King of the County BBQ Challenge and Music Festival

Martinez Waterfront Park, Martinez, California

This weekend you and your family are invited to come out and be among the over 15,000 expected attendees at this year’s King of the County BBQ Challenge and Music Festival event.  Considered to be the most spectacular summer happening in all of Contra Costa County, the event promises to be even bigger and better than in year’s past.
 
For its 8^th consecutive year, the King of the County BBQ Challenge and Music Festival will be featuring a barbecue challenge, a kid’s zone, a Music Festival, an Arts and Crafts Fair, beer, wine, and more.  Bring the entire family out to the Martinez Waterfront Park to indulge in this FREE, festival-type extravaganza.
 
The barbecue being showcased at this year’s event will cover a wide range of cooking styles.  Judging will be taking place throughout the course of the weekend, awarding the winner on Sunday. Entertainment will be provided by musicians representing a variety of musical genres, and the kids will be happily occupied in the provided children’s play area, while you shop the arts and crafts vendors.  Exhibiting unique, one-of-a-kind gift items, the merchants will be selling jewelry, clothing, ceramics, mixed media items, and more.
 
So who is the King of BBQ in Contra Costa County?  You will have to bring the family out this weekend in order to find out.  The King of the County BBQ Challenge and Musical Festival event guarantees to provide a weekend chalked full of fun for both adults, and children alike!
 
Saturday June 14^th - 10:00 AM 
Sunday June 15^th - 10:00 AM

For more information regarding the King of the County BBQ Challenge and Music Festival, please click here.

Saraya and Simon Motley
Pacific Union and Christie’s International Real Estate
Serving Alameda & Contra Costa Counties
510.459.4338/direct . 925.385.8503/direct
925.403.7802/eFax
saraya@eastbayhouse.com
www.eastbayhouse.com
CalBRE License #01265873 

  

Photo courtesy of Vince/flickr.com.

Transform Your Backyard Into a Stellar Entertaining Space

Want to add some square footage to your living room and kitchen? Instead of a contractor, consider hiring a landscaper. 

These days, the backyard has become an extension of a home’s living space, with elaborately landscaped patios and decks and outdoor kitchens that put a charcoal grill to shame. 

And if you’re looking to sell, staging a home’s backyard is a great way to set your listing apart and help a buyer fall in love with your home, indoor and out. 

With the Bay Area’s idyllic weather and beautiful scenery, outdoor home improvements are a no-brainer. Here are five ideas from Planet, a landscapers trade association, to help turn your backyard into a top-notch entertaining space for year-round relaxation. 

BARBECUE GRILL AND BEYOND: Outdoor kitchens become the center of family life in the summer. They can be as simple as a patio with a grill and table or as lavish as a complete kitchen made of stone or brick, with a stove, oven, counters, sink, and refrigerator. 

MOOD LIGHTING: Outdoor lighting shows off landscaping and illuminates walkways and porches, adding curb appeal and increasing safety. So-called “nightscaping” can make your backyard a more pleasant place to hang out once the sun goes down. A set of solar walkway lights adds an eco-friendly touch. 

LIGHT A FIRE: Whether you opt for a portable fire pit or a sturdy stone fireplace built into a wall, a cozy fire is a natural conversation aid. It also helps extend evening entertaining well into the fall and winter. 

CALMING WATERS: Consider adding a water feature, such as a pond, a water wall, or a fountain. This amenity can help instill your backyard with a sense of tranquility and might also attract wildlife. 

BEAUTIFUL WILDFLOWERS, HERBS: Wildflowers or herbs are beautiful and fragrant, whether as container gardens or ground cover. These gardens also benefit the environment and small animals, which can use the garden as a source of food and shelter. You can also use an herb garden to spice up your own meals. 

MORE FROM THE PLANET WEBSITE: For plenty of landscaping ideas and smart outdoor-care tips, spend some time perusing the complete Planet website. Topics include child- and pet-friendly yards; caring for plants, trees, and grass; seasonal advice; sustainable landscapes; water-saving tips; green roofs; and indoor plants. 

Contact me today for a consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and/or help you determine the best projects to increase your home's value.

Saraya and Simon Motley

Pacific Union and Christie’s International Real Estate

Serving Alameda & Contra Costa Counties

510.459.4338/direct . 925.385.8503/direct

925.403.7802/eFax

saraya@eastbayhouse.com

www.eastbayhouse.com

CalBRE License #01265873  

(Image: Flickr/MediaDirector)

Urban Farm Tours

Institute for Urban Homesteading, Oakland, California

When you think of Oakland, California, the thought of gardening seldom comes to mind, due to its urban nature.  However, urban gardening is an up and coming trend among Oakland residents.  Whether you live on a small, medium, or large lot, there is a home-scale urban garden design possibility for you.  The Institute of Urban Homesteading invites you to come out this Saturday to see what the urban farmers are up to, and what they have in store for you!
 
An urban farm or garden can grow food in the form of fruits and vegetables, or can be contained to only flowers and shrubbery.  They are gardens grown on urban pieces of land that would not typically be considered dedicated gardening areas.  The Urban Farm Tours event will demonstrate what some of Oakland’s urban farmers are growing today, and the various ways that you may be able to incorporate their practices at your home.  The event will feature lectures on creating the garden, composting techniques, and how the garden will function.  The use of space will be explained in detail to give ideas of what is possible on your piece of land, regardless of its size.  You will see fruit and vegetable gardens, farm animals, beehives, and more.  There will also be discussions on the utilization of rainwater catchment, hillside gardening, earthen buildings, mulching, and more.  Feel free to ask questions, gather advice, and even sample some of the bounty the farmers have produced.
 
There are two options in paying for admission to the Urban Farm Tours event.  Your first option is to pay as you go.  It will cost $5.00 per person, per each location visited.  The second purchasing option is to pay for an all-day pass.  The cost is $30.00 for adults, and $18.00 for children.  The all-day pass allows you to visit any, and all locations.  To purchase your family’s passes online, please click here.
 
You and your family absolutely should not miss out on the opportunity to participate in the Urban Farm Tours event.  There are a variety of home-scale urban farms to visit throughout the day, lending ideas for what could be achieved in your own backyard!
 
Saturday June 7^th - 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
 
For more information regarding the Urban Farm Tours event, please click here.

Saraya and Simon Motley
Pacific Union and Christie’s International Real Estate
Serving Alameda & Contra Costa Counties
510.459.4338/direct . 925.385.8503/direct
925.403.7802/eFax
saraya@eastbayhouse.com
www.eastbayhouse.com
CalBRE License #01265873   
 
Photo courtesy of Lamiot/commons.wikimedia.org.