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June 24, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
If you live in the city or the suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, you know about Summerfest. If you love music, crowds, good food, fireworks or refreshing cool beverages, you LOVE SUMMERFEST. If not, you hear the updates everyday on the news, like the performers of the day, the weather expected, or attendance figures. I know people who schedule their vacations, so they can attend every day.
In times of families managing the tightest budgets in years, you will be interested in the list of “special” hours and promotions that will get you in FREE to the Big Gig!
If your true love is music, the line up is most important. And if you just love people watching, just show up, plant yourself at one of the many great seating areas, grab a beverage and enjoy!
The Sports stage is the place to meet the pros from the Bucks, the Wave, and check out the latest fitness craze-Zumba. The childrens stage features magic acts and jugglers, right next to the giant playgound.
I remember when Summerfest was in its early years, 
and the grounds were dirt paths, basic structures housing food and beverage vendors, and stages were semi permanent. We’d come home with the dirtiest of bare legs from a day of walking around the grounds. The grounds have grown and evolved just as the festival itself. From the early years and the local icon Bo Black, through Don Smiley and this years line up. Getting there is so much easier with Summerfest Shuttles heading in from outlying points of the metro area.
With 11 days, 11 stages and over 800 musical acts ranging from Tom Petty, Usher, Tim McGraw, The Gufs, American Idol tour, Eric Clapton, all the way to the locals like the The Toys, The Orphans, and even my neighbor kids Max & Sam Templin and their band “No Idea,” there truly is something for everyone!
Summerfest is truly one of Milwaukee’s gems. It makes great use of our gorgeous Lakefront, entertains residents and visitors, and stimulates our economy EVERY YEAR. How many other events can say that? I’d love some comments on your Summerfest “must dos!”
(photos credit of summerfest website)
Posted by: 
Pat Tasker
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June 24, 2010 at 12:34 PM · Posted under Ann Lebiecki, Area Attractions & Events
If you’re looking for a great time this weekend, check out Cedarburg and the 25th annual Strawberry Festival.
Saturday and Sunday June 26, 27 you’ll see Washington Ave packed with festival goers enjoying everything from strawberry pancakes to strawberry wine. You can even try a strawberry brat!
There will be tons of kid events in Cedar Creek Park such as pony rides and a petting zoo, Sumo wrestlers, face painting and a mural where kids can try their hand at painting. The whole family will enjoy the CedarQuacker 500 duck races both Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm.
Check out the “Paint the Festival” competition, where registered artists can compete in the Historic District of Cedarburg, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The streets will be full of live music including bluegrass, top forty and rock and roll. A strawberry cooking demo/tasting will be held on Saturday morning 
as well as daily contests like strawberry shortcake eating and strawberry bubblegum blowing.
Aside from all the activities that Strawberry Fest brings to town, Cedarburg in itself is a charming little village. Downtown is peppered with unique shops and restaurants and of course a winery and antique shop too. Plus there’s the historic covered bridge, nearby. So if you can’t make it to Strawberry Fest, set aside another day when you can take in all that Cedarburg has to offer.
Click here for more information on Strawberry Fest or Cedarburg.
Posted by: 
Ann Lebiecki
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June 23, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
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EAT LIKE A COW!
Do you love a hearty Farm Breakfast? Now, I don’t mean a super slam or an odyssey plate full of food, I mean a good old fashioned down on the farm breakfast!
June is Dairy Month in Wisconsin, and a popular event across the state is the Farm Breakfast. If you live in Germantown or Mequon, the big event THIS SATURDAY June 26th, from 7-11am. The menu includes: All you can eat pancakes, WI ham and cheese omelette, Cottage Cheese, White or Chocolate Milk, Assorted Cheeses, Sample New Dairy Products, and smooth ice cream with strawberries or chocolate.
