If you'd like to try a restaurant that's totally different, for Valentine's Day or for any other occasion, check out Joule in Wallingford . It's only three months old but I'm highly impressed the atmosphere, execution, and service. Their French-Korean Fusion menu features unique combinations that somehow taste as if they were always meant to be. Try it - you'll like it!  This entry was posted on Monday 4th of February, 2008 at 11:45 am | Posted in Susan's Favorites 02/29/2008

We had everything from appetizers to dessert plus drinks for four people and the total was under $100! Each plate was better than the last! Fun, delicious, and local. "Black Bottle is a casual tavern committed to good eating and great drinks, offered at fair prices. Every dish is made fresh-to-order in sharable portions. We have a full bar and hard-working wines, priced to sell. The atmosphere is convivial and uncluttered; a modern design in a century old building. Our service standard is efficient and informal. Come with a largish group or for an intimate evening for two. Cheers!" 206.441.15002600 1st avenue + vinebelltownseattle21 years of age and older MAP LINK: Black Bottle  This entry was posted on Tuesday 27th of February, 2007 at 12:00 am | Posted in Susan's Favorites 02/29/2008

Seattle real estate is more exciting when it is going green! Built Green houses and condos get more excitement and activity when they are on the market because buyers want homes that are environmentally friendly.  You can be certified as Built Green even if you are in a preexisting property based on some simple guidelines for a Built Green Remodel.  One great way to go green in Seattle real estate is to incorporate solar power!The City of Seattle website has a whole page on green resources, but the solar power info was particularly intriguing.  Here is what it says:"Seattle City Light Net Metering City Light customers who generate their own electricity from renewable sources of 25 kilowatts or less can connect to the City electrical system and receive billing credits for excess power. "... 02/28/2008

 Seattle is pretty amazing! I wrote a piece yesterday on the Laurelon Condo project and Children's Hospital's desire to purchase the entire six acre 136 unit complex as a way of expanding.  The reported amount of money Children's Hospital is willing to pay is 2.8 times the market value of each of the units - $93 million dollars!  Now if someone wanted to pay 2.8 times the value of my house, I would sell it in a second and pat myself on the back for the great investment I made, and for most of the Laurelon this seems to be the case.  There are, however, a few long time residents who don't want to lose their home and i have to sympathize with them on this as well.  Here is their argument.So can the condo board sell your home out from under you to be bulldozed down? Maybe!  In 1990 the sta... 02/28/2008

Besides the Display Gardens....that would be the Marketplace !  Shopping or browsing at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show  ( NWF&GS )  in the Marketplace is one of the highlights of my annual visits. I always make sure to visit my "old friends" and meet some new ones after seeing the display gardens, so off to see the  Ravenna Gardens booth!Every year I enjoy seeing what beautiful garden things they will have to tempt me....Lucca Statuary The Chocolate Flower Farm which SMELLED wonderfully from the candles, I succumbed and bought!Stone Manor Lighting which had a wonderful display, very moody with it's twilight atmosphere.The Home & Garden Art LLC in Ballard featured whimsy with it's scrap metal sculptured animals. On the Skybridge straddling over Pike Street by a couple of stories are ... 02/27/2008

Get ready for the Cirque Du Soleil show this April 24 - May 18!  I have not been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, but know people that have and it's supposed to be phenomonal!  Hopefully this will be my year.  I saw something similar on a cruise ship called Cirque Pacific and it was amazing.  The performance coming to Seattle is called Corteo, about a clown that imagines a festive parade / joyous occasion.  Click here to get more information about Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo.New to Western Washington?  Are you considering a move to the Emerald State?  Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.Thinking of buying or selling?  I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you!  I offer full time real estate expertise and advice to buyer... 02/27/2008

If you haven't noticed, the Northgate neighborhood in Seattle has been getting a lot of attention lately.  The Northgate area is a fast-growing neighborhood with great potential.  There is a 14-screen cinema being constructed, along with condominium and apartment complexes, slated to be finished in early 2009.  Also, just south of Northgate Mall is a Metro Park and Ride facility for easy commuting to just about anywhere in Seattle.  And as if that weren't enough, our city's LightRail is planning to build a stop at the Park and Ride by 2009.  I also just attended the first community meeting at the Northgate Community Center regarding a new 3.73 acre park being planned.  The location of the park will be just behind the Target store, where the concrete slab of the old Metro park and ride n... 02/27/2008

