5 Things to Experience in Boston This June!

Summer is finally here!  With winter in the rearview mirror, it’s time to get out and experience all that Boston, MA has to offer!  One of the things that I love most about Boston is the wide variety of activities and events that the city provides.  It’s one of the reasons so many choose to live here!  As an experienced Boston area realtor, I know how important it is to be close to both work and play in the place that you choose call home.  Here are just a few fun and interesting options you could enjoy this June in the area.

Scooper Bowl Fest

City Hall Plaza, Boston

June 3rd  - 5th

Eating ice cream for a good cause?  Yes please!  This fundraiser scoops out over 10 tons of frozen treats which has benefited the Jimmy Fund for cancer research at Dana-Farber for 32 years running.  

Dragon Boat Fest

Charles River, with Festival on the Cambridge side of the river

June 14th - 15th

Visit Boston's annual Dragon Boat Festival, and see over 50 teams compete.  This is largest dragon boat race in North America!  Enjoy the beautiful and ornate boats with varied levels of rowers racing to the finish line.  At the festival on Sunday, you will get to experience Asian arts and crafts, martial arts, and dance performances

Boston Irish Festival

Irish Cultural Centre, Canton, MA

Weekends, May 31st - June 14th

In celebration of the Irish Cultural Centre's 25th Anniversary, the festival is going to take place over 3 weekends this year!  On May 31st, there will be a performance by Flying High Frisbee Dogs, free face painting, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, Rugby, Hurling, and Gaelic Football clinics for kids.  On June 6th and 7th, experience phenomenal musicians — buy ticket in advance because they will sell out!  June 14th will highlight the Liam Harney School of Irish Dancing with its magnificently talented Irish step dancers.  

Coolidge Arts & Brookline Food Festivals

June 7th

Devotion School, Brookline

Experience the works of over 75 fine artists while enjoying delicious food from the local restaurants.  Pick up a one of a kind piece and discover your new favorite restaurant all at once!

Beer Tasting Sail

June 19th

Rowes Wharf and Fan Pier, Boston 

Partake in an evening sail aboard Boston’s most historic tall ship while you try some of the city’s best microbrews, along with appetizers and music!  How better to kick off summer than out on the water!

There is something to offer every taste and preference in the Boston area this summer.  Even if these events don’t suit your fancy, I’m certain there is something else that will!  If you would like more information about the area, please contact me!  I’m sure that the more you find out, the more you will want me to assist you in finding the perfect home here!  If you already own Boston real estate, I would also love to help you sell your current and find your next Boston dream home.  I have a passion for Boston real estate, and I love to share it with my clients! 

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes

5 Art Events Coming Up in Boston, MA!

I hope you had a fabulous Fourth of July in Boston, MA! Do you ever feel down after the holiday weekend passes by? If you think the best of summer in Boston is over, I’m here to let you know that’s not true! Tons of events and activities continue to fill the Boston calendar. Check out my Boston events page for a full list.

Aside from mainstream events, Boston, MA has a very original artsy and musical following, with lots of art events every week. As your Boston real estate agent, I’d like to introduce you to five events coming up. Bring the whole family, because most of these are appropriate for kids, too!

1. Every Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., bring the kids onto the Boston Harbor Islands for Arts in the Park! Each week, free art and craft activities are designed especially for kids, including watercolor, drawing, ocean-themed creations and more. This Thursday will take place on Spectacle Island, while July 18 will take place on Georges Island. You can catch ferries to the islands from downtown Boston’s Long Wharf North. 
2. Also on Thursday, head to the Institute of Contemporary Art from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for Harborwalk Sounds 2013. This week is Wambura Mitaru Synergy, which combines African root sounds from a South African guitarist, Egyptian percussionist and Kenyan vocalist. It’s a hybrid tune like nothing you’ve heard before! Admission to the museum is free every Thursday night, with different musical performers. 
3. The birth of modern France occurred on July 14, 1789, after the storming of the Bastille prison. To celebrate, Boston’s French Cultural Center is hosting Bastille Day on Friday, July 12, from 6 to 11 p.m. A portion of Marlborough Street will be blocked off for a street party, with high-energy music for dancing! Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 on the day of. Several French restaurants in Boston will also offer French food and drink specials. 
4. On July 13, head to the WGBH Studios for FunFest 2013! This fest features lots of ice cream from multiple vendors, Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese Food Truck and live musical performers that are family friendly. For kids, there will be interactive games, face painting, inflatable rides and more. Numerous PBS characters will be present for your kids to meet and get photos with. Tickets cost $10 or $35 for a family four-pack, and the fest runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
5. On July 14, bring the whole family down to the Museum of Fine Arts. They are participating in the Open Streets on the Avenue of the Arts and the Outside the Box festivals to bring you live musical performances and drop-in art! This will take place right outside of the Huntington Avenue Entrance from 2 to 4 p.m. and is free to participants. 

