Things to Do in Orange County - Sawdust Festival 2013       This year, the Sawdust Festival is open from June 28 to September 1, 2013.   The Sawdust Festival supports local artists and is a great place for finding all types of unique art from paintings to jewelry and all sorts of things in between. There are even concerts from local arts. I've enjoyed it since I was a child.   The Sawdust Festival is open from 10am to 10pm daily.   For more information, please see Sawdust Festival.         07/14/2013

Things to Do in Orange County this Week - The Pageant of the Masters     The Pageant of the Masters takes place each summer in Laguna Beach.  It is an amazing recreation of famous works of art using life people to create the tableau. It is hard to imagine that you can watch the actors taking their place in the painting, have the lights go out and then come back on with them frozen in their positions and still be able to believe that it could truly be a painting, and yet that is what happens year after year.   This year, the Pageant of the Masters takes place from July 7, 2013 to August 31, 2013.  It takes place at 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.  For more information please see Pageant of the Masters.   Please come back and comment and let us know what you think.       07/14/2013

   Online Dating/Online Home Shopping? The Real Thing Might Vary   I have been wading into the online dating world. Yikes....this is funny. You HAVE to have a sense of humor about these things. I would like to start by saying that I've met a couple very nice men. Interesting, honest and fun to be with. Shocking! Actually, I have not bumped into any out and out liars, but I have a system. I weed them out in advance. Don't worry, I'm going to share my secrets. :) Online Home Shopping works on the same basic premise. In each case, the point is to make the online "product" so attractive that someone will want to go see it. And just like Online Dating, occasionally the real thing bares little resemblance to the image created on the website.  We're going to walk through this together.  The k... 07/09/2013

 Laguna Beach Live Features Joey Sellers Quintet 7/3/2013       Laguna Beach Live Summer Jazz Series proudly presents the Joey Sellers Jazz Quintet. Joey Sellers is a highly regarded composer, arranger, trombonist and educator. Sellers, Director of Jazz Studies at Saddleback College, teaches improvisation, jazz ensembles, composition, and jazz history. An accomplished composer in both jazz and classical idioms, Sellers has written for Doc Severinsen, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, symphony orchestras in Tulsa, Long Beach and San Antonio and several works commissioned by the St. Louis Brass. Sellers freelanced for years in New York City and Los Angeles and was Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University. Recipient of the Gil Evans Fellowship in Jazz Compositio... 07/03/2013

  What Does The Real Estate Brokerage Have To Do With You? The Buyer?   Everything! Each brokerage, franchise, has it's own personality and culture. The agent you work with chooses a company based on what they can do for themselves and their clients.  I recently made a move to HOM Sotheby's International Realty. I'm very excited about this move. Some agents that I've worked with in the past have questioned my move, "isn't it really expensive?" Well, I suppose that is true if you want to view opportunity in terms of revenue received by any one transaction. I don't! The reason I work with HOM Sotheby's is because they offer my clients incredible opportunities. Does that sound too altruistic? The cynic might say "Oh sure, a real estate agent that only cares about her clients....and not th... 06/27/2013

    Public Art In Laguna Beach   Laguna Beach takes it's reputation as an artist's colony very seriously. One visit to the pristine beaches and charming village and you know why Laguna Beach has attracted artists for generations. The residents guard it's character and reputation carefully. There is an Art Commission whose purpose is to address the artistic/aesthetic aspect of the city. This includes recommendations to the City Counsel about ordinances which affect the administration and preservation of fine arts, performing arts and other matters pertaining to arts in general. As part of Laguna Beach's dedication to the arts, there are many public art pieces adorning the city, 65 in all. These range from sculpture to murals to fountains, each created by a local artist and each has a st... 06/17/2013

Father’s Day in Laguna Beach – Cold Coffee and Warm Beer   Isn’t that what being a father is all about? You pour a cup of coffee in the morning and then one of the kid’s spills the milk and the baby finds the one thing she’s not supposed to find. After cleanup you pour another cup of coffee, the dog barks, the plumber is at the door because the toilet is stopped up from the stuffed animal that went for a swim. You pour another cup of coffee…   My stepson, George, came up with this title “Cold Coffee and Warm Beer” because this is how his day goes.  We invited George, his wife Stephanie and our grandkids, Paul and Abby over for Father’s Day brunch. Two kids under 3 years old can be a recipe for disaster but the morning was thankfully free of any drama. In fact, George was able to enjoy a... 06/17/2013

