Categories
Coral Gables Market Summary Pinecrest

Housing Reports Expected Next Week

While the local real estate news has been giving us a snapshot of what has been happening in Miami’s real estate housing market, several housing reports are due out next week, which will give us a national picture of how the housing recovery is fairing.

  • Tuesday –  S&P Case Shiller home price index:  this index tracks changes in the value of residential real estate at both a national level as well as in 20 metropolitan regions (Miami is one them).  Although it is calculated monthly and is released on the last Tuesday of every month, it is published with a two month lag.  Tuesday’s report will include values through December 2010.
  • Wednesday – new home sales :  this report is based on a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that starts with the number of building permits authorized for single family homes .
  • Thursday  – pending home sales :  this index is prepared by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  Because this report looks a homes that are currently under contract, it gives a good picture of where the housing market is headed in the next couple of months.  Although many of the pending sales fall through due to a variety of reasons (buyer’s don’t qualify or they get impatient waiting for a bank to approve a short sale are the main reasons in today’s market), many of the sales will close thereby absorbing inventory.

As of today, pending home sales in Coral Gables currently stand at 72 (24 since 1/1/11) versus an inventory of 410 active listings (45 new listings since 1/1/11).

Pinecrest pending home sales are 30 (7 since 1/1/11) and active homes for sale are 196  (17 added since 1/1/11).

Categories
Neighborhood News Pinecrest Selling

Village of Pinecrest – Mayor to Give State of the Village Address

Mayor Cindy Lerner will be giving her State of the Village Address on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Banyan Bowl at Pinecrest Gardens.

One of her announcements will probably include the capital improvements taking place at the Banyan Bowl, which will be hosting its first Jazz in the Gardens Concert, featuring the Rodriguez Brothers, on Saturday, January 29, 2011.  The Community Foundation of Pinecrest is assisting with the Banyan Bowl Capital Campaign to raise the necessary funds.

Categories
Coral Gables Pinecrest Things To Do

Wine Tasting in Miami

Looking for something to do tonight?  Try Wolfe’s Wine Shop‘s “Save the Tatas” , an all women winemaker tasting to benefit mammography for those who can’t afford screening.  Tonight from 7-9 pm.  $20 with RSVP/$30 at door.  RSVP [email protected] or tweet @wolfeswines.
Wines to be tasted:
Jean Marc Lafage Cote Est, Cotes Catalanes 2009
Patricia Green Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Oregon 2009
Honig Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2008
Cote Bonneville Chardonnay”DuBrul”,Yakima 2006
Ercavio Tempranillo Roble, La Mancha 2007
Peay “Scallop Shelf” Estate Pinot Noir 2007
Doamine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape 2006
Paolo Scavino Barolo 2005

Another wine tasting a little further south at 9563 South Dixie Hwy:
L’Atelier Gourmet & AB Fine Wines

Come and have taste of a Chardonnay from Mendoza,
a 90 pts Robert Parker Ribera Del Duero, a Sauvignon blanc Pouilly Fume, and a wonderful Syrah Granche
from South of France.  While you are there, pick up some of the pastries for a late night snack.  Their macaroons are amazing!

Categories
Buying Pinecrest Selling

Pinecrest, FL Real Estate – Short Sales Currently Available

There are currently 16 short sales, single family homes,  listed on the MLS in Pinecrest.  They range in price from $2.5 million down to $349,000.

Categories
Coconut Grove Coral Gables Florida Life Neighborhood News Palmetto Bay Pinecrest South Miami

Ironman Triathalon Coming to Miami

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/15462209[/vimeo]The  Rohto Ironman 70.3  is coming to Miami this Saturday, October 30.  The event will mean street closures  and increased traffic so be prepared.  The biking portion will affect the most areas.   Let’s be hospitable to these incredible athletes, share the road, and be patient!

These areas should be avoided from 7a.m – 12 p.m.  These are not all of the streets, so check the map.

In Coconut Grove:

  • South Bayshore Drive
  • Tigertail Avenue
  • Oak Ave
  • Grand Ave
  • Main Highway
  • Poinciana Avenue
  • 37 Avenue from Ingraham Highway to Main Highway
  • 42 Avenue  from Poinciana Ave to 72 Street/Sunset Dr.

