Many likely remember the controversy surrounding the closure of Victoria’s historic Crystal Gardens home to many beautiful and exotic plants and animals. After much ado, the Times Colonist reports that “the towering palm trees, rare plants and other fauna that graced the Crystal Garden for decades are coming home.” Their new home is at the recently completed Parkside Resort and Spa on Humboldt.

This wonderful “green homecoming coincides with a sprouting real estate market.” A recent Victoria Real Estate Newsletter reported that there were 764 sales in August, which is nearly double those sold in August 2008. The six-month average is $569,546, which reflects a median price increase of $20,000 for the Victoria region.

Cheers,
Ian and Marilyn

Photo Courtesy of Grayburn Adventures

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Submitted to the Sidney Fine Arts Show 2008 by Anita Brunckhurts

We are pleased to announce that we will be a sponsor at the 2009 Sidney Fine Art Show being held October 16 – 18^th at the Mary Winspear Centre.  This Show is a world-class juried art show for serious artists and patrons of the arts.  The inaugural Show in 2003 was an outstanding success and it has attracted thousands of visitors to the town of Sidney ever since.

For years I have attended the Sooke Fine Arts Show, and have always been very impressed!   As the holder of an Honours Degree in Drawing and Painting from UVIC, it was a pleasure to take my two daughters and their friends to the annual show.  Those favourable impressions have made me yearn to go to the Sidney Art Show, as I have heard that it hosts the same fine calibre of artists.  It just always seemed that a client would need me desperately when it came around to the event, and I would miss it!  Now Ian and I are delighted to combine both of our passions, Art and Real Estate,  in sponsoring the show, and are relieved to think that we will be maybe guaranteed to get there!

Our friend Susan Wakal of “Picture Panache” framing is on the committee for the Sidney Fine Arts Show, and she reports that the show will be the best ever this year, as there are now so many artists wishing to be admitted in the juried show, that the spaces will only go to the very best.  The Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula has now received a record 1,436 entries for the 2009 show, from almost 600 artists! This represents more than a 15% increase in entries over 2008, and an almost 20% increase in the number of artists. The show will be juried by famous artists Donna Baspaly, Catherine Moffat, and Brent Lynch.

Although my daughters are now grown, it will again be a pleasure to  bring them to an Art Show, this time in Sidney.  I can attest to the positive impact of the arts on the development of children, as my 19 year old has an artistic passion for creating gourmet food, and my 17 year old  has been accepted into a grade 12 Advanced Art placement programme.  We are certainly looking forward to the show, and encourage all with children to bring theirs, and nurture them in the same love of the Arts.

Additional information about this event can be accessed via the shows F.A.Q.’s page.

Warm Regards,
Marilyn

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Here it is 9/9/09, a number Pythagoras noted as having unique properties.

Did you know that the sum of two digits resulting from nine multiplied any other single digit number will always equal nine?

So 9×3=27 and 2+7=9 or 9×6=54, and 5+4=9 and so on. Or multiply nine by any two, three or four digit number, and sum of those answers will also break down to 9. (9×87==783, then 7+8+3=18, and 1+8=9).

Also Sept. 9^th happens to be the 252^nd say of the year, yup – 2+5+2=9! Anyway – enough math!!!!

Cheers,
Ian

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We are pleased to announce that one of our clients, Geoff Kabush, placed 5th in the Canberra World Championships this past weekend. Kabush, who had reached the podium at the last two World Cups, finished fifth in 2:06:43 for the best world championship result of his career. It is Canada’s strongest result in the men’s elite race at worlds since Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria won silver in 2003. He trains in Victoria and you can follow him on Twitter. You can view the whole article on www.canada.com about this race and his amazing finish.

Congrats!
Ian and Marilyn

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“We are all aware that music and “atmosphere” go together. We might put-on relaxing music for a quiet romantic dinner, but listen to something livelier while doing some physical work or exercise or out socializing in larger groups. You might have heard of farmers who increase production by playing music to their animals, recent studies showing that listening to fast music whilst driving increases the rate of car accidents, and the Mozart Effect claims to increase intelligence. While some claims may be exaggerated, there is no denying that music can suggest and affect our state of mind. ” – Excerpt Source

This causal relationship remains true in the World of Real Estate. Some homes remind you of a genre, artist, or specific song the moment you lay eyes upon them. Our listing at 1376 Craigdarroch Rd is a wonderful example of this.  It speaks of classical styles like Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin.

We wanted to channel these references during a sunny Open House in August. With the assistance of Julia Wakal of “Bukal, Bukal” music and the University of Victoria Music School, we booked an accordionist Natasha Enquist and cellist Laine Longton to serenade attendees for an hour each on the gorgeous lawn of this historic home. It was magical to see the elderly neighbour thoroughly enjoying the music. She was a University music degree holder from Europe, and was overjoyed to hear the romantic French and Russian love songs from the old country!  It was a terrific event that lightened hearts up and down the historic block.

We would not presume to say that every Open House should include such entertainment, but when the music moves you there’s little harm in stepping outside the standard beat.

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