It's that time of year again! Fourth of July is next week and for those of us in Northern Virginia, that means making plans to celebrate our nation's independence and of course, take in a fireworks display or two!
Below are a few of the many events planned for the NoVA and DC area this Fourth of July— so be sure to mark your calendar!
Mount Vernon Independence Day Celebration - July 2, 2016; 8 AM to 5 PM; George Washington's Mount Vernon. All day long, Mount Vernon will be hosting fun and games, mansion tours, musical performances and even a meet and greet with the First Couple themselves!
Independence Fireworks - July 2, 2016; 6 PM to 10 PM; George Washington's Mount Vernon. Visit Mount Vernon for an evening of fireworks set to patriotic music!
4th of July at Longbridge Park - July 4, 2016; 5 PM to 10 PM; Long Bridge Park, Arlington VA. This FREE Fourth of July event is now in its fifth year, returning with games, live music, a food truck rally and more!
Fairfax Fourth of July Celebration - July 4, 2016; 10 AM to 10:30 PM; Old Town Historic Fairfax VA. Don't miss the largest FREE parade in Northern Virginia! Parade begins at 10 AM, winding through Old Town Fairfax and continues at Fairfax High School for entertainment at 7 PM and fireworks at 9:30 PM!
4th of July in Herndon - July 4, 2016; 6:30 PM to 10 PM; Bready Park, Herndon VA. Enjoy this classic celebration featuring arts, crafts, games, music and more! Choreographed musical fireworks show begins at 9:30.
4th of July in Falls Church - July 4, 2016; 7 PM to 10 PM; City Hall and George Mason High School, Falls Church VA. This free events includes a musical performance beginning at 7 PM, followed by fireworks at 9:20 PM.
Town of Vienna Fourth of July Celebration - July 4, 2016; 4 PM to 10:30 PM; Southside Park, Vienna VA. The fun begins at 4 PM with food, a chili dog eating contest, musical entertainment starting at 7 PM and fireworks at 9:30 PM.
4th of July Hometown Celebration - July 4, 2016; 8 AM to 9:30 PM; Great Falls Village Centre and Turner Farm Park, Great Falls VA. The 5K and festivities begin at 8 AM at Great Falls Village Centre, followed by a parade at 10 AM, and fireworks at Turner Farm Park. Gates open at 6 PM.
McLean Fireworks - July 4, 2016; 6:30 PM; Churchill Road Elementary School, McLean VA. New location this year! Grounds open at 6:30 PM for fireworks show at dusk.
I wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.
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You've made a wish list of all of the features you want in a potential Northern Virginia home and now it's time for the house hunt to begin. However, after viewing a few properties, you may notice that not every one of your must-haves can be fulfilled in a single home in your price range.
What now? Compromise. While it is not always a word NoVA homebuyers like to hear, there are worthwhile trade-offs you will want to consider as you view available properties this summer.
Square footage
A potential home in Northern Virginia could have everything you're looking for— an updated kitchen, the right school district, proximity to family and friends—but that could also mean giving up a playroom or guest bedroom. A compromise on square footage should only be entertained if you don't anticipate your space needs growing in the near future, otherwise you could find yourself needing to move all too soon.
Location
If a compromise on square footage is not in the cards for you, many buyers find they are willing to budge on location. Oftentimes, a home within walking distance to entertainment, shops and restaurants is smaller than you would like— but moving a bit farther away could open you up to more homes that meet the criteria on your wish list.
Backyard
Suppose a home fits the bill with the right amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as your budget, but you step outside to find a smaller yard. A compromise on yard size may be worthwhile if the home's interior succeeds in providing the space you are looking for this summer.
I have decades of experience in helping NoVA homebuyers find their dream property, identifying what is most important in terms of features, location and size. Do not hesitate to contact me today for more information about the current real estate market or available homes in the area!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.
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Just as we've been anticipating here in Northern Virginia, the unofficial start of summer will arrive this weekend! Memorial Day typically kicks off the season with a long weekend of barbecues, beach visits, pool time and afternoons spent in the sun.
If you'll be in Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean, Mount Vernon or the surrounding communities this weekend, here are a few events that you will want to add to your calendar:
Memorial Day Observance Arlington National Cemetery. May 30, 2016; 10:30 AM. Arlington, VA. Around 5,000 visitors are expected to attend each of the two ceremonies planned for Memorial Day in the amphitheater beginning at 10:30 AM. After, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 11 AM, followed by an observance program in the amphitheater.
Star-Spangled Sing-Along. May 28, 2016; 2 PM. Reston, VA. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free patriotic sing-along with the Reston Chorale. This event will be held at the Reston Town Center Pavilion and include kids activities and refreshments.
ViVa Vienna! Memorial Day Festival. May 28-30, 2016; 10 AM to 10 PM Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday. Vienna, VA. This local NoVA event is free to attend and 100% of the proceeds go to support charitable and community organizations. Attendees can expect rides, over 300 vendors, food, crafts and more!
39th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival. May 30, 2016; 1 PM to 5 PM. Alexandria, VA. Free to attend, this popular festival celebrates the holiday with jazz by the river. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. This year's festival will hold performances on the hour beginning at 1 PM, with the last beginning at 5 PM.
Memorial Day Festival and Parade. May 30, 2016; 9 AM. Falls Church, VA. With more than 10,000 visitors expected to gather on the City Hall grounds, the Memorial Day Festival in Falls Church includes a Fun Run (9 AM), veterans' ceremony (11 AM), kids activities, food, vendors, parade (2 PM) and more!
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions about the Northern Virginia real estate market— I'm here to help! I wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.
