The South Shore train in Northwest Indiana is used by many not only to commute to work but also for fun adventures into Chicago and other parts of the world.  One of the adventures in downtown Chicago leads to a Chocoholic's Dream:  Ghirardelli and Hershey! How can you go wrong with Ghirardelli and Hershey located right across the street from each other?  The tough decision is which one to go into first.  Let me try to help you with that one by telling you a little about each one.  First, Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop at 830 N Michigan Ave #1, offers an old fashioned ice cream shop.  Even if you prepare yourself ahead of time and tell yourself that you are not going to give in to the ice cream temptation, it won't work.  Don't bother.  Instead, skip lunch and enjoy a large hot fudge and ca... 09/28/2009

Up until 5 years ago, music was a major part of my life.  This is one of the reasons I enjoyed living in Houston for so many years.  We had the Houston Symphony, chamber orchestras, theatre, Theatre Under the Stars and so much more.  Now, living in Valparaiso, Indiana, I have Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra only about an hour away by train.  While in Houston, I spent many countless hours in a practice room - just me and my clarinet.  Practicing, preparing, and I have to admit, enjoying surrounding myself with music. Much time was spent with composers such as Beethoven and the important solo passages in his nine symphonies.  Learning not just the clarinet part but everything else leading up to it and and going on at the same time supporting the passage.  Even though, there are... 09/28/2009

I am such a foodie!  I like cooking food, baking, giving it away, and most of all, I enjoy eating food.  One of my favorite restaurants in downtown Valparaiso, Indiana is Restaurante Don Quijote located at 119 E. Lincolnway. Restaurate Don Quijote offers authentic Spanish food from the the classic regional cuisines of Spain.  Do not expect "fast food" since each dish is carefully prepared from fresh and natural ingredients.  Make no mistake, this is not the same as Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine.  Paella, Spain's culinary classic, is one of their most popular dishes.  Paella is a shellfish and saffron rice dish that includes jumbo shrimp, cod, clams, mussels, squid, and crab legs.  Is your mouth watering yet?  Save room for dessert because they offer several tasty choices to end your meal w... 09/26/2009

The Women's Ministry of Faith Evangelical Bible Church in Valparaiso, Indiana presents "Anxiety and Old Lace" on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 12:30pm.  Ladies, bring your friends, mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmas, aunts, and second cousins twice removed (as long a they are female) to a fun-filled luncheon. Featuring... A Fashion Show of Wedding Dresses through the Decades and A Speaker Discussing Christian Women and Anxiety Tickets are available for $5.00.  Girls 10 years old and under are free.  09/25/2009

One of the most fun places for children in Valparaiso, Indiana is Butterfly Meadows and Caterpillar Crossing.  A playground designed by Little Tykes for ages 2 thru 11, Butterfly Meadow is located on the northwest side of Valparaiso on Campbell off of Bullseye Lake Road.  Behind the playground is a large meadow full of wildflowers that attracts butterflies.  You can also enjoy a pond not far from the playground.  Geese are usually in and around the pond just waiting to be fed. Even if you don't have kids, this is a great place to come and enjoy.  There is plenty of space to find a quiet spot to have a picnic or read a book.  Watching the kids in the playground is an adventure all by itself! The Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Department maintains walking paths leading to Butterfly Meado... 09/25/2009

As I was reading through blogs on AR yesterday morning I came across Susan Brown's post on the Great American DineOut.  Restaurants across the United States are donating part of their profits to help end childhood hunger in America.  Since my family goes out to eat on occasion, I decided to find out if any restaurants in Valparaiso, Indiana are participating in the Great American DineOut.  To my delight, I found that one of my favorites is helping out.  Bistro 157 is located at 157 Lincolnway in historic downtown Valparaiso, just 2 blocks west of the courthouse.  They are open for lunch and dinner and offer some of most delightful food for your taste buds.  I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.  If you have not tried Bistro 157, now is your chance to eat great food and help end... 09/24/2009

Today I suddenly realized that I've gone and done it!  "What have you done?", you might be asking.  Well, I'll tell you even if you didn't ask! All through our moves around the country, I've had a pet peeve.  People don't seem to get out and experience all the fun and beauty around them.  Things are taken for granted.  Places go unseen.  People go on vacation and spend lots of money to have fun when there's fun right around them.  This morning, I left home with the intent of going to Ogden Gardens in Valparaiso, Indiana to take some pictures of the blooming flowers.  First, I decided to run a couple of errands.  Instead of a quick trip, it ended up taking me a couple of hours. Why?  Well, along the way I stopped at a playground where kids where playing and feeding ducks.  Then there wer... 09/23/2009

Ogden Gardens in Valparaiso, Indiana 09/23/2009

It seems that every town in the United States has a pizza place of one kind or another.  Valparaiso, Indiana is fortunate to have several, some chains and some mom and pop type places.  Let me introduce you to Greek's Pizzeria located in downtown Valparaiso at 59 Indiana Avenue, just down the street from the courthouse square.  When we first visited Valparaiso 4 years ago to search for a home, Greek's was a restaurant that was mentioned by several locals as the place for pizza.  Well, we were not disappointed when we did try it and we've been back ever since.  They have even delivered to our home and will to yours too if you live in the area. Here's just one more reason that Valparaiso, Indiana is a great place to live.  One of my favorite things on the menu are their cinnamon knots.  ... 09/23/2009

Give kids sunshine, ice cream, and a camera and you never know what they will do!  We recently decided to have a treat of ice cream for all after a Sunday night service at Faith Evangelical Bible Church in Valparaiso, Indiana.  The adults seemed to prefer to enjoy the ice cream in the gym while most of the kids were outside.  Who do you think had the most fun?     09/22/2009