Never been to a farm breakfast? Bring the kids and grandkids and be ready to eat AND have fun! My kids favorite part was to watch the FFA (Future Farmers of America) kids stirring hundreds of eggs in the 6 foot frying pan! After chowing down, according to the website you can enjoy the following: “Huge Kid Zone area, face painting, petting zoo, live music, pictures with calves, wagon rides, clown, free samples of NEW dairy products, cow milking contest, antique tractor display, scavenger hunt, crafts, farm tours and more.”
Almost each county has a Farm Breakfast in the month of June. If you live in the city or the suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, you can check here for a list of a Farm Breakfasts that are worth a short drive
It’s been a tradition in my family for decades… Let me know how you liked it!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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June 21, 2010 at 04:08 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
There has been a lot of talk about the expired Tax Rebates, and current Real Estate conditions. What is happening in the Real Estate Market? Are Buyers writing offers? Do Sellers need to lower their prices? Are the rates still low, or have they gone up?
Talk around the office & in the field shows a general slowing down in activity. Buyers are still visiting Open Houses, but only the serious Buyers - at well priced homes. Many Sellers have come to realize that they are not going to get the amount of money they would like for their property, but even the realistic sellers are not getting the number of showings they would like. Buyers have gotten more demanding since the expiration of the Tax Rebate. In many cases, they want to see every home available that meets their criteria. Once a house has been chosen, they are offering much less than the Seller is asking. If the offer does not get accepted, they are moving on to the next house on their list. Once their offer is accepted, negotiations seem to begin again after the home inspection. Today’s Buyer wants their home to be in tip-top shape before they move in! All gone are the days of “I can fix that myself after we move in”. They know that most Sellers would rather fix the problem, than have to start over looking for a new Buyer, and have to disclose any past issues.
Sellers are being to realize that it is truly a Buyer’s Market. If they don’t know it when they first come on the market, they learn it all too quickly. Lack of showings, or even worse, many showings with negative feedback from Buyers often serve as a strong dose of reality. If the Seller priced the home low enough to compel a Buyer to write an offer, they still run the risk of more concessions after the inspection. In some cases, Sellers simply cannot afford to make another $5,000 in concessions. This would push them underwater, forcing them to arrange the sale with the bank prior to a successful closing. Even the lowest interest rates we have seen in decades are not doing much to persuade Buyers to write offers. Loan officer, Denise Hoernke, states that Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation is offering 4.75% for FHA Mortgages, and 4.625% for a Conventional mortgage. This is great news. Everyone knows that the lower the interest rate, the more house you can afford.
So, where are we at in the Real Estate Market? Let’s recap: Rates are under 5%, prices are incredibly low and Buyers are looking for a deal. All things considered, I would say we are doing our best to recover. When will this recovery finally take place? Only time will tell…One thing is for certain, we are in it for the long haul! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen.
Posted by: 
Colleen Kuchta
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June 21, 2010 at 03:07 AM · Posted under Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
I happened to be within unavoidable earshot of two men talking about bathroom remodeling. (No kidding-yes-men!)
The one man said to his friend, “My wife looked at me the other day and said that our bathroom was outdated and sould be remodeled.”
Then the man looked at his friend and said, “There’s nothing wrong with it; everything works fine–what’s the big deal? Besides, we might sell it soon anyway to downsize.”
His friend then asked, “How old is the bathroom”?
“The age of the house-1972.”
As a realtor, I really wanted to say to him–when you sell your ‘vintage 1972 house’ expect to get a 1972 sales price!
Homeowners need to realize running their house is like running a business–you need to spend money if you want to make money.
Posted by: 
Lisa Rossetto
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June 17, 2010 at 07:36 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
The Village of Menomonee Falls has one of the largest parades in the area to celebrate Independence Day. Every year people come from all around to watch the floats, dancers, clowns & members of local businesses march down Appleton Avenue. The 2010 parade will be held on July 3, beginning at 7pm. The Village of Menomonee Falls allows spectators to ‘reserve a spot’ up to 24 hours ahead of time. The ‘reservation’ is confirmed by roping or taping your preferred area off. Tarps and furniture are not allowed, and will be removed.