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It won't be long before the start of summer is here in Northern Virginia! And while we're all certainly looking forward to warmer temperatures, the summer heat can bring about a rise in utility bills for NoVA homeowners.
There are dozens of ways to keep mounting utility costs at bay this year and as your Northern Virginia real estate expert, I'm sharing some with you below!
Clean your air filters
It's important to clean your air filters to keep your heating and cooling bills down this summer. When filters are dirty, these systems have to work much harder and use much more energy to function properly. With clean filters, your home can run as it is meant to and help bring down your utility bills.
Install a new thermostat
If you haven't already, consider installing a new thermostat in your NoVA home. A programmable model can control your home's temperature at various times of the day—for instance, when you're sleeping or out of the house—to keep costs low. These types of thermostats can reduce your energy usage drastically this summer.
Add mulch
Summer is a popular season for planting flowers, vegetables and herbs, but that also means you'll be watering more often. Adding mulch into your landscaping will help to slow evaporation, keep the water on the ground longer and allow you to water less frequently.
Apply window film or curtains
To keep the hot summer sun out of your home and reduce cooling costs, NoVA homeowners can install curtains or window film. Installing window film is as simple as measuring your window size, cutting the film and applying it to your window; this will help to block the heat from entering your home.
If you're ready to begin house-hunting in Northern Virginia this summer or contemplating selling your home, give me a call today!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.
With the Fourth of July now just days away, you may be finalizing your plans to watch the fireworks and attend parades or other celebrations of our nation's independence. Northern Virginia has so many opportunities this year to celebrate the red, white and blue, with a host of other exciting events in nearby DC!
If you haven't made your Fourth of July plans just yet, below are a few around the Northern Virginia area that you might like to pencil in!
An American Celebration
July 4, 2014
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens
What better place to kick off the Fourth of July than in Mount Vernon, the home of our nation's first president? During this Independence Day event, there will be a daytime fireworks display as well as a naturalization ceremony for new citizens, military reenactments, a wreath-laying ceremony and of course, birthday cake. There will even be a special appearance by General and Mrs. Washington themselves!
Capitol Hill Independence Day Parade
July 4, 2014; 10 AM
Downtown Washington, between 8th and I Streets, SE
Washington, DC
A parade in the nation's capital that will include antique cars, community leaders, superheros, princesses, area schools, performers and even contestants from the Ms. United States Pageant. Leading this year's parade will be the Commandant's Own Drum and Bugle Corps and following the event, there will be a community fair held at Eastern Market Metro Plaza will more entertainment, food and games.
Falls Church Independence Day Fireworks
July 4, 2014; 7 PM and 9 PM fireworks start time
George Mason High School
Falls Church, VA
This event will kick off with music at 7 PM by Beatles tribute band, The Apple Core. Fireworks will begin just after 9 PM, but in case of rain, the event will be reschedule for the same time and location on July 5.
Great Falls Fourth of July Festival
July 4, 2014; 8 AM
Great Falls Village Center
Great Falls, VA
While there will be no fireworks at this event, guests can come to enjoy a 5K Run/Walk, parade for the kids as well as main parade for the whole family, in addition to food and fun on the Village Center Green.
Herndon 4th of July Celebration
July 4, 2014; 6:30 PM
Bready Park
Herndon, VA
The Town of Herndon will be hosting a fun event with games, activities including bingo and face painting, as well as entertainment, food and fireworks. The fireworks show will begin at dark, around 9:30 PM, and this year will be choreographed to music.
The Fourth of July is a great time to explore NoVA and all it has to offer, not to mention enjoying the holiday in Washington, DC! If you have questions about the local communities, feel free to contact me! I have nearly 3 decades of experience to help answer all of your questions and concerns.
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.
Now that summer is on the horizon, May is the month to get your Northern Virginia home for what lies ahead. Start at the very top with your attic, work your way out with a stop in the kitchen, before heading outside to tackle the outdoor projects. According to Bob Vila, these are the 5 most important projects for your NOVA home to prepare for the dog days of summer.
1. Prepare for the Heat
While the weather has been enjoyable as of late, we tend to forget just how warm it can get during the summer months. If you prepare ahead of time, you can enjoy the summer with comfortable indoor temperatures without breaking the bank. No unnecessary cooling bills for the NOVA homeowner here!
The first step is addressing your attic insulation. Think about installing an attic fan to sweep out the heat and keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape. Next up, ceiling fans. These should be installed in rooms where you spend the most time— kitchen, family room, and bedrooms— and using these instead of the AC will save you money in the long run.
2. Update the Kitchen
For this season's update, it doesn't have to be a total renovation. Want a quick change? Think about swapping out your old tile for a new backsplash. Or if your ready for a more lengthy weekend project, try refacing your kitchen cabinets. A new wood or a bright coat of paint can instantly brighten up the kitchen in your NOVA home.
3. Yard and Garden Sprucing
May is the time to prepare to spend your days outside in the summer. Improve your landscaping with edging, or plant container gardens or flowers that will cheer up your walkways. For some added fun, try creating your own outdoor pots out of everyday items. Old shoes and even appliances make interesting yard embellishments.
4. No Summer Pests
The best way to deal with outdoor pests in the summer is the natural way. For instance, mice cannot stand the smell of peppermint and cockroaches will flee from Tabasco sauce. Find natural ways to scare off these critters and your summer in the Northern Virginia area will be one of the best yet.
5. Get Ready to Barbecue
Spruce up your deck and patio before barbecue season. Make any necessary repairs to the patio surface and check that your grill is in working order. It's best to clean off old residue and dirt before you fire up the charcoal!