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes

5 July Events to Look Forward to In Boston!

 

I hope you all had a fabulous Fourth of July holiday in Boston! Once Harborfest and fireworks come and go, it seems like the rest of summer just flies by, doesn’t it? 

Before it’s over, make sure to check out the Boston Real Estate market! Home sales and home prices have increased in the past month and homeownership optimism is high. If you’ve been waiting to buy or sell, now is the time to do it while mortgage rates are still at historic lows!

Now is also the time to jumpstart your fun summer to-do list. Luckily, the fun never stops in Boston! July is a heated month in both weather and activities around our bustling Boston city! To keep you busy, here are some upcoming events that your Boston Real Estate agent here took note of for you:

• New to Boston? Been here forever? Check out the Improv Asylum’s annual version of Lost in Boston. Tickets cost between $15 and $20 and take place on Sundays at 4 and 8 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., starting tonight! You’ll learn all kinds of new information about Boston all while poking fun at it and its people. Expect audience participation! 

• Don’t pack all your summer fun into weekends. On Thursdays in July and August, starting tomorrow, you can head to ICA Boston from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for free concerts! Berklee College of Music students, alumni and faculty perform during these free shows, from jazz to Latin.

• The French language is beautiful, isn’t it? Enjoy French accents during the Annual Boston French Film Festival from July 12 to 29 at the Museum of Fine Arts. All of the movies include English subtitles, so you have no excuse not to check out another realm of film and culture!

• Fan of food trucks? Haven’t gotten a chance to try one? Not sure which are the good ones? Head to a Boston Food Truck Festival to try one of try them all! One will take place in Elm Park in Worcester on July 14, and one will take place in Artesani Herter Park in Brighton on July 28. Food trucks are the closest thing to enjoying a picnic outside without having to pack the food!

• Summer Arts Weekend is coming up July 27-29 around Copley Square in Back Bay. This impressively sized festival features free concerts throughout each day, including jazz, classical, bluegrass, folk, Celtic and more! During the day, you can enjoy the sunshine and live music while strolling around street performers, local artists, food trucks and theater performances. At night, you can head into local restaurants to hear live music while enjoying food and drink specials.

For more upcoming events and activities in Boston, check out the Boston Discovery Guide for this month.

In between your pool parties, barbecues and festivals, take a moment to check out what’s available in the Boston Real Estate market! If you’re in the market to buy a house in Boston, you may just see the home of your dreams. If you’re looking to sell your Boston home, you’ll realize that inventory is low and your chances of scoring a sale are high!

Have questions about real estate in Boston? Contact me, your Boston Real Estate agent! I will share with you my love for Boston while answering all of your questions and helping you succeed in your buying or selling goals. 

Now go out and enjoy the Boston sunshine!

 

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585

Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes

Upcoming Fairs & Fests in Boston!

The final month of summer has arrived in Boston, MA before the children return to school and the temperatures begin to slowly descend. If you feel like you haven’t made the most of this hot, sunny season, no worries! The Boston area still supplies ample fairs and festivals for you to enjoy before it’s too late.

To help you plan your month of August, I’m here as your Boston Real Estate agent to fill you in on fun opportunities happening around the city. Choose a fest that interests you, enjoy your day, and let me deal with your buying and selling needs for awhile! When you feel refreshed, come on back and we’ll discuss the Boston Real Estate market in more detail.

Bolton Fair

Don’t waste any time catching up on summer fests! The 129th Bolton Fair begins tomorrow and runs through Aug. 14. This old-fashioned agricultural fair is one of the few remaining fairs to focus on agriculture and animals. Bring the whole family for incredible shows, such as the Live Shark Encounter, the Marvelous Mutts performance and numerous musical performances, along with a petting zoo, a hypnotist, horse and oz pulls, a livestock exhibit, a fiddler contest, blacksmith demonstrations and tons more.

Block Parties

There is nothing quite like getting out to enjoy a summer weeknight, and that is just what Thursday Night Block Parties offer! Located on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing, these parties are for those 21 and up, looking to prep for their weekends. It includes DJs and live music, wine and beer, prizes and an array of food from local restaurants. Come straight from work and socialize with others in the area from 5 to 8 p.m. You’ll still be home early enough to get a good rest before work on Friday!

Open Markets

Get out and enjoy the fresh air on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, head to the Greenway Open Market held at the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway in Boston. You can find all sorts of original arts and crafts from 60 local vendors! From handmade jewelry and handbags to personal paintings and photographs, you’re sure to find something you like. Then on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., head to the more well-known SoWa Open Market, now in its eighth season! This market not only offers goods from artists and crafters, but also from farmers, musicians, food trucks and more, totaling 140 vendors.