In South Miami/South Gables:

  • Sunset Drive from Cocoplum Circle to Ponce de Leon
  • Ponce de Leon to SW 88 Street

In Pinecrest:

  • SW 88 Street westbound lane from SW 57 Avenue to SW 67 Avenue
  • SW 67 Avenue southbound lane to SW 120 Street
  • SW 120 Street westbound lane to SW 82 Avenue
  • SW 82 Avenue southbound lane to exit out of the Village at SW 136 Street
  • Old Cutler Road/SW 57 Avenue northbound lane to exit into Coral Gables

In Palmetto Bay:

  • SW 82 Ave to 168 Street
  • SW 168 Street to 84 Ave
  • SW 84 Ave to SW 174 Street
  • SW 174 to SW 87 Ave

Categories
Pinecrest Things To Do

L'Atelier Gourmet and AB Fine Wines

I just came back from a wine tasting at L’Atelier Gourment and AB Fine Wines.  What a great way to spend a Friday evening!  I went with some French friends who went crazy over the pastries saying they were so French they reminded them of their childhood.  I tasted (and purchased) some amazing wines to start figuring out what I will be serving at Thanksgiving.

If you live and/or work in Downtown Dadeland, take a stroll across U.S. 1.  They have wine tastings most Friday evenings.

Categories
Florida Life Pinecrest Things To Do

L’Atelier Gourmet and AB Fine Wines

I just came back from a wine tasting at L’Atelier Gourment and AB Fine Wines.  What a great way to spend a Friday evening!  I went with some French friends who went crazy over the pastries saying they were so French they reminded them of their childhood.  I tasted (and purchased) some amazing wines to start figuring out what I will be serving at Thanksgiving.

If you live and/or work in Downtown Dadeland, take a stroll across U.S. 1.  They have wine tastings most Friday evenings.

Categories
Neighborhood News Pinecrest

Pinecrest Schools Participate in e-learning Pilot Program

With the assistance and support of Village of Pinecrest Mayor, Cindy Lerner, and Miami-Dade County Public School Board Member, Larry Feldman, two elementary schools in the Village of Pinecrest are participating in an e-technology pilot program.  The schools are using clickers, to engage students in learning and increase the tools teachers have to provide the students with up to the minute information, lesson plans and to make the classroom experience interactive.

When my kids were in middle school years ago, I remember the introduction of Smart Boards and being concerned that technology would take the place of text books.  The media specialist at Palmetto Middle School pointed out that Smart Boards and other forms of technology were important to keep the students engaged, since they were raised with technology and that was their method of learning.  After watching my son learn how to make fishing flies,  paint, and increase his lacrosse skills on-line, I have to admit that technology in classrooms is the way of the future.  Kudos to the Village of Pinecrest for recognizing this and moving forward.

clicker technology

Categories
Florida Life Neighborhood News Pinecrest Things To Do

Pinecrest Gardens To Charge Small Admission Fee

Pinecrest Gardens will be charging a minor entrance fee.  $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children is all it will cost to spend a beautiful day cruising the gardens.  Children will love feeding the fish, looking for turtles, visiting the butterfly garden, going to the petting zoo, playing on the playground or splashing in the water park.  Although many people have been enjoying the park for free, the Village of Pinecrest decided to reinstate an admission fee, though much lower than previous fees, to help cover the $1.5 million it costs to maintain the gardens and increase the programing.

Categories
Neighborhood News Pinecrest

Miami Palmetto Senior High School Has Another Great Year

As Miami-Dade County Public Schools wraps up their academic calendar and students get ready for their summer vacation that starts later this week, I am amazed at how rapidly another school year flew by.  My children are wrapping up their last years of high school and I am grateful that I live in a community that appreciates the difficulties the public schools are experiencing, both economically and because of increased competition, and steps up to the plate to assist.

Some of the achievements of Miami Palmetto Senior High School for the 2009-2010 school year, in no particular order:

  • 15 Silver Knight nominees, winners Noah Gray and Veronica Rigl, honorable mention Michael Grey
  • Athlete of the Year – Michael Saco for swimming
  • won the Class 6A All-Sports Trophy, given to the county’s top athletic program, for the fourth time in the past five years
  • Dade Scholar Athlete of the Year – Denizen Kocak
  • Principal of the Year recipient – Howard Weiner
  • 142 AP Scholars
  • 49 AP Scholars with Honor
  • 96 AP Scholars with Distinction
  • 26 National AP Scholars
  • State Championships for Boys Swimming, 1st place, Girls Bowling 3rd place, Boys Tennis, 4th place
  • All-District Honors Girl’s Lacrosse Team
  • Four National Merit Scholarship Award winners
  • National winners of the LG ecoMobilization High School Cell Phone Recycling cContest
  • Third place honors at the 2010 Florida Envirothon
  • Fairchild Challenge Educator of the Year – Pamela Shlachtman

“Miami Palmetto High School…superior students, an extraordinary education, all in your own backyard.”