  Laguna Beach! Just the name brings to mind sunny summer days lounging on the sand and cool evenings near a bonfire. Now add to that the pride of ownership and a private beach. Paradise is not too strong a word. Emerald Bay is located north of Main Beach Laguna and an easy drive from both the canyon and PCH entrance. The hectic beach traffic is avoided either direction you come. Inside the guarded gate is a quiet community of luxury homes. Everything from the quintessential beach cottage to the mansion on the sand, you can choose the home style which best suits you and your family. Emerald Bay is at heart a family neighborhood. It's not uncommon for several generations to meet at the beach for a picnic after a tennis match or volleyball game. For those of us who grew up on this sand, ... 05/29/2013

   Robert (Vegas Bob) Swetz has been traveling through the state of California since the mid 70s, and still continues to travel to Cali as much as possible.  When Robert was a teenager living in Portland Oregon he use to hitchhike up and down the Pacific Coast of Oregon and California all the way from Portland to San Diego and back at least twice a year.  Since the 70s Robert has traveled to over 40 different states including Alaska, he is planning a trip to the Hawaiian islands some time soon. Robert has travel to many other countries including Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand and parts of Mexico.    Robert has 100s of 1000s of photographs from 40 years of taking photographs and the state of California is by far his favorite. Sure there's a lot of people there but that's b... 05/28/2013

    Laughter is the "in" thing in Laguna Beach this summer. I'm not just talking about the sound of joy coming from our beautiful beaches. I'm not talking about the cheers from the winning side of the volleyball court. I'm not even talking about surfers delight with the big swells. I'm talking about the Laguna Beach Film Society Annual Summer Comedy Series. Each year the Laguna Beach Film Society schedules some great films for showing in the Laguna Art Museum for the Annual Comedy Series. Summer shouldn't be a serious time of year, right? Summer 2013 is going to be as funny as ever as the schedule has unfolded. Screenings are on the 3rd Thursday each month and if you are not already a member of the Film Society you can purchase tickets for the show online or the day of the showing. A f... 05/22/2013

  Jazz Wednesdays In Laguna Beach This Summer 2013   Summer nights are made for Jazz Music. That's about all there is to it! Laguna Beach has long been known for it's local artists, but did you know that music fills it's soul as well? This summer, 2013, Jazz Wednesdays are back in town. There will be a total of 6 concerts held every other week. The first is June 19th continuing bi-weekly till August 28th. After a relaxing day of sun and surf, grab a friend and a sweater and head over to the beautiful Rose Garden of the Hotel Laguna for a Jazz Concert. Located right in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach, just south of the main beach, this is an easy walk from your favorite spot on the shore. Concerts are from 6pm to 8pm and doors open at 5pm. Tickets are $15/each online and $18/each at ... 05/21/2013

Summer Fun.....Lots of Beach Activities in Southern California     Having fun in the sun in Southern California is easy as the weather is mild most of the year. When you want to have some fun, drive to the beach and play for the day.             Whatever your interests are, it is here at the beach.               Orange County: Try Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, Doheney State Beach, Dana Point, Carlsbad, Capistrano Beach, San Clemente, and Oceanside.             LA County: Venice Beach, Manhatten Beach, Maibu, Hermosa Beach, Playa Del Rey, Zuma Beach, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara Beach, Lunada Bay, Rancho Palos Verdes Beaches.           San Diego: La Jolla Beach. Mission Beach, Coronado, Mission Bay, Blacks Beach.         Whatever your sport is, you will find ... 05/20/2013

The Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters and summer have been synonymous since the very first in 1933, celebrating it's 80th year. The Pageant is a 90 minute show where famous paintings and other works of art are recreated with living models. From Michelangelo's marbles to Picasso's cubist paintings, I dare you to distinguish the difference. Set in a lovely outdoor amphitheater setting, the art is accompanied by a professional orchestra, live narration and sophisticated lighting. As a non-profit organization, the models are all volunteers and the Pageant runs for 8 weeks every summer. The theme of the 2013 Pageant of the Masters is "The Big Picture"! According to the Pageant's website this is going to be a "cinematic spin" on art pieces which inspired legendary filmmakers. The art this ... 05/17/2013

Summer is almost here in Laguna Beach, California! I can already see the beaches filled with sun worshipers and surfers. Laguna Beach is buzzing with activity and the locals are getting ready for the summer season. Laguna Beach is an artist community at heart so summer also means the annual Art Festivals. The Sawdust Festival is one of my favorite. When my kids were little, I would often pick them up from school and go over to wander around and eat dinner. They could get their favorite, hot dogs, and I could eat fish tacos. The evenings in Laguna cool down and the soft glow of the festival lights coupled with the great music and party atmosphere makes for a fun time. The Sawdust Festival is a non-profit organization and welcomes a variety of artists and great musicians. The booths incl... 05/16/2013

  On a picture perfect Southern California day, I packed up my office in Mission Viejo and headed west. I'm proud to say that my team and I have moved to Sotheby's International Realty in Laguna Beach. This is exciting for so many reasons. Of course the primary purpose for the move was to be associated with the world recognized leader of luxury real estate. The luxury home market demands only the very best in marketing and support....Sotheby's offers all of that. Real estate should be about personal service and attention, and having the right support team behind me allows me more time to cater to the needs of both my buyers and sellers. I grew up on South Orange County Beaches, Emerald Bay in Laguna to be specific. I crawled on the rocks, swam in the surf, searched for starfish in the ... 05/16/2013

Things to Do in Orange County - Steel Magnolias - Laguna Playhouse       Steel Magnolias is the story of a group of Southern women who gather at a beauty salon and help each other through the good and bad of life.   Tickets are $35-$50. The Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.   Steel Magnolias will play every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 25, 2013.   For more information, see Laguna Playhouse. 05/12/2013

Real Estate Trends for Laguna Beach April 2013   The median sales price for homes in Laguna Beach from Feb 13 to Apr 13 was $1,295,000 based on 105 sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median sales price increased 20.2%, or $217,500, and the number of sales decreased 12.5%. Average price per square foot for homes in Laguna Beach was $1,166, an increase of 14.2% compared to the same period last year.  Buyers need to be aware that prices are being pushed up due to low inventory and competition for fewer homes   There are currently 286 resale and new homes in ZIP code 92651 including Pending and listings in Back-up. The average listing price for homes for sale in Laguna Beach was $4,658,804 for the week ending May 01, which represents a decrease of 1.4%, or $64,560, compare... 05/06/2013

Real Estate Trends for Laguna Beach February 2013   The median sales price for homes in Laguna BeachCA for Dec 12 to Feb 13 was $1,245,500. This represents an increase of 6.1%, or $71,500, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of 31.1% compared to the prior year.   Homes for Sale in Laguna Beach   The average listing price for Laguna Beach homes for sale was $4,714,468 for the week ending Mar 13, which represents an increase of 8.2%, or $357,732, compared to the prior week and an increase of 8.5%, or $369,392, compared to the week ending Feb 20. Average price per square foot for Laguna BeachCA was $1,137, an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period last year.     If you’re considering Buying, Selling or Relocating to Laguna Beach or surrounding communities and need a Profes... 03/22/2013

Homes for Sale on the Waterfront in Laguna Beach The quiet, seaside community of Laguna Beach is nestled between Dana Point and Corona del Mar, California. This quaint, resort style community is known as an “Art Colony” due to the many early California artists that painted and resided in this beautiful town. It’s also called the “California Riviera” because of the pleasant climate and custom homes built on the hillsides surrounding the beaches. There are currently 16 Waterfront Homes for Sale in Laguna Beach. These homes range from a $1,495,000 condo on Cliff Dr to the spectacular 7,200 square foot home with “waves-on-the-shore” views in the private gated community of Irvine Cove priced at $38,500,000. Laguna Beach Real Estate: See Homes for Sale by Price Range   Laguna Beach Real Estat... 03/11/2013

Is now a good time to sell my home in Laguna Beach?   It really depends on what’s going on in the homeowner’s life. Your personal needs and desires take precedence over trying to time the market. If the conditions in your life are such that you want to sell or need to sell, then there certainly is no reason to wait. In fact, this is the best time to sell that we’ve seen in years. The market since the beginning of 2013 has been unseasonably active. Buyers didn’t get the message to take off the period between Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday.     Here are a few reasons why it might be a good time to sell your home in Laguna Beach:   Inventory of Homes is Down   There are fewer homes for sale in almost every housing market across the country. Much of the foreclosure and short sale invent... 03/04/2013