade doughnuts!
  • Green City Market, 1750 North Clark Street: This organic fresh market runs all the way through October 29th, so you can grab some produce to celebrate the season.
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Add a Fall Flare

Sep05
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Fall-Colors

An easy, attractive and obvious way to spruce up your home’s décor is to incorporate the season of the year into your color schemes and accessories! Are you hosting a dinner party, a football party or an upcoming holiday? Are you hosting open houses while trying to sell your home? Are you just tired of the same décor day in and day out? We gave you tips on how to incorporate spring into your decor, and how to stage your home for summer. Now it’s time to add a fall flare by surrounding yourself with the vibrant colors of autumn!

Outside: Fill your home’s entryway with warm, inviting aspects of fall, for you and guests alike! Pumpkins are bright, simple and ideal for sprucing up an entry! Place a medium-sized pumpkin on each step that leads to a raised porch, or flank the doorway with two large pumpkins. Line a porch railing with a braid of twigs. Rake up your yard, and add some leaves to the braid. Don’t have a railing? Make a little pile of twigs and leaves, and plop a scarecrow on top! Hang a collage of dried corn on your door.

To spruce up a door: Better Homes and Gardens suggests you take a standard wreath made of wheat, that you could easily find at a craft or hobby shop, and stick golden maple leaves throughout the wreath! This idea allows you to switch up the leaves with seasonal favorites year-round! For more ideas from Better Homes and Gardens, click here.

Fireplace mantel: create a basket of natural goods for the middle of the mantel, or spread the goods out for the entire length of the mantel. Create a mixture of pine cones, twigs, gourds, squash, apples, hay and colorful leaves. In the midst of this scenic haven, add some autumn colored and scented candles! Always keep a pile of firewood in the fire.

Living room: Cover your couches and loveseats in the natural tones of fall, such as dark brown suede, burnt orange leather, or gray thick cotton. Add throw pillows in bright orange, plum, yellow, maroon, rust, dark blue or emerald green.

Kitchen: Keep a bowl or basket in easy reach, filled with handpicked apples, apple cinnamon donuts, fresh fudge, whole squash, corn on the cob, tomatoes, zucchini, and any other foods that are fresh and abundant this time of year! For a delicious aroma, brew some cinnamon apple tea or a cup of hot cocoa.

For a table centerpiece: Stop by a craft or hobby shop to pick up an array of colorful leaves, hay or straw, fake fruit, and a cornucopia to stuff all the gems into! For a fresh, natural approach, fill a rust-colored bowl with mini gourds, squash and pumpkins!

Bedroom: for you or a special guest, add fall-colored candles with rich spice aromas to a nightstand or dresser. Martha Steward suggests wrapping candlesticks in flowery twigs, or wrapping the glass that surrounds a candle with decorative tissue, tied in place with a string. For more suggestions, click here.

Accessories: According to an article from the San Francisco Chronicle, adding comfortable, cozy accessories to your home will create a fall feeling. Suggestions include quilts to hang on the walls, pottery, flour-sack pillow covers, duck wallpaper, updated floral prints, patriotic symbols and anything textured. For more suggestions, click here.

For a drastic change: fill your office or family room walls with dark wood paneling, replace your stair railings with dark oak or knotty pine, add wooden beams to your ceiling, paint your rooms in earthy fall colors, cover hardwood floors or light-colored carpeting with patterned rugs, or invest in planting some year-round evergreens in your yard.

Any or all of these changes will spruce up your home for the season. Soon enough, Halloween and Thanksgiving will be greeting us with their presence, and each offer their own array of extra decorating possibilities!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Fall Events: Houston

Oct02
2008 1 Comment Written by Carrie

Keep the gentle breezes coming and let the sun shine bright in Houston this fall! Warm days and cooler nights allow you to spend some time outdoors with plenty of ease. There are also lots of indoor activities to enjoy, as well! Explore Houston (and the rest of the Lone Star state) and check out some of these Buy Owner suggestions for fall fun and frolic!

FESTIVALS & FAIRS are plentiful during the fall months. Whether you want to carve a pumpkin, purchase some jewelry or eat some exotic cuisine, you are sure to find your perfect kind of festival in and around Houston! Here are just a few of the celebrations you might enjoy:

The 34th Annual Fair on the Square in Huntsville Texas is a smorgasbord of fun! Over 300-plus booths of arts and crafts stretch out through the historic downtown square to food tents and beer gardens. Head to Huntsville on October 4, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.! Call 800-289-0389 for more info.