Along with the charming downtown and historical district, Valparaiso, Indiana also has some beautiful parks, lakes, and walking trails.  On some days, you can even catch sight of deer amongst the trees.  On the north side of Valparaiso, the YMCA recently opened their new facilities.  Just behind the YMCA, shops, and restaurants is this peaceful walking trail.                      I didn't get the pleasure of spotting deer on this day but it was still an enjoyable walk.  It's fun to try to forget that there's a residential subdivision and shopping center not very far at all. 09/22/2009

   Valparaiso, Indiana Popcorn Festival Parade Saturday, September 12, 2009 View from outside our Office @ 13 Lincolnway F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate                      Come Experience the One Day Popcorn Festival in Valpo  Visit the website for more info - > www.popcornfest.org 09/16/2009

Last Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day for the Popcorn Festival in Valparaiso, Indiana.  I don't think we could have asked for a better day.  Sunshine, bands, floats, popcorn, variety of food, and lots of vendors. As unbelievable as it may seem, there were some awesome bargains.  The downtown stores were offering items at discounted prices.  Yes, I spent money! 09/15/2009

Just SOLD - This Shorewood Forest Brick Beauty -> click here for details! We can now take another LISTING in Shorewood Forest, the year round recreational community in Valparaiso, IN that we call home sweet home. We can market your home exclusively to the masses...bringing ready, willing, and qualified buyers and get you movin, just like we did for these happy sellers....here are their own words describing the home selling experience.....   Dear Grace and Jeff, It has been a pleasure working with both of you these past several months.  Your professionalism, knowledge and unique method of marketing my home was exquisite.  I can't thank you enough and would like to say that your energy and kindness through this was both refreshing and appreciated. Sincerely, Rachel and Jim    09/15/2009

The Hot Air Balloon Festival sponsored by the Kiwanis took place this past weekend in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Early on Saturday morning, I left home to run an errand.  To my surprise, I looked up at the beautiful blue sky and saw two hot air balloons flying low overhead.    I realized that one appeared to be coming down even lower to land.  Sure enough.  It made a smooth landing in the K-Mart parking lot right across the street from me that seemed effortless.  Being dependent on the  air currents, piloting one of the many balloons that were in Valparaiso this weekend must be a difficult thing to do.  You would have never guessed it by the skills of this pilot.     09/14/2009

This morning was an absolutely gorgeous morning in Valparaiso, Indiana.  It was that perfect cool temperature for walking and a beautiful blue sky.  On my way to an appointment this morning, I drove through downtown.  Looking around, I was reminded that the Popcorn Parade and Festival is only 2 days away!  Everything is in readiness, waiting for the crowds: Tents are up all over the town square. Signs for popcorn are up The huge Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Tent is empty and waiting for the lunch crowd.  The Farmers Market was taking place right next to the Orville Redenbacher tent. It was impossible not to start looking forward to Saturday.  I'm so glad I was out early and had some time to waste because I just had to park and walk around for awhile.  Here are some pictures of downtown V... 09/10/2009

My title is the story in a nut shell :) Over 2 years ago we had a visiting Pastor from another town in NW Indiana give a sermon at our church. After the service, I chatted with him awhile about non Real Estate related topics. He was polite and asked what I did for a living and I let him know that Jeff & I were Local REALTORS. I produced my Business card from my purse ( it's a habit - I always give our our cards to people we meet IF they ask what we do :) and shortly thereafter the conversation ended and we went home. That was over 2 years ago!   Imagine our surprise whenjust this past month, we get a call from a couple moving to Northwest Indiana who said that this very same Pastor had our card still and told the couple to give us a call to help them find a Home. This week we closed on... 09/06/2009

In my experience of moving around the country, I have found that often people actually know very little about the place that they live in.  It's so easy to get comfortable with where you live and miss some interesting things.  Here are just a few Valparaiso, Indiana facts that someone moving into the area might find useful. Located in Northwest Indiana, at the edge of the Chicago metro area, Valparaiso has a population of 29,951 people as of 2009.  The median home value is at $137,140.  As for climate, Valparaiso, Indiana has an average of 176 sunny days per year.  The July high is around 84 degrees while the January low is 16.  Because of our location being so close to Lake Michigan, the average snowfall is 40 inches per year which is higher than the average US city of 25 inches.  It i... 09/03/2009

Last week we had Breakfast @ a great specialty restaurant in Valpo - JD's Crepe Co. Located @ 3125 N. Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso, IN 46383. Telephone # 219-242-8611. They are open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner - Tuesday Through Saturday from 8 am to 8pm and Sunday from 8 am to 7pm. Fresh Signature Crepes, made to order right in front of you. Or, Build your own creation from a long list of fresh ingredients! They have Children's Choice selection as well!  Reasonably priced, one regular sized crepe is very filling, but if you have a hearty appetite, they have Salads and Soups and side dishes as well! So if you are in the area, support this Local Small Business & spread the word to  family, friends & colleagues to try a Crepe for a change :) Bon Apetit 08/31/2009

Orville Redenbacher - The Man Remembered Up until 5 years ago, I assumed that Orville Redenbacher was not a real person.  I remember watching that first microwave popcorn commercial years and years ago and thinking that he must be a paid actor.  A person that some marketing person made up to sell a product. which in this case happened to be called Orville Redenbacher Popcorn.  To my mind, such a unique name plus a unique person behind the product could only be made up.  You know, like Betty Crocker, who never ages and is constantly changing with the times.  Back then, I had never even heard of Valparaiso, Indiana either.  Little did I know I would end up living in the middle of corn country.  Well, it didn't take long to find out that Orville Redenbacher was indeed a honest to goodness ... 08/28/2009