Health & Fitness Fair

Before the cold weather hits and you convert into a couch potato, enjoy this last month of summer at the fun and inspirational Health & Fitness Fair Saturday, Aug. 13! From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South End Community Health Center in Boston, join other health enthusiasts for health screenings, cooking demonstrations, exercise demonstrations and Zumba, a dance-oriented fitness class! Don’t worry about getting overloaded with fitness, either. The fair also provides free music, food, games, bingo, face painting, and more!

Greenfest

From Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, head to the Boston City Hall Plaza for Boston Greenfest 2011! This free fest packs in over 200 exhibitors and vendors and more than 80 live performances on four different stages. The fest incorporates a multicultural, environmental theme, with EcoFitness demonstration classes, EcoArt, EcoPoetry and so much more! What exactly entails EcoPoetry? You’ll just have to attend and find out!

Isn't Boston a fabulous city to live in? Which fest activities do you think you’ll partake in? Let me know what you’re looking most forward to and what you enjoy at the fests and fairs that you attend in the next couple of weeks! As your Boston Real Estate agent, I love to keep up with my clients and all Boston-area residents. Need help selling your home or buying a new home in Boston, MA? I’m great for that too. Contact me today and we’ll dive into the Boston Real Estate market together!

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes

Upcoming Summer Events in Boston!

Summer has burst to life in the city of Boston! Pools have opened, grills are fired up, flower gardens have bloomed and the smell of freshly cut grass fills the air. As your Boston Real Estate agent, I’m also here to remind you that the Boston Real Estate market bursts to life right along with the gardens and grills. If you haven’t already, now is the time to sell your Boston home or buy a Boston home from the Boston Real Estate market! As always, I am here to help you with all of that.

Because you have such a reliable Boston Real Estate agent to help with you with your real estate endeavors, that leaves you plenty of time to check out all that Boston has to offer during these summer months! The Boston calendar of events is overflowing with things to do. Whether you’d like to get the most out of Boston before you move, or you’d like to get to know your new city, there is an upcoming event for everybody!

World Flower Show

If you love flowers, Boston is the place to be! Starting today and running through June 19, the 10th World Association of Flower Arrangers’ World Flower Show comes to the Seaport Boston Hotel Trade Center! Not only is this the first time that this show is making an appearance in the United States, but Boston is the only place that will host the show! Each day, you can expect to view 630 floral designs, which represent 32 different countries. Floral art demonstrations and floral lecture series will also be provided. Talk about gardening inspiration! Tickets cost $25 online and $30 at the door, so buy early!

Free Morning Yoga

What could be better than free and healthy? That’s what free morning yoga is all about. Every Thursday morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m., join others at the Boston Common Frog Pond for a free, drop-in yoga class. The yoga moves help to stretch your limbs and energize your body and mind for the day ahead. Plus, it’s located outside, in the fresh air, and at the country’s oldest park! A limited number of yoga mats are available for use, so either come early or bring your own. Who’s up for yoga tomorrow morning?

Boston Irish Festival!

No summer event in Boston can beat the 21st Annual Boston Irish Festival! Beginning June 17 and running through June 19, this weekend festival reunites the city’s Irish heritage with Irish sports, music, dancing, film, art, food, song, history and more! It also includes shopping at the O’Connell Street Marketplace, Irish book readings and sales at the ICC Library Tent and even genealogy research information! This is one event that, if you live in or are visiting Boston, you can’t miss.

Floral Still Life Workshop

Try your hand in art at the Floral Still Life Workshop for Adults and Children 10 and Up! This event takes place at the Cumberland Public Library, which is only a short drive away. You can pay $60 for all four sessions or $15 per class. The first class is next Wednesday, June 22, followed by classes on June 29, July 13 and July 20. From 6 to 8 p.m., you will create individual art pieces using your medium of choice. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a list of materials to bring with.

Weeknight Karaoke

Need to get out on a weeknight? Sometimes the weekends can’t come soon enough. To break up your week, head out on a Thursday night for karaoke with your friends! Lansdowne Pub in Boston begins live summer karaoke every Thursday night starting June 23. It begins at 9 p.m. and is open to everyone age 21 and over. Whether you gather up the courage to sing your favorite song, or you just enjoy listening to the other brave souls who do, it’s a great way to socialize and have some weeknight fun.

As your Boston Real Estate agent, I want you to enjoy every minute you have in the beautiful city of Boston. I also want to help you sell your Boston home or buy your dream home in Boston. Contact me sooner than later, because the Boston Real Estate market is alive and ready for you now!

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes