Happy 235th Birthday, America!  If you're looking for a place to watch the fireworks display in Boise, head on down to Ann Morrison Park (1000 Americana Blvd, Boise, ID).  Since it doesn't really begin to get dark until it nears 10:00 at night expect the fireworks to start sometime around 10:15pm.  Tune your car stereo to 107.1 FM for musical accompaniment.  Make sure to stay safe and keep all pets inside while fireworks are going off.

Since I'm new to the area and this will be my first 4th of July in the Treasure Valley, does anyone have suggestions other than downtown Boise for great fireworks displays?  I'd love to hear from anyone "in the know".  Thanks, everyone!

Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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Boise's Own Roller Derby

I have been a fan of roller skating since I was a kid.  I even tried to teach my mom when I was 11, but I couldn't get her to let go of the chainlink fence (some people just can't be taught).  The Drew Barrymore film "Whip It" renewed my interest in checking out roller derbies.  Imagine my giddiness when I saw a billboard ad for the Treasure Valley Rollergirls, Boise's own roller derby team.  Of course, I rushed to get my tickets.  They will be taking on the Salt City Shakers (from Salt Lake City) and the Southern Oregon Rollergirls (out of Medford, OR) at the Qwest Arena in Boise in a special "Quadromania" on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

If you're interested in attending, tickets are only $10 each for general admission and VIP floor seating.  Doors open at 6pm and the first bout begins at 7pm.  You can purchase tickets at the Qwest Arena, but the girls only get a percentage of the money from those ticket sales.  If you purchase your tickets online or at one of the following local stores, all the money goes directly to the girls:

• Need to Bead (1100 N Orchard St, Boise)
• Thomas Hammer (on 8th, Boise)
• Record Exchange (in Boise)
• Munter's Ink (in Nampa)

I've got my tickets ready.  Give me a shout if you'll be there!

Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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Spring is definitely in the air.  To celebrate, the 2011 Boise Flower and Garden Show comes to the Boise Center this weekend, March 25th through the 27th.  Get ideas for landscaping, gardens, decor, outdoor furnishings, decking and much more. 

Attend one of the gardening seminars, view special orchid and bonsai tree displays, oggle with envy at the professionally judged flower displays and even get the kids involved in gardening with the kids' craft areas.  But, it's not just about getting your hands dirty.  There will be plenty of local Idaho food available at the Specialty Foods Pavilion, a silent auction of container gardens (proceeds will benefit the Lunaria League, a local nonprofit organization that promotes botanical gardens through the state) and Wine & Jazz evenings on Friday and Saturday nights.

The hours for the 2011 Boise Flower and Garden Show are 10am to 9pm on Friday, 10am to 8pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.  Admission is just $7 for adults, $2 for kids ages 7-12 and free to children under 7.  You can pick up a coupon for $2 off admission at any Zamzows location.  Welcome spring to the Treasure Valley and get some great ideas for your gardening project at the 2011 Boise Flower and Garden Show this weekend.

Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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Everyone here in the Boise area runs around in BSU sweats/jackets/shirts/whatever spouting off statistics and either ire or happiness at how the local BSU Bronco are doing/have done.  It's almost a sickness.  So, for those of us who are not college football fans (there, I said it out loud in print), it's nice to know that there is some artistic culture around that doesn't involve wearing blue and orange or smearing blue war paint under your 4-year-old daughter's eyes while screaming at the screen.  (That's not made up.  We were having dinner out one evening and the little girl at the table next to us has blue lines smeared under her eyes while there was a blue and orange pom-pom holding her ponytail in wearing a Broncos jersey on her teeny-tiny little body.)

The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts (1910 University Dr, Boise, ID) has brought broadway to Boise.  Over the next few months, the Broadway hits 'Legally Blonde', 'Fiddler on the Roof', 'Wicked' and 'Mama Mia' will be performed in our fair city.  I hope to secure tickets to at least one (hopefully more, if I can talk the hubby into it) of these shows:

Legally Blonde
February 7-9, 2011 - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $28, $40.50 and $50.50.

