Archive for June, 2008
Gourmet Dining, Classical Music and A Rural Retreat Make for a Perfect Weekend Getaway
June 25th, 2008 Categories: Things to Do, Weekend Pass
Local music offerings abound (like the Del Ray Music Festival). But if you’re looking for music AND a weekend getaway AND gourmet dining, consider driving about 4 hrs. west to Bath County. There, snug against the Alleghenies, you’ll find it all in a decidedly rural setting. In fact, Bath County has no traffic lights - and for many Northern Virginia residents that might be reason enough for a getaway!
The Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, VA is the unique vision of Christine Herter Kendall who died in 1981.
The center produces about 50 events a year many of which are at night and where dinner may start with a minted pea soup with a scallop mousseline.
This year’s offerings will include a world-premiere composition in August by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Paul Moravec.
For more information, click here.
Michael
| Currently No Comments »
Live Music, Food and Games at the Del Ray Music Festival, Saturday June 28
June 24th, 2008 Categories: Del Ray, Things to Do
Music - and the Del Ray Music Festival - will take center stage on the fields of the Mt. Vernon Rec Center this Saturday, June 28 as part of the ongoing Town of Potomac Centennial Celebration that started in January.
Actually, the full musical line up will take two stages with bands starting at 10 in the morning (be sure and get to the Farmers Market early) and running until 10 in the evening.
Sponsored by the Del Ray School of Music, The Birchmere, Acoustic Axis and the Del Ray Centennial, expect to hear everything from Brazilian Fusion to jazz to bluegrass to classical guitar and gypsy swing!
Click here for a full schedule and more information about the bands.
Food will be provided by Del Ray favorites Let’s Meat on the Avenue, Del Merei Grille and Taqueria Poblano. Yum!
And this great poster? Thanks to Ellen Hamilton at Yellow Dot Designs.
What a great way to spend a Saturday, Del Ray style. See you at the Mt. Vernon Rec Center on Saturday -
Michael
| Currently 1 Comment »
Mortgage Rates Rise Slowly as Food and Energy Prices Increase
June 23rd, 2008 Categories: Mortgage Update
Driven upward by food and energy price increases, the Producer Price Index (PPI) climbed by 1.4% and mortgage rates continued a slow move upward. Removing those two variables decreases the PPI to a more modest 0.2% but the annualized core reading is still sitting at 3.0% - well above nearly every expert’s comfort range.
The Federal Open Market Committee will meet later this summer and while nearly every expert is predicting that the Fed will stand pat on interest rates, the odds are increasing for a rate hike in August.
Stay tuned next time for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) final 1st quarter numbers. Rob Clark, Preferred Mortgage, warns that if the GDP is revised from 0.09% to higher than 1.2%, we could see additional pressure to move mortgage rates upward.
The good news?
The declining market approach is being eliminated by a number of lenders. In our area that means loans up to $417,000 with 5% down and up to $727,750 with a 10% down payment.
If you or anyone you know is considering a move please give me a call. I’ll help you find you the best house and the best financing possible.
Michael
| Currently 2 Comments »
