Saint Louis Blog

1)      When buyers don’t know the market.

 Unless you know the market or are able to spend enough time to learn it, you will probably pay too much          

2)      When buyers don’t understand the buying process.

   There are many details beginning with the sales contract through the title insurance, lender, and home inspections that present pitfalls to the novice.     

3)      When buyers attempt to negotiate for themselves.

   Even professional poker players use sunglasses so their competition won’t gain the upper hand. You can imagine how a professional Realtor that gains information regarding a buyers motivation can and will use it to their clients benefit.

4)      Location, location, location.

           Buyers may buy because they like the style of home yet they ignore or down-play the importance of the lot location within a neighborhood, subdivision.

5)      Buying for today without a view for the next buyer.

           Even buyers who never expect to sell their home may someday need to sell. Eventually, every property will be sold again, so consider those things that will appeal to a broad cross section of buyers.

Fall is in air at Saint Louis Zoo. Ottertoberfest is a fall event featuring traditional German biergartens, live music, kids’ activities, performers and more. At the biergartens, visitors can purchase beer, root beer, bratwurst, pretzels, and other German specialties. Kids’ activities include a terrific obstacle course, otter tracks and crafts. Activities are designed for ages 2-10.

Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is FREE

Beginning Monday, September 22, 2008, the Hampton Avenue bridge into Forest Park will be closed for construction.

Please use an alternate route into Forest Park and the Zoo. There are nine entrances to Forest Park, including Tamm Avenue bridge, Wells Drive, Skinker & Forsyth, Lindell at DeBaliviere, Lindell at Forest Park Parkway, Lindell at West Pine, Kingshighway at West Pine, Kingshighway at Oakland to Tamm.

The seventeenth annual Best of Missouri Market returns to the Missouri Botanical Garden this weekend (October 4–5, 2008) , featuring more than 120 Missouri food producers, artisans, and vendors.The event offers fun for all ages and an outstanding selection of unique products, baked goods, and locally-grown fresh and dried flowers and herbs. More than 25,000 visitors will enjoy musical performances as they shop for handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry, and other specialty items.A wide array of children’s activities will also be available in the Kid’s Corner.

 Best of Missouri Market
Saturday–Sunday
October 4–5
9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rain or shine

Admission (ages 13–64) $10 Seniors (ages 65+) $7 Children (ages 3–12) $3 Garden members $3(free for members’ children 3–12)   

The garden is Conveniently located off I-44, the Garden is easily accessible from the major highways in the area at 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110.   events hotline: (314) 577-9400 - 1-800-642-8842  or www.mobot.org

Join thousands of chili and music lovers for this annual fall festival featuring live music, outstanding chili and salsa sampling, icy cold beverages, festival foods and entertainment for the kids.

Professional and amateur chefs will compete side-by-side for cash prizes in the following categories: Red Chili, Green Chili (chili verde), and Salsa, as well as People’s Choice White Chili and Vegetarian Chili.  Prizes will also be awarded for showmanship and fundraising. 

Proceeds from the Cook-Off support National Kidney Foundation of Eastern Missouri and Metro East programs, including: free kidney health screenings, patient assistance, public, patient and professional education and medical research funding.

Admission to the Chili Cook-Off is $5.00 per person.  Samples are just 50 cents. Kids under 12 are admitted free.  For information, call (314) 961-2828, or visit http://www.nkfchilicookoff.org. 

This weekend is Taste of  St. louis. St. Louis’s top restaurants will serve "tastes" from their menus, plus national act concerts, Macy’s restaurant row, The Marketplace, ArtDimensions Village, The Grant’s Farm Kid Zone, The St. Louis Bread Company Culinary Competition and much more

The award-winning Taste of St. Louis is a celebration of the best food, art music and culture our great city has to offer. There is something for everyone at the event, as our array of activities and participants continues to grow. Our turnout of nearly 200,000 patrons in 2007 proves it!  Come downtown and taste some the best restaurant is St. Louis.

Date: 9/26/2008 - 9/28/2008
Location: Downtown St. Louis at 14th and Market (Soldier’s Memorial)
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (26); 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (27); 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (28)
Cost: Free admission; tastes for a small charge
For more information call: (314) 306-1162
Website: www.tastestl.com

Wednesday - Saturday : 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday :  noon - 4 p.m.

This house was Eugene’s boyhood home, and during their residence here his father Roswell M. Field served as the Attorney who took Dred Scott’s freedom suit into the Federal Courts, leading to the infamous Supreme Court decision in Scott v. Sandford.   Next time you are in downtown stop by the Eugene Field House.

Did you know that St. Louis has a Dog Museum.  Not to far from Creve Coeur.

The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, located at 1721 S. Mason Rd., in beautiful Queeny Park, West St. Louis County, Missouri, is home to the world’s finest collection of art devoted to the dog. The 14,000 sq. ft. facility, which includes historic Jarville House (1853), displays over 700 original paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, sculptures, bronzes, and porcelain figurines, and a variety of decorative arts objects depicting man’s best friend throughout the ages. portraits of various terrier breeds.  The museum is open year-round and available to visitors Tuesday - Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM, and Sundays 1 PM - 5 PM (closed Mondays and holidays). Queeny Park, home of the Museum, is accessible from highway/interstate 40/64 at the Mason Rd. exit or from I-270 by taking the Manchester exit to Mason Rd.

On Saturday September 20th Shaw Nature Reserve celebrates "Prairie Day" where families can come and really get a feel of what life was like home on the prairie in the 1800’s.

There is lots of history and reenactments that take place on "Prairie Day" that will make you feel like you went back in time.

You can see what the inside of a Teepee looks like or throw a tomahawk. Leave civilization behind and pay them a visit!

(636)451-3512 or visit their website at:

www.shawnature.org

Fall is in the air.  It a perfect time to take a ride down the Mississippi River on a 19th century replica steamboat. Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher combine the charm of the 1800s with modern conveniences of today. There’s a cruise for every occasion. Choose from a variety of different cruises. Dinner Cruises: Enjoy spectacular food and live music while you sail down the Mississippi. Sightseeing Cruises: Relax as you see the sights of the St. Louis skyline from a 19th century replica steamboat, enjoy one of our delicious Sunday Brunches, or visit another town along the Mississippi River. Entertainment Cruises: Experience the St. Louis skyline while listening to live music, watching fireworks, or enjoying the excitement of Oktoberfest  Please note that ticket purchases can by made by purchasing through our online system or by calling our call center toll-free at 877-982-1410.