 I have just gotten off of the telephone with an office worker at one of the Seattle elementary schools and she told me that the “open enrollment” for elementary school for the year 2008-2009 ends at midnight on February 29, 2008.  The guidebook says:  their fax machine will be on until midnight—postmarks do not count.  Go to the guidebook link and you will find helpful information including checklists to help you do so.  The first link is where you will find enrollment forms etc.Schooling is one of the top concerns buyers have when they are searching for a home.  Jesse and Kathy Clifton have a thoughtful post today talking about Fairbanks Education  in Fairbanks, Alaska Education, talking about the North Star Borough School District and listing each school with a corresponding school ... 02/27/2008

I have been blogging over at my own Seattle real estate blog http://www.raincityhouses.com/ since November 2007 - I have a regular real estate website, too - www.CooperJacobs.com, but I love having my own blog site and have had a blast using Wordpress and learning about SEO.My hubby took some amazing shots of Seattle and I was able to get him to upload one of them on to the banner at the top of my page for a brand new look!  I am absolutely in love with this shot of our gorgeous city and had to share it with you!  Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a ba... 02/26/2008

Recently another Seattle Buyer's Agent called me, the Seattle Listing Agent, if my now Pending listing looks solid, or if there might be a chance that the transaction could fail?  *Sigh*  So the question I have to ask the Buyer's Agents is why NOW?  The house has been on the market for months, with no interest, so where were these interested Seattle Home Buyers?  I know our Seattle Real Estate Market is picking up for spring, but still, I have received 3 of these calls in the past few weeks.  I got the same answer from all 3 Buyer's Agents, their Buyers had been sitting on the fence about making an offer.  That waiting while deciding what to do, caused them to lose their opportunity to make an offer when someone else beat them to it.  It is HARD to decide to make an offer.  Especially i... 02/26/2008

CityDog Magazine is a must for any Seattle dog owner - this amazing magazine is filled with really cool stuff and they also put on some fabulous dog events! Check out the latest!  CityDog Art Walk in Pioneer Square should have all doggies in Seattle out in style!When?March 6, 2008, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Want to know more?Seattle CityDog Art Walk 2008Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures... 02/26/2008

What are you looking for in a Seattle house? The Seattle real estate market in 2008 is perfect environment for a qualified buyer.  I already talked about Seattle buyer basics, but now I would like to focus on creating a checklist of what you are looking for as a buyer in this market.  Creating a checklist can really help clarify what you are looking for in a new home for your real estate agent, but it can also reveal some interesting things!  I only bring up checklists because they really can be helpful.  Seven times out of ten a new Seattle buyer will tell me one thing in the beginning about what they are looking for and then fall in love with something completely different.  I have seen it happen enough times that I don't want to eliminate any potential properties while I am searching... 02/26/2008

Seattle remodeling can give you a lot of choices to consider, and flooring choices are always exciting!  My favorite floor guy in Seattle is Mac's Wholesale.  Mac offers some amazing choices - and tons of environmentally friendly options!  Bamboos in every color imaginable and really cool Cork flooring!  Mac can tell you how to do it yourself or he can have one of his teams install it for you.  Mac also is great at finding quality carpets and having them installed inexpensively.  I recommend Mac's Wholesale Flooring to EVERYONE who asks about putting in new floors and he always makes them happy.  If you are considering new flooring in Seattle, call Mac for wonderful floors that offer years of good use and wonderful increased resale values in your home when you go to sell it.Want  info o... 02/25/2008