In years past, spectators would wait patiently in local parking lots & on village streets until they were allowed to reserve their spot. Once 7pm on July 2nd rolled around, people would make a mad dash to reserve their desired spot. This year, the village of Menomonee Falls will be closing Appleton 
Ave between Woosencraft Drive & Elm Lane on July 2nd between 7-7:30pm. The closing of the road is to ensure public safety. Also new this year, any persons entering the roadway/median outside of the 30 minute window will be fined. The fines range from $68.10 up to $807.00, so keep that in mind! Happy a safe and happy Independence Day celebration! As always, THANK YOU to all who serve! God Bless! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen http://www.thekuchtas.shorewest.com
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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June 16, 2010 at 02:19 AM · Posted under Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
Here is a question I’m asked on a daily basis, now that the tax credit has ended:
What will happen to housing demand for the rest of 2010?
This article is from the blog of Steve Harney at Keeping Current Matters.
Posted by: Lisa Rossetto
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June 09, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
Over the Memorial Day weekend, my husband, Kelly, and I were invited to a house warming party. I wanted to bring something to eat to the party, but did not have the time available to cook or bake. I decided that cheesecake would be a good choice. Boy was I wrong - IT WAS GREAT! We ordered an 8” Turtle Cheesecake for $28.95. I thought the price seemed a little high, but ordered anyway. The next day, when we picked the cheesecake up, it weighed at least 5lbs! When we arrived at the party, the cheesecake received oohs & aahs, but the real praise came when we tasted it - simply amazing!
The Cheesecake Store is located on Main Street in Menomonee Falls, just north of the water fall. They sell cheesecake by the slice, on a stick or as a whole cake. There are lots of other goodies there, too. Check out their website, then stop in, and have a bite. You won’t be disappointed…mention that you heard about them from The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen!
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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June 09, 2010 at 07:00 PM
Located in the prestigious North Point neighborhood, this English Tudor home may remind you of the Pabst Mansion in style, as they were both designed by Ferry & Clas over a century ago. Charm abounds with carved plaster crown moldings, 5 fireplaces, Romanesque windows, and rich oak paneling and trim. According to the website, other special features include: “limestone Tudor archway with matching side columns and decorative stonework. Carved figures occupy the front and sides of the house. Four playful gnomes are placed between the two-story bays, representing the leisure-time activities of golf, tennis, bowling, and card playing. The German word for these figures is “Heinzelmaennchen,” and they often reflect the special interests of the home owner. On the facade of the chimneys are four hand-carved stone faces that recall the designs of medieval English architecture.”
With most of the home in it’s original state, visitors will notice only the kitchen and upper bath have been extensively renovated. The Showhouse is a collaborative effort, led by Patty Virnig and a group of over 25 interior designers and artists. The designs blend a 2010 nouveau style with the original old world charm.
What is it like to own a Showhouse? It takes patience and a passion for the cause for any owner to give up the daily use of their home for months, as the design team transforms it. The owner is totally involved in the process and has the last say on any design decisions. While paint and wall paper will be a lasting reminder of their participation, the owner may purchase any furniture or décor items they would like to stay in the home after it closes.
Your tour will not only please your senses, but make a contribution to the Medical College of Wisconsins Cancer Research efforts. In 2009, the showhouse and supporting events contributed over $300,000 towards their research projects. Over the past 12 years, this Showhouse and connected events has contributed $3.8 million towards not only breast cancer research but also prostate cancer research.
The showhouse is open to the public from now through June 20th. There are 2 days that the showhouse is open in the evening, which is a real treat. The Showhouse Boutique is a shoppers delight, so bring your pocketbook to further support the cause! Advance tickets can be purchased at any Shorewest Realtors office.
After touring this beautiful home, if you are inspired to find your own mansion on the east side or ranch in the suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, give me a call. We can start touring those homes!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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