Well, I have to say, I never saw this one coming, but when I think about it, I think it makes sense for certain sellers/properties. Some high end homes tend to sit on the market, not only because the buyer pool for them is so much smaller than for more modestly priced homes, but also because the luxury market prices didn’t recover quite as much as the rest of the market after the recession. As a result, we see days on market for luxury homes often stretch into the hundreds. One trend that is just starting to pick up steam is for sellers of those properties to offer them as Air B&B rentals. While a few thousand dollars here and there may not alleviate all financial pressure related to the house having gone unsold, it may help! While we are just starting to see this crossover happening in the United States, London has already watched the trend grow. I think it’s a great option for sellers to consider, especially if their homes are in popular vacation or tourist spots. I remember some locals putting their houses on Air B&B when the U.S. Open was held at the Merion Golf Club. People with homes bordering (or close to) the golf course made a mint! Definitely worth considering.
All Posts
King of Prussia Mall–Living at the Mall
I know plenty of people who spend what appears to me (admittedly, a non-shopper) to be an inordinate amount of time shopping, particularly at the mall. It seems like they practically live there. But that would be silly, right? Because the King of Prussia mall is all commercial, not residential, right? Well, maybe, but maybe not for long. Even though our up-scale mall has been fairly well insulated from the well-documented slow death of brick and mortar establishments, it, too has begun to have some challenges filling some of the spaces. Department stores have been the hardest hit in this declining popularity of retail stores and the empty J.C. Penney building bears testament to this trend.
Simon Property Group, which owns the K.O.P. mall is considering a plan to turn the old department store space (17 acres) into a mixed use combination of office space, some shops and residential apartments. So you really might be able to live at the mall! Zoning variances would have to be approved and the plan is really more of an idea in its infancy, but it’s a fascinating concept. To be able to walk to the mall to pick up what you need without fighting traffic and looking for parking might appeal to many people. I, for one, will be keeping tabs on this proposed project to see if it actually might come to fruition.
Relocating is Especially Hard for Kids: Some Tips
So you’re moving to a new area. Maybe you have a new job, or you’re returning to your home town to care to be near family; maybe you’re just ready for a change. Whatever the reason for your move, you’ve had some level of choice in making the decision to relocate. In most cases, your children have NOT. Think about that for a minute. Even if, for you, this is an exciting new phase you’re looking forward to, your children may not feel the same way. Moving is scary! They will have to make new friends, figure out how to fit in at a new school, learn their new neighborhood, establish new “haunts”–and they don’t even have a say in this harebrained scheme! Or at least it may feel harebrained to them. You’re taking them away from their homes and the people and places that they feel safe and comfortable with. So celebrate that. What am I talking about?
I’m talking about honoring what they are leaving, instead of only asking them to embrace the new and unknown that’s ahead of them. Validate their feelings about missing their old friends and home and be sure that they understand that they will have visits, phone calls and other opportunities to stay connected. Make coupons for your kids for a trip to their favorite ice cream place or other destination in the hometown you’re leaving as a promise you’ll bring them back for a visit.
I always encourage my relocating sellers with kids (and without!) to have a “Goodbye Party”. Let the kids invite whomever they want to be sure to have a chance to say goodbye to. If you know where you’ll be living, give your kids stamped envelopes with the new address already pre-printed on it. They can hand them out to their friends and ask to be “pen pals”. Encourage them to exchange whatever contact (including social media) info they have, so they can post/see pictures of each other’s adventures.
- Do some research (which you’ll want to in order to get your kids excited anyway) about some of the most kid-friendly activities and attractions and print out a list with a map showing where you are leaving and where you are headed, and make sure your child gives them to all of their friends as a sort of “come visit” invitation. Enabling them to envision themselves as hosts in their new home may increase their level of “buy-in”. And if they can actually start working on plans to host a friend for a visit, they will feel much less estranged and probably a bit braver about making the move.
- Consider having the party at at well-loved location (whether it’s a park, or some other venue that they’ve been to for birthday parties or other happy occasions) for great memory-making advantages.
- Be sure to take LOTS of pictures/videos of your kids and their friends. One nice thing you can do with the pictures is use them to create a calendar you can order on line–then your child sees his friends every day!
- If there are special local foods in your area, be sure to feature them at the party.
- As a gift, before the party, give your kids a t-shirt or baseball cap with your hometown’s name printed on it and encourage them to wear them at the party. Ask the guests to do the same.
Remember–moving is tough. Even if you’re generally excited about a relocation, you probably have some misgivings, or at least worries about adjusting to your new home. Think how much harder it is for the kids you’re bringing with you who don’t get a vote (in most cases) and consider having a goodbye party for them to help ease the transition both in the moment and in the future. For more ideas on helping kids with a big move, click here.
If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my relocation tab. If you’d like to read other blog entries related to relocation, please scroll down a couple of lines and click on RELOCATION (to the right of FILED UNDER). Thanks!