I am instituting a Peer Support Group on Wednesday Night at 5:30 to 7:30 this week.  Future dates to be announced. What is that? It's a night where agents get together to do whatever they just don't get around to doing. I have to write personal notes to my past clients. Jeremy wants to Cold Call. Kate wants to send out a mailer to townhome owners. Women have been doing things like this for years.  They are called "Stitch and Chats" and women all work on something different and get their own stuff done, but on a regularly scheduled night where they come together and have refreshments and support each other's spending time on getting their own stuff done. At the Roanoke Bar on Capitol Hill it's called Stitch and Bitch and is on Thursday Nights, last I heard. We can break down into differe... 02/25/2008

This is the post that moves me to the #1 Real Estate Agent in the State of Washington here in Active Rain.  The spot became available when Rich Jacobson took a job at ActiveRain and vacated the spot.  Before that time it was not possible for anyone to achieve that position, given the numerous points given to the #1 and #2 spot people for being moderators of ActiveRain.  Points not available to the average ActiveRain participant.  While that system no longer exists, when someone has many thousands of Bonus Points for bonuses not available to the general membership, it is not an even playing field. I expect and hope that the dashboard arrangement will at some point be drastically modified so that all members have a better chance to shine down from the top and for good reason, good reasons... 02/25/2008

 Seattle real estate has been hopping this month a bit more than last from what I can see - could it be the weather?  We have had a ton of sun this month!  My husband took the most glorious picture of the Seattle skyline last week!  I had to share!  It was one of those sunny and cloudy days that we Seattlelites are so used to and I found the contrast to be just stunning!Want  info on Green Seattle topics?Seattle Built Green Info , Seattle Green Remodeling , Seattle Going Green Guide, Going Green in the Seattle SuburbsCourtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a... 02/24/2008

Selling houses in Seattle is amazing - A qualified buyer is a very lucky person right now, but it is so important to ask questions form your real estate agent to make sure that they are going to be there for you every step of the way.  I wrote a blog once on sensitivity training and how important it is for agents to really put themselves in the shoes of the client.  Moving i s a big emotional roller coaster and a real estate agent should be there to pad the way and really be there for you!  Some of the most sane and logical people I know will still become complete basket cases during a transaction - even a relatively smooth transaction.  Having a Seattle real estate expert to stand by them is imperative. The VERY basic questions to ask a potential agent:Are you a REALTOR?  Realtors have... 02/24/2008

The Ballard Dennys was officially voted into a historical landmark category this week in a 6-3 vote.  I used to take my daughter there to eat for free when I was a struggling single mom and I have fond memories of it - I admit I was sad to see the windows boarded up in anticipation of yet another new development in the heart of Ballard.  I am still upset over the Trader Joes building that is smothering the little old lady's house just East of the Ballard Bridge.  I am sure this decision will be appealed, but for now the Ballard Denny's will stay put.  Check out the Ballard Denny's posts on Vintage Seattle.  There is a wonderful shot of the original Mannings interior.Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor ... 02/23/2008

Seattle landscaping can be commercial or residential and SBA does it all.  Susan Black & Associates have been doing some of the very best landscaping projects in Seattle and are among the most respected firms in the city when it comes to Seattle landscape architecture.  They do some amazing projects and should be considered first when it comes to any project!I have had the pleasure of knowing Susan Black for years and am constantly delighted to find the firm's work is everywhere!  Logan Park in Lynnwood, WA got a huge transformation by the firm and it is one of the best parks in Lynnwood now.   Powell Barnett Park in Seattle has become a neighborhood favorite after being in ruins for years.  Cities and Counties interested in project planning should consult this firm first for a quality ... 02/23/2008

Seattle Property Management RD House Real Estate & property Management 206-728-6063 www.rd-house.com Leader in Seattle Property Management Location: Bell town Bell town Down town Mid Town Queen Anne Condos SFR, SMALL MULT PLEX management 5% Rentals  per unit159 Denny Way #110Seattle, WA 98109(206) 728-6063 office(206) 728-6175 fax www.rd-house.com  Your real estate is a valuable investment and we can help you protect that investment with sound expertise. Our goal is to provide you the best property management service available in Washington State Please feel free to contact us Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.Ricky D Sadler Broker/Senior PM @ 206-728-6063 or email rickyd@rd-house.com  Summary of ServicesOwner/Tenant Relations: As your agent, we will advertise your property to ... 02/23/2008