The Life is Good Pumpkin Festival in Cinco Ranch is a great place for everything pumpkin! This orange-colored Halloween staple appears in several Life is Good festivals throughout the U.S.! Take the time to join this national celebration in Houston on October 25, between 12 and 4 p.m. There’s a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, carnival games and more!

Experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Greece at the Saint Thomas Episcopal Market Fall Fair! This fest also falls on October 25, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., giving you plenty of time to do two fests in one day! Shop for fine jewelry, vintage decor and soft linens. Enjoy gourmet Greek cuisine! Let the wind run through your hair as you fly on one of the amusement rides. Call 713-666-3111 or visit this site for more information.

Another craft show you might consider attending is being held on November 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 4th Annual Cypresswood Fall Festival and Craft Show has something for everyone! It’s the perfect time of year to be looking for inexpensive, home-made Christmas gifts. There are also activities for children and plenty of food choices for the craft show goers.

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS are available year round, thanks to the fantastic weather conditions! Especially during the fall, get out there and be active.

Become a member of Bayou City Outdoors! It’s an active social outdoor club that plans and hosts multiple events every week. Enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking, sailing, yoga and more! Even if you do not want to pay for a membership, there are plenty of events that are free and open to the public, as well.

SPORTS really kick it into high gear this fall in Texas! In Major League Baseball, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers have finished their regular season, in second and third place in their respective divisions. With no hope for the post season, Texas fans must turn to football and basketball!

In the NBA, the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs are will heat up the court this month. The gals on the Comets are sure to score tons of baskets when the WNBA season starts this fall!

Looking for a place to cool off? Head into American Airlines Center and watch the Dallas Stars take the ice!

In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys keep up an early fight for first place, currently heading into October tied for second with the Washington Redskins. The Houston Texans are 0-3, but they have plenty of time to catch up with the currently undefeated Tennessee Titans!

THEATRE is a great reason for you to get off the couch and head into the city for some live entertainment! You could also take in the beauty of the city, walking around a bit before the start of the show. Or perhaps you could make reservations at brand-new restaurant for dinner afterwards! When planning a night of fun, you should definitely keep one of these theater shows on your list of things to do.

Visit France without ever leaving Houston! Cyrano de Bergerac is a play centered on the life of the famous French poet. Showings run from Oct. 3 to Nov. 2 at the Alley Theatre in Houston.

Love a good scandal? Revisit the Watergate debacle when you see Frost/Nixon, a play written by a British screenwriter. It’s based on T.V. interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon in 1977 that led to the former President’s admission of guilt about his role in Watergate. This show runs at the Hobby Center from Oct. 21 to Nov. 2.

Also running at the Hobby Center, Menopause, the Musical is a hilarious take on aging women. The cast of four women shops at Bloomingdale’s and sings songs about chocolate cravings, hot flashes and more. Showings run from Nov. 11 to Nov. 16.

CONCERTS in Houston offer the musical genius of artists from every type of genre imaginable. Check Ticketmaster for your favorites, and check out these highlighted shows:

Ben Folds, Oct. 24 at the Warehouse Live

Jason Mraz, Oct. 25 at the Verizon Wireless Theatre

Carrie Underwood, Nov. 1 at the Reliant Arena

The Black Crowes, Nov. 20 at The House of Blues Houston

Posted in Buying Tips, Regional Info - Tagged , , , , ,

Tip : Cooler weather is perfect for an open house.

Oct08
2007 Leave a Comment Written by Kristina

Image of Doors to Open HouseEveryone knows that an open house is a great way to attract buyers to your home.

The cooler weather makes it more comfortable for buyers to get out and visit open houses in their areas. Nicer weather also gives you, the seller, the opportunity to open up the home and show the potential buyer how airy your home can be. You’d be surprised how many buyers love a cross breeze.

As a Buy Owner® seller, you can set up open houses online using your Seller Dashboard. Simply log into your account and select Set up an Open House. Your listing online will show your open house and allow visitors to the Web site to know when you are holding it.

For more information, or assistance, contact customer service.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

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