Crisp and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
Jen LeBow’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Preheat to 375 degrees
Cream:
½ cup (1 stick) soft butter
½ cup (1 stick) vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Add and mix til combined:
1 ¾ cups flour
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
½ t baking powder
½ t salt
Add and mix til combined:
2 eggs plus 1 yolk
1 t vanilla extract
3 cups oats
2 cups raisins
If the batter is sticky, add a little flour.
Place large balls of batter on a cookie sheet and keep them round (don’t flatten or they will be too crisp in the center). Bake 10-12 minutes so they are golden on the outside, but still doughy in the center.
Franklin Square Opening 2018!
Franklin Square (the only one of William Penn’s original five squares dedicated to fun and games) reopens for the season March 1. City kids are rejoicing (as are the parents tasked with entertaining them)! Franklin Square is beloved for its carousel, (the only one in the city of Philadelphia). For many kids who may not get to beach towns or amusement parks that offer this old-time favorite, the carousel is a very popular destination in the square. Kids can even ride one of two Philadelphia-grown racehorses, Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex. The fountain, which was built in 1838 was totally restored in 2006 and pains were taken to preserve the original metal fence surrounding the water as well as the stone work in the basin. While it’s not meant for wading, the spray still provides welcome refreshment in warmer weather. (As an aside, the Franklin Square Fountain is not to be confused with Franklin Fountain, an old-time soda fountain and ice cream shop housed in a turn of the century building complete with tin ceilings and mosaic tile floor and a local landmark in its own right.) If it’s not too hot, you and/or your charges might be interested in the playground or the only mini golf course within the city limits. Its features include replicas of local buildings and stuctures including the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin Bridge. And can we talk about SquareBurger? This burger and shake shack is quintissential Philadelphia. Whether you’re hosting a corporate event or a kid’s birthday party, their signature shake, blended with Philadelphia’s own TastyKake butterscotch krimpet is available nowhere else in the world.
Philly Wine Week
While it may still be a little chilly toward the end of March for many activities in and around Philadelphia, it’s never too cold for wine! Philly wine week was begun in 2014 and now, in its fourth year, has expanded to include many more events as well as participating area restaurants. The organizers are committed to making wine and information about wine (how it’s made, what the different kinds are, how to determine what will be most pleasing for specific palates, etc.) more accessible to everyone. It’s grown tremendously each year and the opening event has been moved to its largest venue yet. The week-long, city-wide event kicks off on Thursday, March 22 at Philadelphia’s historic Armory with Opening Corks, where you can taste over 100 wines and sample foods from some of the areas best purveyors and restaurants. One dinner includes the opportunity to meet several wine makers and find out more about the process. If you like wine, this eight day event provides all kinds of different opportunities for date nights and other special occasions. There are themed events (regional wines from Spain or Italy, for example, as well as “classic” wines and mystery tastings) throughout the week at different locations. For a full list of events, click here. To see all the participating establishments, click here.
Jennifer LeBow’s Blondie Recipe
Jen LeBow’s Blondies
Preheat to 350 degrees
Crust:
1 1/8 cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup white sugar
5 T melted butter
Stir together and pour into a 9 x 13 pan.
Bake 10 minutes, remove and set aside.
Filling:
Cream:
3 eggs
1 ½ cups brown sugar
Add and combine:
1 1/8 cups flour
1.5 t vanilla extract
3/4 cup (1 ½ sticks) melted butter—pour in slowly
Add and mix JUST til combined:
1 ¼ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
Pour batter into prepared crust.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-28 minutes.
Cool before attempting to cut!
Philadelphia Flower Show 2019
Updated February 2019.
The Philadelphia Flower Show
The Philadelphia Flower Show is not your run-of-the-mill flower show. It’s the oldest and largest in the country. It’s even won an award for world’s best event. To learn about the history of the show, click here. It is truly a sight to behold and the event is set to attract 250,000 visitors, if previous year’s numbers are any indicator. This year, from March 2-10, the Philadelphia Convention Center is transformed into a horticultural homage to the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. The 2019 theme is “Flower Power” and it explores the impact that flowers can have on society.
Exhibits and Vendors
Exhibitors include all the best known nurseries in the area and their installations are created with adherence to the theme of the show. For 2018’s list of exhibitors and their exhibits, click here. In addition to the exhibits, there are professional demonstrations and lectures. If you would like to take home a momento or are inspired by what you’ve seen, you won’t want to miss the shopping area, featuring over 150 vendors. You can find botanically inspired jewelry, flower themed aprons, all kinds or specialty gardening equipment from gloves to trowels to irrigation systems and, of course, plants galore.
Attending the event
Who goes to the flower show? Many locals go religiously, every year. It’s a wonderful thing to do as a family or to entertain out of town guests. If you are visiting the area (perhaps planning to move to Philadelphia, the Main Line or other surrounding suburbs), you will not be disappointed. My recommendation would be to take public transportation or a cab or Uber/Lyft because the parking rates are very high during the show’s run. Here are some pictures of previous shows to give you an idea of the scope of this event.
If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973