School may be back in session, but kids headed to the Calabasas & Tennis Swim Center on Friday for one last summer party.
The back to school pool party brought children and parents to the center for swimming, water games and other activities. A few hundred people filled the center’s pool area with the sounds of music and laughter.
Jennifer Sandoval, who recently moved to Calabasas from Hermosa Beach, came to the center with her children unaware that there were any festivities taking place, but was pleasantly surprised.
“It’s awesome . . . it lets kids go out and enjoy their summer,” Sandoval said. “It is kind of like being in Mayberry.”
Lifeguards stood watch and helped coordinate and orchestrate an array of games that included hula-hoop contests and wet noodle races.
Waving their hands in the air and dancing along with the kids, the guards encouraged participation and brought smiles to lots of faces.
Anne Star and Marin Kokin chatted as they waited in line at the Pool Side Café while their children played poolside.
“It makes it less painful for the kids . . . as school starts,” said Star, smiling. “It’s great what they do.”
In addition to swimming, games and music, participants had a chance to win school supplies and other prizes as raffle tickets were handed out.
The party gives people a chance to visit with friends who they don’t get to see often and helps build a sense of neighborhood unity, said resident Marsha Barker said.
“It’s the best . . . I love the city of Calabasas,” she said.
By Reza Gostar (CalabasasPatch)
We would like to take another moment to share a story, or plight, of a couple of clients we started working with late in the spring.
After working for quite some time with a different homebuyer, we finally landed on something suitable despite all odds. Given our client’s entry level price point and desire for an FHA Financed condo, the search lasted substantially longer than usual. To illustrate the importance of patience and tenacity combined with choosing experienced agents, we put together a video to encourage others to Hang in There!
We soon received an email from the aforementioned client who had seen our video. They needed help. After looking for over a year and a half and dealing with several offers, they had lost on all of them. They were frustrated and ready to give up. We thought we could help.
There is no question that today’s real estate market is challenging. It is challenging for sellers who have lost home value and remain unable to purchase a new home unless they can get a certain amount for their current homes. Or, who simply can’t sell because they are upside down on their mortgages and likely don’t qualify for a loan modification or short sale.
But, it’s no easier for buyers. On one hand you are unsure of the declining market values and on the other, confused by multiple over asking offers, short sale horror stories, lack of inventory, and unrealistic pricing by sellers. The bottom line is that both buyers and sellers need to work with Realtors who know how to navigate the choppy waters of this market to get results for their clients.
So now what happened with those clients who had contacted us? Well, they had reached out to us some time in late May. Ultimately we discussed their situation and what they had been through. We talked about their wants, needs and goals. We looked at a few properties in June and developed a good idea of what they wanted. At the beginning of July, we got them pre-approved again. By mid July they were in escrow. We closed on their home in early August. Needless to say, they are ecstatic about their new home. They told me that the day we closed was like Christmas morning. They even wrote about us and our lender in their own blog.
Please remember, that Who You Work With Matters. Call us so we can help you too.
Calabasas Homes & Santa Monica Homes for Sale
Get Ready for the Fall Fashion Show at The Commons at Calabasas on Sunday, September 5th.
Starting at 3:00pm, there will be the Function Show by Lululemon Athletica and then at 3:30pm you will have an opportunity to view fall collections from White House | Black Market, Diane’s Beachwear, M. Fredric, Theodore, Chico’s and Siany
The fashion show takes place next to Barnes & Noble in the Commons Shopping Center. Then, after the show enjoy special offers and complimentary wine at select fashion retailers.
Plus, there will be a silent auction benefiting ACT TODAY!
ACT Today! provides grant money for families that cannot afford or access the treatments their autistic children need. From protective helmets, to social skills groups, to ABA and biomedical treatments, ACT Today! does everything they can to help autistic children achieve their highest potential.
Calabasas Homes & Santa Monica Homes for Sale
The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center will be hosting a Back to School Pool Party on Friday, September 3, 2010 from 4:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. The pool party will feature music, exciting games, prizes, and plenty of swimming fun. The Waters Edge Cafe will also be open for business during the party.