Fiddler on the Roof
March 7-9, 2011 - 7:30pm on the 7th and 8th and 7pm on the 9th.  Tickets are $28, $40.50 and $50.50.

Wicked
May 4-8 and 10-15 - 7:30pm on the 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th, 8pm on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th, 6:30pm on the 8th and 15th, 2pm on the 5th, 7th and 14th and 1pm on the 8th and 15th.  Tickets are $50, $65, $82.50 and $140.

Mama Mia
June 14-16, 2010 - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $40, $50 and $62.50.

If you're interested in purchasing tickets, visit the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts' website.  I have heard only good things about all of the shows.  So, I can't wait to see Broadway in Boise.  Hopefully, more than once!

Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

(November 2, 2010) The Federal Reserve is announcing on Wednesday its new policy statement for their timetable and purchase amounts for Treasuries. The new program has been compared to an economic B-12 shot.

The new round of government bond purchases is aimed at lowering long-term interest rates and stimulating the stalled economy. It is expected that the Fed will buy between $400 billion to $750 billion in Treasury notes or other assets over the next six to eight months.

The goal: drive up the prices of long-term bonds, which in turn, pulls down rates on mortgages and other loans, spurring consumers to buy homes and cars, and businesses to invest and hire workers.

None of the "experts" want to stick their neck out, but depending on how many Billions and the timeframes involved, some have stated that, "The Fed's policy statement could be the biggest market mover of mortgage rates in 2010".

We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out how much and which direction.

The skyline in downtown Boise will be changing again next year. 

Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2010 on Jack's Urban Meeting Place, a complex that will occupy nearly 4 city blocks downtown.

Jack's Urban Meeting Place will be bordered by Front and Myrtle, and 9th and 10th Streets.

Jack's Urban Meeting Place is named after JR Simplot, the billionaire Idaho businessman that passed away in May 2008. The Simplot Family Foundation will pay for the development, which is expected to cost approximately $100,000,000. This project will benefit the Idaho economy (jobs will be created in a difficult economy), plus it will transform lots that are now vacant and unattractive into an appealing meeting place.

Proposed features of the project include:

• 4 acre park
• Studio space for artists
• Amphitheater
• Sculpture garden
• Room for gatherings (weddings, classes and other events)

Downtown Boise condo and loft living has taken off in recent years and this will be yet another welcome addition to the downtown urban scene. It will be one more added benefit and incentive to living and doing business downtown. Kudos to the Simplot Family Foundation!

Like many of you, we here at The Urban Agent Team have been eagerly anticipating Phase 2 of The Aspen (on the SW corner of 8th and Front) in BoDo since we first saw the Sketch-up renderings for this forward-thinking, modern, architectural oasis in downtown Boise.

The Aspen is a condo project that embodies urban living in both price point and amenities. Released to the market in two phases, Phase 1 comprised 28 units on floors 10-17, ranging from $449k to nearly $1.5 million. With price point, amenities and finishes, this Phase was primarily targeted to the baby boomer urbanite and sold quickly. Only 8 units remain at the time of this posting.

In contrast, newly available Phase 2 comprises 50 units on floors 5-9, ranging from $179k to $499k, catering to the echo boomer urbanite to whom location and walkability matter more than size and finishes.

Interest in and excitement among the buying community looking for the convenience of urban condo living has been strong for both phases.

Many have questioned this unique project from the beginning and many more wondered whether developer Scott Kimball would be able to pull of a sell-out of the project in today's market.

After Urban Jen and I toured the project today, however, I believe that victory is firmly within his grasp. I can say, hands down, that Scott has nailed it with The Aspen. He not only understands but is catering to both of his target demographics - echo and baby boomers - as well as the pricing demands of today's market.

Scott we here at UAT applaud you and wish you all the best of success. We have no doubt that your project will stand as a testament to the fact that good design and a thorough understanding of your audience combined with competitive (and realistic) price points is the recipe for development success in any market.

The Aspen 3D rendering

For more information or to schedule a showing of The Aspen please contact us today!

Lindsay: 208.841.2263, lindsay@urbanagentteam.com

Jen: 208.602.5372, jen@urbanagentteam.com

Nick: 208.272.1933, nick@urbanagentteam.com