Admission to the Back to School Party is free so bring the family to celebrate the end of another great summer! The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center is located at 23400 Park Sorrento in Calabasas. Please call (818) 222-2782 for more information.
Calabasas Homes & Santa Monica Homes for Sale
Calabasas is about a half hour drive from Los Angeles and about 15-20 minutes from the beach. Calabasas is known for a few things including many of its exclusive gated communities. But it has so much more to offer. Check out this rustic and rural 21+ acre working horse ranch nestled in the heart of Malibu Canyon. This is one of the most special properties located in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is surrounded on 3 sides by towering mountains and the compound looks west-wards over the Monte Nido Valley. It has incredible views from its classic 2 story Hacienda style home. There are also 2 arenas, a round pen, 8 stalls, 3 turnouts + large tack room. Beyond the house are wonderful trails with direct access to the Backbone trail and a saltwater pool and a 2700 sq ft accessory bldg. Listed by Melody Rogers – Nourmand & Associates.
Calabasas Homes & Santa Monica Homes for Sale
Shibuya, Shibuya, Shibuya. When will you open your doors again? Known as one of the best sushi restaurants in Calabasas, Shibuya is known for some of the freshest sushi in the area. It is a small restaurant near Blue Table and Dash across from the Calabasas Commons, and there is almost always a wait. But a worthwhile one at that. We are used to waiting for a table on a Friday or Saturday night but this wait is so much harder. The owner, Mark Shibuya, closed his doors as the beginning of August because he said the restaurant needed “a facelift and some botox.” OK, so he wants to transform it from a hole in the wall to a place that is as fresh as the sushi it is known for.
We are ready!!
Calabasas Homes & Santa Monica Homes for Sale
Here we are the week before Labor Day and it is back to school time already! Well, for us it is starting-school-time as our daughter is set to begin kindergarten tomorrow at Bay Laurel Elementary in Calabasas. We had our parent orientation last night with the principal, Susan Wachtel, and the 5 kindergarten teachers. Ms. Burgher will be our daughter’s teacher this year. She has been a kindergarten teacher for 13 years and you can tell she cares. She has been teaching since she finished school herself. Our initial impressions are great. To sum it up in one word… wonderful. The school, the faculty, the curriculum, and, well, the prevailing attitude towards educating, inspiring and molding our children were just what we were hoping for. Bay Laurel and Las Virgenes have incredible reputations and I can see why. Every parent that I have spoken to that has a child who attended or attends this school has had nothing but great things to say.
One of the main reasons we decided to move to Calabasas was for our daughter’s education. All I know is that we feel lucky to have the opportunity to put Sydney in a school environment where she will be cared for and nurtured as she grows up. They talked about the 21st-Century learning skills or the 7- Cs. Those C’s include: critical thinking; creativity and innovation; collaboration; cross-cultural understanding; communication; computing technology; and career learning. We are excited that Las Virgenes embraces these concepts. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if she was at Round Meadow Elementary, Chapparal Elementary or any of the other LVUSD schools but Bay Laurel is looking great so far.
Here is to great beginnings!
Each Monday the LA Times blogs about a new home whose design is presented in the architect’s or designer’s own words. This week they are discussing contractor, Mark Shapiro’s latest home in Calabasas. Mark’s description: I chose one of my preferred architects, Eric Zuziak of JZMK Partners, to help design the residence.
With an eye toward environmentally friendly construction, the project included deconstruction of the existing structure. Building components were carefully dismantled for reuse, recycling and waste management and donated to Habitat for Humanity for resale.
The new home has many features using the latest energy-efficient materials, including 100% natural cellulose fiber insulation made from recycled newspapers that was blown into the walls for optimal sound and thermal insulation. Special plywood roof sheathing with a foil radiant backing that reflects the sun’s heat was used to lower interior temperatures. In-line tankless water heaters were installed to reduce energy consumption and supply hot water on demand.
An energy-saving lighting control system was installed, with digital technology that allows individual programming of all lighting in the home by software accessed by personal computer. An integrated whole-house entertainment management system allows access to television, music, photos and the Internet from eight separate in-wall or remote locations throughout the home.
Keep reading for more photos and details on the house …
Calabasas Homes and Real Estate for Sale
